or Iudge Paramount on earth vnder the Diuell in hell must denounce the sentence following out from his infernall seate Forasmuch as the secular Priests durst presume to appeale to Saint Peters chaire against my faithfull seruant George Blackwell instituted at my appointment designements and instructions giuen to the Pope of Rome to make him Archpresbiter and Protonotharius c. in and throughout the great Kingdomes of Albion or great Britaine to do lawe and iustice vpon such rebels against my louing brother the King Catholike of Spaine as in that Imperiall Isle it should seeme meete iust and necessarie in his wisedome to haue sharpely rebuked chastised and punished and for that also I did prescribe the manner how the said Pope was to proceede according to the tenure of my abstract of statutes lawes orders and actes enacted by me and my Generall in the high Councell of Reformation for England with a prouiso that my forenamed seruant Maister Blackwell should haue nothing to do with the fathers of the societie I thought it meete in my experience and wisedome not onely to exempt all my brethren and confatherhoods the Iesuites in England Scotland or elsewhere from being vnder the Archpriest but moreouer and besides to will and commaund my said seruant Maister Blackwell vnder paine of officipard to do nothing without my Prouinciall Garnets counsell designements and decrees who being an especiall illuminate and hauing a more neare familiaritie with God then any of the rest by reason of his place and calling he the said Blackwell thus directed by him shall be so farre and free from error or doing any thing amisse in acting all things vnder obedience to my Prouinciall as whosoeuer should contradict any thing by him decreed I hold it sit that he be noted for an Ethnicke a reprobate and one that was neuer established in the grace of God c. All these lawes statutes and acts with prouisoes thus enacted forasmuch as the seculars contemptuously haue violated infringed and broken the very marrow center and quintessence of their contempt accrewing to the preiudice of the holy societie and therein to Father Parsons in chiefe it stood his Prouinciall Garnet vpon to lay about him on the behalf of Blackwell to make his cause and quarrell his owne and this to be outwardly in shew Clement the eighth his Holinesse the Pope of Romes in managing and menacing and inwardly in intention to be Parsons that bastardly vicar of hell his in the platforme plotcastings and practises And so for all the world neuer imagine nor dreame of any kind of temporall gouernement by a Puritane Iesuit to be otherwise intended then as a Puritane Minister said in Edenborough God and the Kirke against the King and his Councell and outher ney King or ney Minister in Scotland As much to say and as Knoxe that seditious traitor did write to her Maiestie that those Princes who will not subiect themselues to their infernall and damnable discipline yea and submit themselues to be ruled by the Puritanian Ministerie might iustly and shold be deposed and depriued both of Crown gouernement and life at their pleasure Wherein you may please to note by the way that the Puritanian Ministers made the Gospell and the blacke Kirke of Scotland their pretence for aduauncing such a man to the Crowne as should wholly subiect himselfe and sweare and subscribe to the defence of their doctrine And yet all the world knoweth it that they would bring all into a Swisserly popularitie or a Geneuian gouernment void of Prince peere or other Noble or at least will neuer yeeld to accept of any King that shall not be ruled by theÌ„ And euen so the Puritanian Iesuits must needs intend do make shew of aduancing none to the English Crowne but such a one as is conuerted to the Catholike Church of Rome making the Gospell and spouse of Christ their pretence therein But yet their platforme allowes no King power or potentate aboue them and by consequent seeing notwithstanding yet needes they must haue the countenance of some great Monarch for a time to gouerne by in the state temporall as now they make his Holinesse for a while their sconce and buckler in the state ecclesiasticall it were no pollicie in them to haue an absolute Soueraigne to raigne in this land no not euen the Infanta who questionlesse Parsons made choise of before her father or brother the King of purpose to haue her gouernement subordinate either vnder him or the Emperour but as they haue gotten an Archpriest to be as it were a Vicar generall subordinate vnder his Holinesse in causes Ecclesiasticall and yet his said Holinesse onely to be a shadow or cloake but to haue no medlings or dealings nor to know any thing of the affaires of his Church here further then they shall please to informe him of so will they neuer admit of other gouernement but a Viceroy to be as it were a Prorex or King homageâ— subordinate to Spaine or Austria in causes temporall And yet the said Prorex must stand at their deuotion and not be able to informe anie thing to the King absolute further or otherwise then as they shall appoint him which if he do or attempt the contrarie he is sure to be deposed and loose his life for it either such a new King homager chosen by the Prince absolute at their assignement or else no King euer after but a king Cardinall and Pope Iesuit THE X. ARTICLE VVHether then is it dangerous or not to haue any of the English bloud royall either maryed to one of the Iesuiticall or Spanish faction which I perceiue is all one in the generall pretence though not in the intention or practise either within or without the land or otherwise conuerted to the Catholike faith if God so giue them grace by any Iesuite or Iesuited Priest of their faction THE ANSWER THe daunger you make a question of may be two wayes taken one spiritually and the other corporally In neither of which daungers any one can be said properly and directly to be in the act of either mariage or conuersion Because as I said at the first these seditious turbulent factious Iesuites here in England howsoeuer they may be in foro conscientiae and before God excommunicated suspended irregular or otherwiâ—e haue incurred any ecclesiasticall censure by their absurd grosse erronious opinions practises and proceedings yet for that they liue hitherto as visible members of the Catholike Church and neither do neither dare publikely teach much lesse obstinately defend any thing contrarie to the Catholike Churches doctrine and beleefe and further forasmuch as there is no sentence as yet denounced from his Holinesse against them or if denounced yet not here made knowne or if knowne yet no Bull nor Briefe come for assurance thereof or if any such yet not publikely promulgated therefore in foro externo all these circumstances considered and that the Church doth iudge secundum allegata probata as
our powers should take vpon vs to giue it vnto another were he neuer so good a Catholike that had no right thereto Iustinus Martyr speaking of the duety of Christians to the ciuill Magistrate in those times of Infidels and persecutors affirmeth that they prayed not onely for the Emperors themselues but also for their sonnes that they might succeede them in the Empire quod aequissimum est which saith he is most agreeable to iustice and equitie were they like to prooue as euill as their fathers there is no exceptions of it The which I rather obserue to shew my dislike of Fa. Parsons in this point who is accustomed vpon euery occasion when he is in his best moode to affirme that he careth not who it is from whence he commeth or what right he hath to the crowne of this kingdome that when the time commeth shall be able to catch it so he be a Catholike But concerning both this point and the former least it should be said that whilest I would seeme to giue a reason of that which I haue in hand I do onely shew my opinion and illustrate the same with similitudes that are of as great vncertainty as that which I propound I will confirme my opinion with the iudgement of a principall man to whom there will no great exception be taken and then that which I haue said will prooue to be an argument ab authoritate Thus he writeth Soloiure naturali diuino non priuatur aliquis Dominio in subditos propter peccatum Apostasiae in fide c. If you goe no further then to the law of nature or to the law of God no king is depriued from his soueraigntie ouer his subiects though it be for the sin of Apostacie from faith And he giueth a very sound reason for this his assertion nam fundamentum dominij non est fides c. For faith is not the ground of dominion but some other politike title hauing force by the lawe of nations of succession by inheritance or of election or of iust acquisition by iust warre Qui tituli possunt etiam manere sine fide neque vnquam extat ius aliquod diuinum quo eiusmodi tituli eneruantur propter defectionem a side which titles may remaine without faith neither is there any lawe of God whereby such titles are impeached for defection from faith 8. I know that iure ecclesiastico by the authoritie sentence of the Popes holines much more may be done then here I will speake of But yet I thinke it wil prooue in the end the best course for men not to do so much as they may Many things be lawfull which are not expedient And this Iesuiticall course of downe with princes when they offend them may peraduenture so prouoke them as they will say as fast downe with priests and of a certainty we shall haue the woorse When they finde that the titles of their kingdomes cannot be touched either by the lawe of nature or by the lawe of God do what they list it may giue them occasion to oppose themselues with greater seueritie against the See Apostolike in that the same should make such extreme lawes voluntarily against them as should tend to the thrusting of them out of their kingdomes And out of question it will be subiect if once they take this course to great iangling whether such lawes as should touch the deposing of a king are not rather to be accounted lawes ciuill and temporall then any matter or subiect fit for ecclesiasticall men or lawes to worke vpon We see already that some kings do take vpon them to deale and make lawes in causes ecclesiasticall denying his holines authority therein within their kingdomes And will it not seeme a thing much more plausible probable if other kings shall stand vpon it and say that his holines hath no interest to make any ciuill or temporall lawes that may touch their freeholds Nay if things should come to this rifling I feare they would in their heat goe further and tell his holines that for ought they finde kings haue as great authority to depose priests as priests haue to depose kings Besides it must be cōfessed that all priests Iesuits and euery other sort of clergie men the Popes holines excepted are borne subiects of kings and princes and it will be an odious assertion to say that the taking of priesthood vpon them should giue them warrant to bristle and make head against their soueraignes Furthermore it cannot be denied shift the Iesuits with all their cunning neuer so prettily but the immunities which priests haue from the temporall lawes of kings doe proceede as Saint Thomas acknowledgeth from their meere fauour and godly zeale towards them Also it is most manifest that as the kings of England haue beene most bountifull to the church and churchmen here within their dominions in so much as all the reuenewes and temporalties with many singular priuiledges which in this realme our forefathers haue enioyed haue proceeded from their most princely liberality and authority so standeth the case of the clergy in all other kingdomes which two points would be duly considered of in time For if princes should by the same meanes seeke to spoyle the church and take from it all her said immunities priuiledges and temporall possessions it will little auaile to bring in our distinctions how parliaments may giue what they list to the church and churchmen but they can take nothing either from them or from the church What the power of a parliament is in England we haue had too great experience and I suppose the states in other kingdomes haue the like And therefore in all pollicie kings and soueraigne princes are not to be ruffled with in this Iesuiticall maner That which they may pretend how in these their discourses they ayme but at some one or two doth indeed touch all kings if they incurre the displeasure of his holines Surely though I humbly acknowledge my selfe to be minimus fratrum meorum and neither arrogate to my selfe to be of such mature iudgement as many are nor will presume to take vpon me so peremptorily on the one side as Father Parsons doth on the other though vnlearnedly God wot yet I finde many great dangers that may happen to the Catholike Roman church if these violent spirits be not in time suppressed Such furious insulting ouer princes will neuer doe good They may be drawen many waies by gentle and milde proceedings with them rather then by such indiscreete and desperate courses whereby they grow to greater resistance For if the Popes holines in times past dealt so sharpely as it seemeth with Baldemarus king of Denmarke that he writ in this sort to the supreme Pastor Notum tibi facimus vitam nos habere à Deo nobilitatem à parentibus regnum à subditis fidem ab ecclesia Romana quam si nobis inuides remittimus per presentes Be it knowen vnto thee that we haue our
that the gift of the Bishoprickes in England as well by ancient catholike as also by recent lawes are in the prince to bestow where her Maiestie pleaseth And therfore committing the controuersie of religion succession and calling to silence in points of pacification and humble suite for release of affliction they yeelding to them the honor of Earles or Barons as their place by gift of the prince doth inuest them withall there is no cause moouing them to disswade from toleration but rather in truth both states and persons ecclesiasticall and temporall in respect of the premisses for the safer continuance in their present interest may conceiue iust cause and many weightie reasons moouing them on the seculars and other catholike recusants behalfe against the Iesuiticall and puritanian faction to commence their humble suite to her highnes for libertie of conscience with a repeale or at least a gratious milde and comfortable mitigation of former sharpe penall lawes made aswel against the seminarie priests themselues as also against all those that receiue or relieue them any manner of way Fiftly to the catholike recusants themselues there is none sanae mentis vnles bewitched with the Iesuiticall vaine hope of future aduancements but may and no doubt but doe and will daily more and more easily perceiue it that this betwixt the seculars and Iesuits was the happiest contention that euer rose and that all discreet vertuous and sound catholikes in deede haue iust cause especially if of a naturall humane breede and not mungrels nor bastards to giue God thanks euery day vpon their knees for this so sweete vnexpected extraordinarie comfortable and to be admired at meanes to all posteritie scil how euer such hart-breaking broiles should haue turned to so great a good on all sides as doubtlesse if the diuell play not the knaue too too egregiously and preuaile more then ordinarie these cannot choose but turne vnto First in receiuing hereby a holesome mithridate or antidotum to the spirituall health and recouerie of many a deuoute soule against the most dangerous infections and by all other meanes irremedilesse poyson of the Iesuiticall doctrine then by banishing out of their mindes this vnsauorie comparison and distinction of persons in bestowing of spiritual graces with ego sum Pauli ego Apollo c. after that by breeding in euery vertuous sincere religious catholike hart a more reuerend regard to priesthood in generall and to their ghostly fathers in speciall then now they haue by the Iesuiticall policies and most Machiuillian perswasions And last of all there would be then the woonted ioy at meeting of priests and catholikes together whereas now and so long as the Iesuits remaine in this land there is none other to be expected but mutinies brabbles detractions defamations watchings intrappings betrayings of one another and nothing but a mournefull blacke sanctus in steede of a ioyfull Alleluia at the conuersion of any soule or furtherance of any good catholike and charitable action THE III. ARTICLE VVHether any religious person may or ought to meddle or haue any dealings in state matters or secular affaires as other ecclesiacticall persons or as now the secular priests do deale or not and if any other may then why not the Iesuits THE ANSWERE TO this interrogatory I answere First that Ex officio de iure no religious person one or other ought or may lawfully deale either in state or any other secular affaires bicause the worde secular à fortiori stat are wordes resumed into wordly actions in their practise and therefore as farre from a religious profession to meddle withall in regard of their vowe of pouertie whose essentials are humilitie silence solitary life renuntiation of the world and a ciuill voluntary monasticall death as for them to breake out of their cloisters and take a benefice without leaue in regard of their vowe of obedience or to take a wife in regard of their vow of chastity c. Secondly as notwithstanding their vow of voluntary pouertie they may haue and possesse lands and all other things in common so may they also carry a kind of state amongst themselues and thereupon being subiects also to their prince and members incorporate to the common wealth wherein they liue their Abbots Priors Guardians and other superiors chosen amongst them to rule ouer them may be admitted by the two states ecclesiasticall and temporall to deale in secular affaires and matters of state as other Bishops and Parsons ecclesiasticall may and so was the custome of old in this land that commonly the Abbot of Westminster was Lord Treasurer of England the Archbishop of Yorke Lord president of the North and sometimes one Bishop and other while an other was Lord Chauncellour of the realme Thirdly yet was neither this a freedome to the monkes of their cloister to liue secularly neither was it allowed of as generall to all religious orders to be aduanced so bicause some are bound by vow to the contrary and as repugnant to their profession they beare no state amongst themselues but liue all in humiliation without possessiōs lands or any thing that smels of the world saue onely a house to shrowde them from cold a church to serue God in and meate and drinke to keepe life and soule together as of almes shal be giuen them c. Fourthly of all other religious orders the Iesuites by profession should be furthest of from all secularity statising or other worldly dealings and yet on the contrary they of all the rest are become not onely most secular and ecclesiasticall but also most laicall temporall and prophane yea most treacherous ambitious seditious and daungerous both to themselues and all others where they liue as these articles here shall discouer of our owne countrey Iesuites more at large THE IIII. ARTICLE VVHether any clergy person of what religion profession or sect soeuer he be for I take it to be all one when we talke of state affaires whether the statist be catholike protestant or puritane euery one thinking his owne course to be best may or ought to labour for planting of his owne religion or onely ought he to seeke the temporall good of his country letting religion goe where and how it pleaseth God it shall THE ANSWERE THere is no question in it but abstracting in this point of statizing from a matter of faith to a matter of policy all men of what religion soeuer supposing they haue and thinke in conscience that they haue the truth on their side are bound to propagate plant and establish the religion they are of to the vttermost of their power yet so as all may be ad aedificationem non ad destructionem And whosoeuer thinkes his religion best must thinke this withall that the meanes of restoring it be it the puritanes amongst protestants or protestants amongst catholikes or catholikes amongst either of these or any other must not be by treasons conspiracies and inuasions The conuersion of any country by such attempts did
sequell of proper kind as we now handle them that the one followeth the other as the shadow doth the body there is nothing said in the last generall Quodlibet of state but it hath a relation to this of succession So as it can not be otherwise imagined but that the Iesuites haue a further drift and intend a greater mischiefe then all the world dreames of to make princes state gouernment and all authoritie seeme odious to the multitude Therefore I affirme and say absolutely as in my hart I thinke it that their proceedings therein are neither religious catholike christian nor dutifull but very barbarous impious and dishonest which I prooue first by testimony of holy writ Thou shalt not speake euill of the prince of thy people said the wise Salomon amongst his many Prouerbes Secondly Curse not the king no not in thy thought said the great Preacher in his ecclesiasticks and to the same purpose are the two great princes of the earth Saint Peter his words in his first Epistle and Saint Paule his speech by an Epistle to Titus Thirdly againe if any action can beare two constructions charity bindeth a man to take the best But princes haue neuer had more cause then now they haue by the Iesuites practises to be iealous of their estates ergo it ought to be construed in the best sense a man may if their gouernment be contrary to our likings Fourthly besides kings proceedings are oft aboue the capacity of the subiects and are not by them to be scanned or sifted much lesse to be slaundered and depraued Fiftly furthermore kings being the fathers of their country if they should haue in their proceedings any nakednes their subiects shew themselues to be of the generation of Cham that will not rather couer then detect them But such are the Iesuits vnnatural harts and greedie desire of soueraignty as it seemeth nothing doth more delight them then to find in a prince or priests coate some thing to make them seeme odious to their subiects or ghostly children Sixtly also the honour of our countrie ought to be more deere vnto vs then our owne credites or estimation nay oftentimes then our liues themselues ergo how can it be chosen but that the Iesuites being so ambitious in seeking their owne glory so greedy of their owne praises and so deeply affecting soueraigne dominion should not condemne themselues in their owne consciences in detracting and calumniating their soueraignes It is therefore most manifest and true as I haue often said and must haue often cause to repeate the same that of long time the grauest sort of the secular priests in England haue vtterly disliked such pamphlets and railing treatises and bookes as haue bene set out to the dishonour of her Maiesty and state here The booke that Doctor Saunders writ De schismate and his other De visibili Monarchia we wish with all our harts that they had neuer seen light Diuers of father Parsons books letters and treatises we haue and do from our very harts vtterly condemne them as conteining many seditious and trayterous points and being very full of slaunderous speeches and impudent calumniations Andreas Philopater being the fruits of father Parsons and father Creswell we hold to be fraught till it almost burst againe as some of my brethren elsewhere haue noted with all Iesuiticall pride and poyson And as touching the Exhortation before mentioned printed 1588. it is so detestable a treatise as all posterity cannot choose but condemne father Parsons for a most scurrilous traytor If he had beene brought vp amongst all the ruffians and Curtizans in Christendome he could not haue learned to haue writ more vilely prophanely and heathnishly Furthermore in that father Parsons and his fellow father Creswell do glory in their said booke that they haue caused not onely it but also master Saunders treatise De schismate to be translated into the Spanish toong and do reioyce that thereby the Spaniards are brought already into a greater detestation of her Maiestie her gouernment proceedings then they had before I thinke they glory in their owne shame and that they are to be accounted by all true catholikes to be most vile and trayterous persons that they dishonor priesthood and are as right Iesuits as insolencie and hatred can make them And so I conclude that the Iesuits practises and intents in wresting their Soueraignes and the state affaires in euery politicall morall and humane action to the worst sense is neither agreeing to Christian iustice catholike charitie nor bounden dutie of true subiects but like rebellious traytors to bring all into vprore that they may haue al crownes kingdomes gouernments succession state inheritance and all at their pleasure THE II. ARTICLE VVHether may not Iesuits although they are religious men and therefore excluded from dealing in publike secular affaires yet for all that which hath beene said imploy themselues in matters of state thus farre scil to direct and appoint the forme of the ciuill gouernment to set downe who ought to succeed to alter the ancient lawes of their countrie to decide and determine difficulties that may rise concerning all and euery competitors title in way of succession by birth blood c. to the crowne and to innouate all things vnder the pretence of gods glory and the promoting of their owne societie Or whether are not all these imputations so many vntruthes and calumniations THE ANSWERE I Hold it as I said before altogether vnlawfull for them to deale so in state matters and by consequent indecent First for that it is against the rules of their orders and very presumptuous for any of them to medle with the succession to the crowne at all Secondly it doth repugne from the very nature of all religious profession which is a seperating of men from the actions of the world Thirdly it tendeth to that which we most condemne in our common aduersaries For the consequence will be hardly denied it is lawfull for cleargy men to mannage ciuill causes ergo it is lawfull for temporall men to manage causes ecclesiasticall For wrest it and wring it aswell and which way soeuer we can possibly deuise yet will it alwaies be iudged of our aduersaries an assertion most euident and absurd to be denied that temporall men should not haue as great authoritie in church causes as Iesuits monks or friers at least if not also as other secular and ecclesiasticall persons should haue in causes ciuill Fourthly I shall not much need to trauell in this point bicause the Iesuits themselues do digest nothing woorse then to heare themselues charged with it for it is a practise with them to do all things vnder hande and to be as little seene in them as possiblie they can deuise And therefore as I haue often told you no lesse for the most part that which they go about they do it by other men or by feined names that if any inconuenience should happen they might either lay the blame vpon
married into England but they are all too meane and none to be found worthie within that Isle by birthe calling or any other abilities of so royall a Lady as she is It is wonderfull how this Protheus windeth and turneth now this way now that way and with what suppositions exceptions conditions and quiddities he handleth this point All which deuises the circumstances therunto belonging being with mature iudgement examined and a thorough reuiew taken of the whole scope and marke he shutes at glauncing here and there at the popular authoritie giuen to the subiects of this land to choose a king of their owne doe make it most apparant that his and by consequent the rest of the Iesuites meaning was and is if possiblie they can bring it to passe First to destroy our whole Nation by aide of the Spaniard and Austrian Burgundian Netherlandian and such like Germaine bred huff muff forces Secondly and then hauing brought all into subiection slauery and bondage especially the auncient nobility and secular cleargy by sending the former into other countries vnder pretence of aduauncement to higher honors and suppressing the latter as illiterate vnexperienced and vnfit to gouerne or any way to be aduaunced to the Ecclesiasticall state there must follow such waighty reasons mouing aswell the king catholike as the Ladie Infanta to appoint some Regent Viceroy or other substitute vnder thē as whether soeuer or who else besides winne it by conquest or compremises yet none but a Iesuite shall or can be found fitte Penes quem imperium To haue the whole managing of all causes and to gouerne the whole Isle Thirdly the high Counsell of Reformation for England doth make the case most cleere that they aspire to a Soueraignty aboue all these Northen Isles aswell in causes Ecclesiasticall as Temporall as if you please to peruse the Quodlibet here set downe of that matter you may easily perceiue but more directly if you can get a sight of the booke it selfe Only this consider by the way that the chiefe point there touched being an oeconomicall order set downe to appoint all estates within what compasse they shall liue by an Agrarian law there is neither Priest nor lay person from the highest to the lowest in either or any of the three auncient states of this land but must by that high Court of Parliament or Counsell of reformation stand at the Iesuites deuotion to fleete and swymme which way and as their fatherhoodes will haue them so as a Iesuit must be Dominus fac totum in all these northerne Isles Fourthly the institution of the Archpriest is in such forme in their pretence as it can not denotate lesse then a supremacy in time to come ouer this whole Isle of England Scotland and Wales and by consequent then ouer Ireland as subiect to England For otherwise to what end is it that Master Blackwell should haue as full and ample iurisdiction ouer all Scotland as he hath ouer England considering that they haue a catholike Bishop of their owne countrie and nation And withall to what purpose is it that certaine priests of late comming out of Spaine should be more vrged then others were to obey him in what he should commaund he still himselfe notwithstanding being at the Iesuites deuotion to stand or fal and at their appointment and direction to command when what and where they will haue him Fiftly the most egregious tyrannicall vsurpate intrusiue authority of the Iesuites gotten ouer all the Seminaries at Rome at Saint Omars in Spaine and at Deway for euen the president there is but a subiect seruant or some terme him the vassall of father Parsons adding hereunto the like intendment for England in plotting to haue had father Edmonds head of the afflicted Church in Duresse and father Garnet the supreme head of all the priests and catholikes liuing abroad at liberty and both these then being but subordinate vnder Parsons he directing appointing and commaunding all both here and there as he list and as the generall and his fatherhood shall iudge what else can this denotate then an absolute intendement of a Iesuiticall monarchy Sixtly the presumed plea they take vpon them against the secular priests on his behalfe attributing vnto him Per argumentum è contra The title of a Soueraigne by calling the said seculars and all that appeale from him rebels c. Which word howsoeuer it may improperly be applyed to any inferiour respecting his resisting of a Superiour yet the common phrase of speach is to vse that word onely as a traiterous act or attempt of a subiect against his Soueraigne And therefore doe we call traitors rebels when they rise by resistance or inpugnance of their Princes authority lawes orders or decrees Whereas if it be but against some noble or other priuat or publike person we call it a commotion a ryot quarrels a fray a contention c. But treason rebellion sedition and faction doe alwaies presuppose such a superior as hath none aboue him in that state calling and condition of life wherein he liues as Soueraigne and those that rebell c. as subiectes vnder him Forasmuch therefore as we iustly terme the Iesuites traytors rebels seditious and factious persons not in regard of the contention that is betwixt them and vs for superioritie which they vainely arrogate to themselues ouer the seculars resisting their proud attemptes plots deuises that way but in respect of their tampering in state matters opposing themselues against their natiue Prince and Countrey and practising the vtter ruine and destruction of this land by stirring vp both forraigne powers to inuade and home borne subiectes to rise in armes adding hereunto their many libelles slaunderous and infamous speaches in preiudice and against both Pope and Prince church common wealth both states This being that acte and those proceedings which make traytors rebels factious and seditious persons indeed they still crying Whoreson first in a contrary sense bicause forsooth we would not be obedient to the Archpriest euen iumpe in the Iesuiticall meaning pretence and action therefore are we called rebels seditious factious c. By which words they plainely attribute a soueraignty to Master Blackwell in opposition for causes ecclesiasticall against and aboue the Popes holines and for causes temporall ouer and against her Maiestie And although that this be an ordinary passage amongst them to call all that are not currants of Master Blackwels course factious seditious c. Yet of all the rest there is one Iesuite Fa. Holt by name who vseth this word Rebell more then any or all the rest of his fellowes in a most arrogant prowde conceited letter of his to a very woorthy Catholike Lady of speciall note name and esteeme as wel for her calling birth and abilities in gifts of nature and fortune as also for her rare vertues religious piety constancy and other indowments and graces abounding in all workes of charity Whom how this factious Iesuite one of the
Christendome and farre more then they will allow to the poore prisoners at Wishich or to students at home or other places where the Seminary and secular Priestes liue vnder them and therefore rightly called their prisoners as kept so streightly that they may not recreate themselues together nor two of them haue any speech or conference without a third with many like Turkish cruelties which these tyrants vse against the English Priestes whilest they liue in all iollitie wealth and pleasure themselues there as in all other bookes and Apologies you may find set out at large of that matter Seuenthly they professe no continuall silence nor solitarie life as sundrie religeous do and keepe it most strictly thinking it a death to come foorth of their Cels and Cloisters into the world to haue any speech medling or sight of any worldly thing But they quite contrarie professe such a popularity secularitie temporalitie and all mundane kind of life and medling in worldly affaires as wonder it is how euer they haue time to thinke of God or any good Saint Eightly they professe neither chastitie nor yet obedience more then any other religious order doth yea no more in very deed their manner of performing obedience to their superiour considered then euery secular Priest doth And if a man go to the wayes and meanes of performance of this their vowe of chastitie and obedience it is farre inferiour and more imperfect vncertaine and dangerous in them then in any or the most part of other religious orders Ninthly if their perfection consist in this that they labour in preaching teaching conuersion of soules ministring of Sacraments managing of causes with Princes and ciuill persons and therefore as diuines say quia maius est illuminare quam illuminari so they affirme that they haue taken a state of most perfection that way vpon them and indeed they take so much vpon them in that behalfe as they seeme to arrogate an Apostolicall power and authoritie reserued to themselues alone therein speaking it in plaine tearmes that the seculars ought not to meddle in such affaires but content themselues like sillie simple men with hearing confessions at most or onely saying of Masse for as for confessions I wis they will not with their good-wils permit that a secular Priest should take the confessions of any vnlesse it be of meane persons and poore folkes where no gaine nor commoditie is to be had but at Gods hand onely yet by these worshipfull Rabbies leaues if they vsurpe secular Priests places and authority and thereupon challenge a degree of perfection vnto them before and aboue all other then would I know from whence they haue that gift to illuminate and power and authority of preaching teaching hearing confessions and other like Ecclesiasticall iurisdictions For as for their managing of Ciuill and Martiall causes as inuasion of kingdomes raising of rebellions defamation of Princes and bringing all into a popular contempt that are not themselues or dependent on them and the like absurdâ—ties as they haue receiued no such commission from God nor his Church but directly from the common enemy of mankind as suggested by him and after bred in their itching ambicious idle working braines so no secular will wish seeke or accept of that their seditious turbulent and bloudy office vnfit of all other for Priests to deale in out of their hands It is therefore of the former Ecclesiasticall iurisdictions lawfull authorities whereof I speake would know from whence of whom they haue them Either they must haue them immediatly from God or else from man To say they haue them immediatly from God I thinke they will not but yet if they dare say so as who can tel what giddy heads puffed vp with swelling pride impudency insolency wil say or do when it stands theÌ„ vpon to stand to their tacklings or else haue all their followers disciples forsake them then first it wil be demanded per quaÌ„ regulam do they proue it Secondly what testimony or witnesse haue they for it Thirdly how when in what place was this new institution of Ecclesiastiques promise granted confirmed ratified Fourthly by what signe tokeÌ„ wonder or miracle shal we know it is from God immediatly for miracles we must haue for confirmations of all new doctrine approbation of ancient Catholike traditions customes orders Thirdly what manner of man vbi gentium where was he borne whose sonne was he where and how was he brought vp how liued he how died he that was the first author or illuminate of this innouation and change Sixtly and last of all after all these things are examined and knowne and that with helpe of an Aesopian fable they can bring vs into a conceit of a Lucean Tower to be firmely built in the imaginatiue horescope of their wandring zodiacke yet will they all be proued by this meanes to be flat forerunners of Antichrist and Archinuenters of new Puratinisme worse then euer yet was heard of or else made to do publike pennance throughout all Churches in Christendome confessing before the whole world as I pray God graunt them grace humility and patience to do it what blind guides and seducers of innocent hearts they haue bene leading many soules into eminent danger of perdition by arrogating to to much vnto themselues c. Againe if they say they haue this authority and by consequent are in state of perfection aboue the seculars by institution and gift of and from the Pope his Holinesse and Sea Apostolike then it will be replied by necessary sequele vpon them First that the Pope himselfe must needes be thereby of a more perfect life then they are which in no wise they will yeeld vnto yea arrogating an extraordinarie familiaritie with God to be due to them alone and a kind of impossibilitie of errour in their Synodall consultations called vnder and by their Generall their speciall prerogatiue and meanes to bring any one to perfection they are so farre from yeelding or granting it at least equally with them to his Holinesse is such as they haue preached openly in Spaine against Pope Sixtus the last of all holy memorie and rayling against him as against a most wicked man and monster on earth they haue called him a Lutheran hereticke they haue termed him a wolfe they haue said he had vndone all Christendom if he had liued and in few Card. Bellarmine himself as Iudge Paramount being asked what he thought of his death answered Qui sine paenitentia viuit sine paenitentia moritur proculdubio ad infernum descendit and to an English Doctor of our nation he said Conceptis verbis quantum capio quantum sapio quantum intelligo descendit ad infernum Well let this passe as a comfort to seculars to be ful of imperfections as vnworthie creatures to be iustly censured of by these worthie perfectiues that dare iudge their chief Pastor which no sacred Sinode nor OEcumenicall Councell either wold either
her Maiesties royall person All whose generall cause and quarrell the seculars hauing now in hand may not in any wise yeeld before it be ended by his Holinesse and that in a more serious manner then euer was in any the like case handled heretofore in the Court of Rome For the whole State of Christendome aswell in causes Ecclesiasticall as temporall will be proued to depend vpon it as hereafter you shall heare THE VII ARTICLE VVHether then seeing it must come to pleading before his Holinesse or euer the matter can be taken vp or ended are the seculars or the Iesuits likelier to preuaile on the Archpriests behalfe And if the seculars as some seeme to make no doubt of it by reason that their plea is on the behalfe of the Pope his Holinesse the whole Church in generall that is for the Ecclesiasticall Monasticall and temporall state and the particular common-wealths and regall Maiesties of England France Ireland Scotland yea of Italy Spaine Polony Sweden and Denmarke together with the Imperialty of Caesar it standing the chiefes of all these in both states vpon for their owne indignity security and preseruation of their Princely prerogatiues to their posterity to ioyne with the seculars in this their appeale then what is like to come to the Archpriest c. THE ANSWER MAchiauell may do much in all courts of Christendome in morall acts and humane actions and therefore although it stand all Princes vpon to ioyne with the seculars and none more or so much as her Maiesty Queene Elizabeth and her honorable Counsell yet considering what factious dispositions there are euery where abroad in the world what great matters men and money haue attempted atchiued and effected contrary to all expectation to their wish and desire and how plausible tickling and tempting the Iesuits doctrine is of popularity to make subiects rebell act and performe whatsoeuer they put into their heads for the conspirators aduancement no Prince in the world but hath some great Lord or other about him that will be ready to speake a good word for the Iesuits in hope of a better turne at their hands at one time or other when kingdomes are at stake It followeth then that for the present it will be doubtfull and verie hard to say which part whether seculars or Iesuits shall preuaile All men that know the Iesuits hard dealings and practises and what foule matters they haue bolstred banded bearded and borne out against the greatest and chiefe Princes on earth may and do easily conceiue thus much that looke what the diuell or man can do shall not be left vndone on the Iesuits behalfe But seeing truth may be obscured for a time yet can neuer be torne downe so as neuer after to rise then make I no question of it but that admit the Iesuits and Puritanes bring in Antichrist betwixt them who shall do more against all states and common-wealths and the whole Church of God then euer hath bene or shall be done by any other besides notwithstanding in the end the Iesuits will be quite ouerthrowne Which hapning then the Archpriest standing stifly out on their side is like inough to be called out of England to some preferment for a time as to be President or Rector of some Colledge or Seminary vt cedat cum honore THE VIII ARTICLE VVHether this appeale and contention betwixt the seculars on the one side and the Iesuits with their Archpriest on the other side be like then in the case last proposed to be the vtter ouerthrow either of the one or other partie or of neither of both THE ANSWER DIrectly it can be the ouerthrow of neither the one party nor the other because the seculars are but in statu quo prius and cannot be in a worse then they are in at this present And as for the Iesuits they may passe into India and other countries where the rest of their company liue But indirectly it may be an ouerthrow of either of both whose lot it shall fall out vnto to be suppressed and haue the foile and so in that case the Iesuits preuailing the poore seculars were as good to be all hanged vp together-ward as liue to endure the insults triumphes and vpbraidings that shall be layd vpon them in animating of their sawcie laicall faction to glorie in their malice impotent iniquitie and ouercrowing them for a time which yet could not be long as a thing impossible for any religious order vtterly to ouerthrow as thereby the Iesuits would an ecclesiasticall or secular state on behalfe whereof that sacred sentence was oracled from those lips that could not lye that portae infernae non praeualebunt aduersus eam Againe in the same case the seculars preuailing the Iesuits of like sort were sure to be ouerthrowne marry not with such scofs taunts insultations tyrannies and triumphs ouer them as the others do and would surely put them more barbarously in practise But the Iesuits chiefe griefe discomfiture and ouerthrow would be this and a greater to an ambicious aspiring hart there can be none to be excluded for euer out of this land and so frustrate their hope of a Iesuiticall Monarchy in the Iland of great Brittaine THE IX ARTICLE VVHether then seeing it seemeth the victory consists wholly on the Popes decree and that whose part he takes that is sure to preuaile may he then erre in deciding this contention betwixt the seculars and Iesuits or be partiall on the Archpriest and Iesuites behalfe against the other or not THE ANSWER IF the matter come once before his Holinesse I do verily thinke he cannot because although the ground in shew be but of matters of manners yet in re I am perswaded they will be drawne to matters of such moment as a visum est spiritui sancto nobis must iudicially passe ex Cathedra in definitiue sentence against them Which two the holy Ghost and spouse of Christ ioyning together in iudgement I stedfastly beleeue they cannot erre and by consequent make no question of it but if euer the seculars get safe passage admittance and audience at the sacred chaire of Saint Peter that then downe go both Archpriest and Iesuits at least by recantation submission surcease But now for asmuch as hoc opus hic labor est the difficulty is all how to haue this matter come to light before his Holinesse without sinister information or partial relation made the memory of many both ancient and recent examples putting all men in mind of what may and is no question most likely to happen for a time scil that as Parsons and others before vsed sundry Machiuilean forgeries stratagems plots practises and deuises for establishing of this vsurpate Archpresbitery most impiously therein deluding abasing and preiudicing of his Holinesse and the Catholike Churches lawes So may he and his confederates do the like againe and by consequent the Pope as hitherto hauing neuer heard nor bene fully exactly and sincerely informed of the truth of our
cause so hereafter also being stopt as if it be possible no doubt he shall from euer comming to know the sum of the seculars appeale he may no doubt both erre and be partiall therein THE X. ARTICLE VVHether seeing the Pope may without preiudice be sayd to be partial vpon wrong information giuen without hearing what the plaintife hath to say and thereupon iudging secundum allegata probata may also excommunicate c. the innocent and set the guilty free if any excoÌ„munication then should be gotten vtcunque against all the seculars and others that resist the Archpriest commanding all to side with the Iesuits either on the Spanish or any other inuadors behalfe or admit which is impossible scil that the Iesuits and Archpriest had right on their side in the pretended authoritie of and for maister Blackwell and that thereupon for the disobedience and contempt as the Iesuits tearme it the sayd seculars should be suspended with losse of all faculties c. And further hauing thus farre preuailed against them and that iustly as in the case proposed we must imagine If then and from thencefoorth an excommunication suspension interdiction or other Ecclesiasticall censure shold passe conceptis verbis from the Sea Apostolike with generall consent of the Cardinals or procurement of the greater part of them on the Archpriest and Iesuits behalfe against all their opposites in whatsoeuer were it to be obeyed or not or if it were in what sort and whether vsque ad aras or how farre c. THE ANSWER IN this Article are many crosse Interrogatories as scil First whether if an excommunication should be procured on the behalfe of an inuador as questionlesse it will if the Iesuits and Archpriest preuaile and as assuredly it will be stopt if the seculars may haue audience against all that should aide our Soueraigne and natiue countrey The point of forraigne conquest and inuasion vnder colour of restoring religion toucheth all English Catholikes as neare in effect for their liues as it doth the Protestants And by consequent both Catholiks Protestants haue iust cause to beare with and defend the one the other in these temporall and morall matters against the Iesuites and Puritanes who onely seeke to stir rebellions of subiects against their Soueraignes and vrge conquests inuasions of forreiners against their countrey both of them vnder colour of religion to cast a combustion mixt of sâ—te famine and sword vpon our countrey without sparing of any man woman or child as the doctrines and proceedings of both make it manifest that no Protestants life shall be saued if the Puritanes preuaileâ— nor any Catholike if the Iesuits preuaile yea questionlesse the Protestants shall sooner go to the pot then the Catholikes if the Puritanes preuaile and the Catholikes sooner then the Protestants if the Iesuites though in conclusion neither shal be fauoured not spared And this was plaine by the Duke of Medinaes words who being told that there were diuerse Catholikes in England answered I care not I will make the best Protestants in England as good Catholikes as they if once I have them vnder my sword c. This hath he spoken often in the hearing of maister Wencelâ—de a Deuonshire man and others So as this and other intelligences had of the Iesuitical deuotion and Spanish fauors towards our nation and vs Catholikes doth manifest their pretence of religion to be a bloudy presage of a massacring intended conquest were it to be obeyed or not the inuadour comming with hostile power vnder colour and pretence of restoring the Catholicke faith and religion in this land And to this I answere that it were not to be obeyed For that although euerie Catholike be bound to receiue succour releeue and aide to his power any one that should absolutely without any further intent come to restore plant and confirme the Catholike faith and religion in this land yet because intentio perficit actum and as I sayd in another Quodlibet before that act which in it selfe is good may both by circumstance and intention be made naught And further for that mans iudgement in humane actions whiles he liues vnder a mortall sword comes by senses obiects which are externall vt sonus obiectum auditus color visus c. and for that the outward obiect moues the inward sense then that outward presents it to the inward phantasie and imagination of man called sensus internus and that againe by office brings it into the Court of reason which reason reflecting vpon the primarie obiect iudgeth ex cognitione sensibili de intelligibili obiecto and so we say that Sacramentum est visibile signum inuisibilis gratiae Hereupon it cometh â—hat be the protestations neuer so great to the contrary morally without approuing the intention to be good by miracle yet if the externall signes be such as they implicate a contradiction verbi gratia as he that shold cast a fire-ball into a house yet protest he intended not to burne it or shoot off a peece at his supposed friend charged with powder bullet pellet or shot yet intended not to kill him or violentlie vrge and force a yeeld to rape yet protest his intention was onlie to trie that woman but not to rauish her no man will beleeue him And so in the case proposed the old Lord Mountacute of worthie memorie Sir Anthony Browne Vicount Montacute gaue a no lesse catholike then loyall answere to the like question saying to this effect That if the Pope himselfe should come in with crosse key and gospell in his hand he would be readie with the first to run vnto his holines to cast himselfe downe at his feete to offer his seruice vnto him in all humblenes of hart and what not to shew himselfe a dutifull childe But if in steede of comming in solemne procession with crosse booke praiers and preaching he should come in a sounding royall march with heralds of armes into banners of blood displaied trumpets alarum pikes harquebuse and men of armes all marshald in rankes set in battell aray then would he be the first man in the field armed at all points to resist him in the face with al his might and power he were able to make and what not would he doe to shew himselfe a dutifull subiect naturalized in an English soile on that behalfe To the like end did his brother in law the euer honorable Dacre his words tend euen in the middest of his prince and countries enimies And the same should be euery true catholike English mans resolution For let the colour pretence and protestation be whatsoeuer it be may yet for that one and the same person may come as an Apostle of Christ or knight of Mars and that the markes for others to know him by which of these two he is are not his intentions protestations or meaning but the signes and tokens he brings with him together with the manner of his outward actions and proceedings we iudging as
men not as Gods in these cases knowing that the words inuasion and hostile power denotate a generall subuersion population and ouerthrow of the whole common wealth and state with slaughter of body soule and all together and not the conuersion of any one no nor preseruation or safetie of the already conuerted for so said the Duke of Medina in plaine termes scil I will respect neither one nor other if I haue them once vnder my sworde for I meane to make roome place and space there for my master c. Neither in very deede in such a case could he almost choose to doe otherwise though he had a more compassionate religious and humane hart then any Spaniard seemeth to haue For how should he knowe a catholike from a protestant in the open field where is no time to bow nor kneele vnlesse it be against their wils But when besides this it is manifest by the Dukes speeches yea and the Iesuits too at sundry times affirming the same as father Southwell at Wisbiche did confesse no lesse in the hearing of diuers priestes there prisoners that though the inuaders might yet would they not spare one catholike in England more then a protestant nor so much as they would spare the puritanes The reason whereof may be this in their barbarous policie scil least vnder that pretence if shew of religion might saue their liues all for the time becomming wholy catholikes would be too many and too strong a partie to remaine on liue and readie vpon euery the least occasion offered to rise in armes and take the crowne off from the inuaders head if inuested therewith thrust all forraigners out of the realme and set vp a catholike king of their owne countrie and nation againe Therefore seeing that to preuent this inconuenience the inuader whosoeuer will make sure worke if once he got footing without sparing of man woman or childe besides those traitors of Iesuits or puritanes that shall escape perhaps for a time as comming in vnder his banner to betray their natiue countrie into his hands I hold that man for woorse then mad that will runne vpon his owne death euery way as those English doe be they of what religion or profession soeuer that should vpon any false perswasion or feare of excommunication or otherwise oppose themselues against their natiue prince and countrie And if when no such danger was of vtter subuersion and destruction of all yet in these temporall and martiall causes we finde that no excommunication suspension or interdiction did take place so but that those punished by ecclesiasticall censure did still prosecute to death their prince and countries cause were the said excommunications or other ecclesiasticall censure iustly or wrongfully inflicted which when hot bloods are vp is not regarded of any as in the strife betwixt prince Lewis of Fraunce and king Iohn of England and his sonne after him king Henry 3. and the Baliol and Bruse of Scotland and sundry other examples it may appeere euen in catholike times when there was no religion but one then à fortiori in the case proposed like to a Danois conquest when the pretence is coloured with a religious maske and the pretendor intendes notwithstanding a generall massacre of all indifferently to plant a new people there with vtter extirpation of the ancient inhabitants there is no sense religion nor signe of humanitie in that English hart that would so vnnaturally be deluded with scruples doubts and sophisticall buzzes put into his head in the premises as not to resist Secondly an other interrogatorie point or question in the article proposed is that supposing the Iesuits and Archpriest had right on their side in the matters of contention betwixt them as they seeme to make the case as cleere for them as the seculars doe on the contrarie that thereupon they should iustly procure an excommunication with other ecclesiasticall censures to be inflicted according to the qualitie of the person the occasion giuen vpon the part of the appellans and all their adherents for their contempt disobedience c. formally reestablishing ratifying and confirming ad amplius the saide Archpriestes authoritie whether then ought not the seculars and all other catholikes obey and surcease from further pursuite against either the Iesuites or Archpriest or no And to this I answere that a supposed proposition must haue a supposed solution scilicet that supposing all were right iust lawfull and necessarie on the Iesuits part and the quite contrarie on the seculars then were the seculars not onely bound to obey and surcease but also to cry peccauimus and submit themselues to doe such penance as should be inioyned them c. 2. in the case proposed although they were to surcease from pursuite of the appeale in that matter yet were they not bound to let fall their plea on the behalfe of the Catholicke Church and common wealth in generall or of their owne natiue countrey in speciall for that the matters of contention betwixt the seculars and Iesuits being of two kinds the one proper as cōcerning the iniuries wrongs done one to the other and the other common as concerning the iniuries and wrongs done to the whole Church the common wealth the supreme power and soueraigne Maiesties in both states they being instrumentall agents and yet withall liue members of the two bodies misticall and politicall were bound to respect Bonum publicum before priuatum and by consequent not to desist from prosecuting the appeale in those cases wherein the interest is in the whole Church and commonwealth and not in themselues alone 3. I say the supposition is but a meere metaphisicall or rather chymericall supposall or conceite neither doe I thinke that there is any Iesuite in England this day but in his owne conscience he knowes he is in the wrong and that the seculars haue the right on their side as well in the particular as generall action and by consequent it is impossible as I said in the former article but that if euer the matter come to pleading it will goe on the seculars side against them 4. I say more that admit an excommunication should be gotten procured suggesto mendacio against them for the one cause or the other yet were the excommunicated suspended c. onely propter obedientiam to forbeare comming at or hauing the vse of the Sacraments But no further so as in prosecuting their appeale or doing of any other act for the furtherance of their cause they were as free as before from all sinne or other offence in not obeying any charge laide or commandement giuen them to the contrary 3. A third interrogatorie point doth seeme to import thus much in this article scz whether an excommunication suspension c. being gotten quo iure quaue iniuria against the seculars and their adherents hanging the appeale were it to be obeied or not in forbearing to come at the altar or Sacraments Whereunto I answere 1. That Post
brought all to be had in ielousie And sure if it were for none other cause yet were this alone sufficient to mooue all catholikes to vrge the Iesuits exile out of the land that our aduersaries might hereafter haue no excuse in putting any to death for religion vnder pretence as now caeteris paribus considering the occasions by some giuen whereof we will treate in the next Quodlibet of State they haue had iust cause to prosecute all alike not knowing who was innocent of state matters and conspiracies and who was free Therefore doe I conclude that this speech is but a meere coggerie and Machiuillian deuise of the Iesuits faction to breake of this intercourse and cleerely to take away all meanes of libertie to any seculars or other catholikes that is not for their tooth to the vttermost THE IX ARTICLE VVHether any assurance or hope be of the conuersion of our countrie by this course taken by the seculars sooner then by that the Iesuits take all this while the Iesuits affirming that all that they do or intend against their country proceeds of pure zeale and meere intent and meaning they haue to set foorth Gods glorie And by consequent though some are possessed with Machiuillian deuises on their side for to serue their owne priuate turnes withall and others perhaps on the seculars to serue themselues also yet forasmuch as all in both or either company are not of one humor nor mind in the particulars then holding them for a faction for the present the seculars for their countrie the Iesuits for Spaine whether the contention in generall be not or at least may be thought to proceede of true zeale to the glorie of God and spirituall good of their countrie or not and how their intents being many of both parties in generall very vertuous wise learned and discreete men yea and no doubt but far from treason or conspiracies in themselues howsoeuer they are or may be corrupted in virtute principalis agentis may be interpreted in seeking the one partie for conuersion of their countrie by inuasion and possessing of the land with strangers The other with apostolicall manner and accustomed course of preaching teaching martyrdome c. THE ANSWERE THis article conteining sundry interrogatories represents a memorable discourse I once did read in Sir Anthony Guiueraes writings Which for that it may fitly be applied to our purpose concerning this contention betwixt the seculars and Iesuits I will first set it downe at large to the same effect he hath left it to posteritie to looke vpon and then apply it to our particular case and cause The summe of his speech consists of this point to wit how that the contention which amongst the wicked is naught as proceeding of rancor malice and reuenge the same amongst the good and otherwise sincerely vertuous is commendable as proceeding of zeale true pietie and perfect charitie euen in the middest of their hart breaking broiles The sequele ensuing vpon his speech is this that if there haue been in heauen high ambition in paradise too much curiositie in the Apostles schoole a contentious desire of soueraigntie in the indubitate seate of infallible truth three and twenty schismes already past sometimes two otherwhile three Popes though but one Summus pontifex and he holy and Peter in opposition by different elections one against an other and so continuing the schisme 3. 7. 20. 30. 40. 50. yeeres together some lucidum interuallum passing now and then betweene ere it was ended Emperors and kings and the mighties of the world interchangeably standing in a faction now with one then with an other sometimes with most infest warres yea cruell deathes of the vanquished Antipapes and perturbers of the Churches peace which with all those tempestuous stormie blasts could not be blowne vp nor faile in faith standing the oracle irreprooueable ego rogaui pro te Petre vt non deficiat fides tua c. Then neither is it to be wondered at in these contentions if some wicked Iesuits of Luciferian ambition Euauistian curiositie Iudastiall desire of gaine contempt of ordinarie authoritie stir vp strife cause rebellion and make inuouations of ancient customes and new gods amongst the people set vp an Antipape golden calfe or Archpriest and commit all impietie vnder colour of religion and yet with Core Dathan and Abiram saucily presume to tell both Moses and Aaron Pope and Prince state ecclesiasticall and temporall that they take too much vpon them nay that they are seditious disobedient and factious that speake against them for so doing and that they are but trifles which they make so much adoe about Neither is it to be iudged that all haue dipt their hands a like deepe in these contentions or intentions on the Iesuits side though all alike dangerous that concurre with them or are agents for them as I said before both to the Church and common wealth by reason of the aide and furtherance of the conspirators and principall agents which in this case they yeeld in the intent of the plot-casters to the ouerthrowe of all gouernment religion and authoritie but in their owne intent at least in many of them to the setting vp of religion againe in our countrie simply and plainly some of them no doubt thinking it impossible to be brought to passe but by inuasion and conquest of the land and this onely by false perswasions of the Iesuits whose intents many deuout both men and women thinking to be sincere good iust and conformable to the lawes both of God and the catholike Church doe hereupon prosecute their purpose as being led away with indiscreete zeale Of this sort of catholikes then is the question here to be made Whether their course supposing one or two Iesuits be of that minde and go no further gaping after gaine honor or renowne which Parsons and other of their chiefe ambitious practitionall state Iesuits aime at or the seculars course be of more assurance for the conuersion of our countrie which of them is most conformable to catholike doctrine and beleefe and what examples can be brought on either side This is the point I now stand vpon and the effect of the Spanish Bishops and cronicle before mentioned tends to this end in forme following Amongst the many visions which good Daniell had one was of the two gardian angels of the Hebrues empire and the Persian monarchie two nations vowed enimies one to the other the former being transported by the latter and led captiue out of Babylon into Susan in change of the conquerors imperiall place and regall throne In this Babylonian transmigration Daniels Hebdomades beginning to take their place in working in the hart of Cyrus for deliuerie of Gods people out of captiuitie a question rose and thereupon a great contention followed with hote disputes amongst the heauenly spirits concerning the Iewes deliuerie out of bondage scil whether it were more fitting to Gods glorie to mooue the Persian hart to grace and fauor at
to receiue take and accept of for their practise and directions in all causes martiall monasticall spirituall and temporall This grosse error of father Parsons and his no lesse great absurditie then rash foolish presumptuous and most dangerous course where unto his proiects do tend by this his pretence for the Lady Infanta to colour his owne and his societies traitorous aspires doe argue his insolencie and pride to be so great as they blind his iudgement sence and censure from discerning that these his plots drifts and deuises will be not onely condemned and laughed at by a generall applause but he also vtterly reiected and cast off out of all indifferent mens conceites be they of what religion soeuer that beare any loue to their countrie or that wish a preseruation of their auncient nobility and gentry freed by lawes customes and priuiledges from that tyrannie spoile which this hard natured and most cruell harted man seemeth most to desire for his owne priuate respects and commodities And surely when I remember the words of some of his proctors apparators somners pursiuants attornies aduocates soliciters and serieants here in England that neither could neither can yet indure to here that the Popes holinesse should haue any dealing or medling in this matter as a gust which gauleth them to the very guts to heare and see some already of a more gracious sweet mild incline to mercy in her Maiesty towards the innocent on that behalfe then heretofore hath bene or then they can hope for to themselues or any way indeede do desire to any others father Parsons and the rest of his state compartners vrging nothing more then to haue persecution of catholikes increased not diminished at all further then to grant out bulles of excommunication against all those that should impugne the spanish title and withall to send out pardons and graines of indulgence to all those that should fight on the Spaniards side against their natiue countrie both which vnnaturall practises seing the Iesuites haue sought for to be put in execution to the vttermost thereby to torment vs on euery side and by consequent incense the soe oppressed with rage against their soueraigne and the state tell me deere catholikes what moues you to fawne vpon those that thus doe labour for your heauie destruction I cannot but muse with my selfe how euer this disguised vnfortunate stepfather father Parsons being filius terrae by birth an Englishman by education a catholike by externall profession a priest by charecter a religious man by vow and order and taking vpon him by function and calling wholy to aduance Gods cause yea with hallowes and how-hubs with whowbes whowes and outcries against all that tast not on the froth of his zeale hath hitherto refused to take his holinesse for an example and his sacred predecessors the successors of Saint Peter vpon whom he ought chiefly to haue relied as a speciall note of so sound a catholike and perfect religious person as he and his would make the simple people beleeue they are for a paterne to imitate who haue euer held most mild modest and moderate courses towards all but especially towards the kings of great Britaine were they Scots or English not halfe so seuere against any as oftentimes by surreptitiall suggestions of some euill and factious persons they were vrged to haue bene As well appeered in the bull of Pius the fift which though we wish had neuer come out and much more that the other two since that time denounced against her Maiesty had neuer bene seene or heard of in this world yet to speake Gods truth when the Pope his holinesse perceiued what bloody tragedies and massacres on all sides were like to ensue thereupon by commaund of withdrawing our naturall allegiance from our natiue soueraigne vpon wrong information giuen as before we haue touched at large the said Bull was called in againe and all catholikes throughout England left as free to obey her Maiesty in all things due to her princely regalitie as they were before But letting that and other excommunications passe as spoken of before with harty wish they had neuer bene amongst many examples of the deere loue and fatherlie compassion of the Popes holinesse towards the inhabitants and princes of this land in times of eminent common welthes dangers the chiefe since the Norman conquest was shewed in the daies and raignes of king Henry the second surnamed Fitzempresse and of his sonne king Iohn the third Monarche of England of a Plantagenets royall race Against whom hauing vsed his fatherly correction as pastor vniuersall ouer the whole flocke of Christ for their great tyrannie and crueltie vsed towards their naturall subiects yet vpon their repentance mercifully receiuing them into grace and fauour of Gods church againe his holinesse on the behalf of the second did not onely accurse and excommunicate prince Lewis of France with all his adherents forcing him to yeeld vp all the interest right and title that he or his posteritie had or euer should haue to the English crowne but also surrendred vp the said crowne of England frank and free to king Iohn and his heires and successors from of the head of Cardinall Pandulphus hauing sit enthronized three daies therewith in the Popes right of purpose to abate and end the strife for euer to inioy the same in as full absolute and ample manner as any prince or monarche euer enioyed or possessed a crowne And thousands there are in England that desire as much and I verily thinke more vnfainedly and with a better more sincere true and catholike religious mind then any of the Iesuiticall or spanish faction doe desire the conuersion of our countrie who yet will be ready to lay their liues to pledge for it that if as God forbid and I hope it shall neuer happen that any Lancastrian forraigner should get possession of this land with as many oathes homages and fealties made and done vnto him or her whosoeuer as prince Lewis had whom father Parsons brings in for an example in confirmation of the Lady Infantaes title by that house bloud and line of king Lewis of France be like of purpose to vrge the English as he hath to make the like protestation on the said Infantaes behalfe yet would euen this Pope Clement the eight according to his predecessors example reuoke recall repeale and force him or her to retire and withall would of his mere mercie a gift appropriated to Saint Peters chaire in speciall manner grant to our nation the election and choise and set vp a king of our owne natiue soile bred and borne within the confines of great Britaines Ocean vpon the like repentance and submission of former princes in this and all other Christian kingdomes maugre all the Iesuites Spaniards and huff muffes in the world These important considerations should haue touched father Parsons hart with deepe remorse to remember how mightily he hath resisted impugned and violated all lawes diuine and humane whatsoeuer
it must needs follow that silence hath mightily disaduantaged our cause it is the only point the Iesuits doe and must if they will be holden for politikes stand vpon to suppresse all writings to death and seeing they cannot shew their extreme hatred neuer merited by any of vs at their hands towards vs more then they haue already shewed it be we silent or speake we out then conceiue deere Catholikes of our cause and case directly as it is that these bookes do onely the Iesuits not vs nor any of you the harme if any be in publishing them abroad and it proceedes of great simplicity in you to conceiue otherwise yea or not to see that it riseth of a Iesuiticall deuise to put such a conceit into your heads But be you fully assured when we are all dead and gone these bookes will worke good in your posterity to the extirpation of al Iesuitisme puritanismout of England for euer they are so throughly discouered therin Fiftly admit all were true that their brokers haue set a broache concerning that booke and those matters and that it were such odious stuff as they would beare you in hand yet will you be so simple deere catholikes as to beleeue them in this that they haue gotten any aduantage thereby against vs or that they laugh in their sleeue to see vs at varience amongst our selues about it as they say but falsly as shal be shewed anone For what aduantage shall they get by it when they are detected for seditious turbulent factious persons ambitious aspirers traitors the secular seminary priests cleered of their conspiracies Wil this bring good men to be hated to haue irreligious persons made knowne or if they say the word will all others run riot with them and so to hell for company No no deere catholikes I wil tel you what the mistery meaning is of al that blazon Nothing doth more torment an enuious man then to haue others liue prosper by him And so when the Iesuites saw that the priests found more fauour at the ciuill magistrates hands then they could find bicause they had cleered themselues of all state meddles which the Iesuites to death can not doe then enuy burst out as all the world may see it in them Againe nothing is more duly obserued in Machiauels schoole thē alwaies to cast plots by cōtraries As for example if you would haue any thing done or said by your enemy for your aduantage then put on a cowardly face of feare least such a thing should happen that seeming kind of trembling vnwillingnes shewed in you wil make him more eager in despite to prosecute it But if you feare such words writings or other acts indeed and that it be so as possibly you cannot stop nor hinder it then laugh at it make it seeme odious or ridiculous and in disgrace of the actor or author seeme to make small or no account of it and retort it if it be possible by hooke or crooke vpon your aduersary or at least band it out with outward shew of aduantage on your part against him to as many as you can come or send vnto and especially those such as are or may be thought to side on his side against you And this is iust the Iesuits crafty drift and your ignorance in not seeing into their policy For whether any thing make for vs or not it is not the question but would they trowe you be so carefull and diligent by their neuters to haue vs know before hand how mightily we are disaduantaged by our writings if it were so No no we neuer yet could find that charity in them and so letting it passe for an ordinary cog amongst them a halfe witted man may see there is nothing makes for them nor their aduantage Sixtly you deere Catholikes by this your childish compassion and womanlike lenitie goe against the principles grounds and rules of all arts sciences lawes customes and orders you goe against that Generall maxime in the lawes which is that fiat iustitia ruant coeli For wherein deere Catholikes should iustice take place in the case proposed if we keepe silence in concealing the Iesuits great impiety together with their and the rest of the Spanish faction their fautors and followers vniust calumniation irreligious abuses and high contempt of priests and all ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and state together with their vnnatural attempts practises and confederacies against our Prince and countrey and vs all that are not of their faction You goe against all custome and order For what is more innouate preposterous and beyond all gods forbid then this new fanglenes in you to prefer a company of Iesuits whose society began but yesterday in respect of many other religious orders not onely before all other monasticall persons but also euen before all secular priests and the state ecclesiasticall whereupon they and all others doe and must depend in soule points and not onely so but you forestall vs in iudgement you condemne vs you iustifie them you take vpon you to be paramount to censure of vs both before you heare our case and cause nay you will not heare nor reade nor vnderstand what points we stand vpon but as blinde affection leades you so wilfull ignorance eggeth you forward to censure vs at your pleasure And this deer catholikes is out of all order farre from all ancient catholike custome voide of all reason conscience or religion in you running headlong vpon your ruines through your simplicitie wilfulnes and follie You goe against the diuine rules and principles of charitie wherein per legem Talionis oculus pro oculo an eie for an eie a tooth for a tooth a tongue for a tongue a hand for an hand is giuen on the one side to defend for you know vim vi repellere licet and on the other to make satisfaction To perswad a Iesuit to make satisfaction were as hard a matter as to wreest the club out of Hercules fist to wring water out of a flint or to drinke vp the Thames at a haust To put them to silence by our silence it were a thing impossible for the more silent we were the more fiercely like false harted cowards they insulted ouer vs. To liue disgraced defamed and contemned for atheists apostataes and reprobates as they accounted vs was a crueller death then to haue beene torne in peeces and eaten vp aliue amongst Anthropophagies What should we doe then To escape their tongue torments yea and hand tortures we could not and yet againe common charitie commands vs our legifer preached it his apostle affirmed it that he who is carelesse of his good name is woorse then an infidell and carelesse should we be as hitherto we haue beene as too too scrupulous in these points God forgiue vs for it if we should still sleepe with a broken head with a wounded hart with a mangled conscience torne in peeces by them and neuer seeke redresse nor for
of them their owne priuate foule spirits of deceit and error so quot homines tot sententiae So many men so many minds But to the purpose I say if they or you deere Catholikes will not be smattered with any smacke or smell of heresie then doe not wrest the text otherwise then the letter importeth nor do not mince nor mangle it in leauing out the principall part which giues light and life vnto it For wheresoeuer I talke of the non validity of bulles c. or the wrong done to her Maiestie in procuring of them I therewithall do shew the case and cause why they were so sory for that they were procured either merily by subreption or wrong and false information and erronious grounds as that of Pius Quintus whose holines was made beleeue that the Duke of Norfolke was a Catholike and yet he died a professed enimy to the Catholike church and religion also that the Spaniards pretence was wholy merely and absolutely for restoring of religion and yet both by bookes words and actions it hath and doth proue to the contrary scil that he pretends a conquest of the land if by Parsons proiects he cannot otherwise haue it by compremise and composition giuen him And for our disobedience to the Popes commaund in subiecting our selues to the Iesuits or Archpriest the very words following to wit to aduance an enimy to the English crowne together with the whole context tenure of my speech in that place and throughout the whole booke doth make it manifest that it is absolutely meant in causes meere temporal yea marshiall nay bloody inhumane vnnaturall hostility in betraying our Prince or countrey or both and all our posterity into aliens and strangers hands by the Iesuits vrging and procuring an inuasion and conquest of this land and setting vp an Archpriest principally for that intent as an ignorant plaine man God wot fittest for their purpose to worke withall And this being not onely a cleering of the Pope of Rome for sending foorth bulles c. as most irreligiously abused by the Iesuiticall Spanish faction making many sacrilegious lies to incense his holines against our countrey Soueraigne and state and against vs all that be natiue subiects of the English blood vnder pretence forsooth of religion when the very ground was ambition and greedie affectation of English Soueraigntie but withall a plaine manifestation of high preiudice offered by that vnnatural Iesuiticall factiō to the See Apostolike I know not whether to inueigh more against their malice or your folly in storming against me for that booke as you doe For considering that the whole contents tenure scope and drift of that booke is to lay open the Iesuiticall conspiracies to set before your eies the plaine intent and meaning of the Spanish faction for inuasion to shew the danger wherein you stand that sway with those alien Princes and their procurators the Iesuits who labour for nothing more then to sway the scepter royall of this Imperiall Isle and to manifest vnto you our great dislikes of such vnnaturall practises our intent to draw you if it be possible from applauding vnto them hereafter our deepe desire to take away all occasion on our side of the argument and augment of our miseries and our publike confession of our owne and harty wish of your continuance in the Catholike Romane church and faith constant to death These things well weighed and withall that there is few or none of you but will acknowledge as much if you come before any ciuill magistrate yea some of your hot spurres haue already confessed and acknowledged more and that by vertue of your solemne oath then I haue written concerning this kind of disobedience to the See Apostolike who notwithstanding hauing rayled and scolded against me since in the fury of your zeale thrown the said booke into the fire I cannot see what equiuocation can excuse you from at least a mentall periury This it that which makes me amased to see your great simplicitie in murthering your selues with your owne weapons at a Iesuits craftie perswasion in finding fault you cannot tell with what or at most with that whereof when you are examined from point to point not one of you all but will acknowledge as much and euen the Iesuits though with a false hart in all or most part of them in their Apologies and other writings and examens haue and will confesse as much as I haue written concerning that mattter They say I vse certaine rowling phrases and Rhetoricall wordes which smell of heresie as in affectation of speech by often repetition of one thing vz. Disobedient we are c. and neuer shall c. these words Romish Iesuiticall and the deuill c. To which I answere as to the last first that if some words be placed or printed amisse as Romish for Romane alas for pure neede what beggerly quarrelling obiections are these but yet to make a direct response deare catholikes I was not present at the printing to be a corrector nor had I the sight of one proofe vntill the whole booke was out in print and sold and then too late to set downe errata which in that word Romish and in sundry others I found A reason whereof aswell to confirme my sound conceite as also to excuse the Printer in some sort may be this that where I had written Romane out at length there they printed so which you may find both in the beginning and ending of the Epistle and thereby iudge of me aright and where they found I had written short Rom. there they printing it out at length added ishe and so made it Romish thinking it to be so as English Scottish Irish Flemish c. To the next to wit Iesuiticall I cannot maruael though they cauil about it for some 3. yeeres agone I remember a reuerend graue and vertuous priest yea and as sound resolute and constant a catholike as the purest Iesuite among them all that I goe no further hauing written a very learned religious and priestlike apology or reioynder to the Iesuiticall calumniation about the Archpriest and other matters bicause he vsed this word Iesuite very often did not forsooth call euery puny or nouice of theirs by the name of a father of the societie or breefly the fathers therefore was he censured then to smell of heresie and onely for that word and none other But to answere these carping Cynickes directly I vse that word Iesuiticall not in contempt of their societie nor of themselues in generall for I alwaies esteemed of it as of a holy good and religious institution as well in the intent of their founder Ignatius as also in the forme and manner prescribed for obseruations of the rules set downe by him and the more holy bicause confirmed by the Pope his holinesse and for that sundry good deuout religious men haue beene of it though no sance peres Neither doe I call them Iesuiticall by way of analogy as