of conscience if for feare they obey or of their vndoing in the world if they refuse The taking of their deare children from them by force and placing them for their seduction with Heretiques which violence can not be done by the lawe of God to Iewes them selues the burning of our Priestes in the eares the whipping and cutting of the ears of others carying some in their sacred vestments through the streetes putting our chaste virgins into infamous places appointed for strumpets other vnspeakable vilanies â—ot inferiour to anie of the said heathnesse persecutions They haue pined and smothred in their filthie prisons aboue thirtie famous Prelates The sufferinges of Catholiques aboue fourtie excellent learned men of nobles gentlemen and maâ—â—ones a number whos Martirdome is before God as â—lorious as if they had by a speedie violent death â—ene dispatched euerie dongeon and filthie prison 〈◊〉 England ful of our Priestes brethen al Prouinâ—es and Princes christianed witnesses of our banishâ—ent In al this we yeeld them our bodies goods â—ountrie blood liues nothing wil queÌ„ch their haâ—red of our Priesthood faith and profession Thus in 〈◊〉 causes we suffer and yet they would not haue vs â—omplaine they say al is sweet clement and merciful â—n this regiment But as we said we no otherwise â—omplaine of this persecution against vs but as it is exercised for that faith and quarel which the lawes of God and man approue and iustifie in vs That it is done by the sheepe and subiectes of Godes Church against their owne Prelates and pastors to whom in causes of religioÌ„ they ar bound to obey by th'expresse word of God When the lauful magistrate bearing sword by God for punishment of offenders putteth theeues heretiques or murderers to death who accompteth it crueltie who complaineth of persecution But when contrariwise by anie violent disorder the malefactors get head and take hart in a commen wealth and kil a lauful officer iudge or superior that is a cruel and horrible fact though it be done but in one or two persons in stead of a thousand wicked men executed by iust lawes So wheÌ„ the Prince and Prelate proceed together against such as by the sentence and law of the Church of Christ ar adiudged to be heretiques and iniuries to God that is Iustice but when the temporal Prince or lay people rebel against their owne Bishops to whom in spiritual matters they ar bound by Godes word to giue eare vnder paine of damnatioÌ„ yea wheÌ„ mere lay meÌ„ most of theÌ„ wholie vnlearned disorderlie take vpon theÌ„ to prescribe vnto their owne pastors what they should beleeue how they should minister the SacrameÌ„ts force vpon them false and impious othes and articles and that in Parliament wher the Bishops by the lawes of our countrie hauing the principal suffrages and the rest of the whole Conuocation representing the Church of England honorablie and vniformelie resisted whoÌ„ thes meÌ„ afterward deposed of their honors toke their pulpits churches titles prerogatiues from them imprisoned their sacred persons and abused some of them True persecution namelie the noble Confessor and Bishop of London by al sortes of vilanie This loe is a persecutioÌ„ indeed wher the sheep subiects and inferiors violentlie oppose them selues against them whom the the Holie-ghost hath placed to be the guides gouernours and curates of their soules Yea when they depose disauthorize spoile punishe imprison their owne rulers Gods annointed Priestes giue warrant by wicked lawes to the temporal powers to visit correct iudge discerne of the doctrine of their Maisters in religion that is a persecution sedition and rebellion in the highest degree And we may trewlie say hereof to our lost Countrie with the Prophet Osee 4. Populus tuus sicut hi qui contradicunt Sacerdoti the state of the persecution being wholie agreable to the mutinie of Chore DathaÌ„ AbiroÌ„ and their confederats in the desert against their lauful Priestes and Gouernors yea properlie against the high Priesthood of Aaron as our contries reuolt now is against the sea Apostolique and al lauful spiritual regiment proceeding from the same And therfore the Libeller guilfullie iÌ„ respect of the simple but fondlie and falslie in our eyes disproueth our lauful refusal to obey men before God and our resistance in matter of conscience by th' example of Chores conspiracie which toucheth al their rebellions froÌ„ the sea Apostolique Catholique Church and confirmeth al our endeuours for maintenance of the same against what aduersaries so euer And their rebellion is the more plaine The nevv cleargie and persecution more hateful and intollerable for that they haue not onely vnnaturallie done this violeÌ„ce to their owne spiritual rulers but therupon also haue chosen at their pleasures and intruded into their places a sort of greedie wolues vnordered Apostats amarous and godlesse companions the very filth and chanel of the Realme who for hatred of the Catholique faith from which they ar Renegates and through a kind of competencie or emulatioÌ„ of the true Bishops whos roomes by secular force they vniustlie haue inuaded and doe deteine beare such vnquenshable malice to the true annointed cleargie to their obedieÌ„t folowers that they cease not to iÌ„cite the powers of the Realme against vs and exercise them selues vnder the pretensed title of their vsurped dignities and other temporal commissions the greatest tirannie and crueltie in the world standing in feare of their state so long as they see anie true Bishop or Catholique man aliue Who 's actioÌ„s are the rather intollerable for that they know and hath beene prooued in open court that they not onelie vsurpe thos places against Gods and the Churches lawes but that they were not made and inuested according to the new lawes of the Realme speciallie made for creation of them So as our true pastors being vexed spoiled tormented and slaine against lawe nature and al reason by temporal men hauing no authoritie in causes ecclesiastical and by a new forged cleargie that exerciseth no Iurisdiction but by euident vsurpation against both the Canons of the Church and the lawes of our countrie who is of so dul a wit as not to see the difference of the discipline of the Church and Realme done towardes offendors in Catholique times and states by lauful authoritie both spiritual and temporal and the iniust persecution of the Church and her children now proceeding of nether lauful authoritie temporal nor spiritual VVhat clemencie vvas vsed to them of the old Clergie at the beginning Therfore let not the Libeller here so much extol the equitie and mercie vsed in her Maiesties regiment to certaine of the old principal cleargie because they put theÌ„ not to death as they haue done others sitheÌ„ce Cicero wil not sticke to tel them what a benefit is done to an honest man when his purse is taken from him and yet his life saued and what thankes ar to be rendred in that case to the
be praised as purposelie to dishonour our Prince and Countrie The true causes of publishing our miseries for whos loue in Christ so manie haue so meeklie lost their liues or to reueale their turpitude which we would rather couer if it were possible from the eyes of the world with our owne blood but we set forth the truth of al thes actions for the honour of our nation which otherwise to her infinite shame and reproche would be thought wholie and generallie to haue reuolted from the Catholique faith and consented to al the absurdities and iniquities of this new regiment and religion if none with zeale and extreme indeuour resisted such pernitious innouations Wher now as wel our owne people as al strangers in the Christian world perceauing the disorder to proceed but of the partialitie of a few powerable persons abusing her Maiesties clemencie and credulitie doe glorifie our Lord God that in so great a tentation al the Cleargie in maner and so manie of the laitie of al sortes constantlie persist in their fathers faith to the losse of goods landes liues honours and what soeuer besides and that the whole state excepting the authoritie of the Prince may yet be rather counted Catholique then heretical this is the honour of our nation in al places which otherwise for dooble reuolt and recidiuatiō into Schisme and for extreme persecution would be compted remediles hopeles and of al other places most infamous Secondlie we set forth thes thinges for the memorie and honour of such notable Martirs as haue testified the truth of the Catholique faith by their pretious death See S. Cyprian Which was an ancient Canon and custome of the primitiue Church which appointed certaine special persons or skil and learning to note the daies of euerie ones glorious confession and combat that their memories might afterward be solemlie celebrated for euer among Christians Thirdlie we doe it to communicate our calamities with our brethren in faith and the Churches of other prouinces standing free from this miserie both for their warning and our comfort and to excite in them Christian compassion towardes vs that therbie and by their councel and praiers we may find mercie and releef at Gods hand by the example of the Oriental Churches afflicted by the Arrians See S. Basile Epist 69. 70. which as we may read in S. Basile in their like distresses made their general complaints by often letters and messingers to the west Churches standing more entire and void of that Heresie and persecution Finallie we are forced to publish thes thinges so particularlie and diligentlie to defend the doings of the said holie Confessors and their felowes in faith against the manifold slaunders and calumniations of certaine Heretiques or Politiques vniustlie charging them with treason and other great trespasses against the Common-wealth to auert the eyes of the simple from the true causes of their suffering and to disapoint the holie personages if they could of the honour done to Martirs in Gods Church For that is one special cause among manie why they had rather make them away for forged treason or other feigned offences then for profession of the truth which in their hart they hate more then anie crime in the world S. Gregorie Nazianzene liuelie expresseth the condition of al Heretiques in the behauiour of Iulianus the Apostata thus writing of him Oratione in laudē Caesaris He openlie and boldlie professing impietie yet by coulor of clemencie couered his crueltie and lest vve should atteine to the honours done customablie to Martirs vvhich he disdeined to the Christians he vsed namelie this fraude and deceipt that such as he caused to be tormented for Christs cause should be thought and reported to be punished not for their faith but as malefactours For discouerie therfore of this sinful and deceiptful dealing of our aduersaries who not contented with the death and torments of Gods Saints would punish them by ignominie after their life we are driuen to this dutiful office of their and the holie Churches defence whos honour and innocencie we may not bewray for a thousand deathes Wherin we are not much terrified by the vaine and vulgar exordium of the Author of this inuectiue which we now must refute The Libellers vaine and vulgar Exordium who beginneth aboue al arte after their maner with a common sentence as meet for vs and our matter as for him and his cause telling vs that it is a common vsage of al offendours and speciallie rebels and traitors to make defence of their lend and vnlauful factes by couering their deedes with pretence of other causes Which speech as it might be vsed where anie such trespasse could be proued so is it fondlie said where no crime can be auouched as in the processe of this treatise shal be by Gods grace most clearlie conuinced And it might not onelie be applied by the olde heathen or heretical persecutors against the first Apostles and Martirs of Christ being falslie charged with the same crimes as we be now and answered for them selues as we doe but may much more be verified and found in publique persons and common-wealthes when they erre or commit iniquitie then in anie poore priuate States Princes and common-vvealthes haue more pretēces for couering their misdeedes thē priuate mē or afflicted persons be they neuer so guiltie For Princes and communities in disorder haue a thousand pretences excuses and coulors of their iniust actions they haue the name of authoritie the shadowe of lawes the pennes and tongues of infinite at their commaundement they may print or publish what they like suppresse what they list wherof priuate men be they neuer so wicked or good haue not so great commoditie For examples we need not to goe farre out of our owne Countrie and memorie For when Richard the third intending to vsurpe the Croune of England slew diuers of the Nobilitie first most cruelly Richard Duke of Glocester and afterward murthered vnnaturallie his owne innocent nephewes what solemne Libels proclamations orations were put foorth to iustifie his abhominable iniquitie When the last Duke of Northumberland for the like ambitious purpose would haue dishabled and defeated traiterouslie Iohn Dudly Duke of Northumberland both the noble daughters of his owne Soueraigne and Maister and by the title of his daughter in lawe possessed him self of the Croune what a number of pamphlets and edicts were published on the sodaine for couloring of that foule treacherie and intollerable treason When Orange Orange and his confederats reuolted not long since from their natural Prince the Scottish Heretiques from their lauful Soueraine Iamy Murton c. and other Prouinces for the same cause from the vnitie and common faith of the Church who hath not seene the infinite Libels for their excuse in wickednes That therfore that may sometimes fal in priuate mens causes for couering their sinne and shame happeneth farre oftener and much more dangerouslie in powerable
this man was M. Kirkman M. Kirkeman an happie Priest also martyred for that he acknowledged him-self to haue reconciled certaine persons to the Catholike church For which likewise were put to death M. Thomson M. Harte and M. Threlkeld M. ThoÌ„son M. Hart. M. Threlkeld afterward in the same citie of Yorke neuer charged nor suspected of anie other treasons then of hearing Confessions absoluing and reconciling sinners to the fauor of God and to the vnitie of the Catholique churche againe which both in the Priest that absolueth and in the partie that is absolued they haue made to be the crime of les-Maiestie vnder this false and most vniust preteÌ„ce that al parties so reconciled are assoiled of ther obedience to the Q. and doe adhere to her enimie and admit forreine iurisdiction power and authoritie which is exercised in Confession for remission of sinnes Thes be the treasons and none other for which the blood of Gods Priests is so abundantlie shed in our poore countrie thes yeares Adde to thes the two famous confessors Ao. 1583. M. Slade M. Bodie M. Iohn Slade and M. Iohn Bodie who both by certaine interrogatories being driuen to say their mindes touching the Q. chalenge of supreme regiment ecclesiastical contrarie to the asseueration of this libeller set downe before for confessing their faith of the Popes spiritual soueraigntie and for denying her to be head of the churche of England or to haue anie spiritual regiment were coÌ„demned to death in publique iudgement at two diuers sessions and that at twise a rare case in our countrie the latter sentence being to reforme the former as we may gesse in such strange proceedinges which they perceiued to be erroneous and insufficient in ther owne lawes Wherupon one of them was executed at Winchester th' other at And ouer in the same prouince being neuer charged with disloyaltie or olde treasons as not onelie by the recordes of their arraignment and condemnation we are able to prooue but also by their owne speeches and by the whole action of ther Martyrdome The booke is intituled The Seueral executions of Slade and Body c. imprinted in London by Richard Iones 1583. which is put in print by one of their owne protestantes that was present and is witnessed by thousandes of others that both heard saw their deathes and iudgement I wil for examples sake alleage some thing out of the said printed pamphlet of that which was said vnto them by the enimie at their martyrdome Confesse your fault saith one of the cheefe * Sir VV. Kingsmel gentlemeÌ„ and ministers of execution ther present for satisfaction of the vvorld in the cause of your death to which the holie confessor I. Bodie answered after protestation of his loyaltie in temporal thinges Yovv shall vnderstand quoth he good people that I suffer death for denying her Maiestie to be Supreame head of Christes churche in England in causes ecclesiastical other treasons except they make hearing the holie Masse or saying Aue Maria treason I haue coÌ„mitted none So his happie companion M. Slade condemned for the same onelie cause was thus spoken vnto in the houre of his agonie The cause vvhy M. Slade and M. Bodie vvere murdered by one doctor Bennet a great minister of ther new congregation let not the Pope saith he that vnvvorthie Priest be preferred before thine ovvne natural Princesse vvho is the lavvful supreame head of the Church next vnder Christ So said this minister by whom we may not onelie perceiue vpon what statute and treason they were executed but also which in an other parte of this libel is without shame most boldlie denied Pag. 10. that indeed the Q. is commoÌ„lie of protestantes called Supreame head of the Church So their preachers in pulpit doe sounde owt daylie as al men know and their writers in bookes dedicated to her as M. Bridges M. Bridges against doctor Saunders and D. Stapleton and others doe tearme her expreslie Wherof the wiser sorte as we may see by this libel are so ashamed that they wolde haue it giuen out to strangers speciallie who wonder at the monstruous title that ther is no such thing chalenged of her or giuen her by the new lawes of Religion in England The protestaÌ„tes ashamed of their Head of the church For which cause and for that they had an intention streight to publishe at home and in forreine partes that none were put to death for anie such matter of faith or religioÌ„ they suppressed the said printed pamphlet of thes twoo mens martyrdome and punished the Author therof though he wrote in that point the plaine truth as he hard and sawe but not discretlie inough nor aggreable to the politique practise they had then in hand which was to perswade the world that none were put to death for their conscience nor that the Q. chalenged anie such title of Supremacie or Headshippe ouer the Church Pag. 10. which later point it seemeth conuenient to the politiques of our Realme to disauowe with such vehemencie in this libel as they geue vs the manifest lye for that we reproue them of it for thus they write vvhich title of headship of the Church the aduersaries doe most falslie vvrite and affirme that the Q. Maiestie doth novv vse a manifest lie and vntruth c. Wherfore of this matter I am inforced in this place to speake a word or two by the waye The truth is that in the first yeare and Parliament of the Q. reigne when they abolished the Popes authoritie and wolde haue yeelded the same authoritie with the title of Supreame head to the Q. as it was giuen before to her Father and Brother diuers speciallie moued by Minister Caluins writing who had coÌ„demned in the same Princes that calling liked not the â—earme and therfore procured that some other equiualent but lesse offensiue might be vsed Vpon which formalitie it was enacted that she was the Cheef gouernour asvvel in causes ecclesiastical or spiritual as ciuil and temporal And an othe of the same was conceiued accordinglie to be tendred at their pleasures to al the spiritual and teÌ„poral officers in the Realme by which euerie one must sweare that in conscience he taketh and beleeueth her so to be and that no Priest or other borne owt of the realme can haue or ought to haue anie maner of power in spiritual matters ouer her subiectes Which othe is compted the verie torment of al English consciences not the protestantes themselues beleeuing it to be trew of al trew catholiques as before it was deemed in her Father a lay man and in her Brother a childe very ridiculous so now in her self being a woman is it accompted a thing most monstruous and vnnatural and the verie gappe to bring anie Realme to the thraldome of al sectes Heresie Paganisme Turcisime or Atheisme that the PriÌ„ce for the time by humane frailtie may be subiect vnto al our religion faith worship seruice
intended to bestowe certaine bookes of prayers and spiritual exercises and meditations which he had in his custodie Which may suffice to refute th' aduersaries asseueration that none haue bene tormented for other matter then treason But the wordes of M. Thomas Cotam M. Cotam vttered in sense at the barre and thus verbatim left in writing discouereth the case more plainlie to the shame of this cruel heresie for aduauncement wherof so shameful thinges be committed Thus therfore he spake and auouched openlie in the presence of the racke masters In-deed quoth he yow ar searchers of secrettes for yow wolde needes knowe of me what penaunce I was enioined by my ghostlie father for my sinnes committed and I acknowledge my frailtie that to auoide the intollerable torment of the racke I confessed God forgiue me what they demaunded therin but when they further vrged me to vtter also what my sinnes were for which that penaunce was enioined me a lothesome and vnchristian question I then answered that I wolde not disclose my offences sauing to God and to my ghostlie father alone Wherupon they sore tormented me and stil pressed me with the same demaund and I persisted that it was a most barbarous inhumane question and that I wolde not answere though they tormented me to death Thus spake M. Cotam at his arreignmēt wherwith the enimies being ashamed the Lieutenāt of the Tower ther present begā to denie the whole wherūto M. Cotā replied againe thus And is not this trew Here is present D. Hammō with the rest of the commissioners that were at my racking to whos consciences I appeale God is my witnesse that it is most trew and you knowe that Sir George Carie Sir George Carie. did aske me thes vnnatural questions denie it if you can In truth al your torture and demaundes euerie one were of no other treasons but matter of mere conscience faith and religion or els of such folies as I haue rehearsed As for the moderation great pitie and courtisie which by your Libel you wold haue the world beleue her Maiesties ministers haue euer vsed The crueltie in racking Catholiques in giuing the torment to the persons aforesaid and other Catholiques the poore innocentes haue felt it and our Lord God knoweth the contrarie And we can put you in remembrance that you did it with extreame rigour and dispite commonlie vpon no dew presumption nor reasonable suspition of discouerie of anie important matter therby Looke in your recordes what suspicion of treasons or great matters you could haue in yong Sherwood who was the first in our memorie that was put to the rack for matters of conscience then when no man dreamed of anie thes feined new conspiracies See whether a portable Altare be a sufficient cause to giue the torture to a graue worshipful person not so much as suspected of treason or anie disobedience other then in cases of conscience Whether bookes of prayers and meditations spiritual or the printing and spreading of them be a racke-matter in anie common wealth Christian Looke whether your ordinarie demaundes were of that weight and qualitie as were to be answered by cōstraint of the racke Let the world see what one confession of treasonable matter you haue wrested out by the so often tormenting of so many and what great secresies touching the state which you pretend so earnestlie to seeke for you haue found amongst them al No no nothing was ther in thos religious hartes but innocencie and true religion it is that which you punished tormēted and deadlie hated in them Yf they wold haue in the least pointe in the world condescended to your desires in that or but once for your pleasures presented them selues at your Schismatical prayers al racking treasons had bene cleared and past Wherbie al the world seeth you did al for religiō not as for anie conscience that way wherwith most of you ar not much troubled but because the particular state of a number dependeth on this new religion Remember whether you layd not M. Thomson on the racke against al good vse and order before you euer examined him what presumptions had you so pregnant that you must racke the famous man father Campion about the Irishe commotion or collection of monie for the maintenance of the same or of anie knowledge he had of killing the Greatest as you mistically speake in your booke Fol. 2. Haue you not ordinarilie threatned men with the rackes and dongeons and sometimes brought them to the racke-house doore yea and laid some on the racke without either cause or intent to touche thē but onely by thos terrors to driue them to denie their Faith or to confesse wher they had said masse or other like thinges which you desired to knowe How often haue you by famine and filthie dongeōs tormented the happie yong confessor M. Iohn Harte M. Harte which could not now be after his condemnation for anie thing els but for his religiō and because he wold not yeeld to one Rainoldes a minister with whom you appointed him to confere For what other cause did you threaten the torture to M. Osburne but to make him confesse that he had said Masse before the true noble confessors of Christ my L. Vaux and Sir Thomas Tressame And which is more vntollerable is not your racke vsed or threatned to force men by the feare therof to speake thinges against truthe by your appointment and speciallie for false accusation of innocent gentlemen In his epistle to D. Alane set forth in prīt Fo. 10 Iohn Nichols him self a protestant and one of your owne instrumentes hath acknowledged so muche ī publique writing affirming that Sir Owen Hopton lieutenant of the Tower enforced him to accuse diuers gentlemen by name of highe treason whom he neuer knew which he did to auoide his threatned tormentes as he writeth Thomson Borschoe Henslovve Clifton We speake nothing of the pitiful extremities you haue brought diuers vnto by horrible Fetters Stockes Dongeōs Famine Or of the deathe of welneare twenty happie Catholiques at once infected and pestered in Yorke prison wher they perished by the vnmercifulnesse of the protestantes of whom by no pitiful complaintes they could obteine libertie or freshe aire for the sauing their liues without condescending to goe to their abhominable seruice We tel you not here againe that for the more affliction of Catholiques a thing to be marked and lamented Most barbarous cruelties of al christian hartes that you haue prophanelie made choice of Sōdaies great Holidayes to practise your torments vpon them after th' olde fashion of the Pagans rather then vpon workedayes that you bring other catholique prisoners neare to the place of torment to heare their brethrens sorowful cries and eftsoons leade some newlie taken from the racke vnder their fellowe prisoners windowes and to their doores that by hearing their pitiful complaintes sighes and grones proceding of infinite paines they may relent in religion Of al which
conscience to matter of treason Which being resolued vpon they went about by diuers proclamations libels and speeches first to make the people beleue that al Catholiques and speciallie Iesuistes and such Priestes and scholars as were brought vp in the Seminaries or Colledges out of the Realme were traitors And for their better persuasion gaue out one while that by the said Priestes and others in banishment Herof ther vvas a special proclamation published in Iulie 1580. ther was a maruelous confederatiō of the Pope K. of Spaine duke of Florence and others for th' inuasion of the Realme But that being shortlie proued nothing they feigned that the said Iesuistes and Priestes were confederated with the Irish quarel and to giue more colour of somewhat they sticked not to rack father Campian extremelie for search of that point But this fiction fayling they found out an other as foule that the death of the Q. and diuers of the Counsel was contriued forsoth in the Seminaries of Rome and Remes of which conspiracie in fin they resolued to endite them as they did pursued them to death for the same with such euident partialitie default of iustice and equitie as was in that court once most honorable for iustice neuer heard or read of before Vagrant discourses of such as accused mē of their liues at the barre Such as pleaded against them to make them odious in iudgment discoursed at this Libel now doth first of the nature and horrour of Rebellion in general and then of a Rebellion in the North for Religion a doosen years before when the parties ther accused were yong boies in the schooles and vniuersities of the Realme of the Popes Bul of excommunicating the Q. a good many of years before anie of them came ouer sea or euer sawe Pope Rome or Remes yea when some of them were yet protestantes in England they discoursed also of the Rebellion in Ireland by Stukeley Sanders others none of which men diuers ther arreigned euer saw or knew in their lyues Of their being made Priests by the Popes authoritie and of their obligation and obediēce to him being the Q. enimie of their authoritie to absolue reconcile in England receiued from him of their coming in at the same time when they were in armes in Ireland as though they had not entred their natiue countrie and exercised thos spiritual functious seuen years before or could not then exercise them but in fauour of such as tooke armes against the Q. And when thes generalities were vttered onelie to make them odious and amase the hearers with thos that should haue to iudge of their guiltines or innocencie the good Fathers and Priests The most iust exception and request of the martyrs arreigned made iust exceptions against such vulgar inuectiues as could not touch them that ther stood in iudgement more then anie other Priest or Catholique in the Realme and manie of the pointes such as they were sure none should haue bene arraigned of in K. Edward the thirdes tyme vpon whos statute neuertheles the enditement was pretended to be drawen humblie praying the Iudge and bench that they wold more directlie plainlie and sincerelie passe on them for their Faith and exercises of the Romane religiō for proof wherof they should not need to seeke for so impertinent and far fetcht matter which they openlie professed and desired to die for with al their heartes or yf they wold needes proceed against them as for treason in the sense of the old lawes of our Countrie that then wold please them to aggrauate no farther to their disaduantage and death ether other mens faultes or matter of pure Religion but to come to the inditement and to the particuler charge of euerie person their arreigned which was of cōspiring the Q. death Wherof if they could by any proof or sufficient testimony of credible persons conuict al or any of them then their death to be deserued yf not their innocent blood vpon al that should be accessorie to the shedding therof a crime that crieth for vēgeance at Godes hand when it is done but by priuate malice and mischeif but committed in publike place of iudgement by authoritie and pretence of lawe as in the case of Naboth and of Christ our master it is in the sight of God most horrible and neuer long eskapeth publike punishmēt from the which our Lord God of his mercie saue our poore countrie euen by the prayers of thes holie Martyrs for whos blood it is otherwise highelie deserued An euidēt conclusion vppon the principal purpose Therfore al other idle and vagrant speeches odiouslie amplifiing either the Popes Iesuites Seminaries Doctor Sanders or anie other mans peculiar actions for Religion or otherwise set apart wherupon as the Counsellers then at the barre so now the writers of this Libel voluntarie and vainly doe onelie stand and make their rest ther is nothing in the world that can proue effectuallie thes mens lawful condemnation nor auowe the iustice of that execution which the Libeller taketh vpon him to doe but in truth no whit toucheth the matter sauing onely such allegation testimonie as may conuince Father Campian and his fellowes with him arraigned to haue compassed the Q. destruction or inuasion of the Realme What other thing-soeuer they were guiltie of or what affection so euer they beare in respect of their contrarie Religion to their Prince and state or what treasonable opinions as they fondlie cal them concerning the Excommunication or depriuing the Q. were afterward discouered in them or what other reasonable cause in respect of the aduersaries feare and ielousie ouer the state or doubt of the times thē troubled the officers then or the Libellers now to satisfie the people or the world abrode doe alledge for their excuse none of al thes thinges can iustifie that execution so long as the matter for which they were onely endited can not be prooued nor the statute of K. Edward the third vpon which they pretend to haue endited them is transgressed by them Therfore as the whole treatise of our aduersaries defence is too to wide from the purpose so speciallie ar the fower reasons which for the readers ease Foure reasons for the cōdemnatiō of Fa. Campion and his fellovves as they terme it and for the pith somme of the whole discourse they haue put at th' end of their Libel in a rāke together by which the discret reader may take a tast of their deceitful dealing in the whole booke Euerie reason should conclude that the Priestes were executed vpon no charge of new religious treasons but vpon old statutes onely for matter of conspiracie in which sense no one of them in truth doth conclude And the first Reason The first reason cometh onely to this end that her Maiestie contemning the Popes Bulles for a good while at length spying them to be dangerous reuiued former lawes for prohibition of them within her dominions Which Argument
being laid for the ground of al hath nether the conclusion looked for against thos Priestes in particuler nor truth of narration in the premisses For nether were ther anie such Bulles and excommunications which they say were tollerated or contemned for certaine years none at al I say of that kind published in her dayes before that one of Pius quintus mentioned in the next argument folowing nether were ther extant anie old statutes that we know to be reuiued against such excōmunications in any such sense as they wil seeme to make them The second Argument prooueth onelie that Felton for publishing Pius quintus his Bul The second reason was by their lawes condemned and put to death and was the first that was executed for matters comming from Rome wherupon how substantiallie it is inferred that father Campian and his fellowes were not condemned for Religion but for transgression of old statutes of treasons let the wise consider and withal let the learned in our lawes determine whether the bringing in of a Bul of excommunication from Rome were treason in the dayes and by the statute of K. Edward the third The third reason Thirdlie they reason thus the people raised rebelliō in the North ergo her Maiesty can not be blamed for vsing force against them and punishing the authors of the same which maketh litle against the persons here named The fourth reason Fourthly that the Pope stirred to rebellion and succoured the Irish therfore she hath great reason to search out al seditions persons as Priestes and Iesuites be and so to trie condemne execute them Nether of which reasons haue anie further sequele in the sight of anie reasonable and indifferent man then to punishe them that ar by lawful trial prooued to be partakers of thes actions which was impossible to doe in anie of the Priestes case arraigned neither was any of the said commotions laid in particular to any one of them al at the barre though impertinentlie such matters were for a deceitful florish often as in this Libel touched A rhetorical preuention of the Libeller And wheras by preuention of some obiections ether made or that may be made that thes poore religious Priestes scholers and vnarmed men could not be any doers in the warres of England or Ireland the Libel maketh a solemne rhetorical tale for answere that though they were not in the feeld to fight yet they might by their counsel encouragement and perswasion be partakers of the same crime and executed as accessorie to the other treasons which needed not so many superfluous wordes in so short a worke al the world confessing that the ministers messingers espials and abettours of offendors ar often no lesse punishable then the principal actors But in sincere dealing it had bene to be prooued that F. Campian and thos other holie men were secret workers and aiders of the Northerne and Irish commotion wherof nether now in this booke nor then at the barre any one word is alleaged Al is ful of wild and wast wordes artificiallie couched to abuse the ignorant that knew not the state of this disputation al running to this odde issue that her Maiesty hath reason to punish traitors but no word to conuince them of thes or any other old treasons for which they were endited nor to reproue vs that boldlie vpon euident demonstration yea and certeine knowledge doe testefie before God and man that they were not guiltie of thos offences of which they were endited and for which they were by vnlauful calumniation and violence cast away as in the face of the world but ī the sight of our Lord atteined a pretious death and the glorie of Saints euerlastinglie When it came to the verie point of the accusation and al rouing and rayling talke against Pope Rome Religion Seminaries Bulles Masses Preachinges Reconciliations Agnus deis and Beades with which they larded al their euidence though of such thinges they professed not to condemne them was to be set aside and now by witnesses to be prooued that they were guiltie of the forsaid conspiracie against the Q. person The vvitnesses that gaue euidēce against the Priestes of God Epist 212. c. two or thre such fellowes were sought out and procured to giue testimonie against them as first professed them selues to be heretiques and therfore by S. Augustines Iudgemēt were not to be heard against a Catholique Priest Secondly seing heresie maketh no exception in England they were knowen to be otherwise common coosiners lost companions salable for a souz and bought by th'enimie to betray them beare witnes against them Thirdly some of them charged in the face of the court with shameful adultery with dooble or triple murther and other like horrible crimes pardoned for this purpose Fourthly they were discouered both then and afterward of notorious falshood incongruitie and discord of tymes persons places and other circumstances and their iniquity eftsoons disclosed by their owne * Iohn Nichols in his letters imprinted fellowe And to see now the men of God so manie so excellent for vertue so famous for learning religion zeale and deuotion to hold their liues vpon the conscience of such notorious Atheistes and out-castes of the world yea as in M. Paines case vpon the bare word of one of them onely A pitiful case against diuine humane lawes requirīg twoo witnesses at the least it was surelie verie pitiful to behold but not maruelous to vs that cōsidered the conditiō of our time easelie forsawe that thes holy mens deathes were now designed and thought necessarie by our Politiques for conseruation of their state as the Libeller here subtilly insinuateth Fol. 16. that it was to be done in regard of the dangerous tyme when the Popes forces were in Ireland and more in preparation to folowe aswel into England as he conningly faineth to make the necessitie of this Iustice more excusable as also into Ireland as though he wold say that by some one pretence or other for terrour and example they were to be found guiltie and so dispatched Strāge proceedings in matters of life and death Well thus their good witnesses gaue in euidence of thinges spoken and contriued in Rome and Reims which were knowen to be most false of al that were in ether place the times and dayes by them named whatsoeuer was ether trulie or falselie testefied to be done or said in ether of the twoo places by anie English ther dwelling it was vniustly applied to al euery one of thes good men now standing in iudgement yea it serued against some that were neuer in ether place in their life as against M. Foord and M. Collington as also against Father Campiā that dwelt a thowsand myles of in Prage occupied by his Superiours in teaching and preaching wholie estranged from al Englishmen and English affaires otherwise then in his prayers for aboue nine years together not euer sene or knowen to diuers
wil not name though he named them to commence such a foule tragedie considering therfore al thes thinges and desiring to couer the foulenesse of the fact as much as might be aswel in respect of their owne people manifoldlie discontented and speciallie impatient of such iniurious proceedings as also of strangers to whom the rare vertues of father Campian and of some of th 'others were knowen besides other violeÌ„t meanes by seuere punishments and proclamations to stay the hard speaches and conceates of the people therin They caused some of them that yet were not executed The substance and inteÌ„t of the six Articles propounded to the Priestes before their execution to be examined vpon certaine Articles six in al cleane of an other pourport then their former accusation of killiÌ„g the GREATEST as our Libel speaketh al which articles doe concerne onelie the authoritie and fact of Pius Quintus of famous memorie in censuring the Q. by excoÌ„munication and depriuation for Heresie and what they thought or how far they allowed of the same Wherunto because they did coniecture their answers wold be odious in the sight of the simple speciallie of zealous protestantes as it fel out in deed they deuised to publish and read them to the people at the martyrdome of the rest that therby they might at least conceiue that they were worthie of death for other causes though not for that wherof they were condemned and so ether lesse pitie theÌ„ or lesse marke the former vniust pretensed matter of their condemnation And this coÌ„ning cours they haue folowed euer sith in defence of that pretended Iustice and is the whole conueyance of this Libeller now who to defend th' execution of their crueltie towardes thes Saintes of God bestoweth his labour onelie to proue that they haue bene tried by the six Articles coÌ„cerning the Excommunication and that ther was found a note after Father Campians death touching the same Bul procured for th'interpretatioÌ„ force therof brought from Rome by father Persons and the said F. Campians sute that M. Hart confessed the Bul in such and such sort to bind and otherwise not to stand in force Whereby onelie he goeth about to perswade the world and speciallie strangers vnacquainted in our affaires the said men to haue bene traytors iustlie punished as though new crimes ether found out or done after the sentence of their death past yea after the execution of the same could iustifie their condemnation past before But the world looked for some iustification of that former iudgement and verdict of court which passed with such great solemnitie against thos innocent men before vpon transgression as was pretended of an old statute for compassing the Q. death For as for al other declamatioÌ„s and Inuectiues be they true or be they false can not excuse the fact froÌ„ plaine murther nor condemne them after they be dead for other crimes then they were coÌ„uicted of in their liues Which the Libeller him self coÌ„fesseth in thes expresse wordes after al his idle worke and wordes Vpon refusal to ansvvere to thes questioÌ„s directlie saith he as they might haue bene iustlie conuicted of treason Fol. 18. so yet vvere they not therupoÌ„ condemned Which yet is false for they haue latelie executed diuers Priestes as M. Haddock Preestes nevvlie martyred in England M. Hemmerford and others most cruellie onelie about the matter of excommunication of the Q. But vpon their other former actions committed both abrod and in the Realme But what thos actioÌ„s were and how they were prooued to be committed particulerly by thos whom we auouch to be vniustly condemned vpon old treasons and to be onely killed for their religion that should haue bene your whole endeuour Sir to shew al other superfluous railing or recital of preteÌ„ded offenses for which your self confesse they were not condemned being not of force to mainteine the defence of your pretended Iustice nor yet to stay the Christian world and Church of God from accompting them Martyrs whom you haue murdered Against whos holy ashes and memories you can strugle no more then th' olde heathen and heretical persecutours did to diffame thos glorious men of the primatiue Church whom they executed in pretence of like treasonable trespasses who yet notwithstanâ—ing their enimies manifold endeuours to stay the â—onours due to them after their deathes by Christ â—nd his Churches iudgment haue gotten the victory â—uer their aduersaries and so remaine as glorious in heauen and earth as their persecutors be infamous â—hrough al the world What worldlie honour the two king Henries of England had The comparison of the Persecutors vvith the persecuted I meane the second and eight which â—n the dayes of their reigne no doubt was great or what esteeme so euer the Princesse present and her greatest Ministers haue now by the height of their â—oome and fortune in this life it is but a very dreame â—hadow or phantasie to the glorie of Thomas of Canâ—urburie Iohn of Rochester Chancelor More Father Campian and the rest whoÌ„ fame felicity foloweth vpon their deathes and vppon such contradiction of sinners seeking to disgrace them As also in the contrary part the persecutors glory dieth with their authority if not before and they are commonly better knoweÌ„ to posterity by executing of such meÌ„ though to their shame then by other their factes in their life whatsoeuer And so doth God protect his Saints A contradictione linguaruÌ„ from the ganesaing of tongues and giueth theÌ„ victorie of the world by the fortitude of their Fayth in him But of the six Articles concerning the Bul of excommunication more shal be said in the next chapteâ— and other places folowing that their innoceÌ„cie theriâ— also may appeare and the slaunderous Libeller repressed euery way THAT WE NOWE HAVE GREAT CAVSE TO COMPLAINE OF INIVST persecution intollerable seuerity and cruelty tovvardes Catholiques in England and their Protestantes no reason to doe the like for the Iustice done to them in Quene MARIES and other Princes dayes and the cause of the difference CAP. III. THE Libeller by-sophistical reasons popular perswasioÌ„ going about to make men thinke th'english persecution to be nothing so violent as is diuulged nor any thing comparable to the iustice exercised towardes the Protestantes in the raigne of the late Q. Marie telleth of hundrethes for our scores as also of the qualities of them that then suffred of their innocencie in al matters of state and treason and such like To which we say breeflie clearlie and to the purpose that we measure not the matter by the number nor by the seuerity of the punishment onely or specially but by the cause by the order of Iustice in proceeding by the lawes of God al Christian NatioÌ„s and such other circumstances wherby we can prooue Q. MARIES doings to be commeÌ„dable and most lawful th' other towardes vs and our Brethren to be iniust and impious The difference is in thes pointes you professe to
in al respectes besides the famous coÌ„fessor Archbisshop of Armachane Primate of Ireland a number of Bisshops of that countrie Next we yeeld you in banishmeÌ„t two worthie English Prelates of the same dignitie th' one dead th' other yet aliue in Rome three elected Bishops al now departed this life we name the honorable Abbat of Westminster foure Priors or superiors of religious Couents with three whole Couentes put out of their possessions either into prison or out of the Realme In the same case were a doosen of famous learned Deanes which next to the Bishops doe hold the cheef dignities in the English Cathedral churches fourtene Archdeacons aboue threscore Canons of Cathedral churches not so few as an hundreth Priestes of good preferment in Q. Maries time besides manie one made in our banishment and since martired fiftene heades or Rectors of colledges in Oxford and Cambridge men of great importance in thos vniuersities and in the common wealth and with them the rather by their good example and prouocation not manie yeares after manie of the cheefe professors of al sciences and aboue twentie Doctors of diuers faculties for conscience sake fled the Realme or were in the Realme imprisoned And both at the first and in diuers years sithence hath manie of the verie flower of the vniuersities come ouer both into the Societie Seminaries other places famous for learniÌ„g Wher through Gods goodnes and the great benignitie of Prelates Princes and Catholique people they haue passed their long banishement in honest pouertie and some in worshipful calling and roomes in Vniuersities with as much grace and fauor as to forreiners could be yeelded in no place thankes be to our Lord God impeached of crimes or disorder wherof we can shew the honorable testimonie of the best wher we haue liued in al nations And for our Christian comportemeÌ„t both at home in afflictioÌ„ Our behauiour in our time of persecution abrode in banishmeÌ„t though we be subiect to infirmities as other sinful creatures be we dare staÌ„d with al the protestaÌ„ts in the world which we be forced agaiÌ„st this infamous Libeller to speak more liberally and confidentlie for that he so shamefullie and against his owne knowledge writeth That verie fevv ar fled for Religion other then such as vvere not able to liue at home but in beggerie or discontented for lacke of preferment vvhich they gaped for vnvvorthelie in vniuersities and other places or banke-rupt marchantes c. Wher the poorest wretches and worst amongest vs that in this tedious time of twentie fiue years absence from our countrie wil relent in religion and returne to them may be most welcome receaued with ioye triumphe and made ieolie fellowes in their new Synagoge Ita nusquaÌ„ facilius proficitur quà m in castris rebellium TertuliaÌ„ as one saith So earnestlie they wooe euerie poore Apostata leud scholar and lost companion that for wearines of banishment loose life or impatience looketh homeward towardes heresie or carnal libertie and licence againe By which allurementes yet the world knoweth how exceding few you gayne or get froÌ„ vs whilest we in the meane space through Gods great grace receiue hundrethes of your Ministers a nomber of your best wits manie delicate yong gentlemen and diuers heires of al ages voluntarily fleeing from your damnable condition and seeking after God and many of them also become Priestes or religious euen now when you hate contemne and punish Priestes so deadlie This is the worke of God marueilous both in your eyes and ours and cannot by humane force feare or pollicie be dissolued Temporal men Catholiques Count your cardes therfore better and looke not onelie of so manie famous Clergie men and the dailie encrease of them against your violent lawes Sir Libeller but count yf you dare for shame among your beggars and bankeroutes in Q. Maries time as you dishonestlie terme vs now so manie noble and valiant Erles Barons Knights Esquiers and gentlemen that haue ether suffred prison or as their conscience led theÌ„ stoode in armes for defence of their Faith ChristiaÌ„ knighthood not against their Prince or countrie but against such as abused her weake sex and former years of her youth to th'establisshing of them selues and their Heresie or haue forsaken their honorable callinges offices and liuelihoods in their countries for defence of their Christian faith of which I could name you a noble number of al degrees able and redie to defend by sword excepting the respect they haue to their Prince and deare Countrie their Religion and honorable actioÌ„s against al the heretiques in the world that defame them Who 's most worthie order and knighthood the Libeller seeketh to distaine Erle of vvestmerland by naming the noble Earle of Westmerland whos peculier life and actions or anie other particuler person of what condition soeuer though we goe not about nor neede to defend against malitious enuie detraction of heresie yet surelie notwithstanding his youthful behauiour whatsoeuer which he learned ther amongst you and is not so straÌ„ge in Campe or Court you wote wel M. Libeller he is able to proue that you slaunder him extremelie we caÌ„ witnes that he liueth in good health honorable charge in the seruice of the K. Catholique as we also can tel you that the renouned Countie of Northumberland died a Saint and holie Martir Erle of NorthuÌ„berland For what former quarel or cause of his death so-euer ther was yet was he a true Martir in that he was offred â—is life yf he would alter his religioÌ„ as diuers others â—ere of the same action in the North and al other â—riestes pretended to be condemned for other treaâ—â—ns Which life and liuing in as much as they refused â—â—r Christ and his Faith when it was offered they be 〈◊〉 the number of Saints and Confessors no lesse theÌ„ 〈◊〉 they had died onelie for the same And therfore wheÌ„ the aduersarie chargeth D. Sanâ—rs and D. Bristow with treason for affirming such 〈◊〉 be Martirs in this sense he sheweth him self ignoâ—â—nt as he is malitious in bidding vs enroule Somerâ—â—ld Somerfild in the number of our Martirs as perhaps before â—od he is if he were distract of his wittes or furious as al men say and the Libeller confesseth to whom â—an not be imputed what so euer he did in alienation â—f mind and to his enimies shal be imputed murther â—hat so euer was done against him in that his state or â—peciallie which is the most common opinion prooâ—ed by manie probabilities if the poore gentleman were dispatched of purpose and appointment as the â—ryar that accused the duke of Lancaster was and maâ—ie other and as the Protestants said Iohn Hun was in â—ollards tovver for preuention of the discouerie of cerâ—aine shameful practises about the condemnation and making away of the worshipful valiant and innocent gentleman M. Arden whos case like to Naboths and his wordes of wishing the Q. in
Cābridge as also your confessor Iewel of Salisburie had done the like in Oxford if he had not bene in time preuēted Were not al the packe of your Protestantes confederated or acquainted wyth Wiates conspiracie and open rebellion against their Prince and Countrie This is proued by their ovvne testimonie herafter with other wicked attemptes against the state of that time as they haue bene sithe wel neare against al the states and Prouinces Christened But of this you must needes heare more anone But it is a world to see the cunning winding of this Libeller for being ashamed as it seemeth or els in doubt of that which he had boldlie affirmed before now cometh to foist in a word to salue al as he thinketh and that is Anice shift That at their death they denied not their Q. c. And in such deceipt-ful cobling in of wordes he passeth no line lightlie without fraude But for answere herof we say that what they did at their death or the day after God knoweth but it is plaine that in their life they were notorious Rebels as most of that sect be And how manie of our men I pray you Sir of whos liues deathes so great nōbers can beare witnes denied their obedience or meeklie prayed not for the Q. at the verie place and tyme of their execution Euerie one of thē as they liued exemplarlie for dutie and loyal behauiour to al their superiours both temporal and spiritual so yeelded they their happie life and blood in al Apostolical patience peace and meeknes for the faith wherin they our countrie and al conuerted nations in the world were baptized for the verie same beleefe wherin th' olde glorious Martirs of Godes Church gaue vp their liues This Faithe this Church this Cause seuereth our true Martyrs from the notorious malefactors of the contrarie side And so giueth vs iust cause to cōplaine of persecution and th'enimie no reason at al of what number name obstinacie age or qualitie so euer they be that haue suffred for their Heresie THAT OVR PRIESTS AND CATHOLIQVE BRETHREN HAVE BEHAVED them selues discretlie and nothing seditiouslie ī their ansvvers to the questions of the Bul of Pius Quintus and that they can not laufullie be pressed nor put to death as traitors by the true meaning of th' olde lavves of the Realme for the same vvith examination of the six Articles proposed about the said Bul. CAP. IIII. IN times of heretical regiment wher Politiques haue al the gouernment though Religion be sometimes pretended as a thing wherof they make their aduauntage for th' affaires speciallie entended yet indeed the first and principal care is of their temporal state so consequentlie of the Princes and their owne wel being in this life the lote wherof The differēt gouernment of Politiques and of true Christians they often preferre with Esau before the weal of the world to come the blessing of Iacob or the kingdome of Christ which is his reigne regiment spiritual in the Church the howse of his glorie our saluation in earth Contrariwise in Christian Catholique common wealthes the cheefe respect is euer was as it ought to be of the honor of God the good of holie Church the saluation of the soules of their people and so to passe through thes secular thinges as eternal ioyes be not lost and put in hasard In which difference of thinges you shal easilie perceiue that in the dayes of disorder errour the faultes done against the Prince or so said to be done are far more odious and punishable then what so euer is directlie done against God against the Common wealth then against the Church against the bodie then against the soule more adoe about Caesars tribute then about Gods due As in the time and regiment of Hieroboam when al the care was how to manage matters so The gouernmēt of Ieroboam that the kingdome of Israel might be seuered from Iuda and so established in it self that no spiritual vnion by worship in Hierusalem might reduce the deuided tribes to their former state againe and al thīgs tendīg to that reuniō were greuouslie punished but matters of faith religion wholie contemned In our countrie when God and his kingdome had the first place the terrene state the second as in truth it ought to be wher it is otherwise whatsoeuer is pretended Christ hath no place at al then were the crimes committed against God first and principallie punished as blasphemie schisme and such like and secondlie treasons and trespasses done against the Prince countrie whereof Q. Maries dayes and regiment may be an example when without the forgerie of new or false treasons the latelie named Archbishop and other principal heretiques being conuicted of cōspiracie open traiterous actions might haue iustlie suffered for the same but yet were rather burned for Heresie as for their more heinous crime and which a Christian Prince ought to regard far more then anie thing committed against his Regalitie But now and euer when the Superioritie temporal hath the preeminence the spiritual is but accessorie dependent and wholie vpholden of thother errour in Fayth is litle accompted of what so euer their pulpit men to make them selues and their patrons sport bral of such matters and al our doings endeuours and exercises of Religion are drawen to treasons and trespasses against the Queene them selues protesting in al their doings that they medle not with vs for our doctrine what-soeuer therby ether insinuating that our religion is true and in deed by the iudgement of their owne conscience not punishable or els that they care not for it nor what we beleeue no further then toucheth their Prince temporal weal wherin yet they wipe so hard as they draw blood For finding no errors heresies A nevv deuise of our Persecutors or false opinions concerning God his worship worthie to cōdemne vs of being ashamed of their statutes of new treasons as it seemeth they haue found out a new fault and a terme for the same not vsual ether in writers of our schooles and diuinitie or in their owne lawes which they cal trayterous assertions treasonable malicious opinions against the Q. as in a former like pamphlet euil affection or euil disposition towardes her Maiestie which is now the onelie and proper point they pursue against vs both in iudgement and writing For which as of late they haue put diuers to death so by the same they trie as they say whither Papistes be traytors or no and accordinglie to vse them And for better trial therof they propose vnto al men whom they list make away or otherwise indanger certaine demandes which in effect are thes that ensue Whether the Bul of Pius Quintus against the Q. Maiesty be a lauful sentence and ought to be obeyed by the subiects of England Demandes proposed to Catholikes for their intrapping Whether the Q. Maiesty be a lauful Q. and
iote or circumstance though neuer so much cōmoditie might ensue therof Which matter of libertie of Conscience we moue not perchāce for our owne benefite so much as for our aduersaries weale and worldlie securitie wherof they wil seeme to haue both mistrust and sollicitude And perhaps the wisdome of God wil sound otherwise and say to vs Mat. 20.22 Nescitis quid petatis iudging it to be farre more to his honour and glorie and the breefer way to saluation of our whole Nation The vvay of persecution more sure for vs. and of moe soules in particular that we should passe through this persecution and winne our owne and our brethrens saluation by our blood And indeed if the Germane Catholiques had bene so restreined persecuted put to death as the English haue bene thes years and had not gone by halfes with the Protestantes as in some places they haue done they had had perhaps farre moe Catholiques at this day and them more zealous and their whole nation perchance reduced ere this which now for the protestants standeth not so much on their religion or conscience in Heresie as vpon their mutual peace concord and concurrence with Catholiques Wel what were best for vs in this case God onelie knoweth Ro. 6.19 Nos humanum dicimus propter infirmitatem nostram as the Apostle speaketh But sure we are that the first best for our English nation as wel Prince as people were both in respect of God and the world of them selues and other men Tvvo vvaies of composition very profitable to the realme to restore the state againe to the obedience of Gods Church and to the happy felowship of al their forefathers other faithful people Princes now liuing The next best were in respect of their owne securitie and perpetuitie if the first may not take place to desist from persecuting their Catholique subiectes and brethren and to graunt some libertie for exercise of their consciences diuine offices and holie deuotions that so they may pray for her Maiesty and Councellors as their Patrones whom now they pray for onelie as their Persecutours If to none of thes conditions they can be brought but wil haue our bodies goods life and soules The Conclusion then let our Lord God the iust Arbitrer of al thinges and Iudge of Princes as wel as poore men and the onelie comforter of the afflicted discerne our cause In whos holie name word and promis we confidentlie tel them and humblie euen in Christs blood pray them to consider of it that by no humane force or wisdome they shal euer extinguish the Catholique partie ouercome the holie Church or preuaile against God Ther can no Herode kil Christ in his cradle Math. 3. Exod. 1. Hest 7. nor anie Pharao droune our male sexe and destroy Gods people nor anie Aman extirpate the stocke of Iacob Let them seeke with al desperation to diminish bridle spoile impouerish disgrace and extinguish the whole generation of Catholiques at home and in banishment let them by artificial Libels as this against which we haue written and otherwise by most impudent lies and fictions slaunder vs charge vs with treasons and other trespasses Mentientes propter Christum belying vs for Christs sake let them confederate them selues against vs with al the Protestants Turkes Sectaries and Atheistes in the world yet the Catholiques that is the seede of God wil encrease in number power and zeale the Priestes wil not leaue of to folowe their dutiful trade with more spirite diligence deuotion patience and cōstancie then euer before remembring the aduertisement of their Maister Mat. 10.22 that he shal be saued that perseuereth to the ende as also that worthie record left in scripture of Esay the great faithful Prophet qui spiritu magno vidit vltima Eccl. 48. as the holy-Ghost saieth of him for that his corage neuer failed him in Gods seruice to the end The persecutours be now no stronger then thy were of old The Church is no weaker then she had wont to be Her assistant and defender is as neere her as euer he was We are no better thē our forefathers We lesse feare death and lesse set by our liues then euer before Our countes are cast allowed it is better to die in this Apostolical fight and cōbat Quà m videre mala gentis nostrae sanctorum 1. Mach. 3.59 assuring our selues that to be vndoubted which S. Leo writeth Nullo crudelitatis genere destrui potest Sacramento Crucis fundata religio Leo. Non minuitur persecutionibus Ecclesia sed augetur That the religion founded in the sacrament of Christs Crosse can be destroied by no kind of crueltie The Church is not diminished by persecutions but encreased And that S. Augustine saith Nemo delet de Coelo constitutionem Dei Nemo delet de terra Ecclesiam Dei Laus Deo THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKE THAT many Priests and other Catholiques in England haue bene persecuted condemned and executed for mere matter of religion and for transgression onely of nevv statutes vvhich doe make cases of Conscience to be treason vvithout al pretēce or surmise of any old treasons or statutes for the same Cap. 1. 1 That F. Campian and the rest of the Priests and Catholiques endited condemned and executed vpon pretence of treason and vpon statutes made of old against treasons vvere neuer yet guiltie of anie such crimes but vniustly made avvay Cap. 2. 18 That vve novv haue great cause to complaine of iniust persecution intollerable seuerity and cruelty tovvardes Catholiques in England and their Protestantes no reason to doe the like for the Iustice done to them in Queene MARIES and other Princes dayes and the cause of the difference Cap. 3. 34 That our Priests and Catholique brethren haue behaued them selues discretlie nothing seditiouslie in their ansvvers to the questions of the Bul of Pius Quintus and that they can not laufullie be pressed nor put to death as traitors by the true meaning of th' olde lavves of the Realme for the same vvith examination of the six Articles proposed about the said Bul. Cap. 4. 59 Of excommunication and depriuation of Princes for Heresie and falling from the Faith speciallie of vvarres for Religion and of the office and Zeale of Priests of th' old nevv lavv in such cases Cap. 5. 89 That it is much to the benefite and stability of Common-vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the differences betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize Cap. 6. 116 Of the late vvarres in Ireland for religion hovv the Pope may vse the svvord and that the differences betvvixt temporal Princes and him or their resisting him in some cases of their vvorldlie interest can be no vvarrant to the Protestants to contemne his censures or authoritie in matter of Faith and Religion Cap. 7. 134 That the separation of the Prince and Realme from the vnitie of the Church and Sea Apostolique and fal from Catholique religion is the onely cause of al the present feares and dangers that the State seemeth to stand in And that they vniustly attribute the same to the Popes Holines or Catholiques and vntruly cal them enimies of the Realme Cap. 8. 161 The conclusion 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. 9. 209 The faultes correct thus Pag. Lin. Read 49. 33. faith brought faith that they brought 55. 20. persecuted prosecuted 60. 17. as Blasphemy as Heresy Blasphemy Ibid. 30. spititual spiritual 64. 34. obyed obeyed 77. 1. Ecommunicatiō Excommunication 90. 15. fouerers fauorers 98. 7. Common weath Common wealth 144. 15. Bastours Pastours 182. 28. causes causers 195. 13. can much can not much