your fellowship in faithful subiection But lingua quo vadis CHAP. XII The second kind of Recriminations against protestants is in the second wickednes of Aequiuocation YOu returne the guilt of this cursed doctrine vpon Protestants after two fashions Reasoning Railing 1. Reasoning if it may be called Reason which is mixed with most slanderous vntruths but you wold be heard speake with good will The moderate Answerer But to speake vnto this Obiector concerning Protestants proceedings in aquiuocating Luther vsed it at his pleasure now appealing to the Pope and after renouncing his authoritie Cranmer did often recant his errors by othes and again ofteÌ„ defend them counter fetted the hands of fiftie Conuocation men Fox himselfe being iudge to giue alying credit to his false cause but excused his false oaths by equiuocation Protestants of England in the dayes of K. Henrie the eight King Edward the sixt and Queene Elizabeth did equiuocate Such was the proceeding of P. Martyr and Bucer two great Professors of Diuinitie in Oxford and Cambridge Such was the Protestant adherents the Dukes of Northumberland and Suffalke and now the ordinary vse of Puritanes The Reply Luther Cranmer and others as they were perswaded that the Bishop of Rome was a faithfull Bishop did sweare obedience vnto him but afterwards being better illuminated did renounce him as Antichristian But if all recantation shall be thus censured then might you teach S. Augustine to retract his retractations But we wil not denie their infirmities for it hath pleased God to note the like in his chosen Saints in holy writ to the amplifying of the glory of his grace in their repentance and his pardon Yet was not there in these acts any equiuocation no more then in the acts of Peter who at the cock-crow went out of the high Priests hall and wept bitterly Thus Cranmerawaked by the call of the spirit of God executed vengeance vpon that hand which subscribed vnto your idolatrous seruice Burned it in the fire Then whatsoeuer his dissimulatioÌ„ was he thought it worthy of repentance not as you do think your equiuocation worthy of defence whereas in the truth of Christianitie there is the same punishment due to your equiuocating tongues which he executed vpon his dissembling hand O but Fox is witnesse that he defended himselfe by saying he did equiuocate I am sure you would not haue bene indebted vnto vs for the words if they had bene extant I found the place of M. Fox but no mention of equiuocation A monster not hatched in those times That which was obiected by Doctor Weston is there satisfied by M. Cranmer but you are more rigorous then auncient Aduersaries Yet further would I demand why Protestants turning from Papacie in the daies of King Edward must be condemned for such as haue equiuocated and Papists reuolting from Protestants in the raigne of Queene Mary must be thought to haue bene innocents The moderate Answerer Aequiuocating was practised by Caluine as the Lord of Canterbury and Beza and others record The Reply I reported this your accusation to my Lord of Canterbury and his Grace answered that you had wronged his testimony for I am sure said his Grace that this mystery in those times was not set abroach We also examined the book you alledge and find not one syllable for your purpose But what can we expect from you Patrons of lying equiuocation but in your accusations against Protestants equiuocating lies The most moderate Answerer in his railing Luther was so vile in this kind of equiuocating that neuer pillory mate behaued himselfe so as he did Cogging lying equiuocating dissembling was practised by Caluine who was banished for a dissembling seducer Cranmer periured himselfe and excused it by equiuocation The Reply In these your lying slanders you giue vs good hope that you will leaue your equiuocating lies because as though you detested the impietie thereof you vilifie it with these termes vile equiuocating adiudging it worthy the pillory matching it with cogging lying seducing periury This is yet very wel But we find that true which the Orator saith Natura suilena Euery man naturally is a band vnto himselfe Now you examining your Glycerie equiuocation in your aduersaries Luther Cranmer Caluine O then it is vile cogging lying seducing c. But beholding her in your owne embracements so In equiuocating there is nolie nor sinne Adulterous Iudah iudging of Thamar whom he had vnknowingly knowne hearing that she was brought in for an adulteresse gaue presently sentence Let her be burned but when by certaine euidences and pledges she made it knowne vnto him that if she were the woman he was the maÌ„ then he confesseth She is more righteous then I. There was some modestie in this but what moderation do you vse to adiudge equiuocation which you fasâ—ly faine to be in Protestants to the pillory and for your selues in whom the Leprosie raigneth to vse an Apologie Thus haue I iustified the innocent whose names your equiuocating spirit hath wickedly traduced for whom this might haue bin a sufficient answer that because you bring onely accusations without proofe If it be sufficient to haue accused who can be innocent For our Lord Iesus euen innocency it self was accused who of his grace turne you to repentance that these your slaunders be not layd vnto your charge THE THIRD PART Which is a Confutation of the principles of Romish doctrine in two points 1. The supreme head of Rebellion 2. The impious conceit of Aequiuocation Concerning the first this shall be our Conclusion The Pope hath no authoritie from God to depose Kings or dispose of their Kingdomes CHAP. I. Romish Obiections answered THIS pretended predominance of the Pope in temporall causes whether Directly or indirectly considered in the which diuision of gouerning the Romish schoole is at this day extremely diuided if it be from God it will sure plead Scriptum est and be warranted by Gods word either in the Olde or New Testament This point is discussed by the state of Gods church in the Olde Testament Obiect 1. In the generall view The Romish Pretence The high Priests in the Olde Testament were supreme in ciuill causes Ergo Ought to be in the New The Answer This is so contrary to the Story in holy writ that by the examples of Kings in ordering though neuer in ordeining of Priests the Iesuits are inforced to allow that the King was supreme ouer the Priest Their reasons Because sayth one in the Synagogne of the Iewes was a state rather earthly than heauenly so that in that people which was as in the body of a man consisting of body and soule the carnall part was more eminent Meaning the temporall to haue beene supreme Or as another sayth more conceitedly The Temporall state exceeded the Spirituall in the olde Law as much as the Substantiue is more excellent than the Adiectiue In both these we dislike their comparison and accept
mischiefe because of the euent Quia talem meruerit habere Saluatorem because it begat so gracious a Sauiour you likewise may call this vnhappie Stratageme because therby your mischiefe was preuented malice discouered then you are no better then a painted sepulcher outwardly presenting vs with hieroglyphicall showes of fellowship and inwardly full through your hatefull wishes of dead mens bones Yet I thinke you may presume that not any Priest will be found innocent in so vile an act meaning till he be found but many are found and conuicted God who hunteth out the vniust person maruellously by the diuersitie or rather contrarietie of their languages confounding them as in the dissolution of Babell each one of them impeaching another A iust presumption that scarce any Priest is innocent The moderate Answerer And it is certaine it serueth not to his purpose to proue all Priests to intend such things For first the chiefest Priest the Pope had absolutely forbidden all disobedience to his Maiestie by these words Quia Papa iubet the obedience and prohibet the disobedience which the chiefe Superior of Priests in England in spiritual things as the Arch-priest had receiued and promulged the same commaund long since in August last And vpon this first notice of this pretended wickednesse condemned it by his particular letters for an intollerable and desperate fact against the order of holy Church against the prescript of generall Councell against the commaundement of the Pope Then if the Priests of England will acknowledge the Archpriest for their Superior at home or the Pope at Rome as all both regular and other must do neither all the Priests of this nation nor any one except disobedient to his Superior was guiltie of this Conspiracie The Reply And yet behold your Superior a Iesuiticall Priest is found guiltie of this Conspiracie but the frame of your Argument doth infold in it a Sorites thus The inferior Priests are subiect to their Superior the Anchpriest this Archpriest is subiect to the what is there a Chiefe aboue Arch chiefe Priest the Pope But the Pope hath commaunded dutifull subiection to the Arch-priest to commaund subiection to the inferior Priests Ergo all inferior Priests except they will be disobedient to their Superior will be faithfull Subiects Wherein first I do obserue that in this gradation of your obedience to Kings the highest staire is the Pope But the true Disciples of Saint Peter did soare higher Propter Dominum to God and his word And in the descent the last degree you make is a Priest as though you would suffer Laymen in a blind zeale with an intent to aduantage the Catholike cause to practise any vile act and you stand to giue ayme that in the successe you may cry Well shot but when they misse the Actors may perish and you cry out O an vnhappie fact Otherwise by this series causarum it must as probably follow that the Pope and Archpriest and other inferior Priests are guiltie of this vile practise viz. Euery Romish Catholike doth acknowledge a spirituall subiection to their Priests euery Priest to his Superior the Superior to his Generall the Pope But many of the most deuâ—ute Romish haue bin found guiltie of this gracelesse attempt Ergo the Priests ergo the Superior ergo the Pope Or else the Pope failed to giue his prohâ—bet and restraint of disobedience to the Archpâ—iest or the Archpriest neglected to giue commaund to the inferior Priests or your other Priests foreslowed to forewarne the Laymen or which is the truth you are but spirituall Polititians bearing the world in hand that none of your mischiefes can be proued by vs till by the vpshot they be proued vpon vs. And then those Priests and traitors whom you now call vnhappie Watson and Clearke will be of better esteeme Thus hath your modestie made good gradation for the break-necke of your cause CHAP. XXII The Discouerie in the seuenth Reason SEeing It is in a maner all one to commit a villanie and to commend it we may argue that whosoeuer shall iustifie acts of treasons and parricides are not vnguiltie of the same crimes but all Priests do iustifie such hainous paricides Ergo. The Minor proued by their Positions practicall The famous Cardinall and publike Reader in Rome saith Many Popes haue iustly deposed many Princes Our Countâ—iman Card. Alane Reinolds Parsons inciting subiects to armes against their Prince do perswade by examples merely rebellious as resisting of K. Iohn of Edward the second of Richard the second of Henry the sixt as presidents to be followed The Author of the booke of Deposing Henry King of Fraunce doth sing a Gaudeamus for his death And againe Allane approueth the perfidious rendring vp Douentore and encourageth the English Mal-contents to ioyne their forces with the Spanish inuasion So the Colledge of the Iesuites at Salamane approued the insurrection of Tyrone And do not the most of that sort canonize in their conceits all such Popish ones as haue bene executed for treasons The moderate Answerer I grant the Maior and denie his Minor That all Popish Priests c. And haue proued that all such assertions are most false and slanderous The Reply And I haue proued from your owne Authors that they are the doctrines which you granting the Maior must confesse to be truly rebellious and now further confirme it by many examples Answer them in order and because in the most you haue bene extrauagant be intreated in this seuenth Reason to be regular The very moderate Answerer He will maintaine his sentence because Bellarmine saith Many Popes haue worthily depriued many Princes of their regall authoritie The examples be in Leo 3. Fred. 1. in Otho 5. and Childericke King of France to the which I haue answered before and sincere dealing would haue alledged the true causes which knowne proue a flat disparitie in the matter The Replie Whatsoeuer cause there was to wish any wicked Emperor to be deposed yet was there neuer cause to authorize the Pope to depose him which is plentifully proued But Popes you will say did formerly depose Emperors as though from a case de facto that is of an act of deposing you would conclude a case ex iure that is inferre a right to depose This would be a welcome plea to malefactors of all kinds and in this kind not a little preiudice your Popes because Bellarmine being vrged with examples of many Emperors who did iudge and depose Popes doth returne this answer These Emperors indeed did so but by what right let them shew So we driuing out one naile with another oppose acts to acts and say But by what right Popes haue vnthronized Emperors let vs know For we shall hereafter shew that they had from God no such authoritie Where is now your moderation to require of vs acknowledgement of iust causes of Popes acts who you know proue that no cause can iustifie
shall you be a Preuaricator denying that which you wold seeme before to defend If you say you wold which all yours say you may not then are you whom you would seeme not to be a damnable Equiuocator CHAP. XXIX The Discouerie in the tenth Reason WHosoeuer is possessed with these former seditious Positions that ex Officio that is as he is a Romish Priest he must professe them such an one is to be iudged a most desperate Traitor But all Romish Priests as Priests professe some and othersome all of these seditious Positions â—…go c. The Minor 1. proued 2. confirmed Proued by an argument of Relation that seeing the Authâ—… of this rebellious doctrine are the principall Rabbies of 〈…〉 Sect and publikely authorized with the ordinarie prâ—… of that Church it may not be imagined but that the 〈…〉 are infected with the leauen of their Professors Dâ—… bouenamed To wit 1. Tolet a late Cardinall whose 〈…〉 haue this speciall priuiledge by Pope Gregorâ—e 1â— a That 〈…〉 Vasques the Iesuite they may without censure or examination of any be published to the world Now the booke wherein these positions or rather poysons are contained is intituled De Instructione Sacerdotum that is The Booke of instructions for Priests 2. Cardinall Bellarmine publike Reader in Rome in his Booke intituled Of the Pope of Rome dedicated to 〈◊〉 Quintus Pope of Rome and authorized by the same Pope of Rome to no other end but as he confesseth To instruct those Scholers whom his Holinesse did send for from beyond the Alpes that is all Scotish Polish Flemmish Danish and English extrauagants 3 Cardinall Alane created of the same Pope Xistus Quintus Anno Dom. 1588. to the like end for in the same yeare when the Spanish inuasion was intended against England he published his booke intituled An Admonition to the Nobility of England 4 L. Molina Diuinitie Reader in the Vniuersitie of Ebor. 5 Gregorie of Valentia Diuinitie Reader in the Vniuersitie of Ingolstade 6 Doctor Stapleton Diuinitie Reader in Loâ—aine 7 Dominicus Bannes Diuinitie Reader in the Vniuersitie of Salmat Another much infected with the same leauen and yet priuiledged in Spaine with these commendations A worke admirable and profitable for all Diuines Dignified also of the Friars called Minors in these termes Aglorious worke which lest it want his deserued obedience this we challenge in the power of the holy Ghost vnder our formall commaund without all exceptions in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Amen We haue also alledged the resolution of the Iesuites Colledge of the Vniuersitie of Salamancha in Spaine Anno Dom. 1602. As likewise Creswell his Philopater printed at Rome Licentiâ Superiorum by the licence of the Superiors signifying the Iesuites there What shall I need to mention Reinolds in his Rostus a Doctor of Diuinitie and chiefest man in the English Seminarie at Rhemes Father Parsons in his Dolman a principall Rector in the Seminarie at Rome Seeing all these be Seminaries you may trie the young plants by their fruites If any desire further experience in this kind he may consult with Carolus Molinaeus and Pontus Tyardaus both Parisiens and but euen now before I can reade them to be read of all men The Confirmation It will not be denyed of any Priest but that in these Popish Seminaries he hath vowed obedience to his generall Fathers in those schooles and it is as notorious that all Generals are absolutely enthralled to their chiefe Generall the Pope all of them as hands and feet to worke and walke as that their head shall deuise Which as we haue heard in Gregorie the 7. Gregorie the 9. Pius Quint us and others haue absolued Subiects from all obedience and charged them to take armes against their Emperours Kings and Queenes excommunicate c. Shall we now imagine the old Foxes being such that their cubbes can degenerate If euer any of that kind gaue hope vnto vs it was the secular Priests who for a fit did write many things very truly against Iesuiticall rebellious Practises but after perceiuing the Recusants to withdraw their beneuolence as rather deuoted to the Iesuites and that the Pope also tooke part against them they searing their consciences wholly submitted themselues vnto the Arch-priest whose commaund vpon occasion is countermaunded by the faction Iesuiticall So that now we may aswel expect grapes from thorns or a white Aethiopian as loyall subiection from this Religion The moderate Answerer His tenth Reason is no new Reason but an Epilogus of the former But I answer that the Catholike Students neither of Englandnâ—r of any other Nation are bound to defend their Masters reading but in matters of faith and generall receiued doctrine The Reply Nay it is a different and demonstratiue Reason taken from the formall cause of conspiracie and consent in such practises because Doctors and Disciples with you are more then Relatiues for what can most of your Priests say here but as School-boyes Dictata Magistri and as Infants who receiue no more food then that which they sucke from their nurces A matter notorious and how I pray you may we better then by the doctrine of your Generals know what is your generall doctrine The moderate Answerer These Assertions are most falsely obiected for the Scholers do not vow any obedience to their Superiors and that obedience which they follow is in obseruing the Collegiall Rules The Reply Yet they acknowledge obedience as a due thing Though not in the bond of precept yet of perfection And I thinke your vowes do arrogate perfection Secondly it is requisite you should shew vs some reason why your scholers should in these points dissent from their Masters and whether we shold rather beleeue you herein liuing in cryptis or them who for their excellent learning dominantur in Cathedris your doctrine couched vnder a bushell or theirs within their publike and priuiledged bookes set as it were on the house top The moderate Answerer And yet there is not any one sentence alledged from any of them or any other Catholike which in his true sence will bring any preindice to our most holy innocent cause as I haue demonstrated The Reply In his true sence say you Why by what reason can you challenge my sence of vntruth Because the authorities be falsly applyed Why so Because this particular Reason whereupon as 〈◊〉 most certaine foundation his arguments are built is this Protestants are by vs accounted Heretikes and excommunicate which is most false O this then is the onely cause you can pretend but seeing it is confirmed by impregnable demonstrations froÌ„ Popes and all Popish Authors that Protestants by all Papists though heretically are esteemed as Heretikes it will demonstratiâ—ely follow that all the authorities I alledged are rightly applyed and all the crudities of your indigested answer sufficiently dissolued Whether therefore that doctrine whereby
Highnesse your grace in sparing me did not spare mee one whit but was pleased to call me whereby is signified a ciuill simplicity foole But let not my Lord from his earthly preeminence too hastily disdaine the Priests of God but in his princely wisedome for his cause whose seruants they be so rule ouer them that he denie them not due reuerence Heerein we finde another clause of the forme of our English oath Power ouer all persons euen the Pope himselfe yeelding that which is not due but only to a Superiour rule and requiring that which may be yeelded to an inferiour Reuerence or curteous respect For it is without doubt saith your Bishop Espencaeus that Gregorie did acknowledge a soueraigntie in Emperours ouer Priests We haue not yet passed the period of 600. yeares now therefore CHAP. X. We descend vnto the ages following of foure centuries more which may make vp a complete thousand yeres The Romish Pretence ANcient generall Councels were gathered not without the cost of good and Christian ones Emperours and were made by their consents for in those dâ—ues the Pope did make supplication to the Emperour that by his authority he would gather Synods But after those times all causes were changed because the Pope who is head in spirituall matters cannot be subiect in temporall Who would thinke this man could be a Papist much lesse a Iesuit how much lesse a Cardinall who thus disableth the title of the Pope granting to vs in these words After these times that is after 600. yeres the truth of purer Antiquity challenging Popes to be subiect vnto Christian Emperours And yet who but a Papist would as it were in despite of Antiquity defend the degenerate State saying After those times Popes might not be subiect in temporall matters As if he should haue said Thou gratious fauour of ancient Christian Emperours thou sound iudgement of ancient reuerend Fathers thou deuout subiection of ancient holy Popes in summe thou ancient purity and pure Antiquity adiew But we may not so bastardly reiect the depositum and doctrine of humble subiection which we haue receiued from our Fathers of the first 600. yeares and not so only but which as your Bercklay witnesseth the vniuersall Christian world embraced With common consent for a full thousand yeares Which is further confessed by others in the Chapters following CHAP. XI We further challenge the consent of successiue Antiquity in the currant of more than 1000. yeares after Christ wherein the Papallpretended Iurisdiction ouer Kings hath beene euidently controwled The Romish Pretence WE haue many examples of Emperours deposed by Popes as Leo Fredericke Henry 1. Freder 2. Otho 1. Lewis 3. Lewis 4. Henry 4. who was deposed by Gregory the 7. The Answer This argument The Popes did depose them from their temporall authority Ergo He had authority to depose them will iustifie all Pyrates and theeues in their spoiles all Tyrants in their vsurpations and will impeach this authority of the Pope which you would heereby defend For as your Cardinall doth confesse Many Emperours haue deposed many Popes Therefore from the act done to conclude a right of doing is no good argument Let vs therefore examine the worke by the square and not the square by the worke and by the law of doing trie the lawfulnesse of the thing done And first beyond the antiquity of a thousand yeares granted we find that the first who euer violently deposed an Emperour is the last of them whom you cite for authority of deposing them For I reade and reade saith your Otto Frisingensis and I find that Pope Gregory the 7. called Hildebrand in the yeare 1060. was the first Pope that euer depriued an Emperour of his regiment He was the first Pope saith your bishop Espencaeus who by making a new rent betwixt Kingdome and Popedome did raise force against the Emperiall diademe arming himselfe by his example excited other Popes against Princes excommunicate An act new you see and that it is also naught will appeare by the Actor Pope Greg. the 7. saith your Chronographer was excommunicate of the Bishops of Italy for that he had defamed the Apostolike See by Simony and other Capitall crimes There is an Instance giuen in the Donation of Constantine which proueth the Popes to haue beene notable forgerers The Romish Pretence Boniface Bishop of Rome so saith Carerius writ to Philip King of France to let him vnderstand that Philip ought to acknowledge vnto him both spirituall and temporall subiection and whosoeuer shall thinke otherwise saith Boniface we iudge and declare him an Hereticke The Answer May it be lawfull for vs to aske you by what law this temporall is assumed There is extant the Donation of Constantine saith Sanders sufficiently defended against all Heretickes Then belike this iurisdiction was from man and not from God Not so saith Carerius for it was rather a restitution than a Donation because he did but returne it being a Christian which he had receiued by Tyrannicall vsurpation being an Heathen therefore according to the iudgement of Turrecremata did not now so much giue it as publish it to be due to the Pope What was contained in this schedule There was heerin specified saith your Valla and so is the tenor of the Donation a conueiance of the kingdome of Sicily Naples all Italy France Spaine the Countries of the Germans and Britans and all the Western part of the world This is a goodly gift if it be good but I heare Luther say It is a large lie But you had rather heare your Doctors speake although they may seem partiall because yours The most ancient Historians authors of best credit saith your Canus and such as purposely and most diligently recorded the acts of Constantine and yet make no mention of any such Donation Which Pius the second Pope of Rome did as saith your bishop Balbus proue to be a slatte counterfet So that now your Popes temporall hold should be forfetted because it doth appeare that your Pastor in this challenge is a meere imposter The Donation is called palea and therefore as light chaffe I passe this ouer What is your next claime CHAP. XII Popish Arguments from Reason The first wherein they failing to prooue the temporall dominion of the Pope by succession endeuour to prooue it from successe The Romish Pretence THe Popes of Rome haue long since got not only possession but also dominion of the city of Rome a matter to be wondred at to see how after that the Emperours had many times sought to root out the Popes of Rome by force the Popes haue contrarily remoued the Emperours out of Rome the chiefe towne of their Empire and the property of Caesars pallaces and the city of Rome is without force come vnto the Pope This saith Sanders is the singer of God This saith Bellarmine is Gods prouidence The Answer As though