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
auowe before God seing we are now inforced to treate of thes affaires that whatsoeuer we haue said or shal say in this our defence or remonstrance touching the former articles and demandes about the Bul A protestation before the entraÌ„ce to the treatie of the former demandes about the Bul. nether hath bene nor shal be by vs anie wise spoken meÌ„t or applied against our natural Princesse or couÌ„trie how soeuer anie suspicious malitious or guiltie mind shal peradueÌ„ture conster or apply the same Nether shal the matter be otherwise treated of by me in this place but in such general termes as the schooles vse without touching anie particular person now liuing referring the applicatioÌ„ of al to Gods Church and to the cheefe Pastors therof and to the conscience of euerie good Christian reader to whose handes this booke may chance to come As on thother side we wil not busie our selues to defend euerie priuate mans writing or actioÌ„ concerning the matter of th'Ecommunication but wil without partialitie â—nd personal quarel for a common Apologie of vs al â—eclare and prooue thes assertioÌ„s of the Popes power â—nd superioritie ouer kinges in cases of Heresie Apoâ—tacie and other like to be agreable to Gods word â—nd not treasonable nor vndutiful to anie Prince or State in the world but beneficial to al and euery common wealth vnder Heauen whos gouernment is coÌ„teined within the prescript of Iesus Christ our Redeemers law But first before we come to the declaration of Catholique doctrine concerning Churches authoritie in censuring deposing Princes for matter of ReligioÌ„ The Protestantes opinion and practise for depositioÌ„ of Princes in case of false Religion it shal not be amisse perhappes to set doune the iudgment and practize of Protestants in the same case which though it weigh litle or nothing with vs as being altogether both done and spoken of seditious and partial affection to their Heresie and against the lauful Magistrate of God yet th' aduersarie seing his owne Masters against him shal wel perceaue that the resisting of Princes and Magistrates in cause of Religion as also the subiects taking armes for their defence in such a case is no way to be accounted treason but most lauful according to their new Ghospel And first their grand-maister Io. Caluin putteth doune his oracle In Dan. cap. 6. Ver. 22.25 as a conclusion approued of their whole sect and confraternitie in thes wordes Abdicant se potestate terreni Principes dum insurgunt coÌ„tra Deum iÌ„mo indigni sunt qui censeantur in hominum numero Potius ergo conspuere oportet in illo rum capita The doctrine of Father Caluin quà m illis parere vbi sic proteruiunt vt velint spoliare Deum suo iure c. Which in English is thus Earthlie Princes doe bereaue them selues of al authoritie when they doe erect them selues against God yea they are vnworthie to be accompted in the number of men and therfore we must rather spit vpoÌ„ their heades theÌ„ obey them when they become so proude or peruerse that they wil spoile God of his right to the same place I further referre the reader for his instruction For declaration of which text and for cutting of al cauillation about th'interpretatioÌ„ of his wordes their brother Beza shal speake next who alloweth highly commendeth in writing The doctrine of brother Beza the fighting in France for religion against the lawes and lawful K. of that Countrie saying in his epistle dedicatorie of his new testament to the Q. of England her self In editione An. 1564. That the Nobilitie of France vnder the noble Prince of Condey laid the first foundation of restoring true Christian religioÌ„ in France by consecrating most happilie their blood to God in the batail of Druze Wherof also the Ministers of the reformed FreÌ„ch Churches as their phrase is doe giue their common verdict The opinion of the Congregation Art 39. in the confession of their faith thus We affirme that subiects must obey the lawes pay tribute beare al burthens imposed and susteine the yoke euen of infidel Magistrates so for al that that the supreme dominion and due of God be not violated Zvvinglius likewise a cater-cosen to the Caluinistes in religion The senteÌ„ce of Zuinglius lib. 4. Epist Zvvinglii Oecol fol. 186. writeth thus If the Empire of Rome or what other Soueraigne so euer should oppresse the sincere religion and we necligentlie suffer the same we shal be charged with contempt no lesse then the oppressors therof theÌ„ selues wherof we haue an exaÌ„ple in the fiftenth of Ieremie wher the destruction of the people is prophecied 4. Reg. 21 for that they suffred their K. Manasses being impious and vngodly to be vnpunished And more plaine in an other place When kinges saith he rule vnfaithfullie and otherwise then the rule of the Gospel prescribeth Art 42. explanat Fol. 84. they may with God be deposed as when they punish not wicked persons but speciallie when they aduaunce the vngodlie as idle Priests c. such may be depriued of their dignitie as Saul was And what our English Protestants writ or thinke of this matter you shal wel perceiue by their opinioÌ„ high approbation of Wiats rebellion in Q. Maries dayes wherof one of their cheefe Ministers called Goodman thus speaketh in his Treatise entituled Goodmans opinion Cap. 14. a pag. 204. ad pa. 212 Hovv superior magistrats ought to be obeyed VVyat did but his dutie and it vvas the dutie of al others that professe the Gospel to haue risen vvith him for maintenance of the same His cause vvas iust and they al vvere traitors that tooke not part vvith him O Noble VVyat thovv art novv vvith God thos vvorthie men that died for that happie enterprise c. What the Scottish Ministerie defineth in this question is plaine The iudgement of the Scottishe Ministrie Io. Knokes Ibidem pag. 77. by the verdict of Iohn Knokes their mightiest Prophet the argument of a treatise of this matter being set doune by him self thus Yf the people haue either rashelie promoted anie manifest vvicked person or els ignorantlie chosen such an one as after declareth him self vnvvorthie of regiment aboue the people of God and such be al Idolators and cruel persecutors most iustlie may the same men depose and punish him So Luther also the Protestants Elias being asked his opinion of the Almans coÌ„federacie The opinioÌ„ and definition of Luther Sled Hist lib. 8. made at Smalcalde against Charles the fift their lauful noble Emperour answered That in deed he vvas in doubt for a time vvhether they might take armes against their Supreme Magistrate or no but aftervvard seing the extremitie of thinges and that Religion could not othervvise be defended nor them selues he made no conscience of the matter but ether Caesar or anie vvaging vvarres in his name might be resisted Sledan also recordeth that the Duke of Saxonie
the Lantzgrane gaue this reason Lib. 21. of their taking armes against their supreme Magistrate For as much say they as Caesar intendeth to destroy the true religion and our anciēt libertie he giueth vs cause inough why we may with good conscience resist him as both by prophane and sacred histories may be prooued Lib. 22. The same writer reporteth the like of the Ministers of Magdeburge declaring how the inferiour may defend him self against the superior compelling him to doe against the truth and rule of Christes lawes By al which you see that to resist the Magistrat defend them selues in cases of consciēce and to fight against the superiour for religion is a cleere and ruled case and no treasonable opinion at al against the Prince if we wil be iudged by Protestants wherin their knowen facts be far more notorious then their writinges The examples of the Protestants taking armes for their Religion For that Beza and other the cheefe ministers of the French Caluinical Congregations were them selues in feeld agaīst two or thre of their natural leige lordes and kinges Zwinglius also the vnfortunate Father of our English faith was killed in the battail as al the world knoweth and therby it is euident that the instance of D. Saunders who followed of zeale the late commotion in Ireland can not be so much obiected to the Catholiques reproch as th' aduersarie would haue it seeme whos report notwithstanding of the maner of his death is also a verie slaunderous vntruth The Protestants of Flanders held it for a most certaine truth by the approbation also and sollicitation of England that they might rebel against their supreme Magistrate for Religion when by force of armes they altered al and deposed their Soueraigne Which ought the more to weigh with th' English Caluinistes for that as I haue signified their pudding lay also in that fier As likewise it is wel knowē that them selues haue bene the cheefest procurers and doers in the depriuing of the lauful and annointed Q. of Scotland and for her further affliction haue kept her also in captiuitie thes fourtene years together And here in thes cases of their owne The variable mutable dealing of Protestants no treasonable propositions no resisting of Gods annointed no disobeying the king as being the most precellent no ouerruling the person that acknovvledgeth no superior in earth but holdeth onely of God for al thes termes the Libeller seemeth to make great aduantage of against the resisters of our Q. deposing of her Maiestie by the sea Apostolique can haue place or beare sway But when it cometh to a point of their owne freshe and florishing religion then neither vnction nor lauful succession nor anie other princelie prerogatiue can serue lauful Magistrates or saue them from their subiects furie th' English brethren euer speciallie assisting the rebellion as wel by their diuinitie as otherwise by force of armes to their power The question therfore is not nether is it material to the purpose which the Libeller so much florisheth verie idlie of the Princes lauful creation or consecration The true state of the question about resisting of Princes but whether a Prince laufullie inuested and annointed may be for anie cause namelie for matter of Religion resisted by his subiects We say that the Protestants of al sectes doe both holde and practize it England it self speciallie allowing of the same And therfore ther is no treason in this case if we folowe the present diuinitie of England nor new example if we respect the furious attempts and rebellions of Scotland Flaunders Fraunce and Germanie against their superiours for maintenance of their heresies al wel allowed by the ministerie of euerie Prouince And vpon thes examples you should look my Masters of England when you make so much adoe for one poore commotion made in defence of the Catholiques in twētie six yeares space of the greatest persecution and tribulation that euer was since the Gothes and Vandals times Wher if the Q. had holden her Ancestours faith and had ruled ouer so manie protestants but a quarter of the time afflicting them as she hath done Catholiques though perhaps not her self so much as her vnmerciful Ministers her Maiesty should haue seene other maner of attemptes against her state and quietnes then haue fallen by Catholiques ether in England or Ireland in this her reigne Which her long prosperitie in gouernment proceedeth speciallie of the said Catholiques timorous consciēce quietnes of nature loue of order obediēce great detestatiō of garboiles sturres troubles Which the verie Heretiques them selues haue oftē reprochfullie and scornefullie imputed vnto them openlie The scorneful speeches of Heretiques to Catholikes saying to some of great accompt whom they had afflicted extremelie What wil you or what dare you doe Your hartes we know and your wishes but you are verie cowardes and beastes that be Papistes We stād in no feare of your forces or what soeuer you can doe against vs. Yea the verie ministers wil out of pulpits protest that the Papistes shal neuer haue the world for them come what change of Prince or lawes so euer for they wil fight for it to death Which chalenge and vaunt they make on euerie hand so boldlie and yet verie vndiscreetlie because they see the Catholiques more sadde graue honest and quiet natured men The differēt natures of Catholiques and of Protestāts consisting of deuout and aged persons and of godlie weemen wher as the Protestants now in possession of state goodes and gouernment ar risen most of the principal by alteration spoile and factiō their cheefe folowers youthful persons venterous and desperate and the rest both of laitie and speciallie cleargie entangled by the present commodities and pleasures which this new Religion yeeldeth in al fleshlie lustes and turpitude are impatient vindicatiue restles and furious and in a verie few in comparison of Catholiques and quiet men make a great shew and a terrible muster in the sight of quiet honest and peaceable persons Now thes violent and factious men when the Prince lawes goe for them they make their aduauntage therof but if they be against thē they breake al bōdes of obedience despise dominatiō make spoile and hauocke of al thinges and runne headlong into al most detestable disorders If you marke thē you shal perceiue they make their market most in the minoritie of Princes or of their infirmitie as ī Englād in K. Edwards time The seditious and craftie practise of Protestāts In Fraunce vnder the deceased two yong brethren of his Maiesty that now is In our countrie againe by the infirmitie of the Princesse sexe that now reigneth otherwise truly of most excellent giftes but alwayes a woman easilie seduced and not hardlie ledde and drawen by thos whom she ether trusteth or feareth ī which case commonlie the more gentle or innocent the Soueraigne is the more violent is the gouernment through th' abuse of their
in them selues their children or posteritie to dure anie longer then they continue in the Catholique faith and the communion of the Sea and Church Apostolique nor would suffer anie of their name or blood to reigne after them that were like to be Heretiques but rather would disinherite or execute them with their owne handes then feare or expect their deposition by the Pope Therfore though with such as feele their owne fault it soundeth euil to heare of the Authoritie and vsage of Gods Church in censuring kinges yet it troubleth not anie iust and lauful Prince especiallie when by their wisdome experience they may perceiue that Princes aboue al other both good and euil be subiect to humane casualties and may fal and loose their kingdomes by an hundreth accidents of mutinies and rebellions of their subiects or by external or domestical warres of Competitours or enimyes to al which The great cōmodities vvhich grovv to al kingdomes by the Popes high authoritie the Popes highe authoritie and interest giueth great stay and moderation in deciding the controuersies of titles and causes of ciuil or forraine warres and by his manifould endeuours of Pacification and composition wherof al the kinges and states Christian haue at sondrie times of their distresses receiued singular profit as appeareth in the histories of the warres betwixt our nation Fraunce and Scotland and in our owne Ciuil tumultes which haue bene often appeased by the mediation of the Pope both parties deferring to him as to the high Priest and general Arbiter of Christian Princes and people being to al indifferent without al partialitie the decision of thos thinges which otherwise could not by lawes nor by armes without-lamentable destruction and much blood be determined Wherebie Princes of lesse power iniuried by the greater and mightier haue euer found succour and redresse and iust kinges distressed by their rebellious subiectes haue had singular assistance As we may see in the stories both of our owne Countrie wher the Popes haue sent diuers Legates to the Barons being vp against their lauful Soueraignes to admonish them to lay doune their armes and when they would not excommunicated them by which meanes manie a king with vs hath kept his Croune which otherwise had bene depriued by tumultuous and popular sedition and no lesse in th'examples of other nations and that in our owne memories hauing experience of diuers blessed Popes diligence in aiding the two great Monarches aswel by the powers temporal which God hath giuen them as by ecclesiastical Censures against their rebels and large spiritual graces benedictions bestowed vpon al that would faithfullie adioine to the repression of the seditious subiects and the preseruation of the Soueraigne The Apostolique Bishop is not an enimie to superioritie and domination The Bishoplike authoritie no enimie to Princes which he knoweth best to be of God as his owne high estate is but a spiritual and most louing Parent and common Father of al Christians and speciallie of Princes He seeketh not their depositions nor mainteineth reuoultes from them no not thē when to his infinite greefe he is forced sometimes though meruelous seldome to giue sentence for the people subiects against the Prince but vseth needful discipline towards them for their saluation Let the graue and wise men of al nations consider with vs whether Princes be in more danger of their state by the lauful Pastors of their soules that iudge by Gods spirit by counsel deliberation order and authoritie without malice hatred or partialitie or by Heretiques seditious and rebellious persons that deale by erroneous conscience phantasie and furie The Protestantes plainlie hould in al their writings and schooles and so practize in the sight of al the world that Princes may for tirannie or Religion be resisted depriued We and al Catholiques likewise affirme that for Heresie and some other great enormities they may be excommunicated and further censured But the Protestants would haue them selues the subiects to rebel and throwe doune their superiors on their owne head and wilfulnes and them selues to be iudges of their Soueraignes desertes and Religion Now we demaund of the Libeller that giueth Princes so frendlie warning of their dangerous estates A resonable demaūd to the Libeller if Popes may vse such authoritie ouer Princes whether the Kinges of Christendome whom their owne sect-maisters confesse may be deposed stand not in far greater hazard of their dominions and persons by the brutish and seditious people armed alwaies with furie and often also as at this present with Heresie then they are of Popes It was not the Pope that gaue licēce or encouragement to the subiects of Scotlād to take armes against their natural liege and Q. to emprison her and to cause her by feare of death to resigne her Croune It is not the Pope that embouldened them barbarouslie to restraine their noble yong King and so often to rebel against him though nether they for his Religion haue anie reason to depriue him nor the Popes Holines otherwise then for the iustice of his quarel against his rebels anie cause to defend him It was not the Pope that licensed the subiects of the king Catholique to fight so long and obstinatlie against their Lord and maister nor that encouraged them to depriue him of his soueraigntie and ancient inheritance It was not the Pope that hath hazarded three mightie Kinges his most Christian Maiesty that now is and his two crouned brethrē before him of their States and bereaued them of manie great partes and cities of their kingdome or that went about to depriue them euen in the time of their innocencie and yong years Popes vse to defend innocents not to destroye them in their nonage or to abuse their minoritie And such is otherwise the manifould hazard of kinges by rebellions that in our owne Countrie The danger of Princes by rebelliō the Child hath deposed his Father the Vncle his Nephew the Wife her owne Husband most commonlie the worse and more wicked the more godlie and innocent And we maruel much this Libeller that would seeme to be such a Statesman and a Counseller to forreine kinges could find no danger to them and their countries sauing of the Popes power ouer them which in verie truth by Christs special prouidence is the greatest protection guarde and stay that innocent Princes and their people can haue the awe and reuerend respect of his holie authoritie keeping thousandes from rebellion and intrusion and a number of iust Princes in their empires which els had bene in diuers countries ouerthrowen The Protestantes cannot proue by example of al nations times since Christ that anie one hath bene deposed that was not prooued to be a notorious Heretique or euil man On th' other side Rebels and namelie Heretiques by vnlauful meanes The practise of Heretikes depriue commonlie none but innocent iust and holie Princes Vnto whos barbarous crueltie this Libeller would haue their sacred Maiesties
euer haue bene Which euery indifferent man that behouldeth the immortal workes of Charitie which this one blessed Pope hath done in the dayes of his high Priesthood must of necessity confesse Wherof we thought meet to make some mention in this place The seditious practise of this Libeller for that both other Protestantes are not ashamed to accuse the Holie Sea of Robberie and rapine in getting and houldīg the temporal state which now it hath so manie ages occupied to the great honour of God as also for that this Libeller oftē glaunceth at some iniuries which he pretendeth to haue bene done by the Popes tirānous excessiue power as he termeth it to the Princes of the world ī this case sometimes seditiously and subtellie suggesting to the Emperour and other the greatest and best Kinges of Christendome to abbridge his power sometimes craftelie commending them vpon a deuilish and deceiptful fiction of his owne that they onely tollerate his title and iurisdiction for a time and of pollicie so farre as they see it is not preiudicial to their owne states otherwise nether caring for his curses excommunications canons nor commaundements no more thē the protestāt Princes doe who haue withdrawen from him in their states al both temporal emolumentes and spiritual prerogatiues Of which restraint limitation or plaine contempt of the Popes power and censures the writer alleageth certaine examples of diuers Catholique Kinges and Countries that the English may seeme to haue done no new thing in this their shameful reuoult from the Sea Apostolique and contempt of the Ecclesiastical curse and excommunication Which this prophane Atheist affirmeth none but the simple people to feare or care for wise men Princes to haue no scruple or conscience at al in such matters but to resist by armes al lawes and ordinances as they list For proofe whereof he bringeth to no purpose how diuers kinges of Fraunce haue by their lawes pragmatiques restreined the Popes of diuers claimes prerogatiues and profits Touching Catholique Princes restraint of the Popes iurisdictiō How they in England in old time limited and abbridged his iurisdictiō by the law specially called Praemuniri How the noble Emperour Charles the fift feared not their curses when by his Captaines he beseiged tooke and sacked Rome imprisoned and ransomed the Pope him self How his sonne the King Catholique now raigning nothing respected excommunicatiō when his armie was led before Rome walles by the conduction of the Duke of Aluas How King Henrie the seuenth resisted the Pope in a matter of Alume and his neece Queene Marie her self as much as she was deuoted to the Romane religiō withstood him in the fauour of her cosin Cardinal Poole against doctor Peyto about a Cardinals Hat the bringer of which hat and the Buls for the said Peyto she did forbid to enter the Realme commanding thē to be staied at Calles and finally that Cardinal Poole him self hauing the Queene for him in the cause had no feare to disobey the Popes commaundementes and his threatned excommunications or curses but continued Legate and made the other poore Peyto being an obseruant frier to goe a begging stil Thus much in sense saith the Libeller in defence of their resistance of the Pope and contempt of his Censures But looke attentiuelie into the particular reasons and examples of this his discours The ansvver to the exāples alleaged and you shal find nothing but fraude and falshood First it is a most impious and godles conceipt that the Emperour and other great Kinges and Potentates of Christendome ether of old or at this present haue suffred or doe yet endure the Pope to command or haue iurisdiction in their countries onely for some respectes in policie and so farre as they list rather then vppon conscience and for religion when it is certaine that his spiritual authoritie and high Prelacie ouer al faithful Princes and people as instituted by Christ clearlie deduced out of the Scriptures approued by decrees of ancient Councels testimonies of al the old Doctors and by both imperial and national lawes of the Christian world is acknowledged in conscience of al Catholique Kinges that haue bene or yet be within the happie vnitie of holie Church And it is a most shameles slaunder of their sacred Maiesties that this Atheist would make the world beleeue that pretending conscience deuotion religion and sinceritie in their obedience to the Sea Apostolique they doe al in deed of policie As wel might this Machiuilian beare men in hand that the Christian religion is no otherwise admitted in Common-weales but so farre forth as it serueth for pollicie and the aduauncement of the Prince or temporal state And God graunt this be not the marke that our Protestantes and Politiques shoot at much it is to be feared that it is our English elne and analogie of Faith for measure of al actions And certes to no other end they vse their pretended Ministerie new cleargie of their creation occupying them to interteine and amase the people VVith the vvord of the Lord whilest they accomplish their worldly and wicked intentions as apparant it is that the good author of this Libel would not if he were a Prince as such be to neare Princes elbowes thes dayes admit ether Peter Paul or Christ him self into anie iurisdiction ether spiritual or temporal within his Realme nor would be depriued or excommunicated by anie of thē more then now by the Pope nor further deale with them then his aduantage and policie requireth And indeed by the meanes of such Lycurgians as this we haue in England new lawes against al claime of iurisdiction spiritual or temporal The Machiuilian drift of this Libeller that can be made by anie person whosoeuer borne out of the Realme Which no question might exclude Christ and his Apostles no lesse then their successours being as wel forreiners as they Wherin it seemeth singularlie to be noted that this craftie Politique putteth no difference betwixt spiritual regiment and temporal yea rather taketh away al ecclesiastical iurisdiction calling in this his pestiferous Libel which you shal not as we thinke read in anie other of the Heretiques writīges of thes dayes the Queenes spiritual power which she chalengeth against the Popes supremacie her REGALITIE The Q. REGALITIE seeking by al meanes possible wholie to extinguish the Hierarchie and Prelacie of Christes Church and concluding al in Kinglie authoritie Wherby as also by the Scriptures which they foolishlie in the sight of wise men but to the simple perswasiblie alleage That al men must obey the King as the Cheefe or precellent they exclude Peter frō his high spiritual function which he had in the time of Nero and giue vnto the said Nero as his regalitie no lesse thē now they yeeld both Papal and al other Bishoplie Ecclesiastical authoritie in England to the Queene as a peece of her Regalitie As though ther were no difference betwene a King and a Priest The