Spiritus autem viuificat the letter or literall â—ound doth ofteÌ„ tymes murder the reader the only spirit that is the internall true and spirituall meaning of the Scriptures doth giue lyf And albeit S. Augustin in his learned booke de Spiritu litera doth extend these woords of the Apostle to a farther meaning also yet he teacheth this too and so do the rest of the ancient fathers namely S. Hierom â—d Nepotianum handeling the story of king Dauid 3. Reg. 1. where the â—ong virgin Abisag was sought out to heat him in his olde adge S. Hierom sayth that if we should follow literam occidentem the murâ—hering letter it seemeth a iest and fable but if we fly to the hidden spirituall sence and meaning it is most holy But now let vs aske of you Sir Knight how wil your vnlearned â—eaders those whoÌ„e you cal dim glimering people discerne these things without a guyd such as the Catholique Church doth appoynt for â—xpounding the Scriptures to simple people by Catechisms SermoÌ„s Homelies teaching of pastors and the lyke without deliuering the whole Bible into their handes to be vsed or abused to their destruction Furthermore you cannot deny but that the vnderstanding of Scriptures is a particuler gift of God reserued especially vnto Christe who had the key to open the booke sealed with seuen seales as S. Iohn testifieth and to the same effect is it recorded in S. Lukes Gospel for a singuler grace bestowed by our Saueour vpon the Church tunâ—â—peruit illis sensum vt inteligerint Scripturas Then after his resurrection did he open to them the sence wherby they might vnderstand Scriptures of theÌ„selues For euer before he had interpreted the same lightly vnto them as in the Gospel apeareth He sent also S. Phillip the Apoâ—tle by commaundement of his Angell to goe and interpret a certain place of the Prophet Esay vnto the great Eunuch Tresurer of the Q of AEthiopia when he would conuert him And it is to be obserued that albeit Christe might haue opened the sence of the Scripture to himself immediatly yet would he send him a guide Yea though the sayd Eunuch were learned as may appeer by that being an AEthiopianred the Prophet in Hebrue and though he were also instructed in the Iews religion as it is proued by that the storie recordeth that â—he came to adoie in Hierusalem yetall this notwithstanding was he so far from the pryde of our peeuish prowd protestant people now a dayes which make no bones at any difficultie of Scriptures as when he was asked by S. Phillip Putasneintelligâ—s quae legis thinkest thou that thou vuderstandest the Scripture which thou readest he answered how can I vnderstand it except some body do expound the same vnto me which answere I beleeue many a good wife in London that goeth vp and downe with her Bible vnder her arme would be ashamed to giue if she were asked whether she vnderstand the whole Bible or no. These then Sir Knight are the reasons why some of those your glimmering and inlightened people were restrayned by Catholique discipline to read vpon Gods booke as you call it vulgar translations noâ— to bar them from light as you malitiously calumniate but rather leasâ— they being but half blynde should become whole blynde that is tâ—â— say madd and obstinate blynde of ignorance and vnlearned blynde for such effects doe insew some times of the rash reading of this booke of God when therof is ingendred falshood and HeresyeÌ„ that is the doctrine of the diuel for proofe wherof let vs consider whether in aâ— thowsand years together in England France Germany and other places of Christendome while this prudent restraint of Catholiquâ— church lasted of not permitting all ignorant people to read Scriptures at their pleasures in vulgar languages without an interpreter there arose so many Sects Heresyes and alterations about Religion as there haue risen in fifty or threescore years since this reading was left open to all there is no comparison And if we consider only England theâ— matter is euideÌ„t that more sects haue sprong vp of late by many degrees Yea though we leaue all other sects that are permitted or wiâ—ked at in England respect such only as haue bin punished openly by the magistrate namely such persoÌ„s as haue bin whipped or burned in London Norfolk and other places for Heretiques in the tyme oâ— her Maiestyes raign that now is for denying Christe himself or otherâ— poyntes of the blessed Trinity being altogether vnlearned people as our Chronicles testifie of whome I ask had they euer fallen into such errors and obstinacie but only by reading Sciptures in the vulgar language had euer william Hacket dreamed himself to be Christe or william Geffrey before him but by this way we see then the inconuenience In King Henries tyme when Tindal had translated and printed the new Testament in English at Colen and began to seck meanes to haue them dispersed in England the laws and kings commandment being then against it there was a certayn foul fusteluggs dishonest of her body with base fellows as was openly reported whose name was Ioan knell alias Burcher if I forget not who beginning to be a great reader of Scriptures her self became a principall instrument also in that tyme to deuulge such Bibles as were sent especially in the courte where she became known to certayn women in authority and to conuey the bookes more safty she vsed to bynde them in strings vnder her aparrell and so to pass them into the courte but her neerest freÌ„dship was with An Askew whoÌ„e king heÌ„ry afterwards caused to be burned for denying the reall preseÌ„ce in the SacrameÌ„t of the Aulter But this other scripturian profited so wel as in the fifth yeare of king Edwards reygn she was burned also by the protestants of that time for denying Christe to haue taken flesh of the Virgin Marie Who when she was codemned to dye spake very scornfully to the Iudges and saied It is a goodly mattâ—er to consider your ignorance it is not long agoe since you burned Ann Askew for a peece of bread and yet came your selues soone after to beleeue and professe the same doctryne for which you burned her now for sooth you wil needs burne me for a peece of fleshe in the end you will come to beleeue this also when you haue red the scriptures and vnderstand them and when she came to dye in Smithfield and D. Story endeuored to conuert her she skoffed at him saying he lyed like c. and bad him god read Scriptures And thus much may serue for the repelling those clowds mists and darknesse which this wach-woord-giuer wil needs imagin to be amoÌ„g vs for that all coblers do not clowt Scriptures in our commonwealth But let vs see now what positions and principles he sayth we haue for our direction amiddest this darknesse In these darke and clowdy dayes sayth he least
parasite pratleth but vpon â—ome other cause giuen rather from England as himself after page 57. of his libel confesseth in these woords The king of Spain and Popes malice saith he to the Queen is not for that she is daughter to king Henry the eight and sister to Queen Marie but because she hath banished the Pope that Antechriste of Rome c. ergo the Q. began with the Pope and the Pope not with her But secondly let it be considered in what maner this banishment of the Pope was contriued that in this time of peace between Rome and England after the Queens entrance what was donn at home by vs against the Pope to stir him to this act of hostilitie First not only the whole body of religion was changed that had indured aboue a thowsand years and this contrarie to expectation and promes but diuers peculier statutes were made also against the Bishop of Rome by â—ame with the most spiteful and opprobrius woords termes that any malice of man could deuise all the whole Catholique body of England enforced to sweare against him and his authoritie by name or els to incur most greeuous and capital damages the like detestable othe was offered and repeated again and again to all such and as often as they were to take any degree of preferment within the land All the clergie was deposed and depriued of liuings libertie only for adhering to the Popes religioÌ„ the Bishops other principal prelates of our land committed to prisons holds and restraints for the same cause and there continued vnto their dying day for that they refused to subscribe to so violent a statute Then such as would leaue the realme or fle were inhibited those that staied at home were inforced to participate not only of these other but also eating new deuised Sacrament bâ—ead against their consciences condemned also and anathemazed by the lutheraÌ„s first founders of this new religioÌ„ The Pope euery where was cried out of reuiled made a matter of scorne infamy not only in all sermons pulpits and conuenticles but also in comedies plâ—ies and interludes by euery base and contemptible companion In the schooles of vniuersities most ridiculous propositions were set vp as paradoxes to be defended that the Pope forsooth was Antechriste the man of sinne talked of by S. Paule and other like toyes And that which moued perhaps more then all the rest was that these things were not only practised alowed of in England and Ireland subiect to her Maiestie but were begun to be introduced also by ouâ— meanes that is by the turbulent attempts and practises of protestants her Maiestie perhaps knowing litle therof in all the realmes and regions round about vs and namely in France Flanders and Scotland where the warres tumults rebellions deuisions sects heresies and other outrages came to be so many and excessiue great as the lawfulâ— and naturà ll princes of those contries seeing themselues so far indomaged and highly endaungered therby were inforced first of all to complain vnto the Pope as chief pastor and common father of all to vse such spirituall redresse as he might for his party in respect oâ— his ecclesiasticall souereigntie whilest they prepared also to defendâ— themselues and their troobled countries by force of armes Not malignitie then of the Pope and his adherents agaynst heâ— Maiesties crown and diadem wherunto willingly they had concurâ—â— and assisted moued this first breach and bickering as this malignanâ— barking-whelp would beat into mens eares but necessities of greatâ—â— violence inforced the same And if perhaps we in England after the change made in religion had taken that course which Protestants did in Germany to follow our new opinions without gawling of others none of these open hostilities had euer insued And let this stand foâ— the second notandum wherby is ouerthrown all this slanderous caâ—lumniation of the kinght The third note may be to consider with indifferency what this acâ— of the Popes excomunication is in it self or how far it may in reason and iustice without malice and calumniation be streched against thâ— Catholique subiects of England In it self it was an act of iurisdiction between two superiours thâ— one Ecclesiastical the other temporal wherin the subiects sentencâ— or consent was neuer asked nor admitted Secondly it was no new thing for that we see and read that thâ— like hath happened often and vpon many occasions between thâ— Bishops of Rome and diuers other great princes common-wealthes Emperours Kings and monarchs and sometymes also with kings of England and of late with the king of France as all the world knoweth And yet the subiect is neither afflicted nor accused for it nor â—nforced to change their old receaued beleef about the Popes authoâ—itie in such matters though in that particuler fact for reuerence of â—heir naturall Prince and dew respect in lyke manner to the other â—hey will not medle nor yet discuss the question whether the Pope â—ad iust reason or sufficient information whervpon to proceed but with dutifull loue and honour to the one and to the other they chuse â—ather to commend the matter to almightie God which is the only â—hing that resteth for a pious and dutiful subiect to perform in such â—ases when two superiours shall disagree vntill God by his goodnes â—hall determine the controuersy and bring all to some happie end as â—e hath donn of late in France where after the foresaied excomuniâ—ation by the see Apostolique the same king hath receyued exceeding great fauours and benefytes from the same sea and Bishop which almightie God graunt we may once see also in our countrie to the conâ—entment of all parties and therby all such hastie hoate-spurres as this â—s who still would kindle more fier and bring all to desperation may â—e reiected and put to silence And with this I might end the matter of her Maiesties perils were 〈◊〉 not that this playntiffe proceedeth on with a long rehersal of other â—ostile actions committed as he sayth by English Catholiques also â—gaynst her Maiestie As the rising of the two earles in the north â—orthumberland and VVestmerland the rebellion of diuers of the â—obilitie in Irland Doctor Sanders going thither Mayster Francis â—hrogmortons practises in England M. Charles Pagets going â—orth of the land the other two earles of Arundell Northumberâ—ands commitment and the like All which are ouer long to examine more in particuler and all put together do weigh so litle in the matter we haue in hand as by that which followeth shal appeare None of all these actions brake out to any hostilitie sauing only â—he two earles rysing and gathering their tenantes together in the â—orth where yet there followed neither battayle nor bloodshed and â—hey were no sooner almost together nor heard of at the courte â—ut they were seuered agayn and retyred into Scotland Flanders And this is all the actual rysing that hath byn among Catholiques within
ghost The second notable poynt which the Bishop vttered in this sermon was concerning king Henrie the eight his lord and mayster which moued the auditorie no lesse then the other And this was that the sayd king a litle before his death had dealt with him verie secretly and seriously to haue sent him to a certayne dyat in Germanie vnder pretence to treat other matters but in deed the cheef poynt should be to seeke out some honorable way and meanes as from himself and not from the king either by the Emperor legat popes Nuntio or other fit instrument to reconcyle him agayne to the church of Rome And this the Bishop affirmed to be most true vpon his oath and fidelitie to God and the world and to the memorie of the sayd king his master dead whome he shewed to loue so tenderly and dearly as he wepte most bitterly also in that place for that this holie motion had not taken the effect he desired attributing the let therof to Gods seuere iudgmentes and to the great difficulties which the sayd king found of making that recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ with his honour and reputation which temporal honour he lamented much that it was more regarded by the king and some that counselled him then in so weightie a woork of eternall saluation ought to haue bin Thus then was the substance and these were the circumstances of that sermon Let vs now coÌ„sider whether the theam he tooke iam hora est nos de somno surgere were fit and to his purpose or no or whether it were prophanely blasphemously peruerted as this wise gentleman affirmeth who taketh vpon him to censure the matter First let it be considered that if euer any man of our realm might take vpon him to talk of a sleep or dream in matters of our coÌ„mon-wealth as a Counsellor and of his own knowledge Bishop Gardener might do it which had seen such alterations both of religion and temporalityes within our land such chopping and chaunging such pulling down and setting vp as he might fitly call the tyme a time of sleep or dream For as in a sleep things are represented to a man confusedly and out of hand they passe away and contrarie representations come in their place so had Bishop Gardener seen in the publique affaires of the realme no lesse alterations of comicall and tragical acts after he came to be a councellor For first he had seen his own king and maister king Henry the eight so earnest in the defence of the catholique faith of the sea of Rome in perticuler as he wrote a booke in defence therof though he were disswaded by some of his counsell to do it for reason of state And after that again being to send this very man Gardener then his secretarie to Rome for his Embassador about soliciting of the diuorce between himself and Queen Catherine he commanded him to tel the Pope and Colledge of Cardinales that whatsoeuer they determined in that matter he would accept it with all indifferencie and euer be a most obedient childe of the Romane churche And this commission he gaue him in the presence of Cardinal VVolsey and yet soone after he saw the same king so chaunged for the affection he bare to an other partie as he brake with the Pope and churche of Rome and pulled down the sayd Cardinal and put to death two of the men that he esteemed most for vertue and learning of all his realme or of any other forrain kingdome of Christendom and whom he had loued before exceedingly to wit Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More Chancelor Again Gardener had seen the same king wax weary soone after of the party for whose loue he had first begun to make all those stirres and to put her to death openly and yet to continew his former breaches and to run from one difficulty to an other and from one inconuenience to an other neuer to stop the fountain from whence all this vnquietnes came He had seen him also passe from on wife to another to the number of six dismissing some and putting others to death according to the affection or disaffection which he bare to each of them for the time He had seen him make diuers and different actes of parlament in preiudice or preferment of his own children now for their legitimation and inheritance now for the contrarie as by the statutes themselues yet extant in print is euident to the world And from the liking or disliking of his said wiues he passed also to the liking or suspition of his own kinred subiects and familier frâ—nds of which he pulled downe so many as by the stories may be seen And Bishop Gardener was wont to say of him that knew him ful well that after he once left to loue that person which by Gods law and mannes he was bound to loue aboue all others to wit his first wife and Queen he neuer loued any person harâ—ely and constantly afterwards Moreouer he had seen the poore king so combered and troobled about matters of religion as was pitiful to behold For that on the one side the point of his spiritual Supremacy taken vp in his choleâ— against the Pope seemed to touch his honor so neare as he might not shew to yeeld any one iote therin and consequently he was fain to put to death all such Catholiques as denyed the same though otherwise he both loued and highly esteemed themâ— and on the other side his iudgement and conscience in matters of the Catholique truthe against the protestants and all new sectaries conuinced his conscience and vnderstanding as he cleerly vttered in the statute of six articles which iudgement also enforced him to burne as many of that fide â— were conuicted And finally being wearied towards his later end with these combats of conscience and honor iudgement and passion he conferreâ— with Bishop Gardener as you haue heard about the mayn remedy and only sure redresse of all which was his returning to the vnion of the Romane churche and the rest of Christendome And besides all this Bishop Gardener had seen the same afflicted king brought to such streights and doubts in his later howers of life about the weightiest affaires that he had in this world as he could not tell what to determine ordayne or establish for the securitie of his owne children espeâ—ially of his only sonne prince Edward thaâ— had but nyne yeares yet of age and for that cause was the fatherâ— hart more peâ—siue about him For first he was afeard to leaue any protector vnto him remembring the eueÌ„t of king Edward the fourâ—â— his children vnder their vncle protector the Duke of Glocester And secondly he was as greatly afeard and afflicted also to think least after his death the perilous waues and fluddes of heresies should enter vpon him by the very same gate that hymself had opened VVhetfore both these poyntes he forbad expresly and appoynted for execution therof sixteen
who haue instituted the degrees of Doctors Licenciates Maisters and Bachelers and apointed preferments for them you or we And to speake of positiue Diuinitie only and Scriptures wherof you will seeme to bragg who haue conserued and published the Bible in the learned tongues of Hebrue Greek and Latin euen in our dayes Were not the Biblia Complutensia in all three tongues printed and set foorth by the expences of a fransiscan frier Cardinall Ximenes Arch-bishop of Toledo within these three or fourscore yeares And were not the last Biblia Regia set foorth in foure or fiue tongues by Catholique men by the authority and charges of his Catholique Maiestie of Spayn And are not the Comentaries written vpon the Scriptures by Catholique men euen at this day aboue twenty for one more then those of Protestants why then do heretiques lyke apes bragg and prate in presence of lions that in euery kinde oâ— learning do bear them downe But now to the second position VVhen they had thus setled this blinde cours saieth our knight to keepe the people from knowledge c. Then they offer an other position that it was not for lay men to medle with matters of religion that belonged only and wholy as 〈◊〉 priueledge to Priests thereby making them secure and careless of God and aâ— godlinesse In setting downe of this forged position there is some subtlety ioined with impudencie For first in the former parte where he sayth we hold that it is not for lay men to medle with religion he subtely leaueth doubtful this worde medle either to signifie that lay men must not determine or defyne matters of religion or els not to medle or care for them at all In the former sence we graunt that in Synods and Counsels where coÌ„trouersies of fayth are to be treated Priests and Clergy-men haue only authority to define and determine for that S. Paule sayth that they are apointed by the holy Ghoste to gouern the church though before they come to determine they do help themselues also by the learning of lay men and take their iudgement when they may giue light as in all Counsels is seen But in the second sence it is moste impudeÌ„t that he inferreth that hereby we would make lay meÌ„ secure careleâ— of God all godlinesse For how doth it follow The Queen of EnglaÌ„d doth refer the determinatioÌ„ of all good lawes orders vertuous proceedings within the realm vnto the voices of her priuie counsell or of the parlament ergo heerby she maketh free secure and careles all the rest of her realm from obseruation of good orders law and honest behaueour Or in the self same matter of religion I may argue thus the determination of matters of fayth is remitted only at this day in England to Bishops ministers and not to their wiues ergo heerby those â—ood wiues are made secure and careles of God all godlinesse there 〈◊〉 no difference in the consequence at all VVherfore as malice here lost her eyes so doth she also her wits in â—hat which followeth for presently he leapeth to raile vpon the â—aints of heauen and namely vpon S. Thomas of Canterbury though â—mpertinent to his purpose for he was treating of lay men as you â—aue hearde whome he sayth we make careles of God and all godlinesse â—or that we refer the determination of controuersies in religion not â—nto them but vnto Priests only and now let euery one consider how â—his consequence holdeth which enseweth and it is enough sayth he â—f one of these fellowes come diligently and deuoutly to hear masse goe to confesâ—ion once a year to be as religious a man secundum vsum Sarum as could be wiâ—hed and though he were to be tainted and to be taxed with the grossest sinnes â—et Rome by the authority from their vicar generall had at rik to hale them into the â—able of their Saints and so to canonize them as we haue example of Thomas Becket in Henry the thirds tyme whose treasons to the prince were apparent and manifest c. But before I answere in the cause of S. Thomas I will aduise this â—alumniator first that his skoff of a religious man secundum vsum Saâ—um is ridiculous on his side if we compare him to his holy ministers that follow the vse of the tauern at chaering crosse do neither heare masse nor go to confessioÌ„ once in seuen yeares nor meane to amend or â—â—ake satisfaction and then it is a great lye that we require nothing els â—ut going once a year and a far greater that men of the grossest sinnes â—re made Saints among vs and finally nothing els is heer but iests and lyes Secondly I put Sir knight in mynde that talking of lay men S. Thomas example that was a Priest and head of Priests was not to his purpose Thirdly moste grosly and ignorantly he erreth in the tymes for that S. Thomas his death and canonization was in King Henry the second and not the thirds as fondly he affirmeth but aboue thirty years before king Henry the third was borne Fourthly that this poore man maketh an vnequal match to fight with Saints and will rest in the end with a broken head And finally that he sayth S. Thomas his treasons to his prince were apparent manifest is a manifest slaunder For there is nothing in all the whole discourse of his controuersie with King Henrie the second that sauoureth of treason or that impugned any one law of the realm then in vre For that the recourse he made to Rome was lawfull at that day as it is now in any other Catholique country The controuersie was only about the liberty of the English Church which the king sought to abridge and the other as primate to defend Nor did the king or his officers chardge him with treasons nor could they by any shew of Iustice. For if in euery contention or dissention that a spiritual subiect or Ecclesiastical Prelate may haue with his temporall prince the subiect shalbe condemned of treason according to this seruile censure of Protestantes that to flatter princes make them absolute lordes both of body and sowl then Iohn Baptist also must be accompted a traytour that dealt so peremptorily with his king Herod that was his liege Lorde in temporal affayres Or if you will haue examples of Christian princes S. Ambrose must be a traytor first for resisting openly his Lord and king Valentinian the yonger then for handling so hardly the elder Theodosius Emperour in Millan as he shut him out of the church and made him goe home agayne with shame and do penance S. Hilarius also S Athanasius shalbe traitors for their contentions with Constantius their lawull Emperour and temporall Lord who bâ—nished them from their Bishoprikes And the former of the two wrote two vehement bookes inuectiues agaynst the sayd Emperour and yet no man euer accompted him a traytor for the same but rather a
had this intention to get the kingdome as he sayth for if it were a mature deliberation and consulted also with his counsel in England as this discouerer sayth then some act and monument belike is extant to testifie the same or at leastwise some witnes or other firm argument fit to prouè it or if not how could the true harted English-man know it in Spayn and write it to the Nobles of England Or with what face can our rash and falstongued English knight professe to know it now and to wryte it so confidently Shall so great so greeuous so haynous a slander against so mightie so munificent so bountiful a Monarch passe out to the world vpon a bare assertion and malignant interpretation of one English hastie-hote-spurre that sheweth malice in euery syllable and turneth euen the kings loue and fauours to our nation his expences and benifits towards our people vnto a deceitful meaning And vpon that without other act of hostilitie on his parte appearing shall he be called ambitious and proud vsurping tyrant VVho seeth noâ— that this fellow in steed of discouering the kings malice bewrayeth his owne and in place of prouing the king an vsurping tyrant doth shew himself a shameles sicophant But let vs see what effects he sayth had like to haue ensued vpon this deuised designment of the king If once sayth he this king had obtayned the crown then as in the letter of discouerie is layd open the council table must be filled with his Councelors the hauen townes must be possessed with gouernours of his appointing fortifications must be made by his direction soldiars of his owne must be placed in garrison at places most fit to strength him self then must the common lawes of this land be altered by which iustice is truly taught to all sortes his vnholy and bloody inquisition would be not haue fayled also to bring in with all other his Spaynish lawes and ordinances sutable to the same their intolerable taxes we must haue byn pestered withall a taste wherof I will here geue you c. These are the seuen deadly sinnes which Sir Francis inforceth out of his Spanish letter as certayne to haue insued if the king had gotten the crowne which yet whyles he had the crowne did not insue as the world knoweth for that they were prouyded for before hand by the councel nobilitie and parlement of England and by all lykelihood would haue byn foreseen and prouided for also by the same prouidence of the realme if euer motion or cogitation had bin among them to passe the crowne to the king of Spayn seing Sir Francis confesseth that this matter was ment to be wrought not by force but by sweet meanes and benifites and by allurement of the nobilitie by his Maiestie Most fond therfore or forged is this letter from the true harted man in Spain who suggested feares already preuented but much more ridiculous is he in setting down certain monstrous bugges of taxes to be imposed vpon the English nation which yet by all probability were neuer though vpon nor past by mannes imagination though most childishly he avowcheth that they are payed also in Spain For thus he writeth A taste wherof of these intolerable taxes I will giue you sayth Sir Francis as that for every chimney and other place to make fier in as ouens fornaces Smiths forges and such others a frinch crown was yearly paid to him He had also powling pence for all manner of corn bread beef mutton capons pigges geese hennes ducks chicken butter cheese egges aples peares nuttes beere wine and all other things whatsoeuer he feedâ—th vpon yea no farmer yeo-man or husband-man durst eat a capon in his house if his frend came to him for if he did it must cost him six shillinges eight pence though the capon was not worth twelue pence and so toties quoties and these be the benifits and blessings that this catholique king sought to bring in hether by his absolute authoritie sought for If a man did not see these things written and printed with Sir Francis Hastinges name vnto them he would neuer imagin a man of his name howse and calling would publish such childish toyes and manifest vntruthes to the world For who is there that hath trauailed Spain as many English-men haue donne in these our dayes which knoweth it not to be an open shameles lye that for euery place to make fyer in as ouen fornace and the like a french crown is to be payed In the kingdoms of Castil and Andaluzia there is no such paiments at all in Aragon and Catalonia there is some like tribute instituted by old kinges before these states were vnited to the crowne of Castile but neither is it so much as this wise man setteth downe nor do they pay for euery place of making fyer but one onely fyer is accounted to one howshold though the people haue twenty fyers within it Touching his powling pence vpon thinges that are solde there is in the foresayd kingdomes of Castile an old rent of the crowne instituted by ancient kinges called Alcaualla conteyning a certayne tribute vpon thinges that are solde and bought but this tribute is not payd in all Spaine and namely not in Biscay Nauar Portugal Aragon Catalonia nor in the kingdom of Valencia and much lesse in forayne kingdomes and states vnder the Spaniardes as Naples Sicilia Sardinia or Mâ—llan Nor in Castillia it self is it exacted with the rigor that this fellow forgeth but euerie towne and cittie agreeth in great for this tribute by the yeare nor doth it descend to such minute thinges as he recounteth vp and much lesse to beere wherof there is litle vse in Spayne the simple fellow would needes faine his account after the English manner but among other toyes the lye of six shillinges eight pence forfeyture for eating a capon toties quoties is so notorious as it may winne the whetstone and the verie phrase it self discouereth the forgerie for that the Spaniardes haue no coyne answering to our noble or six shillinges eight pence consequently it is not probable that they would appoynt such a penaltie as they can hardly in whole money make vp the account But let vs see somewhat more of this kynde of cosinage My author sayth he doth further vnfold this kinges trecherous purpose towardes this land by discouering vpon his owne knowledge and hearing his intention to be by litle and litle to roote out the nobilitie and to keep the commons in beggerie and not to suffer one to lyue here that was borne in twentie yeares before but either to destroy them or to make them slaues among the Moores the colour wherof was because they were borne out of the Catholique churche of Rome And to make vp the measure of all impietie and the faster to set his crowne vpon his head from remouing if he had gotten it he layd his plot to destroy our deare Soueraigne ladie Queen Elizabeth hauing
more honor or facilitie then at this present instant times and matters standing as they do and so fit a meanes and mediator as is the mightie king of France occurring for the purpose potent and grateful with all the extremes For with England and her Maiestie he cannot but be so in respect of matters and frendships past with Spain he is also to be presumed now by meanes and vertue of this new peace and great league concluded with his holinesse of Rome all christendome knoweth him to be as well in respect of his being a catholique as also for many particuler and extraordinary tokens of loue which his holinesse hath shewed towards his person The persons also and qualities of the parties with whome this atonement is or were to be treated are such as do greatly facilitate the enterprise and confirme the hope that all men haue of good successe For if for many ages God haue placed in the seat of Saynt Peeter a meek milde sweet and holy man this Pope Clement the eight is one knowen to be a man without gawle enmitie wrath or reuenge of singuler pietie zele in Gods cause and most tender harted towards them that are out of the way especially in heresy of whome he suffereth diuers with his owne particuler licence to come to Rome and to his owne presence and vseth them with all manner of curtesie and fatherly tendernes dismissing them again with much kindenes and diuers benefits as by experience we haue seene As for the king Catholique of Spain who knoweth him not to be Salomon pacificus that peaceable and wise Salomon of this our age who not only hath bin peaceable in himself during the time of his so long a gouernment offering molestation and warre to none except prouoked in his owne defence but also hath kept diuers other states round about him in peace likewise as by those of Italy hath bin manifestly seen vpon diuers occasions and as for his facility to make peace where any reasonable conditions are offered it hath bin sufficiently seen in this lastly made with France with restoring of so many important townes and states which he possessed of that crown and for his constancie in keeping peace once made all former times of his raigne haue giuen testimony and so will this I doubt not and the future time also in preseruing inuiolably this peace now knit vp with the king most christian and his alyes and dependants So as with neither of these princes is there any cause of dout either of great difficultie or of fraud or of breache if this treatie might be concluded and much lesse of the dutifull behaueour of English Catholiques both at home and abrode if it please her Maiestie and your Lordships to come to some moderation and peaceable manner of proceding with them In which poynt their first and highest desire should be that almightie God would inspire her Maiestie and your Lordships to think vpon the honorable godly and prudent course which the most Christian king of France hath taken of late to wit by reâ—â—iting himself and his kingdome agayne with the sea Apostolique of Rome mother of all true vnion among Christians for that by this act only all difficulties and ielousies both domestical and forrayn depending of religion were ended taken away But if for our sinnes this cannot be or not so soone as is desired then their humble petition will be that at least they may haue the same libertie and fauour in England for their consciences as Protestantes haue in France and in other states of the Empire at this day vnder catholique kinges and Emperours which petition seemeth so reasonable so easie and so profitable to the realme it self and so honorable to her Maiestie and to your Lordships who are desired to be mediators therin as they verely trust that by this good occasion you will not deny to lend them your helping hands for so publique and pretious a benefyte in all respectes And though I do not doubt but that diuers of S. Francis Hastings hote humor will step vp agaynst this proposition and cry rather fyre and sword and blood agaynst Catholiques then any toleration or relaxation yet other mennes hope is that your Lordships and others of the wiser and grauer sort of the realme will consider and suggest to her Maiestie what reason and humanitie requireth and not what the furious passion of those men demandeth who cease not to exclame with the mercilesse Iewes Crucifige Crucifige and further also would be content for satisfying their malice so they might obtayne lyke sentence of iniustice agaynst Catholiques as the Iewes did agaynst our Saueour espetially if they found a fit Pilate to grant it to cry with them Sanguis eorum super nos super Filios nostros let their blood fall vpon vs and our children and so it fell in most heauy measure vpon them and the lyke will do vpon these when tyme of payment commeth appoynted by almightie God if they change not their affection But your Lordships I presume be of a far different mynde and condition and that you will rather leaue peace loue and good will of all men to your children and posteritie then the inheritance of these enmities exasperations and deadly feudes for that blood enough and ouer much if Gods will were hath there byn spent already in our realme within these twenty yeares last past about this controuersie of religion and by this long experience your wisdomes haue seen what hath byn the euent and what is lyke to be if lyke proceeding be continued still Saynt Cyprians sentence hath byn manifestly verefied sanguis martyrum Ecclesiae semen by the blood of martirs the church increaseth Aboue a hundreth and thirtie English priestes of the only seminaries beyond the seas as most men accounte haue lost their lyues in this quarrel within the foresayd tyme all men of peace patient and humble learned vertuous and meeke yong in age for the most part but old in godlines in sapientia sanctorum in the wisdome of Sayntes for the lyf to come a great parte of them verie worshipfully borne and tenderly brought vp by their parentes and might haue liued many yeares in great delightes and pleasures of this world if the loue of eternitie had not made this vale of vanitie contemptible vnto them And albeit their death was reprehensible in the sight of some vulgar or passionate people that consider nothing but the present spectacle and popular voyce that they died for treasons yet to themselues who remembred the false accusations made agaynst their mayster for troobling the people and for dehorting the payment of tribute vnto Caesar and other such calumniations and that his innocency could not deliuer him but that at last he was preferred to dy in the midle of two theeues vpon a crosse to them I say that remembred and did meditate these thinges to them this circumstance of treason in