Logician in the Vniuersities or schooles of Sectaries but he vvil oppose him self boldly against al the Church vvith this pretext alvvaies that Gods mere vvord so they call their Bible falsely corruptly and deceitfully translated together vvith as foul fantastical and false suppositions deduced out of the same must be folovved before al mens doctrines and inuentions And generally al Sectmaisters to abuse the people them selues shamefully deceiued before make the state of the controuersie betvvixt them and the Catholikes their aduersaries to be this Vvhether they grounding their doctrine on Gods mere vvord are to be beleued rather then their aduersaries founding theirs vpon mans traditions and fantasies Vvhere that is not the poynt of the doubt but this vvhether the vvord and vvritten letter being redde acknovvledged and common to both they haue the true sense and vnderstanding of it rather then vve and vvhether they folovv fansie that be ledde by their ovvne priuate spirit or vve that leane to the Spirit of the Church Novv then al men must knovv that as it is the propertie of the Protestants and such others to call the sense that them selues of pride and ignorance make choise of Gods mere vvord so also to terme the holy Churches sense or interpretation mans fansie or inuention Vvheras euer the priuate singular nevv and particular spirit is fansie and the common vniuersal old and Catholike interpretation is the true and mere vvord of God vvhervpon our doctrine and trayning vp the Studēts in these Catholike Colleges are grounded And the very drift of Catholike schooles in these daies must be to dravv men from phantasie priuate imagination and liking of their ovvne iudgement to the trusting of al the learned fathers of al ages to the beleefe of the Catholike Church according to a Christians profession to obey in doubtes of doctrine the holy Councels and other authentical Iudgements vvhich Christ hath left in his Church for that purpose to vvhich end vve do svveare al that take degree according to the ordinance of the holy Councel of Trent that they shal during their life in al their preaching teaching disputing vvriting and othervvise expound the holy Scriptures as neere as they can secundum vnanimem consensum Patrum according to the vniforme and agreable sense of the Fathers This is not to bring vp men according to fansies but according to the promised Spirit of truth This is to auoid the particular presumptiō of Heretikes vvho are vvholy so caried avvay vvith the priuate spirit of pride and contention that they frame to them selues certaine platformes of doctrine according to euery of their particular Sectes vvhich they call their analogie of faith and dravv Gods vvord vnto it making it to sovvnd and say vvhatsoeuer they dreame of And therfore S. Augustine noted this to be the propertie of Faustus the Manichée and the like so to handle the matter by much talking of Scriptures that al the authoritie therof might be subiect to them selues and yeld no other meaning then their fansie allovved of To auoid therfore these partial spirits vve imitate in our learning and teaching as neere as the time and opportunitie of things do suffer vs holy S. Basil and S. Gregorie Nazianzene of vvhom thus Ruffinus vvriteth For the space of thirtene yeres they studied only the bookes of holy Scripture and the vnderstanding of the same they folowed not of their owne presumption but of the vvritings and anthoritie of their forefathers vvho also them selues vvere vvel knovven to haue receiued the rule of vnderstanding by succession from the Apostles Vve teach and learne humility and obedience to our Prelates vve teach all ours to knovv and keepe those traditions vvhich the Apostle commendeth to his flockes both vvritten and vnvvrittē those precepts of the Ancients and the like of our Superiors that the faithful in the Actes vvere cōmaunded to obserue according to the difference of things and times prescribed by the gouernours of our soules In al doubtes vve resolue our selues by the definition of holy Doctors Councels and See Apostolike to vvhich Christ hath giuen the Spirit of truth the right sense of holy Scriptures and the grace of discerning the false priuate spirits of errour from the true common Spirit of Christian Catholike people Vve teach them that such precepts and traditions as be in Scriptures commended vnto vs and al other holy Churches decrees are vntruely called the traditions or commaundements of men in the sense of Heretikes for that they be the Ordinances of the holy Ghost vvho continually assisteth our lavvful Pastor in the due regiment of our soules Vve teach them that the Scriptures be hard and high and many vvaies misconstrued to damnation that Manes Arius Macedonius Eutyches Sabellius Pelagius though they redde the Scriptutes and as much vaunted thē selues therof as the Caluinists novv do yet erred and misconstrued them shamefully and that the Protestants therfore may so do and in deede do folovving the like particular contentious and disobedient spirits as they did Vve tel thē of S. Augustines experiēce That Heretikes by daily contentions and fightes raise vp mistes and smoke vnto them selues that they can not conceiue the truth vvhich is hardly seen euē of a stil and quiet mind And againe Heretikes piking out such sentēces and chapters of Scripture as simple men vnderstand not by them do deceiue the ignorant soules which by curiositie are easily misledde because euery vnlearned soul is curious But he that hath well learned the Catholike faith spred throughout the vvhole vvorld and is armed vvith good maners and true pietie can not be deceiued Vve teach our Scholers that the ancient fathers of al ages agreing together are more like to vnderstand the Scriptures then the Protestāts and that if humility make any thing in this case as it doth al they vvere more humble then the Protestants if studie and diligence be required they passe them if great knovvledge in al sciences our good felovves be not comparable if the tonges diuers had the cheefe of them naturally vvherof ours get but a smal tast by art if much exercise of reading conferring comparing expounding the Scriptures help to vnderstād them hovv far they excel our delicate Doctors their vvorkes and infinite treatises do vvitnesse if prayer serue any thing for attaining truth and Gods spirit vvithout vvhich no such verities cā be knovven surely to cōpare onely their deuotions vvatchings fastes sacrifices to these companions endeuours vvere a great iniurie and ridiculous if to be void of vvordly distractions to liue single and chast vvhich to the onely studie of Philosophie vvas of old thought conuenient profit to the knovvledge of Diuinitie the Protestants haue no great aduantage if Gods great graces and vertues euen to the vvorkes of miracles and sustaining Martyrdom and so high holines of life that they are beleued of al Catholike men and not denyed of Heretikes to be in heauen help to the vnderstāding of
They vvere ouercome in Aërius Vigilantius Iouinian Imagebreakers Berengarius and others by many iudicial sentences and by plaine learning refuted before our daies they are condemned by the like meanes in our time yeld they vvill not til God miraculously cōfound their cheefe preachers And for further trial of our doctrine vvould God it might please our Prince to cōmaund some of vs her Catholike subiects abrode or of them vvhich be at home either in prison or at libertie to appeare before her Ma. tie or any indifferēt iudges in scholastical cōbat vvith any one or any number of Protestāts of her dominions or any other part of the vvorld Vvhich men though they durst not shevv their faces in the late General Councel vvhich is the proper place of such disputes vpon trifling and vnvvorthy pretences refusing the same blaspheming that holy assembly and barking at it in bookes a far of vvhen they durst not come neere it as the Heretikes condēned in the first foure great Councels did also tovvard the same yet their causes of feare or exception vvould cease in this case if it pleased her Highnes by her vvisdom and clemēcie to giue order for the libertie and saftie of both partes therein Neither neede our Aduersaries be curious in the case the personal feare or danger being on our side but the shame and confusion vve trust in God shal be on theirs Once there vvas a conference in deede but vvithout al order and indifferēcie and at that time vvhen there vvas such a greedly desire of nouelty and chaunge that vvil and affection forcibly ouerruled al the matter Novv so many yeres hauing both vvel cooled the inordinate heat that the people lightly haue in such cases and giuen good experience of the Sect vve doubt not but God vvould prosper the matter to the great good of the Realme and contentmēt of her Ma. ties and al doubtful consciences For though such disputes vvith the Catholike Churches Aduersaries out of Councels and fit places be not in them selues alvvaies so allovvable nor profitable yet oftentines they haue done good and haue been thought necessarie both of late and of old as vve see by the diuers conferences of S. Augustine and others vvith the Manichées Arians and Donatistes in Afrike and some in France and Germanie vvith the Caluinists and Protestāts And that this vve also might do vvith our Superiors liking vve most hartely desire trusting that our doctrine vvhich novv is condemned of fansie and humane tradition should then be inuincibly proued to be most agreable to Gods sacred vvord and holy Scriptures Thus also further being bold and of duety to his Holines vvho also is charged to haue instituted these Colleges to traine vs vp in erroneous doctrine bound to say as the truth is that in these his Colleges there be vsed as many meanes to attaine to the knovvledge of the Scriptures and Gods truth reserued in them and his holy Church as in many mo of theirs Our vvittes be of God as theirs are and alloted to vs by his goodnes in as plentiful measure as theirs our absence from our Countrie the aduersity and pouerty incident to the same being not excessiue is as fit for studie as the more plentiful and delicate state of our English Vniuersities at home being othervvise for that thing and for al vvorldly splendour the noblest Schooles in Christendom Our foundation in al kind of faculties requisite for the studie of Diuinitie is as deeply laid as theirs our diligence rather more then lesse our time both of age and studie more complete then theirs commonly can be that are for the most part in our daies so timely called out of the Schooles to pulpits and promotions Our order methode and course of Diuinitie kept and ruled by obedience and the Superiors prescription much more profitable then theirs that is mere voluntarie Vve haue mo disputations lessons conferences examinations repetitions instructions Catechizings resolutions of cases both of conscience and controuersies methodes and maners to procede in the cōuersion of the deceiued and such like exercises specially for daily practise in the Scriptures vvherein the Protestāts vainely pretend their cheefe praises to cōsist because they can promptly alleage the leafe and the line of their booke in our tvvo Colleges then are in their tvvo Vniuersities cōteining neere hand 30 goodly Colleges And as concerning Sermons no Sunday nor Holy day in the yere vvanteth one and tvvise a vveeke besides for the exercise of yong preachers declamations in matters of Diuinitie For the tonges also notvvithstanding so many their publike and priuate lessons and great vaunting of the same I vvould vve might haue opportunitie to shevv vvhether they or vve haue more commoditie of them either to the knovvledge of Diuinitie or to the aduantage of our cause As for the Maisters and Professors of our Colleges specially the Romane Readers of vvhom vve may vvith better reason and respect of our shamefastnes speake then of our ovvne here vvhom yet I trust our Aduersaries shal find sufficiēt vvhen God shal put them to the proofe vve may be bold to say they be in al kind the most choise and cunning men in Christendō for vertue learning gouernemēt and al education of youth vvherof vvould God our Nation at home might once take triall Novv for that part of education vvhich pertaineth to Christian life and maners because knovvledge and learning be obtained specially by prayer and godly behauiour impure persons being not so apt to receiue and obey the faith our cheefe endeuour is in both the Colleges to breede in our Scholers the feare of God deuotion and desire of saluation Vvhich is done by diuers spiritual exercises as daily examinations of their consciences often Communicating or Receiuing the B. Sacrament often confessing much praying continual hearing and meditation of holy things deepe conceiuing and compassion of their Countries state and danger of their deerest frendes soules Al vvhich things to tell in particular vvere to long Neither this much vvould vve haue said of such matters had not our necessarie defense driuen vs therevnto For vvhich and principally for the honour of God and his Holinesse eternal commendation vve haue touched the maner of that education vvhich our Aduersaries haue persuaded her Highnes Councel to be disagreable to Gods vvord Humbly thanking our Lord God that for our further vvarrant therein he hath giuen to these endeuours such effect that many haue found eternal good thereby in our Countrie and that he neuer suffered any as far as vve could perceiue and do remember vouchsauing to conferre vvith vs one moneth to go hēce not persuaded and contended in conscience though many yerely resort to both the Seminaries either vvholy doubtful or plaine Protestants Vvhereby vve find it certaine that many a good soul perisheth in our Nation onely for lacke of hearing and seeing the Catholike faith and practise therof The sensible comfort vvherof is so vnspeakable to al that truely do
Scotland Flanders and France against their natural Princes to the ruine and desolation of the greatest partes of those noble Countries Yea if you list not go from home call at the least to your remembrances into vvhat hazards the scepter and crovvne of Queene Marie and consequently of her Ma. tie that novve is came by the Protestants both in the said Queenes reigne and specially vpon the death of King Edvvard the sixt vvhen they attempted by armes vnnaturally to haue thrust out of the Regal throne both the one and the other their Zuinglian Bishops and Clergie not onely subscribing to the treasons but preaching diuers traiterous and seditious sermons at London and in the Vniuersities and other famous places of the Realme against both their royal persons and contributing and setting out souldiars to the maintenance of the same rebellion for vvhich some of the cheefe of them vvere conuicted by the high Court of Parliament of treason and the principal of that conspiracie othervvise a right vvorthie and noble Gentleman being aftervvard executed for the same confessed at the houre of his death that al that and other late mischeefes and miseries of the Real me proceded of heresie and forsaking the vnitie of the Catholike Church this they did then And aftervvard their felovves being fled to Geneua and other places ceased not to moue hostilitie both abrode and at home against the Realme as short a vvhile as they vvere absent sundrie vvaies and caused by the allovving and consent of Caluin and Knokes the tvvo fannes of sedition and calamitie of France and Scotland an abominable treatise to be published against the regiment of vvemen at once to defeat the Queene that then vvas her sister that novv is the Q. of Scotland and cōsequently the vvhole rase of renovvmed Henry the seuenth And vvhat shal I speake of the Puritans late malapert and seditious booke against her Ma. ties honorable intētions and against her next neighbour ād fre-end a principal Peere of Christendom Or of the diuers pestilent bookes set out these late yeres in french and other languages against the persons of sundrie Princes and Potētates of Christendom vttering and amplifying in particular most barbarously their opē or secrete faultes and feyning many crimes neuer committed to alter their subiects affection from them and so to prepare their hartes to rebellion against them a popular practise most common novv in the vvorld among Protestants as it alvvaies hath been a meane to aduance sedition none euer intending commotion or alteration either in the Church or Commonvvealth not vsing the same Vvhich kind of inhumane irreligious and vnciuil dealing vsed by Heretikes first against Popes and other principal persons of the Clergie to induce the people to their contempt being not duely punished by the temporal Magistrate but either vvinked at liked or of hatred to the order and of pollicy procured is novv vsed for like purposes tovvards Kings and Queenes also that be subiect to sinnes and the sight of the vvorld and yeld matter to slaunderous tonges and pennes as vvel as Popes and Prelates do and vvil hazard al the Commonvvealths that suffer it It is no good graue nor Christian gouernement to suffer a ribald to open in booke or pulpit to the people vvhose eares itch for such sport against Superiors of al states the particular faultes either feyned as they be commonly or taken vp by hearesy or in deede committed of Prelates Princes or peoples of other Nations If there vvere some Italian or English fugitiue that vvould take vpon him in Rome to make a preach before the Prelates or citizens there of al the sinnes donne in the Court or in London or by the Noblemen them selues or in their houses or through the Realme and not onely vvhat is in deede cōmitted but vvhat malice and impudencie may forge to be done should such a monster trovv ye be heard of honorable or honest men there or escape the coarde or galleies No doubtles none could be suffered so to do against any Prince famous citie or Nation Catholike or Protestant in the vvorld vvithout iust correction And yet alas in our Countrie men make sport or rather a solemne act of it and that is thought not vnvvorthy to be spoken in pulpits and aftervvard published and printed vvhich neither the Old Comedie nor Pasquino nor any ruffian or Carneuall-youth in Rome vvould speake vvithout a visard So are the māners and grauity of our forefathers altered by this nevv preach into Chās conditiōs detraction and malediction euen of Gods Priests and the Princes of the people vvhich the Apostle taught vs by his ovvne most humble example ought not to be vsed no not tovvards such as haue but the name and resemblance of true Priests and vvhich S. Iude by the fact of S. Michael proueth should not be vsed to the Diuel himself Oh vvhat a dis honour is it to our noble Countrie that can heare and beare such vvicked slaunderers returning home from honorable States Cities and Cōmonvveales and vttering nothing but onely filthy false and reprochful matter against them And hovv great a shame and iniquity is it that men borne in a civil Countrie can trauail so far and into such renovvmed places Churches and states and find nothing nor bring home to their freendes any thing but filth and ribauldry Vvhich kind of mē are like vnto one that should go to take the sight and vevve of some Princely palace or citie and vvhen he cometh there neuer looketh on the ma. tie magnificence beauty cōmodity order gouernement iustice or other such things neuer asketh for the vvise the godly the learned and the like for vvhich the places be notorious but onely rūneth to the chānels sinkes gutters iakes dunghils and other stinking offices of mans infirmities and acquainteth him self onely vvith the blacke guard ād other of abiect seruices and returneth vvith outcry that nothing is found there but stinke and lothsomnes Euen such in good sooth are these vnhonest Pilgrimes that as soon as they arriue in any famous citie seeke not after any things of excellent fame for vertue learning regiment religion deuotion but according to their ovvne tast hunt after nothing aske for nothing but vvhere the Stevves be vvho frequent them vvhat crimes iniquities or disorders haue beē done in thē vvhat vices the Princes or Priests are giuen to and so partly of that they find partly of that they feyne partly of that they borovv of vvanton Poetes and partly of that vvhich holy men haue of zeale and charitie reprehended they make vp a fardel of malicious slaunders and detractions of Popes and Princes and vtter such seemly vvares in their seditious sermons Vvherein for al that hovv spitefully so'euer they speake agaīst such persons in effect cōmōly they say nothing of importāce against thē that hath any shevv of truth or iust cause of blame in the sight of any vvise indifferent man But these be the