of conscience if for feare they obey or of their vndoing in the world if they refuse The taking of their deare children from them by force and placing them for their seduction with Heretiques which violence can not be done by the lawe of God to Iewes them selues the burning of our Priestes in the eares the whipping and cutting of the ears of others carying some in their sacred vestments through the streetes putting our chaste virgins into infamous places appointed for strumpets other vnspeakable vilanies â—ot inferiour to anie of the said heathnesse persecutions They haue pined and smothred in their filthie prisons aboue thirtie famous Prelates The sufferinges of Catholiques aboue fourtie excellent learned men of nobles gentlemen and maâ—â—ones a number whos Martirdome is before God as â—lorious as if they had by a speedie violent death â—ene dispatched euerie dongeon and filthie prison 〈◊〉 England ful of our Priestes brethen al Prouinâ—es and Princes christianed witnesses of our banishâ—ent In al this we yeeld them our bodies goods â—ountrie blood liues nothing wil queÌ„ch their haâ—red of our Priesthood faith and profession Thus in 〈◊〉 causes we suffer and yet they would not haue vs â—omplaine they say al is sweet clement and merciful â—n this regiment But as we said we no otherwise â—omplaine of this persecution against vs but as it is exercised for that faith and quarel which the lawes of God and man approue and iustifie in vs That it is done by the sheepe and subiectes of Godes Church against their owne Prelates and pastors to whom in causes of religioÌ„ they ar bound to obey by th'expresse word of God When the lauful magistrate bearing sword by God for punishment of offenders putteth theeues heretiques or murderers to death who accompteth it crueltie who complaineth of persecution But when contrariwise by anie violent disorder the malefactors get head and take hart in a commen wealth and kil a lauful officer iudge or superior that is a cruel and horrible fact though it be done but in one or two persons in stead of a thousand wicked men executed by iust lawes So wheÌ„ the Prince and Prelate proceed together against such as by the sentence and law of the Church of Christ ar adiudged to be heretiques and iniuries to God that is Iustice but when the temporal Prince or lay people rebel against their owne Bishops to whom in spiritual matters they ar bound by Godes word to giue eare vnder paine of damnatioÌ„ yea wheÌ„ mere lay meÌ„ most of theÌ„ wholie vnlearned disorderlie take vpon theÌ„ to prescribe vnto their owne pastors what they should beleeue how they should minister the SacrameÌ„ts force vpon them false and impious othes and articles and that in Parliament wher the Bishops by the lawes of our countrie hauing the principal suffrages and the rest of the whole Conuocation representing the Church of England honorablie and vniformelie resisted whoÌ„ thes meÌ„ afterward deposed of their honors toke their pulpits churches titles prerogatiues from them imprisoned their sacred persons and abused some of them True persecution namelie the noble Confessor and Bishop of London by al sortes of vilanie This loe is a persecutioÌ„ indeed wher the sheep subiects and inferiors violentlie oppose them selues against them whom the the Holie-ghost hath placed to be the guides gouernours and curates of their soules Yea when they depose disauthorize spoile punishe imprison their owne rulers Gods annointed Priestes giue warrant by wicked lawes to the temporal powers to visit correct iudge discerne of the doctrine of their Maisters in religion that is a persecution sedition and rebellion in the highest degree And we may trewlie say hereof to our lost Countrie with the Prophet Osee 4. Populus tuus sicut hi qui contradicunt Sacerdoti the state of the persecution being wholie agreable to the mutinie of Chore DathaÌ„ AbiroÌ„ and their confederats in the desert against their lauful Priestes and Gouernors yea properlie against the high Priesthood of Aaron as our contries reuolt now is against the sea Apostolique and al lauful spiritual regiment proceeding from the same And therfore the Libeller guilfullie iÌ„ respect of the simple but fondlie and falslie in our eyes disproueth our lauful refusal to obey men before God and our resistance in matter of conscience by th' example of Chores conspiracie which toucheth al their rebellions froÌ„ the sea Apostolique Catholique Church and confirmeth al our endeuours for maintenance of the same against what aduersaries so euer And their rebellion is the more plaine The nevv cleargie and persecution more hateful and intollerable for that they haue not onely vnnaturallie done this violeÌ„ce to their owne spiritual rulers but therupon also haue chosen at their pleasures and intruded into their places a sort of greedie wolues vnordered Apostats amarous and godlesse companions the very filth and chanel of the Realme who for hatred of the Catholique faith from which they ar Renegates and through a kind of competencie or emulatioÌ„ of the true Bishops whos roomes by secular force they vniustlie haue inuaded and doe deteine beare such vnquenshable malice to the true annointed cleargie to their obedieÌ„t folowers that they cease not to iÌ„cite the powers of the Realme against vs and exercise them selues vnder the pretensed title of their vsurped dignities and other temporal commissions the greatest tirannie and crueltie in the world standing in feare of their state so long as they see anie true Bishop or Catholique man aliue Who 's actioÌ„s are the rather intollerable for that they know and hath beene prooued in open court that they not onelie vsurpe thos places against Gods and the Churches lawes but that they were not made and inuested according to the new lawes of the Realme speciallie made for creation of them So as our true pastors being vexed spoiled tormented and slaine against lawe nature and al reason by temporal men hauing no authoritie in causes ecclesiastical and by a new forged cleargie that exerciseth no Iurisdiction but by euident vsurpation against both the Canons of the Church and the lawes of our countrie who is of so dul a wit as not to see the difference of the discipline of the Church and Realme done towardes offendors in Catholique times and states by lauful authoritie both spiritual and temporal and the iniust persecution of the Church and her children now proceeding of nether lauful authoritie temporal nor spiritual VVhat clemencie vvas vsed to them of the old Clergie at the beginning Therfore let not the Libeller here so much extol the equitie and mercie vsed in her Maiesties regiment to certaine of the old principal cleargie because they put theÌ„ not to death as they haue done others sitheÌ„ce Cicero wil not sticke to tel them what a benefit is done to an honest man when his purse is taken from him and yet his life saued and what thankes ar to be rendred in that case to the
heauen as it is reported were so partiallie or rigorouslie scanned by the malice of his great and potent professed enemie that many yeares hath sought his ruine together with his zealousnes in the Catholique faith brought him to his most pittiful end to the great regret of the whole countrie But the importunitie of the aduersarie hath brought vs somewhat out of our intended cours To returne backe therfore to our famous Prelates deposed in this Queens dayes the principal wherof was Archebishop of Yorke D. Heath Archbishop of York highe Chancelour of the realme the Primate of Canterburie being deceased before which worthie man this Libeller hipocriticallie commendeth for his loyaltie though in Religion differing from them therby to make the Q. Maiesties mercie towardes him a paterne forsooth of clemencie not to be matched as he wiselie writeth in Q. MARIES time which Queene notwithstanding pardoned a number of heretiques and ranke condemned traitors both of life and landes whom we could name al the world knoweth yet aliue And further he addeth which is a notorious vntruth that the said Prelate voluntarilie left both his Chauncelorship and Archbishopricke wher al wise men wil witnes with him and for him that he was most vniustlie with the rest of his Suffraganes and brethren Bishops for refusing to take that absurd othe of the Q. Supremacie and to vse the new Caluinistical seruice in his prouince deposed by violence from his spiritual function dignitie Who 's courage and resistance for quarel of Gods religion how loial and obedient so euer the Libeller would make thos men in comparison of vs therby to insinuate that the more bloodie rigour is vsed now towardes vs then in the beginning towardes them was such in them specially in the said Archbishop that he worthelie and as became his Excellencie refused to anoint or crowne the Q. Maiestie that now is though it apperteined to his special office to doe the same the Metropolitan being dead as hath bene said before and so did al the rest of the Bishops refuse the same vntil with much a doe they obteined the Bishope of Carlisle The Bishop of Carlisle the īferior al most of al the rest to doe that function Which is here remembred by me for that the Libeller of his good discretion recordeth it for special courtesie of that man towardes his Princesse Which refusal of him specially that by office should haue done the same might in reason haue bene construed to as hainous and treasonable a purpose as most thinges that afterward haue bene done for the Catholique cause by anie of the later years if the malice of that time had bene as ripe then as now it is against Gods Church and Priestes The cause why they durst not thē nor could be adduced by anie humane feare or authoritie to inuest her was VVhy the Catholique Bishops refused to croune this Q. for that they had euident probabilities and arguments to doubt that she ment ether not to take the othe or not to keepe the same which al Christian kinges and speciallie ours in England doe make in their Coronation for maintenance of holy Churches lawes honors peace and priuileges and other duties due to euery state as in the time and graunt of K. Edward the Confessor They doubted also lest she would refuse in the verie time of her sacre the solemne diuine ceremonie of vnction accustomed in the consecration of al Christian princes through the euil aduises of certaine yōg counsellers being then in the heate prime and pride of their Heresie wherby great scandal might arise and hurt to the Realme Which they the rather doubted because they saw not lōg before her Highnes at her first entrāce to that high estate commaund a certaine Bishop euen the same of Carlisle now named stāding readie to say Masse before her a strange case in a woman towardes a Bishop not to eleuate the holy consecrated Hoste but to omit that ceremonie because she liked it not Which the said Bishop to his great honor constantlie refused to obey A thing that in one of vs poore men now perchaunce would be accompted high treason and disloialtie towardes our Soueraine And of this his courage in Gods cause it neuer repented him but for doing the other office at the Coronation when he sawe the issue of the matter and both him self and al the rest of his sacred order depriued and the Churches Holie lawes and faith against the conditions of her consecration and acceptation into that royal roome violated he sore repented him al the dayes of his life which were for that special cause both short and werisome afterward vnto him Otherwise doubtles al the Bishops and the rest of the principal of the inferior Cleargie did stoutlie and worthelie as could be wished as was possible in that sodaine assault of Heresie fearing at the same time their personal peril so litle The intention of the Clergie to Excōmunicate the Q. that they were manie of them of that mind that it should be good to vse the censure of Excommunication against her Highenes and some of her leaders into that reuolt so dangerous and shameful to the state so latelie reconciled to the sea Apostolique and by othe and promis of al estates confirmed But the wiser of the Bishops or at least the mylder sort persuaded the contrarie for manie inconueniences that might ensue and so they rather resolued the matter to be remitted to the high Pastor of Christes vniuersal Church then to be executed by them that were her subiects not without peril perhaps of some further tumult scādal and trouble to the whole Cleargie whom they would haue interpreted to haue done it of malicious and rebellions mind rather thē of loue and dutie of which al such censures indeed doe proceed how so-euer the partie affected and sicke in soule especiallie Princes except they be verie wel trained in the feare of God accept the same wel remembring that manie Kinges had killed their Pastors in like cases Al this we put doune that no man be abused by the enemie to thinke that the Reuerend Prelats at the first were lesse zealous which he calleth more loial or more obedient to the Prince in lauful thinges then we their scholars and of-spring be or we lesse loial thē they and therfore more punishable then they were though in deed their perpetual imprisonment and pining away in miserable desolation their tossing and shifting from one superintendents house to an other from one keeper to an other from one prison to an other subiect to extreme wantes and to a thowsand daylie vilanies besides wherof some of thē now haue tasted for twentie fiue years together is worse then any death in the world This then is a true Persecutiō indeed when such men for such causes against al reason and lawes be so vexed by such as owe them al reuerence dutie and obedience Such is also the miserable fortune of the Catholique Nobilitie
Epist 28 Au. de ciuit Dei li. 5. Cap. 26 put him to publique penance among the rest of the people cōmaunded him to put of his kinglie robes to leaue his Emperial throne in the Chauncel and to keepe his place amōg the laytie and prescribed him after eight monethes penance to make a temporal law for prouiso against the occasions of such crimes as the said Emperour had committed and for which he was excommunicated This was an other world then we now are in Our shameles age maruelous courage and zeale in Bishops for Gods cause much humilitie and obedience in Princes Then was ther no flatterer so shameful nor heretique on earth so impudent as to make the temporal kinges aboue al correction of Gods Church and their owne Pastors nothing being more common in the histories of al ages then that Princes haue receiued discipline As when Anastasius th'Emperour was excommunicated by Symmachus Diuers Princes excōmunicated by their Pastours Lotharius and Michael Emperours by Nicholas the first and particular Princes by ther prouincial Bishops as we see in the recordes of al nations Therfore we wil stand onely vpon more famous and ancient examples Innocentius the first excommunicated Archadius th'Emperour and his wife Queene Eudoxia for that they disobeyed and persecuted their Bishop S. Chrisostome Nicepho li. 13. Cap. 34 Georg. Patriarcha in vita Chris We wil reporte the iudicial sentēce breeflie because it is much to the purpose and ful of Maiestie O Emperour said Pope Innocētius wel nere 1200. yeares agoe the blood of my brother Iohn Chrisostome crieth to God against thee The sentēce of excōmunication geuen by Innocentius Bishop of Rome against the Emperour thou hast cast out of his chaire the great Doctor of the vvorld and in him by thy vviues that delicate Dalila her persuasion hast persecuted Christ Therfore I though a poore sinful soule to vvhō the throne of the great Apostle S. Peter is committed doe excommunicate the her and doe seperate you both from the holie Sacramēts commaunding that no Priest nor Bishop vnder paine of depriuation after this my sentence come to their knovvledge giue or minister the said Sacraments vnto you Thus did this blessed Father whom S. Augustine exceedinglie commended in his time deale with this Emperour and wicked Queene the cause of her husbandes fal and offences and at length brought them to penance But when in processe of time some Princes VVhen vppō vvhat occasiōs spiritual Pastours began to vse the temporal svvord through Gods iust iudgement and the peoples sinne were fallen to such contempt of religion as it lightlie happeneth by Heresie and Apostacie that excommunication being onely but a spiritual penaltie or other ordinarie Ecclesiastical discipline would not serue then as wel Bishops as other godly persons their owne subiects did craue aide and armes of other Princes for their chasticement as most holie and ancient Popes euen in thes old dayes when the Protestants confesse them to haue bene godlie Bishops did incite Catholique kinges to the same that thos whom the spiritual rodde could not fruitfullie chastise they might by externe or temporal force bring them to order and repentance or at lest defend their innocent Catholique subiects from vniust vexation Ther is no warre in the world so iust or honorable be it ciuil or forraine as that which is waged for Religion we say for the true ancient Catholique Romane religion which by the lawes of holie Church and al Christian nations VVarre for the Catholique religion both lauful honorable is adiudged to be th' onelie true worship of God and vnto the obediēce of which al Princes and people haue yeelded them selues either by othe vowe or Sacramēts or euerie of thes wayes For this it is godlie and honorable to fight in such order and time as we be warranted in conscience and lawe by our supreme Pastors and Priests and not for wilde condemned heresies against most lauful Christian Catholiques Kinges Priests as the rebellious Protestants and Caluinistes of this time doe without al order lawe or warrant of God or man As the armes taken for defence of Godlie honor and inheritance in such sort and difference from Heretical tumultes as is said are so much more commendable and glorious for that no crime in the world deserueth more sharpe and zealous pursuite of extreme reuēge whether it be in superiours or subiects then reuolting from the Faith to strange religions Who-soeuer seeketh not after the Lord God of Israel 2. Paral. Cap. 15. let him be slaine said king Asa admonished by Azaria the Prophet from the highest to the lowest without exception And al the people and manie that folowed him and fled to him out of Israel from the schisme ther did sweare and vowe them selues in the quarel of the God of their forefathers And they prospered and deposed Q. Maácha mother to Asa for Apostacie and for worshiping the venereous God called Briapus For that case also in Deutrenomie expresse charge was giuen to slea al false Prophets Cap. 13 and who so euer should auert the people from the true worship of God and induce them to receiue strange Gods and new religions and to destroy al their folowers were they neuer so near vs by nature And in the same place that if anie citie should reuoult from the receiued and prescribed worship of God and beginne to admit new religions it should be vtterlie wasted by fire and sword Nether perteineth this to poore men onelie but to the gouernours and leaders of the people most of al As we see in the booke of Numbers wher Moyses by the commaundemēt of God caused al the Princes of the people to be hanged vpon gibets against the sonne Cap. 25. Execution done vppon Princes for cōmunication in sacrifice with the Moabites and the rest of the people euerie one by the hand of his neighbour to be put to the sword for the same fault wherin Phinees the Priest of God by sleaing a cheefe captaine with his owne handes deserued eternal praise and the perpetuitie of his Priesthood By Moyses also his appointment the faithful Leuites slew 33000. of ther neighbours brethren frends for committing Idolatrie forsaking the true God Marry in al this as yow see by th'exāples alleadged the Prophet and Priests must direct them for the cause and action that they erre not of phantasie partialitie pride and pretence of religion as Heretiques Rebels doe but the quarel must be for the old faith seruice and Priesthood against innouation and directed and allowed by thos which by order and function haue charge of our soules Cap. 27 The punishment of Princes for schisme and reuolt As we read also in the booke of Numbers that the Captaine and al the people were commaunded to goe in and out that is to proceed in warres according to the order of Eleazarus the Priest Such were the warres of Abia and other kinges of
cōtention betvvē the spirit and the flesh hovv far tollerable and contrariwise the spirit the flesh eche one of them seeking after a sort to enlarge his owne limites and commodities by some hinderance of the other which combat conflict notwithstanding is ether tollerable or not damnable so long as the inferiour which is the flesh by ouer greedie appetite of her owne aduancement destroieth not the superiour which is the soule So doubtles in a Christian Common-wealth the spiritual and temporal state being ioined together as it were in one bodie must needes keepe some moderate strife and combat for maintenance of ether of their limites in external regiment which may be borne withal of eche side so long as nether part seeketh ouer obstinatelie the destruction of the other but doe agree and conioine in preseruation of the principal But where the bodie politique as it is now in our miserable Countrie by intollerable disorder doth striue not so much with the Sea Apostolique The intollerable proceeding of England and bodie mistical of Christ for thinges ether indifferent or not merlie necessarie to the spiritual regiment but by euident rape and violence against the lawes of God man bereaueth Christes Vicar of his whole soueraintie high Preisthood and Prelacie and the Catholique Church of al the rightes douries which our Master her spouse endowed her withal and tirānicallie draweth al to the Princes REGALITIE altering by the authoritie therof the whole faith and true worship of God into abhominable Apostacie Scisme and desolation ther the Libeller can find no example in anie Christian Lawes or Countries through out the world in any age to proue his purpose though vainlie and impertinentlie he alleage thes Concordates of Fraunce other Nations as also the compositions of England with the Pope or what orders and lawes soeuer besides ether lauful or vnlauful concerning restraint of any Papal or Ecclesiastical power which serue nothing at al for defence of the late English general and most impudent reuolt from the vnitie of Gods Catholique and Apostolique Church Manie things might the wordlinges of our Countrie euen in Catholique times attempt for their owne aduantage Some vncōscionable lavves might passe in a Catholique time against the commodities of the Church Our Kinges other in times of dissention with certaine Popes of their dayes might driue the weaker to vnequal conditions and serue their owne ambitious humours to the Churches disaduantage Some lawes might also passe by the powerablenes of Princes in their owne dominions the Sea Apostolique vtterlie reclaiming against them which though they were not directlie against anie point of Faith or Religion yet might be verie preiudicial to the state ecclesiastical and liberties of holie Church as the lawe of Premuniri was which is mentioned by the aduersarie Against which diuers Popes speciallie Gregorie the eleuenth and Martin the fift opposed them selues earnestlie The lavv of Premuniri and dealt with K. Edvvard the thrid and Henrie the sixt for abrogating the same which they both promised to doe but neuer did and cōsequētly it remaineth stil in his first vncōcionable force if the makers had any such meaning as their folowers haue found out for that it may by calumnious interpretation be vsed at the onlie pleasure of the Prince to the confiscation of al Church-mens goodes imprisonment of their persons destruction of the whole Cleargie wherof king Henrie the eight in the beginning of his Scisme gaue an horrible example Which iniquitie the Libeller him self is not ashamed to commend and to propound to other Princes for imitation Thes iniustices and the like may be by some Kinges committed and are as we haue said for peace and Charities sake borne by thē who are taught by their Maister and by the Apostolical Bishops of the primitiue Church to set more by one soule then by al the honours goods priuileges in the world otherwise So that God be honored whether causes at the first instance or by appeale onelie be differred to the Court of Rome or no whether the Pope Prince Cleargie or people appoint the Pastours or no a thing diuerslie vsed in diuers ages the Church can beare al and turne al to good so long as the true Faith and substance of Ecclesiastical iurisdiction be not destroied Wherin yet this may be comfortable to al obedient children of the Church Ecclesiastical restraintes haue not proued so profitable and worthie to be considered of discret persons that in al or surelie in most part of such limitations restraintes diminishinges or alteratiō of the Popes Churches authoritie thinges haue afterwardes so fallen out that wise men hartilie wish no change euer had bene made And for the euidence therof we refere al men to the pondering of this one point speciallie amongst manie concerning the nominations and elections of Bishopes Abbots and other Prelates whether the world wēt not as wel when such thinges passed by canonical election or the Popes prouision as it hath done since or hereafter euer is like to doe At the beginning of such alterations men pretended reasons for the particular Churches commodities of sondrie Nations which a few yeares experience and the euent of thinges haue in most matters controuled But were it wel or euil it can nether be example nor warrant to our present Contrie to destroy Abbeis kil the religious murder Gods Priestes imprison al the sacred persons of Bishops through out the Realme to hate blaspheme abolish al authoritie and iurisdiction Apostolical yea and to make a solemne publique prayer in the litanie That God vvould deliuer our Country from the Pope in stead of that which the whole Christian world deuoutlie singeth and saieth daylie Vt Dominum Apostolicum omnes ecclesiasticos ordines in sancta religione conseruare digneris Barbarous malice of English Heretiques against the Sea Apostolique Would anie man thinke that ether they should fal to such barbarousnes or to such impudencie as to defend so grosse impietie by the examples of other Catholique Kinges Contries and times in the cases aforesaid Or can it be possible they could imagine the difference betwene K. Henrie the vij and the Pope that then was The grosnes of the Libeller about a matter of Alume should warrant her Maiesty that now is or her Councellours to stand against the high Priest of God and to goe to lawe with him for his spiritual Prelacie What a Grossehead is this Libeller or rather what a deceiptful person for he can not be so rude as not to knowe the difference of thinges so farre distant that alleageth the warres sometimes fallen out betwixt certaine Popes and Princes about their temporal interests to proue that Catholique kinges care not for the Pope or that them selues may resist him by armes and contemne his authoritie in matters of Faith Religion Wherin his exāples also are very euil chosen when he goeth about to make vs beleeue that Charles the fift cared not for
the conducting of them to life and peace euerlasting and the temporal perteineth principallie to the good and trāquilitie of this trāsitorie life comparing thē both together it must needes be cōfessed that the spiritual is the higher nearer and liker to the Soueraintie of God ouer his reasonable creatures thē is the terrene power or Humane creature as the Apostle here termeth the King his presidēts 2. Pet. 7. So as euerie power both spiritual and temporal being of God as S. Paul teacheth and obedience and subiection due to both in their kind though in seueral subiects causes and respectes yet is it most cleare that of the two the ecclesiastical power and regiment is more excellent In respect wherof S. Ignatius The subordination of the tvvo povvers according to S. Ignatius giueth this order in honoring and respecting our superiours Honour God the author and Lord of al and the Bishop as the Prince of Priestes being the Image of God and holding his Princedome of him and his Priesthood of Christ Epist ad Smirnē And after him you must honor also the King For none is to be preferred before God nor equal to him nor more honorable in the Church then the Bishop exercising the Priesthood of God for the saluation of the vvorld Nether is anie equal to the King in the hoste or campe procuring peace and beneuolence to the other Princes vnder him For he that honoreth the Bishop shal be honored of God and he that dishonoreth him shal of God be dishonored For if anie man rising against the king is vvorthie of damnation hovv can he escape Gods iudgementes that attempteth anie thing against or vvithout the Bishop For Priesthood is the cheef and somme of al mans good vvhich vvho so euer disgraceth dishonoreth God and our Lord IESVS CHRIST the chefe Priest of God c. And if anie man list farther to see what the olde Christian Emperours thought and acknowledged in this matter The opiniō practise of old Christian Emperours in this cause and how they behaued them selues towardes Gods priestes in al causes of religion and spiritual affaires and with what honour priuilege and prerogatiue they respected their persons and holie calling euen in temporal causes let him reade Zozomenus how Constantine the great behaued him self towardes the Bishopes in the first Councel of Nice Li. 2. ca. 2. trip and S. Augustines 162. epistle of the same Emperours contentment to aske pardon of the Bishopes for taking vpon him to deale in the Cause of Caecilian properlie perteining to them S. Ambrose epistle 32. of Valentinian the elders lawe that in ecclesiastical causes none should iuditiallie deale that were not of the same order The like he writeth of the Emperour Gratians behauiour in the Councel of Aquileia And to be breefe let him reade the Emperour Iustinianus sixt constitution wher he both putteth the true difference betwixt the Priesthood and the Empire and preferreth that before this saying thus The greatest giftes of God among men Auth. Quomodo oport Episcop c. in p. is the Priestood and the Empire of vvhich tvvo the former hauing the administration of diuine thinges the other of humane both proceeding of one beginning doe adorne mans life c. And thus it is euen in thos Countries where the Church and Ciuil state concurre in one common wealth wher like as the Prelates be in some respect and causes subiect to the temporal Prince so againe the Prince and state reciprocallie in spiritual matters are obedient to the Church Prelates ether of them deferring due honor to the other but the spiritual souerantie euer preferred among the faithful though for worldlie power force and glorie most necessarie to keepe the people in awe order kinges doe lightlie exceed the other Which exterior shew and splendour of Prince the Prelates of their seueral dominions doe most humblie by al seruice and office manteine But now for the Pope cheefe of al Bishopes and Christian people being in respect of his temporal state subiect to no Prince nor Potentat of the world and for his spiritual dignitie and iurisdiction farre passing al the Prelates of particular Churches and prouinces his principalitie being in nether kind subiect or subalternate to anie other he must needes be greater and more pearles without al exception and limitation And though his state and authoritie temporal be not holden nor chalenged by Gods expresse lawe immediatlie of him as the spiritual supremacie is The prouidēce of God for the Popes tēporal povver which he hath and holdeth immediatlie and directlie of Christ yet it is Gods great prouidence that sith the Emperours and Kinges haue bene christened and submitted them selues to the obedience of Christ and his Church that the cheefe Bishop should for the honour of Christ and his high dignitie be made free from al subiection by the Princes and Emperours owne grauntes be possessed of the capital Citie of al the world Which could neuer haue bene brought to passe nor so manie worlde 's continued in the reuolutions changes and ouerturninges of so many kingdomes states great Monarchies round about him had it not bene done by Gods special pleasure ordinance to the end that being subiect to none he might with more libertie lesse danger and greater indifferencie doe iustice to al and vse discipline without feare or respect of persons as wel towardes great as smal Which if he were subiect to some secular Princes as most other Bishopes are could hardlie be done In which case also some of our ignorant Heretiques as among other this Libeller be so vnsensible that they sticke not to alleage the saying of S. Paul Absurd allegatiō of S. Paul by the Libeller Rom. 13. That euerie soule must be subiect to superiour povver to proue therbie as it seemeth that the Pope should be obedient to our Queene or to some other particular king As though euerie person should be subiect to euerie power or to anie other then to him that hath superioritie ouer him or in anie other matters then wherin he hath superioritie may commaund Or as though God had onelie ordeined secular power and commaunded al obedience therunto and not appointed spiritual power and prelacie with charge of subiection vnto the same also With such grosse felowes the Church hath to doe that nether haue sense reason nor religion and which alleage that for obedience to earthlie powers onelie which ether in expresse wordes or by necessarie sequele much more commendeth subiection to spiritual powers As with like blindnes the man also alleageth this our Sauiours sentence The Kinges of the Gentils haue rule over them Luc. 22. but you not so to proue that Popes should arrogate no temporal authoritie but feede onelie as he saith Peter did and manie of the next Popes after him Which he would neuer haue cited if he had knowen that hereby onelie al tirannical domination vsed among the heathen Princes
be praised as purposelie to dishonour our Prince and Countrie The true causes of publishing our miseries for whos loue in Christ so manie haue so meeklie lost their liues or to reueale their turpitude which we would rather couer if it were possible from the eyes of the world with our owne blood but we set forth the truth of al thes actions for the honour of our nation which otherwise to her infinite shame and reproche would be thought wholie and generallie to haue reuolted from the Catholique faith and consented to al the absurdities and iniquities of this new regiment and religion if none with zeale and extreme indeuour resisted such pernitious innouations Wher now as wel our owne people as al strangers in the Christian world perceauing the disorder to proceed but of the partialitie of a few powerable persons abusing her Maiesties clemencie and credulitie doe glorifie our Lord God that in so great a tentation al the Cleargie in maner and so manie of the laitie of al sortes constantlie persist in their fathers faith to the losse of goods landes liues honours and what soeuer besides and that the whole state excepting the authoritie of the Prince may yet be rather counted Catholique then heretical this is the honour of our nation in al places which otherwise for dooble reuolt and recidiuatiō into Schisme and for extreme persecution would be compted remediles hopeles and of al other places most infamous Secondlie we set forth thes thinges for the memorie and honour of such notable Martirs as haue testified the truth of the Catholique faith by their pretious death See S. Cyprian Which was an ancient Canon and custome of the primitiue Church which appointed certaine special persons or skil and learning to note the daies of euerie ones glorious confession and combat that their memories might afterward be solemlie celebrated for euer among Christians Thirdlie we doe it to communicate our calamities with our brethren in faith and the Churches of other prouinces standing free from this miserie both for their warning and our comfort and to excite in them Christian compassion towardes vs that therbie and by their councel and praiers we may find mercie and releef at Gods hand by the example of the Oriental Churches afflicted by the Arrians See S. Basile Epist 69. 70. which as we may read in S. Basile in their like distresses made their general complaints by often letters and messingers to the west Churches standing more entire and void of that Heresie and persecution Finallie we are forced to publish thes thinges so particularlie and diligentlie to defend the doings of the said holie Confessors and their felowes in faith against the manifold slaunders and calumniations of certaine Heretiques or Politiques vniustlie charging them with treason and other great trespasses against the Common-wealth to auert the eyes of the simple from the true causes of their suffering and to disapoint the holie personages if they could of the honour done to Martirs in Gods Church For that is one special cause among manie why they had rather make them away for forged treason or other feigned offences then for profession of the truth which in their hart they hate more then anie crime in the world S. Gregorie Nazianzene liuelie expresseth the condition of al Heretiques in the behauiour of Iulianus the Apostata thus writing of him Oratione in laudē Caesaris He openlie and boldlie professing impietie yet by coulor of clemencie couered his crueltie and lest vve should atteine to the honours done customablie to Martirs vvhich he disdeined to the Christians he vsed namelie this fraude and deceipt that such as he caused to be tormented for Christs cause should be thought and reported to be punished not for their faith but as malefactours For discouerie therfore of this sinful and deceiptful dealing of our aduersaries who not contented with the death and torments of Gods Saints would punish them by ignominie after their life we are driuen to this dutiful office of their and the holie Churches defence whos honour and innocencie we may not bewray for a thousand deathes Wherin we are not much terrified by the vaine and vulgar exordium of the Author of this inuectiue which we now must refute The Libellers vaine and vulgar Exordium who beginneth aboue al arte after their maner with a common sentence as meet for vs and our matter as for him and his cause telling vs that it is a common vsage of al offendours and speciallie rebels and traitors to make defence of their lend and vnlauful factes by couering their deedes with pretence of other causes Which speech as it might be vsed where anie such trespasse could be proued so is it fondlie said where no crime can be auouched as in the processe of this treatise shal be by Gods grace most clearlie conuinced And it might not onelie be applied by the olde heathen or heretical persecutors against the first Apostles and Martirs of Christ being falslie charged with the same crimes as we be now and answered for them selues as we doe but may much more be verified and found in publique persons and common-wealthes when they erre or commit iniquitie then in anie poore priuate States Princes and common-vvealthes haue more pretēces for couering their misdeedes thē priuate mē or afflicted persons be they neuer so guiltie For Princes and communities in disorder haue a thousand pretences excuses and coulors of their iniust actions they haue the name of authoritie the shadowe of lawes the pennes and tongues of infinite at their commaundement they may print or publish what they like suppresse what they list wherof priuate men be they neuer so wicked or good haue not so great commoditie For examples we need not to goe farre out of our owne Countrie and memorie For when Richard the third intending to vsurpe the Croune of England slew diuers of the Nobilitie first most cruelly Richard Duke of Glocester and afterward murthered vnnaturallie his owne innocent nephewes what solemne Libels proclamations orations were put foorth to iustifie his abhominable iniquitie When the last Duke of Northumberland for the like ambitious purpose would haue dishabled and defeated traiterouslie Iohn Dudly Duke of Northumberland both the noble daughters of his owne Soueraigne and Maister and by the title of his daughter in lawe possessed him self of the Croune what a number of pamphlets and edicts were published on the sodaine for couloring of that foule treacherie and intollerable treason When Orange Orange and his confederats reuolted not long since from their natural Prince the Scottish Heretiques from their lauful Soueraine Iamy Murton c. and other Prouinces for the same cause from the vnitie and common faith of the Church who hath not seene the infinite Libels for their excuse in wickednes That therfore that may sometimes fal in priuate mens causes for couering their sinne and shame happeneth farre oftener and much more dangerouslie in powerable
this man was M. Kirkman M. Kirkeman an happie Priest also martyred for that he acknowledged him-self to haue reconciled certaine persons to the Catholike church For which likewise were put to death M. Thomson M. Harte and M. Threlkeld M. ThoÌ„son M. Hart. M. Threlkeld afterward in the same citie of Yorke neuer charged nor suspected of anie other treasons then of hearing Confessions absoluing and reconciling sinners to the fauor of God and to the vnitie of the Catholique churche againe which both in the Priest that absolueth and in the partie that is absolued they haue made to be the crime of les-Maiestie vnder this false and most vniust preteÌ„ce that al parties so reconciled are assoiled of ther obedience to the Q. and doe adhere to her enimie and admit forreine iurisdiction power and authoritie which is exercised in Confession for remission of sinnes Thes be the treasons and none other for which the blood of Gods Priests is so abundantlie shed in our poore countrie thes yeares Adde to thes the two famous confessors Ao. 1583. M. Slade M. Bodie M. Iohn Slade and M. Iohn Bodie who both by certaine interrogatories being driuen to say their mindes touching the Q. chalenge of supreme regiment ecclesiastical contrarie to the asseueration of this libeller set downe before for confessing their faith of the Popes spiritual soueraigntie and for denying her to be head of the churche of England or to haue anie spiritual regiment were coÌ„demned to death in publique iudgement at two diuers sessions and that at twise a rare case in our countrie the latter sentence being to reforme the former as we may gesse in such strange proceedinges which they perceiued to be erroneous and insufficient in ther owne lawes Wherupon one of them was executed at Winchester th' other at And ouer in the same prouince being neuer charged with disloyaltie or olde treasons as not onelie by the recordes of their arraignment and condemnation we are able to prooue but also by their owne speeches and by the whole action of ther Martyrdome The booke is intituled The Seueral executions of Slade and Body c. imprinted in London by Richard Iones 1583. which is put in print by one of their owne protestantes that was present and is witnessed by thousandes of others that both heard saw their deathes and iudgement I wil for examples sake alleage some thing out of the said printed pamphlet of that which was said vnto them by the enimie at their martyrdome Confesse your fault saith one of the cheefe * Sir VV. Kingsmel gentlemeÌ„ and ministers of execution ther present for satisfaction of the vvorld in the cause of your death to which the holie confessor I. Bodie answered after protestation of his loyaltie in temporal thinges Yovv shall vnderstand quoth he good people that I suffer death for denying her Maiestie to be Supreame head of Christes churche in England in causes ecclesiastical other treasons except they make hearing the holie Masse or saying Aue Maria treason I haue coÌ„mitted none So his happie companion M. Slade condemned for the same onelie cause was thus spoken vnto in the houre of his agonie The cause vvhy M. Slade and M. Bodie vvere murdered by one doctor Bennet a great minister of ther new congregation let not the Pope saith he that vnvvorthie Priest be preferred before thine ovvne natural Princesse vvho is the lavvful supreame head of the Church next vnder Christ So said this minister by whom we may not onelie perceiue vpon what statute and treason they were executed but also which in an other parte of this libel is without shame most boldlie denied Pag. 10. that indeed the Q. is commoÌ„lie of protestantes called Supreame head of the Church So their preachers in pulpit doe sounde owt daylie as al men know and their writers in bookes dedicated to her as M. Bridges M. Bridges against doctor Saunders and D. Stapleton and others doe tearme her expreslie Wherof the wiser sorte as we may see by this libel are so ashamed that they wolde haue it giuen out to strangers speciallie who wonder at the monstruous title that ther is no such thing chalenged of her or giuen her by the new lawes of Religion in England The protestaÌ„tes ashamed of their Head of the church For which cause and for that they had an intention streight to publishe at home and in forreine partes that none were put to death for anie such matter of faith or religioÌ„ they suppressed the said printed pamphlet of thes twoo mens martyrdome and punished the Author therof though he wrote in that point the plaine truth as he hard and sawe but not discretlie inough nor aggreable to the politique practise they had then in hand which was to perswade the world that none were put to death for their conscience nor that the Q. chalenged anie such title of Supremacie or Headshippe ouer the Church Pag. 10. which later point it seemeth conuenient to the politiques of our Realme to disauowe with such vehemencie in this libel as they geue vs the manifest lye for that we reproue them of it for thus they write vvhich title of headship of the Church the aduersaries doe most falslie vvrite and affirme that the Q. Maiestie doth novv vse a manifest lie and vntruth c. Wherfore of this matter I am inforced in this place to speake a word or two by the waye The truth is that in the first yeare and Parliament of the Q. reigne when they abolished the Popes authoritie and wolde haue yeelded the same authoritie with the title of Supreame head to the Q. as it was giuen before to her Father and Brother diuers speciallie moued by Minister Caluins writing who had coÌ„demned in the same Princes that calling liked not the â—earme and therfore procured that some other equiualent but lesse offensiue might be vsed Vpon which formalitie it was enacted that she was the Cheef gouernour asvvel in causes ecclesiastical or spiritual as ciuil and temporal And an othe of the same was conceiued accordinglie to be tendred at their pleasures to al the spiritual and teÌ„poral officers in the Realme by which euerie one must sweare that in conscience he taketh and beleeueth her so to be and that no Priest or other borne owt of the realme can haue or ought to haue anie maner of power in spiritual matters ouer her subiectes Which othe is compted the verie torment of al English consciences not the protestantes themselues beleeuing it to be trew of al trew catholiques as before it was deemed in her Father a lay man and in her Brother a childe very ridiculous so now in her self being a woman is it accompted a thing most monstruous and vnnatural and the verie gappe to bring anie Realme to the thraldome of al sectes Heresie Paganisme Turcisime or Atheisme that the PriÌ„ce for the time by humane frailtie may be subiect vnto al our religion faith worship seruice
and prayers depending vpon his soueraine determination a thing that al nations haue to take heede of by our example for the redresse of which pernicious absurditie so manie of our said brethren so willinglie haue shed ther blood The ridiculous varietie of Heretiques about the Headship of the Church In the first Parliamēt of her Maiesties reigne it was indeed in a maner thrust vpon her against her wil because otherwise ther could haue bene no colour to make new lawes for change of Religiō and this title of Cheefe gouernesse was thought to be a qualification of the former tearme of Headship But in truth it is al one with thother or rather worse for in some kinde of improper speach the King may be called the Head or cheef of the Church of his countrie for that he is soueraigne lorde and ruler of bothe persons spiritual and temporal al sortes bound to obey his lawful ciuil lawes and commandementes and so in that sense is he Head of the cleargie and of al others But when in the new forme of our statute it is expreslie and distinctlie added that she is the onelie Supreame gouernour euen in al causes as vvel Spiritual and Ecclesiastical as temporal Ciuil and furthermore enacted that al iurisdictions priuiledges superiorities and preeminences ecclesiastical as by anie power spiritual haue bene or may be exercised are taken frō the Pope to whom Christ gaue them in most ample maner and are vnited or rather as they say restored by an old decree to the crowne of England this can haue no excuse nether trew or likelie sense in the world Absurdities that in sevv vppon making the temporal prince head of the Church making indeed a King and a Priest al one no differēce betwixt the state of the Church and a temporal common wealth giuing no lesse right to heathen Princes to be gouernours of the Church in causes spiritual then to a christian king it maketh one parte of the Church in different teritoires to be independent and seueral from an other according to the distinction of realmes and kingdomes in the world And finallie it maketh euerie man that is not borne in the kingdome to be a forreiner also in respect of the Church thes and a thowsand absurdities and impossibilities more doe ensue which for breuitie we omitt onelie this which is in most mens memories we may not ouerpasse that the verie same yeare that this new preeminence was giuen by lawe to the Q. and th'othe accordinglie ministred to many some hauing remorse of the matter for to auoide daunger pretended for their refusal that it seemed to them by the wordes of th'othe and acte that the Q. might minister also the Sacramētes wherunto they wolde not sweare by anie meanes Wherupon in her next visitation of the cleargie a special iniunction was printed and published by her commaundement declaring that in truth she had no such intent Marke this circle in declaration of the title and that no suche thing was implied in her title or claime of spiritual regimēt nor no other thing nor more then was before graunted to her father by the tearme of Supreame head requiring al her louing subiectes to receiue th'othe at least in that sense and so it should suffice her highnesse By which it is now cleare by ther owne authentical declaratiō that we speake no vntrewth as this libeller sayth nor abuse not the world when we say she is called and taken for the Supreame head of the Church of England albeit the thing it self being far more absurde and of more pernicious sequele then the makers of the law which were mere laymē and most of them vnlearned could then perceiue their folowers now would disauow the same For this article therfore as the famous bishoppe of Rochester Sir Thomas More and a great number more in king Henrie the 8. his dayes so did thos twoo last named martyrs and diuers others before them most gladlie and constantlie yeld vp their lyues and so consequentlie dyed for mere matter of religion onelie And to end this point we lastlie referre the aduersarie to the late Martyrdome of Cartar a poore innocent artisan who was made away onelie for printing a catholique booke De schismate in which no worde was found against the state the quarel onelie most vniustlie being made vpon a certaine clause which by no likelie honest construction could apperteine to the Q. person viz. that the Catholike religion should once haue the vpper hand of heresie and Iudith cutt of the head of Holophernes which they in their extreame ielousie and feare of all thinges wold needes wreast against her Maiestie And the place serueth here to saye some-what of the cause also of their racking of Catholiques which they wold haue strangers beleeue neuer to be done for anie point of religion Fol. 20. As for example say they in the addition to th' end of the libel none is asked by torture vvhat he beleeueth of the Masse or Transubstantiation or suche like Questions asked of catholiques vppon torture As though forsooth ther were no question perteining to faithe and religion but touching our inward beleefe Wheras in deed it concerneth religion no lesse to demaund and presse vs by torture wher in whos houses what dayes and tymes we say or heare Masse how manie we haue reconciled what we haue hard in confession who resorteth to our preachinges who harboreth catholiques and Priestes who susteineth aideth or comforteth them who they be that haue their children or pupilles in the Societie or Seminaries beyond the seas wher such a Iesuite or suche a Preist is to be found wher catholique bookes ar printed and by whom and to whom they be vttered in England which thinges being demaunded of euil intēt and to the annoyance of the Catholique cause Godes Priestes and innocēt men no man may by the lawe of God and nature disclose though he be expreslie commaunded by anie Prince in the world for that God must be obeyed more then man Yet thes were the Interrogatories for which the famous confessor M. Briant M. Briant was tormented with needles thrust vnder his nayles racked also otherwise in cruel sorte and speciallie punished by two whole dayes and nightes famine which they attribute to obstinacie but indeed susteined in Christes quarel it was most honorable constancie The like demaundes were put to the blessed martyrs Campion Sherwin and others vpon the torture M. Shirvvine and of this later namelie was asked where F. Persons and Campion were and whether he had said Masse in M. Roscarockes chamber and what money he had giuen him M. Thomson M. Thomson a venerable and learned Priest was put to tormentes onelie to get out of him to what end he kept certaine Superaltaries and wher he entēded to bestowe them The said yong man Cartar Cartar of whos martyrdome we last treated was examined vpon the racke vpon what Gentlemen or catholique Ladies he had bestowed or
put none to death for religion you haue no lawes to put anie man to death for his faith you haue purposelie repealed by a special statute made in the first yeare and parliament of this Q. reigne The difference of proceeding in Catholiques and protestaÌ„tes al former lawes of the Realme for burning heretiques which smelleth of something that I need not here expresse you haue prouided at the same time that nothiÌ„g shal be deemed or adiudged Heresie but by your Parliament Conâ—ocatioÌ„ you haue not yet set doune by anie new lawe what is Heresie or who is an Heretique Therfore you â—an nether adiudge of our doctrine as of heresie nor of â—s as of heretiques nor haue you any lawe left wherby â—o execute vs and so to put anie of vs to death for religion is against Iustice lawe and your owne profession and doctrine But neuerthelesse you doe torment and punish vs both otherwise intollerablie and also by death most cruel and that as we haue prooued for Agnus deis for ministring the holie Sacraments for our obedience to the Sea Apostolique for persuading our frendes to the Catholique fayth for our Preisthod for studying in the Societie or Colledges beyond the seas and such like which you haue ridiculouslie made treason but after-ward being ashamed of the foule absurditie acknowledge them to be matters of religion and such as none shall die for And therfore we most iustelie make our complaint to God man that you doe vs plaine violence persecute vs wythout al equitie and order On thother side Q. Marie against the Protestants executed onely the old lawes of our countrie and of al Christendome made for punishment of heretiques by the Canons and determination of al Popes Counsels Churches Ecclesiastical tribunals of the world allowed also and authorised by the ciuil and imperial lawes and receaued by al kingdomes Christian besides and who theÌ„ hath any cause iustly to be greeued Why should any man complaine or thinke strange for executing the lawes which are as ancient as general as godly against Heretiques as they are for the punishment of traitors murderers or theeues Secondly we complaine iustly of persecution for that our cause for which we suffer is the faith of al our Forefathers the faith of our persecutors owne auncestors the faith into which our countrie was conuerted and by which we ar called Christian the faith of the Catholique Churches Kingdoms round about vs the faith that we promised in our regeneratioÌ„ and therfore can not be forced from it nor punished for it by any lawe of God Nature or Nations VVhy Heretiques may be forced to the Catholique faith though born and bredd vp in Heresie Wher contrariwise thos that in our time or otherwise haue fallen from that faith which not onely their elders religiously receaued but them selues also for most part were many years brought vp in or if not yet had they promised and vowed the same by their parentes and spiritual suerties though protestants in their Baptisme wherin solemne promise is both made and taken to folow the Catholique Church faith with abhomination of al heresies sectes whatsoeuer thes men I say though borne of pareÌ„ts ether Arrians Macedonians PelagiaÌ„s Anabaptistes Zwinglians Protestants or other sect or opinion are not permitted and much lesse charged or bound as the Libellerful ignorantly surmiseth to hold that profession of peculiar Heresie Fol. 9. wherin they were first brought vp seing they can not be deemed to haue professed that sect in their Baptisme or as idly this poore deuine addeth in their Confirmation which was first taught them by their maisters of error according to the time or place of their first education but are to be instructed how that their profession in Baptisme was of the true Catholique receaued knoweÌ„ Christian faith dispersed ouer the world in Christ his Church wherunto they afterward stand bound and consequentelie by al lawe both deuine and humane may be inforced albeit their actual baptisme or education were neuer so much amongest heretiques So that as no lawe of God or man can force vs to be protestantes no more can any reason be alledged nor iust excuse made for ether yong or old why being baptized or brought vp amongst Arrians or Caluinists they may not be forced to returne to the Catholique Church and faith againe And we may maruel in what age or world those people were borne which the Libeller noteth to haue bene burned in Q. Maries time Fol. 9. hauing neuer heard as he sayeth of any other religion then that for which they suffred For the sect which they pretended to die for was not extant in England aboue fiue or six years before in the short reigne of K. Edward the sixt or rather of his protectour for before that in K. Henries dayes the same profession was accompted heresie and the professours therof were burned for Heretiques and that by publique lawes no lesse then in the reigne of Q. Marie But the truth is that because we Catholique Christian men doe iustly ground our selues vpoÌ„ the former professioÌ„ of our faith notoriously knowen to be and to be called Catholique thes men apishlie would imitate our phrase and argument in a thing as far differing as heauen and hel Thirdlie we say that we haue iust cause to complaine of this present persecution The maner of proceediÌ„g in persecuting protestants for that the maner of it is such and the proceding so conformable to the old Pagane Heretical and Apostatical fashion and dealing against Gods Church and children that nothing can be more like They hated al Catholiques and compted them traitors so doe you They speciallie persecuted Byshops Priestes and religious so doe you They killed them indeed for their beleef but yet pretended otheâ— crymes more odious and speciallie matters of conspiracie and rebellion against the ciuil magistrate so doe you They droue the innocent by captious interrogatories into dangers of lawes that neuer offended the lawes so doe you They pressed men by torments to denie their fayth vnder colour of trying their secret intentes against the Prince so doe you They punisshed and haue put to death one Catholique for an other mans fault of the same profession and vpoâ— general supposals common to al of the same faith made away whom they lyst so doe you I referre thâ— indifferent readers to the persecution of Iulianuâ— Apostata of the Gothes and Vandals in Italie and Affrique It is not onelie the slaughter of manie and them speciallie the Priestes of God which is most proper to heretical persecution but th' other infinite spoile of Catholique mens goods honors and libertie by robbing them for receyuing Priestes hearing Masse retayning Catholique Schoolmasters keeping catholique seruantes mulcting them by twentie poundes a moneth which by their cruel accompt they make thirtene-skore a yeare for not repairing to their damnable Schismatical seruice By which a number of auncient gentlemen fal to extremitie ether
Gentrie The persecution of Catholique Nobilitie Gētrie whom this Libeller saith They put not to death nor losse of their inheritance though they hould opinion for the Popes supremacie and defend that the Q. Maiestie ought not to be the gouernour ouer al her subiects in her Realme being persons Ecclesiastical vvhich opiniōs saith he ar neuerthelesse in some part by the lavves of the Realme punishable in some degrees yet such is their miserie we say that notwithstanding thes faire and false speeches of the enemy they be far more iniuried then the Cleargie euen themselues more vexed spoiled dishonored with fines mulctes bondes penalties imprisonmentes arreignements amongst theeues pretence of premuniries misprisions discontentments euil affections and cōtrarie religion to the state pursued by the vilest and most abiect men by Ministers spies and promotors assailed robbed in their owne howses and chased from the same into woodes yea sometimes into waters we speake of knowledge at length into banishment Which who seeth not how miserable a thing it is when their whole families must either perish of famine at home or begge in strange landes abrode in which case both their goodes are seazed on as the world knoweth and their possessiō◠fal to the Princes handes or into the fiste of some lost companion which shal vpon fauour obteine the gif◠to make spoile of the same And yet this good writer so nicelie to colour their crueltie towardes Catholique gentlemen setteth doune the matter as though cases of Cōscience Religion or of the sea Apostolique were but in some degrees in some litle part punished and not with losse of landes nor death at any time persecuted when he and al the world knoweth that they may and doe by thos wicked lawes of theirs disherite put to perpetual prison and to death diuers of the laytie We refer them to the worshipful M. Trugeons case who liueth in prison so many yeares of almes after the spoile and rapine of so goodlie possessions We refer them to the lay men put to death of late at Winchester and And ouer to so manie fled for religion of the best Nobilitie and gentrie wholie sacked and spoiled of al they possessed so many hundreds more vexed pilled spoiled at home as they haue not wherwithal to expel famine from them selues and ther families And which is yet more we tel you that ther can neuer a Catholique noble man in the realme if by anie shew of religiō or moderatiō in life he giue th'enimie the least suspicion in the world of his good affection that way be sure of his life landes and state one day For by one false pretence and calumniation or other they wil entrap him emprison him and in sin except God maruelouslie protect him they wil ouerthrow him and his whole familie and transferre al his honors sometimes to his cheefest enimies Yea al this often against the Princesse wil being led against her owne natural inclination to such thinges by the violent domination of certaine that ouerrule her and the whole Realme so as no Catholique can be sure of his landes or life longer then th' aduersarie list God knoweth we doe not amplifie in the sight of strangers the calamities of Catholiques in our countrie whos chaines dongeons spoiles flightes disgraces deathes if al the world could see with their eyes as we doe feele al the Princes Christian would take compassion and accompt our complaintes most iust and necessary Wherin our miseries are multiplied that such Libellers as thes The craftie cozonage of this Libeller doe by false reportes and misconstruction of our sentence in religiō guilefullie goe about to diffame vs with forrenners As for example when here this fellowe sayeth that ther be diuers gentlemen Catholiques in England that hold The Q. ought not to be gouernour ouer any her subiectes in her realme being persons Ecclesiastical and yet are not persecuted to death for the same c. For their prosecution and persecution I haue made it plaine before But for their holding of any such assertion I must and doe say that it is slaunderous and most vntrue For ther is a great difference to say she is not to rule the Bishops in causes Ecclesiastical or in matter of ministring the Sacraments preaching and doctrine and to say she is not Q. or gouernour ouer the Cleargie or that Priestes or Ecclesiastical persons be not her subiects For they are also bound yea euē monkes and religious as S. Chrisostome sayeth which this Libeller in an other place alleadgeth ignorātly to proue that in al matters such ought to obey their tēporal Princes they are bound I say to order and obedience of their kinges and to obserue their temporal and ciuil lawes made for peace tranquilitie and temporal gouernment of their people to doe them al honour and seruice in that behalf as the Libeller right wel knoweth that al Catholike Bishops and Prelates of the Church euer haue done and doe at this day both in our Realme and in al other Realmes abrode to their lawful Kinges yea to heathen kinges also though in matters of religion and of their spiritual charge neither Heathen nor Christian kinges be their superiours or ought to direct them but rather to take direction from them Thus then ouer and aboue al former recompted calamities by opprobrious tongues lying lippes and pennes we be persecuted for defence of our Fathers faith the Churches truth The cause wherof putteth the difference betwene our Martyrdome and the due and worthie punishmēt of Heretiques who shedding their blood obstinatelie in testimonie of falshood against the truth of Christ and his holie spouse and out of the vnitie of the same are knowē malefactors and can be no Martyrs but damnable Murtherers of them selues One onelie thing belonging to this passage is yet behind The protestant Martyrs hovv they vvere traitors which we must answere to breeflie The aduersarie telleth vs that the Martyrs of their sect in Q. Maries time denied not their lavvful Q. nor mainteined her enimies as ours doe A strange boldnesse to auouch a lye without necessitie which al the world can disproue at the first sight For how say yow Sir was not your Archbishop named here for the principal of al your Martirs cōuicted cōdemned opēlie of highe treason Cranmer euen for waging souldiars for Duke Dudley a hateful name to England since Henrie the seuēthes tyme euer aspiring but stil infortunate to it self and followers against the Princesse that was then and her Highenes that is now Was not your next Martir Superintēdent Ridley Ridley an high traytor publiquelie preaching and proclaming at Paules Crosse in London both Q. Marie and this Q. to be bastardes and to haue no right title to the Croune Sandz Did not your famous superintēdent now of Yorke yet no Martir how so euer he hath suffred of late some heauie Crosses for other causes of homelie qualitie boldlie publish the same in
ought to be obeyed by the subiects of England notwithstanding the Bul of Pius Quintus or anie other Bul or sentence that the Pope hath pronounced or may pronounce against her Maiesty Whether the Pope haue or had power to authorize her subiects to rebel or take armes against her or to inuade her dominions and whether such subiects so doing doe laufullie therin Whether the Pope haue power to discharge anie of her Maiesties subiects or the subiects of anie Christian Prince from their alleageance or othe of obedieÌ„ce to her Maiesty or to their Prince for anie cause Whether D. Sanders in his booke of the visible Monarchie of the Church and D. Bristow in his booke of Motiues writing in allowance commendation and confirmation of the said Bul of Pius Quintus haue therin taught testified or mainteined a truth or a falsehood Yf the Pope doe by his Bul or sentence pronounce her Maiesty to be depriued and no lauful Q. and her subiects to be discharged of their allegeance and obedience vnto her and after the Pope or anie other by his appointment and authoritie doe inuade this Realme which part would you take or which part ought a good subiect of England to take Wherin if you say nothing or refuse to answere somewhat in contempt or derogation of the sea Apostolique then are you iudged no good subiect but a traytor wherby let al Princes and People Christian beare witnes of our miseries and iniust afflictions who are inforced to suffer death for our onelie cogitations and inward opinions vnduelie sought owt by force and feare yet not condemned by anie Christian schoole in the world nor vttered by vs but vpon forcing interrogatories we hauing committed nothing by word or deed against our Prince or lawes but doing al actes of honour and homage vnto her suffering meekelie what punishement so euer she would lay vpon vs for our Religion The behaueour of English Catholikes since the Bul of Pius Quintus for so most part of al sortes of Catholiques haue done both in EnglaÌ„d and Ireland for this twentie fiue years space onelie a verie few Nobles of both countries taking once armes for their defence in al this long time of intollerable affliction the like patience you shal hardlie find in ProtestaÌ„tes as their furious rebellions against their Soueraignes in France Flandres and Scotland doe testifie our Nobles gentlemen hauing borne al thos anguishes of bodie and mind with losse of honours countrie landes libertie for so long time haue both at home and abrod obeyed her with such loialtie as subiects ought to doe their Soueraine neuer tooke armes in al EnglaÌ„d vpoÌ„ the Bul of Pius Quintus nor anie time since the publication therof contrarie to the deceiptful diuisioÌ„ of thos times things actions set doune by the Libeller placing that after which was done before the Bul was published but haue shewed them selues in al cases as seruiceable as before The Clergie men also whether religious Priestes The proceeding of Cleargie-men concerning the Bul. or students of the two colledges in Rome and Rhemes whether they were in the seruice of their countrie at home or in the schooles absent did al in maner notwithstaÌ„ding the said CeÌ„sure of his Holines vse al due reuereÌ„ce respect vtteriÌ„g in no preachiÌ„g speech or booke no nor at the houre of their death Martirdome nor euer before in anie their confessions to the Magistrate anie disloyal worde against her Maiesty No which we further auouch not anie one Priest of the Societie or Seminaries can be prooued by the aduersarie to haue absolued in secret Confession anie one man liuing from his allegeance or to haue euer ether in publique or priuate disswaded anie one person in the Realme from his obedience in Ciuil causes to the Q. Furthermore it is certaine that neuer Priest had anie such Commission giuen hitherto by ether the Popes Holines Priests Commissions or such other superiours in Religion or college to deale in anie such matters touching the Q. nether is ther anie such thing implyed in ether the authoritie or act of reconcilement how so euer the ielous enimie hath found knots in thos rushes that of theÌ„ selues are smooth As the contrarie is doubtles most true the Gouernours of the students alwayes of purpose prohibiting and as much as in such numbers of al sortes not al euer hauing discretion to season their zeale could be prouiding that in the cours of our schoole questions and controuersies concerning the Popes preeminence no matter of depriuing or excommunicating Princes should be disputed no not so much as in generalities and much lesse the particularizing of anie point in our Q. case Which matter notwithstanding it be determinable by Diuinitie and doe come in cours to be handled in schooles as other questioÌ„s doe yet because it is incident to matter of state as now our countrie most vnfortunatly standeth and consequently might be interpreted by the suspitious to be ment of her whos case men liked lest to deale in it was thought best to passe ouer al with silence The particuler doinges of D. Sanders of D. Bristoe Which moderation was kept in al places and persons of our Nation two onelie learned men of great zeale excellencie indeed D. Saunders and D. Bristowe excepted who had their special reasâ—ns to doe as they did which we wil neither defend nor reproue but manie Catholiques were sorie therfore and wished the matter so offensiue had neuer bene touched but committed onelie to higher powers and especiallie to Gods iudgement that he might ether in this world or the next wher both Popes Princes must come to their accomptes discerne of the coÌ„trouersie betwixt our two superiours th' one being our spiritual Head and Soueraigne who is the higher and in matter of Religion rather to be obyed th' other our temporal Prince to whom likewise in such sort and matter as the Holie Scriptures appoint vs we owe al dutie and obeisance WherupoÌ„ afterwardes not onely D. Bristow omitted in his second edition or abridgement of his booke that odious point not fit at that time to be handled but D. Saunders also though his former treatise was not of anie stranger Catholique and learned in anie nation misliked being more free therin because they be not entangled by authoritie and sway of lawes as we are yet called he in and suppressed to his liues end a verie learned booke made in defence of Pius Quintus his sentence and printed aboue fortene years since no copie therof that is knowen being now extant Which cours of moderation al Catholiques of al sortes both spiritual and temporal haue followed euer since restraining as much as in them lay the rigour of that sentence And the blessed Martyr F. Campian him self as is recited in the storie of his arraignemeÌ„t The speech of Father CampiaÌ„ at Rome falling in talke with a certaine principal Cardinal in Rome at his first arriual ther
inuincible courage constancie of the Pope often brought to penance and extremitie that in fin by armes he droue the said Pope out of his sea and placed an Antipape An Antipape that is to say one so opposite to Christs vicar as Antichrist shal be against Christ which by armes and patronage of this wicked Emperour vsurped and occupied the Apostolical throne against the true Pope Gregorie the seuenth whom the Libeller after the vulgar vaine of Rebellious Heretiques voutsafeth not the name of Gregorie the seuenth but calleth him commonlie Hildebrand as the Heretiques when they were in armes in Germanie against their Emperour Heretical malice would not name him Charles the fifte nor Emperour but Charles of Gaunt And now because this good and notable Pope The coÌ„tentioÌ„ betvvene Pope Gregorie the seuenth and Henrie the third Emperor was â—ot able in fin to resist th'emperours forces the which Emperour as al the histories of that time record was a most wicked sacrilegious simoniacal and heretical person th' aduersaries of Gods Church doe triumphe as the Libeller here doth ouer the blessed man as Herode might haue done ouer Iohn Baptist whos admonition was taken in so euil gré that it cost him his life as also th'executing of the Churches sentence which is Gods hath done to manie a Prophet and Bishop in the world By which euent of thinges who so euer measureth the right of causes wil make a good religion and a good defence of th' execution of iustice For so most Tirants might be iustified for a time against al the Saints of God This Gregorie say they was in sin banished by the Emperour and so was S. Chrisostom by Archadius and Eudoxia and dyed in banishment as Gregorie the seuenth did yet they were but homelie Christians that would iustifie the Emperours and condemne S. Chrisostome And indeed this Pope whom they speciallie hate because as it may be thought he was the first man that authenticallie condemned the Berengarians heresie in open disputation refuted it though certaine of the said Emperours flatterers enimies of the sea Apostolique as the fashion of our Heretiques is at this day wrote slaunderous Libels against him Pope Hildebrand a good man yet was he a very notable good man and learned and did suffer what so euer he did suffer for mere iustice in that he did godlie honorablie and by the dutie of his Pastorship what so euer he did against the said Emperour wherof we could alleadge al the best writers of thos dayes or near that time but that we should be tedious Of whom yet this one graue testimonie of Baptista Fulgosius a noble and learned man that was Duke of Genua aboue an hundred years past we shal not let to set doune as we finde it in latine Constantissimus habitus est Gregorius septimus Pontifex Lib. 3 Cap. vlt. factoruÌ„ memorabilium qui quòd Henricum tertium Imperatorem propter aperta nimis Symoniae crimina pro pastorali officio reprehendebat grauibus ab eo iniurijs affectus est itaque iniuriarum magnitudine compulsus Henricum Gregorius vt haereticum Imperij honore priuauit Cum autem Henricus solui ecclesiastica censura non emendatione vitae sed armis quaereret alium creare Pontificem enixus capta Vrbe obsidere Gregorium coepit Quae mala cum Gregorius pateretur nunquam tamen a iusto proposito dimoueri potuit That is Gregorie the seueÌ„th was notable for his constancie who for that according to his pastoral charge he had admonished Henrie the third The testimonie of the Duke of Genua for Pope Hildebrand Emperour to leaue his knowen impietie of Simonie was by manifold intollerable iniuries vexed by the said Emperour and by the greatnes of his wickednes was compelled to depriue him as an heretique of his Imperial dignitie But Henrie seeking not by amendment of his life but by armes to be absolued from the censure he went about to set vp a new Pope and beseiged the citie of Rome and brought the Pope into great distres In al which miseries Gregorie could neuer be remoued from his iust purpose So he writeth of the parties both See Vspergen lib. 5. Annal. And of the horrible crimes for which the Emperour was most iustlie iÌ„ the sight of al good meÌ„ deposed Thus Trithemius reporteth iÌ„ breef of the wickednes of this Emperour Episcopacus CoÌ„staÌ„tiensem c. He sould the Bishoprikes of Constance Bamburgh Mentz diuers other for money thos of Ausbourg Straisburgh for a sword that of Munster for Sodomie and the abbacie of Fulde for aduoultrie Trithem in Chron. heauen and earth witnesse and crie out of thes and for the same abhominations he standeth excommunicated depriued and therfore hath no power nor iust title to reigne ouer vs Catholiques But to goe forward this same Gregorie the seuenth did the like commendable iustice vpon the king of Pole Bolislaus the second Chrom lib. hist PoloÌ„ li. 4. aswel excommunicating as depriuing him for murthering of his Bishop S. Stanislay at the verie Altar Against which sentence though he stoode by force and contempt for a time Kinges of later times excoÌ„municated yet at length he was forsaken and resisted wholie by his subiects fled and in fin slew him self For Heresie also was George K. of Boemland excommunicated and thervpon by the forces of the king of Hungarie at length actuallie depriued As also Iohn Albert had half his kingdome of Nauarre taken from him by Ferdinandus surnamed Catholicus of Aragon for that he gaue aide to Levves the twelueth beiÌ„g excommunicated by Iulius the second For great iniuries also done to holie Church for persecution of Bishops and religious was Iohn one of our kinges of England Kinges of England with his whole land interdicted and brought after long strugling against God and the Sea Apostolique to yeeld his Croune to the courtesie of the Popes Legate and to make both his Realmes of England and Ireland tributaries Lib. 1. de Repub. Cap. 9. The authentical instrument wherof Iohn Bodin saith he hath seene For like causes and namelie for that he was vehemeÌ„tlie suspected of the murther of the blessed Bishop S. Thomas of Canterburie was Henrie the second driuen by Alexander the third to order and penance A number of the like examples moe we might recite of our countrie and of the christian world wherby not onelie the practize of the Church in al ages may be seene but also Catholique men warranted that they be no traitors nor hould assertions treasonable false or vndutiful in answering or beleeuing that for Heresie or such like notorious wickednes a Prince otherwise lauful and annointed may be excommunicated deposed forsaken or resisted by the warrant of holie Churches iudgement and Censure Whervnto we wil adde onelie the sentence of Gregorie the great and first of that name whom the aduersaries confesse to haue bene both learned and holie who being as
shal be said in the next chapter and others folowing The Libellers importunate insolency inforcing vs therunto like as the Ciuil Magistrats most captious and bloody conceipts coÌ„strained some of our blessed brethern before their martirdomes to speake more therof then otherwise they desired though nothing so much as by warrant of Gods word and holy writ they might haue done THAT IT IS MVCH TO THE BENEFITE AND STABILITIE OF COMMON vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the difference betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize CAP. VI. THE Libeller once or twice in his discours seditiouslie calleth vpoâ— the Monarches and Princes of the world warning theÌ„ of the doubtful and seruile state they be in whiles the Popes may be suffred to make and vnmake kinges and Princes at their pleasure The seditious sleight of the Libeller and to licence their subiectes to resist them And the man perchance might haue his tale heard if he spake to the simple sort or to such Kinges as feared nether God nor man nor sought otherwise not anie longer to vphould their estates but by desperate force and practize and for their owne time without regard of their posterity But speaking to them whos wisdomes susteine the world whos Crounes are worne Swordes are borne for Christ his spouse whos glorious Auncestors partlie first rose partlie were established and them-selues yet safelie stand and happilie florish which our Lord God long coÌ„tinue by the benediction of the Sea Apostolique and good intelligence correspondece with the high Bishops of the same good audience hardly can they looke for Th' example of some other Princes Protestants about â—hem forsaking the felowship of the Catholique and Apostolique sea and speciallie of king HeÌ„rie th' eight â—â—rst his sonne and daughter after him in EnglaÌ„d 〈◊〉 man a child and a woman not onely seuering them â—elues from the same but annexing to their regalitie â—y strange lawes al Apostolical and Papal power spiâ—itual with infinite emolumentes made by confiscatioÌ„ of al religious mens landes and goods in the whole Realme which was the beginning of that new Ecclesiastical regiment thes thinges being of greater â—emptation then the Libellers bare wordes could â—et neuer moue th'Emperour nor either of the great Monarches nor anie other king of wise counsel in the world to breake with Gods Church and the cheefe Pastors therof Knowing by the recordes of al ages siâ—hence Christ that what Princes or PoteÌ„tates soeuer haue formallie opposed theÌ„ selues to Christes Vicar and refused to communicate with him in the faith and felowship of the Catholique Church were euer in them selues or their posteritie confounded and their kingdomes ouerthrowen or brought to miserable seruitude of Turke or other heathen Tirant It is not the good fortune of a few yeares felicitie that moueth the graue and sage gouernours of the world though the Libeller to make fooles faine The vvise considerations of Catholique Princes vrgeth their good lucke in England much since their breach with Gods Church but they wil looke farther about them and see the euents of thes strange attempts in vs and the iudgements of God for the same not onelie til th' end of K. Henrie th' eight his race who was Radix peccati but afterwarde if our Lord deferre his sentence so long to some new generations to come Ouer which as vpon the Prince and state present of our Countrie we humblie on our knees with continual teares desire God to haue mercie and to auert his indignation from them and vs that the Princes and people of the world may rather be edified by th' example of our conuersion and returne to Gods Church then be instructed by the sight of our punishment and confusion But now for the coÌ„ceipt that this good man would driue into mens heades that no state should be in safetie if the Pope might depriue the Prince at his pleasure it is a bugge fit onelie to feare babes Al wise men in the world that ether see the present times The Popes authoritie touching Princes regalities or looke backe into the ages past knowe that the Pope neither chalengeth nor vsurpeth nor vseth anie such authoritie at his pleasure to depose or exalt whom he list And al learned deuines confesse that he hath not anie direct or immediate iurisdictioÌ„ or superioritie ouer the temporalities Ciuil states or regalities of secular Princes or Magistrates and therfore can not dispose of their kingdomes nor actions alter nor abrogate their lawes as he daylie doth and may doe at his good pleasure of Prelates Bishops and Priests affaires vpon whom he hath direct power and iurisdiction but that he may onely intermedle indirectlie with temporal Princes as he is the Cheefe officer vnder Christ and hath charge of their soules and therbie hath to looke whether their regimentes tend anie way to the iniurie of the Church and true Religion or to their owne and their subiects damnation as in case of Schisme Heresie Apostasie Idolatrie Sacriledge and other intollerable defectes in gouernmeÌ„t for which he being their Bishop is bound to admonish them sondrie times with al lenitie if that serue not to excommunicate them and if they contemne that and the Churches discipline and authoritie then be they esteemed as heathens and vnworthie of superioritie ouer Gods people This is not to depose Kinges at his pleasure nor is cause sufficient why anie iust and Christian Prince should stand in doubt of the Popes censures onelie such as be Heretiques or intend to shake of the yoke of Christ and their faith in him VVhat Princes only feare the Pope haue cause in their conscience to doubt both the Churches discipline the plagues of God which wil not faile them how so euer by humane force and violence they protect them selues for a time from his Ministers sentence sweet corrections Al iust and Catholique Kinges are so far from doubting or misliking Gods ordinance and the practize of the sea Apostolique herein that they perceiue it most necessarie for the stabilitie of their kingdomes and the continuaunce of their posteritie in the glorie therof that for their regiment in faith and life they stand in some reuereÌ„d awe of their cheefe Pastors which is a necessarie and honorable bridle of Princes in their youth and al the dayes of their life to stay them from dangerous disorders and so to temper them in ther gouernmeÌ„t that they may raigne loÌ„g and happilie ouer their people wher otherwise they might fal into infinite calamities and be ether forsaken deposed or shamefullie destroyed by their owne subiects whether they be depriued by holie Churches censure or no. Nether doth anie godlie Christian Prince at this day as we thinke wishe their Empire ether
rather thral obnoxious then to submit thē selues to the sweet yoke of Christs kingdome and Priesthood or to concurre in happie vnitie with such as Christ and the Holie-ghost haue placed ouer the Church for the guiding of her people to saluation and that also in worldlie peace and tranquilitie as much as in them lieth which is their cheefe honor and greatest guarde that may be both to Prince people as the contrarie motion of wicked men to sowe debate betwene Prīces Pastors is surely more vnnatural thē to put discord betwixt the bodie the soule ī the regimēt of a mās persō A fit similitude wherī as the whole frame is best gouerned preserued when the flesh can be cōtented to be ruled by the spirite so no doubt the tēporal power consisteth most safelie endureth longest when it hath good correspondence and subordination to the spiritual which seeketh euer al aduauncement and safetie to the secular Powers appointed by God for the worldlie weale of their subiects Which terrene felicitie necessarie for the cleargie also in this life no lesse then for others is alwaies by the state Ecclesiastical most zealouslie mainteined against the disturbers of peace concord and due obedience to superiours And therfore as the Church of God and namelie the Sea Apostolique hath receiued in respect of the honor due to Christ his principal Apostle S. Peter infinite exaltation by the Christian kinges of al nations so on th' other side the Popes of al ages haue sought by al meanes possible to aduaunce to honor glorie and encrease Christian kinges and states not onelie spirituallie which is their first cheefe care but also temporallie wherof euerie nation Christianed hath had sufficient proofe But to say nothing of Catholique Kinges or Countries which gladlie acknowledge the benefite and wil auouch the right and iust title of anie their dominions Dominions holden by the Popes meanes receiued of the sea Apostolique or adiudged theirs by the same for though the Libeller would make them weene it were a base and perilous matter to stand at the Popes courtesie in such things yet he can persuade none of them that they hould anie peece of their states by euil conscience which is fallen vnto them that way by the Popes warrant nor is he so eloquent as to make them yeeld vp the same to their old owners againe the states and Princes Protestantes must ether acknowledge the benefite and iust possession of diuers high dignities titles and crounes receiued by the said sea of S. Peter or els they be neither kind nor wise Is not the Emperial dignitie the highest humane preeminence that can be in this world And can the German protestants denie but that they hould or had that of the Pope The Empire from the Pope For where some wrangle that it came by election of the people of Rome that is most false contrarie to al histories and reason Dare they denie the Pope to haue had lauful power to translate th' empire out of Greece or wil they say their Emperour that now is and al other his predecessors since Charles the great were vsurpers as they should be if the order or disposition of the holie Sea were not lauful No protestant nor other man in his wit wil so say and speciallie no Alman to the glorie of whos nation this thing so much perteineth This nation therfore hath no cause to complaine of the high spiritual authoritie by which it self hath bene an hundreth times more aduaunced then hindred or diminished As Likewise th' order of the Election and which al men esteeme for a title of most high dignitie the Electorship it self was giuen to certaine Princes of Germanie by Gregorie the fift who as the Magdeburge historians them selues speake being a German and desirous to adorne his natiue Countrie with some excellent honor Cent. 10. Cap. 10. deuised that the election of the king which after his coronation by the Pope should also be called Imperator and Augustus should onelie pertaine to the Germans Now let the Heretiques speake and yeeld ther reason who tooke the matter so much in dougē thes last years past that the Pope should intermedle with the displacing of the Elector of Colen The fond reasoning of Heretiques about the Popes deposing of the late Bishop of Colen What A Pope to depose an Elector said they As though a Pope might not depriue an vnworthie Apostata Bishop of his Sea and Electorship who first created and gaue vnto that nation and to that Sea both Elector and Electoral dignitie it self Let them tel vs why his authoritie is not as great in depriuing for iust cause as his power was sufficient to establish that honor in Germanie And Let the Libeller that accompteth it so vnworthie a thing that some Popes haue giuen censure vpon the Princes of the holie Empire be demaunded who established that high state in that countrie and whether he that had power to doe that can want anie warrant to depriue an euil or wicked person of the Empire And in breefe let him be asked whether that noble nation haue not receaued more dignitie and profit temporal then hurt and hinderance by that Papal power ouer kingdomes which this man in his seditious pride so much abhorreth But to come to that which we the Libeller best of al doe knowe and toucheth vs English more neare at home and may be an instruction and proofe of the cause in hand to other strangers abrode Surely if the people of our Country knew ther owne good and were grateful as they were wont to be for now this brutish Heresy hath made them without affection as S. Paul speaketh of such vnnatural Sectaries they would acknowledge that as to the Sea Apostolique England greatly indebted to the sea Apostolique they owe their first faith and Christianity not only for conuerting the Britons who were the ancient inhabitants of the Iland but also the English them selues afterward and that in very memorable sort reconciling them eftsons againe to holy Church after their relapse and endowing their Princes and Prelats with such singular prerogatiues as no particular Church or Commō welth ī the world with the good grace of al other Christian states be it spoken had greater or more honorable so would they ī like maner besides thes spiritual fauors confesse them selues indebted for the temporal aduauncement of our Princes receiued from the same Sea Apostolique seeing the regiment and Lordship of Ireland was by the Popes only gift bestowed vpon our Souerains in the time of Pope Adrian the fourth and K. Henry the second 400. years agone Irland the Popes gift vnto England they hauing no other title therunto in the world but by this graunt of the Sea Apostolique Which title notwithstanding we doubt not but that our English Protestantes wil accompt sufficient euen vnto this day and K. Henrie th' eight being fallen from the Church and making him self of
a member the Head therof in his Realme went forward vpon this title and of his owne new Papal authoritie from the Lord of Ireland made and called him self the King therof Which stile was afterward as we take it by due authoritie of the Pope confirmed to Q. Marie So desirous hath bene alwaies the holie Sea of Rome to encrease our Princes with al due honor to enlarge their dominions None of which titles prerogatiues authorities or dignities though receiued onely or principallie by the Popes fauour or gift any one of our kinges of what Religion so euer was yet so wilful to reiect or let goe or yet so nise in Faith as to make scruple of conscience to receaue or retaine as laufullie possessed what so euer they haue obteined that way though vngratful persons acknowledge no benefite therin And not onely large kingdomes so obteined Al Princes contented to receaue hold vse titles of honor and dignitie from the Pope Princes are contented to kepe without scruple but hould also al other titles of honour annexed by his Holines to their Regal dignities vpon what cause soeuer as is to be seene in sondry great and mighty Monarches of Christendome vpon whom diuers high titles haue bene bestowed by the sea Apostolique for their most Christian and Heroical endeuours for the Church and their zeale against Heretiques and Infidels as Catholique in Spaine most Christian in France and such like els wher and in our Country a stile no lesse honourable thē the former that is Defendour of the Faith The stile of Defendour of the faith which stile and title al the Protestants in the world doe knowe that it was giuen by Pope Leo the tenth to K. Henrie th' eight for his defense of the Catholique Romane faith by writing yet exstant vnder his owne hand against Martin Luther And albeit the cause for which it was giuen be now quite altered and the Popes authoritie from which it was receaued extremely impugned yet the right therof coming onely from that authoritie now accompted so vnlauful none of our kings wil leaue or wil renounce the same as indeed we wish they should not for that it notablie putteth them in mind what Church and Faith it is that they are bound to defend and against what kind of men they beare the sword which God hath put into their hand The particuler benefites receaued from this Pope We might adde to this the singular and incomparable fauors and daylie benefits done by his Holines that now is to our nation aboue al his predecessors assuredly excepting S. Gregorie the great our first Apostle Who 's diuine grace and example of Charitie he so zealouslie doth imitate towards vs not onelie for the saluation of the whole deceiued Countrie but for the particular releefe of manie hundrethes of al sortes ages and sexes that are driuen by violence of cruel persecution into diuers Catholique Prouinces and are forced to leaue their Countrie and what so euer is deare vnto them to learne that Faith in which al their forefathers so honorablie liued and died By which his rare benefits his happie name as Gregories the first must needes be in English memories immortal maugré this ingratful Heresie to which we hope he shal once be the bane The Charitie of Gregorie the first tovvardes Of the said Gregorie the great his more then common loue of our soules we haue besides other Apostolical charitie this grateful example that his Holines receiuing great sommes of monie in thos dayes out of Fraunce hauing intelligence that ther were dispersed through that prouince numbers of English children bought as bōdslaues for doing of al drudgerie for their maisters profit as the state of seruitude required and that they liued ther in thraldome both of bodie and soule vnbaptized the Blessed Father taking deepe compassion of their miserable case speciallie because they were of that Nation which was then nuelie gained by his trauaile vnto Christ he wrote letters to his receiuour in thos partes that he should not make the french money which was ther to be receiued ouer to Rome by exchange but employ it in Fraunce wher it was currant vpon Charitable vses speciallie therwith to deliuer English Children from seruitude and to bring them into Italie by troupes hauing good graue Priestes to ouersee and instruct them in the Faith and if anie dangerous sicknes should fal to anie of them in the way to baptize them So as he did not onelie procure our peoples saluation at home by sending in diuers learned men to preach and teach the Gospel vnder the conduction of holie S. Augustine our Apostle but also by education abrod of great numbers of our Nation to his great charges temporal So did this renouned Pope and Doctor for our Countrie to bring it from Paganisme to Christ and through God preuayled and deserueth for the same immortal glorie both in heauen and earth And no lesse trulie doth Gregorie the thirtenth for reconciling our countrie from Heresie deserue both bringing vp abrode great numbers of the Nation at his owne charges in Godlie discipline and the same Faith that the foresaid S. Gregorie his Patrone and predecessor first caused to be taught to our forefathers and also disposeth of manie fit persons endued with zeale and spiritual power to returne in peaceable humble and Apostolique maner to their Countrie ther to teach the dec ued to reconcile thē by spiritual power Preistlie functiō to the vnity of Gods Church againe out of which they are most sure to perish and not by raising rebellion or tumultes as this Libeller most falselie pretendeth Which holie function for that they haue done by Gods great grace and goodnes with farre more frute and encrease of the Catholique religion and notorious domage of Heresie The frute of Preestes labours in England then Protestantes feared at the beginning therfore haue they subtellie and falselie turned al thes heroical endeuors of his Holines good offices of Gods Priestes into matters of State and Treason and would make al Princes and people abrode beleeue that are not acquainted as necessitie hath driuen vs to be with the practize of the first Apostles and Fathers of the primitiue Church atchiuing the conuersion of manie cities countries in no other sort then our brethren most godlilie and dutifullie doe attempt in our nation that al our preaching perswading praying offering sacrifice hearing confessions absoluing reconciling hauing of beades crosses images and the like were seditious rebellious traiterous and plaine conspiracie against the Q. Maiesty and the Realme The great malice and ingratitude of England tovvardes this Pope Yea they would so farre if they could abuse the patience and simplicitie of Christian people both of their owne Countrie and others that they would haue them thinke our holie and highe Pastor to haue erected the two Seminaries and other commodities of learning and godlie education for our countrie-men vpon no other
occasion but to moue sedition and rebellion and therfore are so farre from giuing him humble thankes as they ought to doe as our Nation wil once doe if euer it come to it self againe that they hate his person and office for this cause most deadle and doe publish by this Libel and otherwise that it is a worke of high hostilitie against her Maiesty But alas for pitie and woe be to our sinnes that the state of our Common-wealth is now so neerlie ioined vnto Heresie that nether Christes Vicar by charitie and discipline nor Gods Priestes by anie office of ther life and death can seeke to remedie the one but they shal be accompted enimies and traitors to the other Which fond malice yet through our infelicitie is more apparant in England then in anie other people of the world besides though in error and out of Gods Church as ours The godlie Zealous doinges of this Pope for religion It is the peculiar glorie of Gregorie the thirtenth aboue al his predecessors and other Prelates of al ages that in so sweet and Apostolique sort he prouideth for the instruction of innumerable youthes for their owne saluation and for the reduction of their natiue countries and interteining the Catholique faith in most prouinces of the world Many are the people in the world abrod especiallie in the East South and North partes therof which are in Schisme Heresie or Error no lesse thē the English and the incomparable care of this general Pastor prouideth for euerie one in the best maner that is possible as wel by corporal as spiritual releefe He hath at this day some of the fathers of the Societie of Iesus in Constantinople The Society of Iesus in Constantinople Alexandria and els wher-soeuer is anie oportunitie to gaine soules in the dominions of the Turke in Muscouia likewise and other Prouinces addicted to the errors of the Grecians He hath instituted Seminaries for the Greekes Armenians and Sclauonians he hath placed colledges of the Societie and Seminaries in Suetia Liuonia Polonia Boëmia Transiluania for Scotland also and speciallie for the noble Prouince of Germanie Yea his pastoral solicitude reacheth euen to the East Indies wher in Iapon he hath founded this last yeare past and mainteineth a goodlie colledge not without his great expenses Thus he doth in the cause of Christ from one end of the world to an other whilest his and holie Churches miserable aduersaries waste their time in wrangling and wrastling against the truth And ther is none of al thes Nations of what sect or sort so euer that can be so suspicious or malitious as to interprete his Holines meaning as th' English doe or that conceiue anie feare of treasons confederacies inuasions or destructions of their countries as our men dreame of Other natiōs in Scisme not so ingrat as England The Germanes though al be not Catholiques but manie much altered by their vnaduised folowing of Martin other as madde sectaries yet they al count it a singular honor profit to their nation that they haue so famous a college in Rome it self as our Nation did of olde when it had there a great schoole about a thousand yeares agoe builded by king Offa and afterward an hospital Wher now we of England be come by this wicked Heresie to be so careles of our publique profit and honor that we contemne and maliciouslie condemne a gift farre more excellēt thē euer was bestowed vpon our Countrie before in forreine places and most deuillishlie doe hate the giuer Wherin the Heretiques in this Libel and otherwise shew such ignorant barbarous mockerie touching the terme of Seminaries as though they were estranged from al actions of the Christian world through out al which that terme and calling is so common namelie since the godlie decree of the holie Councel of Trent The name of Seminaries giuing order for the erection of such nurceries for the clergie as it is tooto ridiculous in our English Heretiques to make them selues sport at it as they wiselie doe in this Libel also at the name of the Popes Buls The name of Buls by pretie allusion as they thinke but in deed with smal grace resembling them to the bubles of water with such scorneful companions the Church of God hath now to deale But for defence of the Societie Seminaries and the sending of Priestes into England the men of thos orders and qualitie haue age and habilitie to answer for them selues and it is done to our handes plentifullie in their Apologie The English Apologie which the aduersaries shal neuer answere with reason and credit And therfore of that matter inough OF THE LATE WARRES IN IRELAND FOR RELIGION HOW THE POPE may vse the svvord and that the differences betvvixt temporal Princes and him or their resisting him in some cases of their vvorldlie interest can be no vvarrant to the Protestantes to contemne his censures or authoritie in matter of Faith and Religion CAP. VII Hovv the Pope may vse the svvord BVT the aduersarie obiecteth that whatsoeuer the Pope doth or may doe by his Buls excommunications institution of Seminaries or other such like spiritual endeuours may either be contemned or neglected by the example of her Maiesty who regarded not his doinges against her so long as he satt stil in his Chair but when he rose vp in anger and left Verbum the word and tooke Ferrum the sword against S. Bernardes direct aduice to Eugenius saith this Libeller yea and when contrarie to the Scriptures he drew forth the sword which Christ commaunded Peter to put vp into the scabard and inuaded by his forces her Maiesties kingdome of Ireland then saith this good man she could doe no lesse but vse such resistance by armes and otherwise as was requisite for her owne defence Wherat we maruel lesse indeed for that before she had contemned the Popes spiritual rodde of excommunication and al Ecclesiastical admonition and censure Lib. 1. cōt Faustum cap. 17. which is the high Priestes and Churches most proper weapon and is more to be feared of al faithful persons as holie S. Augustine saieth Then to be hevved in peeces vvith the svvord burned vvith the fire or torne in sonder of vvilde beastes and is a punishment so dreadful that euen then when it is knowen to be executed without iust cause by some errour or wrong information it may not be contemned Therfore where that was not regarded we knowe ther could be no scruple to withstand anie other Martial attempt against Pope or whomsoeuer nether could it seme strange But at this al the world may wounder and it is maruelous in our eyes why the Popes hostilitie in Ireland The Popes doinges no cause to martyr Priestes should condemne so manie innocent Priests and Catholiques that neuer were in Ireland nor euer were acquainted with the action of that Countrie or anie other rebellion against the Queene in ether of her kingdomes Put
as we read in the first of the Machabies of the Priestes infortunate fight against the heathen yet to make this a general rule as this Libeller doth that the Pope may no wayes vse the sword for defence of iustice or religion is most false and absurd The true vvay vvhich the Libeller should haue vsed for improuing the Popes actions in Ireland The true way of defence for English protestantes in this case touching the warres of Ireland and for impugnation of the Pope concerning his allowing or assisting the same should be in mine opinion not to affirme absolutelie as our fond most ignorant Libeller doth that the Pope may no way fight or take armes at al for that is against a knowen truth and not onely we but al Catholiques in the world wil therin stand against him but rather for condemnation of his Holines actiōs to proue that his cause was not iust her Maiesty not to stand rightelie excommunicate not any way to be an Heretique as Pius Quintus declared and consequentlie her subiectes in no case to remaine absolued from their othe and obedience of which pointes we may not at al dispute seing our defence is onlie general that the Pope may in some cases excōmunicate for some causes depriue and in many respectes fight and wage warre for Religion And it may be thought that the Protestants would neuer denie this but in regard of their owne particuler interest in some priuate case only For they wil not affirme neither doth it displease them as we thinke that Pius Quintus the last Pope was an Author of the late league and warres against the Turke The Popes vvarre against the Turke and had also his Captaines and banners displayed in that renouned battail against him by the same Against whos armes the Turke notwithstanding might as wel haue alleaged the Scriptures as now our Protestantes doe to make him put vp his sword For in truth if it be lauful for him to occupie his forces which God hath giuen him against the heathen that be no way vnder his iurisdiction much more may he employ them against thes whom he accompteth as Rebels to the Church which be properlie vnder his correction first in respect of their soules and then secondarilie of their tēporal goodes so farre as is requisite to their soules good Al which is most true euen in consideration of his Priestlie and Apostolical function onelie as is plane in Phinees whos priesthood was established vpon his zealous pursuing the enimies of God to death with his owne hand But further marking that the high Priestes of Godes people haue bene lightlie in al ages temporal Princes also and iudges of the world not onlie in spiritual but in worldlie affaires too ther can no doubt remaine but they may vse their forces temporal to the maintenance of iustice Gen. 14. Hebr. 7. Melchisedech the samplare of our new preisthood was both a Priest and a King and alwaies in the lawe of nature the eldest of the principal stockes were both Kinges and high Preistes In quaest Hebrai Priestes may make vvarres for iust occasiōs as S. Hierome witnesseth So is it plane that Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob and the like had the rule spiritual and temporal ouer their families and people And so likewise in the lawe Moyses was both the highe temporal officer and also a cheefe Preist Hely iudged not onelie in temporal but spiritual causes fortie yeares together Finallie the Machabees Iudas Ionathas Simeon and others were both godlie high Preistes wise iudges in politique and valiant captaines in martial affaires Euen so the cheefe Bishops of Christes Church our supreme Bastors in earth by Gods prouidence and by the grauntes of our first most christian Emperours and kinges and by the humble and zelous deuotion of the faithful Princes and people afterward haue their temporal states dominions and patrimonies wherby they most iustlie hould and possesse the same and are therby lauful Princes temporal and may most rightfullie by their soueraintie make warres in their owne or other mens iust quarel as occasion shal vrge them therunto The Popes temporal iurisdiction most lavvful and firme And whatsoeuer the enimies of Gods Church and Sea Apostolique doe barke or blaspheme against the Popes high preeminence in thes thinges as they doe no lesse in deed against al spiritual Soueraintie their is no King nor man in Christendome that hath better title to his state or so manie yeares of prescription for rightful possession or so long and sure protection frō God in such infinite mutabilitie of states and kingdomes or such great likelihood of cōstancy and continuance as hath the temporal state of the Sea Apostolique For as for the spiritual function and power therof it shal not faile til the day of iudgemēt though to vse S. Augustines wordes Heretiques neuer cease to bay and barke on euerie hand round about it Li. de vtil credendi And as thes humane succours of temporal thinges be often necessarie for the Churches peaceable regiment and the dooble honor due to the cheefe Pastors of our soules so the free gift of such thinges by deuout Princes and people is maruelouslie commended in the example of Barnabas and others who of deuotion sould their landes goodes and dedicated the price therof to Gods Church by the disposition of the Apostles humblie laying the same doune at their feete As on the other side the prophane persons that disdaine such honours and liuelihoodes of the Church and seeke to defraud her of the same may be warned by the terrible death of Ananias and Saphira which they suffred by S. Peters word for their like sacrilegious fact conceipt For if thes were thought worthie to be thus excommunicated seing it was an excommunication according to S. Augustines iudgemēt and withal were so extremlie punished corporallie Lib. 3. ca. 1. cont Parmeni for witholding vpon pretence perhaps of a litle better consideration of their necessitie to come a peece onely of that which they promised to God before in the Churches behalf and yet was not actuallie bestowed How much more doe they deserue excommunication and death or rather damnation perpetual that endeuour to spoile the Mother and Mistres of al Churches in the world of her prerogatiue and patrimonie and sacrilegiouslie to robbe her not of some part of their owne giftes but of al that by the deuotiō of others the first and most faithful Princes hath bene for the honour of Christ and his cheefe Apostle with great alacrity and good wil bestowed that way The which almes and patrimony dispensed by the godly prudence and charitie of the Apostolique Bishops redoundeth more to the auaile of Gods Church and the poore therof to Christes honour and to the benefite of al Christianitie be it spoken without comparison to the honour of God alone thē anie temporal Princes patrimony liuīg though many of their worldly habilities be farre greater thē any Popes are or
the Popes Excommunication and Curse The sacking of Rome by the Duke of Burbon because his souldiars vnder the conduction of Burbon committed horrible violence and vilanie in the Citie of Rome against his Holines the Cardinals and al other whom they found ther as their pray Wher in deed the said noble Emperour though then verie yōg yet was nether cōsenting therunto nor had anie knowledge of the disorder til it was done purging him self therof afterward to the Pope verie humblie and the said Burbon author of that wicked enterprice by Gods mightie hand and iudgement and for a signe how highlie that impious fact displeased his diuine Maiestie was slaine sodenlie and as it is thought the first of al other vpon the wal of the suburbes Let al thos that take such examples take heed of the like endes As for the loialtie of the most Catholique King that now is of Spaine to the Sea Apostolique Touching the exāples of K. Philip and the Duke of Alua. notwith-standing what temporal differences soeuer haue fallen or may fal out betwene them it were to much idlenes to stand vpon against this fond wrangler And the Duke of Alua his Maiesties general behaued him self euen at that time when he had his armie before Rome as wel of his owne singular deuotiō as by his Kinges commaundement most religiouslie and honorablie without anie violence in the world or domage to the Citie other thē the waste of a few places of pleasure vines and orchardes about the wals for which this good felowe with whō we deale maketh much mone as it seemeth wher in deed he would rather haue wished the whole Citie bothe sacked and suncke for deuotion But thes Princes saith he cared not for the Popes Curses when they thus pursued their claimes both by armes and lawes The truth is that the Pope excommunicateth not euerie one that ether resisteth him in temporal quarels or matter of emolumentes of their peculiar Churches or Countries whether it be by lawes or armes and therfore ther is no cause why in such cases wher no censures are vsuallie published this Libeller should say Hovv the Pope and temporal Princes may contend in armes They regard no curses nor anathematizinges c. Nether thē also whē the iniurie done to holie Church or Apostolique sea seemeth so euident to the Pope that ther may appeare some reasonable cause of excommunicating the impugners the parties so censured in the contrarie side vpon perswasion of their right doe persist notwithstanding in the defence therof not then I say doe they contemne the censure as is vntruelie conceaued by the aduersarie but rather absteining from the holie Sacramentes and companie of such as to them by lawe are forbidden doe vse humble meanes towardes his Holines for his better information in the cause and doe seeke that the matter may be ended by good order of composition or arbitrament of other Princes and godly persons Or if in such causes of strife for worldlie commodities where the temporal Prince may sometimes ether haue the right on his side or seeme to him self in conscience or by the iudgemēt of godlie learned and indifferent men to haue it we graunt that he may without feare of Censures by armes or otherwise pursue his iust claime without impechement of his obedience in spiritual affaires may therfore sacrilegious persons as Heretiques Apostataes and open obstinate offendours contemne at their pleasures and violentlie resist the sentence of holie Church No ther is no match in thes matters What if the late Q. Marie of England staied the messinger of the Pope The example of Q. Marie ansvvered bringing a discharge of the late renouned Cardinal Poole from his authoritie Legantine and a Cardinals hat for a person though verie godlie yet knowen to be vnfit til his Holines might be better enformed of the man of the whole matter as immediatlie he was with al diligence and humilitie by the said most deuout Princesse should this be an example or encouragement to others of plaine disobedience and reuolt or wholie to abandone the Popes authoritie and to inuest a woman which is against nature in his Supremacie and spiritual charge ouer al her subiectes soules No surelie no more then of reason it should haue serued her Maiesties Councel sitting once in consultation together of the case to denie entrance to the Nuncio Apostolico The Nuncio Apostolico that came to summon to the General Counsel denied to enter Englād sent by Pius quartus about the third yeare of her Highnes raigne to require and beseech her in God to send some of her learned men to the general Councel of Trent then in hand as most other great Potentates of Christiantie did bringing with him a Safe-conduct for their peaceable passage audience and intertainment notwithstanding their contrarie religion and faction So did the English Counsel thē make their aduantage of that vnlike fact of the late noble Queene at once both to mainteine their vnlike seperation from the Christiā world and the felowship of other Catholique kinges as also and that perhaps especiallie to couer the ignorance feare and insufficiencie of their Superintendentes The English Superintēdentes afraid to goe to the Councel of Trent who though her Maiesty and others of the Nobilitie were wel īclined to send some of them for the honour of the Realme yet for feare of burning as they pretended but indeed for feare of the Catholiques learning and their owne shame the good-felowes made al the sute vnder-hand they could that none might be inforced thither And so at length it was agreed and moreouer that his Holines Ambassadour should not so much as be heard or suffred to come within the Realme vpon the warrant I say of the forsaid vnlike example of the former Queene Mary Which also serueth them further euer since not onelie to renounce al the old authoritie power and interest of the Sea Apostolique ouer our Countrie and to make the cheefe Bishop therof a mere stranger as other worldlie Princes of the Prouinces about vs that haue nothing to doe with our affaires whos messingers yet and Ambassadours for needful entercours and mutual intelligence by the lawe of natiōs they willinglie admit ether in peace or warres as occasion serueth but also to make him a Diuel an Antichrist and worse then the Turke him self whos messingers as the world seeth may haue audiēce with them and good correspondence wheras the Pope can haue none Wherby is discouered the miserie of wicked Heresie and the extreme hatred that rebellious children doe beare to their mother whom they vnhappilie haue forsaken obstinatelie resist to their owne perdition And this shal be sufficient to shew how wrongfully vnreasonably this Libeller hath sought to defend their English general reuoult from the Church of Rome and their contempt of his Holines Censures by the examples of some Catholique Princes differences wordlie debates with certaine Popes prelates of
with the rebellious states of Flaunders In Flāders or with the Apostata of Colen or other their correspondents wil come they partelie perceaue and may acknowledge therī as al other wise mē doe the mightie iust and prouident hand of God The secret miserie of English Protestātes When our Protestantes consider of thes thinges deeplie and attend the issue of al their extraordinarie proceedinges and as men out of al aime now and compasse of their intended cours can goe no farther without desperate ouerthrowe and hazard of al what miserie they may be in let wise men iudge how so euer thē selues couer their perplexed cogitations from the vulgar sort by telling them of faire wether and of their plentie of corne and cattle long reigne and prosperitie of her Maiesty aboue al Popes and Princes of her daies But the origine of al the former dishonorable desperate plottes and of the extreme feares and miseries The true origine of English miseries they manie wayes shew them selues to be in and indeed are notwithstanding the pretence of their prosperitie is their first fal from the God of their forefathers and the alteration of Catholique religion into this Caluinisme or Atheisme by which our Realme hath so long perished Though this Libeller and other English new writers no wiser nor better then Children or Beares that are offended with the roddes stones or staues wherwith they be beaten nether looking a◠the cause nor cheefe author of their punishment attribute their trobles or apprehended feares to the excommunication and to the godlie endeuours of Catholique Priestes instructing the people peaceablie to their saluation And how much this forsaking of holie Church Faith and communion of al Christian people displeased God and how vnwiselie it was done in respect of the temporal state and safetie of our Prince Countrie the same Lord God hath in their owne daies that were the authors therof reuealed as otherwise natural reason and experience if they were neuer so voide of conscience and religion might haue foretold thē But alas their owne particular aduauncement and infinite ambition which they thought should not haue so free cours if the old state of religion had continued ether brought them into errour of iudgemēt as it commonlie happeth or els which is no rare case nether made thē against their owne knowledge folowe that which was so pernitious both temporallie and spirituallie For who could not see though his iudgement reason Al mutations dāgerous but especially of Religion or reading were neuer so smal that al great alteratiōs in Common weales are dangerous Let but an attempt be made to change your temporal statutes and national lawes into the ciuil lawes change but your customes that now you be guided by in manie thinges change your forme of gouernment which is now a Monarchie into an other kind of regiment what infinite broiles would it bring But ther is no alteration so perilous as of Religion and of that Religiō which was planted by our first Apostles receaued from the mother Church of Christendome confirmed by miracles approued by al the lawes councels customes and tribunals of the Church for to be the only true worship of God and consonant to his sacred word wil. What counsaile could be more dangerous in the world then this They could not but thinke that the subiectes of the Realme so manie of them being Catholique so latelie reconciled to the Church and by publique Ambassie othe and promis to his Holines aduowed neuer to fal againe into Schisme could not but be much discontented They could not but see what hart-sore it would be to al thos that depended on the old honorable Cleargie to behold the depriuation and imprisonment almost of the whole order and an other fleshlie company intruded into their roomes whom no man almost liked of and sith are more and more taken and proued to be the filth of the land They were not ignorant that the Pope and Sea Apostolique now the secōd time so contemptuouslie forsaken could ether of conscience or dutie to his flocke or his owne honour The peril by excōmunication not vse one time or other the rodde of the Churches discipline which is Excōmunication against the offendors which how so euer they thought by errour of Religion they might contemne by power withstand yet they could not be so farre ouerseene that such Censures by which manie a mans conscience at home might be perced and of which anie forreine Prince abrode as time and aduantage serued him would perhaps make his profit might not seeme to them verie like to breed more trobles then were to be wished They looked not wel about them Consideratiōs against change of Religion in England if they foresawe not that their defection from the Pope who is most dearlie cōfederated with al the Catholike and mightie Kinges of Christendome might not breed a great alienation of their hartes from vs and an occasion of much inconuenience and danger to our Countrie Their wisdomes and experience of the diuers bloody conflictes foughten in our Fathers dayes for religion in Zwicherland and in our Countrie in K. Henrie the 8. and K. Edvvard the sixt late daies and the doubtful euent of such thinges might haue forewarned them of the like that might fal and sithence haue fallen as wel in England as Ireland where al the Countrie being in good wil Catholique they might easilie perceaue with what a general torment of conscience and danger of ciuil warre the new Religion were to be enforced vpon them Feare is neuer a sure nor long keeper of his maister And because no Prince ruleth his subiects so securelie by force and feare as by loue and liking how could they not conceaue that al Ireland and a great peece of England was euer to be interteined in subiection by power and plaine awe nothing by loue and sweetnes And which is of more perilous sequele in this case and ought most of al to haue bene by them foreseene is that the diuersitie of religion ioined with the censure and sentence of the Sea Apostolique may make such alteration in the opinions of manie otherwise most loial subiectes that diuers may seeme to obey onelie of feare and nothing of consciēce Which conscience of the subiectes doubtles is the onelie sure piller of the Souerains estate They should haue foreseene how manie persons of honour and qualitie for freedome of conscience and other discontentmēt grounded on religion were like to flie into forreine partes who might by zeale or miserie be so irritated against the causes of their banishment and occupiers of their liuelihoodes that their absence might proue dāgerous to their enimies state Whom they can not represse by calling them Fugitiues or such like names of vulgar reproch for that terrefied not the noble Prince Henrie the seuenth K. Henry the 7. grandfather to the Queenes Maiesty for pursuing the cruel Tirant and vsurper Richard the third whom he
as yow may reade in an oration Sr. Christopher Hattōs oration made by one of them vpon the accident that fel by the rashnes of a certaine seruing man discharging his peece at randone and striking one of the water-men in the Queenes barge nere her Highnes person then present In which oration he acknowlegeth nothing to be looked for after her death but confusion persecution blood vengeance warres spoile rauishmentes and al other maledictions that the world can yeeld and tenne thousand more then as he saieth can be by him foreseene Not doubting to conclude that that day we shal be the most miserable men in the world in the meane time onelie enioying al felicities heauenlie and worldlie by her life Thus much hath that honorable person of our general calamitie In the meane time The vaine felicitie of England set out by the Libeller the matters are so ruled that we must account our selues happie if our common wealth stand during the life of her Maiesty This is alas the felicitie of our countrie praised and admired by them that esteeme onelie the present vncertaine pleasure of a verie few yeares without regard of the posteritie but of wise men deemed for the highest miserie that can be nothing in a Common bodie being praisable that is not ioined with securitie and durabilitie Wherin our distresse is more markable that it is not onelie not preuented in so manie yeares of Gods patience and general foresight of the miseries by the graue Councellours and al other wise men Euil prouision for the succession but which is more pitiful and vnnatural it is by special lawes and capital penalties prouided to the contrarie that none may knowe or name the next lauful heire and successour vnder paine of highe treason nor anie make claime or chalenge anie future right therin except her Highnes natural issue Wherby vnder pretence of preseruing their present state they are contented to plonge their whole posteritie into eternal or verie long miseries Yea and which passeth al dishonour to the Realme and to her Maiesties person to insinuate that though the next in blood and lauful succession to her Highnes may not chalenge or be named yet onelie her natural may be aduaunced ther-vnto Which had bene shameful inough and to much iniurie to the next of lauful blood if it were graunted to the issue of a King gotten out of lauful matrimonie but to preferre the natural of a Queene in whos person by reason of her sexe fornication were fouler and the fruite therof nothing so capable that passed al shame and honour procured no doubt or set doune in statute by some wicked forgeries of such as sought to dishonour her Maiesty contrarie to the meaning of the whole Parliament which as we thinke did neuer deliberate of that special article though it be extant in the printed and published copies of the same How so euer it be our miserie herein is notorious and the old glorie and felicitie of our Realme the guides therof wittinglie and willinglie beholding it and consenting thervnto so fadeth and falleth to nothing in al mens sight that we can not complaine inough of our instant calamities nor attribute them to anie other cause then to Gods iudgements wherby first as the Italian saieth a mans braine is taken away when God entendeth to punishe him lest he should by prouidence auert the intended plague This our Countries scourge proceeding wholie of our notorious forsaking the Catholique Church and Sea Apostolique began first in K. Henrie the eight Kinge Henrie the eight the beginner of our Countries miserie being Radix peccati of our dayes as the scripture speaketh of * 1. Mal. 1.11 Antiochus vpō that his most iniust title and chalenge of the Headship and supreame gouernment of the Church whence al thes extremities are ensewed sithence Which king God plagued meruelouslie streight vpon his reuolt both spirituallie and temporallie For within a verie short space by his sufferance he killed his owne wife mother to her Maiesty that now is whom he loued so impotentlie a litle before that for her sake he both diuorced him self from his former wife with whom he had liued so honorablie twentie yeares together and from the vnitie of the Church which he and his predecessours had bene in nine hundreth yeares before and shed the blood of the learnedest Fisher worthiest and to him self the best beloued of al his Realme More After that he maried and remaried killed and dismissed both wiues and frendes as often King Henries great offences and as manie as he thought good in such intemperate sort as the like hath neuer bene seene He was in such torment of conscience and such perplexitie for his reuolt and other sacrileges that sometimes he went about to ioyne with protestant Princes in religion sometimes thrise at least after his fal to reconcile him self to the Pope againe which thing our Lord for his greater punishment suffred him not to bring to good effect but to die in passing anguishe of mind for the former offences and al the strange sacrileges committed by forcing into the world wel neere a hundreth thousand professed persons and by the destruction of ten thousand religious houses Churches in one yeare as one testifieth of him in this Epigramme Millia dena vnus templorum sustulit annus Quà m timeo in poenas vix satis vnus erit And he that without al feare of God brake so manie thousand holie mens wils and foundations had his owne testament broken falsified and forged before his bones were thorough cold and that Romane religion which he by force of his owne newlie chalenged supremacie and by sharpe lawes and humane deuises and punishmentes mainteined during his life and was by him speciallie recommended vnto such as he gaue the gouernment and education of his sonne was immediatlie abolished and the whole Realme altered into Zwinglianisme which of al other sectes he most abhorred And for his issue leauing behind him three goodlie and towardlie children first King Henries issue punished for his sinnes Edvvard of marueilous expectation whom God tooke away in his yong yeares euen then when he was towardes mariage after him his elder sister Marie who liuing long a virgin maried at length onelie for desire of issue and for the benefite of the Realme which our Lord did not accomplish by her but tooke her away within few yeares and lastlie the Queenes Maiesty that now is whom for her youth and great likelihood that way euerie man verelie looked streight that she would haue taken some noble Prince either stranger or subiect hauing profer of the best in Christendome and her self not seldome making semblance of good lykīg that way and of much loue to many Which yet the same Lord God for the due punishment of the said King her father would not suffer but by litle and litle causing the Realme to fal to this desolation that now we see it in and
Libeller calleth in our Queene her Maiesties Regalitie is Abominatio desolationis fortold by Daniel What would this holie Father haue said if he had seene Cromvvel Cromvvel Vicar general made the Vicar general to K. Henrie in Spiritualibus and sit among and before al the Bishops and Archbishops of the Realme in their conuocations If he had heard tel of Sigillum Reginae ad causas ecclesiasticas of her commissioners and courts of her deposing and creating Bishops and determining of Religiō at her pleasure Kinges nether Catholiques nether Heretiques euer went thus farre being much more capable then anie womā can be Of which sexe S. Chrisostome sayeth thus Lib. 2. de Sacerd. VVhen it cometh to the gouernment of the Church and charge of soules al vvomankind must needes vvholie giue place That not onelie Athanasius the great but the ancient Osius Leontius S. Hilarie and other did so sharplie reprehend it in that heretical king Constantius might haue forewarned our Countrie and her Maiesties Councellours to haue taken heed as wel of the like absurditie as of the suspition of Heresie that in mens heades might seeme to be ingendred therbie seing that such as first attēpted it were notorious Arrians But to giue the same and farre more superioritie to a womā wherof as you see by S. Chrisostome she cannot possiblie be capable that passeth al the barbarous flatterie and follie in the world and maketh our nation a verie fable to al nations and to the posteritie Which in truth is not to make her next to God in her Realme as the Libeller saith but to make her the God of her people Hovv neer the Libeller doth make the Queene God Frō which cogitation though of her self hauing so manie meanes to put her in mind of her mortalitie we doubt not but shee is verie farre yet truelie this abhominable and blasphemous adulation of some about her Highnes may breed great tentations As we see in certaine of the old heathen Emperours who neuer rested til they were adored with diuine honour The next step vnto which is doubtles to say and beleeue that a temporal King is aboue the Priest in causes ecclesiastical or that in a Christian Common-weale the next dignitie to Christ or God is not the Priest but the Prince and so arrogate the regiment of the Church to a Queene which S. Paul expreslie testifieth to be giuen to Bishops Act. 20. saying Take heed to your selues and to the vvhole flocke vvherin the Holie-Ghost hath placed you Bishops to rule the Church of God c. Touching which our English singular absurditie it is the greatest pitie in the world to see them so manie yeares after so much holie blood protesting against that iniquitie and so manie learned mens admonitions persist in the same and to alleage stil thos scriptures so impertinentlie for the Princes vsurped spiritual soueraintie by which Claudius or Nero in whos daies and of whom the Apostle spake specially might as wel chalenge to be aboue S. Peter and Paul in the gouernment of the Church and in causes ecclesiastical as anie Christian king that now liueth Marke this reason For whē S. Peter admonished the Christians to whom he wrote and al other in them To be subiect to the king as excelling or preeminent which place our aduersarie so confidentlie alleageth first 1. Pet. 2.13 can anie man be so dul or obstinatlie blind The absurdities of Protestants in founding the Q. spiritual Supremacie vpon S. Peters vvord as to thinke that he prescribeth anie other dutie towardes the king then was common both to the Pagane Princes at that time persecuting the Church to Christiā kinges afterward protecting the Church Secondlie can anie Protestant be so peeuish to pretend herebie that the heathen Emperours by reason of this subiection to them that the Apostle prescribeth and by their Emperial dignitie should be aboue S. Peter Paul or Christ him self in the Church of God or in ecclesiastical regiment for Christ behaued him self to the Emperour in his daies as the Apostle here commaundeth Christians to doe and that the Apostolical preeminence or our Sauiours owne Preesthood among the faithful should not be esteemed so highe in truth and afore God as the regalitie of Nero or any other ether faithful or heathen tēporal power Thirdlie can they be so ignorāt as not to see the king to be called the cheefe or precellīg by the Apostle not in comparison or respect of the spiritual dignitie but in regard of his Dukes Presidentes and other lieutenants vnder him as the text it self plainlie geueth Fourthlie can not our aduersaries discerne the causes in which both Christian Priestes religious and al other men as S. Chrisostome writeth doe owe obedience to lauful kinges whether they be heathen or faithful from thos matters wherin nether Pagane nor Christian Prince may commaund the Priest nor people that is in religion and affaires of the soule Fiftlie could they not espie by the wordes of S. Peter next going before that the occasion of his writing of this obedience to Princes was to teach the faithful how they should behaue them selues in companie of the heathen without offence Who amōg other thinges slaundered and charged the Christians of treason conspiracies and disobedience to their Prince euen as our Protestants doe Catholiques because they would not leaue their Christian faith and exercises at their commaundement nor obey them before God and their holie Pastours in matter of faith and conscience For stopping of al which false slaunderous tonges S. Peter The true meaning and cause of S. Peters vvordes required thē to obey their Princes in al worldlie tēporal ciuil matters to pay their tribute keepe their ciuil lawes liue peaceablie and lowlie amongst them yea to pray for them whether they tollerate the Christian religiō or persecute the same Lastlie could our Libeller and his fellowes be in truth so grosse as not to consider that though the Apostles and holie Bishops of thos first times when the Emperours were yet heathen strangers to Christ and his Church could haue no superioritie ouer them nor vse anie discipline towardes them the other acknowledging no dutie or subiection to the Apostles or spiritual gouernours of the faithful people yet now when the Princes of the world haue submitted them selues and their people to the Ghospel of Christ and to his sweet yoke and are become members and childrē of the Church as the spiritual power oweth in worldlie thinges honour and obedience to his temporal soueraine so likewise that the secular power must of reason yeeld honor and subiection to the spiritual in affaires of faith soule and religion ether of them hauing meanes in their kind of superioritie to force by lawes penaltie discipline the other to obedience and due subiection if ether should rebel agaīst the other Wherin because the spiritual power consisteth in thinges Quae sunt ad Deum and that concerne our soules and
iote or circumstance though neuer so much cōmoditie might ensue therof Which matter of libertie of Conscience we moue not perchāce for our owne benefite so much as for our aduersaries weale and worldlie securitie wherof they wil seeme to haue both mistrust and sollicitude And perhaps the wisdome of God wil sound otherwise and say to vs Mat. 20.22 Nescitis quid petatis iudging it to be farre more to his honour and glorie and the breefer way to saluation of our whole Nation The vvay of persecution more sure for vs. and of moe soules in particular that we should passe through this persecution and winne our owne and our brethrens saluation by our blood And indeed if the Germane Catholiques had bene so restreined persecuted put to death as the English haue bene thes years and had not gone by halfes with the Protestantes as in some places they haue done they had had perhaps farre moe Catholiques at this day and them more zealous and their whole nation perchance reduced ere this which now for the protestants standeth not so much on their religion or conscience in Heresie as vpon their mutual peace concord and concurrence with Catholiques Wel what were best for vs in this case God onelie knoweth Ro. 6.19 Nos humanum dicimus propter infirmitatem nostram as the Apostle speaketh But sure we are that the first best for our English nation as wel Prince as people were both in respect of God and the world of them selues and other men Tvvo vvaies of composition very profitable to the realme to restore the state againe to the obedience of Gods Church and to the happy felowship of al their forefathers other faithful people Princes now liuing The next best were in respect of their owne securitie and perpetuitie if the first may not take place to desist from persecuting their Catholique subiectes and brethren and to graunt some libertie for exercise of their consciences diuine offices and holie deuotions that so they may pray for her Maiesty and Councellors as their Patrones whom now they pray for onelie as their Persecutours If to none of thes conditions they can be brought but wil haue our bodies goods life and soules The Conclusion then let our Lord God the iust Arbitrer of al thinges and Iudge of Princes as wel as poore men and the onelie comforter of the afflicted discerne our cause In whos holie name word and promis we confidentlie tel them and humblie euen in Christs blood pray them to consider of it that by no humane force or wisdome they shal euer extinguish the Catholique partie ouercome the holie Church or preuaile against God Ther can no Herode kil Christ in his cradle Math. 3. Exod. 1. Hest 7. nor anie Pharao droune our male sexe and destroy Gods people nor anie Aman extirpate the stocke of Iacob Let them seeke with al desperation to diminish bridle spoile impouerish disgrace and extinguish the whole generation of Catholiques at home and in banishment let them by artificial Libels as this against which we haue written and otherwise by most impudent lies and fictions slaunder vs charge vs with treasons and other trespasses Mentientes propter Christum belying vs for Christs sake let them confederate them selues against vs with al the Protestants Turkes Sectaries and Atheistes in the world yet the Catholiques that is the seede of God wil encrease in number power and zeale the Priestes wil not leaue of to folowe their dutiful trade with more spirite diligence deuotion patience and cōstancie then euer before remembring the aduertisement of their Maister Mat. 10.22 that he shal be saued that perseuereth to the ende as also that worthie record left in scripture of Esay the great faithful Prophet qui spiritu magno vidit vltima Eccl. 48. as the holy-Ghost saieth of him for that his corage neuer failed him in Gods seruice to the end The persecutours be now no stronger then thy were of old The Church is no weaker then she had wont to be Her assistant and defender is as neere her as euer he was We are no better thē our forefathers We lesse feare death and lesse set by our liues then euer before Our countes are cast allowed it is better to die in this Apostolical fight and cōbat Quà m videre mala gentis nostrae sanctorum 1. Mach. 3.59 assuring our selues that to be vndoubted which S. Leo writeth Nullo crudelitatis genere destrui potest Sacramento Crucis fundata religio Leo. Non minuitur persecutionibus Ecclesia sed augetur That the religion founded in the sacrament of Christs Crosse can be destroied by no kind of crueltie The Church is not diminished by persecutions but encreased And that S. Augustine saith Nemo delet de Coelo constitutionem Dei Nemo delet de terra Ecclesiam Dei Laus Deo THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKE THAT many Priests and other Catholiques in England haue bene persecuted condemned and executed for mere matter of religion and for transgression onely of nevv statutes vvhich doe make cases of Conscience to be treason vvithout al pretēce or surmise of any old treasons or statutes for the same Cap. 1. 1 That F. Campian and the rest of the Priests and Catholiques endited condemned and executed vpon pretence of treason and vpon statutes made of old against treasons vvere neuer yet guiltie of anie such crimes but vniustly made avvay Cap. 2. 18 That vve novv haue great cause to complaine of iniust persecution intollerable seuerity and cruelty tovvardes Catholiques in England and their Protestantes no reason to doe the like for the Iustice done to them in Queene MARIES and other Princes dayes and the cause of the difference Cap. 3. 34 That our Priests and Catholique brethren haue behaued them selues discretlie nothing seditiouslie in their ansvvers to the questions of the Bul of Pius Quintus and that they can not laufullie be pressed nor put to death as traitors by the true meaning of th' olde lavves of the Realme for the same vvith examination of the six Articles proposed about the said Bul. Cap. 4. 59 Of excommunication and depriuation of Princes for Heresie and falling from the Faith speciallie of vvarres for Religion and of the office and Zeale of Priests of th' old nevv lavv in such cases Cap. 5. 89 That it is much to the benefite and stability of Common-vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the differences betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize Cap. 6. 116 Of the late vvarres in Ireland for religion hovv the Pope may vse the svvord and that the differences betvvixt temporal Princes and him or their resisting him in some cases of their vvorldlie interest can be no vvarrant to the Protestants to contemne his censures or authoritie in matter of Faith and Religion Cap. 7. 134 That the separation of the Prince and Realme from the vnitie of the Church and Sea Apostolique and fal from Catholique religion is the onely cause of al the present feares and dangers that the State seemeth to stand in And that they vniustly attribute the same to the Popes Holines or Catholiques and vntruly cal them enimies of the Realme Cap. 8. 161 The conclusion conteining a charitable motion and a ioinder vvith the Libeller touching some meanes of tolleration in Religion and ceasing or mitigating this cruel Persecution Cap. 9. 209 The faultes correct thus Pag. Lin. Read 49. 33. faith brought faith that they brought 55. 20. persecuted prosecuted 60. 17. as Blasphemy as Heresy Blasphemy Ibid. 30. spititual spiritual 64. 34. obyed obeyed 77. 1. Ecommunicatiō Excommunication 90. 15. fouerers fauorers 98. 7. Common weath Common wealth 144. 15. Bastours Pastours 182. 28. causes causers 195. 13. can much can not much