other places of great importance and after atchieuing many other great victories being wearie of the world resigned his Empire vnto his brother Ferdinando and his kingdomes and other states to his sonn Philipp the second and retired himselfe to a monasterie of saint Hieromes order in Stremadura in Spaine and ended the remainder of his daies there most happilie by whose blessed examples many noble men were conuerted vnto God by taking vppon them this religious vocation as Charles de Borgia Duke of Gandia who enioyed great and honorable offices vnder the said Emperor became a Iesuitt and was generall of that blessed order of the societie of Iesus and Anthony de Corduba the sonne of the Duke of Feria in Spaine a neere coussin to the Duke of Gandia Rodulphus of Aquauiua in Italie a Iesuitt who beinge alsoe sent to the east Indies accordinge to the institution of that order there with other fathers of his religion suffered Martirdome by the Barbarians 10. Amoungest these I may not omitt that worthie and blessed Duke Ioys of Fraunce who first takinge vpon him the habitt and most austere profession of a poore Capuchine frier was comaunded by the last troubles and garboiles of that kingdome to defend his countrie against the inuasion and excursioÌ„s of the hugonotts of Languedocâ—e which he perfourmed most worthily but the warres being ended he returned to his owne profession and religion againe who by his holie life incessant preaching edified and conuerted many dissolute persons perswaded them to despise the world and the occasions of their wooe and died three yeares past whose happie memorie wil liue eternallie I might alleadge many other worthie examples but because they are as yet liuinge I will omitt them for that wee are bid to praise men but not before their death and that accordinge to their merites Thus in our holy religion great personages haue humbled themselues to Christ his yoke as it is prophesied by Esay Omnis mons collis humiliabitur euerie mountaine and hilliocke shal be humbled which prophesie is perfourmed in great Monarques that submitted their scepter to the crosse of him that was crucified and represented in their liues the liuely image of his bitter passion Of Empresses Queenes and Princes who likewise forsooke the world to become religious CHAPTER VIII IN the first Rancke wee must place that worthie and blessed Emperesse Theodora who notwithstandinge shee was married vnto Theophilus the Emperor Anno 470. an heretique yet remained still a firme Catholique and he beinge dead shee restored sacred images and recalled backe againe holie people that were exiled and banished for theire religion Then sequestred herselfe from the incoÌ„berances of the gouernment of the Empire into a monasterie where her mother Trurina had serued God for many yeares whose blessed example the Empresse Augusta followed and being importuned by the state of the Empire came for a tyme out of the monasterie to appease some rebellion against her sonne which was raised by his tutors vnto whose custodie shee comitted him which beinge appeased shee returned to her monasterie againe this was in the East anno 190. 2. In the Weast alsoe Ricarda the wife of Carolus Crasus Emperor of the weast did the like who buildinge a monasterie in Alsaâ—ia bestowed the residue of her life therein Cunegundus Anno 1139. who being married to Henrie kinge of England and afterwardes chosen Emperor and being seperated from him for suspition of adulterie contracted a better marriadge with Iesus Christ Thrise happie was the other Cunegundus that was married to Henrie the first Emperor who euer kept her virginitie after whose death she spente the rest of her yeates in the Conuent of confugients and is of the church registred amoungest the Sainctes Agnes also the wife of the 3. Emperor who beinge dead shee resigned not only the Empire being at her disposition vntill her sonne should come to yeares but also the Duchie of Bauaria she beinge inheritrix thereof and went to Rome Anno 1157. where she tooke vppon her a reguler profession whose example Elizabeth the wife of Albert Emperor and Archduke of Austria imitated who beinge miserablie slaine contemned the world and liued religiouslie in a monasterie builded by her selfe all the daies of her life Anno 1290. whome her two daughters followed the one was married to the king of Hungary the other to the Earle of Ottigense and also her two Neeces the Queene of Poland with her daughter 3. Of Queenes also the number of them is not smale The first Queene was Thesia Queene of Italie the wife of Rachisines aboue mentioned for as her husband entred into a monasterie in Mount Cassine so she entred and went into another monasterie with her daughter Petruda In Fraunce Radegundus beinge married to kinge Clotarius against her will shee obtained license of him to consecrate her selfe to God in a monasterie at Poiters whose steeppes another Queene of Fraunce Adoera the wife of Chilper followed with her daughter Childerada Anno 650. Batilda which was married to Clodoueus kinge of FraÌ„ce being free from the yoke of weldocke by the death of her husbaÌ„d went to Callice where enrichinge the monasterie that was there with ample and opulent possessions she enioyed the familiar preseÌ„ce of a better spouse In Spaine wee haue examples of sundrie Queenes which were to longe to relate but I cannot omitt that worthie queene Nugnes who first became religious herselfe and then her husband Veremundus Neither must queene Tarasia passe vnmentioned who being espoused by her Brother Alphonsus kinge of Leon vnto Abdala kinge of Tolledo could neuer be perswaded to goe to bed with him and the barborous kinge beinge taken away by an vgly disease she married herselfe afterwardes to Christ in the monasterie of saint Pelagius Anno 1005. 4. England hath not beene inferior to any of her conterminat kingdomes in the feruent zeale that many Queenes had to this religious discipline As Alfreda which was fianced in marriage to the kinge of Northumberland who beinge slaine before the matrimonie was consumated together with her husbaÌ„d Iuas became religious I caÌ„not let passe that worthy example of Etheldrade who being married to two kinges kept her virgnitie vndefiled and afterwardes became religious What shall I say of her sister Seburga queene of Kente and of Alfreda queene of Northumberland who also became religious I may not also ouerslipp with silence Margarett the daughter of Bela kinge of Hungarie who being consecrated to God by the vowe of her pareÌ„tes imbraced the blessed order of saint Dominique and imploied her life in all religious exercise especiallie in seruing the sicke and diseased persons and refused the marriage of three kinges of Polonia Bohemia and Cicilia although the dispensatioÌ„ of the Pope in respect of her vowe was laboured for 5. Zanchia Queene of Hierusalem and Cicilia after that her husband Robert was dead entred the order of saint Frauncis at Naples who earnestlie requested that none should call her queene Agnes daughter to
both a sacrifice and a Sacrament fol. 286 CHAP. III. Whether the Catholique Church commit offence in leaning to the litterall sense of Christs wordes in the blessed Sacrament of the Altar fol. 318 Lib. VI. CHAP. I. That there is a purgatory which is proued aswell by Scriptures and auncient Fathers as also euen by testimonies of Protestants themselues fol. 350 CHAP. II. Touching the Popes Authority in releasinge of soules out of purgatory fol. 359 CHAP. III. Whether it be against the lawe of God to forbid Priestes to marry and whether vowes and votaries are rather the inuentiōs of men then the ordinance of God fol. 363 CHAP. IV. Whether we ought to confesse our sinnes to priests and whether that priests cannot remitt or forgiue them fol. 372 CHAP. V. Whether fasting from one sorte of meate more then from another or for to vse any obseruation therein be superstitious according as protestants doe affirme fol. 377 Lib. VII CHAP. I. Whether the Protestant assertion be true which affirmeth that generall councells can erre fol. 386 CHAP. II. That the catholique church in those things shee doth propound to the christians to beleeue whether they be contained in the Scriptures or not cannot erre fol 395 CHAP. III. Whether Catholiques are to be charged with arrogancie for thinking that their church cannot faile fol. 396 CHAP. IV. That this Church which shall neuer be hid but remaine visible is manifest by the parable of Christ our Lord. fol. 402 CHAP. I. Li. VIII Whether that papistes doe amisse in hauinge their churches and monasteries soe sumptuous their alters and ornamentes so riche and ecclesiasticall possessions so great the poore wanting the same fol. 407 CHAP. II. Of the vnhappy endes and other punishments by which God doth chastice those that presume to robb Churches or otherwise to prophane and abuse sacred things fol. 416 CHAP. III. A prosecution of the last chapter fol. 426 CHAP. IV. Whether the kinge may take away church liuinges at his pleasure And whether as he is absolute kinge of the temporall goodes of his subiects he be so also of the Churche churche liuinges fol. 440 Lib. IX CHAP. I. That the protestant religion whose principall foundation and groundes are these articles aforesaid is nothing else then a denyinge of all Religion and piety and a renewinge of all heresies fol. 447 CHAP. II. That no iot or sillable of Christian religion ought to be counted a thinge indifferent or of smale moment and that whosoeuer doth not agree with the Catholique church in all pointes of beleefe cannot be saued fol. 459 CHAP. III. That the new Religion for that it takes away all religion is worse then that of the Turckes and Gentiles fol. 452 Lib. X. CHAP. I. An answer vnto Protestants barking against the religious institutions of holy Orders saying that religious vocations were not instituted by our Sauiour fol. 467 CHAP. II. That the Apostles and their followers in the primitiue church followed this estate of perfection fol. 473 CHAP. III. Of the increase of religious orders and how the same continued from time to time vntill our dayes fol. 476 CHAP. IV. That preestes in the primitiue churh euen from the Apostles time were religiouse and obserued religious order of life fol. 486 CHAP. V. Of the multitude of religious persons fol. 491 CHAP. VI. Of many great and eminent men who forsooke and contemned the world to become religious fol. 499 CHAP. VII Of Emperors Kinges and Princes who forsooke the world to become religious fol. 504 CHAP. VIII Of Empresses Queenes and Princes who likewise forsooke the world to become religious fol. 518 CHAP. IX How greatly religious people fructify vnto God and to his Church and that they are the best labourers which are therein fol. 525 Lib. XI CHAP. I. The name of those that suffred death by the Gewses of Flanders where the protestantes are soe called fol. 534 CHAP. II. Certaine cruell and bloody factes committed in Fraūce against the Catholikes by those that the vulgar sorte doe cal Hugonotes from the tyme that they stirred rebellion against the kinge Anno 1562 fol. 544. A Catalogue of those that suffered death as wel vnder king Henry as Queene Elizabeth and king Iames from the yeare of our Lord 1535. and 27. of king Henryes raigne vnto the yeere 1620. fol. 555 CHAP. III. A Compendiū of the martyrs and confessors of Ireland vnder Queene Elizabeth fol. 569 Lib. XII CHAP. I. Euery sect of heresies challinging vnto thēselues the trewe and Catholique church there is here set downe the true notes and markes by which the same may be discerned fol. 587 CHAP. II. That there are many excellencies and effectes which should allure euery one to follow and imbrace the Catholique religion And contrariwise many inconueniences and blasphemies which the new religion houldeth and teacheth The first excellencies fol. 609 CHAP. III. The 2. excellency is the pure and hollie doctrine which it professeth fol. 610 CHAP. IV. The 3. Excellencie is most diuine Sacraments which confer grace fol. 613. CHAP. V. The 4. Excellencie is to fauor the good and to punish the wicked fol. 616. CHAP. VI. The 5. Excellencie is the conuersion of all nations vnto Christe and driuing Idolatrie out of the world ibid. CHAP. VII The 6. Excellencie of the catholique Religion is that the same is proued and auerred by so many good witnesses as sacred and learned doctors blessed saincts martyrs and generall counsells fol. 617. APPROBATIO Hic Liber cui Titulus The Theater of Catholicke and Protestant Religion nihil continet quod fidei vel moribus aduersatur quin potius multa quae tam ad fidem Catholicam stabiliendam quam ad haereses huius temporis impugnandas optimè inseruiunt Matthaeus Kellisonus S. Theol. Doct. WHETHER THE RELIGION WHlCH Protestants professe be a new Religion or whether the Romish Religion be new and that of the Protestant be ancient and ould CHAPTER I. 1. IF Protestants were of sound iudgment or nott distracted of their wittes they would neuer suppose much lesse auerre so manifest an vntruth as that the religion of the church of Rome is a new religion or defend an absurditie so egregious as Protestant religion to be the more auncient Wherfore this first assertion being so euident and knowen an vntruth such as doe follow are the lesse to be beleeued 2. It is well knowen that before these 80. or 100. yeares all Christendome did imbrace the catholike Roman religion so that it was terra vnius labii Gen. 11. Act. 4. as it is written in Genesis a countrie of one language and one speeche and as we reade of the christians in the Actes of the Apostles that first beleeued in Christ that they were of one hart and of one accord and as one God was honored and worshipped of all soe one faith was embraced of all they obserued one order of administration of the Sacraments they vsed and kepte one obseruation of ceremonies all were called Christians
by the instigation of some Iewes comanded Images to be broken as Paulus Zonarus doth relate and so he is called Leo the Image breaker his sonne called Constantinus Capronimus did the like after him Leo Armenius the Emperor So in France the Albigences certaine Hereticks in the tyme of Pope Innocent the third and Frederick the second Emperor waged warre against Images After them Iohn Witcliffe Anno 1372. and now in this last miserable age Iohn Caluine lib 1. institut cap. 2. said that in the first 500. yeares there were no Images in the Temples of Christians How false it is lett the Reader perueâ—se Eusebius lib. 3. 4. of the life of Constantine the great who saith that there were great stoare of Images in the temples that were made by Constantine the great Sozomenuâ— lib. 5. cap. 20. Nicepho lib. 5. c. 30. doe write that the Image of Christe in the time of Iulian the Apostate was bought into the temple by the Christians see Tertulian in lib. de pudicitia Naz. ad Olympium Damasc in vita Siluestri Basil in vita Barlaam Chrisost in missam quam Erasmus latinam reddit Euodium lib. 2. de miraculis S. Stephani Prudentium in libro de sancto Cassiano Paulinum epistola ad Seuerum August lib. de consensu Euangelistarum cap. 10. and a little before him Carolastadius in this heresie was the first that opposed himselfe against Images 15. That there were manie Images of Christ from the beginninge of the Church it is well knowen and in the life tyme of Christ himselfe there were two Images The first himselfe takinge a napkin rubbinge his face with all in the which he drewe his owne picture and did send it to the kinge of Edessa called Abagarus which to this day is kepte in a certaine Church Euagr. li. 4 cap. 26. Damasc oratione 1. de Imag. Metaphr in vita Constant Leo in 7. Synod act 4. Of this verie Image Euagrius makes mention and Damascenus and Symon Metaphrastes and others who also doe confirme the said historie to be true as Stephen and Iuo doe declare 4. parte decreti cap. 83. and Adrian in script de Imaginibus ad Carolum magnum 16. The second was the picture that the wooman of Paneades made after that shee was heald from the yssue of blood in token of her thankful minde for receauinge such a benefitt And as manie receauinge great benefitts of great potentats in remembringe their benefactors they put vpp Euseb l 7. hist c. 14. Sozome lib. 5. cap. 1. 20. Damasc oratione 1. de Imag. Gregor Papa epist ad Germa quae habetur 7. Syn. and keepe theâ—r pictures in their howses so the Church of Christ which ought to be most thankfull vnto Christ for sufferinge death for her doe embrace and putt vpp his picture in her Churches and Chappell 's Of this pictuâ—e Eusebius Sozomenus Damasce and S. Gregorie make mention It is also recorded that in the Vatican Librarie at Rome in hande writinge in the tyme of Tiberius Emperor this Image was brought to Rome 17. Also it is recorded by S. Athanas lib de passione Ima cap. 4. Athanasius that the â—mage of Christ which was made by Nicodemus beinge brought by a Christian to a Cittie called Beritho in Syria neere Antioch was crucified by the Iewes in horrour and hatred of him whom the same did represent This historie is avouched in 7. Synd. act 4. and euen so hereticks doe now in the countries where they rule wher with their cruell haÌ„des prophane thoughts and blasphemous acts they pollute defile deface cast downe burne and massacre all sacred Images and reliques as the Iewes haue don at Beritho and in all places were they can laye handes vpon the Image of Christ Was not that a most lamentable president comitted at Showards alias Swards in Ireland within six miles of Dublin by one Hewson an English minister of that village in the first yeare of the kinges raigne in the Monthe of Maye who rushed vehementlie vpon one of the village called Horishe and tooke from him the Crucifix which he held in his handes and did hange the same vpon a gallous not in despight of the Catholiques as he himselfe said but rather in hatred of him the same did represent writing this poesie Helpe all strangers for the God of the papistes is in daÌ„ger the poore man Horish bringinge with him the said picture so defaced by the said minister that it was a pittifull thinge for a Christian to behold the same went before the Councell of estate of that miserable Countrie tould them the dishonor offred by such a base fellow vnto the Image of Christ One of that Councell called Sr. Geffrie Fenton Secretarie to the state insulted vpon the poore fellowe most furiouslie snatched the Crucifix from him and cast it on the ground vnder his feete and the poore fellowe for complayning against the said minister of that abuse was cast into pryson 18. The said Sr. Geffrye Fenton did sett a poore fellowe on the pillorie in the markett tyme at dublin with the picture of Christ about his necke for carienge the same before a frind of his that was dead at that tyme. Loys de Perusiis in his booke discours des guerres writinge of those tumultes which were stirred vpp by the Hugonotes in France aboute Auignion in Prouince reporteth that in one place they tooke an Image of the Crucifix bound it vpon an Asse backe and so went leadinge the Asse whippinge and scourginge the Crucifix through the Towne I aske of this sorte of people if any should hange the kinges picture vpon the gallous whether he should incurre the â—inge and his subiects ill will or no yea and perhapps suffer death for soe doinge referringe herein the iniurie and indignitie of abusinge his picture to the kinges owne person I praie was it not the cheefest article against O Roerke a noble man of Ireland as you may read in the Chronicles of England that he was charged that he did hange Queene Elizabeth her picture at a horse tayle so as the said noble man was hanged drawen and quartered at Tyborne Anno 1592. and he that hangeth Christs picture shall rather be fauored and countenanced then punished for the same and poore zealous Christians for findinge fault with him or for declaringe their griefe for that indignitie shal be be aflicted Woe be to that age wherein this wicked fact is done and suffred with ympunitie Was not the people of Thessalonica punished by the edge of the sworde of the Armye of the Emperor Theodosius the great for that they at their gate in despighte of the Empresse did hange her picture for which that holy Bishopp S. Ambrose did excommunicate the said Emperor All these Princes did esteeme the iniurie done vnto themselues which was done vnto their Image for in Persia they haue this custome what punishment they inflict vpon malefactors the same they ympose vpon their Images and as the Image
redeemed with a submission paimeÌ„t of a hundreth thowsand pounds for that they acknowledged Cardinall Campeignes and Cardinall Wolsey as legats from Rome notwitstanding that the king himselfe by his Ambassadors procured their coming In the 24. yeeres of his raigne also he prohibited all appeales in causes ecclesiasticall reducing all spirituall authoritie of determining the same to the English Cleargie He forbid all license or dispensations and faculties from the church of Rome and seemed to establish them in Thomas Cranmer Archbishopp of Canterburie that he should grant the same to the king againe the 26. of his raigne Other his bloody factes and furious behauiour yow may well perceaue by the Catalogue following A Catalogue of those that suffred death as well vnder king Henry as Queene Ellzabeth king Iames from the yeare of our Lord 1535. 27. of king Henryes raigne vnto the yeere 1618. IN the first rancke of these blessed martyrs I ought not to forgett that blessed martyr S. Thomas of Canterburie alias Becket who for defending the immunities of the Church was murthered in king Henry the 2. his raigne now againe was by king Henrie the 8. by act of parleament attainted of high treason his ashes and holy bones and reliques were burned and of all churches dedicated to God in his honor it was decreed by parleament that they should not be named after him any more to which purpose comissioners were appointed in all places of England and Ireland and in the towne of Rathode in Meath the church wherof is dedicated to God in S. Thomas his honor the parishioners being commaunded to name their church after saint Peter they answered that the king may aswell by parleament proclaime saint Peter a traitor as saint Thomas and to preuent that they nominated their church after the blessed Trinity Vnder King Henry the VIII Anno Christi 1535. Henrici 8. anno 27. These were put to death at Tyburne the 29. of Aprill for denying the Kings Supremacy IOhn Houghton Prior of the Carthusianus at London Nic. SaÌ„d lib. 1. de Schism Ang. pag. 128. 129. 130. Augustine Webster Prior of the Carthusians at Exham Robert Laurence Prior of the Carthusians at Beuall Richard Reynolds Mounke of S. Brigitts order of Syon Iohn Hayle Priest Vicar of Thistleworth Charter house Monkes of London suffered at Tyburne 18. Iune Humfrey Mildemore William Exmew Sebastian Newdigate Carthusians at Yorke 11. May. Iohn Rochester Iames Warnet Charter house Mounkes died in prison in Iune Iuly Richard Bere Thomas Greene Iohn Dauis Thomas Iohson William Greenwod Thomas Scriuan Robert Salt Walter Persons Thomas Reading William Horne Carterhouse Monke 4. Aug. Iohn Fisher Card. of S. Vitalis Ric. Hal. in eius vita Staples de tribus Thom. Bishopp of Rochester at Tower-Hill 22. Iune Syr Thomas More Knight at the Tower-hill 6. Iuly Anno Christi 1536. Henr. 8. 28. Iohn Pasley Abbot of Whalley at Lancaster 10. March Sand. ibi l 1. pag. 176. 177. Iohn Castegate Monke at Lancaster 10. March William Haddocke Monke at Whaley 13. March N. N. Abbot of Sauley at Lancaster in March N. Ast be Monke of Geruaux at Lancaster in March Robert Hobbes Abbot of Woborne togeather with the Prior of the same Monasterie and a. Priest suffered at Woborne in Bedfordshire in March Doctor Maccarell with 4. other Priests at Tyburne 29. March William Thrust Abbot of Fontaines at Tyburne in Iune Adam Sodbury Abbot of Geruaux at Tyburne in Iune William Would Prior of Birlington at Tyburne in Iune N. N. Abbot of Riuers at Tyburne in Iune Anno 1537. Henr. 29. Antony Brorby of the Order of S. Francis Sand. ibi pag. 183. Boucher de pass Fratr Fransc pag. 8. 13. 17. strangled with his owne girdle at London 19. Iuly Thomas Cort Franciscan famished to death in prison 27. Iuly Thomas Belcham of the same Order died in Newgate 3. August Anno 1538. Henr. 30. Iohn Forest Frier obseruant Boucher ibid. pag. 26. Sand. ibid. Confessour to queene Katherine in Smithfield 23. May. Iohn Stone an Augustine friar at Canterbury this yeare Two and thirty Religious men of the Order of S. Francis being cast into prison for denying the K. Supremacy died there through cold steÌ„ch and famine in Aug. Sept. and October Sand. l. 1. pag 973. N. Croft Priest at Tyburne N. Collins Priest at Tyburne N. Holland Layman at Tyburne Anno 1539. Henr. 31. Knights of S. Iohns of Ierusalem at Towerhill 8. Iul. Sand. pa. 181. 194. 197. Adrian Fortescue Thomas Dingley Griffith Clarke Priest At S. Thomas Wateringes 8. N. Mayre Monke At S. Thomas Wateringes 8. Iohn Tauers Doctor of diunity 30. Iulij Iohn Harris Priest 30. Iulij Priests at Reading 14. Nouemb. Iohn Rugge William Onion Hugh Faringdon Abbot of Rehding at Rehding 22. Nouem Richard Whiting Abbot of GlasteÌ„bury at Glastend 22. Nouem Monks of GlasteÌ„bury at Glastend Iohn Thorne 22. Nouem Roger Iames Monks of GlasteÌ„bury 22. Nouem Iohn Beck Abbot of Colchester at Colchester 1. Decemb. Anno 1540. Henr. 32. Priests at Galais 10. April Sand. ibi pag. 216. 217. William Peterson Wiliam Richardson Priestes in Smithfield 30. Iuly Thomas Abell Edward Powell Rich. Fetherstone LaureÌ„câ— Cocke Prior of Dancaster At Tyburne 4. August Williame Horne Monke At Tyburne 4. August Edmund Bromelie Priest At Tyburne 4. August Giles Horne Gentleman At Tyburne 4. August Clement Philpot Gentleman At Tyburne 4. August Darby Genninges Layman At Tyburne 4. August Robert Bird Layman At Tyburne 4. August Anno 1541. Henr. 33. Dauid Genson Knight of the Rhodes 1. Iuly Sand. pag. 180. Anno 1543. Henr. 35. German Gardener Priest at Tyburne 7. March Sand. pag. 227. Iohn Lâ—arke Priest at Tyburne 7. March Iohn Ireland Priest at Tyburne 7. March Thomas Ashbey Layman at Tyburne 7. March Iohn Risby at Tyburne 7. March Thomas Rike at Tyburne 7. March Vnder Queene Elizabeth Anno 1570. Elizabethae 12. Iohn Felton Gentleman Nicol. Sander l. 7. de visib Monarc pag. 734. 736. in S. Paules Church-yard 8. August Anno 1571. Elizabeth 13. Iohn Story Doctor of the Canon-law at Tyburne 1. Iune Anno 1573. Elizabeth 15. Thomas Woodhouse Priest Concert Eccles Aug. at Tyburne 19. Iune Anno 1577. Elizabeth 19. Concert Eccles Aug. Cuthbert Mayne the first Priest of the Seminaries at Launston in Cornwall 29. Nou. Anno 1578. Elizab. 20. Concert ibid. Iohn Nelson Priest at Tyburne 3. February Thomas Sherwood Gentleman 7. Febr. Anno 1581. Elizab. 23. Concert Eccles Aug. Sand. l. 3. de schism Angl. Euerard Hanse Priest at Tyburne 31. Iuly Edmund Campian Priest of the Societie of Iesus at Tyburne 1. Dec. Alexander Briant Priest of the same Society of Iesus at Tyburne 1. Dec. Raphe Sherwyn Priest at Tyburne 1. Dec. Anno 1582. Elizab. 24. Iohn Payne Priest at Chelemsford in Essex 2. April Concert Eccles Angl. Sand. vbi supra Thomas Ford Priest at Tyburne 28. May. Iohn Shert
THE THEATRE OF CATHOLIQVE AND PROTESTANT RELIGION DIVIDED into Twelue Bookes Wherein The zealous Catholike may plainelie see the manifest truth perspicuitie euident foundations and demonstrations of the Catholique Religion Together with the motiues and causes why he should perseuer therin The Protestant also may easilie see the falsitie and absurditie of his irreligious and negatiue Religion Together with many strong and conuincing reasons why he is bound to embrace the Catholique faith and to returne againe to the true Church from whence he departed WRITTEN By I. C. Student in diuinitie With permission Anno 1620. MAgni periculi res est c. It is a thinge of great danger it after the oracles of the Prophets after the testimonies of the Apostles after the woundes of the Martyrs thou presume to discusse our ould faith as if it were new if after such expert guides thou neuertheles wilt remaine in error if after the combatts of such as did strugle vnto death for the defence thereof thou wilt yet oppugne it with idle disputation let vs therfore reuerneÌ„ce our faith in the glory of the Saintes S. Ambrosius in sermone de SS Nazario Celso TO THE BLESSED and vnspotted Virgin Marie Mother of God and Queene of heauen by whom saluation and redemption came to the worlde 1. BOOKES of greatest estimation and noblest subiect most gratious Virgin ought to be dedicated and offred to the noblest and eminentste personages and that for two causes th' one to be protected and patronized by them against malignant and malitious people to whome the obiect or matter might be offensiue the other to gratifie them for the benefites receaued of theÌ„ the obiecte of this booke which is the theater and true representation both of the Catholique and protestant religion being so eminent that it excelleth and exceedeth all obiects whatsoeuer ought to be dedicated and consecrated vnto thee most sacred Virgin being the worthiest creature amongest all meere Creatures that euer were Contraria se posita magis ilucessit 2. The opposition of two extremities can neuer be better declared or knowen theÌ„ to oppose the one to the other as things positiue and thinges priuatiue light and darknesse thinges contrarie as heate and cold thinges contradictory or thinges affirmatiue and negatiue as a man and noe man nothinge is soe repugnant or hurtfull to the Catholique religion as heresie and especially that of the sectaires of our vnfortunate daies nothinge soe contrary to Christe as Antechriste nothinge soe offensiue to the Catholique Church as the malignant Congregation of Caluinistes Anabaptistes So as the trueth of the one caÌ„not be made more apparant more euident and more cleere then by the falshoode of the other nor the goodnesse of the one be better made knoweÌ„ then by the mischeefe euill of the other 3. Vouchsafe therfore ô gratious virgin and mother of the Sauiour of the worlde that the trueth and goodnesse of the one beinge made knowen and the falshoode and wickednesse of the other being detected with thy most precious intercession to thy Sonne Iesus to lighten and illuminate the hartes vnderstaÌ„dings of such as are ouerwhelmed and ingulfed in the dangerous abisme of darcknesse and are gone astraye in the intricat labernith of heresies Deliuer theÌ„ ô blessed mediatrixe that doe walke awry in the darcknes and shadowe of death Protecte and defend the Catholique Church for the saftie of which Christe Iesus tooke flesh of thee and for the establishing whereof he suffered his bitter passion yealded himselfe to death and triumphed ouer the powers of darcknesse from the malice and dangerous purposes of all such as bend all their plotts and pollices to destroy her 4. By whom should the religion of virgins vowes and votaries be protected and vpholden but by her that made the first solemne vowe and profession thereof To whoÌ„ should the religion of Christ be dedicated but to the mother of Christ Or the law of grace be addressed but vnto her that is ful of grace What better aduocate can the Church haue then shee who is placed betwixt the sunne and the moone as S. Bernard saieth which is mary betwixt Christ his Church What better defense can there be against heretiques then shee as S. Bonauenture saith that destroyeth all heresies and according to S. Bernard omnis haeresunt inâ—eremptrix that killeth all heresies Therfore ô blessed Virgin Dignare me laudare te Virgo c. Vouchsafe me to praise thee ô sacred virgin fortifie me against thine enemies and the enemies of the Church of Iesus Christ which being his only comoÌ„wealth kingdom patrimony vineyarde and mysticall body euery member thereof ought to defend yea is more bound thervnto then to the defense of any earthly comon wealth 5. As for thyne incpmparable and vnspeakeable merittes and benefites towardes me and towards the whole world all true Christian hartes doe acknowledge them with Aristotle I confesse Qui beneficium accipit De coÌ„gruo uon de coÌ„digno libertateÌ„ perdidit He that receueth a benefit loseth his liberty becometh a slaue to his benefactors How then should not I the whole world confesse our selues to be obliged vnto thee for soe generall and soe worthy a benefit as we haue receaued at thy handes Iesus Christ taking that flesh of thee in which he would dye for our offeÌ„ces Therfor ô blessed virgin I offer my self with this my labour as a poore slaue vnto thee I prostrate my selfe like a poore wretched sinfull creature before thee confounded and oppressed with many imperfections and defects voide of merits destitut of grace ouercharged with the dreadfull assaultes machinations of powerfull enemies they to stronge to offend and I to weake without thy helpe to defend my selfe against them We therfore Sub tuum praesidium confugimus sancta Dei genitrix c. flie vnder thy sauegard ô mother of God for none that euer relyed vpon thee was frustrated of his expectation none was euer deceaued of his hope none was euer coÌ„founded or discomforted who hath at any time fled to thy intercession as holy Church in all ages by experience hath proued and all holy sainctes that euer were haue solemnly auouched 6. Thou therfore ô only a Aug. ser 2. de Annunc hope of sinners Thou ô b S. EphreÌ„ de laud. B. Mariae ioy saluation and peace of the worlde Thou ô c Damasc orat 2. de Assump ocean gulfe of grace Thou ô d Damasc orat 2. dormit Virg. liuing arke of the liuing God Thou e Epiph. l. 3. Hier. 78 the mother of all liuing and the cause of life who broughtest forth life vnto the world Thou f Cyril Alex hom 10. the pretious marguerit of the worlde the inextinguible light thereof the crowne of virginitie the scepter of the Catholique faith and the indissoluble temple containing him who can be no where contained Thou ô g Ierem. adu Iouiu East gate euer shut
Flanders made a protestatation at Mons that his drifte was not to disturbe or vexe any priest or religious person or to offend the Catholicke Church in any thing but to deliuer Flanders from the slauerie of the Spaniardes This verie oathe he made before Mathias Arch-Ducke of Austria vnto whome he was made lieutenante generall but this lewed companion neuer kepte his worde as the histories of Flanders doe relate but became a most cruell persecutor of all ecclesiasticall and religious persons spoiled Churches violated and abused sacred virgins destroyed Alters troad vnderfoote the holy sacrament of the alter tooke away all the ornamentes which he prophaned robbed all Churches and Monasteries of their Challices and other sacred implements dedicated to the seruice of almightie God embrewed his filthie murtheringe handes with the inocent blood of most vertuous priestes and religious men not sparinge any order of personnes though neuer soe holy whervpon many of the nobility beinge offended thereat with many Citties as Mastrick Mōs Douay Arras others forsooke him and yealded themselues to the Prince of Parma 5. Of the like falshoode deceite and periurie was the bastard of Scotland called Iames detected base brother to the last Queene of Scottes by whome also he was made Regent of Scotland and aduanced by her meanes to the greatest dignitie and wealth that Scotlād could yealde Notwithstanding for all these kindnes and obligations aswell by nature as by such singuler promotions benefittes and desertes yea his vowe and promise soe often iterated and solemlye confirmed with wicked oathes yet beinge infected by Iohn Knocks an Apostate Friar and afterwards a minister instrument of Caluine to enkendle the flames of that most wicked and damnable Heresie in that Countrie the Author and instrument of all the rebellion of Scotland he conspired againste that sacred soueraigne murthered her husbande and appeached her with the ymputation of that murther who beinge most innocent thereof plotted and stirred vp such stronge rebellions by her subiectes himselfe beinge the cheefe Captaine of this combustiō as she was taken and cast into a most filthie prison where her death was threatned vnles shee would resigne the gouernment of her kingdome vnto that ouglie monster And beinge deliuered out of that prison shee was faine to flye into England where by the procuremente of that bastard shee was cast into prison which shee suffred the space of xx yeares and at lenghte beinge Queene of France and Scotland notwithstanding was putt to death Hollens in hist scholast pag. 500. 6. This bastard and the rest of his Caluinian Confederates sought nothinge at the beginninge as they pretended but libertie of their conscience which beinge graunted they protested and swoare all dutifull allegance to the Queene and state Lib. 16. pag. 590. But after they obtained what they soughte for they tooke perforce the whole ciuil gouernment into their owne handes and by their faction and combination sodainlie grewe soe stronge and insolente that they denied the same libertie of conscience vnto her her husband And as Buchanan in his Scotish historie sayeth when vpon all sainctes day the Queene would in her Chapple haue had Masse after a solemne manner the ministers of the Ghospell saith this auctor encensed the nobility against her that by force and violence they should compell her to leaue off so that she was enforced to obey a crewe of Caluinian ministers which could doe more in Scotland at that time by their newe heresies neuer in any requeste in that Countrie before then their aunciente and Catholicke religion by which they were conuerted from gentyles to be Christians which they professed soe many hundreth yeares before or the dutie of subiectes to their Prince or the power of the Prince her selfe or any feare of God or respect of his lawes diuine naturall or any humaine honestie or Ciuill modestie Where yow may perceaue what libertie this wicked and licentious heresie giues how turbulente it is what garboyles it bringeth with it vnto which dissolute and wanton youthes are most enclined wherof a number of that Countrie being in France to trye their wittes or to raise their fortunes they brought with them from Caluine this poysoned doctrine that infected all that Countrie 7. Not vnlike vnto this hypocriticall pretence of Conscience Caluine Beza and his ministers vsed to gett footinge in France although not with the like successe After they had most solemly protested that they intended nothing but onlie libertie of their conscience And soe in the assembly of Poyse they did sweare obedience to Charles the nynth and his successors and vttered these wordes Wee sweare before God and your maiestie who are our soueraigne that if any of vs hereafter shall misbehaue himselfe in kindlinge any sturr in France that wee will ourselues persecute him with fire and sworde This protestation was made by Beza which not withstanding was the only author and fire-brand of all the miserie and calamities of France as Iohn Knockes and Buchanan in Scotland by whose plottes and pollices all France was in an vprore al the nobilitie deuided by faxions the ciuill gouernment and politicall lawes of the kingdom vtterly despised the ecclesiasticall lawes and Censures of the Church quite reiected all sacred thinges prophaned Churches and monasteries burned sacred Virgins defloured many preistes and religious persons with most vnusuall torments murthered and massacred the nobilitie destroied their howses ransaked by whose cruell handes most of the blood Royall of France was extinguished as the kinge of Nauare at the siege of Roane the Duke Monepenser Rosorgomus The Prince Dellphine The Duke Memorose the Duke of Longauile The Dukes Niuer the father the sonne and the sonne in lawe the Constable of France And manny Marshalls thereof Saincta Derane Mount Moransius Mattugon Dauillan Brisarus Touanus Byron Francis Duke of Ioys besides manny thowsandes in the battells of Drintts Saint Dennys Iernan and Mount Counter and at many other townes as Roane Rochell Saincte Angell soe as in one yeare more then a hundred thousande Frenchmen were slaine Beza in praefat noui testa menti ad Reginam Angliae An. 1564. yea Beza who made the said speach before the kinge said that such as were killed in these Battells beinge rebells were blessed Martyres because saith he they were the first that shedd their blood for the restoringe of the ghospell in France And yet he with his fellow ministers gaue a solemne oath as before is recited to be true to the King Crowne and Countrie How many thousand were also killed at other tymes in France in other Ciuill warres soe often renewed by these fellowes 8. Luther alsoe saith Luther tomo in ser f. 270 An. 1553. that in seauen weekes betwixt Easter and Whittsontyde were killed of the Peasants of Germanye more then one hundred thousand besides many millions of people in other warres of that Countrie especially when Albert the Marques of Bramdeburge did destroy with fire and sworde all thinges that
which as it doth exceede all the heresies that euer were in ympietie of Doctrine and wickednes of life so it doth alsoe surpasse all Heretiques Infideles Turcks and Iewes in all bloody feates cruell exploites Babilonian confusion tragicall desigmentes diuelish purposes and plottes yea and strange inuented lawes newer heard of before with their most rigorous execution You see the fruite of heresie the complotters and compassers thereof the cheefe Architects of her detestable practise her effiminacye luxurious wantones her inducementes to all abhominable pleasures and licentious libertie her bloodie imbrumentes and lamentable tragedies in euerie countrie where shee was nourished and inuented which brought a masse of miserie and calamitie with it to those places that receaued her the shipwracke of whose opulente and aboundante fortunes can beare wittnesse thereof obstinate pride presumptuous and turbulent spirittes dislike and disdaininge of good order and sound discipline contempte and despising of authoritie curiositie and affectation of noueltie discontentment and disquietnes of mindes through ympatience of filthie luste and other malignante priuate humors which were neuer inspired by the spirite of God but by the suggestion of the diuill who was the cause thereof Of the miserable death and endes of such as deuised and defended the protestant Religion as also other heresies CHAPTER VII 1. THe first plotter of this heresie was Martine Luther Luthers death whose life as it was most wicked soe his ende was noe lesse miserable He after that he had surfeyted through one nightes gossopinge himselfe beinge fild intemperatlie vpp to the throate was found dead in the morninge with his wife and as it is suspected was choaked by her Henrye Zuthphan which was the first that brought Lutheranisme into Breame was afterwardes burned at Meldorphe in Thretmarsse Anno 1524. Hulderique Zuinglius an Apostate Priest in a furious skirmish beinge leader of the Tigurians whome he brought to that dolefull battle animatinge them to the combatte as surmountinge their aduersaries in multitude of souldiers were all ouerthrowen and he himselfe was found dead amoungest the dead carcases and was cast into the fire Zuinglius death Conrad in Theolog. Fox pag. 444. soe as he suffred a double death by fire and sworde Of whome the Epitaph was made thus Occul uit patrio bellator Zuinglius ense Et gressa est armis gens populosa suis Zuinglius the Warior was slaine in the fielde And the sword of his Countrie did pierce Genebrardus in Chron. 2. fol. 72. His side by many bloody batles fought His Country vnto ruine he brought CoÌ„radus a Lutheran protestant writeth that God manifested his iudgmente vppon Caluine euen in this world whom he visited in the rodde of furie and punished him horribly before the dreadfull hower of his vnhappie death Caluins dreadfull death for saith he God by his powerfull hand did soe stricke this heretique that beinge in desperation blaspheminge and cursinge the name of God and calling vppon the diuills he yelded vpp his wicked ghoaste hauinge an vglye and filthie apostume in his priuie partes out of which there issued such a number of loathsome and stinckinge woormes Carolostadius his death Epistola de morte Carolastadiâ— OecolaÌ„padus death that not any could abide to come nere him this farre the said Author Carolastadius was slaine by the diuill as the ministers of Basill themselues doe witnesse Oecolampadius also a married Mounque of the order of S. Brigget and one of the firste and principalest Architectes of the protestante religion was founde slaine in his bedd by his wyues side and that by her or rather by the diuill himselfe Luth. lib. de Missa priuata as Luther thincketh The Duke of Saxonie and the Lantgraue of Hesse which were the cheefe promotors and Patrons of lutheranisme were in battell vanquished by Charles the fifte depriued of their dominions and kepte in prison by him many yeares The Prince of Condye The prince of Condys death and the admirall of France which were the Patrones of the secte of Caluine or hugnottes in that Countrye were alsoe vanquished and ouerthrowen in the field with their kinge after many other ouerthrowes and slaughter of their adherentes the one I meane Condie was slaine in the battell of Iarnan the other was kild in a triumph at Paris his carcase beinge caste from the topp of a high howse his necke beinge broken and his body torne was drawen by a rope through the streates and hanged not much vnlike to Iezabell where also the Prince Montgomery was beheaded beinge a great defender of Caluinisme 2. The death of such in EnglaÌ„d as were â—atrons of Protestancie The same miserable end they tasted alsoe that were the patrones of this wicked ghospell in England as Queene Anne Bullen Thomas Cromell the Duke of Somersett and Thomas Cranmer Bishopp of Canterburie The first was accused arraigned and conuicted of a filthie incest her supposed Father beinge the iudge thereof and by his sentence putt to death who was so besotted of her filthie loue The next was condemned and putt to death for heresie and high treason by kinge Henry the eighte vnto whom he yealded himselfe both soule and bodâ—e before by the lawe he made himselfe videlicet whosoeuer should be cast into the tower he should be put to death without examination Fox act and monuments 563. whome he called the wall and defense of the protestant Chruch The third which was the Duke of Somersett beinge vncle vnto kinge Edward his vicar generall in all ecclesiasticall causes and protector and as it were kinge of the whole Realme was depriued of all auctoritie and publiquelie beheadded The last which was Cranmer after abiuringe his wicked heresie at Oxford by Queene Marie Robert Barnes Thomas Gerrard William Ierom beinge the first cheefe instruments that Kinge Henry the 8. had to perswade the people touching the kinges supremacie in ecclesiasticall causes were by the said kinge Henrye burned afterwards and the said Barnes beinge there at the stake and the flame readie to lay hould vppon him said these words By our meanes the kinge was made absolute kinge of England whereas before he was but halfe a kinge and for our paynes this is the rewarde wee haue Anno Domini 1540. Prince of Aurengs death 3. The Prince of Aurenge that was the author and enginer thereof in flanders was slaine with a pistole in his newe wyues lappe by Balthazer Gerard. Ludouicus Nalconius brother to the said Prince and the cheefe author of the rebellion of the said lowe Countries in the battle of Mokens which he lost the Spaniardes hauinge gotten the victory was burned in a little cottage aliue whether he fledd for safeguard In that battle also his Brother Henry perished as his brother Adolphus did perishe a little before in FrislaÌ„d William Lumenus the Earle of Mansfil after defilinge his murtheringe hands with the cruell death of many religious persons priests and Catholiques in Holland and Zeland and
other places was kild by an Englishe dogge that himselfe brought vpp 4. The Bastard of Scotland The Earle of Moray his death Iames Earle of Moray that troubled Scotland with the same heresie in his greatest triumphe beinge accompanied with 500. horsemen at Lith was shott by a gunn by which he was slaine the author therof escapinge harmles notwithstanding he was admonished the night before that there was such a plot laid for his destruction yet he did not shunn it Iames Duglas Earle of Morton a great defender of Caluinisme and persecutor of the Catholiques was beheaded at Edenborough for treason against his maiesties Father 5. The first that broughte it to Denmarque was Christiernus king of that Countrie who was depriued of his kingdome and banished by his subiectes and beinge by the intreatie of Charles the fifte and Henry the 8. his kinsmen retourned home was apprehended of his subiectes and caste into a filthie caue where he ended his life most miserablie The first who preached protestancy in Ireland 6. The first that euer preached protestancie in Ireland was George Browne who in kinge Harries daies was made Archbishoppe of Dublin the capital cittie of the kingdome of Ireland and the first sunday he preached the protestant religion at Dublin he made a Catholique sermon at Christs Churche and desired his audience neuer to beleue him if through frailtie of the flesh feare of the Prince or loue to temporall interesse he should preache the contrarie and the verie next sonday ymediatly followinge he preached protestant religion which was nothinge els then a deniall of that which he preached the sonday before Vnto whom some of the Aldermen of that Cittie said My â—o doe you not remember that yow wished vs not to beleue you if happilie yow should preach the contrarie of that yow preached the sonday before To whom he answered sainge I must needes haue done soe or else haue lost my liuing This man when Queene Marie came in vpon his recantation was restored to his liuinge the night that his Bul came ouer he was found dead in the morninge Some said he died for verie great ioy about mid-night when vppon the suddaine he receaued newes that he was restored to his Archbishoprique 7. Norfolks his death The Duke of Norfolke which gaue his verditt for the supplantinge of Catholique religion and for the aduancinge of the protestancye with Queene Elizabeth in her first parleament assembled for that purpose beinge therunto solicited by his Brother in lawe the Earle of Arundell vnder pretence to marrie the said Queene vnto whome shee made a promisse of mariadge Sanderus de schismate Angliae if the said Earle with his faction would helpe her for the alteringe of religion was arraigned condemned of highe treason and was beheaded for the same which a certaine â—atrone meeting him goinge from the pleament prophesied tellinge him that he should neuer haue a better ende or rewarde of them for whome he gaue his voyce and suffrage against the Catholique religion And the said Earle beinge frustrated of his purpose and deceaud of his hope died soone after for verie greefe and without issue and perhapps if he should haue liued longer he should haue tasted that Cuppe for his labour that his brother in lawe had done before him The said Duke his eldest sonne called Philip Howarde and Earle of Arundell was arraigned condemned of highe treason and died in the Tower of London 8. Sr. Iohn Perott when he was Lord presidente of the Prouince of Mounster in Irelande was the first that caused the parish priests and other incombents of porte Townes in that Prouince to ymbrace the English seruice which when they tould him they could not vnderstand the English his aunsweare was that they should chatter like Geese He putt to death a prieste called Sr. Thomas Coursie vicar of Kinsale by marshall lawe for that he went to perswade Sr. Iames fitz-Morice to restore the praye which he had taken froÌ„ Kinsale This man in the middest of his greatest honor beinge lorde deputie of Ireland and one of the preuie Councell of England was apprehended arraigned and condemned of high treason and died verie miserably in the tower his landes and goodes beinge all confiscated Deut. 31. 9. Laudate gentes populum eius quia sanguinem seruorum suorum vlciscetur vindictam retribuet in hostes eorum Let the gentiles praise gods people because he shall reuenge the blood of his seruants and will pay home their enemies with a reuenge as may appeare by the horrible and dreadfull punishment of all other persecutors and heretiques As of Pharao the first persecutor of Gods Churche Exod 14. Of Dathan and Abiron the first Scismatiques Numeri 16. of Iezabell 4. Reg. 9. of Antiochus 2. Machab. 9. Of Pilat who killed himselfe as Euseb writes lib. 2. c. 7. declares the destruction of the Iewes which Iosephus setts downe lib. de bello Iudaico Of Herod Ascolonita who was eaten by woormes after he had slaine his wyfe and Children and went about to slay himselfe as Iosephus declareth lib 17 antiquita cap. 9. Of Herod the Tetrach who lost his kingdome liued in perpetuall banishment accordinge to the said Ioseph lib. 18 cap. 14. of the daughter of Herodiades read Nicheporus lib. 1. caput 20. of Herod Agrippa read Act. 12. Nero Domitian and other wicked Emperors who persecuted the Church eyther slewe themselues or else were slaine by others as all histories doe wyttnes Dioclesian for that he could not destroie the Church for verie greefe gaue ouer his Empire the Emperor Maximianus and Maximine were chasticed with such a horrible disease that the Pagan Phisitians said it was the plague of God as Eusebius wrieth in Chronico lib. 8. hist cap. vlt. lib. 9. cap. vlt. 10. As touchinge old heretiques they tasted the like dreadfull death Simon Magus when he would flye by the praiers of S. Peter he fell headlonge downe and was kilde Egesippus lib. 3. caput 1. de excidio Also Arnobius l. 2. con gentes Manicheus the heretique was flaid aliue by the kinge of Persea because intendinge to cure his daughter he kild her Epiph. heres 66. Montaine Theodotus their prophets hanged themselues Euseb lib. 5. hist cap. 19. The Donatistes that cast the Eucharist vnto dogges were torne in peeces by the said doggs Optat. lib. 1. Parmenianum Arius goinge to Church went to purge nature when together which his excrementes he did cast fourth all his intralles and presentlie died as S. Athanasius wittnesseth oratione cont Arrianos Ruff. lib. 10. hist cap. 13. And although there may be some hereticall Princes or Common wealthes that haue not felt as yett any of these calamities and perhappes they bragge and boast of their great pleasures and prosperitie noe otherwise then the woman doth in the Apocalipes sedeo regina vidua non sum luctum non videbo I sitt as a Queene I am not a widdowe and
of the churches and persecuted church men This man beinge feastinge one time with his frindes in his pallace there started vp a gentleman of that maiesticall contenance that he put all the guestes in great feare that were with him and with a terrible voice and dreadfull aspect comaunded the earle to followe him and that with such maiestie that he could not otherwise choose Comming to the gate there was a mightie horsse prepared for him and he was compelled to mounte vpp a horssbacke and presently the horsse did fly vpp into the skies and the miserable earle cryinge most pittifullie vanished away with the horsse Those that were within the pallace durst not to goe foorth but shutt the gates out of which the miserable earle was carried away by the diuill 2. Paulus Emilius a diligent historiographer of the matters of Fraunce doth note the like accident of a certaine Earle called Willian a great persecutor of the church who beinge also at a great feast accompanied with other great earles was comaunded by one that was at the gate to goe foorth and soe risinge from the table went foorth to knowe what he was where he met with one a horssbacke which tooke him away and did neuer appeare any more He added moreouer that in the very same place the Earle of Niuers a great persecutor of the immunities of the church was serued in the like maner The kinge of Aragon called Sanchius through extreame necessity was forced to make vse of the church liuinges of his kingdome in his warres against the Moores and although it was for the defense of Catholique Religion yet he made restitution of all that he had so tooken from the Church Many good authors doe note and obserue that the church liuinges neuer profittes any and that they doe not only succede bad with them that take them but also consume and destroye their temporall possessions withall for like as the mothes the rust or the canker consumes the wood the cloath the iron and the fleashe that ingenders them and euen as the feathers of the Eagle beinge ioyned with the feathers of any other consumes and spills them soe church liuinges wrongfully detayned or violently taken from the church consumes and ouerthrowes the temporal estate vnto which they are vnlawfullye ioyned and annexed 3. This England France and Ireland may testifie for France enioyed but smale quietnes since Clement the 7. annexed vnto the crowne of France by the procuremeÌ„t of Francis ' the firste when the said Clement married his Neece called Catherina de Medicis vnto Henry the 2. Daulphine of France at Marcells all the promotions and donations of church liuinges vnder the crowne of France And as for him that sought it or by what meanes it was giuen I leaue that to the French historiographers yet wee knowe that he and all his issue liued and ended most miserably their kingdome and state was most pittifully broken with soe manny bloody garboiles all the nobilitie consumed and exhausted with soe mannie cruell battles ouerthrowes so many rich townes and citties ransaked soe many couÌ„tries and prouinces vtterly destroied soe many churches and monasteries dissolued and cast downe soe many religious people murthered and soe many sacred virgins deflowred and rauished soe as France through heresie which by this donation crept into it was a spectacle of all miserie famine pestilence warres vprores coÌ„bustions to all other nations And although the said Henry the 2. had 6. sonnes whereof 3. of theÌ„ were kinges yet all died without yssue and not one of that race is left aliue and soe the lyne of the howse of Valois in whome the crowne of France continewed the space of 260. yeares is altogether extinguished and the crowne came to the howse of Burbon their auncient and implacable enemies and nowe suecedinge them in the crowne and kingdome Henry the 8. not by any grant or indulgence of the Pope but by force and feare of violent lawes made and deuised by him leacherie and couetousnes intisinge him therunto tooke vnto himself a spiritual iurisdiction and besides suppressed cast downe all the monasteries who although he had six wiues and left behinde him one sonne and 2. daughters yet now there is none liuinge nor any of their lyne or race man or woman now extant 4. And as for the nobilitie of England and Irelande which were instruments more ready to serue the kinges humour then to please God they be all for the most parte extinguished of whose discent or race one amoungest 20. is not to be seene this daie to possesse their ancestors liuinges vnto whose patrimonie others crept in and succeeded some perhappes being their mortall enemies The Duke of Norfolque and the earle of Arundell were the cheefest instruments that Queene Elizabeth had in the first parleament shee assembled to putt downe the church and to drawe all spirituall iurisdiction vnto her selfe hopinge that by this seruice the one should be contracted with her in mariage the other should be in extraordinarie fauor with her I would they had taken S. Paules aduise Oportet obedire Deo magis quam hominibus Wee ought to obey God more then men or the prophet his caueat maledictus qui confidit in homine cursed is he that trusteth in man Scisma Angliae This Duke as a certaine graue matrone prophesied and tould him to his face cominge from the parleament that he should lose his head by her whome to please he did displease God and made shipwreaque of his religion was condemned and put to death for highe treason against the Queene at Tower hill in London and hâ—s eldest sonne the earle of Arundell after beinge condemned and arrayned after much mourninge and longe imprisonment died in the Tower of London And the other Earle of Arundell died without yssue male of his bodie and it is thought if he had liued any longe time he should haue tasted of the same cuppe with the other 5. The Earle of Ormond which was the onlie instrument for Queene Elizabeth in Ireland to strenghten the voices of the parleament for her spirituall supremacie as yet liuinge is depriued of his sight and of his only sonne and the only ioy and felicitie he had in this world and of his end wee knowe not but wee knowe he hath church liuinges and wee are certaine that who hath them vnlawfully shall neuer thriue the better And therfore Charles the 7. kinge of France beinge in great waÌ„t of mony through the warres he had with the English about the dukedome of Normandie of which the quiett state of his kingdome depended would not make vse of the tithes of his kingdome beinge therunto moued by a great prelate for that he knewe they would not succeede well with him Ossorius in the historie of the kinge of Portingall Emanuell writeth that the Pope dispensed with him for the tithes of his country towardes his warres in Affricke and hauinge perceaued that he had not soe good successe as before