they must needes fayle in the meanes For the cause which they would maintaine being in it selfe vniust they can bynd no mans conscience by any violence to approue it how soeuer some may dissemble for flatterie or feare which auayleth litle to the Kinges purpose Wherfore till they can finde out some proportionable meanes to perswade men of iudgment that they haue Iustice on their side and that their opinions are true and the Catholicke Religion false which as they well know is impossible all the rest they can do to make their cause seeme good is wholy vnprofitable And togeather with this supposing that which is most true although such as be about his Maiesty endeauour to conceale it that the number of such as be in their hartes Catholickes and belieue all that the Recusants professe is greater without all comparison then these that be formally hereticks and that euen amongst those that were furthest out of the way many come euery day to vnderstand the Truth and many to professe it It were much better and far more proportionable for that which his Maiesty intendeth if he intend to quiet his Kingdome and assure his Royall Estate to himself and his Successors when he should be pleased to do no more at least to suffer mens consciences to be free seing for the reason alleaged he cannot tye them and by this meanes content all and oblige all to loue him and serue him and especially those that now he houldeth in greatest iealousy to be his most loyall Subiectes and most obedyent and more sure to him then any of the rest then contrary wise vsing violence without necessity where it can haue no place whilst he laboureth to content a few cause iust indignation in multitudes which can bring no good and in tyme may be occasion of many ineuitable harmes Moreouer for the intēt which his Maiesty hath to vnite his two Kingdomes of Scotland and England in one vnder the Title of Great Bryttaine what meane can be deuised more effectuall then that which onely hath vnity in it selfe and consequently vertue to vnite others and which only hath meanes to preserue it selfe and such as imbrace it in vnity The Catholicke fayth hath this propriety to vnite and with her secret vertue and force to reduce such as lyue dispersed like sauage and wilde people to the estate of men and perfect vse of reason in ciuill lyfe teaching them to brydle their passions and conquer their ill customes amend their manners and abandone their former vices and sinnes and in sine to yield their willes to rule and reason making them men and Christian men faythfull to God and dutyfull to their Commaunders which before were barbarous rebellious to God and to their Princes and litle better then beastes This the ancient Histories that treate of the peopling of many partes of Europe doe teach most euidently where men lyued like bruyte beastes vntill they were instructed and reformed with this holy Religion And at this day we see in Brasile and many partes of the Indies that Catholicke Religion hath effected with great facility that which souldyers Armes could not do drawing the people out of the caues mountaynes and woods which before they inhabited euery one by himselfe to build townes and Cytties in the playnes and lyue sociably in Community frequenting the Churches and holy Sacramentes and all other actes of Christian profession with great piety and deuotion And both the Histories of these Countryes and such as come from thence testifie that with this Catholike discipline they haue profited so much in ciuility morall conuersation and politike lyfe that in many places they are nothing inferiour to the ancient Christians yea in some parts they goe beyond them in the exercises of Christianity and in all that is cōmendable in a morall lyfe in so much as the Gouernours of these Countries laying downe their armes giuing ouer attempts of war many tymes vsed with much bloudshed and little effect haue thought it a better course more proportionable to their end to send them teachers to instruct them in the Catholicke fayth because they see by experience that with this meane they bring to passe easily in few monethes that which they could not do by force in many yeares The same may be sayd of some Nations here in Europe which haue professed enimity and deadly hatred tyme out of mynd one against another by reason of bloudy warres and hostility that had passed betweene them and by meanes of this soueraigne band of vnity haue beene reconciled and brought to lyue vnder one Gouerment with great peace and friendship which doubtlesse could neuer haue beene done nor so inueterate and violent humors tempered but by this sacred and sweete lenitiue of Catholicke Religion And for this reason it is called Catholicke because as it is common to all so it is fit for all and a common band with peculiar effect to reunyte and tie togeather such as the waywardnes of mans miserable nature hath drawne to auersion and deuided Extremes if they are to be made one must needs haue some meanes to vnite them and those which agree in one third and so principall a meane of vnion as is the Catholike faith with hope charity and in such a body of Religion as agreeth in those vertues may easily preserue themselues in amity and accord though in some lesser matters there arise differēces Will you haue a proofe of this neare home and proper to this purpose I my selfe in diuers partes haue knowne English-men and Scottes notwithstanding their old auersion and antipathy almost turned into nature yet being Catholikes to liue togeather in great amity and friendship Neither must it seeme strange for the communication in the same faith the common vse of the same Sacraments and common fountaine of grace piercing and deuiding betwixt the marrow and the bone doth clense the rust canker of corrupt natures instinct and remoue all Nationall quarrels emulations And without doubt neyther can his Maiesty find nor any other man deuise any other so proportionable a meane as this to make his two Kingdomes one or to preserue any long time the amity begun betweene them considering the deadly hatred fastered and inueterated causes of disunion which they haue carried in their bowels for so many ages past Non adhaeret testa ferro Nature cannot do it nor Art bring it to passe Onely this heauenly confection is able to worke this great wonder And the reason more in particuler may be because this Religiō once entring and taking root in mens harts it is as the Scripture saith Virtus Dei ad salutem subduing in man whatsoeuer is of man to the obedience of our Sauiour God and Man Christ Iesus whereby man ceaseth to be himselfe and that which before he was to himselfe and is transformed into a liuely member and part of the Mysticall body of Christ for reuerence and due respect to his Head yieldeth dutifull obedience to
good subiectes hartes from their due obedience both to God and vs. And lastly because the horror and detestation of the Powder Y The Catholikes haue more horrour and detestation against such Actes then those that make all this shew I haue touched before that which in this all other treasons may be obiected which they do impute vnto them that haue as little hand in them as themselues as they know full well here in part bewray imputing to English Catholikes the death of the late King of France wherein all the world knoweth they neyther had nor possibly could haue any hand treason in the mindes of our Parliament bred amongst other thinges that Oath of Z This is a matter mistaken and the Statistes are farwyde that thinke to draw Subiects by violence to their Allegiance and fidelity by force For to my vnderstanding and to any mans else that vvill iudge indiffereÌ„tly there can be no more direct cause of disloyalty to Kings then to constraine their Subiects to infidelity and inforce them to be disloyal to God the King of Kings and Lord of all Allegiance to be taken by our subiectes so highly impugned by the Pope his followers as we are inforced by our A His Maiesties pen had bene ill imployed and himselfe very ill aduised as by effect is seen if the Book had bene his For it hath bene reproued in all Kingdomes confuted almost in all Languages vvith losse of reputation and note of small learning and lesse discretion in the Author For although the Pamphlet was published in his Maiesties Name yet it is generally held that the Name onely was his verily they who hould this opinion doe him more seruice and honour his Maiesty more then the others that father so seely a worke vpon so wise and learned a Prince as his Maiesty of Great Britanny is knowne to be owne pen to take in hand the mayntenance of our cause for that Oath which howsoeuer odious it was to the Pope yet was it deuised as an Act of great fauour and Clemency towardes so many of our subiects who though blinded with the B Woe be to you saith the Prophet that call euill good and good euill that make darknes light and light darknes Isay 5. 20. superstition of Popery yet carryed a dutyfull hart towardes our obedience For hereby was there a separatioÌ„ and distinction made betweene that sort of Papistes and the other pernicious sort that C This is a manifest calumniation and slaunder wherwith malicious people haue possessed his Maiesty depraued his vnderstanding to make him more vntractable in his false religion and more implacable with Catholikes couple togeather that damnable doctrine and detestable practice before meÌ„tioned Therfore in consideration that the said Oath serueth to D A pretty deuise when all other faile to draw away money from them But I will foretell you the successe Non gaudebit tertius heres Quia pretium sanguinis est It is the price of bloud and cannot prosper make so true and mercifull distinction between these two sortes of Papistes as is allreadie sayd we cannot but hould it most conuenient for the weale of all our good subiectes and discouerie of bad people that greater care shal be vsed hereafter in the generall ministration of this Oath E And when all should take it what profit would redound to the King verily none at all but rather great harme as already hath bene said and shal be said more at large hereafter to all our subiects then hath beene heretofore vsed And therfore it is our express will and pleasure accordingly we doe heerby straitly charge commaund all and singular our Bishops Iustices of Assise Iustices of Peace and all other our Officers whome it may coÌ„cerne to minister the same to all such persons and in all F This Oath cannot in any case be lawfull for the end which they doÌ„ pâ—etend nor is it a Law that which approueth it But in this as in many other things they abuse euidently the word Law to credit their dealings in these lawlesse practises Neyther can it haue any true conueniency for a thing so violent and vniust cannot be conuenient eyther to assure the safety of his Maiesties person or of his Royall succession nor to appease the disquietnes feare which he may conceaue eyther vpon iust or vniust cause but all quite contrary as hath bene said The selfe samâ— comparison houldeth as the Philosopher saith betweene the King and his Subiects the Father and his children the Sheepheard and his flocke Similis est comparatio Arist 8. Ethic. A good and true Prince indeed ought to be able to gouerne his people not onely vprightly but also with loue and courtesy For it is vnfitting that a sheepheard should hate or persecute his flock Arch. de lege Iust But what faith the Poet in this case Qui Sceptra duro saeuus Imperio regit Timet timentes metus in auctorem redit Oed. ac 3. Ille tot Regum parens Caret sepulchro Priamus flamma indiget ardente Troia Sen. in Hecub such cases as by the law they are enabled knowing that the meaning of the law was not onely to authorize theÌ„ to do it when they would and to forbeare it at their pleasure but to require it at their handes as a necessary dutie committed to them and imposed vpon theÌ„ as persons of chiefe principall trust vnder vs for the good and safety of vs and our estate Giuen at our Pallace of VVhite-hall the second day of Iune in the eight yeare of our Raygne of Great Brytaine France and Ireland A LETTER OF A GENTLE VVOMAN OF QVALITY residing on this side the seas written to her Husband in England exhorting him to constancie in the persecution Translated out of the Latin Copie GOOD Sir I humbly thank you for the care you haue takeÌ„ in giuing me notice of that which passeth and am right glad to see you so resolute our Lord giue you grace to continue constant vnto the end And seing God hath giuen you light to discerne what doth most import you I beseech you for his loue remember that to go back at any tyme herafter or leaue this holy Resolution for humane respects should be for your greater condemnation And although the loue you beare vnto me and to your children with other respectes of flesh and bloud might cause in you some strife and contradiction yet good Husband do not in any case suffer your feruour to wax cold As for our children they are so well allyed that there is no feare they can want being of the yeares they are all well considered they haue inough left them But if notwithstanding all these hopes should fayle them yet they liue vnder the protection of their heauenly Father and vnder his prouidence which is more to be esteemed then all the treasures of the world As for my selfe or any thing that may concerne me do not afflict your selfe in
all lawfull Superiours whether they be spirituall or temporall to ech of them in that which appertayneth to their charge as to the Substitutes Lieftenants of him to whom all subiection is due And as this is voluntary proceeding of conscience and loue so it causeth concord and good will to all others of the same body without difference many times to such as for personall respects deserue little to be obeyed or loued This is the true root and reason of estate this is the true and only policie to effect vnion this is the only proper method of curing old inueterate soares of discord and the only way to heale effectually those that so long time haue layen festering And howsoeuer at this present they be couered and ouer-healed they be not hoale in the bottome and therefore must be prudently and perfectly healed least with new occasions they breake out againe with greater violence and extremity then euer before And to hasten this breach I cannot imagine how his Maiesty or any for him could deuise a more effectuall or more speedy meanes then he hath taken in hand powling and impouerishing the natiue Englishmen Catholikes to enrich and aduāce strangers and heretikes to whome he giueth their goods and dispossesseth them of their Patrimonyes and Lands which their Ancestors had lawfully enioyed many hundred yeares only because they will not sweare that which they thinke to be false nor goe against their Consciences to the Protestants Churches without any other offence to the King or Common-wealth Who can looke on this be he neuer so great an enemy of Catholike Religiō that will not loath it especially considering that those who suffer these wrongs are the best Subiects most innocent and of more vertuous and exemplary life then any other of the Common-wealth Suppose they were deceaued in their beliefe houlding for true the Religion which all their Ancestors euen from the Apostles time haue belieued for their aduersaries cannot giue instance where when or by whome any poynt of that which they belieue and professe was inuented or brought in since the Apostles tyme notwithstanding their cauill of Ceremonyes and other accidents out of the substance which may be added altered or taken away as tymes and oceasions require without preiudice to the fayth or Religion to which they appertaine But as I say supposing the Catholicks liued in errour and misbeliefe this same errour authorized by so long Prescription as I haue sayd deserueth not punishment but pardon and toleration especially it being as their greatest enemies must needes confesse without any hurt to the Common wealth for none can deny but that the Recusants lyfe and conuersation is of much more edification and good example in all manner of Christian vertue then any of the rest And this and no other thing is the cause that their Aduersaryes finding in them no faults of their owne are forced to accuse them of other mens offences and to calumniate and slaunder them with false imputations as the old Persecutors did the Christians of the primitiue Church and this also is the cause of so vnusuall and improper manner of speaking as may be obserued in these Proclamations and Lawes And they are drawne by necessity to this manner of proceeding forced to charge them with secret crimes for indeed all that passeth in publicke wherof the world may be wytnes is in their fauour And therfore they vrge them what they thinke and not onely that but what they would thinke in tyme to come vpon conditionall cases which are neuer like to be A strange manner of proceeding and not heard of in other places But to this miserable perplexity and suspition men come that will gouerne without God his Truth And if these thinges of themselues cannot but mooue to compassion any true English indifferent hart of whatsoeuer Religion the party be what an ey-sore must it needes be what hart-burning thinke you doth it cause to see withall the spoyle of these innocent subiects turned to mayntaine the pride and superfluities of Strangers some of them making their nestes in the toppes of the Noblest and fruitfullest trees that is planting themselues in the best Houses and Familyes and occupying the chiefest Offices and Roomes of the Common wealth others returning home to their Countrey loaden with the spoile of Catholickes goodes who doubtlesse least of all others feele their owne harms as men best armed with patience and most comforted with the considerations abouesayd and the like to suffer all that cōmeth for Christ But for the rest no doubt but their hartes are filled with indignation and bytternes whatsoeuer Religion they professe and much more those of other Sectes and most of all those that be furthest of from Catholicke Recusancie as men lesse mortified more styrring more ready to be moued to anger disdayne and reuenge howsoeuer they may couer it for a tyme. And this generally out of Nationall passions and affections which no doubt are more vehement and more inflamed where there concurreth also particuler respectes And at this day you shall hardly find any one famylie of worth in England that by one way or other in the roote or in the branches hath not allyance or interest in the cause persecuted The experience of fourty yeares and vpward wherin they haue persecuted the Catholickes in that Kingdome supposing by that way to roote out their Religion is a strong argument amongst many others to conuince their Aduersaries that they hould a wrong course for all the world seeth that by this persecution Catholicks haue increased both in number and zeale with them the meanes that God hath ordained for their preseruation both at home abroad For within the Kingdome there be at this day many more Priestes and Religious men to teach the Truth to such as desire it then were when Queene Elizabeth made the first Capitall Lawes against them And generally Catholickes are more constant and more ready to endure the penalty of the Lawes and the Colledges for the bringing vp of such as God selecteth for the mayntenance of this cause are more in number euery day And as their afflictions continue so their friends increase and the more their vertue is tryed and their cause more knowne the more readines they find and more desire in all good men to help them This experience in truth were there nothing else doth plainly demonstrate that his Maiesty in prudence of Estate though he had no greater Motyues should bethinke himselfe of some other course and vse more proportionable meanes to bring about his Honourable Designments And doubtlesse if his Iudgment and other Naturall Giftes be answerable to the report he will easily see the conuenience by that which hath beene sayd setting passion and bad Counsayle aside For what man is there of any vnderstanding that hauing bene troubled fourty yeares togeather with one and the selfe same infirmity and vsing all that while the same dyet the same Phisitians the same method in
any case for by Gods grace and fauour I shal receaue more comfort in suffering pouerty with you for so iust a cause then in enioying all that we haue hitherto possessed Nay fetting aside the obligation I haue to you and my children I would choose to liue with lesse then the Kings Maiesty must allow vs supposing the most rigorous execution of his law yea rather to loose all then you should admit the least disquietnes or stayn in your cōscience Consider how little this world is to be esteemed for it selfe how vaine vncertaine and troublesome it is and that the greatest part you haue enioyed of it hitherto hath beene spent in satisfying your owne desires and the least in his seruice that gaue you all you haue You must also remember that the goodes you possesse are but lent you for the true Lord and owner is God himselfe who in a trice can take all from you in such sort that they shall not auayle you eyther for your body or for your soule Consider then with your selfe his infinit goodnes in giuing you meanes to enioy an euerlasting inheritance onely for leauing willingly those temporalities wherof in very truth you are but a Steward It is therfore great reason you be thankfull and hould your selfe most happy to haue this occasion and to haue found that pretious Iewell for which the wise Merchant sould all that he had By this meanes you shal be partaker of that blessing which by the supreme Iudge himselfe is promised to such as suffer persecution for Iustice And howsoeuer your Father may vrge and presse you with the ouerthrowing of your house and vndoing of your posteritie you must remember allwayes that the obedience we owe to God must haue the first place and that without this all other vertues loose their value and be vnprofitable Here also the holy Prophets obseruation maketh much to our purpose who affirmeth out of his owne experience of many yeares That he neuer had seene the iust man forsaken nor his posterity come to want And our Sauiour sayth He that for my sake doth not leaue his Father Mother Wyfe Children and whatsoeuer els he hath is not worthy of me Wheras on the other side he promiseth to such as forsake all for his loue an hundred for one in this world and afterwards eternall lyfe Let vs therfore settle our selues in this truth and establish this good purpose in our hartes not to admit for temporall respectes any thing against our conscience which at the dreadfull day of doome must iudge vs. And what would it atravle vs to gaine the whole world with losse of our soules for euer It is not sufficient for our saluation to beleeue with the hart the truth which is taught vs if we do not make publick profession of it before all the world when occasion requireth Not that we ought to hazard our selues without iust cause for without it we may not offer our selues to daunger And therfore if you feare to be vrged with the Oath I thinke it better that you procure some Protection from the King to preuent your aduersaries then to be constrained to refuse it in publicke iudgment and this fauour you may procure by frendship and so free your self from his Maiesties displeasure But if in case it should be thought more for Gods glorie to refuse it publickly in open Sessions I speake plainly my mind I doe wholy submit my self to Gods good pleasure and my iudgment to yours and to others that know better what is best to be done Neyther doe I thinke it conuenient that you depart the Realme without licence least by your absence your enemies take occasion to accuse you of contempt to his Maiesty and his lawes therupon proceed to all the rigour which their malice can deuise against your Religion For this as you see would be of little edification to others and great losse of reputation to your self and of that merit which you might gaine with God taking the other course Wherfore my deare Husband I humbly beseech you dispose your selfe to imbrace the very worst that can befall you in this occasion and offer it all with a cheerfull hart to our Sauiour who loueth the ioyfull giuer And assure your self that you haue nothing to feare for me for I haue set vp my rest and am readie for all that God shall appoint And if it proue affliction I doubt not but by his assistance it shall turne to ioy and contentment considering for whome and for what cause it is suffered That which I desire greatly is that you consider your debtes For indeed if all we haue were our owne let it all goe in Gods name for his loue but we must not leese willingly that which is not ours And therfore I haue sent you an estimate so neere as I can remember of your present estate And if it be your pleasure I will find meanes to come and see you but for this purpose prouide me some house whither I may retyre my selfe securely And with this I haue fulfilled your desire acquainting you with my opinion peraduenture with more wordes then are necessary of purpose to assure you that you need take no care for me nor for any thing that may concerne me nor afflict your selfe with any feare of any trouble losse or persecution that may befall you for the loue of God All the rest I commit to his diuine Prouidence beseeching him to succour and assist vs both with his grace and fauour Amen AN ADVERTISMENT TO THE READER FOR THE BETTER vnderstanding of the former Proclamation and Answere BY that which hath beene sayd the discreet disapassionate Reader will easily discerne two (A) Non est nobis colluctatio aduersus carnem sanguinem sed aduersus Principes ot Potestates tenebrarum Ephes 6. 12. Quis Regem Saul incitauit in Dauidem Quis excitauit Doech Syri nequitiam vt sanctum virum proderet c. Nisi spiritus malus Ambr. in Psalm 118. 2. different spirits encountred in this action The one turbulent and vnquiet disguised by art and with false colours of Estate to discredit the truth The other milde plaine peaceable and quiet disposing men to suffer for truth what and whensoeuer shal be thought necessary And if any man be desirous to know more in particuler the affections operations and effectes that these two opposite spirits worke where they find entrance he may easily trace and find them out by their footesteps in this Proclamation Lawes and Letters The spirit (B) Nos autem non spiritum huius mundi accepimus sed spiritum qui ex Deo est vt sciamus quae à Deo donata sunt nobis 1. Cor. 2. 12. of this world causeth in his followers first an ouer-weening conceipt of themselues and a secret (c) Omnis qui malè agit odit lucem non venit ad lucem vt non arguantur opera eius Ioan. 3. 20. auersion from that soueraygne
open the dores in the darke to the amazement of the familyes make that spoile and hauocke which such manner of people are like to do in such occasions To the basenes of the persons and rigour of the Lawes may be added another thing worth the noting to wit the extorsion of the penalties by a new stratageme of Astronomy and computation of tymes of their owne For example the law is That euery Recusant pay twenty poundes a Moneth for not going to Church What doe these ingenuous Executours The ordinary accōpt that the Astronomers gather by the motion of the Planets doth not content them by this the yeare as wese is deuided into twelue Monethes but it is not for them they will haue it by weekes and so find thirteene Moneths in the yeare by this accompt extend the penalty of that Statute vpon the Recusants Now what reason equity and iustice is in this let any indifferent man consider The Lawes of themselues are rigorous and odious and these set them on the tenters stretch them out beyond their nature and execute them with more rigour then the Law-makers did intend Viderit vtilitas By this example you may gather many others which for breuity I omit Heere somebody may doubt seeing the Indignation of the Persecutors of this time is greater or at least equall to that of Queene Elizabethes tyme how commeth it to passe that now there is not so much bloud shed Martyrdome of Priestes and of their receauers as then To this I answere that experience hath taught them how much they loose by open cruelty And they find it more for their aduauntage to consume the Catholikes by hunger rather then to kyll them by the sword For making them awaie by little and little they dy many deathes the manner of their dying is more painfull and lesse spoken of so that by this deuice they double their cruelty yet haue a colour to pretend Clemencie and commendation of Mercy Nay that which is more they would make the world belieue they persecute no man for Religion And for this cause hauing persuaded his Royall Maiesty to follow the footsteps renew the persecution of his Predecessour they deuised this new Oath against the Popes Authority to reduce at least in outward appearance to matter of State Treason that which is meerly a point of Catholike doctrine And with this colour they begin a fresh to martyr Priests seeing other punishments will not make them afrayd and spoile Lay-Catholikes more then euer and yet forsooth they persecute no man for Religion I wot not whence it commeth whether from the great opinion that they haue of their witts or the little of ours that they persuade themselues that they shal be belieued when their wordes are so contrary to their doinges In the fore said Lawes as they are extended in English they forbid so often and so largely the thinges pertayning to Religion as they repeate two hundreth and seauenty tymes the Name of Priests Altars Masses Seminaries Iesuits Colledges Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction Faith Sea Apostolicke Bishop of Rome Head of the Church Images Churches Agnus Dei Madals and Graines hallowed Beades Breuiaryes Masse-bookes Life of Saints and the like and for euery one of these Markes and Tokens of Catholicke Religion they put a penalty and many of them they forbid vnder paine of death And notwithstanding that with these Lawes and Proclamations they publish openly to the whole world their hatred against Catholicke Religion yet they blush not on the other side to affirme will needes be belieued that they forsooth as I haue said persecute no man for Religion but all is for Treason and Practises against the State I desire the Reader heere to iudge whether the things mentioned or vse of them be crimes against the State or that the State be well erected where these actes of Piety and Religion are punished as Crimes To be short All these Treasons and Crimes imputed to Catholickes are comprized in one to wit to be faythfull seruantes of Christ and obedient children of his Church This is the Crime of Crimes and Treason of Treasons this is the offence vnder so many and so different names titles condemned and punished by these Lawes This in fine is the ground summe and substance of this Persecution prosecuted so many yeares and now renewed and increased as here may be seene There was some few yeares past a Conspiracie of seauen or eyght yonge gentlemen who induced as the report goeth by a traine of some chiefe Protestantes intended with one fire to extinguish another which had endured many yeares deuouring and consuming the bowells and best substance of their Countrey But howsoeuer it was begun and intended let it be as their greatest Aduersaries will haue it notwithstanding the publike voyce and many presumptions prooue that it was an Inuention of State and a meere trap to entangle them Let vs I say graunt that the same men that put it in execution were they that layd the plot were the Authors Let vs graunt all this and what else they can desire yet with what conscience and with what reason should any be made partaker of the danger or punishment that had no part in the Action that neyther gaue any consent or had any notice of what was intended For if we admit this course of Iustice and this manner of proceding if the fault of one or of a few may be extended to a whole community perforce all Comon-wealths must goe to wracke yea mankind must perish all the whole world must downe at a blow For by this Law manner of gouernment they cannot stand The Law of God and his diuine iustice hath a far different proceeding for it saith expressly that he onely that commytteth the fault shal be punished Iustitia iusti super eum erit impietas impij erit super eum Ezech. 18. 2. anima quae peccauerit ipsa morietur Why then should that which was vndertaken by indiscreet zeale and want of Consideration in one or two be imputed to the Religion or to the rest that doe professe it without any participation of the Crime The Catholicke Church hath most holy and iust lawes and such as doe swarue from them do in such sort perish that she neuerthelesse remayneth blamelesse For why she neyther doth nor permitteth nor approueth any euill The faultes be personall and of priuate men the doctrine is vniuersall which admitteth no faultes these belonged to some few and passe with tyme the other is euerlasting and the cause common to all that be present and to come And therfore we publish these Lawes to the sight of the whole world we answer print these Proclamations in diuers tongues because the notice of this case belongeth to all the Catholicke Church which as one body though dispersed in diuers Countries must needs feele the iniustice and violence offered to so principall a part and pray for the remedy A COVNTER-COMMAVND CONTEYNING
accordingly and in proportion their tormentes shall increase till all iniquity be ended all sinners receaue their finall sentence in body and soule to be endured whilst God is God for so his iustice requireth that no good worke be vnrewarded nor any sinne vnpunished in this present lyfe or in the lyfe to come Betweene these two extremes of glory and payne his Maiesty standeth and with him all the rest that be partakers in this Cause euery mans hour-glasse is turned and their tyme slippeth away irreuocably and with great speed and in all liklyhood they haue past allreadie the greatest and best part of their dayes O that he would pause a little vpon this consideration and before he be engaged so far that he cannot goe backe retyre himselfe into the Closet of his owne soule and there in secret with quietnes and repose consult with God and his owne Conscience whether it wil be better for him to imploy the remnant of his dayes in remedying former errours and so assure vnto himselfe an euerlasting Kingdome in companie of his blessed Mother or following Queene Elizabethes steppes and sporting himselfe as she did the rest of his dayes with losse of his owne so many millions of soules as depend vpon his beare her company for euer Let no man flatter and deceaue himselfe nor be deceaued with vaine opinions There is but one God and one Truth and one way to heauen by true fayth true hope and true Charitie for all must be gounded in truth which can be but one One heauen will not hould Queene Mary of Scotland and Queen Elizabeth of England as their Religions their Liues and their Deathes were contrary so infallibly be the places of their eternall aboad His Maiesty hath relation to both and yet it is in his hand and choyce by Gods grace which of them he will follow And if togeather with the saluation of his soule he will establish also his Royall Estate vpon earth to himselfe and his Posterity were it not a thousand tymes better for him to lay his foundation and build vpon the setled Religion and rightfull descent from King Henry the 7. from other his renowned Catholicke Auncestors then vpon the ruines of Schisme and Heresie brought in by the dissolution of King Henry the 8. and continued with so many violences and deceiptes as were vsed with some colour of Iustice in Queene Elizabethes daies to hold her vp and her broken Title on foot If he follow her and her Father he casteth himselfe and his into a world of ineuitable and endlesse inconueniences wheras if he prudently reiect the vnchristian deuises inuented to giue Authority to their errors and sinnes wholy impertinent to his right and repayre for his Title to the roote and take his Religion from whence his right must come if he will haue it without controuersy he may with a wet finger put remedie to all The End is Excellent and the Meanes are Easie he hath Examples in other Kingdomes and what would he haue more The Sect of the Protestantes in England is a motly of many colours a masse of many metalls and iust the Statua of Nabuchodonosor of gould siluer and brasse borrowed of others and with earthen feet which are onely their owne and continually decay He that will make a durable building must lay a sure foundation and rayse his worke by leuell otherwise though it may make a fayre shew for a while yet certaine it is the higher that it riseth the nearer it is to ruine And hence commeth the fall of Princes the decay of Common wealthes and the change of earthly Monarches from one lynage or people to another because they were not well founded or not well continued There cannot possibly be deuised any other Religion so fit for Kinges I meane such as wil be Kinges and not Tyrantes nor so profitable to Common wealths as is the Christian Catholicke Religion giuen by Christ Iesus for the benefit of men for by inward sweet motions and force it restrayneth all excesses in those that gouerne and in those that are gouerned it worketh obedience and subiection for Iustice and Conscience sake and keepeth them in loue and loyalty by the secret instincts of Reason and Grace when other inferiour respects should be wanting Notwithstāding that God Almighty hath ordained the holy Lawes and Decrees of his Religion for the eternall saluation of Mankynd yet for that one good principle alwayes helpeth another in consequence the same Religion is so commodious and fit for the preseruation of secular Estates as if it had beene ordayned for nothing else And it is iust as the sinews in a mans body wherwith the bones and other solid partes are tyed togeather in such sort that although in the politicke gouernment there may be errours and faultes yet where this Religion florisheth and is kept in due reuerence it supplyeth all other wants houldeth togeather the parts of the Cōmon-Wealth not only in ordinary sicknesses but in perilous diseases and keepeth it from death ruyne and decay when all other remedies haue lost their force And for this reason the prosperity of such Kinges Kingdomes as haue care to preserue the purity and sincerity of this Religion are secure and durable because it reduceth all Estates to the groundes of Truth and Iustice which only are permanent And for the same reason such as professe other Sectes must of force lyue in continuall disquietnes and stagger with daily feare and suspition because the pillars of their Security may faile them and fall by many accidents If with this new Oath and Obligation to goe to the Protestants Churches and other outward protestations wherto his Maiesty intendeth to bynd his Subiectes they became Protestants indeed and left to be Catholickes in their harts it were something to the purpose though on his part not well done for the thinges in themselues be vnlawfull but seeing it falleth out cleane contrary and neyther this nor any other good is gotten by them the longer they be vsed the further they goe forward the more his Maiesty looseth by them For they must needes cause in the parties iniured and in their friends and well-willers hart-burning against the Authors of such violent proceeding and lesse reputation and good will to his Maiesty euery day contrary as I suppose to the security he intendeth and to all that in prudence he should procure Such as stand at his elbow and set him (K) Sapientes Consiliarij Pharaonis consiliū dederunt insipiens Isa 9. 11. forward in these Actions though his Maiesty play the game yet it is euident they make good their owne and not his Quaerunt quae sua sunt non quae Regis aut Christi They are diligent vigilant and effectuall in all that may bring them profit but it is not the Kinges as presently shal be seene In other thinges they are prudent but in this they are short Heere passion blyndeth the matter is mistaken and thenfore
curing the selfe same medicines and yet with all this tyme trouble and cost findeth himself no whit the better but euery day worse Who I say if he be in his wits will not take counsaile with other Phisitians and at the least make tryall of that which they prescribe for the recouery of his health If therfore his Gracious Maiesty desire to attayne to these Honourable ends to wit the establishment of his Kingdome and the security of his Royall Person and Posterity togeather with their Aduancement increase of Reputation Estate he will passe no further in these blind by wayes of his vnfortunate Kinswoman if I may so call her and Predecessour For though there were no other inconuenience in them yet this one may suffice to a generous Spirit not to be inforced to seeke frienship with Infidels nor depend vpon the Rebels of other Princes as she did and other things very ill beseeming so renowned a Nation and the Person of a Christian Queene Wheras contrarywise if he would fauour them which most of all men deserue it and desire all manner of happines to him his he might haue Honourable friendship and amity with the greatest Princes in the world and thereby find entrance to match his Children with their equals and not as otherwise he must of force with their inferiours in bloud and that which is worse with Heretikes and Infidels who howsoeuer they respect one another and vse amongst themselues flattery the truth is by all Lawes (A) HaereticuÌ„ homineÌ„ post vnam secuÌ„dam correptionem deuita scieÌ„s quia subuersus est qui huiusmodi est delinquit cùm sit proprio iudicio coÌ„demnatus Tit. 3. 10. C. infames 6. q. 1. C. alieni 2. q. 7. Ant. Gazaros C. de haereticis c. 2. §. haeretici li. 1. 6. Glo. Verb. Diuina c. de suÌ„ma Trinitate fide Catholica vocat haereticos infames siâ—ue eos repellit à testimonio p. 1. l. 3. ff de testibus diuine humane by the generall consent of all the Christian world they are incapable of honour and held for ignoble and infamous If his Maiesty looke after interest and desire honour and riches togeather he shall without comparison gayne more houlding correspondence with the Sea Apostolike as other Catholike Princes doe by the quietnes of his Kingdome by sparing many vnlawfull and impertinent expenses which then will not be necessary by the sincere affectioÌ„ and loue of his subiects then with all the ProclamatioÌ„s Oathes Statutes Praemunires pilling powling and other violent courses all which might haue some colour of necessity in Queen Elizabeths dayes but for many iust causes as hath beene seene are not onely ill-beseeming and dishonorable to his Noble Maiesty that now is but very preiudicious and hurtfull to his Estate Againe If he seeke to spend the rest of his dayes in quietnes and to haue a ioyfull and happy old age it is a playne case that the lyfe of a Catholicke that liueth according to his beliefe is much more comfortable and pleasant without all comparison then the life of an Hereticke or a wicked liuer for when bodily pastymes fayle the body or rather the body fayleth them then is most necessity of the inward comfort of the mynd and where these also be wanting the paynes of hell begin in this life And so Gods iust iudgmentes require And it is an (B) Iussisti Domine ita factum est vt sibi ipsi poena sit omnis animus inordinatus Aug. lib. 1. Confess inuiolable Law that a disordered mind is a continuall cause of his owne punishment torment The greatest cause why this counsaile may perhaps be lesse liked of by some is because the profit therof cannot be knowne but by experience And where mens passions are vncontrolled their imagination peruerted their vnderstanding preoccupated with false suppositions and their willes ouergrowne and as it were festered with contrary customes they cannot feele the sweetnes of vertue vnlesse they be strengthened with particuler grace from heauen and ouercome the repugnance of nature and sense to make this tryall This vale of misery this place of our habitation and aboad is a common (C) Educ de custodia animam meaÌ„ ad confitenduÌ„ nomini tuo me expectant iusti donec retribuas mihi Psal 141. 8. Dominê° soluit coÌ„peditos Ps 145. Vnde sumus coÌ„pediti corpus nostruÌ„ ornamento nobis fuit peccauimê° coÌ„pedes inde accepimê° Quae sunt compedes nostrae mortalitas ipsa Aug. in Psal 161. Prison or Gaile where all the Inhabitants aswell the Iudge as those that be iudged the King that commaundeth as the Subiects that obey are all sentenced to death Statutum est omnibus hominibus semel mori The difference of this Prison from other particuler Prisons is that in this the paynes and pleasures the burdens and benefits are deuided with equality and to euery one is assigned with great iustice onely that which is his owne Here the high Iustice of heauen hath appointed to euery person in particuler of what degree and condition soeuer his prison chaines Some beare them with ease others draw them with payne and many of ignorance and passion charge themselues with other chaynes which Gods hand hath not layd vpon them and put themselues in prisons and fetters that be not his These be the (D) Peccare non est libertas nec pars libertatis peccare est potius non posse quaÌ„ posse QuicuÌ„que enim facit quod sibi non expedit quanto magis hoc potest tantò magis aduersitas peruersitas possut in illum Ansel c. de fort prisons fetters and chaynes wherwith the world that is to say the vanity of worldly men the flesh and the Diuel ech of them hould in captiuity those which yield them homage and subiection and they be of infinite sortes and fashions which the prisoners themselues make for theÌ„selues with diuers occasions in the forge of their owne imaginations and willes the fiend of Hell setting their hartes on fire and blowing the bellowes to inflame the disordinate appetites that his other two companions the World and the Flesh and He also himselfe many times doth kindle with their suggestions And from this forge proceed all the sinnes and disorders the miseries and confusion that we see in (E) Propterea captiuê° ductus est populus meus quia non habuit scientiaÌ„ nobiles eius interierunt fame multitudo eius siti exaruit Propterea dilatauit infernê° animam suam aperuit os suuÌ„ absque vllo termino desceÌ„dent fortes eius populi eiê° sublimi gloriosique eius ad eum Isa 5. 13. the soÌ„nes of men And from the self same fornace issue the grosse cloudes of smoake which darken the vnderstanding of the Hereticke that he cannot see his errours and of the sensuall distracted Catholicke that he considereth not the deformity of his lyfe when