had made an attonement with their aduersaries and forgiuen all those slaunders and detractious proceedings which were practised against them and neither of themselues or stirred vp by M. Bish and M. Ch. haue they reuiued all that which F. Parsons heere confesseth to haue bene dead forgotten or ended Did not rather F. Rob. Ion. a Iesuite no great fauourer or bemoaner of M. Bish and M. Ch. their case broach this diuision again and renew the soare which was if not cleane healed yet forgotten and the offendors forgiuen by publishing that the Priests who did forbeare to admit M. Black for their superiour vntill they sawe the Breue in his confirmation were Schismatikes and that all those who should not hold the same were vnder the censures of the Church Did not M. Black soone after both approue the same paradox of F. Ion. the Iesuite and furthermore publish a resolutiō sent as he said from Rome eyther by Father Wasord or F. Titch both Iesuites which avowed the same with many Edicts and prohibitions vnder paine of incurring the censures that the Priests should not defend them selues from this most absurd iniurious calumniatiō Was it so necessary that there should be tumults in England which must be said still no doubt to be betweene the secular Priests and the Catholiques that the Iesuites must stil giue the onset although for to auoyd blame in the opinion of such as will blinde themselues their enterprises haue bene so prosecuted by couert Iesuites who were not knowne but as secular Priests by the Arch-priest as they are generally taken for quarrels among the secular Priests Can F. Parsons say and not thinke to be laughed at that these stirres are reviued by default of M. Bish and M. Ch. their not prudent bearing themselues or that the Iesuites and the Arch-priest were stirred vp by them as men who would seeme to fauour or bemone their cause But had peace long continued in England which was feared that it would had it bin in their power who were so maruellously iniured some iudged that they should misse somewhat at which they aimed and therefore they set all things worse then they were before We hope we shal now shortly at the least see to what end they did it Concerning the 23. paragraffe I cannot say what either straungers or others did iudge of the two Priests cause they themselues must answere how they found such as with whom they talked yet if it be true which F. Parsons relateth in the 16. Paragraffe it is very likely that they tolde some tale which caried some weight with it or else both the Commissarie of the Inquisition had litle reason to vse such words as F. Parsons there saith he did and F. Parsons lesse cause to feare least their dealing with all the Cardinalls and great men in Rome would to vse his owne tearme bring the common cause in a pretie plight He vaunteth here but falsely and iniuriously against the principall of our Nation eyther in Flaunders or England who should complaine of the ouermuch lenitie vsed in ending of the cause that none but vpō passion or misinformation did bemone thē The iudgement of the two Cardinals Caietan Burghese I saw in their letters of the 21. of April 1599. to the Rector or vicerector of the english Colledge and that was that it was not expedient that the two Priestes should by and by returne vnto those parts where they had maintained controuersies with other of their order Wherefore they commaunded the two Priests that for a time they should not presume to goe without license into the Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland I haue bene credibly enformed that neither of them were euer in Scotland or Ireland and therefore could not maintaine any controuersies there in parsonall presence but if they did maintaine any it was by Letters which they might doo notwithstanding this prouiso from other parts also neither can I learne that euer they mainteined any such in England but if they had in my simple iudgement it was no good reason why therefore they should be debarred Scotland and Ireland and although this were the iudgement which was specified by the aforesaid Letters yet there was an other iudgement also that they should not be both in one Regiō as it should seeme for although in the Cardinall Burghese his Letters of the 15. of September 1600. to M. C. it is insinuated that they might choose their place of banishment and confinement which is a confession that because they had controuersies in some one place not certainely set downe where if wee looke into the aforesaid mentioned Letters of the 21. of Aprill 1599. or because by their returne into England some controuersies might haue growne there as appeareth by Cardinall Burghese his Letters of the 15. of September 1600. they must be banished out of all places in the world but one where they must liue in relegation God knoweth how long for neither is there any certaine time set downe for this yet in the answere vnto it written by M. C. the 4. of Noumber following I read that he was not suffered to be in Fraunce as he had made his choise and if this was not cause sufficient for honest men truly enformed of the ending of their cause to bemoane them sincerely and from the heart yet with this circumstance at the least it might be that no prouision being made for them to sustaine life they were banished out of all such places where they might haue meanes to liue vpon a supposed cause neuer proued against them or a bare suspition of what might heereafter bee vnlesse to goe to Rome to preuent great controuersies be said to be to maintaine cotrouersies or to giue a suspition that they would make controuersies when as that thing by which probably they might assure themselues that controuersies would growe came from Rome and was no where to be remedied but at Rome And it will appeare by those authenticall Registers in Rome if any be kept that they sought with all submission to his holinesse to knowe his will in a cause not made knowne by any Letters before from him or by any sufficient testimony otherwise that it was his order In the 24. Paragraffe F. Parsons would seeme to giue good counsell although in all that goeth before he sheweth how litle he careth to follow any but rather aduentureth to say or doo what commeth into his minde and seeketh afterward to perswade such as against whom he worketh to haue patience and say nothing but be peaceable not to finde fault or blame any his proceedings least that tumults arise thereon as who did resolue rather to goe through with whatsoeuer he attempteth then to recall or reclaime himself at any time when he hath done amisse for proofe whereof he caused this Letter as it appeareth in the 6. Paragraffe to be cōmunicated to others beside those to whom it was writtē who shuld also publish it further without any
facultie to confirme and to consecrate oyles whereof our countrey standeth in very great need might be giuen vnto some of our auncient Priests with diuers such like which were not vnknowne vnto you wherefore I maruell with what conscience you can say that wee brought no matter of substance or worth our trauell Secondly out of the premisses followeth that the loue of God his cause the zeale and earnest desire of some good order for peace vnitie mooued mee at the earnest request and solicitations of many godly and graue Priests to forgoe the company of my deare friends to contemne mine owne ease and commoditie and to put my selfe vnto the paine daunger and part also of the cost of such a long perillous iourney and not ambition as many of your dependants haue with euill conscience bruted abroad in diuers coasts and one of the societie an especiall correspondent of yours did not blush to write that we in Rome had confessed that nothing but ambition incited vs to this iourney of which I certified you in my former Letters and you writ that you cannot beleeue that any body would giue out any such impudent reports but I assure you that I haue seene it written and can haue their Letters produced when time shall serue to confront the shamelesse spreaders of such slaunderous rumours And albeit you cleare me of that crime most willingly as you write yet as men that speake hollowly and not from the heart you giue forth some suspitions out of other mens speeches and lay downe in their names your reasons for confirmation of them The first is that in the papers we brought with vs there were voyces for our promotion I answere that with those papers I was not much acquainted as one that neither gathered them nor carried them and full well I knowe and protest that by accord among our selues it was determined before I resolued to take that iourney that they which were sent should not accept of any preferment willingly although it were offered them least they should giue their euill willers occasion to carpe at them rather to seeke their owne particular then their generall good Their second reason is for that in a foolish Letter de presidētijs incerto autore a request is made that wee should bee made not Bishops onely but Arch-bishops forsoothe and such a ragmans rowle there is in it of which is the first dignitie after the Bishop which is the second and so as farre as I remember vnto aboue twentie that any foole almost may see that Letter to haue bin contriued to worke our disgrace and so as a fiction not worth the answering Their last reason was for that in an other Letter of I know not whose the phrase is of your L L for your Lordships but this Letter would neuer be shewed although it were most instantly desired because they said it to be from a very friend of ours a general answer vnto these Letters is that it is easie for those that list to deuise what Letters wil best serue for their turnes and then make great matter out of them But howsoeuer it were yea admit that all were true as they say yet nothing else can be prooued out of them then that many wished and desired our preferment whereof whosoeuer would gather that wee were ambitious and desirous of honour I will boldly say that his wits begin to faile him if they euer were good For the humblest men in the world and those that were farthest off from ambition were euer thought most meete and were most desired to take the charge and dignitie of the best seates God make me as free from all vaine desire of worldly promotion as were S. Barnard S. Francis S. Thomas of Aquine and such like most learned and vertuous and withall most meeke and humble personages who neuerthelesse were greatly desired euen of the greatest to take vpon them great and high dignities In a word it was no ambition in vs that others wished and desired our preferment And as I afore said their wits weare apace and are neare the wane that of so vaine and light surmises iudged vs ambitious and their consciences fowly cankered and corrupted who of so weake and slender presumptions went about by writing or speaking to impaire our credits and to hurt our good names Heere I would finish this part but that I take it very expedient and almost necessarie to touch by the way vntill a fit confutation come which will be shortly if the Author supposed will auouch it as one of the best of the societie thinketh he will not Fa. Maior to touch I say in a word or two a sawcie rude and vnlearned discourse intituled Contra factiosos in Ecclesia Listers Treatise because the drift of it is to proue that we were so farre off from hauing good cause to send to Rome about that matter that we were all Schismatickes who did not at the first sight of the Cardinalls Letters receiue the Archpriest without anie more adoo to haue cōmitted many other enormious crimes I am sorie to see such a base peece of work so childishly handled to proceed from one who if hee did not despise others that might haue sometimes bene his good masters as Dwarffes in diuinitie Homūciones enim vocat take himself to be some huge Giant were to bee esteemed to haue much better skill in schoole diuinitie thē he at his first comming to light amongst vs hath made shewe of And trulie I had rather thinke it to proceed from some other not so honest a man and a meaner scholler it is so void of learning so full of arrogant approbrious tearmes and hath so many pergoes and properoes odde interrogations and preposterous exclamations All which are nothing vsuall among schoole-men Well whosoeuer it be besides diuisions the penalties that ensue of schisme and much other impertinent stuffe it hath but one bare ground of that badde assertion which seemeth also to hang vpon gimballes as they speake in my Country for it standeth vpon a proportion or similitude this it is in forme That is schisme in the Ecclesiasticall state which is rebellion in a ciuil Common-weale but in a ciuil state it is rebellion not to receiue a temporall magistrate chosen by the King and recommended by his Letters therfore it was schisme not to receiue a spirituall magistrate elected by the Pope and by his Letters sent vnto vs. This is his argument in substance framed in as good order as it can be but it concludeth not nor prooueth any thing at all for to speake plainlie all the propositions parts of it be faultie the Maior or first proposition taken of a similitude is verie feeble for Argumentum a simili as the learned hold Magis valet ad ornandū orationem quam ad aliquid probandum it serueth more properly to trimme vp and florish out a matter that is well prooued then to be the maine ground of a
bee you doo mislike in me my firme standing against the troublesome of this house first and against you and your companiō afterward that came in defence of the former troubles if it be so you and I do differ in iudgements for I do thinke that vigour and fortitude to bee so necessary and commendable which is required to stand in confractione as the scripture tearmeth it against vnquiet striuing spirits as without it no good in any gouernment can be expected and albeit in some it cause alienations of affections as you signifie yet in others it worketh the contrarie and that which most importeth it vpholdeth truth vertue and Gods cause And I would aske you now againe as sometimes here in presence I did in what case do you thinke our common cause of England had beene at this daie if no man had resisted the designements of the troublesome in this place or if your endeauours after them had taken place ¶ Let vs example but one example you talked before your restraint heere with the Commissary of the Inquisition and you gaue him such a relation of English matters as afterward when M. Doctor Haddock and M. Martin Array had talked with him also and informed him as they thought of the very truth of matters he told an honourable man of Rome and a great friende of mine that foure English Priestes hauing talked with him they had taken from him all list to beleeue any Englishmen or matters more they told him so different tales and yet all of them would seeme to be men of zeale well then if you had bin let alone by his holinesse to deale with all the Cardinalls and great men of Rome in like sort would you not haue brought our common cause in a pretie plight trowe you and your selues also ¶ Moreouer it appeareth by your papers and depositions yet extant that you tooke the way first to discredit so much as in you lay M. Blackwell the first man of all your order that euer was yet in authoritie and of those parts and merittes that all English men know yea in the very matter of his faith for that an heriticall proposition was laid to his charge Secondly were to be discredited such English Priests as stood with him who are the principall of your coat and with them all Iesuites but chieflie those that are known to haue laboured most in the common cause and by whose intercession Catholique Princes haue bene most mooued to assist hetherto the same and what would haue followed of this Further the Protector himselfe must haue bin changed if all designments in your papers had taken place the Seminaries must haue beene taken from the gouernment of Iesuites the whole societie called out of England and albeit you proposed not in words al these points together when you came how matters stood yet were they mentioned as is to bee seene in your papers from your partners in England and you see that now they begin to be giuen abroad againe in places where you or M. Ch. are or haue beene and vttered discontentment ¶ And if all these points had bene brought to passe by you or at least that other point wherevpon you stood so much heere to haue two Arch-priests in England not subordinate the one to the other but each one absolute with his traine of subiects vnder him opposite the one against the other would not all our cause haue comen quicklie to ruine and shall those then that haue stood against these ruines be accounted sterne and rigorous or rather cōstant pious yea friendly towards your selues for that with the ruine of the common cause yours also and all other Priests should be inuolued and now God be thanked by the good order which his holinesse hath setled all is well ended and remedied if men can be contented and now Priests haue their head and subordination and Iesuites also theirs and both are happilie vnited together and all strife is ended in England to Gods great glorie and our common good I hope and his holy name be euer blessed for the same ¶ And as for the gouernment of this Colledge here in Rome whether it be Spanish or Italian I know not but sure I am it tendeth all to vnion peace loue vertue and learning that do the schollers finde by the effects hauing receiued more cōfort quiet true mirth and gaine of learning in one moneh sithence the reformation then in some yeares before as for youthes to come vnto it let no man haue care for would to God we had so much maintenance as we could haue choise of schollers to enioy it and no wise Catholique is there in England or else-where that hearing of this chaunge and reformation wil refuse to send his children hither if he loue them and may be in hope to haue them placed for the words or writings of any such to the contrarie as M. Ch. threatneth who shal bemonethe lack of liberty And if M. Ch. or anie other should attēpt to put any thing in print of matters passed heere as our friend writeth is threatned but I cannot beleeue that any such intent can be the matter would easily be answered for that here remaine authenticall registers of all that passed by publique authoritie ¶ Well good Sir I will end then and pray you to be a mean as I know your nature to be more moderate and you promsed it here also that things may rest as they were and are well ended without renewing of further griefes as both in wisedome and conscience and vnder your oathes also and vpon paine of censures both of you are bound and surely if these things should be true which before I haue alleadged to be written hither by credible relators whose Letters are here extant I cannot see how either of you that should bee cause of so false and dissentious reports can be safe in conscience for very great sinne and grieuous censures also but I hope they will not proue true ¶ And as for the request you make in your Letter to mee to deliuer you from the false report written hence to Flaunders and thence to your partes againe that you should confesse heere to haue beene moued onlie by ambition to take your last action in hand I will deliuer you most willingly from anie thing that I haue written or willed others to write for as you saie I did euer attribute your attempt rather to errour and lack of consideration then to ambition wherein you may see I was not rigorous but yet seeing your matter passed by diuers mens hands and knowledge I cannot let them to thinke speake or write what they iudge best yet do I suppose verilie that none would saie or write that you confessed so much here tho I haue heard diuers speake and suspect so much vpon the sight of your papers for that seeing in diuers papers and scrolles of your fellowes which you brought open with you you were proposed for Bishops and in
cause of this diuision now in England is not for any resistance in the Priests against the superioritie as many forward and euill taught people perswade themselues cry out against the priests that they are disobedient But the cause of this diuision is for that the Priests will not acknowledge that in the time of their forbearance to subscribe to the authoritie which was no longer then vntill they sawe the Breue they were factious seditious rebellious Schismatickes enormiously disobedient in continuall mortall sinne practising their function in irregularitie and pretending to absolue from sinne without faculties or iurisdiction meete therevnto worse then South-sayers and Idolaters c. If therefore sufficient reasons may be giuen why the Priests did forbeare to subiect themselues before they sawe any Letters from his holinesse concerning this authoritie it will both appeare how greatly they haue bene iniuried both by the Archpriest Iesuites and their euill nurtured children and how necessarie this course of publishing in this sort is for the purging of the other Priests from those slaunderous speeches and here by the way do we aske of those pious Catholiques for so they must be tearmed howsoeuer they deserue it when they charge and perswade themselues that they choake the Priests with disobedience what it is that they meane by this disobedience if they meane therby that the Priests do not acknowledge M. Black for their Arch-priest and superiour they may if it so please them correct this their vnderstanding and from henceforth either beleeue that euery man dooth acknowledge him or else name who doth not and let him in particular be called in question for it for this generall prattle that they are disobedient is so vnsauourie a shift vnlesse they could discend to particulars that a man with litle honestie would quickly perceiue how it doth taint his breath If by disobedience in the Priests they do meane the not yeelding or conforming their vnderstanding to the Arch-priest his vnderstanding they exact this obedience to the Arch-priest either because that he is learned or because that he is a superiour but neither of these respects conuince any such matter as that the refusing to be so conformable should bring with it schisme sedition faction rebellion c. Not the first which is in regard of his learning For although that many in England for modestie sake onely make no comparisons with him for his learning yet without offence we may say that there are many beyond the seas farre his betters and much more learned who haue decided this question for vs against him so that the conceit only of being an Arch-priest or in authoritie is left for them to iustifie these most iniurions calumniations against vs. If then they exact this obedience in Priests to the Arch-priest in respect that he is a superiour and because that he is a superiour they imagine that euerie man who will not thinke as he thinketh and do what he commaundeth is a Schismaticke a rebell factious seditious c. These who are so ignorant must be taught and such as are contented at this time to make shewe of so grosse ignorance must be put in mind that authoritie is not an infallible rule of truth in all who haue authoritie and consequently that no man is bound in all things to beleeue or execute what euerie man in authoritie ouer him shall put vpon him In how many things not onely Arch priests but their superiours also the Archdeacons and other of higher degree haue done amisse and swarued from the truth and who vpon earth is warranted from erring but one and not he in all things how absurdly then should this point be vrged that the Priests are Schismatickes rebellious c. for not conforming themselues in their vnderstanding to an Archpriest And if the simpler sort of Catholiques cannot vnderstand this reason sufficiently grounded vpon too many examples recorded in all Ecclesiasticall Histories we would demaund of them when they are commaunded to doo that by such as are in authoritie vpon their alleageance which in conscience they cannot doo whether they be rebellious factious seditious c. in not obeying this commaundement or by what reason they may in not obeying resolue their consciences that they are not rebellious c Doubtlesse either they must confesse that they are rebellious c. in not obeying the commaundment of those who are in authoritie or else that it is not a sufficient proofe of rebellion that men do not in all things as others in authoritie commaund them and to runne for refuge to cases and particulars is to flie touch for hauing before spoken of this particular case which is in question among vs we presse now onely this point that authoritie is not so infallible a rule of truth in all to whom it is most it stly deriued as those must be condemned as factious rebellious sediticus schismatickes c. who will not conferme their vnderstandings to their conceits who are in authoritie because they are in authoritie These points and those which hereafter will be touched wee doo not set downe as men that would make sheepe iudges of their pastours but as men desirous that their bretheren and children would not be so violently carried as they are both against dutie and charitie but suspend their iudgements in these matters and so beare themselues towards all as they may hereafter make a good answere for their behauiour towards them who haue after so deare a rate sought to saue their soules and now request that their long sufferance be no preiudice vnto them nor warrant to loosse tongues to enlarge themselues with contumelious speeches against them whose cause the discourses following wil both conuince all who are desirous not to be misled in a matter of so great consequence that it is iust and that they haue also iust cause to publish the same for the better instruction of such as with whom they may not be suffered or admitted to conferre about it yet without touch of any more then the matter it selfe and occasions ministred doo most necessarily require Yours in all true hartie affection Certaine Considerations to satisfie such as either are or may be by any sinister informations or ill conceipts incensed against vs or alienated from vs because we haue not yeelded our selues to the designments wills of others in subscribing to this late authoritie FIrst we desire all good Catholickes to consider indifferently what we be that deferre our subscription to this authoritie that we be Priests therfore in reason should know to what we were boūd in this case Againe that our present vocation which is to labour euē vnto death in sauing of souls and therefore not like to be altogether carelesse in matter of so great weight as this authoritie is pretended of our own good being so carefull of the good of others Further that for many yeares we haue bestowed our selues in this haruest and therefore in all likelyhood should somewhat knowe what
in this action shal be brought into more danger of the extremitie rigour of the lawes then otherwise we should in that the authoritie is alreadie thought by the Counsell to be of purpose erected for the better effecting of such designements and so shall we being brought within the compasse of other mens actions be hanged for kingdomes and matters of state and the glory of our cause therby diminished if not cleane extinguished to satisfie other mens pleasures serue their turnes Besides al this by the opiniōs of diuers men of iudgment in the lawes of our Country this our case may and will be drawne within the compasse of an olde law enacted aswel by our Catholick Bishops Prelates as by the Prince aboue 300. yeares agoe vz. the lawe of Premunire because it is an externall iurisdiction brought into this realme against the will notice of the Prince Country which made the late reuerend Bishop of Lincolne Doctor Watson to refuse all externall iurisdictiō offered him ouer his fellow prisoners although once he had lawfull Episcopall iurisdiction within the Realme and was vnlawfully depriued thereof Fitfthly consider we beseech you for the satisfying of your consciences in this most vniust slaunderous report made against vs of schisme that there can be no schisme where there is a resigned will of obedience We protest and vow all obedience due vnto Gods Church and all her lawfull authoritie and therefore can be made no schismatikes possibly If they vrge against vs that we obey not this authoritie let them shewe vs that it is a lawfull act of the Church and we obey If they tell vs of Letters from the Cardinal we answer them that no man is bound to beleeue the Cardinall himselfe without Bull or Breue in matters of so large cōsequence concerning the Church What reason then is there that his graces bare Letters the contents wherof drew on so general extreme persecution vpon our necks should be allowed of by vs as a sufficient proofe of the delegation If they say that the Cardinall is a person of singular credit and not to be distrusted we answere them that we impeach not his credit standing onely vpon our owne right and iustice for our full satisfaction from his holines of his absolute will pleasure herein whose least commaund shall euer binde vs though with hazard or losse of our liues To thinke that his holinesse accounteth vs so base and abiect a Cleargy or so vnworthy members of Gods church that we deserue not his ordinary notice in matters of so great moment which is but a cōmō processe in matters of farre lesse weight proceeding frō that See were both in it self ridiculous iniurious also to his holines We could also vrge that his hol as yet hath had no informatiō at all from vs our messengers being preuented of audience clapped in close prison by Father Persons procurement but onely frō them who are but one and the aduerse part in this controuersie which you know is against all right and equitie and in which case being but a matter of fact his Holi for want of due sufficient information may proceed with error to the preiudice of the innocent part although vnwillingly and by him not intended in which case Appellations alwaies are permitted for further information in matters thus in question Consider now sincerely deare Catholickes these reasons propounded and enter not too too rashly into condemnation of vs your spirituall Pastours who haue alreadie in part and are stil readie to spend our bloud for your sakes but haue patience with vs a little vntil you see the end of these matters and the iudgements of his Holinesse herein which we hope you shall shortly see and perhappes in the ende you shall finde that we whom by sinister informations and suggestions you are now ready altogether to condemne haue bene and are your greatest friends in withstanding suche proceedings as haply may concern your selues as neare if not more neare then vs although you perceiue not nor see so much And in the meane season as we labour for your good so pray you for vs and the common good Farewell from them that thirst your good Other reasons to the same purpose by another vnder the forme of a Letter SYr your priuate occasions which you recommend to my care I haue so tendered that euery thing is as forward as any diligence of mine can set it and in my last haue explaned to the full the course I tooke which I trust is cōformable to the directions you sent mee and will I hope haue the successe that both you and I desire The progresse of the matter you shall vnderstand as occasion serueth In the end of your Letter you make mention of a diuision lately growne amongst vs who should be examples of loue and vnion and laments the bitter fruites sprung thereof as pernicious to many a Christian soule Whereof diuers friends of mine by name are charged to be some cause for that they were not ready at first to yeeld to the late authoritie of Maister Blackwell nor as yet can be brought to acknowledge the same Truly Syr for that you are my friend and I throughly acquainted with the origine processe of the difference I thought it my part for your better information discharge of my blamelesse friends briefly to set downe what is done in this matter and vpon what ground and then to leaue the censure of it to your prudent consideration To build sure I lay this foundation that it is neither pietie nor true obedience at the first sight to admit any authoritie but such as is orderly procured and lawfully promulgated in such sort that subiects may remaine morally sure that it proceedeth frō the true fountaine of superioritie truly enformed which of it selfe is so manifest that it needeth no proofe for the contrary were to open the way to all forgeries and intrusions and in fine the ouerthrow of all Canonicall proceedings Here hence followeth that which true prudence and vertue doo dictate that when any new and extraordinary authoritie is published they whom it concerneth before that by acceptance they approue it should of dutie looke and examine whether it be accompanied with the conditions aboue mentioned and so admit or reiect it as discretion conscience shall require To the purpose in both these conditions of lawfull authoritie this we speake of is feared to hault and not without great presumption And for that to handle both at large would exceed the limits of a Letter and a defect in either doth sufficiently warrant their proceedings I wil leaue the first for that must needs touch particular persons and their actions which without further occasion and very iust I am loath to do and shew briefly how the manner of promulgation is in no way sufficient but rather full of suspition and giueth iust occasion of distrust And first the credit of this promulgation dooth wholly hang
these affaires whereas it is contrary in our case the Cardinall being Protector of our Nation But both these are verie seely shifts not worthie of any answere For first the inconueniences that do follow in the case before proposed doo follow by so much more euidently in Ecclesiasticall gouernment by howe much more large the precincts of the Popes iurisdiction are and further from the place of his abode thē the gouernment of any one temporal Prince and by how much lesse sensible ordinarily and more spirituall Ecclesiasticall punishment is then is the temporall for such vsurpers The second is as friuolous for albeit Cardinall Caietaine was our Protectour and also Chamberlaine of the Church of Rome yet is it euident that by neither of these offices hee had any ordinary Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction ouer our Cleargie especially to erect any new gouernment and therefore if hee had any authoritie in this matter it must needs be deligate and extraordinary and consequently was as well to notifie vnto vs the same by some sufficient testimonie besides his owne word as the Chauncellour of England is to shewe his warrant if he intend to take vpon him the office of the high Martiall or any other not perteining to the Chauncellourship But they wil further obiect that to deny or doubt of that which the Cardinall affirmeth is to call his credit into question whose authoritie ought to be sufficient testimonie for whatsoeuer hee saith this is their maine obiection and as it were their Achilles whereby they would prooue vs all scismatiques But first this argument concludeth not For suppose that we did offend in not admitting nor beleeuing his testimony for the instituting of this new authoritie yet it followeth not that we should therfore be schismatiques but at the most that we sinned against humaine credit which cannot be schisme as by it selfe is verie euident But that we neither offend in this manner it shall appeare by the two last answeres to this obiection and that we committed not any act of disobedience by denying to obey the Cardinalls ordinances it is verie cleare for it is a farre different thing for any one to deny obedience to him whom he knoweth or beleeueth to be his superiour and to deny it to him whom he probably thinketh is not his superiour especially if he do it therefore onely because he thinketh him not to bee his superiour of which two onely the first is properly disobedience the second is neither disobedience nor any other sin if it proceed of an opinion as probable or more probable then the contrary much lesse when it proceedeth of certaine truth as in our case Secondly I say that they must also answere this obiection if they admit the case put before for if we were bounde to obey Cardinall Caietaines ordinances vpon his owne Letters onely then should the subiects before mentioned be bound to do the same in that case and so should follow all the inconueniences mentioned Thirdly I say that it is not any offence to denie that vnto any one that is not due vnto him but it cannot be due vnto any man thogh in neuer so great honour to haue his owne testimony admitted for the acknowledging of that authoritie which he hath not of himselfe but from an other for otherwise euery one in honour might chalenge the same and so bring confusion in all gouernments Fourthly I say that the authoritie whereby an act of publicke office is practised in any Common-wealth either ciuil or Ecclesiasticall requireth a formall or iuridicall proofe to make it authenticall Which kind of proofe or testimonie is not required in any other humaine action for we see that the testimonie of an ordinarie person may be sufficient for the Iudge with helpe of other strong coniectures to pronounce a partie guiltie or vnguiltie and yet the Iudge himselfe must shewe other warrant for his authoritie then his owne word or else his sentence cannot binde thorow default of the vncertaintie of his iurisdiction though he be otherwise of neuer so great honour neither is this any disparagement to his credit the nature and state of the thing requiring it The like is in all other actions of publique authoritie as it is manifest by all experience For albeit to conuince a man of treason or fellonie is a greater matter in it selfe then it is for one to prooue that hee hath the authoritie of a Iudge or of any other publicke officer yet the testimonie of priuate persons though otherwise of small estimatiō serueth for that and the Princes seale onely sufficeth for the other Which is not to be imputed to the credit of the parties testifying but to the condition of the thing testified for which cause it is verie absurd to say that the testimonie of any man though of neuer so great honour is sufficient in his owne cause to make proofe of the authoritie he claimeth without concurrance of any other testimonie for it is but his owne word albeit his word would be abundantly sufficient for the proofe of any other humaine matter as one witnesse For seeing that no man of himselfe I meane of his own person hath anie iurisdiction ouer an other if anie man chalenge it he must either shewe how he hath it or else the other is not bound to beleeue him As for example Peter is no more bound to beleeue that Iohn is his superiour then Iohn is to beleeue that Peter is his vnlesse the one can shew it by some sufficient proofe besides his owne testimonie for in that they are not much different although they differ in wealth or honour which things authoritie dooth not consequently follow And to cōclude this point I say if the Cardinall had giuen his word or Letters in testimonie of anie truth not involuing the vse of authoritie his testimonie would haue bene admitted without all exception wherby it appeareth euidently that it was not want of due credit that hindred the admitting of his testimonie in our businesse but because the nature of the thing it self required other proofe neither can our aduersaries be ignorant of this but that they are disposed to contend without matter for those that will not denie the Sunne to be vp at noone day cannot denie or doubt of this And thus reuerend Sir you see that conteining our speech within the compasse that the verie state and condition of the thing requireth how farre affection hath ledde them beyond all sence reason that haue condemned their bretheren of horrible schisme where there is not so much as any litle shew or probabilitie thereof though we do consider the matter in all rigour abstracting from all circumstances which being verie many and euident for our aduantage make the thing more plaine and cleare As first that this authoritie did beare euident suspition I might say euident proofe of manifest surreption Secondly it was procured cōtrary to the Canons Dist 63. s◠plebibus of holy Church which prescribe that Priests should haue
order and their trauells in England and the verie same we made you to see to be the iudgements of the grauest of our Nation in Flaunders and other places and especially in England from whence I assure my selfe I shewed you first and last neare two hundreth names of Priests writing subscribing against you you afterwards vpon your oathes could not name a dozen to be for you as yet appeareth in the Register ¶ Thus then standing your case and obstinacie and hauing bin exhorted both by the Cardinall Caietane Protector and by Cardinall Burghese Vice-Protector to desist frō your enterprise of contradiction without foundatiō at all as after appeared and then was suspected his holinesse after seuenteene daies of your persisting or thereabout willed you to be retyred to some place of custodie in respect of your offence and there your allegations to be examined whether they were worth the handling or no which comming to my knowledge I entreated rather that your retirement might be with secrecie in this Colledge then with more infamie in anie other place though I easilie foresawe what thankes I was like to haue for my labour but I did it for him by whom I cānot leese as I did also the rest to wit in giuing you of the best chambers in the house in cherishing you gratis in visiting you often and making each of you good new gownes for the winter in giuing you a Father to be your Notarie gratis procuring your Iudge to come to the Colledge and lie here to examine you with commoditie which otherwise would haue cost you much money and manie painfull iournies about the streets and other incommodities which now you litle consider ¶ Well your examination and retirement endured three moneths or more you had time commoditie to say or write what you woulde yea you were willed vpon your oaths to say what you could and all that you said is written and you did sweare you had no more to say of moment in all matters handled as appeareth by the Records and all that you said was considered of maturelie as wel by your Iudge that was a Lawier as also by the two Cardinalls the one a Diuine the other a Lawier who to the ende they might be sure to heare all and satisfie both you and themselues did come in person one day to the Colledge to examine you and to heare redde in your presence all that you had said and deposed or could say and after this yet staied they diuers weekes to enforme his holinesse before they gaue sentence in your cause ¶ And how then can it be said with anie colour that you had wrong and that you had lesse iustice here then is permitted to Turkes and Iewes How can his holinesse and the Cardinalls be accused of partiall dealing seeing they heard all you could say and would haue had you saie more and were ashamed to finde you to haue comen so long a iourney with so little to saie finding you also not to haue brought with you so much as anie one Letter of credence from anie communitie or priuate person in such forme as might giue credit for that those little open scrowles that you brought without substance or forme of anie Commission were ashame to looke vpon Your secret memorialls also that you had set downe here in M. Ch. owne hand to exhibit to his holinesse of your most secret businesse are here to be seene and the Iudge Cardinalls and perhappes his holi also haue had the view of them haue found them of no more weight then the rest and how then is it said that you kept your chiefe message to your selues and disclosed it not what message could this be or from whom for of the Iesuites and of the Archipresbyter you said your fill and were willed vpon your oaths to saie more if you had anie to saie in that or in any other points And as for those priests that sent you they were verie fewe as appeared and I shewed you well neere twentie times as manie names of the same order against you who testifie also for all Catholiques which deale with them to be of the same opinion and to haue misliked your iournie and cause and detested the schisme that thereof insued ¶ And how then doo men vpon this little part or faction of yours vse those praises that the Catholiques are intollerablie afflicted being persecuted at home and cannot be heard abroad Who are these Catholiques or what audience is denied to them If we compare the persecution of those Priestes at home by the heretiques that hold with you or with the Arch-priest and Iesuites it is easily seene who are most persecuted and hated by the Councell of England and if anie complaine that your side hath not bene heard by his holinesse let his holi patience for three or foure whole yeares together in dooing nothing else but hearing examining of their impertinent clamours in this Citie deliuer him from that vniust calumniation And so much of our Superiours ¶ As touching my selfe my defence shall be much shorter you aduise me to preuent the odious name of a sterne and rigorous Gouernour and that not by colourable words but by effectual deeds and I embrace the aduice most willinglie for indeed I finde great aversion in my nature of all these points you name I meane of sterne rigorous colourable and no lesse perhaps from Couernour which euer I haue fled and avoided vntill now that perforce I am constrained to haue the gouernment of this house wherein yet I suppose that I may haue as many witnesses as here be inhabitants that my proceeding is neither sterne rigorous nor colourable with them with you I am sure I neuer vsed it as may appeare by that which before hath bene saide of my plaine reall friendlie dealing in your affaire and I would aske but one example to be alleadged and proued to the contrarie as I could alledge manie in my behalf and one somewhat notorious since your departure of one M. Shawe a Priest who hauing fallen fowly in England railed afterwards egregiously against the Societie as hee had done also here in Rome first before his going into England and commonly these matters goe together yet comming hither of late and being in great miserie both spiritually and temporally and in daunger to dispaire and to lie God knoweth how long in the Inquisition I haue comforted and assisted him in this Colledge as if he had bene mine owne brother and this for manie daies together procuring him also a good and fauourable dispatch and afterwards to bee placed in a good Church vnder religious men in Naples where he liueth with great contentment to himselfe and edification hitherto of others ¶ Sir I must needs say here with the Apostle Factus sum insipiens sed vos me coegistis to shewe my selfe to be neither sterne nor rigorous nor colourable I am forced to speake of that I would not It may
dated the 20. of February 1599. stuffed too shamefully with vntruthes Among which rehearsall is made of many speeches which are said to haue bene vttered by M. Martin and his fellow Proctor before they exhibited their libel as to vse their own words being biddē to speak as Proctors whereas in truth neither of thē spake any one word good or bad either of thēselues or as biddē by any other The libel being read by F. Titch the Iesuite M. Bish was very earnest to haue the Proctors put to their oathes that no falshood was conteined in the Libell to which the Cardinall Caietan made answere that they were not to sweare but to prooue what should be denied then was the whole Libell denied and a copie thereof demaunded that answer might be made vnto it but when the Proctors sawe the resolution of the two Priests they humbly desired with knee on ground that no copie should be deliuered but that all things should be shut vp in peace to which the Cardinal Caietan made answere that it was peace which the two Priests sought for and presently the two Proctors hauing readily what and against whom to obiect wrangled a little with the two Priests and particularly M. Martin Array vrged against M. Ch. that and no other thing namely that they intended to haue the Protector chaunged which in the aforesaid Letter of the 20. of February hee or F. Parsons rather vnder his name affirmeth that because the Cardinall was present and satte as Iudge they would not vrge for verie shame of their English ingratitude After this litle wrangling conference the Proctors were dismissed and the two Cardinalls calling M. Bish and M. Ch. nearer vnto them declared that they found no cause against them only this they thought in their conscience that these two Priests had vnaduisedly taken this iourney because thereby they had scandalized many in England to which the Priests made this answere that if they had giuen any scandall they were sorrie readie to giue satisfaction which M. Martin in the aforesaid Letters doth cōfirme but that he putteth it in a wrong place for he putteth it as if it had bene said by the Embassadors as he termeth them after they had heard his and his fellowes falsly vaunted of obiections before they gaue vp the Libell and the Libell it selfe which was read against thē against which saith M. Martin or F. Parsons vnder his name among other his most shamelesse vntruthes they were able to say litle and willing to say lesse but asked pardon if they had giuen scandall c. If these men could haue perswaded themselues that neither M. D. Bish nor M. Ch. should euer haue seene these Letters or haue come to controll these shamelesse vntruthes and wicked detractious speeches where they were so boldly spread abroad yet had they remembred there had bene a God they would haue had some feare if no reuerence vnto him but these be those of brasse who put themselues forth as a wall for the house of the Lorde of a flie and would be accounted constant and pious yea and friendly as F. Parsons vrgeth in the 18. paragraffe towards these two Priests Within lesse then a weeke after this arraignment Maister Ch. was brought to M. D. Bish his Chamber where after they had imbraced each other they were carried each betweene a couple of Iesuites among all the students as a beginning of their libertie no other cause being pretended of M. D. Bish his longer imprisonment then that he had to the Cardinalls discontentment vsed silence when he was licensed to speake if he would after his examination was redde and vsed more courage when he had heard the Libell redde then was thought conuenient by them and no other cause was giuen of M. Ch. his longer imprisonment but that he should be punished for 3. or 4. dayes for companie after which they should be both set at libertie and permitted to deale in their businesse for which they went to Rome So that F. Parsons might haue deuised some other conceit for the auouching of the long stay before the sentence was giuē which came before it was looked for and yet it was 9. weeks in comming then that the two Cardinalls should staie diuers weekes to enforme his holinesse before they gaue sentence in their cause For first they gaue sentence when they were present in so much as both the two Priests and the students also in the Colledge vpon the Iesuites their owne reports expected that they should be verie shortly set at libertie Secondly it is vnlikely that the two Cardinalls should diuers weekes be debarred the Popes presence or denied audience or haue any great doubts in such a case as when they heard what was to be said against the two Priests they iudged that they found no other cause in them then is aforesaid And if the Cardinalls had bene so little gratious in the Popes sight as in diuers weekes they could not haue audience this matter being of no more importance then the Iudges the one a Diuine the other a Lawier after conference vpon the examinations read before them and the offer made by the two Priests to answere to what was libelled against them declared it to be a more milde restraint then close imprisonment for other 7. weeks would haue bene no euil edification to such as expected that no more rigor thē needs must should haue bene vsed at Rome against a couple of Priests who had many yeares aduentured their liues for the honour of the Church of Rome and dignitie of the Sea Apostolicke Fa. Parsons hauing in the 11. paragraffe shewed to what end the Cardinalls did come to the Colledge but not what was there done nor what sentence was either then or afterward giuen by them expostulateth how with any colour it might be saide that the two Priests had wrong c. Could hee forget that they were imprisoned with infamie before it was knowne whether they brought any thing worth the handling or no which himselfe confessed in the 10. paragraffe Did not he as a most vigilent Iaylor keep the keyes himselfe that they should not come together or vse any meanes to deale in the businesse in which they were ioyntly imployed Can hee be ignorant that when the two Proctors libelled against them they were so farre from being vnwilling to answere the Libell as their exceeding forwardnesse in this was pretended a sufficient cause to keepe the one in close prison at the least for a fewe dayes and the other because he was his fellow in this action Was his memory so short as he could not remember how that the Cardinall Caietan in his hearing at their arraignment cleared them from all things except only that they had offended some by this their iournie for satisfaction whereof they were willed to write into England which they performed to his present great liking although afterward he wrangled with them about the same Letters Can F. Parsons say that euer they
these two Priestes did see the Cardinalls was when they went as they were set at libertie first the one then the other to take their leaues and so to depart to the place of their confinement at which time also the Cardinalls might perchance make some reflection but not vpon a thing worthie of shame in the two Priests who during the time that they might deale alwaies offered themselues and performed as much as laie in them and when they could not deale therein being ioyned so as the one without the other had not to attempt any thing they patiently suffered first close imprisonment for 14. weekes with the appurtenances afterward a moneths easier imprisonment and lastly a sending seuerally one after another into banishmēt yea to be confined each to one Country thereby to be banished not only out of England their natiue Countrey but also out of all Countries in the world but one vpon a supposall that they had maintained controuersies in one and thus I leaue this point to any indifferent man to iudge what cause the Cardinals had to be ashamed if they were ashamed as F. Parsons here noteth and whether F. Parsons who was present at the arraingment and sawe the forwardnesse of the two Priests to make their answere to what was obiected against them were hee as he would be thought could without shame insert this clause in his Letter to the two Priests who were then arraigned And howsoeuer he might forget any other matter must needs remember that they demaunded the Libell to make their answere to it because the courage of the one in this very action was pretended by the Iesuites to haue bin the cause why they were not the same night set at libertie because forsooth this was an argument to the Cardinals that he was of a stirring spirit and therefore they would for 2. or 3. dayes longer keepe them both in prison To the second they brought many Letters from many as F. Parsons and the Proctors in their moodes will confesse although not from any setled communitie vnder any head for from this the Priests refrained vntill they had sent vnto his holinesse which whilest they were effecting by common suffradge as became Priests a head was most fraudulently by the Iesuites procured to curbe them and crosse them in their courses which they had intended And if F. Parsons had remembred that not long after in the 21. paragraffe he telleth them that they brought certain notes about their message from a principall man of theyr side of his owne hande writing yet there to bee seene whatsoeuer hee had written heere of a communitie hee would not haue saide that they brought no letters of credence from any priuate person but F. Parsons would perchance giue men to vnderstand that the petitions of Priests subscribed with their owne hands were not of so great credence as a brazen face of a Iesuite who before his holines pretended that he was a secular Priest and sent by them in their businesse beeing seconded with as false a friend to the Priests as F. Parsons himselfe a Iesuite in his owne likenesse To the third if there were secret memorialls of most secret businesse how was all saide by the two Priests that they could say How can these memorialls be termed by F. Parsons to be secret if nothing were concealed which was contained in them and for their weight if F. Parsons say true in the 17. paragraffe they had no need to be of greater weight then the rest for F. Parsons there confesseth that the Archpriest was touched yea in the verie matter of his faith for that an hereticall proposition was laide to his charge as appeareth by their papers and depositions yet extant which would hardly be excused if such a thing should be prooued against one who to giue him what F. Parsons giueth him no doubt great commendations is a man of those parts and merits that all English men doo know or at the least might imagine so long as he did not shew himselfe To the fourth I know not what was their chiefe message nor where they had any conuenient time or place to vtter it or any other being clapped vp close prisoners before they came to doo any thing and neuer after suffered to be together at libertie in Rome To the fift a reason is giuen before why it was no wisedome for them to say their fill either of the one or the other being in custodie of the one who was the more carefull of his charge in respect of the other Yet if F. Parsons be not ouer forgetfull he may call to mind that about a moneth after their arraignment vpon some occasion of speech betweene M. Ch. and him M. Ch. told him of some matters which F. Parsons pretended hee had not heard before and seemed to be astonished at them wherby at the least this may be gathered that F. Parsons very rashly affirmeth that they had said their fill at any time To the sixt to omit what meanes and threats the Iesuites and the Arch-priest did vse himselfe to be accepted for their superiour they could not expect to carry many Priests handes in testimonie of their minds who foresawe what would come of this authoritie procured by the Iesuites for their better oppressing of the Priestes least their staie should be threatned downe vppon his holinesse by such as would let slip no opportunitie to be a generall acceptance thereof The authoritie being sent into England as the Priests were enformed to be first liked before it should be confirmed vpon them In the 13. Paragraffe there is too much want shewed both of wit and memorie modestie and honestie Fa. Parsons would know first how it could be said vpon a litle part or faction as he termeth it that Catholiques are intollerably afflicted beeing persecuted at home cannot be heard abroad Secondly he asketh who are those Catholiques Thirdly he boldly demaundeth what audience is denied to them as who would say no audience was denied to them Fourthly he would insinuate that the Priests who hold with the Iesuits and Arch-priest are more persecuted and hated by the Councell of England then the other Priests Fiftly he excuseth the Pope for not giuing audience to the two Priests To the first it is answered first that a litle part of Catholiques may be called Catholiques secondly that all Catholiques are intollerably afflicted at home and cannot be heard abroad while they make sute as they are bound to doo for such things as are most necessarie for Christians liuing in persecution and are wanting in England and cannot be obteined as the Sacrament of confirmation of which F. Parsons could not be ignorant when he writ these Letters nor long before hauing viewed and reviewed the petitions of the Priests which those two carried with them to Rome Also the vnion of all Priests together which as it should seeme by that which hath followed Fa. Parsons courses was but slubbered ouer for a small time by him
yeares no maruaile though simple witted men who desire not to straie from the holie steps of our forefathers were at the first not a little amazed at it and could not be so verie easilie induced to approue it This also besides the noueltie of it being much more odious and intollerable as it was then proposed then anie other gouernment that our predecessors had euer liued vnder For hauing full and absolute power to punish rigorously and that as it were at pleasure and discretion it had no facultie ioyned with it or abilitie to benefit or do anie good at all no not so much as vpon amendment of the partie punished to restore vnto him againe that hee had taken away from him before If now he haue more ample authoritie he may thanke our complaints which were no smal cause of it And herevnto his Iniunctions whereof more in an other place that Priestes should not meete together priuilie in our countrie that they should not secretlie send vnto their friends ouer the sea whereas openlie they can doo no such thing as all the world knoweth and tell vs I pray you when and where euer you heard of such an Ecclesiastical gouernment in anie Christian countrie before that sacred Priests the free children of God his familie so greatlie priuiledged by all good Christian Princes should be I know not by whom in such a seruile sort yoaked Againe this punishing authoritie cannot be wel practised in England during this heate of persecution and therefore seemed to be frustrate and giuen in vaine for by the Canon lawe which is the common rule of spirituall causes as by all other lawes no punishment ought by sentence of Iudge to be inflicted vpon the offender not confessing the action before he be by order of lawe conuicted Confession of the fault is sildome in that Court or neuer to be expected wherefore lawfull defence is to be graunted vnto anie person accused before he be condemned But no processe according vnto order of lawe can be framed followed so long as we haue hotte persecutors laying waite euerie where to apprehend vs. For to omit all other difficulties which in practise will be founde to be verie manie where can a safe place be found to assemble the parties their witnesses Proctors together and there to hold as it were an Assize for the determination of their controuersies which to be necessarie Lancelot a man singularly seene in both lawes and authour of the institutes of the Canon law setteth downe which he taketh out of the Canon lawe Extra de appell cap ex parte tua see also the glosse there which both require a secure place both for the parties Proctors and witnesses or else holdeth them for excused if they appeare not Institu L. 3. Tit. s. § Locus in these words Tunc enim ius dicenti impune non paretur si locus citatione designatus pestilens sit aut alias pro citato male tutus Then may a man freely not obey him that ministreth iustice wheÌ„ the place in the citation assigned is infected with the plague or otherwise not safe for the partie cited Now euerie Catholicke knoweth that there is no place in our Country free from daunger for Priests to assemble together such diligent watch and ward being laide in euerie shire to apprehend them And who will be so simple as to allow them a hall in his house for their pleadings whereby he that cannot start doth cast himselfe into a hundreth perills of loosing not onely all his goods and libertie but his life also and inheritance A place of assurance then cannot in these times be appointed for the appearance hee therefore is warranted by lawe not to appeare although he be cyted by his lawful magistrate And so no action can be commenced much lesse determined by this authoritie of the Arch-priest and consequently such penall power is to small purpose in our Country This subordination then being extrauagant without example of antiquitie hatefull as hauing power to punish but not to pleasure and scarcely possible to be now practised in our Countrie had we not great reason to certifie his holinesse of the inconueniences of it and in humble sort to sue vnto him for remedie and redresse before hee put to his hand vnto the confirmation of it And this you must needs much more easily grant if you consider how this subordination was procured and gotten for it seemeth to haue bene by false information which alone is sufficient to ouerthrow the whole authoritie My proofe shal be pregnant taken out of the verie letters Patents of the Archpriest where are these words Rationes pro illa subordinatione ab ipsis Sacerdotibus Anglis redditae S.mo D. N. probatae fuerunt The reasons by the English Priests themselues exhibited for that subordination vnto his holinesse were well liked Marke I pray you how this subordination was obtained at the suite and perswasion of the Priests in England Now I appeale vnto the consciences of my louing bretheren the Priests then in England whether euer they had heard of anie such stratagem or straunge subordination before they felt it as it were clapped on their shoulder sure I am for the most part of them howsoeuer they were M. Iames â—tand who had giuen his name to be a â—esuite and was the man who by Fa. Parsons subâ—rnation imâ—loyed himselfe in this action confessed before diuers priests â—t his return â—hat he had â—n interpreâ—atiue consent of the Priests in England drawne afterwards to accept of it by flatterie fraude or threats that they neuer dreamed of it before they sawe it so farre off were they from deuising and tentering perswasions vnto his holinesse for the admitting of it I will not deny but that some one Priest who had bene in England being then idle in Rome might by euill counsaile and subornation take vpon him to be sent of the whole bodie and so contrary vnto conscience and good order speake in their names that neuer sent him But what was graunted vpon such vntrue suggestion euery man knoweth to be of no force and validitie and that we in England had iust cause to certifie his holinesse by trustie messengers how we were greatly abused by theÌ„ who vsed our names to obtain that exorbitaÌ„t deuise which we neither desired nor liked but rather that it would please his holinesse to establish among vs that sound Ecclesiastical Hierarchy which was instituted by the wisdome of God had bin euer sithence in time of persecutioÌ„ as wel as in peace obserued in all Christian Nations that he would I mean giue vs Bishops the successors of the Apostles and onely ordinary Pastours of God his Church who might confirme consecrate oyles and bring many other of God his blessings among vs. But not to digresse from my purpose The third cause why this subordination did mislike vs was for that it came not authentically from his holinesse by Bull Breue or any other lawfull instrument but
nothing sutable with the grauitie and waight of the matter which required much more mature deliberation Moreouer when by word of mouth he broached the same his authoritie vnto certaine Priests he to amend the matter withall added thervnto somewhat of his owne and being forthwith taken tardie hee did presently cōfesse that he indeed put therto somewhat as honest Priests on their oathes will testifie This gaue a great presumption that the matter was contriued by their friends and that they might adde or diminish at their pleasure Which is more probable if we call to mind and marke what instructions he gaue forth at the first as receiued from the Cardinall Among others were these that Priests should not meet secretly together that they should not send any priuie messages ouer the seas that they should take in good part whatsoeuer was either written or spoken against them and such like which are not in the rowle of his instructions sent him from the Cardinall as euerie bodie may see and I can by producing a true copie of them when need shall be euidently demonstrate and besides are so voide of reason so odious and intollerable in our Country especially at this time when Priests cannot meete together or do any thing but in secret that a babe might plainly feele them neuer to haue proceeded from his holinesse or from anie noble free or compassionate heart but to sauour of I know not what base minde too too much addicted to terror crueltie and seruitude I will that I be not ouerlong omit diuers other pregnant forcible reasons which we had of sending vnto Rome this onely I may not leaue behinde which of it selfe were a sufficient cause to sue and speak for redresse in season vz. that in the whole drift of this subordination extreame partialitie was apparantly shewed which as the world knoweth was no good meanes to appease all parties to ende their debates the onely cause pretended of this lately erected authoritie namely to accord the Priests and Iesuites as the Letters Pattents specifie Now that controuersies be wel decided and all honest parties agreed it was meete perdie to choose vpright and indifferent Iudges and Arbiters who should without fauour feare loue or hatred waigh euerie mans cause vprightly in the ballance of equitie and without respect of persons giue sentence according to iustice This is a principall in iudgement so cleare by the light of nature that it is graunted of verie Pagans yet in our cause very badly obserued for both the Arch-priest and his counsellours vnto whom the determination of our causes are to be referred were all chosen by the one partie with a speciall prouiso that no one be admitted vnto that number who did not greatly fauour the same partie howe contrary soeuer they were vnto the other partie it imported not yea perhaps the more earnestly bent against them the rather elected Had not trow you the other poore partie iust cause to refuse such Vmpeeres and Iudges that were so alienated from them and such fauourites of the aduerse partie and to preuent the vniust sentences that were like to follow of this partialitie to flie in time for refuge vnto their lawfull superiour And if in all pettie iudgements euery priuate man is allowed by lawe an exception against a partiall Iudge how much more is the same to be graunted vnto many auncient graue worthie men in a generall cause of a Country Two proper points of pollicy I obserue in this election the one in choosing the Officers so plyant to their pleasures that they may be the more readie to runne byaz when it will serue their turnes And yet because men are mutable to hold them in awe their authorities might be taken from them what time soeuer the Cardinall thought good as in the points it is to be seene but let this goe because I touched it before the other peece of pollicy yet more fine is that the Arch-priest himselfe who is appointed to giue iustice vnto both parties hath power only ouer the one partie none at all ouer the other so that the one he may by censures seuere punishment constraine to stand to his definitiue sentence but the other needs not to care for him any further then that he may vse him to plague his aduersarie Vt sibi caueat loco These hardy champions hold it not sufficient to haue the fauour of the Court for them but for feare of after claps wil haue also their persons exempted from the principal magistrate and reserue themselues onely to their owne Fathers iudgement which must be sought for also farre inough off from Rome and that in forme of supplication if I mistake not much the Arch-priests instructions Here seemeth to be the place to answere to that sentence of yours Father where you tel vs in good sadnesse that many yeares you demaunded with your friends for this subordination I beleeue you surely considering that neither you would haue yours comprehended in it and yet you would haue the appointing of all the Officers and ordering almost of all matters belonging to it But say you it was thereby to deliuer the Societie from that calumniation vsed to be laid against them that they would gouerne the Priests against theirs wills and you had some reason so to say if you had suffered the Priests to haue chosen their gouernours according to their owne wills desires but you putting in and choosing such commaunders as at your becke should be readie to doo whatsoeuer you will doo manifestly prooue that saying to be no calumniation but a plaine demonstration of your incroaching vpon the gouernments of priests much further then your profession or vocation doth require For by the ordinarie course of the Church religious men are to be gouerned by some of the lay Cleargie and not the Cleargie by them Well to drawe towards the end of my former part this subordination being both straunge in the Church of God hatefull of itself and not to be exercised in our countrey in these times it being also procured as it seemeth by false suggestion authorized by him that was not knowne to haue any such authoritie and finally by partiall election of the gouernours tending vnto the oppression of many notable personages who had excellently well deserued of our countrey by their long and fruitfull trauells yet remaineth euident and most manifest that wee had sundry iust lawfull and great causes in humble sort to sue vnto our superiours for a mitigation or alteration of it and for establishing of some better and more fit for our countrey Whereof appeareth first how vaine that vaunt of yours is where you say that we came and brought nothing with vs and that you were ashamed to see that wee had taken so long a iourney and had so litle to say when besides the causes before mentioned we had many other points also of importance in our message As to desire and sue for Bishops or at least that the
were not sent vnto prison but that was but for a colour for that you might haue done as well absent as present The Comissary being wholly yours set on lead and lodged by you in the Colledge we were locked vp apart in two litle close Chambers much more like the worst then the best in the house with poore schollers fare and in smoaky coloured gownes such as the seruants weare farre otherwise Father then you bragge of for the most part kept without fire being verie cold and for twentie daies not suffered to goe out not so much as to heare Masse vpon New-yeares day or the Epiphany Examined we were by one Signior Acarisius a trustie friend of yours Father Parsons an humble seruant of Cardinall Caietane our potent aduersary The examinations were what is your name how old 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 fil vp the papers that when we 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 peruerting it what they could And because Signior Acarisius seemed not sometimes sharpe enough Fa. Parsons himselfe would be an examiner also when I heard that Cardinall Caietane should be our Iudge I excepted against him as being one principal partie but I could not be heard I called also for a Proctor to assist vs with his counsel it was denied NO remedie for there was no bodie to be spoken withall but Fa. Parsons and whom hee appointed we had not so much libertie as one of vs to conferre with another all our instructions were taken from vs also and neither pen or paper or any booke allowed vs wherewith we might helpe our selues in that our common cause vntil the day of our hearing came which was a little before Shrouetide in an afternoone where the Cardinall Caietane and Burghesio being present our examinations were read each mans apart which spent most of the time after a long bill exhibited against vs with some Letters also in the end of it and so the time was spent vnprofitably little examining and waighing the substantiall points we came about we were after that kept two moneths close attending their LL. sentence which some ten daies after Easter was deliuered vnto vs to this effect especially that we should goe whither they sent vs and not returne into England without expresse license Propter controuersias quas cū sui ordinis hominibus exercuerunt for maintaining of controuersies with mee of their owne order This is I assure you on the word of a Priest the very truth of the storie Now touching the equitie of it let any prudent man neuer so little voide of passion iudge what iustice it was first to haue all our instructions proofes taken away frō vs after to seperate vs that we should not one help another then to keep frō vs all learned counsell lastly to make our professed aduersaries our Lawiers the relaters of our cause and finally our Iudges I would gladly see for the excuse of the matter but I should meruaile if any man were able to shew a president of such a forme of iustice or iudgement Indeed I must needs confesse that the Cardinall Burghesio alwaies seemed desirous to haue heard the matter better sifted and discussed but being punye and the other so exceedingly bent against vs hee could doo nothing for vs. Now concerning the generall point of our restraint I could neuer get them to tell me some reasonable cause why we Chatholique Priests that had so long laboured with the perill of our liues for the Catholique cause and then suing in humble and dutifull sort vnto the Court should be cast in prison before we were conuicted or lawfully accused of any crime I demaunded of the Confessor that sometimes visited me he could tell none although he lacked not skill in cases of conscience but referred me vnto the Comissarie I asked him hee would giue mee no other answere then that it was his holinesse pleasure you Father goe about to shewe the reason why his Holinesse would haue it so but with such a circuite and confusion that it is hard to picke out what you would say that it was because we opposed our selues and not tarrying to bring any matter of substance against his gouernment c. What matter we had against that gouernment hath bene before declared and the reason why we stayed no longer was that we might come to shewe our griefes before his holinesse had confirmed him For it is to be vnderstood that betweene the election of such a high Officer and confirmation there is a certaine pawse made to heare whether any thing will be obiected against the partie or concerning that point of office that in season conuenient remedie be prouided and the person elected if he do intermeddle in his charge before he bee confirmed is presently to be depriued of all that interest which was giuen him by the election which if our Arch-priest had looked into hee would not haue bene so hastie as to haue dealt in that charge before he had receiued his Letters of confirmation but you say at last that his holinesse cast vs in prison because wee subtracted our selues from the obedience of the Arch-priest and gaue other men occasion to do the like I denie now as I did vnto you then that I subtracted my selfe from his obedience either therefore set downe wherein by word or deed I with drew my selfe from his obedience or else let the world take you for an egregious calumniatur For I was with the Arch-priest before I went and tolde him of my iourney and gaue him the cause of it in writing vnder my hand taking also a copie of it vnder his hand and he neuer commaunded me not to goe neither in any other point did I transgresse any of his precepts What an irreligious and damnable slaunder then was that inuented of purpose to haue vs taken and shut vp before we were heard that they might haue the deliuerie of our message and be our Interpreters and Proctors and so make vs say what they listed and our matter to be such as they would haue it But say you Did you not come to Rome against him There was no disobedience in our going to Rome to sue vnto our superiour for it was conformable vnto the Canons and practise of the Catholique Church and was not nor could not haue bene forbidden by him See Nauer cap. 23. Num. 37. The subordination indeed did not like me for the causes aboue mentioned yet I carried my selfe so warily that I did nothing against it but sought orderly vnto my superiours in time and place to haue it amended which is very lawfull yea if he had bene an Arch-bishop and must needs haue bin graunted by lawe if we had had our Courts of lawe as in other Countries they haue if
any were scandalized at this our orderly repaire vnto our ordinarie superiours let the wise iudge whether it were Scandalum datum or acceptum I should now according to the order I proposed examine and confute sundrie false calumniations which you let fall by the way as that we deposed we had nothing else to say and that wee could not name a dozen Priests for vs and as your followers amplifying such flying tales reported wee had not halfe a dozen that gaue vs their suffrages when we had twentie nine in writing with vs some of them speaking also for others and yet neither sought for many nor staide about that matter but contenting our selues with some of the most auncientest most learned and of best reputation in our Countrey trusted to the waight of reason which we had on our side and to the equitie of the magistrates before whom we went to present our selues Againe how ridiculous was it to expect of them that are to be so narrowly searched when they passe out of the Countrey that they bring their testimonies with them in great sheetes of paper as though the vertue of witnesses lay in the bignesse of the paper and that we should haue brought some Princes Letters patents with a broad Seale at them whereas the magistrates are our enemies These and many such like I will leape ouer that I may at length come to an end and if my Letter seeme long let the blame be imputed vnto yours which in answere to halfe a dozen lines grew into two sheetes of paper and a halfe if it be thought too sharp let it be well waighed whether men first hardly vsed in fact and afterwards by wordes and Letters much damnified in their credits haue not iust cause to write roundly and if you like not to be so freely reprehended be not so lauish of your penne for vnlesse my foresight faile me you are like hereafter to be no more spared of many then you spare others Wherefore to drawe vnto a conclusion apply to your selfe some part of the good counsell you gaue me in the latter end of yours haue patience with whatsoeuer falleth out and perswade your selfe that he which offendeth many is sure to be offended by many wherefore holding your selfe within the bounds of your religion meddle with other mens matters as litle as you may and if for the common good of our countrey you please to be doing take rather the way of mildenesse which winneth mens hearts then of rigour which lightly offendeth all Follow the noble prudent and admirable steps of that rare ornament of our countrey and singular light of the Catholique Church Cardinall Allen who carried himselfe so courteously towards all men so charitably and withall so wisely that he was able to haue done with vs Priests what he would most easily and did hold the Laie Gentlemen in such a reuerend and louing awe that albeit some of them were verie prone to contentions quarels yet his authoritie and counsaile so brideled and raigned all exorbitant humors that in his time to his perpetuall praise no great flames of dissention burst out especially amongst vs Priests when you taking the contrary course of seuerity haue made an open breach amongst vs alreadie and God knoweth what may fall out heereafter if you looke not vnto it in time which because you are wise I hope you wil do and so shall you purchase vnto your selfe much more good will and quietnesse in this life and better assurance if I be not farre deceiued of euerlasting repose ioy in the life to come the which with all my heart I wish you and so humbly commending my selfe vnto you I take my leaue the 10. of Aprill Anno. 1600. Yours in his praiers William Bishop A LETTER OF Mr. MV TO Father Parsons WEll well Fa. Parsons I pray God send you a more sincere and quiet spirit I finde that true daily more and more which oftē I haue heard good Cardinal Allein Father Holt and others of your owne coate report of you that you were a man of too violent and hard a nature It were high time that you should permit your selfe vs to carrie our gray haires in peace to our graues The trouble and scandall you haue wrought in our Church these late yeares by your polliticke courses doo quite cancell all your former desert Was our peace and vnion made at the comming of his holines Breue and the most iniurious calumnie of schisme and enormious disobedience to the See Apostolicke raised and cōtinued most presumptuously against vs our ghostly children by your societie here to the greeuous scandall of our whole Nation was it I saie put vp by vs and for loue of peace and vnion forgiuen that presently after we had receiued the authoritie and submitted our selues to it you and yours might more safely and liberally renew the infamie against vs and by the Arch-priestes authoritie assured to you in whatsoeuer you listed to attempt against any at your pleasures persecute and oppresse vs You haue in the highest degree dishonored iniured Peters Chaire whiles by your cunning you so enormiouslie abused our bretheren as good doubtlesse as your selfe appealing and comming in all humble dutiful manner to the Apostolicke See defaming them and auerting his Ho. minde from them as from vile and badde persons by your vntrue reports before they came and procuring a most impious and horrible thing to be recounted for perpetuall yet hateful memorie of your fact them to be imprisoned as notorious malefactors before they had bene heard stopping vp all meanes of accesse to his holines and your selfe playing their Iaylour a fit office doubtlesse for so well disposed a religious person and finally procuring their hard banishment to no lesse dishonour to the See Apostolicke abused by your information then to your owne perpetuall ignominie And whiles you haue done all this by abuse of the supreame authoritie through your vnconscionable and vntrue informations you giue all our Nation here cause enough neuer to admire or hereafter to exclaime against the iniquitie of aduersaries who may truly iustifie themselues in their hard proceedings against vs by these vnconscionable courses of yours A lamentable case that now by the polliticke shifts of one person of religious profession orderly appealing to S. Peters Chaire must be thought a trespasse and punished as a greeuous crime Our statute of Premunire may well be repealed now Father Parsons a Iesuite hath laid a plot sufficient enough to hinder appellation or accesse to the See of Rome Is it possible this iniquitie of yours should be kept secret from the world Is it possible his holinesse and the gratious Cardinalls you haue so notably abused should neuer be brought to knowe the innocencie of vs whom you haue thus wronged and persecuted in our bretheren and neuer can cease to afflict Will they neuer thinke you finde out your deceit and by iust discussion of our cause relieue our miseries and repay you