and publique persons And so it maketh no more against vs then this writer him self whether he hath published his Libel by authoritie as he wil not seeme or of his owne peculiar head and affection which rather we are content to suppose Howsoeuer it be we wil be bould to examine in the treatise folowing with such modesty and indifferency as is requisite in Gods cause his whole reprehension and in the meane time til he can proue vs or our brethren guiltie of anie crime other then the exercise and profession of the Catholique faith Ioa. 10.32 Act. 23.6 Act. 28.20 we wil say with our Sauiour De bono opere lapidamur and with the Apostle De spe resurrectione mortuorum iudicamur propter spem Israel his catenis circundati sumus THAT MANY PRIESTS AND OTHER CATHOLIQVES IN ENGLAND HAVE BENE PERSECVTED condemned and executed for mere matter of religion and for transgression onelie of nevv statutes vvhich doe make cases of Conscience to be treason vvithout al pretence or surmise of any old treasons or statutes for the same CAP. I. NOw to the principal pointes of the Libel we first affirme that the verie front or title therof importing that no Catholikes at al or none of them whom they haue executed were persecuted for their religioÌ„ is a verie notorious vntruth and contradictorie to the libellers owne wordes in his discourse following where he confesseth vnderhand A manifest falshood vvith contradiction to them selues that some be corrected othervvise for religion or yf they wil stand in the coÌ„trarie we appeale to the conscience and knowledge of al the Catholikes and protestantes within the Realme who of their equitie wil neuer denie that most prisons in England be ful at this daye and haue bene for diuers yeares of honorable and honest persons not to be touched with anie treason or other offence in the world other then their profession and faith in Christian religion Secondlie we say shal clearlie coÌ„uince that contrarie to the poursute of the same libel a number haue bene also tormented arreigned condemned and executed for mere matter of Religion and vpon the transgression of new statutes onelie without anie relation to the olde treasons so made and set doune by Parlament in Edwarde the thirdes tyme by which they vntrulie auouche al our brethren were conuicted And herein to deale particularlie and plainlie we alleage the woorthie Preest and Bachelar of diuinitie M. Cuthberte Mayne who suffred a glorious Martyrdome at Lanson in the prouince of Cornewale M. Mayne Ao. Dom. 1577. for that the case or couer onelie of an Agnus Dei and a printed copie of that Bul now expired which denounced to the christian world the last Iubilie were found about him condemned not by anie olde lawes as is deceitfullie pretended to abuse the simple of owre owne nation and straungers that knowe not our lamentable condition but by a late statute enacted the 13. yeare of the Q. reigne which maketh it highe treason to bring from Rome anie beades sacred pictures Agnus Deis Buls or as the expresse wordes of the said statute are any vvryting or instrument vvryten or printed conteining any thing matter or cause vvhatsoeuer by which wordes they may condemne a man to death as guiltie of highe treason though he bring from Rome but letters testimonial for a trauailers credit and commendation in iorney a thing vnhard of in al ages not credible to forrayners and a fable to the posteritie or rather a warning to the world to come into what miserie and barbarousnesse a kingdome that forsaketh the Churche may be brought vnto And an honorable gentleman of an ancient familie M. TrugioÌ„ for onelie receyuing the said blessed Preist into his house remaineth condemned at this daye to perpetual prison and hath lost both landes and goodes of greate importance for that fact Ao. Dom. Lykewise Thomas Sherwood a lay man indited adiudged and put to death 1578. At LondoÌ„ M. Shervvood for questions of the Q. supremacie in causes spiritual and other articles made capital by the new lawes onelie two yeares at the least before this fiction of conspiracie against the realme or person of the Princes was made or heard of The same yeare was a reuerend Preist named M. Iohn Nelson condemned and executed for affirming being driuen therunto by the coÌ„missioners captious interrogatories the Q. religion to be heretical and schismatical Ao. 1578 At LondoÌ„ M. Nelson which is made death not by the olde lawes of the realme nor by anie other of anie christiaÌ„ countrie but onelie by a statute made in the saide 13. yeare of the Q. reigne prouiding by a special clause that none shal affirme her Maiestie that novv is for it holdeth not in other Princes cases to come to be an hereâ—ique or schismatique vnder paine of incurring highe treason â—nd death After thes M. Eurarde Hanse was indited and â—o condemned to death which he constantlie suffred Ao. 1581 At LondoÌ„ onelie vpon a statute made in the last parliameÌ„t of al by which it is made a crime capital to persuade any man to the catholike religion into the compasse of which lawe they violentlie drew the blessed man by calumnious interpretation of his speeches when he â—ffirmed being vrged therunto that the Pope was â—is superiour in causes spiritual and had in such matters spiritual as good right as he euer had in England or hath at this day in Rome for which wordes though inforced from hym he was ther presently indited arrained and condemned to death and soone after most cruelâ—â—e executed whose case together with that of M. Nelson which goeth before declareth what truth is in this libeller who writeth here in one place That none are for their contrarie opinions in religion persecuted or charged vvith anie crimes or paines of treason nor yet vvillingely serched in their consciences for their contrary opinions And againe within a lease after he repeateth the same vntruth saying VVithout charging them in their consciences or othervvise by any inquisition to bring them into danger of Capital lavv so as no one vvas called into anie capitalor bloodie question vppon matters of religion but haue al inioyed their life as the cours of nature vvould M. Lacie Here may be named also M. William Lacye a worshipful gentilman who was condemned to death not long since at Yorke for that he confessed he had obteined a dispensation for Bigamie of the Popes holinesse to be made Preist and that according to the same dispensatioÌ„ he was made Preist either of which pointes by their late lawes of religioÌ„ are deadlie And the latter pointe they make treason forsooth by this strange sequele that when men take holie orders in the Catholike churche they giue their othe of obedience to the Pope who is a forreine enimie to her Maiestie and to the Realme as thes men affirme and could the world weene we were in suche thraldome of this barbarous heresie With
A TRVE SINCERE AND MODEST DEFENCE OF ENGLISH CATHOLIQVES THAT SVFFER FOR THEIR Faith both at home and abrode against a false seditious and slaunderous Libel intituled THE EXECVTION OF IVSTICE IN ENGLAND VVherin is declared hovv vniustlie the Protestants doe charge Catholiques vvith treason hovv vntrulie they deny their persecution for Religion and hovv deceitfullie they seeke to abuse strangers about the cause greatnes and maner of their sufferinges vvith diuers other matters perteining to this purpose Psal 62. Vt obstruatur os loquentium iniqua That the mouth may be stopped of such as speake vniustlie Psal 49. Os tuum â—bundauit malitia lingua tua concinnabat dolos Thy mouth hath abounded in malice and thy tongue hath coninglie framed lies THE PREFACE TO THE READER ALBEIT the late pamphlet intituled The execution of Iustice put forth in diuers languages for defence or excuse of the violent proceeding against Catholiques in England and for accusation as wel of them at home as of vs their felowes in faith abrode passing forth without priuilege and name ether of writer or printer euen thence where such matter is speciallie currant and might easilie haue bene authorized mouing indiscret odious and dangerous disputes of estate replenished with manifest vntruthes open slaunders of innocent persons and namelie with immodest malediction and seditious motions against the cheefe Bishop the Prince of Gods people though I say it might rightlie haue bene reputed an infamous Libel ether to be contemned or with such freedome of speech refelled as that maner of writing doth deserue yet considering the matter meaning and phrase therof to be agreable to the humour and liking of some in authoritie The causes of ansvvere and the booke not onelie not suppressed as diuers others of that argument seeming ouer simple to the wiser Protestants of late haue bene but often printed much recommended diligentlie diuulged and sought to be priuileged in * In FraÌ„ce forreine places where for shame they durst not publiquelie allowe it at home yea and in a maner thrust into the handes of strangers and therfore like to proceed though in close sort from authoritie we are forced and in truth verie wel contented and glad it hath pleased God to giue this occasion or rather necessitie to yeeld for the answere of the said booke our more particular accompt in the behalf of our Catholique brethren dead and aliue at home and in banishment Which we wil doe sincerlie as in the sight of Christ Iesus the iust iudge of the world and al his Saints in such humble milde and temperate maner as beseemeth our profession and the audience which audience we craue with teares of the whole Church and Christian world and of al that are placed in power and sublimitie ouer vs in our owne Countrie or els where that so our cause may be discerned both by God and man and our vnspeakable calamities ether by the intercession of manie releeued or by the general compassion of al our faithful brethreÌ„ made to vs more tollerable Loth we are and odious it may be compted to speake in such matter as must needes in some sort touch our superiours but Gods truth and mans innoceÌ„cie are priuileged and may in humble seemelie wise be defended against whomsoeuer And our pen God willing shal be so tempered herein that it shal displease no reasonable reader nor surelie skarce them if it may be against whom in our inculpable defence we are forced to write We haue in this case examples inough of Christian modestie in the ancient apologies of holie Fathers in Christ his Church as of S. Iustin Examples of vvriting apologies for innocencie Tertulian Athanasius Hylarius and other writing to their Princes that persecuted ether by errour or infidelitie the faithful people Who 's stile and steppes so long as we folowe we shal be blameles in the sight of al wise and good men and offeÌ„d none to whom the plaine truth it self is not odious As on the other side we haue in our aduersaries late bookes for immodest railing The Protestants stile contemptuous phrase slaunderous speach blasphemous wordes false reprochful seditious matter and al inhonest scurrilitie what to abhorre and detest and what to auoide in thes our writings which we would haue most vnlike theirs and not onelie allowable to our frendes but if it were possible and so pleased our merciful Lord to giue vs grace in their sight not ingrateful to our persecutours whos saluation as Christ knoweth we seeke in al thes our endeuours together with the maintenance of truth more then our owne defence and purgation Wherupon otherwise for our owne onelie honour and interest we would not so formallie stand against so honorable aduersaries in this world if we thought ether their hartes which are in Gods handes were not vpon euident reason and remonstrance of our innocencie inclinable to mercie and better consideration of their owne state and ours or that their accusation of vs afflicted Catholiques were not ioined to the general reprehension of the whole Church and the principal pastours therof whom by the lawe of our Christian religion we ought to respect more then our owne liues and in causes of our soule and conscience to obey aboue anie earthlie Prince by what other obligation so euer we be bound vnto him And as we would gladlie passe in this our answere with such equabilitie and indifferencie that in defence of the spiritual power which by our aduersaries importunitie we are driuen in maner against our wils to treat of we might not iustlie offend the temporal acknowledging in diuers respects al humble dutie to them both so writing nothing that anie man shal be able to proue vntrue ether in fact or faith we trust in the readers equitie be he Catholique or Protestant that in so faultles and necessarie a defence of our selues and of our Superiours as also of the common cause of our Christian faith and conscience he wil not iudge our writing seditious slaunderous or infamous libelling as the nameles author of this inuectiue against whom we treat vnchristianlie and vncourteouslie calleth other our brethrens bookes recording onelie the heauie persecution torments and deathes of Catholiques in such simple plaine and sincere sort as indeed al thinges were done The bookes of English persecution most true and so as no man liuing can trulie ether charge the reporters of fiction or falshood or of anie euil intention of diffaming to strangers their superiours dealings in making relation of our deare Countries most doleful calamities For the thinges there done dailie in publique cannot otherwise be hidden from the world and seing they are passed by lawe and order of pretended iustice ther can be no cause why them selues should mislike the diuulging therof except they acknowledge in their conscience some iniquitie and dishonorable defect in their proceedinges against the most innocent persons whom daily they torment and make away We are not so peruerslie affected God
heauen as it is reported were so partiallie or rigorouslie scanned by the malice of his great and potent professed enemie that many yeares hath sought his ruine together with his zealousnes in the Catholique faith brought him to his most pittiful end to the great regret of the whole countrie But the importunitie of the aduersarie hath brought vs somewhat out of our intended cours To returne backe therfore to our famous Prelates deposed in this Queens dayes the principal wherof was Archebishop of Yorke D. Heath Archbishop of York highe Chancelour of the realme the Primate of Canterburie being deceased before which worthie man this Libeller hipocriticallie commendeth for his loyaltie though in Religion differing from them therby to make the Q. Maiesties mercie towardes him a paterne forsooth of clemencie not to be matched as he wiselie writeth in Q. MARIES time which Queene notwithstanding pardoned a number of heretiques and ranke condemned traitors both of life and landes whom we could name al the world knoweth yet aliue And further he addeth which is a notorious vntruth that the said Prelate voluntarilie left both his Chauncelorship and Archbishopricke wher al wise men wil witnes with him and for him that he was most vniustlie with the rest of his Suffraganes and brethren Bishops for refusing to take that absurd othe of the Q. Supremacie and to vse the new Caluinistical seruice in his prouince deposed by violence from his spiritual function dignitie Who 's courage and resistance for quarel of Gods religion how loial and obedient so euer the Libeller would make thos men in comparison of vs therby to insinuate that the more bloodie rigour is vsed now towardes vs then in the beginning towardes them was such in them specially in the said Archbishop that he worthelie and as became his Excellencie refused to anoint or crowne the Q. Maiestie that now is though it apperteined to his special office to doe the same the Metropolitan being dead as hath bene said before and so did al the rest of the Bishops refuse the same vntil with much a doe they obteined the Bishope of Carlisle The Bishop of Carlisle the īferior al most of al the rest to doe that function Which is here remembred by me for that the Libeller of his good discretion recordeth it for special courtesie of that man towardes his Princesse Which refusal of him specially that by office should haue done the same might in reason haue bene construed to as hainous and treasonable a purpose as most thinges that afterward haue bene done for the Catholique cause by anie of the later years if the malice of that time had bene as ripe then as now it is against Gods Church and Priestes The cause why they durst not thē nor could be adduced by anie humane feare or authoritie to inuest her was VVhy the Catholique Bishops refused to croune this Q. for that they had euident probabilities and arguments to doubt that she ment ether not to take the othe or not to keepe the same which al Christian kinges and speciallie ours in England doe make in their Coronation for maintenance of holy Churches lawes honors peace and priuileges and other duties due to euery state as in the time and graunt of K. Edward the Confessor They doubted also lest she would refuse in the verie time of her sacre the solemne diuine ceremonie of vnction accustomed in the consecration of al Christian princes through the euil aduises of certaine yōg counsellers being then in the heate prime and pride of their Heresie wherby great scandal might arise and hurt to the Realme Which they the rather doubted because they saw not lōg before her Highnes at her first entrāce to that high estate commaund a certaine Bishop euen the same of Carlisle now named stāding readie to say Masse before her a strange case in a woman towardes a Bishop not to eleuate the holy consecrated Hoste but to omit that ceremonie because she liked it not Which the said Bishop to his great honor constantlie refused to obey A thing that in one of vs poore men now perchaunce would be accompted high treason and disloialtie towardes our Soueraine And of this his courage in Gods cause it neuer repented him but for doing the other office at the Coronation when he sawe the issue of the matter and both him self and al the rest of his sacred order depriued and the Churches Holie lawes and faith against the conditions of her consecration and acceptation into that royal roome violated he sore repented him al the dayes of his life which were for that special cause both short and werisome afterward vnto him Otherwise doubtles al the Bishops and the rest of the principal of the inferior Cleargie did stoutlie and worthelie as could be wished as was possible in that sodaine assault of Heresie fearing at the same time their personal peril so litle The intention of the Clergie to Excōmunicate the Q. that they were manie of them of that mind that it should be good to vse the censure of Excommunication against her Highenes and some of her leaders into that reuolt so dangerous and shameful to the state so latelie reconciled to the sea Apostolique and by othe and promis of al estates confirmed But the wiser of the Bishops or at least the mylder sort persuaded the contrarie for manie inconueniences that might ensue and so they rather resolued the matter to be remitted to the high Pastor of Christes vniuersal Church then to be executed by them that were her subiects not without peril perhaps of some further tumult scādal and trouble to the whole Cleargie whom they would haue interpreted to haue done it of malicious and rebellions mind rather thē of loue and dutie of which al such censures indeed doe proceed how so-euer the partie affected and sicke in soule especiallie Princes except they be verie wel trained in the feare of God accept the same wel remembring that manie Kinges had killed their Pastors in like cases Al this we put doune that no man be abused by the enemie to thinke that the Reuerend Prelats at the first were lesse zealous which he calleth more loial or more obedient to the Prince in lauful thinges then we their scholars and of-spring be or we lesse loial thē they and therfore more punishable then they were though in deed their perpetual imprisonment and pining away in miserable desolation their tossing and shifting from one superintendents house to an other from one keeper to an other from one prison to an other subiect to extreme wantes and to a thowsand daylie vilanies besides wherof some of thē now haue tasted for twentie fiue years together is worse then any death in the world This then is a true Persecutiō indeed when such men for such causes against al reason and lawes be so vexed by such as owe them al reuerence dutie and obedience Such is also the miserable fortune of the Catholique Nobilitie
as we read in the first of the Machabies of the Priestes infortunate fight against the heathen yet to make this a general rule as this Libeller doth that the Pope may no wayes vse the sword for defence of iustice or religion is most false and absurd The true vvay vvhich the Libeller should haue vsed for improuing the Popes actions in Ireland The true way of defence for English protestantes in this case touching the warres of Ireland and for impugnation of the Pope concerning his allowing or assisting the same should be in mine opinion not to affirme absolutelie as our fond most ignorant Libeller doth that the Pope may no way fight or take armes at al for that is against a knowen truth and not onely we but al Catholiques in the world wil therin stand against him but rather for condemnation of his Holines actiōs to proue that his cause was not iust her Maiesty not to stand rightelie excommunicate not any way to be an Heretique as Pius Quintus declared and consequentlie her subiectes in no case to remaine absolued from their othe and obedience of which pointes we may not at al dispute seing our defence is onlie general that the Pope may in some cases excōmunicate for some causes depriue and in many respectes fight and wage warre for Religion And it may be thought that the Protestants would neuer denie this but in regard of their owne particuler interest in some priuate case only For they wil not affirme neither doth it displease them as we thinke that Pius Quintus the last Pope was an Author of the late league and warres against the Turke The Popes vvarre against the Turke and had also his Captaines and banners displayed in that renouned battail against him by the same Against whos armes the Turke notwithstanding might as wel haue alleaged the Scriptures as now our Protestantes doe to make him put vp his sword For in truth if it be lauful for him to occupie his forces which God hath giuen him against the heathen that be no way vnder his iurisdiction much more may he employ them against thes whom he accompteth as Rebels to the Church which be properlie vnder his correction first in respect of their soules and then secondarilie of their tēporal goodes so farre as is requisite to their soules good Al which is most true euen in consideration of his Priestlie and Apostolical function onelie as is plane in Phinees whos priesthood was established vpon his zealous pursuing the enimies of God to death with his owne hand But further marking that the high Priestes of Godes people haue bene lightlie in al ages temporal Princes also and iudges of the world not onlie in spiritual but in worldlie affaires too ther can no doubt remaine but they may vse their forces temporal to the maintenance of iustice Gen. 14. Hebr. 7. Melchisedech the samplare of our new preisthood was both a Priest and a King and alwaies in the lawe of nature the eldest of the principal stockes were both Kinges and high Preistes In quaest Hebrai Priestes may make vvarres for iust occasiōs as S. Hierome witnesseth So is it plane that Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob and the like had the rule spiritual and temporal ouer their families and people And so likewise in the lawe Moyses was both the highe temporal officer and also a cheefe Preist Hely iudged not onelie in temporal but spiritual causes fortie yeares together Finallie the Machabees Iudas Ionathas Simeon and others were both godlie high Preistes wise iudges in politique and valiant captaines in martial affaires Euen so the cheefe Bishops of Christes Church our supreme Bastors in earth by Gods prouidence and by the grauntes of our first most christian Emperours and kinges and by the humble and zelous deuotion of the faithful Princes and people afterward haue their temporal states dominions and patrimonies wherby they most iustlie hould and possesse the same and are therby lauful Princes temporal and may most rightfullie by their soueraintie make warres in their owne or other mens iust quarel as occasion shal vrge them therunto The Popes temporal iurisdiction most lavvful and firme And whatsoeuer the enimies of Gods Church and Sea Apostolique doe barke or blaspheme against the Popes high preeminence in thes thinges as they doe no lesse in deed against al spiritual Soueraintie their is no King nor man in Christendome that hath better title to his state or so manie yeares of prescription for rightful possession or so long and sure protection frō God in such infinite mutabilitie of states and kingdomes or such great likelihood of cōstancy and continuance as hath the temporal state of the Sea Apostolique For as for the spiritual function and power therof it shal not faile til the day of iudgemēt though to vse S. Augustines wordes Heretiques neuer cease to bay and barke on euerie hand round about it Li. de vtil credendi And as thes humane succours of temporal thinges be often necessarie for the Churches peaceable regiment and the dooble honor due to the cheefe Pastors of our soules so the free gift of such thinges by deuout Princes and people is maruelouslie commended in the example of Barnabas and others who of deuotion sould their landes goodes and dedicated the price therof to Gods Church by the disposition of the Apostles humblie laying the same doune at their feete As on the other side the prophane persons that disdaine such honours and liuelihoodes of the Church and seeke to defraud her of the same may be warned by the terrible death of Ananias and Saphira which they suffred by S. Peters word for their like sacrilegious fact conceipt For if thes were thought worthie to be thus excommunicated seing it was an excommunication according to S. Augustines iudgemēt and withal were so extremlie punished corporallie Lib. 3. ca. 1. cont Parmeni for witholding vpon pretence perhaps of a litle better consideration of their necessitie to come a peece onely of that which they promised to God before in the Churches behalf and yet was not actuallie bestowed How much more doe they deserue excommunication and death or rather damnation perpetual that endeuour to spoile the Mother and Mistres of al Churches in the world of her prerogatiue and patrimonie and sacrilegiouslie to robbe her not of some part of their owne giftes but of al that by the deuotiō of others the first and most faithful Princes hath bene for the honour of Christ and his cheefe Apostle with great alacrity and good wil bestowed that way The which almes and patrimony dispensed by the godly prudence and charitie of the Apostolique Bishops redoundeth more to the auaile of Gods Church and the poore therof to Christes honour and to the benefite of al Christianitie be it spoken without comparison to the honour of God alone thē anie temporal Princes patrimony liuīg though many of their worldly habilities be farre greater thē any Popes are or
religion deuotion conscience fidelitie honour and honestie for therin the difference decay from the old maners in al estates is too notorious and lamentable to behould Neuer so much iniustice neuer so much extortion neuer so much theft neuer so much pride ebrietie glottonie riot and al other sinne and abhomination But onelie as though he knew no other world or heauen but this he profanelie and proudlie in sondrie places of his litle booke maketh repetition of their good lucke in this life of their abondance in wealth of their long peace of the fruitfulnes of their feeldes euer since the Popes Curses Much like to the irreligious Tirāt that neuer liked his lucke better then after he had committed sacrilege and robbed sacred thinges So this triumphant Libeller braggeth Prophane bragges of the Libeller That the Queene hath reigned as long as three Popes fiue times as long as Queene Marie her sister in such felicitie that anie other Prince of Christendome vvould be glad to haue some peece of her good fortune Which tooto prophane and proud cogitations and comparisons of this writer we wil not attribute to her Maiesty or to her prudent Councelours who haue yet more feeling and sense in such thinges then to make so much of a few years moe or lesse reigne and other terrene felicitie that either her Maiesty should pronounce of her self as surely she wil not the wordes of that mistical woman of the Prophet Esay Cap. 47. I sit a Queene and vvidovve I am not and mourning I shal neuer see Or that her wise Councellours should admire her happines for this thing and second her with such applause as the people vsed to Herode in the height of his arrogancie and proud proposition Voces Dei Act. 12. non hominis They are al to wise I say ouer wel experienced to doe or say thus for they knowe the iudgementes of God incontinentlie folowing They are not ignorant that before ruine the hart is exalted Prou. 16. They can not forget the variablenes and inconstancie of mortal thinges The vanitie danger of continual prosperitie with the sodaine fal of verie fortunate persons They haue redde of Policrates king of Samos whos prosperitie being extraordinarie he was by his frendes speciallie by the king of Aegipt aduised to procure to him self some greefe and alteration of fortune lest some memorable calamitie should in the end ensue as indeed ther did Which exāple S. Gregorie Nazianzen thinketh in this case worthie to be remembred They can not but esteeme S. Austens iudgement of good credit in this matter who thinketh that nothing is more dangerous or vnlucky to a Christian then to liue long in continual prosperity Wherfore al this vanitie and triumphant florish proceedeth only from the vaine of our Libeller The vanitie of the Libeller who is one of that popular stāpe which in the Psalme blessed the people that had their barnes and butteries ful Psal 143. their sheepe pregnant their cattle faire and fat al void of ruine care and clamour where Christian men must measure their matters otherwise and say with the Prophet Beatus populus cuius Dominus Deus eius that people is happie whos Lord and master is God without whom and out of whos house which is the Church al humane felicitie is but matter of more damnation and truelie wher it is extraordinarie euer a very sore signe of euerlasting perdition Which we doe not say for that we accompt not this terrene felicitie a great benefite of God oftē times as wel to priuate persons as speciallie to Common wealthes VVorldlie prosperitie or that we recken this few yeares prosperitie of our Contrie anie thing comparable to the constant honour and felicitie of our Forefathers dayes but for that it maketh no certaine nor often no probable proofe of Gods fauour towardes them that enioy the same Luc 10. being lightlie common to good and euil though of the two more ordinarie to the wicked and worser sort then to the better because Lazarus often receaueth euil in his life as the gredie glotton doth the contrarie Yet our Libeller thought it a good popular perswasiō to the vulgar sort of men that haue fastened their eyes hartes onelie on thes presēt delites cōmodities neuer thīking on the life to come But now we must goe further with this vaunter and be bold to tel him that our Countrie is in no such blessed state The ease is examined vvhether England be novv in vvordly prosperitie or no. as he would make the silier sort at home or strangers abrod that feele not our miseries to beleue For though a few persons in respect of the rest not surelie the third man in the Realme hauing giuen them selues to folow the present condition of thinges and putting their conscience reason and religion to silence to be partakers of the pleasures and commodities which ther the world yeeldeth by the spoile of infinite Catholiques honest innocent men of al sortes are aduaunced to riches and degree and doe recken their present state a terrestrial Paradise feeling their owne wealth and not regarding other mens woe yet in deed knowing as we doe that the farre greater part of our Countrie of al degrees are brought to ruine miserie or extreme danger and desolation as wel them selues as their posteritie for the raising of others vnto this pleasure plentie and felicitie which they haue now for some yeares enioyed we must needes confesse and testifie that the bodie of the Realme generallie was neuer in such extreme miserie First and formost for the Cleargie which was and is in truth wher soeuer it remaine The old Catholique Cleargie and ought to be in al Christian common-wealthes the first and principal order of honour and in ours for number learning wisdome and excellencie of al kindes inferiour to none in Europe it is wholie destained and destroyed as the world knoweth the cheefe Prelates Bishops and others al spoiled of their dignities and liuelihoodes thrust into prisons forced into banishment til by manifold and long miseries they be almost al wasted and worne away Thes then so manie so notable and so worthie for whom both God nature and their place of birth doe chalenge a part of this so much praised prosperitie feele none of it but for mere conscience and confession of that truth which their holie predecessours laid and left with them In depositum haue lost their terrene lot ether are dead or haue passed so manie yeares in miserie as thes other good felowes their intruders haue liued in ioye and felicitie who in deed are Filij hominum The nevv Cleargie qui nubunt nubuntur that is certaine fleshlie companions vnordered Apostataes and contemptible ministers who entering into the right and roomes of others prouided not for them doe thinke al faire wether in England and haue good cause to like of the lucke of thes later yeares which maketh
her special othe and obligation she is bound more to defend and protect the Church then her subiects be And finallie vpon al the proofes reasons and authorities that haue gone before we auouch that besides God almightie euerie tēporal Prince Christened hath his pastor also and speciallie the general gouernour of the whole Church for his superiour in earth in al causes of soule conscience to whos orders in matter of religion he is bound to obey vnder paine of damnation and that Gods iust iudgements are nere the Princes and countries what soeuer that wil not obey him but violentlie resist his ordinance and by Antichristian pride doe chalenge power not lauful to be yeelded vnto them THE CONCLVSION CONTEINING A CHARITABLE MOTION AND A ioinder vvith the Libeller touching some meanes of tolleration in Religion and ceasing or mitigating this cruel Persecution CAP. IX AND now though in the deepe conceauing of this our Countries incōparable offence our hartes be wholie oppressed with feare and heauines yet ether the force of our peculiar affectiō towardes our flesh and blood driuing vs to hope for better then is deserued or the largenes of Gods immesurable mercies yeelding contrarie to mans demerits pardō vpon repentance doe cause vs often-times to expect grace mercie rather then extreme rigour and iudgement In which cogitatiō it cometh often to our mindes Causes of feares and hope tovvardes our Countrie that if anie thing auert Gods ire from our Prince and Countrie it is the abundance of holie blood shed thes late yeares euer sith the first reuolt Which though by iustice it might crie rather to God for vengeance and so it doth in respect of the impenitent and the clamor therof shal neuer be void yet we trust it sueth for mercie speciallie in respect of the infinite number of al estates that neuer consented to this iniquitie It is the heroical endeuour of a great-manie zealous Priestes and worthie gentlemen that continuallie offer not onelie their praiers and other deuout and religious offices but them selues in sacrifice for the saluation of their best beloued Countrie It is the ardent and incessant care of his Holines seeking our reconcilement with charitie vnspeakable It is the general coniunctiō of al Christiā mindes in the whole world towardes our recouerie No Church no Companie Monasterie or College of name in Christēdome that with earnest deuotiō and publique fastes and praiers laboreth not to God for mercie towardes vs. Finallie euen thos thinges and persons that the aduersaries accompt to be the cause of al their troubles feares are indeed the onely hope of Gods mercy their owne pardon and our Countries saluation In which case to deale as freelie for a farewel and as charitablie with the Libeller as he would seeme to conclude with vs we wishe no more for performance of that he proposeth and partlie promiseth The Libellers offer in the ende of his booke Fol. 18. but that he were assured of her Maiesties and the Councels mind therin or were of such credit with them that he could bring that to good effect which ī couert wordes he pretendeth towardes vs which is that he doubteth not but her Maiesty would shed no more the blood of her natural subiectes nor vse any more bodilie punishmēts at al if they would desist from their practises abrode from their writing of railīg bookes and from wandering in disguised apparel within the Realme would imploy their trauail in the workes of light and doctrine according to the vsage of their schooles and content them selues with their profession and deuotion So the man speaketh how soeuer he meaneth But Alas if anie mercie iust or tollerable treatie were meant The vrgent distresses of English Catholiques or euer had bene offred to Catholiques vpon anie reasonable conditions what so euer our aduersaries had neuer needed to haue fallen to such extreme proceedinges with their owne flesh and blood nor euer had anie such troubles fears or dāgers bene thought vpon wherof now they haue so deepe apprehension If anie pitiful eare had euer bene giuen by the superiours to the incessant grones cries teares and supplications of their Catholique subiects desiring but releefe of their infinitlie distressed consciences tormented by damnable othes articles and exercises of Caluinisme that were forced vpon them if they might haue had ether by licence or conniuēce in neuer so few places of the Realme neuer so secretlie neuer so inoffensiuelie the exercise of that faith religiō which al their forefathers since our Countrie was conuerted liued and died in and in which them selues were baptised and from which by no lawe of God nor man they can be compelled to anie sect or rite of religion which they nor their forefathers euer voluntarilie accepted or admitted if of al the noble Churches Colleges and other inestimable prouisiōs of the Realme founded and made onelie by Catholiques and for Catholiques and for no protestants nor anie their sacrilegious ministeries at al some few had bene permitted to the true owners and to that true worship of God for which they were instituted if they might haue obteined anie peece of that libertie which Catholiques enioy in Germanie Zuicherland or other places among protestāts or half the freedome that the Hugonots haue in Fraunce and other countries yea or but so much courtesie as the Christians find among the verie Turks or verie Ievves among Christians vpon anie reasonable or vnreasonable tribute which hath bene often in most humble and lamentable sort offered and vrged or to be short if anie respect care or compassiō in the world had bene had ether of Catholique mens soules bodies or goods our aduersaries should neuer haue bene troubled nor put in ielousie of so manie mens malcontentment at home nor stand in doubt of the departure absence of so great a number of Nobilitie and principal gētlemen abrode they should neuer haue had such Colleges and Seminaries in other Princes dominions erected and furnished with English youthes the issue wherof is now and perhaps wil be hereafter more more wonderful to the world they should not haue bene controlled in their Heresie so zealouslie and effectuallie by the Priestes created at home of old or latelie ordeined and sacred abrode ther should haue bene no cause of writing so manie bookes for defence of our innocencie and the Faith of our forefathers and for our iust complaint to the Christian world of the intollerable rigour or crueltie vsed against vs. In al which bookes no protestant in England is able to reproue the writers of anie vntruth or slaunder railing immodestie or misbehauiour towardes our secular Princesse or persecutours what so euer the Libeller without proof affirmeth here Wherin I auow him to be so much destitute of truth as he is not able to alleage one line or sentence or anie one example out of our writinges to the contrarie as on the other side nether he nor any els can cleare our aduersaries the