said that they were made at Rome and by the Contents being conuinced that they were made in England could not deny it which sure cannot choose but make men more doubtfull of what he affirmeth in his owne affaires Now good Sir these reasons well weighed cannot but leaue any indifferent minde doubtfull whether this proceede from supreme authoritie or not which doubt cannot more quietly clearely and orderly be resolued then by sending men of conscience and iudgement to know his holinesse wil if he haue not decreed and appointed it to let him vnderstand the abuse take order for the reforming of it If he haue then to signifie wherein perchance he might be misinformed that therby he may the better redresse what is amisse or if after due information his wisedome shall think the course taken to be for the benefite of our cause and countrey then they carry a mind prostrate both How then could their delay be schisme they being alike ready to obey for themselues and in the name of the rest that ioyned with them in this action to accept and obey whatsoeuer the Apostolicall sea shall herein decree This course I know not what reason any man may haue to condemne as either rash or vncharitable much lesse why these men should be termed for their iust proceeding factious seditious schismaticall or the like Heereby also you may perceiue where the roote and true cause of the scandalous reports which daily come to your eares doth remaine notwithstanding the libertie of speech clamours and vniust exclamations of some who would haue it to be elsewhere I pray God that these men doo build vpon God almighty and not vpon their owne wittes and deuises Heere I say nothing of the iust exceptions that many make against the manner of procuring this authoritie which are neither fewe nor yet of small moment but these wil be deliuered in an other place by them that shall informe his holinesse and if occasion shall require and we be pressed therevnto you shall vnderstand them in an other Letter In the meane while take and peruse this with indifferencie and iudge as reason and conscience shall dictate Fareyewell Maister Champneyes Letter of the same argument to a Reuerend friend of his VEry Reuerend Syr As from my very cradle I acknowledge my self many wayes beholding vnto you for your manifold courtesies both towards me and other of my dearest friends so haue I had alwaies a speciall desire to yeeld such correspondence in my demeanour as I might neither giue you nor any other of my friends iust occasion to withdraw from me their friendly affection Neuerthelesse I gather by some speeches that passed not long since betweene you and a friend of yours and mine that you haue conceiued a worse opinion of mee then wittingly I haue deserued or willingly would deserue The sinister reports of some whose endeuours are different from their professiō hauing caused in you not onely a surmise but as it seemeth a strong and firme opinion that I am disobedient to the See Apostolicke and enemy to the Fathers of the societie and a contemner of the late authoritie of our Arch-priest These be the crymes wherewith I suppose both my selfe and diuers others are taxed or truer most iniuriously slaundered Being therefore very vnwilling to permit you to remaine in that opinion grounded vpon mere fictions and falsities I determined to make mine Apologie with you and to yeeld you reason for all my proceedings in these matters which being weighed in the equal ballance of your indifferent iudgement I nothing doubt but it will yeeld you full satisfaction and giue you some light to see how you haue hitherto beene abused by false informers I know it to be a difficult thing so to take away and remoue out of a mature minde a conceit which hath long without contradiction possessed it so to take it away I say as there remaine no scruple nor doubt thereof Yet when I doo consider on the one side your graue and sincere iudgement voyd as I verily thinke of all partialitie and on the other side the clearenesse and manifest truth of the matter I am to speake of I cannot almost doubt but so to satisfie these obiected crimes as that you will easily see both my selfe and others to haue suffered mightie wrong by the raisers thereof Let me therefore good sir craue onely this of you that you will not measure that which I shall say according to the preiudiciall opinion which you haue already framed of my person for so shall you easily preiudice the equitie of my Plea but let your iudgement proceed of the thing it selfe without respect either to my person or any other and so being voyd of affection shall it bee more free from errour If I say any thing that may leane vppon humaine creditte as matters of narration or fact I desire to bee beleeued no further then I can manifestly proue If I vtter matters of opinion or iudgement as arguments or reasons for any fact I desire no more then that they be measured according to the weight and truth they do containe This is so indifferent a demaund that if I should doubt the graunting thereof I should in mine opinion offer you no small wrong I will therefore Sir deteine you no longer with vnprofitable circuits of wordes but I will come to the matter and whatsoeuer I shall say in mine owne behalfe in this affaire you may vnderstand it of others that bee of the same opinion with mee therein The former accusations to weete that I am disobedient to the see Apostolicke an aduersary to the Fathers and an impugner of our Arch-priests authoritie are all grounded vpon one and the selfe-same foundation which I thinke I shall easily shewe to be both friuolous and false and consequently ouerthrowe whatsoeuer is built therevpon howsoeuer some men do labour to fortifie the same not by the probabilitie of any reason or equall debating the matter but by confidence or rather impudent infaming of such as labour to defend the truth All these accusations therfore are forged vpon this one principle because forsoothe I did not acknowledge M. Blackwells authoritie vpon the receit onely of Cardinall Caietaines Letters wherein he affirmed that the Pope had giuen vnto him authoritie to appoint a gouernment ouer the Seminary Priests in England For this cause I am saide to resist the Popes authoritie and because the Iesuites were the procurers of this delegation therfore am I counted their aduersary because I did not accept of the thing and meanes to establish it which they thought good of And lastly because I did not acknowledge M. Blackwell for my Ecclesiasticall superiour vpon the forementioned testimonie I am said to be an impugner of his authoritie Loe Syr here is the whole ground of all the former accusations neither doo I thinke they laie any thing else to my charge If they doo when I may know it I will either satisfie their obiections or acknowledge
THE Copies of certaine discourses which were extorted from diuers as their friends desired them or their aduersaries driue them to purge themselues of the most greeuous crimes of schisme sedition rebellion faction and such like most vniustly laid against them for not subscribing to the late authoritie at the first sending thereof into England In which discourses are also many things discouered concerning the proceedings in this matter abroad Dicit piger Leo est in via Prouerb 26. The slothfull excuse themselues saying There is a Lyon in the way Imprinted at Roane by the heires of Ia. Walker 1601. The Preface to the Reader THe differences and disagreements are such which in these fewe yeares last past haue bred and daily grow to more and more perfection in that kind to so great a disgust of all sincere Catholickes not onely here in England but also in the principall if not in all the parts of Christendome whither the worthie fame of their memorable acts for the restoring of their natiue Country vnto the Catholicke faith hath come that it is high time to giue them some taste of these matters who are so disgusted by laying before them the true cause and grounds of this lamentable dissention and to discouer how colourably the common enemie of God and his Church hath proceeded to the disturbance first of Gods Priests then to the mutual dislike of Catholickes among themselues and of such Priests as against whom by wrong informations they are violently led and let not to vse both tongue and penne in most vngratefull manner Some being asked by others what might be the cause of so great a strife among the Priestes haue simply answered that the cause is for that the Priests being but secular men will not humble themselues or be directed or gouerned by the Iesuites who are religious but what truth soeuer is in this cause of all other it must not be giuen for such a subiection euen in the eares of those who desire it soundeth so absurdly that they endeuour rather to haue it then to heare of it and both M. Blackwell in his Letters to the Cardi. Caietan dated the 10. of Ianuary 1596. and F. Parsons in his Letters against M. Doctor Bish and M. Ch dated the 9. of October 1599. labour to put this conceit out of mens minds how euidently soeuer the practise in Wisbitch to make Fa. Weston the Iesuite superiour ouer the secular Priests who then were in durance for the Catholicke faith pursued both by the knowne and couert Iesuites and all other their fauourites doth proue it as also a Libell giuen abroad by the Authour thereof himselfe to admonish others to beware of such Priests and by no meanes to haue any dealing with them in spirituall matters euen to the disturbing of them out of their places of residence as vnfit guides for soules who had not a dependance of the Iesuites And not long since another of their fauourites letted not to say that those Priests who are not vnder the Iesuites gouernment are no better then the Ministers Many more proofes may be made hereof out of the speeches of many other their fauourites who giue counsell to all that are afflicted in these turmoyles to submit themselues to the Iesuites Other some who perceiue well that if this should be maintained to be the true cause of so scandalous a schisme in Gods church it would redound to the eternall disgrace infamie of such as by whom they hauing conceiued some foolish hope of preferment they had rather that they should indeed beare the sway haue the gouernment of the Cleargie although it were vnderhand then be said either to seeke it or to haue it giue out that the cause of this diuision among the Priests is for that some Priests mooued either with ambitiō or desire of contradiction will not subiect themselues vnto their lawfull superiour appointed by his holinesse and confirmed in authoritie ouer them by his Breue sent into England for that purpose and these haue from time to time both written and maintained in most iniurious manner to possesse the more perfectly such as are too readie to thinke no calumniation too greeuous euen against those who haue best deserued of them that these Priests are schismatickes seditious rebellious c. euen to the diuiding for this cause of parents and their children men and their wiues brothers and sisters and whole housholds while the one retaining that reuerend respect of their long knowne and tried ghostly fathers for learning wisedome and vertue is assailed by the other with these most wicked suggestions and false calumniations and forced either to liue a discontented life or to break friendship and against their owne consciences make semblance at the least that they conceiue hardly of such as they very well perswade themselues wil not commit so great offence against God and his Church in whose defence they haue spent many yeares and remaine still resolute to shead their dearest bloud That therefore no errour be hereafter in any man who will not too much affect ignorance in such things as concerne not onely his particular good but the Common cause of God his Church which whiles the Cleargie liueth at some variance in an euill affected Countrey cannot doubtlesse but be very greatly preiudiced therby it is thought expedient yea necessarie that the cause of this dissentiō be with truth and sinceritie declared made knowne to the world that our actions and the reasons thereof being weighed with equall ballances truth may take place the offerers of the wrong may be discouered the vniustly afflicted may be relieued and that ease at the least by these meanes may be procured which would not come of so long sufferance The strife and dissention at this day too great and scandalous in England is maintained by the Arch-priest the Iesuites their adherents against those Priests who did forbeare to subiect themselues vnto the Arch-priest constituted in authoritie ouer all the Seminary Priests in England and Scotland by a Cardinall who was Protector of the English Colledge at Rome and afterwards honoured with the title of Protector of England for the which forbearing to subiect themselues at the first making knowne of this authoritie the Priests were accused of schisme sedition faction rebellion c. All which calumniations were forgiuen by the Priests so grieuously iniuried and a peace made to the great comfort of all Catholiques when his holinesse Breue was presented vnto them but this peace was soone after broken by the meanes of the Iesuites who reuiued the same calumniations against the Priests and by the Arch-priest who did not onely auerre the assertions of the Iesuites but published also that he had receiued a resolution from the mother Citie to vse his tearmes which avowed that the refusers of the authoritie noting by this phrase the Priests who did forbeare for a time vpon causes seeming iust to them to accept thereof were Schismatickes So that the
thinges were most conuenient for our selues and Country Then that many of vs beeing in durance haue for many yeares endured and as we hope without reprehension the bitter stormes of restraint and persecution and therfore in iustice should deserue at the least an easie indifferent censure of such as either cannot or do not heare vs answer for our selues And that also some of our brethren as forward in dislike and disclaiming from such proceedings as we be if not more forward haue ended their peregrination and troubles with most glorious martyrdome giuing a great testimony thereby of their sincere intentions in such matters they tooke in hand and leauing behinde them also a good motiue vnto you to censure and iudge no lesse of the intentions of others whose cases are the same with theirs that they deale sincerely and according to conscience And because you cannot perhaps enter into a iust iudgement of these matters not seeing into the depth drift and circumstances thereof wee desire no more at your hands but that you will as yet suspend your iudgements of vs and not vncharitably condemne vs vntill you see the conclusion and period of this businesse which will manifest the truth of all our actions Secondly we desire you to consider our present estate in this businesse how we stand that we haue and do vowe all obedience vnto Gods Church and do acknowledge embrace all authoritie lawfully proceeding from the See Apostolicke and are most readie to shewe all obedience therevnto when we shall see and know by iust and ordinary Canonicall notice what it is that the authoritie of that See exacteth at our hands which no Christian Catholicke can deny to be sufficient and as much as can in right and reason be desired at our hands And if we beleeue not euery Letter Messenger or report onely deliuered vs by such who are parties in this cause and maister actors in erecting of this vnpleasing and obtruded authoritie doo not blame vs for we haue reason not to beleeue them in all things much lesse in matters of such weight and so daungerous whom by experience we haue found difficient in many things and whom we knowe to intend further matters hereby then are seene or imagined of many And yet in this stand we but vpon our owne right in not yeelding because we expect but ordinary authenticall proofe of so extraordinary iurisdiction neuer denied in matters of farre lesse moment and weight then this Thirdly consider what reason we haue to yeeld vnto this authoritie not onely gotten by wrong and falce information and instance of the aduerse part onely against our willes without our knowledge contrary to all equitie and iustice but also established in such sort by them that the superiour must needes remaine a punie and inferiour to them and by that meane be an instrument to execute what they shall thinke good or fit to be done so that our superiour being subiect vnto them consequently all we must be their apprentizies and stand at their commaund which is to peruert all true order in Gods Church For oftentimes and by the late generall Councell of Trident it is decreed that the secular Cleargie shall haue power ouer the Religious as to visite them reforme and correct them c. as the Bishop dooth but seldome or neuer hath the Religious Cleargie any iurisdiction ouer the secular Cleargie to visite commaund correct or reforme any Bishop in his See or Pastour in his parish c. For why they haue vowed obedience and therefore should not seeke for command And that these men haue sought for superioritie ouer vs their poore brethren it is most euident by their seueral enterprises to that end made amōgst the prisoners of Wisbiche that now also they seeke the same againe and more generally by this new authoritie of the Arch-priest is no lesse euident thē the former to them that will see any thing else why should they so earnestly busie themselues in a thing no whit at all concerning them and much vnpleasing to others as to prouide and place a Superiour ouer vs who pertaine not to their charge and that against our wills and without our knowledge or cōsent thereunto not so much as demaunding our opinions thereof before hande And when they haue done that by fauours perswasions and increasing of faculties intyce and allure men to ratifie by subscription what they cunningly haue wrought vnderhād to such as refuse to subscribe to threaten Excommunication suspension taking away of faculties and denounce them schismatikes irregular c and by Letters disgrace them in places where they come and giue warning of them as of schismatikes Excommunicate persons And more to shewe their intentions in this matter what interest they seeke and chalenge in this authoritie though indeed nothing concerning them because a distinct societie and bodie from vs one of them in a Letter hee wrote vnto F. Garnet one that would not subscribe confesseth acknowledgeth that whatsoeuer is opposite to the Reuerend Arch-priest must of force be consequently opposite against them which thing must of necessitie import an extraordinary tye betweene the authoritie of the Arch-priest them either of the subordination of them vnto the Arch-priest which they disclaime from deny or cōtrariwise of the Archpriest to them else how must it of necessitie follow that he which is opposite vnto the Arch-priests authoritie must of force be opposite to them as though a man might not resist the Superiour of an order but hee must needs therby oppose himself against the whole body of an other order Furthermore if their interest were not great in this authoritie why should they be so vnwilling to procure or suffer to be procured some Bull or Breue for the confirmation therof that it might be an absolute and independent authoritie but that hanging at the will and order of the Lorde Cardinall Protector only they bearing a great sway with him as we know they doo may keep the Archpriest in awe that hee shall dare to doo nothing that may displease them for feare they should informe against him to the Cardinall and so thrust him out of office which they could not doo were his authoritie confirmed once by any Apostolicall writte and this onely is the cause they loue not to heare of Bull or Brieue in this authoritie if otherwise they can choose for by this meanes the Arch-priest standing in awe of them we must stand also at the reuersion of their courtesies in any matter of question or controuersie that may arise amongst vs. Fourthly consider that by yeelding vnto this present authoritie erected and directed by them we shall be drawne within the compasse and perill of all plottes and actions whatsoeuer in matters of state practised by them or any of them or hereafter shall be practised at any time by them and so not we onely but also such with whom we shall conuerse and those which shall concurre with vs
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
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
these Kings is subordinate to the other But to cōclude this paragraffe if all things were so well ended in England and all so happily vnited as F. Parsons here confesseth why were not M. B. and M. C. sent home but kept still in banishment relegation without any prouision made for them to liue What constancy was in this I know not in shewe there was but litle pietie especially if through their meanes this vnitie was wrought as I haue bene credibly enformed it was vpon the sight of their Letters and the Breue which was sent into Englande with their testimony to it What Historie that is of the Colledge which F. Parsons rehearseth in the 19. paragraffe to draw men to send their children thither I know not But if it be true which I haue heard some Priests speake that they haue bene exhorted at Rome by Fa. Parsons to thrust themselues into state practises and encouraged thereto because by being Priests they were alreadie condemned for traytors and could suffer no greater indignities or more cruell death for that then for this and that also be true which likewise I haue heard other say how he practised with the Students in Spaine to set to their hands to such like matters for the Infant I do not see how any wise Catholique in England or elsewhere should be ouer-hastie to send his children either to the one place or the other Neither do I knowe what M. Ch. threatned F. Parsons in modestie and honestie might haue vsed better termes then that he should bemone the lacke of libertie for litle reason God-wot he had if it had bene in his power so to vse M. Ch. hauing no proofe as it should seeme of any thing concerning these matters but a heare-say from a heare-say as he discouereth in the 4. Paragraffe and if M. C. shall put those matters in print which haue passed at Rome as it should appeare both by that which is heere set downe and that which M. D. Bish in his answere to these Letters of F. Parsons dooth touch I doubt it will be litle for F. Parsons credit howsoeuer he vaunteth that the matter would be easily answered vpon pretence of authenticall registers of all that passed by publicke authoritie hauing himselfe confessed in the tenth Paragraffe that matters were done priuately in the English Colledge and the Notary of the cause no other then a Iesuite of his owne appointing and as I haue bene credibly enformed himselfe the Examiner except what now and then the Commissary did for a fashion and of what credit these Registers may be or how he may thrust in and out for his purpose as sometime he doth I referre me to any honest man to iudge this strife beeing principally betweene the Iesuites and the secular Priests In the 20. Paragraffe I cannot say what sinne the two priests did cōmit in relating how they were vsed at Rome for by this Letter of F. Parsons it is euident that great sin may be committed in relating a matter but if it be true which is said in the same Paragraffe that al things were well ended I do not see how they could be accused either of breach of oath or incurring the censures hauing once procured that peace and vnitie to which they were bound And in the 22. Paragraffe it is againe repeated that all was endēd and consequently the two Priests were discharged of their bonds and might very well haue bene sent home againe had not there bene an intention in some that the peace should not long endure which these two had procured In the 21. Paragraffe F. Parsons sheweth himselfe most willing to deliuer the two Priestes from any thing which he had written against them or willed others to write I will not heere repeate that which is sufficiently before shewed how willingly in this Letter he hath himselfe written whatsoeuer he willed others to write He acknowledgeth that he did euer attribute their attempt rather to error and lacke of consideration then to ambition although in the first Paragraffe he seemeth to excuse their attempt also and attributeth the euill successe thereof to their owne defaults as if they had handled some good matter not in good sort as once a most reuerend and graue Prelate seriously tolde them that some others had done in a matter betweene them and the Iesuites If they should not acknowledge errour and lacke of consideration in this their attempt they might iustly be blamed althought perchance that errour and lack of consideration grew vpon too good an opinion conceiued of some in Rome and was confirmed by others lately come from thence and therevpon they made not such prouision for theyr owne safetie and their so free dealing in their affaires as they might haue made litle suspecting that comming so farre to speake with his Holinesse in matters of the Church which required conference not onely each with other but with others also they should not be suffered to speake one with the other or any man else to aske counsell therein vntill after some two or three dayes after the Breue was gotten at what time they were licensed to come together and were in scorne bidden to deale in their matters for which they were sent to Rome But although F. Parsons did euer as he saith attribute this their attempt rather to errour and lacke of consideration then to ambition yet least that birds of one feather should flie too farre asunder hee giueth heere some reasons why men might thinke that ambition did make the two Priests to take this action in hand to giue mē to vnderstand of his ready mind to hold vp his fellow F. Bald. in this vntruth of which although M. Bish in his answere to this Letter of F. Parsons doth sufficiently discourse yet it will not be amisse to say somewhat here concerning F. Parsons proofes For the first proofe I haue spoken with such as gathered the petitions which the Priests did make and they doo assure me that M. C. was not proposed by any to be made a Bishop M. B. was but if M. C. did carrie those writings and kept those secret from M. B. wherein he was named what proofe is this against M. B. To the second proofe I may answere as once I heard an answere made for F. Parsons when it was reported heere in England that all the boyes at S. Omers had conspired to make him a Cardinall and had written such effectuall Letters to the Pope for it that as it was heere reported both he and the generall of the Iesuites yea and all the friends that they could make in the Court of Rome were little inough to keepe him from being a Cardinall which F. Parsons could not helpe for who can hinder Letters to be written by such as are many hundred miles distant from them But I maruell who should write this Letter or whether F. Parsons did euer shewe it to these 2. Priests so as they might see it read it To the third
reprehensions which I now come after withall being therevnto by you cōpelled I am sorry to see you who haue so long liued among so many good religious Fathers so farre frō that pitch of humilitie mortificatiō which maketh a man to contemne himselfe and the honors of this world to desire to be euil thought spokē of that you may not abide to heare tell of any fault of yours but by by you fall out with your friend for that he in faire tearmes intreateth you to looke vnto such an euil humor as partly by naturall inclination partly by long custome of harkening vnto flatterers you may be subiect vnto And albeit in another passage of yours you would seeme not to mislike them who aduertise you of that they think amisse yet this your euil taking of such aduertisements when they come doth euidently proue the contrarie and this fault is taken to be too common in some of your Societie and I my selfe once before found the like demeanour in one of your principall Agents in England These Letters were th◠cause why h◠lost an Assistantship by M. Black ◠owne repor◠whom I friendlie certified of some odde dealings which were reported of the Societie assuring him that I beleeued them not but desired to heare from him the veritie of those affaires for my further satisfaction I was so farre off from receiuing a good answere due at least in courtesie for that I desired it that my Letters were read openly and shewed vnto others and sinister construction made of them to procure me euill will and discredit What kinde of religion ciuilitie or humanitie may be in such maner of dealing I can hardly perceiue and list not heere to discusse hoping that when you shall see other men scanne examine and confute your Letters as you were woont to do theirs you will be hereafter more mannerly milde interpreters least you otherwise hap to meete with the same measure that you meat to others Well let vs goe on You pretend that you expected to receiue from me louing Letters and much good seruice A great presumption surely of my no small mortification if you speake vnfainedly For it were no vulgar vertue for manifolde and manifest slaunders calumniarions imprisonment and exile which I receiued there among you to returne and render commendations congratulations all sorts of sweetnesse and courtesies which neuerthelesse you would haue the world weene that you attended at my hands But to speake without glosing your owne guiltie conscience tolde you euen before our departure as you signifie that you were not like to receiue from mee whom you knowe to be plaine and round any other then ordinarie curtesie such as the loue of God and lawe of charitie bindeth me vnto the which for those good parts it hath pleased God to endowe you with I will alwaies afforde you in a high degree and more too when I shall perceiue that you esteeme more of it and to goe about not in emptie words but by sound deedes better to deserue it But not to wander vp and downe after all the particularities of such a long tedious Letter I will reduce my whole answere vnto two points The former shall shewe what reasons mooued my bretheren to send vnto Rome and vs to goe thither at their request In the latter shall be declared how we were vsed there in the one or the other I will answere to whatsoeuer in your Letter touching me and hope by both to giue ful satisfaction vnto all honest equal and vpright consciences of that which they haue heard obiected against me concerning that negotiation The most holy and blessed course of the peaceable reduction of our Countrey vnto the auncient Catholique faith in Apostolique manner being before somewhat hindered by a dispute about gouernment in Wisbitch and afterwards much more troubled by emulation growing betweene some English of the Societie and certaine other Priests who tooke themselues much impeached in their credit by them it did not a litle grieue me who had imployed a great part of my best yeares in that our good Lords haruest and had nothing on earth in so singular recommendation as to see that heauenly work prosper to consider what impediment and let of it was like to follow if those sparkes of dissention were not speedily quenched Wherefore with many others of the auncientest sort and of better marke merit and affection towards our Countrey I trauelled about a soueraigne medicine for the present maladie as it seemed vnto vs and a notable preseruatiue against any other that might ensue afterwardes which was to vnite and knit our selues together in some louing sweete and easie association and brotherhood that so by mutuall intelligence counsell and ayd we might either prudently preuent or speedily meete with all inconueniences that might happen to arise among vs being now many in number and euery one left vnto his owne gouernment and discretion This matter of vnion was communicated vnto all and euerie man almost requested to ioyne in it a draught of rules were drawne which were fewe easie reasonable and much profitable which were also shewed vnto whosoeuer would see them that if they misliked any thing therein it might be amended and so made agreeable vnto all honest desires What could in reason be more demaunded Yet because this proceeded not as it is thought from the Societie nor had any dependance vpon them although at first they seemed to approoue it much as that which was in itselfe honest iust and necessarie yet afterward seeing it likely to goe forward and to growe into such a body as theirs is they openly opposed themselues against it and stirred vp their fellowes to contradict and crosse it as much as they could and in the meane season coyned a new forme of gouernment or subordination as they call it neuer heard of in the Church of God since the the beginning of the world vntill our dayes and by Cardinall Caietanes authoritie caused the same to be cast vpō vs at vnawares our cōsents or likings neuer demaunded vntill it was as they said established This cunning and audacious enterprise with the prepostorous vnaduised proceeding in it mooued farre greater discontentment among vs then was before and was the principall cause of sending vnto Rome the soueraigne Court of Ecclesiasticall controuersie that from whence the fountaine of our griefe did seeme to spring from thence in like maner we might deriue and drawe the streames of consolation That we had many waightie vrgent and lawful motiues to sue vnto that Court a wise vpright and well practised man in Ecclesiasticall affaires shall I doubt not willingly graunt mee after he hath well weighed and pondered these reasons following which are taken of the order it selfe of the obtaining sending publishing and executing of it First touching this subordination it being no such as our sauiour Christ Iesus deliuered to his Apostles or that hath bene seene practised in anie part of Christendome these 1600.
yeares no maruaile though simple witted men who desire not to straie from the holie steps of our forefathers were at the first not a little amazed at it and could not be so verie easilie induced to approue it This also besides the noueltie of it being much more odious and intollerable as it was then proposed then anie other gouernment that our predecessors had euer liued vnder For hauing full and absolute power to punish rigorously and that as it were at pleasure and discretion it had no facultie ioyned with it or abilitie to benefit or do anie good at all no not so much as vpon amendment of the partie punished to restore vnto him againe that hee had taken away from him before If now he haue more ample authoritie he may thanke our complaints which were no smal cause of it And herevnto his Iniunctions whereof more in an other place that Priestes should not meete together priuilie in our countrie that they should not secretlie send vnto their friends ouer the sea whereas openlie they can doo no such thing as all the world knoweth and tell vs I pray you when and where euer you heard of such an Ecclesiastical gouernment in anie Christian countrie before that sacred Priests the free children of God his familie so greatlie priuiledged by all good Christian Princes should be I know not by whom in such a seruile sort yoaked Againe this punishing authoritie cannot be wel practised in England during this heate of persecution and therefore seemed to be frustrate and giuen in vaine for by the Canon lawe which is the common rule of spirituall causes as by all other lawes no punishment ought by sentence of Iudge to be inflicted vpon the offender not confessing the action before he be by order of lawe conuicted Confession of the fault is sildome in that Court or neuer to be expected wherefore lawfull defence is to be graunted vnto anie person accused before he be condemned But no processe according vnto order of lawe can be framed followed so long as we haue hotte persecutors laying waite euerie where to apprehend vs. For to omit all other difficulties which in practise will be founde to be verie manie where can a safe place be found to assemble the parties their witnesses Proctors together and there to hold as it were an Assize for the determination of their controuersies which to be necessarie Lancelot a man singularly seene in both lawes and authour of the institutes of the Canon law setteth downe which he taketh out of the Canon lawe Extra de appell cap ex parte tua see also the glosse there which both require a secure place both for the parties Proctors and witnesses or else holdeth them for excused if they appeare not Institu L. 3. Tit. s. § Locus in these words Tunc enim ius dicenti impune non paretur si locus citatione designatus pestilens sit aut alias pro citato male tutus Then may a man freely not obey him that ministreth iustice wheÌ„ the place in the citation assigned is infected with the plague or otherwise not safe for the partie cited Now euerie Catholicke knoweth that there is no place in our Country free from daunger for Priests to assemble together such diligent watch and ward being laide in euerie shire to apprehend them And who will be so simple as to allow them a hall in his house for their pleadings whereby he that cannot start doth cast himselfe into a hundreth perills of loosing not onely all his goods and libertie but his life also and inheritance A place of assurance then cannot in these times be appointed for the appearance hee therefore is warranted by lawe not to appeare although he be cyted by his lawful magistrate And so no action can be commenced much lesse determined by this authoritie of the Arch-priest and consequently such penall power is to small purpose in our Country This subordination then being extrauagant without example of antiquitie hatefull as hauing power to punish but not to pleasure and scarcely possible to be now practised in our Countrie had we not great reason to certifie his holinesse of the inconueniences of it and in humble sort to sue vnto him for remedie and redresse before hee put to his hand vnto the confirmation of it And this you must needs much more easily grant if you consider how this subordination was procured and gotten for it seemeth to haue bene by false information which alone is sufficient to ouerthrow the whole authoritie My proofe shal be pregnant taken out of the verie letters Patents of the Archpriest where are these words Rationes pro illa subordinatione ab ipsis Sacerdotibus Anglis redditae S.mo D. N. probatae fuerunt The reasons by the English Priests themselues exhibited for that subordination vnto his holinesse were well liked Marke I pray you how this subordination was obtained at the suite and perswasion of the Priests in England Now I appeale vnto the consciences of my louing bretheren the Priests then in England whether euer they had heard of anie such stratagem or straunge subordination before they felt it as it were clapped on their shoulder sure I am for the most part of them howsoeuer they were M. Iames â—tand who had giuen his name to be a â—esuite and was the man who by Fa. Parsons subâ—rnation imâ—loyed himselfe in this action confessed before diuers priests â—t his return â—hat he had â—n interpreâ—atiue consent of the Priests in England drawne afterwards to accept of it by flatterie fraude or threats that they neuer dreamed of it before they sawe it so farre off were they from deuising and tentering perswasions vnto his holinesse for the admitting of it I will not deny but that some one Priest who had bene in England being then idle in Rome might by euill counsaile and subornation take vpon him to be sent of the whole bodie and so contrary vnto conscience and good order speake in their names that neuer sent him But what was graunted vpon such vntrue suggestion euery man knoweth to be of no force and validitie and that we in England had iust cause to certifie his holinesse by trustie messengers how we were greatly abused by theÌ„ who vsed our names to obtain that exorbitaÌ„t deuise which we neither desired nor liked but rather that it would please his holinesse to establish among vs that sound Ecclesiastical Hierarchy which was instituted by the wisdome of God had bin euer sithence in time of persecutioÌ„ as wel as in peace obserued in all Christian Nations that he would I mean giue vs Bishops the successors of the Apostles and onely ordinary Pastours of God his Church who might confirme consecrate oyles and bring many other of God his blessings among vs. But not to digresse from my purpose The third cause why this subordination did mislike vs was for that it came not authentically from his holinesse by Bull Breue or any other lawfull instrument but
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
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