testament to gouerne his Sonne and the Realme how happened it that Sir Anthonie Browne was so earnest and importunate a sutor to the King to haue Gardiner put into his Will againe when he was put out And why did the King bid him holde his peace and trouble him therewith no more For if hee were in he would trouble them all and if hee moued him any more for Gardiner he would also put him out Is not this an argument that the King reposed great trust in Gardiner for the gouernment of his Sonne and the Realme Another thing you say Gardiner vttered in his Sermon that King Henrie in his latter time was inclined to reconcile himselfe to the Pope But I would the Bishop had had more wit to speake truth and lesse skill in lying for it is apparant that not long before the Kings death hee with his owne mouth answered the Ambassadour of Frederick Duke of Saxonie that if the quarrell of the Duke his master were nothing else against the Emperour but for Religion he should stand to it stronglie and hee would take his part Nay more then this as the worthie Archbishop of Canterburie Doctor Cranmer a man farre more inward with the King then Gardiner was doth testifie the King but little before his death resolued talking with the Archbishop and French Embassadour that he and the King of France within one halfe yeere would not onely change the Masse in both the Realmes to a Communion as it is now vsed but vtterly to haue banished the Bishop of Rome his vsurped authority Yea they were so throughly and firmely resolued in that behalf that they minded also to exhort the Emperour to doe the like in Flaunders and other his Countries and Seigniories or else to breake off from him A third thing in this discourse you alleadge that Bishop Gardiner was wont to say of King Henrie that after he left to loue that person which by Gods law and mans law he was bound to loue aboue all others to wit his first wife and Queene he neuer loued anie person heartilie and constantlie after Whereunto I shortly answere that concerning his often changes of his wiues putting som to death and others away I will not take vpon me to answere at all But to Gardiners report I answere that this his mutabilitie proceeded not hereof because he ceased to loue the first but because he first loued where he should not namely his owne brothers wife against the voice of God and nature as crouching and glosing Gardiner who flattered with the issue of this vnlawfull match not in word onely but in publike writing professed to the whole world vtterly condemning the former mariage with his brothers wife and approuing iustifying the second with Queene Anne In his booke De vera obedientia he writeth of that point to this purpose And amongst these Sith there is commaundement that a man shall not marrie his brother's wife what could the King excellent Maiestie 〈◊〉 otherwise then he did by the consent of the people and iudgement of his Church that is be diuorced from vnlawfull marriage and vse lawfull and permitted â—â—â—â—â—â—tion and obeying as 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 conformablie 〈◊〉 commaundement cast off her whom neither law nor right permitted him to haue and take him to chast and lawfull marriage Wherein although the sentence of Gods word whereto all things ought â—â—sâ—oupe might suffice yet his Maiestie was contented to haue the assisting consents of the most notable graue men and the censures of the most famous Vniuersities of the whole world and all to the intent that men should see he did both that he might ought to do vprightly seeing the best learned most worthy men haue subcribed to it shewing therein such obedieÌ„ce as Gods word requireth of euerie good and godly man so as it may be said that both he obeyed God and obeied him truly c. Hitherto Gardiners words Who reading this discourse of Gardiner concerning the kings first vnlawful his second lawful mariage would euer haue suspected such mutability in the man so suddainely to turne the Cat as the Prouerbe is in the panne approuing that which before he openlie condemned and condemning that which before he publikely approued or who noting this his inconstancie and not this onely but the other of condemning and abiuring the Popes Supremacie and earnest maintaining of it againe will not thinke him a verie Proteus which can change himselfe into all shapes serue all times sooth all Princes affections with â—it aio negat nego And so I leaue your wauering Bishoppe and come to your constant Cardinall About whom you professe to be verie briefe but if you had not spoken in his defence at all you had shewed yet some loue of truth and hate of treason for as wicked Sheba blew the trumpet of sedition against Dauid so hath this your Cardinall done against her Maiestie In my former booke I charge him that though he seemeth to wish that Doctor Saunders and Doctor Bristow had spared to speake so much in defence of Puis Quintus his Bull against her Maiestie yet he both affirmeth that these two learned men of great zeale and excellencie had their speciall reasons to doe so And in another treatise Viz. his defence of Sir William Stanlies act in giuing ouer Deuentre to the King of Spaine he doth as fully approue the Bull as anie of the other which though I condemne as good cause I should being a point of so high treason as that the Queene being by the Pope deposed is no longer Queene noâ— to bee obeyed yet you answere for him smoothly that he must needs be of like iudgement with Saunders and the rest and that he might speake his mind plainely being in the place and dignitie that he was when occasion should be offered Which in other words is as much to say as your Cardinall must needs be of the iudgement that the Queene was no longer Queene after the Bull published neither might her Subiectes obey her But yet it was good pollicie to speake sparingly of that point and for the Papistes to yeeld for a time outward obedience to auoide the daunger of the law till a fit time might come either by open force or secret treason to put the Bull in execution And so much doe the faculties granted by Gregorie the thirteenth to Parsons and Campion import which is further warranted by Saunders going after into Ireland with Italian and Spanish forces to haue depriued her Maiesty of that kingdome which fact as you cannot deny so will you not shew to detest in a subiect against his Prince because it was for your Pope For a further defence yet of your Cardinall you alleadge the example of childrens sorrow to see their parents at iarre that the yonges sort are fitter to weepe and mourne then to determine the controuersies and that the elder sort may speake more freely and interpose their iudgements
AN APOLOGIE OR DEFENCE OF THE WATCH-VVORD AGAINST THE VIRVLENT AND SEDITIOVS WARD-VVORD published by an English-Spaniard lurking vnder the title of N.D. DEVIDED INTO EIGHT SEVERALL Resistances according to his so many Encounters written by Sir FRANCIS HASTINGS Knight PSALM 122. O pray for the peace of Ierusalem let them prosper that loue thee PSALM 109. Though they curse yet thou wilt blesse they shall rise vp and be confounded but thy seruant shall reioyce LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON for Ralph Iacson 1600. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER I Haue obserued gentle Reader from the words and writings of the learned that it is a Maxime or Rule in Philosophie Finis est primus in intentione The end aymed at is first setled in the intention of man And finding this Romanist to boast and brag much of his learning it is not vnlike that like a cunning Clerke whatsoeuer his learning be the ende of this his worke was the first ground of his writing He proclaimeth Temperance in his title he pursueth the Art of Rayling in the whole processe following and in the end of all he perswadeth ruine both to Church and Common-wealth In the first dissimulation in the second scurrilitie and the third trecherie is contained for he shakes handes with Temperance at the verie first and leaueth her to rest and remaine with his title and the leafe being turned he plungeth presently into his vaine of rayling which if he had affected Temperance he would neuer haue done and the end sheweth his intention to be to bring in either a tolleration or flat alteration of Religion But wilt thou know Christian Reader what forced this fellow to become so suddenly distempred My Watch-word presented vnto thee to prepare thee with a couragious heart and readie hand to resist forraine malice and home treason plotted and purposed by Rome and Spayne against our Soueraigne and Countrie hath wakened him before his time and out of the lightnesse of his braine through ouer-watching of himselfe to deuise and worke mischiefe he tearmeth this my booke in the beginning of his Preface an iniurious Pamphlet and a biting Libell my labours therein he calleth a base exercise of calumniation and rayling and in the matter thereof it pleaseth him to say I spare neither God nor man So farre forth as they concerne the Catholike cause or the cause of them and for this I must receiue my checke and refutation at his pleasure The iniurie he chargeth me to haue done is to his Catholikes of whose doctrine and dealing I confesse in my former booke I warne thee to beware as for the tearme of a byting Libell thou wilt say gentle Reader when thou hast perused him and me both ouer that it is a more fit addition to the title of his temperate ward-Ward-word which is byting because it is full of rayling and is a Libell because it is slaunderous against her Maiestie and the seat of her Iustice and is thrust out without name as for the basenes of the exercise imputed to me for writing and publishing that booke and the cause thereof indeed it is a verie base thing to calumniate and rayle as he doth but to lay before Subiects the doctrine and deeds of disloyaltie and to warne them to take heed thereof as I haue endeuoured therein to doe will proue neither calumniation nor rayling If any simple seduced Catholike stand free from subscribing to the disloyal doctrine of Rome from doing that it directeth and teacheth he is not touched by me therefore this Champion that draweth all Catholikes within the compasse of my words wrongeth them more then I doe but he might haue spared to name the God of heauen as a partie in his Catholike cause till he can proue the cause warranted from God and his truth which he shall neuer do yet I must receiue this worthie Gentlemans checke for my labour but he shall find it is farre from a mate and that his Bishops are too weake to bring it to that The Gentleman saith he is verie loath to be ouer eager and sharpe with me in his Encounters not onely in his owne worshipfull disposition but also for the reuerent respect he carrieth to the house and family I come of and the particuler affection he feeleth towards some of my name and linage but this is no sooner vttered then that he breaketh out presently into these words Who will not confesse but that lying forging and falsifying ignorant vaunting odious scoffing malicious calumniations seditious interpretations bloudie exaggerations barbarous insultations ouer them that alreadie are in affliction and calamitie ought to be farre from the nature pen and tongue of a Knight or Gentleman And who would haue thought that so temperate a title could haue afforded so vntemperate a stile Againe who would haue expected such raging and rayling Rhetoricke against me from one of so milde a disposition as he professeth to be of and that caried so reuerend a respect to the family whereof I am a braunch and such a feeling affection to some of my name as he would perswade But he hath cut the throate of his temperate title and proclâ—imeth intemperance in his whole booke and I doubt 〈◊〉 breake the strength of his chiefe wards for all his fencing skill if he meane to play the fencer and to leaue him altogether to his hanging-ward which proueth alwaies a dangerous ward if it be sharpely followed by the assaylant but for his reuerent respect to my family and his affection to some of them which surely I thinke it verie slender and scunt sounde to any of them I would aduise him not to lie so open but to betake him to a stronger and sounder ward least be catch a double venue for his labour But he is prouoked by me to breake out into choler for that I not onely saith he Touch the honours states and liuings of home-borne subiects and bring them into question vniustly being no waie tollerable but rush further to the open assault of forraine Monarchies also their honours fame and reputations which is lesse tollerable and consequently hath neede of some more sharpe and forcible reiection The former persons meant by him are made apparant before and therefore of them I onely say this in this place I wish them all from my heart that as they are home-borne so they may be home-hearted Subiects that their Soueraigne and countrie may enioye them sound English Subiects indeed as for his Monarches of Rome and Spayne hee hath no cause to carpe at me but to blame themselues for it is they and not I that haue teinted their honours fame and reputations the first of them hauing long sought to depose her Maiestie from her regall and supreame right within her owne Dominions the other hauing made attempts to inuade and make a conquest of her land and both of them hauing conspired the death of her Maiestie by setting on both bastard borne English and bâ—â—â—h strangers to depriue her of life this I confesse
might when the valiant Souldier of Iesus Christ Thomas Hawkes was before him and alleaging against the Popish manner of baptising both the addition of many ceremonies deuised by man as their oyle creame salt spittle candle coniuring of water c. as also that they wanted the chiefe thing meaning preaching alleaging the text Goe teach all Nations baptising them c. by and by replieth vpon Master Hawkes and taketh this exception against that allegation Thou speakest that because I am no Preacher And as if to taxe a Bishop for being no Preacher had been so hainous a matter though the man of God answered that he spake the text and meant not of him yet all his Doctors and seruants present spake with a loude voice making a great noise he speaketh it of you my Lord. And yet the latter part of King Henries raigne and the short but happie raigne of King Edward helped you to farre moe Preachers by their faint yeelding then in former times of Poperie haue been accustomed to be as is not onely apparant in this kingdome but in others if I had leasure to inlarge The onely example of Doctor Bassinet a man of great learning and authoritie in France shall suffice me at this time who in his first answere to the oration of the Bishop of Aix perswading to set vpon the Merindoâ—ians and as heretikes to destroy them confesseth his owne ignorance of true Religion till of late he fell to reade the Scriptures and yet he was a Iudge of heresie and with all his rash condemning of those whom they call Lutherans to death although he was content so farre to yeelde to punish them with fines and banishment which should speake too intemperately against the constitutions of the Church and of the Pope his words are thus Englished The cause why in conscience I am thus disquieted is this that now of late since I haue giuen my selfe more diligently to the reading and contemplation of the holy Scriptures I perceiue that the most part of those Articles which they that are called Lutherans doe maintaine are so conformable and agreeing to the Scriptures that for my part I can no longer gainsay them except I should euen wilfully and maliciously resist and striue against the holy ordinances of God albeit hitherto to maintaine the honour of our holy Mother the Church and of our holy Father the Pope and of our Order I haue consented to the opinions and doings of the other Doctors as well through ignorance as also because I would not seeme to attempt any thing against the will and pleasurâ— of the Prelates and Vicars generall Against which his confession when the Bishop of Aix replied thus Is there any difference thinkest thou betwixt heresies and blasphemies spoken and maintained against the holy Scriptures and opinions holden against our holy Mother the Church and contrarie to our holy Father the Pope a most vndoubted and true God in earth Art thou a Master in Israel and knowest not these things Doctor Bassinet more fully layeth open the generall and common blindnes and darknes of those times in these words Are not they those which haue forsaken Iesus Christ the fountaine of liuing water and haue digged vnto themselues pits or Cesterns which will holde no water Truly euen those they are which vaunt themselues to be the salte of the earth and yet haue no sauour at all which call themselues Pastors and yet are nothing lesse then true Pastors for they minister not vnto the sheepe the true pasture and feeding neither deuide and distribute the true bread of the word of life and if I may bee bolde to speake it would it not be at this present as great a wonder to heare a Bishop preach as to see an Asse flye Are not they cursed of God which glorie and vaunt themselues to haue the keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen and neither enter in themselues nor suffer them that would enter to come in c. By which and infinite other euidences may appeare that there is in a manner as great difference betwixt kingdomes professing the Gospell of Christ as this land now doth through Gods blessing and those that are subiect to Poperie as was sometimes betweene Aegypt and Goshen As for your allegation against those my speeches to passe by your bolde assertion that England had continued aboue a thousand yeares vnder that darkenes of Poperie the vanitie whereof is by sundry learned men discouered it is euident by Beda his plaine testimonie in these words Haec in praesenti iuxta numerum librorum quibus lex diuina scripta est c. This I land at this present according to the number of the bookes in which the lawe of God is written doth search out and confesse one and the selfe same knowledge of the highest truth and of the true height in liue tongues namely of the Angels of the Brittaines of the Scots of the Picts and of the Latines which in meditation of the Scripture is made common to all the rest Wherein he meaneth that the Latin tongue was common to all the learned of those foure peoples as the vulgars were to the vnlearned So that in former times this Iland had the Scriptures in their owne tongue to be a lanterne to their feete and a light to their steps and delighted not in ignorance of the Scriptures and in darkenes as of late as also the most and chiefest points of your blinde errors haue been hatched long since the time you prescribe as in the particulars of the patching together of the Masse by degrees and successiuely of the absurd doctrine of Transubstantiation with other like is by men of great learning and iudgment manifestly proued Yet by the way this I note that by your secret confession you yeeld almost 600. yeares to the truth we professe before your Religion was hatched seeing both your selfe and others commonly make claime for a 1000. yeares But to passe by this doth not this Encounterer strongly thinke you refute mine assertion of the darkenes in times of Poperie when he saith speaking of the state of this kingdome in those times And it was accounted then as wise learned valiant noble and flourishing a kingdome as France Italy Spayne c. An argument by which the Religion of the heathens may aswell be freed from darknes and ignorance For was not Rome when it had those lightes of learning and eloquence Cicero Crassus Hortensius and others as also those famous and wise both Counsellors and Captaines Marius Scilla Pompey Caesar Cato Scipio and such like was not I say Rome then accounted as wise learned valiant noble and flourishing a kingdom as France Italy Spaine or any other Christian kingdomes be at this day and yet it is true that their knowledge was ignorance and their light darkenes vnlesse the Apostle be deceiued who saith of them all generally Their foolish heart was full of darkenes and when they professed themselues to be
Heauen and not in the Pix was counted heresie and for that cause men were called before your Clergie and branded to the slaughter Our stories are full of examples out of your owne Registers that reading of Scriptures was accounted heresie not to stand vpon many vnder Longland Bishop of Lincolne Agnes Welles was conuented and amongst other things examined whether Thurstan did euer teach her the Epistle of S. Iames or the Epistles of S. Peter and S. Paul in English Thomas Earle was likewise chaeged for hearing the Epistle of S. Same 's read in English Agnes Ashford of Chesham for teaching Iames Norden certaine sentences of Scripture as Teend ye not a candle and put it vnder a bushell but set it on a candlesticke that it may giue light to all in the house such like To Robert Pope Iohn Morden and his wife was obiected that they recited the tenne commandements in English To Iohn Phips was obiected that he was very ripe in the Scriptures Ienkin Butler appeached Iohn Butler his owne brother for reading to him in a certaine booke of the Scripture and perswading him to hearken to the same what should I stand to number vp any more which vnder this one Bishopâ— for reading them selues or hearing read some part of the Gospels Acts or any the Epistles or Reuelation were called into question of life The like proceeding was vsed by other Bishops and namely by Tunstall then Bishop of London before whom many were conuented for that holy heresy of reading the Scriptures In number of whom one going to be burned for an heretike and seeing the booke of the Reuelation bound to the stake to be burnt with him which happely he had diligently read being thereto moued with that sentence Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this prophecie spake with a lowde voice these words O blessed Reuelation how well is it with mee that I shall be burnt with thee Infinite such examples might be shewed not onely in our owne countrie but in forraine kingdomes I will alleadge onely one example of a godly Bookeseller of Auignion in France The Bishop of Aix with other Prelates passing through the streets euerie one leading his Minion vpon his arme and buying vp such filthie pictures and rimes as were then to be sold they came where there was a Bookeseller setting out French and Latine Bibles to saile at which sight they being much moued said to the Booke-seller darest thou be so hardie to set out such marchandise to sell here in this Towne Dost thou not know that such bookes are forbidden To whom the Booke-seller answered is not the holy Bible as good as these goodly pictures that ye haue bought for these Gentlewomen Which speech so offended the Bishop of Aix that he brast forth into these words I renounce my part of Paradice if this be not a Lutheran So commaunding him to be apprehended he was by the Prelates attendants most despitefully handled some crying out a Lutheran a Lutheran to the fire with him to the fire with him some beating him with their fistes some pulling him by the beard others by the haire that the poore man was all embrued in blood before he came to the prison The next morning being brought before the Iudges in the presence of the Prelats the selling of bibles in French was laide to his charge he was asked whether he knew not the Bible to be forbidden in all christendome saue onely in Latine To which he answered that he knew the contrarie and that he had sold many Bibles in the French tongue with the Emperors Priuiledge with other words reprouing their forbidding of Gods most holy bookes which he ordained for the instructing of the ignorant and for the reducing againe into the way such as haue gone astray the charitable Prelates cried out haue him to the fire without any more words the Iudge yet paused willing him to acknowledge those Prelates to be true Pastors of the Church which he denying that he could doe with a good conscience sith they reiected the holy bookes of God he was immediatly condemned to be burned and the selfe same day executed and for a signe and token of the cause of his condemnation he carried to the place of his execution two Bibles hanged about his necke and so exhorting the people to read the Scriptures he was for this cause onely cruelly put to death Who then can doubt but that the Romish Clergie are the true heires and successors of those cruell Tyrants Antiochus Dioclesian Maximinus c. Who like them haue burned in the fire not only the Scriptures of God but also the bodies of them that read therein and that to them it may be applied that which is written in the Machabees The bookes of the law which they found they burnt in the fire and cut in peeces Whosoeuer had a booke of the Testament found by him or who soeuer consented vnto the law the kings commandement the Bishops may we say was they should put him to death by their authoritie I had thought this gentleman had runne himselfe out of breath in charging me with lies and fictions but now follow foure more saith he but I say his loude quadruple lye shall cleare and discharge me of all The first is that I say Ignorance was held by them to be the Mother of Deuotion a strange accusation and grieuous slaunder no doubt to charge those men with nourishing the people in ignorance whom all the world knoweth to haue vsed strange meanes to bring them to knowledge For what meant they by the costly setting vp of many faire and well guilded Images in Churches Was it not that they might be laye mens bookes and by reading on them they might attaine knowledge What Pius the fift goodman was he not most carefull the people might be edified when as it is written in his high commendation in a procession he was not carried on mens shoulders as Popes vsed to be but he went on foote to the great edifying of the people Now if the Pope will vouchsafe to goe on foote to the end to edifie the people thereby how can it be thought he would haue them bread in ignorance But Sir if you will not forceablie writhe and wrest my proposition to extend it to ignorance absolutely but vnderstand it as it is euident to be meant of the ignorance of the Scriptures yourselfe I hope will free me from any fiction herein and will acknowledge that Doctor Fulke doth iustly charge your Rhemists who setting forth the new Testament in English if that which is pestered with so many obscure words may be called an English translation and yet excusing themselues for being of that erronious opinion that the Scriptures should be alwaies in our mother tongue or that they ought or were ordeyned by God to be read indifferently of all That Doctor Fulke I say doth iustly charge them that they are afraide
before and since the beginning of her Raigne Or was it because in setting downe the iust iudgement of God and the punishment of Iustice iustly inflicted vpon Doctor Storie I doe in the ende thereof desire that al they which wish to Queene Elizabeth as he did for those be my words pagina 27. may speed as he did Other matter I am sure you can find none from the 18. page vnto the 49. of my booke which all in this Encounter you take vpon you to answere And I pray you Sir are these such matters as may iustlie prouoke anie to such furie outcrying opprobrious names and grieuous accusations as in this your Encounter you haue vsed against me the matters are all iustifiable as shall after more fully God willing appeare and as well might Cushi who bringing newes to Dauid of the ende of Absolon said the enemies of the Lord the King and all that rise to doe thee hurt be as that young man is be charged with a bloudie mouth the worme of heresie woodnes and furie as I for desiring as I did against her Maiesties enemies My heart I thanke God is free from thirsting after the bloud of anie and the true conuersion reformation of my countriemen who are deuoted to the Bishop of Rome and the Romish newe faith should be more ioy and comfort to me then anie worldlie thing which both doe argue that I loue their persons though I detest their Popish Religion and traiterous practices I wish that Papistes may liue and that Poperie may dye and I ioyne with Saint Augustine concerning Papists in generall who are not particularly tainted with actuall treason Non oramus vt moriantur inimici sed vt corrigantur sie mortui erunt inimici iam enim correcti non amplius erunt inimici Wee pray not for the death of our enemies but for their correction and amendment so our enemies shall bee dead for being amended they shall bee no more our enemies But now to the seuerall parts of your Encounter as they follow in order with as much breuitie as I may It offendeth you greatly that I impute her Maiesties deliuerance from great daunger in the time of Queene Mary to bee wholly and onely wrought to her from Gods goodnes and this out of the madnes of your idle braine you blasphemously call a miracle of Milne-wheeles but with all the craftie wit you haue how greatly soeuer you vaunt thereof imagining that I cannot vnderstand plaine humane reason you shall not be able either to make her deliuerance lesse strange and admirable then I haue said it was or to cleere any of those that I haue accused to hunt after her life at that time But I pray you Sir N.D. why should this matter so much displease you as to vrge you to write so many lines in seeking to disproue my saying Is it because you would flatter her Maiestie and perswade her that she was better beloued then she thought she was Or is it because you are vnwilling to heare that God should so honour the Gospell as to bring in the free publishing and profession thereof into this our Land by one that was marueilously preserued to be a Prince and nourse vnto vs Or is it because you would free those daies from such malice and crueltie as her Maiestie did sensiblie perceiue Or for that you would shew your skill in carping at my sayings Whatsoeuer occasion you did take for iust cause had you none you might haue done better to haue spared your labourâ— and to haue said as we doe with the Church in Dauids time vpon the like occasion in preseruing Dauid to be King of Israel This is the Lords doing and it is marueilous in our eyes If any Israelite then discontented with Dauids gouernment should haue said you are miracle-makers and framers of miracles of Milne-wheeles because in humane reason there may bee imagined diuers pregnant and potent causes which did concur to the preseruation of Dauids life and his admission to the kingdome as namely that Ionathan was his friend he was beautifull and valiant he had married the Kings daughter and the people did honour him should not such a one haue shewed himselfe a blasphemous deprauer of Gods worke and an enuious repiner at Dauid his safetie and honour Yes out of question Looke then to your selfe Sir Encounterer and learne to speake more reuerently of Gods marueilous workes and in charitie reioyce with them that reioyce Iubemur saith Bernard colligere fragmenta ne pereant id est ne minima beneficia obliuisci We are bidden to gather vp the very fragments and crums that is not to forget the least benefits How much more then should wee magnifie the power of God in his wonderfull workes But how doth hee disproue my sayings First hee laboureth to proue that her Maiesties life and blood was not sought after neither was shee in such danger as I haue affirmed next hee sheweth certaine humaine causes of her Maiesties preseruation That she was subiect to suspitions and that she was had in ielousie and did hold the Queene and state in suspence and care this Encounterer denieth not alleaging cunningly some such reasons thereof as namely her inclination to true Religion the attempts of Wyat Courtney Carow c. and the condition of the Queene of Scots thereby endeuouring after his cunning manner both to leaue her Maiestie to be suspected at the least of some disloyaltie to her Sister as also to cleare the chiefe pillers then of Poperie from doing her wrong and the Queene of Scots from working of treason against her since that time But let him write neuer so cunningly seeking to leaue the matter doubtfull by way of presumption as he shall neuer be able to tainte her Maiestie with the least shew of disloyaltie in those dayes who witnessed with her Diamond the soundnes of her heart and innocent behauiour in these words Much suspected by me nothing proued can be So shall he neuer bee able to free either the State then from troubling and wronging of her Maiestie vniustly neither to cleare the Queene of Scots of such treasons as she was iustly condemned for But how proueth he that she was in no danger of life euen because shee was preserued For saith he there being power in them to put her to death and no power at home or abroad to hinder them if there had been such a seeking after her death as I haue affirmed then by forme of argument iustified by Cicero in his Rhetorickeâ—◠〈◊〉 have been effected Alas poore fiâ—â—ie Encounterer must my speech which onely accuseth the Romish Cleargie then in place of credite to seeke her life include the King and Queene Or must it needs follow where there is a soueraigntie and outward strength for that I â—â—ke you meane by power ioyned with will there the matter must needs be effected If this reason were good how was Moses preserued there being power and will
King of a great part of his Subiects and in the Realme doth gleane out another Realme to himselfe yea challengeth to haue power to depose the Prince Againe the auncient Lawes of the Realme were hereby made to stand for cyphers the Lawes of the Realme will haue a Priest for debt to bee sued before a temporall Iudge but the Popes Lawe commeth and crieth the contrarie Patrones by the Lawes of the Realme should giue Benefices but the Popes Lawe setteth them besides All the dangerous consequences threatned to this Realme by that match it is not my purpose to set downe I will onelie adde a fewe verses made long since concerning that marriage by which the Reader may partlie see what is to be iudged of it Regi non Regi nupsit non nupserat Angla est Non Angla est grauida est non grauida est grauius est Parturit atque parit sic vos voluistis ouantes Nil tamen illa parit sic voluit dominus Duxerat ad paucos menses mox deserit idem Sponsa est mox vidua est sic voluit Dominus Irrita frustrentur semper sic vota malorum Perniciem patriae qui voluere suae A King she matcht yet not a King scant doe her married call English she is not English yet great not with childe at all She breedes and beareth in her wombe as ye triumph and braue Yet brings no childe into the world euen so the Lord would haue Philip a few moneths married her then leaues her with great speede A wife she is a widow straight the Lord had so decreed Euen so confounded be th' attempts of wicked Papists all Which of their natiue Countrie seele the ruine and the fall Now I come to the great fume and chafe of this hot Encounterer for that I say the Recusants cannot professe more loue and loyaltie to the Queene that now is then did Gardiner Boner and Tunstal to her noble Father and Brother which they did confirme by Printed bookes for Gardiner in his booke de vera obedientia c. where like a graue States-man and another Nestor hee takes vpon him to taxe mee either with ignorance in the matters of our owne Realme or with forwardnes to tell vntruthes His allegations are two the first that Gardiners booke de vera obedientia was written for feare of the Kings violent proceeding or not being well instructed perhaps in the controuersie of the Supremacie and that shaken with the frailtie of humane infirmitie hee shrunke with Saint Peter But he may remember that first Gardiner with sundrie others did take a voluntarie and solemne oath against the Pope as by the copie thereof yet extant may appeare wherein he sweareth purely of his owne voluntarie accord and absolutelie in the word of a Bishop c. Then he stayeth not heare but writeth his booke de vera obedientia for the Kings and against the Popes Supremacie which hee professeth to doe with long and mature deliberation and Boner in his preface before that booke perswadeth the reader to esteeme Gardiners censure and authoritie to be of more weightie credence in as much as the matter was not rashlie and at all aduentures but with iudgement and wisedome examined and discussed saying that a man may rightly call him Fabius that with his aduised taking of leasure restored the matter The second allegation is that for King Edwards Raigne it is a flat fable and fiction that I tell of Bishop Gardiners following the sway also of that time Gentle Sir Encounterer did not Gardiner againe in the Raigne of King Edward take a solemne oath against the Popes vsurped authoritie and subscribed to the Kings lawfull Supremacie 〈◊〉 in causes Ecclesiasticall within his owne Realme Yea did he not before King Edward flatlie preach against the Popes Supremacie as also against Images Ceremonies Munkeries Chauntries c. Therefore doe no more blasphemouslie compare Saint Peterâ— fall to Gardiners dissimillationâ— Saint Peter denied vpon the suddenâ— and within few houres 〈◊〉 Gardiner sware solemnly preached publikelie and wrote vpon long and aduised 〈◊〉 and so continued many yeares till 〈…〉 authoritie 〈◊〉 another course Concerning his sermon made at Paules Crosse vpon this text surgereâ— It is time for vs now to arise from 〈◊〉 I shall neede little to answere because it 〈◊〉 concerneth my former booke but how firâ—â—e soeuer your wisdomâ— thinketh that the time since King Henrie shaking of the Popes tirannie might be compared to a sleepe and the resuming of the Pope withall his wares to be an awaking yet what more like might then Poperie and the liuing 〈◊〉 vnto a sleepeâ—â— For as darkenes coâ—ereth all things in the night and men cannot walke safelie for want of light so Ignorance preuaileth in Popâ—â—â—e and the people are misled therein so that they cannot see which way they ought to walke because they are not permitted to exercise themselues in the Word which is a lanterne to our feete and a light vnto our steps and as in sleepe the hungrie man dreameth that he careth but when he awaketh his soule is emptie so in Poperâ—e the people being fed with mens traditions thinke themselues in good plight but when they are truelie wakened as Ionah by Gods spirite they perceiue that they were hunger-starued for want of the true foode of their soule the word of God In stead of all which large comparison of those times of King Henrie and King Edward to a sleepe and commending the Bishops wisdome for the choice of so fit a text I will set by way of opposition another euigilate or caueat to awake made to the Pope and his Clergie long before the profounde Sermon of this youâ—â— Bishop euen in the time of Henrie the fourth called the A.B.C. AWake ye ghostlie persons awake awake Both Priest Pope Bishop and Cardinall Consider wiselie what waies that ye take Daungerouslie being like to haue a fall Euery where the mischiefe of you all Farre and neere breaketh out very fast God will needes be reuenged at the last How long haue ye the world captiued In sore bondage of mens traditions Kings and Emperours you haue depriued Lewdly vsurping their chiefe possessions Much miserie you make in all Regions Now your fraudes be almost at the last cast Of God sure to be reuenged at last Poore people to oppresse you haue no shame Quaking for feare of your bloudie tyrannie Rightfull Iustice you haue put out of frame Seeking the lust of your God the Bellie Therefore â—â—dâ—re you holdlie ceâ—tifie Very little though you be thereof agast Yet God will be reuenged at the last But to looke backe a little vpon this famous Sermon in the long narratioÌ„ that you set down by occasion of this Sermon I must examine some few points wherin either this Proctor belieth the Bishop or the Bishop the King And first if it be true that he affirmeth that King Henrie the eight appointed Gardiner to be one of the sixteene Counsellors in his
of which curse you will not incurre and such is the force of your Catholike Religion and Spanish Crownes as you will rather worship Dagon then serue the liuing God and giue your faith to an vsurping stranger then keepe yours giuen and due to your lawfull Soueraigne Yet for all this you doubt not to tender a remission of your whole answere to the iudgement of the Lords of her Maiesties Councell by which your answere and remission if it bee well scanned in matter and manner you will bee found iustlie to deserue all the titles contained in this one verse Vafer detractor mendax elatus iniquus A subtile railing lying proud treacherous man And thus much haue I aduentured to offer to the view of my Christian Countrymen in defence of my former Watch-word collected by me out of my Christian affection to them for their benefite that they may know I stand still constant and confident to defend the truth of my God against Poperie and all other heresies to performe my Loialtie to my Soueraigne against all Popish Espaniolized Traytours and treason and to stand for the libertie of my Countrie against Rome and Spaine and all forraine Potentates whatsoeuer as also that my silence should not cause them to conceiue that this masked Champions rayling tongue hath any way distempered me or his threatning brauadoes any whit dismaied me the first whereof I passe ouer with little regard according to the Counsell of wise Salomon It is the glorie of a man to passe by offences the second I scorne being sent out by a cowardlie Companion that speakes big and dares not shew his face To conclude I delight not in warre and hostilitie betweene Princes I wish peace in all States and Common-wealths from my heart so farre forth as may stand with the glorie of almightie God who is the supreame author of all authoritie and gouernment and is onely to bee serued both by Prince and people as his word prescribeth For I confesse Dulce est nomen pacis res verò ipsa tum iucunda tum salutaris And yet can I not subscribe to this blinde Peace-makers desire that longeth for a Peace to the dishonour of God and laboureth by a Peace to bring in his Idoll worship againe amongst vs but I heartelie pray to my God to preserue vs from such a Peace and with Erasmus I affirme Melior est talis pugna quae Deo proximum facit quà m pux illa quae à Deo separat But if such a Peace may be had as may not preiudice a good Conscience in the truth of Religion we now holde nor impeach the safetie of our deare Queene nor hazard bondage to our Countrie by the gouernment of forrainers and strangers blessed bee that Peace-maker and God almightie graunt vs such a Peace all our daies And this haue I presumed to say in answere to this Champions Peace prayed for in the Conclusion of these his Encounters with a minde rather to raise vp the power and pride of Rome and Spaine then for any good minde or meaning he hath to our Queene Elizabeth or England And now to knit vp this my Resistance to euery of your rayling Encounters Sir N.D. I assure my selfe you shall finde all the Protestants and Professors of Gods truth in England as also many of those that are infected with the Romish Religion so well resolued from your owne pen of your want of ciuilitie in rayling beyond measure and your want of a found heart to your Soueraigne and Countrie in so highly extolling your two greatest Monarches of Rome and Spaine to the preiudice and touch both of Queene and Countrie so farre forth as the power of your wicked wit and words can deuise and perswade as your glosing shall gaine little credite to worke my condemnation in any of their iudgements either for any thing that was in my former booke or for any thing contained in this latter For I meane none other in all that is said but a desire of confirmation to the one in a holy profession and a reformation to the other of their being any longer seduced and misled by Romes inchantments and a care in both to stand firmelie and faithfullie to defend their Soueraigne and Countrey against forraine malice and home Treason whereunto if way should bee giuen God should be dishonoured our Queene endaungered our Countrie depriued of it auncient and most comfortable liberties and then what can either one or other looke for but miserie and desolation For what befell both to Guelphes and Gibellines when the Gibellines brought in a friend of theirs called Facinus Canis who was to haue the goods of the Guelphes for his paie He was no sooner gotten in but that without sparing of either both sides were spoyled whereof when the Gibellines complained saying that their goods were spoyled contrarie to agreement this their friend by them brought in answered That themselues were Gibellines and they should bee safe but their goods were Guelphes and they must pay for it Your selues can make the application and so to your wisdomes I leaue it beseeching God to continue his wonted mercie towards our Queene and land and to giue to this my aduersarie and all of his faction a better minde if it stand with his good will and pleasure Amen FINIS The scope of this Apologie Flatterie falsely charged vpon me What flatterie is Arch flatterers at Rome About the blessings of this land No contrarietie betwixt our present daungers and our former blessings Eccle. 49. Encounter 3. pag. 39. Our Christan Religion no cause of tumults A short view of blessings spirituall and temporall from God by her Maiestie powred on this land 1 Vnitie in veritie A scornefull reproach The termes of Puritanes and Protestants Vnitie vntruly vaunted of by the Papists De Idol Ecc. Ro. lib. 1. ca. 1. Lact. li. 1. ca. 19. 2. King 17. Matth. 28. Reuel 1. 2 Libertie to reade Scriptures Hom. 3. de Laâ—â— Reuel 1. 3 Publike prayer with vnderstanding Hier. in prolo 2. in comment in Gal. Aug. in Psa. 99. 4 Exercise in true holines Esay 1. Erasmus Two extremities in our good works to be auoided 1 2 Luk. 18. Phil. 2. 5 Freedome from persecution 6 DeliueraÌ„ce from intollerable exactions To Pope Innocent .4 in the Counsell at Lyons c. 1245. 7 Long peacâ— 8 Power in forraine countries 9 Wealth of the land 10 Multitude of subiects Lamenta 1. Prou. 14. Psal. 107. Lying falsely imputed to me Friers and Papists braue liers Poperie iustly charged with darknes Scripture neither at home nor at Church permitted to the people in a knowne tongue Preaching what it was in Poperie 2. King 6. Preaching how rare Boner Matth. â—â— Act. and Monuments vol. 2 pag. 862. D. Bassinets Oration O blindnes O blasphemie This Land liued not in former times in such darkenes as lately vnder Poperie A fond Argument Rom. 1. Arnobius Another Argument of the Papists peerelesse learning examined 1. Cor. 14. Papists