it no iniurie to yourselfe to be beaten with your owne rodde Yet must I be so bold as to borrow another argument from you for the iustifying of her Maiesties dealings in the low Countreys to bee lawfull by your owne rule as being for defence against enemies In your Inuectiue against our vniust dealings you saie that wee thinke it cause of warre good inough to hinder our neighbours greatnes and to disturbe other mens quietnes to procure our owne peace and safetie Let vs see what English is to be picked out of this Why should we seeke to hinder our neighbours greatnes are we anie thing the lesse by his being greater no vnlesse he make himself greater by making vs lesse what need we then to feare his greatnes Belike it is to bee feared that if he be greater he will make vs lesse What neede I nodum in in scirpo quaerere what neede I so to hunt out the cause why wee should seeke to hinder his greatnes when D. Allen himselfe hath set it downe in plaine termes to procure our owne peace and safety Whereby he giueth vs a good caueat to prouide for both giuing vs to vnderstand that if the King of Spaine should once grow great as D. Allen thinketh he should in deede if he were once quietly possessed of the Low Countries then should not we long enioy either peace or safety Which in trueth hath bene vpon good cause long suspected by vs but may now better be beleeued when D. Allen though I thinke in trueth vnaduisedly and against his will doth so plainely assure vs of it Now where he saith that We thinke it cause of warre good inough to hinder our neighbours greatnes and to disturbe other mens quietnes to procure our owne peace safety Let vs see whether no man els thinketh so besides our selues VVhat saie you if his owne Author Cicero thinke so as well as we Suscipienda quidem bella sunt saith hee ob eam causam vt sine iniuria in pace viuatur Warres are to be taken in hand that is may must be taken in hād for that cause to that intent that men may liue in peace without iniurie that is all one as if hee should say in peace and safetie VVhereupon I frame my argument thus Those warres which are taken in hand to the end that the vndertakers thereof may liue in peace and safetie are taken in hand vpon iust cause consequently lawfull But our warres against the K. of Spaine if wee hold any warres against him are taken in hand to the end that we may liue in peace and safetie Ergo Our warres against the King of Spaine are taken in hand vpon iust cause cōsequently lawfull The Maior I take out of Cicero the Minor out of D. Allens own words the Argument cannot be denied for it is a good and true Syllogisme and the consequence necessarie VVherby you may euidētly perceiue that not only our wars in the low countries but those also by Sea which D. Allen so defameth if we did mainteine any such warres or anie other warres which wee should vndertake against the K. of Spaine are both iust and lawfull euen by his owne allowance beeing for our owne defense and the procurement of our own peace and safetie Further because D. Allen shall haue no shew of reason left him whereby hee may cauill vpon the word saying that we cannot iustifie our wars to be for defense against enemies the K. of Spaine beeing as he termeth him our neighbour allie and confederate albeit it is a thing not needfull to bee prooued nor doeth anie way concerne my argument which is most strong infallible without it neither will I take vpon me of my selfe to affirme the K. of Spaine to be our enemie or touch him in anie wise with breach of his league confederacie with vs yet to stoppe M. Allens mouth with his owne words that he may I saie haue nothing to cauill vpon I will onlie set himselfe to answere himselfe in this behalfe The defēse saith he of the kings rebels against their most iust Lord Souereigne is no lawfull nor honorable quarrel of warres neither haue the said traitors and rebels any authority to yeeld vp their Souereigns Townes and Ports into his enemies hands or themselues to the English protection or subiection Here D. Allen termeth vs the K. of Spaines enemies and if wee bee his enemies as D. Allen affirmeth then must he necessarily bee our enemie in like sort for it is a word of Relation which beeing rightly pronounced of the one must also necessarily bee pronounced of the other For a Prince can not bee said to bee the confederate of him that is his enemie but they must bee both as the one is either both Socij or both hostes both Confederates or both enemies This a very meane scholler nay euerie man of anie reason or common sense may perceiue to be true And I doe not doubt but D. Allen himselfe when he termed vs the K. of Spaines enemies knew him well inough to bee our enemie Thus you see not only that D. Allen hath failed in the proofe of the one part of his diuision that is That our warres are not for defence against enemies and therfore vnlawfull but also that we haue prooued the contrarie against him both according to his owne diuision that is That our warres are for defence against enemies therefore lawfull also by other reasons of our owne that is That our warres are for the procurement of our owne peace and safetie and therefore most iust and lawfull Wherein our proofes arguments though they be strong inough of themselues against anie man yet are they strongest against him of all men beeing drawen euen from his owne Allegations reasons and assertions and therefore the more to be credited Now come we to the other part and let vs see how hee prooueth The English warres in the low Countreys not to be mooued for reuenge of iniuries or annoyance The Kings Maiestie saith he hath done to the Queene or her Realme no such iniuries for redresse or reuenge whereof shee should by hostilitie enter into his Dominions and surprise his Townes and Castles and bring his people into her subiection This is a point wherein I am loth to meddle in vttering what I thinke or haue heard yea scarcely would I touch that which is commonly bruted abroad in the mouthes of all men considering that the matter concerneth Princes is not fit for priuate men to deale in therfore would I rather refer the iudgement therof to euery mans own particular knowledge opinion conscience Yet bicause it is a part of D. Allens argument which hee must not so clearly carry away least it should seeme to be yeelded vnto him as true I will craue pardon and leaue only to remember some particulars either knowen or commonly beleeued and reported And first I know men of iudgement
haue happened vnto the K. of Spaines Rebels as hee termeth them in the low Countries what doe they els but admonish all English men to beware how they rebell or stirre in armes against their lawfull Souereigne seeing ouerthrow and confusion threatened as a iust recompence of rebellion And if our English Romanists or anie other whosoeuer her Maiesties naturall subiects will but duely and vprightly consider of these arguments though brought by D. Allen to a contrarie purpose I doubt not but they may bee thereby sufficiently dissuaded and discouraged from all such wicked and vnnaturall attempts But because this Pamphlet of D. Allens is as we haue shewed you altogither politike tending not so much to the defense of the action which he pretendeth as to a further purpose which I haue also discouered herein it shall bee no great labour to me but some reproofe to him to note in a word or two before I make an ende some ouersights euen in pollicie escaped this great politicien euen in this small Pamphlet which is nothing els but a packet of politike driftes composed for a preparatiue vnto mischiefe And first to beginne with the whole argument of his persuasion affirming it to be lawfull for the subiect in cause of Religion to reuolt from his Souereigne what doeth it els but giue warrant and defense to the people of the low Countries in resisting the King of Spaine though he were as D. Allen supposeth him to bee their lawfull and vndoubted Souereigne and consequently to the actions of all such as hitherto haue or hereafter shall yeeld them anie succours or assistance against him For it is well knowen that the first and principall matter wherewith they founde themselues agreeued was the restraint of Religion for that they might not freely vse and enioy the libertie of their consciences vnder him Which beeing the true ancient Catholike and Apostolike Religion clensed from the dregges and superstition of the Romish Church it was and is lawfull for the people of those Countries by Doctor Allens position for defense of that Religion to take armes against the King of Spaine though hee were their rightfull king and consequently for vs or anie other in that lawfull quarrell to assist them Thus the policie which D. Allen contriueth to impeach vs one way is not only a defense vnto vs in the principall cause which he impugneth but as great an impeachment to his owne Patrone Another ouersight in policie which I note in Doctor Allens Pamphlet is that in the whole discourse throughout wheresoeuer he speaketh of the people of the low Countreys hee termeth them Rebels and Heretikes which termes as they cannot but bee verie scandalous to the people so may they bee verie preiudiciall to the K. of Spaine whose partie he so much fauoureth For where the Duke of Parma hath long endeuoured and still doth by such factors and secret practisers as he hath among the States of the countries to win them by faire meanes and inticements to the obedience subiection of the K. of Spaine what a hindrance may this be to that practise whē the people shall see themselues reputed published Rebels Heretikes by so great a man as D. Allen a Cardinall professed Aduocate to the K. of Spaine whom they may imagine for his credit calling and adherencie with the King to know better then themselues what opinion is held of them what minde towards them by the King and not to cast out such words at randon of his owne meere intemperancy What may they gather of it or what construction may any man in reason make of it This onelie may they well thinke with themselues All is not gold that glistereth and within a faire bait may bee hidden a foule hooke And howsoeuer the Duke of Parma in the behalfe of the King his Maister allureth vs with curtesie and faire promises as it standeth with good policie for him to doe if hee may by that meanes draw vs home to his obedience yet hauing once gotten vs vnder his hand it is doubtfull how hee will intreat vs. For the wound which wee haue made him by these long warres and infinite troubles charges and expenses is so great as it can neuer bee so cleane healed but there will still remaine a foule skarre which will put him alwaies in remembrance of the hurt hee hath receiued by vs so that though it bee for the present in shew forgiuen yet wee may well assure our selues it can not in heart bee for euer forgotten neither is it wisedome to trust a reconciled friend much lesse a scarce reconciled Lorde that hath our liues and all at commandement Besides this may also be a caueat vnto vs to be the more circumspect how we trust him that we see euen whilest he is yet seeking to win vs his deuote fauourers such as for their credit vvith him are priuy to the estate of his dealings opinion of vs doe not sticke openly to call vs Rebels Heretikes hovv much more then may vve assure our selues that we are in inward account so esteemed by him And if hee hold vs for Heretikes what faith or promise wil he keep with vs vvhē vve are once fast in hand If Rebels vvhat other thing are vvee to expect at his hāds then the flat reward of Rebels Thus may D. Allens termes and not without great reason kindle or at the least encrease such a suspition in a subtill ielous and wauering people alreadie doubtfull of their securitie as may frustrate all the Duke of Parmaes earnest endeuours and secrete practises for the reclayming of those Countreys and greatly endomage the King of Spaine his owne Patrone For in truth that people is verie apt and hath good cause vpon former experience to bee suspicious in this case by how much the more likely it is these verie termes may drawe them into a further ielousie of the Kinges meaning towardes them which occasion Doctor Allen should not in policie haue ministred to the preiudice of this Catholike Protector 3 Now for the whole latter part of his Pamphlet conteining the persuasion of reuolt iudge I pray you what policie it was for him to enter into that argument in such open sort and in so dangerous a season For where his purpose and whole intent therein is to stir vp his Catholike countreymen against her Maiestie to the aide and assistance of those forrein forces which are prepared for the inuasion of her her Realme see if the very meanes which he vseth to atteine vnto his purpose do not giue sufficient occasion to preuent and cleane cut off the accomplishment and ende of his purpose for which he vseth thē For when her Maiestie shal see an opē persuasion vsed publikely vnto her subiects especially those that are of the Romish Religion inciting them to reuolte from her obedience to ioyne with her enimies against her and to employ their vttermost forces to the
as one that beeing in an errour should hate to bee reformed but came first to the reading and consideration of those thinges which it behooued a Christian to know euen with a bare and naked minde voide of all foredeeming and apt to receiue anie impression onelie humble and desirous to bee instructed in the trueth and whatsoeuer I read or heard expounded out of the holie Scriptures neither did I esteeme it by the credit of the person that taught it but by the authoritie of the doctrine it selfe neither was I led vnto anie opinion by the voice or opinion of multitude but by the testimonie of mine owne conscience consenting thereunto neither did I attribute the more credit to it for that it was first taught mee but for that dailie instruction and reason confirmed it vnto mee neuer variable yet euer willing to yeeld vnto reason and the trueth For I am not of their minde that make Religion as a matter of inheritance to bee taken of their ancestors or their parentes or that thinke it sufficient to saie I beleeue as the Queene beleeues But I thinke it the duetie of a Christian still to endeuour to informe himselfe how hee ought to serue God and not to pinne his soule on another mans sleeue Such a reuerend regard haue I alwaies had and euer will haue of Religion as a matter of saluation not as euerie common action of mans life as a thing to bee measured not by opinion but by trueth to bee chosen not by example but by iudgement to bee holden not for companie but for conscience If you also haue the same measure choice and grounde of your Religion as in reason you ought to haue it maie happlie fall out that the discouerie of the weakenes of D. Allens arguments and of his deceitfull and malicious dealing in this his Pamphlet as it hath confirmed in mee the Religion I hold so it maie alter in you the opinion you haue hitherto persisted in and not without great cause knowing that the naked trueth seeketh neither cloake nor corner nor a simple and good cause anie subtill or bad conueyance Let not then anie preiudicate opinion of my Religion differing from yours withdraw you from the patient reading and considering of my simple discourse no more then the like opinion of D. Allens Religion hath withdrawen me from the diligent perusing and perpending of his subtill pamphlet a greater learned and farre more cunning allurer then myselfe especially seeing that it is no part of my meaning herein either to impugne your Religion which is nothing at all fortified by this pamphlet or to strengthen mine owne which is as little weakened thereby for those pointes I leaue to Diuines if there be any that thinke it worth the reading or answering For mine own part I find nothing in it for which I would haue cast away so much paper and inck sauing onely a cunning conueiance of pernicious driftes tending to the practise of sedition mischiefe which I thought fit to be displayed and laied open to the world that the simple and such as giue too much credit to his doctrine might not be therewith deceiued and thereby drawne to their owne vtter destruction and on the other side that such as are of more capacity and iudgement either better affected in religiō or men indifferent seeing the monstrous shiftes vsed by such a principall Romaine Catholike as D. Allen is might thereby take a Caueat to be the more wary how they yeeld themselues to be seduced by such Catholiks perswasions But let vs now come to the examination of this pamphlet and see what it is that maister Doctor vndertaketh therein and how well he perfourmeth his taske He pretendeth vpon occasion of the former counterfeit letter which I mentioned to you before to resolue the consciences of those English men which were the yeelders vp of Deuenter and Zutphen fortes to the Duke of Parma touching the lawfulnes of their actiō Wherof though he had alreadie by his letters to Sir William Stanley giuen his opinion as he saith yet he will for better clearing of the cause set here downe his mind more largely and distinctly BEfore I runne into the particulars I must note vnto you a thing in generall which is not to be omitted I assure you though I be farre from the profession of Diuinity yet can I not but blush to see a thing written by way of a Resolution for the satisfying of mens consciences being a matter of Diuinity a treatise of 60. pages and not so much in all as halfe 6. textes of Scripture cited for confirmation of the matter proposed either directly or indirectly especially being done by an ancient D. of Diuinity by estimation singularly well read and learned and the onely man of name among all the English Catholikes What is there to bee presumed of it that so learned a man so great a Diuine now a Cardinall and chiefe piller of the Church of Rome should vndertake to resolue mens consciences in a matter of Christian duty yea whereon he pretendeth saluation or damnation to depend only with a Chaos of wordes a confusion of arguments drawne from morall philosophie the law of Nature and heathen constitutions and with definitions distinctions and authorities fet from Plato Aristotle Cicero c leauing vtterly all proofes arguments and authorities of holy Scripture yea skarce so much as alleadging one text by way of exhortation In mine opinion men are in common sense to iudge that either the matter is very bad and not iustifiable by Gods word which yeeldeth not sufficient argument or authority nay none at all for the defense of it or that such Diuines shew themselues to haue very litle zeale or religion in them when they measure matters of conscience saluation or damnation by the line of prophane Doctrine and not of the holy Scriptures Whereupon must necessarily be inferred that they are either impostors and deceiuers in seeking to perswade men by a shew of naturall reason vernished ouer with a glosse of gay wordes and superficiall colours of philosophie that which they are not able to proue by Diuinity or els plaine Atheists Hypocrits in carying onely the bare name of Religion on their backes for a cloake to their disguised practises and neglecting wholly the ground and substance thereof in their cogitations doctrine and perswasions But the lesse M. D. hath vsed the proofes of Scripture and Diuinity in this argument though it be nothing the more for his owne commendation or for the credit of his Doctrine yet haue I the lesse cause to be displeased with it considering that he hath thereby made it the fitter for so meane a scholler as my selfe no Diuine at all to deale with and the easier for any man to ouerthrow Albeit my purpose is not in truth so much to enter into the particular confutation of his arguments which are indeede none at all or not worth the standing vpon as to
seuerall pointes ought D. Allen to proue or els he proueth not his argument yet of the two latter hath he not spoken a word more then a bare affirmation of the first he hath spoken much and proued iust nothing But because his manner of reasoning is not close and well knit togither but in a declamatorie kind which is fitter for his purpose to perswade though not so forcible in reason to proue I will endeuour to seuer his Logike from his Rhetorike and gather his arguments aparte that we may see what and how directly he proueth Whatsoeuer saith he is obteined by vnlawfull warres and so deteined is both wrongfully obteined and vniustly deteined But the Queene of Englands warres in the low countries whereby she obteined Deuenter and Zutphen fortes and so deteined them are altogither vnlawfull Ergo The towne of Deuenter Zutphen fortes were both wrongfully obteined and vniustly deteined by the Q. of England from the true owner the k. of Spaine For this must also be added to his conclusion otherwise doth he not fully proue the Minor of his former argument which he is to proue Wherein if a man would stand with him vpon euery strict point he might iustly say this argument is euen as good as the former for there is more in the Conclusion then is conteined in both the Praemisses But let that go and let vs graunt him also his Maior and come directly to his Minor viz. That the Queene of Englands warres in the low countries whereby she obteined Deuenter and Zutphen fortes and so deteined them are altogither vnlawfull What if we should deny first that the Queenes Maiestie helde any warres at all in the low countries Secondly and if she did yet that she obteined not Deuenter by warres D. Allen is able to proue neither of them and we might iustly deny both For no man can saye and say truely that euer her Maiestie tooke the warre vpon her selfe but onely sent some forces for gods cause to relieue the poore distressed couÌ„tries crauing her assistance And for Deuenter neither did her Maiestie obteine it by warres for the towne did voluntarily of itselfe receiue nay they earnestly desired our garrison neither did her Maiestie obteine it at al for it was neuer hers neither did she euer claime it or accept it as her owne but onely was content at the request of the better sort of the towne for their safety to put her soldiours into it to defend it So is M. Doctors argument cleane auoyded But I know he will say these are but cauils for tryall whereof I referre them to the iudgement of any man of reason and indifferencie which hath bene rightly informed therein howbeit because if I will stand vpon them he is able to go no further I am therefore content to ouerpasse them and suffer him to proceede I pray you let vs see how hee proueth The English warres in the low countries seeing so it pleaseth him to terme them warres to be altogither vnlawfull His rule whereby he measureth the lawfulnes of warres is fet from Cicero who saith in his books De Republica as Isidorus citeth it The warre is iust which is denounced for recompence or reuenge of iniuries and annoyance or for defence against enimies This position being laied because the Queens Marshall not iustifie her doings vpon anye title she hath to the low countries which is without the compasse of his diuisioÌ„ he presupposeth that all the world knoweth that shee can make no iust claime to Holland ZelaÌ„d or any other of those parts which she hath as he saith by armes seised on all those prouinces being confessed to 〈◊〉 his Catholike Maiesties ancient and vndoubtfull inheritance These matters coÌ„cerning Princes titles are fitter for other meÌ„ then M. D. me to decide therfore I wil not take vpon me to say any thing touching her Maiesties right to the low countries or any part of them howsoeuer D. Allen dares affirme them all to be the king of Spaines ancient and vndoubtfull inheritance by what authority I know not but how ancient and vndoubted soeuer hee maketh it I am sure men better acquainted with those causes then he do not onely doubt of the kings title to sundry of the prouinces but are flatly resolued the contrary But it is beside my purpose and therefore I leaue it Now let vs see how he proueth the English warres as he termeth them in the low countries to be neither for recompence or reuenge of iniuries and annoyance nor for defence against enimies therefore not iust according to this former position out of Cicero The defence saith he of the kings rebels against their most iust Lord Souereigne is no lawful nor honorable quarrell of war neither haue the said Traytors and rebels any authority to yeelde vp their Souereignes townes and portes into his enimies handes or themselues to the English protection or subiection All this is but a bare affirmation which being denyed his argument is at an end for he prooueth no one parte of it Besides it is a plaine petitio principij which is a grosse error in Logike wheâ—…e groundeth his argumeÌ„t vpon that which is itselfe in question For he presumeth the people of all the low countries to be the k. of Spaines rebels him their most iust Lord and Souereigne which is the whole matter in coÌ„trouersie So you see this argument is cleane cut off by the roote And since he hath nothing disproued her Maiesties dealings in this point by the reason hee hath brought giue me leaue now to iustifie theÌ„ by an argument or two drawne from himselfe In the latter part of this pamphlet where he goeth about to perswade her Maiesties subiects to reuolt from her he doubteth not to affirme that it is lawfull for the subiects for religions sake not only to reuolt from their souereigne and to deliuer vp his cities countries into other mens hands but also to beare armes against him being in such case clerely discharged from all bond of othe and fidelitie to him Whereupon I inferre first that those of the low countries though they were as he supposeth the lawfull subiects of the k. of Spaine yet might they for Religion if there were no other cause lawfully reuolte from the k. and yeeld vp his cities and countries to the Queenes Maiesty or any other Secondly that if it be lawfull for the subiect for religioÌ„ to beare armes against his souereigne then is it much more lawfull for an absolute Prince for ReligioÌ„ also to yeeld succours to her distressed neighbors against a Stranger The argument followeth verie well à fortiori I am content M. Doctor to vse your owne arguments against yourselfe albeit I doe neither allow of them nor thinke them in truth to be sound yet since you thought it no iniurie to vs to make vnlawfull weapons for your owne aduantage against vs you must thinke
vnlawfulnes of warres to be measured by the opinion of the common people who God wot are furthest from the knowledge of State matters and the secret dealings which passe betweene Princes and from the consideration of the iniuries and occasions of warre and therefore the vnmeetest of all men to be iudges of the lawfulnes thereof But howsoeuer it be deemed lawfull whether by the common people or by the better and wiser sort and such as are most priuie to the secrets of the State vpon the Princes credit or otherwise if it be in trueth vniust neither can the warre it selfe bee in anye sort equalled with that warre which is indeede lawfull neither can th'executions thereof be allowed and iustified as th'executions of a lawfull warre For the one is simply iust and th'other simply vniust And howsoeuer the subiect presuming a thing to be iust vpon the Princes credit perswadeth himselfe that he doth no iniustice because hee knoweth not that which he doth to be vniust yet is his action in it selfe neuer the lesse vniust for ignorantia non excusat peccatum You see what a foule error in Diuinity this is yet is there as bad euen in the next wordes following viz. where though they may offend th'enimy in life goods liberty c. Hauing shewed before that restitution ought to be made of all things vniustly gotten and deteined vpon paine of damnation and that euen in lawfull warres or such as to the common people may vpon the Princes credit be so deemed he now maketh it lawfull notwithstanding euen in the same warres to offend th'enimy in life goods and libertie As though it were not as great an offence vniustlye to take awaye a mans goods as to withholde them or not a greater offence to take awaye life or liberty then to take awaye goods Nay as though to take away both goods liberty and life were no offence at all for he maketh them all lawfull where in the same case to withholde the same goods is an offence damnable What grosse absurdities are these and how contrary to all Diuinity humane reason and lawes politike yea euen vnto themselues For what can bee more contrarye to it selfe then first to say that restitution of thinges wrongfully obteined and vniustly deteined is to be made vnder paine of mortall sinne and damnation wherein is plainely implyed by himselfe that both wrongfull obteining and vniust deteining is mortall damnable sinne now after to say that the obteining is lawfull and the deteining dānable A thing being iustly lawfully gottē how cā the possessiō of it be vniust vnlawfull For better distinction of the actions let vs suppose them to be in distinct and seueral persons Is not he that robbeth a man and taketh away his goods in as great fault both by Diuine and humane lawes as he that receiueth and possesseth them Nay rather in greater for we account him principall the other but accessarie and by great reason For if the goods had not beene first wrongfully taken they could neuer haue bene wrongfully deteined So the vniust taking was the thing that made the deteining vniust euen by the rules of Philosophie Quicquid efficit tale id ipsum est magis tale Now if the taking away of goods be a greater offense or but as great as the deteining of them what is then the taking away of libertie yea of life Vndoubtedly vnlesse we will hold with Illyricus the opinion of the Stoiks omnia peccata esse aequalia which opinion the holy church hath condemned and Illyricus himselfe for an heretike in holding it we must needes confesse the offence to be farre greater as the thinges themselues which are taken away are of greater account and deerer vnto men Being then a greater offence in reason lawes politike and especially in Diuinitie to take away life goods and liberty then to deteine onely goods so taken it must needes appeare to be a great error for a man to affirme that the wrongfull deteining of goods which is the lesse sinne is a mortall and damnable sinne and the wrongfull taking away both of goods liberty and life which is proued to be the farre greater sinne euen in the same case is no sinne at all but a thing lawfull What man then that is of any iudgment reason or sense will giue credit to his doctrine or thinke him to be an honestman which hauing expressely taught that the greater sinne is no sin at all goeth about to perswade him that the lesse sinne is a sinne mortall and damnable and thereupon groundeth his whole argument It is an olde rule for such as will practise the trade of lying that Mendacem oportet esse memorem A lyer must haue a good memorie least he be entrapped in his owne tale but it seemeth D. Allen presumed so much vpon his continuall exercise in the art and thought himselfe so much his crasies maister as that he neuer minded the precept made for Schollers But so it fareth euer with a badde cause which haue it neuer so stout a patrone and defender yet will it by one meanes or other betray it selfe such is the force of the naked simple and vndisguised truth which confoundeth falshood euen in her owne colours For Magna est veritas praeualet Great is the truth and preuaileth yea it breaketh out vnwares euen out of the mouthes of those that labour most to obscure and suppresse it that God the authour of Truth yea the very truth itselfe may be glorified euen by his enimies Diuers other thinges could I note vnto you out of this pamphlet euen as grosse and absurd and as directly against D. Allens purpose as any thing may be But it were vaine to spend time in the further confuting of that which is skarce worth the looking on and besides it is not my speciall purpose as I told you before neither would I haue said so much concerning this parte of his pamphlet but only to th'intent to make my way plainer to the rest by laying first euē with the ground this dead rotten hedgerow of his disordered dissolute and scattered argumēt wherin you see not onely euery part therof in order as wel as it might be gathered put togither clean dissolued answered confuted with substantial reasons authorities produced therupō at large so far forth as the matter required but also sundry ouersights errors cōmitted in the handling therof so manifestly discouered and retorted vpon him as most effectuall against himselfe In somuch as I do not a litle maruell how he durst aduēture to write so slender superficiall a thing vnto them so patched togither stuffed vp with so many so apparant contrarieties falshoods vnlesse he either presumed of their ignorance which is the vertue that he the cūning clarkes learned sort of his sect do somuch cōmend vnto their schollers as the mother of Deuotion or els assured himself
professors of your religion but wil be no partakers of your rebellion They like to be of your fraternity but not of your conspiracie They can be content to heare your doctrine but you must be content to let thē prefer their own safety They see Religion is not the quarrell that can stir vp forrein forces to an inuasion with such terrible threatnings of vtter rasing and depopulation of themselues and their countrey but meere malice and reuenge of priuate grudges with a greedy thirst after the spoile and sacking of a rich and plentifull countrey They could wish with all their hartes that the Catholike Religion might preuayle and florish in their countrey but they will striue with hart and hand both to defend their owne liues and liberties and the weale freedome of their countrey which they see are al assaulted all in perill all likely to be lost if forreine powers should get the conquest of their countrey Is this then so easie a matter thinke you M. Doctor to perswade your Catholike countreymen vnto For mine own part I am of another mind so shal you find thē also I doubt not if euer the matter come to triall For admit they bare so malicious minds towards her Maiestie as you giue good cause to suspect yet they are English men and if they beare English hearts in their bodies they wil neuer endure a stranger much lesse an enimy especially so insolent cruell and intollerable an enimy to tyrānise ouer their coūtrey And if they were so void of al duety piety humanity good nature manhood as to betray their liege Souereigne abandon the defense of their deere countrey to abiect their minds honor reputation subiect their names to euerlasting infamie yet that inward working of naturall loue affection care of themselues their wiues their children their parents and kinred yea of their own liues liberties which lye al vpō the stake wil be continually knocking at their bosomes at their heads at their harts to stir them vp to the withstanding of their own calamities But as we haue considered somewhat of the persons whom D. Allen chiefely goeth about to perswade by this pamphlet so let vs now examin a litle the force and weight of his persuasions After a long dehortation of the Q. Maiesties liege subiectes from her seruice in these warres which it pleaseth him to terme vniust and persuasion to them to reuolt vnto the other side for Religiōs sake with diuers circumstances tending wholy to that purpose wherein he vseth onlie his owne authoritie for reason amongst the rest to mooue them thereunto the rather by examples he citeth out of Eusebius How for refusing to commit Idolatry by sacrificing vnto Idols and in particular for disobeying the Emperour Maximinus his commandement therein the famous Colonell S. Maurice with the whole legion of Thebes susteined most glorious martyrdome As diuers others did vnder Iulian the Apostata and the like And many noble soldiers for that they could not exercise their Christian vsages partly were driuen to abandon their profession in displeasure of their Princes and partly were licenced to depart c. Marke I praie you the force of these examples and how well they serue the purpose for which D. Allen citeth them We see not by them that anie of all these valiant Christian Soldiers whom he mencioneth did euer reuolt from the Princes whom they serued or take armes against them which is the purpose whereunto they are cited but rather that to auoide superstition and the abhominable seruice of Idols they forsooke their profession their Countries yea and their liues also before they woulde offer to reuolt to their Princes enemies Yet see the oddes betweene the persons cases They were Soldiers and were vrged to forsake the true God to commit Idolatry yet rather endured death then they would offer to reuolt from a Heathen Prince notwithstanding hee would haue enforced them to renounce Christ And yet M. Allen goeth about by these examples to persuade subiects to Rebell against their naturall Prince beeing a Christian neither compelling nor commanding them to forsake God but endeuouring by all good godly means to draw them to the true knowledge and worship of God from the blindnes of superstition and Idolatrie Is not this a straunge thing to see a man so learned as hee is esteemed to be so much to ouershoote himselfe in offering such euident abuses to seduce those with whom his credit may preuaile Yet hath he another argument as fit for his purpose as this whererein hee encourageth the English Catholikes and such as are pliable to his persuasions to reuolt from her Maiesties seruice vnto the pretended Catholike partie by mention of the great victories and happie successe which God giueth vnto those that with their armes vphold and mainteine the true Religion declaring also that God fighteth himselfe for the defense of his owne cause and of the right which in mine opinion can bee no encouragement but ought rather to be a great terror to the English Romanists for enterprising to take armes against their gracious Souereigne For first looking into home examples of the like sort within their owne memorie they know what befell vnto the two late Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland and the rest of that rebellious faction who hauing entred into the like conspiracie and for the like cause that D. Allen now so much recommendeth vnto his Catholike Countreymen and hauing made a verie strong partie in seuerall partes of the Realme and sodeinly raised a great power of the greatest strength of the North of England were notwithstanding by the prouidence and assistance of God for it is hee onelie that giueth victorie not the strength of man or of Horse within verie short time ouerthrowen dispersed and scattered the most and principallest of the Ring-leaders taken and executed according to their desert and the rest driuen to abandon their Countrey and to liue abroad like outcasts and vagabonds They remember likewise since that time what became of the Romish Catholike Forces whom I before mencioned which landed in Ireland in the yeere 1580 who as they came in defense of the same cause and of the same Religion so found they euen the same encounter in so much as few of them I thinke returned home to boast or make report of their victorie If then this position of D. Allens persuasion bee true as it is most true that God fighteth for the defense of true Religion and of the right the English Catholikes and all men els may see by these examples that the cause was naught and vniust and the Religion corrupt and false in the defense whereof these armies were so discomfited may likewise bee warned by their successe to take heed how for the like cause they enter into the like action Secondly the examples which D. Allen reciteth of the ouerthrows which
greatest comfort If God bee with vs who can bee against vs And that God is with vs in this quarrell let vs stedfastly assure ourselues howsoeuer D. Allen perswade the contrarye and let him and his partakers knowe that God is against them and will bee so long as they oppose themselues against the obedience of his word the knowlddge of his Truth the light of his glorious Gospell And that God may be with vs still and continue with vs for euer let vs humble ourselues vnto him dayly and duely with earnest and hartie prayer and repentance let vs serue him continually with a zealous feare and obedience let vs glorifie him incessantly with a liuely faith and constancie lastly let vs giue ourselues wholy to him that we may winne him wholy vnto vs. So we being his and he ours let vs all and euery one of vs comfort ourselues vpon his assurance let vs fortifie our mynds vpon his assistance and adde our endeuour to his encouragement assuring ourselues that fighting in so godlie so iust so honorable a quarrell the successe cannot be but most happie most prosperous most glorious that if we defend our countrey we shall remaine free and safe if wee ouerthrow our Enimies we shall abide victorious if we die in this quarrell we shall liue eternally To which assurance of freedome safety victorie life what comfort can be comparable FINIS There is another print of this pamphlet extant without meÌ„cioÌ„ of place which differeth much and in sunday plaâ—es from the coppie printed at Deuenter For in that the gentlemaÌ„s letter is dated the 20. day of May. 1587. and subscribed with the letters N. R. D. Allens answer dated the 20. of Iuly following besides diuers other differences in the substance of the pamphlet Aeneid lib. 2 A tricke of D. Allens cunning to write a letter to him selfe in another mans name demanding his resolution only to giue himselfe some probabilitie of occasion to enter into the treatie of this argument A far further purpose in D. Allens Pamphlet then that which is pretended by the title An vnseemely thing for a man of D. Allens profession or calling to vse shifting and dissimulation D. Allens dealings in this Painphlet both for the maner matter and meaning doe in all pointes most euidently resemble the dealings of Sinon Matth. 13. 9. A preiudicate opinioÌ„ ought not to make men so obstinate as to condemne a thing before they know or haue seene it so vtterly to reiect reason Psal 50. How humbly circumspectly and vprightly meÌ„ ought to behaue themselues in matters of religion Euery man ought to examine his own conscience and sift his religion and endeuour still to be rightly enformed of the truth not to rely wholy vpon the example authoritie or perswasions of other men especially in matters of controuersie stopping their eares against reason for euery vessell shall stand vpon his own bottome It is a shame for D. Allen so great a Diuine to handle a matter of saluatioÌ„ or damnation so profanely vsing altogether argumeÌ„ts and authorities drawen from philosophers but none froÌ„ the holy Scriptures His prophane handling neglect of Scripture proofe is a great argument either of weakenes in his cause or hypocrisy in himselfe or of both D. Allen neither frameth nor followeth any one argument in due forme orderly but shuffleth out single propositions at randon confusedly The maine proposition and ground of his first argument Drawne from the rule of moral Iustice whose peculiar office is suum cuique tribuere D. Allens sophistrie His argumeÌ„t being laid togither consisteth of 4. termini Euery priuate subiect is not to examine his princes publike actions be they right or wrong but to looke to his owne peculiar charge duety and othe Much lesse may any priuate subiect make himselfe iudge corrector and executioner of Iustice against his Prince vpon his owne authority and at his owne pleasure Offic. lib. 1. D. Allen sheweth no authority of Scripture whereby the Popes Bull may dispense with this breach of their oth His argumeÌ„t Here now appeareth manifestly the fault of his argument being drawn to a forme of Syllogisme All these three pointes are contained in his Minor which he is to prooue His argumeÌ„t for the proofe of his Minor This argument is euen as good as the former The Minor of this second argument which he is to proue Two pointes of this Minor to be denyed whereof D. Allen proueth neither The causes why they may both iustly be denyed These two pointes being denyed as appeareth they may be with good reason D. Allens argument is vtterly auoyded without further answere or proceeding for he proueth neither There was neuer any such confession heard of as D Allen here imposeth vpon vs but the contrarie is both affirmed and absolutely mainteined at this day D. Allens assertion to proue the English warres in the low couÌ„tries not to be for defence against enimies All D. Allens proofes depend vpon th'authority of his owne word for he doth but barely affirme what it pleaseth him without adding any reason to confirme his assertions 1 Besides in this assertion he doth petere principium assume that which is all the matter in question 2 The English warres in the low countries iustified by seuerall reasons drawne from D. Allen himselfe 3 Pag. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. The first argument drawne from D. Allen. Pag. 23. Another argumeÌ„t drawn from D. Allens owne words to iustifie the English warres in any sort against the K. of Spaine as being for defence against enemies D. Allen giueth vs to vnderstand that if the K. of Spaine were once quietly possest of the low Countreys we were not likely loÌ„g to enioy either peace or safetie Lib. 1. de Offic The Argument gathered into a Syllogisme Another ArgumeÌ„t drawn from D. Allen himselfe also to proue the King of Spaine our enemy The Argument a Relatiuis The other part which D. Allen is to prooue of his diuision drawen from Cicero D. Allens assertion that the King of Spaine hath done vnto her Maiestie no iniurie c. a A touch only of some parts offered the Q. Maiestie by the K. of Spaine which may well be deemed Iniuries yea in the highest degree b The InuasioÌ„ in Ireland Anno. 1580. c The practises of Mendoza his Embassador here with our English Traitors The practices for the deposing of her Maiestie and aduancing of the Q. of Scots to the crown For this point I appeale to the conscience and knowledge of the Papists themselues which know anie thing All D. Allens arguments end in single affirmations which also are neither confirmed with any authoritie or reason by him nor carry any truth or probabilitie in themselues Some grosse errors or ouersights escaped D. Allen in the handling of this argument A generall Thesis pronounced by himselfe flatly coÌ„demning the action which he laboureth so much to iustifie and commend The rendering of DeueÌ„ter prooued by D.