a member the Head therof in his Realme went forward vpon this title and of his owne new Papal authoritie from the Lord of Ireland made and called him self the King therof Which stile was afterward as we take it by due authoritie of the Pope confirmed to Q. Marie So desirous hath bene alwaies the holie Sea of Rome to encrease our Princes with al due honor to enlarge their dominions None of which titles prerogatiues authorities or dignities though receiued onely or principallie by the Popes fauour or gift any one of our kinges of what Religion so euer was yet so wilful to reiect or let goe or yet so nise in Faith as to make scruple of conscience to receaue or retaine as laufullie possessed what so euer they haue obteined that way though vngratful persons acknowledge no benefite therin And not onely large kingdomes so obteined Al Princes contented to receaue hold vse titles of honor and dignitie from the Pope Princes are contented to kepe without scruple but hould also al other titles of honour annexed by his Holines to their Regal dignities vpon what cause soeuer as is to be seene in sondry great and mighty Monarches of Christendome vpon whom diuers high titles haue bene bestowed by the sea Apostolique for their most Christian and Heroical endeuours for the Church and their zeale against Heretiques and Infidels as Catholique in Spaine most Christian in France and such like els wher and in our Country a stile no lesse honourable thē the former that is Defendour of the Faith The stile of Defendour of the faith which stile and title al the Protestants in the world doe knowe that it was giuen by Pope Leo the tenth to K. Henrie th' eight for his defense of the Catholique Romane faith by writing yet exstant vnder his owne hand against Martin Luther And albeit the cause for which it was giuen be now quite altered and the Popes authoritie from which it was receaued extremely impugned yet the right therof coming onely from that authoritie now accompted so vnlauful none of our kings wil leaue or wil renounce the same as indeed we wish they should not for that it notablie putteth them in mind what Church and Faith it is that they are bound to defend and against what kind of men they beare the sword which God hath put into their hand The particuler benefites receaued from this Pope We might adde to this the singular and incomparable fauors and daylie benefits done by his Holines that now is to our nation aboue al his predecessors assuredly excepting S. Gregorie the great our first Apostle Who 's diuine grace and example of Charitie he so zealouslie doth imitate towards vs not onelie for the saluation of the whole deceiued Countrie but for the particular releefe of manie hundrethes of al sortes ages and sexes that are driuen by violence of cruel persecution into diuers Catholique Prouinces and are forced to leaue their Countrie and what so euer is deare vnto them to learne that Faith in which al their forefathers so honorablie liued and died By which his rare benefits his happie name as Gregories the first must needes be in English memories immortal maugré this ingratful Heresie to which we hope he shal once be the bane The Charitie of Gregorie the first tovvardes Of the said Gregorie the great his more then common loue of our soules we haue besides other Apostolical charitie this grateful example that his Holines receiuing great sommes of monie in thos dayes out of Fraunce hauing intelligence that ther were dispersed through that prouince numbers of English children bought as bōdslaues for doing of al drudgerie for their maisters profit as the state of seruitude required and that they liued ther in thraldome both of bodie and soule vnbaptized the Blessed Father taking deepe compassion of their miserable case speciallie because they were of that Nation which was then nuelie gained by his trauaile vnto Christ he wrote letters to his receiuour in thos partes that he should not make the french money which was ther to be receiued ouer to Rome by exchange but employ it in Fraunce wher it was currant vpon Charitable vses speciallie therwith to deliuer English Children from seruitude and to bring them into Italie by troupes hauing good graue Priestes to ouersee and instruct them in the Faith and if anie dangerous sicknes should fal to anie of them in the way to baptize them So as he did not onelie procure our peoples saluation at home by sending in diuers learned men to preach and teach the Gospel vnder the conduction of holie S. Augustine our Apostle but also by education abrod of great numbers of our Nation to his great charges temporal So did this renouned Pope and Doctor for our Countrie to bring it from Paganisme to Christ and through God preuayled and deserueth for the same immortal glorie both in heauen and earth And no lesse trulie doth Gregorie the thirtenth for reconciling our countrie from Heresie deserue both bringing vp abrode great numbers of the Nation at his owne charges in Godlie discipline and the same Faith that the foresaid S. Gregorie his Patrone and predecessor first caused to be taught to our forefathers and also disposeth of manie fit persons endued with zeale and spiritual power to returne in peaceable humble and Apostolique maner to their Countrie ther to teach the dec ued to reconcile thē by spiritual power Preistlie functiō to the vnity of Gods Church againe out of which they are most sure to perish and not by raising rebellion or tumultes as this Libeller most falselie pretendeth Which holie function for that they haue done by Gods great grace and goodnes with farre more frute and encrease of the Catholique religion and notorious domage of Heresie The frute of Preestes labours in England then Protestantes feared at the beginning therfore haue they subtellie and falselie turned al thes heroical endeuors of his Holines good offices of Gods Priestes into matters of State and Treason and would make al Princes and people abrode beleeue that are not acquainted as necessitie hath driuen vs to be with the practize of the first Apostles and Fathers of the primitiue Church atchiuing the conuersion of manie cities countries in no other sort then our brethren most godlilie and dutifullie doe attempt in our nation that al our preaching perswading praying offering sacrifice hearing confessions absoluing reconciling hauing of beades crosses images and the like were seditious rebellious traiterous and plaine conspiracie against the Q. Maiesty and the Realme The great malice and ingratitude of England tovvardes this Pope Yea they would so farre if they could abuse the patience and simplicitie of Christian people both of their owne Countrie and others that they would haue them thinke our holie and highe Pastor to haue erected the two Seminaries and other commodities of learning and godlie education for our countrie-men vpon no other
A TRVE SINCERE AND MODEST DEFENCE OF ENGLISH CATHOLIQVES THAT SVFFER FOR THEIR Faith both at home and abrode against a false seditious and slaunderous Libel intituled THE EXECVTION OF IVSTICE IN ENGLAND VVherin is declared hovv vniustlie the Protestants doe charge Catholiques vvith treason hovv vntrulie they deny their persecution for Religion and hovv deceitfullie they seeke to abuse strangers about the cause greatnes and maner of their sufferinges vvith diuers other matters perteining to this purpose Psal 62. Vt obstruatur os loquentium iniqua That the mouth may be stopped of such as speake vniustlie Psal 49. Os tuum â—bundauit malitia lingua tua concinnabat dolos Thy mouth hath abounded in malice and thy tongue hath coninglie framed lies THE PREFACE TO THE READER ALBEIT the late pamphlet intituled The execution of Iustice put forth in diuers languages for defence or excuse of the violent proceeding against Catholiques in England and for accusation as wel of them at home as of vs their felowes in faith abrode passing forth without priuilege and name ether of writer or printer euen thence where such matter is speciallie currant and might easilie haue bene authorized mouing indiscret odious and dangerous disputes of estate replenished with manifest vntruthes open slaunders of innocent persons and namelie with immodest malediction and seditious motions against the cheefe Bishop the Prince of Gods people though I say it might rightlie haue bene reputed an infamous Libel ether to be contemned or with such freedome of speech refelled as that maner of writing doth deserue yet considering the matter meaning and phrase therof to be agreable to the humour and liking of some in authoritie The causes of ansvvere and the booke not onelie not suppressed as diuers others of that argument seeming ouer simple to the wiser Protestants of late haue bene but often printed much recommended diligentlie diuulged and sought to be priuileged in * In FraÌ„ce forreine places where for shame they durst not publiquelie allowe it at home yea and in a maner thrust into the handes of strangers and therfore like to proceed though in close sort from authoritie we are forced and in truth verie wel contented and glad it hath pleased God to giue this occasion or rather necessitie to yeeld for the answere of the said booke our more particular accompt in the behalf of our Catholique brethren dead and aliue at home and in banishment Which we wil doe sincerlie as in the sight of Christ Iesus the iust iudge of the world and al his Saints in such humble milde and temperate maner as beseemeth our profession and the audience which audience we craue with teares of the whole Church and Christian world and of al that are placed in power and sublimitie ouer vs in our owne Countrie or els where that so our cause may be discerned both by God and man and our vnspeakable calamities ether by the intercession of manie releeued or by the general compassion of al our faithful brethreÌ„ made to vs more tollerable Loth we are and odious it may be compted to speake in such matter as must needes in some sort touch our superiours but Gods truth and mans innoceÌ„cie are priuileged and may in humble seemelie wise be defended against whomsoeuer And our pen God willing shal be so tempered herein that it shal displease no reasonable reader nor surelie skarce them if it may be against whom in our inculpable defence we are forced to write We haue in this case examples inough of Christian modestie in the ancient apologies of holie Fathers in Christ his Church as of S. Iustin Examples of vvriting apologies for innocencie Tertulian Athanasius Hylarius and other writing to their Princes that persecuted ether by errour or infidelitie the faithful people Who 's stile and steppes so long as we folowe we shal be blameles in the sight of al wise and good men and offeÌ„d none to whom the plaine truth it self is not odious As on the other side we haue in our aduersaries late bookes for immodest railing The Protestants stile contemptuous phrase slaunderous speach blasphemous wordes false reprochful seditious matter and al inhonest scurrilitie what to abhorre and detest and what to auoide in thes our writings which we would haue most vnlike theirs and not onelie allowable to our frendes but if it were possible and so pleased our merciful Lord to giue vs grace in their sight not ingrateful to our persecutours whos saluation as Christ knoweth we seeke in al thes our endeuours together with the maintenance of truth more then our owne defence and purgation Wherupon otherwise for our owne onelie honour and interest we would not so formallie stand against so honorable aduersaries in this world if we thought ether their hartes which are in Gods handes were not vpon euident reason and remonstrance of our innocencie inclinable to mercie and better consideration of their owne state and ours or that their accusation of vs afflicted Catholiques were not ioined to the general reprehension of the whole Church and the principal pastours therof whom by the lawe of our Christian religion we ought to respect more then our owne liues and in causes of our soule and conscience to obey aboue anie earthlie Prince by what other obligation so euer we be bound vnto him And as we would gladlie passe in this our answere with such equabilitie and indifferencie that in defence of the spiritual power which by our aduersaries importunitie we are driuen in maner against our wils to treat of we might not iustlie offend the temporal acknowledging in diuers respects al humble dutie to them both so writing nothing that anie man shal be able to proue vntrue ether in fact or faith we trust in the readers equitie be he Catholique or Protestant that in so faultles and necessarie a defence of our selues and of our Superiours as also of the common cause of our Christian faith and conscience he wil not iudge our writing seditious slaunderous or infamous libelling as the nameles author of this inuectiue against whom we treat vnchristianlie and vncourteouslie calleth other our brethrens bookes recording onelie the heauie persecution torments and deathes of Catholiques in such simple plaine and sincere sort as indeed al thinges were done The bookes of English persecution most true and so as no man liuing can trulie ether charge the reporters of fiction or falshood or of anie euil intention of diffaming to strangers their superiours dealings in making relation of our deare Countries most doleful calamities For the thinges there done dailie in publique cannot otherwise be hidden from the world and seing they are passed by lawe and order of pretended iustice ther can be no cause why them selues should mislike the diuulging therof except they acknowledge in their conscience some iniquitie and dishonorable defect in their proceedinges against the most innocent persons whom daily they torment and make away We are not so peruerslie affected God
this man was M. Kirkman M. Kirkeman an happie Priest also martyred for that he acknowledged him-self to haue reconciled certaine persons to the Catholike church For which likewise were put to death M. Thomson M. Harte and M. Threlkeld M. ThoÌ„son M. Hart. M. Threlkeld afterward in the same citie of Yorke neuer charged nor suspected of anie other treasons then of hearing Confessions absoluing and reconciling sinners to the fauor of God and to the vnitie of the Catholique churche againe which both in the Priest that absolueth and in the partie that is absolued they haue made to be the crime of les-Maiestie vnder this false and most vniust preteÌ„ce that al parties so reconciled are assoiled of ther obedience to the Q. and doe adhere to her enimie and admit forreine iurisdiction power and authoritie which is exercised in Confession for remission of sinnes Thes be the treasons and none other for which the blood of Gods Priests is so abundantlie shed in our poore countrie thes yeares Adde to thes the two famous confessors Ao. 1583. M. Slade M. Bodie M. Iohn Slade and M. Iohn Bodie who both by certaine interrogatories being driuen to say their mindes touching the Q. chalenge of supreme regiment ecclesiastical contrarie to the asseueration of this libeller set downe before for confessing their faith of the Popes spiritual soueraigntie and for denying her to be head of the churche of England or to haue anie spiritual regiment were coÌ„demned to death in publique iudgement at two diuers sessions and that at twise a rare case in our countrie the latter sentence being to reforme the former as we may gesse in such strange proceedinges which they perceiued to be erroneous and insufficient in ther owne lawes Wherupon one of them was executed at Winchester th' other at And ouer in the same prouince being neuer charged with disloyaltie or olde treasons as not onelie by the recordes of their arraignment and condemnation we are able to prooue but also by their owne speeches and by the whole action of ther Martyrdome The booke is intituled The Seueral executions of Slade and Body c. imprinted in London by Richard Iones 1583. which is put in print by one of their owne protestantes that was present and is witnessed by thousandes of others that both heard saw their deathes and iudgement I wil for examples sake alleage some thing out of the said printed pamphlet of that which was said vnto them by the enimie at their martyrdome Confesse your fault saith one of the cheefe * Sir VV. Kingsmel gentlemeÌ„ and ministers of execution ther present for satisfaction of the vvorld in the cause of your death to which the holie confessor I. Bodie answered after protestation of his loyaltie in temporal thinges Yovv shall vnderstand quoth he good people that I suffer death for denying her Maiestie to be Supreame head of Christes churche in England in causes ecclesiastical other treasons except they make hearing the holie Masse or saying Aue Maria treason I haue coÌ„mitted none So his happie companion M. Slade condemned for the same onelie cause was thus spoken vnto in the houre of his agonie The cause vvhy M. Slade and M. Bodie vvere murdered by one doctor Bennet a great minister of ther new congregation let not the Pope saith he that vnvvorthie Priest be preferred before thine ovvne natural Princesse vvho is the lavvful supreame head of the Church next vnder Christ So said this minister by whom we may not onelie perceiue vpon what statute and treason they were executed but also which in an other parte of this libel is without shame most boldlie denied Pag. 10. that indeed the Q. is commoÌ„lie of protestantes called Supreame head of the Church So their preachers in pulpit doe sounde owt daylie as al men know and their writers in bookes dedicated to her as M. Bridges M. Bridges against doctor Saunders and D. Stapleton and others doe tearme her expreslie Wherof the wiser sorte as we may see by this libel are so ashamed that they wolde haue it giuen out to strangers speciallie who wonder at the monstruous title that ther is no such thing chalenged of her or giuen her by the new lawes of Religion in England The protestaÌ„tes ashamed of their Head of the church For which cause and for that they had an intention streight to publishe at home and in forreine partes that none were put to death for anie such matter of faith or religioÌ„ they suppressed the said printed pamphlet of thes twoo mens martyrdome and punished the Author therof though he wrote in that point the plaine truth as he hard and sawe but not discretlie inough nor aggreable to the politique practise they had then in hand which was to perswade the world that none were put to death for their conscience nor that the Q. chalenged anie such title of Supremacie or Headshippe ouer the Church Pag. 10. which later point it seemeth conuenient to the politiques of our Realme to disauowe with such vehemencie in this libel as they geue vs the manifest lye for that we reproue them of it for thus they write vvhich title of headship of the Church the aduersaries doe most falslie vvrite and affirme that the Q. Maiestie doth novv vse a manifest lie and vntruth c. Wherfore of this matter I am inforced in this place to speake a word or two by the waye The truth is that in the first yeare and Parliament of the Q. reigne when they abolished the Popes authoritie and wolde haue yeelded the same authoritie with the title of Supreame head to the Q. as it was giuen before to her Father and Brother diuers speciallie moued by Minister Caluins writing who had coÌ„demned in the same Princes that calling liked not the â—earme and therfore procured that some other equiualent but lesse offensiue might be vsed Vpon which formalitie it was enacted that she was the Cheef gouernour asvvel in causes ecclesiastical or spiritual as ciuil and temporal And an othe of the same was conceiued accordinglie to be tendred at their pleasures to al the spiritual and teÌ„poral officers in the Realme by which euerie one must sweare that in conscience he taketh and beleeueth her so to be and that no Priest or other borne owt of the realme can haue or ought to haue anie maner of power in spiritual matters ouer her subiectes Which othe is compted the verie torment of al English consciences not the protestantes themselues beleeuing it to be trew of al trew catholiques as before it was deemed in her Father a lay man and in her Brother a childe very ridiculous so now in her self being a woman is it accompted a thing most monstruous and vnnatural and the verie gappe to bring anie Realme to the thraldome of al sectes Heresie Paganisme Turcisime or Atheisme that the PriÌ„ce for the time by humane frailtie may be subiect vnto al our religion faith worship seruice
wil not name though he named them to commence such a foule tragedie considering therfore al thes thinges and desiring to couer the foulenesse of the fact as much as might be aswel in respect of their owne people manifoldlie discontented and speciallie impatient of such iniurious proceedings as also of strangers to whom the rare vertues of father Campian and of some of th 'others were knowen besides other violeÌ„t meanes by seuere punishments and proclamations to stay the hard speaches and conceates of the people therin They caused some of them that yet were not executed The substance and inteÌ„t of the six Articles propounded to the Priestes before their execution to be examined vpon certaine Articles six in al cleane of an other pourport then their former accusation of killiÌ„g the GREATEST as our Libel speaketh al which articles doe concerne onelie the authoritie and fact of Pius Quintus of famous memorie in censuring the Q. by excoÌ„munication and depriuation for Heresie and what they thought or how far they allowed of the same Wherunto because they did coniecture their answers wold be odious in the sight of the simple speciallie of zealous protestantes as it fel out in deed they deuised to publish and read them to the people at the martyrdome of the rest that therby they might at least conceiue that they were worthie of death for other causes though not for that wherof they were condemned and so ether lesse pitie theÌ„ or lesse marke the former vniust pretensed matter of their condemnation And this coÌ„ning cours they haue folowed euer sith in defence of that pretended Iustice and is the whole conueyance of this Libeller now who to defend th' execution of their crueltie towardes thes Saintes of God bestoweth his labour onelie to proue that they haue bene tried by the six Articles coÌ„cerning the Excommunication and that ther was found a note after Father Campians death touching the same Bul procured for th'interpretatioÌ„ force therof brought from Rome by father Persons and the said F. Campians sute that M. Hart confessed the Bul in such and such sort to bind and otherwise not to stand in force Whereby onelie he goeth about to perswade the world and speciallie strangers vnacquainted in our affaires the said men to haue bene traytors iustlie punished as though new crimes ether found out or done after the sentence of their death past yea after the execution of the same could iustifie their condemnation past before But the world looked for some iustification of that former iudgement and verdict of court which passed with such great solemnitie against thos innocent men before vpon transgression as was pretended of an old statute for compassing the Q. death For as for al other declamatioÌ„s and Inuectiues be they true or be they false can not excuse the fact froÌ„ plaine murther nor condemne them after they be dead for other crimes then they were coÌ„uicted of in their liues Which the Libeller him self coÌ„fesseth in thes expresse wordes after al his idle worke and wordes Vpon refusal to ansvvere to thes questioÌ„s directlie saith he as they might haue bene iustlie conuicted of treason Fol. 18. so yet vvere they not therupoÌ„ condemned Which yet is false for they haue latelie executed diuers Priestes as M. Haddock Preestes nevvlie martyred in England M. Hemmerford and others most cruellie onelie about the matter of excommunication of the Q. But vpon their other former actions committed both abrod and in the Realme But what thos actioÌ„s were and how they were prooued to be committed particulerly by thos whom we auouch to be vniustly condemned vpon old treasons and to be onely killed for their religion that should haue bene your whole endeuour Sir to shew al other superfluous railing or recital of preteÌ„ded offenses for which your self confesse they were not condemned being not of force to mainteine the defence of your pretended Iustice nor yet to stay the Christian world and Church of God from accompting them Martyrs whom you haue murdered Against whos holy ashes and memories you can strugle no more then th' olde heathen and heretical persecutours did to diffame thos glorious men of the primatiue Church whom they executed in pretence of like treasonable trespasses who yet notwithstanâ—ing their enimies manifold endeuours to stay the â—onours due to them after their deathes by Christ â—nd his Churches iudgment haue gotten the victory â—uer their aduersaries and so remaine as glorious in heauen and earth as their persecutors be infamous â—hrough al the world What worldlie honour the two king Henries of England had The comparison of the Persecutors vvith the persecuted I meane the second and eight which â—n the dayes of their reigne no doubt was great or what esteeme so euer the Princesse present and her greatest Ministers haue now by the height of their â—oome and fortune in this life it is but a very dreame â—hadow or phantasie to the glorie of Thomas of Canâ—urburie Iohn of Rochester Chancelor More Father Campian and the rest whoÌ„ fame felicity foloweth vpon their deathes and vppon such contradiction of sinners seeking to disgrace them As also in the contrary part the persecutors glory dieth with their authority if not before and they are commonly better knoweÌ„ to posterity by executing of such meÌ„ though to their shame then by other their factes in their life whatsoeuer And so doth God protect his Saints A contradictione linguaruÌ„ from the ganesaing of tongues and giueth theÌ„ victorie of the world by the fortitude of their Fayth in him But of the six Articles concerning the Bul of excommunication more shal be said in the next chapteâ— and other places folowing that their innoceÌ„cie theriâ— also may appeare and the slaunderous Libeller repressed euery way THAT WE NOWE HAVE GREAT CAVSE TO COMPLAINE OF INIVST persecution intollerable seuerity and cruelty tovvardes Catholiques in England and their Protestantes no reason to doe the like for the Iustice done to them in Quene MARIES and other Princes dayes and the cause of the difference CAP. III. THE Libeller by-sophistical reasons popular perswasioÌ„ going about to make men thinke th'english persecution to be nothing so violent as is diuulged nor any thing comparable to the iustice exercised towardes the Protestantes in the raigne of the late Q. Marie telleth of hundrethes for our scores as also of the qualities of them that then suffred of their innocencie in al matters of state and treason and such like To which we say breeflie clearlie and to the purpose that we measure not the matter by the number nor by the seuerity of the punishment onely or specially but by the cause by the order of Iustice in proceeding by the lawes of God al Christian NatioÌ„s and such other circumstances wherby we can prooue Q. MARIES doings to be commeÌ„dable and most lawful th' other towardes vs and our Brethren to be iniust and impious The difference is in thes pointes you professe to
put none to death for religion you haue no lawes to put anie man to death for his faith you haue purposelie repealed by a special statute made in the first yeare and parliament of this Q. reigne The difference of proceeding in Catholiques and protestaÌ„tes al former lawes of the Realme for burning heretiques which smelleth of something that I need not here expresse you haue prouided at the same time that nothiÌ„g shal be deemed or adiudged Heresie but by your Parliament Conâ—ocatioÌ„ you haue not yet set doune by anie new lawe what is Heresie or who is an Heretique Therfore you â—an nether adiudge of our doctrine as of heresie nor of â—s as of heretiques nor haue you any lawe left wherby â—o execute vs and so to put anie of vs to death for religion is against Iustice lawe and your owne profession and doctrine But neuerthelesse you doe torment and punish vs both otherwise intollerablie and also by death most cruel and that as we haue prooued for Agnus deis for ministring the holie Sacraments for our obedience to the Sea Apostolique for persuading our frendes to the Catholique fayth for our Preisthod for studying in the Societie or Colledges beyond the seas and such like which you haue ridiculouslie made treason but after-ward being ashamed of the foule absurditie acknowledge them to be matters of religion and such as none shall die for And therfore we most iustelie make our complaint to God man that you doe vs plaine violence persecute vs wythout al equitie and order On thother side Q. Marie against the Protestants executed onely the old lawes of our countrie and of al Christendome made for punishment of heretiques by the Canons and determination of al Popes Counsels Churches Ecclesiastical tribunals of the world allowed also and authorised by the ciuil and imperial lawes and receaued by al kingdomes Christian besides and who theÌ„ hath any cause iustly to be greeued Why should any man complaine or thinke strange for executing the lawes which are as ancient as general as godly against Heretiques as they are for the punishment of traitors murderers or theeues Secondly we complaine iustly of persecution for that our cause for which we suffer is the faith of al our Forefathers the faith of our persecutors owne auncestors the faith into which our countrie was conuerted and by which we ar called Christian the faith of the Catholique Churches Kingdoms round about vs the faith that we promised in our regeneratioÌ„ and therfore can not be forced from it nor punished for it by any lawe of God Nature or Nations VVhy Heretiques may be forced to the Catholique faith though born and bredd vp in Heresie Wher contrariwise thos that in our time or otherwise haue fallen from that faith which not onely their elders religiously receaued but them selues also for most part were many years brought vp in or if not yet had they promised and vowed the same by their parentes and spiritual suerties though protestants in their Baptisme wherin solemne promise is both made and taken to folow the Catholique Church faith with abhomination of al heresies sectes whatsoeuer thes men I say though borne of pareÌ„ts ether Arrians Macedonians PelagiaÌ„s Anabaptistes Zwinglians Protestants or other sect or opinion are not permitted and much lesse charged or bound as the Libellerful ignorantly surmiseth to hold that profession of peculiar Heresie Fol. 9. wherin they were first brought vp seing they can not be deemed to haue professed that sect in their Baptisme or as idly this poore deuine addeth in their Confirmation which was first taught them by their maisters of error according to the time or place of their first education but are to be instructed how that their profession in Baptisme was of the true Catholique receaued knoweÌ„ Christian faith dispersed ouer the world in Christ his Church wherunto they afterward stand bound and consequentelie by al lawe both deuine and humane may be inforced albeit their actual baptisme or education were neuer so much amongest heretiques So that as no lawe of God or man can force vs to be protestantes no more can any reason be alledged nor iust excuse made for ether yong or old why being baptized or brought vp amongst Arrians or Caluinists they may not be forced to returne to the Catholique Church and faith againe And we may maruel in what age or world those people were borne which the Libeller noteth to haue bene burned in Q. Maries time Fol. 9. hauing neuer heard as he sayeth of any other religion then that for which they suffred For the sect which they pretended to die for was not extant in England aboue fiue or six years before in the short reigne of K. Edward the sixt or rather of his protectour for before that in K. Henries dayes the same profession was accompted heresie and the professours therof were burned for Heretiques and that by publique lawes no lesse then in the reigne of Q. Marie But the truth is that because we Catholique Christian men doe iustly ground our selues vpoÌ„ the former professioÌ„ of our faith notoriously knowen to be and to be called Catholique thes men apishlie would imitate our phrase and argument in a thing as far differing as heauen and hel Thirdlie we say that we haue iust cause to complaine of this present persecution The maner of proceediÌ„g in persecuting protestants for that the maner of it is such and the proceding so conformable to the old Pagane Heretical and Apostatical fashion and dealing against Gods Church and children that nothing can be more like They hated al Catholiques and compted them traitors so doe you They speciallie persecuted Byshops Priestes and religious so doe you They killed them indeed for their beleef but yet pretended otheâ— crymes more odious and speciallie matters of conspiracie and rebellion against the ciuil magistrate so doe you They droue the innocent by captious interrogatories into dangers of lawes that neuer offended the lawes so doe you They pressed men by torments to denie their fayth vnder colour of trying their secret intentes against the Prince so doe you They punisshed and haue put to death one Catholique for an other mans fault of the same profession and vpoâ— general supposals common to al of the same faith made away whom they lyst so doe you I referre thâ— indifferent readers to the persecution of Iulianuâ— Apostata of the Gothes and Vandals in Italie and Affrique It is not onelie the slaughter of manie and them speciallie the Priestes of God which is most proper to heretical persecution but th' other infinite spoile of Catholique mens goods honors and libertie by robbing them for receyuing Priestes hearing Masse retayning Catholique Schoolmasters keeping catholique seruantes mulcting them by twentie poundes a moneth which by their cruel accompt they make thirtene-skore a yeare for not repairing to their damnable Schismatical seruice By which a number of auncient gentlemen fal to extremitie ether
a dozen years sithence and not manie after the Bul was published he being asked of English affaires and how the Catholiques so much distressed helde yet out and what effect th'excommunication had answered that the Bul was troblesome to them and cause of the Q. more heauie hand vpon them insinuating that it were good it were mitigated so that it should not bind the subiects but that they might obey her as their lauful Princesse notwithstanding anie contrarie sentence of the sea Apostolike before giuē Which good office of speach and meaning the aduersaries were not ashamed to charge him withal in his iudgement As their follie and partialitie are also so great herein that in this Libel they speciallie put doune Touching the petition of F. Persons and F. Campiā for moderatiō of the Bul and Censure to proue both the said good Father and his Superiour the Reuerend F. Robert Persons guiltie of treason for that they made special sute vnto his Holines that now is to qualefie the Censure of his predecessour at least so far that it might not bind or make culpable anie her Catholique subiectes in consciēce for obeying and seruing her as their Soueraigne how so euer it stood against the Protestants who neither looked nor cared to be discharged of it as the Catholiques for conscience sake most desired to be free They knew his Holines would not wholie alter that cēsure the case standing with the principal partie as it did before his predecessors sentence They knew the Q. and protestants them selues made no accompt therof nor desired to be loosse They knew it singularlie perteined to the safetie of her person and the quiet of the state that the Catholiks were perswaded they might laufullie obey her as their Q. and Gouernesse notwithstanding the said sentence They knew the subiects would gladlie doe that with safetie of consciēce as a way far more secure for both them selues and the Q. which they did before onely for feare They knew they could not profitablie proceed in their spiritual worke of confessing conuerting and reconciling the subiects to the Holie Church except they might by Apostolique warrant resolue them for their lauful obedience to the Q. They thought good wher neither the Pope could be induced without the repentance of the partie to cal in the censure nor the Q. to yeeld to anie condition that way rather thus to seeke for mitigation then to leaue it in ful force stil and finally rather thus by moderation and sweetnes to temporize betwixt both their Superiors to see whether God might not moue the hart of her Maiesty wholie lying in his hand to enter into some good conditions for her reuniting to the communion of the Christiā world th'onlie way of sauīg her Realme in this world and her soule in the next Alas what euil office haue thes good Fathers done herein What treason is committed more now then if they had desired his Holines to haue discharged the Q. and Protestants also of al bond of that Bul How could ether they or the rest of the Priests doe more dutifullie and discreetlie in this case then to prouide that al such with whom they onely had to deale might stand free and warranted in their obedience and commit the rest that cared not for Excommunication to the iudgement of God By al which we may see the notable discret and sincere dealing of Catholiques al this while about fiftene years that this sentence hath bene extant and published and their manifold endeuours to mitigate and ease the burthen therof in al such as might therbie haue remorse to obey and acknowledge the Q. Regalitie Neuer writing of the matter nor dealing in it but to th' end of pacification publique rest and securitie of the state brought into brandle and doubt by this vnhappie alteration in Religion And so they might haue had al the learned of our nation either silent in the question of th'excommunication or mitigators of it stil had not the vnwise and verie impolitique importunitie of certaine in gouernment seeking by al direct or īdirect driftes the blood of poore Catholiques forced men to their needful defence interpretation of their meaning herein Vnvvise and verie impolitique proceeding yea verelie to seeke with diligence the truth of the matter which of purpose they did let passe before as a thing impertinent to their edification or saluation Which they did the rather for that Pius Quintus the author therof being departed his successor Gregorie the thirtenth that now happely sitteth in the Apostolique throne neuer reuiued the same that we know of but by conniuence and expectation of our Q. and Countries returne to holie Churches peace and to the societie of other Christian kinges suffred the sentence after a sort to die specially so far as it concerned the Catholiques as is said euen as the like Censure of excommunication and depriuation published by Paulus Tertius against K. Henrie th' eight did passe ouer in peace to his dying day The excōmunication of K. Hen. 8. by Pope Paulus tertius by the patience of other Popes following and the manie hopes and profers which the said king made of his returne to the Churches obedience againe though preuented by death it pleased not God to make him worthie of the same And this was the Catholiques honest desire and behauiour touching th'excommunication euer since the publishing therof The desire of Catholiques to auoid matter of state vntil now of late whē by their interrogatories and new order of most bloodie vnlauful and vnwife search of mens consciences not deedes words or writinges but verie inward opiniōs thoughtes and cogitations of hart are wrong out of men by the questions before rehearsed Wherby not onely diuers holy Priestes that haue suffered but also some other being strangelie and conninglie brought into this odious and dangerous matter of state and pressed against their wils to say their cogitatiōs they did notwithstanding as much as was possible auoide anie wayes so to determine or answere as might be preiudicial to their allegeance which they obserued not onelie whilest they had hope of life but euē after their condemnation also and at the very last houre of death The diuers ansvvers of sondrie to the for named interrogatories Some meeklie and discreetlie declined from the questiō one way some an other but alwith great shew of honestie fidelitie and innocencie One as Father Campian answered they were controuersies and questiōs not determinable ī that court but in schoole An other that he thought the Pope that gaue the sentence might erre in some cases that is though not in doctrine yet ī fact for wāt of informatiōs prooues and other circumstances needfullie in such cases to be obserued but whether he did erre or no and abuse his authoritie in this Cēsure that he referred to God him self not being sufficient to iudge of his Superiours doinges Some said they neuer saw the Bul in their life and therfore
yet for that he was a cruel man and would ether haue killed or spoiled thē they were excused in obeying him Thus doth this notable schoolman write nether doe we knowe anie Catholique diuine of anie age to say the contrarie Cap. Aliu cū sequen xv q. 5. Cap. fin de Haeret. We wil not alleadge the Canon lawes which for that they be the decrees speciallie of Popes whom our aduersaries accompt partial shal weigh litle with them though they be authentical in al the lauful tribunals of the Christiā world and make al Heretiques not onelie after they be namelie particularlie denoūced but by the law it self ipso facto as soone as they be Heretikes or de iure excōmunicated for the same to be depriued of their dominiōs though the subiects vntil denuntiation need not take knowledge therof Onelie it is not good to omit the definition and wordes of the famous general Counsel of Laterane The sentēce and definition of the great learned ad general Councel of Laterane celebrated aboue 300. years since wherin ther were Patriarches and Archbishops 70. Bishops 412. and other Prelats 800. In al of the most chosen learned men of al nations 1282 with th' Ambassadors of the Romane Emperour of the king of Hierusalem of England of Fraunce of Spaine and of Cipres as also of other Christian states then which ther can be no surer iudgement vpon earth which assemblie representing the whole Christian world would neuer agree vpon anie assertion traiterous Cap. 3. de Haeret. Thes thē are the words of their most renowned decree put onely in English for breuities sake Yf anie Lord temporal required admonished by the Church neclect to purge his state from Heretical filth let him be excommunicated by the Metrapolitane and conprouincial Bishops but yf he contemne to come to order within one years space let relation be made to the supreme Bishop that from thenceforth he may declare al his subiectes to be discharged of their fealtie towardes him and giue vp his land to be possessed by Catholiques which Catholiques without al contradiction when they haue driuen out the Heretiques shal haue and hould the same and so preserue it in puritie of faith the interest and right of the cheef Lord euer remaining safe whole so that him self giue no impediment to th' execution of this decree And the same law to take place in such also as be soueraigne Lords and haue no superiors Thus both Schooles and Lawes speake and resolue for the matter in hand both Catholiques and Protestants agreing that Princes may for some causes and especiallie for their defection in Faith and Religion be resisted and forsaken though in the maner of executing the sentence and other needful circumstances Protestants folowe faction and populer mutinie we reduce al to lawe order and iudgement But for the further clearing of this cause we meane now in the next chapter by the helpe of God to declare and plainlie deduce al that hitherto hath bene said in the premisses from holie Scriptures and warrant of Antiquitie that al indifferent men may see how far we be from treason or vndutifulnes to our Princesse in thes our opinions especially when by a certaine violence we be coacted to vtter the same OF EXCOMMVNICATION AND DEPRIVATION OF PRINCES FOR heresie and falling from the Faith speciallie of vvarres for Religion and of the office and Zeale of Preists of th' old and nevv lavv in such cases CAP. V. PRinces being not subiect to superiours temporal The dāgerous state of a tēporal Prince if he be not subiect to spiritual coūcel nor patient of correction or controlment by their inferiours may easelie fal to greeuous disorders which must tend to the danger and ruine of whole countries In respect wherof great spirite power courage freedome of speech haue bene from the beginning graunted by God as wel ordinarie to Priestes as extraordinarie to some Prophets and religious persons in al ages and times both of the new old testamēt So by Gods great prouidence who by his Prophet warned kinges to take discipline Psal 2. and to serue him in feare lest in his ire he should suffer them fal to iniquitie the first kinges of his peculiar people had lightly some Prophets or Priestes in maner as ouerseers that might from time to time charge them boldlie and as it were by office with their enormities and namelie with their fal from Faith the God of their Fathers to denounce his threatnings yea and execute the same vpon them at sometimes if need so required which ministers of their Lord God al godlie Princes did heare honor obey as contrariwise the kinges that were wicked and disloyal to God haue euer sought cruellie their death and destruction that so their wickednes might passe without controlment Saul the first temporal king that euer the Iewes being then Gods peculiar had 1. Reg. 10 15.16 though chosen and inspired by God was for al that led and directed by Samuel so long as he was in order Saul deposed for vsurping spiritual function But afterward for aspiring to spiritual function and other disobedience was by Gods appointmēt and sentence pronounced by the said Samuel deposed of his kingdome and an other named Dauid annointed by him Which Saul now after his depriuation or after as it were his excommunication by Samuel was inuaded by an euil spirit that prouoked him to kil not onelie Dauid that was now made the rightful owner of his crowne 1. Reg. 22 but also to seeke for Samuels death yea and to cōmaund al the holie Priests of Nobe fourescore and fyue in number as holy Scripture recompteth to be slaine murdered in most pitiful wise as traitors to him and fouorers of Dauid the competitor of his kingdome And so it was done at last though at the beginning his gard refused to execute so vile horrible an act in this sort he remained enemy many years against God and Samuel and kept the kingdome by tirannical force notwithstanding his deposition Dauid neuertheles in whom was the right of the croune was laufullie vp in Armes with one of the principal Priests whose name was Abiathar that escaped the foresaid murther not of such power as the pretensed king was til at length the vsurper whom as S. Augustine deduceth August cōtra Adamantium he might laufullie haue killed but would not being slaine in batail Dauid obteined his right first of a part of the kingdome and afterward of al the rest which Isboseth did for two years by the pretended right of Saul his father vsurpe By which it is plaine that the Priests and Prophets of God Priests most subiect to danger in time of vsurpation being the executors of his sentences and rule of the people in such doubtful and partial times of varietie for claime and competencie are most subiect to the hatred of vsurpers as also to death and danger for the same You
doune to the world if you can anie one word writing or approued witnes that anie Iesuite Priest or Seminarie man of al thos whom you haue executed thes late yeares were ether authors persuaders or dealers therin and then you may haue some shadow of defence for your iustice Proue only that his Holines euer communicated his doings or intentions whatsoeuer they were that way to anie one of them al and we wil confesse that you haue reason in the rest If Pius quintus addressed Doctor Nicholas Morton D. Mortō sixtene yeares since about the matter of the excommunication into England shal al Priestes Iesuistes be deemed traitors therfore If Doctor Saunders D. Sāders ether vpon his owne zeale and opinion of the iustnes of the quarel or at the Popes appointmēt were in the warres of Ireland emploied for defence of the Catholique Religion against the Protestants may you by your lawes or anie other diuine or humane ordinance condemne therfore to death a number that neuer knew ether the man or the matter Some pretence you may haue to be offended with the Pope and perhaps lacke no lawes to punish the said two Doctors that neuer were ether of the Societie or Seminaries but to make al the Priestes and Catholiques at home or in banishmēt traitors therbie it is to vnreasonable and to murther so cruellie one man for an others fault is tooto foule and intollerable iniquity And as for his Holines action in Ireland The vvarres of Irland we that are neither so wise as to be worthie nor so mallepert as to chalenge to knowe his intentions councel and disposition of thos matters can nor wil nether defend nor condemne it Onelie this is euident that thos smal succours which were giuen by him to the Irish or rather suffred at their owne aduenture to goe into thos warres came vpon the importunate sute of the sore afflicted Catholiques and some of the cheefest nobilitie of that countrie Of whos continual complaints knowen calamities and intollerable distresses of conscience otherwise it may be he was moued with compassion and did that in cause of Religion against one whom he tooke in his owne iudgement rightlie by his predecessours sentence to be deposed and in a quarel in his sight most iust and godlie which both her Maiesty and other temporal Princes sticke not to doe verie often towardes their neighbours with whom otherwise they pretend good amitie and no breach of their league at al in cases which ether they esteeme lauful or at lest behoofful for their owne estate and affaires And it is a strange case that thes men should with such ful mouth cry out against the highe Preest and Pastor of Gods Church for vsing the sword or geuīg his consent therunto against a Prince not any way his superior if no way his subiect wheras the Ministers and maisters of their sects both in Flanders Scoteland and other places doe not only councel and persuade subiectes to take armes agaīst their owne lauful Princes and sacred Kinges but also doe practise and in person oppose them selues against them yea in Scoteland against a Prince of their owne Religion For tel me Sir Libeller if you please were not the Ministers of Scoteland the principal fannes and firebrandes of the last Conspiracy and open rebellion against his Maiesties person and the state of that Country Were not they in person at Starling and els wher both in feeld and councel with the Erles of Anguish Marre other rebels against his Roial person Were not al their pernicious machinations of betraing their country and their Princes blood detected by the Erle of Gory before his late behedding for that Conspiracy Are not Patrike Galovvay minister of S. Ihonson Andrevv Pollard subdeane of Glasco Iames Carmihel minister of Haddingtō Andrevv Hay person of Ranfroe Andrevv Meluin professour of diuinity in S. Andrews and diuers other cheefe ministers of that country fled into England for this traiterous fact and ther receaued cherished and protected And since that time wheras in a Parliamēt houlden in Edenburgh by his Maiesty and al the three states of Scoteland begonne the 19. of May last past certaine lawes were amongst others enacted for the restraint of thes Ministers tumultuous authority and to bring them vnder their owne Bishops iurisdiction a thing so resonable and consonant to Gods word as nothing can be more and practised not only in Englād amōg their fellow-sectaries but also thorough-out al Christendome disorderly and seditious Geneua only excepted and when thes lawes that were made by authority of the three Estates and published not only in the Councel-house called Toulbooth but also at the Crosse of Edēburgh by Heraldes at armes for the state did not Robert Pont and VValter Baquanquel two most impudent and rebellious Ministers of that toune by the consent and prouocation of Iames Lauson cheefe preacher ther as afterward appeared oppose them selues in publique against the Kinges authority therby to raise vp some commotion by their open protestation made by instrument in the handes of George VVakeson publique Notary and toune-Clarke of that Citty and did not al thes three named Ministers by night flye presently into England after their insufferable insolency and are ther receaued harboured and maintained Againe in the last Parliament before this being about two yeares agone did not thes Ministers intending therby some dangerous reuoult and seditious defection demaund of their king in most impudent wise to be admitted into the Parliament as equal or aboue their Bishops whom they deny by Gods word to haue any supereminent authority Is not this one of their articles for which their archebishop of S. Andrews doth withstand them and hath bene of late in England to cōferre with the Protestāts of that Country about the same Is it not an other of their articles that it is an Heresy for any Prince to cal him self Head of the Church within his owne Realme that he may be excommunicated and deposed by the Ministers Haue not they excommunicated and held out by violence thes two yeares and more their archebishop of Glasco elected by the King named M. Robert Montgūmery vntil now that this last Parliament of May hath absolued and restored him vnto his archebishoprike againe You exclame against the Pope being the first and cheef prelate of al Christendome euē by your owne confession for geuing his consent that any thing be done or attempted by armes and violence against any lauful or annointed Prince whatsoeuer be it for Religion or any other neuer so rightful or iust cause in his conceipt but what would thes good-fellowes of your Ghospel doe if they had his authority his power and his pretence against foraine Princes of a contrary Religion seing in quarel of faction and fauour of ranke traitors they deale thus against their owne Leege and against their owne annointed sworne King of their owne country blood educatiō and Religion who as he neuer iustly offended them
as we read in the first of the Machabies of the Priestes infortunate fight against the heathen yet to make this a general rule as this Libeller doth that the Pope may no wayes vse the sword for defence of iustice or religion is most false and absurd The true vvay vvhich the Libeller should haue vsed for improuing the Popes actions in Ireland The true way of defence for English protestantes in this case touching the warres of Ireland and for impugnation of the Pope concerning his allowing or assisting the same should be in mine opinion not to affirme absolutelie as our fond most ignorant Libeller doth that the Pope may no way fight or take armes at al for that is against a knowen truth and not onely we but al Catholiques in the world wil therin stand against him but rather for condemnation of his Holines actiōs to proue that his cause was not iust her Maiesty not to stand rightelie excommunicate not any way to be an Heretique as Pius Quintus declared and consequentlie her subiectes in no case to remaine absolued from their othe and obedience of which pointes we may not at al dispute seing our defence is onlie general that the Pope may in some cases excōmunicate for some causes depriue and in many respectes fight and wage warre for Religion And it may be thought that the Protestants would neuer denie this but in regard of their owne particuler interest in some priuate case only For they wil not affirme neither doth it displease them as we thinke that Pius Quintus the last Pope was an Author of the late league and warres against the Turke The Popes vvarre against the Turke and had also his Captaines and banners displayed in that renouned battail against him by the same Against whos armes the Turke notwithstanding might as wel haue alleaged the Scriptures as now our Protestantes doe to make him put vp his sword For in truth if it be lauful for him to occupie his forces which God hath giuen him against the heathen that be no way vnder his iurisdiction much more may he employ them against thes whom he accompteth as Rebels to the Church which be properlie vnder his correction first in respect of their soules and then secondarilie of their tēporal goodes so farre as is requisite to their soules good Al which is most true euen in consideration of his Priestlie and Apostolical function onelie as is plane in Phinees whos priesthood was established vpon his zealous pursuing the enimies of God to death with his owne hand But further marking that the high Priestes of Godes people haue bene lightlie in al ages temporal Princes also and iudges of the world not onlie in spiritual but in worldlie affaires too ther can no doubt remaine but they may vse their forces temporal to the maintenance of iustice Gen. 14. Hebr. 7. Melchisedech the samplare of our new preisthood was both a Priest and a King and alwaies in the lawe of nature the eldest of the principal stockes were both Kinges and high Preistes In quaest Hebrai Priestes may make vvarres for iust occasiōs as S. Hierome witnesseth So is it plane that Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob and the like had the rule spiritual and temporal ouer their families and people And so likewise in the lawe Moyses was both the highe temporal officer and also a cheefe Preist Hely iudged not onelie in temporal but spiritual causes fortie yeares together Finallie the Machabees Iudas Ionathas Simeon and others were both godlie high Preistes wise iudges in politique and valiant captaines in martial affaires Euen so the cheefe Bishops of Christes Church our supreme Bastors in earth by Gods prouidence and by the grauntes of our first most christian Emperours and kinges and by the humble and zelous deuotion of the faithful Princes and people afterward haue their temporal states dominions and patrimonies wherby they most iustlie hould and possesse the same and are therby lauful Princes temporal and may most rightfullie by their soueraintie make warres in their owne or other mens iust quarel as occasion shal vrge them therunto The Popes temporal iurisdiction most lavvful and firme And whatsoeuer the enimies of Gods Church and Sea Apostolique doe barke or blaspheme against the Popes high preeminence in thes thinges as they doe no lesse in deed against al spiritual Soueraintie their is no King nor man in Christendome that hath better title to his state or so manie yeares of prescription for rightful possession or so long and sure protection frō God in such infinite mutabilitie of states and kingdomes or such great likelihood of cōstancy and continuance as hath the temporal state of the Sea Apostolique For as for the spiritual function and power therof it shal not faile til the day of iudgemēt though to vse S. Augustines wordes Heretiques neuer cease to bay and barke on euerie hand round about it Li. de vtil credendi And as thes humane succours of temporal thinges be often necessarie for the Churches peaceable regiment and the dooble honor due to the cheefe Pastors of our soules so the free gift of such thinges by deuout Princes and people is maruelouslie commended in the example of Barnabas and others who of deuotion sould their landes goodes and dedicated the price therof to Gods Church by the disposition of the Apostles humblie laying the same doune at their feete As on the other side the prophane persons that disdaine such honours and liuelihoodes of the Church and seeke to defraud her of the same may be warned by the terrible death of Ananias and Saphira which they suffred by S. Peters word for their like sacrilegious fact conceipt For if thes were thought worthie to be thus excommunicated seing it was an excommunication according to S. Augustines iudgemēt and withal were so extremlie punished corporallie Lib. 3. ca. 1. cont Parmeni for witholding vpon pretence perhaps of a litle better consideration of their necessitie to come a peece onely of that which they promised to God before in the Churches behalf and yet was not actuallie bestowed How much more doe they deserue excommunication and death or rather damnation perpetual that endeuour to spoile the Mother and Mistres of al Churches in the world of her prerogatiue and patrimonie and sacrilegiouslie to robbe her not of some part of their owne giftes but of al that by the deuotiō of others the first and most faithful Princes hath bene for the honour of Christ and his cheefe Apostle with great alacrity and good wil bestowed that way The which almes and patrimony dispensed by the godly prudence and charitie of the Apostolique Bishops redoundeth more to the auaile of Gods Church and the poore therof to Christes honour and to the benefite of al Christianitie be it spoken without comparison to the honour of God alone thē anie temporal Princes patrimony liuīg though many of their worldly habilities be farre greater thē any Popes are or
Libeller calleth in our Queene her Maiesties Regalitie is Abominatio desolationis fortold by Daniel What would this holie Father haue said if he had seene Cromvvel Cromvvel Vicar general made the Vicar general to K. Henrie in Spiritualibus and sit among and before al the Bishops and Archbishops of the Realme in their conuocations If he had heard tel of Sigillum Reginae ad causas ecclesiasticas of her commissioners and courts of her deposing and creating Bishops and determining of Religiō at her pleasure Kinges nether Catholiques nether Heretiques euer went thus farre being much more capable then anie womā can be Of which sexe S. Chrisostome sayeth thus Lib. 2. de Sacerd. VVhen it cometh to the gouernment of the Church and charge of soules al vvomankind must needes vvholie giue place That not onelie Athanasius the great but the ancient Osius Leontius S. Hilarie and other did so sharplie reprehend it in that heretical king Constantius might haue forewarned our Countrie and her Maiesties Councellours to haue taken heed as wel of the like absurditie as of the suspition of Heresie that in mens heades might seeme to be ingendred therbie seing that such as first attēpted it were notorious Arrians But to giue the same and farre more superioritie to a womā wherof as you see by S. Chrisostome she cannot possiblie be capable that passeth al the barbarous flatterie and follie in the world and maketh our nation a verie fable to al nations and to the posteritie Which in truth is not to make her next to God in her Realme as the Libeller saith but to make her the God of her people Hovv neer the Libeller doth make the Queene God Frō which cogitation though of her self hauing so manie meanes to put her in mind of her mortalitie we doubt not but shee is verie farre yet truelie this abhominable and blasphemous adulation of some about her Highnes may breed great tentations As we see in certaine of the old heathen Emperours who neuer rested til they were adored with diuine honour The next step vnto which is doubtles to say and beleeue that a temporal King is aboue the Priest in causes ecclesiastical or that in a Christian Common-weale the next dignitie to Christ or God is not the Priest but the Prince and so arrogate the regiment of the Church to a Queene which S. Paul expreslie testifieth to be giuen to Bishops Act. 20. saying Take heed to your selues and to the vvhole flocke vvherin the Holie-Ghost hath placed you Bishops to rule the Church of God c. Touching which our English singular absurditie it is the greatest pitie in the world to see them so manie yeares after so much holie blood protesting against that iniquitie and so manie learned mens admonitions persist in the same and to alleage stil thos scriptures so impertinentlie for the Princes vsurped spiritual soueraintie by which Claudius or Nero in whos daies and of whom the Apostle spake specially might as wel chalenge to be aboue S. Peter and Paul in the gouernment of the Church and in causes ecclesiastical as anie Christian king that now liueth Marke this reason For whē S. Peter admonished the Christians to whom he wrote and al other in them To be subiect to the king as excelling or preeminent which place our aduersarie so confidentlie alleageth first 1. Pet. 2.13 can anie man be so dul or obstinatlie blind The absurdities of Protestants in founding the Q. spiritual Supremacie vpon S. Peters vvord as to thinke that he prescribeth anie other dutie towardes the king then was common both to the Pagane Princes at that time persecuting the Church to Christiā kinges afterward protecting the Church Secondlie can anie Protestant be so peeuish to pretend herebie that the heathen Emperours by reason of this subiection to them that the Apostle prescribeth and by their Emperial dignitie should be aboue S. Peter Paul or Christ him self in the Church of God or in ecclesiastical regiment for Christ behaued him self to the Emperour in his daies as the Apostle here commaundeth Christians to doe and that the Apostolical preeminence or our Sauiours owne Preesthood among the faithful should not be esteemed so highe in truth and afore God as the regalitie of Nero or any other ether faithful or heathen tēporal power Thirdlie can they be so ignorāt as not to see the king to be called the cheefe or precellīg by the Apostle not in comparison or respect of the spiritual dignitie but in regard of his Dukes Presidentes and other lieutenants vnder him as the text it self plainlie geueth Fourthlie can not our aduersaries discerne the causes in which both Christian Priestes religious and al other men as S. Chrisostome writeth doe owe obedience to lauful kinges whether they be heathen or faithful from thos matters wherin nether Pagane nor Christian Prince may commaund the Priest nor people that is in religion and affaires of the soule Fiftlie could they not espie by the wordes of S. Peter next going before that the occasion of his writing of this obedience to Princes was to teach the faithful how they should behaue them selues in companie of the heathen without offence Who amōg other thinges slaundered and charged the Christians of treason conspiracies and disobedience to their Prince euen as our Protestants doe Catholiques because they would not leaue their Christian faith and exercises at their commaundement nor obey them before God and their holie Pastours in matter of faith and conscience For stopping of al which false slaunderous tonges S. Peter The true meaning and cause of S. Peters vvordes required thē to obey their Princes in al worldlie tēporal ciuil matters to pay their tribute keepe their ciuil lawes liue peaceablie and lowlie amongst them yea to pray for them whether they tollerate the Christian religiō or persecute the same Lastlie could our Libeller and his fellowes be in truth so grosse as not to consider that though the Apostles and holie Bishops of thos first times when the Emperours were yet heathen strangers to Christ and his Church could haue no superioritie ouer them nor vse anie discipline towardes them the other acknowledging no dutie or subiection to the Apostles or spiritual gouernours of the faithful people yet now when the Princes of the world haue submitted them selues and their people to the Ghospel of Christ and to his sweet yoke and are become members and childrē of the Church as the spiritual power oweth in worldlie thinges honour and obedience to his temporal soueraine so likewise that the secular power must of reason yeeld honor and subiection to the spiritual in affaires of faith soule and religion ether of them hauing meanes in their kind of superioritie to force by lawes penaltie discipline the other to obedience and due subiection if ether should rebel agaīst the other Wherin because the spiritual power consisteth in thinges Quae sunt ad Deum and that concerne our soules and
the conducting of them to life and peace euerlasting and the temporal perteineth principallie to the good and trāquilitie of this trāsitorie life comparing thē both together it must needes be cōfessed that the spiritual is the higher nearer and liker to the Soueraintie of God ouer his reasonable creatures thē is the terrene power or Humane creature as the Apostle here termeth the King his presidēts 2. Pet. 7. So as euerie power both spiritual and temporal being of God as S. Paul teacheth and obedience and subiection due to both in their kind though in seueral subiects causes and respectes yet is it most cleare that of the two the ecclesiastical power and regiment is more excellent In respect wherof S. Ignatius The subordination of the tvvo povvers according to S. Ignatius giueth this order in honoring and respecting our superiours Honour God the author and Lord of al and the Bishop as the Prince of Priestes being the Image of God and holding his Princedome of him and his Priesthood of Christ Epist ad Smirnē And after him you must honor also the King For none is to be preferred before God nor equal to him nor more honorable in the Church then the Bishop exercising the Priesthood of God for the saluation of the vvorld Nether is anie equal to the King in the hoste or campe procuring peace and beneuolence to the other Princes vnder him For he that honoreth the Bishop shal be honored of God and he that dishonoreth him shal of God be dishonored For if anie man rising against the king is vvorthie of damnation hovv can he escape Gods iudgementes that attempteth anie thing against or vvithout the Bishop For Priesthood is the cheef and somme of al mans good vvhich vvho so euer disgraceth dishonoreth God and our Lord IESVS CHRIST the chefe Priest of God c. And if anie man list farther to see what the olde Christian Emperours thought and acknowledged in this matter The opiniō practise of old Christian Emperours in this cause and how they behaued them selues towardes Gods priestes in al causes of religion and spiritual affaires and with what honour priuilege and prerogatiue they respected their persons and holie calling euen in temporal causes let him reade Zozomenus how Constantine the great behaued him self towardes the Bishopes in the first Councel of Nice Li. 2. ca. 2. trip and S. Augustines 162. epistle of the same Emperours contentment to aske pardon of the Bishopes for taking vpon him to deale in the Cause of Caecilian properlie perteining to them S. Ambrose epistle 32. of Valentinian the elders lawe that in ecclesiastical causes none should iuditiallie deale that were not of the same order The like he writeth of the Emperour Gratians behauiour in the Councel of Aquileia And to be breefe let him reade the Emperour Iustinianus sixt constitution wher he both putteth the true difference betwixt the Priesthood and the Empire and preferreth that before this saying thus The greatest giftes of God among men Auth. Quomodo oport Episcop c. in p. is the Priestood and the Empire of vvhich tvvo the former hauing the administration of diuine thinges the other of humane both proceeding of one beginning doe adorne mans life c. And thus it is euen in thos Countries where the Church and Ciuil state concurre in one common wealth wher like as the Prelates be in some respect and causes subiect to the temporal Prince so againe the Prince and state reciprocallie in spiritual matters are obedient to the Church Prelates ether of them deferring due honor to the other but the spiritual souerantie euer preferred among the faithful though for worldlie power force and glorie most necessarie to keepe the people in awe order kinges doe lightlie exceed the other Which exterior shew and splendour of Prince the Prelates of their seueral dominions doe most humblie by al seruice and office manteine But now for the Pope cheefe of al Bishopes and Christian people being in respect of his temporal state subiect to no Prince nor Potentat of the world and for his spiritual dignitie and iurisdiction farre passing al the Prelates of particular Churches and prouinces his principalitie being in nether kind subiect or subalternate to anie other he must needes be greater and more pearles without al exception and limitation And though his state and authoritie temporal be not holden nor chalenged by Gods expresse lawe immediatlie of him as the spiritual supremacie is The prouidēce of God for the Popes tēporal povver which he hath and holdeth immediatlie and directlie of Christ yet it is Gods great prouidence that sith the Emperours and Kinges haue bene christened and submitted them selues to the obedience of Christ and his Church that the cheefe Bishop should for the honour of Christ and his high dignitie be made free from al subiection by the Princes and Emperours owne grauntes be possessed of the capital Citie of al the world Which could neuer haue bene brought to passe nor so manie worlde 's continued in the reuolutions changes and ouerturninges of so many kingdomes states great Monarchies round about him had it not bene done by Gods special pleasure ordinance to the end that being subiect to none he might with more libertie lesse danger and greater indifferencie doe iustice to al and vse discipline without feare or respect of persons as wel towardes great as smal Which if he were subiect to some secular Princes as most other Bishopes are could hardlie be done In which case also some of our ignorant Heretiques as among other this Libeller be so vnsensible that they sticke not to alleage the saying of S. Paul Absurd allegatiō of S. Paul by the Libeller Rom. 13. That euerie soule must be subiect to superiour povver to proue therbie as it seemeth that the Pope should be obedient to our Queene or to some other particular king As though euerie person should be subiect to euerie power or to anie other then to him that hath superioritie ouer him or in anie other matters then wherin he hath superioritie may commaund Or as though God had onelie ordeined secular power and commaunded al obedience therunto and not appointed spiritual power and prelacie with charge of subiection vnto the same also With such grosse felowes the Church hath to doe that nether haue sense reason nor religion and which alleage that for obedience to earthlie powers onelie which ether in expresse wordes or by necessarie sequele much more commendeth subiection to spiritual powers As with like blindnes the man also alleageth this our Sauiours sentence The Kinges of the Gentils haue rule over them Luc. 22. but you not so to proue that Popes should arrogate no temporal authoritie but feede onelie as he saith Peter did and manie of the next Popes after him Which he would neuer haue cited if he had knowen that hereby onelie al tirannical domination vsed among the heathen Princes
iote or circumstance though neuer so much cōmoditie might ensue therof Which matter of libertie of Conscience we moue not perchāce for our owne benefite so much as for our aduersaries weale and worldlie securitie wherof they wil seeme to haue both mistrust and sollicitude And perhaps the wisdome of God wil sound otherwise and say to vs Mat. 20.22 Nescitis quid petatis iudging it to be farre more to his honour and glorie and the breefer way to saluation of our whole Nation The vvay of persecution more sure for vs. and of moe soules in particular that we should passe through this persecution and winne our owne and our brethrens saluation by our blood And indeed if the Germane Catholiques had bene so restreined persecuted put to death as the English haue bene thes years and had not gone by halfes with the Protestantes as in some places they haue done they had had perhaps farre moe Catholiques at this day and them more zealous and their whole nation perchance reduced ere this which now for the protestants standeth not so much on their religion or conscience in Heresie as vpon their mutual peace concord and concurrence with Catholiques Wel what were best for vs in this case God onelie knoweth Ro. 6.19 Nos humanum dicimus propter infirmitatem nostram as the Apostle speaketh But sure we are that the first best for our English nation as wel Prince as people were both in respect of God and the world of them selues and other men Tvvo vvaies of composition very profitable to the realme to restore the state againe to the obedience of Gods Church and to the happy felowship of al their forefathers other faithful people Princes now liuing The next best were in respect of their owne securitie and perpetuitie if the first may not take place to desist from persecuting their Catholique subiectes and brethren and to graunt some libertie for exercise of their consciences diuine offices and holie deuotions that so they may pray for her Maiesty and Councellors as their Patrones whom now they pray for onelie as their Persecutours If to none of thes conditions they can be brought but wil haue our bodies goods life and soules The Conclusion then let our Lord God the iust Arbitrer of al thinges and Iudge of Princes as wel as poore men and the onelie comforter of the afflicted discerne our cause In whos holie name word and promis we confidentlie tel them and humblie euen in Christs blood pray them to consider of it that by no humane force or wisdome they shal euer extinguish the Catholique partie ouercome the holie Church or preuaile against God Ther can no Herode kil Christ in his cradle Math. 3. Exod. 1. Hest 7. nor anie Pharao droune our male sexe and destroy Gods people nor anie Aman extirpate the stocke of Iacob Let them seeke with al desperation to diminish bridle spoile impouerish disgrace and extinguish the whole generation of Catholiques at home and in banishment let them by artificial Libels as this against which we haue written and otherwise by most impudent lies and fictions slaunder vs charge vs with treasons and other trespasses Mentientes propter Christum belying vs for Christs sake let them confederate them selues against vs with al the Protestants Turkes Sectaries and Atheistes in the world yet the Catholiques that is the seede of God wil encrease in number power and zeale the Priestes wil not leaue of to folowe their dutiful trade with more spirite diligence deuotion patience and cōstancie then euer before remembring the aduertisement of their Maister Mat. 10.22 that he shal be saued that perseuereth to the ende as also that worthie record left in scripture of Esay the great faithful Prophet qui spiritu magno vidit vltima Eccl. 48. as the holy-Ghost saieth of him for that his corage neuer failed him in Gods seruice to the end The persecutours be now no stronger then thy were of old The Church is no weaker then she had wont to be Her assistant and defender is as neere her as euer he was We are no better thē our forefathers We lesse feare death and lesse set by our liues then euer before Our countes are cast allowed it is better to die in this Apostolical fight and cōbat Quà m videre mala gentis nostrae sanctorum 1. Mach. 3.59 assuring our selues that to be vndoubted which S. Leo writeth Nullo crudelitatis genere destrui potest Sacramento Crucis fundata religio Leo. Non minuitur persecutionibus Ecclesia sed augetur That the religion founded in the sacrament of Christs Crosse can be destroied by no kind of crueltie The Church is not diminished by persecutions but encreased And that S. Augustine saith Nemo delet de Coelo constitutionem Dei Nemo delet de terra Ecclesiam Dei Laus Deo THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKE THAT many Priests and other Catholiques in England haue bene persecuted condemned and executed for mere matter of religion and for transgression onely of nevv statutes vvhich doe make cases of Conscience to be treason vvithout al pretēce or surmise of any old treasons or statutes for the same Cap. 1. 1 That F. Campian and the rest of the Priests and Catholiques endited condemned and executed vpon pretence of treason and vpon statutes made of old against treasons vvere neuer yet guiltie of anie such crimes but vniustly made avvay Cap. 2. 18 That vve novv haue great cause to complaine of iniust persecution intollerable seuerity and cruelty tovvardes Catholiques in England and their Protestantes no reason to doe the like for the Iustice done to them in Queene MARIES and other Princes dayes and the cause of the difference Cap. 3. 34 That our Priests and Catholique brethren haue behaued them selues discretlie nothing seditiouslie in their ansvvers to the questions of the Bul of Pius Quintus and that they can not laufullie be pressed nor put to death as traitors by the true meaning of th' olde lavves of the Realme for the same vvith examination of the six Articles proposed about the said Bul. Cap. 4. 59 Of excommunication and depriuation of Princes for Heresie and falling from the Faith speciallie of vvarres for Religion and of the office and Zeale of Priests of th' old nevv lavv in such cases Cap. 5. 89 That it is much to the benefite and stability of Common-vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the differences betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize Cap. 6. 116 Of the late vvarres in Ireland for religion hovv the Pope may vse the svvord and that the differences betvvixt temporal Princes and him or their resisting him in some cases of their vvorldlie interest can be no vvarrant to the Protestants to contemne his censures or authoritie in matter of Faith and Religion Cap. 7. 134 That the separation of the Prince and Realme from the vnitie of the Church and Sea Apostolique and fal from Catholique religion is the onely cause of al the present feares and dangers that the State seemeth to stand in And that they vniustly attribute the same to the Popes Holines or Catholiques and vntruly cal them enimies of the Realme Cap. 8. 161 The conclusion conteining a charitable motion and a ioinder vvith the Libeller touching some meanes of tolleration in Religion and ceasing or mitigating this cruel Persecution Cap. 9. 209 The faultes correct thus Pag. Lin. Read 49. 33. faith brought faith that they brought 55. 20. persecuted prosecuted 60. 17. as Blasphemy as Heresy Blasphemy Ibid. 30. spititual spiritual 64. 34. obyed obeyed 77. 1. Ecommunicatiō Excommunication 90. 15. fouerers fauorers 98. 7. Common weath Common wealth 144. 15. Bastours Pastours 182. 28. causes causers 195. 13. can much can not much