haue procured Al vvhich is so absurd and barbarous an attempt that it needeth no further confutation Euerie childe and simple man or vvoman doth knovv that it is a good thing to build a Church or a College and to gaine soules and that pulling dovvne and hindring of such vvorkes is very naught and wicked Againe it is a most knowen thing and none of the malcontenrs can possibly denie it that F. Parsons for his part hath most painfully and frutfully laboured to helpe his countrie aboue tvventie tvvo yeares already that is since the English College in Rome vvas founded In procuring vvherof his part was not least vvith D. Allen and D. Levvis agreing in his intention with vvhosoeuer vvas most sincere In England he did more good in tvvo yeares then I thinke anie of his emulators haue donne in tvventie or are like to doe in al their life For one example let his lerned and vertous bookes testifie written against Hanmer and Charck and in detection of Iohn Nicols and the reasons vhy Catholiques refuse to goe to the Protestants Church And especially the Christian Directorie first set forth vvith the title of Resolution so often printed since and stil desired A vvorke worthie to be in al languages and in al mens hands By which innumerable Catholiques haue ben and daily are much confirmed conforted and edified Schismatikes and Heretikes continually conuerted as very manie doe daily reporte of themselues that they vvere conuerted by reading F. Parsons booke of Resolution After his going out of EnglaÌ„d which vvas doutles as manie good effects haue shevved by Gods special prouidence as vvas D. Allens going thence also vvhen he had donne much good he first got tvvo thousaÌ„d ducats of gold which do make six hundreth pounds starling euerie yeare to Dovvay College then residing in Rhemes He procured also a College for English children in Evv. Aftervvards tvvo more notable Colleges for English scholars and tvvo other residences for English Priests in Spain An other College likevvise in Flanders vvhen by reason of the vvarres in France that of Evv ceased And which may haue place vvith the greatest and most difficult vvorke or a◠〈…〉 College of Rome to a mirrour or spectacle of right Collegial peace mutual loue great vertue and of much increase in learning which a few yeares agoe vvas fallen into extreme danger of vtter ruine by dissolution of the members and tumultous contempt of superiors and good orders I omit here his redeming of manie English captiues from fire gallovves and gallies vvith his charitie in procuring them reliefe and manie of them sufficient meanes to liue and manie other good deedes both in general to his vvhole nation and to innumerable particular persons By this that is already said euerie one may sufficiently see vvhether it be good that the chiefe of our Ecclesiastical Hierarchie in England and his freinds and subiects should agree vvith this father and al the Societie or that they should picke quarels and make vvarrs against them contemne and abandon al the good vve haue and may haue by them Which in dede vvere to hinder the best meanes of increasing the Catholique faith in our Countrie and consequently to hold heresie there the longer an so I end this point and come to the last In vvich I am to declare betvven vvhom this controuersie remaineth And this also is partly donne alreadie For seing the special drift of this contention is to haue the Archpriest remoued from his office and the Iesuits out of England and from al Engliâ—h Seminaries it is euident that the controuersie is betvven the Archpriest vvith al asvvel Iesuits as other Priests and Catholiques that alovve or like of the Ecclesiastical subordination lately restored in England and the malcontents vvith their partners that oppugne or dislike the same and not betwen the Iesuits and the Seminarie Priests vvhich can in no other sence be iustified then one may say an Egyptian is white because his teeth are vvhite At least it is as false as vvas the report made to king Dauid that al his sonnes were slaine vvhen only Amnon vvas slaine and no more As I 2. â—â— 13. vvil novv further demonstrate that the truth may appeare and the Seminarie Priests speaking absolutly of the chiefest best and farre greatest part from the begining of the first Seminarie to this day may be clered from this iniurious sclander First therfore when D. Allen began this holie vvorke he had a chiefe care to haue his College vvhere ther vvas also a College of Iesuits that therby he might the better haue their continual consel and help spiritualy and temporally in al his affaires And namely that the students might frequent the holie Sacraments and some lessons in the fathers College which they did continually til both they and the Iesuits were driuen from Doway by the procurement of heretiques for their more zealous profession of the Catholique Religion then the vulgar sorte of Catholiques commonly shevv Which wel shevveth the good agreement betvven the Iesuits and the Seminarie at that time The same is also manifest by that D. Allen in his returne from Rome before he had yet begunne his College so gladly ioyned himself in companie vvith F. Maximilian de Capella of the same Societie Doctor and Reader of Diuinitie in their College in Dovvay whose good aduises and special commendations to diuerse charitable men much furthered the same good beginings Aftervvards F. Antonius Possiuinus and F. Oliuerius Manereus most affectionatly concurring vvith their informations to their General and he and they commending the state of the English College to Pope Gergorie the thirtenth obtained his monethly pension for them After this againe the Catholique kings pension which is greater then the Popes vvas not only procured by F. Parsons commendations and trauel as is noted before but also by his industrie most especially or by F. Creswels or some other of the fathers it is stil payd which vvith manie other notorious examples of greate benefits which D. Allen and his Seminarie haue receiued of the Fathers do vvel declare the mutual liking sincere loue intire affection and confident dealing betvven him and the Societie and betvven al his and al their true folovvers and freinds The same is vvel testified also on the Cardinal his part for though he vvas not able to requite them in other good turnes yet he euer gratfully acknowleged the great good our countrie reapeth by the holie Societie as is to be seene in most of his printed bookes specially in his Apologie of twelue Martyrs in his Answer to the pretensed Iustice of England and most particularly in his Apologie written by him iointly in defence of the charitable indeuors of the Societie and of the Seminaries In which elegant booke next to the worthines of Gods cause he most amply commendeth good Pope Gregorie the thirtenth and the holie Societie of IESVS Moreouer touching his most gratful affection towards F. Parsons omitting other innumerable proofes his letters written
against the Pope Cardinals Archpriest of England Iesuits and Seminarie Priests charging them with Idolatrie Superstition much false doctrine with Treason against the Quene and Realme and with dissentions also betwen Iesuits and Seminarie Priests al false and impious sclanders as he plainly told them nothing at al pertaining to the Indictmēt wherupon his liefe depended about the time when he was made Priest Concerning which point after a few vncertaine coniectures were alleaged which agreed il and proued nothing against him vpon the onlie testimonie of M. Sauil Baron of the exchequer who was also his Iudge affirming that he knew him in Oxford some years after the time mentioned in the new statute and then not taken for a Priest he was denounced Guiltie and condemned to death as for hiegh Treason And a graue Catholique Matron was also indicted of felonie and condēned to death for receiuing him into her house As if she also had knowē him in Oxford to haue bene no Priest and afterwards made Priest who knewe him not at al but a smal time before he was taken in her house Finally after earnest perswation to go to their Church which she vtterlie refused she receaued her Croune of Martyrdome according to the Gospel whosoeuer receaueth a prophet in the name of a prophet shal receaue the reward of a prophet And albeit there semed lesse probabilitie to peruert the venerable Priest yet they omitted not to vrge vnto him the vsual tentation that if he would go to their Church he might injoy both liefe and libertie and be praeferred also amongst them Al which he constantly contemned in respect of Gods honour his ovvn◠saluation and edification or destruction of manie by his example And so in Easter vveke the 28. of March he also receiued his glorious croune And to their other impertinent talke both before and after his sentence he also ansvvered briefly that in the Catholique Romane Religion which he professed and for vvhich he was readie to dye there is neither Idolatrie nor-Superstition nor falshoode nor contrarietie of doctrin And though there be dissentions somtimes amongst Catholiques either Priests or others yet those differences are not in Articles of their faith but in other matters of some particular Iurisdiction right or title spiritual or temporal and the like And that for his ovvne part he had no such controuersie vvith anie Catholique nor breach of charitie vvith any person liuing vvhosoeuer Which was for him at that time a very sufficient answer And much hath bene said and vvritten also these late yeares of the puritie and vnitie of the Catholique doctrin Neuerthelesse here it shal not be amisse gentle reader to adde somwhat more in explication of his answer touching the differences rissen amongst some English Catholiques vvhich our Aduersaries so reprochfully obiect to al. For albeit the perfect are neuer scandalized yet the vveake often are and some do mistake Psal 118. v. 165. the case and some doubtles are guiltie of great fault in making or in nourishing this debate Al which wil be more clere if first calling to mind the state of Catholiques before this controuersie begane vve then consider vvhence it proceded vvherin it consisteth and betvven vhom it is And to this purpose it semeth necessarie that we beginne from the last general reuolt from the Catholique Religion in our Countrie Which vvas in the first yeare of this Quenes raigne For she comming to the Croune in the end of the yeare 1558. vvithin few monethes after a Parliament vvas called vvherin vtterly aganst the vvilles of al the Lords spiritual auouching that they did not nor vvould not consent to change the state of Religion the Lords temporal and Commons tooke vpon them and de facto pretended to abolish al authoritie or Iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome in England abandoned the holie Sacrifice of Masse and other Catholique Offices and in place therof restored the nevv forme of Seruice instituted in the second yeare of K. Edvvard the sixt but augmented altered and corrected for so they speake and further in most peremptorie and arrogant manner did in Gods name but vvithout commission from God earnestly require and charge al the Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries that they should indeuour themselues to the vttermost of their knovvledges to see the same put in execution threatening them vvith Gods vvrath and punishinent if this good and wholsome Law for sooth were neglected Al which holie Bishops obeying God rather then men vvere presētly depriued of their Bishopriques and al other constant Clergimen of their spiritual liuings and benefices Heretiques or such as yelded to the parctise of Heresie put in their places And diuerse also of the Laitie sharply punished for not conforming themselues to these nevv procedings In which state though the same Catholique Prelates stil kept their titles and right as vvel of their dignities as of their holie functions which could by no meanes be taken from them yet did they not exercise any publique Iurisdiction but expecting better times al the Bishops and most of the old clergie haue ended their liues in prison banishment or in other poore state al more or lesse restrained and persecuted Wherby the Ecclesiastical Ierarchie of the Church of England for lack of succession of ordinarie spiritual Pastors did vvholy decay and cease yet continually there remained some constant Catholiques and some few Catholique Priests which ministred the holie Sacraments and supplied in priuat and secret sorte other necessarie Offices vvithout anie subordination of one to an other vvithin the Realme the Sea Apostolique graunting 〈…〉 facultie to the worthie Confessor the Bishop of Lincolne and others to subdelegate such as vvere found fit to heare Confessions and to absolue also in Cases reserued as nede should require And furthermore this good seede of Catholique Religion conserued by Gods goodnes vvas also vvel vvatered and prospered much by sundrie good bookes written by diuerse learned and zealous men in defence of the Catholique faith wherby not only these Reliques vvere confirmed and stayed therein but some also conuerted from schisme and heresie But in the first tene years most men stil hoping of a change or toleration litle industrie vvas vsed for making more Priests to serue our countrie in this greate desolation til the renovvmed Doctor Allen aftervvards Cardinal most prudently foreseing the great defect of a succession of Priests vvithout vvhom no Sacrament could be duly administred no Sacrifice offered and consequently no Religion long remaine but al turne to Heresie Apostasie and Atheisme found meanes by Gods special prouidence in the yeare of our Lord 1568. to erect in the vniuersitie of Doway with the approbation of Pius Quintus a College of English students vvho by yelding themselues to Collegial discipline and to a set forme and course of studie with public exercise might attaine more vertue zeale and knovvledge and so be made Priests and returne into their Countrie as aboue foure hundred haue since donne to the
appeare was to send one to testifie the same for her in that Court VVhervpon this maister Iohn Rigbie her fathers man and hers also when she needed his seruice was readie as God would haue it for his more glorie to do this good office for her that day And so going to the Sessions house when Maistris Fortescue was called he appeared and answered that she was sicke and not able to come thither The coÌ„missioners demanded if he would auerre the same by his oth he said he would so do A booke was by and by offered him Wheron he was commaunded to lay his hand as the maner is and so he did as being readie to confirme by his oth that which he had in coÌ„mission to answer according to his opinion and knowledge But the commissioners being much discontented to be thus frustrat of the gentlewomans appearance the forsaid Sir Richard Martin perceuing him to be the same maÌ„ that had heretofore bene with him and had offended him suddenly and with choler begaine to examine him of his owne faith and religion before he was otherwise apprehended or accused or had anie cogitation of answering for him selfe Which neverthelesse he did with admirable resolution and corage to the astonishmeÌ„t of his aduersaries and great edification of manie as wel present as others that haue since heard therof and doubtles also of more yet vvhich may hearaster heare of it Our B. Saniour geving him mouth and wisdome as he 〈…〉 promiseth in such case which al his aduersaries were not able to resist and gainsay So from this examination he was carried to prison amongst theues and often after examined and remoued from prison to prison and at last condemned and put to death al in such sorte as now you shal here read And that for the former and greater part written by him selfe word by word as foloweth A Copie of my examination the 14. of Febru 1600. taken before my Lord mayor of London M. Recorder Sir Richar Martin Iustice Dale with others Comming to the Sessions to take my oth vpon occasion to testifie that Maistris Fortescue was sicke and not able to appeare in that place and having the oth tendered and my hand vpon the booke to sweare suddenlye spoke Sir Richard Martin and said VVhat are you that wil sweare à papist to whom taking my hand backe I answered I am à man but what more saith he at which his replie not able to forbeare laughter I said Sir what can I be more then à man he then said art thou à Papist a Protestant a Puritan or what Religion art thou of at which I something staying he said presently wilt thou go to Church or no This â— of teâ—â— here vrgâ—â— â— to which I said No. I thought so said he he may sweare what he list and hath his Priest at home to absolue him I warrant you Sir said I I do not vse to make false othes and if I did I know not anie Priest to geue me absolution so easely Then spoke my Lord Mayor will you not go to the Church No my Lord. were you at Church within this moneth No. were you within this three moneths No. were you within these twelue monethes No my Lord. wil you not go to the Church No. when receiued you the Commumon Neuer nor will you not receiue it No my Lord for I know that to be no Sacrament and therefore wil not receiue it O damnable creature said they what Religion art thou of à poore Catholique my Lord. à Catholique said they so are we what is the Catholique Religion that â—hat is â—â—e Caâ—â—olique â—â—th â—hich â— beleâ—â— at â— tiâ—â— in â— plaâ— by al â— most â—riâ—â—ns â—cen â—â—n â—â— which I beleeue and what do you beleeue That which the whole Catholique Church beleueth what is that that which I beleeue my Lord. so I would not be brought from that by no meanes I wil warrant you said AldermaÌ„ Martin he beleueth as his Maistris beleueth I pray God I beleue no worse said I. whose man are you said my Lord Maior Maistris Fortescues my Lord. how long haue you serued hir these foure or fiue yeares who preferred you to her one Claiton à brother in law of myn is he a Catholique No my Lord à Protestant vvere you à Catholique vvhen you came to her No my Lord but alvvayes Catholikely brought vp Hovv chaunced it that you altered your religion vvhen I came to riper yeares my Lord and considered myn ovvne estate better I very wel perceiued that course vvherin I theÌ„ liued vvas not the course vvhere in to be saued vvherupâ—â— I altered my Religion VVhat said Iustice Dale vvilt thou take the oth of the Supremacie Sir said I novv you seeke my blood I knovv not al that belongs to that oth there be manie can ansvvere you better then I. I vvil not svveare No said they al at once vvhy VVe haue al taken it if thou deniest it thou art à traitor To vvhich I ansvvered I am no Traytor my Lord but à true Subiect That vvhich your lordship and others haue done is nothing to me I vvil not svveare And if the Pope should send in forces to inuade this Realme vvhose part vvould you take the Quenes or the Popes I ansvveared the Quenes my Lord. But if he should come to settle the Catholique Religion as you terme it vvhose part vvould you then take Good my Lord that concerns my life I vvil not ansvver it vvhat art thou not à Priest said Sir Richard No farre vnvvorthie so high a calling Nor a frere No. Nor taken â—nie orders nor profession vpon you No more then professed my self by Gods grace to liue and dy in the Catholique Church VVere you never out of England No my Lord. looke if he be not bald said Iustice Dale No I vvarrant you said I. send for à Barber said my Lord Maior and cut of his haire presently So vve rested til the Barber came Then they set me on à vvarme stone vvhere the Irons vvere in heating to burne felons vvithal and the barber 〈…〉 to play his part But 〈◊〉 had sitten a litle the stone burned thâ—â—â—â—o my hose and the fyer vnder burned my â—egges VVhervpon I spoke and said I 〈◊〉 to hote my Lord. And presently they ansvâ—ered al thou must fit hotter yet Nay thâ—n said I put vnder more fyer in Gods name vvhearat I heard no one vvord but â—â— and by they spoke vnto the barber and bade him cut me close to the head VVhen to â— ansvvered in this quarel head and alâ— if it please you my Lord. VVhen he had donne they bade me pay the barber I said No my lord Maior should yet stay said I thou â—halt not take al these paines for nothing So I tooke forth my purse and gaue him thâ—eâ— pence VVhere at there vvas great laughing and I not the least merrie I am sure Then my Lord called me againe Hovv 〈…〉 vvil you yet go to Church I ansvvered
not my freinde nor euer had my consent therto I assure you my Lord I am a true Subiect and obedient to her Maiestie and her Lawes in anie thing which may not hurt my conscience But to say that I wil go to Church I neuer did nor neuer wil. Yea rather my Lord then your Lordship should haue anie light suspicion of me of such a consent take my first answere as it is there is my hand here is my whole bodie most readie I am and willing to seale it with my bloode and I humbly thanck your Lordship for calling me to answere this point my self VVhy then said both the iudges wil you not go to Church No my Lords God forbid I should then we see said one of them there is no such matter as vve vvere made to beleue We were told you were a â—impâ—â— young man and willing to recant but we see now thou art a resolute wilful fellow and there is no remedie but law must procede I would be sorie my Lords to geue your Lordships anie cause to thincke that euer I ment to recant knowing nothing wherin I haue offended but only vttered my conscience If that be so great a matter of offence let me haue lawe in the name of Iesus Gods wil be done Then spoke Iustice Dale a Iustice of Peace thou art a cogging cosening fellow and getts thy lining no man knoweth how by cogging and lying Sir said I for my getting I nede not much to bragg of it and for my lying and cogging you speake of I wold gladly you should know that the Auncestres of the house from whence I came were gentlemen fiue hundred yeaes before your grandfather was Iustice And so I stopped his mouth And the Iudges committed me vnto my keper for that time The next day being thursday we went again to the SessioÌ„s at S. Margarits hil Where about 2. of the clock in the afternone I was called to the barr to be arayned the Clerck sayd Iohn Rigbie hold vp thy hand where beseeching my swete Saviour Iesus our Blessed Ladie and al the holie companie of Angels and other Saincts to pray for me I held vp my hand merily So the Clerck read the Inditment which when I had heard I besech you my Lord sayd I grant me libertie to speake anone you shall said he So I gaue place aÌ„d the rest came to the barre for we were six arreigned at that time together fiue fellons and my self About an houre after I vvas called again and bidden hold vp my hand which I did as before my Inditment was read again and it was a sharp one Then my Lord bad me speake and I answered to foure principal points briefly in this manner First my very good Lords wheras I am charged in myn Inditment that I was reconciled it is very true to God almightie I so was and I thinck lawfully might be and as I remember it is also allowed in your boke of common prayer in the visitation of the sick that if anie man find hymself burdened in conscience he should make his confession to the Minister Which confession manifesteth a breach betwen God and his owne soule and by this humble confession he craueth pardon for his sinnes and reconciliation to God again by the hands of his Minister Secondly wheras I am charged that I was reconciled from myn obedience to her Maiestie and to the Romish Religion I wil depose the contrarie For I was neuer reconciled from anie obedience to my Prince for I obey her stil nor to aine Religion for although I somtimes went to Church against my wil yet was I neuer of anie other Religion then the Catholique and therfore neded no reconciliatâ—â— to Religion vvhich I neuer stood againsâ— Thirdly wheras in my former answere I said I went to Church it is true for feare of temporal punishment I so did but neuer minded to fal from the old Religion and therfore neded no reconciliation to Religion Fourtly and lastly I humbly besech your good Lordships as you wil answer it before God to explicat the meaning of the statute to the Iurie if the meaning therof be to make it treason for a man fallen into the displeasure of God through his sinnes to be recoÌ„ciled to God again by him to whom God hath committed the autoritie of reconciliation If this be treason Gods wil be done Then said both the Iudges it was by à Romish Priest and therfore treason I answered it vvas by a Catholique Priest who had the libertie of the prison and was frie for anie man to come vnto him to releeue him and therfore by the statute no treason Againe my Lords if it be not inquired of within a yeare and a day there can be no aduaÌ„tage takeÌ„ aganst me by this statute if you wrong me not Wherto replied one that sat vnder the Iudges Al this wil not seruâ— thy turne for the Iurie must finde it treason and so gaue them instructions that it must needs be treason Nay then Sir said I if it must be let it be Gods wil be done Then said Iustice Gaudie Good Rigbie I pray you thinck not in anie sorte I go about to seeke your death her Maiestie and her lavves be merciful If you wil yet conforme your self and say here before the Iurie go forth that you vvil go to Church and submit your self vve vvil procede no further My Lord said I if that be al the offence I haue committed as I knovv it is and if there be no other way but going to Church to helpe it I would not vvish your Lordships to thincke I haue as I hope risen thus manie steppes towards heauen and novv vvil vvilfully let my foote slippe and fal into the botomlesse pit of hel I hope in IESVS he vvil strengthen me rather to suffer a thousand deathes if I had so manie liues to lose Let your lavv procede Then said the Iudge to the Iurie you must VVhâ—◠〈◊〉 vvhoâ— vvorâ—â— doth â— Iudgâ— the â—â— quisitâ— of 〈◊〉 vvhâ—â— they â—â— must â—â— find tâ— be thâ— truth consider of it you see vvhat is said you cannot but find it treason by the Lavv. And so vvhen the rest vvere arraigned they vvent forth and stood not long to thinck vpon the matter but came againe and I vvas called and bidden againe hold vp my hand they bad the Iurie looke on the prisoner whether is he guiltie or no and who shal speake for you they al said the foreman I besech you my Lord said I may it please you to command silence that I may heare my verdict vvhich his Lordship did but the foreman spake so softly that I could not heare him I willed him to speake vp and not to be afeard Then he said Guiltie To the which I said vvith a lowde voice Laus tibi Domine Rex aeternae gloriae And so went frâ—â— the barr When the rest were arraigned and iudgement was to be giuen I was first called and Iustice Gaudy said what
his vvisdome sinceritie and long experience to be a Counseller then anie of them or that he had not as particular knovvledge as anie of them hovv things stood in England They excluded M. Hugh Ovven M. Thomas Fitzherbert and aftervvards sir Charles Arundel and al others that agreed vvith D. Allen because they vvould not leaue him and the vvhole nation and hang vpon them For the same cause they could not abide sir William Stanley finding him to agree so wel with D. Allen sir Frances F. Parsons F. Holt M. Ovven and others and also because he is a soldiar and they better statesmen in their ovvne conceipts as though he being so renovvmed a soldiar vvere therfore lesse fit to geue his aduise hovv our countrie may be brought againe to the Catholique faith being othervvise a man of as sound iudgment as any of them and as al that knovv him and them can vvitnes as farre more sincere more vertuous more studious more laborious to help his countrie and al his countrie men as he is more valient in the waâ—â— then they are which is no smale difference They admitted the Earle of Westmerland to their Partie so farre only as he vvould concurre vvith them to oppose against and to ouerthwart other mens good labours but by no meanes vvould they take him for their chiefe Thomas Morgan vvas the beginner of al wherof it is called Morgans faction but M. Charles Paget vvas chiefe commander the Lord Paget vvas content to be ruled by them wherupon they complained the more that the Earle of vvestmerland vvould not be ruled also thus this contradiction began And vpon this ground they haue continued the same entertaining and imploying al malcontents they could get to yeald to their bend So far forth that vvithin tvvo or three yeares they seduced tvvo Seminarie Priests to treate vvith them and to be imployed by them yea one of them at least to treate vvith Secretarie Walsingham And aftervvardes induced the same tvvo to write tvvo bookes the one against F. Parsons and al Iesuits the other against the Cardinal Especially against his Epistle vvritten in iustification of Sir William Stanley his rendring the Citie of Dauenter to the right Lord therof the king Catholique Which fact vvas not only iust lavvful and necessarie by the lavves of God and Nations in respect both of the place and of himself but also he had a particular licence for his person of the Earle of Lecester to depart from that seruice and to repaire vvhere he vvould for his better contentment which licence hath bene seene by some English Protestants Agents sometimes in Flanders and is to be shevved vvhensoeuer occasion shal require As yet this faction vvas but smale and greene amongst Catholiques in England for the tvvo foresaid Priests very shortly retired thence and verie fevv durst breake openly vvith their brethren nor with the Fathers so long as the Cardinal liued But presently vpon his death some other vnquiet spirits though prisoners for their faith hauing long exercised their good felovv prisoners with much patience more openly ioyned themselues vvith the same trublesome with whom they had secretly dealt before And so did also manie of the scholars in Rome against the Protector himselfe and their other Superiors Sodeinly becomming great states men as then they thought themselues For the better appeasing of which dissentions and preuenting the like al Catholiques generally desired to haue some Superiors and Subordination in the English Clergie But for so much as al former Subordination vvas vvholy interrupted vvithin the Realme it could not otherwise be restored but by the Sea Apostolique or by special commission geuen by his Holines for this purpose For novv in our countrie vve had neither Primat noâ— other Bishop nor Ordinarie of anie one Diocese nor anie Archpriest nor Vicargeneral nor Archdeacon nor Deane of anie Chapiter nor anie Chapiter nor other Ecclesiastical communitie at al nor so much as an ordinarie Pastor nor Vicar of anie parish but only priuat Priests vvho had subdelegat faculties in court of conscience only for administration of Sacraments and some other spiritual functions But these were no more a mystical bodie then certaine prouision of stone lime and timber are a house or a church before they be compact together and formed vvith vvalâ— and roofe for euen so vve were a certaine prouision of Priests ordained for restauration of our decaied Hierarchie but vvere not disposed of in anie subordination vnder a head And so had no possible meanes in our ovvne nation to make anie Prouincial Concel Synode Conuocation or Chapiter nor had anie electiue or decisiue voices or suffrages to choose supperior or other officer nor to determine anie thing iuridically And therfore for the due ioyning of Clergie men to make a Hierarchie none of them hauing further autoritie diuerse of the chiefest and eldest sort asvvel in England as in banishment humbly proposed this our case and desire to his Holines vvith such suggestions as to them semed most mete Manie thought it 〈…〉 â—â—crated for the better gouernment of our Church and most specially for administring the holie Sacrament of Confirmation though our Cardinal in his time vvas not of that minde for if he had it had bene done Finally after mature consultation his Holines resolued to make an Archpriest vvith tvvelue Assistants to gouerne the rest in England And vpon the particular information of the same chiefe and eldest sorte of English priests testifying the singular good talents vertue learning vvisdome zeale discretion and other good parts and considerable circumstances concurring praeeminently in the person of M. George Blackvvel this autoritie of Archpriest vvas laid vpon him to the great ioye and singular liking of al except a very fevv especially those that aspired to haue bene promoted themselues Who hearing by our Protectors letters that this Archpriest vvas constituted and tvvelue Assistants appointed deferred to submit themselues til they might see further confirmation therof from his Holines And shortly they sent tvvo messengers to Rome not so much to learne his Holines true meaning and intention for they knevv it already but thought they vvere not bound to acknovvledge it as to trie if they could procure this autoritie to be recalled or altered and specially to be remoued to some other person alleaging against their appointed Superiour nothing but meere falâ— hoods and that he agreeth too vvel vvith the â—esuits and specially vvith F. Parsons So the controuersie is novv come to this special point whether the R. R. Archpriest be a sufficient and fit man for the place he is in seing he agreeth vvel vvith the Iesuits and namely vvith F. Parsons and concurreth vvith them to gaine soules or that he shoud be remoued and some other put in his or in some higher place that disliketh of F. Parsons and other Iesuites and that the Iesuites should also depart out of England and be remoued from the gouernmeÌ„t of al English Seminaries euen from those which they