of them their owne priuate foule spirits of deceit and error so quot homines tot sententiae So many men so many minds But to the purpose I say if they or you deere Catholikes will not be smattered with any smacke or smell of heresie then doe not wrest the text otherwise then the letter importeth nor do not mince nor mangle it in leauing out the principall part which giues light and life vnto it For wheresoeuer I talke of the non validity of bulles c. or the wrong done to her Maiestie in procuring of them I therewithall do shew the case and cause why they were so sory for that they were procured either merily by subreption or wrong and false information and erronious grounds as that of Pius Quintus whose holines was made beleeue that the Duke of Norfolke was a Catholike and yet he died a professed enimy to the Catholike church and religion also that the Spaniards pretence was wholy merely and absolutely for restoring of religion and yet both by bookes words and actions it hath and doth proue to the contrary scil that he pretends a conquest of the land if by Parsons proiects he cannot otherwise haue it by compremise and composition giuen him And for our disobedience to the Popes commaund in subiecting our selues to the Iesuits or Archpriest the very words following to wit to aduance an enimy to the English crowne together with the whole context tenure of my speech in that place and throughout the whole booke doth make it manifest that it is absolutely meant in causes meere temporal yea marshiall nay bloody inhumane vnnaturall hostility in betraying our Prince or countrey or both and all our posterity into aliens and strangers hands by the Iesuits vrging and procuring an inuasion and conquest of this land and setting vp an Archpriest principally for that intent as an ignorant plaine man God wot fittest for their purpose to worke withall And this being not onely a cleering of the Pope of Rome for sending foorth bulles c. as most irreligiously abused by the Iesuiticall Spanish faction making many sacrilegious lies to incense his holines against our countrey Soueraigne and state and against vs all that be natiue subiects of the English blood vnder pretence forsooth of religion when the very ground was ambition and greedie affectation of English Soueraigntie but withall a plaine manifestation of high preiudice offered by that vnnatural Iesuiticall factiō to the See Apostolike I know not whether to inueigh more against their malice or your folly in storming against me for that booke as you doe For considering that the whole contents tenure scope and drift of that booke is to lay open the Iesuiticall conspiracies to set before your eies the plaine intent and meaning of the Spanish faction for inuasion to shew the danger wherein you stand that sway with those alien Princes and their procurators the Iesuits who labour for nothing more then to sway the scepter royall of this Imperiall Isle and to manifest vnto you our great dislikes of such vnnaturall practises our intent to draw you if it be possible from applauding vnto them hereafter our deepe desire to take away all occasion on our side of the argument and augment of our miseries and our publike confession of our owne and harty wish of your continuance in the Catholike Romane church and faith constant to death These things well weighed and withall that there is few or none of you but will acknowledge as much if you come before any ciuill magistrate yea some of your hot spurres haue already confessed and acknowledged more and that by vertue of your solemne oath then I haue written concerning this kind of disobedience to the See Apostolike who notwithstanding hauing rayled and scolded against me since in the fury of your zeale thrown the said booke into the fire I cannot see what equiuocation can excuse you from at least a mentall periury This it that which makes me amased to see your great simplicitie in murthering your selues with your owne weapons at a Iesuits craftie perswasion in finding fault you cannot tell with what or at most with that whereof when you are examined from point to point not one of you all but will acknowledge as much and euen the Iesuits though with a false hart in all or most part of them in their Apologies and other writings and examens haue and will confesse as much as I haue written concerning that mattter They say I vse certaine rowling phrases and Rhetoricall wordes which smell of heresie as in affectation of speech by often repetition of one thing vz. Disobedient we are c. and neuer shall c. these words Romish Iesuiticall and the deuill c. To which I answere as to the last first that if some words be placed or printed amisse as Romish for Romane alas for pure neede what beggerly quarrelling obiections are these but yet to make a direct response deare catholikes I was not present at the printing to be a corrector nor had I the sight of one proofe vntill the whole booke was out in print and sold and then too late to set downe errata which in that word Romish and in sundry others I found A reason whereof aswell to confirme my sound conceite as also to excuse the Printer in some sort may be this that where I had written Romane out at length there they printed so which you may find both in the beginning and ending of the Epistle and thereby iudge of me aright and where they found I had written short Rom. there they printing it out at length added ishe and so made it Romish thinking it to be so as English Scottish Irish Flemish c. To the next to wit Iesuiticall I cannot maruael though they cauil about it for some 3. yeeres agone I remember a reuerend graue and vertuous priest yea and as sound resolute and constant a catholike as the purest Iesuite among them all that I goe no further hauing written a very learned religious and priestlike apology or reioynder to the Iesuiticall calumniation about the Archpriest and other matters bicause he vsed this word Iesuite very often did not forsooth call euery puny or nouice of theirs by the name of a father of the societie or breefly the fathers therefore was he censured then to smell of heresie and onely for that word and none other But to answere these carping Cynickes directly I vse that word Iesuiticall not in contempt of their societie nor of themselues in generall for I alwaies esteemed of it as of a holy good and religious institution as well in the intent of their founder Ignatius as also in the forme and manner prescribed for obseruations of the rules set downe by him and the more holy bicause confirmed by the Pope his holinesse and for that sundry good deuout religious men haue beene of it though no sance peres Neither doe I call them Iesuiticall by way of analogy as
woman or not c. and withall to bring arguments sillogisticall enthimematicall and inductiue or exemplarie pro contra for auerring and impugning of the same then to put foorth a question whether a Seminarie Priest or a Iesuite ought sooner to be credited esteemed of and followed whether a Iesuite be a good or a bad man whether their doctrine be erronious trecherous and seditious or not whether it be lawfull to call a knaue a knaue an hereticke an hereticke a traitor a traitor a bastard a bastard c. or not and how when where and vpon what occasions such questions doubts and interrogatories may and ought to be proposed and answer made pro contra agreeing to humane conceit morall capacitie and iust censure of and in such cases cannot iustly incurre any reprehension or blame Besides this kind of proceeding shall as I haue said both driue the true conceipt of matters the better into peoples hearts heads and eares and yet not exasperate any by galling words which positiue discourses in accusations do ordinarily occasionate and cannot be auoyded further then the ripping vp of truth in things necessarie to be knowne must needs stirre and moue the guiltie constrained by this meanes to hold vp his hand at barre and to haue his wounds launced searched and discouered to the very naked heart in open sight This then being the summe of what I intend to write and here propose to no other end as I take my sweet Sauiour and all his holy Angels and Saints to witnesse then to deliuer the ignorant out of errour to giue to the tersacred Apostolicall Romane Church faith and Religion their due and to make known what loyaltie what seruice what deare affection ought to be in euery subiect euen by authoritie of all lawes of God or man in defence of their Prince countrie and state where they liue I will hold the indifferent dispassionate and diligent Reader with no longer discourse of a Preamble but leauing all to his best conceipts and desiring no euill opinion sinister construction or hard censure to passe of my well meant indeuors I commit his sharpe wits or her swift thoughts to the speedie encounter of this Bucke of the first head in the quest at euery Quodlibeticall relay set in the pursuit of their game LENVOY THE contents of this booke shall appeare in the Table of the Articles meane while be pleased gentle Reader to take these rules to guide you in this Discourse First be not hastie to censure of any part or parcell vntill you haue read the whole booke throughout if you will be free from partialitie and rest reformed of errour and quieted in Catholike vnitie loue and peace Secondly if you find in some Page the names of particular persons places c. expresly set downe and in other Pages concealed take the reason cause thereof to be this to wit that in the concealement the respect is had to the hurt that might be done by opening such matters men time place words writings c. and againe in the expresse discouery of them the respect is had to the common cause hindred by concealement of such persons actions c. Thirdly take this for a rule infallible that no secret is written of here in particular which was not before publikely knowne aswell to our common aduersaries as to our owne company and that aswell by letters taken as by their owne confessions in publike manner whom the fact concerned Fourthly be not too curious in these two points vz. if you find sundry faults escaped by the Printer as quae for quod Malto for Malta anno primo for actione prima and many such like which the prudent Reader may correct by the sense and vpon his owne knowledge without setting downe Errata here for euery particular Againe if you find some words more sharpe and biting then in your conceit is requisite yet do not for that condemne either the whole Booke which respecteth the matter whereupon all our company in effect do agree and not the words sentences or phrase of speech which respecteth the humour of euery man with such a difference as almost impossible to please all mens veines or symbolize with their methods conceits and meanings neither yet do you vpon dislike of such speeches or of the Author condemne the cause or the rest of his brethren for what is more common then for one man to giue censure and iudge of a case thus and for another so and withall euen in points of most importance a controuersie decided in sacred synode is set downe infallibly true but the Scribe notwithstanding in adding a reason of his owne in explaning the Text or Canon may commit a great sinne and grosse errour and yet not the decree of the Councell to be euer the worse thought of or of lesse credite THE ARGVMENT OF THE first Generall Quodlibet FOrasmuch as all these 10 Quodlibets consisting of 10 Articles a peece haue a relation to the good or harme done in and to the Church common-wealth the heads of both and principall members either specificall or indiuiduall in either of them by the Iesuits faction and confederats in casting of plots for their purpose and most aduantage aswell by plausible perswasions in passages of speech as also by countermined platformes in practicall conspiracies I thought it good to giue you to vnderstand as a point of importance necessary to be knowne that all and euery of these Quodlibets and Articles are of such speciall matter as they are not to be tearmed Metaphisicall conceits or coniectured inuentions of speculatiue knowledge but are in very deed Phisicall practicall and knowne things which rise in question and are talked of euery where of Cleargy and Laity Catholikes and Protestants men and women nobles and gentiles boyes and girles home-borne subiects and aliens or strangers yea what part of Christendome nay of the whole Macrocosme this day almost is free or exempted from the knowledge or hearing of what I meane to discusse and reason of in briefe no nation vnder the cope of heauen but shall find thēselues touched and to haue an interest part and portion in some one or other of these questions quodlibetical articles here proposed For which cause the first Quodlibet offered as an obiect to the eyes of the ignorant seemeth sitly to be tearmed a Quodlibet of plots by scandale and offence taken by some Pharisaically or Iewishlike and therefore not to be regarded by others superstitiously or rather too scrupulously and therefore necessary to be informed of the truth and reformed of their errour as being in the originall scandale not directly giuen but onely taken of their infirmity and weake iudgement and vnderstanding for a prudent wise and sound Catholike or other person of stayd wit censure and conceit will neuer be scandalized at these contentions or the like And therefore haue I placed it in the first ranke and before all other as an introduction to take away all scruple out of
spirituall death of sundrie reuerend Priests Fourthly it is but a meere canuas and cauill of the Iesuits put into the Archpriests or some others of their brokers heads that go about the countries with witlesse scrolles of paper to make them beleeue that it is excommunication or a great sinne to reade these bookes and done onely of purpose not of anie high policie but of a slie Machiuilian deuise of the Iesuits to keepe the ignorant still in a blind conceit and opinion of their puritanian holinesse which these bookes would much discouer Fiftly this is one difference betwixt a matter of fact and a matter of faith that the first dependeth vpon reasoning and discourse and therefore is it called Scientia acquisita which by some apprehension may this day erre by some other to morrow be rightly informed againe the second is independent vpon all humane knowlege as a meere gift of God infused into the soule whereupon that knowledge we haue in matters of faith takes his name thereof to be called Scientia infusa which being once inserted in the soule of man by God alone it may afterwards be helped for matters of discourse by natural wit reason Therfore is it that wit will being subiect both to error the vnlearned are iustly and verie necessarily forbidden to to reade hereticall bookes lest wading aboue their heads they be drowned in error but in a matter of fact depending wholy vpon humane causes experience and common knowledge the case is quite altered For that therin euerie one is to labour and seeke to be instructed and to learne experience how in a like case thereafter he is to deale and therefore no excommunication is due for reading of these bookes neither ought any to be debarred from notice taking of them THE VI. ARTICLE WHether the Catholike laitie ought to meddle in these contentions betwixt the Priests the Iesuits or not and what their office is therin THE ANSWERE THey ought to commend the cause to God in their best deuotions to carrie a reuerend opinion of euery Catholike annointed Priest what part or faction soeuer he be of to wish seeke and labour for peace on both sides and to defame contemne or condemne neither partie as the seditious factious and mistaught children of the Iesuits do most irreligiously imitating therein their spirituall fathers examples For true it is such lips such lettuce such meate such sauce and such maisters such schollers in all degrees And if Father Stanney a Iesuit Priest called of the Panigericks the lanterne of England because forsooth he was in a chiefe place of honour vpon occasion of a crosse encounter giuen him by a Seminary Priest who was then in a place of more auncient estimation and honour and of a farre more noble descent on all sides in an honorable assemblie durst speake it openly that the secular Priests were iustly defamed to wit at what time as their Archpriests authoritie was in hammering and that certaine Priests held out and would not yeeld to put to their helping hand in working that grosse mettall to perfection and so said this zealous father they should be still vntill they had submitted themselues to the Archpriest their superiour If one and he their chiefe as being appointed the Prouinciall of the Iesuits here in England haue scoffed â—â—â—er Garnet iested and made a laughing stocke or stale at and of Priests acts writings manners and conuersation and like a peremptorie companion taken vpon him to appoint some Seminarie or secular Priests to teach young schollers onely as fit for nothing else in his scornful conceit others to be but doctors of clowts per saltum and therfore a dishonor to learning to haue such shallow wits mean schollers proceed c. others for want of wit learning and vertuous life and behauiour to be vnworthie the name of anie Priest If another surmized holy father of their societie in whose mouth a man would think butter could not melt did make no scruple of so grosse a lie for to bring a Seminarie Priest into contempt as to affirme to a Ladie in Notingham shire that he was ashamed to heare priesthood so disgraced as it was by that parties simplicitie at whom a certaine great Counsellour made a iest of admiration to see so silly a fellow of no talent nor praise-worthie part in him in the world to be so much talked of saying in a smile of contempt in turning backe from him to his own man is this the states man c. whereas it is well knowne the partie neuer spake with the said Counsellour in all his life Father Lister If an other punie father durst no lesse audaciously then officiously presume as a matter nothing belonging to him nor he of all other being by anie to whom it did belong intreated nor yet hauing anie authoritie so to do to write a most ridiculous euill patched vp shamefull treatise of schisme and therein like a profound master Doctor as a schoole deuine in deede he was which studie being as it seemed aboue his capacitie made his braines idle his wits flie out and his head light euer after define denounce and vpon his lunaticke authoritie declare all to be schismatickes that consented not at the first to the Archpriest and by consequent that they were no better then Ethnickes Publicanes c. so to be censured iudged of If yet another yong father of the society plodding about the same subiect to bring al secular Priests nay priesthood it self in conteÌ„pt disgrace could not hold in the wrath of his zeale but needs he must strike and withall lend to his fellow his hatchet so hotly was this holy societie bent at that time against al secular especial seminary Priests imagining they had had them all on the hippe either to haue throwne ouer boord at their pleasure or to haue thrust downe vnder hatches that they should neuer haue recouered their former stand and therefore published it as a most horrible crime to maintain dogmatizaÌ„do that the foresaid resistance was not schisme in the Resistens what a damnable state they stood in that ministred any sacrament in that case without sufficient contrition coÌ„fession satisfaction made at the discretion of their ghostly Father to whom also he giues a caueat to beware how he receiue anie such vnto him see how sawcie these malapart Iesuits become where they once get but neuer so litle aduantage If the Archpriest not to be behind with his part lest he should be thought witlesse or too fauourable confirmed all these things concerning schisme and the contempts of the Seminarie Priests to be iustly inflicted If he durst commaund none to listen after and others of them made a scoffe and a ieast at the iudiciall sentence of the Vniuersitie of Paris one of the most famous and chiefe of the world and so was alwaies accounted of saue only by this seditious faction that despise all men manners vertue learning
Well yet I cannot blame his wit though I detest his hypocrisie in this action as an acte then the which nothing could haue bene more preiudiciall to the Apostolicall Sea nor more vniustly fathered on his Holinesse for in deede it stood all such traitours and conspiratours vpon as he and his companions haue shewed themselues to be in that and other actions against both Pope and Prince but especially against the Nobles and common-wealth of this land to haue had M. Blackwels authority established by hook or by crook otherwise their great Arch-atheall master father Parsons with some others of theÌ„ might haue come in danger to haue bene degraded set on the pillorie for forgerie not in smal matters or priuate actioÌ„s but in points of as high importance as are crownes kingdomes or iurisdiction Apostolicall supreme But of this matter I shall haue occasion to talke hereafter onely thus much I haue here noted to giue the diligent Reader to vnderstand what notable deuises these men haue to seduce the ignorant and well meaning hearts how rightly they tread the pathes of al former hereticks at their first entrance into the blind by waies of singularitie which brought them quite out of the Kings path high way or Watling street how plaine their absurd grosse and manifest errours do appeare though it be impossible by reason of their dissimulation equiuocation sophistication winding twinding and doubling to fasten any heresie vpon theÌ„ they wil haue such interpretations expositions comments and glosses or rather gloses and how notwithstanding they may not be iustly termed hereticks because neither is their pertinacie in generall yet knowne neither anie one mans particular obstinacie made as yet manifest in the premises And I pray God it neuer may be but that they may reforme correct and humble themselues in time either by comming out of their order and societie if they see the daunger of their soules perdition eminent by liuing in it there being some of theÌ„ questionles verie good men and innocent of the guile and deceit that it is in their chiefe Rectors prouincials or else by purging and refining their liues and manners in it in generall that they may make me and many moe false Prophets who according to that race they do runne cannot iudge otherwise of them but as some of the wiser sort amongst themselues haue iudged foretold and presaged of a heauie downefall to come vnto them by their ambition and aspiring And how sharp bitter and extreame soeuer or exorbitant as some of them terme my letters I may seeme in speech or writing against them for corasiues not lenitiues must helpe or nothing in the deepe launcing of these inward festred sores couered ouer with sound flesh and skin to outward shew yet God is my witnes I do as affectionatly tenderly as faithfully and vnfainedly wish their amendment euen from my verie heart and in my poore prayers do as daily remember euerie day vpon my knees at Gods holy altar in time of my best memories and deuotion yea and withall do recommend their and our vnitie peace and quiet together as Catholickes both priestes and lay persons should haue and liue in to euerie penitent that comes vnto me vnder benedicite as duely and truly as for mine owne needie because sinfull soule And so to make an end of this Article let none thinke me to be out of charitie in this vehement kind of writing for I told you at the first that the cause why I tooke this course in hand to deale with them by way of Quodlibets was of set purpose that I might without offence more readily and roundly touch them to the quicke wishing from hencefoorth till all be ended for perhaps I may touch them more narrowly hereafter then as yet I haue that both I in writing and they all into whose hands these may come in perusing may neuer let this charitable correctiue and fitly to be applied speech to our purpose of the princely prophet passe out of our minds scil Irascimini nolite peccare c. with the which kind of anger I do now proceede in the rest of my Quodlibets THE VI. ARTICLE WHether any Catholicke man or woman be knowne to be or to haue bene seduced by them and if there haue then by what meanes THE ANSWERE WHat anie Catholicke seduced yes who doth follow them but is seduced by them What Catholicke in England where they beare sway but is either seduced or grossely abused by them for as they make th se 3 sortes of Câ—th licke here mentioned the bâ—okeâ—s of their forgeries sâ—th either thâ— indiscreet scrupulous ignorant zealoâ—◠〈◊〉 the audaciouâ— stirring readâ— wâ—ttâ—d needâ—e or else the pâ—ouâ—â— haughtie ambitious weâ—lthâ— So haue they other notable dogâ—ricks of consonage to cut purses pâ—â—ke loâ—kes comiâ— bâ— glaries extortion symony â—all Lombardiâ—iaÌ„ kind of deuises to make gain of but especially by two geâ—erall rules one to winne all such to be of their societie that are wealthy and worshipfull or honorable 〈◊〉 note though that they chase of the finest wits and most stirring heads that can be gotten for money yet when 〈◊〉 of two they will alwâ—ies refuse the pregnant wit for the proud rich coat though there be but a dunce within it which is the cause that they haue so many simple schollers amongst them Another rule is to get an interest in theÌ„ that cannot or will not be oâ— their societie and so in euery house where they liue each Iesuit forsooth must rule like a Lord â—â—amâ— for sâ—ot and lot to let and set and buy and sell all at their pleasure no man being Maister of his own house where 〈◊〉 may beare swinge and be admitted of Indeede those that least know them do most admire them and therfore it is a common question among the meaner sort as that seditious faction most proudly count all with whom they are not acquainted to aske one of another or of such Priestes as come vnto them I pray you what are these Iesuits sure they are men of great account worthy men farre aboue any secular Priest They say in France noble men would come with their hattes off to them and yet suffer secular Priests and others of the French Cleargie to stand bare headed before them Certainly they are rare men They are in high places They neuer come at such mean houses as ours are I neuer saw any of them but one and sure he seemed to be very learned wise graue and some extraordinary person and so my brother or sister or mother or dâ—ughter or cousin or some one friend or other told me in secret that he was a singular fine man but it must not in any case be knowne abroade in the house among the inferior sort of Catholickes vnlesse to such or such by name For I tell you he is not a man that euery one is worthy to come acquainted withall c. And thus per iurari coeperunt homines
secular Priests yea of our owne nation as Doctor Allane Doctor Sanders though to much Iesuited Doctor Harding Doctor Stapleton Doctor Gifford Doctor Parkinson Doctor Ely and a whole score twice told now in esse of secular Priests whō no English Iesuit is able to hold tacke withall yet haue these Machiauels got such a generall fame report to fly abroad of them as though there were not one of any talent in the world to be found vnlesse he were a Iesuit THE ANSWERE I Answer first that where there is one learned man of the Iesuites there are a hundred either of seculars apart or of religious apart Secondly where there is one learned book written by any Iesuit there are a couple of thousands written by others as learned at least if not more as they are Thirdly the cause why seculars especially the Seminarie Priests in England do not write so many nor almost any booke at all as the Iesuits do haue done is partly for want of money without which no Presse will go the the seculars and Iesuits liuing apart in extreames the former pining in defects and therefore can set out nothing the other surfetting in excesse and therfore may set out what they please partly also for that the seculars haue bene euer against writing of any such bookes as might exasperate the present State or occasionate a displeasure against all for some such priuate persons offences which the Iesuites quite contrary least regarded Nay what bookes haue they written almost but such as are farced with rebellious conspiracies and treasons iustly occasionating a generall persecution vpon vs all thereby Onely one Fa. Parsons hath written sundrie bookes for I account not of Fa. Southwell as whereof to make any ostentation of learning and all those of one practise or other in exasperating either against her Maiestie directly as his Philopator or against the whole State in generall as his Doleman or against all the bloud royall in common as his Appendix or against the whole commonwealth as his Machiauell of oeconomickes or book of Spanish Councels against England or against this or that Peere of this land in particular as his Greenecoate or Scribe And as for his booke of Resolution which gets him all the praise he hath or can deserue yet alacke alacke it is easie to lay fine threeds together when they are gathered to a mans hand and as easie to translate a work almost verbatim out of peecemeale copies into his mother language Fourthly the seculars vntill now of late had no meanes from beyond the seas for printing of any book in England they durst not venter for offending the State without leaue whereas the Iesuites haue alwaies had meanes both here and there for what is it that mony cannot compasse Fiftly the Iesuits haue learned herein one speciall tricke of Machiauell which also was throughly practised of Erasmus in his daies and that was to be at compositiō with certaine Nobles and great personages in Princes Courts to spread abroad his bookes with this prouiso that they should report of euery thing he wrote to be rare learned and eloquent and himselfe the most famous man of Europe for his pen in those dayes for pregnancie of wit dexteritie of inuention facilitie of passage pleasing accents delightfull with a naturall facilitie in all things and then would he againe in recompence of this grace and fauour to requite their honorable esteeme had and caused generally to be had of him set them foorth on the other side by dedicating of his bookes either vnto them or taking some speciall occasion to write of them or their progenitors sound foorth the Panigeries of their praises extolling them aboue the skies for their Noblenesse their heroicall hearts martiall prowesse valiant acts worthy feates warlike exploits honorable calling of parentage by birth bloud and high renowne highly descended And fame alwaies following the reports of Ecchoes such Nobles and Gentles for natures portraicture in the lineaments of their body fine conueyance of their actions not coyned by art but naturally passing from them as a forgetfull custome by instinct of proper kind comly gesture with countenance haughtie stern and champion-like yet dropt with spots of beautie bountie and magnanimitie intercepted with graces of mildnesse courtesie and affabilitie at a word courtly regardfull pleasing acceptable in al things being the right compliants of times comperters of sages and the full complements of all admirable aspects as the mirrors of vertue and all liuely graces Both by these meanes should be famous and respected inquired of talked of peerlesse And all this that I haue said concerning the pollicie of Erasmus you may please to decipher out in the Iesuits with supererogation of an ouerheaped vp measure For let the person be neuer such a dolt dunce or dotrel or his actions neuer so base ignominious dishonest or ridiculous or his words or writings neuer so simple grosse and exorbitant or impertinent to the purpose yet being a Iesuit oh he is a rare man another Salust Cicero or Demosthenes for eloquence as was Father Southwell but yet came short of them an other Chrysostome in preaching as Father Ned Coffin alas poore silly mā sent loquitur c. An other equal nay far aboue that worthy pillar of the Church Saint Augustine the Doctor Angelicall S. Thomas Aquinas the most subtill disputer Doctor Scotus as is that top of wit Fa. Parsons not worthy to hold the candle before the meanest of any of all these or sundrie other far their inferiors But what should we say fame flies farre if the Iesuits wanted this tricke of coggerie to make them seeme famous nay matchlesse nay peerelesse in setting out of bookes and doing of other like exercises pertaining to learning gouernment and knowledge I would say they had no scholerisme worth a blew button amongst them nor were they fit to foot the instep in Machiauels schooles Sixtly another cause there is why the Iesuits workes and bookes are here in England so common frequent and much talked of and almost none other named or at least accounted of at all And that is forsooth an authority they haue gotten to their Archpriest now to stop all others from writing of any thing be it good or bad without his approbation or allowance which he will neuer yeeld vnto but with disgraces to the Author as experience hath tried it true And besides before this authority came the Iesuits as high Admirals or Emperours of sea and land dealt so cunningly few or none euer imagining such an ostentatiue sleight and vaineglorious deuice as was to haue their owne doings onely praised to lye close couched and packt vp at euery mart therein as few or no bookes came euer from beyond the seas but of some Iesuits setting forth or if they did yet did not the discharge of that peece in striking saile giue so sound report thereof as of theirs and so still it seemed there was no learning nor scholers nor
blood crueltie and destruction not onely of their soueraigne but an infinite number besides For they could not be so absurd as to thinke that the said excommunication was euer like to take effect without either warre or treacherie Nay it is now plaine that they had then plotted in their harts a shamefull rebellion which they did sollicite some of them in person as soone as the Pope had satisfied their desire Ninthly it is well knowne that the chiefe reasons that mooued Pius Quintus to yeeld vnto them were most falsly surreptiously suggested to his holines and carried with them very many absurdities as this for one scil Forsooth the Duke of Norfolke was a most sound catholike which was false all the realme would follow him which was absurd the Popes pleasure and censure once knowne to the catholikes there could be no resistance which was ridiculous Besides this a mariage would follow that would reforme all and worke woonders as if they should haue said that when the skie falleth they should haue store of larkes And now to those that procured the renouation of this excommunication at the times articulated If the first procurers of it may iustly be condemned as you haue heard what shall we thinke of them father Parsons and his associates our pretended holy fathers of the societie of Iesus that when it lay asleepe did reuiue it Certainly they are to be detested of all true catholikes and dutifull subiects to her Maiestie All that hitherto hath beene said against the procurers doth touch them nearer that were the sollicitors to haue it renewed as it may appeere to any that is not obstinately wilfull for these two reasons First for that they did finde by experience the mischiefe which the other might easily haue foreseene that is all the plagues miseries calamities and inconueniences that the denouncing of the said excommunication had already wrought which ought to haue restrained their madnes considering that the renewing of it could not choose in any reasonable mans iudgement but prouoke her Maiestie and the state to greater seueritie against all catholikes whereof they were in no danger themselues being beyond the seas Then a second reason was the bad successe which they also might haue noted by all the attempts made giuen or intended against our soueraigne realme apparantly demonstrating thus much at least to be expected by renewing of the excommunication scil a sorrowfull repentance of their after wits too late right Englishmen in deede but no way to be wished for such experimentall knowledge of our natiue dispositions in matters of so great importaÌ„ce as in a world greater could not be found And howsoeuer any cause had bin giuen yet the case was cleere by the effects ensuing that it was not Gods will such excommunications or other practises should haue been vsed or gone about especially by such men as father Parsons and other Iesuited hot spurres whose profession being farre otherwise in labouring for conuersion of countries the euill succes which he and all his confederates haue had in all their proceedings against princes doth giue all the world to vnderstand that God was not pleased from the beginning with the Iesuiticall courses Besides the more * The old Lord Mountacutes conceit was maruellous both catholike loyall against these new state religious Iesuits whose singularity he vtterly disliking of together with their busie practises and intrusions would neuer suffer any of them to come within his dores neither yet any other Seminarie priest all such being wrongfully suspected to be of a Iesuiticall disposition from which humor many were euen from the beginning most free though some and those too many were infected by them But al keeping silence in respect of the common cause the said Seminaries and other secular priests lay catholikes were content to vndergo that wroÌ„g conceit had of them with their fellowes with many other inconueniences miseries whâ—ch they might haue auoided if they had sooner opened themselues their detestatioÌ„ of such courses As the onely chiefe cause ad hominem of keeping out so many schismatikes that otherwise would haue been catholikes occasionating also the fall of sundrâ— others which probably would neuer haue shrunke if feare of intangling with state matters had not mooued â—hem thereunto ancient learned wise and grauer sort did euer dislike with such kinde of dealings scil Cardinall Allan that renowmed prelate he euen wept of tender loue to his countrie in conceiting what mischiefes the Iesuited Spanish faction had bred and would heereafter breede to this realme and Doctor Watson then Bishop of Lincolne with others as it were presaging or prophecying in plaine termes foretold it that as things then stood the Iesuits progresse in statizing as they did would certainly vrge the state to make some sharper lawes which should not onely touch them but likewise all other both priests and catholikes as since we all haue found it to be most true diuers others also of sounde iudgement in forecasting what might happen by these rebellious tumultuous vnpriestly and irreligious courses told father Parsons in plaine terms that vnles he did desist from those his vnpriestlike affaires whereof one was then to set her Maiesties crowne on anothers head as his letter to an Earle before mentioned declareth they the said catholikes would deliuer him vp into the hands of the ciuill magistrate to make him know they could and would put a difference in discerning of a pretence betwixt religion and treason and that they did detest his platforme and proceedings to effectuate the same to the vtter destruction not conuersion of our countrie So also the succession of sorrowes which from time to time haue fallen vpon vs all and especially the most innocent most tormented the false traitors flying away casting of their loade and laying all vpon their backs might woorst and least desired deserued or demerited to haue borne it and leauing the guiltlesse blood to bleede the harmelesse harts to wring the scrupulous catholikes perplexed with many dilemmaes betwixt religion and loyaltie not knowing what to doe did plainly explane the case when and how that posteriores cogitationes solent esse sapientiores that though experience be called the mistres of fooles yet is she no foolish mistres that the Iesuiticall plots for restoring religion in this land by surreptitiall excommunications depositions inuasions massacrings murthorings and other treacherous Catelinian coniurations and conspiracies were not sanctified nor blessed by the hand of God and that happy had we all beene that are catholikes borne vnder Englands alleagiance if these men being priests and religious persons by profession as the Iesuits in their follie would be counted of in chiefe had neuer troubled themselues with state affaires nor procured by execution and practise of excommunication a firebrand of a bloody contentious dispute to be cast amongst vs. And as no doubt the originall cause of religious change came for the offences of our forefathers to be radicated in the mournefull
such straite lawes were made for comming into England of Seminarie priests bringing in of Agnus Dei crosses medals graines c. reconcilement perswasions to the catholike faith and the like All which when I saw the bookes of the excommunication of her Maiestie by Pius Quintus diuers others tending to that purpose written since and withall had well considered what the Iesuits dealing had beene how that they had procured these indulgences pardons to serue their owne turne therewith I then wel perceiued vpon what grounds the said six articles were built And Master Bales a blessed martyr shall witnes with me at the latter day how woe my hart was vpon the last speech he and I had together in the house of an honorable person where we met about those and other matters my last words being these vnto him scil that his holines was misinformed and indirectly drawne to these courses by Iesuiticall meanes And therefore of all other orders of religion were I to goe into any I would neuer be Iesuit whiles I liued And this may suffice for the matter in question to conuince any catholikes true meaning hart that the circumstances well considered with all humble obedience to the See apostolike be it spoken there neither was due circumstances in the Bull of Pius Quintus to binde any to withdrawe their allegiance from our Soueraigne neither and much lesse was it conuenient that the same excommunication should haue beene renewed againe THE IX ARTICLE VVHether then seeing her Maiestie and the state knew such practises were by priests and other catholikes vsed and put in execution and yet were ignorant who were of that faction more one then an other till now of late that God hath most strangely and in very deed as it may he termed miraculously reuealed the truth which long hath beene hidden to discerne who are innocent and who free may not then her lawes and proceedings against all catholiks in generall from the beginning of her Highnesse raigne to this present discouery of the treasons and traitors that vrged it be truely counted both milde and mercifull And that howsoeuer of her owne accustomed innate royall disposition benignitie clemencie her Highnesse may and we shoulde wrong our owne conceits in preiudice of her sweete and Princely nature if we should not thinke she would now at length take pittie of such her owne catholike subiects as haue manifested their loyaltie innocencie and ignorance of what was intended against her royall person and state Yet whether in tendring the afflictions which the innocent both secular priests lay persons haue sustained by making such lawes or prouisoes and adding them to the lawes alreadie made as may free both the priests and those that receiue them from the paines and penalties before by statute enacted against them all in generall may not for all that the sayd former statutes penall lawes and actes enacted be thought to stande in force against the Iesuiticall faction and no reason or sense to haue them repealed but both to haue beene made with great moderation and also to stand and remaine with as great pollicie in all or any wisemans iudgement that shall duly consider the Iesuits practises and other her Highnes enimies against her person state and kingdome in the course precedent of all this time THE ANSWERE I Holde directly the affirmatiue part heerein scil that both her Maiesties lawes and proceedings against all sorts of catholikes haue bene milde and mercifull the opinion and iudgement of her Highnesse in religion one way and their foresaid practises against her another way duly considered and also that all the appellants and other priests and catholikes that ioyne with them in prosecuting that appeale as there is iust cause and many reasons which we doubt not of but that to her high prudence and Princely wisedome they will present themselues in laments submissions and teares on our behalfes and in pollicie mercy and iustice on the part of her Highnesse towards vs why some prouisoes should be made for securing of them the said appellants and their associates together with those that do or shall receiue them heereafter from danger of the foresaid penall lawes so haue they and we all that be catholikes in England this day as great motiues causes and reasons moouing vs to admire that euer any of vs are left on liue to make knowne to all posteritie what hath hapned in our daies the like woonders hauing neuer hitherto as yet beene seene as our wretched age hath left recorded to those shall follow vs by succeeding turnes of natures course to the worlds end And by consequent we cannot vrge an absolute repeale of any former statute or penall law so long as any Iesuit or other priest or lay person of their faction which I hope would be very few if any were after they were gone shall remaine within the land but thinke our selues happie and deepely bound to her Maiesty if a prouisoe onely may be made in forme aforesaid to keepe the innocent harmeles though with an other prouisoe also or stricter statute if stricter may be for the vtter expelling of all Iesuits out of the land And for to make this my opinion sinke the deeper into all catholikes heads and harts that either are infected with the Spanish pip or otherwise Iesuited in affection or faction I must and do craue pardon for enlarging my selfe a litle in handling this subiect to the purpose and agreeing to their capacitie Often haue many wise learned and prudent greatly mused what should haue beene the cause in morall sense to speake to men of the heauie and sore affliction of catholiks in England for many yeeres yea it hath beene thought of many great clerkes yet with pardon craued ignorant of our English cases as heereafter will appeere that the circumstances considered as the occurrents came to their minds that their persecution in the primitiue church was not greater if so great respecting the danger of soule-wracke then the persecution in England hath beene for these twenty yeeres space and vpward to wit since the infortunate arriuall of the Iesuits in this land The causes moouing many to admire thereat and in multitudes of vollees in morneful sighes and sorrowes hurled out with wailings one to another greeuing when wise deuout true compassionates of their countries miseries met together that for our owne and our forefathers sinnes so heauie a scourge shoulde be laid vpon our nation our deere countrymen our flesh and blood our neerest linckt vnto vs often times our greatest lothers Amongst others these were the causes of their woonder how it should be First they considered with how great a sympathie all concord naturall incline and reciprocall affection It is no maruell though the Iesuits be so egar of England as they are and that they hazard body soule and all they haue or can be able to make to haue it wholy theirs For considering the poore lodgings scarcity of victuals and vncomfortable trauell
Atheall policy bring Spaine and all the rest vnder their subiection Which apparant intendment plots and practises with other like waighty considerations if the late king had liued would haue beene a sufficient warning to him for euer being abused by any Iesuite againe And happily when this king regnant and his sister the Lady Infanta shall know thus much and much more then here is said it will breede the same effect in their princely heads as a fit meane to cut off these turbulent state tamperers and no lesse ambitious aspirers then vngratefull maligners of those princes that haue backt aduaunced and defended them most And either hereafter force them in Spaine and in all other countries to auoide princes courts and medlings with nobles or the state where they liue and so retire themselues to their cloysters as religious men should do and as all do but they only who despise all order or else set them packing out of this Christian world amongst the Antipodes Indians other people to vs here vnknowen For so long as they stay vncontrold as they are the church of God will neuer be in quiet nor suffered to liue vnuexed by them THE VIII ARTICLE VVHether then seeing it seemeth the Iesuits aspire to the whole and absolute monarchie of the world haue they any intent or meaning to put in for a supremacy so to thrust out the Popes holines or haue they no such intended practises amongst them THE ANSWERE IF the question had beene whether euer any possibility or intendment were by them to get a Iesuite to be Pope or no the answere had beene more ready then it is to the former interrogatory For that the generall iealousie which most of that sacred consistory haue of the Iesuits pride ambition greedy affectation of a supremacy hath been cause that of late as some do say there is an order taken that no Iesuits shal euer be admitted hereafter to be Card at least not in that authority as some of them haue bene in least they worke some crafty meanes to get to that worthy dignitie as in tract of time they may bring it about to haue him Pope by that meanes and then questionlesse haue at all Christendome for bothe states ecclesiasticall and temporall Which to make apparant that they aime at no lesse and by consequent that as there was but one onely Iesus who was high priest and king in the Hebrewes Monarchiall Empire or kingdome of the Iewes with his twelue Apostles and the rest of his disciples substituted vnder him so in their intended platforme but one Iesuite Pope and prince Monarchiall like a presbyter Iohn in the kingdome monarchie of the whole Christian world with the fathers and lay brothers of his societie substituted in euery country region and prouince vnder him Although by relection of what hath bene already said there may ynough be gathered sufficient to confirme and demonstrate it against them especially if we conferre our English Iesuiticall practises and proceedings with others of other nations yet in my opinion there is no one thing that discouers their ambitious aspire more herein then father Parsons Doleman in his peremptorie censure of all impugners of his Iesuiticall or popular title for call it no more his Spanish title hereafter seeing he fisheth wholy for his owne societie in as high preiudice to the Spaniards Maiestie as to any other to the English crowne For hauing as I haue said before authorized his subiect Master Blackwell with so ample immunities priuiledges preheminences and substitutiue iurisdiction as neither pope nor prince nor any power or authoritie vnlesse Iesuiticall on earth may as it seemeth by shrewd suspition had of their speech and insinuation giuen by their actions haue to doe with him nor any in England Scotland or Wales appeale from him now by perusing that Quodlibet of plots by authoritie and conferring the same with this of succession you shall finde here the doctrinal decrees intended of that which there is set downe to haue already begun to be in practise Thus then he I meane father Parsons teacheth in his said booke of titles and other manuscripts First that all men liuing vnder the Spanish allegiance are bound to take notice of their kings rightfull title interest and claime to the English crowne c. Secondly that the English our countrymen though of another nation and no way subiect to Spaine at any time since the world began were obliged to acknowledge and subscribe and as some haue informed vs to sweare vnto the rightfull succession of the Lady Infanta Thirdly euery one be he forraigne or home borne subiect are prohibited in expresse words by the king there saith this good father and by an inhibition sent from the Archpriest here to shew their reasonable censure or to deliuer their opinion and conceit touching the contents of the foresaid bookes and writings vnder paine of incurring the churches curse and his maiesties high displeasure c. In these three positions that I may omit sundry others whereof he rankly smelleth of hereticall and rebellious doctrine to the See apostolike you may please to note what he takes vpon him and then compare confer quote the places in the first part of his Doleman making for this purpose and you shall finde that he arrogates to himselfe more then Apostolicall power so as what to make of him for my part I know not vnlesse an Antesignane or immediate forerunner of Antichrist for he taking vpon him authoritie aboue the Pope in this point of succession so farre as he would seeme to make his bloody proiects for performance thereof in a setled conceit as infringible if not more as if they were matters of faith desined by a sacred aecumenicall synode what this his doctrine and threats in compelling to beleeue and imbrace it will breede in time or what it is that he thereby shootes at vos iudicate Onely two things I will say first that a great many and those some of them at least no fooles nor babies are mightily mistaken in their censure iudgement and opinion had of his intended platforme therein another is that whatsoeuer his intent or meaning is or was for that matter yet hath he by that booke and others very suspitiously preiudiced the See apostolike and the popes holines in chiefe whose office he hauing peremptorily forestalled vsurped and preoccupated herein he is to be noted of high ambition great presumption sawcie disobedience and what else you may gesse besides to the Romane See as his chiefe superior without whose warrant graunt and authoritie he hath audaciously presumed to ouerthrowe states to make new kings to forme common wealthes and to frame lawes out of his owne braine-sicke fansie as though he were Monos supreme soueraigne and superior in chiefe vnder God if not equal vpon whom Pope prince peere and all persons of what degree calling or qualitie soeuer they be are to depend and from whom al officers magistrates powers dominations are
impersonals in terra viuentium And fame being the swiftest bird of wing that euer seased on pray no sooner had these neuters set on thus by the Iesuites cast off that haggard hawke from a false fist but presently taking her irreuocable gate in a gadding mount she flew a foule flight in windings twindings and girdings ouer all making many a sweete bird to tremble quake when they heard that a catholike priest should haue written such vild matters against all conscience religion sense or reason as to them at first it seemed But I build so much vpon the equitie of our common cause and mine own innocencie and sincere intent therein as were that Epistle to write againe I would write verbatim as it is and nothing doubt but that their impiety plots and sly deuises will turne at length to their shame and my credite for the same Secondly the most I doe wonder at in these strange conceits of you deare catholikes is your simplicitie and extreame folly pardon me for God sake if I speake home for deepe is the wound that pearceth to the hart and dead is the stroke that cuts life and soule a sunder in that you thinke it a hinderance to our cause to haue such bookes set out in painting forth the Iesuites in their proper colors Which conceite of yours by your leaue deare catholikes may perhaps in it selfe haue I doubt not but it hath in your charitable deuout harts and intentions some sparks of pietie but certainly not at all of policy as manifesting that to be true which they report of you vs all for this point in declaring your iudgement to be very weake your wits shallow your appreheÌ„sion meane your reach short your selues fitter for a cloyster then in very deed the Iesuits are but withal they more fit to manage a matter in a ciuil political secular temporal common wealth yea or in the field of war then any of you are that haue such pusillanimous spirits as they affirme we haue all and therefore ride vs like fooles lead vs which way they list and make vs beleeue what they please to serue their owne turne withall For if you were of iudgement and discourse you would not but conceiue and see what here I meane God willing and if in nature it be possible to driue into your heads to wit that the chiefe and originall cause and occasion giuen of temptation on our part to the Iesuits hath beene our serupulous remissnes childish nicenes and womanlike tendernes in speaking writing or vttering of our griefes and wrongs put vp at the Iesuits hands which made them so bold to attempt and peremptory to control so that accounting of vs all to be but silly bodies and sorie fellowes of no talent gift or ability like Storkish kings they came vpon vs poore frogs with minaces of death to him that first should leape out of the puddle from vnder their tyranny And thus the erroneous conceit you had of their worth and our and your owne vnworthines puffed them vp in pride puld vs all downe in miseserie and blew the coale of their perdition through your indiscreet humility renuntiation and silence Note the Iesuites immitate Lucifer in pride for he cannot endure to be despised or to haue any creature accounted of for rare indowments of nature but himselfe and the Iesuits cannot abide to be counted of as good deuout simple religious men but must be holden for the rarest polititians the wisest sages the perfectest statesmen c. fit phrases be they not for religious persons to boast of and the secular clergie disgraced to the vttermost else cannot that Luciferian spirit of theirs be quiet By this shall you know a Iesuits spirit in that hauing presumed to haue their brokers reuile priests and princes in the vilest manner as an act of zeale yet are they and theirs ready to fly in his or her face that shall but seeme to dislike of a Iesuite Thirdly to enlarge my speech a little with your folly you should haue considered that the chiefe vice noted in the Iesuites is ambition and pride which being a stately sinne sitter for feinds then for beggers to boast of as nothing torments the diuell more then to be contemned abased and not feared or regarded so questionlesse the Iesuits hauing gotten an admiration of rare esteeme to be had of themselues aboue all priests who are to be had in contempt in respect of them and their followers there is no torture in the world like this vnto them scil to be made knowen what lewd mocke religious persons they are and that those who are the best of them yet if they fall into comparisons they are the meanest inferior and last of al other religious orders And now because these bookes doe touch them to the quicke and make them both know themselues and all others to looke into them therefore should they want wit or else haue more grace then most of them seeme to haue if they should let these discoueries of their trecheries and impieties passe vncontrold or spoken against in hucker mucker and not hinder what they can possibly that none of these pamphlets come abroade to be seene nor and much lesse beleeued of any And this you deere Catholikes do not see into neither how that all these commisserations and hypocriticall pitie taken had their origine sourze and spring from a Iesuits sconce and issued out in armes of maines from them amongst vs to helpe themselues drowne vs in the ditch they haue made for vs. Fourthly I desire you all deere Catholikes serch out the corners of your harts and tell me of your conscience which of you all be you priests or lay persons haue suffered a sorer persecution of a Iesuits toong since these bookes were written then you did suffer before any of our company set pen to paper or who that hath not written but rather spoken against all writings of a kinde of scruple as I said before hath beene more spared or freed from their cruell bitings alwaies supposed he be no current of their course then if he had written with the most and as bitterly as any Which being so It is most strange to see the Iesuites surfeit in persecution of their opposites for long ere euer any booke or letter was written or intended did the Iesuits so mightily preuaile in seeking the priests ouerthrow as it was a woonder that one priests was left on liue in England to make knowen their bad dealings and extreame cruelty But more strange it is that Cathol kes knowing how the priests haue beene and are brought into an intollerable contempt and disgrace by them Will not yet looke into them nor acknowledge that the Iesuits are men at most and therefore may sinne as others may Certainely I thiâ—ke their followers being otherwise good Catholiks are al bewitched for else they would neuer be so sottish sencelesse and irreligigious in contempt of priests to beleeue none but Iesuits
for euen so they deemed nothing lesse of him then their wordes imported but what they did said therein was to hinder the Bishop from the preferment they feared would be laid vpoÌ„ him And thus like Pharises do they deale Sed pece â—â—ori dixit Deus quare tu enarras iustitias meas sedeÌ„s aduersus fratrem tuum loquebaris a luersus filium matris tuae poâ—ebas scandâ—lam c. and loued his memorie in their hearts as a holy shrine how beneficiall his Grace had bene to their Colledge how highly he was esteemed of and respected of all princes in Europe that either knew him by sight or else had heard of him by any passage of memorable speech how dearely accounted of and deepely affected of sundrie Popes aswell his Holinesse then in supreme esse as his predecessours of all holy memorie How all his whole studie chiefe endeuours and greatest care was euer bent for the good of his countrey for reducing of the same to the Catholike faith and for the comfort of the afflicted here and there and euery where To what high dignities he was aduanced how well he merited his place and calling and how greatly honoured in the Court of Rome how much admired at by the rest of the Cardinals in what possibilitie to haue beene Pope and how reuerenced by themselues the Iesuits c. Thus charitably they dealt with the good Cardinall after he was dead and that they were sure their praises giuen out of him could not then obfuscate obscure nor abolish one iot of their preheminence or mirificall designements The like example to this might be a correspondent and euident fauour shewed to the said Bishop after his death as the former was after the Cardinals death For according to the philosophicall Axiome as contraria iuxta se posita magis elucescunt so vertue and vice hauing such a dissocietie by consequence of kind that the one followes the other like form and priuation Hereupon it comes that faith and hope failing charitie neuer dieth but goeth to heauen with the happily possessed therewith so his opposite vice enuie neither euer dieth but goeth to hell with the cursed soule infected therewith at her death For this cause then it is plaine that as these men neuer spoke well of the Cardinall after his death for any loue they bare vnto him so neither did they vse the like good speech of the Bishop for any entire affection towards his Lordship but that which they did was thereby to hinder and discountenance the said Bishop of Cassanaes nephew Montseigneur Hugh Grissin Which to performe stratagemically they commended his said Vncle exceedingly to insinuate thereby that he did farre degenerate from his Vncles vertues And a very like canuasse is all the whole discourse of Fa. Parsons in Doleman conferred with his practise about the bequest of the English Crowne now extolling Scotlands title to the skies and then abasing it in the presence of Spaine To day all wholly for the house of Austria to morrow as forward for the house of Parma Now fawning vpon Derbie to bring Earle Ferdinand to destruction and then vpon Essex to stirre vp Earle Robert to rebellion and still in the meane by entercourse of parlee with anie who either by their greatnesse may comport with his ambition or whom he by his platforme may couple withall to bring this whole Isle to a popular confusion In all which treasonable practises seeing he hath alwaies vsed one to anothers disgrace by praise and dispraise as time and occasion pricke him forward with affiance in one more then in another for his societies aduancement not sparing Spaine it selfe when any hope was by any other meane but to insinuate in plaine tearmes that his aduice was for the mobile vulgus in England to choose and set vp a Soueraign it made no matter who amongst them when oportunitie should be offered affirming boldly that he liked not of the Spaniard as heretofore he had liked neither saw any hope to come by their meanes Yet making the royall issue of King Philip still his dogbolt when all other hopes did quaile and helpes did falle him there is none that reades his libels and conferres them with his practise but shall easily discerne that he would not be improuident of setting downe this statute of Retractation of slaunder as a prouiso in that high Councell of Reformation for England that being the maister trump he had to play for the maine chaunce of his conceited Monarchie and the onely bolt that would serue his turne if anie could in time of neede to driue the bunting to the baye I might here adde a fourth example of this prouiso out of the practise of that simple mis-led man Maister George Blackwell the new Archpriest of England nay the Subuiceroy rather of all the Isles of Albion Maister Blackwell a plaine simple man alwaies full of sentences in his writings as one who hath very probably flores sententiaruus tum PhilosophoruÌ„ c. by reason wherof wanting a head for inuention discourse or iudgement his sententious letters are ofteÌ„ euill couched in deliuerie of his mind by a long passage written togetherward of one matter But of nature being at the first for many yeares together by report of those that knew him very humble scrupulous and affable became some 3. or 4. yeares before his miraculous aduancement so testie peremptorie c. I will leaue it there that there was no ho with him no seruant could dwell in the house with the widow questionlesse a vertuous Gentlewoman otherwise where he liued no nor yet her owne children haue but what he iudged meete for them c. was not so hot against the Iesuits especially Fa. Parsons in time of his naturall and priestly secular mildnesse but now is become as furious against the said seculars since his heart was smitten by Mercuries melancholie yet Iesuitically guilded caduceus Thus times go by turnes honores mutant â—ores sic transit gloria mundâ— to men of no deserts This plaine Polipragmon as none more elated in conceit of their owne proper excellencie then an ignorant body aduanced to immerited vnexcepted and inconceited dignity hauing either heard of or belike had receiued this statute of Retractation sent froÌ„ Rome by hart or a like vnto it taught him per coeur For before that time none seemed to mislike more of the Iesuiticall course proceedings then he nor spake more suspiciously against some of them in particular especially against Father Parsons by name whose comming into England being knowne Maister Blackwell bewailed the same very tenderly to a friend of his then in prison saying that the President at Rhemes meaning Doctor Allane played a very vndiscreete part to send him hither as being an vnfit man to be employed in the causes of religion And being asked why he was vnmeete for that employment he answered because his casting out of Baliol Colledge and other articles and matters depending vpon it
betwixt him and Doctor Squire then liuing were very likely to be renewed and so to worke great discredite both to him and the cause Catholike Thus stood the case then with Maister Blackwell now see the canuasse for Retractation of this slaunder giuen out of so stately a Polipragmon This simple man quite altered in nature manners and conuersation by reason of strong drinke priuate close liuing and familiaritie with some fathers of that societie became an officious Agent libeller-like to Rome by writing against his brethren the seculars enticed I make no question of it by some cony-catching deuise of Fa. Parsons thereby intending to be his bane at length as his new magisteriall office at his procurement instituted will be no doubt of it the onely meanes to plague him in reuenge of his former speeches vsed against the said father Who should quite forget himselfe his principles of Machiauell and all his rules of pollicie if Maister Blackwell scape scotfree after all the Iesuits turnes are serued by such a blockish instrument as cannot perceiue their mumbling meaning as resting wholly at their deuotion to stand or fall Yet so it is now as whether drowned in vaine delight of his new supremacie or otherwise inueigled to be a close Iesuit as sundry such there are which going vnder the name of seculars make the said seculars cause seeme more odious weake and exorbitant or howsoeuer it comes to passe Maister Blackwell sings now placebo domino meo Parsonio in terra viuentium for the time and layeth me on loade vpon euery opposite to a Iesuites designement Now he condemneth all as suspended and irregular persons that either directly or indirectly maintaine write or speake in defence of the censure of Paris which cleared the seculars from schisme sinne and all other crime or offence in the first resistance of his Archpresbitership and then againe threateneth all with thundring sentences of Ecclesiasticall censures that speake conferre procure or seeke for any redresse against his ignorant crueltie appointed of purpose and either doth not or will not know it to be slagellum fratrum suorum yea a scourge to himselfe and all England besides It is strange to consider how now he be labors himself in laying about him on all sides to defend the neuer heard of more impudent shamefull and palpably ignominious It is but a signe of a dastardly mind and most vnfit to be in authority to persecute those most whome all men note to be freest froÌ„ offence and yet such as by reason of a humerous tender and scrupulous heart they carry are easi iest ouercome and forced to yeeld For exaÌ„ple whereof get and read all the passage by letters and messages betwixt the Archpriest and Ma. More c. reprochfull and abhominable facts of Fa. Parsons and the rest of the Iesuits And especially he tyrannizeth if he find a sweete nature and mild disposition any way opposite vnto him such a one as Maister Thomas More a very reuerend secular Priest of many good parts and abilities who as I haue heard of late hath fared worse for my sake which I am very sory for though outwardly there was made no shew of it for I could tell perhaps why I can no lesse admire how that euer wise men should be so blinded as not to discerne which many do not then smile in my sleeue to thinke how brauely they haue bobd this double diligent M. Blackwell with this statute of Retractation of slaunder whereby if euer it come to hearing he is as sure to be hoysted ouer the barre for an ambidexter by comparing his former speech to his present proceedings as I am sure to haue written and set it downe here for a looking glasse vnto him with this emprise aboue it tristitia vestra trust to your self good Ma. Blackwell and forsake in time that seditious company who moue you to act write and speake you know not what against your selfe as one day you will find it I could here particulate this statute but it were too tedious to do so more exactly in discouerie of M. Blackwels ignorance simplicitie Who whiles I was in Scotland sent out an inhibition against all such bookes printed per Biennium c. by any Catholikes meanes or procurement within these two Realmes of England or Scotland as either might exasperate our common aduersaries here or otherwise preiudice the worthie labourers in our common causes that had merited so well of their countrey and all Catholikes as Father Parsons had for he was the famous man and I the infamous wretch whom all men iudged that speech to be intended for as no doubt it was and that by instigation of his good spirite Fa. Garnet to stop thereby the answer to Fa. Parsons Doleman of succession to the English Crowne which then they knew I went about A copie of which schedule being sent vnto me by a friend out of England to Edenborough where then I lay I could not tell well whether to laugh or be angrie to see the slinesse craft and pollicie of the Iesuits to put such a sharpe sword of Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction into a rawe simple and mad mans hands as if the point had not bin blunted and the edge turned by abuse of his authoritie neuer rightly had and many wayes since iustly lost as wil be proued against him he wold haue kild all that euer came in his I should say the Iesuits way and himselfe vnnaturally therewith as I feare he hath already For amongst other errors committed by him in that inhibition this was one scil that he would suffer all Parsons seditious bookes to passe current as his Philopator speaking most rebelliously against her Maiesty and the whole State and Nobles of this land his Doleman entituling most traiterously the Spanish Infanta to the English Crowne together with his Appendix fathered on Cardinall Allane being dead his Letter to the Marques Huntley to creepe in againe with Scotland but sent through England to be huffed ruffed and vanted of and sundrie other of his confederates libels letteâ—s and messages matter enough to haue moued a Saint to anger much more a mortall wight to be exasperated therby and knowing as he could not chuse but know it that I sought nothing lesse then to exasperate either my Soueraigne or present State but all quite contrary to confute all and whatsoeuer he had written leauing the question vndecided and fault where it was in him his clearely to be seene yet he to forbid both printing and reading of mine and extolling the other to the skies what a man should thinke hereof it may be easily discerned An other error therein was in that his authoritie if he had any and that it were not lost againe did extend onely to the censure allowance of such bookes as were of matters of Religion and Ecclesiastical gouernment and discipline so as this booke I then was thought to be in hand withall was out of his commission to meddle or deale