The Jesuites Antepast CONTEINING A Reply against a pretensed aun swere to the DOWNE-FALL OF POPERIE lately published by a masked Iesuite Robert Parsons by name though he hide himselfe couertly vnder the letters of S. R. which may fitly be interpreted A SAWCY REBELL Esay 38 verse 1. Put thine house in order for thou shalt die and not liue AT LONDON Printed by William Iaggard dwelling in Barbican 1608. To the Right Honorable my very good Lord Thomas Earle of Dorset Lord high Treasurer of England and one of his Maiesties most Honourable priuy Counsell â‚ IT is a constant and vndoubted truth approoued by all Canonicall Scriptures ancient Councels holy Fathers Ecclesiasticall Histories and Right reason it selfe that as there is but one onely GOD so but one Faith and one Religion Hence commeth it Right Honorable that the Pope and his Iesuites with other his Popish Vassals employ their whole wits learning study care industry and diligence to instill into the cares and harts of the multitude and common people that the Religion which this day they professe is the old Roman Religion which Saint Peter and S. Paule first planted in the Church of Rome And for this end they indeauâ—ur with might and maine yea euen with fire and Fagot to perswade or rather to enforce all Christians to call it the Old Religion and to professe and beleeue it to bee the Catholique and Apostolique Faith whereas the truth is farre otherwise as God willing shortly will appeare Which if the Vulgar sort did once vnderstand they would no doubt stand at defiance with the Pope and from their hearts detest his late start-vppe Romish Doctrine There is a Sect of Fryers at Rome called the Franciscanes who haue by little and little swarued from their first institution and become so licentious and dissolute that another sort of Fryers commonly called the Capucheues haue accused them to haue departed from their Ancient and Primitiue order and therefore do the Capucheues tearme themselues the reformed and true Franciscanes indeede This is this day our case in the Church of Noble England and in many other Churches within the Christian World The Capucheues hold fast keep still and constanty defend all the Ancient Orders of the first Franciscanes they onely reiect and abandon that which by litle and little crept into their Order viz superstition abuses and neglect of Discipline Euen so is it this day with our Church of England she holdeth-fast keepeth still and constantly defendeth all and euery iote of the old Romane Religion reuerencing it as Catholique and Apopostolique Doctrine she onely reiecteth and abandoneth Heresies Errours superstition and intollerable abuses by little and little brought into the Church For neither did most Noble Queene Elizabeth in her time neyther doth our most gratious Soueraigne King IAMES who this day most happily raigneth ouer vs set vp or bring into the Church any new Religion but onely reformeth the Church by the example of King Iosaphat King Ezechias King Iosias and other godly Kinges in their dayes and reduceth it to the Primitiue order and purity of the old Romaine Religion This to be so none can in conscience deny that will with a single and vpright eye this day behold the godly setled Canons of this Church of England For the late Bishops of Rome haue in many points of great importance swarued and departed from the Doctrine of their Ancestors whereof no doubt many Papists euen at about Rome it selfe would this day if they durst for fear of fire and Fagot accuse the Pope himself What shall I say of Hieronymus Sauonarola that famous Preacher and Dominican Fryer Was not be burnt with Fire and Fagot because he preached openly in the famous Citty of Florence against the licencious liues of the Pope and his Clergy and against superstition and abuses crept into the Church I wote it was so it cannot be denyed What Did not Iohannes Geilerius a famous Popish Preacher at Argentorate oftentimes complain to his trusty friends not daring to acquaint otheres therewith that the Thomists and Scotists had brought auricular confession to such a miserable point as none possibly could performe the same He did so their owne good friend Beatus Rhenanus doth contest the same with me What Did not Franciscus à Victoria that â—amous Popish Schoole-doctor complaine grieuously in his time of Popish intollerable dispensations Did he not publish to the view of the world that the Church was brought to such a miserable state as none were able to endure the same Did hee not cry out against the late Bishops of Rome and desire Clements Lines Siluesters His own Book is extant in print the world knoweth it to be so What shall I say of the Popes errors in Faith and Doctrine Was not Pope Liberius an Arrian Heretike Was not Pope Anastasius a Silestorian Hereretique Was not Pope Celestine condemned for erronious doctrin did not Pope Iohn the 22. of that name teach publikely a most notorious heresie Did he not commaund the vniuersity of Paris that none should be admitted to any degree in Theologie but such as would sweare to defend that heresie perpetually Did not the King of France with the aduise consent of the whole vniuersity for that end cause his daÌ„nable opinion to be coÌ„demned with the sound of Trumpets Adrianus who was B of Rome himselfe Alphonsus à Castro Melchior Canus and Viguerius all foure being very learned and famous Papists are constant witnesses of this truth Doth not Nicholaus de Lyra a famous and learned Popish Writer boldly and constantly affirme in his learned Commentaries that many Popes haue swarued from the Faith and become flâ—t Apostaâ—aes in their Romish seates He doth so it cannot bee gaine-said What shall I say of the Popes liues conuersation Was not Pope Iohn the eight of that name belying her sexe and clad in Mans attire with great admiration of her sharpe wit and singuler learning chosen to bee the Bishop or Pope of Rome Did she not shortly after by the familiar helpe of her beloued Companion bring forth the homely and shamefull fruites of her Popedome Is this true Is it possible Then farewell Popish Succession the chiefe Bulwarke of Romish Faith and Religion For seeing no Woman is or can be made capable of holy orders that succession which is deryued froÌ„ our holy Mistris Iohn Pope cannot possibly be of force Yet is this story confirmed to be true by the vniforme assent of many Papistes of great esteeme euen in the Church of Rome viz of Sigebertus Gemblacensis Marianus Scotus Matheus Palmerius Martinus Polonus Philippus Bergoniensis Baptista Platina Bartholomeus Carranza and others Was not Pope Iohn the twelft made Pope by violent meanes Did not his Father Albericus being a man of great power and might enforce the Nobles to take an oth that after the death of Pope Agapitus they would promote his Son
as it doeth and may appeare to the indifferent Reader in his learned Epistle to Vincentius the third because for the better successe and more free passage of the late Romish Religion the laicall people are commanded by Popish Canon-law vnder paine of Excommunication not to reason at all in matters of Faith and Religion and the learned semblably not to examine or discusse how farre the Popes power doeth extend whatsoeuer or howsoeuer he command them to beleeue For the Popes law hath made it Sacriledge to dispute of his power or to call it into question so writeth their owne deare Doctor and popish Fryer Franciscus à Victoria the first man that brought the Popish School-doctrine into Spaine yea the Popes owne decrees are consonant to the same these are the expresse wordes Similiter de iudicio summi pontificis alicui disputare non licet In like maner no man may dispute of the iudgment of the Pope or high-priest The fourth because neyther any of the layty nor yet of the Cleargy can vnder paine of Excommunication read eyther the olde or the new Testament translated into the vulgar tongue or any other booke of Controuersie or Diuinity set forth by any not professed Vassall vnto the Pope vnlesse such person or persons be especially licenced of the pope so to doe Aphorisme second The multitude of the vulgar and rude people become Papists vpon this false and sandy foundation supposed of them to be a receiued Theologicall Maxime viz that the late start vp Romish Doctrine is the auncient Catholike faith and the olde Roman religion And therefore when soeucr they speake of any Papist meaning to expresse his sect and profession they tell vs he is one of the old Relion but they are grossely deceiued herein they may haue zeale I grant with the Apostle but not acording to knowledge For the doctrine this day taught and defended by the Pope his Iesuites and Iesuited Papists is indeed the new Religion and farre different from the true catholick and olde Roman religion Would to God all simply seduced Papists would deepely ponder this point and seriously meditate vpon the same I doe with all my heart reuerently receiue and admit the old Roman religion preached by Saint Paule and S. Peter in their daies at Rome but withall I vtterly abhorre and detest that Doctrine which the late Popes and Byshops of Rome deliuer for the same In regard hereof I neuer in any one of my Bookes oppugne simply and absolutely the Roman faith and religion but the late Romish faith and doctrine Where I wish the Reader to obserue and marke attentiuely this word Late for it doth significantly declare a cleere difference betweene that doctrine which is novv taught in the church of Rome and that which S. Paule and S. Peter deliuered to the Romans in their life time Which because the common vulgar sort of people cannot distinguish such is their ignorance they are perforce carried away with the sway of the time Marke the next Aphorisme Aphorisme third We know and the Papists knowe that theyr reformed Franciscans now commonly called Capuchenes can tel right well that their other dissolute Franciscans haue swarued from their auncient order albeit they can neither tel wheÌ„ where nor by whom that dissolution first began yet they proue it à posteriori by their auncient rules euidently And euen so do we proue by the holy scriptures the true touch stone of truth that the Papistes haue swarued from Apostolicall doctrine albeit we could not as yet we can assigne the time place and persons when where and by whom such Antechristian alteration first began Let the Reader marke this point well that that Sect of Papistes which is called Franciscans doe boast of their succession continuance and by reason of their antiquity will needes be the true Franciscans but the Capuchens which are nothing but reformed Franciscans tell them that they are the true Franciscans who haue â—ely put away and abolished all superstition and dissolution which by little and litle crept into their order Euen so say we that we are the olde and true Catholickes or Romans who keepe stil that saith and doctrine which saint Paule preached to the Romans and haue only put away and abolished that superstition Idolatry and erroneous doctrine which by little and little crept into the Church They will needes be the true and olde Catholicks as is said of the dissolute Franciscans but we tell them as their Capuchens tel their disordered Franciscans that they are the deformed bastard Catholicks vnworthy of the name of Catholicks And that we are the reformed and legitimate Catholicks who keep still and hold fast all Apostolicall doctrin and haue onely abolished out of the church of God al Superstition Idolatry and errors contrary to the scriptures and the Gospell which the Apostles preached and left in vvriting to all posterities Obserue diligently the next Aphorisme Aphorisme fourth First Popish primacie began in the yeare 607. Secondly Priestes mariage was neuer prohibited till the yeare 385. Thirdly Popes pardons were neuer heard of till the yeare 1300. Fourthly popish Purgatorie tooke no root in the Romish Church till the yeare 250. Fiftly inuocation of Saintes adoration of Reliques was not known till the yeare 370. Sixtly Popish pilgrimage began in the yeare 420. Seuenthly the merite of Workes de condigno was disputeable about the yeare 1081. Eightly the communion vnder both kindes was neuer thought vnlawfull till the yeare 1414. Ninthly the Popes Bulles were not authenticall till the yeare 772. Tenthly Auricular confession was not established till the yeare 1215. Eleuenthly Generall Councels were euer summoned by the Emperours That all these heads of Popish doctrine crept into the Church by little and little in the yeares aboue named I haue proued at large ten yeares agoe in my Booke of the Suruey of Popery as also partly in my Booke of Motiues to which bookes I referre the Reader for better satisfaction therein This creeping of late Romish religion into the Church by little little Victoria a Popish fryer famous school-Doctor witnesseth in these wordes Paulatim ad hanc c. By little and little we are brought to these inordinate dispensations and to this miserable state where we are neyther able to endure our owne griefes nor remedies assigned for the same and therefore must wee perforce inuent some other way for conseruation of the Lawes Giue me Clements Lines Siluester and I will commit all thinges to theyr charge But to speake nothing grieuously against these latter Popes they are doubtlesse inferiours to Popes of old time by many degrees Thus writeth this learned Popish Fryer who if he durst haue spoken plainly would haue told vs mirabilia But it sufficeth that Popes were worse and worse and that errors by little and little crept into the Church Aphorisme fift The vsuall practise of Papists in their Commentaries Bookes and Glosses haue beene such and so intollerable in
haue affirmed the pope to be Lord temporall ouer the world let him challenge them not like a wise man strike his next fellowes the English papists who maintaine no such opinion T. B. I proued first out of the Popes owne decrees that pope Nicholas affirmed Christ to haue committed to S. Peter consequently to himselfe the right both of earthly and heauenly Empire Secondly out of the popes glosse that the Popes hath both the Spirituall and Temporall sworde and by right thereof did translate the Empire Thirdly out of the popes decretals that pope Boniface challenged the Royall right and Authority of both swords and made a flat decree for the confirmation thereof Fourthly out of Appendix fuldensis that the same pope Boniface the 8. affirmed himselfe both Spirituall and Temporall Lord of the whole world and thereupon he required of Phillip king of France that he would acknowledge his Kingdome from him which thing the King scorned to do All this notwithstanding our Iesuite S. R. aunswereth roundly that I must challenge them and not strike their fellowes Marry sir this is a short answere indeede but as much to the matter as if you should say your heart doth pant and bleede But let vs be content with this answere seeing the silly Iesuiticall Fryer was not able to afford vs any better S. R. English Papists attribute to the pope no other authority ouer Kings then spirituall but do with tongue heart and with the popes good liking confesse that our Soueraigne Lord King Iames hath no superiour on earth in Temporall matters T. B. What a Masked lying and Trayterous Iesuite is this We haue heard already that the Pope deposed both King Henry the 8. and most Noble Queene Elizabeth and yet heere the lyâ—ng impudent Iesuite telleth vs boldly without blushing for his face is of brasse that King Iames hath no superiour on earth It is true indeede but not in his sence For I pray you Traiterous Iesuites are not earthly Kingdomes and Dominions Temporall matters It cannot bee denied Had not King Henry the 8. and Queene Elizabeth of famous memory the same superiority in their Kingdomes and temporall affayrs which our gratious soueraigne King Iames hath His Maiesty will not denie it But so it is that your Pope deposing them as you haue told vs was their superiour as you holde and teach For doubtlesse no inferiour can depose his superiour and consequently your Pope by your profession is superiour to our King This is but your Hypocritical Cozenage your cogging and lying your Diabolicall Equiuocation If your power were correspondent to your wil his Maiesty might speedily loose his Crowne and dignity GOD saue our Noble King and confound your Antichristian Pope S. R. Because Bellarmine teacheth that the Pope may excommunicate and depose Princes for heresie Bell sayth hee may depose them at his pleasure As if matters of Heresie were the Popes pleasure T. B. Here we haue freely granted once againe that the pope by Popish doctrine may depose Princes for heresie only this is denied that he deposeth them at his pleasure To which I thus reply First that euery heresie is voluntary and consequently seeing many popes haue been heretiks as Pope Adrian himselfe Alphonsus de Castro Melchior Canus Vignerius Nicolaus de Lyra and many others freely grant it followeth of necessity that heresie is the Popes pleasure Secondly that when I say the pope taketh vpon him to depose Princes at his pleasure I meane nothing else but that the pope will depose Princes whensoeuer they refuse to embrace and beleeue his late start vp Romish religion that is to say that doctrine which is added to the olde Roman religion at his pleasure For all that which the Church of England this day reiecteth of the Romish religion is added to the old Romish religion at the Popes pleasure This subiect is proued at large in my Motiues and Suruey But our Iesuite vrgeth further that Bell disproueth himselfe in these wordes Secular Priests saith Bell write plainly and resolutely that the pope hath no power to depriue Kings of their royall sceptars and regalities nor to giue away their kingdomes to another in which opinion likewise the French Papists concurre and iumpe with them Item the Seculars although they acknowledge the popes power supereminent in Spiritualibus yet doe they disclaime from it in Temporalibus when he taketh vpon him to depose Kinges from their Empires and to translate their kingdomes And least we should thinke these few priests who write so were no Papists Bell himselfe testifieth that they are the Popes deare vassals and professe the same Religion with other Papistes By these words our masked Iesuit as we see wold gladly impose vpon me that I haue slandered them and their Pope First because the secular priests deny the Popes power in deposing Kings Secondly because I graunt those seculars to be papists but this slander is easily returned to the Iesuite himselfe For first our Iesuites holde that the Pope may depose Kinges from their Dominions and regalities Againe the secular priests are of a contrary opinion Neyther for all that doth it follow that they are not papistes For it is very vsuall and common to Papists to dissent one from another in matters of Religion This is prooued in my Motiues Our masked Iesuit spendeth the whole chapters following viz the second third and fourth not in answering me and my proofes but in meere impertinent matters of the opinion of Knox and his fellow-ministers in Scotland and such like stuffe wherefore omitting his impertinent verosity in the saide three Chapters I come vnto the fift next following the same CHAP. 3. ¶ Conteining a confutation of S. R. his answere to the proofes of my assumption S. R. POpe Gregory saith Bell writing to the Emperor Mauritius calleth him soueraign Lord and professeth himselfe subiect to his command and to owe him obedience Wherupon Bell inferreth that for 600. years after Christ popes liued in dutifull obedience vnder Emperors T. B. I proued out of Pope Gregories wordes these three speciall points viz that Pope Gregory freely and willingly acknowledged the Emperour to be his soueraigne Lorde That he confesseth himselfe to be the Emperours subiect That he yeelded loyall obedience to the Emperor and for that respect thought himselfe bound in conscience to publish the Emperours law although in some part it seemed to disagree with Gods Law and that forsooth least hee should be found guilty of disloyalty toward his prince S. R. As for the place which Bell citeth he speaketh not there of the subiection duety or obedience of a subiect to his prince but of a seruant to his maister as he had bene to Mauritius whiles they were both pruiate men which himselfe plainely professeth in the beginning of his Letter in these wordes In this suggestion I speake not as Byshop nor as subiect by reason of the common-wealth but by priuate right of my owne because you