instructions and falsely inserted among those which were sent vnto the Archp. from Rome this instruction made that euery one should set his hand against that Memoriall And this did the new Archpriest euen when he was taken in the maner of falsifying his instructions so vrge vpon M. Collington M. Charnocke when he sent for them to make knowen his authoritie as he threatned them grieuously if they would not subscribe against it affirming that they should answere this their bearing off from that action in some publike Court where they should repent it Afterward also it was so followed as M. Henry Henslow was imployed to perswade them where M. Collington was then resident to turne him out of their house And he performed his office with such immodest termes and with such extreme fury as he well discouered whereunto this new authoritie did tend And thus much to shew that it was farre ynough both from slander and falshood which was said of the Iesuites their indeuours to gouerne the secular Priests against their wils and how they did canuase for names against the Memoriall and pressed the Priests so farre as they were constrained to vse figures as some of them haue since confessed to satisfie the importunitie of the Iesuites and their factours This also is here to be remembred that the man named to haue bene sent ouer by the Priests into Flanders to accuse the Iesuites was not sent by them but returned thither from whence he was sent into England to vnderstand whether the Iesuits did vse themselues no better in England among the Priests then they did at Rome among the English Students for to this ende he was imployed by the Card. Toledo as he affirmed and had letters to that effect of the Cardinal who was much auersed from the Iesuits their actions in the College And although he brought not these letters with him into England which was a cause that many giue no credite vnto him yet he brought some testimonie thereof and that he was imployed into England by the Cardinal and could not returne any other answere then what was most apparant by the diuision at Wisbich that the Iesuites as ambitious men would gouerne the Priests against their wils When his Holinesse saw this manner of proceeding saith this authour that is to say how he should be inforced to confirme these Prelates which the Secular priests would haue chosen and how the Iesuites were slandered and purged by the most of the Priests in England he willed the Card Protector to call vnto him F. Parsons and other Englishmen in Rome to see what remedie was best for these disorders They answered that the only way which seemed good to them was to giue them a Superior or Prelate of their owne Order and to deliuer thereby the Iesuites from these calumniations which his Holinesse yeelded vnto after diuers monethes consultations c. Here then we are solicited to conceiue that the ground of this new authoritie was his Holinesse care to remedy the disorders which he perceiued to be in England by such letters as were written vnto him namely against this Memoriall and that after diuers moneths consultation it was appointed But we haue alreadie shewed sufficient to prooue this a notorious falshood For as we haue prooued out of this Apo. fo 98 the first letters which were written to this effect were written the 24 of March 1598. which was after the Cardinals letter of the institution of the Archpriest as appeareth by the date thereof which was the seuenth of March 1598. as it is to be seene fol. 102. and consequently diuers moneths after that his Hol. is said to haue entred into this consultation as appeareth in this present place of the 1. chap. and in the 8. Chap. fol. 98. But perchance we tooke this author at the worst when we construed his words in this manner as though he had said that his Hol. had vpon these letters aduised vpon some subordination after diuers moneths resolued vpon this whereas this author after mention of these letters and other matters sayth only in this sort When his Holines sawe this manner of proceeding he willed the Cardinall c. We are therefore to request the indifferent reader to turn to the 8. cha of the Apol. where no such shift cā be vsed to auoid this foule dealing The cha beginneth in this manner When his Hol. heard the former state of matters in England Flanders and other places and of the murmurations of some against the Fathers of the societie set downe aswel in the abouesaid cōtumelious Memoriall as by diuers other letters relations which came to the Protectors sight and by him was related to his Holines and namely when he receiued great store of priuate and publicke letters out of England against the said Memoriall of Fisher and some one with aboue 100. hands at it other with 40. and 50. all in fauour and commendation of the Fathers c. his Holines after mature deliberation resolued c. And because hee will not come without his proofe what cause his Holines had to institute this subordination or rather to giue order to the Cardinall for it as hee sayth hee hath set downe in the margent a note of the letters which caused this consultation See sayth he in the margent the letters of the Northerne Priests 24. Mart. 1598. and others 20. Apr. and others after 30. Iul and others of the South in great number 18. Maij and of the quiet sort of Wisbich 27. March 1598. and who without blushing can reade this and take it as a cause of a determination vppon the 7. of March 1598. for then was the authoritie instituted as is acknowledged fol. 102. much lesse of a consultation diuers moneths before as is here saide fol. 7. And thus hee goeth forward with a certaine shamelesse boldnesse not caring what he sayth knowing belike that his fauorites will swallow any thing easily which he proposeth vnto them yet doeth he too much forget himselfe in this place where he sayth that it was not thought expedient for his Holines to write himselfe for auoiding suspitions and troubles of the state of England for by this he will sufficiently purge those priests of all disobedience to the Sea Apostolike who did not subiect themselues to the newe authoritie vpon the comming of the Cardinals letters by which the authoritie was instituted But this is elsewhere sufficiently handled and prooued to be free not onely from schisme or disobedience but from all sinne also yea though it were true that his Holines gaue full commission as here it is saide to the Card. Caietane the Protector to appoint the authoritie with conuenient instructions For his Holines not writing himselfe as here it is cōfessed how should the Priests take notice thereof that it was his acte which together with the Archpriests misdemeanour in the promulgation of his new authoritie other matters also was the cause why the Priests did at their
any money for them onely they must pay for the sawce which according to the custome of the faire they must haue or els they must haue no goose O happy day wherein that faire was first instituted and a secret discouered which no Catholike Kings or Prelats could euer attaine vnto And thrice happy are they who by the light as it should see me of that day did see to make that Statute in the third yere of the Archipres byterie of M. George Blackwell vidi preuaricantes c. 18. Octob. 1600 wherein al right to appeale to Rome being most Catholikely conserued the penalties therein conteined doe onely light vpon such as haue set their hands to that which is prefixed to the Appeale which is nothing els but the causes thereof without which according to the custome and Canons of holy Church the appeale is of no force and are therefore by name to be expressed as we haue before shewed out of the Clementine Appellantide Appellationibus Now it remaineth that we shew when and vpon what occasions the Statutes were made by which the prouisions from Rome and some Appeales to Rome were forbidden First concerning these prouisions there was a statute made either in the 30. or 35. or as some other affirme 25. Edward 1. which was aboue 300. yeeres since wherein it is agreed and established that they should not be suffered There was also the like statute made in the 25. yere of Edw. 3 to the like effect by which it was forbidden that any should be placed in any dignitie without the assent of the King The same is also forbidden in the Parliament holden in the 38. of the same King The occasions of enacting these statutes are set downe as well in that of the 25. of Edw. 1. as elsewhere the iustice of those which were made in the time of Edw. 3. is the more apparant by a letter which hee and his nobles sent in the 17. yeere of his reigne to his Hol. to haue redresse for such defaults as were in that kind committed The Letter was to this effect King Edward and his Nobles perceiuing the derogation that was done to the Realme by such reseruations prouisions and collations of benefices as the Pope practised here in England wrote to him requiring him that sith the Churches of England had beene founded and endowed by noble and worthy men to the end the people might be instructed by people of their owne language and that he being so farre off could not vnderstand the defaults yet his predecessors and hee more then had been vsed by diuers reseruations prouisions and collations made to diuers persons some strangers yea and some enemies to the Realme whereby the money and profits were carried forth their Cures not prouided for according to the founders minds they therefore vpon due considerations thereof signified vnto him that they could not suffer such enormities any longer and therefore besought him to reuoke such reseruations prouisions and collations wholly to auoid such slanders mischiefes and harmes as might ensue and that the Cures might be committed to persons meete for the exercises of the same beseeching him further without delay to signifie his intention sith they meant to bestow their diligence to remedie the matter and see that redresse might be had Giuē in full Parliament at Westminster 18. of May Anno Dom. 1343. Thus far out of Iohn Stow 17. Edw. 3. where he also citeth Auesburie and Honingford Secondly concerning the forbidding of the appeales to Rome we find a Statute made in the 27. of Edw. 3. against those who shall drawe any person in plea out of the Realme of a thing whereof the knowledge appertained to the Kings Court or of such things whereof iudgement was giuen in the Kings courts or should sue in any other courts to defeate or let the iudgements giuen in the Kings Court. To these and other Statutes to the like effect the author of the Apologie affirmeth that the Catholike Bishops neither did nor could assent But whatsoeuer may be said for or against this position concerning the appeales no man can in reason think but that they both might very well and did assent to those statutes which were made against the prouisions or bestowing of dignities in England without the kings consent the causes are so apparantly layd downe by the King and the Nobles for that abridging of his Holines his promoting whom he would and to what dignities hee would in England And thus much may be alledged in the behalfe of the consent of the spirituall Lords to the statute against those appeales That in the new great abridgement printed Anno 1551. there is this clause set to the end of some statutes But the spirituall Lords assented not to this statute And there is no such note set to any of these Statutes which we haue here cited It is also euident that these statutes were not made vpon any heate of emulation against the Clergie for as we finde that in the 38. yeere of King Edw. 3. the statutes against those prouisions made in the 25. and 27. of the same King are confirmed although there be some fauour giuen to the Lords and Prelats offendors so in the 39 yeere of the same King which was the next yeere after we find that the Clergie in England was in as great honour as any Clergie in the worlde as may be shewed by the offices which the Bishops and Priests had then in England For the Bishop of Canterbury was Lord Chancellour of England the Bishop of Bath was L. Treasurer the Archdeacon of Lincolne was Lord priuie Seale the Parson of Somersam was master of the Rolles ten beneficed Priests were masters of the Chancerie the Deane of S. Martins le grand was chiefe Chancellour of the Exchequer Receiuer and Keeper of the Kings Treasure and Iewels the Archd. of Northampton was Chancellor of the Exchequer a Prebendarie of S. Martins was Clerk of the priuie Seale a Prebendarie of S. Steuens was Treasurer of the Kings house the Parson of Auon or Oundell was master of the Wardrobe the Parson of Fenny Stanton was one of the Chamberlaines of the Excheq and Keeper of the Kings Treasury and Iewels Other of the Clergie are noted to haue ben in office also in France in Ireland as well as in England Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth sonne of King Edward 3. hauing the gouernement of England committed vnto him in the time of his fathers last sickenesse which was in the 50. and 51. of his reigne disposed so farre of matters and offices as he conceiued some possibility to attaine to the Crown and to depriue his nephew Richard of Burdeaux who was sonne to the Blacke prince Edward the eldest sonne of King Edward the third But perceiuing that it would be hard for him to obtaine his purpose so long as the Church stood in that estate it did and the citizeens of London enioyed their liberties hee laboured to ouerthrow them both
they list In the first Chapter of the Apol. fol. 2. this author affirmeth that the principall or onely ground of this our present contention and scandalous controuersie is an emulation partly of lay men against Priests and partly of Priests against religious men especially the Fathers of the societie And in the 11. Chap. fol. 161. he sayth that the whole world knoweth that this cōtrouersie is of Priests with the Archpriest and that the stomacke against the Iesuits is for standing with the Archpriest By which besides the contradiction it appeareth how this poore mans memory doth faile him euen in the deciding betweene whome the controuersie is which hee vndertaketh to handle and determine 13 In the same Chapter fol. 6. and 7. the beginning of the association of secular Priests is attributed to the Priests vpon their comming into England A malicious deuise for to discredit the association intended by the priests after they were frustrated of their designments by F. Parsons dealing at Rome whereas his comming to Rome was in the yeere 1597. and not before as appeareth in this place and the association began in the yeere 1595. and F. Parsons was tolde thereof before hee came out of Spaine for Rome 14 Cap 3. fol. 20. The Iesuites care for pure stuffe to make priests of The bookes which are set out by the Priests are sayd to be done by such as went ouer Seruingmen Souldiers and wanderers which is most apparantly false if those were the authors which in the beginning of this Apologie are held to be 15 Fol. 21. It is sayd That the whole bodie and name of Iesuites is impugned which is most false as may appeare in the booke to the Inquisition pag. 5. 16 Cap. 6. fol. 27. D. Norden is saide to haue bene striken by God with a strange accident of repressing his tongue by dumbnesse vntill hee died which is most false hee dying no more strangely then all persons vse to die according to the maner as the sickenesse doth take them It is well knowen that he died of a Lethargie and that he spake many times after he was first taken therewith and died in all points as became a Catholike priest as there are many to witnesse who were present 17 Cap. 8. fol. 98. His Holines is sayd to haue resolued to yeeld to the erecting of a gouernment in England vpon a mature deliberation taken of certaine letters which by the date there set downe were written in England after that this gouernment was erected Conferre them with the date of the Card Caietanes letters of the institution of the Archpriest Martij 7. 1598. and the first of these here cited wil be seene to haue bene written in England about a moneth before 18 Fol. 109. The falsehood which is layd to M. Blackewel in his proposing false instructions and affirming them to haue been annexed to his Commission is shuffled ouer with an assertion that his instructions came with his letters which no man euer doubted of The exception was against those which were proposed for such and were not such 19 In the same leafe M. Blackewell his persisting in this error that we could not appeale from him to his Holines is shifted first in this maner We are sure he did not say it in the sense they take it Secondly thus Many men in the world might say this in diuers cases wherin Appeale is cut off by his Holinesse consent and order A couple of good ieasts The first is common to that sort of people to flie to secret senses to iustifie any thing whatsoeuer passeth them And it were not altogether so intolerable if they would vnder the pretence that sometime men may aequiuocate by the example of our Sauiour other his saints onely vse it to saue themselues from being taken for such as they are but they will pleasure their friends with the like and be as ready to giue a sense of other mens words as their owne but with this difference that if they can possibly deuise how to draw other mens words to an euill sense they will peremptorily affirme that those men spake their wordes in that sense And this their frowardnes towards others is sufficiently discouered cap 2. Apol fol. 16. where the priests assertions that authority is not an infallible rule of trueth and that but one vpon earth is warranted from error and not he in all things are called in question by this author vpon some his imaginary senses But in the late spritish manifestation of spirits cap. 1. hee discouereth himselfe egregiously in this kinde where confessing that Statutes haue bene made both by our ancient kings of England and by our protestant princes by which they haue forbidden prouisions from Rome of dignities Benefices he telleth his Reader very peremptorily that they priests do conspire and iumpe with the protestant and in a false and hereticall sense obiect the statute of Praemunire Which also he would seeme to proue by giuing a reason why the olde statutes were made as though neither the statute were to bee interpreted according to the contents thereof whatsoeuer was the cause of the making thereof nor the absolute prouision of dignities from Rome forbidden because the motiue of that statute was to keepe the treasure of England within the land which was raised by the benefices at that time annexed to the dignities But to make this his cauill more plaine the dignity of a legate had no spirituall liuing annexed vnto it and yet did those Catholike princes hold him to haue incurred the penaltie of the Statute of Praemunire who would exercise a power Legantine in England without the Soueraignes consent as may appeare by the answere of Card. Wolsey when they endighted him in a Praemunire vpon those statutes constrained thereunto sayth the history to intitle the King to his goods and possessions Iohn Stow 21. Hen. 8. My Lords iudges the Kings highnesse knoweth whether I haue offended his Maiestie or no in vsing of my prerogatiue Legantine for the which I am indited I haue the Kings license in my coffers vnder his hand and broad Scale for the exercising and vsing thereof in the most largest wise the which are now in the handes of my enemies Therefore because I will not stand in question with the King in his owne cause I will here presently confesse before you the inditement and put me wholly to the mercy and grace of the King trusting that he hath a conscience and a discretion to consider the truth and my humble submission and obedience wherein I might right well stand to the tryall thereof by iustice c. By which it appeareth that although his Maiesty who then was were mooued by some of his counsell infected with Luthers doctrine to condemne the Cardinal for vsing his power Legantine yet it is euident by this that when the King was most Catholike and the Cardinal also the Cardinall would not exercise his authoritie Legantine without the Kings license and
offendicula multa inueheret in Ecclesiam nostrem pacique funesta esset vehementer principi magistratibusque suspecta quod patribus Iesuitis alias atque alias inuasiones hostiles continuò machinantibus in regnum plus aequo tribueret quasi totum Clerum ijsdem subderet videbat ille arbiter nullam habere benè institutae Communitatis formam monstrique simile esse vt vnus pater Iesuita membrum vnius corporis caput fieret alterius c. That is to say This sodalitie besides the many impediments it brought into our Church and was incompatible with peace and vehemently suspected by the Prince and Magistrates in that it gaue more then was fit to the Fa. Iesuites who sundrie wayes busied themselues in hostile inuasions of our Countrey and as it were made all the Cleargie subiect vnto them the arbiter sawe that it had no forme of any well framed Communitie and that it was like vnto a monster that one Fa. Iesuite beeing a member of one bodie should bee made the head of another body in which some were who in regard of their more auncient order of Religion some in regarde of their degree of Doctorshippe some for their venerable age many for their wisedome learning and vertue farre his betters c. By which it may appeare to the indifferent Reader howe carelesse this Authour is what he sayth so he may make somewhat sounde for his purpose And to the ende hee might bring the Priestes into obloquie he will for a colour bring some two or three of their owne wordes and ioyne somewhat thereunto of his owne and then runne a while vpon that as in this place hauing thrust in those words Of them that liued vnder Rules in Wisbitch he maketh this Comment Great stumbling blockes that a few pious Rules of modest life in a fewe prisoners could bring into our whole Church Whereas the place here cited by this Authour giueth him no occasion to frame such a conceite but pleadeth the iudgement giuen against that sodalitie by him who was chosen arbiter in the cause And whereas he also affirmeth That if this sodalitie were suspected by the Prince it must needes be that the Priests had maliciously perswaded that it as also the institution of the Archpriest was not for Religion but for matter of state The Iesuites knowen practises against the State mentioned in the place which is cited by this Authour conuince that there was no such neede that the Priestes should vse any perswasions to the Prince or Magistrates and that no plot in gathering a head vnder a Iesuites direction could bee free from suspition as shall be shewed more at large where the Author shall find his place in the Apologie to giue other colour to the Iesuites actions In the 19. page vpon those words Dom. Standisium c. M. Standish who had giuen his name to be a Iesuite This Author inferreth a prety conclusion All are Iesuites with these men who are not of their faction the Archpriest and all in which to omit his folly how doth he shew in that place any principall deceit falshood or slander or not being able to gainsay that which the priests sayd how shamelesly or rather childishly doeth hee shift it In the 20 page there is exception taken against that which is mentioned of F. Weston his being taken dumbe and falling downe and it is called an impudent fiction refuted by authenticall testimonies of all the quiet prisoners in Wisbich and you must goe looke for this in the 6. Chapter of the Apol. where you may find it contrary if you can For answere to this we are to referre the Reader to the particular narration of the stirres in Wisbich In the 21. page the principall dece it falshood or slander is shewed in these wores Consilium iniuimus c. We tooke a counsel together for appointing prouosts and superiors ouer vs in opportune places of the kingdome c. It was death for this good fellow to go any further in the narration which here he doth calumniate for if he had added these words which are part of the sentence cited by him with an c. all which Prouosts and superiours should haue bene chosen by the free suffrages of the Priests his falshood would haue bene discouered which he sheweth here in these words This was the worke of their the priests association whereby a few busie and ambitious men tooke vpon them to be Counsellors of State without Commission or consent of the rest of the Clergie or licence of their superiours to appoint dignities to themselues and others at their pleasures and to make a new sedition And if the reader will vouchsafe to turne to that 21. page hee shall see that this author is little to bee credited in his relations and may wonder that he will so shamelesly behaue himselfe as euery indifferent man must condemne him of exceeding great falshood and direct intention to deceiue his reader And because he referreth his reader to the letters of the assistants and other proofes cap. 8. 9. there we will make our answere vnto them for so much as is there touched in this matter In the 23. page these words are cited Quid interea P. Parsonius c. What did F. Parsons in this meane space the Author incensor and actor of allour perturbations c. But nothing being in this place answered to that which in the 23. page is sayde against him we are not to stand vpon those other matters which are here mentioned It sufficeth that there is nothing conuinced of deceit falshood or slander to which ende the table maker brought this place out of the latine booke In the 26. page M. Blackwell is said to be slandered and that these were spiteful speeches against him Videns autem D. Blackwell c. M. Blackwell seeing this c. where in the Latine booke mention is made of a letter he writ to the Card Caietane the letter is out in print and whosoeuer wil take the paines to read it shall see that there is nothing but the truth set downe in the place here cited by this authour And whereas here it is vrged that he is named euery where without any reuerence at al they will hardly since him named but Master Blackwell which is as much reuerence as is due vnto him for any thing the Priestes know And if he be sometime called the Archpriest it is as much as this Authour giueth him as may be seene in many places Moreouer if there be any thing to the contrary in the 4 10 or 11. chap. of the Apologie it shall be there answered In the 27. page a principall deceit falshood or slander is noted where it is said Cum omnes c. Whereas all Iesuits almost in England be children of poore parents c. And to this what answer is here made Forsooth how manifestly false and shamelesse this is there needes no other proofe but to know the parties and to consider
and how then was not the danger of stirring vp the Bishop against his Holines but against the Protector In the 35. page and so forward to the 59. many things are noted for which the Reader must goe looke in the Apologie In the 61. page a principall deceit falshood or slander is noted in these words His visis c. As soone as we saw the Apostolicall letters of the new Breue for confirmation of the Archpriest we all presently submitted our selues c. This is so manifest and so often acknowledged by all from the highest to the lowest as there shal neede no further iustifying thereof But this author would haue his reader conceiue that this submission was fained and forced and that the euent shewed so much and that it could not be otherwise the Priests hauing entred with the Counsell so farre as they had done as is shewed Cap. 10. 13. where saith this fellow wee shew by their owne letters their conspiracie with the persecutor But in conclusion if you doe not trust him vpon his wordes more then vpon his proofes which he bringeth either in the 10 or 13 Chap. you must hold him still for such as he is We haue already sayd enough hereof in the defence of that which hee commenteth vpon those words Hinc à communi c. p. 2. as he hath cited it in the beginning of this his table of deceits to which we remit you for this time and omitting that which here he saith that the submission of the priests was forced which implyeth a true submission nothing being inforced but their wil to accept of him against whom they had many iust exceptions I will onely note how falsly and deceitfully this good felow vseth this place which thus he hath cited out of the 61. page His visis c. As soone as we saw the Apostolical letters of the new Breue c. what can his reader thinke of these words the new Breue but that there was som former Breue which was not obeyed by the priests And to this purpose as in other places so in his first Chap. of his Apol. fol. 8. he vseth the same deceit He the Pope confirmed all that was done already by the Card. with a new Breue where also in the margent this note is made A new Breue 1599. lest any man should thinke it a worde spoken by chance and not of purpose and it is the more apparant in this place which now we handle because he hath falsly translated the priests words and made them to talke of a new Breue For thus he alleageth them His visis c. As soone as we saw the Apostolicall letters of the new Breue for confirmation of the Archpriest we all presently submitted our selues to him where His visis that is these being seene is onely referred to these words Sanctitatis tuae literae that is the letters of your Holines And there is no other mention of any other Apostolicall letters or any other Breue much lesse any Apostolicall letters of a new Breue as it may be seene by them who will turne to the place In the 69. page a principall deceit falshood or slander is gathered out of those words Archipresbyter c. The Archpriest denieth accesse vnto him he will not be seene he doth disdaine to talke with his brethren c. But how is this proued deceit falshood or slander Forsooth thus All things are rhethorically exaggerated yet it is no maruaile though the Archpriest do vse some moderation and circumspection in admitting those men to speach whom hee knoweth to haue an euill mind towards him and to deale with the Councel and Bishop of London and to seeke his speech onely to braule and to take some aduantage at his words as two of them did who accused him of an hereticall proposition in talking with him presently vpon the arriuall of his first commission Had this fellow onely giuen a cause why the Archpriest would not talke with the priests without any more adoe it had been a little signe of some small grace in him but to bring that in for a deceit falshood or slander which he cannot denie but must confesse to be true and straineth himselfe to giue a cause thereof it is too shamefull It being then euident that the Archpriest will not speake with the priests let vs see how good these causes are and how true which are here alleaged The first is because hee knoweth that the Priestes haue an euill mind towards him but this sauoureth too much of malice The second is he knoweth that they deale with the Councel and Bishop of London but alas this cause commeth too late as may appeare by comparing the times together in which the Archp. hath denied to speak with thē with the times in which it hath pleased the Coūsel as he supposeth to shew them some fauour by meanes of the Bishop of London hauing conceiued some hope of their loyaltie towards their prince and country The third cause here alledged is for that the Archpriest knoweth they seeke his speech onely to brawle and to take some aduantage at his words as two of them did c. and in the margent M. Collington and M. Charnock are named It is very likely if the Archpriest would be so resolute as he would agree to no reason but run on the course he hath begun the priests might haue parted frō him as litle edified as M. Collington and M. Charnock did when he sent for them M Heburne to speake with them presently vpon the arriual of his first cōmission that is the Cardinals letters vnto him or conuented them as M. Standish gaue it out in the Clinke not long after whereupon M. H Henslow who before was taken for the Archpr. messenger was called his Sumner and was very angry at it And this particuler is brought that it may appeare what a bold face that fellow hath who in the Appendix fol. 7. affirmeth that it seemeth they M. Collington and M. Charnocke were sent to him of purpose to catch him in his words And if where difference is there must of necessity be brawling I thinke no man doubteth but he is the brawler who offereth the iniury not he who vseth necessarie defence And if moreouer M. Collington and M. Charnocke haue accused the Archp. of an heretical proposition as this Author in this place insinuateth I do verely perswade my selfe that they will proue it so farre foorth as two men of their qualitie may prooue it which would be little for M. Blackwels credit notwithstanding the slight reckoning which is made of their two relations onely Cap 8 fol. 109. In the 83. page a principall deceit falshood or slander is noted in these words Plura c. The Iesuits doe bragge that many more Seminaries haue beene erected by them c. The Priests words are these Plura numero more in number This is very calumnious saith this good felow but if they should speake of
them In which this Apologie fayling as it must needes doe the author hath alreadie giuen iudgement against himselfe that he is a notorious libeller and that he hath brought all his followers and furtherers herein whether consenters or spreaders of it abroad into a heauie case God amend them But let vs I pray you examine the cause why this Apologie was written the authour thereof blaming so often the Priests for writing Diuers points saith he you know already and some more you are like to perceiue by this our Apologie being driuen thereunto but not all for auoiding further scandall which respect of scandall should haue withheld vs wholly from putting pen to paper in this cause if the intemperance of some persons giuen ouer as it seemeth to choler and reuenge and forgetting both themselues and others and the times wherein they liue had not broken foorth of late to such excesse as we are forced against our wils to put some stop or bridle to so licentious and scandalous proceedings lest it infect euen the good and trouble the strongest when they see such enormous matters passe without controlement In this iustification of his setting foorth this Apologie we gather first that scandall is not alwayes to be auoyded For as he saieth The respect of scandal should haue withheld him wholly from putting pen to paper in this case if the intemperance c. so that the intemperance belike of some persons may excuse a man doing that whereupon scandall may arise Note I pray you how this fellow can change his hew when it shall make for his purpose When hee will write himselfe then the intemperance of some persons is a sufficient excuse for him although scandall arise thereon And when he would haue others blamed who were more grieuously iniured and prouoked thereby to write then he is he can preach vnto them that S. Paul was of a spirit and iudgement contrary to theirs 1. Corinth 8. who doth so greatly exaggerate the danger of scandalizing any one of our brethren for whom Christ died as he sayd that he would rather neuer eate meate then doe it Thus saith this Apologie-maker in his Appendix fol. 16. And there he goeth on also and sheweth what Christ himselfe said Matth. 18. That it were better suffer death in most hideous manner to wit with a milstone at our neckes to be cast into the sea then to scandalize the least of them that beleeue in him that be our Christian and Catholike brethren And then he concludeth in this maner So as this other diuinitie that it may be done for sauing of our credites mainteining our good names and other commodities was not then knowen and commeth now downe from a contrary spirit and Master to Christ and S. Paul By this then it followeth that howsoeuer the Priests can auoid blame this Apologie-maker is in the lurch who hauing so great skill not onely in the sayings of S. Paul but of Christ also and in diuinity and the true meaning of it notwithstanding he thought that some scandall would growe by this his acte aduentured contrary to true diuinitie to write this Apologie The diuinitie which the priests doe professe teacheth them that the scandall of little ones is to be auoided and the scandall of Pharises is to be contemned And as they reade in one place Matth. 16. Qui scandalizauerit c. Whosoeuer shall scandalize one of these little ones which beleeue in mee it were better for him that he had a milstone hung about his necke and he drowned in the bottome of the sea So in another place they finde that Christ when his disciples told him that the Pharises were scandalized at that which he said answered Matth. 15. Sinite illos c. Let them alone they are blind and guiders of the blind There are diuers reasons set foorth by the Priests to iustifie their publishing of their bookes but to an indifferent Reader this place of the Preface is warrant inough since that in this authors opinion there needeth no other caufe then to put some stop or bridle to so licentious and scandalous proceedings least it infect euen the good and trouble the strongest when they see such enormous matters passe without controulment Was there euer any so licentious and scandalous proceedings as haue beene against the Priestes Can Fa. Listers the Iesuites treatize of Schisme be matched for excesse and passion against Catholike priests was there euer such an outrage committed in Christendome by any Catholike to another as this is Harken O ye factious ye are Rebels yee are Schismatikes and fallen out of the Church and spouse of Christ yee haue troden vnder your feete the obedience which yee owe to the highest Bishop yee haue sinned against all humane faith and authoritie by reiecting a moral certainty in a morall matter yee haue violently run into excommunication irregularitie ye haue lost your faculties by which you should haue gained soules to Christ ye haue so scandalized all the godly as now yee are generally become infamous What shall I say more ye haue sinned against Christ his chiefe Vicar and Christ himselfe the Iudge and Iusticer by your disobedience that with Samuel the Prophet we may say Quasi peccatum c. as a thing of southsaying it is to repugne and as the offence of Idolatry not to be willing to be quiet See I pray you that ye are nothing better then Southsayers and Idolaters And because yee haue not heard the Church while she spake vnto you by the chiefest Bishop yee are as Ethnickes and Publicans And here I make an end earnestly desiring the very mightie God that he will yet at the last giue you his grace lest that being thrust into sempiternall destruction with Ethnicks and Idolaters you suffer immortall paines for this your disobedience and scandall Thus farre F. Lister the Iesuite And was it not necessary that there should be some stop put or bridle to this licentious and scandalous proceeding was there not danger that the good might hereby be infected nay is it not euident that many a good soule hath bene infected and many also of the strongest troubled hereby and had not then the Priests iust cause to declare vnto the world how the case stood with them in England and to publish some reasons of their actions especially when after the peace made and all iniuries forgiuen by them the Archpriest did not onely not checke these licentious and scandalous proceedings of the Iesuits broched afresh by them but gaue them his hand in this action and incontinently published this licentious and most scandalous libell which neither hath the authors name nor is likely euer to be iustified We haue receiued a resolutiō from our mother citie that the refusers of the appointed authoritie were schismatikes And surely I would not giue absolution to any that should make no conscience thereof c. And therefore my direction is that they make account thereof and doe make
And because he will take all before him he saith that Doctor Lewis after B. of Cassana and the schollers fell out about the maner of gouernment and gouernours of the house which doubtlesse if this fellow had any respect to the good reputation of the Schollers hee would haue concealed the house being erected especially by that man his procurement and industry as here it is confessed For in reason who would not haue expected to haue borne some sway in that of which he might iustly haue bene called in some sort a founder being moreouer a man of great wisedome and integritie But this Author thinketh it good policie to conceale Fa Parsons presence at Rome at that time lest that the riddle should be read otherwise then hee would haue it and the cause of dissension disciphered The trueth is that F. Parsons was there and there needeth no more to be said And hee did deale with the schollers vnder hand as secretly as he might but failed of the Rectorship if he sought it although T.W. in his digression from the 16 martyrs pag. 53. amongst other his follies doth affirme that the first Rector of this Colledge was F. Robert Parsons c. And to say that the Councell did lay hands presently hoping thereby to keepe a perpetuall diuision in our nation is to argue the Councell of a great ouersight and want of consideration that a diuision in a nation prooueth oftentimes a desolation or vtter ouerthrowe thereof But let vs see what substantiall proofe there is of this assertion For which cause sayth this Author diuers spies were sent ouer to nourish the said diuision as namely one Vanne if we remember well who died in the Inquisition at Rome in the yere 1581. and soone after they vsed another named Salomon Alread a Taylor by his trade and married first at Lyons in France but after getting acquaintance at Rome and Millaine hee became a statesman went in and out diuers times to the Councell of England vntill at last being discouered he remained for seruant with Sir Fran. Walsingham the Q Secretarie and lastly professed heresie Vanne is said to be employed by the Counsell to nourish this diuision in our nation but what hee did it is not said this the reader himselfe must imagine neither is it said with whome he ioyned when he came to Rome or with whom he dealt onely it is said that he dyed in the Inquisition which argueth that hee was some obstinate heretike And this example is as foolishly brought to prooue emulation in the Laytie against the Clergie as that of Wickliffe was to prooue emulation of the Clergie against the religious both being heretickes and consequently neither of them of that body of which we are to vnderstand this Author when he talketh of the Laytie and Clergie vnlesse he will also take that word Religious to extend it selfe to such Apostata Iesuits as are either at Geneua or elsewhere And then will hee make himselfe ridiculous in affirming that emulation against such religious should hinder the reduction of England to the Cath. faith Salomon Alread was a Catholike and a great deuote of the Iesuits both at Lyons in France and elsewhere And if by his peuking he did at any time discouer what he receiued of them this author who neglecteth the credit of all whatsoeuer to saue the Iesuits credit should haue couered it not hauing named any place of this mans conuersation where hee should become a Statesman but such as where the Iesuits were his directors as Lyons in France Rome and Millaine And if after the edification he had of the Iesuits he returned into England and offered his seruice to Sir Francis Walsingham her Maiesties Secretarie Sir Francis had little reason to refuse him or not to imploy him although we cannot learne that euer he did any harme in the English Colledge at Rome And therefore this example of emulation in the Laytie against the Clergie is as small to the purpose as the former His being a Taylor might perchance make to the purpose in this authors conceit but his being a married man is doubtlesse here mentioned for no other end then to put vs in mind that married men can play the marchants as well as others as if wee had forgotten that as the Councell did second the Iesuits who were not maried in the first diuision at the College of Rome by sending Vanne thither as this author sayth who was an vnmarried man so did the Iesuits second the Coūcels imploiment of this Solomon Alread who was maried in the furthering of their faction in the same Colledge at Rome by entertaining Pierce amongst some other straglers who was also a married man and his wife knowen to be liuing to make vp a small number of 8. or 10. pious youths as the Iesuites did terme them to stand with them against all the rest of the students in the Colledge yet in this one tricke the Iesuits went beyond our Councell in that they made their married man Cornutus by putting him in a square cappe the better to effect that which they did by his means For this was he who after many deuises preuailed at the last with three of the Students to go to a Tauerne to drinke where they were no sooner set then apprehended by the Sbirri And the matter was made so odious as hereby they lost the fauor of his Hol. were brought into a most seruile subiectiō to the Iesuits not without the great grief of their friends who long after complained that they had very euill handled a good cause And although these were the first stratagems which were layd open to the world yet were diuers causes giuen of disquietnes euen from the first foundation of that Colledge For the Iesuits hauing gotten the gouernement thereof into their hands and in such sort as they were most earnestly requested thereunto by such as howsoeuer this Author doth bragge of them Chap. 5. fol. 28. and their petitions to his Holinesse confessed not long after that they knew not what they had done they began to strike as we say while the iron was hot and laboured a couple of the Students to become Iesuits to wit Thomas Wright and Iohn Barton who were well esteemed of for their towardlinesse And although both of them did afterward leaue the societie of the Iesuits yet their present example together with the Iesuits bad indeuours was occasion of much disunion of mindes in the Colledge which when it was perceiued the Iesuits the better to norish this diuision to couer their owne dealings imployed such of the Students in that office as had already deuoted themselues vnto their societie and did countenance them against those who complained thereof insomuch as it was too apparant that some were of purpose deferred or kept from going into the societie of the Iesuites to the end they might perswade others to the same course which was in deed the vndoing of that Colledge For now the Students
publique submission and in expresse words acknowledged his errour in that he had not so long a time obserued that saying Qui nescit dissimulare nescit viuere he that knoweth not how to dissemble knoweth not how to liue How farre foorth M.D.B. noted in the margent was a cause of that visitation I know not but if we doe not mistake the man hee was sent into England long before this visitation came to the College And as for the other two Priests whose names are set in the margent in this sort G G.E.G. who are said to haue conspired with the Councell in England and for more grace and gratification haue writ two mischieuous bookes the one saith this authour against D. Allen the other against F. Parsons and the Iesuites giuing them vp to Walsingham the Queenes Secretarie affirming also among other points to make the parties more odious as our men their successours doe at this day that these men depended of Spaniards and were enemies to their Countrey We heartily wish that this authour may liue in as good credit as the one of them liueth after all his trouble in Italy or elsewhere and die as penitent as the other died after his troubles in France He who writ against the Iesuites was too priuie to their actions aswell in England as elsewhere to be deceiued in them And if the Appellants be the men whom here this authour meaneth by these words their successors they may purge themselues very well from any offence in hauing the like thought For it is well knowen that Fa. Parsons in Spaine caused many aswell others as Priestes to subscribe as priests to the title of the Infanta now Dutches of Burgundie Fa. Tancard also hath made many to set their handes to three blanks although some refused to do it as they haue themselues reported at their returne into England We haue moreouer vnderstood that Fa. Parsons was a chiefe dealer in the sending of those Armadoes which the Spaniards haue set out for the inuasion of our Countrey and there are in England with whome hee dealt most earnestly to goe in the Nauie which was set out in the yeere 1596. who refusing to be imployed in any action against their Countrey were for that cause sent away from the College told that it was not conuenient that they should stay in the College where they had giuen example of such repugnance There is moreouer sufficient proofe that after the euill successe of the Spanish attempts Fa. Parsons carried a youth to the king of Spaine who pronounced a certaine speech for the purpose which being ended Fa. Parsons began to vrge the king to giue one attempt more affirming that he silly fellow would write his letters into England and nothing doubted to effect what should be to the great furtherance of such a iourney We haue also certaine intelligence that the Iesuites had deuised a meanes to haue had the tower of London seazed into their hands and how they would haue it held vntil the Spaniard came to rescue them Diuers of their letters haue bin shewed to diuers prisoners for proofe against them when they haue answered in defence of the Iesuites that they thought them free from such stratagems And amongst the rest there is one of the 10. of Iune 1596. wherein there are these wordes It may be if the kings faintnesse and pusillanimitie hinder vs not as heretofore it hath the Armado will be with you about August or September This is one good helpe Ireland wil be onely for vs. The Earle of Tyrone and Odonell would gladly haue helpe from hence and they are well contented to let the Spaniards haue certaine holdes and forts for their vses This will greatly pleasure to trouble and disquiet England and in the mean time serue for harbour for the ships that shall passe that way c. It were necessary you should make it knowen aforehand that no Cath. man or woman shall take harme either in body or goods Let euery man be quiet till the Spaniards be landed then shall there presently proclamation be made of all securitie There were 200. copies of these proclamations printed in Spaine Certaine other letters also haue bene seene of Fa. Parsons to his fellow Iesuits in England wherein he hath wished that the Catho would vnite themselues together set vp a king of England And in his letters of the 24. of Ianu. 1600. to the Earle of Anguise he confesseth that he dealt in such matters for 8. or 10. yeeres But if all these and many other as infallible proofes did faile vs F. Parsons booke of Succession would so farre conuince his dealing in State matters in the behalfe of Spaine as the Appellantes may without scruple charge him with it yet without any intention to make him more odious knowing it a thing very impossible if they were so minded And thus much concerning this authour his folly in indeuouring to gall the Appellantes with the name of Successors to such as affirmed that the Iesuites depended of the Spaniards and were enemies to their Countrey The next fit of emulation here mentioned is against D. Allen when he was to be made a Cardinall and it is set out with a very rich margent and much to our present matter in controuersie I warrant you But not beeing able to preuaile in this against the Card himselfe sayth this author they began to set more earnestly against the Iesuits his chiefest friends and constant defenders as well in stirring vp the schollers in Rome against the Fathers that gouerned them as also to make a faction against them by Secular Priests in England as may appeare by a letter of the Cardinals owne written most earnestly not sixe moneths before his death to a priest named Mush c. There is a speciall Treatise comming forth of the troubles of that Romane English Colledge to which I am to referre the Reader and to note no other thing in this place then that the misdemeanours of the Iesuits was the cause of all those troubles But concerning this foolish assertion that there was a faction against the Iesuits by Secular priests in England the cōtrary is most cleare as all England may witnesse and there is a letter extant of M. George Blackwell the now Archpriest wherein hee inueigheth mightily against those who had made the report that the priests and Iesuites were at strife Ianuary 1596. to th◠C. Caietane And this letter is kept in the English Colledge at Rome registred as an Oracle although perchance not for this clause so much as for the immoderate but false extolling of the Iesuits in doing infinite deeds of charitie out of the profits of their patrimonies nam minima sunt c. sayth M. Black it is not worth the speaking of which they receiue of almes c. And whereas the Card. Allen his letter is here brought to testifie a faction of either the schollers at Rome or the Secular priests in England against the
great charges send to Rome two of their brethren to haue dealt with his Holines about it But their Ambassadours comming thither sayth this authour and shewing no desire of peace or vnion at all or to accept of any good condition to liue in obedience c. And thus hee runneth with a free penne to auouch any thing which is for his purpose how contrary soeuer it is to trueth But because this matter is at large handled by this author in the 9. Chapter of the Apologie where also we shall declare how these matters passed at Rome we will onely note here that the two Priests had little reason to determine their businesse with F. Parsons D. Haddocke or M. Martin Array who perchance are the others which are here meant and as it is here confessed fol. 99. were actors or consultors in the constitution of this authority and parties directly opposite against the Priests in England Besides that the condition which was offered by F. Parsons was very ridiculous to wit that the two Priests who with so great danger and charge were arriued at Rome in the behalfe of many other should returne againe into England with letters to the Archpriest and Iesuits to amend what should be yeelded by them to haue beene done amisse to giue satisfaction vnto all men where it was due which if the Archpriest and Iesuites would not performe the Priests might come againe out of England to Rome And how subtill soeuer F. Parsons thought himselfe in this deuise the two priests could not but thinke it would haue bene a great folly in them to haue accepted this condition of peace although perchance if they had vnderstood his Holines mind that he would haue entertained them as they were entertained with close imprisonment and other such fauours as shal be shewed as occasion serueth possibly they might haue returned againe into their countrey and haue contented themselues vntill it had pleased God to haue taken some pitie vpon their miseries But to prooue how falsly this fellow affirmeth that the two Priests shewed no desire of peace and vnion their going to the Cardinall Caietane whome they tooke to be the ordeiner of the new authoritie as these words of his letters did import Dum haec nostra ordinatio durauerit so long as this our ordinance shall endure and there offer to bring him in writing what they had to say will be a sufficient argument which as it should seeme the Iesuites and their faction fearing least by this meanes their dealings might come to light procured contrary to the Cardinals honour who had entertained the Priestes in this cause that they should be committed close prisoners not suffered euer after to come together to deale in any thing vntill some two or three dayes after that there was a Breue giuen in confirmation of the Archpriests authoritie which being obtained vpon the 6. of Aprill as the Breue beareth date the two Priests were suffered vpon the 8. of the same moneth to come together the Breue being presently brought vnto them they yeelded themselues as well in the name of their brethren as in their own promising to obey it doubtles were ready enough to haue sworne it if his Holines had exacted any such thing at their hands after that he had declared what his wil was should be done what reason soeuer the priests had to the contrarie But the trueth is that there was no oath taken nor any demanded This might therefore haue been left out with more truth then inserted in this Apologie to wit this was promised at that time of all hands and the two messengers did sweare it also by a corporall oath as also that epitheton to the Breue to wit new for what doth this import other then another Breue as though some Breue had been before made and refused by the priests which is a most vntrue conceit yet necessarily to be made vpon these words of the Apology He the Pope confirmed all that was done already by the Cardinal with a new Breue This was promised at that time sayth this author of all hands and the two messengers did sweare also by a corporall oath and hope was that all would be quiet hereupon to which effect Fa. Parsons also wrote very courteous and pious letters vnto M. Collington and M. Mush and they accepted kindly of the same as after wee shall haue occasion perhaps more particularly to set downe But now Sathan being loth to haue sedition ended began again to set them out in England and to put them in worse case then euer by the industry of certaine seditious humors of the chiefest contenders whereof some deuised newe iniuries offered them by the quiet some required satisfaction for the old c. vntill in Nouember last 1600. diuers of the discontented made a generall appeale c. Thus farre doth he imbolden himselfe as who hauing no intention to bee any way accounted a changeling Wee will here omit that which he affirmeth of Fa. Parsons pious letters to M. Collington and M. Mush which seeme here to haue been written vpon the promises and oath as he sayth of the messengers to be at peace when they saw the Popes Breue which letters Cap. 10 fol. 143. hee saith were written euen then to vse his owne words when yet the Popes Breue was not come foorth as appeareth for that this was written the ninth of April and the Breue beareth date of the 21. of the same moneth What neede was there of this so palpable a falshood Cannot Fa. Parsons praises euen in matters of smallest moment be sounded by lip or registred by pen but with most grosse falshood thus wrote F. P. that is a courteous and pious letter as here it is declared fol. 8. for it beareth the same date and is written to the same men as may be seene euen then when yet the Popes Breue was not come forth And lest any man should doubt of this Fa. Parsons his courtesie or pietie before that time of the comming forth of the Breue he proueth it by the date of his letters which he sayth is the ninth of April and the date of the Breue which he sayth is the 21. of April A manifest falshood as may bee seene both by the Breue it selfe and by many places in this Apologie where it is set downe to beare date 6. April 1599 as in the same tenth chapter fol. 140 and immediatly before in the end of the ninth chapter and els where So that I cannot but marueile at the foolish greedines of this author in taking euery occasion to commend Fa. Parsons how vntowardly so euer it fadgeth with him But Sathan being loth to haue sedition ended began againe to set them out in England and to put them in worse case then euer by the industry of certaine seditious humors of the chiefest contenders c. These were the Iesuits and the Archpriest first the Iesuits namely Fa. Iacob who after the
credit of the chiefe pastour in these words And who vpon earth is warranted from erring but one To which to take away the scandall which vpon some speaches of such sycophants as this author is hath growen in Christendome among the simpler sort of people these words are most Catholikely and truely added and not he in all things The exceptions which afterward are taken for vnkindnesse towards the Cardinal Caietane are very foolish and those that are for irreuerence are as false the priests hauing always shewed asmuch reuerence as the Cardinall did deserue or they could doe sauing their duety to the Cardinals superiour and theirs and the libertie which the Clergie hath in all places of Christendâ—…e and yet deserue not the name of libertines as this godly author out his great charitie and assistance of the spirit which guideth him termeth them in this place vpon occasion of some wordes which he saieth are vnder the handes of sixe prisoners of Wisbich and were to bee shewed to his Holinesse to wit citò indignabitur libertas si prematur that is to say oppressed libertie will not long beare it For after that hee hath shewed that the priests dealt vnkindly with the Cardinall Protectour who now hee sayth is gone to God and perchance had left a greater hope of possibilitie of some peace in our afflicted Church if he had taken some of these godly with him he would perswade his Reader that the priests doe not spare the Pope himselfe for proofe he citeth one place where they speake of their boldnes in repelling iniuries as though this did any way concerne the Pope and that other place before cited which he saith should haue bene shewed vnto him and then he falleth from this to proue a haughtinesse in the priests in that they would not suffer themselues to be accounted al the world ouer for schismatikes Other sentences also are cited out of their bookes where they indeuour to prooue how conuenient it had beene that they had had the choyce of their Superiour according to the decrees not onely of Popes but also of the Emperours at which this Authour glaunceth and vseth these wordes as though this were more as though this were not more although the one be of a higher order then the other as when we say that such a thing is of force by lawe diuine and humane when no man is so absurd as not to thinke that the law diuine doth farre excell mans law But for our purpose and to prooue that it was alwayes more to haue a libertie by the temporall Prince his lawe ouer and aboue the libertie which the Clergie had by the decrees of holy Church see I pray you howe this was thought on when it was graunted by a Parliament 47 Edw. 3. that the Cathedrall Churches should enioy their elections and that from thencefoorth the King should not write against the elected but should by his letters helpe toward their confirmation But sayth Iohn Stowe this statute tooke small effect By which it is euident that the Clergie did finde that it was more to haue the decrees of the Pope and King then the decrees of the Pope alone But if this fellow will say that two are not more then one his Reader must take it for an Oracle and by vertue of blinde obedience beleeue it vndoubtedly In the next point this author iuggleth vp two matters together the one that the Priests doe call into suspition of forgery the Popes Breue it selfe the other is that they draw his Hol. pious meaning into matter of State For proofe of the first he citeth these words out of the English booke that it was procured God knoweth out of what office which words cannot by any but an euill disposition be brought to an accusation of forgerie The most that can be made of it is that Fa Parsons might be suspected to haue procured it where hee might haue his will perchance more then was conuenient and yet the Breue not forged For as Rebuffus in praxi beneficiorum de breui Apostolico numero 16. doeth note an Apostolicall Breue solet concedi à Papa à Cancellaria ac à summo paenitentiario horum quodlibes dicitur Apostolicum sic Breuia dicuntur literae Apostolicae It vseth to be granted by the Pope and by the Chancery and by the high penitentiary and euery one is called Apostolicall and so the Breues are said to be Apostolicall letters Hauing then thus shewed that Breues may come from diuers Courts and yet be true Breues we haue also shewed that the Priests are here falsly accused where they are said to bring the Breue in suspicioÌ„ of forgery by making a doubt out of what court it was procured But to giue further satisfaction to the curious The cause why a doubt was made of F. Parsons his cariage in this matter is as we haue set it down in the booke dedicated to the holy Office pag. 59 for that the Breue affirmed that M. George Blackwell was appointed by the Cardinals letters of the 7. of March 1598 Archp. of the English Catholicks for the better vnion of the Catholicks of the kingdomes of England and Scotland whereas in these the Cardinals letters he is not made archpriest of the English Catholicks but onely of Priests and not of all the priests but onely of the Priests of the Seminaries And we did more easily giue consent to thinke that Fa. Parsons had busied himselfe more then became him because his Holines as no doubt he is carefull that no errors or shew of errors should be in the Breues so he hath no custome to looke vpon them but only giueth his consent that they be made Which consent although sometimes the chiefe of that office doeth take in presence yet sometime he giueth credit to those who say that they haue his Holines consent thereto And although he who is chiefe in that office must giue also his consent or warrant for the making of the Breue yet he taketh all his information of him who asketh for it and seeth not the Breue but onely a small abstract thereof and leaueth it to other inferior officers to draw it as it must be seale it and deliuer it to them who are the procurers thereof All which is expressed by Zecchius in his booke de republica Ecclesiastica tract de prelatis Cap. 9. Breuium vero officio praepositus est vnus Cardinalis iurisperitus qui habito viuae vocis oraculo Papae perseipsum vel alium facto absque alia Papae signatura omissa etiam porrectione supplicatoris sed sola Breuium minuta ab Abbreuiatore recepta videt formam Breuis addit minuit pro eius arbitrio reuisam minutam subscriptam ab ipso solicitatoribus restituit quae postea apud expeditores fidem facit inde litterae in forma Breuis in tenuiori pergamena scribuntur scriptae sub annulo Piscatoris dominico sub cera expediuntur
authoritie they called it in doubt whether those things were true which were contained in these letters of the Cardinals namely that the authoritie was constituted by his Hol. commandement and if it were so yet they doubted whether his Hol. could appoint them a Superiour vnwitting and vnwilling thereto which afterward they feared not to say when they came to Rome yea and repeated it often as we can proue by conuenient witnesses And yet would this fellow perswade his reader that the priests did first contradict or oppose themselues against the authority and then afterwards finde some reasons for it yea after the two priests were gone to Rome notwithstanding these plaine testimonies of his owne that the priests had these difficulties at the beginning But perchance M. Charnockes answere put all these things out of his memorie non putarat he thought not vpon it How so Forsooth M. Charnocke said that the cause of his comming was to supplicate most humbly to the Sea Apostolike that if the aforesayd order of the Archpriests authoritie were not yet confirmed by his Holinesse as they had heard that Fa. Sicklemore and some other had reported that then the same might be either mitigated or changed or some other order appointed with it thus he collecteth M. Charnocks answere and thereupon commeth with a so as now our brethren seemed not to doubt c. nor were yet growne to be so bold as to affirme that his holinesse could not doe it without their consents except he violated the canons c. The humble spirit of the priests who hauing many and most iust causes to deale in other maner then by way of supplication being measured by his own proud humor of wrangling where he had no iust cause brought him into this error Next follow the reasons or causes which mooued M. Bishop to come to Rome which were sixe and hee here setteth them downe and proueth that he and M. Charnocke did scarce seem to agree in the causes of their comming And how so Forsooth M. Charnocke sayd and sware that his onely comming was to supplicate c fol 132. But whosoeuer will turne to M. Charnocks oath set downe fol 129. shal find this iugler and how that this word onely is here foisted in by him for this purpose And so much sayth he of this for that it were ouerlong to run ouer all points and not finde one for his purpose without a litle of his arte which will serue him no longer then vntill it commeth into the aire for then all this painting and false colours will easily be descried and himselfe worthily laughed at for his so grosse counterfeiting yet this in briefe they affirmed both of them that as for the Archpriest they brought nothing lawfully prooued against him either in learning life or manners and the like they affirmed of the Iesuits An euident argument euen to F. Parsons and the rest that they went to Rome to deale in peaceable manner with his Holines concerning these matters beeing able to bring more matters vnder the hands of sufficient witnesses then the Archpriest will be euer able to answere and which in any court of Iustice would haue hindered his confirmation But this authour setteth downe his matters somewhat warily the priests brought nothing against the Archpr. lawfully proued as for the Iesuits let any indifferent man iudge whether the priests were in place to haue medled with them further then that the Iesuits were their Iaylours somewhat belike they could haue said but they brought nothing lawfully prooued M. Bishop sayth he said he heard his fellow Rob. say that M. Collington and himselfe had heard the Archpriest vtter an hereticall proposition which was that they could not appeale from him to Rome They both affirme that hee stood very peremptorily in it after that hee was warned thereof and if M. Bishop did affirme that this proposition was hereticall or the author of the Apologie doe thinke so of it himselfe I wonder that M. Bishops fellow Rob. was not asked the question his examination not being ended in some 6. or 7. dayes after that M. Bishop was dispatched as appeareth here fol. 134. and this is one speciall matter which this author chuse out of many ouer which it had beene ouerlong to runne ouer Will ye heare another in briefe as he sayth M. Charnocke beeing asked what money they had made answere for 30. crownes more then M. Bishop tooke notice of which perchance this author here inserted that his reader might giue credit to M. Bishop when he said as is extant in the English booke pa. 171. The examinations were what is your name how olde where remained you in England how and which way came you ouer what money brought you ouer with you c. and much such like impertinent stuffe to fill vp the papers that when wee came to the matter it selfe they might be briefe taking barely what we came about without the reasons perswasions of it yea obiecting against it and peruerting it what they could The third principal point which notwithstanding the hast was in no case to be ouerslipped but rather run ouer is a disagreement betweene M. Bishop and M. Charnocke about one point of their commission And thus forgetting how he had before foisted in this worde onely to make a disagreement betweene them in that the one should say that their onely comming was to supplicate c. fol 132. and the other alledge sixe causes of his comming Now hee is contented that M. Charnocke should say that he had diuers points in commission and how commeth this kindnesse ouer him forsooth he would faine find another disagreement betwixt M. Bishop and M. Charnocke and for this purpose hee must intreat his reader to forget that he had before made him beleeue how that he had heard that M. Charnocke said and sware that their onely comming was to supplicate c. and now that it will please him to vnderstand that Master Charnocke said that he had in commission amongst other points for to procure that no bookes should be hereafter written by Catholicks that might exasperate the state of England M. Bishop said that he liked not that commission but rather it should be left as hitherto to the discretion of the writers adding further that in his opinion such bookes as before had beene written had rather done good then hurt M. Doctor Ely hath noted vpon the Apologie that the author thereof is much troubled with the chincough which in his relating this point may be very easily seene by his leauing out of certaine wordes at the end of the point auouched by M. Charnocke to haue beene in his commission The words are these sine necessitate aut vtilitate without need or profit which words being added vnto the point as he calleth it in M. Charnocks commission or the petition of the priests as they tearmed it maketh the matter so iust a request as no man of sense can dislike thereof But the very
of their liues and one of them had suffered imprisonment for the Catholike faith which sentence sayth this author they accepted and confirmed also by a corporall oath This fellow forgetteth himselfe This sentence he sayth was by way of a letter to F. Parsons who was Rector or to the Vicerector and by F. Parsons onely was this sentence shewed first to M. Charnocke who was yet in prison then afterwards to M. Bishop who was at liberty and had ben so some certaine dayes And neither did F. Parsons exact any oth of them neither did they take any vnto him And in the tenth Chapter fol. 155. it is vrged that this oath was exhibited by the immediate Commissarie or Delegate of his Holines which titles belonged not to F. Parsons to whome this letter was directed by the two Cardinals as shall hereafter appeare The truth of this story and how this letter lay hid as was pretended in F. Parsons chamber for certaine dayes as he told M. Charnocke is set downe in the booke dedicated to the Inquisition pag 88. and it goeth vncontrolled and vntouched which in the iudgement of any indifferent man it should not if any iust exceptions could be takē against it Yet must his Reader be told that this author proceedeth no otherwise then in such sort as must satisfie all men for this he sayth fol. 126. speaking of himselfe offering for proofe either the publique testimonies of his Holines the two Cardinals Protectors Acarisius the Popes Fiscal and other parties that were actors or priuie to the cause or else the depositions of the said messengers themselues vnder their hands and oaths or finally the witnesse of the whole English Colledge and nation that knowe what passed in this matter which is another manner of proceeding then to publish things in corners by way of libels without any further ground of trueth then the will or malice of the publisher But these testimonies so much vanted of are loth to come to light or are caried into some farre countreys as disdaining to be in corners such as England Flanders France and Italy for these were the corners in which the priests books were published and in these corners haue the priests iustified their bookes which this poore fellow calleth libels to shift them off by one meanes or other And the priests were neuer so daintie of their bookes but that they who opposed themselues against them might haue Gods plenty for their comfort whereas contrarywise this miserable Apologie had a quartane euery time that it came to any of the priests hands and when it was to be seene by them it was by stealth and but for an houre or two so did it quake for feare of being found to be such stuffe as since it hath bene sufficiently discouered Yet to encourage the blind-obedient it telleth them of Popes and Cardinals testimonies and authenticall matters and bringeth nothing which can please these blinde affectioned but some railing words against Catholike priests as though if it could perswade the reader that they were most wicked by often inculcating it vnto him the cause were wonne and a railing word of this authors mouth would be of more weight to determine a controuersie then all possible right in the part oppressed But the indifferent reader will weigh his reasons and not his foule words and iudge of matters not as they are said to be but as they are prooued And thus much in answere to the ninth Chapter CHAP. 15. How this Apologie-maker shuffleth off the true cause of this present controuersie and layeth the blame thereof vpon the Secular priests Apol. cap. 10. IN the tenth chapter of the Apologie the author thereof intendeth to shew how that all controuersies were ended vpon the publication of his Holines Breue and how that a new breach was made He promiseth also to handle some excesses of his brethren and of their dealings with the Counsell The first point he handleth very slenderly as it should seeme for he forgetteth often that euer the controuersies were ended The second he layeth falsly to the priests as shall be shewed and in the rest he onely sheweth his merchandize And thus he beginneth this Chapter After that his Hol. had well considered the little waight of reason which these two former messengers had brought in the behalfe of their partners in England for raising so great a sedition against the Protectors letters and Archpriests incitation and had giuen some due reprehension to the sayd messengers as by their restraint aswell in Rome as by that they were not permitted to returne presently into England he thought conuenient to confirme the sayd Protectors letters c. In these few lines it is to be noted first how that his Holinesse is sayd to haue restrained the priests who went to Rome vpon consideration of the little waight of reason which they brought and permitted them not to returne or as we say in English banished them not onely England but Scotland also and Ireland yea and confined them to seuerall Countreys without allowing them any thing for their maintenance Secondly how his Holinesse confirmed the Cardinals letters Touching the first it is knowen to all the world or at the least in those parts which this author calleth corners those are England Flanders France and Italie where their bookes haue been published or sent that the two priests were restrained before they deliuered any reasons of their forbearance to subiect themselues to the Archpriest and as yet no one part of their relation hath been prooued faulty They haue layd downe an orderly narration of their messengers disorderly restraint through the false wicked suggestiōs of their aduersaries before that they had any audience and thereby haue made it euident that his Holines did not restraine them vpon any consideration of their reasons because he heard them not nor any cause else before they were restrained Secondly it is at large related both in the English booke pag. 97.98.104.105 and els where as also in the booke to the Inquisition pag 77. how that when the priests came to their answere before the Cardinals Caietane and Burghese they were not suffered to haue a copie of their accusations brought against them although it were most earnestly demanded by them that they might make their answere thereunto but a dissembling shew was made to haue all matters taken vp in peace and quietnes And this author not being able to gainesay any of this how shamelesly doth he here tell his reader that his Holinesse had well considered the little weight of their reasons and had therefore not onely restrained them but banished them or as he tearmeth it not permitted them to returne presently into England And although it be true which this author affirmeth that his Holines confirmed the Card. letters yet it is euident that he did not vpon consideration of the little weight of the messengers their reasons for they were neuer suffred to deliuer them as the custome of God Church was
there was an egregious faction meant because the Appeale was made in the names of the present Appellants and all others that should ioyne themselues vnto them which clause was after the Appeale and onely in a postscript as it is set downe in the booke to the Inquisition pag. 52. And to colour this matter the better the date of the Appeale is transported to the postscript which he citeth which is saith he against the nature of iust Appeales for which you must take his credit But let vs grant that these Appellants had mistaken Panormitane explicating the rubricke of the chapter Olim de occasionibus had put in this clause into their Appeale which as is said is in a postscript after the Appeale how is it prooued that there is an egregious faction meant thereby How much better might it be sayd that there was a marueilous contempt of the Sea Apostolike committed by the Archpr. in suspending the Appellants from the vse of their faculties after this Appeale made to the Sea Apostolike Againe if we shall consider the backwardnesse of the Appellants to doe or attempt any thing which might be offensiue to any which they sufficiently shewed in that they hereupon refrained to vse their faculties and the forwardnes of the Archpr. who would vsurpe such an authoritie before he was confirmed by his Holinesse sufficiently declared by this irreuerence to the Sea Apostolike in taking away from the Appellants the vse of their faculties for Appealing it will be euident to the indifferent iudge which part was more likely to haue a bad meaning for factiō or disturbance of the Church But this was deuised perhaps saith he vnderhand by the persecutors themselues c. and so hee falleth into that point of the standing of matters betweene the priests and the Counsel which I will leaue a little and trie whether besides this coniecture already giuen of the Archpriests meaning and his factious adherents I can alleage any other matter whereby it may be coniectured that the Iesuits and Archp. did meane an egregious faction whatsoeuer shew they would make of peace first occurreth a letter which was written from Rome by M. Martin Array one of the two Proctors appointed by the Archpr. and the Clergie vnited vnto him and allowed by his Holinesse as in this letter he affirmeth Which letter being a pretended relation of such principall matters as you shall heare was eyther penned by Fa Parsons or not without his priuitie being as all Rome can testifie the principall agent against the priests and one who thought nothing could be well done to his minde vnlesse he were himselfe at the doing therof as appeared by his apprehending them his keeping them his examining them and such like his charitable offices This letter beareth date the 20. of February 1599. And herein is his deere friend certified that the matter about which the two priests went to Rome was committed by his holinesse speciall commission to Card. Caietane and Burghese to be examined and heard by way of congregation at the English Coll. it selfe And so it was sayth he vpon Wednesday the seuenteenth of this moneth when after sundry informations had from Acarisius Fiscal of his Hol Congregation of reformation that had taken their seuerall examinations by his attourney Fa. Parsons vpon their oathes And after they the Cardinals had read and viewed such letters memorials and papers as the Ambassadours had brought with them they came ioyntly together to the Colledge vpon the foresayd day and with them the sayd Fiscall And there hauing a conuenient tribunall prouided in fourme of iudgement a couple of chaires set at a table couered with a greene cloth they heard the whole cause but God knoweth who pleaded it And first each of the Ambassadours confession and declaration that is as much and what pleased Fa Parsons seuerally read by the Notary of the cause Fa Henry Tichborne a Iesuite which were long and euer◠one of them more then an houres reading And therefore perchance to auoide tediousnes there was a little read here and there where Fa. Parsons had turned downe a lease and his fellow Iesuit the foresaid Notary of the cause was made acquainted therewith and read accordingly And then was each of them willed to say if he had any thing to adde to his declaration more then hee had set downe M. Bishop would say nothing for which as was sayd the Cardinals were offended with him M. Charnocke deliuered somewhat vntill Fa. Parsons did breake him off And after this their letters and papers brought with them were seene againe by the aforesayd iudges whereof the most part were translated into Latine Is it likely that the priests would write to his Holinesse in English for the petitions were to him which were brought by the two priests to Rome and concerned their businesse And besides that were also Fa. Parsons Rector of the Colledge and Fa. Henry Tichborne Prefect of the studies willed to be present These were besides themselues for as hath been sayd Fa Tichborne the Iesuit was the foresayd Notary and Fa Parsons the man that had takē their examinations to interpret any thing that should be needfull both the Iudges and the two priests spake both Italian and Latine And after this againe were both Ambassadours called in ioyntly for M. Bishop was locked vp againe as soone as he had heard his examinations read as also M. Haddocke and my selfe as procurators of the Archpresbyter and of the Clergie vnited to him appointed by letters from them and allowed here by his Holinesse with whom we had been and had audience particular about this affaire before And being come in we were willed as procurators to speake what wee had to say in this behalfe But you must vnderstand that this charge was so secretly giuen by the Iudges as the two priests there also present did not heare it And these procurators being willed to speake like Proctors sayd not one word but Fa Parsons at their entrance began to declare vnto the Cardinals that those two were Proctors for the Archpr. and that one of them was a Doctor of Diuinitie and the nephew of a Cardinal and the brother of a Martyr agnominations able to credit the best Proctors in the world After this preamble hee told the Cardinall what a perillous diuision was made in England and that these proctors although they were very loth to deale against their brethren there present yet for the loue of Iustice they were contented to be imployed in this action against them and that they had a libell or bill of complaint against them At which words D. Haddocke without any word speaking himselfe deliuered vp a libell to the Card. But let vs heare what M. Array certifieth his friend of his speeches or his fellow Proctors when as he sayth they were bidden to speake as Proctors Our speech in effect was sayth he when they sayd not one word that albeit it grieueth vs much to be driuen to accuse or pleade
is there euidently seene to haue been spoken vpon iust cause and this authour is not able to answere the reason there giuen neither is it true which here also he affirmeth that the Breue of the sixt of April is called in question whether it were not forged it is onely sayd that it was procured by Fa. Parsons God knoweth out of what office and the reason is there giuen of these speaches and it is further shewed in the Replie to the second chapter of the Apologie how that his Holinesse doth not ordinarily see the Breues which he granteth In the 14. and 15. leafe this author indeuoureth to satisfie his reader why he doth often name insinuate their the priests patrons and their dealings with them in preiudice of Catholike religion and when he hath spoken his pleasure he solueth all himselfe in this manner And albeit some perhaps may excuse the matter as though this coniunction were not directly to the hurt of Catholike Religion yet euery man seeth that by consequence it is seeing heresie is strengthened by our owne diuision and voluntary weakening of the Catholike party in their fauour But perhaps an honest man will say that this coniunction is neither directly nor by consequence to the hurt of Catholike Religion but rather the vniust prosecution of those who pretend to be Cath. through which heresie may be strengthened and those priests tyred who haue and must deserue best of the Catholike Religion Neither is this any noueltie in Gods Church that those who should bee nurses of Gods people become cruel vnto them and they who vsed cruelty become pious in relieuing the needfull S. Hieremie lamenting the desolation of Ierusalem among other things breaketh out into these wordes Sed lamiae nudauerunt mammam lactauerunt catulos suos filia populi mei crudelis quasi struthio in deserto Those creatures who were wont to teare their yong ones in pieces prepared their teates and gaue them sucke the daughter of my people is cruel as an Ostrich in the desert But to returne to our purpose It is most true that some priests haue receiued very great fauours of the Magistrates who notwithstanding they are of a contrary Religion hold it fit that such haue fauour as they are well assured doe neither themselues plot nor combine with others who haue manifested themselues to plot against the temporall State vnder a faire pretence of Religion and in this ought these priests to thinke themselues most deepely bound vnto them for that they will take notice of their loyalty and if M. Bluet as here it is affirmed haue layd the fault where it ought to be what reason hath this fellow to tell his Reader that he will easily imagine that this fault is layd vpon the Iesuits and other of their side Master Bluet sayd no such thing but perchance the matters haue been so grossely handled by these fellowes as no man can imagine other and this fellow his guilty conscience maketh him to vtter it when the Iesuites are not charged therewith That which this fellowe carpeth at in the hope of peace pag. 13. 14. concerning the casting out of deuils is plaine enough against him the onely difficultie is in his owne opinion of the Iesuits that hearing of the casting out of deuils he is straight afraid of the Iesuits as thogh they were not onely deuils but the onely deuils That which is brought in in the hope of peace is brought to shew that it is not vnlawful to take assistance in a good cause euen of such as are otherwise contrary vnto vs. And therefore if there be any impietie in the application of the scripture there brought the impietie is in this author who placeth the Iesuits in the deuils roome and perchance he mistaketh when he affirmeth that the Protestants haue them for Religions sake it being well knowen that many of the Iesuites friends are highly fauoured who are knowen not to differ one iot in religion from them and the priests whom this author affirmeth to bee patronized by the Protestant magistrate are true Catholike priests and haue so shewed themselues and are resolute to liue and die in the Cath. religion so that there must be some other cause of the hatred if any be in the Protestant magistrats against the Iesuits then their religion But see how he proceedeth and they are so resolute saith he in this holy doctrine as they doubt not as it were to anathematize any man that will not stand with them therein for thus they write a litle after Who doth not now expect some sentence out of the hope of peace to this effect yet when it cōmeth it is of another matter nothing appertaining to this but here foisted in by this author to serue his turne For as it is euidēt to be seene in the hope of peace this discourse of the casting out of Iesuites as this fellow expoundeth it was cleane ended and another passage of the Archpr. his letter taken to bee answered where he writ in this maner It cannot be liked of that we should write one against another c. Whereupon it being first declared what the Iesuits writ against the priests namely in the treaatise of schisme and what infamy grew thereby vnto them the necessity of writing on the priests side is prooued and the sentence here alleaged by this authour is vsed to wit And if the priests haue been compelled to this hard choice as either they sustaine infinite iniuries and obloquies or redeeme themselues in this sort that is by writing from so vndeserued an oppression no superiour in the worlde can iustly finde himselfe touched in credit but such whom the Apostle calleth principes potestates mundi rectores tenebrarum harum This sentence being in this sense vsed by the priests note I pray you how this companion draweth it to another matter And is this true in deede good brethren sayth hee that no Superiour in the world can thinke himselfe touched in credit by this your dealing with heretickes against Catholickes but that hee must needes bee accounted a prince of darkenesse is there no exception at all with you what if his Holinesse that hath brought you vp c. And so hee goeth on in this vaine most idly and cleane contrary to the intent and purpose of the sentence which hee brought as may bee seene in The hope of peace pag. 16. And yet after all this which in his modestie he calleth a malepart kinde of writing he telleth his reader that some may excuse the matter as though this coniunction were not directly to the hurt of the Catholicke Religion yet saith he Euery man seeth that by consequence it is seeing heresie is strengthened by our owne diuision If this then be the matter returne in Gods Name to vnitie and doe that which Christians ought to doe in satisfaction to God and your iniured brethren who by you and your meanes haue suffred more indignities and affliction then euer