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
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
Allens owne position to be sin and punishable by Gods lawes Two other ouersightes or rather grosse absurdities more sentence The first of the two ouersightes No comparison betweene thinges simply iust and things onely deemed iust The second absurdity Vno absurdo dato infinita consequuntur D. Allen first maketh both wrongful obteining and deteining of goods sinnes mortall and damnable afterward maketh the obteining lawfull and the deteining damnable The wrongfull taking away of goods as as great or rather a greater sinne then the wrongful withholding of the same goods The wrongfull taking away of liberty and life a greater sinne then y e wrongfull taking away of goods onely Ergo the wrongfull taking away both of goods liberty and life all which D. Allen maketh no sin but a thing lawful are farre greater sinnes thē the wrongful deteining of goods onely which D. Allen pronounceth to be a sinne mortall and damnable euen in the same case * Note the honest and Syncere dealing of D. Allen. A bad cause betrayeth it selfe 1. Esdr 4. 41. D. Allen presumeth either vpō the ignorance of thē to whom he writeth that they are not able to discerne his abuses or els vpon their credulity that they account all Gospell that he speaketh otherwise would he be more wary how he published such euident absurdities and falshoods Math. 15. 14. Now to the very purpose of D. Allens pamphlet D. Allen spēdeth the least part of his labour in the iustification of the action which he pretendeth to be the occasion of his pamphlet besides leaueth it in the ende more indefensible then in the beginning What his direct purpose is Whether D. Allen haue had any wrōg offered him in resembling him to Sinon let all men iudge The order which D Allen obserueth to attaine vnto his purpose First he defameth her Maiesties most noble and Princely actions Secondly he giueth the Subiect a warrant to disobey and reuolt from her Maiestie Thirdly Hee persuadeth them flatly to disobedience and plaine rebellion The names and doings of Princes are not to be called in question by such companions Princes represent the power and Maiestie of God on earth Her Maiesties dealings in the low countries alreadie iustified by D. Allens owne arguments The declaration of the causes that mooued her Maiestie to relieue the distressed people of the low Countries published Anno. 1585. Her Maiesties actions in the low Countries by further reasons prooued lawfull Offic. lib. 1. It is one of the kindes of Iniury or Iniustice not to defend the iniuried Ibidem A principall part of Iustice to defend the iniuried How falsly D. Allen chargeth her Maiestie with entring by hostilitie into the K. of Spaines Dominions c. Her Maiestie being offered and intreated to take the low Countries into her absolute gouernment hath refused them Her Maiestie content with hir own kingdome Her iust and mercifull gouernment It is a great benefit for him that seeketh worldly pleasure or profit to be frendes with the Pope who by his speciall prerogatiue can dispence with any sin be it neuer so abhommable and make all thinges lawfull that he lusteth howsoeuer God forbid them For this which D. Allen obiecteth to vs let him looke to his own party D. Allens tongue is no slaunder D. Allens Scosses at the Earle of Leicester 1. Psal 1. and hath not sit in the seat of skorners The Earle of Leicesters managing of the low coūtrie affaires during his abode there Graue betrayed Venlo solde Nuys badly lost Berke two moneths besieged and then abandoned for feare of our army marching towardes it Duisburgh yeelded to the Earle of Leicester on Fryday the secōd of Septembre 1586. This encoūter was the 22. of Sept. 1586 wherin the most worthy noble and valiant knight Sir Philip Sidney receiued his deth◠wound * The Earle of Leicester wan the sort the 6. day of October following the Prince being with his whole army within two mile of the place Here are not mentioned all the seruices which were done vnder the Earle of Leicesters conduct in the low countries as the ouerthrow of the Spaniards at Graue the winning of Axell and diuers fortes and Castles in those partes but onely those partes but onely those seruices wherat he himselfe was present in person a principall director and actor in them all * If D. Allen had bene there I beleeue hee would haue bene in an other humour skarce so pleasant though happely more ridiculous * The fault of the losse of Sluys not to be imputed to the Earle of Leicester which was in other mens negligence or Epist 2. The cause why the Earle of Leicester is most odious to D. Allen. Sundry libels heretofore cast forth by Papists particularly against the Earle of Leicester The Papistes cankred malice to the Earle of Leicester Their libels discredited euen by the notorious falshoods conteined in them And therefore thought not fit to be answered The mischief which the authours therof meant vnto the Earle is fallen vpon their own heads Psal 7. 15. Matth. 5. 11. D. Allens vnnaturall impiety towards his countrey The second steppe of D Allens ladder To giue the subiect a warrant for his disobedience Obedience subiection both to the Prince and his ministers commanded Rom. 13. 1 2. ◠Pet. 2. 13. 14. 15. ver Little Diuinity or rather none at all vsed by D. Allen to warrant the subiects disobedience D. Allen is very bold with Princes which maketh them all subiect to a Priest D. Allens first authoritie to warrant disobedience to the Prince Hildebrand a Pope of Rome otherwise called Gregory the seuenth D. Allens second authoritie to warrant disobedience Pope Vrban the second A good warrant from a paire of Popes Pope Hildebrand tooke vpon him to Excommunicate the Emperour Henry the fourth to make wars against him and erect another Emperour in his place But God to punish the pride of the Pope disobedience of his Adherents giuing the victorie vnto the true Emperour Henry the fourth against the vsurping Pope and Emperour the said Henry caused Hildebrand himselfe by a Synode in Italy to be deposed as Pope Iohn Syluester Benet and Gregory the sixt were also by other Emperours foure Popes within a few yeeres deposed Neither D. Allens affirmation nor the authoritie of anie Pope ought to haue any credit being directly contradictorie to the expresse word of God That the Pope hath no authoritie to depose Princes Rom. 13. There is no power but of God Ergo the Pope can haue no power of himselfe to depose Princes a Againe No man hath power of himselfe to frustrate the ordinance of God Ergo the Pope hath no power of himselfe to depose Princes which are ordeined of God If the Pope haue any authoritie to depose Princes he must haue it from God a If he haue it from God he must haue it by some warrant out of his word b But no place of Scripture giueth him warrant to depose Princes c
what they by their demands first vrged him vnto hauing both occasion and encouragement giuen him to speake yet the more cunningly to disguise his principall drift not without a preamble of manie solemne Protestations he still deferred that to the verie last end of his discourse which was indeed the first and only purposed ende of his comming Whose president Doctor Allen seeming verie rightly to haue imitated as well in the matter as in the methode of this his politike Pamphlet first because he will haue it seeme to proceede of an occasion offered and not of his owne voluntarie motion least his intent therin might be suspected and his worke thereby discredited frameth a letter to himselfe in the name of two letters of the Alphabet his supposed honourable friend whom hee faineth thereby verie instantly to demand his opinion touching the lawfulnes of S. W. Stanleys and Captaine Yorkes action in rendring vp the Towne of Deuenter and Fortes of Zutphen vnto the Duke of Parma and thereupon taketh occasion in his answere thereunto to fall as it were by the way into a further matter whereto in truth the whole purpose of his treatie was from the beginning intended A sorie shift of so cunning a Clerke in an Apes skin to couer a Foxe whom euen his verie taile may bewraie As though men were so simple or of so slender iudgement as that they could not discerne by the stile the letter and answere to bee both of one stampe And for the chiefe purpose of this Pamphlet that it tendeth to a farre further end then to the satisfying of the consciences of S. William Stanley and Capt. Yorke and other like Romain Catholikes touching the lawfulnes of the yeelding vp of Deuenter and Zutphen Fortes if this were not a sufficient argument thereof that the parties themselues neuer made conscience or question of the matter either before the yeelding of them or since and therefore needed no such resolution as D. Allen will needs intreat himselfe to offer them which were and are still as resolute as himselfe in disobedience the verie plaine dealing of D. Allen himselfe generally throughout the whole Pamphlet but particularly in the latter and greater halfe of it maketh the thing more then manifest as shalbe laide open vnto you more at large when wee come to the particular handeling of that point I am sorie that I should haue such occasion giuen mee euen in the verie first entrance to vse a comparison so odious and vnbeseeming the name profession and calling of such a man as D. Allen is or should be as to liken him to one in whom the verie Prince of Poets emploied his best witte and skill in liueliest colours to expresse the true shape and substance of a most subtil and malicious dissembler for in truth I doe naturally and inwardly hate all immodestie bitternes and violence of speech generally in all actions of life and conuersation and especially in these of controuersie and confutation where the trueth is to bee defended not our owne passions displaied the aduersarie with reason conuinced not with railing defaced his sinister and lewde dealings orderly reprooued not his person in any wise vndecētly outraged But if D. Allen haue in this Pamphlet both in manner and matter so rightlie resembled Sinon as that hee hath not left mee the choice of anie man to whom I may so rightly resemble him as to Sinon it is hee himselfe and not I that hath made himselfe comparable to Sinon Nay if it appeare further by this Pamphlet that he hath the verie minde meaning intent and counsell of Sinon by like solemne protestations and subtill persuasions vnder colour of Religion to intice you I meane such as are wholie deuoted to his Religion or haue been affected to his doctrine or can be allured by his enchantments to prostrate and laie open your Countrey by your armes and assistance to bring in the Spanish and other forreine forces to the certaine ruine destruction and ouerthrow both of your selues and your Countrey I thinke I may lawfully without iust touch of malice or immodestie bee bold to shew you his shadow in a glasse that hideth his bodie from you vnder a glosse and by the example of his doings whom this man so liuely resembleth laie before your eies the verie marke which hee so cunninglie aimeth at to the ende that beeing once warned you may bee euer armed against his pernicious practises But I know it will bee a matter of great labour and difficultie for mee to persuade you that are of D. Allens religion to see or acknowledge anie errour falshood or malicious intent in him because you are alreadie setled in persuasion of his learning sinceritie and goodnes of his cause and carrie the contrarie opinion of mee because you esteeme mee to bee of a contrarie Religion both to him and your selues Albeit my purpose is not particularly either to drawe him into discredit with you or to withdraw you from the Religion you professe though I could bee content nay most willing and desirous to hazarde mine owne life in trauelling to winne you to the true waie of eternall life but onelie to laie open his errours and abuses to the worlde indifferentlie that such as haue eares to heart maie heare and such as are not wilfullie blinde maie see and satisfie themselues accordinglie yet if either by example or persuasions I maie stirre you vp to the straighter examination of your consciences and better consideration of the groundes of your religion togither with more aduised deliberation how you giue credit to mens counsailes or enter into their confederacies and consequentlie into your owne destructions I shall thinke my selfe of all thinges that euer happened or can happen to mee most happie in this that it hath pleased God to make me the meanes of so happie an effect to you Of whom I will therefore thinke it no skorne to craue euen vpon the knees of my heart onely that which you ought your selues to yeelde mee of your owne accord beeing a thing no waie possiblie hurtfull but likelie manie waies beneficiall vnto you that is that you will onelie bee content for a time to laie aside all affection partialitie and preiudicate opinion and to reade with indifferencie weigh with aduisement and with vprightnes to iudge of that litle which shall be most faithfullie deliuered vnto you I will not in truth neither can I if I would denie my selfe to bee of that religion wherein I haue been bred and brought vp euen from mine infancie that is the true ancient Catholike and Apostolike religion professed in the Church of England which the Romanists do so much impugne and so earnestlie endeuour to supplant But as I doe confesse my selfe most stedfastlie to holde that Religion and therein to stand fullie resolued so do I vnfainedlie protest that since I came to the yeares of reason and discretion to conceiue what Religion was I neuer held anie opinion obstinatelie
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
think it no great kindnes in a Prince to harbour much lesse to enterteine mainteine within his Dominions the fugitiue Rebels or Traitors of another Prince his confederate vnderstanding how vnduetifully nay how lewdly and impiously they haue dealt with their naturall Souereign But these you wil saie are but actions of vnkindnes not such hainous iniuries VVell I would they were lesse offences I am sure they are at the least such as fall within one of the kinds of Iniustice and Iniurie For greater it is not fit for me to speake of Yet I doubt not but D. Allen himselfe whatsoeuer he saith here and a great number of Romish Catholikes more besides him know somewhat touching the Inuasiō made by the K. of Spains subiects in Ireland in the year 1580. of the practises of his Embassador Mendoza since that time and of others her Maiesties most vnnatural subiects shal I saie nay most bloodie abhominable butcherly minded traitors both before since The verie bowels and secrets whereof although they haue been happely kept from our knowledge I meane from the knowledge of the meaner sort yet their owne confessions haue discouered more then is meet for me to rehearse and so much as hath bred a general opinion rumor yea euen in the verie cōmon people of England that the K. of Spaine hath been not onlie priuy to thē but a principall Author Actor in them all I will not speake of the secret practises conspired for the deposing of her Maiestie and aduancing of the Q. of Scots to the crown of Englād which whether or how iustly they may touch the K. of Spain it is no part of my duetie to deale with I am sory to haue had occasion to saie so much in a thing so litle apperteining to me but I am the more to be pardoned in that the argument hath inforced me thereunto in that I haue mentioned nothing more then is knowen common to the multitude and I could not haue said lesse vnlesse I should haue said nothing at al. But I hope this that hath ben said may be sufficient to S. W. Stanley Capt. Yorke to all the English Romanists to whom D. Allen doeth especially direct his Pamphlet For I know there is not any of that sort of any account but is so wel acquainted with the priuities of these actions as that he can picke out of these inough to assure him that D. Allen hath but dissembled with thē in this point VVhich being so they must also know confesse and all men els may plainly perceiue that this other part of his diuision serueth not his turne no more then the former to prooue her Maiesties dealings in the low Countries vnlawfull being grounded vpon a false supposition that is That the K. of Spain hath done vnto her Maiestie no such iniurie wherof shee should seeke reuenge Thus haue you heard his argument brought to an end for here he resteth euen in simple affirmations which I hope haue been sufficientlie conuicted both by substantiall reasons and instances so that there remaineth not now anie thing to be further answered his whole argument and euerie part thereof being confuted in order from the first proposition to the last And besides this vvhich you haue heard hath he not anie argumēt in his vvhole Pamphlet either to iustifie the rendering of Deuenter and Zutphen Forts or to disprooue her Maiesties doings against the K. of Spaine anie way which I haue heere both by the authorities of his owne Authours and by reasons deriued euen from himselfe most euidently declared to bee iustifiable euerie waie if they were greater then they are which I could with further more infallible reasons also confirme if it vvere requisite or apperteining to my purpose But I must novv bestovv a vvord or tvvo in noting vnto you some errours or ouersightes at the least escaped from D. Allen euen in the verie entrie almost of his argumēt vvhere in the circumstance he vseth to induce a probabilitie and credit of his first proposition he setteth dovvne a generall Thesis flat contrarie to that vvhich he goeth about to prooue For after manie speeches touching the necessitie of Restitution hovv thinges vvrongfullie gotten and deteined ought to bee restored in the ende hee concludeth vvith these verie vvordes Yet whatsoeuer is done against military discipline and Iustice is sinne and punishable by Gods lawes What can there bee saide more directly against the action of S. W. Stanley and the rest For there is none of them nor anie soldier els of any knowledge or experience but knoweth that to yeeld a Towne Fort or holde wherewith a man is put in trust to the enemy yea besieging it so long as there is within it sufficient strength and meanes to defend it yea though it were not defensible yet to yeeld it before due summons is death by the law of Armes much more to render a Towne freely without either force or demand or rather corruptly and traitorously to sel it for money but the law of Arms doth not punish anie fact with death which is not done against the same law and discipline therefore it must needs follow that the rendring vp of Deuenter and Zutphen Forts is against military discipline and consequently by D. Allens own position sin and punishable by Gods lawes VVhat a resolution call you this for the satisfying of mens consciences touching the lawfulnes of their action to lead them about with a circumstance of other meaning and in conclusion to tell them in plaine termes that that which they haue done is sin punishable by Gods lawes Yet are there two other errors though not so euident yet as worthy the noting euen in the next sentence immediatly going before where after he hath taught that restitutiō is to be made of al things vniustly takē withholdē vpō pain of damnatiō he addeth these wordes And this I say euen in lawfull warres or such as to the common people may be vpō their Princes credit so deemed Where though they may offend th'enimy in life goods liberty otherwise c. Wherein first he maketh no difference betweene lawfull warres vnlawfull warres which may vpon their Princes credit be by the common people deemed lawfull as though thinges were iust or vniust either vpon the Princes credit or according to the peoples opinion of them not of their own nature and according to the groundes and causes of them By this reason there should no warres be vnlawfull for there is no warre vndertaken but that both the Prince which mooueth it is able and doth pretend some reason or colour of reason to make it seeme iust and the common people also by the Princes declaration and perswasions may easily be induced to esteeme it to be lawfull Wherein by the way I must note some simplicitie or great dissimulation in D. Allen which would admit the lawfulnes or
power a warrant for her will though she might haue many aduantages and priuiledges therby to take leaue what where when how she liketh to confound all lawes both of God and man and to make all lawfull that she lusteth but she hath care of her ownesoule and conscience and of the charge committed vnto her by him to whom onely she is to giue account thereof she respecteth not her own profit or pleasure but the puritie and syncerity of religion and the true worship of God therefore she reiecteth all frendship fauour and countenance of the Pope She thinketh not kingdomes to be rightly theirs that can catch them nor practiseth by Machiauelian shiftes as you terme them to dispossesse Princes of their liues to the intent to possesse her selfe of their kingdomes She thrusteth not her neighbours out of their rightfull inheritance to enlarge her owne dominions but diminisheth her owne forces to succour and relieue her distressed neighbours And shall these her most vertuous godly and religious actions be defamed by a most vitious vngodly and malicious detractor But the Palme tree which resembleth vertue the more it is burthened the more it riseth againe and the pure gold the more it is rubbed the more it glistereth and her vertuous pure and golden deedes the more they are blasphemed by such an one whose tongue as they say is no slaunder but his reproch rather a credit the brighter shall they shine in glorie to the euerlasting memorie of her vnspotted renowne And since I am in hand with D. Allens malicious and slanderous inueighing against her Maiestie and her ministers I may not by the way omit this proper quippe giuen my L of Leicester wherein he seemeth wonderfully to haue pleased his owne queint conceit by offering a comparison betweene the D. of Parmaes glorious exploits and his Lordships famous factes as it pleaseth him skornefully to terme them with a scilicet O le pidum caput O lusty Cardinall so well it becometh a man of your coate and calling to play Dauus to take vpon you the part and person of a scoffer And I pray you what great dishonor haue you done the noble Earle therin As though his vertues were so farre inferiour to the others I speake not any way to the derogatiō of the Dukes honor for I know him to be a worthy a Prince and a famous soldiour neither by way of comparison for I am not so il nurtured as to make cōparisons betwene Princes But I hope your Catholike soldiours Sir W. Stanley and Rowland Yorke the rest will confesse that for the small time he was in those countries the little meanes he had there considering also the great crosses he had both there and elsewhere he was neither idle nor spent his time trauell in vaine he shewed sufficiencie inough both in his temperate prudent and politike gouernment of the State and managing of the militarie affaires neither was he backward for his owne person if he were not too forward at any seruice in the field where either his counsell presence or help of hand was required They all know this to bee true And howsoeuer Graue was cowardly and by euident proofe also trayterously deliuered by Hemert the Gouernor Venlo sold by the Burghers before th'enimie euer prepared to march towards it Nuys after the wounding of the Gouernor with little force obteined but not without some trechery lastly Berke two monethes besieged in the end abādoned for fe◅e of the Earle of Leicester with his army being at Eltē onward in his march thither to leauy the siege yet my L. of Leicester with a very smal power not aboue 5000. men of al sorts encāped before Duisburgh on tuesday entrēched it on wednesday plāted his ordinance on Thursday battered it on Friday and had it yeelded to his mercy the same day by noone and within a fortnight after remoued with the same power to Zutphen abode the Duke of Parmaes coming who was reported to come with almost foure times so many encountred his vantgard one to sixe at the least besieged the fort and within three weekes wan it euen in the Duke of Parmaes sight which had before that time endured ten monethes siege of more thē twice so great an army yet held good Neither did the Earle of Leicester raise his siege from either of these pieces till he had gottē thē neither bought he either of them but with the price of his owne labour industrie being present in person and giuing both direction assistance in all these seruices and with the bloud of his soldiours and those very few All this your Catholike soldiours also know to bee most true And are these exploits none at all or to be contemned and derided But in truth M. Doctor you know not what they be and therefore you make light of them I would you had bene present your selfe either in the towne of Duisburgh or in one of the fortes of Zutphen to haue seene them then might you better haue iudged of them at the least I am perswaded you would not so haue skorned them And if you thinke the infortunate successe of Sluys the yeare following an impeachment to the credit gotten by these exploits you do greatly abuse your selfe For it is very well knowne to all men especially of those countries where and in whom the fault of that default lay For if those preparations which my L. of Leicester commanded and made sure account of had bin duely accomplished as they were certainely promised and assured by them that had the charge thereof the towne had with Gods helpe vndoubtedly bene relieued But howsoeuer the matter fel out either by the negligent or treacherous dealings of other men that were put in trust therein I say with Ouid careat successibus opto Quisquis ab euentu facta notanda put at Ill may he chieue that measureth the fact by the euent and little reason hath he that will impute another mans fault as a dishonour to my L. of Leicester But herein may you plainely see the intemperancie of D. Allen and how he dealeth by affection that when he hath nothing that he can iustly obiect in particular to so honorable and worthy a noble man yet he will in a general sort glaunce at him only to bring his name in question with the multitude But all the worlde may easily know the cause why the Earle of Leicester is aboue al mē the most odious to D. Allē that is onely because he is one of the greatest principall patrons of true religion which D. Allen so much hateth And for this cause also haue there bene sundry other infamous libels heretofore secretly cast out and spred abroad against this most noble gentlemā likely inough by Allen himselfe or by Persons or atleast some one of that viperous backbiting generation Wherein the authors as
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.