his Prince whensoeuer it should please his holines forsooth vpon any displeasure or priuate occasion vnder pretence of some hainous crime to Excommunicate him What if we should deny that these Popes or any other Pope euer had or hath any authoritie to Excommunicate a forrein Prince no way subiect to his charge D. Allen hath not prooued it in his Pamphlet nor anie where els neither is hee able to prooue it with the helpe of all the Cardinals in Rome yea and of the Pope himselfe too while he liueth But such as are Romanists are of another minde and will happely beleeue D. Allens bare affirmation in this behalfe and so may be persuaded not onely that the Pope hath authoritie to Excommunicate and depose Princes at his pleasure but also that the subiects of Princes so Excommunicate and deposed by the Pope may lawfully and ought in duetie to disobey and reuolt from their seruice How they may bee seduced by erroneous doctrine I know not but for other men that are either of sounder Religion or men indifferent or not so throughly and obstinately as vpon a meere selfewill addicted to that faction I doubt not but they will be better aduised then to giue credit vnto the affirmation of anie man or the authoritie of anie Pope though hee make himselfe more then a man beeing directly contradictorie to the expresse word and will of God as hath been shewed by the places of Scripture aboue rehearsed and by manie more may be But because they also shall not haue anie colour of defense left them whereby to excuse themselues so much as vpon ignorance in this behalfe I will since I am entred into it laie before them in as few words as I can the abuses of D. Allen whereby hee goeth about to deceiue them in this point and prooue directly and manifestly vnto them that neither the Pope hath any authoritie to depose Princes from their thrones which is the ground whereon he buildeth his warrant of reuolt and further that it is vtterly vnlawfull for the Subiect for any such occasion to deny the Prince the obedience subiection and seruice due vnto him much more in traitorous manner to rebell against him which D. Allen so alloweth and commendeth First therefore as concerning the Popes authoritie to depose Princes I demand from whom hee hath that authoritie whether of himselfe or from God Of himselfe I know he will not say for that were as great arrogancie as absurditie in him to saie And if he would as perhaps he could be content to take it vpon himselfe if hee thought it might go for currant yet can hee not yeeld any colour or shew of reason to mainteine it being contrarie to the expresse word of God For There is no power saith the Apostle but of God and the powers that be are ordeined of God Then can the Pope haue no power or authoritie of himselfe vnlesse he will affirme himselfe to be God And the Prince being a power and consequently ordeined of God it were great presumption in him to affirm and greater blindnes in men to beleeue that the authoritie of man can frustrate or take away the ordinance of God It resteth therefore that the Pope if he haue anie authoritie to depose Princes he must haue it from God And if he haue it from God thē is there some warrant in his word to authorise the Pope thereunto But there is not anie place of Scripture that giueth the Pope any expresse power to depose Princes and therfore hath he no such authoritie from God For the proofe of my Minor First it is likely that if there were any such place of Scripture as giueth the Pope expresse power to depose Princes D. Allen would vndoubtedly haue alledged it for the more credit of the cause and not haue passed it ouer with a bare affirmation beeing a matter heretofore by many and manifest arguments and proofes of Scripture cleerly disprooued and conuinced against him Secondly for further confirmation thereof I reason thus Besides the obedience and subiection which God hath commanded in the Scripture to be done vnto Princes hee hath further forbidden all men to speake euill of the ruler of the people or to curse the King yea so much as in thought Whereupon I frame this argument God forbiddeth all men to curse the King yea so much as in thought Ergo he forbiddeth the Pope to curse the King so much as in thought And he that forbiddeth to doe the lesse much more forbiddeth to doe the greater But it is far greater to curse the K. indeed openly and to depriue him of his kingdome then to curse him in thought only or to speake euill of him Ergo God forbidding the Pope to speake euill of the King or to curse him in his thought much more forbiddeth him to curse the King openly or to depriue him of his kingdome wherupon it followeth by good consequence that God doth not in any place of Scripture authorise the Pope to depose Princes for so should he allow and warrant that in one place which he hath forbidden in another whereof you see what inconuenience should follow that God should command contraries and the Scriptures should bee repugnant to themselues which were plaine Atheisme to affirm Whereby it maie be cleare and manifest vnto euerie man that hath any sense of Christianitie in him that God hauing in these former places of Scripture expresly forbidden all men to curse in thought or to speake euill of the King much more to curse him openly or to bereaue him of his kingdome doeth not therefore in anie place of Scripture admit or authorise anie man contrarie to this inhibition to curse excommunicate and depose Princes out of their kingdomes For that were to countermand his owne commandements and to shew himselfe variable inconstant repugnant to himselfe which were high impietie for anie man to imagine Thus you see beside the presumption which is to be gathered out of D. Allens own dealing in that hee alledgeth no place of Scripture to warrant the Popes depriuing of Princes that it is therfore likely that no place of Scripture doth authorise him thervnto you see it I say directly proued by sound and substantiall argumēt as by many more also might be verie aboundantly if either the cause required proofe or if it were my purpose to stand vpon the confirmation of that which is of itselfe so manifest that the Pope neither hath nor can haue anie expresse authoritie giuen him directly by the word of God to depose Princes which is the thing that God reserueth wholy to himselfe for it is he not the Pope that deposeth the mighty from their seat exalteth them that are low it is he not the Pope that putteth downe kings setteth vp kings and giueth kingdomes to whomsoeuer he will For God hath ordeined Princes to rule his people and to represent his own Maiestie
Ergo he hath no authoritie from God d If any place of Scripture had warranted the Pope to depose Princes it is likely D. Allen would haue alledged it but he alledgeth none e Exod. 22. 28. Ecclesiastes 10. 20. f God forbiddeth all men to speake euil of Princes so much as in thought Ergo much more to hurt them in deed and to depriue them of their kingdomes and liues too which the Pope seeketh to doe and D Allen mainteineth may lawfully be done What God commandeth in one place of Scripture he doth not countermand in another neither are the Scriptures coÌ„trarie one to another Luke 1. Dan. 2. 20. cap. 4. 14. 22. God not the Pope putteth downe and setteth vp Kings The ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church confirme the supreme authoritie of Princes next immediatly vnder God Tertul. ad Scapulam Idem in Apologetico Optat. contra Parmenian lib. 3. Chrysostom ad populum Antioch hom 2. Greg. epist lib. 3. cap. 100. cap. 103. The Pope must necessarily presume himselfe to be God els can he not be aboue Princes The Pope must either acknowledge himselfe to be no man and not to bee at all or els must he necessarily be inferior to Princes * The Pope whatsoeuer he be Ecclesiasticall or temporall person must needes be subiect to the power of Princes The power to set vp and put downe Princes peculiar to God alone D. Allen more deuoted to the Pope then to God A notable impiety added to sacrilege What D. Allen cannot proue directly by sentence of Scripture he endeuoureth indirectly to induce by example Athalia Ahab Iesabell An argumeÌ„t sauouring more of malice then of substance D. Allens cankred mind D. Allens argument drawne from the example of Athalia The consequent denyed The reason why The Demonstration shewing the difference betweene both the persons and cases The Queenes Maiestie knowne to be a lawfull prince no vsurper D. Allens Antecedent also false 2. Kings 11. Ioash was restored not by Ioiada alone but by the whole Nobility and State Athalia deposed and slaine by the Nobles and State not by Ioiada alone nor by his authority Ahab and Iesabell Ahab himself was neuer deposed 1. King 22. Neither priest nor prophet but Iehu king of Israell deposed and smote the whole house of Ahab 2. Kings 9. 2. Kings 9. 6. The house of Ahab and Iesabell deposed and slaine by the authority and expresse commandement of God not of a priest or prophet D. Allens example of k. Saul deposed Saul not deposed by Samuel 1. Sam. 16. Saule deposed by God himselfe to the great griefe of Samuel D. Allens argumeÌ„t ouerthrowne vnlesse he will conclude that the Popes authority is equall to Gods This example further prosecuted against D. Allen. 1 Though Saul were deposed by God himselfe yet neither did Samuell encourage the people to reuolte from him neither did Dauid the annnointed king secke to put him out of the kingdome neither did the people disobey him so long as he liued which was many yeares after 2 Dauid when he might haue slaine Saule would not nay he thought it sinne to haue done it and calleth him the Lords annointed after his deposition a 1. Sam. 26. Aug. contradit Petihan lib. 2. cap. 48. 3 Dauid caused him that brought newes of Saules death to be forthwith slaine 2. Sam. 1. Marke how direct this example is against D. Allen a Howsoeuer D. Allen inteÌ„deth Saul to haue been deposed by Samuel yet the learneder Diuines take the sentence of God pronouÌ„ced by Samuel touching his reiecting of Saul not to extend to the present deposing of Saul himselfe No example in the whole scripture more directly against D. Allens doctrine and purpose then this The Conclusion As much conscience in D. Allens holie thiefe whom hee mentioneth in his Pamphlet as in himselfe Matth. 22. D. Allen prefixeth before his Pamphlet the sentence of Christ which notwithstanding in the same Pamphlet he doth wholy courtermand in his doctrine The Pope and his followers will be both parties iudges and executioners of their owne doome in their owne cause Princes whether they be Heretikes Turkes or Heathens yet is there subiection due vnto them Rom. 13. The Pope claimeth his authoritie from Christ as his Vicar The greatest Prince liuing subiect to the admonition and reproofe of the meanest Minister but not to his correction Matth. 10. The punishment for disobedience of Gods word and contempt of the Minister is reserued vnto God Peter from whom the Pope claimeth authoritie as his successor was commaÌ„ded by Christ to feede his sheepe but expresly forbidden to vse the sword a Ioh. 21. b Matth. 26. 53. Ioh. 18. 11. Matth. 20. * Christ from whom the Pope deriueth his authoritie neuer tooke vpon him the authothoritie to depose Princes But the Pope doeth 1 Christ not only commanded others to obey but did himselfe also obey Princes The Pope not only refuseth himselfe but also forbiddeth others to obey Princes 2 Christ professed himselfe not to be a king of this world but a subiect to kings and a seruant a Ioh. 18. 36. Matth. 20. â—â— The Pope presâ—â—neth himselfe not to be a subiect to Kings but a superiour and Lord ouer all Kings of this world 3 The Scholler aboue his Maister 4 The Vicars authoritie greater then his from whom he taketh all his authoritie 5 Phe Pope in all points opposite to Christ 6 What is this but Antichrist a D. Allen a wrester peruerter belier of the Scriptures b M. Bilson Warden of Winchester in a booke published Anno. 1586. whereof it seemes D. Allen will take no knowledge All this hath bene directly proued both by expresse authority of Scripture and by arguments drawn from D. AlleÌ„s owne examples D. Allen respecteth the cunning conueiance of his purpose not the sound teaching of the truth An entrance into th'examination of D. Allens perswasions The end of his perswasions already declared To what persons his perswasions are intended Not to Protestants Nor likely by any great reason to Newters or men indifferent He slaunderously reporteth our whole countrey to be fallen into Atheisme Why should men indifferent be lead rather by D. Allens lurking perswasions to a blind and supersticious religion then by our publike and continuall preaching to a cleare and perspicuous religion It resteth that D. Allens persuasions must needes be chiefly or wholly intended to the papists The papists in England not so many as D. Allen presumeth There are none so blind but will see when a man giueth them counsell against themselues The D. of G. and those of the holy league in France though they pretend the patronage of the popish Religion they spare no papist more theÌ„ protestant from the spoile and sword The very quarrell and intent of the D. of G. Some of the greatest and best affected papists hane abandoned that party What danger the English papists runne into if they should but offer to stirre against
seuerall pointes ought D. Allen to proue or els he proueth not his argument yet of the two latter hath he not spoken a word more then a bare affirmation of the first he hath spoken much and proued iust nothing But because his manner of reasoning is not close and well knit togither but in a declamatorie kind which is fitter for his purpose to perswade though not so forcible in reason to proue I will endeuour to seuer his Logike from his Rhetorike and gather his arguments aparte that we may see what and how directly he proueth Whatsoeuer saith he is obteined by vnlawfull warres and so deteined is both wrongfully obteined and vniustly deteined But the Queene of Englands warres in the low countries whereby she obteined Deuenter and Zutphen fortes and so deteined them are altogither vnlawfull Ergo The towne of Deuenter Zutphen fortes were both wrongfully obteined and vniustly deteined by the Q. of England from the true owner the k. of Spaine For this must also be added to his conclusion otherwise doth he not fully proue the Minor of his former argument which he is to proue Wherein if a man would stand with him vpon euery strict point he might iustly say this argument is euen as good as the former for there is more in the Conclusion then is conteined in both the Praemisses But let that go and let vs graunt him also his Maior and come directly to his Minor viz. That the Queene of Englands warres in the low countries whereby she obteined Deuenter and Zutphen fortes and so deteined them are altogither vnlawfull What if we should deny first that the Queenes Maiestie helde any warres at all in the low countries Secondly and if she did yet that she obteined not Deuenter by warres D. Allen is able to proue neither of them and we might iustly deny both For no man can saye and say truely that euer her Maiestie tooke the warre vpon her selfe but onely sent some forces for gods cause to relieue the poore distressed couÌ„tries crauing her assistance And for Deuenter neither did her Maiestie obteine it by warres for the towne did voluntarily of itselfe receiue nay they earnestly desired our garrison neither did her Maiestie obteine it at al for it was neuer hers neither did she euer claime it or accept it as her owne but onely was content at the request of the better sort of the towne for their safety to put her soldiours into it to defend it So is M. Doctors argument cleane auoyded But I know he will say these are but cauils for tryall whereof I referre them to the iudgement of any man of reason and indifferencie which hath bene rightly informed therein howbeit because if I will stand vpon them he is able to go no further I am therefore content to ouerpasse them and suffer him to proceede I pray you let vs see how hee proueth The English warres in the low countries seeing so it pleaseth him to terme them warres to be altogither vnlawfull His rule whereby he measureth the lawfulnes of warres is fet from Cicero who saith in his books De Republica as Isidorus citeth it The warre is iust which is denounced for recompence or reuenge of iniuries and annoyance or for defence against enimies This position being laied because the Queens Marshall not iustifie her doings vpon anye title she hath to the low countries which is without the compasse of his diuisioÌ„ he presupposeth that all the world knoweth that shee can make no iust claime to Holland ZelaÌ„d or any other of those parts which she hath as he saith by armes seised on all those prouinces being confessed to 〈◊〉 his Catholike Maiesties ancient and vndoubtfull inheritance These matters coÌ„cerning Princes titles are fitter for other meÌ„ then M. D. me to decide therfore I wil not take vpon me to say any thing touching her Maiesties right to the low countries or any part of them howsoeuer D. Allen dares affirme them all to be the king of Spaines ancient and vndoubtfull inheritance by what authority I know not but how ancient and vndoubted soeuer hee maketh it I am sure men better acquainted with those causes then he do not onely doubt of the kings title to sundry of the prouinces but are flatly resolued the contrary But it is beside my purpose and therefore I leaue it Now let vs see how he proueth the English warres as he termeth them in the low countries to be neither for recompence or reuenge of iniuries and annoyance nor for defence against enimies therefore not iust according to this former position out of Cicero The defence saith he of the kings rebels against their most iust Lord Souereigne is no lawful nor honorable quarrell of war neither haue the said Traytors and rebels any authority to yeelde vp their Souereignes townes and portes into his enimies handes or themselues to the English protection or subiection All this is but a bare affirmation which being denyed his argument is at an end for he prooueth no one parte of it Besides it is a plaine petitio principij which is a grosse error in Logike wheâ—…e groundeth his argumeÌ„t vpon that which is itselfe in question For he presumeth the people of all the low countries to be the k. of Spaines rebels him their most iust Lord and Souereigne which is the whole matter in coÌ„trouersie So you see this argument is cleane cut off by the roote And since he hath nothing disproued her Maiesties dealings in this point by the reason hee hath brought giue me leaue now to iustifie theÌ„ by an argument or two drawne from himselfe In the latter part of this pamphlet where he goeth about to perswade her Maiesties subiects to reuolt from her he doubteth not to affirme that it is lawfull for the subiects for religions sake not only to reuolt from their souereigne and to deliuer vp his cities countries into other mens hands but also to beare armes against him being in such case clerely discharged from all bond of othe and fidelitie to him Whereupon I inferre first that those of the low countries though they were as he supposeth the lawfull subiects of the k. of Spaine yet might they for Religion if there were no other cause lawfully reuolte from the k. and yeeld vp his cities and countries to the Queenes Maiesty or any other Secondly that if it be lawfull for the subiect for religioÌ„ to beare armes against his souereigne then is it much more lawfull for an absolute Prince for ReligioÌ„ also to yeeld succours to her distressed neighbors against a Stranger The argument followeth verie well à fortiori I am content M. Doctor to vse your owne arguments against yourselfe albeit I doe neither allow of them nor thinke them in truth to be sound yet since you thought it no iniurie to vs to make vnlawfull weapons for your owne aduantage against vs you must thinke
ouerhardened their mindes so maliciously bent against her Maiestie their Countrey and vs all What shall I then say further to them Alas in so desperate a case I can say no more then Doctor Allen in his Pamphlet saieth to his Countrey but with a better minde and meaning towards them then he doth towards vs Alas for them and thrice Alas for them for I doe euen from the bottome of my hart pitie their errour I enuie not their Religion I doe euen from the bottome of my heart bewaile their obstinacie I hate not their persons I doe euen from the bottome of my heart lament their their miserable estate I malice not the men I wish better to them then they doe vnto vs I desire neither the spilling of their blood nor the spoiling of their substance but I pray pray hartily for them God amend them God lighten their eies if they be blinde and doe not see open their eares if they bee deafe and cannot heare turne their hearts if they bee obstinate and will neither see nor heare God if it bee his will giue them grace to know his will to acknowledge his will and to conforme themselues to his will that they may be heires of his euerlasting Will. And to you my brethren countreymen fellow-subiects what shall I say more then hath bene said Shall I endeuour to exhorte you to obedience and to the loue of your prince and defense of your countrey Why should I seeme so much to suspect your obedience your loue to your Prince or your zeale and care of your countrey Because D. Allen hath attempted by his perswasiōs to corrupt you withdraw you frō thē Why you see his perswasions are of litle force grounded vpon falshood and contrarye to the word of God But were they neuer so forcible why should you be corrupted by them An honest faithfull mind may well be assaulted but will reuer be ouercome with the corruption of wicked perswasions Nay thêre is vertue most shewed where against the hottest assault is made the strongest resistance But why should you disobey and reuolte from your princes seruice and take armes against her and your countrey as D. Allen exhorteth you to do Whether vpon iust cause or vpon discontentment If vpon discontentment you shewe yourselues rebels not to your Souereigne onely but to God himselfe in that you are not contented with his ordinaunce but will striue to put it downe and set vp a new ordinance of your own This motion cannot proceede but of the deuill himselfe the rebellious spirite and mouer of all sedition If you saie vpon iust cause you deceiue your selues for there can be no iust cause to committe an vniust fact If there might anie cause bee iust who shall be iudge of the iustice thereof Your selues that were not fit you are parties and therefore partiall and no competent iudges Againe you are priuate men and subiects and therefore can haue no lawfull authoritie in this case to iudge Who then shal be iudge to determine this cause There is no lawfull power in this Realme but your Souereigne and her ministers then if there be anie cause you must open it vnto her and submit both your selues and the cause to her iudgement and reformation and in the meane time continue in your due obedience till the cause be decided But you will say your Souereigne is a partie also aswell as you in the cause So may she be yet a iudge But to whose iudgement then will you appeale there is none to be iudge ouer her but God Will you then be iudged by him Indeed he is the highest iudge and by him the whole world is to be iudged And will ye be content to stand to his iudgement I know you will not call him out of heauen in person to iudge betwixt you for you neede not because he hath left his lawes and iudgements amongst you here on earth recorded in his owne bookes of the old new testament which may be sufficient to determine this cause without any further assistance seeing that by them the whole world is to be iuged Looke then into his booke for his iudgemēt in this case and you shal finde that he forbiddeth you absolutely without exception of any cause to laye your handes vpon the Lordes annointed and commaundeth you as absolutely without all manner exception to submit your selues aswell to your Prince as to her ministers and inferiour gouernours to obey her and not to resist her for if yee resist her he telleth you that yee resist his ordinaunce and shall thereby receiue to your selues iudgement You heare now how God in his holy Scriptures determineth this case directly against you that you may not for any cause offer to lay your hands vpon your Souereigne but that you must submit your selues vnto her obey and not resist her vpon paine of iudgement How then will you dare to lift vp your hands and to take armes against her But if it were lawfull for you as it is not for any cause to rise in armes against the Queens Maiestie your liege drad Souereigne what cause I pray you would you pretend for your so doing will you say Religion Indeed Religion is the cause for which D. Allen teacheth you that it is lawful honorable for you to take armes against your prince laboureth earnestly to perswade you therunto such as are of his religion But what kind of Religion call you that that stirreth you vp to Rebellion You haue receiued no such religion from Christ nor from his Apostles for they teach you the contrary both by their doctrine and examples They tell you that you must submit your selues to your Souereigne obey and not resist her They when they were imprisoned tossed and turmoyled from place to place reuiled striken yet neuer offered resistance against the Magistrates neither moued or attempted any sedition nor entred into any conspiracy against thē but endured all with patience as constant witnesses of the Truth which is cleane contrarie to this Religion which you professe From whom then receiue you your Religion from your holy father the Bishop of Rome It may very well be for it sheweth it selfe from whence it cometh And is this the Religion for which you will take armes against your Prince Why you see it is a Religion taken from man and not from God and therefore cannot stand You see it is a Religion contrarie to the doctrine and Religion of Christ and the Apostles and therefore not the true Religion Will you then take armes against your Prince in the quarrell and defense of a false Religion you know not what you do and that is also the fault of your Religion For if you had giuen your selues to the reading of the Scriptures and studie of knowledge whereby you might haue bene able to giue an account of your faith and knowne the ground of your Religion and not leaned
think it no great kindnes in a Prince to harbour much lesse to enterteine mainteine within his Dominions the fugitiue Rebels or Traitors of another Prince his confederate vnderstanding how vnduetifully nay how lewdly and impiously they haue dealt with their naturall Souereign But these you wil saie are but actions of vnkindnes not such hainous iniuries VVell I would they were lesse offences I am sure they are at the least such as fall within one of the kinds of Iniustice and Iniurie For greater it is not fit for me to speake of Yet I doubt not but D. Allen himselfe whatsoeuer he saith here and a great number of Romish Catholikes more besides him know somewhat touching the Inuasiō made by the K. of Spains subiects in Ireland in the year 1580. of the practises of his Embassador Mendoza since that time and of others her Maiesties most vnnatural subiects shal I saie nay most bloodie abhominable butcherly minded traitors both before since The verie bowels and secrets whereof although they haue been happely kept from our knowledge I meane from the knowledge of the meaner sort yet their owne confessions haue discouered more then is meet for me to rehearse and so much as hath bred a general opinion rumor yea euen in the verie cōmon people of England that the K. of Spaine hath been not onlie priuy to thē but a principall Author Actor in them all I will not speake of the secret practises conspired for the deposing of her Maiestie and aduancing of the Q. of Scots to the crown of Englād which whether or how iustly they may touch the K. of Spain it is no part of my duetie to deale with I am sory to haue had occasion to saie so much in a thing so litle apperteining to me but I am the more to be pardoned in that the argument hath inforced me thereunto in that I haue mentioned nothing more then is knowen common to the multitude and I could not haue said lesse vnlesse I should haue said nothing at al. But I hope this that hath ben said may be sufficient to S. W. Stanley Capt. Yorke to all the English Romanists to whom D. Allen doeth especially direct his Pamphlet For I know there is not any of that sort of any account but is so wel acquainted with the priuities of these actions as that he can picke out of these inough to assure him that D. Allen hath but dissembled with thē in this point VVhich being so they must also know confesse and all men els may plainly perceiue that this other part of his diuision serueth not his turne no more then the former to prooue her Maiesties dealings in the low Countries vnlawfull being grounded vpon a false supposition that is That the K. of Spain hath done vnto her Maiestie no such iniurie wherof shee should seeke reuenge Thus haue you heard his argument brought to an end for here he resteth euen in simple affirmations which I hope haue been sufficientlie conuicted both by substantiall reasons and instances so that there remaineth not now anie thing to be further answered his whole argument and euerie part thereof being confuted in order from the first proposition to the last And besides this vvhich you haue heard hath he not anie argumēt in his vvhole Pamphlet either to iustifie the rendering of Deuenter and Zutphen Forts or to disprooue her Maiesties doings against the K. of Spaine anie way which I haue heere both by the authorities of his owne Authours and by reasons deriued euen from himselfe most euidently declared to bee iustifiable euerie waie if they were greater then they are which I could with further more infallible reasons also confirme if it vvere requisite or apperteining to my purpose But I must novv bestovv a vvord or tvvo in noting vnto you some errours or ouersightes at the least escaped from D. Allen euen in the verie entrie almost of his argumēt vvhere in the circumstance he vseth to induce a probabilitie and credit of his first proposition he setteth dovvne a generall Thesis flat contrarie to that vvhich he goeth about to prooue For after manie speeches touching the necessitie of Restitution hovv thinges vvrongfullie gotten and deteined ought to bee restored in the ende hee concludeth vvith these verie vvordes Yet whatsoeuer is done against military discipline and Iustice is sinne and punishable by Gods lawes What can there bee saide more directly against the action of S. W. Stanley and the rest For there is none of them nor anie soldier els of any knowledge or experience but knoweth that to yeeld a Towne Fort or holde wherewith a man is put in trust to the enemy yea besieging it so long as there is within it sufficient strength and meanes to defend it yea though it were not defensible yet to yeeld it before due summons is death by the law of Armes much more to render a Towne freely without either force or demand or rather corruptly and traitorously to sel it for money but the law of Arms doth not punish anie fact with death which is not done against the same law and discipline therefore it must needs follow that the rendring vp of Deuenter and Zutphen Forts is against military discipline and consequently by D. Allens own position sin and punishable by Gods lawes VVhat a resolution call you this for the satisfying of mens consciences touching the lawfulnes of their action to lead them about with a circumstance of other meaning and in conclusion to tell them in plaine termes that that which they haue done is sin punishable by Gods lawes Yet are there two other errors though not so euident yet as worthy the noting euen in the next sentence immediatly going before where after he hath taught that restitutiō is to be made of al things vniustly takē withholdē vpō pain of damnatiō he addeth these wordes And this I say euen in lawfull warres or such as to the common people may be vpō their Princes credit so deemed Where though they may offend th'enimy in life goods liberty otherwise c. Wherein first he maketh no difference betweene lawfull warres vnlawfull warres which may vpon their Princes credit be by the common people deemed lawfull as though thinges were iust or vniust either vpon the Princes credit or according to the peoples opinion of them not of their own nature and according to the groundes and causes of them By this reason there should no warres be vnlawfull for there is no warre vndertaken but that both the Prince which mooueth it is able and doth pretend some reason or colour of reason to make it seeme iust and the common people also by the Princes declaration and perswasions may easily be induced to esteeme it to be lawfull Wherein by the way I must note some simplicitie or great dissimulation in D. Allen which would admit the lawfulnes or
of as much credit authority with them as Pythagoras had with his followers that would beleue whatsoeuer he said without any reasō or further enquiry of the matter thought it a sufficient cause to alleage also vnto others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he said so If D. Allen haue brought his Catholikes so much to the bēt of his bow he may be bold to tell them that the soule which was in the Coblers cocke after many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is crept at the lēgth into his body But in matters of conscience saluation or dānation as he saith these are let such as haue a conscience looke to their consciences not hazarde their saluation or dānation vpon his word but leane vnto reason seek to informe themselues rightly of the truth For if it be true as it is most true that Christ saith If the blind lead the blind they fall both into the pit which he meaneth of those that are blind indeede of ignorance much more shall it be true being meant of them that are wilfully blinde of obstinacie and desire not to see that both the leader the follower shall fall into the bottomlesse pit of euerlasting destruction BBut let vs now come to the very point and purpose whereunto this cunning pamphlet of D. Allens appeareth wholy to tend for he were very simple of a shallow reach that woulde thinke that D. Allen had not a further meaning herein then to satisfie the consciences of Sir William Stanley and his complices touching the lawfulnes of their giuing vp of Deuenter especially when he had before as he saith himselfe deliuered his opinion by his letters to Sir W. Stanley therevpon and therefore needed the lesse to go about to resolue them againe which were neuer vnresolued in that point besides euen in this pamphlet which he pretendeth to write onely for their resolution spēdeth least part of his time labour or cunning in that argument neither iustifieth their action in any sort but onely with bare wordes voide of weight or substance as hath bene sufficiently shewed but rather by his owne reasons disalloweth reproueth it leaueth it in the midst more doubtful indefēsible then before leaping into an other argument inuectiue against her Maiestie her doings of her excōmunication deposition by the Pope from thence to a perswasion of her liege people to reuolte from their obedience and allegeance vnto her Whereby he plainely bewrayeth euen more cleere and manifest then the light of the Sunne to all men of any meane vnderstanding yea to him that hath but halfe an eie that his verie direct ende and purpose was wholy to prepare the mindes of the Romish Recusants such as are apt hearers readie followers of his doctrine for the furtherance and assistance of all seditious practises that maie bee mooued and attempted against her Maiestie by the malicious Associates of that wicked confederacie and especially of the most iniurious inuasion long since conspired and complotted and now presently prouided to bee put in execution against her Maiestie and her Realme by the K. of Spaine the Pope and their Adherents And to this purpose wholy was this Pamphlet of D. Allens intended and the other Theme touching the rendring of Deuenter enterteined onlie for an introduction therunto Wherin whether he haue had anie wrong offred him in resembling him to Sinon whom he hath so truely represented herein I referre to the iudgement of the Romish Catholikes themselues that hold him in greatest reuerence Who how soeuer they are affected towardes him for Religions sake yet if there be anie sparke of true honor English valour or loue of their Countrie in them as I trust and assure my selfe there is I doubt not but looking into and well foreseeing the end of his purposes they will vtterly abhorre his vnnaturall practises But marke I praie you the order hee obserueth to attaine vnto his intent First to drawe her Maiestie into discredit and disliking with all men and consequently with her subiects whereby they maie bee the more easilie incited against her hee defameth all her most noble princelie and Religious actions vndertaken for the reliefe of her poore oppressed neighbours by the name of publike robberies and sacrilegious warres against God and his Church Secondly to giue them some encouragement and warrant as it were whereby they maie be the bolder to disobey and to renounce their due allegeance and seruice vnto her Maiestie hee teacheth them that since her Excommunication and Deposition by the Pope shee hath no iust title or interest vnto her Crowne and Kingdome nor anie power or authoritie ouer them to command them but that they are euer since that time freelie discharged from all duetie and allegeance vnto her Maiestie nay further that no act done by her authoritie since the publication of that Excommunication Deposition hath beene or can be lawfull by the law of God or man and therefore that no man may lawfully serue her in any action be it otherwise neuer so iust Whereupon he runneth into an earnest persuasion of reuolt to withdraw her Subiects from her seruice and exhort them to the seruice of the Romish Catholike partie and her enemies What blasphemous slanders prodigious affirmations impudent lies and deuilish persuasions are these and how farre vnbeseeming the name profession and calling of a Diuine But what is there so honest and godlie that D. Allen will not defame what so false and incredible that hee will not affirme what so wicked and abhominable that hee will not perswade It had been far fitter for D. Allen to haue dealt with his Portis and let alone the names and doings of Princes If hee had been as busie in his booke and as carefull of those thinges which belong to his vocation he might haue sought out more Diuinitie to satisfie the Consciences of his Catholike Soldiers and with more credit or probabilitie at the least defended their action then he hath done And as vnfit as it was for him to call in question the names and dooings of Princes so vnmeet were it for mee and repugnant to all good discretion to presume to enter into their defense of whose actions I am neither able nor worthie to speake sufficiently for their worthines whose sacred Maiestie and authoritie deriued from the high Gouernor of the world is as the brightnes of the Sunne shining in his greatest perfection not to bee gazed on by our dazled eies ought to be a shield of protection to all their dooings against the curious scanning and venimous detraction of malicious monsters Wherefore I wil not dare to meddle so much as with the mention of their names or actions whom God hath ordeined to represent his owne power and authoritie ouer vs here on earth without former crauing of pardon with all humilitie that I maie bee licenced onlie to examine the truth nay the detestable falshood of
these most iniurious calumniations Whereof also that I maie not seeme to make a question of that which is past al question not to be brought into question by such companions I will bee as spare of speech and vse as much breuitie as the cause and case will permit Now then I praie you M. Allen for to you will I now addresse my speech to you which are the defamer of vertue it selfe and the detracter of all godlines what publike robberies are those you obiect vnto vs for her Maiesties name is not fit to be defiled by your impure lippes what sacrilegious warres against God and his Church If you meane the defense or reliefe of the low Countries which is the onelie thing that galleth you in respect of the K. of Spaine your chiefe Patrone and the onlie matter that ministred you the argument of this your pamphlet her Maiesties dealings in that cause which it pleaseth you to terme wars haue ben sufficiently iustified alreadie against your obiections in this former discourse as well by the ouerthrow of your arguments as also by better and more forcible arguments brought against you drawen euen from your owne Authors nay from your owne manifest affirmations Therefore haue you small cause and lesse reason to runne on vpon a headlong conclusion of your owne false assumptions to defame those actions which you could not disprooue nay which your owne assertions haue prooued most lawfull This only should bee sufficient to stoppe your mouth though there were nothing more to be said in that behalfe But because I thinke it more expedient to satisfie other men such as wil with reason be satisfied then necessarie to answere your slanders I will not stand wholy vpon those aduantages VVherefore if anie man doubt either of the reason intent or Iustice of that action first for the former pointes I referre him to the declaration published by authoritie at the time when her Maiestie first sent her forces ouer into the low Countries Anno. 1585. wherein are declared the causes that mooued her Maiestie to giue aide and succourse vnto those afflicted Countries so fully and plainely as I doubt not but may satisfie anie reasonable man touching her reason and intent therein As for the iustice and lavvfulnes of the action albeit the reason and intent thereof being before declared and allovved must needes make the action also iustifiable vnto such as shall allovv of the causes yet because D. Allen shall not runne cleare away vvith an opinion of his conceit I vvil thinke it no great labor to iustifie also the action by argumēts dravven from his ovvn authors Iniustitiae duo sunt genera saith Cicero vnum eorum qui inferunt alterum eorum qui ab ijs quibus infertur si possint non propulsant iniuriam There are two kinds of iniustice the one in them that doe wrong themselues the other in them that doe not reskue and defend other men from the iniuries offered them if they be able Now of these two kinds of Iniustice the one was exercised by the K. of Spaine vpon the people of the low Countries as they saie themselues for I for my part will not imitate the example of D. Allen in charging Princes with Iniustice whereupon the said people crauing her Maiesties aide and assistance the other kinde saith Cicero should haue been offered them by her if shee should haue denied them her helpe and succours to defend them from iniurie Qui autem non defendit saith hee nec obsistit si potest iniuriae tà m est in vitio quà m si parentes aut patriam aut socios deserat But hee that doeth not defend nor withstand if hee can the wrong done to others is as much in fault as if hee should forsake his parentes Countrie or friendes which is the most vnnaturall iniustice Now if it be a principall point of Iniustice for a man not to defend and succour them that are iniuried if he be able and so farre foorth as hee is able to doe it then it followeth a contrarijs that it is a principall part of Iustice to assist and defend them that are wronged By which argument her Maiesties most gracious and Princely action in yeelding aide and defense vnto the poore oppressed people of the low Countries is effectually prooued to bee most iust lawfull and honourable and hee a lyer a slanderer and an abuser of men that hath wickedly sought to dishonour it I will not though well and iustly I might iustifie the action vpon Religion as beeing for the defense of the true Catholike and Apostolike Religion which we professe because I will not runne into the same fault which I reprehend in him that is Petere principium to ground mine argument vpon that which is in question between him and me no more then I wil allow him to impeach it vpon the authoritie of his former assumption That all the Prouinces of the low Countries are confessed to bee his Catholike Maiesties ancient and vndoubtfull inheritance which is in question of armes euen at this day and therefore not necessarie to bee disprooued by mee neither might I doe it vnles I would offende in the same fault which I also reprooue in D. Allen that is in dealing with Princes titles which is no part of his duetie and mine Now how vniustly and falsly he chargeth her Maiestie with entring by hostilitie into the King of Spaines Dominions surprising his Townes and Castles and bringing his people into her subiection let all men iudge that haue in them either reason discretion or indifferencie First it is as hath been alreadie said a thing in question cōtrouersie whether those parts of the low coūtries where her Maiesties forces haue bin be the K. of Spaines Dominions or no and if they bee not then is this a most euident and manifest slander euen before the face of the whole world But suppose them to be the K. of Spaines Dominions as he presumeth yet is it not vnknowen to anie priuate mean man in this Realme that knoweth anie thing of the affaires of those Countries that her Maiestie hath beene offered yea with humble and earnest sute of the people of those partes intreated to take both them and their Countries into her absolute protection rule and gouernment which though there were no great doubt but that shee might lawfully haue done yet hath her Maiestie euer hitherto vtterlie refused them which shee needed not neither by all likelihood would haue done if shee had had anie such great thirst after those Townes Castles Countries or peoples Dominion No her Maiestie is content with her owne kingdome and gouerneth her subiects by lawfull authoritie with Iustice and Clemency not by tyranny with rigor and oppression neither seeketh shee either by the Popes pretended authoritie and assistance to depose or by violēt armes to depriue other Princes of their kingdomes Shee cleaueth not to the Pope to make his supreme
villanie will suffer mee to remember and will you not acknowledge the Diuine prouidence and the fatherlie and louing kindnes of God vnto her Maiestie in so miraculouslie deliuering her euen out of the bloodie hands of the cruell Butchers for the aduancement of his glorious Gospell and propagation of true Religion by her faithfull and zealous Ministerie on the other side his iust iudgment and vengeance vpon the traitorous Parricides in not onlie defeating but discouering most wonderfullie euen by some of their owne mouthes their accursed and damnable purposes and bringing them to a shamefull end for an example to all others of that sort to take heede how they enter into such wicked conspiracies And who haue bin the actors in all these tragical attemptes but onlie such as you terme Catholikes professors of the Romish Religion and such as the Pope and his adherents haue inueigled and set on to execute their most impious and detestable deuises and to conclude such as Doctor Allen inticeth and exhorteth you now to bee But what Atheist is hee so irreligious what monster of nature so barbarous what Tyger so fierce and cruell as can finde in his heart to laie his hand vpon the Lords annointed to imbrue his murderous blade in the blood of a Prince of a Mayden Prince in whom is nothing but mildenes clemencie vertue modestie Religion all kinde of Princely nature and exellencie Whose royall Maiestie ought to be a terror to all traitorous thoughts whose tender sexe ought to bee a safegard against all violent assaults whose sacred vertue a protection against all villanous attempts Let Gods especiall fauours therefore miraculously shewed vnto her Maiestie and his exceeding blessings abundantly powred out by him vpon her Countrey bee vnto you as it is indeed an assured argument that her Religion is the true Religion acceptable vnto God and conformable to his word and let the vngodly and irreligious practises of the Church of Rome to murther Princes and mainteine Rebellion contrarie to the word and will of God be vnto you as they ought to bee infallible tokens of a false and counterfeit Religion and let the greeuous iudgement and iust vengeance of God inflicted vpon those abhominable Traitors bee vnto you as to your best behoofe it may bee a terror from assenting vnto anie such traitorous or rebellious enterprise Looke into the Histories of ages past either of forreine Nations or your owne Chronicles and tell mee where you euer reade or heard or founde written that Rebelles did euer preuaile against their lawfull Souereignes Looke neerer into the examples of your owne Countrey and within your owne memorie and namely the Insurrections in the time of the late most vertuous Prince of famous memorie Edward the sixt against whom a rabble of rebellious subiects in sundrie partes assembled themselues some pretending the quarrell of Religion some of a Common wealth and gathered mightie forces of manie thousands to the great amazement of the whole Countrey and the Prince a Child yet what I pray you was the ende of their Rebellion but speedie discomfiture and confusion The histories are ful of the like exāples of all ages for what age hath not brought forth of both sorts as well disobedient Rebels and miscreants as honest and duetiful subiects but how different soeuer the causes and quarrels haue been as there was neuer anie such action so bad but had the pretence and colour of some good intent for which the Rebels haue entred into Armes against their lawfull Princes yet the ende hath euer for the most part been alike For they that resist their Rulers resist God Whose ordinance they are and those that resist God God will confound them which is most wretched and miserable their infamie shall remaine vpon perpetuall record for a spectacle to all posteritie What hope haue you then left to encourage you to so godlesse an action to take armes against your gratious Souereigne Doe you expect redemption as you pretend Religion through the meanes and assistance of forreine Forces Nay rather assure your selues of certeine Captiuitie or destruction For if forreine powers should preuaile ouer your countrie do you hope for aduācemēt at their hands in your countrie No no your forrein Lordes will stand too much in doubt of your fidelitie towardes them which haue not been faithfull to your owne naturall Prince Countrie and therfore will keep you low inough for their own security for though they loue your treason yet they will not trust your traitorous mindes So shall you be faine with your Countrie to endure the losse of your libertie and in your Countrie become vassals bondmend vnto Strangers A iust reward for your vniust rebellion And this is the best issue you are to expect of so bad an action For if your forreine auxiliarie forces goe to the ground as I trust they shall if euer they giue the attempt against her Maiestie and this Realme looke you to goe with them also for companie as you are well worthie if you goe not before them euen when soeuer you shal first offer to stir For I know English men how soeuer some few of the skumme and dregges of them as of other Nations may either of a discontented minde or desire of alteration for hauock and spoiles sake or through the lewde inticements of others be stirred vp to sedition yet they are all generally by nature most faithfull vnto their Prince and Countrie and especiallie against forreine enemies in a case of Inuasion whereupon they shall see lieth the hazard of the vniuersal ouerthrow of themselues and their Countrey And therefore whatsoeuer you bee that beare a Rebellious minde against your Prince and Countrey and an vnnaturall affection to the partaking and furtherance of a forreine enemie make sure account of this that there shall not so soone be fiue Rebels gathered in a cluster to runne to their confederates but there will bee fiftie true harted Subiects rounde about them readie to cut their throates And doubt you not but the Magistrates are circumspect prouident and carefull inough to set a good order and caution for the timely preuenting of all such your pernicious purposes Seeing then the assured issue of your rebellious attemptes if anie of you should be so wickedly inclined and the present danger and destruction hanging ouer your heads mee thinks you should haue but litle courage or comfort to stir in such a cause against your Prince Countrie But let not terror in these outward respects either onlie or principally driue you from disobeying or resisting of your Souereign whom you are expresly commanded by God to obey not for feare but for conscience but if there be in you Religion as you pretend shew your religion in obeying his word and feare his euerlasting iudgements if you disobey him So shal your obedience to your Prince bee a willing a hartie a cheerfull a louing a faithfull obedience acceptable
to God comfortable to your Prince and healthfull to your owne soules NOw to such as are faithfull true harted subiects to her Maiestie as I trust all are I shal not neede to vse anie exhortation at all because I know you are already so wel affected in hart towards your gracious Souereigne and so throughlie confirmed in your obedience and duetie as there cannot bee more added thereunto by anie mans persuasions Therfore will I onelie giue you in a word such comfort encouragement as I haue receiued my selfe from mine owne conscience to perseuer constantlie in that obedience in the defense of Gods truth our Princes safetie the weale libertie of our Countrie You haue plainly vnderstood by this discourse the malicious minde purpose of D. Allen and his partie against our Queene countrey the seditious practises and persuasions vsed by him in his Pamphlet to the furtherance therof which though I know they can take no hold of any of you yet let vs take this benefit of our enemies to make their doings our warnings to arme our selues against their malice That they wish ill to vs we need not doubt their owne writinges bewray it That they intend il towardes vs wee must needes suppose their practises haue declared it That they meane to attempt ill against vs wee may well assure our selues their preparations doe certeinlie confirme it How then shall wee bee dismaied at it that were not manlike Shall Romish and Spanish forces appall vs That were dishonourable for English men Shall we be daunted with the feare of a forrein enemy Then should we degenerate from the courage of our forefathers Their forces are great ours greater Their threatnings are terrible our valour is tried Their pride vnmatched our courage vnmated Their malice deadly our mindes vndaunted Their furie vehement our quarrell iust godlie honourable They fight for reuenge wee for defense they for the spoile we for our liues and liberties they for the Pope we for God and our Prince And what is hee nay what is shee that will not take armes that wil not fight that will not die in this quarrel Our fathers haue vanquished forreine Princes and shall not wee fight for our owne Prince Our fathers haue conquered other Realmes and shall not wee defend our owne Realme Our fathers haue been Lords of other Countries and shall we be slaues in our owne Countrie What an alteration or rather degeneration would this bee in vs how dishonourable to the English name and Nation How iustlie might all other Nations reproach vs and all succeeding ages record vs for vnworthie Subiects of so worthie a Prince degenerate Children of so generous Parentes and infamous Inhabitantes of so famous a Countrey Let vs therefore all of vs seeing the quarrell is generall and common to vs all for the defense of true Religion our Prince and our Countrey let vs all prepare our selues cheerefullie to th'encounter let vs not respect the crie of wife or childe let vs respect their defense let vs plucke vp our hartes take vp our armes and march hardilie to meete with our enimie let vs fight with him let vs die vpon him yea let vs seeke him if he seeke not vs. We do all owe God a death how shall we better pay it then in hîs quarrell Our liues are all at our Princes commandement how can they be better spent then in hêr seruice We are all borne for our countrey why should we then refuse to die for our countrey If we die in Gods quarrell we shall liue in his kingdome If we die in our Princes seruice we shall liue in the memorie of all posteritie If we die in defense of our countrey our renowme shall liue for euer A Heathen Poet could saie to his heathen countreymen in his age Dulce decorum est pro patria mori It is a sweete and honorable death In countreys cause to spend our vitall breath And shall not we Christians thinke it most dishonorable for vs to feare to die in the common cause of our God our Prince and our countrey Why D. Allen himself in his pamphlet where he goeth about to discourage vs by admonishing vs not to be emboldened by the Memory of our old English notorious battailes and victories which in olde time were comparable to what prouinces or peoples were most famous nor by th'esteeme or opinion either true or partiall of our present strength and courage in England what doth he but adde comfort and courage vnto vs in stirring vs vp aswell by the examples of our forefathers victories to imitate their vertues as by the knowledge of our own strength and courage to take hart and courage vnto vs Let vs then not cast away that encouragemēt which he giueth vs rather let vs augment it by our own constancie of mind and resolution If the strength of our Realme were great in our forefathers times it is now far greater Nay it was neuer so great in any Princes age as it is now God be thanked And when our realme was not so strong yet hath it conquered other Nations and was neuer conquered by any so long as it was true within it selfe And nowe when our forces are greatest shall our faith bee least when our state is most prosperous shall wee bee most miserable when our quarrell is most glorious shall we bee most infamous No no let vs link togither in one mind in one faith in one force let vs sticke togither fight togither die togither like men like Englishmen like true-harted Englishmen Let vs all and euery one of vs shew ourselues forward in aduauncing this seruice of the common cause with our substance with our forces and with our bodies also to the vttermost as a great number of our faithfull countreymen in diuers partes of the realme yea whole countyes cities and townes and namely the honorable citie of London haue done most duetifully louingly and honorably Which I do the more willingly remember not onely for the comfort of my selfe and them and euery good subiect and to their great honor and commendation but also for an incitement vnto others by their example to be stirred vp vnto the like duetie and forwardnes Wherein if we ioyne all our hartes armes and forces togither like true and faithfull subiects I am fully perswaded our forrein inuadors whensoeuer they come shall find England the hotest countrey that euer they set foote in We are likely inough to measure their Spanish Cassocks with our English bowes and their shoulders with our browne billes before they measure our broad cloth with their long pikes And before it come to that I doubt not but some thousands of them God being our guide shall cary their last message vnto their great grandfathers the next way by water But what do I vse encouragement to thē that are of themselues most couragious valiant and euen eaguer to fight Yet let me adde this to your
greatest comfort If God bee with vs who can bee against vs And that God is with vs in this quarrell let vs stedfastly assure ourselues howsoeuer D. Allen perswade the contrarye and let him and his partakers knowe that God is against them and will bee so long as they oppose themselues against the obedience of his word the knowlddge of his Truth the light of his glorious Gospell And that God may be with vs still and continue with vs for euer let vs humble ourselues vnto him dayly and duely with earnest and hartie prayer and repentance let vs serue him continually with a zealous feare and obedience let vs glorifie him incessantly with a liuely faith and constancie lastly let vs giue ourselues wholy to him that we may winne him wholy vnto vs. So we being his and he ours let vs all and euery one of vs comfort ourselues vpon his assurance let vs fortifie our mynds vpon his assistance and adde our endeuour to his encouragement assuring ourselues that fighting in so godlie so iust so honorable a quarrell the successe cannot be but most happie most prosperous most glorious that if we defend our countrey we shall remaine free and safe if wee ouerthrow our Enimies we shall abide victorious if we die in this quarrell we shall liue eternally To which assurance of freedome safety victorie life what comfort can be comparable FINIS There is another print of this pamphlet extant without meÌ„cioÌ„ of place which differeth much and in sunday plaâ—es from the coppie printed at Deuenter For in that the gentlemaÌ„s letter is dated the 20. day of May. 1587. and subscribed with the letters N. R. D. Allens answer dated the 20. of Iuly following besides diuers other differences in the substance of the pamphlet Aeneid lib. 2 A tricke of D. Allens cunning to write a letter to him selfe in another mans name demanding his resolution only to giue himselfe some probabilitie of occasion to enter into the treatie of this argument A far further purpose in D. Allens Pamphlet then that which is pretended by the title An vnseemely thing for a man of D. Allens profession or calling to vse shifting and dissimulation D. Allens dealings in this Painphlet both for the maner matter and meaning doe in all pointes most euidently resemble the dealings of Sinon Matth. 13. 9. A preiudicate opinioÌ„ ought not to make men so obstinate as to condemne a thing before they know or haue seene it so vtterly to reiect reason Psal 50. How humbly circumspectly and vprightly meÌ„ ought to behaue themselues in matters of religion Euery man ought to examine his own conscience and sift his religion and endeuour still to be rightly enformed of the truth not to rely wholy vpon the example authoritie or perswasions of other men especially in matters of controuersie stopping their eares against reason for euery vessell shall stand vpon his own bottome It is a shame for D. Allen so great a Diuine to handle a matter of saluatioÌ„ or damnation so profanely vsing altogether argumeÌ„ts and authorities drawen from philosophers but none froÌ„ the holy Scriptures His prophane handling neglect of Scripture proofe is a great argument either of weakenes in his cause or hypocrisy in himselfe or of both D. Allen neither frameth nor followeth any one argument in due forme orderly but shuffleth out single propositions at randon confusedly The maine proposition and ground of his first argument Drawne from the rule of moral Iustice whose peculiar office is suum cuique tribuere D. Allens sophistrie His argumeÌ„t being laid togither consisteth of 4. termini Euery priuate subiect is not to examine his princes publike actions be they right or wrong but to looke to his owne peculiar charge duety and othe Much lesse may any priuate subiect make himselfe iudge corrector and executioner of Iustice against his Prince vpon his owne authority and at his owne pleasure Offic. lib. 1. D. Allen sheweth no authority of Scripture whereby the Popes Bull may dispense with this breach of their oth His argumeÌ„t Here now appeareth manifestly the fault of his argument being drawn to a forme of Syllogisme All these three pointes are contained in his Minor which he is to prooue His argumeÌ„t for the proofe of his Minor This argument is euen as good as the former The Minor of this second argument which he is to proue Two pointes of this Minor to be denyed whereof D. Allen proueth neither The causes why they may both iustly be denyed These two pointes being denyed as appeareth they may be with good reason D. Allens argument is vtterly auoyded without further answere or proceeding for he proueth neither There was neuer any such confession heard of as D Allen here imposeth vpon vs but the contrarie is both affirmed and absolutely mainteined at this day D. Allens assertion to proue the English warres in the low couÌ„tries not to be for defence against enimies All D. Allens proofes depend vpon th'authority of his owne word for he doth but barely affirme what it pleaseth him without adding any reason to confirme his assertions 1 Besides in this assertion he doth petere principium assume that which is all the matter in question 2 The English warres in the low countries iustified by seuerall reasons drawne from D. Allen himselfe 3 Pag. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. The first argument drawne from D. Allen. Pag. 23. Another argumeÌ„t drawn from D. Allens owne words to iustifie the English warres in any sort against the K. of Spaine as being for defence against enemies D. Allen giueth vs to vnderstand that if the K. of Spaine were once quietly possest of the low Countreys we were not likely loÌ„g to enioy either peace or safetie Lib. 1. de Offic The Argument gathered into a Syllogisme Another ArgumeÌ„t drawn from D. Allen himselfe also to proue the King of Spaine our enemy The Argument a Relatiuis The other part which D. Allen is to prooue of his diuision drawen from Cicero D. Allens assertion that the King of Spaine hath done vnto her Maiestie no iniurie c. a A touch only of some parts offered the Q. Maiestie by the K. of Spaine which may well be deemed Iniuries yea in the highest degree b The InuasioÌ„ in Ireland Anno. 1580. c The practises of Mendoza his Embassador here with our English Traitors The practices for the deposing of her Maiestie and aduancing of the Q. of Scots to the crown For this point I appeale to the conscience and knowledge of the Papists themselues which know anie thing All D. Allens arguments end in single affirmations which also are neither confirmed with any authoritie or reason by him nor carry any truth or probabilitie in themselues Some grosse errors or ouersights escaped D. Allen in the handling of this argument A generall Thesis pronounced by himselfe flatly coÌ„demning the action which he laboureth so much to iustifie and commend The rendering of DeueÌ„ter prooued by D.