this Apologer passeth on to bestow some of his adulation and oleum peccatoris vpon his Ma. tie in like manner that now raigneth telling vs That his kyndnes and benefits bestowed vpon that sort of people haue bene farre greater then those of Q. Elizabeth which may easily be as by that which hath bene touched may appeare Yet do we verily perswade our selues that if his Highnes had byn left to himselfe and to his owne Royall nature and noble disposition in this poynt as Q. Elizabeth was wont to say of her disposition in religion we had tasted indeed much of this his great humanity and so we began for some tyme but being preuented and diuerted by the subtile workings of this and other such Ministers as desyred to draw bloud and to incite his Maiestie against vs we hauing no place to speake for our selues no admittance to be heard no effectuall intercessour to interpose his mediation for vs no maruaile though wee were cast of and do indure the smart XVIII And I do name this Minister T. M. the yonger in the first place among the rest for that it is commonly said that his whole exercise is Sycophancy and calumniation against men of our profession be they strangers or domesticall and that among other deuises he hath this That euery tyme his Ma. tie is to take his repast he is ready eyther with some tale iest scoffe or other bitter lance to wound vs absent and that he hath euer lightly some booke and page therof ready to read to his Highnes somewhat framed by his art to incense or auert his Ma. tie more eyther in iudgement or affection or both and therby to draw from him some hard speaches which being published afterward by himselfe and others do serue to no other end but to gaâ—l and alienate myndes and to afflict them that are not suffered to giue reason for themselues And that is the seruice he doth his Ma. tie in this exercise XIX And as for the places themselues which he vseth to bring forth with his wet finger as is said we are to imagine that they are no better nor more fitly applyed then such as he hath sett forth against vs in this booke perhaps somewhat worse for that he might probably thinke that this booke would be examined comming forth with so great pretence of authority as it doth And therfore if heere yow fynd him to vse calumniation most impertinent citation of Authours and Authorityes eyther wholy making against himselfe or nothing for his purpose or against vs then may yow thinke what liberty he will take to himselfe there in speach where no man is like to contradict him but all applause is expected from the standers by XX. Let vs heare if yow please one exaggeration of his concerning his Ma. ties myldnes vnto vs and our ingratitude in abusing the same to pryde His Ma. ties gouernment saith he ouer them hath so far exceeded that of Q. Elizabeth in mercy and clemency as the Papists themselues grew to that height of pryde in confidence to his myldnes as they did directly expect and assuredly promise to themselues liberty of Conscience and equality with vs in all things that are his best and faithfull Subiects c. Do you see what a height of pride this was And what an abuse of his Maiesties mercie and clemencie to expect libertie of Conscience Why had he not obiected in like manner that they expected the libertie of breathing and vsing the common ayre as well as Protestants For that neither breathing nor the vse of coÌ„mon ayre is more due vnto them or common to all then ought to be libertie of Conscience to Christian men wherby ech one liueth to God and to himselfe and without which he strugleth with the torment of a continuall lingring death XXI And surely I cannot but wonder that this Minister was not ashamed to call this the height of pride which is generally found in all Protestants neuer so humble yea the more humble and vnderlings they are the more earnest are they both in bookes speaches and preachings to proue that liberty of Conscience is most conforme to Gods law and that wresting or forcing of Consciences is the highest Tyranny that can be exercised vpon man And this we may see first in all M. Fox his History especially during the time of the three King Henries 4. 5. and 6. and afterward when those that were called Lollards and VVickcliffians who as M. Fox saith were indeed good Protestants being pressed somewhat about their Religion did continually beate vpon this argumeÌ„t of libertie of Conscience and when they obteyned it not they set vp publicke schedles vpon the Church dores of London and made those famous conspiracyes of killing K. Henry the 5. and all his family which are recounted by VValsingham Stow Fox and other English Historiographers XXII In this our age also the first oppositioÌ„ of Protestant Princes in Germanie against their Emperour Charles the 5. both at Smalcald Austburgh and other meetings as afterwards also the fierce and perillous warrs by the Duke of Saxony Marques of Brandeburge and other Protestant Princes and their people against the same Emperour begunne in the very same yeare that our K. Henry dyed Were they not all for lyberty of Conscience so pretended so printed so published so diuulged to the world The first Supplications Memorialls and declarations in like manner which the Protestants of France set forth in print as also they of Holland Zeland in tyme of the gouernments as well of the Duchesse of Parma Duke of Alua Commendador Mayor and other Gouernours did they not all expresly professe that their principall griefes were about liberty of Conscience restrayned And did not they cyte many places of Scriptures to proue the equity necessity therof And do not all Protestants the like at this day in all places where they are both in Polonia Austria Hungaria Bohemia Styria and els where And how theÌ„ is Iordanis conuersus retrorsum with this Minister How is his voyce contrary to the voyce sense of all the rest How with what reason may he call it the height of pryde in English Catholicks to haue but hope therof which is so ordinary a doctrine practice of all his brethren in forraine nations to witt for vs to expect liberty of Conscience at the first entrance of our new King of so noble and royall a mynd before that tyme as he was neuer knowne to be giuen to cruelty or persecutioÌ„ in his former raigne The Sonne of such a Mother as held her selfe much beholden to English Catholicks And himselfe in his litle Golden Booke to his Sonne the Prince had confessed that he had euer found the Catholicke party most trusty vnto him and therupon had done sundry fauours to diuers of them and gyuen no small hope of greater vnto others XXIII From this King I say whom they so much loued
the matters heere handled God of his endles mercy inclyne the hart of his Maiesty to take the best way in this his course of Royall Gouernment for so much as he hath byn pleased to ioyne so many Great Kingdomes vnder his only Scepter and permitted them to haue so great differences of iudgements in matters of Religion that their vnion of wills at least in dutifull affections may be so combined and conserued by sweet and temperate proceeding towards all as despayre the mother of headlong precipitation enter not The Prouerbe is knowne Qui nimium emungit elicit sanguineÌ„ patientia laesa vertitur in furorem I neuer heard or read that too much violeÌ„ce towards free Subiects euer ended well especially for supposed faultes that are not acknowledged for such by the punished coÌ„sequently no hope of amendment by way of compulsion Some may dissemble for feare but they are more lost in their affections then the other Some reasonable toleration and friendly treatie would bynd vp woundes from bleeding on all sydes Exulceration maketh them fester more greiuously and dangerously To Gods holy Prouidence the whole is to be committed who will dispose of all to his greater glorie siuè in vitam siuè in mortem And to him also I committ yow with my hartiest Commendations c. This 10. of Iune 1608. FINIS About the Authour of the Apologie Tho. Morton Tho. Montagâ—e What his Maiesties great iudgmeÌ„t would haue discouered if he had read the Apology Cap. 7. What his Maiesty in honour woulde haue misliked Vide lib. de Laicis maximè ca. 10. 11. c. Three partes of the Apology Pag. 1. 2. The odious and often repetition of the powder treason The powder treason not so much a cause as an effect of Catholiks tribulatioÌ„ In the treatise of Mitigation in the preface Apologia pag. 2. lin vlt. Pag. 3. The agrieuance of this Oath Pag. 4. The Oath consulted both at home and abroad See the Breue 10. Kal. Octo. 1606. See Answer cap. 6. Recourse to Rome euer vsual from our first Christianity Q. Mary of Scotland Catholiks do hould practice what all their Ancestours haue done Apol. pa. 6. Ibid. pag. 7. English Catholiks not Messis aliena to the Sea Apostolike Ibid. pag. 6. That the Oath conteyneth poyntes against Catholicke Religion The Popes wordes in his Breue Cardinall Bellarmines iudgement of the contents of the Oath A loyall offer of ciuill Obedience made by Catholiks to his Maiesty Apol. pag. 4. Whether the taking of this Oath by Catholicks be a blessing from God Statuâ— 3. 〈◊〉 obi Reg. cap. 4. 2. Ethic. c. 2. D. Thom. 1. 2. q. 6. art 6. Vaâ—etia Vasquez c. metâ—m locum How freely the Oath is taken The sense meaning of Catholicks that tooke the Oath An huÌ„ble petition to his Maiesty for exposition of the Oath The vrging of the Oath how heauy a pressure to Catholicks of tender conscieÌ„ces Nothing gayned at all by enforcing the Oath but much lost Râ—der To letâ—m lib. 3 〈…〉 cap. 18. 1. Cor. 8. Rom. 14. Matth. 18. How grieuous a synne it is to force men to sweare against their conscieÌ„ces Obiections answered The summe of the two Breues Apâ—â—g pag. 16. See Stowes Chronicle in the death of M. Mayne anno 1577. of M. Mâ—â—son anno 1578. Of M. Shâ—rwood anno 1578. of M. 〈◊〉 1581. c. Apol. Pag. 18. Q. Elizabeth her Manes Apol. pag. 16. See SaÌ„ders lib. 7. de Ecclesiastica Monarchia who setteth down the particuler persons Isa. 5. Lo. Cooke in the booke of the late Arraignements fol. 63. Psalm 143. Cooke ib. pag. 64. Hier. 27. 6. Hier. 25. 9. How Nabuchodonosor was the seruant of God Hier. 25. 11. * Archb. of Canâ—erb Queene Elizabeth her felicityes mingled with infelicities Q. Eli. her dishonourable birth an 28. Stat. Cap. 7. The infelicity of Cruelty Q Elizab. her cruell perâ—ecutioÌ„s * The fiction of Sqâ—ier an 1598. Q. Eliz. her dealing towards her cosen of Scotland Lo. Cooke in his Charge at Norwich 4. August 1606. What maÌ„ner of Persecutour Q. Elizabeth was * See Answer to Syr Edward Cooke ca. 15. His Maiesties myld disposition diuerted The exercise of the Minister Th. Mont. Apol. pag. 18. Liberty of ConscieÌ„ce In vita HeÌ„riâ—i quinti. Anno 1546 Liberty of conscience demauÌ„ded by all Protestants * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Height of pride and in whome it may be said to be Apol. pag. 19. Exprobration of his Maiestyes benefits towards Catholiks Catholiks dutifull demeanour to his Maiesty Anno 1. Iacobi Regis Apol. pag. 19. Clemency no cause of desperate attempts The cruelty of searches * Anno 1604. mense August Diuers examples of seuere persecution The B. of Londons Sermon 5. August 1605. Apol. pag. 21. Increace of persecution since the powden-treason Statut. 4. 5. Anno 3. Iacobi Reg. Lond. 26. Febr. 1607. York 21. Mar. 1608. Lond. 11. Apr. 1608. Pag. 21. Luc. 23. Matth. vlt. Act. 24. Apol. pag. 21. Vixit An. 1150. Pag. 22. The Oath why it is vnlawfull Rom. 13. Apol. pag. 22. Hier. 27. 12. Exod. 5. 1. Esdr. 1. 3. Dan. 3. 12. No obedience against God a mans ConscieÌ„ce Dan. 1. Tob. 1. 1. Macha 1. Authorityes of auÌ„cient Fathers Apol. pag. 23. August in Psal. 124. How farre we are bound to our teÌ„porall Prince Apol. pag. 23. Tertull. ad Scap. Iust. Apol. 2. ad Anto. Imperat. Optat. coÌ„tra Parmen li. 3. Ambros. Orat. coÌ„tra Auxent de Basilicis noÌ„ trad lib. s. Epist. Three occasions in which S. Ambrose resisted the Emperour his temporall Soueraigne Libellus Ambros. epist. 32. Amb. l. 1. epist. 33. Amb. Ibid. Ambros. Concion de Basililcis noÌ„ tradendis haer to 5. Apol. pag. 24. How S. Gregory agreed to the publishing of the law of the Emperour Mauritius Greg. lib. 2. Epistol 65. Indict 11. Greg. lib. 7. Epist. 11. Indict 1. Conâ— Arel sub Carol. Can. 26. Vide in Capitularibus Pranc li. 6. c. 285. de Conâ—ilio VVormac Wherein the Councell of Arles did submit it selfe to the Emperour a Can. 2. b Can. 3. c Can. 4. d Can. 7. 8. e Can. 13. f Can. 15. 16. g Can. 20. 22. 23. The zeale of Charles the Great to haue manners reformed by the authority of Bishops Ioan. 18. 36. Mat. 22. 21. Apol. pag. 26. 27. Neither the Pope or Church can make any new Articles of Faith 3. Reg. 3. Wilfull mistaking of the controuersy See S. Cyprian Exhort ad Martyr See Euseb. lib. 8. ca. 4. Aug. de Bap. lib. 7. cap. 2. lib. 7. coÌ„tra Cresc cap. 27. Arnob coÌ„tra Gentes lib 4. in fine Touching the two Breues of Clemens octauus Anno Domini 1600. 1603. In his Charge at Norwich 4. August anno 1606. To the last poynt Apolog. pag. 36. 37. c. The State of the controuersie with Card. Bellarmine Ca. Pellar his opinion of taking the Oath Pag. 44. A Cauill Pag. 46.
THE IVDGMENT OF A CATHOLICKE ENGLISH-MAN LIVING IN BANISHMENT FOR HIS RELIGION VVritten to his priuate friend in England Concerninge A late BOOKE set forth and entituled Triplici nodo triplex cuneus Or An Apologie for the Oath of Allegiance Against two BREVES of Pope PAVLVS V. to the Catholickes of England a Letter of Cardinall BELLARMINE to M. GEORGE BLACKWELL Arch-priest VVherin the said Oath is shewed to be vnlawfull vnto a Catholicke Conscience for so much as it conteyneth sundry clauses repugnant to his Religion S. Hieron Comment in Cap. 4. Hierem. Let an Oath haue these companions Truth Iudgment and Iustice for if these be wanting it shall not be an Oath but Periury ¶ Permissu Superiorum ANNO 1608. THE GENERALL Contentes of this ensuing Letter diuided into three Paragraphes 1. THE first paragraph handleth matters concerning the substance of the Oath which in the Apologie are spoken by way as it were of Preface before the setting downe of the Popes Breues 2. THE second considereth the said two Breues impugnation therof by the Apologer and how sufficiently or insufficiently the same is performed by him 3. THE third discusseth the Answere made to Cardinall Bellarmynes Letter diuers poyntes of moment therin conteyned but weakly impugned by the Apologer as the Authour of this Letter iudgeth To the Reader THIS Letter comming to my hands gentle Reader some dayes past from my learned friend beyond the seas and hauing imparted the same priuately vnto sundry of myne acquaintance who desyred to read somewhat concerning the Argument in haÌ„d they were very earnest with me to yield to the printing therof for eschewing so great labour tyme and expences as would be necessary for the copying it out to so many as desyred the view therof which I intreate thee to take in good part and vse it to thy benefit And so to CHRIST IESVS I committ thee with wish of all felicitie both in this lyfe and the next PARTICVLER chiefe poyntes handled in this Letter In the first Paragraph 1. WHo is thought to be the true Authour of this Triplex cuneus or Apology and vpon what reasons arguments Num. 2. 3. 4. c. 2. The contentes of the Oath and how the lawfulnes of taking it was consulted with learned men both at home and abroad num 14. 15. c. 3. VVhether this Oath do conteyne matters of only meere Ciuill and Temporall Obedience and not any of Religion as is pâ—â—â—â—â—ded num 20. 21. c. 4. VVhat full and perfect Obedience and dutifull Allegiancâ— Catholicke Subiects do acknowledge themselues to owe and offer vnto his Ma. tie in all Temporall affayres as much as euer any English Subiects from the beginning vntill K. Henry the eight his time and as any forrayne Subiect doth to any Catholicke Emperour King or Prince at this day num 25. 26. c. 5. How contradictory it is in it self That Catholicks must sweare to take the Oath freely without coaction notwithstanding the penalty of Premunire if they refuse it num 29. c. 6. Concerning a petition to his Ma. tie for exposition of the said Oath for auoyding of needles vexations num 32. 33. c. 7. That nothing is gayned but much lost to his Ma. tie by ouer-much vrging the said Oath num 34. 35. c. In the Second Paragraph THe summe of the two Breues of Paulus V. and whether1 he had reason to complayne of Catholicks sufferance or no num 1. 2. 3. c. VVhether Q. Elizabeth did persecute Catholicks,2 and whether she were so happie in her life and gouernment as some do make her num 5. 6. 7. c. That it is not height of pryde in Catholicks to desyre lyberty of3 Conscience as the Apologer sayth num 25. 26. 27. c. That clemency is no cause of desperate attempts as this Apologer4 insinuateth but rather the contrary to wit cruelty num 32. 33. c. In what poyntes and why this Oath is held to be vnlawfull for5 Catholicke men to take with the examination of Scriptures Fathers and Councels about the same num 41. 42. c. How the Apologer wittingly mistaking the State of the Question,6 goeth forward impugning only his owne deuises num 61. 62. In the third Paragraph CArdinall Bellarmyne is wrongfully charged to mistake1 the State of the Controuersy and to impugne the Oath of Supremacy insteed of the Oath of Allegiance num 4. 5. c. VVhy the Apologer changeth the old Tytle of Supreme Head2 of the Church established by Statute vnder K. Henry the 8. and K. Edward the 6. vnto Supreme Gouernour num 6. 7. c. 3. The ancient Councels of Toledo how vntruly they are alledged for prescribing this forme of Oath now exacted num 11. 12. 13. c. 4. Clauses of beliefe or not beliefe proued to be in this Oath contrary to the Apologers assertion num 26. 27. c. 5. An eleuen Contradictions obiected out of Cardinall Bellarmynes workes but no one can be verified num 35. 36. 37. c. 6. The Authorityes of sundry Fathers examined whether they make to the purpose for which Bellarmyne doth alledge them in his Epistle num 58. 59. 7. Great variety of calumâ—â—ious dealing against the Cardinall for disgracing him num 74. 75. c. 8. How Kings and Princes are truly seruants of their Subiects and how their Authority is mediatly and not immediatly from God num 78. 79. 83. c. THE IVDGMENT OF A CATHOLICKE MAN TO HIS FRIEND in England Concerning the Apology for the new Oath of Allegiance Paragr I. I CANNOT but yeild yow harty thankes my louing friend for the new Booke yow sent me ouer by Gunâ—ar at his last passage For albeit I haue determyned with my selfe in this my banishment to spend my tyme in other studyes more profitable then in contention about Controuersyes yet must I needs accept kyndly of your good will in making me partaker of your newes there And more gladde should I haue beene if yow had aduertised me what your and other mens opinion was of the Booke in your parts then that yow request me to write our mens Iudgement from hence And yet for so much as yow requâ—â—â—t so earnestly at my handes and that the party is to returne presently I shall say somewhat with the greatest breuity that I can Albeit I do not doubt but that the partyes that are principally interessed therin will answere the same much more largely II. First then for the Authour for so much as he setteth not downe his Name it seemeth not so easy to ghâ—sse yet the more generall opinion in these partes is that as that odious Discouery of Roman Doctryne and practises which of late yow haue seene answered was cast forth against the Catholickes vnder the cyrred name of T. M. with direction as he said from Superiours the Authour being in deed but an inferiour Minister so dyuers thinke it to be probable that this other Booke also commeth
or vnder pressures still as hath bene said But for others of the same Religion that cannot frame their Consciences to take the said Oath and yet would gladly giue his Royall Maiesty contentment satisfaction so farre as they might without offending God I can assure yow that it is the greatest affliction of mynd among other pressures that euer fell vnto them For that no violence is like to that which is laied vpon mens Consciences for so much as it lyeth in a maÌ„s owne will resolutioÌ„ to beare all other oppressions whatsoeuer whether it be losse of goods honours dignityes yeaâ— of life it self but the oppression of the Conscience no man may beare patiently though he would neuer so faine For if he yield therein he offendeth God and leeseth his soule neyther doth Metus cadens in constantem virum feare that may terrify euen a constant man excuse in this behalfe as appeareth by the example of the auncient Martyrs who were forced vnder paine of damnation to stand out to death against all humaine power vexations torments and highest violence rather then to doe say or sweare any thing against their Conscience To all these men then which are thowsands in our Countrey that neuer thought otherwise then to be good Subiects to his Maiesty the deuising of this new Oath was no blessing but an vnspeakeable affliction and angariation of mynd XXXIV To the exhibitours also I see not what blessing it could be or can be so extremely to vex other men without any profit or emolument to themselues or to his Maiestyes seruice which herin they would pretend to aduaunce For if there be any cause of doubt of loyall good will in them that are forced to sweare against their consciences much more cause and reason may there be of like doubt after they haue so sworne then before For that the griefe of their new wound of conscience remayning full within them and stirring them to more auersion of hart for the iniury receaued must needes worke contrary effects to that which is pretended And whosoeuer will not sticke to sweare against his conscience for feare fauour or some other like passion may be presumed that he will as easily breake his Oath after he hath sworne vpon like motiues if occasions doe mooue him And among all other passions none is more strong then that of reuenge for oppressions receaued So as we read of the whole Monarchy of Spaine ouerthrowne and giuen to the Mores for one passion of Count Iulian wherby he desired to be reuenged of his King â—oderiquez Nothing then is gotten in this behalfe of loyall good will by such extreame pressures but much rather lost XXXV But besides all this is the grieuous sinne which they commit who force presse other men to sweare against their consciences then which almost nothing can be imagined more heinous for it is to thrust men headlong especially such as are fearfull into the very precipitation and downfall of hell it selfe For it is the highest degree of scandall actiue so much condemned and detested in Scriptures and so dredfully threatned by our Sauiour to be seuerely punished in the life to come for that scandalizing properly is nothing else but laying a stumbling-block for other men to fall and breake their necks And such a one is this formall Oath which conteyneth diuers things lawfull for a Catholicke to sweare and other things vnlawfull and he is forced by terrour to passe ouer and swallow downe the one with the other without distinction with maniâ—est repugnance of his Conscience which repugnance to him is alwaies a synne damnable in such a publicke and weighty action though the matter were lawfull in it self and consequently also vnto them that force him to the same eyther knowing or suspecting his said repugnance of Conscience For he that should force a Iew or Turke to sweare that there were a blessed Trinity eyther knowing or suspecting that they would doe it against their Conscience should synne grieuously by forcing them to committ that synne This is Catholicke doctrine which I also thinke the learned Protestants themselues will not deny XXXVI Here if any man obiect that among vs also men are vrged to take Oathes and to abiure their opinions in the tribunalls of Inquisitions and the like and consequently in this Oath they may be forced vnder punishment to abiure the Popes Temporall Authority in dealing with Kings I answere first that if any Hereticke or other should be forced to abiure his opinions with repugnance of conscience it should be a synne to the inforcers if they knew it or suspected it Neyther is it practised or permitted â—n any Catholicke Court that euer I knew But yow will reply that if he doe it not he shall be punished by death or otherwise as the crime requireth and Canons appoint and consequently the like may be vsed towards Catholickes that will not renounce their old opinions of the Popes Authoritye but heere is a great difference for that the Catholicke Church hath Ius acquisitum auncient right ouer Hereticks as her due Subiects for that by their Baptisme they were made her Subiects and left her afterward and went out of her and she vseth but her auncient manner of proceeding against them as against all other of their kynd and quality from the beginning But the Protestant Church of England hath Nullum Ius acquisitum vpon Catholicks that were in possession before them for many hundred yeares as is euident Neyther was there euer any such Oath exacted at their hands by any of their Kings in former Catholicke tymes Neyther is there by any Catholicke forreyne Monarch now liuing vpon earth and consequently by no reason or right at all can English Catholicke men be eyther forced or pressed to this Oath against their Conscience or be punished beaten or destroyed if for their Conscience they refuse to take the same humbly offering notwithstanding to their Soueraigne to giue him all other dutifull satisfaction for their Temporall Obedience and Allegiance which of loyall Catholicke Subiectes may be exacted And this shall suffice for this first point concerning the contents and nature of the Oath Now shall We passe to say somewhat of the Breues and answere made thereunto CONCERNING THE POPES TVVO BREVES AGAINST The receauing of the Oath Paragr II. THE summe of the Popes two Breues the first of the 21. of September Anno 1606. the second of the 21. of August the next yeare following is this That wheras he had heard that the Catholicks of England were very sorely pressed with a new deuised Oath against their ConscieÌ„ces concerning certayne poyntes appertayning to the Authority of the Sea Apostolicke in some cases he wrote the first Breue to admonish comfort and direct them signifying his harty sorie for their long continued afflictions and exhorting them to patience and constancy in defence of the integrity of Catholike faith and the purity of their owne consciences
and honoured receyued so gladly and with vniuersall ioy meant to serue faithfully trusted that as he had vnited the two Kingdomes in one Obedience by his Succession so would he by his liberality vnite and conioyne the harts of all his Subiects in bearing a sweete and equall hand towards them all From such a King I saâ— or vs to expect liberty of ConscieÌ„ce and equality with other Subiects in this poynt at least of freedome of soule what height of pryde may it be called May it not rather seeme height of pryde in this Minister his â—ellowes that hauing bynâ— oâ—d enemyes and alwayes borne a hard hate uâ—â—hand and tongue against his Ma. tie both in their Sermons Bookes Speaches all the tyme of the late Queenes raigne now vpon the suddayne sine vllis meri is praecedeâ—â—ious will needs be so priuiledged assume vnto themselues such a confident presumption of his Ma. ties speciall fauour as to suffer no man to stand by them but to hold it for height of pryde in vs to hope â—or any freedome and liberty oâ— our Conscience at alâ— What is height of pryde and soâ—lâ— iâ— this be not XXIV But his Ma. tie is wise will as we hope according to his prudence in tyme looke into this sort oâ—men and manner of proceeding And to returne to the Apologer he reckoneth vp therby to exaggerate the more our ingratitude the particuler fauours his Ma. tie did vnto vs at his first entrance as That he did honour diuers Catholicks with Knighthood being open Recusants That he gaue audiece indifferently to both sydes bestowed equally fauours and honours vpon both professions gaue free conâ—inuall accesse to all rankes and degrees of Papists in his Court and company freeing Recusantes from their ordinarie payments gaue order to his Iudges with his owne mouth to spare execution of all Priests though they were conuicted gaue libertie by his gracious Proclamation to all Priests not taken to go out of the Countrey by such a day and all Priestes that were taken were sent ouer and sett at liberty and many other gracious fauours benefittes VVhich saith he tyme and paper would fayle me if I would make enumeration of them all in recounting wherof euery scrape of my pen so vse his words would serue but for a blott of the Popes ingratitude and iniustice in meating his Ma. tie with so hard a measure for the same So as I thinke quoth he I haue sufficiently wiped of the teares from the Popes eyes for complayning vpon such persecution c. XXV Thus writeth this man who in naming the Popes ingratitude must much more include ours that are Catholicks for that these benefitts such as they were appertayned nothing to the Pope but only in Christian charity as a common spirituall Father and Pastour he being otherwise a stranger vnto vs in bloud and for other worldly respects And as for Catholicks they accept gratefully whatsoeuer least fauour hath byn or is done vnto them and do not doubt but that if his Ma. tie had not bene preuented by sinister information persuasion of others they had tasted of much greater as due vnto them in that they are naturall borne Subiects of the Realme most loyall in hart affection neuer meaning otherwise but to liue in most orderly and dutifull Subiection and Obedience to his Highnes as to their liege Lord and Soueraigne XXVI And wheras this man for proofe of the contrary nameth the powder-treason of a few therby to discredite the whole though this calumniation haue beene answered before yet now I ad further as one said Distingue tempora scripturam concordabis If there had bene no persecution before that treason this might haue beene assigned for some probable cause of the subsequent tribulations but all England knoweth that this is not so but that his Ma. ties sweete myld aspect towards Catholicks at his first entrance was soone by art of their enemyes auerted long before the conspiracy fell out For that not only all the most cruell Statutes and penall Lawes made by Q. Elizabeth were renewed and confirmed before this with addition of others tending to no lesse rigour acerbitie but also the exaction of the same was put in practice with great seueritie namely the paymeÌ„t of the twenty poundes a moneth or two partes of their goods and landes for Recusants once remitted by his Ma. tie as heere is confessed were not only recalled againe but the arrearages therof in like manner exacted and for leuying wherof throughout sundry shyres of the Realme especially in the North there was such ransacking of mens houses such dryuing away of their Cattell froÌ„ their groundes such strayning of their Rents such vexing of their tennants not knowne perhaps to his Ma. tie as if the whole Countrey had byn gyuen ouer to spoyle desolation XXVII Nor were mens goods and persons only afflicted but the lyues also of sundry taken away for cause of their Religion before this powder-treason fell out which desperate treason to ascribe as an effect and fruite of too much clemency in his Ma. tie as this Minister doth is a strange assertion no doubt for so much as such effects do not proceed but of exasperated myndes which clemency worketh not eyther in men or beasts Neyther did euer any learned Philosopher that wrote of the good institution of any Common wealth or of the security of any Prince in his Gouernment put such effects for fruits of clemency but rather of the contrary manner of proceeding And if all the disasterous ends of the most vnfortunate Princes that euer haue byn destroyed should be layd togeather and the causes therof exactly inquired it would be found so and consequently that this Minister is no good Counsellour to his Ma. tie in this so great weighty affayre And we hope that Almighty God by the mercy of his dearest Sonne our Sauiour and through the prayers of his Ma. ties good Mother and other holy Princes of his Royall bloud now in heauen will neuer suffer him at the egging of such exasperating people to follow so violent troublesome and dangerous a course and so contrary to theirs whiles they lyued vpon earth and so alienate from his owne sweete nature and Princely disposition XXVIII But to proceed a litle further in the narration of some poyntes of heauy persecutioÌ„ that insued soone after his Ma. ties being in England much before the powder-treason was attempted Who doth not know what afflictions were layd vpon Catholicks euen in the very first yeare of his Ma. ties raigne especially towards the end therof much more throughout all the second yeare before the said powder-treason fell out For then not only in the Shires and Prouinces abroad but euen in London it selâ—e and in the eyes of the Court the violence and insolency of continuall searches grew to be such as was intollerable no night passing commonly but
his M. ties Tytle which he did so hartily and effectually as when he after the Queenes death vnderstood that he was called for into England he wrote presently the second Breue exhorting all Catholicks to receaue and obey him willingly hoping that at leastwise they should be permitted to liue peaceably vnder him And this is the very truth of those two Breues nor was there in the former any one word against his Maiesty then of Scotland and much lesse that he was therin called the Scottish Hereticke as Syr Edward Cooke hath deuised since and falsely vttered in print without shame or conscience Nor was there any such wordes as heere are alleadged against any that would but tolerate the Professours of Protestants Religion nor was there any such double dealing or dissimulation in Pope Clement his speaches or doings concerning his Ma. ty as heere are set downe But the truth is that he loued his person most hartily and alwaies spake honourably of him treated kindely all those of his nation that said they came from him or any wayes belonged vnto him and often tymes vsed more liberality that way vpon diuers occasions then is conuenient perhaps for me to vtter heere caused speciall prayer to be made for his Maiesty wherof I suppose his Highnes cannot altogeather be ignorant and much lesse can so noble a nature be ingrate for the same which assureth me that those things vtterd by this Apologer so farre from the truth could not be conferred with his Maiesty but vttered by the Authour therof vpon his owne splene against the Pope and such as are of his Religion LXIII The second and last point affirmed by the Apologer in this Paragraph is that the first of these two Breues of Paulus Quintus was iudged to be farre against Deuinity Policy and naturall sense by sundry Catholicks not of the simpler sort but of the best account both for learning and experience among them wherof the Archpriest was one and consequently that it was held but for a counterfaite libell deuised in hatred of the Pope c. All this I say hath much calumniation in it and litle truth For albeit some might doubt perhaps whether it came immediatly from the Pope Ex motu proprio or only from the Congregation of the Inquisition vpon defectuous information of the State of the question in England of which doubt notwithstanding if any were there could be little ground yet no Catholicke of iudgement or piety would euer passe so farre as to iudge it contrary to Deuinity Policy or naturall sense and much lesse to be a libell deuised in hatred of the Pope These are but deuises of the Minister-Apologer and he offereth much iniury to so Reuerend a man as the Archpriest is to name him in so odious a matter but that his end therin is well knowne And if there were any such doubt or might be before of the lawfulnes of the first Breue now is the matter cleered by the second and so all men see thereby what is the sentence of the Sea Apostolicke therein which is sufficient for Catholicke men that haue learned to obey and to submitt their iudgements to those whome God hath appointed for the declaration and decision of such doubts And thus much about those two Breues Now let vs see what is said to Cardinall Bellarmyne for writing to M. Blackwell in this affaire ABOVT CARDINALL BELLARMINES LETTER TO M. r BLACKVVELL And answere giuen thereunto by the Apologer Paragr III. THE last Part of this Apology concerneth a letter written by Cardinall Bellarmine in Rome vnto George Blackwell Arch-priest in England which letter as appeareth by the argument therof was written out of this occasion That wheras vpon the comming forth of the forenamed new Oath intituled Of Allegiance there were found diuers poynts combined togeather some appertayning manifestly to Ciuill Allegiance wherat no man made scruple some other seeming to include other matters contrary to some part of the Catholicke faith at least in the common sense as they ly there arose a doubt whether the said Oath might be taken simply and wholy by a Catholicke man as it is there proposed without any further distinction or explication thereof Wherupon some learned men at home being different in opinions the case was consulted abroad where all agreed as before hath byn shewed that it could not be taken wholy with safety of conscience and so also the Pope declared the case by two seuerall Breues II. In the meane space it happened that M. Blackwell being taken was committed to prison and soone after as he had byn of opinion before that the said Oath might be taken as it lay in a certayne sense so it being offred vnto him he tooke it himselfe Which thing being noysed abroad and the fact generally misliked by all sortes of Catholicke people in other Realmes as offensiue and scandalous in regard of his place and person so much respected by them Cardinall Bellarmine as hauing had some old acquaintance with him in former yeares as it may seeme resolued out of his particuler loue zeale to the Common cause of Religion and speciall affection to his person to write a letter vnto him therby to let him know what reportes and iudgment there was made of his fact throughout those partes of Christendome where he remayned togeather with his owne opinion also which consisted in two poynts the one that the Oath as it stood compounded of different clauses some lawfull some vnlawfull could not be taken with safety of Conscience the other that he being in the dignity he was of Prelacy and Pastorall Charge ought to stand firme and constant for example of others rather to suffer any kynd of danger or domage then to yield to any vnlawfull thing such as the Cardinall held this Oath to be III. This Letter was written vpon the 28. day of September 1607. and it was subscribed thus in Latyn Admodum R. dae Dom. is Vae Frater seruus in Christo. Robertus Card. Bellarminus Which our Apologer translateth Your very Reuerēd Brother wheras the word very Reuerend in the letter is gyuen to the Arch-priest and not to Card. Bellarmine which the interpreter knew well inough but that wanting other matter would take occasion of cauilling by a wilfull mistaking of his owne as often he doth throughout this Answere to Bellarmine as in part will appeare by the few notes which heere I am to set downe leauing the morefull Answere to the Cardinall himselfe or some other by his appoyntment which I doubt not but will yield very ample satisfaction in that behalfe For that in truth I fynd that great aduantage is gyuen vnto him for the defence of his said Epistle and that the exceptions taken there against it be very weake and light and as easy to be dissolued by him and his penne as a thin mist by the beames of the sunne IIII. As for example the first exception is which
strong effectes both in iudgments and affections Admiration for that no such thing was euer expected vnder his Maiesties gouernment for many causes strong effectes for that they worke great alterations both in the one and the other In iudgment for that wise men fynd not any reason eyther of Religion or State why such extremityes should be pursued with such rigour at the instigation of partyes interessed to the euident danger of so great and honorable Kingdomes who if in wills they were vinted as they are in one Prince and Gouernour their forces were both admirable and dreadfull In affections for that the compassion which naturally doth accompany our brethrens afflictions especially for a cause that we most esteeme and loue to wit our Religion must needes worke the contrary effect of inward auersion both in Princes people abroad notwithstāding they hold externall amity and friendship for the tyme. LXXXVIII I let passe the generall obloquies and murmurations that are to be heard euery where almost in Christendome vpon this manner of proceeding and much more the publicke and priuate complaints outcryes and praiers that are made and offered daylie to heauen throughout all Catholicke Kingdomes lightly in all particuler Congregations Oratoryes Chappels meetings of zealous men that pray instantly to Almighty God for some remedy of these oppressions and persecutions of English Catholicks sufficiently as they thinke declared vnto thē to the whole world by the very printed Catalogues of English Statutes extant in Print against them for profession of their Religion for that by the view of those Statutes they do easily conceaue what enormous effectes do and must follow in the execution therof albeit they did not both heare see daily so many lamētable presidēts spectacles therin LXXXIX As for example there haue not passed many moneths since there were seene some threescore Priests more or lesse to omit others cast into banishmēt about one tyme wandring vp and downe throughout Christēdome according as euery man had occasion or necessity for their mayntenance gaue a lamentable spectacle to all nations to see mē of so good partes amiable aspects sweet behauiour naturall borne subiects of the Lād the most of them of very worshipfull parētage all of learned education cleere and deuoyd of any suspition of crymes that could be obiected vnto them for otherwise they should not haue bene dismissed in the flower of their age to be cast out of their natiue soyle for professing that Religion only wherby their said Countrey was first made Christian so continued vnder all their noble Princes Kings Queenes and Soueraignes Nobility and Communatly from the beginning of their Conuersion vnto this our age XC This spectacle I say presented to the eyes of most Nations of Europe moued men not a litle especially hearing them protest their duetifull affections to his Ma. tie and Realme in all Cyuill Temporall respects without seeking of any preferments dignityes riches or other emoluments by staying at home but only the rest vse of their owne Consciences in matters of Religion which Protestāts in many other Catholicke Countryes are suffered to inioy though with farre lesser reason in regard of the ancient right possession which ech part pretendeth for the vse of their said Religion XCI And since this tyme agayne there hath beene seene very lately another spectacle not much vnlike to the former though much more markable to wit a like number of Noble and Gentlemen with their followers and trayne passing in very good sort through sundry Countryes being lately retyred out of his Ma. ties Kingdome of Irelād for the selfe same cause of their Consciēce and Religion which when men do behold and heare them otherwise to speake honourably of his Ma. tie the State ascribing rather their afflictiōs to some vnder Magistrates in Ireland and Ministers that set them on it moueth more compassion and maketh men thinke and muse what may be the end of all this and whereunto fynally it may grow Whether the like may not be expected in tyme or doubted out of other partes also of his Ma. ties dominions vpon like angariatiō of Consciēces which points seeme to be of no small consideration and consequence to wise men though those that be the immediate causes therof will and must make light of all but the naturall yssue of such euentes are not vnknowne And if the occasioners therof were guylty of no greater fault but only to cast his Ma. tie the State into perpetuall cares about the same his Royall nature being inclined otherwise to sweetnes peace and tranquillity it were a great synne in them and scarce sufferable XCII Nor is the remedy heere attēpted by our Minister-Apologer of denying all and saying that there is no persecution nor hard dealing with any for matters of Religion no not in the late Queenes dayes when so many were so rackt and rented for the same any remedy at all but rather a doubling of the iniury to the afflicted with encrease of exasperation auersion of myndes as also a leesing of all credit with others that heare it eyther at home or abroad for that facts contrary to wordes do preponderate with all sober men and preuaile against the same XCIII And truely I cannot but wonder why this late Apology hath beene so greedily published by the Apologer both in English and Latyn to the world for that the Popes Breues being but written priuatly to the Catholicks of England for informing their Consciences in a matter of necessary doctrine about the lawfulnes or vnlawfulnes of taking the Oath and the Letter of Cardinall Bellarmyne being directed only to a priuate friend both of them might haue remayned also priuate if this attempt had not byn made of publishing the same But now being drawne by the Apologer into the Vniuersall Theatre of the world besydes that diuers will hold themselues obliged or at leastwyse prouoked to answere the same it will follow also that the vnlawfulnes of the said Oath to Catholicke Consciences will more be seene disputed condemned by all Vniuersityes Schooles Bookes Treatises of particuler learned men throughout all Countryes of Christendome that professe Catholicke Religiō Whervpon also the vniust violence inforcing men to sweare the same Oath vnder so rigorous paynes as are the losse both of goods libertie and therwithall to sweare in like manner that they do it willingly freely and without coaction will be censured no doubt for one of the greatest contradictions in it selfe and the most iniurious manner of proceeding with Christian men that euer perhaps was heard of in the Christian world XCIII And this now occurred to me deare Syr to write to you cōcerning my iudgmēt vpō this matter What more may be said to this Apologie when it shall come into the handes of learned men you will easily ghesse by these few notes that I haue heere laid togeather which conteyne but little in respect of that which may be written of