thirteenth of the said moneth of Maij 1579. So it is Signed by me Flaminius Adrianus Notary of the holy Romane general Inquisition in faith and testimonie of the premisses LAVRENCE CADDEY of whom we made mention before lately passing the seas vvith Iohn Nicols and his fellow in iourney into Germany daily conceiuing more and more sorrow of the misery he was falne into by his frailtie and coacted forsaking of the vnitie of the CATHOLICK CHVRCH retired into France in Ianuary last An. 1583. and his said Companion with him and approching neere Rhemes whither he came for his comfort of conscience being in a village neere the suburbs of the Citie he made his vvay by this letter written to the President of the College as followeth ALthough I might comme to the Citie of Rhemes because I neuer offended the same or any inhabitant thereof yet in respect of you my deere country men I neither will come thither or vnto you although as I shall be saued at the daie of iudgement I loue you and haue loued you as the apple of mine eye And although the desire I haue to speake with you be vnspeakeable the matter for the which I would speake with you is the greatest that euer I had with any since I was borne or can haue whiles I liue in this miserable vvorld and as I hope more profitable both for soule and bodie then any thing whatsoeuer in this world Besides it apperteineth to both the Seminaries that of Rome and this of Rhemes concerning vvaightie matters in respect of them both Moreouer it concerneth the abhominable lyes of Iohn Nicols which hereby may be redressed To conclude if your Seminaries haue ben iniured by the sclaunders of any hereby they may be I trust cleared againe and I trust that in respect of some it may be said that the same Scorpion that stinged being crushed on the same wil sonest heale the wound she made Therfore M. Doctor Allen I request you for the loue you beare to Christ crucified his blessed mother and all the Saincts of heauen as you tēder the life of a soule almost deade in sinne desiring by your meanes to be quickened and as you couit to heale the sores vvherewith your Seminaries haue ben wounded send in all hast without any delay a Priest wel learned vertuous and mortified and of a good nature and to him largely the cause of my arriual here I wil lay open so that by him you may be fully certified thereof the which I would haue to be either M. Gregorie Marten or Doctor Barnard the neede of body bringeth me not hither but of Soule and causes alleged I am at Tessi half a league from you in a tauerne hither therfore send as I request with this messenger in all hast that can be and if the said Priest lodged here al night it were best Your humble Orator laden vvith sinne vvishing and comming hither to be healed whose name you shall knovv Post scriptum I haue a letter from the said Nicols to your worship who is on this side the sea which I wil deliuer to the Priest sent It vvas endorced thus Venerabili viro D. Doctori Alano Anglorum Seminarij Rhemensis dignissimo pręsidi hae statim tradantur litera A Monsieur le Docteur Allen Anglois Iesus Maria. Si non sit in Ciuitate D. Alanus tradantur Doctori Bernardo aut D. Gregorio Martino THe President being not then at home but nevvly gone to Paris this letter was receiued and reade by the other to vvhom in his absence it vvas directed and by whom his godly desire was also in part accomplished but for more ful satisfaction of his conscience he was aduised to go forvvard to Paris vvhere he might deale vvith D. Allen him self and so he resolued to doo hauing appointed also before to meete Iohn Nicols againe there vvho departed from him as he said at Challon ten leagues from Rhemes where Nicols for a Brauado wrot this letter follovving to the said Doctor vvhich letter at once vvith Laurence Caddeyes he receiued by a special and speedy messager before Laurence him self arriued DOctor Alane multi te ferunt librum quendam edidisse sub nomine Apologiae diuulgatum vtriúsque Seminarij Romae Rhemisque Romani Pontificis impensis extructi In eo libro tuo nimis in me ferociter irruisti maledictis lacessiuisti si tu aliqua salutis meae cupiditate flagrasses illa conuitia atque maledicta quibus abundasti silentio pretermisisses Satis in meum vituperium dixisse arbitratus es cum dixeras me his deciuisse à religione vestra quid hoc ad propositum nunquid Apostoli qui omnibus virtutis ornamentis exculti fuerant semper Christum agnouerunt minime gentium sed Christum aliquando negauerunt vt sacra scripturarum loca testantur Quid si ego vestram religionem si vera esset religio decies abnegassem postea eam amplexus fuissem quandiu vixissem nunquid post miseram hanc vitam me reprobum sentiretis profectò haud sic si veri Christianiessetis vestram religionem multis erroribus implicatam denegasse laetor maximè si fides vestra Romana ab Apostolorum sententia mintmè dissentiret ab illa nullis terrortbus atque suppliciis adduci vllo modo potuissem sed quia traditionibus humanis innititur illam non probo Alane mi Consule tibi dum tempus est Resipisce Renuncia erroribus quibus irretiris Reuertere in patriam Prosternas teipsum ad pedes pientissimae Reginae nostrae explices perfidiam tuam deplora te talem fuisse qualem terra vt ferret indignus fuisti Romae quid didici hypocrisim mendacium arrogatiam breuiter omnia mala in Seminario regnat libido superbia inuidia ira maledicentia vt breui comprehendam illud collegium est sentina omnium malorum Perhorresco literis mandare quae oculis meis vidi non crederes quia nimis faues illis Raptim scripsi Rescribe si vis aut si elatus animus patietur scriptum Nancy Per me Ioannem Nicolaum Anglum DOctor Allen manie reporte that you haue published a booke vnder the title of an Apologie of both the Seminaries of Rome and Rhemes erected at the Popes charges In that booke you haue pushed at me very furiously and prouoked me vvith many reproches If you had had any care of my soules health you vvould haue passed ouer those reproches and detractions vvith silence but you thought to disgrace me excedingly in reporting that I had tvvise forsaken your religion what is that to the purpose vvhy did the Apostles vvhich were adorned vvith all ornaments of vertue alvvaies confesse Chrisi nothing lesse For sometimes they did denie him as holie vvrit testifieth Vvhat if I had denied your Religion ten times if it vvere a true religion and aftervvard had embraced it againe as long as I liued would you notvvithstanding haue taken me for a reprobate after my death if you vvere true
A TRVE REPORT OF THE LATE APPREHENSION AND IMPRISONNEMENT OF IOHN NICOLS Minister at Roan and his confession and ansvvers made in the time of his durance there VVherevnto is added the satisfaction of certaine that of feare or frailtie haue latly fallen in England PRINTED AT RHEMES By Iohn Fogny 1583. THE PREFACE Good Christian reader the children and specially the Priests of Gods Church haue ben manifoldly assailed by their aduersaries in our coūtrey these later yeres first by the vvriting and preaching of the Sect-maisters vvhich made no great impression Secondly by authoritie of the Ciuil Magistrate vvhich vvas more forceible but yet preuailed no further then to the losse of some rich-mens transitory goods a fevv poore mens temporal liues neither the one nor the other perished to the ovvners but both laid vp vvith Christ and bestovved vpon him to the hundreth fould aduantage in the next and to the great encrease of the Catholike partie in this life Lastly by practise and pollicie of certain crafty cōsciēceles men by falshood forgerie altering in the sight of the simple the causes of their death punishment making their liues actiōs odious to the vvorld Vvhereby they disaduātaged in deede the Catholike part much more then by any plaine violēce or pretēded iustice vvhatsoeuer Besides the cōmon persuasions of Protestants but most false though grounded vpon the experimēt of their ovvne disloyaultie in the daies of Q. Mary that al Catholikes be ennemies to the state vvas it not a great tēptation to such as knovv not the deepe subtiltie of Sathā to see that certain good fellovves vvere found to preach print aduouch to the faces of the poore desolate persons yea and to svveare that they had purposed and practized the Queenes death particularly recording the time place and circumstances and naming such and such of the Counsel that vvere vvith all to be massacred and al this either so coulorably and confidently or so plausibly oportunely for the practize that publike iustice passed vpon them as malefactors and therevvith many pretty pāphlets put forth and spred for the tempering of mens speaches and conceits of such strange procedings In this case truly a poore and vnaduised man might haue ben either for some time abused or haue foūd good cause to say vvith the prophete Penè moti sunt pedes mei my feete vvere almost moued But he that said nothing is hidd vvhich shall not be reuealed vvould not haue this error long to preuaile but hath to his ovvne glory the honor of his saincts and great aduantage of the Catholike cause in our countrey and the vvhol Church many vvaies discouered that trechery as short gaudies almost hath the ennimie of such traffick as Iudas had of the betraying and sale of Christ vvho disclosed his ovvne treason yelded vp his money againe and hanged him self before his Maister vvhom he sould vvas executed God giue the aduersaries better grace and an other kind of repentance then that proditor had to saluation and not to perdition But truely his name be therefore euerlastingly glorified our mercifull lord hath merueilously reuealed to the shame of heresie these sinful inuentions of the Churches ennemies The conscience and certen knovvledge of so many good men that knevv those holy confessors innocency the vvisedom of others that savv the practiz coulour and collusion the note of their ansvveres and full satisfactiō giuen at the barre their vniforme and sincere protestations of their innocencie at their death the very qualities of such persons as vvere the first brochers and instruments of their accusation and condemnation al these things and diuers treatises set forth of the matter haue opēned and made clere the case to the vvhol vvorld vvhereby god of his old mercies hath turned all these difficulties and apparent distresses to the singular benefit of his truth And lo here more to see his svvet prouidence and disposition of these things Iohn Nichols him self the first author of the shamfull fiction and that first set dovvne the particularities for vvhich the men of god vvere cōdemned and executed falling of late into the handes of the iustice at Roan hath confessed al the collusion and forgerie Vvhich vvas thought meete to be published Verbatim euen as him self vvrote gaue forth to the Officers and others the Original partly remaining in the court roules partly to be shevved of his ovvne hand vvriting In setting it dovvne no one title is altered nor the very incongruities of his speach amended And though he vvas in prison vvhen he did it yet he did nothing of feare or compulsion being assured that he could not for such matters as he had committed in Englād nor for religion be any long time in durance in Fraunce but al came of deepe remors of mind and conscience for the death of the innocents vvhich he knevv came by his false accusation vvherevvith he vvas invvardly so vexed in England though he continued as he dooth yet in his peruerse pretēded religion that he both confessed his foule dealing to one of the cōdemned persons and to some in office and authoritie there and also in fine left the Realme therefore specially and partly as he saith him self because the Bishops vvho vvere cōmaunded and had promised him euery one of them a yerely pension for recompence of that his seruice vvould not keepe touch vvith him but shaked him of vvith a Tu videris like as the ievves did their copesmā sudas Vvhere vpon he obteined a peece of mony of an other his principal patron vvho thought it pitie or at least no pollicie to cast the poore miser of in that sorte and passed ouer into the lovve countrey vvithout taking his leaue vvent forvvard into Germany provvling as his manner hath long ben vvith Epistles for his liuing and not finding cōtentement so he purposed into Turkey and thithevvard he vvent on till by the persuasion of his cōpanion one M. Laurence Caddey sometime student of the English College in Rome he vvas turned back from that desperat course into Fraunce by vvhose godly endeuours for both their saluations notice vvas giuen of the said Nichols in Rhemes and Paris and after vvas apprehended in Roan vvhere he vvrote and spake the letters and other things follovving and therevpon vvas dimissed very shortly And being aftervvard among some contreymen of his ovvne religion to vvhom he resorted for payment of his fees he vvas demanded before them by some that vvere Catholiks vvhether he vvould novv being at liberty auouch all the things confessed in the time of his restraint he ansvvered that all vvere most certaine that he vvould stand to all that he had vttered A protestant yet he vvould be still though in prison he shovved him self vvilling to conferre and to yeld to reason and might at the same time haue easily ben inuited to Rhemes if he had not falne into the Protestants hands at his releasing At his first arriual in Roan the vaine man told
constraint I haue greeuously offended you D. Allen yet I saie thus much I do coÌ„mit my self wholy to your clemeneie I saie nothing of my religion whatsoeuer the scripture dooth teach I except no booke of the old or new TestameÌ„t I do firmely beleeue I beleeue no other thing Do vvith me vvhat you list burne me haÌ„g me kill me behead me I am the same man if I haue not the truth Christ is the truth let him shevv me the truth and open mine eies D. Allen Sir Ovven Hopton the Lieutenant of the Tovver commaunded me vvith threates to vvrite mine examination according to his will pleasure willed me when I published the names of the Papists many of vvhose names I neuer heard of before not to be afraid to affirme them to be fautors of the Pope of the Queene of Scots to be mortal ennimies to the Queenes Maiestie to her Counsellers to al those which were defendors of the religion vvhich is novv publickly taught in England And they vvere al noble men or gentlemen that vvere there mentioned If thou vvilt do this quoth he the Queene vvill promote thee and thou shalt find me most ready to helpe the al the nobilitie vvill loue thee excedingly and thou shalt vvant nothing I vvill send my man with thee to Oxford and thou shalt be mainteined there I vvill find the meanes that thou shalt haue one hundred Marks yerely and vvithout all doubt thou shalt haue a fat benefice If thou vvilt not do this thou shalt be tormented and that greeuously therefore take good aduice vvhat to do And for this cause partly led vvith feare partly ouercome with flatterie the old prouerb vvas verified in me vvhatsoeuer he did saie thesame I did sooth al his said promises were bound with an othe These things that I haue vvritten are so true as nothing can be more true See ô men hovv tragically the Lieutenant of the Tovver delt vvith me Assoone as euer I came in Sir Ovven Hopton sight being brought by an officer I confessed my self to be of his religion yet for al that he vvould needes haue me play the hypocrite I vvas reddy to go to church on mine ovvne accorde the next sondaie after I vvas apprehended yet notvvithstanding he commaunded me to seeme to resiste his man vvas vvilled to dravv me to the church as though I vvent against my vvill of these sevv you may gather many things Concerning the Bull vvhich vvas fastened vpon the vvals at Rhemes I dare not affirme it but there vvent such a report among the Popes schollers in the English College at Rome whether this Bull of excommunication against our Queene Elizabeth vvas renevved and printed againe at Rome I am vtterly ignorant but forgiue me that haue after such sort vvritten and donne both rashly and falsely Such things as I haue vvritten at this present I haue vvritten them of mine ovvne free vvill vvithout any constraint to vnburthen my conscience in the presence of VVilliam Iohnson and George Robinson in the prison of Roan on Saterdaie being the 19. of Februarie in the yere of our Lord 1583. Iohn Nichols MAKING SVTE FOR A VVARRANT TO ATTACH THE SAID IOHN NICOLS demaund vvas made vvhether any thing could be layd to his charge sauing matters of religion it was ansvvered yea and therevpon these articles and accusations following were dravven out against him vpon vvhich the prisoner being examined he ansvvered to euery one seuerally as is here set downe first in Latine aftervvard in English 1 ACcusamus Ioannem Nicolaum primum quod famosos libello fecerit praelo mandauerit contra Principes publicas person as atque collrgia qui famosi libelli etiam in ditionibus suae Maiestatis Christianissimae in multorummanus venerunt famam multorum leserunt Respondeo vt sequitur Ego IoaÌ„nes Nicolaus protestans in religione 20. Februarij anno Domini 1583. neque metu neque fauore cuiusquam hominis aliquid à me respondebitur Quantum ad hunc primum articulum fateor me ture recteque accusatum esse 2 In his libris turpissimorum criminum mendaciter calumniose insimulat nominatim certos Cardinales obiiciens eis stuprum scelera pessima ex mera contra sacrum ordinem malitia Ad secundum sic respondeo Fateor me sic scripsisse sed fama atque relatione hominum prauorum vt opinor 3 Sanctissimum Dominum nostrum Papam seditiosè malediâ—è in iisdem scriptis incusat iniustitiae furti rapinae omnis iniquitatis particulatim nominans quasdam rapinas quas eum fecisse fingit Respondeo me sic scripsisse sed magis ambitionis malitiae causa quam veritatis nifi vt acceperam illum fecisse aliquid quod à me literis mandatum sit à viris illius conatibus minimè fauentibus quod nunc non omnino à me approbatur 4 In suis libris praedictis iniquissimè quod postea confessus est falcissimè accusauit proditionis laesae Maiestatis homines sanctissimos innocentissimos per quod ipsius aliorum suorum complicum falcissimum testimonium plurimi id est 12 religiosissimi viri aut plures fuerunt crudelissima morte sublati Eumque interrogari cupimus an aliorum inductione vel sua sola malitia eos falsò accusauerit qui eum induxerunt ad hoc Ad quartum sic respondeo Me semper negasse aliquod testimonium in ducturum contra quemcunque hominem qui ob religionem passus est sed in libris meis insinuaui quod multi in Collegio Anglicano Romae siâ—o optauerunt mortem Reginae multorum aliorum vt scribitur isto libro in illo articulo addidi plus quam veritas concessit Et quantum ad nomina illustrissimorum virorum vt nomen Domini Leicestriae vt nomen Domini Burleighi Reginae conquaestoris Domini Francisci Vvalzingham c. quos viros neque accusatos neque minatos ab aliquo in isto Collegio audiui sed hoe ambitionis lucri causa finxi 5 Accusauit mendaciter malitiosè Anglorum Collegium suae Maiestatis fauore Rhemis residens quod Bullam Pij V. contra Reginam Angliae datam Rhemis publicauerit valuis postibus illius vrbis affixerit ex quo iniquissimo mendacio calumnia illius collegij alumni magnam posteà incurrerunt Reginae suae indignationem Ad quintum articulum sic respondeo Quod iuniores studentes retulerunt mihi quod Bulla anaihematis per Pium V. facta contra Reginam nostraÌ„ Elizabetham renouata fuit per Gregorium Papam XIII retulerunt mihi quod illa Bullae Pij V. publicata fuit â—hemis valuis postibus illius vrbis affixa Hoc leui illorum relatione scripsi sed hac dere non melius sciui quam infans vnius diei quia Rhemis tunc temporis non fui 6 Nuper etiam in Galliis existens scripsit ante 10. dies apertas literas ad quendam
scriptures to be authentical or not authentical by his owne priuate vnconstant and variable spirit and refuse the Iudgement of the Church and General Councel vvhich determineth such things by the spirit of truth promised by Christs expresse vvord and so cleerely testified in scriptures to abide vvith the same to th' end of the vvorld And in truth it vvas a note sure enough for me to confirme my self in my forefathers faith and to condemne in my conscience the contrary sect of the Protestants that I heard by men of full credit howsoeuer th' English sectaries vvrith and vvrangled in the matter of late to saue their honesties that one heretick as Luther by his spirit denieth some bookes that our Caluinists accept to be Gods word by the iudgement of their spirit and I savv it plainely by mine owne late experience of them that they receiue and condemne admit or repell euen as they thinke good for the vantage of the cause and as may best serue for the defence of their deuellish doctrine Wherein truly I say for the reuerend respect and honotable dealing with the diuine booke of Gods word not withstanding the aduersaries pretending al reuerence towards the scriptures and tedious vaunting talking and tossing of them the Catholicks yet do so farre passe them in Religious keeping preseruing interpreting translating alleaging al other vse of holy vvrit as the true owner and occuper of any thing passeth the theefe and vsurper I beleeue it and haue had experience of it in both sides and therefore I speake it For the second that is th' exposition of scriptures I knew it was the property of al hereticks to abuse wrest and vvring them to vvhatsoeuer them selues list and particularly to the priuate sence of euery secte maister ech one for his owne erronious doctrine and the condemnation of his fellowes I haue heard vvith mine owne eares and seene vvith mine owne eyes that the scriptures sound al for Luther and against the Sacramentaries in Germany and in England and some other places al the Bible is at Caluins and Bezas beck and soundeth vvhatsoeuer they say against not onely the Catholicks or Lutheranes but against their ovvne booke of common praier actes and iniunctions published by authoritie the Puritanes there hauing reconced aboue an hundreth and sortie errors in th' English seruice against the scriptures vvhich I noted in the time of my being in England especially in London and Cambridge aswel the writers Preachers Readers and Disputers as most other schollers and prentises be puritanes condemning by Gods word that same seruice administration vvhich them selues daily resort vnto For vvhich who soeuer shall reade the writings of M. Vvhittakers or the disputes of Fulke Charke Vvalker and such other Ministers lately had in the Tower they shal find my vvords and obseruation true and shall see many points of puritanisme decided by them by coulor of scriptures against their ovvne authorized seruice all those things set out by authoritie I neede not stand to tell you now the Lutheranes expound this notorious text Hoc est corpus meum so farre othervvise then the Zuinglians and Caluinists that they haue prooued these by Gods expresse vvord hereticks and these them for the reciproke plaine carnal men and Idolaters both th' one and th' other vvrithing the sacred words to their owne erronious and damnable sect against the proper nature and plaine sense vvhich the letter the circumstance the conference of places the auncient fathers Councels and the vvhole Church expresly setteth downe Vvith this I haue marked that the Sectaries of our countrey and al other places being singular vaine-glorious louers of them selues and cherisers of their ovvne fantasies seeke for nothing but nouelties and in th' exposition of scriptures to finde out that which neuer neither foole nor wiseman found out before them and al this vvith a ridiculous boast of euery mans seuerall spirit gifte and knowledge vvhich to me and others that see their liues and learning and partly know their intention is a straunge case Hovv soeuer it be their exposition so nevv so improbable so inconstant so various so farre differing from the commeÌ„taries of al the fathers passing al these men in al grace and knowlege from the general Councels that not by particular fansie of a few but by vniforme consent of the most learned in the vvorld haue by Gods vvord truly through th' assistance of the holy Ghost vnderstood defined these things to our hands this consideration I say of their vngodly behauiour towards the holy scriptures the glorious Doctors the vniuersall Church of al ages and nations of which by my late being among them I haue enformed my self better then euer I could haue doÌ„ne by reading of bokes or here say hath fortified my faith against them I trust in God during life But because I professe not in this breif satisfactioÌ„ to dispute of the matter or arrogate to my self any profound knowlege in these things I for this point say no more but this that if I had ben partly bent to heresie when I vvent into EnglaÌ„d as I was not I speake it as before God the more I had ben coÌ„uersant with the ProtestaÌ„ts yea with the learnedsts amoÌ„gst theÌ„ the soner should I haue ben reclaimed froÌ„ that heresie For in other things though I may bouldly saie they haue the gifts of the mind as plentifully as any nation yet in diuinitie specially in these controuersies they are so bewitched that through the common malady of heresie vvhich by Gods iust iudgement of sinne and for saking th' obedience of his Church is euer ioyned vvith pitifull darkenes of vnderstanding especially in such as brag most of the light that when they bring but Sophismes to proue their religion they both thinke and bouldly aduouch that they are demoÌ„strations But here they wil exclaime after their manner and say they bring places of scripture wil charge me that I cal the scriptures Sophismes No God forbid for that were blasphemie but I call the false and childish exposition or the place either by false translation or exposition wrested a Sophisme the vvhich may sone be espied of him that hath any iudgement or common sense especially if God hath lightened his vnderstanding by the doctrine of the Catholick Church Besides if I had fauored heresies this would haue reuoked me to see some of those that on this side the scas were both counted know to be void of all good gifts and qualities of the minde not capable of any science yet at their retorne home to be admitted to be publick preachers and their vvords being nothing but knowne forgeries blasphemous lyes to be compted â—s Oracles and conclusions deduced out of th'expresse vvord of the Lord as they speke in our countrey One saith very vvisely of Aristotle that he vsed hard and difficult termes in Philosophie to driue awaie from the reading of his bookes those that vvere simple and vnlearned lest saith he Omnia
harpiarum more immundo contactu conspurcarent that is to say lest they should diminish and abase the reuerēd maiestie of philosophie by their foolish and doting expositions How soeuer it is in that facultie of Philosophie sure it is that the written vvord of God is full of profound mysteries yet is confidently bouldly and malepertly expounded now in England as vvel priuatly at euery table and tauerne as in the pulpits and common assemblies of simple and vnlearned artificers so that the lay people prentises especially and yong schollers assone as they can bid Caesar good morrow in Greeke or reade th' English Testamēt yea the women dare presume to dispute with the Clergie of the cheefest points of Religion and bouldly condemne the cheefest clercks in the vvorld Is not this I pray you a great abasing of th'excellēcie of the vvord of God surely if I had fauored heresies this would haue ben a sufficiēt motiue to haue reuoked me I could bring many moe strong reasons to this purpose but because I am a yong nouice in learning and because I thinke this vvhich I haue brought will suffice to proue that there vvas no cause of my invvard defection in respect of my particular knowledge I vvil here end this first point For the second that I had no cause to seperate my self from the Catholick church for the euel life of the Catholicks and to come to be a Protestant for their holynes I vvil shew it manifestly and yet no great profe vvil be loked for at my hands therein First suppose the Catholicks liued very euel as ill as their aduersaries purposely to deceiue the people faine them to do if I thinke the Religion to be good their euel life should neuer cause me to for sake it if a man should measure truth faith by the elle of vertu and innocencie in the professors follovvers of any sort in mans frailtie miserie of this life God should haue no people nor part in this world al being subiect to sin and danger in this mortal state But surely if wee should docide the matter by the difference of life behauiour and conuersation of both sides I vvere vvorse then an asse to determine for the Protestants against the Catholicks amongest whom the first Professors vvere Saincts and the cheef leaders and teachers aftervvard most holy and al these follovvers though fraile and sinfull men yet finding remedy by the medicinable Sacraments penaunce and discipline of the Church for their daily offences Where contrary vvise the very first authors of this Protestancy Luther Caluin Beza and the like or as them selues call them the restorers reformers of Religion vvere not onely vulgarly nought but of notorious infamous wicked life as their Ministers be in al coūtreies and their zelous followers not good in any place specially in Englād where they haue notoriously betraied their false faith by their foule fruicts Yea and vvhere it is knowne that their doctrine it self hath só altered to the vvorse al kinde of States and that their pulpits are nothing els but a schoole of sinne licentiousnes lust and liberty that al wisemen wonder at it and good men lament the case Who knoweth not that vertue deuotion godly life it self is bourthenous and hateful to the Protestants so far surely that they seeke as I haue seene not onely to abolish deface and destroy the bookes now or of ould written for defence and proofe of the Catholick faith which they may do vpon some pretence of errors conteined in the same but they burne vp al godly treatises and bookes of contemplation meditation and instruction of Christian life and manners conteining no dispute of religion at al as long sith they vsed a deuout treatise of the life and Immitation of Christ and now of late they openly burned a number of the bookes of prayer and meditation of prayer made by Levves of Granado together with the new Testament Assure your selues that they cānot abide such bookes of al others knowing that deuout praier onely penaunce and amendement of life vvill easily bring men from their pretēded Religion in which no such deuotions are found Neither if you marke vvell shall you euer finde that the learned of the Protestants writ or treat of any such argument al their doings are in pugnis verborum in strife emulation contention contradiction destruction They stand vpon quick dispatch and attribute al to Christ his passion without ether much meditation of it or conforming them selues vnto it Finally they haue turned the grace of Christ into carnal lust and licence To see these things which in England are so open and euident not so much profound learning is requisite as due consideration and some experience of other places vvhich if our Gentlemen students and others ether of the ynnes of Court or vniuersities or of what other place or calling soeuer might haue as diuers by trauelling ouer the seas to ether of the Seminaries or other Catholick schooles haue happely proued they should see vvhat difference of life manners education and behauiour there is betwixt the one and th' other This one thing I dare be bould to say for the Seminary of Rome where I most liued in mine absence from my countrey which therefore I knew best and vvhich the vvicked calumniators haue most sought to slaūder the youthes and students al there be as vertuous as any be in Christendome And let both Oxford and Cambrige giue me one such for hollynes of life and conuersation so long as they be there vnder the Protestants regiment as there be a number in the said Seminary and I promis you I vvill say in S. Peters in Rome al that I said at Paules crosse in London Not vvithstanding as I said al euel life maketh not nor proueth one to be an heretick for I am an offendor as other men and perhaps the cheef of many sinners but I haue found remedy mercie saluation in the Church in vvhich onely the holie Passion of Christ the cause of al remission is profitable and out of the same nothing but damnation though mans life seeme neuer so iuste and holy For this his blessed passions sake I trust he vvill nether now remember the sinnes of my youth nor this my exterior reuolt from his holy Church vvhich I professe as before to haue ben of frailtie against mine owne conscience and knowlege God that knoweth al things knoweth that I did it not for any liking I had of the Protestants either life or religion knowing both to be starke nought onely the Diuel by false and subtil persuasions vvas the cause of my outward defection First I had a seruent desire to see my parents and freends and because I vvas afraid they neither durst nor vvould receiue me for seare of the statuts I thought it good to play the hypocrite if that may be called hypocrisie to put on the habit and resemblance of wickednes with the Bishop of London that is to faine
and enchaunte their dearest freends then other men can doe their deadly enemies These lo are the arguments and not any colour of scriptures any learning of the heretikes or any other probabilitie in the vvorld that can moue any man to be of their religion the same reasons vvill as easely make one a Turke I doe speake it before God as a protestāt For though those that be from their childehod brought vp in their Vniuersites or other their Scholes and Churches vvithout a special miraculous grace of God can not lightly be of any other religion because they can not ordinarely beleeue excepte they heare or reade some catholike trew teachers or vvriters vvhose writings therefore the protestants hide from them with all diligence yet none that euer hath ben a brode in the vvorld and seene th' other or that hath the good lucke to looke to the faith of our forefathers in our countrie or any other Christian countrie can be in hart a protestante And would God al the youthe of both vniuersites especially my deare Brethren whom God hath blessed vvith vvit learning and good nature saw what loue sinceritie sweete and plaine dealing is vsed in the Seminarie of Rhemes vvhere I now by God his grace am and how easely vpon a fevv daies conference and hearing vvith out al Rackes Feares Forces Tormentes vvorldly allurementes or presermentes by the only force of truth and euidence of holy scriptures and such other plentiful proofes as the Church of God and al Catholike scholes haue for al the articles in controuersie besides the great difference betwixt the life order and manners seene here in Churches and scholes and the wilde behauiour of our maisters and Scholers in England Or at least it vvere to be vvisshed that our fellow students in both the Seminaries or other Catholikes might haue the like fredō to come to those vniuersites as theirs do hither and there to trie with out threates of imprisonmēt death or terrifyinge by calling men traitors rebels and I can not tell vvhat to see then vvhether their spirit or vvord vvhereof they so childisly vaunte them selues could conuert any of this education in the holy Church to their improbable secte At the beginning I knovv vvhen their vvares were fresh and their nouelties ioyned to the promises and doctrine of luste and licentiousnes they found some schollers and may yet finde some to follovv their concupiscences but none trevvly I thinke either yong or olde that can be perswaded by their arguments They make much a doe vvhen they gaine the exterior assent of infirme persons vvhich in deede are thankes be to God very fevve in comparison of the great number of those that gloriously and constantly contemne their terrors perswasions through whose forcible praiers and merits I verely thinke God hath giuen me now at this time and in manner al the rest of their feeble brethren grace mercy that th' enemies there may haue confusion by vs where they looked for glorie the vveake that fell or vvere scandalised by vs may rise and repent vvith vs and those that stande may be vvarned by our frailtie and by the admonition of the holy Apostle to take head they fall not For mine ovvne part God knoweth since I knevv vvhat religion ment I vvas neuer and least of al of late vvhen they caused me to subscribe to them of their meaning I subscribed our Lord God forgiue me to that which one Vvilliam Harte parler-preacher to my vncle Sir Robert Lane deuised vvhich I neither knew of before vvrote my self nor beleeued my self The very truth is one Richard Levvis a minister Person of the Parish vvhere I vvas bred vp where I then abode a famous preacher in deede but as I am able to iustifie a most infamous liuer brought me to that vnlucky bargaine as he vvas before the procurer of my first relenting vvhich he may remember by this token that his energumicall spirit could not abide the signe of Christs Passion portred in a glasse vvindow in my Fathers Parler vvhich vvas the Crosse and vvoundes of our Redemer vvith this sentēce vvritten about the same Pittey his passion that caused our redemption this goodly speach he scraped out let the rest alone vvhich his diuisishnes no Christian I suppose will allow nor I though fallen before could like in him but once fell into hote dispute vvith him about the same vvhose foolish defence vvhich vvas for that Christ is omnipotent and a glorious God I can not novv stande to reporte Surely the very acquaintance with such mens actiōs and vvordes vvhich they often lett fall in familiar communication among such as they deale vvith all secretly would make a man abhorre them one example may be of Fox the auctor of the volume of Crackes many lies I vvould saie Actes monuments to whom vvhen I had of late in cōference alleaged a place of S. Peter 2. Pet. c. 1.11 for proofe that our good vvorkes vvere cause of our iustification and saluation the fellovv answered flatly such vvordes I doe not remember but if S. Peter say that wee are iustified or saued Per praesidia bonorū operum for so he is vvont to interlace his English speaches with latten vvordes I would say that he lied because Iame sure that Paul hath the cōtrary whereby and by diuers like thinges I vvel perceue those good fellovves measure all religō by their owne meere phansie caring in truth nether for Peter nor Paul nor Christ further then their can vvrith they vvordes to their lust I am sommething beholden to this man not vvithstanding for that at our very first acquaintance of al he made me partaker of a certen secrete vvhich he said he had not reueled to any man els vz. That he vvas called by God him self to make his nevv latten booke of iustification Againe at the same time very impertinently to our talke he told me that he had sent an angell to alderman Martin to change into single pense for to imploye them in almees verely I laughed in my sleue to heare this vaine hypocrite talke thought I vvith my self Hypocrita cupit videri iustus These vvicked ministers of Satan vvere they that by their craft pollices promises procured my subuersion and subscription of the said articles and other vniust actions All vvhich articles vvhich vvere seuen I novv by this publike testimony doe reuoke and recant of mine ovvne free wil as before in hart so novv openly before all the vvorld protesting that I vvill by the grace of God liue and die in the communion and felloship of the Catholike and Apostolike Church of Rome and during life vvill obey in al spiritual causes our holy Father Gregory the XIII and his successors in th'Apostolike seate Christs vicars in earth the reuolte from vvhom hath bene the cause of al these errors sectes and diuisions and that vvee can not liue in rest and peace of conscience in our vnhappy daies and countrie as our auncetors in
in the which I beleeue my self to be vvith you then there was out of the Arch of Noë which bare the type figure of the Catholike Apostolike Church Do not yee therefore giue ouer light credit to euery flying tale for I know that the ende shall proue al these rumors that haue ben spred of me to be false and fayned For I hope brethren and this is my desire that I shal be bound vvith the same chaine and for the same faith that you are I trust to be partaker both of your tribulations your rewards God forbid that I should glorie to vse the speach of the vessel of election and of the Doctor of the Gentils vvith out al arrogancie and pride sauing in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ I beseech you therefore as yet not being bound but peradventure to be bound in our Lord that you remaine and walke vvorthily in the vocation religion and faith to vvhich you are called and that you be ready to shed your blood for the same You haue heard that I vvas become a Protestant I call God and his Angels to vvitnes brethren that this hath ben mine election and that full often if I ly then I praie God I neuer speake more that I had rather be a Turke or a Ievv then a Protestant that is to be enrouled among those that haue renied the faith of Christ There be many I knovv vvhich haue heard me albeit vvith murmuring and indignation vtter these vvords For it were better for me in deede neuer to haue knoweÌ„ the vvay of truth then after the knowledge thereof to start back from it If therefore my freends the fame of my retorne into my countrey be come vnto your eares if peraduenture these naughtie reports of me be coÌ„monly talked of amongst you if you do ouer expect any thing of me that perteineth to the duty of a brother freend or kinsman of yours that vvhich the name of a Christian maÌ„ dooth require vvhich is borne brought vp and by the space of many yeres as it vvere confirmed in the Catholike Church and faith perswade your selues for certain that I will by Gods assistance satisfie your expectation You haue heard peradueÌ„ture that I vvould go to the Church God almightie in vvhose sight I am speake and vvho is the searcher of the hart and reines of men dooth know that I neuer went to the ProtestaÌ„ts church vvith the mind to pray or to allow and professe their sect neither by coÌ„straint or free accord to seeme by any meanes to approue by consent and liking this religion which they terme reformed but I vvent sometimes that but seldoome vvhen I thought it good only for to see their rites and then manner of preaching and doing and to make mine English tong more prompt ready Nor do you not thinke that that vvhich is lavvfull to some one for certen causes is conuenient to al men for I vvould not counsel other men to go to the protestants church yea I haue diswaded men from it aboue a thousand times and haue shewed them that it was in no case lawful because that he that loueth danger shall fall into it neither vvould I haue gone to their conueÌ„ticles for any thing if I had know that I should haue giuen occasion of scandall You haue heard and do maruel at it that I am at liberty and therefore you suspect that I am retorned to my vomit Deerely beloued I am of al lyers the vaâ—nest if I do not enuie you your chaines your prison your banishment your gard your losse of goods your tribulation for Christ and perswade not your selues I praie you that I do reioyce in this my fortune and libertie but rather that it is sorrovvful loth some vnto me that I am not vvorthy to suffer contumely for the name of Iesus Therefore I attribut my liberty to the clemency of God almightie to the courtosie of the Q. Maiesties honorable and vvise Counsellers I impute it to mine owne mishap to my great sinnes but that which is differred is not altogether taken avvaie If I vsed doutfull words before the Q. Maiesties counsel for the vvhich they set me at liberty I haue interpreted them more plainely by my letters which I haue novv sent to the Q. most honorable sage Counsellers But put the case I yelded vnto them vvhy brethren ought I to attribute more to my self then to most blessed Peter most holy Marcellinus most stout Thomas of Canterbury of the vvhich the two former were Popes and al after the denial of Christ obteined pardon and shed their blood for the Catholike faith Be you not therefore seduced vvith the vvicked example of one man but staÌ„d stoutly dwell in this church in which wee haue ben borne and bred the vvhich Christ our Lord hath built and brought forth vpon the foundation of the Apostles and their Successors vvhose ruines do begin now after a sort to be repaired and restored But to draw to an ende I beseech you brethren by by the bowels of the mercie of Iesus Christ by that charitie vvherewith he so loued vs that he vouchsaued to be hanged on a tree for vs by his crosse his wounds by the nailes and speare vvhich are the badges of our Sauiour that you be not frighted nor moued vvith false reportes th' end wil proue al and perswade your selues that as I am partaker of one countrey with you so am I partaker of one Church one faith one religion one doctrine vvith you I thought good to write this letter to witnes thereby vnto you that I am of the same religion in vvhich I vvas borne againe by baptisme and for the vvhich I am most ready to dye vvith you I desire you also to pray vnto Christ Iesus crucified for me to giue me grace to direct al my thoughts vvords and works to the glory of his most holy name to mine ovvne saluation and to the profite and commoditie of my countrey Let vs also pray continually and vvith a common accord that Christ our Lord would preserue the Queenes Maiestie and her sage Counsellers and illuminate them vvith al truth that al their beginnings proceedings teÌ„de to the glory of almighty God Christ Iesus embrace vs al in the bowels of his mercies confirme vs and make vs al in one agreement in the Church which he hath founded vvith his most precious death Fare yee vvell AN ADMONITION TO THE READER THere are no more of regard as farre as vve yet heare that haue relented al this long perilous time of practize and persecution sauing M. Aufild and M. Govwe the former in England through extreeme feare of torments yelding onely to goe to their church once and that vvith many qualifications the other in Fraunce vpon other frailtie specially for desire to retorne home and enioye the commodities temporal that God had giuen him in his countrey vvho both streight vpon their fall being in regard of humane frailtie not great vvept bitterly haue done penaunce accordingly vvritten their letter to our Presidet in Rhemes of thâ—â—â— readines to doe any satisfaction for the scandal and offence committed and so be reconciled to Gods Church againe and haue done since that and doe al they can possibly for th'aduauncement of the Catholike faith Vvhose like publike acknovvledge of their offence should here haue been set furth but that the same could not be so speedely sent hither as the dispatch of these other vvas compted necessary Onely in al this gentil reader I desire the to marke for thy coÌ„solatioÌ„ the mercies of God hovv in this loÌ„g combat vvith so forcible and povvrable ennemies according to the flesh vvho vvaÌ„t no meanes vvorldly either to force by feare of death torments or to tempt by pleasure proffit preferments or to entangle by art and pollicie he hath giuen vs his poore seruaunts and souldiars not onely to fight stand hold out haue assured hope of victory ouer the aduersaries but to haue it vvith so small a losse by the death of so fevv vvith the fall or vvounding of so fevv so easely recouered againe to farre more aduantage of the cause as our Lord hath of his grace vsed the matter then if they had neuer had experience of their ovvne infirmitie and of the necessitie of his holy ayde by vvhom onely vve are vpholden in this spiritual fight for our faith and defence of his deare Spouse our Mother the Church vvhich by no povver of man or Diuel can be ouerthrovvne Fare vvel gentil reader and make thy profit to saluation of these examples of our frailtie vvhereby thou seest Gods streinght to be perfited in our infirmitie and our vveakenes to be sustained by the force 〈◊〉 his grace to him be al honor and glorie Amen The first of Iune 1583.
Christians I thinke you vvould not I am ful glad that I haue denied your Religion vvhich is mixed vvith manie errors If your Romane faith dissented not from the doctrine of the Apostles I should neuer haue ben dravven from it vvith terrors or torments whatsoeuer but because it is vnderpropped vvith mens traditions I cannot like or allovv of it O M. Allen prouide for your self vvhile you haue time Amende and for sake your errors vvherewith you are entangled Retourne home to your country Cast your self downe at the feete of our merciful Queene Confesse your disloyaultie and lament that you haue ben such a one as the earth is vnworthie to beare what learned I at Rome hypocrisie lying pride and to be short al that euel is In that Seminarie there raigneth lust pride enuie vvrathe detraction and to say al at a worde that College is the sinke of sinne I do tremble to vvrite the things that I haue seene vvith mine eyes neither vvould you beleeue them because you fauor them to much I haue vvritten in hast vvrite againe if you vvil or if your prowde stomack will suffer you Vvritten at Nancy By me Iohn Nicols Englishman ABout three daies after the receipt of the aboue written letters came Laurence Caddey and found D. Allen and all other Catholicks very redy as duty required to giue him the comfort and succour they could to his great contentement as also vpon intelligence that Iohn Nichols vvas in the tovvne many meanes vvere sought to bring him to conference and speach of the learned for his recouery but missing of that there vvas thought no other remedy to saue his soule to reclame him from the damnable state that he liued and vvas like to dy in but by his apprehension and imprisonning vvhich by reason of his speedy departure from Paris could not be donne there but it vvas atchiued at Roan vvhere vpon his restraint he vvrot vvith his ovvne hād at seuerall times the letters and others things in Latine to D. Allen. DOctor Alane tua meam petulantiam vicit charitas ad te temeritate ductus magis quam prudentia fretus acriter scripsi tu ira non commotus omnia bona mihi optasti pollicitus es cum fueram tibi inimicus ea quae non speraueram à te concedi tua elementia me superauit supra modū Parisiis Rhemos venissem si mea culpatāta non fuisset quantum explicare verbis nequeo Pudore impeditus Rhemos petere nolim Tua patientia mea maior fuit malitia tua verba ex charitate fraterna producta ostenderunt quo spiritu suffultus eras Laurentius Caddeus qui meas tibi dedit literas iuramento facto predicta confirmauit qua charitate audita in quae prorupi verba testetur Si illam Domine D. Alane animae meae curam te habere verum sit vt tuam reuerentiam non pigeret peregrinationis multorum locorum modo saluares eam des tunc operam vt saluetur mea anima salua tua opera saluabitur anima tua iuxta verbum diuinum Si anima corpore peribo tua incuria atque negligentia redditurus es rationem huiusmodi mortis meae in die iudicij Sum detentus in carceribus non indignè Sustentor lautius hucusque quam deberem appello ad tuam reuerentiam non ad Papae Nuntium Si promittes tuis literis quod mea culpa quoquo modo commissa contra quoscūque ignoscetur mihi quod nemo ob mea delicta perpetrata me è medio tollere conabitur Rhemos veniam ponam vitam meam in manibus tuis si hoc mihi negabis sanguis meus à te requiretur eris causa perditionis animae meae Non curo propter vitam corporis mei singulis diebus contentus sum mori si semel animam meam virtute religione verbo diuino innixam suffultam sentirem oh nemo mortalium me laetior esset Dicunt multi me nullam religionem habere verè dicunt secundum opera mea flagitiis enim multis coopertus sum hoc ego dico et in suggestu sepe dixi Quodcūque scriptum est in veteriatque nouo testamēto firmiter credo si me ad ignem autad patibulum lictores iam traherent aliud non crederem instar vmbrae est vita mea à carcere Rothomagensi clamo ad te vir magne vir plene charitatis vt mihi succurras dum hac vitae vsura fruor Si conquaereris de scriptis meis quod falsum est retractabo causam indicabo cur sic scripseram totam mentem meam iuxta veritatis limites satis abundè explicabo D. Alane etsi grauiter offenderam tamen curam tibi committo animae meae Nescio quid de me consultum est si Papa Cardinales omnes alij qui autoritate praecedunt alios consultius aestimant esse vt vindictam sumant iniuriae illatam illis immeritò fiat voluntas Domini sciunt vbi me inueniant exequantur quod in mentem venit sed aliter de illorum charitate spero In his angustiis quibus constitutus sum D Alane praesto mihi sis consilio labore aliis omnibus charitatis operibus accumulabis tibi magnum thesaurum in caelis me tibi in aeuum deuinces Non sum obstinatus cupio saluus esse saluum me reddat Deus anima à corpore dissoluta Scripsi bene vale oraque pro me peccatore maximo Dum viuo spero Redde bonum D Alane pro malo eris discipulus Christi sic fecit Christus sic docuit Per me Ioannem Nicolaum Anglum tui amantissimum POst scriptum Spiritus pugnat contra carnem caro contra spiritum ad tempus spiritus diluuio peccatorum submersus carni succubuit sed spero quod spiritus emergetur carnis vires mulalidabit Deus sit mihi propitius Capituitas est medium per quod viam ad coelum inueniam D. Alane partim quia Christum agnoscis partim quia conterraneus meus es consule mihi dum tempus est Lego vestros libros non taedet me legere aliquam mihi legendo consolationem comparaui Legam sermonem babere cum Catholicis Romanis inficias non ibo Scripsi expecto responsionem voluntatis tuae propensae vt spero in meam salutem 18. Feb. 1583. Per me peccatorem grauissimum Ioannem Nicolaum indignum hac vita quam dego DOctor Allen Your charitie hath ouercome my impudencie I wrote vnto you very sharpely being led thereto rather through rashenes then guided by wisdome you for your owne part being nothing atal moued therevvith to anger vvished al good vnto me promising to me your enmmie such benefits as I could not haue looked for at your hands your clemencie therefore hath vvonderfully vanquished me I would haue come from Paris to Rhemes if my offence had not ben so haynous as cannot be by wordes expressed
The cause why I came not to Rhemes was because I was ashamed of my self Your Pacience is greater then my mallice Your wordes proceeding from brotherly charitie do declare with what spirit you are endewed Laurence Caddey vvho deliuered my former letter vnto you hath affirmed the fore said things to be true and that with an other he also can witnes into what speaches I burst forth vvhen I vnderstood this your charitie If it be true M.D. Allen that you haue so great care of my soule that your Reuerence vvould not sticke to trauaile to what place soeuer to saue it do you your endeuour then to saue it For if my soule be saued by your meanes you shall saue your owne soule also as holy writ saith but if I doo perish bodie and soule by your carelessnes and negligence you are to render accompt thereof at the daie of Iudgement I am emprisoned and that worthely and am fedd hitherto more delicatly then I haue deserued I do appeale to your worship and not to the Popes Nunce And if you will promis me by your letters that the faults vvhich I haue by any meanes whatsoeuer committed against any man shal be forgiuen me and that no man shal pursue me to death for the crimes that I haue committed I will come to Rhemes yeld my self into your hands if you deny me this my bloud shal be required at your hands and you shal be the cause of the losse of my soule I esteeme not this transitorie life I am content to dye and that euery daie Oh if I felt once my soule to be endewed with vertue religion staied vpon Gods holie word no man vvould be more glad then I should be Many report that I haue no religion in me and they saie truely in respect of my vvorks for I am ouerwhelmed with many abhominable vices I say thus much haue often said it out of the pulpit That I doo firmely beleeue whatsoeuer is vvritten in the old and new Testament If the Sergants were drawing me to the fire or gallowes I would not beleeue any other thing My life is like a shadowe I crie to you worshipfull Sir and full of charitie out of the prison of Roan to assist me whiles yet I liue If you complaine of my books I will retract that which is false I will shewe the cause vvhy I wrot so I vvill open my mind aboundantly so far as the limites of truth will permit M.D. Allen albeit I haue greuously offended that notwithstanding I commit the care of my soule vnto you I know not vvhat the Pope Cardinals and others in authoritie ar determined to do with me if they thinke it best to take vengeance on me for the iniuries vvhich I haue vniustly donne vnto them the lords will be donne they know where to finde me let them put their designes in execution hardly but for all that I hope better of their charitie Being brought into these distresses I beseech you D. Allen to assist me with counsel and al other works of charitie and you shal thereby heape to your self a treasure in heauen and shall binde me to be yours foreuer I am not obstinate God grauÌ„t I may be sauued after this life I haue written Fare you well and pray for me a greuous sinner for as long as I liue I will hope M.D. Allen render good for euil and by so doing you shal be Christe his disciple For so Christ did so he taught By me Iohn Nichols Englisman your louer POst scriptum The spirit doth fight against the flesh and the flesh against the spirit and for a time the spirit being ouer whelmed with the flood of sinnes doth yeeld vnto the flesh but I hope that the spirit will get the victorie and weaken the force of the flesh God be merciful vnto me Imprisonment is a meanes by which I may finde the way to heauen M. D. Allen helpe me vvith your aduice whiles time is partely because you are a Christian man partly also because you are my country man I reade your bookes and am not weary of reading I haue gained great comfort consolation by reading them I will reade still and will refuse no conference with any Roman Catholik I haue written and novv expecte your fauorable answere as I hope to my saluation 18. Feb. 1583. By me most greuous sinner Iohn Nicols vnvvorthy to liue DOctor Alane contra Papam Cardinales Episcopos quaecunque scripsi scripsi ambitionis causa quae audiueram in Italia de moribus Papae Cardinalium Episcoporum aliorúmque inter agrestes inopes homines literis in Anglia mandaui nullum librum aedidissem Deus est mihi testis nisi Praeses Castri Londinensis me ad scribendum prouocasset Partim tunc temporis grandipromissione delusus partim appetens interituram gloriam a me publicè scripta sunt ea praesertim de moribus Papae Cardinalium Episcoporum totiusque ecclesiastici ordinis quae fama acceperam à viris non fide dignis libertate mihi eo tempore concessa paulo post resipui me nequiter scripsisse Domino Lucae Kirbeoâ—am vita defuncto cum in carceribus detentus fuerat confessus sum Multa scripsi multa feci quae scribere aut facere negaui prorsus antequam Praeses Turris Londinensis saepe minatus sit Grauissimum torquaris tormentum quam acerbam poenam pati meafragilis caro abhorruit Illius igitur inuentionem atque voluntatem executus sum quod imperabat scripsi feci sic locutus sum non ex malitia sed ex impulsu non ex praua voluntate sed ex satanica suggestione Multa scripsi falsò quae scripsisse poenituit me antequam ex Anglia tanquam profugus ob enormia peccata mea quae conscientiae meae magnam inquietem diu noctu iniecerunt discesseram Nun quam in Anglia steti coram Iudice aut alio quouis magistratu taÌ„quam testis coÌ„tra quemuis Catholicum Romanum quando in iudicium vocati sunt ex proposito abfui Londino Papa Cardinales Episcopi alij Catholici Romani in me multa contulerunt beneficia quae ingratitudine recompensaui sed causa ostenditur metus grauissimi supplicij magnifica promissa me à Deo auocauerunt si vos viri dignissimi in eodem periculo versaremini nescio quid faceretis Nihil aliud audire potui in carceribus quam has minas Fac sic aut satellites te ducent torqueri maluissem si dixisset suspendi Non bona res est corpus isto cruciatu longius fieri per duos fere pedes quam natura concedit Narratum est mihi modus torquendi cum audiueram timor horror istiusmodi supplicij me omnino vicit in meaexaminatione Quorum voluit ille Praeses aut sernus illius nomina scribi scripsi Georgius Peccam aeques auratus in Catalogo fuit Papistarum Iudex Southcotus alij multi mihi ignoti ad nomen ad