orphanes and defrauded widowes as the Gospell witnesseth of the Pharisees that they deuoured widowes houses vnder colour of long prayer Some are possessed with a spirit of phrenzie and deluded of Sathan as the Iewes perswaded by one Moyses did cast themselues headlong into the Sea The Donatists did throw themselues headlong into the fire and water and from the tops of hils Augustine sayth of them Diabolus vobis istum furorem inspirat Who els but the Deuill doth inspire this furious mind into you And hence it commeth that many are bewitched of Sathan and iustlie giuen ouer of God to be deceiued by him to beleeue lies because they receiued not the loue of the truth Secondly for the assumption 1. seeing this Ignatian brother confesseth he was very yong when first he forsooke the faith of the Gospell he had greater cause to suspect the rashnes of his shalow youth in receiuing then commend his stedfastnes in retayning his first error Hee should rather say with S. Paule When I was a child I spake as a child I vnderstood as a child I thought as a child Otherwise his stiffnes in continuing as he was may be rather imputed to an obstinate resolution then to a tender perswasion of his conscience Youth is soone infected and tender yeares easily tainted It seemeth to be true in him which Hierome sayth Difficulter eraditur quod rudes animi perbiberunt It is hardly recouered which simple minds haue once receiued And seeing he telleth vs he was borne of Protestant parents I would not haue him more wilfull then the heretike Eutyches who sayd Sicut accepi à progenitorib ita credidi in hac fide genitus sum c. in hac opto mori As I haue receiued of my progenitors so haue I beleeued in this faith I was borne in this faith I desire to die for seeing he was borne of right beleeuing parents and in the faith of the Gospell he can not pretend like cause of his persisting as obstinate Eutyches did I know not who his parents were but by his confession they were better resolued in religion then their sonne let him take heed then least Eudoxius speech inuerted be verified vpon him pater 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 filius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a godlie father a godlesse sonne 2 But if it might be lawfull for me a little to sound this yong fathers mind I could gesse at an other cause of his reuolt then his pretended conscience for it is well knowne that the Ignatian fatherhood whose cognisance as I am informed this sect-maister beareth is an order peramount in the Romish corporation and a passing gainfull trade These new vpstart friers are notable catchpoles and cosening by their owne Masse-priests report cunni-catchers and such as angle with long rods and fish for their owne aduantage They can tell vs of Frier Gerards golden web who could weaue or rather waue to himselfe from diuers persons aboue sixe thousand pound of Frier Hawoods pomp in riding in a coach and of his lordlike traine of Frier Garnets expenses after fiue hundred pounds by the yeare of Frier Oldcornes stable of eight geldings all at one time of Frier Holts large offer of pensions of Frier Walpoles crownes of Frier Gerards Church-stuffe valued at two hundred marks of a vestment giuen him of needleworke esteemed at an hundred marks May we not now say vnto them as Apollonius of Priscilla and Maximilla Dic mihi prophetae vestib gemmis ornantur propheta tabula ludit tesseris Do prophets glitter in rich vestures and pretious stones Do prophets play at tables and dice But such are these iollie fellowes ietting vp and downe in silks and veluets with iewels rings and chaines of gold and it is very like they do sport themselues also both aboue and vnder booâ—d at their pleasure And as they are nimble fingred gentlemen to tell money so they haue a speciall facultie in bestowing of Legacies Frier Gerard being put in trust for the disposing of 3000. pound and more could very handsomely coÌ„uey it into his owne purse An other lay brother of that order got from a rich man lying sicke at Valledolid in Spaine a great summe of gold which he had purposed to haue giuen to the poore Englishmen which liued there And herein they do well reuiue the memorie of the heretike Dioscorus of whom Ischyrion complayned that whereas the Emperor had decreed to send corne for the reliefe of the parts of Lybia he would not suffer it to be transported but sold it in time of dearth at great prices and how Peristeriae testamentum violauit he violated the testament of Peristeria and the legacies giuen to the Monasteries he bestowed vpon bawdes and harlots This great wealth pomp and credit of the Ignatians considered who are regarded as we were told before of the most rich and puissant princes of the world might it not be a great allurement to this aspiring springall to associate himselfe vnto that companie and to thrust his sickle into their haruest for if they that gleane after them which are but their factors and dispensators can fill their hands that they sticke not to hazard twentie nobles at once at play the reapers that go before them must needs make a better match they come to the golden haruest as Stratocles and Democlidas profanely called the iudgemeÌ„t seate And thus much also of this Section THE SEVENTH SECTION OF THE Authors particular defence to her Maiestie I Do not purpose to examine all the Libellers idle speeches vaine repetitions and vnsauerie words if I should make answere to euerie thing and spend time to note euery foolish pranke he playeth I should as the wise man sayth be like him I will therefore make choice of his principall stuffe and leaue the rest Not as Hierome sayth Quia difficile sit eum vincere sed ne respondendo dignus fieret qui vinceretur as though it were an hard matter for him euery where to be vanquished but least he should be thought worthie to be answered The first Apologie or defence 1 BEginning with my Catholike Christened annoynted and crowned Queene Elizabeth to whom I wish as much spirituall benediction and terrene honor as any subiect may to his temporall Soueraigne c. 2 Whereof she hath vowed defence by the vow of a Christian in baptisme c. by the oath and fidelitie of a Christian Catholike annointed at her coronation c. for defence whereof the glorie of the stile of her title was first graunted c. 3 Whereof she reteyneth in princely person some reuerent notes as the vsing of the signe of the crosse vpon sodaine and strange accidents c. not preuaricating in the maine point of the reall presence c. 4 I will teach nothing contrarie to her princely dignitie and prerogatiues nothing repugnant to her owne trulie interpreted proceedings The
three proofes are produced First the multiplicitie of suites Secondly the multitude of statutes Thirdly the testimonie of Protestant writers that complaine of the impietie of these times pag. 8.9 For the first he appealeth to the testimonie of Iudges records of Courts c. contentions betweene tenant and tenant Lord and Lord Lord and tenant c. to the rich estate of so many Lawyers pag. 8. Ans. 1. Although the multiplying of suites and aptnes to goe to law and that for trifles be not commendable yet it is no sufficient argument to disable and make a nullitie of a Church for euen the Corinthians to whom S. Paul doubteth not to ascribe the name of the Church of God were contentious and full of quarrels as the Apostle saith vnto them Now therefore there is vtterly a fault among you because ye goe to law one with another why rather suffer you not wrong c. 1. Cor. 6.7 2. If suites haue encreased since the expulsion of the Popes iurisdiction out of England religion is not the cause thereof but other probable reasons may bee yeelded without any blame to the Church or Religion first because since the dissolution of Abbeys and the dispersing of those lands into many mens hands which before were vnited and annexed to those Corporations it could not otherwise be chosen but that questions about titles and priuiledges should grow as infinite were the suites which were commenced before betweene Abbots and Bishops the Priors and their Couents betweene one Cell and another which controuersies haue had their time and now begin to slake as Westminster Hall can testifie and in the next succeeding age are like to be fewer and we wish they may so be As for Lawyers wealth it is no disparagement to the Gospell though it may be a blot to their conscience if it bee not rightfully gotten neither are there many that haue of late daies gained so much by the law though some I confesse by the confluence of Clients and if I may so say the monopolie of causes haue gotten enough for it is thought that scarse the tenth man of the whole number that are called to the Barre do get their maintenance by it And it is well knowne that some of your friends and welwillers Frier Robert or Richard or what els the first letter of your name R. betokeneth haue helped to share and shaue in the law among the rest Secondly whereas many appeales were made to the Sea of Rome and infinite causes promoted thither Bishops fetcht vp their Chapters Priors their Couents by processe to Rome Archbishops their Suffraganes yea sometime the subiects their King Is there not great cause since this forraine course in prosecuting of suites was stopped that much more busines thereby be procured at home so that the floods of causes which streamed into that sea being turned an other way must needes make an inundation and ouerflowing of suites at home Thirdly the Gospell hath not caused such multiplicitie of suites but it is an abuse of this long peace which hath increased the wealth of the land and riches breede quarrels and make men impatient of wrongs I make no doubt but that in our neighbour kingdome of France suites haue beene multiplied and Lawyers thereby farre more aduantaged since the appeasing of the ciuill warres then in many yeares before which change can not be layed vpon their religion which is not there changed but vpon the alteration of the times This then is not an effect of the Gospell but a defect in those that know not to make vse of this peace and abundance procured by the Gospell 3 This obiection of vnkind and vnnaturall suites and debates doth most fitlie rebound vpon their owne heads for neuer was the Clergie fuller of stomacke nor more readie to reuenge and apt to quarrell then vnder the yoke of Poperie What contentions then hapned sometime betweene the King and the Archbishop as between King William and Lanfranke King Henry the first and Anselme King Stephen and Richard Henry the second and Becket King Iohn and Ste. Lancton King Henry the third and Boniface sometime between Archbishops and their Suffraganes Bishops and Monks Deane and Chapter secular Priests and Monks betweene Friers of one sort and Friers of another Such were the sturres and broyles betweene the Archbishop of Canterburie and Richard of Yorke betweene Lanfranke and Archbishop Thomas betweene Theobald A. B. of Canterbury and Siluester Abbot of S. Austens betweene William of Canturbury and Ieremias Prior betweene Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury and the Canons of S. Paule betweene the said Boniface and the Monks of S. Bartlemew that sate there in harnesse in his visitation betweene the Abbots of Westminster and the Monks of the same house between William of Winchester and Boniface of Canterburie betweene the said Boniface and the Canons of Lincolne betweene the Monks of Canterbury Canons of Liechfield a number of such hote contentions and friuolous quarels might be produced which haue raigned in Poperie what Bishops sea what Abbey Nunrie Chappell what Church cathedrall conuentuall or collegiate was free from these broyles And as these contentions were many so they grew vpon small occasions as betweene Boniface of Canterbury and the Canons of Lincolne for giuing of a prebend betweene Edmond of Canterbury and the Monks of Rochester for the election of the Bishop between Gilbert of Rochester and Robert the Popes Legate for sitting at his right hand betweene the Abbot of Bardney and the said Robert for the visitation of the Abbey betweene William of Elie and the Canons of Yorke for not receiuing him with Procession Thus the Popish Clergie vpon the wagging of euerie strawe were readie one to offend an other And concerning vnnaturall suites among kinsfolks brethren parents and children and for vnsufferable abuses he might for shame here haue held his peace seeing all these haue so abounded and ouerflowed in Poperie when the husband became a betrayer and persecutor of his wife as Iohn Greebill of Agnes his wife a poore woman that was burned at Exceter was persecuted of her husband the father betrayed his children as Woodman his sonne Richard the children accused their parents as Christopher and Iohn Greebill their mother Agnes Greebill children were constrained to set fire to their parents as Ioane Clearke to her naturall father William Tilsworth and the children of Iohn Scriuener did the like the brother conspired his brothers death as Alphonsus Diazius a Spaniard most trayterouslie sent vp his man with a Carpenters axe wherewith he killed his brother Ioannes Diazius at Nuburge in Germanie himselfe staying and waiting belowe till the bloudie act was performed Who seeth not now how shamelesse and impudent these men are to obiect these things to the Protestants vntruly which are verified and iustified vpon themselues Such vnnaturall and wicked practises as these are shall they neuer be able to produce against vs. This accusation
cum mulierib c. the Bishop or Priest ought not to lye with the women that come to be confessed Wherefore seeing auricular confession gaue occasion and opportunitie to such euill they shall not easily perswade that for want of such confession such abuses and iniuries haue growne Concerning restitution Protestants allow it and require it to be made approuing of that sentence non tollitur peccatum â—isi restituatur ablatum that of sinne there is no remission where there wanteth restitution But we affirme and teach that satisfaction to God by vs can not be wrought we must let that alone for euer that worke Christ only hath performed Multitude of suites dilatorie pleas corrupt iudgements are not vncontrouled by Protestants doctrine but we mislike and condemne them and trust by our prudent Prince in time conuenient to see many of those disorders redressed Neyther were the popish times free of such vnnecessarie suites and contentions betweene Bishop and Bishop Bishop and Prior Prior and Couent among the Friers and Monks as I haue shewed before at large in my answere to the second section pag. 8. Yet these quarrels and suites of law notwithstanding our Church Religion is not for that abuse to be condemned no more then the Church of Corinth ceased to be of Christs familie because they went to lawe one with another that before heathen Iudges 1. Cor. 6. But sure it is that these abuses haue not sprung because auricular confession is intermitted which was as a heauie yoke and burthen vpon Christians shoulders and did rather terrifie then certifie the conscience which superstitious vse the wiser heathen condemned as Antalcidas being asked of the Priest what great sinne he had committed in his life made this answere if I haue done any such thing the Gods know it he thought it superfluous to declare it to men 5. And was it not thinke you a very poore life that had the third part of the substance of the land as is confessed to maintaine it Neither is it true that the Abbeies furnished more armies then all the Ministers and Abbey-gentlemen for I thinke not but the Clergie in England alone hath contributed more in subsidies tenths beneuolences yearely toward the maintenance of the Princes warres then all the Abbeies in England yeelded to the Crowne for they stood vpon their priuiledges and immunities and gaue but what they list themselues The poore you say were relieued so many statutes against them and to burthen the countrie were not knowne True it is that the Abbeies maintained the idle vagrant life of rogues beggers and it is verily thought that the frie of theÌ„ which was bred then hath so spawned forth into the whole land that vnto this day this nation could not be disburdened of them You seeme to mislike the statute of late made for the restraint of vagrants and vagabonds then the which a more wholesome lawe could not be made in that kind if it were well executed neither is the countrie more but lesse burthened in relieuing their home-borne poore being eased of other coÌ„mon walkers But it is no maruaile that this Frier holdeth with beggers for he is cosen-germane himselfe to the begging friers no thanks then to Abbeies and Frieries in relieuing of lay beggers when they sent out such a number of irreligious beggers of their owne they should haue done better to haue kept their owne begging mates at home that the lay people being rid of such vnshamefast beggers might haue beene better able to maintaine their owne But concerning this relieuing of common beggers wherein he giueth such praise to Abbeies their own canons haue vtterly misliked it sint autem mendicantib validis non solum hospitalia clausa c. To valiant beggers let not only the hospitals be shut but let it be vtterly forbidden them to beg froÌ„ house to house for better it were to take bread from the hungrie least being prouided of his bread he should neglect equitie and iustice that is liue idlie Coloniens part 11. ca. 5. You aske if they were not better bestowed then in hunting hawking carding courting c. I answere 1. that although we wish that Abbey-lands had beene conuerted to better vses yet they were abused as much before as now and much more 2. for beside that it is not to be otherwise thought but that the lord Abbots and fat Monks disported themselues with hunting of wild game abroad and tame at home in carding and courting of Nunnes and pretie pewling cloyster virgines more then I thinke Abbey gentlemen now vse to do those lands then serued to maintaine idle and vnprofitable persons whereof there was no vse in the common-wealth whereas now many seruiceable gentlemen are thereby brought vp and sustained fit for the dispensing of iustice in peace and to stand for the defense of the land in time of warre 6. It is a great vntruth here vttered for neuer did this land enioy greater peace and of longer continuance with other countries Spaine only excepted then it hath done for the space of these 40. yeares vnder the Gospell What bloudie and cruell warres haue been in time past between England and France in Henry the 2. King Iohn Edward the 3. Henry the 5. with Scotland in Edward 1. Edward 2. Henry the 8. But vnder the Gospell peace with these countries hath been firmely established and we trust is like to continue still 7. As for knowledge and experience gotten by trauaile our Gentlemen and Noblemen of England are not therein vnfurnished Rome and Spaine are not so safe and free for trauailers that would preserue a good conscience but there is little lost by that for few are there that visit those countries but are made worse thereby according to those auncient prouerbs The neerer Rome the further froÌ„ Christ He that goeth once to Rome seeth a wicked man he that goeth twice learneth to know him he that goeth thrice bringeth him home with him But there are other Countries more safe to trauaile vnto and more profitable to be conuersant in then either Rome or Spaine Neither are all martiall feates there learned England since this diuision from Rome and Spaine hath sent forth as valiant Captaines and commaunders both by sea and land as euer it did nay former ages therein can not compare with these times What Captaines are more famous in our histories then Generall Norris Captaine Williams Morgane the noble Earle of Essex and others in land affaires who more renowned then Captaine Drake Furbisher Hawkins Candish with the rest in Sea trauailes Our Merchants indeede haue been somewhat hindred of their traffique and entercourse in the King of Spaines dominions but that hath been as much losse to them as to English Merchants neither hath England wanted any necessarie merchandize notwithstanding this restraint And we doubt not but religion and the Gospell standing and florishing still in England that passage hereafter may be more open and free for
Merchants If it should not England hath no cause to repent of her bargaine though she had bought the Gospell yet more dearely with the losse of all traffique and entercourse with other nations For be it knowne vnto you ye Popelings that this land neuer florished more with all kind of blessings then since it hath been vnder Gods blessing by the Gospell and the Popes curse Neither would we for all the world be in the like condition as we were in the 22. of King Henry the 8. We thanke God for this happie change hartely pray that in this change we neuer know any other change vntill the world change that as the Apostle sayth Wee may keepe the commandemēts without spot and vnrebukeable vntill the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Timoth. 6.4 that as Origen well sayth Ignis semper ardebat super altare sic semper nobis ignis fidei lucerna scientiae accensa sit That as the fire alwayes burned vpon the altar so the light of faith and lanterne of knowledge may alwayes shine vnto vs in this land And as Augustus Caesar said to Piso that builded his house most curiously and sumptuously You reioyce my heart building so as though Rome should last for euer I trust God shall so direct the heart of our chiefe builder in this Church of England to lay such a foundation that Gods house among vs shall stand for euer THE ANSWERE TO THE NINTH Section of the Authors defence to all honorable Ladyes and Gentlewomen The Defence 1. I May not suffer the foundresses of so many Churches Chappels Aultars Monasteries Nunries Colledges to be reprooued for that pietie pag. 107. 2. I can not suffer such a triumphant companie so famous for miracles renowned for sanctitie c. whose bodies many yeares after their death remained vncorrupted c. whom so many testimonies from heauen and earth haue confirmed to be most happie Saints to be condemned pag. 107. 3. Which for the loue and honor of our religion forsooke all temporall pleasures c. and became sacred Nunnes as Edelburga Etheldreda c. Alfritha wife to King Edgar c. Editha king Edgars daughter c. with many others which are there reckoned vp pag. 108. 4. He vrgeth the fearefull examples of the principall Protestant Ladyes of England c. grieuouslie afflicted of God and made dishonorable to the world pag. 108. 5. In the next place pag. 109. he seemeth to frame this argument because the Ladyes of England in their daylie and new deuices esteeme it not dishonorable to learne of the Ladyes of Italy France Spaine and Rome that therefore they should imitate them in their religion 6. All your earthlie honors titles names were either first founded or afterward confirmed c. by the Popes Emperours c. pag. 110. 7. That religion defended your mariages to be honorable and a sacrament by that religion your matrimonie was not in the pleasure of your Lords repudiations and diuorcements at their wils were not knowne concubines could not possesse the maintenance of your honors their bastards might not enioy the inheritance c. pag. 110. The Answere 1. NEither doe Protestants reproue the ancient founders of Churches Chappels Colledges for their pietie but praise God for them but for their superstition in erecting Monasteries to a false end for the remission of sinnes and redemption of their soules as King Offa builded S. Albons for the murder of King Ethelbert K. Ethelstane founded the Abbeyes of Middleton and Michelenes to make satisfaction for the death of his brother Edwine Elfrida wife to K. Edgar erected a Monasterie of Nunnes for the remission of sinnes for the death of her husband Ethelwoldus as hath been declared before answere to sect 7. pag. 58. 2. We condemne not any that haue been famous for sanctitie renowned for true miracles and witnessed to be Saints from heauen But wee receiue not all those for Saints that haue been canonized in the Popish Church as Thomas Becket that was a traytor to his Prince and there is mention made in the decrees of one that was worshipped for a Saint that was slaine in drunkennes And many of their miracles as of Dunstane Berinus Bristanus Brendanus with others wee hold be Monkish dreames and fabulous fictions as hath been also before shewed answere to sect 7. pag. 55. Of the like credit are the tales of their incorruptible bodies as that of Editha that the rest of her bodie being consumed to earth her thumbe her bellie and the part vnder her bellie were vncorrupted the first for her pietie in vsing to crosse her selfe the other for her chastitie As that also is held to be a fable that William the Conquerors bodie was found vncorrupt more then 400. yeeres after his buriall The Papists themselues deride the tale which is told from the Indies of the bodie of Xauiere which sixe moneths after the buriall looked as fresh as when he liued These are sillie arguments for one to ground his conscience and religion vpon And the Frier may barrell vp these fictions to disport his Italian and Spanish dames with our Ladies and Gentlewomen of England are more warie birds then to be taken with such a thredbare Falconers stale 3. Concerning those noble Ladies which became Nunnes 1 the profession simply of Monasticall single life is not a sufficient argument of a good religion for the Romans had their vestal virgins that professed single life the Iewes had their Esseni that embraced a strict and solitarie kind of life and the Turkes at this day haue their Mahometane Monks whereof there are foure principall orders 2. And seeing most of them had a superstitious opinion of Monasticall life as being a state more meritorious worthie of heauen therein they deceiued themselues and with the Pharisie that boasted of his righteousnes of his almes and fasting were so much the further off frō true iustification and while they placed religion in touch not taste not handle not in superstitious abstinence from externall things in not sparing the bodie they followed the doctrines and commaundements of men not of God Coloss 2.22 3. Though in the choice of Monasticall life they were conformable to the Romane Church yet in many other opinions they dissented for transubstantiation was not yet hatched and many grosse errors beside since forged by that blacke Smith 4. Neither was Monasticall life then like to Popish Monkerie in these daies their life more chast their time not so idly spent their superstition not so grosse And that there was great difference betweene old and new Monkerie some of their owne side doe beare witnesse Multis persuasum est aliam tunc fuisse quam nunc est Monachismi rationem Many are perswaded that the profession of Monks then was diuers from that is now Coloniens par 10. c. 1. 5. Lastly let vs see what deuout persons some of these women were which are here rehearsed