shamelesse assertion as many wayes is convinced many other such points there discussed wherto now we ad that all that they talk heere Pag. 19. 20. 21. c. about almes and money wrongfully taken by Iesuits and their followers is as false as they are shamelesse to report it being neuer able to proue any one particular All their irreligious scoffing and deprauing of the spiritual exercises froÌ„ the pag. 21. of there libel vnto 28. vsed by Iesuits for reducing men from syn and wicked life to a more cleere feeling knowledge of almighty God which being mental exercises coÌ„sisting principally in heaueâ—ly meditations are highly commended by all learned Cath. men of our tyme that haue eyther read theÌ„ with attention or experienced theÌ„ in theÌ„ selues being confirmed also expresly by the Sea Apostolike tried by example of infinite mens conuersions to be an excellent rare instrument of Gods deuyne glory in these our dayes all this contemptuous and scoffing spirit say we against soueraigne helpes and remedyes must needes come eyther of infidelity or notable prophane irreligiosity and lack of spirit and sence in Gods affayres and consequently it is very probable that some egregious Apostata or other heretical or Atheal head had their parts also in so wicked a woork And thus much for the Iesuits in general But as for F. Persons in particular there is no end nor measure of their outragious detractioÌ„ when they fall on him as though he were the only but against which all heir fiery darts of hellish hatred serpentyne tongues were directed And yet if yow consider what hitherto they say or wryte of all their books against him yow shal not find one point of moment alleadged by them wherat worthily they may take iust offence but as mad or possessed men that raue and rage most at those that most seek their good and most haue assisted them hitherto And truly in this our English Cath. cause reduction of our countrey it seemeth that God hath suffered him to be in signum cui contradicetur as a marke oâ—signe set vp for all sort of bad people atheists heretikes apostaâ—aes seditious contentious tumultuous disastred and dissolute to inueigh against and this is to the immitation of his maister and Sauiour Christ who was and is and shal be to the worlds end a signe of contradiction in the highest degree to all wicked whatsoeuer VVe haue answered both truly and sufficiently in the 12. Chapter of our Apologie such malitious and enuious calumniations as these his passionate emulators in their first two books vttered of which two bookes the first being in latyn read in Rome by diuers great men that had some acquaintance in English affayres they found therin so many and manifest malitious slaunders especially against F. Persons as they professed afterwards to haue byn ashamed in reading therof and to haue wondred at the impudency of the wryters and more to esteeme of the said Father then euer before by discouering the diuels enuy against him And among others we vnderstand for certayne that the most honorable wise and learned Card. Burghesius Viceprotector of England giuing vp the said book to his Hol. protested vpon his conscience that he had read many things which himself knew to be stark lyes and malitious inuentions against the said Father in particular and therby made a gesse at the vntruth of all the rest And further yow haue seene by that we haue discussed in the fornamed chapter of our Apologie how many most euident and apparant calumniatioÌ„s we haue there refuted which heere yet in other their ensuing books these miserable men for yow know what a pittiful torment enuy is do repeate affirme vrge and amplyfie againe yea haue procured heretiks also to publish the same in their books as appeareth by that which a certayne impudent minister O. E. but not exceeding the malice of these hath wrytten and printed of late about the illigitimation of F. Persons byrth which these his emulators in their first latyn inuectiue do but cal in doubt saying that the said byrth was of euil fame raysed to wit by themselues but now as wicked men are wout to do they passe further and affirme it in all their later books for a thing certayne hauing deuised besides that his Father was parson of a church and that therof he was called Persons but as then we answered so now againe hauing informed our selues synce that tyme of more particulars we affirme auouch that this is a most vnchristian and diuelish deuise to slaunder and defame their neighbour and neyther is nor could be true For cleaâ—ing of which so egregious a calumniation we haue made diligent inquiry and do fynd that the said Father was borne in the parish of Stowey in Somerset shire in the yeare 1546. a yeare before K. Henry died to which parish there came soone after out of Deuonshire to be vicar their for parson their is none Iohn Hayward a vertuous good priest that had byn a cannon regular before and this man liued there for 30. yeares togeather vntil after F. Persons departure out of England who hauing byn his master in the latyn tongue and liking his forwardnes in learning did euer afterward beare a special affectioÌ„ towards him all the tyme he liued but yet was ther neuer any least suspection of that which these malitious people haue deuised and geuen out as those do and wil testifie that lyued at that tyme neyther could there be with any probability the one being borne as we haue said and appeareth by the register book before the other came into that countrey neyther is it likely that he should haue byn called Persons as they fondly say for that this priest was a parson seing that benefice is no personage but a vicaridge as all men know and more like it is he should haue byn called Hayward after the said priests name and not by his office if he had byn his sonne Moreouer as in our Apologie we haue said F. Persons had fiue brothers systers elder then himselfe by the same mother and father borne all many yeares before the forsaid priest came to that couÌ„trey other fiue yonger then he wherof one is now a preacher heere in England chaplayne to a noble man and all called by the name of Persons diuers vncles also nephewes and cosyns there are of the same name and how then do these lying lippes vrge so much that he was called Pâ—rsons for that his Father was Parson of a benefice Finally we haue shewed in our said Apologie that his parents were right honest people and of the most substantial of their degree among their neighbours while they liued and his Father was reconciled to the Cath. Church by M. Bryant the martyr and his mother a graue and vertuous matron liuing diuers yeares and dying in flight and out of her countrey for her conscience and was neuer so much as suspected for any such
and others to follow such courses as yow shal thinke good And to the same effect do these men recite in like maner M. South worthes speech to M. Bluet VVe are determined saith he twenty of vs to draw our selues into à more strict order of lyfe c. therby the better to auoyd such synnes as VVhoredome dronkennesse and diceing the same being too ordinary with some in this house Thus they wryte publish without shame to haue these things ruÌ„ne in print the particularyties wherof we of purpose auoyded in our Apologie and this is their first folly the secoÌ„d is that they report such maner of speches tending all as yow see to vertue reformation and reproofe of dissolute and disordered lyfe wheras on their owne side there is not so much as any such matter pretented For proofe wherof let vs heare a peece of M. Bluets speech of reproofe to F. VVeston brought in by these men as a matter of great commendation for spiritual feeling M. Bluet say they proceeded further in effect as followeth Is not the Sacrament of healthful pennance a sufficient remedy for men in our cases to keep vs from such enormityes if the meanes appoynted by Christ haue not sufficient force to remedy these euils what extraordinary grace or power can we expect from your sâ—pposed authority and lawes Thus they say coÌ„temning hereby as yow see all particular rules directions helpes and orders for coÌ„seruation or increase of spirit vsed by vertuousâ— men who wil not laugh at this doctrine that the Sacrament of healthful penance is sufficient to remedy all enormities why then are there so many Canons coÌ„stitutions lawes and new ordinaÌ„ces appoynted daylie for restrayning of enormities as wel in Colleges Cloysters Churches and congregatioÌ„s as other where to preueÌ„t such inconuenieÌ„ces if only the Sacrament of healthful penance be sufficient nay why are there prisons chaynes gallyes or gallouses if only the SacrameÌ„tal penance be sufficient nothing els required do yow see how these good people are de larga manica as the prouerbe is VVel then this being the subiect and argument of this their whole narration to declare what the one side being farre the greater part laboured to haue to wit rules order and discipline obserued in their coÌ„uersation as became priests and confessors in such a place and tyme complayning also of great and foule enormyties already comitted and worse feared among them and then how mightely the other side being farre the fewer stryued against this and would haue no special orders but such as were coÌ„mon to all men yea to the loosest sort of Christians in the world nor any other peculiar help or remedy but only the Sacrament of pennance to be vsed when where and so often as euery man pleased and no otherwayes This we say being the stryfe and contention cleare it is on which side vertue holynesse and perfection stood And albeit this side should haue byn ouerstrict and commytted tomuch rigor in retyring themselues from the scandalous conuersation of the rest Yet was their fault as yow see of zeale loue of vertue and consequently much more perdonable then the turbulent resistance and impugnation of the other side that stood in defence of disorder libertie and dissolution And thus much for the first part of the argument or subiect of this former booke intytuled The Relation of VVisbiche which hauing byn handled by them with great vntruth and partiality in their first books both in latyn and English as we haue shewed in our Apologie is brought in againe now with great indiscretion and folly renewing the memory of such their disorders in that place as we desyred might be suppressed with silence and that which is worse they discend to diuers particulars which wee for modestyes sake passed ouer in general tearmes so should they also haue done according to the rule of prudeÌ„cy for to what end haue they printed the former obiection coÌ„plaint of M. South worth so graue ReuereÌ„d a man about whordome dronkennesse and diceing c. which we had omitted the story also of pewter stolne of Mary the maid found in one of there chaÌ„bers to what end is it published by them or with what wisdome or discretion And moreouer they do so wisely handle these matters in their defence as yow shal see in the next Chapter of this booke that they leaue things more suspitious a great deale to the Reader then he fouÌ„d theÌ„ in the accusations so as in this also they fulfil the Apostles prophesy Insipientia eorum manifesta erit omnibus c. But besides this subiect of the excesses and scandalous conuersation of some in VVisbich there insueth also towards the end of this booke another argument of farre worse nature then the former for which respect it may be they abstayned to make mention therof in the title or first front of their booke doubting perhaps least all good and modest men would be auerted with the very sight and mention therof as proceeding of an extreme surfet of vnchristian malice The matter is that wheras in tyme of the tumultuous proceedings of these men and their fellowes both in Rome Flanders and England many things were spoken done wrytten against the fathers of the Society by their vngrateful schollers of our nation without all ground of truth but only through passion leuity anger and incitation of others as appeareth not only by the examination of the things themselues but by the confessions also of the partyes that did accuse when they were out of passion and by the sentence of all iudges appointed in these causes all which we haue shewed largely particularly in the 3. 4. 5. and 6. Chapters of our Apologie yet these men knowing in their consciences and in the sight of all the world this to be true and that those calumniations obiected or the most part of them were meerly false deuised vpon the causes aforesaid and denyed afterward by those that obiected them do notwithstaÌ„ding set them downe now againe as points iustified or iustifiable and haue put them also in print for the further infamation of Iesuits and their whole order which is a practise of so high and odious malice as we are wonderfully ashamed to mention the same but that they haue printed it as coming from any of our nation and much more from men of our order and function But now lett vs take a vew of the things themselues The first branch or head of this calumniation hath this tytle An abstract of the memorial sent by certayne Englishmen out of the low countreys to the Popes Hol. Clement the 8. against the Iesuits laboring in the English vineyard September 1597. And heere yow must note that in reporting this only title our brethren do so behaue themselues as yow may easily discouer their entention to be only to defame for so much as they know wel inough what Englishmen they weare that
our affayre where Gods holy gyfts and vertues themselues are enuyed at by them that wil not immitate the same is easy to discerne And if no other proof were extant yet their owne books set forth in such number and with such passion to discredit their aduersaryes are sufficient witnesses wherin they set downe so many high prayses giuen by other men to their said aduersaryes as albeit the partyes theÌ„selues do nether chaleÌ„ge nor acknowledge them yet is it euideÌ„t that the enuy of these and other like prayses hath put these mens mynds quite out of ioynt Neyther remayneth there any way as it seemeth for the enuyed in this case to discharge themÌ„selues of this raging tempest raysed against them but eyther to chaunge their laudable course of lyfe wherby they haue gotten that esteeme which these men enuy at this is not tolerable or for these men to alter their iudgmeÌ„ts and se their owne follyes and passioÌ„s herin which we shal endeauour to lay before them in this our treatese and that out of their owne bookes and wrytings And albeit we had fully purposed as before is sayd to wryte no more about this argumeÌ„t yer seing so many libels to come our daylie so false and slaunderous so pernicious not only to Christian vnity but also to the integrity of Catholike faith verity and those vnder the names of priests the very honor of priesthood it selfe hath forced vs to take pen in hand againe contrary to our former determinatioÌ„ therby to wipe away if it be possible some part of that notorious discredit and slaunder which iustly otherwise may fal vpon our whole order if such intemperate proceedings published in priests names should passe vncontrouled by all kynd of priests Wherfore our entent in this treatese is to shew that eyther these infamous libels set forth in priests names are not indeed of priests but of some other that play their parts or if they come from priests indeed then must we needs runne in this matter to the words of our Sauiour touching sal infatuatum infatuated priests such as haue lost not only all sauour of priestly wisdome and shining light of true vnderstanding but all true spirit also of Christian priests and priesthood which we shal declare by diuers proofes and considerations takeÌ„ out of their owne books for which cause we haue intituled this treatese A manifestation of the great folly and bad spirit of some in England that call themselues secular priestes Wherunto we were induced the rather as wel by those words of S. Paul alleadged in our first page insipientia corum manifesta erit omnibus their folly shal be made manifest to all speaking of such as made diuision as also by that dreadful parable of our Sauiour concerning the wicked vncleane spirit that leauing men for a tyme and finding no rest abroad returned and perceauing the habitation left by him to be wel cleansed but not wel fenced entred againe with seauen worse spirits then himself and so made the ending of those men worse then their beginning It were ouer long and exceeding the measure of a preface to set downe heer the interpretations and godly considerations of old ancient Saints about this parable of our Sauiour especially seing that for so much as appertayneth to this our affayre it is not hard for any man to see the coherence and application therof for that when these libellers were first made priests if they be priests and took that most sacred order of cleargy vpon them wherby they weare adopted into the peculiar choise and seuered portion of almighty God for so much importeth Cleargie they did not only renounce the spirit of Sathan in general as men do in baptisme by those words ab renuncio diabolo omnibus operibus eius c. but particularly also the prophane secular spirit of the world and all corruption and vncleanesse therof appertayning to libetty of the flesh by their strait obligation of chastity deuotion piety annexed to that holy calling aboue other men which prophane and vncleane spirit being once excluded by the holy character and vnction of priesthood and the house made cleane by the broome of holy pennance adorned also with graces and gyfts of the holy Ghost if after the same spirit returne agayne and fynd the guard and defence therof weake by negligence of the keeper or the dores broken open by the violence of passions as in our case alas it seemeth to stand he presumeth saith our Sauiour not only to enter agayne himself but to take bad company also with him to wit seauen other spirits nequiores se more wicked then himself that is to say more spiritual malitious more couert and hidden more obstinate and self willed more opposite to charity and more like to the diuel himself that is a meer spirit and the head patron and fountayne of all wicked wilful spirits For albeit the grosse spirit of wordly sensualitie be a foule and vncleane spirit especially in a priest and be also from the diuel yet as Cassianus in the former place doth note and all other Fathers do obserue in like manner it is no way so dangerous or wicked as are the spirits of more spiritual sinnes to witt enuy pride ambition hatred reuenge other like which are so counterset and couered poysons as often tymes they are not knowne nor held for vices and consequently neyther cured nor cared for nay they passe for vertues so are often tymes taken by the possessors themselues as for example enuy for zeale in Gods cause pride for corage ambition for desyre of ability to do much good and so in the rest wherby it cometh to passe that he whose house is possessed with these most pernicious guests doth think himself wel furnished and in good case and consequently neyther endeauoreth to expel them out nor confesseth his fault or negligence therin nor seeketh remedy by the holy refuge of pennance good counsel or other spiritual helpes and herby cometh it to passe that which our Sauiour saith fiunt nouissimâ— hominis istiuâ— peioraprioribus the ending of this man is worse then his begynning VVherunto that dreadful commination of the holy Apostle S. Paul doth wel agree also who sayth wryting to the Hebrues Impossible est â—os qui semel sunt illuminati c. prolapsi rursus renouari ad poenitentiam It is vnpossible for them that are once lightened by Gods grace and fal back agayne to be renewed by pennance Which words howsoeuer we vnderstand them eyther that the grace of baptisme is here meant or the word impossible taken for hard and rare euery way and in all senses it is a most terrible sentence ought to mooue men greatly that do see themselues fallen from a better state to a worse and from a quiet calme sweet humble modest spirit to a proud turbulent ireful impudent or contemptuous behauiour towards their brethren or equals and much more
to their betters and superiors And this shal be sufficient by way of Preface The rest yow shal discerne by that which is treated in the Chapters following THE CONTENTES OF THIS BOOK THe Preface to the Catholike Reader The manifest folly and apparant bad spirit of the wryters of these libels in choosing the subiect argument of such late books as they haue set forth CAP. I. Their folly and passionate spirit declared in the manner of handling â—he said Argumentes CAP. II. Their folly and presumptuous spirit in making to theâ—selues such aduersaryes as they do CAP. III. Their folly vnshâ—mfast spirit in vttering so open and manifest vntruthes and contradictions to their owne discredit CAP. IIII. Their folly and malignant spirit in obiecting certayne books to F. Persons which if they be his cannot but giue him much credit and commendatioÌ„ with a brief confutation of a fond paniphlet set forth in answere to the book of succession CAP. V. Their folly and deceaued spirit in persuading themselues to get credit or recouer that which is lost with any â—â—â—t of men be they frends or enemyes by this manner of proceeding with clamors and libels CAP. VI. Of fiue other books or rather absurd and scandalous libels come forth since the Answering of the former two and of ten more promised CAP. VII Certayne directions vnto Catholikes hâ—w to discerne the truth and how to beare theÌ„selues in this tyme of contention with an examination of diuers notorious and infamous lyes of VV. VV. in his book of Quodâ—â—bets CAP. VIII THERE MANIFEST FOLLY AND APPARANT BAD SPIRIT IN CHOOSING the argument and subiect of these their bookes CAP. I. FIRST then to beginne with the argument and subiect of these our discontented priests late books it shal not be needful for prouing our purpose to runne them ouer all which hitherto are six that haue come to our hands the first in latyn intituled Declaratio moâ—uum turbationum c. A declaration of styrres and troubles c. which coÌ„teyning nothing els indeed but a certayne intemperate inuectyue against many good and worthy men wel deseruing both of them of our countrey and replenished with innumerable slanders most manifestly false and prooued by no other reasons authorityes or restimonies but the words of the passionate wryters hath made all strangers that haue read the same to haue a straÌ„ge opinion of english mens humors when they are in passion about which poynt see the table of deceits falshoods and slanders set before our Apologie and the Apologie it selfe Cap. II. The second booke is intituled The Copies of discourses c. wherof the first part being contrary to the second doth easily both answere and confound it selfe â— For that in the formost discourses all these mennes oppositioÌ„s impugnations of the Archpriest do stand vpon the want of the Popes owne letters to coÌ„firme those of the Card. Protector wherby the Archpriest was appoynted assuring vs that whensoeuer any such confirmation should come from his Hol. there would be no more controuersy and yet the very next ensuyng discourses in the same booke his Hol. Breue of Approbation being now published do shew that they were much farther of from obaying the Archpriest then before And this was the first childbirth after their long and troublesome trayuayling thrust out to the world very vnexpectedly to mooue new troubles at that tyme when they made profession to haue appealed to his Hol. and would attend his auswere and resolution therin which resolution as synce we have seene came forth soone after against them though his Hol. at that tyme knewe nothing of these seditious bookes the iniquity wherof was and is such as yf they had byn seene it seemeth impossible that his Hol. would haue answered so myldly as he doth though we know his nature and disposition wholy bent to myldnes and according to the same disposition we haue also endeauored in our Apology or answere to these two libels to lay open the iniurious proceeding of our tempted BrethreÌ„ in those books and to mitigate their distempered humors the best we could And for that this Apologie is now in the hands of the Readers to peruse we will say no more therof but remyt it and our selues to their discreet iudgments After this came out two other twynnes at one tyme the one in English the other in latyn the first is intituled the hope of peace by laying open the Archpriests vntruthes c. The second conteyneth the copies as well of the Card. Protectors letters for the institution of the Archpriest by his Hol. authority as also the Popes owne Breue for confirmation therof The letter also of Card Burghesiâ—s Viceprotector in repreheÌ„sion of M. Charnockâ— for disobaying of the senteÌ„ce giuen by the two Cardâ— in Rome against them and other such like wrytings VVhich two bookes comming to our haÌ„ds after our foresaid Apology was ended inducedâ— vs to make a certayne Appendix for vnfolding their contents the one hauing nothing but some few handfuls of vanity and scurrility layd to geather vnfit to be further treated by modest men and the second representing nothing els but the reproofe and condemnation of their owne contentious proceedings And thus much concerning the foure former books whose arguments being as we haue rehearsed we remit our selues how great a manifestation it hath byn of their owne folly passion and imprudence to take this course of clamorous libelling and defaming their owne frends and therby also obliging them for defence of their innocency to returne auswere which they were most loath and vnwilling to doe But yf there were but an inch of folly in wryting and publishing the former 4 books there is an ell in these last two that now are come forth the one bringing vs a new relation of the sedition and contention passed in VVisbich the other Important considerations to mooue all vniesuited Catholikes as their phrase is to acknowledge the myld and mercifull procedings of the State of England towards them for matters of religion synce the beginning of her Maiesties raygne c. These two books we say and the subiect therof togeather with the maner of handling and other circumstances before mencioned are sufficient yf nothing els were to ouerthrow the whole credit of our discontented brethren with all sorts of discreet and modest men not only Catholikes but also ProtestaÌ„ts as by ripping vp some parts therof shal easily appeare For first concerning the relation of matters fallen out in VVisbich he that shal haue read the sixt chapter of our Apologie about these affaires where matters are set downe playnly and sincerely with order and perspicuity without eyther amplifications or exaggerations as heere is vsed in this new Rhetorical narration authentically also vnder mens hands and letters and not in words alone scoffes and iests as these men doe whosoeuer we say shall read that and conferre it with this consider the different
religious it is for yow and to yow I speake Thus he wryteth and were it not that the gauling and spiteful speech which after he vseth against diuers men of great worth do argue the wryter of somwhat more then simplicity and folly this might passe with laughter as yow see but hearing him say afterward VVe do disdaine and renounce from our hartes both Archpriests and Iesuits as arrant traytors c. And againe in the very next page thus to glory and professe Disobedient VVe are to the Archpriest as an vsurper on the â—ehalfe of the Cath. Sea of Rome And then againe for further explication of his meaning Disobedient we are to the diuel and all his instrumental vsurped authorityes And yet further Neuer shal the Cath. Church or common welth of England find so wicked a member as a VVolsey a Persons a Creswel a Garnet a Blackwel c. These we say and many other like speches beeing fouÌ„d euery where in this preface do manifestly shew that not only wisdome wanteth in the wryter but some other more necessary vertues also to a Christian Catholike and much more a priest as he professeth himselfe to be But now wil we shew yow another example of folly and malice ioyned to geather out of the beginning of their second books preface to the end yow may see that both were wrytten by one spirit their words are these yeilding a reason of publishing thersaid book against the Archpriest And at this tyme say they we are the rather moued so to do to set forth this narration of matters passed in VVisbich because it hath pleased M. Blackwel our said Archpriest very lately to send to his twelue Assistants to be diuulged a certaine censure or we know not what to tearme it a sheet of paper fraught nether with wit honest dealing discretion or learning but in effect with as many shifts and lyes almost as lynes in derogation not only of some of the said books set out by our brethren tearming the same as if eyther he himselfe or some of his commaunders the Iesuits had made them to be seditious books but likewise taketh vpon him to touch the said contention not in many words but with much folly and great vntruâ—h we wil be bold by way of Preface a little to touch them c. By these words the reader may take a scantling of their coÌ„temptuous spirit who speak so disorderly of their lawful Superior a man of knowne vertue and learning for so myld and modest an admonition vpon their first two libels as yow shal now heare by their owne relation For thus they wryte These are say they his words to wit the Archpriests in his admonition The first point of your books sayth he meaning the diuision at VVisbich was a thing long since ended with great edification and by the meanes principally of those which are most condemned by yow It toucheth the greater and better part of that company it nothing concerneth our authority it being more ancient and hauing orders taken at the attonement by their owne consent It is wel knowen at Rome by whose meanes they were disanulted nether is it more vnsitting for those which liued in one house to institute rules for such as voluntarily demaunded and accepted them then to procure a sodality abroad Thus wrote our Reuerend Father the good Archpriest and as these men do confesse it is all he wrote of this point of VVisbich and let the Reader be iudge whether any Superior in the world could wryte more myldly more humbly especialy if he consider the outragious iniuryes done him in these two first books or libels set out by his Rebellious subiects against him and notwithstanding all this his patience and modesty consider we pray yow with what intemperance they do canuase these few words of his heere set downe For hauing recyted his words they say Thus farre our Archpriest and it is all he wryteth to his Assistants of this matter which we the rather note to shew the extremity of his pride in supposing by such an answere to the said books concerning that diuision to wâ—pe away those imputations matters wherwith both F. Garnet and F. VVeston and he himselfe in some sorte are charged Thus wryte these men being angry as it seemeth that their patient Superior vouch-safed not them more words of contention about this matter of VVisbich in his admonition to his Assistants which how iust a quarrel it is let wiser men iudge but much more whether so few so modest and so fatherly words vttered by a Superior without naming any do merit so contumelious a censure from subiects as to accuse him of extremity of pride lack of wyt and honesty discretion learning truth and humility in wryting them Is it possible that so high pride as heere is obiected can be gathered out of so lowly words without high folly and higher maleuolence But we shal aleadge yow another example in a different kynd of foly or rather frenzie vsed by these passionate people which is to grace and praise indeed their aduersaryes whome they seek most to disgrace by telling good things of them and deprauing them only by their owne comentaryes as in this example last alleadged of M. Blackwel whose words recited by them selues being most commendable as yow haue seene they endeauour by fond and childish inâ—â—rpretations of their owne to make them reprochful And the like they do oftentymes concerning F. VVeston alleadging both his words and deeds worthie of praise in themselues and then seking to discredit the same by their wresting comentaryes wherof we haue giuen some examples in the former chapter and we may ad therunto now this which they relate of him his behauiour and speech when M. Dolman one of their owne side came vnto F. VVeston to request him the residue who made the greater part of the company to returne to the common conuersation of the troublesome and dissolute againe whose answere to their demaund they set downe thus VVould God said F. VVeston with most earnest affection as it seemed that yow M. Doleman were as able to persuade the rest as yow haue done me for my owne parte I mynd to giue ouer and meddle no further but to commend the cause to God assuring yow yf I could do the least of this house good for his soules health by laying my head vnder his feete I would most willingly do it c. And thus farre this dissembling Iesuite Let any true Christian man iudge now of this vnchristian censure of so myld godly and Christian words let our brethren but aleadge vs truly some such of any of their side and we shal both beleeue them and praise them But they can bring nothing of like quality from theirs and yow haue heard the quite contrary by their owne letters and subscriptions alleadged by vs in our Apologie and heere in these books yow may reade them in euery line shewing a
him and is much to be remembred by these our brethren so long as they remaine our brethren which we wish may be euer but following this spirit is not like to be long Besides this they call generally thesaid Iesuits proud NeÌ„rods boisterous hunters Iesâ—nical huâ—â—erists mâ—â—aâ—â—ill ian practisers furious spirits mâ—n without consereâ—â—e 〈◊〉 companions ambitious hipoerits and the like yea they go so farre in rancor and malice against these men as they do allow by name Thomas Bel the heretical Apostata and relapsed priest his shamelesse slaunders and raylings against them And further they tearme all Catholiks that are conioyned with the Archpâ—â—eist and the sayd fathers infected with 〈◊〉 gallants abroad they of the new guyseâ— fanciful c. And as for the 19. or 20. graue men that were of contrary opinion and conuersation to the 〈◊〉 same prison of wisbieh they cal them cuery where the 〈◊〉 oft separation and themselues the priests of the vnity They 〈◊〉 so poore fooles conspiring companions and that the veâ—yer 〈◊〉 this better luck â— VVestoÌ„ they cal yoncker dissembling 〈◊〉 of the Hall 〈◊〉 his cook M. Braâ—ston à reuerend ancient priest an hipocritical parasyte procuring his Agenage amongst the rest with machauillian practises c. Of M. D. Bauyn their iudge they say that he was stesse lyned with Iesuitisme and a halting arburator c. Of three Reuerend priests that were procurators of the Archp. in Rome the one a deane and Doctor of diuinity the other a prouost and the third now an Assistant to the said Archp. they wryte thus Standish that honest man must haue accesse to the Popes Hol. with two runagate priests D. Iâ—addock and M. Martyn Aray c. who like very lying wretches dishonest companions c. Of Father Garnet they say he was a diuelisâ—â— polititian transformed into an Angel of light abase â—assal of F. Persons that be swâ—â—teth by his little honestie c. And as for F. Persons himself whome they make the special obiect as it seemeth of all their malice it would require halfe a book to set downe what they â—could against him and we doubt not but that it wil be no smal part of his great merits in setting forward gods cause to beare with patience as we heare he doth such insolent and intemperate raylings at these mens hands who haue byn so greatly many wayes beholding vnto him and diuers of them brought vp by him wherby their notorious ingratitude is so much the more hateful both to God and man Now then we would end this Chapter of their folly in handling their affayre but that we thinke good to end with some more pleasant phrases of theirs as we began then are these bitter gauling and venemous speches now last rehearsed Heare then how they protest and conclude Neuer shal any royal lady of the court mayd of honour or daâ—â—sel of rare aspect qualities indowments or graces distil the accents of their sorrowes in the heceades of cares carks and greeses be led away as wyues or concubynes to base villaynes swaggering mishapen sâ—addes c. Neuer shal the angels faces the flowre of Englands youth the beauty of Britaynes ocean be appald empared ouer-clowded with a steep downe showre of stormy sorrowes c. Neuer shal the vermillian â—iush of English virgins the womanly modest look of marryed wyues or the ancient matronlike countenance of any widdow with in the Isle of Albion be made common to the abortiues of the hote Spanish Clime by our doyngs c. Neuer shal any tender mother nourse or sweet babe weep or any hand wring or hart hurle out volleyes of sighes and teares c. Neuer shal any mans or womans angel be offended or Saynt greeued nor soule punished or passe to purgatory much lesse to hel by our meanes c. Heere now may we see and note diuers extreemes of the self same spirit as first in bitternes of rayling spiteful and venemous slaundering and defaming and then soft and delicate nicenesse in words for womeÌ„ and if those of their partie in the Castle of VVisbich were of this later spirit no maruaile though those of the other side were forced to seeke for rules and no maruayle though their last iudges and arbitrators in that contention who yet were knowne to be their frends and fauorits M. Mush we meane and M. Dudley hauing brought both sides to liue togeather agayne as in our Apologie we haue shewed did yet ordayne and leaue in wryting also vnder their hands as in this relation is confessed with the quiet party that they might separate themselues againe afterward if they should think it conuenient that is to say yf these other amended not their former lyfe and conuersation but should fal to the same scandalous behauiour againe which is likely they would neuer haue done except they had seene in their consciences the great causes of the former separation and some Feare also and likelyhood that the same enormytes and disorders might come in vre againe by which wryting in deed they iustified the former separation to haue byn made vpon iust and vrgent causes and do giue testimony of great disorders on the other side c. consequently this also was not a point of wisdome in our discontented brethren to publish the same in print And 〈◊〉 now or the most part is about the matters of VVisbich as yow haue seene and little hath byn spoken about the second booke their sixt in order intituled Important Considerations c. whose argument yow haue heard in the former Chap. to haue byn the iustifying of the proceeding persecution of heretiâ—s and other aduersaryes against vs and the whole Cath. cause laying the fault where it is and ought to be as they say to wit on Catholikes themselues which subiect or argument being such as it is yow must imagine is handled by them with no lesse passion and consequently with no more wisdome reason or temperance theÌ„ the former seing that wheras passion entreth reason flyeth as euery man knoweth wherof also insueth that wheras the Philosopher saith Prudentia consistie maximè in eligendis medijs wisdome consisteth most in choosing fit and apt meanes to bring our ends to passe These men being al-togeather in the fury of passion no maruaile though they do erre in choosing those meanes both of words and deeds wherby they should effectuate wel their designments yf they were good And this we haue ashewed swel in our Apologie vpon euery occasion offered as also much more in our litle Appendix to their other two books The hope of peace and Relatio Turbarum c. wherin they growing more into passion then before for that this tempest alwayes groweth when the dore is once opened vnto it they tooke to themselues quyte opposite meanes to their owne ends as there we haue shewed nothing being more contrary to peace with their Superior which in the title of the former book
to ioyne with heretiks in defaming of Iesuits but needful and necessary also for that the contrary say they should quite cut of the order of iustice stop the course of fraternal correption hinder the effects of Christian Charity violate the lawes of God and manâ— c. The second part of the obiection and answere to it was forgotten or left out in the text and therfore hauing considered better of the matter they haue put it in afterward in a long marginal note or commentary in these words The obiection of many that are of the spanish faction is very friuâ—lons if 〈◊〉 malitious when they say why do the priests lay the faults vpon Iesuits 〈◊〉 cause of the cath persecution seing it is welknowne that the aduer saryes to both priests and Iesuits and all Catholiks are cause therof c. VVbich admitte it were true yet the Iesuits being equally guilty with them it belongeth to priests to cleare the innocent Catholiks and leaue the Iesuits iu the suddes and our aduersaryes to those that haue to do with them c. Lo heere the answere or resolution of this obiection that though it were true that as wel protestants as Iesuits were the cause of persecution in England which point notwithstanding it seemeth they would haue held for doubtful and only Iesuites to be the cause yet do they think it reason to leaue of the protestants and to attend only to accuse Iesuits and to leaue them in the suddes And is not this plaine malice and passion confessed by themselues what wit what spirit is there in this handling of their affayres who wil beleeue them what they say or do heerafter hauing allready so farr discouered their meanings actions and indeauours VVherfore heere also we must conclude as in the former and all the rest of the Chapters that ensue Inâ—ipientia eorum manifesta fit omnibus there folly is euident to all men and their passionate spirit is hidden to none THERE FOLLY AND presumptious spirit in making to them selues such aduersaries as they do CAP. III. AS wisdome doth consist in considering wel first before a man make breaches or enter into warre what manner of aduersaryes they are with whome he hath to fight so is there no point of folly greater then not to forethinke of this as it seemeth these our angry men haue not done but only for satisfying of their present passion haue lauished out and bid bataile to as many as euer stood in their way among which though there be many personages of great consideration and respect yet none in our opinion ought to haue byn of so great in this affayre as the man most contemned iniured and impugned by them as in the former Chapter hath byn seene we meaue their prelate and lawful imediate Superior M Blackwel not so much in respect of his owne person and gifts of God annexed therunto which are knowne to be both many and great but of his place and authority giuen him by Christ and his substitute ouer the whole body of English Catholiks both priests and laymen which make at this day our true Cath. Church of England For albeit some others here iniured also may for other considerations and ought to be more regarded by them yet he in that he is Gods substitute among them ordayned confirmed and reconfirmed by the Sea Apostolike and consequently in the place of Christ to guide and gouerne them of which kynd of men Christ himselfe expressely saith qui vâ—s spernit me spernit qui spernit me spernit eum qui misit me He that contemneth yow coÌ„temneth me and he that contemneth me contemneth him that sent me and S. Paul said qui potestati resistit damnationem sibi acquirit he that resisteth power appointed ouer him doth draw damnation vpon himselfe for these causes we say all holy Fathers and spiritual wryters do agree that our spiritual superiors are most of all other men to be respected by vs yea before angels themselues yf they should conuerse with vs vpon the earth for that these mens authority is knowne euidently to be from God which in angels is not except by reuelation and consequently that the greatest synne of all other yea the highest point of spiritual synne pride and presumption is to molest make warre against them but much more to despise and abuse them And albeit our discontented people may haue this conceyte for their refuge and seeke also to persuade others the same as they do that hauing appealed from him and his iurisdiction they are free and not bound to any obedience or respectiue behauiour toward him yet to all men of any capacity and learning this is knowne to be otherwise both in reason conscience and constitution of Ecclesiastical canons For albeit a man may appeale from one Superior to another in certaine cases yet that doth not take away the said Superiors authoritie but restrayneth him only when the Appeale is lawful and vpon good grounds not to proced in that particular case vntil the higher Superior haue giuen his decision And if he admit not the Appeale but do remit the Appellantes backe againe to obey the said immediate superior as his Hol. hath done in this our case by his breue of the 17. of August last past then is their case as it was before and they more obliged to obey then before But howsoeuer any Appeale succedeth most cleare it is that the parties appealing are bound to obey and shew themselues dutiful in all other things while the Appeale dependeth before the higher iudge no lesse then yf any such Appeale had neuer byn made and much more after the controuersy ended and decyded as ours now is and the Authority of our Archpriest both established and reestablished and therfore for our disordinate brethren to vse him contumeliously togeaher with all those of their owne coate or others lawfully ioyned with him in due subordination as they do in these their books cannot but be a most presumptious haynous synne in the sight of God and infinite discredit vnto them in the eyes and iudgements of all good and godly men to haue such a one and so many dependent of him for their open aduersaryes as they are not ashamed to confesse and professe in these their books This then in our opinion cannot be but a great poynt of folly as was also that to take so vniuersally and generally against the whole order of Iesuits vsing so opprobrious names against the whole body as in the former Chapters yow haue heard for by so doing they can gaine no credit but with the heretiks that hate the whole order for religions sake and euery Catholike wil easily see and consider that a whole body or society cannot haue offended our brethren in any particular matters and consequently seing that they concurre with Protestants in deprauing the whole order it must needs be eyther of great passion and folly in hating the whole for
any such action protesting their vpon as before yow haue heard that yf he should attempt any such thing they would resist him And finally laying the greatest part and occasion of all our English persecutions vpon these Popes inconsiderate and vnlawful actions they say If the Pope and K. of Spaine had neuer platted with the duke of Norfolke yf the Bull of Pius 5. had neuer byn knowen if neuer Stukely nor the Pope had attempted any thing against Ireland yf Gregory the xiij had not renewed the said excommunication yf the Pope and the k. of Spaine had uot practised with the duke of Guise yf the pope had not thrust the k. of Spaine into the barbarous action against the Realme c. Then say they we are fully persuaded in our consciences and as men besides our learning that haue some experience where there is one Catholike now there would haue byn ten c. VVherby yow see that the Popes and Sea Apostolike are iudged by these learned and wel experienced men to haue byn the hinderers of the increase of Cath. religion in England and the original cause of afflictions and persecutions VVe leaue out of purpose how they deale with this Pope condemning his action euery where in instituting the Archpriest by the Card. Protectors letters telling vs that he could not do it that it was not lawful conuenient decent or profitable that he appointed him without their consent against the prescript of Church Cannons intruded him vpon them gaue him authority without limitation and greater in some respects then euer creature had which is as much to say that it was more then the Pope had himself to giue His Breue also for the confirmation of his office is contemned by them and that both in woords saying that they know not out of what office it was gotten and that is was lawful for them to demurre vpon it as in the Apologie and Appendix hath byn shewed as also much more in fact and deed obeying nothing therin conteyned And further more reprouing and condemnig the whole course of his Hol. proceeding with their two messengers Bisshop and Charnocke affirming among other things his Hol. to haue shewed so great inconstancy in that affayre about their audience as to haue said and vnsaid 4. seueral tymes that he would heare and not heare them at the instance of two opposite Embassadors which beside the falshood therof no such thing hauing euer been is as great a contumelie as to so high a personage his great grauity considered can be ascribed All which besides many other things declared in the first and sixt Chapter of this book touching their intemperate behauiour to-wards his Hol. his predecessors and the Sea Apostolike do euidently declare that they make warre also where the commodity of their cause requireth against this supreme and highest authority howsoeuer now and than they cast out some words of submission for a shew and to delude such Catholiks as wil beleeue them And these now are 4. general heads or bodyes of aduersaryes which these men haue taken to fight against there remayne some other though more priuate and particular yet very important to be considered by vs and by them also yf force of passion did not transport them from all due consideration And first of all offereth it selfe their aduerse part in the castle and controuersy of VVisbich Where their part as we vnderstand especially these later tymes being not aboue 7. or 8. and the other side wel neere 30. it ought greatly to haue mooued them in all reason wisdome and humility of spirit to haue ether yeilded or compounded those matters with lesse noise or at least wayes being once compounded and ended by others not to haue brought them in disputation and breach againe especially with such intemperate speches as before yow haue heard calling them â—naues conspiring companions authors if separation Donatists reuiued Arrians a Cynaedrical congregation and the like For whatsoeuer man of iudgement and indifferency shal consider the oddes and differences of these two parts to wit the number and quality of each side wil easily enclyne to giue sentence against them And first the very circumstance of F. VVestons person his learning wisdome moderation religion mortification and other rare vertues related admyred euen by heretiks themselues must needs make a greate preiudice against them And then if we go forward to consider the persons also of many of the rest as of M. Barlow the first Seminary priest of all the rest if we be not deceaued a man of approued vertue and coÌ„stancy M. Thomas Pond the most ancientest confessor which now perhaps liueth of lay gentlemen and euer accounted a most zealous constant Catholike If we consider these we say and many other of that company and on the other part besides the fewnes compare the men themselues with these to wit the two of the oldest and authors of all the contention what men they are the one a doctor of his owne procuring without licence or order of superiors and dismissed out of Rome by publike authority for his vnquiet behauiour the other first a minister and then so vnquiet a priest as appeareth both by his ordinary intemperate woords and his violent laying hands vpon others of the same order and two other yong men of the same company whome now they carry with them out of England Champney and Barnaby lately come from the sedition at Rome wherin they had byn actors these circumstances we say considered and wayed though otherwise the cause it selfe were not knowen which wee haue handled at large as well in our Apologie as in the first chapter of this book these were sufficient to make a man of iudgment and indifferencie to resolue on which side truth and vertue standeth and consequently it was great indescretion in these our brethren to publish the forsaid men for ther enemyes as they do There follow in the same ranke of their aduersaryes coÌ„cerning the argument of their booke of Important Considerations two special men of worthie memory of our owne nation and so called by them in all other poynts Wherin they are not against them and their designments to wit D. Saunders and D. Allen late Card. we shal shew in few words how vnworthely they handle them both and therby do yow iudge of their spirit how desperately they are set to defend their owne fancies seing that what they reprehend in these men was not only their owne iudgements but of all other â—earned Catholiks also of our nation D. Stapleton D. Bristow M. Gregory Martyn M. VVilliam Reynolds yea of all learned Catholike men in like manner of Catholike contreys as before we haue shewed against all which these new petty doctors to flatter the State and my L. of London wil needs oppose themselues as yf they knew more than the forsaid learned men of our nation whose books they are
not worthie to beare But let vs see som what of their dealing with D. Sanders and the Card. in particular It little became eyther M Saunders Say they otherwayes an excellent man or M. Persons or any other of our nation to haue intermedied with these matters and to wryte as they haue very offensiuely done in diuers of their books and treateses c. Lo heere their censure and reprehension But let vs heare further In the yeare 1572. say they out cometh M. Sanders book de visibili monarchia wherin he taketh vpon him to set downe how the Pope had sent M. Morton and M. VVebbe two priests before the Rebellion of the North to excite the Lords and gentlemen to take armes And the rather to persuade them therunto they signified vnto them by the Popes commandement that her Ma. was excommunicated c. Behold here the condemnation of three ancient Doctors ioyned by these our yong maisters with that of the Pope himselfe and then they go forward Then M. Sanders building castles in the ayre amongst his books doth magnifie the said Rebelles to the great discredit of the Church of Rome and his Hol actions in such matters c. And from this passing to his goyng into Ireland they say thus The Pope himselfe in the yeare 1579. abused stil by false pretences did set forward that course and sending thither certayne forces M. Saunders too much Iesuited did thrust himself in person into that action as a cheif ringleader c. But heere we would aske these men how they do know that D. Saunders did thrust himselfe into that action wherin all good men do wish that he had neuer byn considering the great good he might haue done to all Christendome by his most learned books yf his lyfe had not byn shortened that way But these yonkers his schollers or rather not worthie to be his schollers that so resolutely do accuse him heere of voluntary putting himselfe in that peril how can they proue it and much les that he was a cheife ringleader in that warre or what sure ground haue they of this malitious imputation For sure we are that we haue both heard and seene by letters that he was not only induced but also commanded in his Hol. name by Bishop Sega then Nuntius Apostolicus in Spayne and afterwards Card. to go in that voyage not to be ringleader in matters of warre as these men do odiously obiect but rather to be a moderator and vmpire in Ecclesiastical affayres for direction to that people as occasion should fal out But howsoeuer that was those things being now past and the man dead and with almightie God as we hope and persuade our selues for these men now to reuiue the same againe with so great hatred and enuy as they do for flattering of the present state which yet we persuade our selues beleeueth them little sheweth with what spirit they are replenished and we feare we shal daylie more and more see the fruits therof And this of him But now let vs heare a little how they handle their old good maister and foster father and late Superior Card. Allen of whome in their first two books both in latyn and English they glory greatly that he was their common father and founder that begone the Seminaryes and brought them all vp therin taught and directed them most prudently and kept all in right good order while he was aliue and that he misliked on the other syde the Iesuits education and gouernment of our youth and that he was disunited with F. Persons as misliking his nature and manner of proceeding himself giuing contentment to all beloued and approued of all c. These things and diuers others were in their first two books often incultated which now are contradicted in these later according to the growth of their spirit in passion malice and folly and according to the necessity they haue put themselues in vpon these motiues to bid warre not only to D. Sanders Card. Allen and all the good and learned men of our nation besides but to all Cath. wryters of other Nations also as before hath byn said about their fond and foolish assertion set downe in these their absurd libels But yet especially and aboâ—e all others to Card. Allen who hauing seene a false and pestiferous libel of the very same argument with this of Important ConsideratioÌ„s cast abroad in the years 1583. made by some malitious heretiks in defamaâ—ion of Catholiks and their sufferings whoâ—e little was The execution of iustice in England the said learned man made an answere therunto intituling it A true sincere and modest defence of English Catholikes that suffer for their faith both at home and abroad c. And then is added another paragraphe wherin is declared how vniustly Catholiks are charged with treason how vntruly their persecution is denyed to be for religion and how deceytfully heretiks seeke to abuse straungers about the cause grearnes and manner of their sufferings c. And finally is added vt obstrâ—atur â—s loquentium imqua all this is done to stoop the mouthes of such as speake vniustly VVhich these our priests may take now also to themselues as all the rest in like maÌ„ner which in that learned booke of the Cardinal contayning nyne large chapters is vttered against slanderous heretiks and that lying libeller that set forth the said Execution of iustice seing these men haue aduentured to take their parts and persons vpon them and to rayle ly and defame the actions and intentions of the best Catholiks no lesse then the other did VVhich things being so and the said late good Card. being indeed the most opposite and earnest enemy which they haue or many haue in this their last argument of Important Considerations hauing shaken in peeces by his former booke all the fond reasons and flaunderous calumniations which they alleadge before they came forth no maruaile though they do handle him conteÌ„ptuously and most spitefully in this book though tempering the matter somtymes in respect of their former praises giuen him with saying that the good man was abused that whatsoeuer he did or wrote to their dislike was by F. Persons induction help and persuasion which in a man of his wisdome and authority is the greatest reproch that can be obiected as though he had byn able to haue done nothing of himself but that all he did camefrom F. Persons so they say of him concerning his booke or epistle vvrytten in the yeare 1587. about the lawfulnes of the fact of Sr. VVilliam Stanley his giuing vp Dauentry to the true owner wherof we shal haue occasion to speak afterward in this book now we shal adde a word or two of their reprehension or rather calumniation in that behalf The defence of that disloyalâ—y say they made by a worther man but by the persuasions as we thinke of Persons was greatly disliked by many both myse and learned especially that he
layed this for a ground in iustifying the said Stanely that in all warres which may happen for religion euery Catholike man is bound in conscience to imploy his forces by the Popes direction c. Lo what they mislike both in his ground and action And after this mentioning againe an other book of his which they cal a Treatese penned altogeather by the aduise of F. Persons in the yeare 1588. they rayle and iest at him extremely saying that he laboured with all his Rhetorike to persuade vs to ioyne with him to all our destructions telling vs many fayre tales alluring vs with sundry great promises all being meereillusions falshoods anâ— mast trayterous instigations and iuglings c. And then yet further they wryte thus of him This Iesuite also telleth all Catholiks lo now he is made a Iesuite who was said by them to haue byn an enemy to Iesuits before the better to comfort them but in deed to the great scandal for euer of all priesthood that there was diuers priests in the k. of Spaines army ready to serue euery mans spiritual necessity by confession counsel and all consolation in Christ Iesus c. Which kind of persuasions say they some being ridiculous the most very traterous and these last most blasphemous as tending so greatly to dishonour of religion we detest and abhorre c. Moreouer they wryting of the said Card. speech vsed at that tyme about the sentence of Sixtus 5. abuse him exceedingly by contemptuons words affirming first that he was not to be beleeued shewing nether Bâ—eue nor any other publike instrument and that his owne testimony and book wrytten was of so smal trust or authority as by VVarrant therof Say they we are persuaded it was not lawful for vs to hane killed a goose yf her Ma. had forbidden vs so to do And a little after speaking of the said book they cal it a scurrilous and vnmanly admonition or rather most prophane libel And thus yow see how they pay home their so much praysed father and maister when he cometh in their way And yf there were so great disunion and mislike of nature and conditions betwixt him and F. Persons as these men haue giuen out in their other books how is it probable now that he wrote all these things by F. Persons persuasions as now they say yea that the Card. set his name to some books that F. Persons not himselfe had made and compounded these things we say do not stand to-geather and the very truth is that these men in the humour that now they be in are as great enemyes in hart hatred and Faction to the Card. as to F. Persons and so would shew themselues yf he were alyue to contradict or resist them in these their follyes and madnes as F. Persons God be thanked is And now by this occasion we are mooued in this place to say somwhat also which otherwayes we had purposed not to haue done of this their enmity principal hatred against F. Persons vttered so intemperatly throughout all their libells as they may seeme especially to haue byn wrytten against him and against others only or cheefly for his sake The reason wherof notwithstanding the more we seeke the lesse we fynd excepting only that general reason which we haue touched before in our Apologie that he beeing the man that hath most benifited them aboue others by way of the Seminaryes and after the said good Card. decease by reason of his place and office being Prefect of the English mission for those of his Society may seeme cheifely to hold togeather that cause which these men would deuide and dissipate For this reason yf it be a reason they being angry with him by the very imagination of his beeing in place and credit to hinder their designments they turne all their obligation of gratitude into the passion of hatred conspiring and coniuring against him as the only imagined obstacle of all their factious attempts and desyres though hithertoo we do not see that they haue alleadged many opposite acts of his parte but only by their owne apprehension or interpretation or suspitions for the tyme to come For proof wherof yf we runne ouer all their clamorous books hitherto come forth what one thing of substance do they alleadge against the sayed father yf we set aparte slaunders scoffes and contumelious speaches for as for his going and comming out of England it is so iustified by vs in our Apologie and so many vtilityes shewne to haue ensued therby to our common cause as they may be ashamed euer to make that obiection againe his ioyning afterward with Card. Allen and his proceeding ioyntly with him both in Flaunders and Rome for aduancing our comon Catholike cause and the Card. perferment it selfe are such things as they must needes be ashamed to seeme to mislike his founding of Seminaryes afterward both in Spaine and Flaunders wherby diuers of themselues haue byn made schollers priests though with much malignity they do carp at the same in these libels yet is it shameful to them in the eyes of all ciuil men be they Catholiks or Protestants His comming backe to Rome againe afterward in the yeare 1597. we see by experience was the sauing of that Colledge and the present fruits and effects of peace vertue and learning there do reject all slanders that in this point can be obiected his concurring afterwards to procure vs a Superiour of our owne order vpon our owne petition letters as in the Apology we haue shewed is no wayes subiect to any iust obloquie His proceeding after that againe with the two messengers sent to Rome to contradict was such as their owne letters yet extant did commend the same The end also taken by his Hol. was then approued and praysed by the cheefe of the aduerse part and all that followed afterward from F. Persons as appeareth by his letters set downe in our Apologie tendeth to nothing els but to conserue that end peace and vnion which his Hol. and his high Comissioners the Card. Protectors had made and to this end had he continually written to the Archpriest and Fathers of the Society as wel as to the other side and that most earnestly and effectually as his letters do yet testifie And yf any new breach or exasperation haue byn made or giuen heere in England by any it hath byn without his consent coÌ„trary to his desyre and indeauoures as by infinite wayes appeareth and not only priuate men but the said Card. Protectors and his Hol. himselfe are witnesses therof in Rome as we are most certainly informed and all this being so how and with what conscience credit or wisdome can our passionate brethreÌ„ make him their publike enemy as they do raging and rauing against him as though he were the woorst man liuing the greatest enemy that our publike cause of the Catholiks hath laying all the faults of other men also eyther
of all other seeketh most to do them good yf they had vnpassionate eyes to see it VVherfore we shal runne ouer breefly some few more that concerne him especially and so make an end hauing receyued from him and others particular information of the truth and falshood of the matters obiected VVherfore to touch them briefely as theyâ—ly in this their book of Important Considerations for we wil omit eyther all or the most part of those that are in their other libel tearmed their Relation of wisbich wherin there are so many heaped togeather in a certayne mad and furious innectiue of VV. VV. prefixed in name of the rest before the said bookâ— as these only with the spiteful maner of vttering the same are sufficieÌ„t to make them knowne and to discreedit not only the wryter but all his ayders and approuers with all honest and sober men of what religion soeuer For first they affirme heere that F. Persons hath seâ—t sundry of his subiects into Ireland already in the behalf of the Spaniard and that that warre was plotted and sollicited by him and his that he hath intituled the K. of Spayne to all the 3. kingdomes of England Scotland and Fraunce and the lady Infanta to the same kingdomes that he did constrayne the students of the Semynaryes in Spayne to subscribe to her interest forcing them to promise that when they should returne into England they would aduance her title to their vttermost abillity power and poyse of words that for not applauding to this Spanish pretence of the Infanta the L. Dacres was dryuen out of Spayne and all other Spanish dominions being slaundered to be a spy for England and to haue intended to haue set the Spanish fleet on fyre That F. Persons hath caused diuers of our countrey to be vtterly disgraced discredited yea and to leese their lyues in Spayne for not yeilding to his desyre therin That after he came in post to Rome and would needs haue the book of Tytles read in the Refectory of the Colledge yf it had not byn resysted and that for hatred to the secular Seminary priests he gaue out that book of Tytles to haue byn made by M. Dolman a secular priest c. These and a great multitude more of like accusations and calumniations which for breuity and lothsomnesse we omit are heaped togeather in this place and sprinkeled againe throughout the whole book as occasion is offered And albeit the most of these are so euidently false and ridiculous as theyneed no answere yet wil we say somwhat to each of them in order and first of that of hauing sent diuers of his subiects already into Ireland to set forward that warre all men knowe that F. Persons hath authority ouer none but only English Iesuits wherof yf any one can be proued to haue byn sent hitherto into Ireland or any one to be there at this day or any one priest of those Seminaryes to haue byn directed by him that way for diuerse yeares then may these slaunders haue some shew or pretence of this their malicious sycophancy but none being at all it maketh them more in excusable Moreouer weâ— adâ— that we haue seene a letter lately wrytten out of Spay ne by a man o credit about the protestation of two worshipful and honorable gentlemen Sir VVilliam Stanley and M. Thomas Fitzherbert concerning this affaire of Ireland wherin they bothe affirme and protest vpon their soules and coÌ„sciences that to their knowledge neyther they nor any one English-man els was euer so much as asked his opinion in this late affayre of Ireland nor any one hitherto of our nation imployed or sent in that action And M. Thomas Fitzherbert nameth in that letter one Hewghe Boye an Irish-man Agent for the Earle of Tyron in the court of Spayne who residing there many monethes to deale in this matter and seing M. Fitzherbert euery day as lying in the same court neuer yet broke the matter with him nor was willing that any English-man at all should be priuy thervnto as whome both he and other Irishmen treating therabout presumed to be contrary to their desires and designments therin And this can and wil the said Boye testifie seing since that tyme he is passed from the said Earle of Tyrone to her Maiesties seruice And further more the said two gentlemen do protest in like maner vpon occasion offered that both they F. Persons and F. Creswel who haue had hitherto most dealings with the spanish King and counsel did neuer treat in their lyues nor consent that the said king should haue any temporal interest in the crowne of England for himselfe and much lesse that any such conquest of our countrey should be made or attempted as these folish malitious people do faygne and giue out And further they protest by the same asseueration that neyther the old king now dead nor his sonne now raigning did euer pretend the same in word or deed but alwayes assured the contrary to wit that their only meaning and desire was and is by their warres against England that the Catholiks might be releeued from their most greeuous pressures and oppressions for religion and themselues deliuered from continual molestations which in Flanders Indies and other places they receyued from England hauing a desire in themselues to lyue in peace and loue with that crowne aboue all other forraine nations as in former tymes they did when the State was Catholike This and diuers other such poynts do the foresaid two worthie gentlemen auow in manner aforesaid is testified by the foresaid letter which we haue seene dated in Madrid the first of October last past 1601. By this then most of the foresaid calumniations against F. Persons are discouered concerning his dealing with and for the king of Spayne which is greatly confirmed and made euident by a certaine letter wrytten by the said Father himselfe in great confidence and cyphar also as his aduersaryes say to F. Holt in Flaunders from Genua vpon the 15. of March 1597. when the said father arryued there towards Rome which letter or the copy therof being stolne afterward as it seemeth from F. Holt and giuen to his aduersaryes which in some places they haue shewed and is like to be that which heere they brag of saying that his owne books handwrytings wil be brought out as witnesses against him But hitherto they are not brought or alleadged and it semeth that this in particular wherof we haue the copie serueth not their turnes so much as they dare to alleadge it finding more sincerity religion wisdome and grauity conteyned therin though wrytten in secret and confidence where he might vtter himselfe boldly than their malignant enuy wil suffer them to be glad to see which yet we be inforced in this place through their malignity not to thinke amisse to acquaint somwhat the Reader therwith The superscription was thus To the Reuerend Father F. VVilliam Holt c. And then
why it is not alleadged with the date and place and then consider moreouer good Reader how likely it is that F. Persons except he were mad should wryte these words of himself and of his whole order and whethet these men may be iudged to be in their right senses and fiue wits that wryte and put such things in print though wee haue heard of a certayne letter deuised amongst some of them to be printed as writen by him which yet others of the sayd company not so mad as the rest dissuaded them from as a thing that would easily be discouered yet haue they here another assertiō within a few leaues after as bold and ridiculous as this saying F. Persons so laboured himself and others in England about matters of state how he might set her Ma. crowne vpon anothers head as appered by a letter of his owne to a certayne Earle that the Catholiks themselues threatned to deliuer him into the hands of the ciuil magistrate except he desisted from such kynd of practises c. And heere also we would aske why they do not expresse this letter more particularly set downe the words therof For yf they meane a letter of his wrytten to the Earle of Anguise in Scotland and intercepted heere in Englād concerning his dutiful affection and good merits towards the K. of Scotlād there is no such woord ther in sense nor meaning if they haue any other which we assure our selues they haue not why do they not cite it as plaine dealing men ought to do as we haue done towards them and theirs in our Apologie VVhy also do they slaunder the Catholiques of England with so base and absurd a cogitation as to deliuer vp F. Persons to the ciuil magistrate which we assure ourselues neuer passed through their imaginations esteeming his discret and feruent labours for them and their common cause a hundred tymes more then all these vnprofitable wrangling people ioyned togeather And now hauing byn much more longer in this matter then we purposed at the beginning we would gladly end pretermitting infinite other such like stuffe of the same kind as in these books are euery wheare found yet must we not passe ouer one narration of theirs for that it toucheth great personages The story is this that when their two legats M. Bishop and M. Charnock came to Rome in the end of the yeare 1598. they went as heere is said first to the frēch Embasador residing there requesting his help to procure thē audiēce of the Pope who enquiring if they had brought the K. his masters letter in their fauour perceauing they had not told thē that albeit he would with the said letter if they had brought it more willingly enter into the said action with them yet without it also would he speake to his Hol. in their fauour and so he did making a speech which heere in their book they take vpon them to set downe and the very words he vsed wherby he obtayned ful promise of their audience with fauour at his Hol. hands VVhich the Spanish Embassadour vnderstanding of went presently to the Pope and made another speech in the behalfe of his maister to whome the Pope promised that they should not haue audience which being vnderstood by the french Embassadour he returned to his Hol. againe and renewed his oration and petitiō for their audience more earnestly then before and it was resolutely graunted him which being brought to the Spanish Embassadour he went to the Pope with great vehemency the second tyme and as it were threatning him from his king made him recal the second tyme his former promise Lo heere a sharp combat framed in the ayre neuer thought of by the partyes as we are informed from Rome it selfe And first it is to be considered how bold a deuise this is and how iniurious to his Hol. himselfe who is made heere like a doore opened by one and shut by another and geuing a creake to each one that moueth it which contumely how farre it is from the wisdome maturity and knowen constancy of his Hol. in his resolutions all men do know who haue dealt with him and it is extreame audacity for these to deuise such absurd and ridiculous matters of him as to say and vnsay fower tymes one thing to so great personages And thus much of his Holines person But now for the matter it selfe concerning the narration how or whether the two messengers went to the French Embassador in Rome whether the matter be wholy fayned or no we cannot precisely affirme but great probability there is that they were neuer with him seing that their arriual in Rome being about the 11. of December as in our Apologie we haue declared at what tyme the said Embassador was not there but in Ferrara with the Pope or in his way towards Rome his Holines entred not the citty but some 2. or 3. dayes before the floud which happened on Christmas eue and so empestred the citty as there was no going vp and downe and much lesse negotiating from that tyme to S. Thomas of Canterbury his day Decemb. 29. when they were restrayned and committed to ward by his Holines order and therby had no tyme afterward to go to the said Embassador But howsoeuer this was we are acertayned by due information taken at Rome both from Cardinal Burghesius Vice-protector of England priuy to all the whole negotiation and of the Duke of Sessa and Vayena the King of Spaynes Embassador whome our brethren appoint for cheef actor and orator of pleading this cause for of the other two Cardinal Caëtan the Protector and Monsieur Syllarie the king of France his Embassador the one is dead and the other gone from Rome these two great men we say do affirme that all this matter to their knowledge is a meere fiction and that his Hol. when he shal know it as before this it is likely he hath done cannot but laugh and yet be much offended with such audacity to be published in print And of the said Duke of Sessa Embassador of Spayne they write from Rome that he laughed hartily when he heard the Story saying wel then they make me at least the better orator of the two who finally preuayled with his Hol. But after his laughter past he asked seriously But is it possible that English Catholike priests should haue so litle shame conscience as to vtter such deuises of their owne in print and father them vpon vs heere who neuer thought nor dreamed therof what may be expected of them for the tyme to come These men said he wil not stick to fayne letters wrytings and speeches to wreake their wrath against any man To whome it was answered that this indeed was doubted against some and F. Persons by name whose letters they threaten in many places to bring forth and yet alleadge none hitherto for that perhaps they are not yet made or deuised VVel then there were
assaylant then the assayled Yow haue heard how boysterously not to say furiously these passionate people haue runne euery where vpon F. Persons dentibus ensibus to vse their owne phrase and surely if we did not know F. Persons and his merits towards our common cause and them in particular as we do yet knowing them as we may by these their books and libels and beholding their outragious dealing with him we must needs think the better of him for it and that there is some great good thing in him for which they enuy him so exceedingly and discouer such rancor and malice against him as they seeme to be content we meane of the principal that wryte these books to put out both their owne eyes according to the prouerb so they might put out one of his But this is the nature of enuy Let vs now examine some more particulars of their proceedings with him Besides all their former rayling and calumniation against F. Persons wherof we haue treated hitherto they obiect now further to leaue nothing vntouched the wryting of certayne books foure in number wherof 3. are extant in print and one only in wrytten hand The first is in latyn vnder the name of Philopater conteyning an answere to the English Edict and most rigorous law set forth against Catholiks in the yeare 1591. The second is in English named a VVardword to the VVatchword of Sir F. Hastings by N. D. which two books these men do inueigh against by name and yet in the first of them their owne cause if they be Catholike priests as also the Seminaries and English martirs are so diligently deâ—ended especially in the 3. 4. and 5. sections as if enuy had not vtterly extinguished in these people the sense and feeling not only of vertue and gratitude but of humanity also and ciuility they would neuer so enueigh against this book wrytten in their behalfes as neyther against the second to wit the VVardword which is wholy to the same effect and to defend the most innocent Catholike recusants of our countrey against the bloudy slaunders and imputations of that cruel mynded knight The 3. and fourth books obiected by them are the conference about Succession or Titles as they cal it and the high counsel of Reformation for so they fondly terme it of which two books we shal speake somwhat more in this place but most of the last for that it is not in print as all the other three are and so may be vewed and examined by the Reader himself to whome we giue only this aduertisment that none of the forsaid three haue F. Persons name vnto it and consequently are no otherwise knowne to be of his making but only by their owne coniectures albeit all three are such as be they his or no they yeild litle matter of aduantage to these poore men but much rather of greef and enuy as by reading them will appeare And as for the third of Succession we shal discusse some points therof afterwards beeing vrged therunto by their often carping therat and a childish answere set forth against it in print Now we wil begin with the fourth wherof they write thus This Polypragman Persons say they set out a booke intituled The high counsel of Reformation of England c. wherin he wil haue the old Roman Agrarian law so firmely established in this land no fee simple of inheritance shal be left for any English from the Prince to the freeholder to possesse enjoy and leaue by succession of birth and bloud to his posterity as to his next heyres further then as the Spanish Iesuitical court counsel and gouernors shal appoint for them Lo heere a great and heynous charge and if any one senteÌ„ce therof be true or sincerely set downe then shal we be content to beleeue them in all the rest and if we proue them to be all and euery one of them meerly false then yow know what to think of them First then we graunt that vpoÌ„ search made we haue found that the said Father not altogeather vntruly called heere Polypragmon for the multitude of his cares and labors in our publique cause hauing had occasion aboue others for more then xx yeares not only to know the State of matters in England but also of many forraine nations and Catholike kingdomes abroad hath vsed like diligence from tyme to tyme to obserue and note to himselfe certayne excelleÌ„t things found in other places which are not so much in vse among vs in England nor were when it was Catholike VVhich obseruations he hauing imparted somtymes with certayne confident freÌ„ds they seemed to them of so great importaÌ„ce for the tyme to come as they intreated him earnestly to put them at least in wryting for himselfe and for others after him to publike good when tyme might serue to vse them if now he would not make them common as he signified in no wiâ—e he would Herevpon he then being at Siuil in the yeare 1596. and receyuing letters from his Superiors to returne to Rome for appeasing the tumults there he was more earnestly intreated that before his departure he would performe the same and so he did calling it A memorial or Remembrance for them that shal lyue when Catholike religion shal be restored into England wherin he proposeth with all indifferency such matters as he hath obserued and noted to be thought and considered of at that tyme and eyther to be taken or reiected limited chaunged or altered as they should think best all which appeareth by his owne Preface to that treatese which for more satisfaction of the Reader and fuller declaration of his intent and purpose we shal heere set downe word for word as we find it in the said book wherof we haue procured a true copy out of the original though with great difficulty for that no copyes are giuen abroad but only to some few confident frends to haue a sight therof and giue their iudgement of the matter But yet before we set downe the said Preface we may note the falsity of these first words of our brethren affirming the book to be intituled The high counsel of Reformation for England c. wheras it is only intituled A memorial for Reformation c. conteyning certaine notes and aduertisments c. gathered and set downe by R P. 1596. Secondly it is not nor euer was set out or published as these men falsly affirme but is kept in secret to the author and his nearest frends only to the end aforesaid Thirdly the whole calumniation that follovveth of the old Romaine Agrarian lawes pretended therby to be so firmely established as no fee simple of Inheritance shal be left for any English c. All this we say is so notoriously false as the plaine contrary is therin to be found First for that nothing proposed in this Memorial is firmely established or set downe by way of resolution but only suggested to be considered of secondly
art inexcusable that iudgest another condemning thy selfe by iudging him seing thow doest the selfe same thinges wherwith thow findest fault in him The wryter of the Conference putteth downe his name R. Doleman and whether it be his true name or no it little importeth the reason therof is before by vs declared in the next precedent Chapter This other pamphleter cometh forth without any name at all and yet quarreleth with the other for not putting a name is not heere more then S. Paules condemnation against so impudent a cauiller But let vs passe from a vayne and idle Preface to the barren bulke of the worke it selfe which is more ridiculous and absurd then the preamble what do yow thinke that this discouerer hath performed in his whole little barking pamphlet against the forsaid book Hath he answered think yow any one reason argument example or discourse therin set downe throughout those nynteene large Chapters coÌ„teyned in the conference No truly nor hath so much as gone about to do it And wherin then doth he spend his tyme and paper in this discouery yow shal heare breefely and therby know the man First he sheweth himselfe very angry at the common opinion of men about the estimation and credit of this book generally wherat also VV. VV. doth storme exceedingly in his epistle to the Important Considerations The author saith he is so extolled for sharpnes of wit plenty of much reading cunning in conueyance aboundance of eloquence and other graces as none can find any want or default c. Do yow not see heere enuy accuse and condemne her selfe Secondly he taketh in hand and this in diuers parts of his Discouery to shew that the setting forth of this book could not be with the priuity of the K. of Spaine that is now dead or he that now raigneth nor pleasing to eyther of them for that it hurteth his cause a very wise and pertinent argument and that other betrer meanes might haue byn deuised yf he forsooth and his fellowes had byn called to counsel for the aduauncment of the K. honorable designes seruices and offices for so are his words Marry saith he in ordine ad Deum vsque ad aras and more then this I am sure quoth he so good a king wil not require c. Do yow se how careful this discouerer is to hold good opinion with the K. of Spaine how desyrous to further his honorable designes and seruices in ordine ad Deum vsque ad aras shal we thinke this to come from M. Paget VVe can hardly beleeue it Thirdly he taketh in hand to giue many graue notes vpon the reasoning of the two lawyers in the book of Conference and first of all he complaineth that the speakers in the dialogue or conference about succession as also the place named by the author are counterfait as in the title of his answere yow haue heard him auouch which is so egregious a foolery as nothing can be more for with this substantial reason he may refute euery thing wherin fayned persons are brought in to speake and consequently condemne and reiect for counterfet things all Plato and Tullyes works wrytten in dialogue maner affirming that those their conferences and persons therin named were for the most part fayned and counterfetted And is not this also a point of great wisdome Fourthly he findeth great fault with this book for that therin two lawyers should be brought in to reason and be iudges of so great and weightie a controuersy about the succession not law it self But what a iest is this As though law is not best vttered by lawyers or as though to determine weightie controuersyes the rediest way were to bring many law bookes into the place without lawyers to expound them VVho seeth not the cauilling vanity of this man Fifthly he misliketh and comâ—layneth greeuously that the ciuil lawyer should speak first and before the temporal lawyer in this Conference wherof he inferreth that the intention of the wryter is when tyme shal serue in England to haue the ciuil law of Caesar for so his words are preferred before the auncient municipal lawes of our Country which municipal lawes he affirmeth Pope Eleutherius to haue appoynted to Lucius king saith he of all the great Britany and to haue commanded this at the request of the Brytish nobâ—lity and people aboue 1400. yeares past that Caesars ciuil lawes should be Abolished c. Mark heere we beseech yow the learned discourse of our wise Doctor because the ciuilian speaketh first more largely in the first book of the Conference and contrary wise in the second and for that the said first book is before the second book therfore he inferreth that the wryter had a purpose to preferre the ciuil law before the temporal Is he not worthie a doctorship trow yow that so reasoneth As for the second point about Eleutherius the Pope that he appointed K. Lucius to banish Caesars ciuil lawes and to plant municipal lawes or that these municipal lawes that now are in England brought in principally by the Conqueâ—oun and increased synce by acts of ParliameÌ„t as all men know were in Britany in Pope Eleutherius his tyme or that K. Lucius was king of all the great Britany as heere is aâ—ouched vnto vs or that the said K. Lucius or his nobility did demaund these municipal lawes at the Popes hand as this wise discouerer affirmeth these things we say being such strange noueltyes as they are required some proof at least at the Doctors hand yf he wil not be held ridiculous as most of these things are alleadged by him but citing none at all euery man wil iudge of him accordingly In the sixt place after much coÌ„plaint as hath byn touched that the Ciuilian lawyer in the first book speaketh more then the temporal he saith thus The temporal lawyer for his part must follow an eccho not betweene two hilles vpon stoppage of breath for modesty and feare but in playne fields not subiect to rebounds boldly without blushing to correspond c. Consider heere a very graue complaint for that the temporal lawyer is made to answere and allow the Ciuilians speech But heare yet a much grauer and earnest against the trauellers which being present at the speech do speake also themselues sometimes for varietyes sake telling the lawyers what seemeth best to them which thing greatly misliketh this wise discouerer for which cause he wryteth thus against it Furthermore saith he the trauailers for their parts must help the credit of these lawyers by a coople of od shifts els all wilnot go straight for by the meanes of their ranging throughout diuers countreys we must haue a common opinion settled eurey where that all is true which these two haue said and agreeable to the lawes of nature and consequently the common â—ame of their horrible blasts mustâ—course both ayre and earth c. This is his complanit for that poynt
In the seauenth place yow are to ponder certayne notes of his set downe in the margent of his book wherby for breuityes sake we leaue yow to gesse what is handled more at large in the text First then he complayneth in one note thus That the Queene must seeme to be put in security for her tyme for these are the words of his marginal note and from that he passeth to other matters of like substance and quality as may appeare by these other marginal notes following to wit first that the wryter of this conference neyther profiteth the king nor the common cause by discourse of succession And then againe to the same effect he maketh this other annotation The disseruice done to the king by this Conference And yet further in another margent The book of Conference was not printed with the late Kings priuâ—â—y or liking And yet againeâ— This author and lawyer do mock and abuse the K. of Spaine By all which yow may see how dutiful a seruant to the K. of Spaine this discouerer would make himself which yet lying in Paris we maruaile much that he would professe so openly as also how he wil like of these confederates of his faction now gone thither out of England we meane the reuolted priests who in all their late books and libels do band against the said king and shew egregious hatred and enmity towards him But each one of these good fellowes speaketh for himself and for the tyme present and as it standeth best for him at that instant hauing no other vnion or agreement with his followes but to impugne a third and all their barking is but as of little whelpes against them that passe athwart them and when all is done they may be gotten againe with a bit of bread And we haue seene a letter of one of them wrytten from Paris to Spaine not long since wherin he offereth that yf he might haue but 4. or 5. Crownes the moneth from that king he would be content as before And we haue the original letter to shew yf need be though for this tyme we wil conceale his name And the like may yow presume of this eager discouerer that yf any least commodity might be had from Spaine or els where he would quickely bite at it as he did while it was to be had though for the present they say he is most busy and earnest in Paris to set forward the seditious that seek to lay the foundation of their fauour and credit as wel in England as with the K. most Christian by professing auersion from Spaine and this is thought a wise politike course by them but the end wil prooue all And so we returne to the treatese of our counterfet discouerer againe VVe haue shewed hitherto what trifles he hath handled in his vayne and idle discouery not touching any one substantial point of so many of great moment as are contayned and handled in the said two books of succession For to speak nothing of the second book wherin matters are treated historically for the most part what more weighty or important matters can be handled about the right and interest of the succession of any crowne then is treated in the first book by the author of the coÌ„ference as for example whether gouernmeÌ„t â—e by law of nature diuine or humane how monarchies and kingdomes were begon and continued and by what right how great and high reuerence is due vnto Princes and yet how in some cases they may be restrayned or chasisted by the common wealth what interest Princes haue in their subiects goods lands and lyues How oathes made vnto them do bynd and what oathes princes themselues as namely those of England do make in their coronation to the common wealth and how farre they bynd VVhat is due to only succession by birth or propinquity of blood without other needful circumstances concurring therwith what are the principal points which a Catholike and godly common welth ought to respect in admitting or excluding any pretender to a crowne or Principality and how greuously they do synne that neglect these considerations for interest feare negligence or other humane respects c. All these and diuers other most worthie and weighty points are handled in the first book only of the conference to say nothing of the second which is yet of more variety with great aboundance and store of proofes arguments and demonstrations wherof no one at all is answered or so much as touched by this discouerer but only certaine impertinent trifles as hath byn said and therby is discouered his owne weaknes and his folly displayed And yet to the end not to seeme wholy to say nothing he standeth finally vpon two fond calumniations the first that the conference conteyneth popular doctrine perilous to Princes states and common wealthes c. And herof he giueth certayne vayne and foolish examples of Antonio Perez that raysed some trouble against the K. of Spaine in Aragon and of George Buchanan in Scotland and of the Prince of Oreâ—ge in Flanders c. But this cauil is answered at large in the third Chapter of the said first book of Conference others that ensue shewing that there is no reason why the lawful graue iust and orderly proceeding of true subiects and moderate commoÌ„ wealthes against pernicious or vnlawful princes should be stayned or their iust authority left them by all law both diuine and humane should be denied for that some wicked and trooble some subiects haue against law and order misbehaued themselues against their lawful princes The other cauil is that this conference is iniurious to the king of Scotland with whome the discouerer would gladly get some credit by malitious impeaching of others and to this end he noteth in his margent these words The authors extreame malice against the king of Scotland But whether this lightheaded discouerer doth shew himselfe more malitious in setting downe so malignant a marginal note or the author of the conference in wryting so temperaâ—ly and reuerently as he doth as wel of the king of Scotlands pretence to England as of all other princes and pretenders to that crowne besides let the indifferent reader be iudge Sure we are that in reading ouer that part which toucheth his Maiestie of Scotland we neuer discouered any the least malice at all in the wryter but rather a very indifferent mynd to haue the vttermost right of euery man knowne without offering wrong or iniury to any according to which indifferency the said king of Scotlands title is set downe in the very first place in that book as first and cheef pretender among the rest neyther is there any one thing emitted to our knowledge that truly and rightly may be said or added in setting out of the same title And when the exceptions made by the opposite pretenders against him are declared nothing is auouched which is not openly knowne to be true neyther any thing
them and not matter of religion Their persons in that they make them the true authors and occasioners of all their owne troubles vexations and damages by their owne indiscreet and temerarious actions as hath byn said They iustifie also the cause of the persecutors do lay the fault vpon the presecuted what greater iniuryes can be offered then these Moreouer by these their later books and libels they discouering notoriously their passion venome of stomake indiscretion intemperance lack of conscience modesty shame and other such poynts as are euident to those that read their said books this cannot but worke in all Catholiks whose mynds are holylie bent and indued with the contrary vertues a great disreputation and auersion from them VVe passe ouer their follysh speches vsed comoÌ„ly against all Catholiks whome they thinke not to fauour them which are in effect all calling them mad dogges set on by Iesuits to barke and byte deuour their deare ghostly Fathers c. And then againe a litle after in the same place VVheras deare Catholiks many of yow do account vs disobedient true it is that we are so and would to God that yow were so likewise Yow inferre heervpon that we are factious seditious rebellious malecontents schismatiks c. marke how good opinion Catholiks haue of them by their owne confession but therin yow do bely vs by false suggestions put into yowr greene ignorant passionate affectionate indiscretly zealous heads Lo what Epythetons they giue them And in other place they cal them fancyful fellowes of the new fashion infected with the Spanish pip iniesuitated and the like But it litle importeth what names or coÌ„tumelious speeches they vse towards them in respect of the thinges themselues and crimes obiected and vrged against theÌ„ as before hath byn said wherby they seeme to labour to ouerthrow directly so much as in them lyeth the whole merit and honor of the Cath. cause and of Cath. mens sufferings making them not to be for conscience but for practise against the Prince and state a most wicked and iniurioÌ„s deuise practised principally by Constantius the Arrian heretik and Iultan the Apostata as Ecclesiastical historyes do recount And this is held for the principal point wherin these vnfortunate men are thought to be hyred by the publike aduersary in religion to ioyne with them in this Capital slaunder against their owne brethren and cause confirming herin the reports of our heretikes in forraine countreys who tel staungers that no man is troubled in England for matters of conscience but all that are punished are chastised for other delicts then which vnworthy reproch all men of iudgement do see that nothing can be more falsely sâ—aunderously or iniuriously laid vpon our publike cause For auoyding of which our late good Card. stryued so much in his learned book against the libel of English iustice as all men know and these men iest at and impugne This then being the effect of these mens labors and endeauors and their whole stryse and contentioÌ„ beeing to deuyde disgrace and discreedit both Catholiks and their cause we may immagine what credit they are like to gaine with them by these their doings And so much of this But yet further it shal not be amysse to ponder also what reputation they are like to wyn at length with the very aduersaryes themselues who setting a side the contrariety of religion being many of them very wise and discreet men and of no euil nature and condition especially of those with whome these men are said to deale they wil easily discouer the great and strange passion of these men togeather with their intemperate spirit and that they do not this they do or say for any loue towards them but for reuenge towards vs not of iudgemeÌ„t or affection but of enuy and precipitation and ther vpon it must needs follow that albeit their treason for the tyme he admitted yet must the traytors be contemptible and to this effect haue we a notable story recounted both by Eusebius Zozomenus of Constantius Father to our great Constantine who was gouernour once of England and perhaps the fact it self fel out heer so much the more to be noted by vs. The forsaid two authors do recount that this Constantius being a notable wise man though a heathen at the same tyme when Dioclesian and Maximinian the Emperors to whome he succeded afflicted infinitely Chirstians euery where he though misliking that extreme cruelty yet to seeme also to do somwhat for that he was declared Caesar successor of the Empyre made an edict or proclamation that so many of the Christians about him as would sacrifice to his Gods should not only haue his fauour and enioy honors in his court and common welth but be vsed and trusted also by him aboue other men and such as would not though he meant not to put them to death yet would he exclude them from his frendship and familarity and from all dignityes c. This being done euery man began say the forsaid authors to shew his affection some retyred themselues with greef and sadnes some held their peace some denyed flatly but none of all these had intention to please the Prince in his demaund others there were that thinking by this occasion to wyn the spurres and get themselues credit and authority aboue the rest came fawning to Constantius and his officers offering to do what he would haue them and therby shew their true dutyful affections towards his Ma. and the state with other such like flattering protestations wherof when Constantius heard and had coÌ„sidered wel of the matter he caused them all to be thrust out of his court depriued them of the honors and offices which before they had and the other that had refused of conscience so to do against their owne religion he willed to be called back from exile aduaunced and trusted aboue the rest vsing that notable wise saying as Eusebius recounteth it Quomodo fidem erga Imperatorem saith he seruare poterunâ— inuiolatam qui aduer sus Deum persidi esse manifesto conuincuntur Quapropter hos procul à regali suo domicilio statuit ainandandos illos verò stipatores suos custodes regni constiâ—uit How can they keep their faith inuiolate towards their Emperor saith he that are conuinced to be prefidious toward God and their owne religion For which cause he comaunded these that flattered to be banished farre from his royal pallace and these other that dealt plainly and syncerly though contrary to his wil and comaundements he took them into his owne gard and defence and made them guardians of his kingdome Behold heer a worthy wise example which our English magistrats cannot but remember and think of and our brethren ought not to forget to doubt rather and feare least the like may happen vnto them in tyme. For albeit our aduersaryes be content to vse them for a tyme as for a rod
epistle which discryeth the man sufficiently what is in him in what state he is for thus he beginneth his Epistle VVise was the painter in his amorous conceyt who in portrayting out the porport of Venus drew her picture with so great arte sleight and significant resemblance of her natural blazon as the portrayt of her fore-parts all ouer shadowed with the porch where she entred in posteriora eius on the backe being only seene going into the temple presented an abstract to the behâ—lders of so rare excellency as the type of the protâ—t ypon by signes and symptons semed to say giue back enamorades of ladyes bewtyes seeke not to se the face of the peerlesse content your curious eyes with this which though the meanest part of the delightful obiect yet of that perfection as wherin yow may behould the works of dame nature to be so farre aboue reasons reach as wit and art should skip beyond their skil yf they should attempt to set forth the worthiest parts of this goddesse paragon sance peere And yet was Venus but a very strompet a common queane fitter for Vulcan the blackesmith then for Mars the Captayne and more admired at talked of and followed for her wanton tricks in satiable lust and shape to frame an eye to vice them for any complemental perfection to be found in the purest parts of her filthy carcasse or lineaments of her vading though seming fayre sweet blisful cheeks shrewded in the auriflame of carnation die dropt in euery lyne mathematical with argent and gules milkewhite and scarlet red Now yf yow did not know this fellow before yow may take a scantling of him both in body and soule by this narration and therby make a gesse how poore defectuous and sinful he is in the one and other For as for his body and outward feature yf yow know him yow wil hardly think him a fit creature to talke so much of natural blazons or enamorades of ladyes bewtyes c. or of royal damsels of rare aspect himselfe being so wrong shapen and of so bad blinking aspect as he looketh nyne wayes at once as scarsely he can discerne any thing that toucheth not his eyes which yet we obiect not as natures defect but as representing rather the state of his mynd which seemeth by this filthy description of Venus and her posteriora so often mentioned as also by the wanton imaginations of pleasing obiects and sweet blisful cheeks and other such lasciuions phrases that he is so deeply ouerwhelmed with sensual and venereous apprehensins contemplations and desyres no maruayle though he cry out so hideously against Iesuits that are sworne enemies to the very thoughts therof and we know both by experience and otherwise that there is no other motiue of enmity greater then this set downe by the holy Ghost contrarius est operibus nostris Iesuits are of contrary life spirit iudgment wil works and maners to him and what maruayle then is there if he professe himselfe so mortal an enemy to them Yet we do know and can testifie that the tyme hath byn when this sinful and wretched poore fellow being in extreme necessity both of body and soule and in other sort of suddes then he now threatneth to leaue Iesuites in had his cheefest releefe by some of ther meanes though now most vngratfully he forget the same paying them euil for good as honest men are wont to be paid from such as he is But a iudgement day wil come to iustifie all and for that this lost lad and true stayne of his religion and order as falsly and wickedly he calleth the Iesuits is permitted by God and vsed by the diuel at this tyme to so publike a reproch of our profession as all the world seeth by so many infamous bookes as come daily forth from him or through his hands we are forced in this place ful sore against our wil and purpose to discouer the man somwhat further vnto yow to the end yow may see what a pillar and proctor the factious haue chosen to themselues for their bookemaister to defame by his labours their brethren and whole religion this being the especial seruice for which it seemeth M. Bluet so carefully made his peace with the counsel when he wrote to M. Mush as in our Apologie we haue set downe that M. VVatsons peace was made if he would which wil no doubt was to agree to some such good seruice of their side as this is which now he performeth vnder the direction of my L. of London of whome yet we cannot but maruaile being otherwise of that iudgment and temperate nature which some men report him to be that euer he would vse so base and absurd an instrument as this felow is hauing byn taken by them in so many trippes as he hath But yow wil say that to a base worke a base instrument is fittest and we see herin verified that obseruation which Philippus Cominaeus maketh in his story to wit that in tyme of sedition the worst men do grow fastest and he that in a quiet and ordinate state of things should be abiect and nothing esteemed in a troubled state becometh admirable by which meanes VVilliam VVatson for so at length he putteth downe his name in his book of Quodlibets who in tyme of quiet was worth nothing now by broyles is become vpon the suddayne a great maister in Israel amoÌ„g our mutined brethren whose coÌ„mon wealth is no lesse disordered since their rebellioÌ„ against their lawful Superiors then that of the Iewes since they left their obedience due to Christ and his law and for that we shal haue occasion after to mencion often this book maister of theirs or prefect rather of their print we are forced heere to tel yow breefly somwhat for better knowing him His coming out of England and maner therof we know not in particular nor greatly doth it import only we know that he came to the English Seminary of Rhemes in France a poore litle begging boy where being taken of charity his first allowance was for a good tyme pottage only and licking the dishes which other men had emptied before him after this he was admitted to serue at the table and carry away dishes after that againe he was admitted to make beddes swepe chambers and other like offices belonging thervnto in which kynd he serued especially one M. Boast a good priest and a holy martyr since which if he had knowne then or suspected that the squint eyed boy for so he called him would haue prooued so wicked a man he should neuer haue comen no doubt within his chamber dore And yet further yow must note that all this while VVil. VVats besides his poore estate vvas the most contemptible and ridiculous thing in all that house for many yeares for that his grace was in tumbling and making sport to others for which his body if yow know him was fitly made and so he passed by the
matter as these wicked companions haue deuised And if there were no other argumeÌ„t but that neyther F. Persons himselfe nor any frend of his had neuer any doubt or least scruple therof hitherto as may appeare by that neyther in his entring into religion nor holy orders of priesthood any dispensation was required or sought for this we say were sufficient to any honest man that is tymerous of God and measureth other meÌ„s consciences by their owne to conuince this exorbitant malice of these coÌ„sciencelesse rayling people that make no scruple to publish so false a matter impossible to be knowen to them for a thing most certayne wheras in true conscience by Christian Cath. diuinity it is knowne to be a heynoÌ„s deadly synne to publish such a matter of infamy though it had bin true if it were otherwise secret and not knowen before but much more to deuise and spread the same of malice or being deuised or brought in suspition by others to auouch and diuulge it as in all their bookes they do wherin we can say no more considering there desperat course but remember with feare the saying of the scripture impius cùm in profundum venerit contemnit The wicked maÌ„ coÌ„temneth all when he is once ouer the eares in synne God help them out if it be his holy wil but yet in the meane space we are forced to admonish them that this other such slaunders must needs ly heauily vpon the consciences of the deuisers or publishers and be a daungerous chirographum against them at the day of iudgemeÌ„t except they repent and make due satisfaction heere which eyther willing or vnwilling once they must do est enim qui quaerit indicat God grant they do it in this lyfe wherunto we haue shewed before that their ghostly fathers are bound to oblige them if they wil remayne free theÌ„selues from the participation of so great iniquity And thus much we haue thought good to ad about this scurrilous obiection so often repeated and â—o odiously brought in by them in all their later books and as for the rest though in euery new book they tel againe the very same things which before they inuented and by often telling do seeme at length as it were to beleeue them for so it falleth out often in coyning aâ—d frequent repeating of lyes yet for that our former answers be such as do euidently demonstrate the falshood and folly of the said calumniations and calumniators especially about F. Persons departure from Oxford going into Italy entring the Society mission to England and returne thence into France with other his publike and priuate actions since we meane not to wryte againe here that which there we wrote but to remit the Reader to our said Apologie and only heere to ad a woord or two about certayne new fresh cauillations framed since the wryting of their two first libels among which one is this which followeth To wit that F. Persons within these later three yeares brought D. Bagshaw and some others for his sake in daunger of his life about the stratageâ—e vndertaken by one Squiar that was hanged c. But how meere and malitious a cauil this is all men may easily see For D. Bagshaw was neuer in daunger that we know but in special fauour with the state and so both his vsage at home and his late going ouer Sea do testifie The same doth witnesse also his authority with the keeper in VVisbich while he was there his frendly calling vp to London and vsage in the tower his power to draw thither from VVisbich whome he liâ—ted of his aduersaryes and other like circumstances which agree not to a man suspected and brought in question of so heynous a cryme as poysning her Maiestie and neuer quit by any trial which we know Secondly this fiction of Squiars attempt is sufficiently discouered already and prooued to be a meere fiction in deed and so it appeared by the miserable fellow at his death and hath otherwise byn declared by euident demonstrations of Catholike bookes and no man but a counterfeite or cauilling Catholike would for shame make â—â—â—ention therof againe But howsoeuer that matter were F. Persons cannot with any probability be presumed to haue had any part therin he being at that tyme in Rome and the thing fayned to be done in Spayne So aâ— heere is nothing els but malignity with folly and improbability shewed Another cauil is about F. Persons speech with one Iames Clark in London before his departure ouer the Sea to whome he should say that he meant to go to Padua to study phisick and not euer to be a papist offering also to sweare the same But this seemeth aâ—â—ale of a tubbe neyther probable not importaÌ„t for nether do they say that he swore in deed and if they did yet wil yow easily see how farre they were to be beleeued against F. Persons who are ready of pure malice and swelling enuy to conspire and sweare against him euery where if therby they might hurt him But whatsoeuer talk he might haue with M. Iames Clark 28. yeares past before his departure out of England about being a papist for the tyme to come which woord yow know is odious in England and was at that tyme and not a terme professed by vs and whatsoeuer M. Iames Clarke might report therof which yet if he be the man whome we imagine it is not like he would report iniuriously of his old frend yet God be thanked F. Persons proued after a good Catholike and if he had not it is very probable and morally also sure that many hundreds who are now such had not byn so at this day in which number we may recon diuers also of them that wryte these pestilent books so ingrateful are they to God and his instruments for their so great and singular benefits That which followeth of Cardinal Allens opinion of F. Persons violent nature is a violently or slander raysed against the one and the other and refuted before both by the testimony of the Cardinals owne letters yet extant as also of such as liued neerest him and knew best his intrinsecal iudgment affections and censure of men others also that know the said Father and conuerse daylie with him and do consider his actions euen towards these violent and virulent people that striue so desperately against him do both 〈◊〉 and some also reprehend the contrary disposition in him There ensueth another long reprehension of F. Persons for dealing in Sir Thomas Stukeley his action for Ireland and setting it forward in the yeare 1578. which only cauil if there were nothing els doth euidently conuince that these libellers haue neyther wit not honesty to see or care what maketh for or against them For first as hath byn touched F. Persons at that tyme had not byn aboue 2. or 3. yeares at most in the Society and was a student of diuinity in Rome and not yet priest and
VV. be much more fond if you examyne it The bulk of this treatese is much conformeable in substaÌ„ce to the folly of the Preface though in words it be more teÌ„perate for that it goeth about to defend and iustifie the secular Cleargy against Iesuites of many slaunders deuised by themselues and neuer laid vpon them by the Fathers of the Society so farre as we can learne or vnderstand which may be proued aswel for that these men are not indeed the secular Cleargie of England as falsely they presume but certayne vnworthy rags therof torne and rent from that honorable body by their owne wilful mutiny and rebellion as also that these plaintifes were neuer hitherto charged in particular to our knowledge with those seueral accusatioÌ„s which heere they set out against themselues by any of the fathers or their followers but only so farre forth as they haue eyther accused themselues or els which is the same in effect haue gone about to purge and defend themselues before they were accused as namely in the matter of schisme their dealing with the Counsel their Appeale to Rome their hatred to the Iesuits and their dealing in matters of State which are the fiue cheef general points members branches whervnto this litle new wrangling Clergy of ours do draw the slaunders vttered against them but whosoeuer shal read their bookes with attention and indifferency shal find that they are more desyrous to quarrel and pick matter of slaunder against others then able to prooue themselues to haue byn any way slaundered and whatsoeuer is there said being but repetitions of things vttered in their former libels fully answered by vs in our Apologie and some former parts of this present book we wil remit the Reader thither and leaue both the libel the author who if he be the man that he is giuen forth hath iust occasion by the wryting of this book to think his burden of conscience more encreased synce his last dealing with the old good Queene Mary priest who iustly refused to heare his coÌ„fessioÌ„ except he would be ready to acknowledge his synne and make restitution of fame for that he had offended in concurring to the setting forth of the two first bookes answered by our Apologie which refusal and admonishment though proceeding of meere conscience in the good old man and of loue also to this mans soule if he had byn indued with so much grace and humility as to consider it he took so euil thinking belike that he being so great a maister in Israel should haue his confessor to follow him not he the others iudgment in such matter of restitution as he not only fel out with the old Father but went told it also most prophanely to a lay gentleman laying the fault vpon a Reuerend priest Assistant to the Archp. dwelling not farre of threatning him as though by his couÌ„sel this denial of coÌ„fession had byn made vnto him wherby he made three seueral witnesses as yow see of his pride and arrogancy or rather of his ignorance and obstinacy seing as we haue shewed before in this book both Nauarre all other learned deuynes do hold this case of detraction and infamation which they haue vsed in these libels to bring with them irremissable obligation to restitution of their fame whome they haue slaundered and discreditted and so we doubt not but any learned Catholike man in christendome at this day if he be not one of their faction and complices wil say and knowing truly their case wil not dare to absolue them without they offer themselues effectually to performe the same and so much the lesse M. Mush then the rest of his fellowes by how much the lesse remorse of conscience he frameth to himselfe therof and yet presumeth to know more then others His syn also of rayling and bitter slaundering the whole company of Iesuits in this libel is so much the more wicked and odious both to God and man by how much the more he is beholding and most deeply obliged vnto them for that they both took him into the Colledge at Rome by extraordinary fauour being a poore rude seruing man before and vsed such special loue and charity towards him afterward to make somwhat of him as moued enuy to many others And this is euident as wel by the testimony of all them that liued with him in the Colledge as also by the printed narration of Iohn Nicols where he complayneth of the vndeserued fauours shewed alwayes to Doctor Dodipol Mush which contumelious speech though we approue not in the Apostata yet sheweth it the ingratitude of this fellow against those men now and so much the more in that he cannot but speake against his owne conscience in so many malitious things as he hath set downe contrary to that which hertofore he hath wrytten with his owne hand and testified with his owne mouth wherof good proofes are extant and some yow haue heard in our Apologie and seing that he sued to be of the Society hauing a vow also therof as himselfe to diuers hath professed and the Society differring his admission as prudently they are wont to a better satisfaction of his nature and behauiour for him now to slyde so farre back runne so desperately to the other extreme as to professe himself their publike enemy which yet is not rare in such cases wherin diuers of his companions are also with him this spirit we say how farre it may participate of secret Apostasy from religious vocation in the sight of almighty God we leaue to the discreet reader to ponder with him self and to weigh the euents which comonly in such men are from bad to worse and so to Gods grace and their owne consciences we leaue them Of the libel of A. C. to his Cosyn §. 3. THere followeth in the number of these libels one see forth by A. C. intituled an answere to a letter of a Iesuited gentleman c who if be the man that we do gesse we do not greatly maruayle that after so great variety of State and formerlyfe as some of vs haue knowne him in he become now to his lâ—st preferment to serue the seditious for a scold against Iesuits who haue byn his maisters and best frends for many yeares beyond the seas where both he and his had need of their frendship and neuer wanted it For some of vs knew him first a litle wanton idle headed boy in the English colledge so light witted as once yf we remember wel he went vp with a rose in his mouth to preach or make the tones as there they cal them before all the colledge out of a pulpit After that he fel to such deuotion as he not only took the oath of the colledge to be priest which now we see how wel he hath obserued but also pretended to be an Angustin friar and proceeded so farre therin as the friars euery day expected his entrance but how farre he
his letter and messenger both which saith he are yet extant to be her Maiesties true intelligencer from Spaine is this likely That the king of Spaine after the losse of his Armada ran to an aulter and taking a siluer candle stick swore a monstrous oath that he would wast not only all Spaine but also all his Indies to that candle stick but he would be auenged on England c. which how likely it is all they which knew the said King his graue and modest nature may easily gesse That the Iesuits haue by letters gone about to reproch and desame Cardinal Allen since his death alleadging for proof the words of Doctor Haddock to Sir Francis Inglefeld bene profectâ— obije c. which Doctor was neuer Iesuite in his life nor euer wrote such words in latinor English since he was borne That F. Persons hauing hyred a couple in Paris wherof he saith that he knoweth one 〈◊〉 come one euening late to their colledge gate with pistole half in sight and half out and so wish angry lookes to speake with him c. and himself with pale look and trembling members to 〈◊〉 the Rector c. that very nâ—ght he was conueyed priâ—ily out of the Colledge with mency inâ—â—ugh in his purse the next day he took his iorney to Rome c. which how salfe a deuise it is before hath byn handled That the said F. in his book of reformatioÌ„ doth appoynt all bishops Deanes Prebeâ—â—s persons c. to be pencioners to the Popes Hol. and to haue no other prâ—prictyes c. but 4. Iesuits with only 2. seculas priestes of their choosings to be his Holines Collectors of these renewes c. VVherof no one word or the like is found in that book nor euer passed by the wryters cogitation as may appeare by that weeyted before And finally his deadly and diuelish hatred to Iesuits in General and to this man in particular to whome notwithstanding he was wont to professe great obligation for his spiritual good as he is not ashamed to conclude thus of him In breef if he haue byn a Iudas to Gods church and his countrey to the disparage of the Seminaryes c. And now where yow fynd such vngrateful trayterous and Iudas-like natures to them that haue byn benefical to him and so profitable to Gods Church and his countrey as this man hath byn what disputing is there with him VVe leaue him to Gods iudgment and so an end of that Of other two libels the first called a Memorial the other the Quodlibettes §. 4. IF the former three bookes lately come forth stuffed as yow haue hard with infinite slaunders lyes and reproches would require as many volumes to answere them and lay forth the malice vntruthes therin conteyned then much more would these two books that ensue demaund the same the first being only an infarcemeÌ„t of malitious deuised calumniations partly layd togeather in England and partly supplyed in Flaunders by the factious crew as the author himselfe Robert Fisher returning afterward to himselfe going to Rome of purpose to discouer the same and discharge his conscience did declare vnder his oath to his Hol. Fiscal as by publike record appeareth which Robert Fisher confessed also that notwith staÌ„ding diuers of the poynts he had to set downe were knowne and proued to be false before he came out of EnglaÌ„d yet was he willed to set them downe and publish them when he came to Flanders He discouered also his complices both in England and Flanders in England the faction of VVisbich wherof now the heads are gone to Paris and Rome in Flaunders the two Doct. of the Cleargle in Cambray and 〈◊〉 wherof the first is gone 〈…〉 which we beseech Goâ—â— may be merciful vnto him in this behalf The second 〈…〉 we heare hath wrytten letters of late into England to some frends of his though nothing of his humour of no lesse seditious falshood then were the points of that Memorial affirming that he neuer liked the proceedings of such as eyther in word or worke haue dealt or wrytten against the State of England wheras notwith standing no man euer flattered so much the late Card. in that kynd as hee nor any maÌ„ of the nation hath byn so intemperate in his words hitherto as himselfe for which we could alleadge his sermons in Rhemes while he was there his orations also to the Duke of Guise and other princes at their coming thither his speches to many priuate men yet aliue his letters extaÌ„t to D. Allen Sir Francis Inglefield and others with such speches of the highest in England as very modesty maketh vs to forbeare to repeate except we beforced therunto And finally his printed book de iusta Reip. in principes impios authoritate wherunto his name is set doth conteyne such violent matter against all Princes but especially him of France at that tyme being also a Catholike and with whome he had nothing to do as it is most ridiculous now to see him wryte into England as he doth against modest religious men who neuer came neare by ten degrees to the acerbity of his spirit against both Prince and State which we offer our selues to proue at large in another more ample treatese if we be required thervnto And for the present it shal suffice that this memorial of Fisher was recalled by himself disauouched by the cheef suggestors afterward impugned as â—â—lfe and diuelish by the cheef and most grauest Cleargie men of England as appeareth by a letter of six 〈◊〉 testifying the same many other letters of the grauest priestes of that realme and finally so absurd in it selfe and apparantly forged and malitious as the very reading therof did cause men to abhorre it togeather with the deuisers and publishers therof and yet haue these shamelesse creatures presumed to diuulge the same now againe in print but it is their condemnation withal men of iudgment piety or other good respects As for the other great grosse libel intituled A Decacordon of ten Quodlibetical questions wherin the author framing himself as he saith a quâ—libet to euery Quodlibet decideth an hundred cros interrogatory doubts c. This is so ridiculous but yet impious a peece of worke as we dare say neuer came hitherto out in our tongue by any sort of fond furious mad or pathetical men whatsoeuer For whether yow consider the Quodlibets or the Quilibets that is to say eyther the worke it selfe and questions proposed or the author and answerer to wit wil wat the â—umbler nothing can be imagined more contemptible or contumelious His questions are foolish impertinent triuial but yet audacious His answering rash vnlearned confuse and inconsiderate his speach and manner of handling fanâ—astical sâ—urrilous infamatorie and for the most part contradicting himself and the purpose that he hath in hand He spareth no man that standeth in his way nor beareth respect to any state or
from a monastery to the world and from paradise to hel Thus sayth S. Bernard and by this may wil VVatson who calleth himselfe here Iohn indifferent and wilful VVil se what good counsel he geueth to Iesuits in persuading them to make this wicked and miserable leap so described by so great a Saynâ— And herby also we see the difference betwene these mens spirit and that of S. Bernard VVherfore being ouer long to treate matters in order we shal touch only certayne breef heads of his discourses heer and there wherby yow may better discerne his spirit He inueigheth greatly at large against the Fathers of the Society pag. 140. and after that for diuers pages to geather for that they admit not into their Society euery man that offereth himselfe but that they examine them wel and take their chayse c. for which most laudable diligence hereuyleth theÌ„ in these words Tow progeny of vipers yow offalles of scribes and pharasyes who hath taught yow to eschue iram venturam to sequester your selues from the world to take vpon yow the state of perfection and to include and exclude to chase and refuse whome ye list and to thrust back whome yow like not of that gladly would enter in c. Is this your perfection of lyfe is this your zeale of soules c. â—y blasphemous wretches yow preiâ—â—dice christ c. No no seditious Choristes Dathanians and Abyâ—onistes there is no â—ne Scripture no Canon no decree no tradition of Church no consent of Doctors no rule no principle no least clause in the foundation of your society that makes for yow in this poynt of singularity election choyse And then a litle after agayne No no proud pharasyes yow are deceaued non est personarum acceptio coram Deo nether hath be left the kingdome of beauen to be giuen to one more thâ—n to another c. And what spirit think yow cometh this of Is it folly or madnesse Is it spiritus vertiginis or arreptitius that so inuigheth against the spirit of discretion and probation in the Fathers before they admit men to the high calling of religious lyfe VVe would aske him what he wil say to S. Paul wryting to Tymothy a Bishop about admitting men to priesthood saying Manus citò nemini imposueris c. do not lay thy hands easily vpon any man to admit him to holy orders And yf any Bishop should admit all that offer themselues vnto him to serue God in that vocation this without trial or notice had of their worthines would he prayse this man so much trow yow as he rayleth at the Iesuits for making diligent trial of those whome they receiue into their order who seeth not this madnes Againe page 279. and 280. he would haue no more youthes sent to the Seminaryes but new lawes rather to be made for inflicting greeuous punishments vpon them that send them thither And this also yow see from what spirit it proceedeth Furthermore he threatneth the Catholikes page 305. that he his fellowes wil surceaese from the execution of their functions and from the increasing of that number that wil not be aduised by them c. that is to say to be enemyes with them against the Archpriest and Iesuits and consequently also against the Pope himself And further They wil conuert no more as few God wote they haue done already yf this be not graeunted them Of what spirit proceedeth this trow yow Is this the spirit of Christ is this of his Apostles But yf yow wil see the paterne of a strange spirit indeed framed wholy of deadly hatred and temerity do yow read what this author of the Quodlibets doth write in diuers places of his bookes most intemperately against F. Persons that neuer perhaps saw or knew him nor he the other for yf he had and were in his right wits he would neuer wryte as he doth I meane saith he after much reuiling vsed against him the great Emperour irregular abstract quintessence of all coynes coggeryes and forgeryes who flying hence with the spoyle of many poore Catholikes practised in Paris to be exempted from the check of the Parisian Prouincial vnder pretence that the Queene had hyred certaynâ— persons to murder him c. This is that famous conquerâ—â—â— that hath bathed all England in priests bloud c. This is he of whome his owne General reported that he was more troubled with one Englishman then with all the rest of his Society This is he of whome Cardinal Allen held opinion that he was a man very violent and of an vnquiet spirit and of whome M. Blackwel said that his turbulent head and lewd lyfe would be a discredit to the Cath. cause and in few the general conceate of all that euer haue thorowly conuersed with him is this that he is of a furious passionate hot cholerike exorbitant humour c. a most diaholical vnnatural and wicked fellow vnworthy the name nay cursed be the houre in which he had the name of a priest nay of a religious person nay of a temporal or lay Iesuite nay of a Catholike nay of a christian nay of a humayne creature but of a beast or a diuel a violator of all lawes a contemner of all authority a stayne of all humanity an impostume of all corruption a corruptor of all honesty and a monopole of all mischeef c. VVe leaue out ten tymes as much as this in the same and other places And seing his lack of shame charity and honesty is such as to wish that F. Persons had not byn a man nor Christian but a beast or diuel consider whether the diuel himself could speake more like himself than this fellow doth not only by rayling but also by open lying For as for his going out of England with the spoyle of many poore Catholiks it is a most malitious falshood as other where also hath byn shewed seing that F. Persons and Father Campian both being wholy mayntayned by the liberality of that most excellent zealous Catholike gentleman M. George Gylbert took nothing els in effect of any other neyther had they need And as for a certayne contribution and collection that certayne gentlemen made at F. Persons instance to be sent to D. Allen for printing of the new testament in English which arriued to some 2. or 3. hundred pounds we hauing informed our selues do find that neuer any one peny therof entred into F. Persons power nor can this calumniator or any other euer bring proof in any one poynt to the contrary The other Parysian fiction is refuted in the former Chapter and for the three foule lyes that do enfue concerning the speches and iugâ—ments of the General Card. Allen and M. Blackwel they all are witnesses of the falshood therof the General yet liuing and esteeming of F. Persons as the offices and charges committed vnto him both of the English Colledge in Rome with the ouersight
the lavv of Premunire Policron lib. 7. c. 44. Tho. VValsingh ab an 1343. vsque ad an 1376. ex arâ—hiuis Reg. stat impressis Registrum Symonis Islepij Nicol Harpes feld in hist. Eccles. Angl. saeculo 14. Cap. 5. Sander de Schismaâ—e li. 1. Iohn Stovv anno 1530. The â— point of the argument Pag. 19. Ibidem * Deuines D. Th. 22. qu. 40. artic 2. q. 12 art 2. Caetan in Apol. â—om 1. Opâ—se tract 2. l. 13. ad â— 22. qu 43. Th. VValdeÌ„sis l. 2. doct fidei artic 3. cap. 67. 77. 78. Franc. de Victor â—elect 1. de pieâ—ate Eccles q. penultima cum relect de Indis Insulanis p. 1. Paludanus l. de pietate Eccles. Soâ— iâ— 4. sent dist 25. q. 2. art 1. Dominic Baunes in commeÌ„t 22. q. 12. artic 2. Molina 22. tract 2. disput 29. art 3. Bellarm. Car. to 1. coÌ„tâ—ou Ibi. 5. ca 6. 7. 8. Greg de Valent 22. disp 1. qu. 12. puncto 2. Canonists S. Anton. 3. p. tit 22 l. 5. §. 2. Siluester de verbo Papa q. 7. à qu. 10. vsque ad 14. verbo legitimus q. 4. Ioan Paris de pietate regla papali in principio c. 11. Nauar. I nono de indicijs notab 3. alij Greg. NaziaÌ„z in orat ad populum trepidatem Imper comotuÌ„ The 4 point of their argument Ibid. The fifth point of their argument Pag. 17. Aposing of the iumultuons The sixt point of their argument Pag. 5. Pag. Ibid. The 7 poyâ—â—â— of the subiect Pag 4â— Ibid. 4â— The extreme passionate proceeding of the seditious A ridiculous beginning or entrance Epistle to Important Considerations c. Pag. 1â— Pag. 19. Malitions speeches of VV. VV. An example of folly and malice ioyned to geather Praef Relat. VVisbich Pag. 1. The Archpriests mild and fatherly speech proudly censured by his subiects Another kynd of straÌ„g folly and medres Pag. 17. F. VVest religious vvords malitiously interpreted * Cap. 6. Pag. 23. Pag. Ibid. Note this obseruation Iob. 1. â— Pag. 44. Ibid. â—al 6. Pag. 46. Apol. cap. â— 9. Great folly passion not to see vvhat maketh for theÌ„ or against them Apol. c. 6. Seauen articles giuen vp by the quiet part for reformation of the rest Pag. 25. Care of keepinge peace and charitie * Loe these men also admit not equivocation incase of lavvful tryal Care of modesty Great confidence Ponder this Pag. 26. Pag. Ibid. Pag. 26 Satisfaction required formatters past A threat to all accusers A mere eâ—asion A confession vvith a Prouiso Shifts and cautions to â— anoyd all coÌ„petent vvay of ending matters Very grosse folly in relatinge their ovvne perticulies abuses Their highest foly Most intollerable railing sueches of these distracted priests against their Superior Pref. to relat Epist. before Impert Consid Ibid. Epist. Ibid. Ibid. pag. 49. Relat. pa 57. 5â— 65. â— Epist. relat pag. 5. Against Iesuits relat pag. 42. Epist. relat pag. â—â— Import Considerat pa. 14. Epist. pag. 9. Epist. relat pag. 10. Ibid. pag 34. 35. c. Epist. Import pag 4 5. Ibid. pag. 3â— Relat. pag. 3. 4. 7. 23. Ibid pag 22. 23. 30. c. Import Consid pag. 55. Ibid. pag. 36. 43 53. Epist. Important pag. 20. 22. 23. Extreme foolish vvanton speache Relat pa. 46. A great preiudice against the contentious parte in V Visbich The argumeÌ„t of the sixt booke inti ruled Import 〈◊〉 The AppeÌ„dis of the Apologie in ansvvere of the 3. and. 4. libels Luc 9. A fond applicatioÌ„ of scripture to defend their dealing vvith the aduersary Hope of peace pag. 13. 14. Appendix fol. 14. Epi. Import Conâ—id A most absurd aâ—â—ertioÌ„ about the synnes of a Cath. man Ibid. pag 3. A 〈◊〉 catioÌ„ 〈◊〉 Intolerable spyte and malice against Iesuits Ibid. pag. 5. 2. Tim. 3. Luc. 10. Rom. 13. Their vvarre vvith M. Blackvvel the Archpriest About their appeale from the Archpriest Se the Apologie capâ—â— Their abusing of the Iesuits Inconsiderate exasperating the K. of Spaine Epist. p 67. Ibid. Epist. pag. 2. Ibid. 41. A deep vvouÌ„d giuen to the publike cause by these passionate people Psal 73. Insolent dealing against his Hol. and diuers his Predecessors Against Pius quintus Pag. 9. ibid. Against Gregory the xiij Pag 14. Against Syxtus quintus Pag. 27. * Supra ca 1. Pag. 39. Pag. 40. There dealinge vvith Clem. viij Se the Apologic cap. 3. 4. 11. Apol. cap. 11. AppeÌ„d Pa. 10. Epist. to Import Consid. pag. 15. Their aduersaryes in VV isbich Sc Apol. ca. 6. M. Barlovv M. Pond * M. Bagshavv * M. Bluet Se the Apology cap. 6. M. ChaÌ„pney M. Barnaby Apol. ca. 6. Cardinal Allen and Doctor sanders ther aduersaryes Pag. 7. Pag. 12. Against M. D. Sanders Pag. 13. Pag. 14. Their speches against D. Allen Card. D. AlleÌ„s ansvvere to iustit Britannica Reproches against the Card. Pag. 24. pag. 25. Page 26. 27. Pag. â— Their vvarre against F. Persons Apol. ca. 12. * Cap 6. Apol. ca. 9. An example of defence out of Cicero Orat. Pro Milone Ca pag. 6. Their vvarre vvith the martyrs of England Pag. 16. 17. CoÌ„tradicting them selues Pag. 15. Pag 1â— CaluÌ„niatioÌ„s against M. Shervrin Pag. 20. CalumniarioÌ„ against F. Campion his felovv Martyrs grouÌ„ded vppon ignorance Pag. 27. Pag. 28. Declaratio Motuum Pag. â— Amere caluÌ„niation Cypr. de mortalitate versus finem Bragging designed martyrs â— Baronius Rom. 9. Cyprian Ibi. Pagâ— 35. Vntruthes before detected and refuted Import consid Pag. 14. Ibid. pag. 24. Their slaunders conuinced to be false by many particulers Slaunders against Iesuites after their coming in t England The ouer throvv of M. Fr. Throgmorton by the factious About D. Parry In the booke intituled a true â—layne declaration of vvilliam Parry his treasons at London by C. B. 1584 pag. â—3 14. Import Consid Pag. 23. About M. Arden M. Someruile The Earle of Northumberland M. Shelley Ibid. Very great falshood and malignity in these factious priests Discouery of the treasons c. by FraÌ„cis ThrogmortoÌ„ c. 1584. Import Consid Pag. 23. About the matter of Babington and his fellovves * F. Southvvel Ant. Ty. G. G. c. Euident reproof of thâ—â— falshood Import CoÌ„siderat Pag. 24. About Sir VVilliaÌ„ Stanleyes reÌ„dring of Dauentry An example clerely conuincing the caluÌ„niators The fact of Sr. VVillem Stanley examined by Cath. diuinity Ep. to Import Consid. Pag. 1. The first point about restitution The 2. poynt about restitution of goods vvroÌ„gfully beteyned The 3. poynt about him that svveareth not to restore S. VVilliam incurred no dishonor by restoring but rather the contrary Card. Allen greatly abused by them Pag. 25. The letter of S. Frauncis Inglefeld to M. Hopkins in Paris anno 1588. Import Consid Pag. 25. About this point they bely M. VVinstade Epist. Pag. 7. Vntruthes vttered against F Persons Se the 12 Chap. of the Apol. Epist. to Import Consid. Pag. 7. 8. 9. 10.
c. About the late attempt in Ireland The Protestation of Sr. VV. Stanley and M. Th. Fitzherbert about the affayre of IrlaÌ„d The like protestation for dealing vvith the K of Spayne About a letter of F. Persons intercepted A lettere of F. P. to F. holt 15. of March 1597. F. Persons dealing vvith the Pope about the succession of England A vayne â—â—aunder A â—ond tale of the schollers svvearing in the Spanish Semiâ—â—â—â—yes About the L. Dacres Another impudent calumniation Qentle proceeding vvith english heretikes in Spayne by F. Persons meanes VVhy the Author of the book of succession vvas called Doleman Ezai. 5â— Pag. â— A notoriously of F. P. speech in Greenevvat L Manichaeus l. Arian l. quicunque Cap. ad aboendam Cap. excommunicamus extra de haereticis in 6. de haeret cap. super leo Consil la tera cap 3. de haereticis Ibid. Pag. 14. Import Consid Pag 15. The letter of F. P. to the Earle of Anguise Ian. 24. 1600. Epist. to Import consid Pag. 15. A notorious fiction and contumely to his Hol. Great probabilityes that the vvhole is fayned The speech of the Duke of Sessa about these priests auducity Imp. Consid. Pag. 16. Ep. A heape of folyes Pag. 28. Ibid. About Don Bernardino de mendoza his frendship vvith F. P. 4 bookes specially obiected to F. Persons Philopater contraâ— Edictum 1591. VVardvvord An. 15â—8 Epist pag 12. to Import consid The Treatese intituled A memorial for Reformation vvhen time shal serte Many foule falsities and calumniatioÌ„s vttered togeather Memorial part 3. C. 4. The preface of the Memorial of Reformation The motiues and meaning of gathering these notes of the Memorial Three parts of this Memorial according to the 3. cheef meÌ„bers of our commâ—â—vvelth Tvvo pointâ— of encoragment to the gatherer The first chapter of the first parte of the Memorial Fauours of God F. Persons hope of English priestes The second third and 4. chapter of the 1. part of the Memorial Hovv constant Catholiks are to be dealt vvith all Luc. 17. Schismatikes Heretikes hovv to be dealtâ— vvith MemorCa â— Pag. 37. A publique disputation vvith the heretiks Pag. 51. The second parte of the Memorial Pag. 1â—6 The name ofâ— Cleargie The state of the church in Constantines dayes A consideration for the prince and people Cap 3. part 2. Pag. 1â—7 The third perte of the Memorial Cap. 1. 3. part The distinction of Cleargy and laity Tertul l. de Monog About the Prince and his Counsel Mem pag. â— 227. Pag. 247. Nobility and geÌ„try Mem. Pag. 247. The Innes of Court and study of lavves The communalty Mem. Pag. 283. About the book of Succession Rash â—aucines in greene heads The first booke of succession The 2. book of SuccessioÌ„ A protestatioÌ„ of the Auâ—hor The effectes of the tvvo bookes of succession About M. Pagets ansvvere to the conference about succession A fond title of coÌ„terfeits A foolish preface Rom. 2. Discouery â—ol 1. Enuy against the author of the book of Succession Folly and flattery Many ridiculioâ—s ab iâ—dityes of the discoâ—erer Discou Pag. 10. Most fond complaints lbid Pag. 1â— Discou Pag. 20. Ibid. Pag. 22. Great profession tovvards the K. of Spaine his sâ—ruice Great importaÌ„t points handled in first book of succession Ibid. Pag. 18. Tvvo ridiculoâ—s cauils The 2. cauil more malitious about the K of Scotland Ibid. Pag. 14. â—om 1. The conâ—ideration of forrayne Catholiks vvhat they vvil think and say The late â—orney of the seditious by Flanders Tvvo kind of pasports froÌ„ England The causes vttered of their tumults D. Giff. Their being at Lile and Dovvay Speches and reports in other countreys of these mens negotiation A vayne quarrel about the pamphlet of Schisme VVhat men vvil think sâ—y in Rome The troublesome novv vvere tumultuous beforâ— in Rome Apol. cap. 5. An insolent demaund Card. Seg a invisitat Colleg Angl. Anno. 1596. â— Cap. 25. A modest ansvvere of the Fathers Cap. 25. Cap. 26. Cap 27. Cap. â—8 Cap. 29. Cap. 30. The iudgmeÌ„t and resolutioÌ„ of Card. Sega Visitor Cap. â—1 VVhy the Iesuits are not to be recalled out of England Cap. 32. VVhy the fathers ought not to be remoued from the gournmeÌ„t of the Colledge A ground of the Card for ReformatioÌ„ According to his accustomed clemencie 1. Naughty circuÌ„stance 2. VVicked circumstaÌ„câ— A point to be considered of tumultuous proceeding Lib. Copies of discoutles â—ope of Peace Relat. Pa. 57. Import Consid Pag. 11 Imp. Consid. Pag. 20. 21. 22. Imp. Consid. Pag. 〈◊〉 Their credit vvith Catholiks Epist. to Imp. Consid. Pag. 17. * a pious vvish Epist. Pag. 8. Their discredit vvith the aduersaryes A notable fact of Constantius father to Constantine A iust revvard to flattery Euseb. l. â— de vita Constà tini ca. 4. 1. Zozom li 1. Ca. 6. Eccles. historiae Their credit vvith forraine princes His Maiest of Scotland Propetuis Intolerable speeches against Iesuites in general Epist. Pag. 2. Ibid. Pag. 4. Pag. 5. Pag. 6. 7. Most vvicked speech Pag. 〈◊〉 The sinful soule of vvil vvatson Epist. Pag. 1. A beastly beginning of a book Sap. 2. Epist. to Imp. Considerat The discouery of VVil. vvats Se the lettere of Bl. to Mush Apol. cap. 13. The being of VV. vvatson at Rhemes * Cap. 9. VVatsons coÌ„fession His pernicious pollicy * let him also thinke of his novv VV. VVat abaÌ„doned by all Catholiks He had more need to look to this matter novv This fal of VV. VV. greater then the former In tract super Psal. 63. See VVatsons common vvealth Apol. Cap. â— The substaÌ„ce of the spaâ—ing discouery Sparing discouery Pag. 1. 2. 3. Bernardâ—â— Great vanity and prophanity Notorious rayling against the society in general Pag. 6. 7. Pag. 10. Maike these fellovves drifts to discreedit Catholiks Odious and vvicked questions proposed Pag. 12. Pag. 16. Pag. 17. 18. Apol. Cap. 4. Against the spiritual exercise Most spiteful malitious dealing against F. Persons in particular Ioan. 7. Many calumniations against F. Persons passed ouer as ansvvered before Spar. discoâ— Pag. 1â— A meere and malitious cauil about Squiar D. Bagshavv Pag. 43. VVhether F. Persons furthered S. Tho. Stukley his action Doctor Levves after B. of Cassano Pag. 45. 46. 47. c. A heape of Iyes against F. Persons Pag. 47. Foolish improbabilyties A list of loud lyes A notoriously about R. Fisher. A notable fiction about a chayne of pearle A deuised prayer against the B. of Cassano Most vvicked and impudeÌ„t suspitious Ridiculous vvryting Absurd accusing and defending of theÌ„selues 〈◊〉 a letters of this matter subscribed by diuers handes decemb 16. 1601. Pag. 27. Pag. 40. Pag. 12. Pag. â—3 Pag. â—â— Pag. â—â— Pag. â—â— Pag. â—7 Pag. 102. The examination of R. Fisher in Rome Martij 1â— 1595. D. Griff. D. Giff. D. Giffords letter to Doctor Allen 7. Maij 1516. togeather vvith Sir FraÌ„c VValsin ghaÌ„â— pasport and letter vnto him 14. Maij 1585. The 6. Aâ—â—stants letter of the 2. of Maij 1601. The â—ececordon or book of Quodlibets 1. Cor. 1â— Math. 1â— Of the necessity of scandals 2. Cor. 12. Of the vtility of these scandalous contentions Dâ—ut â—2 â— Cor. 11. Luc. 2. The application of the former places of scripture in our case 2. Tim. 3. Reuelation of 3. sorts of people Math. 3. Luc. 3. VVhat carrage is expedient tovvards the persecutors â— VVhere and vvhen Catholiks must stand immoueable Act. 5. Carriage tovvards the troublesome Difference of spirit vvhat great diuersity and contrariety it maketh 1. Ioan. 4. Rom. 3. Rom. Ibid. â— Tim. 4. 1. Cor. 7. VVho are likest to haue the spirit of Christ in this contention Esay 11. Ibid. The conclusion of VV. VV. epistle to the Decacordon Quodlib Pag. 49. D. Tho. Pag â— Pag. 15. Pag. â— Pag â— Pag. 6. A ridiculous definition of a secular priest Pag. 4. Pag. â—â— Pag. 42. Pag. 61. Pag. 35. Persuading men to Apostacy Pag. 4â— ad marg Bern. Serm. 63. in Cant. S. Bernard iudgments of Apostatas Pag. 28â— Pag. 48. ad marg * This is spoken perhaps for that diuers of that crevv haue byn refused by Gods prouidence and vvisdome of the Fathers that foresavv their conditions Railing at the fathers for vsing choys in admittinge mâ— â— Tim. â— Pag. 236. 237. 238. 239. c. Diuelish â—ayling against F. Persons Ansvvere to diuers calumniations against F. Persons * Apol. Cap. 12. M. George Gilbert * Cap. 4. Three notorious lyes fathered vpon F. Claud. Aquauiua Card. Allen M. Blackvvel A lettere of 〈◊〉 much abused Pag. 128. 129. c. He condemneth detraction and vseth it Pag. 124. Luc. â—9 An abiect quiet sought by the seditious * Cap. 9. Matth. 22. Pag. â—â— A graue complaynt against hostes for sitting at the vpper end of the table Pag. 117. Extreme vanity and folye Prou. 2. Pag. 12. 13. 37. Pag. 3â— 113. Pag. 194. Pag. 25. A notorious spirit of lying Pag. 150. Pag. 306. Confutation of the lyes about Middleton The ingrateful behauiour of M. Midleton tovvards F. Persons About the book or Memorial of Reformation Supra Cap. 5. Memorial of Reform part 1. Cap. 7. About the restoring of religious orders into England Pag. 93. Pag. 94. Pag. 94. Pag. 109. Confession of their ovvne foly maliceâ— 1. Ioan. 2. 1. Cor. 12. Hebr. 5. Some considerations for discerning the spirit of our contentious * Cap. 2. 3. 4. 5. VVho do gather vvho do disperse VVhy our contentious priests haue styrred so much All heresyes haue some shevv of iust cause giuen them at the beginning * Cap. 4. â— Causes of obstinacy
a parte or for that in iudgement and affection they concurre heerin with Protestants and hate them euen for religions sake that is for their eminent zeale in Catholike religion And what credit this may be to them throughout the world with all good Catholiks themselues may easily consider as also what wisdome it is to exasperate without cause so great a multitude of men dispersed ouer all Christendome who haue done them euery where much good and may do and both they and theirs haue need of them in diuers places of our banishment abroad and persecution here at home being subiect to so many necessityes both spiritual and temporal wherin these mens help vnto vs hath and may be very beneficial And in this kynd also is the inconsideration of our said brethren notorious that hauing receaued for so many yeares and receyuing daylie in forraine contreys most principal releefe from the kinges of Spaine both the father now dead and the sonne raigning and our Cathol English mens affayres beyond the Seas and namely our Seminaryes depending in such sort of their good likings and liberalityes as yf they should faile vs the greatest part of all our stay must fal therwith these men not-withstanding as though they had byn hired by the common enemy to ouerthrow our owne cause seeke occasion in these books to alienate them both and the whole nation together by contumelious iniuryes layd vpon them with so intemperate a tongue as no mouth of heretike or other enemy could vtter worse Let vs heare yf yow please some of their speches touching both the one and the other king The K. of Spaine say they ayming at the crowne of England with the death of her Ma. and subuersion of the whole state togeather with the vtter ruyne desolasion and destruction of the whole Isle and the ancient inhabitants therof neuer once shewed any care or respect he or his had to the restoring of the Catholike Râ—mish faith amongst the English nay his direct course was taken quite contrary scilicet to extirpate the name of all Catholiks that were English out from the face of the earth Thus they wryte of his Cath. Ma. And further they are not ashamed in the same place to assure the reader out of the Duke of Medina his owne confession that he had order rather to spare protestaÌ„ts yf he had peruayled in warre then Catholiks And what heretike was yet euer so impudent as to affirme this seeing that both the kings owne Edict published in Spayne concerning that enterprise as also the declaration of the late Cardinal from his Hol. do testifie and protest the quite contrary namely that the old good kinges intention was principally for the aduancemeÌ„t of Catholike religion and relief of poore afflicted Catholikes himself often protesting as most certaynly wee are informed that he neuer ment or pretented in his life any temporal interest for himself to the crowne of England and that if he might haue had any reasonable hope or satisfaction in the other two poynts by any competent moderation or toleration he was desyrous to haue helde peace and good frendship with her Maiestie and the crowne of England aboue all other princes and kingdomes in Europe and the self same disposition wee persuade ourselues by many and great argumentes to be in his sonne the king catholike present of whome notwithstanding our men that spare none do ad also diuers contumelious speches saying that it is not religion which the king present doth care for more then his Father did before him but maketh that only a pretence to seduce all Catholiks c. Making them and yow all deare Catholiks to cut one anothers throat c. thus they say of him And as for his nation and people the Spaniards they raile at them most impudently calling them base villaynes swaggering mishapen swads and knowne to be the cruellest tyrants that liue vpon the earth c. which intollerable spiteful insolency comming to their eares as it cannot choose but do let vs imagine what that bountiful king and his people that haue so many of our brethren and children in their hands and dominions and do cherish them most tenderly may or wil thinke of this barbarous ingratitude not only in heretiks which were more tolerable but also in Catholiks yea priests and most of them maintayned and brought to that they are eyther in Doway Rhemes or Spaine by the said king and nations liberality And this is the deep wound indeed which these inconsiderate and passionate people not to vse more greeuous tearmes haue giuen do giue vnto their nation and to the publike cause of religion which they wil neuer be able to cure wholy nor scarse perhaps any other for them But passing forward from the kings of Spaine they go to the Popes themselues according to that saying in the psalme superbia corum ascendit semper their pride mounteth higher and higher and truly a man would not easily beleeue that priests professing themselues Catholiks and to haue byn brought vp in the Seminaryes and that they would haue no other iudge of their cause but his Hol. himselfe wold presume to be so audatious as to cal in question and condemne the actions of so many Popes togeather noe lesse contemptiously then those of the K. of Spaine before mentioned whome comonly they do conioyne with the Popes and Sea Apostolike affirming that both Pius 5. Gregory the xiij and Sixtus 5. did conspire with him yea thrust him into the inuasion of England Did not Pius 5. say they by way of a fayned obiection practise her Ma. subuersion she good lady neuer dreaming of any such mischeefe c. Did not Pius 5. mooue the K. of Spaine to ioyne in this exployte c. Had not the Pope and K. of Spayne designed the duke of Norfolke to be the head of this rebellion Did not k. Philip at the Popes instance determyne to send the duke of Alua into England with all his forces c. Thus and much more they complayne of that holy Pope and the like of his successor in these words Now whilst these practises were in band in Ireland Gregory the xiij reneweth the saidâ— Bull of Pius 5. denounceth her Ma. to be excoÌ„municated with intimation of all other particulars in the former Bull mentioned And of the same Pope Gregory they ad further thus The attempts both of the Popes and Spaniard fayling in England his Hol as a temporal prince displayed his banner in Ireland c. Of Sixtus 5. also his successor they complayne in like manner speaking of the armada in the yeare 1588. VVe doubt not but that the Pope as a temporal prince did ioyne and contribute towards this intended inuasion c. And marke that alwayes they ad as a temporal Prince for that as a spiritual and Ecclesiastical Magistrate they hold throughout the whole book that he hath no power at all to concurre or appoynt
for standing zealously in this breach against sedition whose feruour and fidelity would not perhaps otherwise so much haue byn knowne or published seing that the standing against open knowne enimyes is not so markable oftentymes as the withstanding of domestical But now the second effect of reuealing mens hâ—rts and inward cogitations mencioned by S. Simeon is also diligently to be considered by vs for that the same is more pertinent and important also to this our English affaire then the former for that by this reuelation made of harts and mynds by this contention English Catholiks do come to know what substance weight there is in euery man and how farre he may be credited when tyme shal require which is a point of no smal moment as matters stand with vs for if this reuelation and discouery had not byn made by this occasion but that so great a depth of daungerous and poysoned humors as now is broken out had lurked in mens brests vntil such tymes as their ability might haue byn equal to their naughty wil for setting of diuision and raysing broyles in our cause contrey what remediles hurts might haue byn wrought think yow both in the one and the other but now being reuelated the predictioÌ„ of S. Paul so often by vs repeated before wil no doubt take place vltra noÌ„ proficient insipientia enim eorum manifesta erit omnibus They wil not be able to go much forward in this their attempt for that their folly wil be manifest to all men VVel then and what wil be the end think yow both of men and matters in this affaire Surely for the matter we haue no doubt at all but that it wil receaue vtility by this temptation for that the holy ghost hath auouched it factet cum tentatione prouentum God wil giue profit also with temptations and this profit is euideÌ„t for that our church after this storme past wil remayne as area purgata ventilata as a barne floore swept and cleansed and our corne both winowed and purged But as for the men that haue mooued this tempest though we would be loath to make our selues prophets in their cause and successe but rather do pray hartily for them that it may be good yet if we wil consider matters according to the former prophesies of scripture or els by the foresight of reason and discourse which are the best grounds of prophesies of temperate and wise men in these our dayes we may probably make this triple coniecture that some especially the wryters publishers of these late libels and principal dealers with the aduersaryes are like inough if God worke not a miracle to passe further and become as Th. Bel and others haue done before vpon like and perhaps lesse ground of passion malice and these are to be deplored as yow see others that do offend vpon euil information only or haue byn misled by other mens persuasions not seing the daunger wherunto they are drawne wil we trust vpon sight of the truth returne againe and these are as hartily to be imbraced and highly esteemed as if they had neuer runne away the ground therof not being euil intention but sinister information A third sort there is that probably wil stand indifferent doubtful for a tyme and according to this wil good mens opinions be also of them to wit dubious and vncertayne vntil they see the final issues of their actions and thus coÌ„meth our Church of England as yow see to knowe her people distinctly as wel by manifestation of their actions as reuelation of their thoughts which are the two effects mentioned prophesied by S. Symeon and S. Paul It followeth that we say somwhat how Catholiks are to beare themselues in this tyme of trial which poynt may be considered eyther in respect of the enemy and persecutor or of the trouble some of our owneside that vaunt to be in credit and fauour with them and say that the fault is ours that we are not also And towards the former sort of men togeather with our Prince and State there is no doubt or question but that the dutiful maner of carriage hitherto vsed by our English recusant Catholiks in all humility patience longanimity obedience and true spirit of Christian sufferance whatsoeuer these brabling people do or haue calumniated them to the contrary is absolutely the best way and most pleasing in the sight both of God and man and the principal meanes wherby we may hope that God wil one day haue mercy vpon vs and our countrey and inspire the harts both of our Prince and State to deale more myldly and mercifully with vs. Yet notwithstanding if any question or matter should be vrged against religion faith or conscience in any one poynt of Christian Catholike doctrine and beleef therin it is necessary for euery good man to stand firme and immoueable and to say with the Apostles Oporiet mag is Deo obedire quam hominibus VVe must obay God more then men And in this point we do not thinke that any one religious Protestant in the world holding his faith for true would not do and say the like if the case were his and concerned his religion and consequently the yeilding or going further of these our vnquiet spirits in matters that be against true Catholike Doctrine to vrge other men also to the same for gayning to themselues some temporal fauour credit or to make therby others odious whome they enuy or mislike is more perfidiousnesse to God then fidelity to the Prince or State and so ought it to be held by all men of wisdome and iudgment of what religion soeuer and no wayes to be imitated by those that be true and sincere Catholiks And thus much for their carriage towards the Prince and state and persecutors in Religion And as for the second sort which are our passionate disordered brethren broken out from vs these monethes past by intemperate heate of emulation and contention the best direction that we can giue for Cath. mens behauiour and carriage towards them is as towards brethren and frends in a frenzie or traunce or as men rather possessed with violent and raging spirits that is to say to wish and worke all good vnto them that may be procured by good meanes but yet to beware of comming into their fingers or within their reach whiles they remayne in the fit of their fury and to the end we may know and consider with what spirits they are possessed or ruled by for the present albeit we haue discussed the matter somewhat particularly in the preface of this book and more largely throughout our Apologie but especially in the last Chapter therof yet now hauing seene and discerned more of their condition and state by reading their later bookes and by the manner of their proceeding and progresse in their affaires VVe meane in this place to ad somwhat to that which we haue said before noting first
by the way that the difference of spirit betweene man and man is the greatest and most important difference that in moral matters can be obserued which holdeth also in beasts byrds and other creatures according to the proportion of their inferior spirit or natural instinct as for example two egges put in one nest the one of a doue the other of a hauke do bring forth two yong byrds whose bodyes at the beginning are not so easily discerned as the difference of their spirits is seene as soone as they grow vp And the like is in the whelpes and cubbes of dogges and foxes the one naturally running to mans conuersation the other flying which diuersity of spirit and inward instinct bewrayeth quickely the contrariety of their natures nor is this only seene in creatures of diuers kynds but euen in those that be of the same as two yong colts of one breed the one of a generous the other of a iadish inclination are so opposite the one to the other in the whole course of their future lyfe by this diuersytie of spirit as the one is of much value the other contemptible And if this hold in horses other vnreasonable creatures that haue only the participation of the inferior sensual part of soule or spirit how much more is the difference to be noted in man whose higher part guiding all the rest dependeth of the worthinesse of his spirit for life and action wherin two men that be brethren in birth and as like one to the other otherwise as nature can proporture them yet by this diuersity of spirit may they be as opposite one to the other not only as things of diuers kinds that be enemyes by nature as haukes doues wolues and lambes foxes and dogges but farre more euen as much as heauen and hel And this we se by example as wel of Cain and Abel Esau and Iacob Lucifer and Michael borne brethren as also by euident reason seing that the spirit of man is that wherby he is ruled and the sterne of all his actions gouerned so as if that be naught corrupted peruerted or coinquinate with malice enuy pride ambition or other such plagues and spiritual poysons he followeth that with all violeÌ„ce as a bark carried away vnder ful sayle with pernicioÌ„s wynds to her assured ship wrack vpon rockes of perdition And on the contrary side he that is blessed of God with a good spirit he floweth on sweetly though more softely and calmely to the assured port of euer lasting saluation and these two men though neuer so like in shape of body or neare in propinquity of flesh office charge degree vocation or other such coniunction vpon earth yet are they indeed more opposite and contrary the one to the other then any reasonable or vnreasonable creatures whatsoeuer except only the good and bad angels Michael and Lucifer by vs before mencioned so as a good and bad spiriâ—ed man do differ much more then a man and a beast or then a wolfe and a sheep which cannot be expressed sufficiently by any other example then by Sathan and Christ when he was vpon earth which very contrariety remayneth stil betweene men that participate the one or the others spirit So as to conclude yow need not for true discerning of men to seek any other note signe or argument but only to look vpon their spirit markes therof whether they be of Christ or his enemy Sathan according to the couÌ„sel S. Iohn Probate spiritus si ex Deo sunt proue spirits whether they be of God or no. The reason wherof S. Paul giueth Quicunque enim spiritu Dei aguntur hij fitij Dei sunt For whosoeuer are ruled by the spirit of God they are his children and contrary wise those that are not gouerned by that spirit are children of Sathan not of God for so the same Apostle affirmeth playnly in another place Si quis spiritum Christinon habet hic non est eius He that hath not the spirit of Christe pertayneth not vnto him For which cause he addeth so carefully in the end of his letters Dominus Iesus Christus cum spiritu suo vobiscum Our lord Iesus Christ be among yow with his spirit And when he would commend himself and his determination in matters of virginity marriage diuorce and other such of great importance he alleadgeth this for cheefest argument Puto autem quod ego spiritum Dei habeam I do persuade my selfe that I haue the spirit of God my Sauiour So then all the controuersy or doubt which heere may be is who haue the spirit of Christ or go neerest ther unto in this contention for that this being knowne it caÌ„not be denied but that whosoeuer followeth or fauoreth the worser spirit except vpon misinformation he sheweth himself to be ruled by the same spirit And as for the spirit of Christ our Sauiour which must be our paterne heerin it is euident both by testimony of all scriptures as also by the example of his lyfe while he was vpon earth what it was For Esay the prophet foretold a seauen fold spirit should be in him to wit the spirit of VVisdome and vnderstanding of Counsel and Fortitude of knowledge and piety and of the feare of God But himself appearing afterward vpon earth not only confirmed all this to be true and other things wrytten of him by the prophets but preached further and sheweth in his actions the spirit of humility mansuetude meekenes patience modesty sobriety truth obedience pouerty charity and the like which spirit whether our discontented brethren in their late actions words and wrytings haue shewed or no or rather the quite contrary spirit of pride enuy reneÌ„ge elamors slaunders calumniation disobedience and the like is easy to iudge by that which before we haue represented out of their bookes and doings And now yf we would but relate vnto yow the hundreth part of that which is vttered of this wicked spirit in their last book hitherto seene by vs called Decacordon or Quodlibes we should tyre yow and make your eares glow and yowr charitable harts to rue with the hearing therof For first yf we would begin with the very name nature of Quodlibets which the author setteth downe in his preface saying that in this kind of wryting it is lawful for him to dâ—spute whether God or the diuel he to be honoured whether our blessed lady were an adulteresse or coÌ„mon woman or not c. VVho wil not say but that this Quodlibetical companion calling himself a quilibet hath a prophane audacious and impudent spirit to propose and put in print such questions and then that he hath a spirit also of foolery lack of vnderstanding in conioyning with these questions other against himself to wit whether a Seminary priest or a Iesuite ought sooner to be credited esteemed of and followed c. VVhether a Iesuite be a good or bad man whether their doctrine