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
crimes wherof both my selfe and diuers others of our brethren are accused I rereferre the matter to your iudgement to discerne whether we be guiltie of them or no. If you doubt of the truth of my relation I desire none other triall then the testimonie of mine accusers who if they denie any one word that I haue vttered by way of narration I can easily procure such proofe thereof as they shall not denie vnlesse they will denie themselues If my deductions arguments or suppositions vsed in yeelding reason for our not admitting M. Blackwells authoritie vpon the onely receit of Cardinall Caietaines Letters and that for so doing we incurred no note either of schisme or disobedience to his holinesse if they I say need any proofe I will vndertake to make them most euident Wherefore according to these grounds I humbly beseech you to passe your opinion and yeeld your iudgement of our cause And if the grounds prooue true your iudgement conformable therevnto may remaine firme but if they prooue otherwise your iudgement notwithstanding shall not be faultie for he that iudgeth according to his euidence is not culpable of any errour This good Sir I request because I desire to know your opinion of our cause which if you giue according to these grounds I shal easily vnderstand whether you wil condemne or cleare mee my brethren of the crimes obiected for I am sure I haue not erred in declaring the state of the matter If this which I haue said be not sufficient for your full satisfaction I hope it wil suffice at least to suspend your iudgement of vs vntill further triall be had of our cause which being had in any indifferent manner and if we being conuicted do not acknowledge our fault and make competent satisfaction then do not spare to account of vs as Heathens Publicans But our aduersaries purpose not to put the matter to any indifferent tryall or to ende it by any equall meanes but to decide it by strong hand might and violence by perpetuall oppressing vs with infamous slaunders of schisme faction and the like thereby to depriue if it can be our brethren abroad of all conuenient entertainment and to debarre vs in prison of necessary reliefe to the ende that necessitie may compell vs to yeeld to their desires the inequalitie of which proceedings I beseech you with indifferēcy to cōsider Sometime it is seen that a partie wilfully bent to contend is iustly compelled to admit an equall compremise and to stand to the arbitrement of an indifferent Iudge but it was neuer seene where iustice and conscience ruled and muche lesse amongst such as ought to be the rule of other mens consciences that the partie willing to stand to anie indifferent tryall should bee compelled by violence to agree vnto the desire of his aduersary how iust or vniust soeuer it be and that without any further sentence but onely because his aduersary must haue his will Good Sir we are heere in this place diuers in great want in so much that besides our debts to the keeper we haue not to defend vs from the iniury of the winter weather whereof that you may haue some special taste I doo you to vnderstand that since Trinitie Terme wee haue receiued no more from London from whence the chiefest part of our reliefe commeth then will suffice for three weekes charges with him that can husband his matters best And this shal be sufficient to insinuate vnto you our wants hoping that as opportunitie serueth you will concurre to the relieuing thereof confidently hoping withal that God for whose cause we suffer not onely of the cōmon aduersary but also of those who ought to be our friends wil giue vs patiēce whatsoeuer crosses befal vs to beare them to the end For mine owne part they may by their violent proceedings make me yeeld my breath and life which by Gods grace I shall if need require willingly sacrifice for the defence of iustice equitie and mine owne innocencie but my consent to these vniust dealings by Gods assistance they shall neuer extort out of me If any one to whom you shall thinke good to impart this as I am not against the imparting it to any so that you keepe the originall your selfe shall vndertake to improue me of any vntruth I will either satisfie his obiections euen to your own iudgement or else I will acknowledge mine errour Take this good Sir for a taste of our internall and domesticall troubles wherewith I imagine you are not much acquainted and therefore are you worse affected to our cause and as you shall giue me hereafter occasion you shall vnderstand more for this is but a small thing in respect of that which this matter affordeth But I feare I haue bene too tedious in this so disgustfull a discourse but let I pray you the hard tearmes my good name is brought into plead my pardon for my tediousnesse and the equitie of my Plea procure me your fauour and so in all humble sort I take my leaue Yours euer in all true Christian affection Anthony Champney SIr if you do not consider diligently the haynous Post scriptū enormitie of schisme imposed vpon me you will peraduenture condemne me of too much precisenesse if not of contention for labouring to defend my selfe from the note thereof and will thinke that I ought rather to suffer some small infamie then by opposing my selfe so earnestly to repell the same to procure a further breach between mine accusers and my selfe to both our harmes and to the offence of others But if you consider first to admit the infamy of this slaunder though it were of it selfe but small were in some sort to giue occasion to mine accusers to heape vpon my head greater wrongs hereafter for he that will offer wrong in one thing will do the like in an other if occasion serue you shall finde it to be neither wisedome nor pietie to giue place to such beginnings Secondly the condition of mine estate requiring a most entire fame I should both wrong my selfe and slaunder my function if I should admit any blemish or blotte therein which I may by mine owne endeuour wipe away and therefore to purchase peace at such a price I hold it not lawfull for Non est faciendum malum vt eremat bonum Euill is not to be done that good may ensue And as S. Augustine saith Qui famam suam negligit crudelis est Hee that neglecteth his good name is cruell But if thirdly you cōsider the intrinsical enormitie of this crime you will easily excuse mine endeuour in clearing my self therof from all note of contention For amongst all other sinnes against our neighbour schisme is the greatest and the pennalties which the Church hath alwaies inflicted on such as haue bene guiltie therof proue the same to weet excommunication and seperation from all vse of Sacraments as appeareth by diuers auncient Canons also in Bulla caenae which being graunted
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
9. paragraffe or the Cardinall Burghese promised them all the furtherance hee could giue them in their matters as I am credibly informed he did Thirdly it is not likely that the two Cardinalls not knowing what was to be saide would vpon a bare suspition charge them with an enterprise of contradictiō without any foundation at all vnlesse F. Parsons will say that they had such a foresight as hee attributeth to the Pope in the 8. paragraffe or that hee had plotted such a Common-wealth as wherein could be no errour or the least cause of exception either against the authoritie or Officers for how else before men were heard could there be such a iudgement in such as were esteemed wise men and thought fit to be pillers of Gods Church What foundatiō there was for them to build vpon I will leaue to a more Clearklike discourse for a fewe complements sake briefly note some points of many which I haue seene to shewe how lightly F. Parsons laieth his foundation vpon he knew not what for the iustifying of himselfe in that action and what was done by his meanes The first for a foundation is noted that the Cardinall did shewe in the selfe-same Letters wherein he made M. Black an Arch-priest and gaue him his authoritie that the motiue hereof was a most false wicked and ignominious suggestion made to the Pope against the Seminary Priests and the Catholiques and therefore the thing therevpon graunted meerly voide Secondly the Cardinall affirmeth onely in the same Letters that he had commaundement from his holinesse to vnite together these Priests and Catholiques which were at that false suggested variance and therefore when that vnion was made he had discharged his office and by this Commission had no more to do if then this vnitie wil be sufficiently proued to haue bene betweene the Priests and the Catholiques before this authoritie was giuen in England this authoritie was voide Thirdly the Cardinall being no Bishop at all much lesse ouer all England and Scotland where was a Catholique Arch-bishop nor shewing any authoritie by which he could make an Arch-priest ouer all the English Priests residing in England and Scotland had litle reason to looke that the appointment of this authoritie by him should be taken without mouing any question Fourthly it was so straunge a thing that one Priest should haue so ample an authoritie ouer all the rest of his fellow Priests as they might iustly aske how it came to passe and shew what inconuenience they knew was likely to ensue thereon Fiftly the Cardinall being deligated to make this peace was not to vse al means that he could or shuld seeme conuenient vnto him or best for his purpose but onely such as without which such a peace could not be wrought as the chiefest and perchance all writers vpon this matter doo generally affirme and so interpret that which is said of a delegatiue authoritie that it is stricti Iuris Sixtly it is euident that those who were said to haue dealt with his holinesse about this matter were not of the secular Priests in England but Iesuites either professed or vowed or at least such as had giuen their names to be Iesuites for in this action F. Parsons was the principall and M. F. Iones stand the instrument who being in a secular Priests habit deluded the Pope and pleaded as sent by the Priests in England or with their consent of which afterward being chalenged for his audacious attempt he confessed before many Priests he did but presume Seuenthly the authoritie was meerly an afflictiue authoritie to punish the Priestes without any power to repaire the harme it might do to them and to punish them extreamely as by taking away their faculties and suspending them from the Altar by which offices they liue and not by any benifices which remaine to Priests in other Countries after such proceedings and in the hardest dealing they haue somewhat allowed them for their maintenance and now least that some being thus debarred from vse of their function should in respect of their preaching receiue some charitie from Catholiques they are forbidden by the Arch-priest to preach The suggestions being made as appeareth by the Cardinalls Letters that a strife was betweene priests and Catholiques this authoritie ouer the one part onely seemed a very friuolous thing for in the Cardinalls Letter there is no authoritie giuen but ouer the Priests Ninthly the Arch-priest by this authoritie giuen vnto him might vnder a colour of hauing more good done else-where remoue any Priest out of any house soeuer and thereby endanger both the Priests by driuing thē to such new acquaintance as should be readie vpon euery surmise of trouble turne them going to goe seeke aduentures and also the Catholiques by thrusting vpon them as often as he list such as he had desire to preferre or to compell them to keepe no Priests in their houses Whereas the Arch-priest was appointed by the Cardinalls Letter to choose his assistants among the auncientest of those who had their abiding neare vnto him where at that time he was to aduise with them in his proceedings he contrary to this made his choise of such as might serue him in place rather of Promooters or Informers what was done in farre parts then in place of Councellors were sildome or neuer made priuie to his actions In the choosing also of these his Councellors to assist him in this his gouernment I am not heere to touch his partiallitie further then this as he said himselfe the dislike in any man of any matter in the Iesuites was a sufficient let for him to be a Councellor or an assistant The controuersies which were in England being betweene the Iesuites and the Priests the Archpriest in his instructions annected to his commission was willed to aduise with the superiour of the Iesuites and to followe his counsell in this his gouernment of the Priests The Arch-priest had no authoritie at all ouer the Iesuites betwixt whom and the Priests were all the controuersies which were in England and therefore his authoritie was no fit meane to make a peace in England where really there was need When the Arch-priest proposed or made knowne to the Priests what authoritie was giuen vnto him he vsed so litle truth therein as should an other propose the faith of Christ in that sort and should bee hanged for his labour he would prooue but a foolish Martyr and howsoeuer the matter is now slubbered ouer it was at that time so manifest as there was no shift for it but open confession to M. Col. and M. Ch. Either the Arch-priest himself did knowe what his authoritie was or he did not If he did not what should the Priests doo in that case If hee did the Priests had the greater reason to suspect euil dealing by his affirming at the first that he had such and such authoritie and not long after denied it and small God wot is the satisfaction which is giuen for this that
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
had made an attonement with their aduersaries and forgiuen all those slaunders and detractious proceedings which were practised against them and neither of themselues or stirred vp by M. Bish and M. Ch. haue they reuiued all that which F. Parsons heere confesseth to haue bene dead forgotten or ended Did not rather F. Rob. Ion. a Iesuite no great fauourer or bemoaner of M. Bish and M. Ch. their case broach this diuision again and renew the soare which was if not cleane healed yet forgotten and the offendors forgiuen by publishing that the Priests who did forbeare to admit M. Black for their superiour vntill they sawe the Breue in his confirmation were Schismatikes and that all those who should not hold the same were vnder the censures of the Church Did not M. Black soone after both approue the same paradox of F. Ion. the Iesuite and furthermore publish a resolutiō sent as he said from Rome eyther by Father Wasord or F. Titch both Iesuites which avowed the same with many Edicts and prohibitions vnder paine of incurring the censures that the Priests should not defend them selues from this most absurd iniurious calumniatiō Was it so necessary that there should be tumults in England which must be said still no doubt to be betweene the secular Priests and the Catholiques that the Iesuites must stil giue the onset although for to auoyd blame in the opinion of such as will blinde themselues their enterprises haue bene so prosecuted by couert Iesuites who were not knowne but as secular Priests by the Arch-priest as they are generally taken for quarrels among the secular Priests Can F. Parsons say and not thinke to be laughed at that these stirres are reviued by default of M. Bish and M. Ch. their not prudent bearing themselues or that the Iesuites and the Arch-priest were stirred vp by them as men who would seeme to fauour or bemone their cause But had peace long continued in England which was feared that it would had it bin in their power who were so maruellously iniured some iudged that they should misse somewhat at which they aimed and therefore they set all things worse then they were before We hope we shal now shortly at the least see to what end they did it Concerning the 23. paragraffe I cannot say what either straungers or others did iudge of the two Priests cause they themselues must answere how they found such as with whom they talked yet if it be true which F. Parsons relateth in the 16. Paragraffe it is very likely that they tolde some tale which caried some weight with it or else both the Commissarie of the Inquisition had litle reason to vse such words as F. Parsons there saith he did and F. Parsons lesse cause to feare least their dealing with all the Cardinalls and great men in Rome would to vse his owne tearme bring the common cause in a pretie plight He vaunteth here but falsely and iniuriously against the principall of our Nation eyther in Flaunders or England who should complaine of the ouermuch lenitie vsed in ending of the cause that none but vpō passion or misinformation did bemone thē The iudgement of the two Cardinals Caietan Burghese I saw in their letters of the 21. of April 1599. to the Rector or vicerector of the english Colledge and that was that it was not expedient that the two Priestes should by and by returne vnto those parts where they had maintained controuersies with other of their order Wherefore they commaunded the two Priests that for a time they should not presume to goe without license into the Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland I haue bene credibly enformed that neither of them were euer in Scotland or Ireland and therefore could not maintaine any controuersies there in parsonall presence but if they did maintaine any it was by Letters which they might doo notwithstanding this prouiso from other parts also neither can I learne that euer they mainteined any such in England but if they had in my simple iudgement it was no good reason why therefore they should be debarred Scotland and Ireland and although this were the iudgement which was specified by the aforesaid Letters yet there was an other iudgement also that they should not be both in one Regiō as it should seeme for although in the Cardinall Burghese his Letters of the 15. of September 1600. to M. C. it is insinuated that they might choose their place of banishment and confinement which is a confession that because they had controuersies in some one place not certainely set downe where if wee looke into the aforesaid mentioned Letters of the 21. of Aprill 1599. or because by their returne into England some controuersies might haue growne there as appeareth by Cardinall Burghese his Letters of the 15. of September 1600. they must be banished out of all places in the world but one where they must liue in relegation God knoweth how long for neither is there any certaine time set downe for this yet in the answere vnto it written by M. C. the 4. of Noumber following I read that he was not suffered to be in Fraunce as he had made his choise and if this was not cause sufficient for honest men truly enformed of the ending of their cause to bemoane them sincerely and from the heart yet with this circumstance at the least it might be that no prouision being made for them to sustaine life they were banished out of all such places where they might haue meanes to liue vpon a supposed cause neuer proued against them or a bare suspition of what might heereafter bee vnlesse to goe to Rome to preuent great controuersies be said to be to maintaine cotrouersies or to giue a suspition that they would make controuersies when as that thing by which probably they might assure themselues that controuersies would growe came from Rome and was no where to be remedied but at Rome And it will appeare by those authenticall Registers in Rome if any be kept that they sought with all submission to his holinesse to knowe his will in a cause not made knowne by any Letters before from him or by any sufficient testimony otherwise that it was his order In the 24. Paragraffe F. Parsons would seeme to giue good counsell although in all that goeth before he sheweth how litle he careth to follow any but rather aduentureth to say or doo what commeth into his minde and seeketh afterward to perswade such as against whom he worketh to haue patience and say nothing but be peaceable not to finde fault or blame any his proceedings least that tumults arise thereon as who did resolue rather to goe through with whatsoeuer he attempteth then to recall or reclaime himself at any time when he hath done amisse for proofe whereof he caused this Letter as it appeareth in the 6. Paragraffe to be cōmunicated to others beside those to whom it was writtē who shuld also publish it further without any
nothing sutable with the grauitie and waight of the matter which required much more mature deliberation Moreouer when by word of mouth he broached the same his authoritie vnto certaine Priests he to amend the matter withall added thervnto somewhat of his owne and being forthwith taken tardie hee did presently cōfesse that he indeed put therto somewhat as honest Priests on their oathes will testifie This gaue a great presumption that the matter was contriued by their friends and that they might adde or diminish at their pleasure Which is more probable if we call to mind and marke what instructions he gaue forth at the first as receiued from the Cardinall Among others were these that Priests should not meet secretly together that they should not send any priuie messages ouer the seas that they should take in good part whatsoeuer was either written or spoken against them and such like which are not in the rowle of his instructions sent him from the Cardinall as euerie bodie may see and I can by producing a true copie of them when need shall be euidently demonstrate and besides are so voide of reason so odious and intollerable in our Country especially at this time when Priests cannot meete together or do any thing but in secret that a babe might plainly feele them neuer to haue proceeded from his holinesse or from anie noble free or compassionate heart but to sauour of I know not what base minde too too much addicted to terror crueltie and seruitude I will that I be not ouerlong omit diuers other pregnant forcible reasons which we had of sending vnto Rome this onely I may not leaue behinde which of it selfe were a sufficient cause to sue and speak for redresse in season vz. that in the whole drift of this subordination extreame partialitie was apparantly shewed which as the world knoweth was no good meanes to appease all parties to ende their debates the onely cause pretended of this lately erected authoritie namely to accord the Priests and Iesuites as the Letters Pattents specifie Now that controuersies be wel decided and all honest parties agreed it was meete perdie to choose vpright and indifferent Iudges and Arbiters who should without fauour feare loue or hatred waigh euerie mans cause vprightly in the ballance of equitie and without respect of persons giue sentence according to iustice This is a principall in iudgement so cleare by the light of nature that it is graunted of verie Pagans yet in our cause very badly obserued for both the Arch-priest and his counsellours vnto whom the determination of our causes are to be referred were all chosen by the one partie with a speciall prouiso that no one be admitted vnto that number who did not greatly fauour the same partie howe contrary soeuer they were vnto the other partie it imported not yea perhaps the more earnestly bent against them the rather elected Had not trow you the other poore partie iust cause to refuse such Vmpeeres and Iudges that were so alienated from them and such fauourites of the aduerse partie and to preuent the vniust sentences that were like to follow of this partialitie to flie in time for refuge vnto their lawfull superiour And if in all pettie iudgements euery priuate man is allowed by lawe an exception against a partiall Iudge how much more is the same to be graunted vnto many auncient graue worthie men in a generall cause of a Country Two proper points of pollicy I obserue in this election the one in choosing the Officers so plyant to their pleasures that they may be the more readie to runne byaz when it will serue their turnes And yet because men are mutable to hold them in awe their authorities might be taken from them what time soeuer the Cardinall thought good as in the points it is to be seene but let this goe because I touched it before the other peece of pollicy yet more fine is that the Arch-priest himselfe who is appointed to giue iustice vnto both parties hath power only ouer the one partie none at all ouer the other so that the one he may by censures seuere punishment constraine to stand to his definitiue sentence but the other needs not to care for him any further then that he may vse him to plague his aduersarie Vt sibi caueat loco These hardy champions hold it not sufficient to haue the fauour of the Court for them but for feare of after claps wil haue also their persons exempted from the principal magistrate and reserue themselues onely to their owne Fathers iudgement which must be sought for also farre inough off from Rome and that in forme of supplication if I mistake not much the Arch-priests instructions Here seemeth to be the place to answere to that sentence of yours Father where you tel vs in good sadnesse that many yeares you demaunded with your friends for this subordination I beleeue you surely considering that neither you would haue yours comprehended in it and yet you would haue the appointing of all the Officers and ordering almost of all matters belonging to it But say you it was thereby to deliuer the Societie from that calumniation vsed to be laid against them that they would gouerne the Priests against theirs wills and you had some reason so to say if you had suffered the Priests to haue chosen their gouernours according to their owne wills desires but you putting in and choosing such commaunders as at your becke should be readie to doo whatsoeuer you will doo manifestly prooue that saying to be no calumniation but a plaine demonstration of your incroaching vpon the gouernments of priests much further then your profession or vocation doth require For by the ordinarie course of the Church religious men are to be gouerned by some of the lay Cleargie and not the Cleargie by them Well to drawe towards the end of my former part this subordination being both straunge in the Church of God hatefull of itself and not to be exercised in our countrey in these times it being also procured as it seemeth by false suggestion authorized by him that was not knowne to haue any such authoritie and finally by partiall election of the gouernours tending vnto the oppression of many notable personages who had excellently well deserued of our countrey by their long and fruitfull trauells yet remaineth euident and most manifest that wee had sundry iust lawfull and great causes in humble sort to sue vnto our superiours for a mitigation or alteration of it and for establishing of some better and more fit for our countrey Whereof appeareth first how vaine that vaunt of yours is where you say that we came and brought nothing with vs and that you were ashamed to see that wee had taken so long a iourney and had so litle to say when besides the causes before mentioned we had many other points also of importance in our message As to desire and sue for Bishops or at least that the
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