Catholiques are subiect vnto in respect of the power malice iniquitie of priuate aduersaries when they list seinge that publique lawes do yelde so muche authoritie to euerye mā almoste that woold seeke a cauill or sclaunder against them To beginne therfore with thes lawes it is first to be knowen that there are two kinde of lawes at dyuers times set furth in dissauoure and punishemēt of the Catholique religion The one which concerneth monye possessions and other goodes bothe of fortune bodye which I thinke maie be called penall or monye lawes The other which maie rather be called bloodie or capitall lawes for that thei inflicte deathe vnto the offenders And to this diuision of lawes will I applye my speeche folowinge Amongest the penall lawes I will put that as first which was made amongest the last for the punishement of those whiche for conscience sake refuse to come to the protestants churches For this poynt the aduersarie vrgeth greatlie that all beyt the Catholiques be of an other religion thoughe they detest Caluinisme in their harts thoughe they abhorr all prayers and cōuenticles of the ministers and accompt their seruice for most wicked blasphemouse yet must they come to yt they must assist and shewe them selues present albeyt with a repynyng and resistinge conscience And because some do refuse to synn in such horrible wyse against god and their owne consciēces therfore this lawe was made against these scrupulouse men for soothe that who so euer should refuse to come to the protestants churche to heare diuine seruice as they call yt yf he be aboue the age of sixtene yeres shall forfeyte twētye powndes Englishe euerye monethe and he which can not paye to lye in prysō vntill he be of better habilitie to paye The rest of those lawes folowe here in order VVho so euer shall be conuicted to haue hearde masse though it were secretlye shall fuffer imprisonement the space of one whole yere and so longe after vntil he paye a hundrede marke But as for the priest which celebrateth masse he shall neuer be lett owte of prison till he haue payde two hundred marks And that somme of money must be payd so oft as any offendeth herein VVhat soeuer Ecclesiasticall persone shall not make publike detestation of the romane Religion and openlie abiure the authoritie and iurisdiction of the byshopp of Rome shall forfaite all his benefices and all his dignities ecclesiasticall what soeuer No Scholer or student maye haue any place with in the Colleiges of the vniuersities or be preferred to any degree of Learning excecpt such as at his fyrst entry in to the Colleige and at the taking of euerye degree doth by solemne othe denie the byshopp of Romes authoritie in all causes Ecclesiasticall None may haue any publique Office or other ministerie in the common welthe except he fyrst solemlye publishe the self same abiuration of the byshopp of Rome No warde comyngeto full age may enter in to his inheritaunce or enioye any cōmodities there of except he fyrst take the same othe VVho so euer vnder degree of a Baron shall be called as ostentimes it hapneth to be one of the parliamēt in which courte voices were wont to be most free must neuer the lesse haue no voice there yf he will not take the sayde common othe against the Pope VVhat persone so euer vnder degree of a baron to whome this othe hath bene twyse ministered doeth the second time refuse the same shall for fait all his goods and possessions be condemned to perpetuall pryson VVho so euer denieth the quene to be supreme heade of the Churche of England in causes Ecclesiasticall shall sustein the same Penaltie of losse of all his goodes and of perpetuall imprysonment VVho so euer receiueth or kepeth any Agnus dei Rosaries halowed graines medalls or anie other thnig which is halowed by the Pope and broght in to England shall endure the same punishement of losse of all his goods and of perpetuall imprysonment Yf any kepe a Scholemaster in hys howse to teache hys owne childeren or others which dothe not haunt the churche of protestants or is not by one of their by shopps alowed he shall for that cause forfeit ten pounds for euerie month vntill he haue remoued him Yf anie do knowe one whiche hathe reconciled another to the vnitie and cōmunion of the churche of Rome and yf he doe by any waye or meane ayde eyther the reconciler or the reconciled or do conceale th one or thother in suche wise as he doe not discouer them bothe to some publique magistrate with in the space of twentye dayes then next folowenige he shall forfait all his good as well mouable as vnmouable and all his possessions whiles he lyueth and his bodie shall remaine to be disposed as pleaseth the queene VVho so euer dothe know any persone to haue procured an other to be reconciled to the faith and religion of Rome thowghe he hymselfe be no reconciler nor is reconciled yet yf suche a one doe by any way or meane releue or succoure the sayd procurer or yf he doe conceall or not discouer the same procurer to some magistrate as is aboue sayde shall incurr the same punyshement VVho so euer dothe know any persone to haue counseled an other to be recōciled to the Romaine Religion thowgh he hym self dyd not procure it at all yet yf he any way ayde such a counsayler or cōceale or not discouer hym as is before sayd he shall haue the same punishmét Yf one know any to haue persuaded procured or counseled an other to obeye the byshopp of Rome in causes Ecclesiasticall and yet dothe ayde hym cōceale or not bewraye hym as is aboue say de shall endure the fame payne and punishement VVho so euer knoweth any which hathe suffered hym self to be perfuaded to obey the byshopp of Rome in causes Ecclesiasticall or which hathe promised ani obediēce to him for the time to come and yet dothe any way ayde or conceale suche a one or doeth not discouer hym within twentie dayes as is aforesayde he shall suffer the same penaltie of losse of all his goods and possessions and of imprisonment He which knoweth anye priest to haue absolued an other and yet doeth ayde or conceale hym or doeth not geue knowleige of hym in sufficient tyme as is aforesayd shall be condemned in the same penaltye Yf any know a priest to haue authoritie to absolue albeit the priest exercyse not the same nor absolue any yf he eyther helpe or conceale hym or do not discouer hym as is aforesayd he shall abyde the same payne VVho so euer knoweth any to pretēd to haue authoritie to absoluet hough in dede he haue none and yet doeth ayde or conceale hym or not discouer hym as is aforesayd he shall suffer the same punishement Yf any knowe one to be absolued
fayne doe the matter it selfe declareth euidentlye in that they are not content with the seueritie now vsed but earnestlie call for sharper more painfull lawes euerye daye And yet verylie I doe not thinke that anie Christian can haue so hard and yroned a harte onlesse he haue lost bothe feelinge of humanitie and faithe but might be moued to compassion with theyse extremities which oure poore Catholiques doe suffer For no lamentable distresse can be imagined in anye kynde of calamitie well nighe which theyse men do not daylie beare no trouble in anye condition of men can be thought on which they doe not continuallye susteyne In so muche as they may moste truelie say with the Apostle in tribulatiūs in necessities in distresses in strypes in prysons in tumultes in labors And with the same soldioure of Christe in an other place in perills vvith in the Citie in perills in vvildernes in perills in the sea in perills amonge false brethren in trauaile and miserie Yea they may allso say further as the Apostle saythe euen in deathe oftētimes Yet further that same may be applyed vnto thē and not vnaptlye Skornefull mockes and beatings haue they felt ouer and besyde bothe fetters and prysōs they haue bene racked they haue bene cutt and mangled they haue abydden temptations and trialls they haue bene slayne vvith the svvoorde And to conclude that same allso verye fytlie agreeth vnto them vve are made a spectacle to the vvorlde to angels and to men vve are euell spoken of and vve say vvell of others vve suffer and endure persecution vve are blasphemed and vve pray for them vve are accompted the parings of the vvorlde and the refuse of all to this daye But to make all theyse more euident it shall not be perhaps farr from the purpose yf I touche euerye thing yet more particularlie And fyrst to speake of the last executiō whiche oure Catholiques do endure in the ende of all yt can not be doubtful I think to anie how manye men and what maner of men haue bene put to moste paynfull deathe as strangled bowelled cut in sunder boyled and dispersed by peece meale in the ayre and all for religion and though our aduersaries for more reproche make a surmise of treason yet the matter is manifest and they them selues do not denye that only religion is the cause of this deathe I make no mention here of the greate nōber of those moste reuerend bishopps doctors priests and other confessors of Christ whiche in pryson haue bene either choked with filthie stinkyng sauour or cōsumed with sorowe and hungar whose causes we referr to the Iudgement seate of Christe alone I speake here of them onelye whiche openly in the sight of all men haue geuē testimonie to the truethe with their owne bloode VVho besydes the verye torment of the executiō that common contumelie where in they die in the opinion of the people as traitors to the state and not as Catholiques haue allso for the moste part this rewarde and good turne geuen them whan they are deade that they are slaundered in dispersed libells with some notable false surmise throwne oute against their maners and doctrine In this wise verie latelie whan they had hanged on their common gallowes that godlie and zelouse priest Euerard Hanse and were affrayed leste some perchaunce wolde be moued with the martyrdome of that Innocent they gaue owt in two contrarie bookes th one impugnyng thother certaine monstruouse errors and paradoxes I knowe not what and made this deade man theauthor thereof Suche as this that the bishopp of Rome can not sinne where as in trueth maister Hanse dyd speake expresselye of the doctrine of faithe that is to be published to the vniuersall churche and therin only he sayd that the pope could not erre And this is an other that no prince hath anye supremacie vvithin his ovvne dominions sauing the byshopp of Rome onlie where in dede he spake onlie of the supremacie of the Catholique churche in causes Ecclesiasticall And this allso that no treasō against the quene of Englād is a synn VVheras being nowe at the point redie to be executed to deathe and repeting his owne woords diuers tymes before the people there present he affirmed that he spake not of euery kinde of treason but of that onlie for the which withowt desert he was then in dyeing and which his aduersaries vndiscretely call treasō being in truethe no other thing than a nedefull confession of the Catholique faithe For now by the recitall of the lawes before mencioned yt is manifeste how many cheefe points and principles of oure faithe they haue drawne to the case of hyghe treason In this point therfore oure aduersaries excede the malice of auncient persecutors that they do not make knowen the true cause why they martyre men though them selues doe confesse the same And yet the deuell in those formoste tymes hade sowne muche seede of this iniquitie whē S. Paule as pernicious seditious yea oure sauioure Christ as one seducing the people forbyddinge to paye tribute to Caesar were moste īiuriously slaundered But nowe it is I suppose skant woorthe the laboure to put downe here in writing with how greate reproches with what outcries with how many mocks and skorns with howsower and spite full skoffes with how bitter and vnsauourye taunts with what rustling noyse and dynne of mutteringe male cōtents and fowle mowthed detractors theyse our martyrs were strangled and in the sight of all the people rent and torne in peeces for the thinge of it selfe is lothesome to the eyes and terrible to the eares O howe pitifull is owre case whiche are fallen in to these tymes whan we see so greate rigoure practised by christians againste christians for the christian faithe And thus muche for the paynes and punishements ordeined for Catholiques Nowe lett vs saye somethinge of the cōtumelies that they abyde before their deathes but it is an infinit endlesse matter it can not be expressed in fewe woords For I thinke verelie that Catholiques no where in the world no not amonge Moores Gothes Tartars Saracens Turcks or whatsoeuer other confederats or sworne enemies of Christe could be more skornfullie than they are by these contumeliouse and disdeinfull new gospellers Yf they take a priest at masse a man wold marueyle to see how impiouslye how despitefilly they behaue them selues First for the sacred yea and consecrated hoste they take it away with violence treade it vnder foote thrust it through with knyues and daggers fasten it to a poste and with great wounder showe it to Catholiques insult and triumphe against yt in all skoffing and skornfull maner and call it suche is their blasphemie the wheaten or breadie god of papists Now as to the priest whan they haue after their maner first intreated hym yll withein doores then they bring hym forthe abroade and in the selfe same attyre
were he willyngly absolued vppon his owne sute or wittingly dyd but suffer hym selfe to be absolued thoughe he neuer desired it yet yf he any waye succoure or conceale hym or do not geue notice of hym as is aforesayde he shall haue the same punishement VVho so euer knoweth anie to haue dissuaded an other frō the religiō nowe publiklie vsed in Englād of intēt to draw hym to the obedience of the bysopp and religion of Rome or knoweth any to haue bene a procurer mouer or counseler to such dissuadyng of any other and doeth by any way or meane helpe conceale or not discouer hym to a magistrate withein the space of twentie dayes as is a foresayd he shall endure the same penalties punishements and paynes so often now remembred vvhiche is asmuche to saye in effect as he shall lose all the ioyes comforthes commodities which this mortall life can velde to mā And thus muche for so farras I now doe remēber towching the penall lawes By these onelye though ther were no capitall lawes a man may easilye coniecture in how hard termes the Catholiques now in Englande doe stande against whome so many dredefull and moste perilous lawes are layed lyke snares for their destructiō who can haue a quiet mynde whan he is withoute securitie to enioye but one houre the verye necessaries wher with he showld lyue beinge on euerie syde hedged and listed yn with so many menasing lawes the dawngers whereof he is not able to eschewe except he wold be come impiouse how great a swaye doe cauills beare among these Lawes how great force hath malice here how muche oportunitie is geuen to iniquitye Behold I praye you Yf any persone do eyther ayd or cōceale the reconciler or the reconciled the absoluer or the absolued the procurer counceler dissuader or suche like he is guiltie saith the law of an haynouse crime worthie to be punished with losse of al his goods yea and of his libertie allso Let the matter it selfe passe consider but onelye how wyde open to all iniustice the Catholiques do lye by meanes of thes lawes yf one by chaunce or vnwittingly should receaue in to his house some of the a foresayd persones and a quareling felow wold accuse hym that he dyd yt wittinglie how cowld he be hable in this case to defend him selfe or what supportatiō might he finde for his owne innocēcye If one wold dissuade a man from the heresie of Caluin and neuer speake word at all of the byshopp of Rome howe shall it appeare that he is not guiltie of treason I meane how shall he be able to bring in euidence that he dyd not dissuade with this intent that the other should reiect the phātasies of Caluin and submitt hym selfe to the bisshopp churche of Rome Yes yow will say the perill may be easilie auoyded if this felow showlde plain lye moue one to the religion of puritanes Anabaptists Arians or yet of Atheists In verie trueth I beleue it well And surelie yt is not vnproblable that this same clause was so smothelye couched to the rest by the penner of the lawe in fauoure and maintenance of these and suche like heresies Oh how miserable is the condicion of these owre dayes And thus muche touching cauillation and surmise Novv as to the vnequalitie of these lavves what should a man say thereof syth therbye at this daye in England the father is bownde to accuse hys sonne the husband hys wyfe the brother his brother the penitent his ghostlie father the seruant hys master as yf it were for a myschoeuouse crime And wherfore I praye yow forsoothe for the Catholique religion vnder which we were borne with which we were brought vpp and instructed and the verie same whiche all other princes doe embrace and defende The like to this withoute doubt no age past hath tasted no memorie of oure forefathers hathe heard no antiquitie of former worldes hathe sene These are the braynsick phantasies onlie of oure dayes the variable innouacions of particular places the flexible willfullnesse of mans mynde the moste vaine cogitatiōs of fleshe and bloode whereby men doe attempt to exchaunge the vnmutable truthe of Christ for their owne phantasies to serue their owne turnes in respect of their owne commodities But let vs yet see mo of these seuere lawes that ys the capitall lawes whiche before I haue called bloodye lawes in this respect for that they lye in wayte of bloode and doe assaile the verie lyfe of man And in these lawes first of all there is one thing not vnmete to be noted that all thes lawes doe concern religiō onlye and yet neuer the lesse they doe inferr not only the payne of deathe but suche a payne as ys prouided for offenses committed against her maiesties persone whiche of all other is a most greuouse moste odiouse payne as due for the most flagitiouse crime and that ys treason or rebellion And this course oure aduersaries doe take of speciall purpose that the deathe of Catholiques snoulde not seeme to be a martyrdome but rather might be conueyed throughe the eares of the ignorāt people vnder the infamouse blott of an haynouse crime and to the intent allso that the prince might more easilie be persuaded the Catholique religion to stand styfflie bent against her roiall scepter and daungerous to the securitie ofher regiment Now when this foundacion was ones laied yt was no hard matter for thē to procure what lawes they lusted against Catholiques Albeit in verye dede she of her owne disposition abhorreth suche violence and effusion of mans bloode But nowe I come to the lawes thus the first beginneth VVho so euer shall saye write affirme or by any maner of ciphar shall vtter or yet being demaunded shall confesse that the byshopp of Rome is heade of the churche of England or hathe there anie Iurisdiction in causes ecclesiasticall shall be reputed and taken for a traitor and shall endure such pains of deathe for faitures penalties as are prouided in cases of high treasō cōmitted against the state He which for any cause doth hereafter appeale to the Byssopp of Rome and obtein from hym bulls or other instrumēts and bring the same in to England shall endure the punishement of highe treason Yf any persone do hereafter bringe in to Englande any Agnus Dei as they call thē rosaries hallowed grains medalles crucifixes or any other thinge halowed of the Byshopp of Rome shall be reputed demed and taken for a traitor VVhat persone so euer beinge vnder the degree of a baron to whome the othe or abiuration against the popes authoritie and in the behalfe of the Quenes supreme powre ī causes ecclesisticall shall be thryse tendred doe at the third tyme refuse to sweare shall suffer the pains ordeined for highe treason VVo so euer by anie waie or meane doethe from hensefourthe say write signifie or beinge demaunded doeth cōfesse that the quene is
add to this the greate numbers of all religious people bothe men and vvomen in monasteries and other vvhere vvhiche perhaps vvere tvvise as manye as the other vve shall finde the number to arise verie greate vvhiche all lyuinge then vnmaried and chast or els shoulde haue donne if vve novv allovv them to marye and accounte to euerye coople but three or fovver children and so consequentlye to their children and childrens children vve shall see that the encrease of people vvilbe huge in one age and much more in manye ages follovvinge vvhiche all beinge norished by the commō vvealthe must needes pester greatlie the lande vvithe mayne multitude of people and they for the most parte ydle also for so are clergie mens children commonlye and consequentlye muche empouerishe the same Besides this if vve consider the necessitie of temporall prouisiō cast vppon clergye men by their mariage as to prouide first for the present needes and then for the tyme to come as iointer dovvrye or some portion for the vvife lyuinges for the children and the like vve shall finde that they can nether keepe that hospitalitie for the poore vvhiche vvas vvont nor spare the leases copieholdes and other offalles of Ecclesiasticall lyuinges to helpe other men as in times past vvas accustomed and muche lesse builde Colledges Churches and other suche monumentes of pietie vvhiche their predecessours haue donne Nay if the minister dye not and leaue often a packe of orphanes vppon the poore parishe it is more tollerable So that vve see that the mariage of the clergie men dyuers vvayes spoileth the poore commonaltie and consequentlye impayrethe greatlye the vvealpublique Sixthlye our religion prohibiteth landlordes to rayse their rentes or anye other vvaie to presse their tenantes except it vvere vppon some greate cause and vvithe greate moderation knovven and allovved of by spirituall men learned diuines and if they do it rashelie and immoderatlie our Churche dothe solemly once a yere accurse them VVhiche vvas the cause that our good forefathers in tymes past and esspeciallie all religious men vsed to let their landes at a reasonable rate vvhereby infinite men vvere sustained and holpen as appearethe by our Abbayes in tyme past in Englāde the vvante vvhereof the poore countries vvhiche dvvell aboute them do novv feele Seuenthlye our religion holdeth tovvchinge the state of mariage that vvho so euer is once lavvfullye contracted in vvedlocke to another albeit they maie be vppon cause deuorced from compaininge one vvithe an other yet can the bāde of mariage neuer be so broken as either partye maie marye againe duringe the others naturall lyfe And therfore they must ether reconcyle them selues together againe or els lyue chast VVhiche is a brydell to manye mischeefes that must nedes ensevv vppon our aduersaries contrarie doctrine and practise in this matter vvho allovve the diuorced to marye againe the other partie yet lyuinge VVhiche libertie layed open to maryed people geuethe occasion of easie mislyke and diuorce betvvixt them vppō hope to marye agayne vvhere they like better to the greate disturbance of common vvealthes in processe of tyme. Eightlie our religion teachethe a pointe abovvt magistrates vvhich greatlie concernethe the common vvealthe and the contrarye doctrine of our aduersaries is very muche hurt full and daungeruose vnto the same The point is this That vve teache all lavves of magistrates be the magistrate good or euill vvhiche are of thinges ether good or indifferent or not expressely against Gods commandement doe binde the subiectes consciences to obedience that is the subiectes are bovvnde in conscience to obey them not onlie externallye but also in priuate and secrete and to accounte it as a syn before God if they vvillinglye breake the same for that the magistrate vvhat soeuer is Gods minister VVerof it folovveth that the lavves of the cōmon vvealthe are obeyed trevvlie syncerelye as vvell in secret as in open shevve vvithe loue also and vvithout grudge or contempt to the magistrate But the protestant theachethe that no lavv of man byndeth the subiectes conscience to obedience vvherof it muste needes follovv that seinge the subiect obeyethe not of conscience but onelye for policie and in respect of externall punishement vvhen so euer he is not in feare of that punishment he vvithout scruple vvill contemne and breake that commaundement of his magistrate as for example he vvil eate fleshe in the lent in suche places and companyes vvhiche he is sure vvill not accuse him albeit the magistrates commaundement and proclamation be to the contrarie and so in the lyke VVhiche thinge is verye hurtfull daungerous as I haue saied to the vveale publique For besides the common breakinge of publique lavves in priuate and secrete places vvherby the magistrate grovvethe into contempt the state hurted if at anie tyme the subiectes or any faction of them shal be so stronge and hardie as not to feare the magistrates punishement vvhat shall cause them anye longer to obey Feare of punishment there is none In conscience by this doctrine they are not bounde vvhy then maie not they as vvell prescribe lavves to the magistrate as he to them In this pointe therfore Catholique religion more vpholdethe the vvealepublique then that of our aduersaries Ninthlye it is of no small importance vnto a Christian common vvealthe vvhose end is to keepe men vvithin the limites of vertue and honestie that vvhiche our religion teachethe of the difference of synnes and of the nature of concupiscence For tovv chinge the first as vve holde that as some synnes are greeuons and mortall so some are lighter called veniall that is suche as of their nature and by rigour of iustice deserue not eternall damnatiō and expell not alvvaye grace but may stande vvithe the same Mortall vve call for exāples sake as to be droncke veniall to drincke a litle more then a man shoulde Mortall to geeue consentin a mans harte to an euill cogitation veniall to be negligent in expellinge the same though he cōsent not Our aduersaries holde that all synnes be they neuer so litle are mortall of their ovvne natures and of them selues do deserue damnation Secondlye tovv chinge concupiscence vve holde that in the regenerate that is in Christians after baptisme the naturall inclination of lustinge lefte in man ad agonem as the auncient fathers doe terme it that is to stryue vvithall is not synne of it selfe except vve geeue consent to the motion Our aduersaries holde that the verye motion it selffe though no consent be geuen vnto it is syn Of this diuersitie of doctrine flovvethe greate diuersitie of effectes into the common vvealthe For ovvt of our doctrine ensuethe this that seinge the naturall motion of concupiscence in me to euill is not syn except I yealde vnto it I vvill striue against it and not yelde consent for sauinge of my soule Againe seinge there is a difference of synne yf I should be caried avvaye a litle further then
yow tell vs yf yow cā whē was this practise vsed anie where before these dayes In what barbarous Scythia was this asmuche as hearde of by anye report at any tyme that freeborne men of honest state condition lerned of good education well instructed and trayned vpp in gentlemanlye maner dedicated and vowed to the sacred functiō of priesthoode should be for the testimonie onlie of an auncient religion of lōge cōtinuance left vnto them by theire auncestours stauled vpp in cages to be racked on a payne banke as bondslaues were wonte to be and with dire and horrible paines greeues afflictiōs wrested and writhen owte of their ioynts vnlesse thei will appeache traiterously deliuer vp to the torture they re owne cōpaniōs in faithe and profession whiche to doe they are forbidden by the lawe of natiōs by the rule of nature by ciuile duetie by common honestie by euerye religion Ys this think yowe a verye iust cause of torture ys this a reasō effectuall enoughe to bringe men to theire inquisition speciallye so extreme so rigorouse so seruile a maner of inquisitiō for free born mē to endure dyd Catholiques in any aige practise this euen against the desperatest and peruersest heretiques Assuredlie yf there were nothing elles to admonishe a circūspect and attentiue persone of the fraude of heresie and of that desperate wickednesse vvhich lyeth lurkinge vnder her hypocrisie thowghe the noueltie of theire opimons the contrarietie amonge thē selues the variable vncertaintie of their assertiōs theyr licētiouse dissolution in conuersation of lyfe coulde saye nothinge to the matter yet this one thing wolde to hym I saye that hathe good eyes eares sufficiētli discouer the whole frame of all they re dissimulatiō to wytt that these self same felowes which of late so freshelye professed all kinde of humanitie and courtesie haue so fiercelye inueihed against the Catholique churche of Christe for her most eauen and most indifferent discipline by moste iust and moste auncient lawes ordeined doe nowe vse suche sauage crueltie vpon light and tristinge causes as the very churlish rude and barbarouse dyd skante practise for moste haynouse offences VVell he must beare with my greefe and sorowe who so euer thinketh my woordes to be ouer sharpp For I am displeased in dede and not well content but not so muche with these men which haue committed these owtrages for I beseche God forgeue them as I am with heresie by whose meanes these men not cruell of their owne nature but muche disposed rather to lenitie and mekenesse are dryuen in to so greate I will not saye woodenesse leste I shoulde offend them but sharpp angrinesse in dede and fore displeasure against their owne as neither for neighbourhoode of one natiue soile nor for integritie oflyfe ornamēt of learnyng or flower of aige they can be induced nor in respect of the prerogatiue of freedome nor in regarde of the priuilege of priesthoode nor by intreatie of woordes nor by abundance of teares they can be moued to take pitie and compassion vppon innocents and guiltlesse men nor can be stayed backe frome doing extreme and outragious violence I humblie beseche oure most mercifull and moste mightie God that this huge offence be not imputed vnto them but raither that they may finde mercie in the day of oure Lorde who in their owne day that is in the daye of man haue showed no mercie to theire bretheren But now I omit to speake of the other outrages whiche in this Tower of London are perpetrated and patientlie endured For thoughe they be manie and verie greuous yet can they not easilie come to oure knowleige by reason of that close and straite warde wherein the sound of all speche and mourninge of the afflicted is shutt vpp frome the eares of them that are abroade Nay oure aduersaries bestowe no small diligence in this point that the aflictions and torments whiche are there practised withein doores be not browght to the knowleige of them that are witheoute but buried rather in darknesse and cleane hyd in blynde and obscure dungeons But yf these break foorthe at any time the doolefull voice of the aflicted be plainelie hearde then are those felowes greuouselye offended and either flatlie denie all that was done or with pleasant woords extenuate the matter For twyse nowe of late Maister Campian hathe bene pulled on the rack And what aduersarie dyd not vtterlie denye yt Yet at lengthe the truthe of the matter came to light when maister Campian him selfe dyd vtter it in an open audience in the hearinge of oure aduersaries twit say de they yt was a mery pastime he was cramped or pulled a lytle not in ernest but in ieaste After the same maner they Ieasted of others whiche had bene racked before So greate delite these merie conceited felowes doe take in makinge skosses and sports of the afflictions of forie poore men But they haue yet an other stratageme or politike shyst familiarlie acquainted in this tower that is to surmise and forge what they lust of the prisonner to publishe it to his shame and for a trapp to beguile other Catholiques The thing is euident and hathe plenty of examples but because I purpose to be breefe I will touche but a few VVhen maister Campian had bene afflicted wyth torments it was reported that he had confessed what soeuer they had demaunded of him specialie at whose howses in what places he had bene And to geue to the lie his right shape and perfection it was further bruted abrode that he had promised a recantation of I know not what But that tale no man thowght to be probable yet there were that doubted thereof because the aduersaries had so earnestlye affirmed it For many gentlemen and some of the nobilitie were called vp to London frome their owne howses and charged with a supposed confession of maister Campiā And yet in verie truthe as afterward it well appeared he neuer yeelded one worde to his torments A like shyft the lieutenant of the tower vsed of purpose to laye a bate to seduce others by some example affirmed openlye at a common session that there were no catholiks vnder his warde whiche refused to goe to the churche of oure aduersaries yet it was well knowen to all there that euen they whome he ment of went not willinglie to the churche but vppon compulsion and drawne by violence had bene present at a few sermons yet they allways openly spake against the same called the preacher from his rayling speche and chalenged hym to disputation euen in the presence of the same lieutenant albeit angerlie he thretned them often with heuy bolts shakles But it is harde by writing to discourse through all the particulers in euery kynde of affliction whiche the prisoners in that tower doe endure yet such as haue some tyme bene present vewers of the matter doe tell vs parte vppon whose faithefull relation I will putt downe this one
And this horse they dyd obserue watche diligentlye whether he dyd eate haye as other horses eate or no. And as for the priest they put a horse lock aboute his legg shutt hym vp close in a strong chāber and appointed a felow to be with hym continually bothe day and night which shoulde watche yfhe dyd put offe his bootes at any time if his feete were like horsefete or that he were clouē footed or had fete flytand forked as beasts haue For this they affirmed to be a speciall marke whereby to know the deuill vvhen he lyeth lurking vnder the shape and likenesse of a man Then the people assembled aboute the house in greate nūbres and profered money largelie that they might see this monstre vvith their ovvn eyes For by this time the people are persuaded that he is in dede an yll spirite or a verie deuill For vvhat man vvas euer heard of say they vvhiche yfhe had the mynde vnderstanding and sense of a man vvoolde of his ovvn voluntarie vvill and vvithoute anie respect or consideration at all geue or proffer suche a summe of money to a man vtterlie vnknovven of no acquaintance vvith hym and a mere straunger of an other countrie Novv vvhen they had thus contumeliouslie vexed Christs seruant a vvhile they pretended to sett the man at libertie and licenced hym to depart and goe avvay vvhether he vvolde yet all vvas but a deceiptfull practise to vvork him more spite and iniurie For loe the vngratefull churlishe Caluiniā vvhiche had receiued the monei sent oute priuilie a suborned felow to stay the good priest as he vvas goeing forth to with holde him from escaping away and to accuse hym of high treason This was no sooner done than the man was all ryfled and spoyled his horse ridden and vsed as pleased them his money all taken from hym sauing a litle portion to serue for his expenses to the citie of London whether shortly after they sent hym as a prisoner with a strong and curiouse garde And when he came thither and had opened the matter to her maiesties Councell or rather to one of thē that the matter might not be vttered abroade to the reproche of the deade he was by them casten of and put ouer to the Superintendent of London and by hym throwne first into one prison then in to an other and thyrdlie in to the Tower of Londō vvhere the space wellnigh of a quarter of a yere hardlie escaping the racke and tortures he was sore punished for that heinouse offence forsuthe of restitution And here the recitall of this historie putteth me in remembrance of that ridiculous and wanton maner of chatting of oure aduersaries as oure moste auncient enemies were wont to doe in slaundering Catholiques to be of familiar acquaintance vvith deuills And I might sooner lacke time thā matter yf I should recken vpp all the surmises and fables whiche they haue forged touching this point But among many this is one Poules steple in London was meruailouslie a fewe yeres synce blasted with lightning and sett on a light burning fyre ragiouse hoate and skant extinguishible Oure aduersaries layde the fault and blame thereof vpon vs were not a shamed to say that it was done by Iuglings and coniurings practised by Catholiques Again it hapned that certein charmes or inchauntments and deuises of witchecraft wound vp together in peeces of parchement with figures characters suche like fond toyes and hydde in the grownde were at lengthe fownd by certain persones The matter was supposed to haue bene contriued for some mischefe or destruction to the Quenes Maiestie But who was he among all oure aduersaries which did not charge Catholiques with that fact yet loe not long after yt was fownd owt and proued that a certein minister was the Author and principall of this sorcerie had diuerse complices accessaries whiche were verie zealouse gospellers whereupon all was huysht sodainlie vea as busye as they were before now they say not one woord of the matter sauynge that some to turne the fault frome one to an other that the blame might fall som way on Catholiks sayde that this minister had perhaps dissembled his religion and was a verie papist in his hart A like surmise was deuised vpō an accident that hapned in a citie and vniuersitie VVhere a booke bynder for speaking some woords in the fauoure of the Catholique religiō was arraigned at the assises before the Iudges and roughlie handled by all the benche For besyde muche griefe and vexation whiche he endured in prison the matter fell owt thus at the last partlie by the verdit of the Iurie and partlie by the rigoure of the Iudges that the poore man was fyrst made to stand openlie in the market place to his reproche and infamie then were his eares nayled hard and fast to a poste and a knyfe was put into hys owne hand there with all to cutt his owne ears in sunder so to delyuer hym selfe This was a feuere sentence aboue measure as many men then dyd think But what folowed A wonder full Iudgement of God vndowbtedlie For withein few dayes after the two Iudges and well nigh all the iurie many of the iustices freeholders with verie many other of them whiche had bene present there dyed all of a straunge kinde of disease some in the sayd citie and some in other places But all the blame for this was layd vpon Catholiques all this was imputed to magike and sorcerie as practised by Catholiques VVhat safety then or securitie frind Gerard is there for vs In how hard termes stand we think yow when not onlie other mens faults are layed vpon vs but the manifest Iudgements of allmightie God are peruerslie interpreted to oure inconuenience and infamie I could neuer make ende yf I shoulde prosecute all the other means whiche our aduersaries woork to the dishonoure and slaunder of oure cause For yf they may find one be he neuer so base so badde which can tell anie reprochefull tale against Rome or bringe anie tydinges sownding to the rebuke thereof or of any others which are thought to fauoure our faith and religion albeyt that the stuffe which he bringeth or the tale whiche he telleth be either nothīg but verie rakinges of the sinke cānells of filthie detractiō or else voyde of all probabilitie or appearāce of truthe yet such a felow is for theyr toeth hym they take holde of as affectuouslie as they can and obtrude him to the people as a prophet to hym they geue free leaue and libertie to talke to dispute to preache and to write what so euer he lusteth according to his owne phantasie pleasure so he doe it by way of despite and contumelie against the Catholique religiō Now whence cometh so great rancour and hatred wherof springeth so muche displeasure and malice what may be the cause of ali this spite and enuy can ye tell Yea but they rest not thus