THE Copies of certaine discourses which were extorted from diuers as their friends desired them or their aduersaries driue them to purge themselues of the most greeuous crimes of schisme sedition rebellion faction and such like most vniustly laid against them for not subscribing to the late authoritie at the first sending thereof into England In which discourses are also many things discouered concerning the proceedings in this matter abroad Dicit piger Leo est in via Prouerb 26. The slothfull excuse themselues saying There is a Lyon in the way Imprinted at Roane by the heires of Ia. Walker 1601. The Preface to the Reader THe differences and disagreements are such which in these fewe yeares last past haue bred and daily grow to more and more perfection in that kind to so great a disgust of all sincere Catholickes not onely here in England but also in the principall if not in all the parts of Christendome whither the worthie fame of their memorable acts for the restoring of their natiue Country vnto the Catholicke faith hath come that it is high time to giue them some taste of these matters who are so disgusted by laying before them the true cause and grounds of this lamentable dissention and to discouer how colourably the common enemie of God and his Church hath proceeded to the disturbance first of Gods Priests then to the mutual dislike of Catholickes among themselues and of such Priests as against whom by wrong informations they are violently led and let not to vse both tongue and penne in most vngratefull manner Some being asked by others what might be the cause of so great a strife among the Priestes haue simply answered that the cause is for that the Priests being but secular men will not humble themselues or be directed or gouerned by the Iesuites who are religious but what truth soeuer is in this cause of all other it must not be giuen for such a subiection euen in the eares of those who desire it soundeth so absurdly that they endeuour rather to haue it then to heare of it and both M. Blackwell in his Letters to the Cardi. Caietan dated the 10. of Ianuary 1596. and F. Parsons in his Letters against M. Doctor Bish and M. Ch dated the 9. of October 1599. labour to put this conceit out of mens minds how euidently soeuer the practise in Wisbitch to make Fa. Weston the Iesuite superiour ouer the secular Priests who then were in durance for the Catholicke faith pursued both by the knowne and couert Iesuites and all other their fauourites doth proue it as also a Libell giuen abroad by the Authour thereof himselfe to admonish others to beware of such Priests and by no meanes to haue any dealing with them in spirituall matters euen to the disturbing of them out of their places of residence as vnfit guides for soules who had not a dependance of the Iesuites And not long since another of their fauourites letted not to say that those Priests who are not vnder the Iesuites gouernment are no better then the Ministers Many more proofes may be made hereof out of the speeches of many other their fauourites who giue counsell to all that are afflicted in these turmoyles to submit themselues to the Iesuites Other some who perceiue well that if this should be maintained to be the true cause of so scandalous a schisme in Gods church it would redound to the eternall disgrace infamie of such as by whom they hauing conceiued some foolish hope of preferment they had rather that they should indeed beare the sway haue the gouernment of the Cleargie although it were vnderhand then be said either to seeke it or to haue it giue out that the cause of this diuision among the Priests is for that some Priests mooued either with ambitiō or desire of contradiction will not subiect themselues vnto their lawfull superiour appointed by his holinesse and confirmed in authoritie ouer them by his Breue sent into England for that purpose and these haue from time to time both written and maintained in most iniurious manner to possesse the more perfectly such as are too readie to thinke no calumniation too greeuous euen against those who haue best deserued of them that these Priests are schismatickes seditious rebellious c. euen to the diuiding for this cause of parents and their children men and their wiues brothers and sisters and whole housholds while the one retaining that reuerend respect of their long knowne and tried ghostly fathers for learning wisedome and vertue is assailed by the other with these most wicked suggestions and false calumniations and forced either to liue a discontented life or to break friendship and against their owne consciences make semblance at the least that they conceiue hardly of such as they very well perswade themselues wil not commit so great offence against God and his Church in whose defence they haue spent many yeares and remaine still resolute to shead their dearest bloud That therefore no errour be hereafter in any man who will not too much affect ignorance in such things as concerne not onely his particular good but the Common cause of God his Church which whiles the Cleargie liueth at some variance in an euill affected Countrey cannot doubtlesse but be very greatly preiudiced therby it is thought expedient yea necessarie that the cause of this dissentiō be with truth and sinceritie declared made knowne to the world that our actions and the reasons thereof being weighed with equall ballances truth may take place the offerers of the wrong may be discouered the vniustly afflicted may be relieued and that ease at the least by these meanes may be procured which would not come of so long sufferance The strife and dissention at this day too great and scandalous in England is maintained by the Arch-priest the Iesuites their adherents against those Priests who did forbeare to subiect themselues vnto the Arch-priest constituted in authoritie ouer all the Seminary Priests in England and Scotland by a Cardinall who was Protector of the English Colledge at Rome and afterwards honoured with the title of Protector of England for the which forbearing to subiect themselues at the first making knowne of this authoritie the Priests were accused of schisme sedition faction rebellion c. All which calumniations were forgiuen by the Priests so grieuously iniuried and a peace made to the great comfort of all Catholiques when his holinesse Breue was presented vnto them but this peace was soone after broken by the meanes of the Iesuites who reuiued the same calumniations against the Priests and by the Arch-priest who did not onely auerre the assertions of the Iesuites but published also that he had receiued a resolution from the mother Citie to vse his tearmes which avowed that the refusers of the authoritie noting by this phrase the Priests who did forbeare for a time vpon causes seeming iust to them to accept thereof were Schismatickes So that the
crimes wherof both my selfe and diuers others of our brethren are accused I rereferre the matter to your iudgement to discerne whether we be guiltie of them or no. If you doubt of the truth of my relation I desire none other triall then the testimonie of mine accusers who if they denie any one word that I haue vttered by way of narration I can easily procure such proofe thereof as they shall not denie vnlesse they will denie themselues If my deductions arguments or suppositions vsed in yeelding reason for our not admitting M. Blackwells authoritie vpon the onely receit of Cardinall Caietaines Letters and that for so doing we incurred no note either of schisme or disobedience to his holinesse if they I say need any proofe I will vndertake to make them most euident Wherefore according to these grounds I humbly beseech you to passe your opinion and yeeld your iudgement of our cause And if the grounds prooue true your iudgement conformable therevnto may remaine firme but if they prooue otherwise your iudgement notwithstanding shall not be faultie for he that iudgeth according to his euidence is not culpable of any errour This good Sir I request because I desire to know your opinion of our cause which if you giue according to these grounds I shal easily vnderstand whether you wil condemne or cleare mee my brethren of the crimes obiected for I am sure I haue not erred in declaring the state of the matter If this which I haue said be not sufficient for your full satisfaction I hope it wil suffice at least to suspend your iudgement of vs vntill further triall be had of our cause which being had in any indifferent manner and if we being conuicted do not acknowledge our fault and make competent satisfaction then do not spare to account of vs as Heathens Publicans But our aduersaries purpose not to put the matter to any indifferent tryall or to ende it by any equall meanes but to decide it by strong hand might and violence by perpetuall oppressing vs with infamous slaunders of schisme faction and the like thereby to depriue if it can be our brethren abroad of all conuenient entertainment and to debarre vs in prison of necessary reliefe to the ende that necessitie may compell vs to yeeld to their desires the inequalitie of which proceedings I beseech you with indifferēcy to cōsider Sometime it is seen that a partie wilfully bent to contend is iustly compelled to admit an equall compremise and to stand to the arbitrement of an indifferent Iudge but it was neuer seene where iustice and conscience ruled and muche lesse amongst such as ought to be the rule of other mens consciences that the partie willing to stand to anie indifferent tryall should bee compelled by violence to agree vnto the desire of his aduersary how iust or vniust soeuer it be and that without any further sentence but onely because his aduersary must haue his will Good Sir we are heere in this place diuers in great want in so much that besides our debts to the keeper we haue not to defend vs from the iniury of the winter weather whereof that you may haue some special taste I doo you to vnderstand that since Trinitie Terme wee haue receiued no more from London from whence the chiefest part of our reliefe commeth then will suffice for three weekes charges with him that can husband his matters best And this shal be sufficient to insinuate vnto you our wants hoping that as opportunitie serueth you will concurre to the relieuing thereof confidently hoping withal that God for whose cause we suffer not onely of the cōmon aduersary but also of those who ought to be our friends wil giue vs patiēce whatsoeuer crosses befal vs to beare them to the end For mine owne part they may by their violent proceedings make me yeeld my breath and life which by Gods grace I shall if need require willingly sacrifice for the defence of iustice equitie and mine owne innocencie but my consent to these vniust dealings by Gods assistance they shall neuer extort out of me If any one to whom you shall thinke good to impart this as I am not against the imparting it to any so that you keepe the originall your selfe shall vndertake to improue me of any vntruth I will either satisfie his obiections euen to your own iudgement or else I will acknowledge mine errour Take this good Sir for a taste of our internall and domesticall troubles wherewith I imagine you are not much acquainted and therefore are you worse affected to our cause and as you shall giue me hereafter occasion you shall vnderstand more for this is but a small thing in respect of that which this matter affordeth But I feare I haue bene too tedious in this so disgustfull a discourse but let I pray you the hard tearmes my good name is brought into plead my pardon for my tediousnesse and the equitie of my Plea procure me your fauour and so in all humble sort I take my leaue Yours euer in all true Christian affection Anthony Champney SIr if you do not consider diligently the haynous Post scriptū enormitie of schisme imposed vpon me you will peraduenture condemne me of too much precisenesse if not of contention for labouring to defend my selfe from the note thereof and will thinke that I ought rather to suffer some small infamie then by opposing my selfe so earnestly to repell the same to procure a further breach between mine accusers and my selfe to both our harmes and to the offence of others But if you consider first to admit the infamy of this slaunder though it were of it selfe but small were in some sort to giue occasion to mine accusers to heape vpon my head greater wrongs hereafter for he that will offer wrong in one thing will do the like in an other if occasion serue you shall finde it to be neither wisedome nor pietie to giue place to such beginnings Secondly the condition of mine estate requiring a most entire fame I should both wrong my selfe and slaunder my function if I should admit any blemish or blotte therein which I may by mine owne endeuour wipe away and therefore to purchase peace at such a price I hold it not lawfull for Non est faciendum malum vt eremat bonum Euill is not to be done that good may ensue And as S. Augustine saith Qui famam suam negligit crudelis est Hee that neglecteth his good name is cruell But if thirdly you cōsider the intrinsical enormitie of this crime you will easily excuse mine endeuour in clearing my self therof from all note of contention For amongst all other sinnes against our neighbour schisme is the greatest and the pennalties which the Church hath alwaies inflicted on such as haue bene guiltie therof proue the same to weet excommunication and seperation from all vse of Sacraments as appeareth by diuers auncient Canons also in Bulla caenae which being graunted
a long discourse of a friend of yours sent out of Englande after your departure you two by name were appointed to bee Arch-bishops Primates and that besides this a principall man of your side writing to you certain notes about your message vseth the phrase of your LL. with his owne hand yet here to be seene it was much to be suspected what motion moued you ¶ But as I said now all is ended and this and all the rest will easilie die and be forgotten as alreadie I trust all is forgotten on all hands if you and M. Ch. do beare your selues well and prudentlie and do staie and not stirre vp such as do seeme to fauour or bemone your cause which though you terme by the phrase of all sorts of people in your Letter yet must you not deceiue your selues for that finallie all those sorts must be reduced to a verie small number in respect of others that do condemne your action ¶ Heere in Rome you prooued how the grauest sort of people both straungers and others iudged of your cause after they had heard and examined the same I shewed you also the Letters and subscriptions of manie of the chiefest and most principall of our Nation in Flaunders and England and since that time I haue receiued manie more and manie complaining of the ouermuch lenitie vsed in ending of the cause how then do all sorts of men crie out of the rigour or iniustice vsed towards you but in truth it is a verie vncertaine thing to depend vpon the speeches of men diuers speake faire and will bemone a man to his face when their harts are farre otherwise and some being discontent or in passion themselues vpon other groundes are glad to take such occasions as this of yours is to disburthen their stomackes of their owne griefes others euill enformed at the beginning vpon pittie doo bemone you which afterwards vpon knowledge of the truth wil change their mindes and crie crucifige ¶ The onelie way is to depend of God and of a good conscience and to wish well to all and speake euill of fewe and to doo the good a man may for all sorts without respect what they will saie or do again and finally to haue patience with whatsoeuer falleth out and this rule I do counsel to you and do meane by Gods assistance to follow it my selfe wishing no worse to you and yours then to my owne soule as he is witnesse who is maister of vs both to whose holie protection I do most affectually commend you and my selfe to your holie praiers and sacrifices From Rome this 9. of October 1599. Yours euer most readie to serue you Robert Parsons This Letter of F. Parsons did the Arch-priest send abroad by his Agent with an Iniunction to those to whom it was carried that they must beleeue all that was contained therin assuring them that it was most true notwithstanding hee had made a seuere Edict not long before against all such as should diuuldge anie thing set out for the space of two yeares before wherein the credit of anie Ecclesiasticall person of the English Nation should particularly by name be touched How many faultes were in this action of the Arch-priest it is not for me to discypher but it is verie manifest that in this Letter of F. Parsons the credit of two English Priests by name are very much wounded and as it should seeme by the censure following the Letter deserueth litle commendation for truth therein contained A censure vpon the Letter which F. Parsons writ the 9. of October 1599. to M. D. Bish and M. Ch. two banished confined Priests the one in France the other in Lorraine by the suggestions of F. Parsons for presuming to goe to Rome in the affaires of the Church Giuen by M. I. B. IN the first Paragraffe F. Parsons followeth a suspisition conceiued against M. Bish and M. Ch. because they did not write vnto him and yet confesseth in the second Paragraffe that the same weeke he had receiued a stale Letter from M. Bish so that hee might haue left out of the first Paragraffe this manifest vngrounded suspition and also this absurd vntruth soone after controlled euen by himself that no letter appeared as yet from M. Bish And M. Ch. beeing confined to a place where neither any ordinary Poste was for Rome or vsually passed as F. Parsons well knew he might with more credit haue pretended some other cause of so vniust a suspition as that the two Priests had forsakē their good minds fallen into knowne and acknowledged errours and broken promises made at their departure If Letters might miscarry in so lōg a way as was between Rome and them what ground was the not receiuing of Letters from them of those conceits If they will say that they must needs receiue all Letters which come to Rome directed to them so soone as they do come to them daily practise will conuince the contrarie howsoeuer he shuffleth off this contradiction that as yet no Letter appeared from M. Bish as F. Parsons affirmeth in the first Paragraffe and that he had that weeke receiued a stale Letter from him as hee confesseth in the second Paragraffe but it appeareth both in this former part of F. Parsons Letter and also in all which followeth in the same that F. Parsons thought it a great sinne for himselfe not to deserue blame What errours were acknowledged at Rome I know not but it is very likely that they would haue bene specified vpon so good an occasion as was offered to F. Parsons by M. Bish and is by F. Parsons touched in the 21. Paragraffe and if they should haue acknowledged themselues to haue erred in want of consideration doubtlesse I should as now it falleth out beleeue as much because they did willingly ouerslip an opportunitie of hauing a fit meane maugre their aduersaries to haue bene heard before they should haue bin cōmitted to prison which infamy as F. Parsons confesseth they were in the 10. Paragraffe In the second Paragraffe F. Parsons boldly without blushing saith that hee receiued a stale Letter frō M. Bish from whom in the first Paragraffe he saith as yet no Letter appeared and both by that Letter which was receiued and by that none at all as yet appeared it is gathered that M. Bish was fallen againe into a pit out of which as yet he neuer came since his first fall into it Those commendations of himselfe which F. Parsons tooke no great disgust to repeate meaning that these Letters should passe farre and neare as appeareth in the 6. Paragraffe were vsed by M. Bish perchance to trie if by fitting so well F. Parsons humour he might draw him to that which as it should seeme by M. Bishops reply was not in him What M. Doctor Cic. did write of others complaints I know not but so farre as without offence I may I thinke that it was a most lamentable case that two Priests comming as it became
had made an attonement with their aduersaries and forgiuen all those slaunders and detractious proceedings which were practised against them and neither of themselues or stirred vp by M. Bish and M. Ch. haue they reuiued all that which F. Parsons heere confesseth to haue bene dead forgotten or ended Did not rather F. Rob. Ion. a Iesuite no great fauourer or bemoaner of M. Bish and M. Ch. their case broach this diuision again and renew the soare which was if not cleane healed yet forgotten and the offendors forgiuen by publishing that the Priests who did forbeare to admit M. Black for their superiour vntill they sawe the Breue in his confirmation were Schismatikes and that all those who should not hold the same were vnder the censures of the Church Did not M. Black soone after both approue the same paradox of F. Ion. the Iesuite and furthermore publish a resolutiō sent as he said from Rome eyther by Father Wasord or F. Titch both Iesuites which avowed the same with many Edicts and prohibitions vnder paine of incurring the censures that the Priests should not defend them selues from this most absurd iniurious calumniatiō Was it so necessary that there should be tumults in England which must be said still no doubt to be betweene the secular Priests and the Catholiques that the Iesuites must stil giue the onset although for to auoyd blame in the opinion of such as will blinde themselues their enterprises haue bene so prosecuted by couert Iesuites who were not knowne but as secular Priests by the Arch-priest as they are generally taken for quarrels among the secular Priests Can F. Parsons say and not thinke to be laughed at that these stirres are reviued by default of M. Bish and M. Ch. their not prudent bearing themselues or that the Iesuites and the Arch-priest were stirred vp by them as men who would seeme to fauour or bemone their cause But had peace long continued in England which was feared that it would had it bin in their power who were so maruellously iniured some iudged that they should misse somewhat at which they aimed and therefore they set all things worse then they were before We hope we shal now shortly at the least see to what end they did it Concerning the 23. paragraffe I cannot say what either straungers or others did iudge of the two Priests cause they themselues must answere how they found such as with whom they talked yet if it be true which F. Parsons relateth in the 16. Paragraffe it is very likely that they tolde some tale which caried some weight with it or else both the Commissarie of the Inquisition had litle reason to vse such words as F. Parsons there saith he did and F. Parsons lesse cause to feare least their dealing with all the Cardinalls and great men in Rome would to vse his owne tearme bring the common cause in a pretie plight He vaunteth here but falsely and iniuriously against the principall of our Nation eyther in Flaunders or England who should complaine of the ouermuch lenitie vsed in ending of the cause that none but vpō passion or misinformation did bemone thē The iudgement of the two Cardinals Caietan Burghese I saw in their letters of the 21. of April 1599. to the Rector or vicerector of the english Colledge and that was that it was not expedient that the two Priestes should by and by returne vnto those parts where they had maintained controuersies with other of their order Wherefore they commaunded the two Priests that for a time they should not presume to goe without license into the Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland I haue bene credibly enformed that neither of them were euer in Scotland or Ireland and therefore could not maintaine any controuersies there in parsonall presence but if they did maintaine any it was by Letters which they might doo notwithstanding this prouiso from other parts also neither can I learne that euer they mainteined any such in England but if they had in my simple iudgement it was no good reason why therefore they should be debarred Scotland and Ireland and although this were the iudgement which was specified by the aforesaid Letters yet there was an other iudgement also that they should not be both in one Regiō as it should seeme for although in the Cardinall Burghese his Letters of the 15. of September 1600. to M. C. it is insinuated that they might choose their place of banishment and confinement which is a confession that because they had controuersies in some one place not certainely set downe where if wee looke into the aforesaid mentioned Letters of the 21. of Aprill 1599. or because by their returne into England some controuersies might haue growne there as appeareth by Cardinall Burghese his Letters of the 15. of September 1600. they must be banished out of all places in the world but one where they must liue in relegation God knoweth how long for neither is there any certaine time set downe for this yet in the answere vnto it written by M. C. the 4. of Noumber following I read that he was not suffered to be in Fraunce as he had made his choise and if this was not cause sufficient for honest men truly enformed of the ending of their cause to bemoane them sincerely and from the heart yet with this circumstance at the least it might be that no prouision being made for them to sustaine life they were banished out of all such places where they might haue meanes to liue vpon a supposed cause neuer proued against them or a bare suspition of what might heereafter bee vnlesse to goe to Rome to preuent great controuersies be said to be to maintaine cotrouersies or to giue a suspition that they would make controuersies when as that thing by which probably they might assure themselues that controuersies would growe came from Rome and was no where to be remedied but at Rome And it will appeare by those authenticall Registers in Rome if any be kept that they sought with all submission to his holinesse to knowe his will in a cause not made knowne by any Letters before from him or by any sufficient testimony otherwise that it was his order In the 24. Paragraffe F. Parsons would seeme to giue good counsell although in all that goeth before he sheweth how litle he careth to follow any but rather aduentureth to say or doo what commeth into his minde and seeketh afterward to perswade such as against whom he worketh to haue patience and say nothing but be peaceable not to finde fault or blame any his proceedings least that tumults arise thereon as who did resolue rather to goe through with whatsoeuer he attempteth then to recall or reclaime himself at any time when he hath done amisse for proofe whereof he caused this Letter as it appeareth in the 6. Paragraffe to be cōmunicated to others beside those to whom it was writtē who shuld also publish it further without any
nothing sutable with the grauitie and waight of the matter which required much more mature deliberation Moreouer when by word of mouth he broached the same his authoritie vnto certaine Priests he to amend the matter withall added thervnto somewhat of his owne and being forthwith taken tardie hee did presently cōfesse that he indeed put therto somewhat as honest Priests on their oathes will testifie This gaue a great presumption that the matter was contriued by their friends and that they might adde or diminish at their pleasure Which is more probable if we call to mind and marke what instructions he gaue forth at the first as receiued from the Cardinall Among others were these that Priests should not meet secretly together that they should not send any priuie messages ouer the seas that they should take in good part whatsoeuer was either written or spoken against them and such like which are not in the rowle of his instructions sent him from the Cardinall as euerie bodie may see and I can by producing a true copie of them when need shall be euidently demonstrate and besides are so voide of reason so odious and intollerable in our Country especially at this time when Priests cannot meete together or do any thing but in secret that a babe might plainly feele them neuer to haue proceeded from his holinesse or from anie noble free or compassionate heart but to sauour of I know not what base minde too too much addicted to terror crueltie and seruitude I will that I be not ouerlong omit diuers other pregnant forcible reasons which we had of sending vnto Rome this onely I may not leaue behinde which of it selfe were a sufficient cause to sue and speak for redresse in season vz. that in the whole drift of this subordination extreame partialitie was apparantly shewed which as the world knoweth was no good meanes to appease all parties to ende their debates the onely cause pretended of this lately erected authoritie namely to accord the Priests and Iesuites as the Letters Pattents specifie Now that controuersies be wel decided and all honest parties agreed it was meete perdie to choose vpright and indifferent Iudges and Arbiters who should without fauour feare loue or hatred waigh euerie mans cause vprightly in the ballance of equitie and without respect of persons giue sentence according to iustice This is a principall in iudgement so cleare by the light of nature that it is graunted of verie Pagans yet in our cause very badly obserued for both the Arch-priest and his counsellours vnto whom the determination of our causes are to be referred were all chosen by the one partie with a speciall prouiso that no one be admitted vnto that number who did not greatly fauour the same partie howe contrary soeuer they were vnto the other partie it imported not yea perhaps the more earnestly bent against them the rather elected Had not trow you the other poore partie iust cause to refuse such Vmpeeres and Iudges that were so alienated from them and such fauourites of the aduerse partie and to preuent the vniust sentences that were like to follow of this partialitie to flie in time for refuge vnto their lawfull superiour And if in all pettie iudgements euery priuate man is allowed by lawe an exception against a partiall Iudge how much more is the same to be graunted vnto many auncient graue worthie men in a generall cause of a Country Two proper points of pollicy I obserue in this election the one in choosing the Officers so plyant to their pleasures that they may be the more readie to runne byaz when it will serue their turnes And yet because men are mutable to hold them in awe their authorities might be taken from them what time soeuer the Cardinall thought good as in the points it is to be seene but let this goe because I touched it before the other peece of pollicy yet more fine is that the Arch-priest himselfe who is appointed to giue iustice vnto both parties hath power only ouer the one partie none at all ouer the other so that the one he may by censures seuere punishment constraine to stand to his definitiue sentence but the other needs not to care for him any further then that he may vse him to plague his aduersarie Vt sibi caueat loco These hardy champions hold it not sufficient to haue the fauour of the Court for them but for feare of after claps wil haue also their persons exempted from the principal magistrate and reserue themselues onely to their owne Fathers iudgement which must be sought for also farre inough off from Rome and that in forme of supplication if I mistake not much the Arch-priests instructions Here seemeth to be the place to answere to that sentence of yours Father where you tel vs in good sadnesse that many yeares you demaunded with your friends for this subordination I beleeue you surely considering that neither you would haue yours comprehended in it and yet you would haue the appointing of all the Officers and ordering almost of all matters belonging to it But say you it was thereby to deliuer the Societie from that calumniation vsed to be laid against them that they would gouerne the Priests against theirs wills and you had some reason so to say if you had suffered the Priests to haue chosen their gouernours according to their owne wills desires but you putting in and choosing such commaunders as at your becke should be readie to doo whatsoeuer you will doo manifestly prooue that saying to be no calumniation but a plaine demonstration of your incroaching vpon the gouernments of priests much further then your profession or vocation doth require For by the ordinarie course of the Church religious men are to be gouerned by some of the lay Cleargie and not the Cleargie by them Well to drawe towards the end of my former part this subordination being both straunge in the Church of God hatefull of itself and not to be exercised in our countrey in these times it being also procured as it seemeth by false suggestion authorized by him that was not knowne to haue any such authoritie and finally by partiall election of the gouernours tending vnto the oppression of many notable personages who had excellently well deserued of our countrey by their long and fruitfull trauells yet remaineth euident and most manifest that wee had sundry iust lawfull and great causes in humble sort to sue vnto our superiours for a mitigation or alteration of it and for establishing of some better and more fit for our countrey Whereof appeareth first how vaine that vaunt of yours is where you say that we came and brought nothing with vs and that you were ashamed to see that wee had taken so long a iourney and had so litle to say when besides the causes before mentioned we had many other points also of importance in our message As to desire and sue for Bishops or at least that the
thinges were most conuenient for our selues and Country Then that many of vs beeing in durance haue for many yeares endured and as we hope without reprehension the bitter stormes of restraint and persecution and therfore in iustice should deserue at the least an easie indifferent censure of such as either cannot or do not heare vs answer for our selues And that also some of our brethren as forward in dislike and disclaiming from such proceedings as we be if not more forward haue ended their peregrination and troubles with most glorious martyrdome giuing a great testimony thereby of their sincere intentions in such matters they tooke in hand and leauing behinde them also a good motiue vnto you to censure and iudge no lesse of the intentions of others whose cases are the same with theirs that they deale sincerely and according to conscience And because you cannot perhaps enter into a iust iudgement of these matters not seeing into the depth drift and circumstances thereof wee desire no more at your hands but that you will as yet suspend your iudgements of vs and not vncharitably condemne vs vntill you see the conclusion and period of this businesse which will manifest the truth of all our actions Secondly we desire you to consider our present estate in this businesse how we stand that we haue and do vowe all obedience vnto Gods Church and do acknowledge embrace all authoritie lawfully proceeding from the See Apostolicke and are most readie to shewe all obedience therevnto when we shall see and know by iust and ordinary Canonicall notice what it is that the authoritie of that See exacteth at our hands which no Christian Catholicke can deny to be sufficient and as much as can in right and reason be desired at our hands And if we beleeue not euery Letter Messenger or report onely deliuered vs by such who are parties in this cause and maister actors in erecting of this vnpleasing and obtruded authoritie doo not blame vs for we haue reason not to beleeue them in all things much lesse in matters of such weight and so daungerous whom by experience we haue found difficient in many things and whom we knowe to intend further matters hereby then are seene or imagined of many And yet in this stand we but vpon our owne right in not yeelding because we expect but ordinary authenticall proofe of so extraordinary iurisdiction neuer denied in matters of farre lesse moment and weight then this Thirdly consider what reason we haue to yeeld vnto this authoritie not onely gotten by wrong and falce information and instance of the aduerse part onely against our willes without our knowledge contrary to all equitie and iustice but also established in such sort by them that the superiour must needes remaine a punie and inferiour to them and by that meane be an instrument to execute what they shall thinke good or fit to be done so that our superiour being subiect vnto them consequently all we must be their apprentizies and stand at their commaund which is to peruert all true order in Gods Church For oftentimes and by the late generall Councell of Trident it is decreed that the secular Cleargie shall haue power ouer the Religious as to visite them reforme and correct them c. as the Bishop dooth but seldome or neuer hath the Religious Cleargie any iurisdiction ouer the secular Cleargie to visite commaund correct or reforme any Bishop in his See or Pastour in his parish c. For why they haue vowed obedience and therefore should not seeke for command And that these men haue sought for superioritie ouer vs their poore brethren it is most euident by their seueral enterprises to that end made amōgst the prisoners of Wisbiche that now also they seeke the same againe and more generally by this new authoritie of the Arch-priest is no lesse euident thē the former to them that will see any thing else why should they so earnestly busie themselues in a thing no whit at all concerning them and much vnpleasing to others as to prouide and place a Superiour ouer vs who pertaine not to their charge and that against our wills and without our knowledge or cōsent thereunto not so much as demaunding our opinions thereof before hande And when they haue done that by fauours perswasions and increasing of faculties intyce and allure men to ratifie by subscription what they cunningly haue wrought vnderhād to such as refuse to subscribe to threaten Excommunication suspension taking away of faculties and denounce them schismatikes irregular c and by Letters disgrace them in places where they come and giue warning of them as of schismatikes Excommunicate persons And more to shewe their intentions in this matter what interest they seeke and chalenge in this authoritie though indeed nothing concerning them because a distinct societie and bodie from vs one of them in a Letter hee wrote vnto F. Garnet one that would not subscribe confesseth acknowledgeth that whatsoeuer is opposite to the Reuerend Arch-priest must of force be consequently opposite against them which thing must of necessitie import an extraordinary tye betweene the authoritie of the Arch-priest them either of the subordination of them vnto the Arch-priest which they disclaime from deny or cōtrariwise of the Archpriest to them else how must it of necessitie follow that he which is opposite vnto the Arch-priests authoritie must of force be opposite to them as though a man might not resist the Superiour of an order but hee must needs therby oppose himself against the whole body of an other order Furthermore if their interest were not great in this authoritie why should they be so vnwilling to procure or suffer to be procured some Bull or Breue for the confirmation therof that it might be an absolute and independent authoritie but that hanging at the will and order of the Lorde Cardinall Protector only they bearing a great sway with him as we know they doo may keep the Archpriest in awe that hee shall dare to doo nothing that may displease them for feare they should informe against him to the Cardinall and so thrust him out of office which they could not doo were his authoritie confirmed once by any Apostolicall writte and this onely is the cause they loue not to heare of Bull or Brieue in this authoritie if otherwise they can choose for by this meanes the Arch-priest standing in awe of them we must stand also at the reuersion of their courtesies in any matter of question or controuersie that may arise amongst vs. Fourthly consider that by yeelding vnto this present authoritie erected and directed by them we shall be drawne within the compasse and perill of all plottes and actions whatsoeuer in matters of state practised by them or any of them or hereafter shall be practised at any time by them and so not we onely but also such with whom we shall conuerse and those which shall concurre with vs
the election of their Arch-priest Thirdly it is against the very light of naturall reason that a man who is of a distinct gouernment or body should bee the chiefe yea the onely elector and appoynter of the head and gouernour of an other body without the consent thereof As for a Benedictine Monke to elect or appoint for example the head and generall of the Fathers of the societie and to thrust him vpon them against their wills and consents Who euer heard of such an absurditie Which in our case is by so much more apparant by how many moe bad circumstances concurre Fourthly the thing it selfe carrieth euident remonstrance of an intollerable burden without any commoditie at all and not without manifest suspition of a plaine plot or stratageme to confound and take away all Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie and auncient approoued gouernment in our Church These reasons wherevnto I might adde many moe if they be not so apparant to you being thus wrapped vp as it were in a bundle I shall if you giue me occasion vnfold them and make them as cleare as the noone-day Which if they be but indifferently pondered will not onely cleare vs from all schisme and sinne but also conuince our accusers of manifest badde dealing who without all shewe of reason or iust cause began the quarell to the open scandall of the world and yet do labour tooth and nayle to cast the slaunder and ignomie thereof vppon such as were onely defendants and endeuoured to deliuer themselues from manifest iniury Notwithstanding these reasons and many moe which we had not onely to deferre but also vtterly to reiect this disorderly procured gouernment you shall now heare how peaceably and orderly we proceeded in the matter and contrariwise how turbulently and without all shewe of equitie our aduersaries dealt with vs. Which because it requireth onely a narration of these things that haue actually passed betweene vs I shall not need to alleadge any reason by way of argument to conuince that which I shall say but onely if any thing be denied to call the world for a witnesse of the truth Neuerthelesse I do not intend to rippe vp the matter from the beginning for so I should weary you with too long a speech but omitting the maner of proceeding vsed in the first procuring of this late ordeined gouernment which was very exorbitant and altogether dissonant to reason and the accustomed practise of Gods Church in such affaires I will begin with the first receiuing of Cardinall Caietaines Letters whereby we had first notice of this authoritie and so chiefly relate some chiefe occurrents that haue actually happened among vs since that time whereby you shall easily see whether we haue offered or suffered wrong Vpon the first receit therefore of the Protectors Letters after due consideration of the tenour thereof because they conteined an ordinance vnheard of before in the Church of God and that without any authoritie from his holinesse contrary to the continuall custome and practise of that See Wherevpon grew many doubts whether that proceeded from his holinesse commaund or no but that which most of all moued was because there appeared no probabilitie that it proceeded from him truly informed of the state and condition of our Countrey and Cleargy neither the thing it selfe nor the maner of procuring it yeelding any probabilitie of such information wherevpon we thought it altogether repugnant to Ecclesiasticall discipline and gouernment to admit any such ordinances intangled with so many doubts For which cause we determined before we did admit this institution to procure more certaine knowledge and notice of his holinesse his will and pleasure in this matter with most firme and constant resolution and purpose to admit whatsoeuer we should certainely knowe to be his will the state of our Countrey first vnderstood For this cause we sent to Rome two reuerend Priests earnestly requesting M. Blackwell and the Fathers the procurers of this authoritie to be quiet in the meane while vntill the returne of our messengers or some other sufficient certitude came from Rome that hee was constituted our superiour without full notice whereof it was not possible to take away all doubts scruples which would be the occasions of great contentions and strifes But they vtterly refused to admit the offer saying that it was disobedience and rebellion to the See Apostolicke to seeke any further certificate of the matter Because as the thing it selfe beareth For this case â—â—e Bullam â—â—aenae Excom â—0 11. Nauar. â—â—idem euident shewe they suspected their owne inordinate proceedings and thought that if his holinesse should be truly informed he would reuerse this order and so frustrate all their deuised plot For which cause they proclaimed vs here in England Schismatickes at the least preuented with their Letters the comming of the two Priests to Rome where at their arriuall they were taken by father Parsons the Architect of all these troubles spoiled of their Letters and writings cast into close prison seperate one from the other and all to hinder their accesse to his holinesse And after a whole winters imprisonment they were sent from Rome seperate likewise and confined into two seueral places Fraunce and Loraine without any allowance for their maintenance where they should remaine in banishment to the end they might not returning into England report how religiously Father Parsons had entertained them Who could haue shewed more vnequall dealing in any proceeding At last Father Parsons hauing stopped all other informations from the Popes holinesse but his owne procured his holinesse Breue for the confirmation of this authoritie which being receiued euery one admitted M. Blackwell for his superiour and obeyed Who then is so voyd of reason yea of commoÌ„sence as to say that we are Schismatikes rebells or disobedient to the See Apostolick who least we should do any thing against the ordinances thereof made all possible meanes to knowe the will and disposition of his holinesse with full purpose and protestation after due knowledge to admit imbrace obey obserue it yea and defacto did imbrace it And who would not rather condemne them of worse then bad dealing who left no meanes vntried to hinder vs from the due knowledge of his will Who vnlesse they intended to crosse the accustomed proceedings of Gods Church approued by all antiquitie and established by all holie authoritie of the Pastors and gouernours of the same would neuer haue condemned vs of schisme rebellion against Gods Church for appealing to the See Apostolick seeking to know the will of the Pastors therof in a matter of such moment and so euidently belonging to his authoritie to determine But this improbable and senselesse Paradoxe they haue raised to cloake their manifold iniuries and wrongs practised against vs their innocent brethren which if euer it be laid open to the view of the world as peraduenture it may be I thinke they will not passe without great admiration Good Sir heere
Saltem tempore persecutionis c. ¶ These and many more points like vnto these our foresaid friend writeth which for breuitie I doo omit and these I would pretermit also without any answere at all for so much as toucheth my selfe and our societie whose deeds doo speake of themselues against all calumniation of wordes but that those thinges which touch our superiours his holinesse especially our two Cardinall Protectors that had your matter in hearing by his holinesse Commission may not be let passe to run with so false and iniurious reports against all truth and equitie ¶ Wherefore I must needes recount with you the storie briefly againe for recalling you to better memorie if you forget or conuenting your consciences if you or your fellow vpon passion doo ouerlash or at least wise for satisfying in part our foresaid two friends that haue written to mee of these complaints by whose hands I meane that this Letter shal goe open for them to read and after to send or deliuer vnto you and I pray you also that M. Ch. may haue a sight or copie of the same when you haue vewed it together with some good temperate counsell from you and he is thought to haue more need of it by his hotte nature knowne and by the reports that come daily frō his parts of like speeches to these before specified which if once they come to the eares of them whom most they concerne they may chance to bee called by them to further examination which I would gladly were preuented if it may bee ¶ First then touching the matter it selfe you cannot but remember that at your arriuall at Rome vpon the 11. of December 1598. if I mistake not after friendly offer to entertaine you in this Colledge for the dayes of Hospitalitie accustomed though the cause of your comming to Rome was knowne to bee farre other then the rule appointeth for such as are so to be entertained I tolde you at large how all matters stood and how his holinesse then in Ferrara hauing beene enformed by his Nuntios in Fraunce and Flaunders of your comming was much offended therewith and meant to put you in prison if you had commen to Ferrara as appeared by a Letter of F. Bellarmino now Cardinall which I had sent presently to Flaunders to meet you there if you had passed that way from Fraunce as it was thought you would and by that Letter appeareth also that I had not enformed against you seeing that his holinesse willed the Father to write to Rome to know my opinion of you as by the original Letter yet here extant is manifest and the cause of his holinesse offence against you was that hauing bin vexed for more then three yeares together immediately before with such a sedition of Englishmen heere in Rome and in Flaunders as had vtterly wearied him this whole Court and had scandalized all Christendome and highly discredited our English Nation and Catholique cause and hauing after all waies of examination and trials both by visitations commissions memorials and the like found no other ground of all these stirs clamours tempests but only enuie emulation and dissolute humours of loose behauiour in some and no one point proued nor able to be proued of the manifold slaunders which were exhibited in these tumults against most innocent men of the Societie who had bene the best friends of the troublesome his holinesse resolued to make an end at last and so did in this Colledge by punishing the principall and how much the finger of Almightie God assisted him in this action the blessed fruites that haue ensued since of peace vnion modestie spirit learning and deuotion in these youthes haue euidently declared whereby they haue regained againe a great part of that estimation and good opinion which the former had lost by their contrary vices ¶ Moreouer his holinesse perceiuing that the tayle of this matter had passed also into England and began to worke the same effects there vpon the same grounds of emulation seditious spirits he thought no better way to cut off the said emulation then to appoint a subordination among Priests themselues which Iesuites especially among other Catholiques their friends haue demaunded for many yeares together thereby to deliuer themselues from all shewe of that calumniation vsed to bee laide against them that they would gouerne the Priests against their wils and hereof proceed the long deliberation of his holinesse together with the Cardinals not onely Protectors but also of the Inquisition whether it were best to appoint at the beginning a Bishop or Arch-priest which deliberation endured aboue a yeare together and in the meane space his holinesse tooke information also sufficient about the person most fit for the office and that from Priests of England though not perhappes from you as it was not necessary and in the ende resolued vppon the dignitie and man that you knowe Which beeing admitted and appointed most willingly by al the body both of Priests and other Catholiques in England and abroad also you only and very fewe others ioyned with you as heere was proued by your account opposed your selues and not expecting to bring any matter of substance against his gouernmēt that was appointed for your superiour you substracted your selues from his obedience and gaue occasion for others to do the like and consequently to cause a most perillous schisme and sedition amongst Catholicques in our Countrey which his holinesse foreseeing meant to restraine you at your comming but yet to heare and examine all that you brought as afterwards he did and you do greatly wrong him if you report the contrary ¶ Well all this and much more I tolde you at your comming hither and that not in colourable but in plaine and friendly words offering you further to be a meane notwithstanding to end all quietly and with your credits if you would For said I heere bee now the immediate superiours of both Priests and Iesuites to wit the Protector of our Nation and the Generall of the Societie let vs deale with them to end all matters and to send you backe againe with your honour and with Letters both to the Arch-priest and superiour of the Fathers to giue you any satisfaction reasonable and remedie any thing that is amisse concerning any persons of each of those bodies This point I dealt with you most effectually many times both in seuerall and iointly while you remained in this Colledge after whiles you laie in the Citie before your restraint but could neuer obtaine anie inclination in you to the same but that you would needs impugne both the authoritie and man by his holinesse appointed wherein I euer told you plainly that both I and all others that loued vnion and respected with due obedience our superiours ordination must needs be against you And the same told you also M. D. Haddock M. Martin Array and Priests of your owne coate that laie here and are your auncients both in your owne
soundeth like a verie iniurious report against the Pope if he had such a meaning and much more if he had it not as in reason we should thinke he had not for who can in reason thinke that his holinesse onely vpon newes of the comming of two Priests to him with so great aduenture and daunger of life about matters of the Church would determine to put them in prison before hee heard them what they had to say or sawe them But to auoide his holinesse of blame we wil supply in this place for F. Parsons that if the Nuntios did signifie any such matter vnto his holinesse as most likely they did not they did sende suche informations against the two Priestes as the Pope might purpose to cast them in prison so soone as they came to Ferrara and then let vs demaund where these Informers had their instructions and of whom of themselues they could not being farre asunder each from other and both out of England whence the two Priests came If of any other who were they or were they such parties although religious of the societie who onely can be imagined to haue correspondence with them although it be vnlikely especially with him in France that vpon their bare accusations the Nuntios would write to such purpose to his holinesse as hee should determine vpon this relatiō of the Nuntios to imprison thē so soone as they shuld come to Ferrara without knowing or hauing any further proofe of the accusations made against them by their aduersaries Yet is not this report more iniurious against the Pope whom he vndertaketh in the 5. Paragraffe to deliuer from al false and iniurious reports against all truth equitie then his proofe is insufficient which here he maketh in defence of himselfe for which in the 5. Paragraffe he seemed that he would wholly relie vpon his knowne deeds not vpon his writing his proofe is that F. Bellarmino now Cardinall was willed by his Holi to write to Rome to know F. Parsons opinion of the two Priests therefore F. Parsons had not enformed against them Did F. Parsons imagine that mens wits were so short that whē they saw this Letter of his they would forget that F. Bellarmino his Letter was an answere to a Letter which F. Parsons writ to him concerning these two Priests the effect whereof alghough we do not know yet we may probably cōiecture what it was by F. Bellarmino his Letter which was to enforme F. Parsons that the two Priests were not as yet come and that when they did come there should be such order taken for them as hee should not need to come from Rome to Ferrara What order this was F. Parsons himselfe confesseth and cyteth F. Bellarmino his Letter forsooth they must first be laide in prison and then if there could be any cause found why this infamous iniury should be iustified Doth the Popes commaundement to F. Bellarmino to write to F. Parsons to know his opinion of the two Priests proue that F. Parsons had not sent information against them Or if it be true that the Pope did giue this commaundement to F. Bellarmino doth it conuince that what perswasions F. Bellarmino vsed to the Pope or some other if hee would not be seene in it did not proceed from F. Parsons who had hee not benestaied by this Letter of F. Bellarmino would haue come to Ferrara himselfe as it should seeme by the same Letter If the informations giuen to the Pope against these two Priests by reason whereof they were to be imprisoned for no man but F. Parsons as I thinke would say that without any informations against them his holines vpon a bare hearesay that they were comming to him to deale in matters of the Church would resolue to put them in prison must of necessitie bee giuen as comming from F. Parsons How is it true that his holinesse resolued to put them in prison before he had F. Parsons opinion of them If the same informations were not of necessitie to be giuen as cōming from F. Parsons what proofe is this that F. Parsons had not enformed against them that his holinesse willed the Father to write to Rome to know his opinion of them But these things seeme to proceed from the same vaine from which that which followeth doth proceed where F. Parsons to make the matter more odious doth labour to confound the businesse about which the two Priestes went to Rome with that which was at Rome betweene the Iesuites and the English Students and to that effect in the 8. 13. and 15. Paragraffes maketh the stirres which were in England an appendix of those which were at Rome In the 8. Paragraffe I woonder howe Father Parsons can say that the Iesuites especially had demanded for many yeares that there should be a subordination among the Priests to deliuer themselues from all shewe of that calumniation vsed to be laid against them that they would gouerne the Priests against their wills when as by credible report F. Parsons without whom no English Iesuite durst do any thing laboured mightily against it vntil he saw that the secular Priests went seriously about it and it is so euident that no man may without ouermuch impudencie denie it that all the strife which was openly in England betweene the Iesuites and the Priests began vpon occasion of a gouernment which the Iesuites sought would haue had ouer the Priests who were in durance at Wisbitch against many their wills and for the better effecting of that to which most inordinately they aspired they did not onely endeuour to disgrace them as men that were desirous of libertie but were the occasion also that many Catholiques did send them no reliefe The second vntruth in this 8. Paragraffe is that the man or authoritie was admitted and appointed most willingly by all the body both of Priests and other Catholiques in England and abroad also For F. Parsons confessed himselfe at Rome to the Priests who were sent thither that he himselfe appointed the man least some such other should haue bin chosen by the generall and free suffrages of the Priests as would not runne along with the Iesuites and as for the authoritie I thinke I may boldly say that neither Priest nor Clarke in England euer dreamed of the authoritie of an Arch-priest whose office is cleane out of vse now in England except the complaining part thereof neither can it be said that euer it was willingly approued by the Priests who for the most part had their cōsents wroong frō them by the Iesuites the Archpriest himself if there were no other proofe of the priests not free approouing therof as they are many the qualitie of his authoritie as it was first graunted at what time the Priests were sent to Rome will shewe it manifestly or iustly condemne those who approued it of great haste for without any authoritie to do them the least good or repaire the least harme he might do to them he had
reprehensions which I now come after withall being therevnto by you cōpelled I am sorry to see you who haue so long liued among so many good religious Fathers so farre frō that pitch of humilitie mortificatiō which maketh a man to contemne himselfe and the honors of this world to desire to be euil thought spokē of that you may not abide to heare tell of any fault of yours but by by you fall out with your friend for that he in faire tearmes intreateth you to looke vnto such an euil humor as partly by naturall inclination partly by long custome of harkening vnto flatterers you may be subiect vnto And albeit in another passage of yours you would seeme not to mislike them who aduertise you of that they think amisse yet this your euil taking of such aduertisements when they come doth euidently proue the contrarie and this fault is taken to be too common in some of your Societie and I my selfe once before found the like demeanour in one of your principall Agents in England These Letters were th◠cause why h◠lost an Assistantship by M. Black ◠owne repor◠whom I friendlie certified of some odde dealings which were reported of the Societie assuring him that I beleeued them not but desired to heare from him the veritie of those affaires for my further satisfaction I was so farre off from receiuing a good answere due at least in courtesie for that I desired it that my Letters were read openly and shewed vnto others and sinister construction made of them to procure me euill will and discredit What kinde of religion ciuilitie or humanitie may be in such maner of dealing I can hardly perceiue and list not heere to discusse hoping that when you shall see other men scanne examine and confute your Letters as you were woont to do theirs you will be hereafter more mannerly milde interpreters least you otherwise hap to meete with the same measure that you meat to others Well let vs goe on You pretend that you expected to receiue from me louing Letters and much good seruice A great presumption surely of my no small mortification if you speake vnfainedly For it were no vulgar vertue for manifolde and manifest slaunders calumniarions imprisonment and exile which I receiued there among you to returne and render commendations congratulations all sorts of sweetnesse and courtesies which neuerthelesse you would haue the world weene that you attended at my hands But to speake without glosing your owne guiltie conscience tolde you euen before our departure as you signifie that you were not like to receiue from mee whom you knowe to be plaine and round any other then ordinarie curtesie such as the loue of God and lawe of charitie bindeth me vnto the which for those good parts it hath pleased God to endowe you with I will alwaies afforde you in a high degree and more too when I shall perceiue that you esteeme more of it and to goe about not in emptie words but by sound deedes better to deserue it But not to wander vp and downe after all the particularities of such a long tedious Letter I will reduce my whole answere vnto two points The former shall shewe what reasons mooued my bretheren to send vnto Rome and vs to goe thither at their request In the latter shall be declared how we were vsed there in the one or the other I will answere to whatsoeuer in your Letter touching me and hope by both to giue ful satisfaction vnto all honest equal and vpright consciences of that which they haue heard obiected against me concerning that negotiation The most holy and blessed course of the peaceable reduction of our Countrey vnto the auncient Catholique faith in Apostolique manner being before somewhat hindered by a dispute about gouernment in Wisbitch and afterwards much more troubled by emulation growing betweene some English of the Societie and certaine other Priests who tooke themselues much impeached in their credit by them it did not a litle grieue me who had imployed a great part of my best yeares in that our good Lords haruest and had nothing on earth in so singular recommendation as to see that heauenly work prosper to consider what impediment and let of it was like to follow if those sparkes of dissention were not speedily quenched Wherefore with many others of the auncientest sort and of better marke merit and affection towards our Countrey I trauelled about a soueraigne medicine for the present maladie as it seemed vnto vs and a notable preseruatiue against any other that might ensue afterwardes which was to vnite and knit our selues together in some louing sweete and easie association and brotherhood that so by mutuall intelligence counsell and ayd we might either prudently preuent or speedily meete with all inconueniences that might happen to arise among vs being now many in number and euery one left vnto his owne gouernment and discretion This matter of vnion was communicated vnto all and euerie man almost requested to ioyne in it a draught of rules were drawne which were fewe easie reasonable and much profitable which were also shewed vnto whosoeuer would see them that if they misliked any thing therein it might be amended and so made agreeable vnto all honest desires What could in reason be more demaunded Yet because this proceeded not as it is thought from the Societie nor had any dependance vpon them although at first they seemed to approoue it much as that which was in itselfe honest iust and necessarie yet afterward seeing it likely to goe forward and to growe into such a body as theirs is they openly opposed themselues against it and stirred vp their fellowes to contradict and crosse it as much as they could and in the meane season coyned a new forme of gouernment or subordination as they call it neuer heard of in the Church of God since the the beginning of the world vntill our dayes and by Cardinall Caietanes authoritie caused the same to be cast vpō vs at vnawares our cōsents or likings neuer demaunded vntill it was as they said established This cunning and audacious enterprise with the prepostorous vnaduised proceeding in it mooued farre greater discontentment among vs then was before and was the principall cause of sending vnto Rome the soueraigne Court of Ecclesiasticall controuersie that from whence the fountaine of our griefe did seeme to spring from thence in like maner we might deriue and drawe the streames of consolation That we had many waightie vrgent and lawful motiues to sue vnto that Court a wise vpright and well practised man in Ecclesiasticall affaires shall I doubt not willingly graunt mee after he hath well weighed and pondered these reasons following which are taken of the order it selfe of the obtaining sending publishing and executing of it First touching this subordination it being no such as our sauiour Christ Iesus deliuered to his Apostles or that hath bene seene practised in anie part of Christendome these 1600.
yeares no maruaile though simple witted men who desire not to straie from the holie steps of our forefathers were at the first not a little amazed at it and could not be so verie easilie induced to approue it This also besides the noueltie of it being much more odious and intollerable as it was then proposed then anie other gouernment that our predecessors had euer liued vnder For hauing full and absolute power to punish rigorously and that as it were at pleasure and discretion it had no facultie ioyned with it or abilitie to benefit or do anie good at all no not so much as vpon amendment of the partie punished to restore vnto him againe that hee had taken away from him before If now he haue more ample authoritie he may thanke our complaints which were no smal cause of it And herevnto his Iniunctions whereof more in an other place that Priestes should not meete together priuilie in our countrie that they should not secretlie send vnto their friends ouer the sea whereas openlie they can doo no such thing as all the world knoweth and tell vs I pray you when and where euer you heard of such an Ecclesiastical gouernment in anie Christian countrie before that sacred Priests the free children of God his familie so greatlie priuiledged by all good Christian Princes should be I know not by whom in such a seruile sort yoaked Againe this punishing authoritie cannot be wel practised in England during this heate of persecution and therefore seemed to be frustrate and giuen in vaine for by the Canon lawe which is the common rule of spirituall causes as by all other lawes no punishment ought by sentence of Iudge to be inflicted vpon the offender not confessing the action before he be by order of lawe conuicted Confession of the fault is sildome in that Court or neuer to be expected wherefore lawfull defence is to be graunted vnto anie person accused before he be condemned But no processe according vnto order of lawe can be framed followed so long as we haue hotte persecutors laying waite euerie where to apprehend vs. For to omit all other difficulties which in practise will be founde to be verie manie where can a safe place be found to assemble the parties their witnesses Proctors together and there to hold as it were an Assize for the determination of their controuersies which to be necessarie Lancelot a man singularly seene in both lawes and authour of the institutes of the Canon law setteth downe which he taketh out of the Canon lawe Extra de appell cap ex parte tua see also the glosse there which both require a secure place both for the parties Proctors and witnesses or else holdeth them for excused if they appeare not Institu L. 3. Tit. s. § Locus in these words Tunc enim ius dicenti impune non paretur si locus citatione designatus pestilens sit aut alias pro citato male tutus Then may a man freely not obey him that ministreth iustice wheÌ„ the place in the citation assigned is infected with the plague or otherwise not safe for the partie cited Now euerie Catholicke knoweth that there is no place in our Country free from daunger for Priests to assemble together such diligent watch and ward being laide in euerie shire to apprehend them And who will be so simple as to allow them a hall in his house for their pleadings whereby he that cannot start doth cast himselfe into a hundreth perills of loosing not onely all his goods and libertie but his life also and inheritance A place of assurance then cannot in these times be appointed for the appearance hee therefore is warranted by lawe not to appeare although he be cyted by his lawful magistrate And so no action can be commenced much lesse determined by this authoritie of the Arch-priest and consequently such penall power is to small purpose in our Country This subordination then being extrauagant without example of antiquitie hatefull as hauing power to punish but not to pleasure and scarcely possible to be now practised in our Countrie had we not great reason to certifie his holinesse of the inconueniences of it and in humble sort to sue vnto him for remedie and redresse before hee put to his hand vnto the confirmation of it And this you must needs much more easily grant if you consider how this subordination was procured and gotten for it seemeth to haue bene by false information which alone is sufficient to ouerthrow the whole authoritie My proofe shal be pregnant taken out of the verie letters Patents of the Archpriest where are these words Rationes pro illa subordinatione ab ipsis Sacerdotibus Anglis redditae S.mo D. N. probatae fuerunt The reasons by the English Priests themselues exhibited for that subordination vnto his holinesse were well liked Marke I pray you how this subordination was obtained at the suite and perswasion of the Priests in England Now I appeale vnto the consciences of my louing bretheren the Priests then in England whether euer they had heard of anie such stratagem or straunge subordination before they felt it as it were clapped on their shoulder sure I am for the most part of them howsoeuer they were M. Iames â—tand who had giuen his name to be a â—esuite and was the man who by Fa. Parsons subâ—rnation imâ—loyed himselfe in this action confessed before diuers priests â—t his return â—hat he had â—n interpreâ—atiue consent of the Priests in England drawne afterwards to accept of it by flatterie fraude or threats that they neuer dreamed of it before they sawe it so farre off were they from deuising and tentering perswasions vnto his holinesse for the admitting of it I will not deny but that some one Priest who had bene in England being then idle in Rome might by euill counsaile and subornation take vpon him to be sent of the whole bodie and so contrary vnto conscience and good order speake in their names that neuer sent him But what was graunted vpon such vntrue suggestion euery man knoweth to be of no force and validitie and that we in England had iust cause to certifie his holinesse by trustie messengers how we were greatly abused by theÌ„ who vsed our names to obtain that exorbitaÌ„t deuise which we neither desired nor liked but rather that it would please his holinesse to establish among vs that sound Ecclesiastical Hierarchy which was instituted by the wisdome of God had bin euer sithence in time of persecutioÌ„ as wel as in peace obserued in all Christian Nations that he would I mean giue vs Bishops the successors of the Apostles and onely ordinary Pastours of God his Church who might confirme consecrate oyles and bring many other of God his blessings among vs. But not to digresse from my purpose The third cause why this subordination did mislike vs was for that it came not authentically from his holinesse by Bull Breue or any other lawfull instrument but