suddainly when they were least ready for their accompt that by these exaÌ„ples others may take heed which is a singular fauour for by chastising some few he inuiteth to his mercy the rest to whome he giueth tyme and occasion of repentance Within these few yeares there haue dyed suddainly at diuers tymes in England foure of the priuy Counsell and their deathes are so much the more markable as they were lesse prouided for For this is the misery of suddaine death when it ouertaketh a sinner and neyther giueth him warning nor leasure to repent One of these was the Lord High Treasurer a worldly wise man though not wise for himselfe who hauing spoken vehemently at the Counsell-Table in a busines touching Syr Iohn Lusons land as was sayd and bowing downe his head as though he would rest he that sate next him thinking to awake him from sleep found him dead without the least remembrance of the Eternall Iudgment to which he was called so at vnawares as he left astonished all that were present The second was the Lord (P) Thomas Popam Chiefe Iustice of England a man of cruel harsh conditioÌ„ a grieuous persecutour of Catholicks He tooke one day in the morning as many times he vsed to do certaine easy pilles for his health and after hauing to signe some Writs or as others say Warrants to apprehend Recusants suddainly found himselfe so ill that he could not go abroad as he had determined From his chaire he would haue cast himselfe vpon his bed but he (Q) Cor durum habebit male in nouissimo qui amat periculum in eo peribit Eccles 3. 27. dropped down dead He had before coÌ„playned of conuulsions and great paines in his body but he shewed no memory of God more then in his life time he was accustomed The third was also a priuy Counsellour that occupied the Name and Place of the Archbishop of Canterbury a great Politician and one of the plotters as is reported of the New Oath and Powderworke wherin it was founded as he had bene of many other Stratagems (R) Bene coÌ„surgit diluculò qui quaerit bona qui autem inuestigator malorum est opprimetur ab ijs Pro. 11. 27. and deuises against the Catholikes He ended his life as the former without tyme to prepare himselfe for the great accompt He was of base Parentage but by his diligence and wit he scambled vp to the height from whence he fell First he got into seruice with the L. Chancellour Syr Christopher Hatton as his Chaplaine and Examiner His Maister was greatly fauoured of the Prince at that tyme and a secret fauourer of the Catholikes And in this poynt M. Bancroft flattered him so cunningly that he got his good will and much money vnder him After his Maisters death he was able to do for himselfe as is reported bought the Bishopricke of London of Syr Ferdinand Gorge Gentleman of the Queenes ChaÌ„ber for three thousand pounds And hauing gotten into that place with desire to ascend though against his conscience afflicted Gods seruants both at home abroad with many sleightes deuises In fine by these wayes walking alwayes with a gouldeÌ„ staffe in his hand ascendit fortè CathedraÌ„ as one merily sayd of his Predecessor he passed from London to Lambeth and there played the wolfe in a sheephards weed At length as he had allwaies a styrring brayne it disquieted him so much that he could not sleepe and for remedy he tooke of a Paracelsian Phisitian a dormytall medicine wherwith he slept so profoundly that he awaked no more onely they hard him grone pitifully and strugle with death and in this manner he ended with terrour of his friendes and seruantes that were present leauing to them and to vs and to all the world an example to feare the iust (S) ViruÌ„ iniustuÌ„ mala capient in interitu Psal 139. 12. Iudgmentes of God His Predecessour in (T) Iohn Whitgift Canterbury Sea and President of the priuy Counsayle died in a manner after the same fashion Vpon I know not what occasion he made a bytter inuectyue at the Counsell-Table against (V) Vae duplici corde labijs scelestis manibus malefacietibê° peccatori terram ingredienti duabê° vijs Eccl. 2. 14. the Catholicke Religion notwithstanding he knew it in his conscience to be the only Truth and hauing ended his speach he bowed downe to take vp his spectacles and being taken suddainly with an Apoplexy that made him speachlesse was carryed from the Councell-Table to his House and a few houres after departed this world to receaue his Iudgment and Reward These foure great States-men all of the priuy Counsell dyed one after another suddainly without any signes of contrition or memory of God as hath bene said and in this consisteth the obseruatioÌ„ and example for otherwise to him that liueth well no death is vntimely though it cannot be without mystery that God sendeth to so many Priuy Counsellours in England this manner of death in these times But of all the rest the most miserable and of greatest terrour and example for the Kings Royall Maiesty is the death of Queene (X) Seminauerunt triticum spinas messueruÌ„t hereditatem acceperunt non ijs proderit Ier. 12. 13. QuantuÌ„ glorificauit se in delicijs fuit taÌ„tùm date ei tormentum luctuÌ„ quia in corde suo dicit sedeo Regina Vidua non sum luctuÌ„ non videbo ideo in vna die venieÌ„t plagae eius Mors luctê° fames igne comburetur quia fortis est Deus qui iudicauit eam Apoc. 18. 7. Elizabeth his Predecessour which being so notorious and so well knowne to his Maiesty for breuities sake and for respect to her Person I will omit Many such like examples no doubt happen in England but are more noted in two sortes of people The one of such as in their conscience haue knowledge of the Truth and outwardly deny it and oppugne it for temporall respectes as it is thought the two Archbishops did the other of such as haue a violent auersion from Catholicke Religion and vpon hatred and splene persecute such as professe it as did the L. Chiefe Iustice and other such like Well the Kings Maiesty and his Counsellours cannot deny but God (Y) Nemo potest dicere Dominus Iesus nisi in Spiritu sancto 1. Cor. 1. 2. 3. Considera opera Dei quod nemo possit corrigere queÌ„ ille despexerit Eccles 7. 14. Qui odit correptionem vestigiuÌ„ est peccatoris qui timet Deum coÌ„uertetur ad cor suuÌ„ Eccl. 12. 7. dealeth mercifully with them in giuing them these publicke examples as watch-wordes and warninges to make them looke about them It may please him also to giue them grace to lay them to their hartes and make benefit of them But this also is mercy and a speciall fauour of God who onely knoweth the true causes of all that is
manner but the prisoners cast them of with contempt and being asked the cause answered that their doctrine had brought them to the gallowes and seing it could not help them to heauen they had resolued to die Catholiks and if they had liued in the same Religion wherin they desired to die they had neuer come to that infamous death but seing things past could not be vndone they most willingly accepted the punishment which God had layd vpon them with great confidence and assurance that for the merits of our Sauiours passion and death he would receaue theirs and their harty repentance in some recompence of their former sinnes And so died with great edification and example to the people verifying in England that which Christ sayd to the Princes of the Iewes Publicani Meretrices praecedent vos in Regno Dei The Caluinists or Protestants call them as you list for they be eyther haue intrenched themselues in this Iland like so many mutined souldiars that haue gotten a strong Hold and there they make Lawes at their pleasure disguising their vnlawfull proceedings with honorable termes and honest manner of speach and as it seemeth persuade themselues that others must vnderstād them accordingly But it is impossible that so euident a truth can be hid vnder their bushell The nature of truth challengeth her place in the view of the world and for themselues it most importeth that truth be laied open and discouered to the end that when all other respects should faile yet the iust feare of infamie may moderate their excesses or at least keepe in others by their example as the Poet sayth Auidos vicinum funus vt aegros Exanimat mortisque metu sibi parcere cogit Sic teneros animos aliena opprobria saepe Absterrent vitijs Horat. lib. 1. serm 7. I haue also heard these dayes reported by persons of credit lately come from Spayne another case worthy to be knowne for it confirmeth not a little that which hath beene sayd to wit that the Catholicke fayth the (A) Sicut palma florebit more it is trodden downe the more it riseth the more it is cropt the deeper roote it taketh and the more it is oppressed with persecution the more it spreadeth it selfe and euery day gayneth more ground and more opinion and authority in all good mens minds and is more loued and esteemed of all The report is also that about the same time that in England they banished by Proclamation all Priests and Religious men from London their Court God Almighty inspired a Stranger (B) Caesar Bogaçio to call them by his last Will and Testament to the Court of Spayne leauing them commodious dwelling both for the situation and capacity of the houses and all his goods to make an English Colledge in Madrid moued as they say by that which he had seene in the Seminarie of Valliadolid as a neere Neighbour to it when the Court was there And two circumstances concurre in this action worthy to be noted one that he began this Colledge in the Catholike Court the very same day that his Maiesty of England had prefixed for the Priests to depart out of his The other that the partie who gaue this gift did it vnder condition that no memory should be made with men of that which he did But for the very same reason I haue taken this occasion to remember him For honour of right belongeth only to them that flie it and God Almighty vseth to reward not onely in heauen but in this world also works of vertue done purely for his sake This Gentleman was an Italian borne in the Citty of Luca although for his long continuance in the King of Spayne his seruice he was accounted as one of that Countrie And here likewise it is to be considered that Antonius Bonuiso the Man that with his charity maintained the Lord Chancellour of England and Martyr Syr Thomas More patterne of loialty in Kings Counsellours and seruants all the time that his Lord King Henry the eyght kept him prisoner in the Tower of London because he would not consent to his vnlawfull outrages was of the same Citty of Luca. And the same Bonuiso afterwards with great liberality intertayned in his house at Louayne the Priests and secular Catholikes that left England in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths persecution And if any man aske me what correspondence there is or what occasion of amity betwene England and the State of Luca that from thence should arise men so eminently well affected to English Catholikes in such occasions as these There can be giuen no other cause as I suppose but the good pleasure of Almighty God that layd hand vpon Abacuc and carried him from Iudaea by the haire of his head to feed his Prophet in the dungeon of Babylon and chose Zachaeus for his Host in Iericho and the house of Lazarus his sisters in Bethania for his ordinary Inne and would not do this fauour to any of the Scribes or Pharisies in Ierusalem nor to any other Inhabitant of that Citty This is a priuiledge which our Sauiour granteth to whome he pleaseth and we can giue no other reason why he doth it but his holy will Onely by experience we see that he will not be serued of euery mans house nor of euery mans person or goods in these like occasions In fine he is Lord and Owner of all Domini est terra plenitudo eius And as the Princes of the earth do not serue themselues indifferently of all but of their best beloued and most trustie seruants in things of their particuler liking so it fareth with this great Lord of Lords And as it is a fauour when he giueth any man meanes possibility to do good works so is it a double and farre greater fauour to giue him withall prudence good occasion and desire to do them and to bestow profitably that which God hath left to his disposition And amongst all the imployments that can be in this world of temporall goods there is none so certayne and of so great interest as that which Christians haue vnder the gouerment of Infidels that spoyle them and make hauocke of their goods because they will not forsake their fayth nor consent to their errour For these men doubtlesse in lieu of the little which they can leese for God receaue euen in this world the comforts and pledges of eternall saluation wherof hath beene spoken aboue and soone after shall enter into his riches that haue no measure and enioy the treasure of euerlasting felicity and be made partakers of his Kingdome for euer THE PRINCIPALL HEADS contayned in this Booke 1. THE Preface to the Reader Pag. 1. 2. The Proclamation against Catholikes and Answere therunto Pag. 7. 3. A Letter of a Gentlewoman residing on this side the seas written to her Husband in England exhorting him to constancy in the persecution Pag. 27. 4. An Aduertisment to the Reader for the better vnderstanding of the former Proclamation and Answere Pag. 31. 5. An Apostrophe to the Martyrs and Confessours that suffer for Christ Pag. 69. 6. An Abstract or briefe summe of the Lawes that are termed good and wholsome made by his Maiesty and the Parlament of England against Recusants of that Kingdome Pag. 73. 7. The execution of the said Lawes made against Catholikes Pag. 95. 8. A Counter Commaund of certaine Lawes and heauenly Instructiōs opposite to the former against Catholikes by which if they be well vnderstood the other be disanulled and loose their force Pag. 103. 9. Profitable Considerations for the Kings most Excellent Maiesty and those of his Counsaile concerning the affliction of his Catholike Subiects Pag. 127. 10. A Letter written to S. Cyprian in the name of the whole Clergy of Rome declaring the comfort and consolation of those that then suffered persecution for Christ Pag. 168. 11. A Letter written out of Englād concerning new Lawes enacted in the last Parlament against Catholikes and added to the former Pag. 171. FINIS
A PROCLAMATION PVBLISHED VNDER THE NAME OF IAMES King of Great Britanny With a briefe moderate Answere therunto WHERETO Are added the penall Statutes made in the same Kingdome against Catholikes TOGEATHER With a Letter which sheweth the said Catholikes piety And diuers Aduertisements also for better vnderstanding of the whole matter Translated out of Latin into English Et inimici nostri sint Iudices Deutr. 32. 31. And let our enemies themselues be Iudges Imprinted with Licence M. DCXI. THE PREFACE THE Christian and discreet Reader vvill perceaue by this Proclamatiō into vvhat hāds the Kingdome of England so renovvned for Religion and piety in ancient times is novv fallen And hovv much vve that in other Coūtreys enioy freely the meanes of our saluation (a) Ex alijs periculū facito tibi quod ex vsu fiet ex Comico ovve to Almighty God and to our Catholike Princes Wherfore lighting by chāce vpon this Proclamation and considering the good vse that might be made of it I vvould not follovv the example of another faithfull zealous Christiā vvho did teare in peeces vvith publik reproach such another Edict set vp in (b) Euseb lib. 8. hist cap 3. Nicomedia by Cōmandement of Dioclesian but haue caused it to be trāslated vvord for vvord into Latin and other languages to the end that the same vvhich the Aduersaries giue out in their priuate tongue to terrify the people of England being published in other languages may be of generall (c) Omnia ad aedificationē fiant 1. Cor. 14. 26. edification vvarning and example to all other Countreys He canot be trulie said to liue in Christ nor doth he participate vvith his holy spirit that hath no feeling of the grieuous vvoundes vvhich are daily inflicted in the (d) Multi vnum corpus sumus in Christo singuli autē alter alterius mēbra Rom 12. 5. body of Christ nor compassion of the sufferings of his poore brethrē and of the blindnes and obstinacy of those that persecute them Wherfore let vs aske of God (e) Vt conuertātur à tenebris ad lucem de potestate Satanae ad Deum Act. 26. 18. light for the Persecutors patience for them that suffer and for our selues that by this Exāple vve may learne to feare his iudgments and to knovv distinguish the (f) Quomodo tunc is qui secundum carnē natus fuerat persequebatur eum qui secundum spiritum ita nunc Gal. 4. 29. tvvo differēt spirits that appeare in this Letter and Proclamation and take such vvarning by the perditiō of the one side that vve may be partakers of the others revvard in that charity and (g) Totum corpus per nexus coniūctiones constructum subministratum crescit in angmentum Dei 2. Cor. 19. cōmunion of Saintes vvhich vve Christians acknovvledge and Christ our Sauiour intendeth to quicken in our harts by these examples to the end that by these afflictions and innocent bloud vvhich his Fatherly goodnes doth suffer to be shed his Church may increase in number and Gods glory and aduancement of his truth that they testify openly vvhat they belieue B. D. de Clerimond THE PROCLAMATION By the King A PROCLAMATION for the due execution of all former A Heere is first to be noted Gētle Reader the cūning which these men vse in this Title calling Lawes to make them passe with more authority those which in deed cānot possibly be Lawes For all politick and ciuill lawes must haue their rule foundation from the law of God and the law of nature and therfore those humane Preceptes which are not groūded vpon reason and iustice no◠haue for their end the common good haue neyther the force of Lawes nor can truly be so called D. Thom. 1. 2. q. 19. art 2. 91. art 3. But the Lawes here alleaged haue neither reason nor iustice nor respect to the Weale-publicke but proceed onely frō passion and for particuler ends Wherefore they ney ther are nor can be termed Lawes Lawes against B They call Recusants those Catholikes that refuse to participate with them in the errors and impious Ceremonies of the Protestant Sect. Recusants giuing thē a day to repayre to their owne dwellings and not afterward to come to the Court or within ten miles of London without speciall licence And for disarming of them as the law requireth And withall that all Priestes and Iesuites shall depart the Land by a day no more to returne into the Realme And for the administring the Oath C It may more truly be called the Oath of disloyalty and disobedience as herafter shall be seene of Allegiance according D In like manner did the high Priests and chiefe of the Iewes alleage Law to condemne Christ our Sauiour Ioan. 19. 7. crying out VVe haue a Law and according to that he is guilty of death to the Law THOVGH the principall care that a Religious E The introduction is good but not well applyed And here the Reader may obserue to what liberty they are come in the vse of words in which they follow not Priscian but Machiauels Lawes and wise King ought to haue should be for the maintenance and propagation by all godly lawfull and honest meanes of the true F The Religion neyther is nor possibly can be Catholike which they would authorize with this strange and new-found māner of speaking For Catholike is as much to say as Vniuersall But we see that the doctrine of English Protestants is peculiar to them of England onely and yet not cōmon to them all nor to the greater part For first the most of them that professe that sect do it for hope of gayne or for feare of the penalties inflicted vpon Catholikes But that which is most to be considered is that amongst them that follow these fancies and think they do well there be as many differences of opinion as there be different imaginations For they haue no certaine rule of fayth nor what to affirme and therfore nothing is so certaine and infallible amongst them as that they haue no certainty and constancy in that which they teach in the affirmatiue points of their profession for in the negatiue all Sectaries agree to deny the Catholike truth Catholick and Christian Religion and to that effect as he must plant good seed with the one hand so to displant and roote out with the other as far as he can the Cockle G Heere they tell vs what the King should do and not what he doth O Rex fac hoc viues Luc. 10. 28. and tares of Heresie that do ordinarily grow vp amongst the Lordes wheat yet hath our nature beene euer soe inclined to H The holy Ghost teacheth vs that Mercy and Truth vphould the King It is vnderstood if he vphould Truth and Mercy And that Clemency doth establish his Royall Throne Prouerb 20. 28. Clemencie especially we haue euer beene so loath to shed I It hath bene the fashion of
many Persecutors to help themselues with simulation and sleight when they found by experience that open violence did not auayle them but Totius iniustitiae nulla est capitalior quà m eorum qui cùm maximè fallunt id agunt vt honi videantur Offic. lib. 1. bloud in any case that might haue any relation to Conscience though but of deceaued and disguised conscience as notwithstanding the care and K Zelum habent sed non secundum scientiam they haue zeale but want knowledge Rom. 10. 2. zeale that we haue euer carried for the maintenance and propagation of this ancient true Catholicke L It is neyther ancient nor true nor Catholicke Religion And what will not these men affirme if it may serue their turne that haue no conscience nor scruple to abuse the world with such impropriety of wordes in thinges so notorious and of so great consequence Religion which we professe yet hath our said naturall ClemeÌ„cie euer withhoulden vs from putting the law to that due execution against Popish Priestes and Recusantes which their euill M These be their faultes and ill desertes to receaue Priests into their houses to heare Masse to frequent the holy Sacraments not to communicate with Heretickes in their errours and Sacriledges to be loyall to God and obedient to his Church and to the Prince also in whatsoeuer is not against God and his holy law desertes at diuers tymes towardes vs and their insolent N They call the resolution and constancie of the Catholickes in these their tryalls Pryde and Arrogancie with the same truth and liberty of speach that they terme the Nouelties of their Sectes Ancient True and Catholicke Religion Venite cogitemus c. Come let vs bethink our selues to inuent somthing against Hieremy Come let vs giue him a wouÌ„d with our toÌ„gue This was at that tyme the counsayle of the Iewes against Hieremy or rather against our Lord and Sauiour Et hodie Haereticorum contra seruos eius est cogitatio vt calumnias struant sanctos viros accusatione praeueniant Hieron in cap. 18. Hieremiae and proud carriage especially of late did iustly deserue at our handes But now that their ill behauiour at home manifested first by the Priests O The Authors of this Conspiracie were Puritans and Protestants to wit the Barons Cobham Gray Syr VValter Rawley treason imediatly after our entry into this Kingdome and next at the horrible Powder P There are great presumptions it is receaued amongst Protestants themselues that likewise the Authors and inuentors of this Conspiracy were some of the same persons that haue their hand in these Proclamations and that it was one of their accustomed policies and trickes of State to make a way with some colour of Iustice to this new Persecution long before intended by some of them not vnlike to another deuise wherwith they intangled and defamed the pious memory of the Queene of ScotlaÌ„d Mother to his Royall Maiesty tooke away her life with the barbarous cruelty that all men know treason the vnnaturall Cruelty wherof is neuer to be forgotteÌ„ loined to this horrible and lamentable accident abroad we meane that Diuelish and vnnatural murder of the late French Q What fault had the Catholickes of England or what can they be imagined to haue had in the death of the King of France But herin is verified that which Salomon saith Occasiones quaerit qui vult recedere ab amico He that is minded to leaue his friend seekes occasions Prou. 18. 1. King our Dearest Brother hath so stirred R How can this agree with the Kinges speach made to the Parlament to incense them against the Catholickes set out in print vnder his name vp the harts of our louing subiects represented by the Houses and Body of Parlament as both the Houses haue ioyned in making an S Whether it were by their petition or no it importeth little but it is the ordinary stile of these Statistes For so the Parlament made petition to King Henry the eyght to put away his lawfull wyfe and after to Queene Elizabeth to change Religion and to put to death the Queene of Scotland and all such iniust and ignominious Actions must forsooth be proposed by supplication Antiquum obtinent humble petition to vs to be more wakeful then hertofore we haue beene vpon the Courses T O that they would consider their Courses and Steppes with intent to imitate their innocency vertuous liues But alas all this vigilancy is to another end to wit to spy what they may lay hould vpon This is Aâ—s artium Scientia scientiarum the Alchimy of our age and the PurseuaÌ„ts patrimony and steppes of the Papistes And to this effect that we would be pleased to put in due execution hereafter without any longer conniuency the good V It shall appeare by and by how good wholsome these Lawes be All the ancient lawes of the Kingdome are in fauour of Catholike ReligioÌ„ Such lawes as King Henry the eight Q. Elizabeth and now lastly his Maiesty of England haue made against it are neither good nor wholsome but violent vniust pernicious both to the Common-wealth to the King himselfe if he would consider them with indifferency and wholsome lawes of this Realme made against them the most part whereof were made before X They meane the lawes of Queene Elizabeth which his Maiesty hath coÌ„firmed adding to them many other of his owne Et nouissimus error est peior priore as shal be seene our entry into this Kingdome so were we at our Coronation sworne to the maintenaÌ„ce of them We haue iust reason according to their humble desire to be more carefull then heretofore we haue beene in seeing our said Lawes put in due execution since in this case our Y What scrupulosity is this they make no CoÌ„science to mooue Catholicke Princes to breake the holy Oathes which all their Predecessors haue taken and Conscience is burdened in regard of Religion and since there is their dwelling places It is our expresse will pleasure to discharge like as by these Presents we doe discharge all by-past licences graunted vnto them for their repayring hither And although this tyme of Parlament and the Creation of our eldest Sonne be so vnfit and dangerous F Trepidauerunt timore vbinpon erat timor Danger might be magined but there could be none they know well inough their conscience telleth it them that there is no feare to be had of the Recusantes The feare is theirs for they liue in continuall daunger subiect to violent lawes and to the insolency of their Persecutors because they will not leaue God nor offend their consciences Others there be that force theÌ„selues to obey these lawes with knowne daunger to their soules who of force must and do feele inspeakable repugnance disquietnes and horror considering what a styrring spark the conscience is These are the men that with most reason are to be feared as the most oppressed If his
transporting themselues out of our Dominions betweene that and the sayd day at that time intimating all rigour vnto theÌ„ that should hereafter returne within our Kingdome yet are we content notwithstanding their Q There is heere no contempt of his Maiesties fauour in preferring God Almighty his Commandement which doth not suffer vs to be wanting to the instruction and conuersion of such as desire to be saued And would to God these that haue authority would send men of other NatioÌ„s also that desire it or that we knew the language and were worthy to be imployed in so happy a cause Contempt of this former grace twice offered vnto them before to renew now agayne the same this third time And do therefore by these presents declare publish that it shall be lawfull for all manner of Iesuits Seminaries and other Priests whatsoeuer freelie R This in good termes is a sentence of banishment without any fault and therfore vniust obligeth not Ouer and besides the other causes aboue specified hinder that it cannot be accomplished and safely to depart forth of the Realme so as they make their repayr to any of our portes betweene the day of the date of this Proclamation and the fourth of Iuly next for the same purpose there to transport themselues with the first oportunity into any forraine partes Admonishing and assuring all such Iesuits Seminaryes and Priests of what sort soeuer departing vpon this our pleasure signified as also all other that haue beene heretofore released S A good liberty indeed that may be occasion of eternall slauery It is better for them to liue free froÌ„ sinne though it be onely of omission then from whatsoeuer imprisonment or any other annoyance their aduersaries can do them set at liberty by our gracious fauour in the same condition That if any of them shall herafter returne into this our Realme againe that their bloud shal be then vpon their T Let not his Maiesty deceaue himselfe and thinke to be cleare with this Protestation No out of all doubt the bloud that is shed in this quarrell for those which suffer and send them is sanguis Propitiationis but for those which shed it or cause it to be shed it is sanguis aeternae damnationis bloud of eternall guilt damnation I could wish they remembred and considered with themselues what befell to the Iewes for giuing eare to euill counsayle of the Princes and High Priests of their Sinagogues that charged themselues with the bloud of the Sonne of God saying Sanguis eius super nos super filios nostros And so their owne malediction and curse fell vpon them with the obduration and blindnes which vntill this day we see among them Now whether his Royall Maiesty and his Noble Posteritie be liable and obnoxious to the same curse which God of his mercy we beseech that they may be free from in regard of the innocent bloud they haue caused to be shed it behoueth him and them to consider owne heades vpon those V These that do send the Priestes into England and especially the chiefe Pastour of Christes flock by whose commaundment they are sent had rather goe in person themselues then send others if it were conuenient for Godes seruice Their desire is if it might be to participate in the dangers spend their liues in the same cause for which so many of their Predecessours are knowne to haue shed their bloud Neither is this any contempt of the Temporall Princes Authoritie but a carefull accomplishing of their owne office and obligation The which obligation is seene in the wordes of Almighty God to the Prophet Ezechiel Fili hominis c. Sonne of man I haue placed thee as a watchman or Centinell in the house of Israel When I speake and say vnto the wicked thou shalt dy the death if thou doest not denounce this sentence vnto him that he may refraine from his wicked way he shall dy in his wickednes but his bloud I will require at thy hands But if thou doest denounce against the wicked and admonish him to leaue his wicked course and he will not doe it he shall die in his wickednes but thou hast freed thy soule Ezec. 33. 7. And in this case they are commaunded to cast aside all feare vnder payne of loosing the fauour of him that giueth the precept Dico vobis amitis c. I say to you my friendes be not afrayd of them that kyll the body and after haue no more to do Luc. 12. 4. that send them seeing that by so doing they shall not onely incurre the danger of our lawes but also a high and treble contempt of our gracious Fauour and Clemencie now intended towardes them And in generall since no man can pretend ignoraÌ„ce of our lawes that all Iesuits and Priestes of what order so euer and their senders may hereby be admonished to beware any further to tempt our Mercy in presuming to repayre any more within this our Kingdome in regard of their knowne perill and of the care that we are resolued to haue for preseruing of our good subiects from their daunger of body and soule since their X They instruct them in true Catholick doctrine they do not deceaue or peruerâ—â—ny Neyther doe they diuert the subiectes hartes from their obedience to God or their King They come for no such end as is more then euident For alas Cui bono what fruit or coÌ„modity may they pretend therby I can imagine none Nay it is certaine that if in this they were not without all comparison more assured of Almighty God his will and pleasure in sending them vndertaking this busines and of the eternall and infallible reward he hath promised then his Noble Maiesty is or possibly can be of the truth of his Sect they would neuer put themselues into these daungers For the rewardes that men can giue them which they might be imagined to seeke are nothing to the purpose nor can auayle them after their death which is threatned them in these Proclamations and executed at his Maiesties pleasure And this is so strong and irrefragable a proofe of these mens innocencie sincere intention that it cannot be answered but ouerthroweth all their Pamphlets Proclamations Libells and whatsoeuer sleights of Statizing Sophistrie hell gates can deuise against them And therefore if I might be thought worthy to giue aduise I would wish them to deale plainly and speake clearely the truth and make a conscience to do that which they are ashamed to confesse in proper speach Eyther let them cease to persecute Catholikes for their Religion or let them auouch it and professe plainly and openly what they doe It is vvant of magnanimity and cowardice to vse these couertures and maskes and great simplicity to imagine that they can make the world belieue them when they speake so contrary to their doings and walke in a net and not be seene errand can be no other here but only for diuerting our
good subiectes hartes from their due obedience both to God and vs. And lastly because the horror and detestation of the Powder Y The Catholikes haue more horrour and detestation against such Actes then those that make all this shew I haue touched before that which in this all other treasons may be obiected which they do impute vnto them that haue as little hand in them as themselues as they know full well here in part bewray imputing to English Catholikes the death of the late King of France wherein all the world knoweth they neyther had nor possibly could haue any hand treason in the mindes of our Parliament bred amongst other thinges that Oath of Z This is a matter mistaken and the Statistes are farwyde that thinke to draw Subiects by violence to their Allegiance and fidelity by force For to my vnderstanding and to any mans else that vvill iudge indiffereÌ„tly there can be no more direct cause of disloyalty to Kings then to constraine their Subiects to infidelity and inforce them to be disloyal to God the King of Kings and Lord of all Allegiance to be taken by our subiectes so highly impugned by the Pope his followers as we are inforced by our A His Maiesties pen had bene ill imployed and himselfe very ill aduised as by effect is seen if the Book had bene his For it hath bene reproued in all Kingdomes confuted almost in all Languages vvith losse of reputation and note of small learning and lesse discretion in the Author For although the Pamphlet was published in his Maiesties Name yet it is generally held that the Name onely was his verily they who hould this opinion doe him more seruice and honour his Maiesty more then the others that father so seely a worke vpon so wise and learned a Prince as his Maiesty of Great Britanny is knowne to be owne pen to take in hand the mayntenance of our cause for that Oath which howsoeuer odious it was to the Pope yet was it deuised as an Act of great fauour and Clemency towardes so many of our subiects who though blinded with the B Woe be to you saith the Prophet that call euill good and good euill that make darknes light and light darknes Isay 5. 20. superstition of Popery yet carryed a dutyfull hart towardes our obedience For hereby was there a separatioÌ„ and distinction made betweene that sort of Papistes and the other pernicious sort that C This is a manifest calumniation and slaunder wherwith malicious people haue possessed his Maiesty depraued his vnderstanding to make him more vntractable in his false religion and more implacable with Catholikes couple togeather that damnable doctrine and detestable practice before meÌ„tioned Therfore in consideration that the said Oath serueth to D A pretty deuise when all other faile to draw away money from them But I will foretell you the successe Non gaudebit tertius heres Quia pretium sanguinis est It is the price of bloud and cannot prosper make so true and mercifull distinction between these two sortes of Papistes as is allreadie sayd we cannot but hould it most conuenient for the weale of all our good subiectes and discouerie of bad people that greater care shal be vsed hereafter in the generall ministration of this Oath E And when all should take it what profit would redound to the King verily none at all but rather great harme as already hath bene said and shal be said more at large hereafter to all our subiects then hath beene heretofore vsed And therfore it is our express will and pleasure accordingly we doe heerby straitly charge commaund all and singular our Bishops Iustices of Assise Iustices of Peace and all other our Officers whome it may coÌ„cerne to minister the same to all such persons and in all F This Oath cannot in any case be lawfull for the end which they doÌ„ pâ—etend nor is it a Law that which approueth it But in this as in many other things they abuse euidently the word Law to credit their dealings in these lawlesse practises Neyther can it haue any true conueniency for a thing so violent and vniust cannot be conuenient eyther to assure the safety of his Maiesties person or of his Royall succession nor to appease the disquietnes feare which he may conceaue eyther vpon iust or vniust cause but all quite contrary as hath bene said The selfe samâ— comparison houldeth as the Philosopher saith betweene the King and his Subiects the Father and his children the Sheepheard and his flocke Similis est comparatio Arist 8. Ethic. A good and true Prince indeed ought to be able to gouerne his people not onely vprightly but also with loue and courtesy For it is vnfitting that a sheepheard should hate or persecute his flock Arch. de lege Iust But what faith the Poet in this case Qui Sceptra duro saeuus Imperio regit Timet timentes metus in auctorem redit Oed. ac 3. Ille tot Regum parens Caret sepulchro Priamus flamma indiget ardente Troia Sen. in Hecub such cases as by the law they are enabled knowing that the meaning of the law was not onely to authorize theÌ„ to do it when they would and to forbeare it at their pleasure but to require it at their handes as a necessary dutie committed to them and imposed vpon theÌ„ as persons of chiefe principall trust vnder vs for the good and safety of vs and our estate Giuen at our Pallace of VVhite-hall the second day of Iune in the eight yeare of our Raygne of Great Brytaine France and Ireland A LETTER OF A GENTLE VVOMAN OF QVALITY residing on this side the seas written to her Husband in England exhorting him to constancie in the persecution Translated out of the Latin Copie GOOD Sir I humbly thank you for the care you haue takeÌ„ in giuing me notice of that which passeth and am right glad to see you so resolute our Lord giue you grace to continue constant vnto the end And seing God hath giuen you light to discerne what doth most import you I beseech you for his loue remember that to go back at any tyme herafter or leaue this holy Resolution for humane respects should be for your greater condemnation And although the loue you beare vnto me and to your children with other respectes of flesh and bloud might cause in you some strife and contradiction yet good Husband do not in any case suffer your feruour to wax cold As for our children they are so well allyed that there is no feare they can want being of the yeares they are all well considered they haue inough left them But if notwithstanding all these hopes should fayle them yet they liue vnder the protection of their heauenly Father and vnder his prouidence which is more to be esteemed then all the treasures of the world As for my selfe or any thing that may concerne me do not afflict your selfe in
open the dores in the darke to the amazement of the familyes make that spoile and hauocke which such manner of people are like to do in such occasions To the basenes of the persons and rigour of the Lawes may be added another thing worth the noting to wit the extorsion of the penalties by a new stratageme of Astronomy and computation of tymes of their owne For example the law is That euery Recusant pay twenty poundes a Moneth for not going to Church What doe these ingenuous Executours The ordinary accōpt that the Astronomers gather by the motion of the Planets doth not content them by this the yeare as wese is deuided into twelue Monethes but it is not for them they will haue it by weekes and so find thirteene Moneths in the yeare by this accompt extend the penalty of that Statute vpon the Recusants Now what reason equity and iustice is in this let any indifferent man consider The Lawes of themselues are rigorous and odious and these set them on the tenters stretch them out beyond their nature and execute them with more rigour then the Law-makers did intend Viderit vtilitas By this example you may gather many others which for breuity I omit Heere somebody may doubt seeing the Indignation of the Persecutors of this time is greater or at least equall to that of Queene Elizabethes tyme how commeth it to passe that now there is not so much bloud shed Martyrdome of Priestes and of their receauers as then To this I answere that experience hath taught them how much they loose by open cruelty And they find it more for their aduauntage to consume the Catholikes by hunger rather then to kyll them by the sword For making them awaie by little and little they dy many deathes the manner of their dying is more painfull and lesse spoken of so that by this deuice they double their cruelty yet haue a colour to pretend Clemencie and commendation of Mercy Nay that which is more they would make the world belieue they persecute no man for Religion And for this cause hauing persuaded his Royall Maiesty to follow the footsteps renew the persecution of his Predecessour they deuised this new Oath against the Popes Authority to reduce at least in outward appearance to matter of State Treason that which is meerly a point of Catholike doctrine And with this colour they begin a fresh to martyr Priests seeing other punishments will not make them afrayd and spoile Lay-Catholikes more then euer and yet forsooth they persecute no man for Religion I wot not whence it commeth whether from the great opinion that they haue of their witts or the little of ours that they persuade themselues that they shal be belieued when their wordes are so contrary to their doinges In the fore said Lawes as they are extended in English they forbid so often and so largely the thinges pertayning to Religion as they repeate two hundreth and seauenty tymes the Name of Priests Altars Masses Seminaries Iesuits Colledges Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction Faith Sea Apostolicke Bishop of Rome Head of the Church Images Churches Agnus Dei Madals and Graines hallowed Beades Breuiaryes Masse-bookes Life of Saints and the like and for euery one of these Markes and Tokens of Catholicke Religion they put a penalty and many of them they forbid vnder paine of death And notwithstanding that with these Lawes and Proclamations they publish openly to the whole world their hatred against Catholicke Religion yet they blush not on the other side to affirme will needes be belieued that they forsooth as I haue said persecute no man for Religion but all is for Treason and Practises against the State I desire the Reader heere to iudge whether the things mentioned or vse of them be crimes against the State or that the State be well erected where these actes of Piety and Religion are punished as Crimes To be short All these Treasons and Crimes imputed to Catholickes are comprized in one to wit to be faythfull seruantes of Christ and obedient children of his Church This is the Crime of Crimes and Treason of Treasons this is the offence vnder so many and so different names titles condemned and punished by these Lawes This in fine is the ground summe and substance of this Persecution prosecuted so many yeares and now renewed and increased as here may be seene There was some few yeares past a Conspiracie of seauen or eyght yonge gentlemen who induced as the report goeth by a traine of some chiefe Protestantes intended with one fire to extinguish another which had endured many yeares deuouring and consuming the bowells and best substance of their Countrey But howsoeuer it was begun and intended let it be as their greatest Aduersaries will haue it notwithstanding the publike voyce and many presumptions prooue that it was an Inuention of State and a meere trap to entangle them Let vs I say graunt that the same men that put it in execution were they that layd the plot were the Authors Let vs graunt all this and what else they can desire yet with what conscience and with what reason should any be made partaker of the danger or punishment that had no part in the Action that neyther gaue any consent or had any notice of what was intended For if we admit this course of Iustice and this manner of proceding if the fault of one or of a few may be extended to a whole community perforce all Comon-wealths must goe to wracke yea mankind must perish all the whole world must downe at a blow For by this Law manner of gouernment they cannot stand The Law of God and his diuine iustice hath a far different proceeding for it saith expressly that he onely that commytteth the fault shal be punished Iustitia iusti super eum erit impietas impij erit super eum Ezech. 18. 2. anima quae peccauerit ipsa morietur Why then should that which was vndertaken by indiscreet zeale and want of Consideration in one or two be imputed to the Religion or to the rest that doe professe it without any participation of the Crime The Catholicke Church hath most holy and iust lawes and such as doe swarue from them do in such sort perish that she neuerthelesse remayneth blamelesse For why she neyther doth nor permitteth nor approueth any euill The faultes be personall and of priuate men the doctrine is vniuersall which admitteth no faultes these belonged to some few and passe with tyme the other is euerlasting and the cause common to all that be present and to come And therfore we publish these Lawes to the sight of the whole world we answer print these Proclamations in diuers tongues because the notice of this case belongeth to all the Catholicke Church which as one body though dispersed in diuers Countries must needs feele the iniustice and violence offered to so principall a part and pray for the remedy A COVNTER-COMMAVND CONTEYNING
accordingly and in proportion their tormentes shall increase till all iniquity be ended all sinners receaue their finall sentence in body and soule to be endured whilst God is God for so his iustice requireth that no good worke be vnrewarded nor any sinne vnpunished in this present lyfe or in the lyfe to come Betweene these two extremes of glory and payne his Maiesty standeth and with him all the rest that be partakers in this Cause euery mans hour-glasse is turned and their tyme slippeth away irreuocably and with great speed and in all liklyhood they haue past allreadie the greatest and best part of their dayes O that he would pause a little vpon this consideration and before he be engaged so far that he cannot goe backe retyre himselfe into the Closet of his owne soule and there in secret with quietnes and repose consult with God and his owne Conscience whether it wil be better for him to imploy the remnant of his dayes in remedying former errours and so assure vnto himselfe an euerlasting Kingdome in companie of his blessed Mother or following Queene Elizabethes steppes and sporting himselfe as she did the rest of his dayes with losse of his owne so many millions of soules as depend vpon his beare her company for euer Let no man flatter and deceaue himselfe nor be deceaued with vaine opinions There is but one God and one Truth and one way to heauen by true fayth true hope and true Charitie for all must be gounded in truth which can be but one One heauen will not hould Queene Mary of Scotland and Queen Elizabeth of England as their Religions their Liues and their Deathes were contrary so infallibly be the places of their eternall aboad His Maiesty hath relation to both and yet it is in his hand and choyce by Gods grace which of them he will follow And if togeather with the saluation of his soule he will establish also his Royall Estate vpon earth to himselfe and his Posterity were it not a thousand tymes better for him to lay his foundation and build vpon the setled Religion and rightfull descent from King Henry the 7. from other his renowned Catholicke Auncestors then vpon the ruines of Schisme and Heresie brought in by the dissolution of King Henry the 8. and continued with so many violences and deceiptes as were vsed with some colour of Iustice in Queene Elizabethes daies to hold her vp and her broken Title on foot If he follow her and her Father he casteth himselfe and his into a world of ineuitable and endlesse inconueniences wheras if he prudently reiect the vnchristian deuises inuented to giue Authority to their errors and sinnes wholy impertinent to his right and repayre for his Title to the roote and take his Religion from whence his right must come if he will haue it without controuersy he may with a wet finger put remedie to all The End is Excellent and the Meanes are Easie he hath Examples in other Kingdomes and what would he haue more The Sect of the Protestantes in England is a motly of many colours a masse of many metalls and iust the Statua of Nabuchodonosor of gould siluer and brasse borrowed of others and with earthen feet which are onely their owne and continually decay He that will make a durable building must lay a sure foundation and rayse his worke by leuell otherwise though it may make a fayre shew for a while yet certaine it is the higher that it riseth the nearer it is to ruine And hence commeth the fall of Princes the decay of Common wealthes and the change of earthly Monarches from one lynage or people to another because they were not well founded or not well continued There cannot possibly be deuised any other Religion so fit for Kinges I meane such as wil be Kinges and not Tyrantes nor so profitable to Common wealths as is the Christian Catholicke Religion giuen by Christ Iesus for the benefit of men for by inward sweet motions and force it restrayneth all excesses in those that gouerne and in those that are gouerned it worketh obedience and subiection for Iustice and Conscience sake and keepeth them in loue and loyalty by the secret instincts of Reason and Grace when other inferiour respects should be wanting Notwithstāding that God Almighty hath ordained the holy Lawes and Decrees of his Religion for the eternall saluation of Mankynd yet for that one good principle alwayes helpeth another in consequence the same Religion is so commodious and fit for the preseruation of secular Estates as if it had beene ordayned for nothing else And it is iust as the sinews in a mans body wherwith the bones and other solid partes are tyed togeather in such sort that although in the politicke gouernment there may be errours and faultes yet where this Religion florisheth and is kept in due reuerence it supplyeth all other wants houldeth togeather the parts of the Cōmon-Wealth not only in ordinary sicknesses but in perilous diseases and keepeth it from death ruyne and decay when all other remedies haue lost their force And for this reason the prosperity of such Kinges Kingdomes as haue care to preserue the purity and sincerity of this Religion are secure and durable because it reduceth all Estates to the groundes of Truth and Iustice which only are permanent And for the same reason such as professe other Sectes must of force lyue in continuall disquietnes and stagger with daily feare and suspition because the pillars of their Security may faile them and fall by many accidents If with this new Oath and Obligation to goe to the Protestants Churches and other outward protestations wherto his Maiesty intendeth to bynd his Subiectes they became Protestants indeed and left to be Catholickes in their harts it were something to the purpose though on his part not well done for the thinges in themselues be vnlawfull but seeing it falleth out cleane contrary and neyther this nor any other good is gotten by them the longer they be vsed the further they goe forward the more his Maiesty looseth by them For they must needes cause in the parties iniured and in their friends and well-willers hart-burning against the Authors of such violent proceeding and lesse reputation and good will to his Maiesty euery day contrary as I suppose to the security he intendeth and to all that in prudence he should procure Such as stand at his elbow and set him (K) Sapientes Consiliarij Pharaonis consiliū dederunt insipiens Isa 9. 11. forward in these Actions though his Maiesty play the game yet it is euident they make good their owne and not his Quaerunt quae sua sunt non quae Regis aut Christi They are diligent vigilant and effectuall in all that may bring them profit but it is not the Kinges as presently shal be seene In other thinges they are prudent but in this they are short Heere passion blyndeth the matter is mistaken and thenfore