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
titlet customes and ancient rights of birth and blood to lands liuelyhoods and other inheritances and make them of no validitie but that euery one of most might may lawfully possesse what they may lay hands on dispossesse the olde tenant yea ancient inhabitants at their pleasure and dispose of goods lands and inheritances as they thinke good For admit that a crowne and kingdome may be thus handled as Master Parsons in his booke of succession affirmes they may then à fortiori all other fee simples fee tailes franke almaines or what other estate soeuer is most sure being depending of a kingdome and subiect to a crowne are of no force effect woorth or value more then an ordinarie tenant at will hath of his farme bartin or cottage It was oracled from those diuine lips to which it were blasphemie to impute any possibilitie of a lie that necesse est vt haereses and in another place vt scandalum veniat But to this necessitie was giuen such a gird as might euen haue made a reprobate appalde to thinke that the euill which of necessitie must come to passe should be acted by his infortunate plottings For vae homini illi was straightwaies added to the definitiue sentence per quem scandalum venit as far better and more tolerable to haue had a milstone tied about his necke and himselfe bound hand and foote cast headlong into the sea rather then euer to haue been author agent plotcaster current or contriuer to so great a sinne Parsons is that wretch to whom with his Iesuiticall plotcasters of faction this speech of scandall is applied If he therefore haue thus farre medled and further as in more particular manner shall in the next Quodlibet be shewed by his seditious libels practises and conspiracies against the English state if all men iudge these vnchristian vnnaturall vncharitable dealings of his to haue occasioned such a general iealousie to be had of all priests and catholike recusants as the sequele thereof presageth a ruine subuersion conquest captiuitie and bondage of our deere countrie natiue land people nation and friends were it not that God of his mercie in whose hands are the harts of princes had inclined her Maiesties princely hart to conceiue of her poore catholikes so as not to condemne all for some priuate mens attempts and practises which if any thing preuent these generall ensuing calamities to the whole realme it must be that or nothing else at all the whole state being otherwise brought into such iealousie of one the other by Parsons agents as all and euery of them of necessitie constraind must seeke for their securitie to make friends where and as best they may if he the said Parsons haue taken vpon him to promulgate these prodigies to foreshew our ensuing calamities to be the genius of his owne and all our hard fortunes and to make knowne to all nations the enormous dealings of priuate persons vnder our soueraigne still concealing his owne and his associats and to stir vp yea put forraigne powers in hope of a conquest nay full assurance of a rightfull title to our English crowne if he in his bookes in his platformes in his secret perswasions in his agents tongue works will labour to make all our royall and imperiall heroicall princes our nobles our gentils our commons and the whole realme odious by reason of some priuate and particular persons offences if he will seeke to confederate himselfe in a Spanish or Iesuiticall league with those against whom he hath written most bitterly and shewed by demonstration that all the realme in his iudgement and censure hath iust cause to curse hate and spit at them if he haue offered himselfe like an impudent base fellow to be a spie to colour thereby his treason for her Maiestie to fill all the whole realme with state practisioners to tamper one while with this noble Heroes another while with that roiall lady and get by his agents some or other of his Iesuiticall tribe and consistorian order to insinuate his drift euery where If by his meanes there be not one noble familie in this land but the Iesuits haue been tampering withall to come within it one way or other the nobles themselues both Lords and Ladies often dreaming of nothing lesse then that any of a Iesuiticall faction came within their doores or sat at table with them much lesse that so smooth a creeper into their bosome intended to sting them at the hart at time appointed for their purpose neither the Marquisate of Winchester nor the house of Oxford for as for the house of Arundell Westmerland and Northumberland how he and his associats haue tampered with them all the world knoweth especially the first against which notwithstanding he hath written most bitterly in Philopater and other bookes affirming the infortunate Howard of Norfolke to haue been one and the chiefe cause of the ouerthrow both of the Church and common wealth yet with whom he and his hath had I will not say haue videant ipsi more inward close dealing for aduancement to the crowne by marriage of Lady Arbella c. and other means then with any other house familie within the land nor the house of Lincolne nor the houses of Cumberland of Shrewsbury of Penbrooke of Darby of Hartford of Huntington of Warwike of Leicester of Worcester of Bathe of Kent of Sussex of Nottingham of Mountague c. together with all and euery of the nobles Barons of this land none I say hath beene free from danger of intrapping of whatsoeuer religion they were by some one fine fingerd fig boy or other cosin of his kinde alwaies obseruing this for a generall rule that looke where any of the blood royall ly most there and in those places are the Iesuits most frequent and their faction is hottest so in London in Derbyshire and whiles Earle Ferdinando liued in Lancashire though God be thanked there are not so many of that faction there now as earst haue been c. Finally if he in all his said Philopater and elsewhere haue shewed what miserable endes those Archmurtherers of the Church and common wealth haue made together with their posteritie before the fourth generation hath been past if he haue presumed to accommodate these examples to our countries nobles and taken vpon him the person of a wise man southsaier or prophet to foretell a sorrowfull visitation of our nobilitie with like misfortunes if they that take part with the wicked in their wickednes must of equitie and reason looke to be partakers of their punishments paines and miseries what should I say more religion mooues me yet much more to speake conscience bindes me to cleere true catholike harts zeale of Gods house and honor constraines me to detect this wicked impe of cursed kinde affection to my deere countrie makes me tedious in discourse loue and loyaltie faith and dutie feare and affection striue for a supremacie in a troubled spirite and all resolued into a sea of
regard or esteeme to be had of him aboue a Seminarie or secular Priest or no. Thirdly the authoritie of the See Apostolike is here made doubt of sci whether the Priests might lawfully appeale from this mock-powerable audacious blind authority of the Ies Archpriest or no. Fourthly the inextinguible inexpugnable indelible vertue of the sacraments of Christs church is here weakned and made scruple of scil whether it be of equall force and validity in a secular Priest as in a Iesuit c. Fiftly the temporall state and common-wealth of this land especially all Catholike subiects vnder her Maiesty are indangered by running of the Iesuits fatall course as hereafter shall be proued Sixtly the innocent laitie of the simpler but well meaning harts are already seduced by the Iesuits factioÌ„ moe will be nay vtterly ouerthrown and led away in errour aswell against the Catholike church as their natiue countrie and common wealth if the seculars let the play fall and now sleep in silence Seuenthly the life maners good name all that is in priesthood in religion in conscience to be respected stands now vpon to be tried betwixt the Iesuits and the seculars Therefore I say that for these and many other waighty reasons they ought in bounden dutie to prosecute so laudable memorable and spiritually heroicall an act begun to the vttermost and nothing to doubt of aiders throughout all parts of Christendom to assist theÌ„ to the pulling downe of these seditious Templarian Iesuiticall sectaries THE VIII ARTICLE VVHether then is not the former charity zeale feruor of Catholikes on all sides much hindred by these vnsauorie contentions or no how it comes and whether the like haue euer bene before amongst Catholike Priests THE ANSWERE FIrst whosoeuer was Catholike a 20. yeares or but 16. yeares agone about which time there was a muttering of this Allobrogical gouernmeÌ„t of Fa. Westons my selfe being one though minimus fratrum meorum of 22. Seminarie Priests and so many moe of the Catholike laitie of honorable worshipfull and meaner calling all prisoners together in the Marshalseas he should there haue seene so palpable a difference betwixt the loose Catholikes that were then the strictest that are now as the first might haue bene patterns of pietie to the second for all religious charitable and Catholike actions Secondly no question there is in it but that the like contentioÌ„s haue bene in Gods church heretofore and will be to the worlds end otherwise could not the church Catholike be called militant here on earth nor be fitly coÌ„pared to a ship tossed vpon the sea one while in danger of sinking another while of splitting and then again of running vpon some rock or on ground and still interchangeably fleeting betwixt stormes and calmes nor yet parabolized with a net cast into the sea gathering containing in it all kinds of fish and frie or with new sowne seed which growing vp is intermixed with weeds Thirdly although it be rather to be accounted of as a miracle that all this while there hath not then to hold it as a scandale that now there hath fallen out such coÌ„tentions amongst Gods seruants Priests seeing that in heauen and that in a second instant of time or third of angelicall existence there was high ambition in paradise and that as some learned Diuines do hold within 3. houres space there was too much curiositie in the Apostles schoole and that within 3. yeres space there was too deep emulation contention auarice and treason wrought against the supreame Maiestie What should I say more if in the Catholike Roman church and Apostolicall chaire of Peter there haue bene already 23. schismes past although then no wonder to heare see the like contentions to these of ours yet that the first brochers of any such went away scotfree it was neuer yet heard of without a curse as Lucifer as the serpent as Iudas or else that they were the beginners of some new heresie or other in the end as Nicholas as Arius as Donatus as Nouatus all as rare men as great shew of zeale in theÌ„ as Catholikly bent and as many deuout graue and learned men to side with them at the first as either Fa. Parsons or Maist Blackwel hath Fourthly it is cleare that the Iesuits contempt of priesthood and irreligious doctrine was and is the originall cause before God and man of the decay of charitie piety and deuotion And therefore wo to the first brochers of these mischiefes Sed nunquid in aeternum irascetur Deus no God forbid THE IX ARTICLE VVHether then all religious zeale being turned into temporized platformes to cast omnia pro tempore nihil pro veritate all Christian charitie counterfetted all iustice violated all pietie decayed and gone and that spirit of humilitie innocencie and simplicitie of heart which earst was in the late Primitiues of English Catholikes being lost expelled and almost quite extinct amongst vs. Is it not the cause of withholding others that would come into Gods church or is it no let at all and if it be then by whose meanes THE ANSWERE IT is questionlesse the hinderance to some and rock of scandale to many that otherwise wold be members visibly of the Catholike church militaÌ„t on earth though not one soule is nor can be kept out thereby that is of God chosen though to vs vnknowne to be of the same church triumphant in excelsis and all this by the slie deuises and Machiuilean practises of the Iesuits as is manifest First for that sundrie Schismatickes and well willers to the Catholike church and religion standing out hitherto vpon worldly respects as being more prudent in their mundane muddy generations said our Sauiour then the children of light and feares of losses troubles and the like are now brought into a fooles paradise of conceit that they are in a better state or at least more secure for the time then those that are alreadie catholike Recusants by reason of these daungerous contentions they heare of to be betwixt the secular cleargie and this should be Monasticall now mock-religious whilst the Catholike laitie following the parts of this and that faction contend with Ego sum Pauli ego Apollo for a supremacie And thus thinke worldlings to haue a good excuse to hold out and so be of neither side but be as neuters or impersonals in terra Secondly amongst many Atheall Paradoxes taught in the Iesuits conclaue or close conuenticles I remember an honorable person and Lord of high degree It was a flat Atheall doctrine secretly taught in Scotland where these three things are common to eate flesh as company occasioneth to reade al kind of bookes indifferently and to go to the masse in the forenoone and to a Puritans serâ—on the afternoone All 3. acts indispensable of the Pope himselfe respecting persons time and place once obiecting vnto me that the Seminary Priests were too scrupulous nice and precise in state cases of conscience said that herein the Iesuits
that those who haue quite abandoned the world ought not to seeke aduancements in the world and by consequent not to set forth themselues otherwise then they are indeed Neither in truth shal you finde it in any religious order or person vnlesse they be apostataed from their faith as is ordinary by that occasion taken saue only amongst the Iesuits with whom it is as common a practise as to say their Breuiary See a notable stratageme for this matter in the next Article how Doctor Worthington president at Dowry and father Hoâ—t the fully states man at Bruxels bestirred theÌ„selues in procuring boyes and girles and â—ll sorts of pâ—rsâ—â— to mâ—ke pâ—â—tâ—on to the king of 〈…〉 and other Princes to haue fâ—â—her Parsons made Lord Cardinall of England mâ—king it seeme otherwise that all religion and hope of the king Catholikes aduancemeÌ„t to the English Crowne would â—uaile and be dashed for euer yet forsooth these holy fathers may not seeke for any â—â—â—â—ncemeÌ„t neither will neither may they take it being thrust vpon them So the foxe will eate no grapes not hungry houÌ„ds any duâ—ty puâ—dings vnlesse they can come by theÌ„ and not be seene And I verily thinke more common in some of them whose whole studie meditation and indeuor seemeth as it were to tend to this onely end how to aduance them selues and their societie Which mind of theirs for that it suffers a contradiction by reason of their religious profession and vowe of voluntarie pouertie containing in it many particulars opposite to all or any either ecclesiasticall or temporall aduancement therefore must they set all their wits a wool-gathering making choise of the finest locks to worke vp this web in so smooth a loome and that so couertly and the threeds so layd and wrought in close couched together as not a breake knot or anie the least tuft or end of a threed extrauagant of any mundane thought or secular aduancement fished for by them be left to be seene but all pure zeale spirituall contemplation perfect mortification Christian renunciation contempt of honour riches and all worldly esteeme Of this I neede to say no more euery Quodlibet and Article ministring occasion to talke of the Iesuits ambition incrochment and seeking for aduauncement by concealing such defects wants in themselues as are verie necessarie to be knowne no way ought to be kept close neither will they be so hereafter vnlesse they mend their maners and reforme themselues in their order Now for others that liue in the world abroad in way of aduancement to and in a state ecclesiasticall or temporall thus stands the case I told you before in the Quodlibets of Fame and report what a Priests place and office was and how the state Ecclesiasticall or secular was euer to be preferred before the Monasticall or religious Monos tying them to a solitarie life Religion to a stricter retired course and order Therefore true it is that though both Priests and lay persons may lawfully seeke for aduancemeÌ„t as hereafter shal be shewed Quia qui in Episcopatum desiderat bonuÌ„ opus desiderat said the choise vessel of deuine election to his scholer disciple consecrated Bishop per impositioneÌ„ manum suarum yet is there a great difference in the matters to be reuealed or coÌ„cealed for the better furtherance or hinderance of their aduancement verbi gratia a man giuen ouer either to wine or women is not to take vpon him the charge of soules but being initiated to holy orders a close Cell is fittest for him to auoyd both the danger of damning his owne soule by fact scandall and leud example giuen and also the ruine and fall of others by his conuersing with them Qui enim tangit picem coinquinabitur qui amat periculum periculo peribit And thererefore ought he secretly to impart the conflicts he hath with himselfe in such a case to his ghostly father with desire to haue him worke some conuenient meanes to stop his preferment if he be vrged to take curam animarum vpon him Otherwise if needes he must take charge then let him euer haue iust Iob his league written in his heart Pepegi foedus cum oculis meis ne cogitarem quidem de virgine and so concealing his owne infirmities obstando principijs as much as is possible ter dominuÌ„ rogando yea ter centies with S. Paul vt auferratur à se stimulus carnis angelus Sathanae qui illum colophizat let him not double but to beate in his heart or feele in his flesh that comfortable answer which the said Apostle had made vnto him in the like case Sufficit tibi gratiae meae nam virtus in insirmitate perficitur And so let him go forward in the name of God reueale his defects to God alone But now on the contrarie in a temporall man these defects are not so great a blemish because the one may easily be remedied by mariage a sacrament instituted in remedium peccati post lapsum Adami and the other as sufficiently supplied by competent diet and neither the one or the other so daungerous to the Church weale publike or the infected therewith as they are in the former Againe in a temporal man these are greater defects and causes of hinderance to his preferment then in a Priest scil meannesse of birth want of wealth deformitie of bodie foule diseases and the like For that although all these things are to be respected in a Priest scil that he be not base borne nor a bondslaue nor a beggars brat nor a deformed creature nor infected with any filthie disease c. but on the contrarie of honest parentage a free borne Denison of sufficient patrimonie or meanes to liue though he were not Priest of comely personage and of a cleane constitution of bodie optima quaeque Deo and further although the question betwixt Ciuilians and Diuines be pro contra It was wel asked when Adam delued and Eue span who was then a Gentleman insinuating thereby that all Noblenesse and gentry came at the first but of mean persons compared in manners and order of life with their successors or posteritie Yea the greatest Emperour honor and families in the world came ofteÌ„ vp of meanest officers in their progenitors scil of bondslaues of Scriueners of Gardiners c. which is the cause that wheras all honor and gentrie riseth froÌ„ one of these two heads scil from learning or from chiualrie that by consequent a Gentleman of proper merit by either may is to be preferred before him of bloud coat armor perfect and ancestry if his deserts excel the others otherwise not c. concerning dispensations legitimations and enabling of such irregulates and defectiues to aduancement in the Church and common wealth wherof somewhat I spoke in the foresaid Quodlibet of Fame and Report and more at large haue set it out in the Antiperistasis to Dolemans succession in the barre of bastardie yet forasmuch as
brought all to be had in ielousie And sure if it were for none other cause yet were this alone sufficient to mooue all catholikes to vrge the Iesuits exile out of the land that our aduersaries might hereafter haue no excuse in putting any to death for religion vnder pretence as now caeteris paribus considering the occasions by some giuen whereof we will treate in the next Quodlibet of State they haue had iust cause to prosecute all alike not knowing who was innocent of state matters and conspiracies and who was free Therefore doe I conclude that this speech is but a meere coggerie and Machiuillian deuise of the Iesuits faction to breake of this intercourse and cleerely to take away all meanes of libertie to any seculars or other catholikes that is not for their tooth to the vttermost THE IX ARTICLE VVHether any assurance or hope be of the conuersion of our countrie by this course taken by the seculars sooner then by that the Iesuits take all this while the Iesuits affirming that all that they do or intend against their country proceeds of pure zeale and meere intent and meaning they haue to set foorth Gods glorie And by consequent though some are possessed with Machiuillian deuises on their side for to serue their owne priuate turnes withall and others perhaps on the seculars to serue themselues also yet forasmuch as all in both or either company are not of one humor nor mind in the particulars then holding them for a faction for the present the seculars for their countrie the Iesuits for Spaine whether the contention in generall be not or at least may be thought to proceede of true zeale to the glorie of God and spirituall good of their countrie or not and how their intents being many of both parties in generall very vertuous wise learned and discreete men yea and no doubt but far from treason or conspiracies in themselues howsoeuer they are or may be corrupted in virtute principalis agentis may be interpreted in seeking the one partie for conuersion of their countrie by inuasion and possessing of the land with strangers The other with apostolicall manner and accustomed course of preaching teaching martyrdome c. THE ANSWERE THis article conteining sundry interrogatories represents a memorable discourse I once did read in Sir Anthony Guiueraes writings Which for that it may fitly be applied to our purpose concerning this contention betwixt the seculars and Iesuits I will first set it downe at large to the same effect he hath left it to posteritie to looke vpon and then apply it to our particular case and cause The summe of his speech consists of this point to wit how that the contention which amongst the wicked is naught as proceeding of rancor malice and reuenge the same amongst the good and otherwise sincerely vertuous is commendable as proceeding of zeale true pietie and perfect charitie euen in the middest of their hart breaking broiles The sequele ensuing vpon his speech is this that if there haue been in heauen high ambition in paradise too much curiositie in the Apostles schoole a contentious desire of soueraigntie in the indubitate seate of infallible truth three and twenty schismes already past sometimes two otherwhile three Popes though but one Summus pontifex and he holy and Peter in opposition by different elections one against an other and so continuing the schisme 3. 7. 20. 30. 40. 50. yeeres together some lucidum interuallum passing now and then betweene ere it was ended Emperors and kings and the mighties of the world interchangeably standing in a faction now with one then with an other sometimes with most infest warres yea cruell deathes of the vanquished Antipapes and perturbers of the Churches peace which with all those tempestuous stormie blasts could not be blowne vp nor faile in faith standing the oracle irreprooueable ego rogaui pro te Petre vt non deficiat fides tua c. Then neither is it to be wondered at in these contentions if some wicked Iesuits of Luciferian ambition Euauistian curiositie Iudastiall desire of gaine contempt of ordinarie authoritie stir vp strife cause rebellion and make inuouations of ancient customes and new gods amongst the people set vp an Antipape golden calfe or Archpriest and commit all impietie vnder colour of religion and yet with Core Dathan and Abiram saucily presume to tell both Moses and Aaron Pope and Prince state ecclesiasticall and temporall that they take too much vpon them nay that they are seditious disobedient and factious that speake against them for so doing and that they are but trifles which they make so much adoe about Neither is it to be iudged that all haue dipt their hands a like deepe in these contentions or intentions on the Iesuits side though all alike dangerous that concurre with them or are agents for them as I said before both to the Church and common wealth by reason of the aide and furtherance of the conspirators and principall agents which in this case they yeeld in the intent of the plot-casters to the ouerthrowe of all gouernment religion and authoritie but in their owne intent at least in many of them to the setting vp of religion againe in our countrie simply and plainly some of them no doubt thinking it impossible to be brought to passe but by inuasion and conquest of the land and this onely by false perswasions of the Iesuits whose intents many deuout both men and women thinking to be sincere good iust and conformable to the lawes both of God and the catholike Church doe hereupon prosecute their purpose as being led away with indiscreete zeale Of this sort of catholikes then is the question here to be made Whether their course supposing one or two Iesuits be of that minde and go no further gaping after gaine honor or renowne which Parsons and other of their chiefe ambitious practitionall state Iesuits aime at or the seculars course be of more assurance for the conuersion of our countrie which of them is most conformable to catholike doctrine and beleefe and what examples can be brought on either side This is the point I now stand vpon and the effect of the Spanish Bishops and cronicle before mentioned tends to this end in forme following Amongst the many visions which good Daniell had one was of the two gardian angels of the Hebrues empire and the Persian monarchie two nations vowed enimies one to the other the former being transported by the latter and led captiue out of Babylon into Susan in change of the conquerors imperiall place and regall throne In this Babylonian transmigration Daniels Hebdomades beginning to take their place in working in the hart of Cyrus for deliuerie of Gods people out of captiuitie a question rose and thereupon a great contention followed with hote disputes amongst the heauenly spirits concerning the Iewes deliuerie out of bondage scil whether it were more fitting to Gods glorie to mooue the Persian hart to grace and fauor at
a holier place then earth the land of Eden far before Palestine Paradise terrestriall alwaies to be preferred before Hierusalem and yet out of these haue our fellow Angels and Israels ancestors mans protophlast both bene thrust out with infliction of perpetuall exile out of heauen vpon the former and an inhibition to the latter neuer to returne into the countrey of Eden nor garden of Paradise againe and then à simili no reason of their returne home to the land of behest hereafter nor to account them Gods people th◠〈◊〉 Nation and the like more then any other inhabitants vpon the 〈◊〉 the middle earth seeing all are one by creation as come of one man Adam all one by preseruation as we are appointed to guarde the Persians with as tender care ouer them as you haue ouer the Iewes and so hath euery guardian Angell ouer that countrey and people allotted to his custody all one by Synderisis and instinct of proper kinde as inclined to seeke for good to eschewe euill and wishing after summum bonum if in paris naturalibus they could haue obtained it and all one by relation betwixt the D. attributes and mans deserts on Gods part as one qui neminem vult perire sed omnes animas saluas facere aswell Gentile as Iewe or proselite Yet for all this an other Angell replied and it was our blessed Ladies paranimphe Saint Gabriell as may be well coniectured because Daniell saith that this holy spirite appeered vnto him from the beginning and told him of things to come towards the end of the world what should happen in these latter daies and how the Septuaginta Hebdomades were abbreuiated ouer his people and ouer the holy citie meaning Hierusalem This Archangell then reuiued the plea on the Iewes behalfe that needes they must returne to Hierusalem againe to repaire the holy Citie to restore the Temple to reinstall their high priest to consecrate the altar to annoint the holy of holies to purge the place of sacrifice polluted by the Gentiles and to exercise their many ceremonies sacraments and sacrifices which were not to be vsed made or offered extra ciuitatem sanctam Hierusalem and bicause that after 62. weeks vnderstand 8. Hebdomads to be first ended in time of this altercation and despicion amongst the Angels occidetur Christus therefore to confirme what God hath promised by his Angels speaking in the mouth of his prophets the Iewes of necessitie must returne againe that God may be glorified his church florish and his priests offer sacrifice vnto him in the place appointed them But to this roundly and readily Malachies Angell made answere agreeing to the minde of the Persians guardian that as he had said so true it was that non est personarum acceptio apud Deum but that who when and in what place soeuer the name of God shall be called vpon there then and by that same person shall his name be glorified And for the particulars Hierusalem in deed was the holy city and so it should be counted to the worlds end not for that Adam was therein created liued died and his scul buried in mount Caluarie not for that it was the seate of the holy line deuoluted from Adam to Christ not for that the law the prophets the sacrifice and the high priests gaue the prerogatiues of all sanctitie and holines to this place before any other But that which made that land holy that people holy that line holy that city holy was bicause the holy of all holies Christ Iesus the sonne of God and Mary the immaculate tressacred blessed virgine came out of that line liued in that land was linked in blood to that people by the two tribes of Iuda and Leui kings and priests watred many a house with his teares and sanctified that citie with his owne most pretious blood imbruing the streetes earth and stones from Pilats palace to Caiphas his place and from thence to the Caluarian mount without the gates of the citie Whose personall birth life and death as they left an inestimable sanctitie behinde them to that land so the Iewes wilfully depriuing themselues of so inualuable a price as he paied for mans redemption haue woorthily deserued an vtter extirpation of their race a subuersion of their state and a captiuity bondage and slauerie of themselues and their posteritie for euer And although there had been and were during the time of captiuitie many holy religious and deuout men and women amongst them yet not onely bicause the greatest part of the multitude and sundry of their kings princes and gouernors had offended their Lord God in the highest degree which is in schisme heresie and apostasie with idolatrie so highly displeasing the diuine maiestie as the punishment of those vices hath alwaies beene this videl a conquest of the land a downefall of nobilitie a desolation of the state a deflowring of their virgins a dishonoring of their wiues a massacre of their ancients a population of the common wealth and a seruile life to all their youth led captiues out of their natiue land But withall as the Persian had said bicause the prouidence in appointing of Guardians for euery prouince prince people and particular person had been in vaine and to no purpose if God should for euer withdraw his mercie frō all saue only those of his owne flesh and blood as he was a Iew borne and if our Iewes prophets spoke in generall when they said that Deus non vult mortem peccatoris sed magis vt conuertatur viuat then can it be no otherwise but that the Hebrues Israelites and Iewes hauing continued these three thousand and od hundreds of yeeres vnder one kinde of true worship of our Lord God the onely visible Church true faith sacrifice and religion remaining inuiolate amongst them alone reason doth conuince on the part of man and mercy and iustice on Gods behalfe doth ratifie and confirme the argument to be good lawfull and expedient that the Iewes should be dispersed before the Messias come into so many nations prouinces and kingdomes of the Gentiles as his holy will is to haue partakers of his merits And all this to the end that the Gentiles being by creation in God himselfe and preseruation in the power of his angels his owne people as well as they liuing now in darknes ouerwhelmed with ignorance and giuen ouer vnto prophane idolatrie might by this their conuersing and familiar liuing amongst them come to haue some knowledge of their end that there is another world after this and that they are to acknowledge honor and latrially adore but one God alone That this was the meaning of the holy Ghost Malachies corrupt heretikes The former constantly expecting Gods iust designments in these causes alledge that they come as Apostles of their countrie whose peculiar propertie is to conuert soules by suffering their owne blood to be shed not in procuring the shedding of any others Sanguis enim martyrum est semen
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
effects we now behold both clergie and laitie highly offending so the succceding occasions of erronious conceipts hath been our owne faultes in treading our forefathers steps in this point of priuate respects selfe conceits and high aspires So as iustly we may say Non sumus digni à Deo exaudiri but rather and most true it is that nostris demeritis meremur puniri and that the fault is not in her Maiestie nor honorable Councell nor ciuill magistrate nor all nor any of our aduersaries but in our selues that England is not yet conuerted and our persecution of long time still encreased scil by reason of some seditious persons and others that followed them with indiscreet zeale and those that were in expectance of great matters by a change conuerting their thoughts from heauenly hopes to earthly hazards imploying their studies how to compasse their owne ambitious aduancements God highly offended to see his blessings and graces lost and taken from amongst vs for our forefathers sinnes to be gone about by the like and woorse proceedings to haue it restored againe It could not otherwise choose but greeuously offend the diuine maiestie and vntill the archplotters of this preposterous course for our countries conuersion were either cut off or otherwise had humbled themselues and surceasing from all ambitious aspires sought sincerely the health of soules not heapes of gold England should neuer be conuerted But we all die and pine away leauing the atchieuement to those that shall succeede in our places when we are all dead and gone That the Iesuits of the more fiery hot and Puritanian humor may not snuffe at the quiet that catholikes are here said to haue liue◠in eleuen yeeres you shall heare the very words of two of their great Rabbies Parsons Creswels speaking to her Maiestie in a Puritanian stile as followeth In the beginning of thy kingdome thou didst deale something more gently with catholikes none were vrged by thee or pressed either to thy sect or to the deniall of their faith All things in deede did seeme to proceede in a farre milder course no great complaints were heard of no extraordinarie contentions or repugnancies Some there were that to please gratifie you went to your churches But when afterwards thou didst beginne to wring them c. Which whensoeuer it was we were the cause as the attempts in Fraunce and Scotland make it manifest This then being the course and cause of humane hopes our harts doe bleede to reade and heare as sundry of vs haue what hath beene printed and published out of Italie in the life of Pius Quintus concerning the indeuors of his holines stirred vp by false suggestions to ioine with the king of Spaine for the vtter ruine and ouerthrow both of our prince and countrie Would God such things had neuer beene enterprised and more that they had neuer beene printed but most of all that they neuer had fronted our natiue shores And if Parsons and his associates had not busied themselues with that they should nor then had we not now medled in this place with that we would not as whereunto for a iust defence of all loyall catholike subiects ignorant of Parsons and his complices drifts we are now constrained to make appeales apologies and replies For what good soeuer the first or againe renewing of the excommunication the printing reprinting of state bookes and other practises may bring hereafter to the Church of God we neither see it neither knowe it But sure we are that for the present nothing hath done vs greater harme nor giuen our common enimies greater aduantages against vs. It is elsewhere set downe how that her Maiestie vsed vs kindly for the space of the first ten yeers of her highnes raigne the state of the catholikes in England that while was tollerable and after a sort in some good quiet Such as for their conscience were imprisoned or in durance were very mercifully dealt withall the state and change of things then considered some being appointed to remaine with such their friends as they themselues made choise of others were placed with Bishops and others with Deanes and had their diets at their tables with such conuenient walkes and lodgings as did well content them They that were in ordinarie prisons had all such libertie and commodities as the place and their estate could affoord them yea euen thus much and more doth Parsons confesse in his Philopater as also father Creswell in his Scribe to the like effect though both very rude peremptorie and sawcie in their speech to her Maiestie with thou didst this and thou didst that c. And Parsons in Grenecoate makes the case cleere especially for state matters though he turne his passage there against the Earle of Leicester to a wanton speech as deliuered from a Lady of the Court how great quiet the state and Court was in for twelue yeeres space no talke of treasons nor conspiracies no iealousies nor suspitions no enuie nor supplantations no feare of murtherings nor massacrings no question of conscience nor religion all liued in quiet content and right good fellowship was amongst them both Lords and Ladies wiues and maidens nobles and gentles knights and esquires married and single of all degrees a ioy it was to haue been in the Court in those daies saith Parsons in that Ladies name whose words mooued much the company where she was as women saith he are potent in moouing where and when they please she did deliuer her mind with so sweete a countenance and courtly a grace c. Now whiles you were say our aduersaries thus kindly vsed of her highnes how trecherously was she dealt withall by you For what had you to doe being catholikes and religious priests as Iesuits terme themselues with spreading pamphlets libels and other fooleries abroad of any misdemeanor in her Maiesties subiects and peeres of the realme You might haue left such scoggerie as Parsons hath set out in Greenecoate to Tarleton Nashe or else to some Puritane Martin Mar prelate or other like companions And for you it was to haue handled grauer higher and more important matters and that concerning soule points not subtilties nor new deuises much lesse to haue dealt against her Maiestie and the state in so traiterous a manner as in a late treatise set out by our brethren doth at large appeere Where to our vnspeakable greefe the world shall see that we our selues who would be termed catholikes and that of all sorts haue beene the true causes of all our owne calamities When I was examined before some of the high Commissioners at the Gildhall about 14. yeeres agone concerning matters of state and especially about the six Interrogatories which we commonly called the six bloodie articles knowing my selfe innocent from the beginning of any the least disloyall thought I haue often since much mused with my selfe what should haue mooued her Maiesties honorable Councell to haue proposed these articles to priests but most of all why
of a lyon becom a lambe In few we see in Polony in Sweden in Scotland in Flaunders and euery where that catholikes are together with those of other professions sects and opinions vnlesse it be where onely the Consistorian Caluinian Cartwrightian puritans rule the rost and that a company of ministers or exorbitant superintendants ouertop both Prince prelate and all as in Scotland and at Geneua c. Otherwise all kings and princes of this age haue iudged it in pollicie the fittest wisest safest and most honorable and princely course they could haue taken to graunt libertie of conscience to their subiects Which seeing our soueraigne Queene Elizabeth hath not granted and yet is knowne to be in her owne high towring princely wisedome of as high a pitch sound and deepe conceite censure and iudgement in reach not to be seconded of any of these adding heereunto that for gouernment of her land for policie in her state for noblenes in her court her Highnes hath the choice of as fine delicate and daintie breed of gallant graue quicke wits as Europe nay as Afrike nay as Asia nay as the world this day enioyes The Italian the Spaniard the Polonian the Sweden the Moscouite the Turke the Persian and who not is willing to aduaunce her Maiesties meanest sort of subiects sometime to the highest types of honor to winne them wholy to be theirs to learne witte sleight and pollicie out of their practise and experience These Boreas blasted lads borne vnder the Britaine Ocean able to fire with their wits the hotte climatical Southerne Sages witnes our Stukeleyes our Candishes our Furbishers our Drakes our Hilles our Sherleys our Parsons c. All these circumstances duly weighed that this heauie yoke should be laide by so mercifull wise and prudent a prince vpon the weake neckes of her poore subiects with weight importable for them to carry vnlesse her highnes should stretch foorth her accustomed Atlantike armes of clemencie to support them before they sinke downe right vnder their burthen That this seueritie should be more vsed against catholiks in England then either any catholike king or prince of other professions either Christian or heathen vse against either subiects or forrainers of contrary religions vnto the said princes throughout the worlde this day This is the point which many stande vpon in admiring how euer things should haue come to that passe they are at in England concerning the affliction of catholikes and cannot finde out the causes This then to make manifest to all the world by an historicall discourse and that howsoeuer we haue matter enough against our aduersaries euen for religions sake yet neither to aggrauate more then is necessarie nor to accuse further then is expedient nor to excuse more then is conuenient nor yet to lay the fault of any that is faultlesse therefore shall it be made knowne that as the affliction of catholiks in England hath beene in very deed extraordinary as is heere set downe and many an innocent man lost his life so also hath the cause thereof beene extraordinary and so farre beyond the accustomed occasions of persecution giuen to any prince in christendome or monarchie that is or euer was in the world to this hower vnlesse the Puritanes of Scotland which may in some sort equall the offence heere to be set downe as rather it is to be woondred at all things duly considered that any one catholike is left on liue in England then that our persecution hath beene so great for name one nation I know none can vnder heauen where the subiects especially if they were catholikes euer sought the death of their Soueraigne though of a different religion frō them the conquest of their natiue land the subuersion of the state the depopulation of the weale publike the alteration change of al lawes customs orders in few the vtter deuastation desolation destruction of al the ancient inhabitants of their land in so vnnatural vnchristian vncatholike a maner as the Spanish faction haue sought it in our owne flesh and bloud against this realme which treacherous courses although they were but some fewe and those priuate persons offences and by consequent in a court of conscience and in rigour of iustice the rest neither acting nor concurring nor consenting to their conspiracies were innocent and no way to be vsed with that seueritie as many catholiks haue beene Yet forasmuch as the pretences of such practises were generall and common to all catholikes alike all maintaining one and the same opinion concerning what might be done by apostolicall power and authoritie and neuer talking of what was necessarie therefore was it that her Maiestie and the state standing on the other side affected in religion as they did had both cause to iudge secundum allegata probata in foro externo and also can not otherwise be thought of but that the circumstances on all sides considered as well making for her owne securitie as also for a Non-knowledge what catholiks were guiltie and who were free her Maiesties lawes and proceedings against catholikes haue beene both milde and mercifull And as we are to thinke in deed our happe now to be hard if no mitigation nor prouisoe should be made for the innocent now that the way and meanes is knowne for discouery of traytors distinguishing betwixt state catholiks catholike loyall subiects so also are we to giue her Highnes humble thanks for our liues that we were not al cut off whiles no difference was made put nor knowne betwixt the secular priests Iesuits that we haue been permitted to liue to this happy houre of manifesting our catholike cōstancy obedience to the See apostolike in al our actions and our naturall loyaltie and seruiceable harts to our Prince and countrey in all our proceedings in neither stayning our catholike religion with vnnaturall treason nor priestly function with factious dispositions and state affaires But of this matter I will heere be silent referring you to a treatise lately set out by my brethren intituled Important considerations c. whereunto I haue prefixed an Epistle By both which you may see at large what statizing by acts wordes and writings in most treacherous and treasonable manner hath beene against her Maiestie against the present state against the whole common-wealth against vs all without exception her Highnes loyall and naturall subiects of what religion soeuer we be which seeing her Princely hart hath forborne as no Soueraigne on earth would euer haue suffred the like to haue past vnpunished as she hath I must conclude and end as we began that her lawes and proceedings haue beene both milde and mercifull THE X. ARTICLE VVHether then the premisses considered is it fit that Catholiks should send their children and friends to be brought vp in the Seminaries beyond the seas or not If not then how should the salt of the earth be kept vncorrupted or the seede of priesthood be continued for restoring of the catholike Romane
infection with Iesuiticall conspiracies euer heereafter when as such seditious rotten weedes should be rooted out which both indanger her royall person and present state and bring vs all her faithfull subiects to be suspected by their meanes And as for study learning and other catholike exercises let this good motiue deere catholikes be no waie heauily taken nor rashly censured as though there were no learning nor method of teaching nor any gouernment or vertuous exercise but where a Iesuite beares the stroke For know you this that as there are their betters in England and out of it that are no Iesuits euen of our owne nation this day in all things required in teachers masters and gouernors so before euer any Iesuits came or were in rerum natura the Vniuersities of Oxford and Cambridge florished amongst the most famous schooles in Christendome either for schoole method or positiue doctrine in Diuinitie Philosophie or any other studie And seeing it cannot be denied but that for all the Iesuits boast of their learning gouernment method of teaching and I can not tell what yet still haue the seculars Seminarie priests beene the chiefe Readers profoundest Clarks either in Diuinitie or philosophy that haue gone out of our Nation in these daies witnesse our Allans our Stapletons our Giffords our Hardings our Parkinsons our Elyes our Kellingsons with sundrie other Doctors schoolemen to omit those that are in England at this present togither with diuers religious Englishmen of S. Benedicts of S. Dominicks of S. Fraunces and of other religious orders al of them to be preferred before our new illuminates these vainglorious vanting men Besides we see that for al our Seminaries vnder the Iesuits yet the most famous men from time to time haue beene brought vp vnder the secular clergie or the Dominican preachrers and teachers in all nations Also it is well knowne that there is nothing wanting in our Vniuersities heere in England for making profound clarks and learned men in deede saue onely that sound catholike doctrine and schoole method which was vsed in Gabrell Beoll in Alexander of Hales and in Iohn Scots daies For otherwise neuer was there a finer breed of wits nor brauer Orators nor more pleasant Poets nor perfecter Grammarians nor more copious Linguists nor riper men in all studies of humanitie then are brought vp in our English Vniuersities Therefore seeing that which is wanting might be supplied by catholike doctors and teachers of our owne nation any Iesuits equals and that we see sundrie of the finest wits resort to our side daily notwithstanding all these either contentions betwixt vs and the Iesuits or yet the present affliction and danger we all do liue in of our common aduersaries then thinke deere catholiks as true it is that there can no question be made of it to the contrary but that where one commeth now vnto vs there would then come ten of all sorts by such carefull diligence and choise of tutors as vpon this so gracious a grant O happie who may liue to see it of her Maiestie might be vsed both in Oxford and Cambridge as that you might haue your children there inclined and trained vp with some such good conceits of the catholike faith and religion as nourished and cherished therein by you that are their friends in natural loue and affection and confirmed by vs that are priests as in christian charity and catholike dutie we are bound there would quickly follow a ioyfull forgetfulnes of the Iesuits exile as the perturbers of both the catholike church and Englands common-wealth and ruine of vs all if they remaine amongst vs. And thus hauing brought this long tedious intricate and most dangerous difficult and doubtfull Quodlibet of plots by statizing to an end in some sort though not halfe so much said heerein as both the waight of the matter it selfe doth require and also as willing I was and am to haue written thereof as well in respect of iustice as of charity both mouing me to speake were I not infringed vpon other considerations iustly compelling me to silence Therefore vnwilling to holde you any longer in this so discomfortable a party as necessarily the talke of these matters must needs be to many deuout soules which no doubt will be assaulted with variable cogitations in the peruse of this discourse wo be to them who haue occasioned such straite passages of our heauines I now end in harty praier vpon my knees that God may turne all to his glory as well for religion as state and so proceed to other matters in hand THE ARGVMENT OF THE NINTH GENERALL QVODLIBET HAuing said more in the last Quodlibet then I shall haue thanks for at the Iesuits hands but that I am Iohn Indifferent and a Wilfull Will that wil neuer force a friend nor feare a foe in an act of publike iustice as I hold it for such that a greater act both of iustice of chatity could not be then if my poore cōceits by pen expressed can do it to defend Gods cause quarrell my prince countries right the gaulelesse catholikes innocent harts and to firret these cony-catching Iesuits out of conceit from all English berries or warrens that carrie either oile of perfect charitie in their lampes or fire of true catholike zeale within their breastes or naturall affection to their prince their countrie their parents children flesh and blood their deerest friends Hereupon there doth occurre to my memorie two generall Quodlibets which make as much for our purpose as any we haue hitherto handled scil to make knowne to the world the surmised forme but in deede very weake foundation the Iesuits haue laied especially this most Atheall Polypragmon father Parsons to perfect the platforme of statizing mentioned in the last Quodlibet precedent for the ouerthrowe of all that are not as they And therefore shal the first of these two Quodlibets be of plots by succession the second of plots by presages The former then consisting of such deuises engins and baites as the Iesuits haue cast abroad into euery mundane puddle◠pond and poole of Christendome to fish for an absolute monarchie that as there is but one God and Sauiour Lord and king Iesus in heauen so but one sole regiment by Iesuits on earth the articles concerning that point are these 10. following THE NINTH GENERALL QVODLIBET OF PLOTS by succession THE I. ARTICLE WHether is the practise of the Iesuits agreeable to christian charitie and the dutie of true subiects to interprete euery thing that their Soueraigne and the state of the countrey doth in the woorst part to slaunder depraue and calumniate the king their Lord and his proceedings by libels and sundry sorts of chartals bookes and pamphlets of purpose both to make his highnes his gouernment and his whole kingdome as much as in them lieth offensiue to other princes now and odious heereafter to all posteritie or not THE ANSWERE THe Quodlibets of state and succession hauing such an affinity by
sequell of proper kind as we now handle them that the one followeth the other as the shadow doth the body there is nothing said in the last generall Quodlibet of state but it hath a relation to this of succession So as it can not be otherwise imagined but that the Iesuites haue a further drift and intend a greater mischiefe then all the world dreames of to make princes state gouernment and all authoritie seeme odious to the multitude Therefore I affirme and say absolutely as in my hart I thinke it that their proceedings therein are neither religious catholike christian nor dutifull but very barbarous impious and dishonest which I prooue first by testimony of holy writ Thou shalt not speake euill of the prince of thy people said the wise Salomon amongst his many Prouerbes Secondly Curse not the king no not in thy thought said the great Preacher in his ecclesiasticks and to the same purpose are the two great princes of the earth Saint Peter his words in his first Epistle and Saint Paule his speech by an Epistle to Titus Thirdly againe if any action can beare two constructions charity bindeth a man to take the best But princes haue neuer had more cause then now they haue by the Iesuites practises to be iealous of their estates ergo it ought to be construed in the best sense a man may if their gouernment be contrary to our likings Fourthly besides kings proceedings are oft aboue the capacity of the subiects and are not by them to be scanned or sifted much lesse to be slaundered and depraued Fiftly furthermore kings being the fathers of their country if they should haue in their proceedings any nakednes their subiects shew themselues to be of the generation of Cham that will not rather couer then detect them But such are the Iesuits vnnatural harts and greedie desire of soueraignty as it seemeth nothing doth more delight them then to find in a prince or priests coate some thing to make them seeme odious to their subiects or ghostly children Sixtly also the honour of our countrie ought to be more deere vnto vs then our owne credites or estimation nay oftentimes then our liues themselues ergo how can it be chosen but that the Iesuites being so ambitious in seeking their owne glory so greedy of their owne praises and so deeply affecting soueraigne dominion should not condemne themselues in their owne consciences in detracting and calumniating their soueraignes It is therefore most manifest and true as I haue often said and must haue often cause to repeate the same that of long time the grauest sort of the secular priests in England haue vtterly disliked such pamphlets and railing treatises and bookes as haue bene set out to the dishonour of her Maiesty and state here The booke that Doctor Saunders writ De schismate and his other De visibili Monarchia we wish with all our harts that they had neuer seen light Diuers of father Parsons books letters and treatises we haue and do from our very harts vtterly condemne them as conteining many seditious and trayterous points and being very full of slaunderous speeches and impudent calumniations Andreas Philopater being the fruits of father Parsons and father Creswell we hold to be fraught till it almost burst againe as some of my brethren elsewhere haue noted with all Iesuiticall pride and poyson And as touching the Exhortation before mentioned printed 1588. it is so detestable a treatise as all posterity cannot choose but condemne father Parsons for a most scurrilous traytor If he had beene brought vp amongst all the ruffians and Curtizans in Christendome he could not haue learned to haue writ more vilely prophanely and heathnishly Furthermore in that father Parsons and his fellow father Creswell do glory in their said booke that they haue caused not onely it but also master Saunders treatise De schismate to be translated into the Spanish toong and do reioyce that thereby the Spaniards are brought already into a greater detestation of her Maiestie her gouernment proceedings then they had before I thinke they glory in their owne shame and that they are to be accounted by all true catholikes to be most vile and trayterous persons that they dishonor priesthood and are as right Iesuits as insolencie and hatred can make them And so I conclude that the Iesuits practises and intents in wresting their Soueraignes and the state affaires in euery politicall morall and humane action to the worst sense is neither agreeing to Christian iustice catholike charitie nor bounden dutie of true subiects but like rebellious traytors to bring all into vprore that they may haue al crownes kingdomes gouernments succession state inheritance and all at their pleasure THE II. ARTICLE VVHether may not Iesuits although they are religious men and therefore excluded from dealing in publike secular affaires yet for all that which hath beene said imploy themselues in matters of state thus farre scil to direct and appoint the forme of the ciuill gouernment to set downe who ought to succeed to alter the ancient lawes of their countrie to decide and determine difficulties that may rise concerning all and euery competitors title in way of succession by birth blood c. to the crowne and to innouate all things vnder the pretence of gods glory and the promoting of their owne societie Or whether are not all these imputations so many vntruthes and calumniations THE ANSWERE I Hold it as I said before altogether vnlawfull for them to deale so in state matters and by consequent indecent First for that it is against the rules of their orders and very presumptuous for any of them to medle with the succession to the crowne at all Secondly it doth repugne from the very nature of all religious profession which is a seperating of men from the actions of the world Thirdly it tendeth to that which we most condemne in our common aduersaries For the consequence will be hardly denied it is lawfull for cleargy men to mannage ciuill causes ergo it is lawfull for temporall men to manage causes ecclesiasticall For wrest it and wring it aswell and which way soeuer we can possibly deuise yet will it alwaies be iudged of our aduersaries an assertion most euident and absurd to be denied that temporall men should not haue as great authoritie in church causes as Iesuits monks or friers at least if not also as other secular and ecclesiasticall persons should haue in causes ciuill Fourthly I shall not much need to trauell in this point bicause the Iesuits themselues do digest nothing woorse then to heare themselues charged with it for it is a practise with them to do all things vnder hande and to be as little seene in them as possiblie they can deuise And therefore as I haue often told you no lesse for the most part that which they go about they do it by other men or by feined names that if any inconuenience should happen they might either lay the blame vpon
conspiracies vpon more warie and further looking into their dooings drifts and plot castings comparing their infamous libels letters passages practises purposes and proceedings together and conferring one thing with an other heere and there and in all other nations kingdomes and prouinces where they come and can get footing as now in Sweuia the case is cleere how the Polonian king is defeated of that kingdome occasionated only by their treacherous ambitious tampring aspires sundry of sound iudgement and of the grauer more politike and wiser sorte amongst them that are not ledde away with passion or affection further then reason lawe iustice conscience and religion mooues bindes and compels them for to thinke are fully perswaded they escaped as great a danger of comming vnder a Iesuitical bondage when al France was in a furious combustion by them as euer they or anie other nation did at what time as the Templars the sampler of the Iesuits often mentioned by me in sundry places had confederated with the Turks or Sarazens in a general conspiracy for the ouerthrow of the whole christian world of France in chiefe And therefore as that most Christian catholike king great Henrie of France now regnant hath iust cause together with the state of France neuer to admit of the Iesuits againe to come within his borders or to like as the Scots phrase goeth within his bounds so maruell not though all that are Iesuits either in verbo or in voto in re or in spe or in faction or affection do mightily grudge murmur and euen gnash their teeth in the furie of their zeale with most bitter words reuiling as well the Popes holines as the king Christian the state the clergie the catholikes and the whole realme of Fraunce when they heare but the name of that nation or call to minde what a sweete morsell was taken out of their iawes at the reconciliation of the French king to the catholike Romish Church as the onely acte which dashed their hope for the time of that crowne frustrated their ambitious aspires to that mighty monarchie and put them halfe in dispaire of euer obtaining the like meanes of aspiring to soueraigne dominion Yea I am verily perswaded it gaue many of the more ambitious sort amongst them such a frantike phanaticall mad distraction in their wils as seuen yeeres retired exercise of contemplation will hardly bring them to a true mortified religious course and spirite againe For had they gotten Fraunce subiected vnder the Spaniards at that time as the ticklish state of all things stood here and elsewhere the Spanish title and claime to the English crowne rising thence as before is said they would haue had greater possibilitie of aduantage helpes and meanes by size ace and the dice for the conquest of all these northerne Isles then now they haue or are like hereafter easily to be possessed of the whole Christian world beginning now daily more and more to looke into them and their treacherous dealings Thirdly I might here enlarge my selfe with many weightie reasons to conuince the Iesuiticall ambition and aspires to the French crowne and kingdome as well by some suspitious speeches giuen our by their fautors of the causes moouing the marriage betwixt the Lady Infanta Isabella and the Archduke Albert and placing of them both in the Low countries as also by the generall passages and the Iesuiticall faction concerning the house of Burgundy and common applauses giuen on that behalfe how maruellous deepely affected the Burgundians are to the English how hatefull to the French how woorthy warriors of themselues and how that their forces together with the power of England and strength which the Lady Infanta their soueraigne would bring or send vnder the conduct of some Iesuiticall General perchance of Captaine Cubbocke were sufficient to bring both Fraunce and Scotland vnder the English subiection as of right they should These with many other the like perswasions vsed by them both to catholikes and others of our common aduersaries shew plaine if a man ponderate euery point particular and circumstance well with himselfe that the Iesuits aime at all these northerne Isles together with the whole kingdome of Fraunce and by consequent then these once gotten in full possession what kingdome in the world but per nullum tempus occurrens regi may by degrees come vnder their bowe bondage and Allobrogicall gouernment THE VII ARTICLE VVHether then bicause so it seemeth by this your last speech doe the Iesuits if they preuaile in England or Fraunce intend any thing against Spaine and the whole house of Austria and by consequent against the whole Empire and all other Monarchiall states of Christendome or else none but onely these before mentioned to themselues and the rest for the Spanish and Austrian lines THE ANSWERE IT is most certaine apparant and manifest by all coniecture reasons proofes and arguments ad hominem that they most traiterously haue cast the platforme and doe goe about so much as wit of man can deuise to bring all kings princes and states in Christendome vnder their subiection And therefore they haue an intendment against Spaine Austria and the whole empire as well as against England Scotland or Fraunce or any other peculiar prouince though not against all at once for that were meere follie in them but by peecemeale as I said before of these northerne Isles in setting one nation in opposition against an other and euery one to be iealous not only of their neighbour princes but also of their owne subiects each one apart and all this vnder pretence of religion making the Spaniards bicause he hath the best bag in deede though they pretend bicause he hath more religion in him then the rest a great many not knowing or at least not thinking of it how that the Spanish state is as ticklish as any in Christendome this day and as much bad and wicked liuers in it as any where almost is to be found the number of infidels Nueuo Christiano and lewd catholikes considered to be the cloake of their colorable aspires pretending for him alone as best able they thinke to beare them out against all other princes or soueraignes whosoeuer In which kinde of practise policie and matchiuilean deuise doe blinde the eies of the multitude which they chiefly labour for though it may seeme incredible to some that euer they should aspire to an absolute monarchie thereby considering they are so few in number and those dispersed here and there in sundry Nations ouer all the face almost of the whole earth yet who so doth wel consider that the Turkish empire the Ottomans race the Mahumetans state hath spred it selfe abroad vpon no expectation had either of themselues or feare conceiued at first of any other by them like to this platforme doctrine and pretend of the Iesuits they will thinke it neither strange nor impossible but rather very probable vnlesse God do strike them and confound their deuises And this I proue first to
to receiue take and accept of for their practise and directions in all causes martiall monasticall spirituall and temporall This grosse error of father Parsons and his no lesse great absurditie then rash foolish presumptuous and most dangerous course where unto his proiects do tend by this his pretence for the Lady Infanta to colour his owne and his societies traitorous aspires doe argue his insolencie and pride to be so great as they blind his iudgement sence and censure from discerning that these his plots drifts and deuises will be not onely condemned and laughed at by a generall applause but he also vtterly reiected and cast off out of all indifferent mens conceites be they of what religion soeuer that beare any loue to their countrie or that wish a preseruation of their auncient nobility and gentry freed by lawes customes and priuiledges from that tyrannie spoile which this hard natured and most cruell harted man seemeth most to desire for his owne priuate respects and commodities And surely when I remember the words of some of his proctors apparators somners pursiuants attornies aduocates soliciters and serieants here in England that neither could neither can yet indure to here that the Popes holinesse should haue any dealing or medling in this matter as a gust which gauleth them to the very guts to heare and see some already of a more gracious sweet mild incline to mercy in her Maiesty towards the innocent on that behalfe then heretofore hath bene or then they can hope for to themselues or any way indeede do desire to any others father Parsons and the rest of his state compartners vrging nothing more then to haue persecution of catholikes increased not diminished at all further then to grant out bulles of excommunication against all those that should impugne the spanish title and withall to send out pardons and graines of indulgence to all those that should fight on the Spaniards side against their natiue countrie both which vnnaturall practises seing the Iesuites haue sought for to be put in execution to the vttermost thereby to torment vs on euery side and by consequent incense the soe oppressed with rage against their soueraigne and the state tell me deere catholikes what moues you to fawne vpon those that thus doe labour for your heauie destruction I cannot but muse with my selfe how euer this disguised vnfortunate stepfather father Parsons being filius terrae by birth an Englishman by education a catholike by externall profession a priest by charecter a religious man by vow and order and taking vpon him by function and calling wholy to aduance Gods cause yea with hallowes and how-hubs with whowbes whowes and outcries against all that tast not on the froth of his zeale hath hitherto refused to take his holinesse for an example and his sacred predecessors the successors of Saint Peter vpon whom he ought chiefly to haue relied as a speciall note of so sound a catholike and perfect religious person as he and his would make the simple people beleeue they are for a paterne to imitate who haue euer held most mild modest and moderate courses towards all but especially towards the kings of great Britaine were they Scots or English not halfe so seuere against any as oftentimes by surreptitiall suggestions of some euill and factious persons they were vrged to haue bene As well appeered in the bull of Pius the fift which though we wish had neuer come out and much more that the other two since that time denounced against her Maiesty had neuer bene seene or heard of in this world yet to speake Gods truth when the Pope his holinesse perceiued what bloody tragedies and massacres on all sides were like to ensue thereupon by commaund of withdrawing our naturall allegiance from our natiue soueraigne vpon wrong information giuen as before we haue touched at large the said Bull was called in againe and all catholikes throughout England left as free to obey her Maiesty in all things due to her princely regalitie as they were before But letting that and other excommunications passe as spoken of before with harty wish they had neuer bene amongst many examples of the deere loue and fatherlie compassion of the Popes holinesse towards the inhabitants and princes of this land in times of eminent common welthes dangers the chiefe since the Norman conquest was shewed in the daies and raignes of king Henry the second surnamed Fitzempresse and of his sonne king Iohn the third Monarche of England of a Plantagenets royall race Against whom hauing vsed his fatherly correction as pastor vniuersall ouer the whole flocke of Christ for their great tyrannie and crueltie vsed towards their naturall subiects yet vpon their repentance mercifully receiuing them into grace and fauour of Gods church againe his holinesse on the behalf of the second did not onely accurse and excommunicate prince Lewis of France with all his adherents forcing him to yeeld vp all the interest right and title that he or his posteritie had or euer should haue to the English crowne but also surrendred vp the said crowne of England frank and free to king Iohn and his heires and successors from of the head of Cardinall Pandulphus hauing sit enthronized three daies therewith in the Popes right of purpose to abate and end the strife for euer to inioy the same in as full absolute and ample manner as any prince or monarche euer enioyed or possessed a crowne And thousands there are in England that desire as much and I verily thinke more vnfainedly and with a better more sincere true and catholike religious mind then any of the Iesuiticall or spanish faction doe desire the conuersion of our countrie who yet will be ready to lay their liues to pledge for it that if as God forbid and I hope it shall neuer happen that any Lancastrian forraigner should get possession of this land with as many oathes homages and fealties made and done vnto him or her whosoeuer as prince Lewis had whom father Parsons brings in for an example in confirmation of the Lady Infantaes title by that house bloud and line of king Lewis of France be like of purpose to vrge the English as he hath to make the like protestation on the said Infantaes behalfe yet would euen this Pope Clement the eight according to his predecessors example reuoke recall repeale and force him or her to retire and withall would of his mere mercie a gift appropriated to Saint Peters chaire in speciall manner grant to our nation the election and choise and set vp a king of our owne natiue soile bred and borne within the confines of great Britaines Ocean vpon the like repentance and submission of former princes in this and all other Christian kingdomes maugre all the Iesuites Spaniards and huff muffes in the world These important considerations should haue touched father Parsons hart with deepe remorse to remember how mightily he hath resisted impugned and violated all lawes diuine and humane whatsoeuer
amends at their hands Which redresse and amends let any whosoeuer that thinke themselues most politike most prudent most wise set me downe and approoue it the premises and circumstances of the case and our cause considered the way and meanes how euer to haue wrought or brought it to passe otherwise then by making the Iesuits knowne what wicked men they are and I will be his bondman for euermore And this deere catholikes was another grosse error in the vndiscreet zeale of your deuout follie quite contrary to the rules and precept of charitie which I greatly woonder at in that you seeing vs condemned contemned and reiected for the vilest creatures on earth our companie and presence shunned and auoyded our speech names and persons holden for most odious our sacrifices sacraments and poore deuotions accounted of as schismaticall prophane and damnable damnable oh damnable not onely in secular priests to offer any but also in the laitie to come at any offered by vs our deere brethren reuerēd priests your true ancient catholike louing ghostly fathers readie to shed their best blood for your soules behalfe Was it not monstrous in a Iesuit broker in Fetter lane hearing that Master Clarke a reuerend priest was very sicke in prison and could through the Iesuiticall crueltie get no reliefe to say he is well ynough serued let him die and starue for his disobedience c. what thinke you deere catholiks would these Iesuits and their seditious faction doe if they had the sword in their hands that are thus cruel harted towards afflicted catholike priests Questionlesse should once a Iesuit and Spaniard beare sway in England there is not one of you that now run not with them should be left on liue yea think as true it is that many of their brokers should then be cut off as vnprofitable members in their atheall common wealth c. lying some of them in prison ready to perish for want of foode others tormented with slaunders well nigh to death many forced to yeeld against their conscience to a Iesuits cursed will and proud minde and all brought into obloquie shame and disgrace that would not run when a Iesuit gaue a nod to bid them goe And yet you deere catholikes seeing all this will you or can you in your conscience wish vs to keepe silence If you say you could wish it then you goe flat against the rules of charitie Charitas enim incipit à seipso If needes we must die all lawes allow it to kill before we be killed in our owne defence to suffer the infamie reproch and shame to fall vpon the guiltie rather then the innocent to be condemned to let euery asse beare his owne burthen rather then to lay al vpon the weakest If you thinke we haue iust cause to speake and write in our owne defence but yet not in detecting them then tell me which way the one can be without the other and I will crie peccaui If you admit it necessarie to haue them detected and made knowne but yet not in such bitter termes then tell me what termes deere catholikes doe I vse not agreeing to their deserts yea or halfe so bitter or exorbitant as theirs are against the innocent Doe I call them apostataes or heretikes or schismatikes or southsaiers or reprobates with many such like as odious to the eare though none more detestable to the soule possessed with them which they not onely haue imposed vpon vs but also made you deere catholikes vnder that pretence to refuse to despise to detest vs for such But what doe I call them Mary I call them seditious bicause no companie nor societie nor order in any of the three states ecclesiasticall temporall or monasticall can liue quiet by them I call them factious bicause they band out all their doings by making of parties drawing of companies to side with them threatening of opposites promising of great matters to their fautors and followers and setting all in an vprore with iealousie suspition and backbiting one an other I call them traitors bicause of their many conspiracies attempts and practises against Pope Prince Church common wealth state and all I call them by many such like names but yet by none saue onely such as best doe symbolize with their qualities and lewde deuises And therefore you deare catholikes in this your partiall doome set on by Neuters goe against the lawes and preceps both of God and man which as you doe it of a scrupulous conscience so doth your scruple rise of simplicitie and folly in not seeing it being as plaine as the nose on a mans face that it is the epicine Iesuits which liuing in shew masculine in effect faeminine in esse neuters put such buzzes into your heads and when they haue done they ride you like fooles In fewe deare catholikes you goe against the rules and principles of all Arts and sciences in conceiting these discoueries of the Iesuits treacheries to be a hinderance to our common cause or any way to haue hurt or harmed vs. First Of all wonders soo the world it is the greatest in my conceite that any English catholike should so dote vpon a Iesuite and rage against all priests that side not with them as to thinke it lawfull and to practise it as meritorious in them to leaue nothing vndone vnsaid vnthought of to bring priesthood in contempt and Iesuits to be holden for sanceperes and yet cry out of priests if they doe but cleare themselues and shun the danger both of body and soule wracke that the layty doth stand and liue in by following of them and their traitorous designements But it is a right smacke of a Puritane spirit in them and of a more dangerous infection then a Puritanes wit is able to inuent c. for that if you demaund of politicks which way to vanquish an enimie with most aduantage they will tell you by turning his owne weapon vpon him in that part wherein his strength is most Now to the seminary and secular priests omitting others I doe speake it before God and his holy Angels and Saints I thinke there are not more infest nor deadly enimies this day on liue then Parsons and some other of the Iesuites and the Spaniardes faction are their weapons haue been calumnies infamies and slaunders their strength consists in vaineglory vaunting boasting ambition lying falshood cosenage and a thousand such impious sleights and deuises Therefore is there no way in the world left to encounter them with aduantage but to retort and returne all backe vpon them to their shame and confusion If you aske of the Mathematician how to passe betwixt two periods he will tell you that ab extremo ad extremum non transitur nisi per medium Now that the Iesuits we are in extremes they too lofty and we too lowly thty to ambitious and we to submissiue they to stirring and we to quiet they too seditious and we too peaceable they too clamorous we too
of graces yet may I presume without offence to any to challenge a childes portion amongst the holiest men as they once were or are mortall creatures in humane inclinations and in the gifts of nature agreeing to the three foresaid effects of affections proceeding from loue charitie and zeale and that euen in a sense commendable honest and lawfull abstracted from indiscretion follie and lightnes in me And this free deliuery of my minde humble confession of mine owne cholericke humour and vtter detestation of all partialitie singularitie or what else soeuer may preiudice Gods honour my countries weale or common cause or mine owne innocencie as acting all mine actions in simplicitate cordis of meere zeale vtcunque will I hope suffice to take away all rash if not peremptory preposterous and malignant iealousies had of me for smelling of that I wil auerre with my deerest blood to detest as much if not more as any such precise censurers of my thoughts doe or shall be possibly able to giue testimony of for their disgusting of the same And heere a little further to explane my minde if still you will turne zeale into choller in me and reuenge into zeale in the Iesuiticall faction be pleased deere catholikes to remember that though all men came of one moulde yet are they not all of one mettall by reason of some aspect starre or planet shrowded in the skie or of the clime constellation and influence of the bodies celestiall or other calculation or naturall incline taking after their parents their site of birth place of education c. To all which though will be free to yeelde or resist for astra mouent sed non cogunt say the sound diuines yet doe those motions worke in some thus in others so and in all diuersly as the diuersitie of natures doth incline them in acts either of chiefest zeale or of morall and naturall motion And that as well in words and writings as in deedes and actions As amongst the poets laureate Virgill hath a graue and loftie Ouid a light and pleasant Horace a hearsh biting and satiricall stile Amongst Orators we haue a sententious Salust a fluent Cicero a thundring Demosthenes and although all eloquent yet the last a full sumd or consumate Orator terrified so the reader in the onely peruse of his bookes as the perplexed with his parlee well perceiuing it said viua voce with a deepe sigh fetched from an halfe dead hart What are you afraid to reade Yea but then quid si audiuisses illam bestiam loquentem As much to say if you had seene and heard as I haue the acts gestures voice words and motion of the beast bent against you how then would it haue moued you viua vox hauing quandam energian in it as Saint Ierome noteth in that place Amongst Philosophers Aristotle was wise profound Plato humane diuine Pythagoras hot precise and all sound exquisite naturians Amongst Diuines Saint Augustine plaine Saint Gregorie mild Saint Ierome sharpe and all profound learned vertuous and the last most eloquent Amongst scholemen Petrus Lumbardus pithie Thomas Aquinas angelical Dunsus Scotus quipping and yet Doctor Subtilis Amongst the most famous preachers in Rome of later yeeres three were rare and all superlatiues in a different kind whereupon the adages went thus on their behalfs Tolletus docet Lupus mouet Panecrollus delectat In few amongst the Apostles Saint Peter was the onely vterine and germane brother to Saint Andrew and therefore by birth bloud and education neerest linckt vnto him of any other but yet in Gods concurrence with secondarie causes none did sympathize so well nor came so neere together in nature of all the disciples as did the said supreme Apostle with the vessell of choice election Of which two it is song in the church agreeing to the purpose that gloriosi principes terrae quomodo in vita sua dilexerūt se ita in morte non sint separati For the later of which his owne epistles make it manifest how chollerick nay how exorbitant and furious if not hereticall would a Iesuite haue said he was And howsoeuer it seemed that the first of these had his emulators euen of those that were most modest milde humble and charitable fulre pleate with loue diuine as was the chast paranimph Saint Iohn our Sauiours loue and our Ladies darling yet doth Saint Peters acts set forth a greater zeale in him then in Saint Iohn and that he had an inclination to be of a practique or of an actiue life as a gift required in an ecclesiasticall or secular person euen of nature And therefore was it that noting well how quick hote and hastie he was full of valour actiuitie and stoutnes as the soden motion shewed in cutting of Malchus his eare and after asking the question Domine si percutimus in gladio although it pleased our Sauiour to giue him a gentle checke by his fall to make him know him selfe and to consider that non in carneo brachio corroborabitur vir yet did he neuer after he was risen and reconciled to his maker and most mercifull redeemer againe stoope yeelde or giue back one foote in prosecuting Gods quarrell and the churches cause in defence of bothe their honours remaining resolute constant and inuicted of mind therein to death euen with the same valorous hart he had before The old saying being truely verified in him that naturam expellas furca licet vsque recurret the Aethiopian can not change his skin caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt And be it in good or bad sense taken yet is the definitiue sentence in humane actions true that nature hath her inclinations to this or that according to the humour of the subiect which though it may be altered changed and turned to good or euill to vertue or vice to well or woe by reason of free will and grace diuine relinquishing or assisting the internall acts in acting of their externall actions to produce the effects intended yet nature alwaies must and will haue her swinge in the progresse and manner of proceeding thus or so as course of kinde inclines her And euen so is it with me in this bitter kind of writing which my sharpe censurers might haue pleased of their charitie to haue interpreted as proceeding if not from an absolute perfect zeale yet from an act of zeale vtcumque conioyned with choller or anger at their impietie but neuer to smell of heresie as I wil auerre it at a stake against the purest prowd spirited Iesuite among them that will or dare vndertake the quarrell for discerning of spirits wherof they boast to try who smels or stincks most vilely of heresie they in pernitious vsurpate censure of me or I in defence of whatsoeuer I haue written alwaies with in and vnder submission to our holy mother the catholike Romane church in all humble wise What should I say more deere catholiks there are three internall parts or portions mixt of flesh