in this action shal be brought into more danger of the extremitie rigour of the lawes then otherwise we should in that the authoritie is alreadie thought by the Counsell to be of purpose erected for the better effecting of such designements and so shall we being brought within the compasse of other mens actions be hanged for kingdomes and matters of state and the glory of our cause therby diminished if not cleane extinguished to satisfie other mens pleasures serue their turnes Besides al this by the opiniōs of diuers men of iudgment in the lawes of our Country this our case may and will be drawne within the compasse of an olde law enacted aswel by our Catholick Bishops Prelates as by the Prince aboue 300. yeares agoe vz. the lawe of Premunire because it is an externall iurisdiction brought into this realme against the will notice of the Prince Country which made the late reuerend Bishop of Lincolne Doctor Watson to refuse all externall iurisdictiō offered him ouer his fellow prisoners although once he had lawfull Episcopall iurisdiction within the Realme and was vnlawfully depriued thereof Fitfthly consider we beseech you for the satisfying of your consciences in this most vniust slaunderous report made against vs of schisme that there can be no schisme where there is a resigned will of obedience We protest and vow all obedience due vnto Gods Church and all her lawfull authoritie and therefore can be made no schismatikes possibly If they vrge against vs that we obey not this authoritie let them shewe vs that it is a lawfull act of the Church and we obey If they tell vs of Letters from the Cardinal we answer them that no man is bound to beleeue the Cardinall himselfe without Bull or Breue in matters of so large cōsequence concerning the Church What reason then is there that his graces bare Letters the contents wherof drew on so general extreme persecution vpon our necks should be allowed of by vs as a sufficient proofe of the delegation If they say that the Cardinall is a person of singular credit and not to be distrusted we answere them that we impeach not his credit standing onely vpon our owne right and iustice for our full satisfaction from his holines of his absolute will pleasure herein whose least commaund shall euer binde vs though with hazard or losse of our liues To thinke that his holinesse accounteth vs so base and abiect a Cleargy or so vnworthy members of Gods church that we deserue not his ordinary notice in matters of so great moment which is but a cōmō processe in matters of farre lesse weight proceeding frō that See were both in it self ridiculous iniurious also to his holines We could also vrge that his hol as yet hath had no informatiō at all from vs our messengers being preuented of audience clapped in close prison by Father Persons procurement but onely frō them who are but one and the aduerse part in this controuersie which you know is against all right and equitie and in which case being but a matter of fact his Holi for want of due sufficient information may proceed with error to the preiudice of the innocent part although vnwillingly and by him not intended in which case Appellations alwaies are permitted for further information in matters thus in question Consider now sincerely deare Catholickes these reasons propounded and enter not too too rashly into condemnation of vs your spirituall Pastours who haue alreadie in part and are stil readie to spend our bloud for your sakes but haue patience with vs a little vntil you see the end of these matters and the iudgements of his Holinesse herein which we hope you shall shortly see and perhappes in the ende you shall finde that we whom by sinister informations and suggestions you are now ready altogether to condemne haue bene and are your greatest friends in withstanding suche proceedings as haply may concern your selues as neare if not more neare then vs although you perceiue not nor see so much And in the meane season as we labour for your good so pray you for vs and the common good Farewell from them that thirst your good Other reasons to the same purpose by another vnder the forme of a Letter SYr your priuate occasions which you recommend to my care I haue so tendered that euery thing is as forward as any diligence of mine can set it and in my last haue explaned to the full the course I tooke which I trust is cōformable to the directions you sent mee and will I hope haue the successe that both you and I desire The progresse of the matter you shall vnderstand as occasion serueth In the end of your Letter you make mention of a diuision lately growne amongst vs who should be examples of loue and vnion and laments the bitter fruites sprung thereof as pernicious to many a Christian soule Whereof diuers friends of mine by name are charged to be some cause for that they were not ready at first to yeeld to the late authoritie of Maister Blackwell nor as yet can be brought to acknowledge the same Truly Syr for that you are my friend and I throughly acquainted with the origine processe of the difference I thought it my part for your better information discharge of my blamelesse friends briefly to set downe what is done in this matter and vpon what ground and then to leaue the censure of it to your prudent consideration To build sure I lay this foundation that it is neither pietie nor true obedience at the first sight to admit any authoritie but such as is orderly procured and lawfully promulgated in such sort that subiects may remaine morally sure that it proceedeth frō the true fountaine of superioritie truly enformed which of it selfe is so manifest that it needeth no proofe for the contrary were to open the way to all forgeries and intrusions and in fine the ouerthrow of all Canonicall proceedings Here hence followeth that which true prudence and vertue doo dictate that when any new and extraordinary authoritie is published they whom it concerneth before that by acceptance they approue it should of dutie looke and examine whether it be accompanied with the conditions aboue mentioned and so admit or reiect it as discretion conscience shall require To the purpose in both these conditions of lawfull authoritie this we speake of is feared to hault and not without great presumption And for that to handle both at large would exceed the limits of a Letter and a defect in either doth sufficiently warrant their proceedings I wil leaue the first for that must needs touch particular persons and their actions which without further occasion and very iust I am loath to do and shew briefly how the manner of promulgation is in no way sufficient but rather full of suspition and giueth iust occasion of distrust And first the credit of this promulgation dooth wholly hang
vpon their credits who taketh authoritie vpon them who for that they are parties in this action may iustly be suspected as partiall in their owne cause which cannot choose but leaue the matter doubtfull in any indifferent mind or such at least as no man is in conscience bounde to beleeue Againe put case they were lawfulll promulgators yet they bring nothing sufficient to ordaine such authoritie or iurisdiction to erect such an authoritie cannot be lesse then an expresse commaundent of his Holinesse and giuen for this particular purpose And the same also authentically notified of al which the aduerse part sheweth nothing for neither do they challenge any such expresse decree from his Holinesse but onely order giuen to the Cardinal Protector to take vp our controuersies and iarres here which is nothing to build such an extraordinary superioritie vpon or if they did we are not to giue full credit to the Cardinall his bare word in a matter of so great weight seeing that in such businesse he hath heretofore bene founde ouermuch affected to the one part who haue their finger and hand in these affaires and for this reason hath bene excepted against as vnfit to iudge in such causes that so neare concern those parties as these things do therefore these men demaund but right if they require an authenticall instrument from his holines to specifie his will herein and in the meane while determine nothing but rest ready to imbrace whatsoeuer his holines shal appoint Furthermore there are now 8. or 9. moneths past sith first the authoritie was diuulged sithence the lawfulnes therof for the reasons aboue mentioned and diuers others was doubted of as not proceeding from his holines yet the maintainers notwithstanding the hotte eager earnest course that they take in defence of it would neuer obtaine the least ticket or testimony vnder his holinesse hand or directly from him in confirmation of it nor yet to notefie that euer any suche matter was appointed by him knowing that such a note woulde haue ended the whole controuersie And this maketh men in their mindes to question with themselues in this sort doo not these men by ordinary course monethly or oftner receiue Letters from Rome hath not Cardinall Caietan weekely yea daily accesse to his holinesse as other Cardinalls haue doo they want fauour with him who is wholly theirs or his forwardnes to further that himselfe hath either begunne or followed and for the credit whereof hee hath graunted what Letters themselues would request and as effectuall as themselues could drawe them or would his holinesse refuse to testifie that he is the appointer of this authoritie if it had proceeded frō him No no there is cunning some where which when matters are discouered will quickly appeare And this is confirmed with another presumption of no lesse moment then the former For when these friends of mine by vniforme consent of many of their owne brethren wise and learned the auncientest had resolued peaceably and quietly to send ouer to knowe the Popes pleasure in this matter they sent to the contrary part to intreat thē to haue so much patience as to expect what answere these messengers did receiue from his holinesse and if matters proued to be so as they said they were then without further resistance euery body was ready to ioyne with them to resist whosoeuer should resist them and so the whole matter might haue bene very briefly and quietly ended between themselues in loue and charitie without scandall or hurt to any But this so reasonable a request could not be heard but as if they had feared some present daunger now after sending they posted about more earnestly then euer before send abroad papers threaten excommunications promise fauours abuse the laitie with infamous reports of their brethren sending into all quarters of the countrey to begge hands and subscriptions and where any for what iust cause soeuer did refuse their meanes open or secret were deuised to supplant and disgrace them and accusations forged to withdraw their lay friends and consequently their maintenance from them Which must needes constraine the wronged to defend and cleare themselues euen with the same lay-friends so the matter grew to a cōtention became publikely knowne amōg the Laitie that women childrē do tattle and descant euery where and passe their censure therof And what followeth of this euery body may see and it is too lamentable to speake or write what hurt our cause hath sustained hereby But what good I pray you did these men pretend by so hurtfull a course Was the Pope so desirous of thankes that it must be procured with such broyles I cannot thinke it Certes it maketh men iustly to mistrust that there is a further matter intended then in shewe they pretend and that these hands subscriptions by such meanes and so carefully procured to be sent ouer in such haste must serue to salue and heale somewhat that is not sound there happily to draw the Pope to consent to that which perchance he neuer heard or allowed of and so heereby constraine men to put too their hands saying it is his holinesse will they should doo so and there perswade the Pope to allow of it for that it is the Priests voluntary request sute here By which meanes no doubt but that they may easily procure the Popes confirmation who is and hath bene ready to referre the choosing of the superiour to the Priests of England as Father Persons himselfe can witnesse which was the cause that at the beginning when such a matter was proposed to his holinesse he would not proceed in it without they agreed consented also as there is great reason for him For whose aduise consent and allowance are required to the choosing of a superiour if not theirs that are to obey and liue vnder the said superiour when he is chosen do not the fellowes in euery house in Oxenford and according to the statutes and foundation choose and elect their head and Rector Do not likewise all the religious companies choose their superiour Nay do not the Dist 63. cap. 12. Dist 61. cap. 13. Canons of holy Churh decree that Priestes should haue the election of their Bishop and this late authority is for the amplenesse in punishing more then Bishoplike Yea the Canons allowe further that the Cleargy may and should if they finde themselues wronged by hauing a Bishop put on them against their consent and liking resist and withstand the intrusion or iniury And not only Popes haue decreed that their Cleargy should choose their Bishops but Emperours haue constituted the same as appeareth by the ordinary glosse vpon 63. Distinction cap. 34. All which maketh our friends refusal much more iustifiable And last of all M. Blackwell himselfe reported that he had authoritie to excommunicate and command to the Court of Rome which now belike vpon better scanning of his authoritie hee goes from Againe shewing his instruction
necessarily followeth heynous sacriledge committed by the ministratiō of Sacraments and the frustrating of all confessions made to all such as they do terme schismatikes For my fuller acquittance of which schisme in one word I say that if I be a schismaticke Clemens the eight is a schismaticke for his wil is my wil both in this and all other things pertaining to Ecclesiasticall gouernment and for mine obedience and subiection to him in the same as hetherto by Gods grace I haue not so God assisting me hereafter I will not refuse to yeeld my life if at any time it be exacted Peraduenture Sir you will maruell how I dare attempt to say thus much in mine own and my bretherens defence our Arch-priest hauing vnder paine of suspension commanded the contrary But you may vnderstand that this commandement cannot bee of force and therefore not to be respected for diuers causes And chiefly for that the law of nature graunteth absolute freedome to euery one to defend himselfe and his goods either of fame or fortune and to labour by lawfull meanes to recouer them being vniustly taken from him For which cause it is an intollerable errour annullating any iuridicall sentence to forbid a man to defend himselfe Siluester verb. Excom 2. num 1. 16. Our Arch-priests prohibitory censures therefore in this case are euen by the law of nature made void And if he say that we haue suffred no wrōg by the losse of our good names but that we haue iustly deserued the infamy of schisme it wil not serue his turn for he being in this case a party subiect to triall and therfore no Iudge to discerne whether we haue suffered wrong or no his sentence or opiniō herein can be of no more force then his ought to be who hauing taken away an other mans goods saith that he hath not wronged him and therfore forbiddeth him to prosecute the case against him vnder paine of a greater displeasure for this is iust our case I might say much more in this matter but I haue bin too long already and I hope this will suffice for this point and so once againe I take my leaue THE COPIE OF A LETTER written by F. Rob. Parsons the Iesuite 9. Octob 1599. to M. D. Bish and M. Ch. two banished and configned Priests the one in Fraunce the other in Lorraine by the suggestions of F. Parsons for presuming to goe to Rome in the affaires of the Catholicke Church Paris To my very louing friend M. W. Bish Priest giue these ¶ MAister Bish it being now diuers moneths since you departed from hence and no one Letter appearing yet from you or frō your friend M. Ch. it made vs maruaile considering your promises at your departures and some began to suspect that which I feare me will proue too true that you were fallen into that temptation which each man did easily foresee heere before you went hence and I many times foretold you also to wit that you hauing receiued euil successe here in your iourney by your owne defaults and going among men that would must of courtesie bemone the same for who will to your faces seeme to like of it or say you haue deserued it you would be in daunger thereby to chaunge your good mindes that here you shewed of acknowledging your owne errours and for excuse thereof would laie the fault where it is not and so make posteriora peiora prioribus ¶ And albeit at that time you saide you would neuer fal into this pitte yet I doubt me you haue not performed it for by a stale Letter which I receiued this weeke from you written soone after your arriuall at Paris to wit the 11. of Iune I perceiue you were slidden much forward seeing you say you cannot but tell me of the great dislike which ordinarily all sorts of men haue of your imprisonment and hard vsage heere in Rome And moreouer you say that euerie one crieth out against it although you vse all the modifications which in truth and equitie you may And thē further you wish me to preuēt in time the odious name of a rigorous sterne gouernour and not by colourable words but by effectual deeds and that it is a corosiue vnto you that those goodly giftes so you write which God hath bestowed vpon me should by the alienations of our Country-mens affections from mee be made lesse able to do our Country that good which all desire ¶ All which words and some other in the same Letter though these are the principall doo shewe a great chaunge in you from that you shewed here at your departure which thing notwithstanding moueth not me so much for your owne persons considering the roote from whence it groweth and that griefe must haue some vtterance as that which is written hither diuers waies and by diuers persons of credit of other mens speeches vpon your reports and complaints by all likelyhood touching your superiours also for by this same Poste and with your Letter came another of our friend M. D. C. which you do also mention and he saith that your friends though he commend your owne moderation do crie out and complaine of singular iniustice done vnto you and that you could not be heard iuridicè nor haue your Proctors or proceed in your processe as Iewes Turkes and common malefactors are permitted ¶ But another friend yet writeth more largely from Flaunders by the Ordinary of this weeke that passing of late by those partes where M. Ch. resideth though he talked not with himselfe yet he reporteth that others crie out in like manner being stirred vp as hee saith for I will relate his owne words by the grieuous complaints of M. Ch. who threateneth to set downe in Print the whole storie of your vsage here to make it knowne thereby as he writeth both in England and else-where how Priests be receiued by his holinesse that come from Catholiques to disclose their griefes vnto him and that hee doth not beare himselfe as a common Father but as partiall for Iesuits preuented by them to the ruine of poore Priests and that in Turkie they should haue bin vsed no worse and that he and you seeing how matters passed determined neuer vnto this day to open vnto his holinesse nor vnto the Protector the true causes of your sending nor what errand you had which should haue bene deliuered to his holinesse onely Moreouer hee saith they lament bitterly the poore estate of Catholiques who at home are persecuted and abroad cannot be heard when they send to open their griefes to him that ought to giue eare to all as a common Father and that the Colledge at Rome is brought into a Spanish and Italian gouernment F. Parsons bearing himselfe not as a Country-man but Italianated that men will labour in Englande that none do send ouer their sonnes to be brought vp in it for that it is not fit for English natures that it will neuer be well in England vntill Iesuites be recalled
bee you doo mislike in me my firme standing against the troublesome of this house first and against you and your companiō afterward that came in defence of the former troubles if it be so you and I do differ in iudgements for I do thinke that vigour and fortitude to bee so necessary and commendable which is required to stand in confractione as the scripture tearmeth it against vnquiet striuing spirits as without it no good in any gouernment can be expected and albeit in some it cause alienations of affections as you signifie yet in others it worketh the contrarie and that which most importeth it vpholdeth truth vertue and Gods cause And I would aske you now againe as sometimes here in presence I did in what case do you thinke our common cause of England had beene at this daie if no man had resisted the designements of the troublesome in this place or if your endeauours after them had taken place ¶ Let vs example but one example you talked before your restraint heere with the Commissary of the Inquisition and you gaue him such a relation of English matters as afterward when M. Doctor Haddock and M. Martin Array had talked with him also and informed him as they thought of the very truth of matters he told an honourable man of Rome and a great friende of mine that foure English Priestes hauing talked with him they had taken from him all list to beleeue any Englishmen or matters more they told him so different tales and yet all of them would seeme to be men of zeale well then if you had bin let alone by his holinesse to deale with all the Cardinalls and great men of Rome in like sort would you not haue brought our common cause in a pretie plight trowe you and your selues also ¶ Moreouer it appeareth by your papers and depositions yet extant that you tooke the way first to discredit so much as in you lay M. Blackwell the first man of all your order that euer was yet in authoritie and of those parts and merittes that all English men know yea in the very matter of his faith for that an heriticall proposition was laid to his charge Secondly were to be discredited such English Priests as stood with him who are the principall of your coat and with them all Iesuites but chieflie those that are known to haue laboured most in the common cause and by whose intercession Catholique Princes haue bene most mooued to assist hetherto the same and what would haue followed of this Further the Protector himselfe must haue bin changed if all designments in your papers had taken place the Seminaries must haue beene taken from the gouernment of Iesuites the whole societie called out of England and albeit you proposed not in words al these points together when you came how matters stood yet were they mentioned as is to bee seene in your papers from your partners in England and you see that now they begin to be giuen abroad againe in places where you or M. Ch. are or haue beene and vttered discontentment ¶ And if all these points had bene brought to passe by you or at least that other point wherevpon you stood so much heere to haue two Arch-priests in England not subordinate the one to the other but each one absolute with his traine of subiects vnder him opposite the one against the other would not all our cause haue comen quicklie to ruine and shall those then that haue stood against these ruines be accounted sterne and rigorous or rather cōstant pious yea friendly towards your selues for that with the ruine of the common cause yours also and all other Priests should be inuolued and now God be thanked by the good order which his holinesse hath setled all is well ended and remedied if men can be contented and now Priests haue their head and subordination and Iesuites also theirs and both are happilie vnited together and all strife is ended in England to Gods great glorie and our common good I hope and his holy name be euer blessed for the same ¶ And as for the gouernment of this Colledge here in Rome whether it be Spanish or Italian I know not but sure I am it tendeth all to vnion peace loue vertue and learning that do the schollers finde by the effects hauing receiued more cōfort quiet true mirth and gaine of learning in one moneh sithence the reformation then in some yeares before as for youthes to come vnto it let no man haue care for would to God we had so much maintenance as we could haue choise of schollers to enioy it and no wise Catholique is there in England or else-where that hearing of this chaunge and reformation wil refuse to send his children hither if he loue them and may be in hope to haue them placed for the words or writings of any such to the contrarie as M. Ch. threatneth who shal bemonethe lack of liberty And if M. Ch. or anie other should attēpt to put any thing in print of matters passed heere as our friend writeth is threatned but I cannot beleeue that any such intent can be the matter would easily be answered for that here remaine authenticall registers of all that passed by publique authoritie ¶ Well good Sir I will end then and pray you to be a mean as I know your nature to be more moderate and you promsed it here also that things may rest as they were and are well ended without renewing of further griefes as both in wisedome and conscience and vnder your oathes also and vpon paine of censures both of you are bound and surely if these things should be true which before I haue alleadged to be written hither by credible relators whose Letters are here extant I cannot see how either of you that should bee cause of so false and dissentious reports can be safe in conscience for very great sinne and grieuous censures also but I hope they will not proue true ¶ And as for the request you make in your Letter to mee to deliuer you from the false report written hence to Flaunders and thence to your partes againe that you should confesse heere to haue beene moued onlie by ambition to take your last action in hand I will deliuer you most willingly from anie thing that I haue written or willed others to write for as you saie I did euer attribute your attempt rather to errour and lack of consideration then to ambition wherein you may see I was not rigorous but yet seeing your matter passed by diuers mens hands and knowledge I cannot let them to thinke speake or write what they iudge best yet do I suppose verilie that none would saie or write that you confessed so much here tho I haue heard diuers speake and suspect so much vpon the sight of your papers for that seeing in diuers papers and scrolles of your fellowes which you brought open with you you were proposed for Bishops and in
a long discourse of a friend of yours sent out of Englande after your departure you two by name were appointed to bee Arch-bishops Primates and that besides this a principall man of your side writing to you certain notes about your message vseth the phrase of your LL. with his owne hand yet here to be seene it was much to be suspected what motion moued you ¶ But as I said now all is ended and this and all the rest will easilie die and be forgotten as alreadie I trust all is forgotten on all hands if you and M. Ch. do beare your selues well and prudentlie and do staie and not stirre vp such as do seeme to fauour or bemone your cause which though you terme by the phrase of all sorts of people in your Letter yet must you not deceiue your selues for that finallie all those sorts must be reduced to a verie small number in respect of others that do condemne your action ¶ Heere in Rome you prooued how the grauest sort of people both straungers and others iudged of your cause after they had heard and examined the same I shewed you also the Letters and subscriptions of manie of the chiefest and most principall of our Nation in Flaunders and England and since that time I haue receiued manie more and manie complaining of the ouermuch lenitie vsed in ending of the cause how then do all sorts of men crie out of the rigour or iniustice vsed towards you but in truth it is a verie vncertaine thing to depend vpon the speeches of men diuers speake faire and will bemone a man to his face when their harts are farre otherwise and some being discontent or in passion themselues vpon other groundes are glad to take such occasions as this of yours is to disburthen their stomackes of their owne griefes others euill enformed at the beginning vpon pittie doo bemone you which afterwards vpon knowledge of the truth wil change their mindes and crie crucifige ¶ The onelie way is to depend of God and of a good conscience and to wish well to all and speake euill of fewe and to doo the good a man may for all sorts without respect what they will saie or do again and finally to haue patience with whatsoeuer falleth out and this rule I do counsel to you and do meane by Gods assistance to follow it my selfe wishing no worse to you and yours then to my owne soule as he is witnesse who is maister of vs both to whose holie protection I do most affectually commend you and my selfe to your holie praiers and sacrifices From Rome this 9. of October 1599. Yours euer most readie to serue you Robert Parsons This Letter of F. Parsons did the Arch-priest send abroad by his Agent with an Iniunction to those to whom it was carried that they must beleeue all that was contained therin assuring them that it was most true notwithstanding hee had made a seuere Edict not long before against all such as should diuuldge anie thing set out for the space of two yeares before wherein the credit of anie Ecclesiasticall person of the English Nation should particularly by name be touched How many faultes were in this action of the Arch-priest it is not for me to discypher but it is verie manifest that in this Letter of F. Parsons the credit of two English Priests by name are very much wounded and as it should seeme by the censure following the Letter deserueth litle commendation for truth therein contained A censure vpon the Letter which F. Parsons writ the 9. of October 1599. to M. D. Bish and M. Ch. two banished confined Priests the one in France the other in Lorraine by the suggestions of F. Parsons for presuming to goe to Rome in the affaires of the Church Giuen by M. I. B. IN the first Paragraffe F. Parsons followeth a suspisition conceiued against M. Bish and M. Ch. because they did not write vnto him and yet confesseth in the second Paragraffe that the same weeke he had receiued a stale Letter from M. Bish so that hee might haue left out of the first Paragraffe this manifest vngrounded suspition and also this absurd vntruth soone after controlled euen by himself that no letter appeared as yet from M. Bish And M. Ch. beeing confined to a place where neither any ordinary Poste was for Rome or vsually passed as F. Parsons well knew he might with more credit haue pretended some other cause of so vniust a suspition as that the two Priests had forsakē their good minds fallen into knowne and acknowledged errours and broken promises made at their departure If Letters might miscarry in so lōg a way as was between Rome and them what ground was the not receiuing of Letters from them of those conceits If they will say that they must needs receiue all Letters which come to Rome directed to them so soone as they do come to them daily practise will conuince the contrarie howsoeuer he shuffleth off this contradiction that as yet no Letter appeared from M. Bish as F. Parsons affirmeth in the first Paragraffe and that he had that weeke receiued a stale Letter from him as hee confesseth in the second Paragraffe but it appeareth both in this former part of F. Parsons Letter and also in all which followeth in the same that F. Parsons thought it a great sinne for himselfe not to deserue blame What errours were acknowledged at Rome I know not but it is very likely that they would haue bene specified vpon so good an occasion as was offered to F. Parsons by M. Bish and is by F. Parsons touched in the 21. Paragraffe and if they should haue acknowledged themselues to haue erred in want of consideration doubtlesse I should as now it falleth out beleeue as much because they did willingly ouerslip an opportunitie of hauing a fit meane maugre their aduersaries to haue bene heard before they should haue bin cōmitted to prison which infamy as F. Parsons confesseth they were in the 10. Paragraffe In the second Paragraffe F. Parsons boldly without blushing saith that hee receiued a stale Letter frō M. Bish from whom in the first Paragraffe he saith as yet no Letter appeared and both by that Letter which was receiued and by that none at all as yet appeared it is gathered that M. Bish was fallen againe into a pit out of which as yet he neuer came since his first fall into it Those commendations of himselfe which F. Parsons tooke no great disgust to repeate meaning that these Letters should passe farre and neare as appeareth in the 6. Paragraffe were vsed by M. Bish perchance to trie if by fitting so well F. Parsons humour he might draw him to that which as it should seeme by M. Bishops reply was not in him What M. Doctor Cic. did write of others complaints I know not but so farre as without offence I may I thinke that it was a most lamentable case that two Priests comming as it became
these two Priestes did see the Cardinalls was when they went as they were set at libertie first the one then the other to take their leaues and so to depart to the place of their confinement at which time also the Cardinalls might perchance make some reflection but not vpon a thing worthie of shame in the two Priests who during the time that they might deale alwaies offered themselues and performed as much as laie in them and when they could not deale therein being ioyned so as the one without the other had not to attempt any thing they patiently suffered first close imprisonment for 14. weekes with the appurtenances afterward a moneths easier imprisonment and lastly a sending seuerally one after another into banishmēt yea to be confined each to one Country thereby to be banished not only out of England their natiue Countrey but also out of all Countries in the world but one vpon a supposall that they had maintained controuersies in one and thus I leaue this point to any indifferent man to iudge what cause the Cardinals had to be ashamed if they were ashamed as F. Parsons here noteth and whether F. Parsons who was present at the arraingment and sawe the forwardnesse of the two Priests to make their answere to what was obiected against them were hee as he would be thought could without shame insert this clause in his Letter to the two Priests who were then arraigned And howsoeuer he might forget any other matter must needs remember that they demaunded the Libell to make their answere to it because the courage of the one in this very action was pretended by the Iesuites to haue bin the cause why they were not the same night set at libertie because forsooth this was an argument to the Cardinals that he was of a stirring spirit and therefore they would for 2. or 3. dayes longer keepe them both in prison To the second they brought many Letters from many as F. Parsons and the Proctors in their moodes will confesse although not from any setled communitie vnder any head for from this the Priests refrained vntill they had sent vnto his holinesse which whilest they were effecting by common suffradge as became Priests a head was most fraudulently by the Iesuites procured to curbe them and crosse them in their courses which they had intended And if F. Parsons had remembred that not long after in the 21. paragraffe he telleth them that they brought certain notes about their message from a principall man of theyr side of his owne hande writing yet there to bee seene whatsoeuer hee had written heere of a communitie hee would not haue saide that they brought no letters of credence from any priuate person but F. Parsons would perchance giue men to vnderstand that the petitions of Priests subscribed with their owne hands were not of so great credence as a brazen face of a Iesuite who before his holines pretended that he was a secular Priest and sent by them in their businesse beeing seconded with as false a friend to the Priests as F. Parsons himselfe a Iesuite in his owne likenesse To the third if there were secret memorialls of most secret businesse how was all saide by the two Priests that they could say How can these memorialls be termed by F. Parsons to be secret if nothing were concealed which was contained in them and for their weight if F. Parsons say true in the 17. paragraffe they had no need to be of greater weight then the rest for F. Parsons there confesseth that the Archpriest was touched yea in the verie matter of his faith for that an hereticall proposition was laide to his charge as appeareth by their papers and depositions yet extant which would hardly be excused if such a thing should be prooued against one who to giue him what F. Parsons giueth him no doubt great commendations is a man of those parts and merits that all English men doo know or at the least might imagine so long as he did not shew himselfe To the fourth I know not what was their chiefe message nor where they had any conuenient time or place to vtter it or any other being clapped vp close prisoners before they came to doo any thing and neuer after suffered to be together at libertie in Rome To the fift a reason is giuen before why it was no wisedome for them to say their fill either of the one or the other being in custodie of the one who was the more carefull of his charge in respect of the other Yet if F. Parsons be not ouer forgetfull he may call to mind that about a moneth after their arraignment vpon some occasion of speech betweene M. Ch. and him M. Ch. told him of some matters which F. Parsons pretended hee had not heard before and seemed to be astonished at them wherby at the least this may be gathered that F. Parsons very rashly affirmeth that they had said their fill at any time To the sixt to omit what meanes and threats the Iesuites and the Arch-priest did vse himselfe to be accepted for their superiour they could not expect to carry many Priests handes in testimonie of their minds who foresawe what would come of this authoritie procured by the Iesuites for their better oppressing of the Priestes least their staie should be threatned downe vppon his holinesse by such as would let slip no opportunitie to be a generall acceptance thereof The authoritie being sent into England as the Priests were enformed to be first liked before it should be confirmed vpon them In the 13. Paragraffe there is too much want shewed both of wit and memorie modestie and honestie Fa. Parsons would know first how it could be said vpon a litle part or faction as he termeth it that Catholiques are intollerably afflicted beeing persecuted at home cannot be heard abroad Secondly he asketh who are those Catholiques Thirdly he boldly demaundeth what audience is denied to them as who would say no audience was denied to them Fourthly he would insinuate that the Priests who hold with the Iesuits and Arch-priest are more persecuted and hated by the Councell of England then the other Priests Fiftly he excuseth the Pope for not giuing audience to the two Priests To the first it is answered first that a litle part of Catholiques may be called Catholiques secondly that all Catholiques are intollerably afflicted at home and cannot be heard abroad while they make sute as they are bound to doo for such things as are most necessarie for Christians liuing in persecution and are wanting in England and cannot be obteined as the Sacrament of confirmation of which F. Parsons could not be ignorant when he writ these Letters nor long before hauing viewed and reviewed the petitions of the Priests which those two carried with them to Rome Also the vnion of all Priests together which as it should seeme by that which hath followed Fa. Parsons courses was but slubbered ouer for a small time by him
charge him that euer he did any harme to any Iesuite but to the secular Priests he did very much which could not stand with any good liking vnto them and if herevpon a Parenthesis should be made as impertinently as F. Parsons maketh his that falling frō God and dislike of the secular Priests or rayling against them commonly go together the Iesuites and their adherents would think that they were greatly iniuried who for a shewe onely for the better effecting of that which they intend seeme to beare good will to such secular Priests as will be guided by them and by now and then shewing themselues friendly in some small matters to some practise more boldly against the same parties or other their fellowes In the 15. Paragraffe he confesseth his folly hee might haue descended to somewhat more in particular then folly for hee adioyneth a shamelesse vntruth that the two Priests went to Rome in defence of the former troubles that were there But it should seeme by F. Parsons in this and in the 13. Paragraffe that he would faine possesse people with this wrong information and for his question which here he asketh in what case our common cause of England had bene if the endeuours of the two Priests had taken place I may boldly make this answere that doubtlesse it could not haue bin in a worse case then now it is In the 16. Paragraffe I can say little more then aske these questions what if the Commissarie of the Inquisition did not tell any honourable man of Rome a great friend of F. Parsons any such thing as he here relateth and what harme could the common cause haue taken among wise men if the two Priests had bene let alone by his holinesse to deale with all the Cardinalls and great men of Rome being but a couple of Priests and more easily borne downe when it should haue bene euident that they had nothing to say as F. Parsons would haue all men beleeue Was the Commissarie of the Inquisition and all the Cardinalls and great men of Rome so sottish in F. Parsons conceit as they would haue embraced so slender a cause as he would shewe this to be In the 17. Paragraffe many things are touched first an haeretical propositiō is said to haue bin deposed against M. Blackwell which if it bee true how is it said in the 8. Paragraffe that the Pope foresaw that they did not expect any matter of substance against his gouernmēt Of what substance against a mans gouernmēt in an heretical country such a deposition is any Catholique will easily see ought to reflect the more vpon it if it were in matters directly cōcerning his gouernmēt And how in the 10. Paragraffe can F. Parsons say that they had made a cōtradictiō without any foundation at all which the Cardinalls should at first suspect and after finde it to be true and also be ashamed that the two Priests came so long a iourney with so litle to say as he affirmeth in the 12. Paragraffe Secondly F. Parsons affirmeth also that the two Priestes would haue discredited such English Priests as stood with the Arch-priest and were the principall of their coat but in what it is not said perchance it is meant in that these two and other in not accepting of an authoritie pretended to come from the Pope without the Popes Letters or other sufficient testimonie might argue the other of an ouer-great forwardnesse in that they did without more examining of the matter yeeld vnto it but how the Iesuites are drawne hereby in discredit I conceiue not vnlesse perchance this authority being procured by the Iesuites it might be thought a disgrace vnto thē that being aduersaries to the secular Priests they might not be trusted to choose a superiour for them who should bee an Arbiter betwixt them which constuction I am induced to make both vpon the manner of F. Parsons bringing in the Iesuites with those Priests whom hee saith the two that went to Rome tooke the way to discredit and also vpon that which followeth in this same 17. paragraffe For I do not thinke that F. Parsons will attribute that which followeth to any but to himselfe who if himselfe be of any credit made choise of the Arch-priest as one that would runne with the Iesuites which were at variance with the secular Priests Those other things which F. Parsons in this 17. paragraffe saith should haue bene proposed would not haue bene proposed without some ground For the first the Protector was knowne to be allied to the contrary part and said to be ruled altogether against those whose Protector he pretended to be For the second the Seminaries were in perpetual garboyles and as nurseries of strife and debate betweene the Iesuites the secular Priests For the third the Iesuites who were in England aspired daily to that which became them not Which first was attempted by them at Wisbitch most manifestly and afterward was gotten after a more secret manner while one in the likenesse of a secular Priest beareth the name of a gouernour ouer the rest and the Iesuites rule him and them also Concerning the 18. paragraffe that question of hauing two Arch-priests in England was neuer proposed nor any thing else at Rome for the two Priests were not suffered to speak together about any thing but Fa. Parsons examining by how many meanes peace might bee kept in England was answered amōg other that were named that this might be one not that one should be opposite against the other as F. Parsons would make the world belieue but that the strife in Englande beeing betweene the secular Priests and the Iesuites and the Arch-priest guided by the Iesuites it was fit that there should be a secular Priest who was not gouerned by the Iesuites in the like authoritie with the Archpriest and that such lawes might be made that neither part would be ouer-hastie to offend other at which disputation Fa. Parsons ouershot himselfe fowly First in arguing that it was neuer seene that there should bee in any one country two superiors the one of thē not subordinate to the other for himself had procured the same in England by this new gouernmēt as appeareth by that the Arch-priest is not or must not be said to be subordinate to the superiour of the Iesuites nor this to him but this instance at his request was not vrged Then vpon an other instance giuen him of the Bishops of Canterbury Yorke he went about to proue a subordination betweene these Arch-bishops out of a foolish hardinesse of the Bishop of Yorke to take the vpper place of the Bishop of Canterbury at a Cōuocation in the time of Henry the second and the good Fa. would not in a long time vnderstand that that strife prooued no more that there was or is a subordination betweene these Arch-bishops then the strife betweene the two Embassadors of France and Spaine for the higher place when they meete doth proue that one of
were not sent vnto prison but that was but for a colour for that you might haue done as well absent as present The Comissary being wholly yours set on lead and lodged by you in the Colledge we were locked vp apart in two litle close Chambers much more like the worst then the best in the house with poore schollers fare and in smoaky coloured gownes such as the seruants weare farre otherwise Father then you bragge of for the most part kept without fire being verie cold and for twentie daies not suffered to goe out not so much as to heare Masse vpon New-yeares day or the Epiphany Examined we were by one Signior Acarisius a trustie friend of yours Father Parsons an humble seruant of Cardinall Caietane our potent aduersary The examinations were what is your name how old where remained you in England how and which way came you ouer what money brought you ouer with you c. and much such like impertinent stuffe to fil vp the papers that when we came to the matter it selfe they might be briefe taking barely what we came about without the reasons perswasions of it yea obiecting against it peruerting it what they could And because Signior Acarisius seemed not sometimes sharpe enough Fa. Parsons himselfe would be an examiner also when I heard that Cardinall Caietane should be our Iudge I excepted against him as being one principal partie but I could not be heard I called also for a Proctor to assist vs with his counsel it was denied NO remedie for there was no bodie to be spoken withall but Fa. Parsons and whom hee appointed we had not so much libertie as one of vs to conferre with another all our instructions were taken from vs also and neither pen or paper or any booke allowed vs wherewith we might helpe our selues in that our common cause vntil the day of our hearing came which was a little before Shrouetide in an afternoone where the Cardinall Caietane and Burghesio being present our examinations were read each mans apart which spent most of the time after a long bill exhibited against vs with some Letters also in the end of it and so the time was spent vnprofitably little examining and waighing the substantiall points we came about we were after that kept two moneths close attending their LL. sentence which some ten daies after Easter was deliuered vnto vs to this effect especially that we should goe whither they sent vs and not returne into England without expresse license Propter controuersias quas cū sui ordinis hominibus exercuerunt for maintaining of controuersies with mee of their owne order This is I assure you on the word of a Priest the very truth of the storie Now touching the equitie of it let any prudent man neuer so little voide of passion iudge what iustice it was first to haue all our instructions proofes taken away frō vs after to seperate vs that we should not one help another then to keep frō vs all learned counsell lastly to make our professed aduersaries our Lawiers the relaters of our cause and finally our Iudges I would gladly see for the excuse of the matter but I should meruaile if any man were able to shew a president of such a forme of iustice or iudgement Indeed I must needs confesse that the Cardinall Burghesio alwaies seemed desirous to haue heard the matter better sifted and discussed but being punye and the other so exceedingly bent against vs hee could doo nothing for vs. Now concerning the generall point of our restraint I could neuer get them to tell me some reasonable cause why we Chatholique Priests that had so long laboured with the perill of our liues for the Catholique cause and then suing in humble and dutifull sort vnto the Court should be cast in prison before we were conuicted or lawfully accused of any crime I demaunded of the Confessor that sometimes visited me he could tell none although he lacked not skill in cases of conscience but referred me vnto the Comissarie I asked him hee would giue mee no other answere then that it was his holinesse pleasure you Father goe about to shewe the reason why his Holinesse would haue it so but with such a circuite and confusion that it is hard to picke out what you would say that it was because we opposed our selues and not tarrying to bring any matter of substance against his gouernment c. What matter we had against that gouernment hath bene before declared and the reason why we stayed no longer was that we might come to shewe our griefes before his holinesse had confirmed him For it is to be vnderstood that betweene the election of such a high Officer and confirmation there is a certaine pawse made to heare whether any thing will be obiected against the partie or concerning that point of office that in season conuenient remedie be prouided and the person elected if he do intermeddle in his charge before he bee confirmed is presently to be depriued of all that interest which was giuen him by the election which if our Arch-priest had looked into hee would not haue bene so hastie as to haue dealt in that charge before he had receiued his Letters of confirmation but you say at last that his holinesse cast vs in prison because wee subtracted our selues from the obedience of the Arch-priest and gaue other men occasion to do the like I denie now as I did vnto you then that I subtracted my selfe from his obedience either therefore set downe wherein by word or deed I with drew my selfe from his obedience or else let the world take you for an egregious calumniatur For I was with the Arch-priest before I went and tolde him of my iourney and gaue him the cause of it in writing vnder my hand taking also a copie of it vnder his hand and he neuer commaunded me not to goe neither in any other point did I transgresse any of his precepts What an irreligious and damnable slaunder then was that inuented of purpose to haue vs taken and shut vp before we were heard that they might haue the deliuerie of our message and be our Interpreters and Proctors and so make vs say what they listed and our matter to be such as they would haue it But say you Did you not come to Rome against him There was no disobedience in our going to Rome to sue vnto our superiour for it was conformable vnto the Canons and practise of the Catholique Church and was not nor could not haue bene forbidden by him See Nauer cap. 23. Num. 37. The subordination indeed did not like me for the causes aboue mentioned yet I carried my selfe so warily that I did nothing against it but sought orderly vnto my superiours in time and place to haue it amended which is very lawfull yea if he had bene an Arch-bishop and must needs haue bin graunted by lawe if we had had our Courts of lawe as in other Countries they haue if
any were scandalized at this our orderly repaire vnto our ordinarie superiours let the wise iudge whether it were Scandalum datum or acceptum I should now according to the order I proposed examine and confute sundrie false calumniations which you let fall by the way as that we deposed we had nothing else to say and that wee could not name a dozen Priests for vs and as your followers amplifying such flying tales reported wee had not halfe a dozen that gaue vs their suffrages when we had twentie nine in writing with vs some of them speaking also for others and yet neither sought for many nor staide about that matter but contenting our selues with some of the most auncientest most learned and of best reputation in our Countrey trusted to the waight of reason which we had on our side and to the equitie of the magistrates before whom we went to present our selues Againe how ridiculous was it to expect of them that are to be so narrowly searched when they passe out of the Countrey that they bring their testimonies with them in great sheetes of paper as though the vertue of witnesses lay in the bignesse of the paper and that we should haue brought some Princes Letters patents with a broad Seale at them whereas the magistrates are our enemies These and many such like I will leape ouer that I may at length come to an end and if my Letter seeme long let the blame be imputed vnto yours which in answere to halfe a dozen lines grew into two sheetes of paper and a halfe if it be thought too sharp let it be well waighed whether men first hardly vsed in fact and afterwards by wordes and Letters much damnified in their credits haue not iust cause to write roundly and if you like not to be so freely reprehended be not so lauish of your penne for vnlesse my foresight faile me you are like hereafter to be no more spared of many then you spare others Wherefore to drawe vnto a conclusion apply to your selfe some part of the good counsell you gaue me in the latter end of yours haue patience with whatsoeuer falleth out and perswade your selfe that he which offendeth many is sure to be offended by many wherefore holding your selfe within the bounds of your religion meddle with other mens matters as litle as you may and if for the common good of our countrey you please to be doing take rather the way of mildenesse which winneth mens hearts then of rigour which lightly offendeth all Follow the noble prudent and admirable steps of that rare ornament of our countrey and singular light of the Catholique Church Cardinall Allen who carried himselfe so courteously towards all men so charitably and withall so wisely that he was able to haue done with vs Priests what he would most easily and did hold the Laie Gentlemen in such a reuerend and louing awe that albeit some of them were verie prone to contentions quarels yet his authoritie and counsaile so brideled and raigned all exorbitant humors that in his time to his perpetuall praise no great flames of dissention burst out especially amongst vs Priests when you taking the contrary course of seuerity haue made an open breach amongst vs alreadie and God knoweth what may fall out heereafter if you looke not vnto it in time which because you are wise I hope you wil do and so shall you purchase vnto your selfe much more good will and quietnesse in this life and better assurance if I be not farre deceiued of euerlasting repose ioy in the life to come the which with all my heart I wish you and so humbly commending my selfe vnto you I take my leaue the 10. of Aprill Anno. 1600. Yours in his praiers William Bishop A LETTER OF Mr. MV TO Father Parsons WEll well Fa. Parsons I pray God send you a more sincere and quiet spirit I finde that true daily more and more which oftē I haue heard good Cardinal Allein Father Holt and others of your owne coate report of you that you were a man of too violent and hard a nature It were high time that you should permit your selfe vs to carrie our gray haires in peace to our graues The trouble and scandall you haue wrought in our Church these late yeares by your polliticke courses doo quite cancell all your former desert Was our peace and vnion made at the comming of his holines Breue and the most iniurious calumnie of schisme and enormious disobedience to the See Apostolicke raised and cōtinued most presumptuously against vs our ghostly children by your societie here to the greeuous scandall of our whole Nation was it I saie put vp by vs and for loue of peace and vnion forgiuen that presently after we had receiued the authoritie and submitted our selues to it you and yours might more safely and liberally renew the infamie against vs and by the Arch-priestes authoritie assured to you in whatsoeuer you listed to attempt against any at your pleasures persecute and oppresse vs You haue in the highest degree dishonored iniured Peters Chaire whiles by your cunning you so enormiouslie abused our bretheren as good doubtlesse as your selfe appealing and comming in all humble dutiful manner to the Apostolicke See defaming them and auerting his Ho. minde from them as from vile and badde persons by your vntrue reports before they came and procuring a most impious and horrible thing to be recounted for perpetuall yet hateful memorie of your fact them to be imprisoned as notorious malefactors before they had bene heard stopping vp all meanes of accesse to his holines and your selfe playing their Iaylour a fit office doubtlesse for so well disposed a religious person and finally procuring their hard banishment to no lesse dishonour to the See Apostolicke abused by your information then to your owne perpetuall ignominie And whiles you haue done all this by abuse of the supreame authoritie through your vnconscionable and vntrue informations you giue all our Nation here cause enough neuer to admire or hereafter to exclaime against the iniquitie of aduersaries who may truly iustifie themselues in their hard proceedings against vs by these vnconscionable courses of yours A lamentable case that now by the polliticke shifts of one person of religious profession orderly appealing to S. Peters Chaire must be thought a trespasse and punished as a greeuous crime Our statute of Premunire may well be repealed now Father Parsons a Iesuite hath laid a plot sufficient enough to hinder appellation or accesse to the See of Rome Is it possible this iniquitie of yours should be kept secret from the world Is it possible his holinesse and the gratious Cardinalls you haue so notably abused should neuer be brought to knowe the innocencie of vs whom you haue thus wronged and persecuted in our bretheren and neuer can cease to afflict Will they neuer thinke you finde out your deceit and by iust discussion of our cause relieue our miseries and repay you