religious it is for yow and to yow I speake Thus he wryteth and were it not that the gauling and spiteful speech which after he vseth against diuers men of great worth do argue the wryter of somwhat more then simplicity and folly this might passe with laughter as yow see but hearing him say afterward VVe do disdaine and renounce from our hartes both Archpriests and Iesuits as arrant traytors c. And againe in the very next page thus to glory and professe Disobedient VVe are to the Archpriest as an vsurper on the â—ehalfe of the Cath. Sea of Rome And then againe for further explication of his meaning Disobedient we are to the diuel and all his instrumental vsurped authorityes And yet further Neuer shal the Cath. Church or common welth of England find so wicked a member as a VVolsey a Persons a Creswel a Garnet a Blackwel c. These we say and many other like speches beeing fouÌ„d euery where in this preface do manifestly shew that not only wisdome wanteth in the wryter but some other more necessary vertues also to a Christian Catholike and much more a priest as he professeth himselfe to be But now wil we shew yow another example of folly and malice ioyned to geather out of the beginning of their second books preface to the end yow may see that both were wrytten by one spirit their words are these yeilding a reason of publishing thersaid book against the Archpriest And at this tyme say they we are the rather moued so to do to set forth this narration of matters passed in VVisbich because it hath pleased M. Blackwel our said Archpriest very lately to send to his twelue Assistants to be diuulged a certaine censure or we know not what to tearme it a sheet of paper fraught nether with wit honest dealing discretion or learning but in effect with as many shifts and lyes almost as lynes in derogation not only of some of the said books set out by our brethren tearming the same as if eyther he himselfe or some of his commaunders the Iesuits had made them to be seditious books but likewise taketh vpon him to touch the said contention not in many words but with much folly and great vntruâ—h we wil be bold by way of Preface a little to touch them c. By these words the reader may take a scantling of their coÌ„temptuous spirit who speak so disorderly of their lawful Superior a man of knowne vertue and learning for so myld and modest an admonition vpon their first two libels as yow shal now heare by their owne relation For thus they wryte These are say they his words to wit the Archpriests in his admonition The first point of your books sayth he meaning the diuision at VVisbich was a thing long since ended with great edification and by the meanes principally of those which are most condemned by yow It toucheth the greater and better part of that company it nothing concerneth our authority it being more ancient and hauing orders taken at the attonement by their owne consent It is wel knowen at Rome by whose meanes they were disanulted nether is it more vnsitting for those which liued in one house to institute rules for such as voluntarily demaunded and accepted them then to procure a sodality abroad Thus wrote our Reuerend Father the good Archpriest and as these men do confesse it is all he wrote of this point of VVisbich and let the Reader be iudge whether any Superior in the world could wryte more myldly more humbly especialy if he consider the outragious iniuryes done him in these two first books or libels set out by his Rebellious subiects against him and notwithstanding all this his patience and modesty consider we pray yow with what intemperance they do canuase these few words of his heere set downe For hauing recyted his words they say Thus farre our Archpriest and it is all he wryteth to his Assistants of this matter which we the rather note to shew the extremity of his pride in supposing by such an answere to the said books concerning that diuision to wâ—pe away those imputations matters wherwith both F. Garnet and F. VVeston and he himselfe in some sorte are charged Thus wryte these men being angry as it seemeth that their patient Superior vouch-safed not them more words of contention about this matter of VVisbich in his admonition to his Assistants which how iust a quarrel it is let wiser men iudge but much more whether so few so modest and so fatherly words vttered by a Superior without naming any do merit so contumelious a censure from subiects as to accuse him of extremity of pride lack of wyt and honesty discretion learning truth and humility in wryting them Is it possible that so high pride as heere is obiected can be gathered out of so lowly words without high folly and higher maleuolence But we shal aleadge yow another example in a different kynd of foly or rather frenzie vsed by these passionate people which is to grace and praise indeed their aduersaryes whome they seek most to disgrace by telling good things of them and deprauing them only by their owne comentaryes as in this example last alleadged of M. Blackwel whose words recited by them selues being most commendable as yow haue seene they endeauour by fond and childish inâ—â—rpretations of their owne to make them reprochful And the like they do oftentymes concerning F. VVeston alleadging both his words and deeds worthie of praise in themselues and then seking to discredit the same by their wresting comentaryes wherof we haue giuen some examples in the former chapter and we may ad therunto now this which they relate of him his behauiour and speech when M. Dolman one of their owne side came vnto F. VVeston to request him the residue who made the greater part of the company to returne to the common conuersation of the troublesome and dissolute againe whose answere to their demaund they set downe thus VVould God said F. VVeston with most earnest affection as it seemed that yow M. Doleman were as able to persuade the rest as yow haue done me for my owne parte I mynd to giue ouer and meddle no further but to commend the cause to God assuring yow yf I could do the least of this house good for his soules health by laying my head vnder his feete I would most willingly do it c. And thus farre this dissembling Iesuite Let any true Christian man iudge now of this vnchristian censure of so myld godly and Christian words let our brethren but aleadge vs truly some such of any of their side and we shal both beleeue them and praise them But they can bring nothing of like quality from theirs and yow haue heard the quite contrary by their owne letters and subscriptions alleadged by vs in our Apologie and heere in these books yow may reade them in euery line shewing a
Catholiks for cause of religion then excluding all spiritual authority and Iurisdiction of the Sea Apostolike from England as forrayne and subiect to the law of Premunire Thirdly denynig the said Sea and Bishops therof all authority to restrayne punish or force by way of armes eyther by him selfe or others any temporal prince for heresy Apostasy or whatsoeuer other cryme pertayning to Religion Fourthly affirming that if any Pope should attempt such matters he may and ought to be resisted by Catholike subiects and that themselues would do it though he came in person Fifthly they lay all the fault of so long and greeuous persecution as hitherto English Catholiks haue suffered for religion vpon themselues and their owne doings not excepting heerin the very martyrs and Saints of God and further they are not ashamed to affirme that yf they had byn of the Counsel themselues they could haue done no lesse then to haue agreed to the said persecution and to the lawes and statutes made for the same Sixtly that they meane hereeafter to change their former course and as their phrase is to turne ouer the leafe and with such resolution as yf they should know any disignments or treatese of his Hol. or other Catholiks for reformation or restraynt of heresy by way of force in England they would reueale the same to the persecutors The 7. and last poynt is that they condemne the Semynaries and education of our youth therin beyond the seas wherin themselues or the most part of them haue byn brought vp and made that they are now excepting their sedition and they dehort all Catholikes with great vehemency from sending their children thither counseling them rather to keep them at home where they assure them that God wil prouide other masters euen of the ministers themselues yf need be to instruct them better then in the Seminaryes they are instructed These are the wise and holesome positions which these men haue in this booke set downe and do handle as the subiect and argument therof which yow see of what quality consideration they are to wit the first ful of adulation and meerly parasitical the second third and fourth pernicious erroneous and heretical the fifth wicked and reprochful the sixt trayterous and the last ridiculous or rather impious which in part shal appeare by these few words which in this place we are to say of each of them in order The first point of this argument is set downe in the title it selfe of the book which they cal Important considerations to mooue all true Catholikes that are not wholy Iesuited to wit not so base or wickedly mynded as themselues to flatter and fawne vpon teÌ„poral fauour to acknowledge all the proceedinges of the state of England against Catholikes since it excluded the Roman faith and fel to heresy to haue byn not only iust but also myld and merciful c. Thus they say adding further another peece of the said title in these words Published by sundry of vs the secular priestes in dislike of many treateses letters and reportes which haue byn wrytten and made in diuers places to the contrary with our opinions of a better course hereafter for the promoting of the Catholike faith in England Thus they frame their title wherby as yow see they first make themselues publike proctors for the heretiks and presecutors and then open accusers against the presecuted Catholikes on their owne side That which they adde of the publication of this booke by sundry of them secular priests we easily beleeue that they were rather sundy and sundered also then many vnited in so wicked an attempt and that they were not only secular in order and degree but in mynd also hart and desyres which S. Paul conioyneth with impiety when he saith abnegantes impietatem saecularia desideria As for the treateses letters and reports which haue byn wrytten and made in diuers partes of the world against the persecution vsed vpoÌ„ Catholiks in England which our new doctors heere do protest to mislike they hauing byn wrytten and made by the grauest and most learnedest men of our nation and others and vpon the grounds and proofes which in their books they haue set downe little importeth what these men may like or dislike therof now being vnworthie to be admitted for iudges or ceÌ„surers of their Maisters doings and wrytings especially seing them so transformed by the passion of enuy malice as they seeme to haue sold their tongues to the common enemy to contradict whatsoeuer others haue done before them for which cause also their offered opinions of a new and better course hereafter for turning ouer the leafe as after they cal it is ridiculous and contemptible to all Catholiks of discretion coÌ„sidering the learning vertue grauity seuerity constancy wisdome and other commendations of these that went before and the very effects and fruits themselues of their labors hitherto and comparing theâ—with the conâ—rary in firmityes and imperfections of these men and that thâ—y set vp nothing but seeke to pul downe And when they come to the end of their book and should shew vs what this new course of theirs is which they cal better for promoting of Catholike Religion herafter in England yow shal find no other thing prescribed by them but only a flattering persuasion to sticke to the State against the Pope and Sea Apostolike wherin we persuade our selues that the aduersaryes themselues do not beleeue them then a vehement exhortation to Catholiks to send their children no more to the Seminaryes beyond the seas least they be infected with the contrary doctrine which is so foolish and absurd as we are ashamed to mention or relate it And thus much touching the first point The second is about the law of Premunire many tymes mentioned before by them and now againe greatly vrged in the preface of this book where hauing rayled without all modestie or measure against F. Persons and all other Catholiks and priests vnited with him in admitting his Hol. ordinance about the Archpriest they say thus As by this meanes to wit by admitting the Archpriest he and his confederates haue incurred a double premunire as in another place siz in the booke of Quodlibets I meane God willing to declare so entendeth he therby to draw yow all good Catholiks into the same predicament premunireal and of treason with him Touching this booke of Quodlibets heere meÌ„tioned yf these men do meane therby that they may say or vnsay therin what they list without controlment then may all the other books also hitherto set forth be called Quodlibets no lesse then this hauing tyed themselues therin to no law eyther of truth probability proof or modesty Neyther can we immagine what occasion this booke of Quodlibets may bring to handle more at large this matter of Premunire then heere and in other their wrytings hath byn expressed seing that applying that law as they do to
ouerthrow therby the Popes institution of the Archpriest their intention must needs be consequently to exclude all Papal authority and iurisdiction from the kingdome of England except the prince of what religion soeuer agree thervnto VVhich doctrine of what quality it is no man can but see And for better explication therof we are in this place to aduertise the Reader that albeit we haue said so much already in our Apologie about this matter as was needful for that place and the obiections made by these people did require yet hauing both thought and sought more of that poynt since by occasion of the often vrging it we find somwhat to be added heere to wit that the Appellation to Rome in the first instance which there we mentioned was rather an antecedent or preamble to the law it selfe of Premunire then the cheefe substance therof which preamble was begon specially vnder K. Henry the second in the cause of S. Thomas of Canterbury about the yeare 1170. and continued on vntil towards the later end of the raigne of K. Edward the 3. to wit about the yeare 1375. which was but a yeare before the said Kings death when VVickclif now had begone to styrre against Cleargie men and the king being impotent permitted the gouernment most to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster his fourth some at great variance in those dayes with the bishops namely VVickam and Courtney the first of VVinchester the second of London and himselfe not a litle incensed with Iohn VVickcliffes new diuelish persuasions against the cleargy and religious men VVherfore a contention being in those dayes about the collation of benefices and bishopricks in England wherof the Popes were wont to dispose for the most part they concluded in England after many contentions and disputes and many sendings forth and back to Auinion in France where the Popes at that tyme resided that such prouisions of benefices should not be sought nor made from the Pope immediately for the tyme to come but only in England by consent of the prince and confirmation afterward of the Pope for the most principal benefices and dignityes and whosoeuer should contrary to this procure prouisions immediately from the Pope or any other power or iurisdiction contrary to this lawe should incurre the penaltyes therof And this to haue byn the only true meaning and intent of the said law and lawmakers that were Catholiks is euident by all authors that haue wrytten therof And in this sense there is no controuersy among vs for that later Popes haue eyther agreed thervnto or permitted the same and we see the like in vre also in other Catholike countreys at this day by agreement and composition betwene the Sea Apostolike Princes and Catholike Cleargie But besides this sense and meaning of the law there hath byn another inuented by heretiks and enemyes synce that tyme as though by this law all external iurisdiction of the bishop of Rome should be vtterly excluded from England not only in prouiding of benefices whervnto are annexed temporalityes but euen in matters also meere spiritual In which sense K. Henry the eight Father of her Maiestie was persuaded by some of his Counsel infected with Luthers Doctrine at that tyme to condemne the Card. of Yorke and all his English Cleargie in the losse of all their temporalityes by pretence of this law for admitting the authority and iurisdictioÌ„ of the Popes legats Campegius the said Cardinal without the kings expresse licence And in this sense also hath the Popes authority byn called forrayne and external and vtterly excluded from England by diuers lawes statutes oathes set forth by Protestants against the same since that tyme. And in the same sense and signification being plainly false and heretical as yow see do these libellers vrge it now against the Archpriest and others that admit and approue his authority though meerly spiritual as all the world seeth as hauing nor benefice nor temporality annexed to it or ioyned with it And so we see with what kynd of people these men are drawen by passion to conspire and iump The third point of their argumeÌ„t in this book is to shew that nether the Pope nor any other ecclesiastical power what soeuer hath any authority to restrayn punish or presse by way of force or armes immediatly or by others any Christian teÌ„poral prince whatsoeuer for any delict of heresy Apostasy impugnation of Christian faith extirpation of religion or other cryme whatsoeuer though neuer so much danger or damage should eâ—sâ—e by his default to the commouwealth or to the rest of Christendome And this irreligious paradox they go about to maintayne throughout their whole book alleadging fond childish argumeÌ„ts for the same as that the word of the spirit not the swords of the flesh or any arme of man is that which giueth life and beauty to the Catholike Churche and that the promise made to S. Peter is a sure and sufficient ground to defend Catholike religion without armes And other such faÌ„cies which the Anabaptistes do vse to proue that there should be no external force or ciuil magistrate vsed by Christians and as Martyn Luther disputed when he would prooue that warre was not to be waged against the Turke for religion especially at the Popes direction And yet are our men so confident in these their follies as they are not ashamed to say in the same place to Catholiks Giue no eare deare Catholikes to any priuate VVhisperings or Iesuitical persuasions to the contrary all arguments that can be brought assure your selues are false and vnlearned sophistifications Thus they say and thus they assure Catholiks but much more sure are wee that this is pride ignorance â—olly and falshood in them for that they cannot but know that all the Catholike learned men of Christendome are against them in this position and that the proofes and reasons which they alleadge for the same called by these men heere priuate VVhisperings Iesuitical persuasions and vnlearned sophistications are so learned and weighty as they are not able to answere one of them and if we should heere set downe the ranke of authors that haue wrytten of this point within these 400. yeares as also in our dayes against heretikes and atheists and conuinced the same by most learned demonstrations both out of scriptures councelles fathers and theological reasons to wit that albeit directly the supreme pastor of Christs Churche according to the coÌ„mon opinion of diuynes haue not temporal dominion or iurisdiction ouer christian temporal princes that are supreame in their owne states yet indirectly for conseruation and defence of religion when it is impugned or put in hazard by them he may also vse the sword or help of temporal forces for his restraint eyther immediatly from himself or by other princes at his direction if we say we should cyte heere all the learned Catholike authors of all nations that haue wrytten and
late Cardinal Allen Sir Francis Englefield and others the most principal Catholiks of our nation beyond the seas as by their owne hands is yet extant what malepert saucinesse is this of a few yonglings so bitterly now to inueigh against it And if we wil consider the contents therof we shal more maruaile at so insolent dealing of these indiscreet and rash greene heads deuowed wholy as it semeth to carp at other other mens actions though they vnderstand them not For what argument we pray yow could there be more important graue serious and necessary to be handled at that tyme when this book was wrytten English affayres standing as they did and do then the matter of succession to our crowne wherof both religion and Realme spirituality and temporality for the most part dependeth especially the subiect of the former book for two they are in number is of such weight and consideration and so ought to be with Catholiks as it were irreligious to be ignorant or carelesse therin to wit that in all pretence and pretenders ro reigne ouer Christians and succession to crownes the consideration of true Cath. religion is the principal point to be respected and that this is conforme to all lawes both diuine and humane but especially to the ancient accustomed lawes of our land and that no good Catholike may or can dispence with himselfe or others in this point for any humaine respect or consideration whatsoeuer which point is so substantially prooued by all variety of learning both ecclesiastical and prophane and by so many examples and customes of all nations in 9. seueâ—al chapters as our enuious brethren cannot turne their hands to answere any one thing therin contayned though neuer so much they maligne both the matter and the wryter And this of the first book handling matters in general against heretikes and Atheists But the second book of this conference conteyning ten Chapters passeth further on from generalityes to particularityes setting downe all the particular titles preteÌ„ces and pretenders which are or may be probably of the blood royal of our land with an open protestation of all indifferency therin vsed without hurt hinderance or preiudice to any which Protestation for that it wypeth of all the cauillations which these men or others of their humour do endeauour to lay against the wryter as though he had penned the same partially in fauour of some particular prince we haue thought good to set his owne words downe in this place which ate these Hauing to speak saith the common lawyer in this discourse of many princes peeres and nobles of the royal blood of England to all which by law of nature equity and reason he affirmed that he bare reuerent honour and respect and to discusse their seueral pretentions rights interests and titles to the crowne he said that his meaning was to offend hurt or preiudice none nor to determine any thing resolutely in fauour or hinderance of any of their pretences or claymes of what side family faction religion or other party soeuer he or she were but rather plainly and indifferently wihout hatred or partial affection to or against any to lay downe syncerely what he had heard or read or of himselfe conceaued that might iustly be alleadged in fauor or disfauour of euery â—iteler Thus wryteth and protesteth he and seing that whatsoeuer he putteth downe in this affayre is registred in our owne cronycles and both the authors and places alwayes cyted by him for his defence and for the discent of blood and genealogie in euery preson named and that the obiections and arguments to and fro in euery pretence and pretenders are layd forth clearly without partiality we do not see what reason or probability in the world our discontented preists can haue yf they be Catholiks so intemperatly to exclayme against this book which in the iudgment of farre wyser Catholiks and more disappassionate then themselues was most needful at that tyme when it was wrytten and is greatly profitable now and wil be most of all hereafter for so much as the first parte therof openeth mens eyes to se their due obligation to religion aboue all other respects and considerations and the second shewing the variety of pretenders togeather with their reasons and propinquityes of blood and other pretences giueth more scope to theÌ„ that shal haue to do therin that yf the said due circumstance of Cath. religion be not fouÌ„d in one it may be sought and preferred in another which is no smal help and comodity to right meaning consciences And thus much now being opened and declared we would aske of these our out cryars what they haue in reason to say or reply in this case They tel vs in diuers places of this last libel of Important Considerations and other where that the wryting of this worke is greatly misliked and thought preiudicial and that for this cause that one M. Paget a cheef man of their crew hath answered the same which maketh vs somwhat to maruaile For albeit we haue seene a certayne vayne pamphlet set forth about this matter said to be printed at Colen 1600. others think rather at Paris Intituled A discouery of a conterfes Conference c. And though we doubt not much of M. Pagets affection in these affayres neyther of his desyre to contradict the supposed author of the said book of succession as yow may wel perceaue by that we haue alleadged more largely in our Apologie and albeit on the other side we easily persuade our selues that the wryters of this last rayling and heretical libel of important considerations do know sufficiently who was the true author of the forsaid foolish pamphlet for the good intelligence they haue one with another of that contradicting company yet hardly can we yeild to thinke so basely of M. Pagets wit howsoeuer his wil be that so contemptible a thing should come from him and his pen we would rather thinke it to be of a certaine neighbour of his of greater title in learning but of lesse discretion and capacity in wit or reason wherunto yf nothing els yet the very fond and ridiculous title would induce vs which yf yow wil heare it all is this A discouery of a counterfet Conference held at a counterfet place by counterfet Trauellers for the aduauncement of a conterfet Title c. VVherunto yf he had added By a counterfeite Catholike or companion all had byn ful of counterfets it had fitted both the knowen vanitie of the counterfet doctors stile and the quality of his person There followeth the Preface or Epistle to the author of the Conference wherin no one thing of moment is handled but a quarel pickt against him for not putting downe his name wherunto we may answere with those words of S. Paul Inexcusabilis es o homo qui iudicas in quo enim iudicas alterum teipsum condemnas cadem enim agis qâ—ae iudicas Thow
epistle which discryeth the man sufficiently what is in him in what state he is for thus he beginneth his Epistle VVise was the painter in his amorous conceyt who in portrayting out the porport of Venus drew her picture with so great arte sleight and significant resemblance of her natural blazon as the portrayt of her fore-parts all ouer shadowed with the porch where she entred in posteriora eius on the backe being only seene going into the temple presented an abstract to the behâ—lders of so rare excellency as the type of the protâ—t ypon by signes and symptons semed to say giue back enamorades of ladyes bewtyes seeke not to se the face of the peerlesse content your curious eyes with this which though the meanest part of the delightful obiect yet of that perfection as wherin yow may behould the works of dame nature to be so farre aboue reasons reach as wit and art should skip beyond their skil yf they should attempt to set forth the worthiest parts of this goddesse paragon sance peere And yet was Venus but a very strompet a common queane fitter for Vulcan the blackesmith then for Mars the Captayne and more admired at talked of and followed for her wanton tricks in satiable lust and shape to frame an eye to vice them for any complemental perfection to be found in the purest parts of her filthy carcasse or lineaments of her vading though seming fayre sweet blisful cheeks shrewded in the auriflame of carnation die dropt in euery lyne mathematical with argent and gules milkewhite and scarlet red Now yf yow did not know this fellow before yow may take a scantling of him both in body and soule by this narration and therby make a gesse how poore defectuous and sinful he is in the one and other For as for his body and outward feature yf yow know him yow wil hardly think him a fit creature to talke so much of natural blazons or enamorades of ladyes bewtyes c. or of royal damsels of rare aspect himselfe being so wrong shapen and of so bad blinking aspect as he looketh nyne wayes at once as scarsely he can discerne any thing that toucheth not his eyes which yet we obiect not as natures defect but as representing rather the state of his mynd which seemeth by this filthy description of Venus and her posteriora so often mentioned as also by the wanton imaginations of pleasing obiects and sweet blisful cheeks and other such lasciuions phrases that he is so deeply ouerwhelmed with sensual and venereous apprehensins contemplations and desyres no maruayle though he cry out so hideously against Iesuits that are sworne enemies to the very thoughts therof and we know both by experience and otherwise that there is no other motiue of enmity greater then this set downe by the holy Ghost contrarius est operibus nostris Iesuits are of contrary life spirit iudgment wil works and maners to him and what maruayle then is there if he professe himselfe so mortal an enemy to them Yet we do know and can testifie that the tyme hath byn when this sinful and wretched poore fellow being in extreme necessity both of body and soule and in other sort of suddes then he now threatneth to leaue Iesuites in had his cheefest releefe by some of ther meanes though now most vngratfully he forget the same paying them euil for good as honest men are wont to be paid from such as he is But a iudgement day wil come to iustifie all and for that this lost lad and true stayne of his religion and order as falsly and wickedly he calleth the Iesuits is permitted by God and vsed by the diuel at this tyme to so publike a reproch of our profession as all the world seeth by so many infamous bookes as come daily forth from him or through his hands we are forced in this place ful sore against our wil and purpose to discouer the man somwhat further vnto yow to the end yow may see what a pillar and proctor the factious haue chosen to themselues for their bookemaister to defame by his labours their brethren and whole religion this being the especial seruice for which it seemeth M. Bluet so carefully made his peace with the counsel when he wrote to M. Mush as in our Apologie we haue set downe that M. VVatsons peace was made if he would which wil no doubt was to agree to some such good seruice of their side as this is which now he performeth vnder the direction of my L. of London of whome yet we cannot but maruaile being otherwise of that iudgment and temperate nature which some men report him to be that euer he would vse so base and absurd an instrument as this felow is hauing byn taken by them in so many trippes as he hath But yow wil say that to a base worke a base instrument is fittest and we see herin verified that obseruation which Philippus Cominaeus maketh in his story to wit that in tyme of sedition the worst men do grow fastest and he that in a quiet and ordinate state of things should be abiect and nothing esteemed in a troubled state becometh admirable by which meanes VVilliam VVatson for so at length he putteth downe his name in his book of Quodlibets who in tyme of quiet was worth nothing now by broyles is become vpon the suddayne a great maister in Israel amoÌ„g our mutined brethren whose coÌ„mon wealth is no lesse disordered since their rebellioÌ„ against their lawful Superiors then that of the Iewes since they left their obedience due to Christ and his law and for that we shal haue occasion after to mencion often this book maister of theirs or prefect rather of their print we are forced heere to tel yow breefly somwhat for better knowing him His coming out of England and maner therof we know not in particular nor greatly doth it import only we know that he came to the English Seminary of Rhemes in France a poore litle begging boy where being taken of charity his first allowance was for a good tyme pottage only and licking the dishes which other men had emptied before him after this he was admitted to serue at the table and carry away dishes after that againe he was admitted to make beddes swepe chambers and other like offices belonging thervnto in which kynd he serued especially one M. Boast a good priest and a holy martyr since which if he had knowne then or suspected that the squint eyed boy for so he called him would haue prooued so wicked a man he should neuer haue comen no doubt within his chamber dore And yet further yow must note that all this while VVil. VVats besides his poore estate vvas the most contemptible and ridiculous thing in all that house for many yeares for that his grace was in tumbling and making sport to others for which his body if yow know him was fitly made and so he passed by the
shamelesse assertion as many wayes is convinced many other such points there discussed wherto now we ad that all that they talk heere Pag. 19. 20. 21. c. about almes and money wrongfully taken by Iesuits and their followers is as false as they are shamelesse to report it being neuer able to proue any one particular All their irreligious scoffing and deprauing of the spiritual exercises froÌ„ the pag. 21. of there libel vnto 28. vsed by Iesuits for reducing men from syn and wicked life to a more cleere feeling knowledge of almighty God which being mental exercises coÌ„sisting principally in heaueâ—ly meditations are highly commended by all learned Cath. men of our tyme that haue eyther read theÌ„ with attention or experienced theÌ„ in theÌ„ selues being confirmed also expresly by the Sea Apostolike tried by example of infinite mens conuersions to be an excellent rare instrument of Gods deuyne glory in these our dayes all this contemptuous and scoffing spirit say we against soueraigne helpes and remedyes must needes come eyther of infidelity or notable prophane irreligiosity and lack of spirit and sence in Gods affayres and consequently it is very probable that some egregious Apostata or other heretical or Atheal head had their parts also in so wicked a woork And thus much for the Iesuits in general But as for F. Persons in particular there is no end nor measure of their outragious detractioÌ„ when they fall on him as though he were the only but against which all heir fiery darts of hellish hatred serpentyne tongues were directed And yet if yow consider what hitherto they say or wryte of all their books against him yow shal not find one point of moment alleadged by them wherat worthily they may take iust offence but as mad or possessed men that raue and rage most at those that most seek their good and most haue assisted them hitherto And truly in this our English Cath. cause reduction of our countrey it seemeth that God hath suffered him to be in signum cui contradicetur as a marke oâ—signe set vp for all sort of bad people atheists heretikes apostaâ—aes seditious contentious tumultuous disastred and dissolute to inueigh against and this is to the immitation of his maister and Sauiour Christ who was and is and shal be to the worlds end a signe of contradiction in the highest degree to all wicked whatsoeuer VVe haue answered both truly and sufficiently in the 12. Chapter of our Apologie such malitious and enuious calumniations as these his passionate emulators in their first two books vttered of which two bookes the first being in latyn read in Rome by diuers great men that had some acquaintance in English affayres they found therin so many and manifest malitious slaunders especially against F. Persons as they professed afterwards to haue byn ashamed in reading therof and to haue wondred at the impudency of the wryters and more to esteeme of the said Father then euer before by discouering the diuels enuy against him And among others we vnderstand for certayne that the most honorable wise and learned Card. Burghesius Viceprotector of England giuing vp the said book to his Hol. protested vpon his conscience that he had read many things which himself knew to be stark lyes and malitious inuentions against the said Father in particular and therby made a gesse at the vntruth of all the rest And further yow haue seene by that we haue discussed in the fornamed chapter of our Apologie how many most euident and apparant calumniatioÌ„s we haue there refuted which heere yet in other their ensuing books these miserable men for yow know what a pittiful torment enuy is do repeate affirme vrge and amplyfie againe yea haue procured heretiks also to publish the same in their books as appeareth by that which a certayne impudent minister O. E. but not exceeding the malice of these hath wrytten and printed of late about the illigitimation of F. Persons byrth which these his emulators in their first latyn inuectiue do but cal in doubt saying that the said byrth was of euil fame raysed to wit by themselues but now as wicked men are wout to do they passe further and affirme it in all their later books for a thing certayne hauing deuised besides that his Father was parson of a church and that therof he was called Persons but as then we answered so now againe hauing informed our selues synce that tyme of more particulars we affirme auouch that this is a most vnchristian and diuelish deuise to slaunder and defame their neighbour and neyther is nor could be true For cleaâ—ing of which so egregious a calumniation we haue made diligent inquiry and do fynd that the said Father was borne in the parish of Stowey in Somerset shire in the yeare 1546. a yeare before K. Henry died to which parish there came soone after out of Deuonshire to be vicar their for parson their is none Iohn Hayward a vertuous good priest that had byn a cannon regular before and this man liued there for 30. yeares togeather vntil after F. Persons departure out of England who hauing byn his master in the latyn tongue and liking his forwardnes in learning did euer afterward beare a special affectioÌ„ towards him all the tyme he liued but yet was ther neuer any least suspection of that which these malitious people haue deuised and geuen out as those do and wil testifie that lyued at that tyme neyther could there be with any probability the one being borne as we haue said and appeareth by the register book before the other came into that countrey neyther is it likely that he should haue byn called Persons as they fondly say for that this priest was a parson seing that benefice is no personage but a vicaridge as all men know and more like it is he should haue byn called Hayward after the said priests name and not by his office if he had byn his sonne Moreouer as in our Apologie we haue said F. Persons had fiue brothers systers elder then himselfe by the same mother and father borne all many yeares before the forsaid priest came to that couÌ„trey other fiue yonger then he wherof one is now a preacher heere in England chaplayne to a noble man and all called by the name of Persons diuers vncles also nephewes and cosyns there are of the same name and how then do these lying lippes vrge so much that he was called Pâ—rsons for that his Father was Parson of a benefice Finally we haue shewed in our said Apologie that his parents were right honest people and of the most substantial of their degree among their neighbours while they liued and his Father was reconciled to the Cath. Church by M. Bryant the martyr and his mother a graue and vertuous matron liuing diuers yeares and dying in flight and out of her countrey for her conscience and was neuer so much as suspected for any such