England during the raigne of fourtie yeares notwithstanding â—ll the pressures vexations dishonours rapines slaughters impriâ—onments and deaths which they haue suffered in this space at the hands of Protestantes Puritans and Atheists for their religion VVhich afflictions layd together haue byn more then euer subiecteâ— since England was a monarchie suffered at home in this kynde Now then mark that which followeth If we looke one our own chronicles we shall scars finde any one Princes raigne though oâ— far fewer yeares then this euen when the people were all of one reliâ—gion and none of these afflictions and pressures layd vpon them buâ— that many more commotions troobles and rebellions happened then in this long tyme and among so infinite exasperations haue insued And if we looke vpon the short raignes of king Edward Queen Mary and the parte of king Henryes tyme after alteration in religion there is no comparison And whence cometh all this trowâ— you but of the singuler vertue and vnspeakeable patience of the Catholique subiectes of our tyme vnder her Maiestie that haue liued and suffered all this with gronning only and secret teares without further breach to defend themselues or reuenge ther iniuries And truly when forayn nations do both see and read the bloody list of lawes made against Catholiques and Catholique religion in England within these forrtie yeares and do heare of the rigorous execution of thesame together with the incredible molestations that therby are layed vpon so great and potent numbers of people that lack noâ—â—corage also to aduenture euen to death it self in fauor of their said religion they rest astonished and do wonder how either the countriâ—â— can remayn voyd of continual tumults or the prince free from infinitâ— dayly perils seing that desperation in such matters is the next dore to all extremities especially the persecution beinge so rigorous and violent so vniuersal and exorbitant as infinite people are interessed and touched therby either inmediatly by themselues or in their children seruantes kinsfolkes or frendes whereupon fynallie they do greatly admire as I haue said the modestie patience and longanimitie of the English Catholiques And so much the more for that the Protestant when he is vnder and disâ—auored hath no patience at all but breaketh out continually to most violent tumultes and rebellions If we do consider the deportement of the protestantes in Queen Maries tyme and how euery moneth almost they had either rebellious or new turbuleÌ„t practises against the state and Queen not being ashamed at length also by publique bookes to make all weomen incapable of royal gouernement a man would think this fellow very shameles not to blush to make this discourse agaynst Catholiques so soon after those broiles of his owne people And yet these differeÌ„ces are to be noted in the cause first that Q. Maryes gouernement dured but â—tle more then foure yeares and this of her Maiestie hath donne fourty â—en were the principal protestantes not touched nor pressed but now â—o Catholiques at all is spared they were restreyned only from brining in of nouelties these are forced to renounce their old religioÌ„ that â—om the first coÌ„uersion of the land they and their fathers haue profesâ—ed and vowed to keep they had few or no forrayn princes of their â—eligion round about to geue them courage or assistâ—nce these haue â—e most and strongest in Christendome and yet are quiet and this for England But if we passe our eye beyonde this litle Iland also and consider â—hat reuel these frends of Sir Francis though not of Saynt Francis â—aue made in other countries since the beginning of their innouaâ—ions to witt in Germanie France Flandres Poland Swethland Demnarke and Scotland agaynst their true and lawful princes what â—rmies campes battayles and insurrections what desolation of counâ—ries cities townes and linages they haue caused and what slaughter â—nd hauok of Christian blood they haue procured more impudent and â—idiculous will this clamor and exaggeratioÌ„ of our crowching knight â—eem to be about two earles only that vpon feare of force gathered â—heir seruants neighbours and tenants together and presently fled â—nd of two or three other gentlemen wherof the one was put to death â—or hauing a description of certaynes portes and hauens only found in â—is chamber and for that he had some intelligence with the Queene of Scottes and with Don Bernardin de Mendoza Embassador for the King of Spayne resident in England though nothings els could be â—roued against him the other went beyond the feas for that he could â—ot lyue with his conscience at home and neuer hurted them since And of two earles more committed the one vpon suspition and nothing proued against him that was known before his piteous death which God only knoweth how he came vnto the other for flying first for his conscience out of the realme he beeing taken on the sea and brought back again and after diuers yeares of imprisonment without any further matter layd to his charge was after condemned principally if not onely for a Masse heard or caused to be said in the tower of LoÌ„don which was such a treason as all his noble ancestors would haue byn glad to haue ben coÌ„deÌ„ned for his posteritie may glori that he was for that neuer Earle in England synce it was Christian was euer brought to the bar for such and so glorious and so holy a treason And to conclude all these accusations in deed layd together against English Catholiques are but very tryfles and triuial things that dayly happen in moste quiet peaceable commonwealthes where no man is afflicted by the state at all But that infinite greater and more haynous stirres and breaches haue not bin raysed within the space of fourtie yeares where so deadly differences in religion and so continual persecution against so great a body haue bin in vre this I say as I sayd before that to men of iudgement and indifferencie and of experience in gouernment is a maruelous wonder and a moste famous canonization of the patience magnanimitie and fidelity of English Catholiques and her Maiestie and the realme are happy that they haue such subiects And if they will not beleue me let them but turn the leaf a litle against protestants puritans and other new sectaries and restrain them from their desires and pinch them with persecution but a quarter of that they haue donn to Catholiques and they shall se and feele by experience which kynde of people is more apte to obey or to woork turmoiles and perils to their weal-publique and gouernours And therby also will appear the vanitie and malice of this impertinent and spitefull slanderer who endeth his inuectiue with these woords There is no end saith he with this people their practises are pestilent their perswasions perilous their platforms traiterous and to serue their turn they want not cunning to execute all so violent they are in their vilanies and treasons and so shameles
grace to themselues but to mingle also biting stuff now and then wherby to pinch and draw blood of their neighbours so this gentle knight hauing heaped many things together by â—atterie and forging in the beginning of his booke to claw thereby â—he present state prince as in the former two conferences you haue â—een he entereth now vpon a more odious argument to exasperate â—oth the one the other against Catholiques whome he would gladly â—aue destroied if the strength of his hornes were according to the measure of his hatred But he being but a barking beagle among the â—owndes of Huntington though neuer so cruel and bloody mouthed I hope so to rebate his choller before I make an end or at least-wise his force as albeit he barke still yet shall he not much byte nor doe any other effect of moment then discouer the worme of heresie that lyeth vnder his poisoned tongue inciting him to furie and woodnes against Catholiques First then touching perils past by her Maiestie during the reign of Qu. Marie this gentleman writeth thus in recital of the same I hasten to put you in minde of our most blessed and happie delliuerance out of this spirituall pit and thraldom of popery and superstition by ladie Queen Elizabeth as the instrument whose perill and danger before she came to that abilitie to performe this holy woorke among vs I may not pass ouer for by Gods goodnesse only and wholy she was preserued her life being malitiously and with great cunning shot at by the Romish clergie then in place of credit For Gardener that most prowd and bloody monster left no corner of his wit vnsought being wise enough to woorke mischief but set all his skil and cunning awoorke to shorten her dayes and to preuent her by bloody slaughter of her sacred person from euer being our Queen and no reach of man can yeeld me a reason of her doliuerance but the mighty God of power c. In which woords you may see how our poet to make the succes of his feigned comedy more wonderfull and plausible frameth strange misterâ—es and miracles of mil-wheeles deuising mtghtie dangers and mayn perils auoyded without any means humane at all neither is there any reason able to be rendred to him of his riddle as himself affirmeth but I shall indeuoure to solue both the one and the other and that without any miracle by humane reason only if Sir Francis can vnderstand it and now I begin That the state of lady Elizabeth now our Souereign Queen was subiect to diuers suspitions and dangers during the reign of her sister Queen Marie no man of discretion in matter of state will deny or can greatly merueil at for she being the next heir to the crown and her sister hauing no issue nor any great probability euer to haue and furthermore being presumed by many to be inclined to a different religioÌ„ though she shewed it not that all the disconteÌ„ted of that state depended of her and made their recours vnto her as to their rising sun future hope no marueil though she was bad in ielousie especially seeing the often and perilous attemptes of VVyate Courtney the Carews Cobham Throgmorton and the like did seem to leane also that way for I will enter no further to discus those affaires and so did hold both the Queen and state in suspence and care VVhich circumstances what daungers they are wont to bring to future pretenders diuers examples vnder our former kings and lastly that of the Queen of Scots in our days may easily teach vs. But that the life and blood of her grace at that day should be so earnestly malitiously sought after by so many so poteÌ„t men and means as this knight heer and in other places of his booke doth affirm and would haue beleeued to witt by Bishop Gardener then Chancelor by B. Bonner D. Story and al the Catholique clergy by name and furthermore by the King of Spayne himself by all Spanyards by the Queen also then in gouernment consequently by her counsel and nobility with her and by all catholiques together who had power at that day to doe as they thought best and no impediment either at home or from abroad that I know to let them in their â—â—esignments and yet all this notwithstanding that nothing in this affaire so much desired should be effectuated this passeth indeed if it were true all rule of reason and might set Cicero to schoole again who teacheth in his thetoriques for an euident for me of argument that qui potuit facere voluit fecit he that both would and could doe a thing must needs be presumed to haue donn it VVhich yet in this our case holdeth not as it seemeth for that our knight affirming that the parties aforenamed would haue made away the Lady Elizabeth and I assuring that they could yet is it euident that she was not and â—herefore either I am deceiued in their power or he in their willes or some other secret cause must be sought out which he will needs haue to be miracle but I think it not necessary and so shall indeuour to reâ—ell the mistery by way of reason if it may be First then I doe not deny but that the preseruation of Lady Elizabeths life in Queen Maries time may be referred to the prouidence of â—lmightie God as the first and principal cause who aboue our reach â—or reasons to himself best knowne doth dispose of all matters but â—specialy of princes liues and states yet deny I that no secondary or â—mmediate humane causes can be found to haue concurred also with â—his prouidence of God as this our miracle-maker affirmeth for I can â—ecount him diuers causes and those pregnant also and potent which â—id concur in those days to the preseruation of her grace which being most euident and true doe deliuer the case from all such necessity of miracle as this poore knight would perswade vnto vs. And first of all was the age and yong years bewty felicity meekâ—es and other good graces and talents of the princesse her self which â—rought much with all sortes of men but especially with the Spanâ—ardes and other strangers and aboue all with the yong king himself as often his neerest about him at that day haue reported since And namely the Duke of Feria while he was aliue who being then but Count and sent Embassador from the king then lying in Flanders to visit Queen Marie had such earnest and spetiall charge to visit and comfort the L. Princesse Elizabeth immediatly after his Embassage to the Queen that all of the court of England merueiled at it and some perhaps did not greatly like of it and in very deed the yong lady was so extraordinarily fauored and affected by his Catholique Maiestie and all his nobility present with him in England as it is most base barberous ingratitude in this sicophant to deny it now and monstrous inciuility
together for their gaines more then for deuotion which Bishop Gardener seeing and not able to resist he spake his minde plainly touching religion in a sermon before the yong king and councell vpon Saint Peters day which was but fiue moneths after king Edwards raign for which sermon he was sent to the tower the morning after and lay there prisoner all king Edwards time and came not out vntill Queen Marie at her first entrance into the tower of london wheÌ„ she was Queen deliuered him and other catholique prisoners together and how then doth our steel-brow-knight write that Bishop Gardener Hattered both father and sonne and neuer shewed himself in religion vntil both of them were called to their last home and Queen Marie entred the crown let some frend blush for him if he haue not shame to do it himself Againe it is as great an vntruth and as grosse ignorance besydes to say as this man doth that Bishop Gardener and his complices brought in the Spaniard and mached him in mariage with Queen Marie For that euery childe acquaynted with that state knoweth or may learne that Bishop Gardener was of the contrarie part or faction that fauored yong Edward Courtney the Earle of deuonshire and would haue had him to Marie the Queen whome Bishop Gardener had held for his spiritual childe in the tower all king Edwardes tyme. And now the matter was so far forward as the mariage was held for certayne but that the contrarie syde and especially the Lord Paget partly by the acquaintance and credit he had gotten with Charles the Emperor in Flanders during king Edwards tyme and partely for the ielosie he had perhappes of B. Gardeners great affection to the Duke of Northumberland his greatest enemie who in king Edwards reigne had indeuored vtterly to disgrace him they procured I say the said Emperors most earnest and effectual letters to the Queen about her mariage with the Prince of Spayne which they did so vrge to the sayd Queen and with so many argumentes against Courtney espetially that he was neither sound in body nor religion as they got her consent and subscription to the sayd letters of the Emperor And then there was no further dealing to the contrary for that Queen Mary bore such exceeding loue and reuerence to the Emperor Charles her Cosin as she would not fayl in her word geuen to him for all the world VVherby we may imagin what a mortification Bishop Gardener and all the rest of his side that fauored Courtney did receaue by this change of the Queens will and purpose and therby also perceyue the folly and temerite of this rashe accuser who layeth to there charge the bringing in the Spaniard which yet if they had donne or had byn cause of that greatest and most honorable mariage that for many ages hath byn in Christendom and of greatest consequence if issue had followed therof if this I saie bad byn so as it was not why did they betray therin both God the Queen and there countrie as this wise Censurer affirmeth what grownds what reason may there be aleaged of this triple treason God receiued by this mariage the strengthening of his true religon the Queen got the greatest noblest and richest husband that was extant in Europe our countrie got many a thowsaud of Spanish treasure without losse of any as heerafter shal be shewed And wherin then stood this great offence But let vs passe ouer these follies of our knight in matters of state for that perhaps his prayse and skyll is only in armes yet one point more must I examine wherin he condemneth B. Gardener and this is for his sermon made at S. Paules crosse vpoÌ„ the wordes of the Apostle to the Romanes hâ—ra est iam nos de somno surgere It is now high tyme for vs to ryse out of sleep the night hath gone before the day is come c. and the rest that followeth there All which sacred scripture this learned religious knight sayth very peremptorily that it was most prophanely and blasphemously peruerted by the said Bishop and that to bloody purposes which we shal now à litle discusse This famous sermon was preached as I sayd before at Paules crosse after the mariage was celebrated between the King and the Queen who both were present at this speech of the Bishop nowe also hygh Chancelor and there prsent in like maner both Cardinal Poole legate of the sea Apostolique as also the Embassadors of the Emperor french King and other Princes and a marueylous great learned and noble auditorie besydes as euer perhaps was at any sermon in England before or after The Chancelors discourse was how long they had runne astray and byn in darknes of diuision and stryfe among themselues since first king Henry lefte the old troden path of his ancestors kinges and Queenes of England in matters of religion and brake from the vnion of the church of Rome and of other catholique kingdomes round about him and that now it was time to arise out of this sleep and to looke about them And in this discours and sermon the Chancellor vttered two principal thinges among other that greatly moued the whole auditory The first was the hartie and humble accusation of himself for his â—all and consenting to King Henryes will in that booke de vera obedienâ—tia which he did vtter with so great vehemencie of spirit and abundance of teà res as he could not goe forward and was forced diuers tymes to make some pawses which in such an audience especially of strangers also he being the cheefest person of the realme after the prince we may imagin what a temporal shame and confusion it was vnto him and how greatly it would moue the hearers and lookers on to see him make such an accusation of himself willingly of his owne accord without compulsion and with such earnestnes as he did And that there was no fiction or dissimulation in this act of his the end declared for when he fell sick afterward and drew neer vnto his death he desired that the passion of our Sauiour might be redde vnto him and when they came to the denial of Saynt Peter and how after Christe had looked back vpon him he went out and wepte bitterly the Bishop cried out and bid them stay there and see whether his sweet Sauiour wold vouchsafe also to looke back vpon him and geue him some part of Saynt Peters teares for sayth he negaui cum Petro extui cum Petro sed nondum fleui amare cum Petro I haue denied Christe with Peter meaning that subscription to the supremacie of king Henrie I haue gone out with Peter meaning the participatioÌ„ of that schisme but yet I haue not wepte bitterly with Peter so bitterly as I should do and by often repetition of those woordes and asking God sorgeuenes with cryes and syghes he intertayned himself vntill great floodes of teares came downe vpon him and so gaue vp the
decreed with himself that neither she nor any of that cursed nation so he termed it and yet the Popes holines had absolued it should gouern England any more But blessed be God who hath blessed vs with the lyfe and raigne of our blessed Queen who I trust shall liue to geue him such a deadly blow as neither his cursed self nor any of his cursed nation iustly so to be called because the Pope that cursed man of sinne hath blessed them shall euer see the day to rule in England And thus you see that vnder the colour of this mariage saluation of soules seemed to be sought for but in deed destruction both of our bodies and soules was pursued c. for without regard of sex age or degree all were destined to slauerie and bondage at the least howsoeuer they escaped with lyfe This is your sottish and impudent narration Sir Francis for what can be more sottish then to say that your wyse author before named discouereth vpon his owne knowledge and hearing that the kinges intention was to roote out the nobilitie to oppresse the commonaltie to slea or send to Barbarie for slaues all that were born within twentie yeares before If your author knew this of his owne knowledge how say you also by hearing and if he heard it of others how could he know it of his owne knowledge But whatsoeuer you say how could he in Spayne discouer so great a secret that lay in the kinges brest in England Besydes this how incredible are the thinges in themselues that he recounteth namely that dreame or old wyues tale of making all slaues within twenty yeares old of which number and within which age he had taken diuers already into his seâ—uice in England and vsed singular curtesie vnto them and one of his Grandes in Spayne to wit the Count after Duke of Feria had maried an English ladie that as I ghesse was within the compasse of that age or not much aâ—boue it at that day and should all these haue byn sent think you to Barbarie together Impudencie then it is in this fond knight to alleage such improbable and palpable lyes out of an author without name and much more lack of shame is it to auouch them himself for truthes and to adde other fables that are yet more monstrous as of the kinges destining to slauerie bondage not only those before mentioned that were borne within the space of twentie yeares but of all other English also as this man sayth without regard of sex age or degree and that he vsed to call our nation cursed euen then when the Popes holines had absolued it who will geue eare or credit to such absurd inuentions And further to fill vp sayth he the full measure of his impietie he had layd his plot to destroy and make away the lady Elizabeth now Queen wheras all the world notwithstanding knoweth the king to haue byn at that day her cheefest stay and defence as before I haue shewed at large in the third incounter as also that verie litle plotting of the kinges behalf would haue serued at that tyme to haue wrought his will if he had wished her destruction for the manifold reasons that there I haue alleaged he fynding her in disgrace and in prison at VVoodstock when he came into England and hardly pressed about wyats insurrection from the peril wherof and other lyke assaultes he espetially deluiered her and procured her return to the courte agayne and consequently I sayd there and heer I repeat it agayne that it is most barbarous ingratitude in this vnciuil knight to pay the carefull protection of her person which his Maiestie yealded to her grace in those dayes of her distresse with these intolerable slanders and outragious false criminations now and that no modest man can cease to wonder how so infamous a libel could be suffered by supreme authoritie to passe to the print espetially conteyning diuers other personal reprochefull contempteous and villanous calumniations agaynst so great and potent a prince as the king catholique of Spayne is And namely that where this good fellow hauing told a story how one Fabritius the Roman Captayne refusing the poysoning of his enemie Pirrhus that was offered to him for money by his physitian he sent the sayd physitian bound to Pirrhus himself and then he addeth this illation But the king of Spain delt not so with the Queen our mistris when her poysonable portugall phisitian Lopus would haue poysoned her for from such hopes he taketh hart c. By which wordes he would haue men to imagin that his catholique Maiestie had either hired Lopus to do that fact if any such matter was indeed intended or at least that he was priuie consenting to it for how otherwise could he haue warned the Q. of the danger intended and yet it is manifest that no such matter was euer or could probably be knoweÌ„ to the king of Spain Neither did euer Lopus giue any such signification or suspition at his death or before of the king of Spaines priuitie nor was he a man to haue correspondence in Spayn being knowen to be a Iew in religion fled from those parts and was enimy to the king in all respects as wel touching religion as the afaires of Portugal and onely England is the receptacle of such people at this day nor had his catholique Maiestie any Embassador or other agent or correspondence in England to plot such treaties nor euer was it heard that he would hearken to such base wayes of reuenge vpon his enimyes And therefore all this put together doth make it more then Turkish impietie to put in print such infamous stuffe agaynst the Maiestie of so high a prince by name without any proof at all as though there were no God no conscience no iudgement to make account vnto nor any respect in earth to be held to such as are in lawful authoritie which yet our dreaming knight himself alitle before will needes proue out of Sâ— Peeter and S. Paul to be due to such princes as he liketh to assigne it euen in spiritual and ecclesiastical matters belonging to the soule and consequently also to an other tribunal so vnconstant and mutable are these good fellowes not only in their sayinges and doctrines but also in their actions as led wholy by passion and interest and referring all to times persons and occasions seruing their turnes and commodities And thus much haue I thought conuenient to be answered to the malitious calumniations of this slaÌ„derous wach-word-giuer against the noble and renowned nation of Spanyardes and their most Catholique pious wise and potent king whose excellent vertues are greater then by my pen can be expressed and his loue and fauors to our nation such and so many especially in this extreme affliction and banishment of catholiques as no gratitude of ours can equal nor make due recompence in the state we stand in and therefore must leaue it
A TEMPERATE VVARD-VVORD TO THE TVRBVLENT AND SEDITIOVS VVach-word of Sir Francis Hastinges knight vvho indeuoreth to slaunder the vvhole Catholique cause all professors therof both at home and abrode Reduced into eight seueral encounters vvith a particuler speeche directed to the Lordes of her Maiesties most honorable Councel To vvhome the arbitriment of the vvhole is remitted By N. D. Psalm 71. vers 4. Iudicabit Dominus pauperes populi humiliabit calumniatorem God vvil iudge his poore and afflicted people and vvil make the stâ—nderer to stoop Imprinted vvith Licence ANNO M. D. XCIX THE PREFACE TO THE READER I Could much haue vvished that Sir Francis Hastinges vvho geueth himself for author of a certayne iniurious pamphlet published some monethes past agaynst Catholiques and intituled Avvache-vvord or vvhosoeuer made that byting libel for him vvith intention to dishonor him vvith the title as on the one syde he nameth himself knight and all men knovv the Hastinges to be of a verie honorable familie and one also to be knight of that name so on the other had he obserued some terme and stile of nobilitie or gentrie in his vvryting in vvhich case I had either vvholy spared this labour of ansvvering him at all leauing him only to the censure and rebuke of his equals for medling in so base an excercise as calumniation and rayling is in this his old yeares or at leastvvise should he haue receyued his check and refutation vvith that regard of vvorship and honor as othervvise had byn due to his rank place and person But fynding him so far forgetful of all knightly temperance in his tongue and of all ciuil cariage in the drift and current of his book as he holdeth no rule or limit of modestie at all but inraged rather as it seemeth vvith a furious veyne of inuectiue spirit spareth neither God nor man so far forth as they concerne the catholique cause or the cause them he must beare vvith me and lay it to his ovvne demerits if I be driuen to encounter vvith him in some more egar and sharp manner at certayne meetinges then either I allovv of by myne ovvne lyking or then the reuerend respect I carie to his house and familie and the particuler affection I feele tovvardes some of his ovvne name and linage vvould othervvise haue induced me VVho vvill not confesse but that lying forging and falâ—ifying ignorant vaunting odious scoffyng malitious calumniations seditious interpretations bloodie exaggerations Barbarous in sultations ouer them that already are in affliction and calamitie ought to be far from the nature pen and tongue of a knight or gentleman and yet these are the flovvers or rather furies of this skolding discourse as aftervvard you shall see by that vvhich is to be treated VVherin if the lyues honors states and liuinges of home-borne subiectes vvere only touched and brought in question as they be it vvere more tolerable though no vvay tolerable being don vniustly but the heat of this hastie knight resteth not here but rusheth further to the open assault of forayne monarches also their honors fame and reputation vvhich is lesse tolerable and consequently hath need of some more sharpe and forcible reiection The violence of the Puritan spirit is not vnknovven to the vvise of England vvherunto also France and Scotland vvil beare sufficient vvitnesse It hath byn kept dovvne many yeares by the valour and prudenee of the Protestant and the knovven professors therof haue byn held leane and hungrie by her Maiestie to no smale benefyt of publique peace and so may be stil vvhyle the Catholique partie hath also some poyse and svvay in the balance agaynst them If Sir Francis be one of them it may seeme perhaps expedient in his vvisdome that her Maiestie grovving novv fast in yeares thinges be brought to some trial by garboile in her dayes for that aftervvard more then one parte may chance to ioyne agaynst them vvherfore if they might novv oppresse the catholique partie by the hand of her Maiestie their ovvne vvould serue aftervvardes more easely to do the lyke agaynst her and hers and the vvay and meanes to effectuate them both may seeme perhappes no vvise to be more potent or speedie then to dryue many at home to desperation by feares and terrors of oppressions and by opprobrious iniuries and personnal slaunders to inforce forayne princes of the same religion to implacable yre and indignation And this is the proper course that Sir Francis taketh throughout his vvhole sedious vvach-vvord VVhich to couer the better he falleth to extreme flaterie of the other syde espetially of the state and of her Maiesties person in particuler vvhich are the fittest baytes to couer such hookes as angle after popular fauor for a further fetche To this man then I am to ansvver as the substance and tenour of his accusations fictions or calumniations shall leade me reducing all that I am to saie for better order and memorie to eight or nyne principal heades branches and argumentes vnder the name of encounters vvherin I dout not but the apparent truth of diuers poyntes vvil come to light vvhich hitherto haue layen hidden and obscure in the vnderstanding of many hoping that the discret reader vvill passe ouer these fevv lynes vvith a beneuolent or at least an indifferent eye reseruing the final iudgment of all to the Lordes of her Maiesties Councell vvhome I my self haue chosen for vmpires and arbitres of the vvhole controuersie and so I end this entrance and vvil passe to my first combat and incounter vvith Sir Francis Hastinges Your harty freend that vvisheth your best and greatest good N. D. THE PRINCIPAL PARTES OF THIS VVARD-VVORD THe preface to the reader about Sir Francis Hastinges manner of proceeding The first encounter about blessings or cursings receyued by change of catholique religion in England page 1. The second encounter concerning certayn absurd grovvndes of catholique religion faigned by the knight and the defence of Saynt Thomas of Canterbury page 11. The third encounter touching forged perils to haue byn procured to her Maiestie by Catholiques both before and since her raigne page 27. The fourth encounter about certain principal Englishmen iniured by name as Bishop Gardener Cardinal Allen c. also about father Persons and other Iesuites page 41. The fifth encouÌ„ter about Iesuites and father Persons in Particuler vvhether they seek the Queenes blood as S. Fra. affirmeth page 55. The sixth encounter of Catholique recusants novv in England and the fault of disloyalty falsly layd against them page 72. The seuenth encounter of for ayn princes slandered and first about the Bishop of Rome vvhether he be Antichriste or no. page 90. The eight encounter about the present king of Spayn and the Spanish nation iniured by Sir Francis page 102. A speech to the Lords of her Maiesties priuie Councell remitting the iudgement and arbitrement of the vvhole controuersie to their censures as also the iudgment and petition of the ansvverer for ending or composing of
matters page 119. THE FIRST INCOVNTER ABOVT THE BLESSINGES AND BENEDICTIONS vvhich Sir Francis affirmeth to haue come to England by the change of Catholique Religion WITTIE was the answer of him who being demaunded what enimy was to be holden for most perilous and pernitious sayd that of domestical enemies the flatterer for that his wound is receiued commonlie with delectation and by couering the truth and praysing the vices and imperfections of the party flattered he doth lead him pleasantly and without resistance to perdition And as this is true in particuler men as all the world doth experieÌ„ce daily so much more hath it his effect in great communities and common wealthes where the greater part being lightly of the simpler and more imperfect sort they are easily caried away with the poysoned melody of these Sirens songes of adulatioÌ„ so he that will read ouer the stories of the beginninges proceedinges fall and ouerthrow of realmes and countries shal find the principall root of their ruine or changes to haue bin the eare and credit giuen to flatterers before the sincere couÌ„cell of them that spake more plainlie though les pleasantlie Let the onlâ—e example of the people of Israell serue for this tyme who being often told by holie men and prophets of God of their dangerous estate would neuer beleeue them but harkened rather vnto flatterers that smoothed all and told them of blessinges in so much as God himself resolued one daie to saie plainlie vnto them though it profited little Pâ—pule meus qui te beatum dicunt ipsi te decipiunt viam gressuum tuoruâ— dissipant My people they who say thou art happie they are those that deceiue thee and doe mar the way where thou art to passe therby to ouerthrow thee He that will consider with iudgemeÌ„t and indifferencie the present estate of matters in England and round about it this especially by reason of change made in religion shal read together the flearing tale which Sir Francis Hastinges telleth vs in the first lynes of his booke of the iâ—finit and innumerable blessinges receiued as he saith by the sayd change he will either say that the man lacked witte and discourse to see the deformitie and contradiction of his owne talke or els modestie and shame fastnesse in vttering it For notwithstanding the rare partes and good intentions of her Maiestie in this her gouernement which no man denieth nor yet conioyneth with the euil successe of this alteration of religion as well knowen not to haue proceeded of her owne inclination at the beginning who is there so simple that discouereth not or so euil affected that rueth not from his harte the difficulties alredy growen and growing daily by this most vnfortunate and fatall alteration of religion which this man calleth The fountaine and wellspring whence all the rest of this our little Ilandes benefites and blessinges doe issue and flow Nay doth not the seely fellow himself in all this furious and scornefull libell of his indeuour to lay before vs a thowsand feares and frightes of imminent perilles which he saieth hang ouer vs by the diuision of hartes of handes of iudgementes of affections of partes and partialâ—ties and factions within the realme Or is his whole argument any thing els in effect but a timerous abodement of infinite ruines that doe beset the realme at this day And are not his owne wordes these after a long discourse of perilles I doubt not deare countriemen but that you are men of wisdome and can easilye conceyue what dangers we stand in by that which hath bin set downe before And a little after The life of Religion of Queen Countrie is at the stake c. And how then doth he pype vnto vs this feigned note of melancholie musike amiddest so many dreadfull cares and sorrowes hath he not redde that Musica in luctu importuna narratio it is importun chaunting when other men are weeping but let vs heare his manner of speache If I should take vpon me sayth he to enter into the enumeration of all the benefites and blessinges that from the almighâ—i haue bin powred vpon this little Island of England c. Here Sir Knight seing you mention our little Island you must take in Scotland also or els you erre in Cosmographie and then your meaning must be that Scotland in like manner as well as we hath tasted of the same benedictioÌ„s by change of religion as no doubt but it hath with all other regions and countryes neere about vs who being quiet before and setled in one vniuersall and generall religion did by Englandes alteration receyue the like impression and motion in themselues yet more then the rest by their neerenesse Scotland Ireland Flanders and Fraunce Into the enumeration of all which countryes miseries tumultes calamities and desolations happened by that chaunge if I should enter with Sir FrauÌ„cis to recount them I should finde a far more ample subiect to inlarge my self vpon then he in recyting his blessinges though he descended vnto verie poore ones For to begin with Scotland and to say nothing of the Battailes Murders destruction of Countries Prouinces Townes Citties Howses and particuler Men which we haue seen in that Realme within thes fourtie yeares that the change of religion hath bin attempted no man can deny but that three Princes two Queenes and one King the Mother Daughter and Husband haue bin all brought to their bane by this occasion besides the ouerthrow and change of so many Noble Howses and Linages as Scotish-men can recount mong their Hamiltons Dougleses Stewardes and others as also the Irish will tell of their Noble Desmondes and other Peeres destroied But Flaunders Fraunce haue no end at all in these coumptes when they begin they are so many And all this as they say and is euident by the Lamentable consequence of our change of Religion in EnglaÌ„d which drew them after vs or at least-wyse gaue example hart and help to their change and euersion also But not to steppe froÌ„ England it self wher principally this blessing bringer doth vaunt that his blessings are powred out in abundance let vs examine the matter indifferentlie among our selues we are English-men and we talke to men of the same language and nation that know the countrie and condition therof and many haue seen the change and knew the stare of thinges therein before the alteration or at least-wyse haue heard thereof since by their fatheres and grandfathers This is not a contention about Terra Virginea where only we must beleeue Sir VValter Rawleighes Relations or Sir Humfrey Gilbertes about Terra Florida Let euery man then looke about him and say what he findeth or feeleth of these blessings or maledictions in himself or others I for my part shal onely for better direction of mens iudgments geue this aduertisement that all blessings of a common-wealth may seeme to be reduced to two heades or braunches the one
spirituall belonging to the soule and conscience the other temporall that concerneth the body and weale-publique Let the consideration of the spirituall goe before for that they are the worthier and most important for true Christians to be considered and esteemed There was in England before the alteration one God worshipped and adored after one and the self same manner not onely thoroughout this little Iland of England and Scotland but also of the whole body of Christendome one fayth one beleefe one forme of seruice one number of sacramentes one tonge in celebration one sacryfice one head of the Church one obedience one iudgement in all with other lyke poyntes and circumstances of vnion and vnitie which made a generall vniformitie also in the peace of mens myndes and is a benedictioÌ„ so highlie esteemed commended by the Apostles and Christ himself as nothing more in Christian doctrine This was in England before the change but now in these poyntes we English of the new profession are not onelie different deuided from the generall body of Catholiques in Christendom with whome we were vnited before but also among our selues and with other new sectaries sprong vp with vs or after vs we haue implacable warres and are deuided in opinions as from Lutherans in Germanie and Denmarke from Zwinglians in Swizer-land from Caluinistes in Geneua Fraunce Holland and Scotland and at whome what combates our Bishoppes Counsellors and moderate sorte of Protestantes haue to defend their Parlament Religion and Q. proceedings as they call it against Puritanes Brownistes and other lyke good fellowes that by shew of Scriptures doe impugne it All Englishmen knowe and see by their bookes daylie so as this first and greatest spirituall blessing of vnity and vniformitie we haue lost and not gained by out change of Religion But here our Knight perhappes will say that the blessing consisteth in that by this change they who follow the Parlament Religion allowed by the state of EnglaÌ„d I doe say Perhappes for that I know not but rather doe doubt much whether Sir FraÌ„cis doth followe it or no haue the onlie true Religion among all others that doe erre or at least-wyse his puritan Religion and thereby that they only haue this blessing by the change And no doubt but he saied much if he could proue it of the one or of the other but this seemeth impossible I meane that he should either proue it to me or knowe it himself but onlie by his owne particuler ghesse which maketh not faith but opinion and fansie for I would aske Sir Francis or any such man as he is that determineth so resolutely that his onlie Religion among so many others as are extant at this day is true and all others false whereon doth he grouÌ„d his certaintie Two only meanes can Sir Francis haue to guide himself in this case first that he hath receyued his doctryne of such or such persons preachers Ministers or Doctors whose learning and knowledge in this â—ehalf he trusteth absolutely then is his whole fayth builded vpon the credit of man as is euident and consequently is nothing worth nor no fayth at all The other waie is that he beleeueth it for that it â—s founded in scripture but this waie to Sir Francis must needes be as vncertayne as the other if not more for that to be sure that it is â—oundly grounded vpon scripture he must first reade himself his whole beleef expresly in scriptures which is much for a man of Sir Francis occupation to do then he must be able to iudge of manie other poyntes belonging to the same as namely that the booke is surely scripture that he readeth And then that the translation which he vseth is trulie made out of the learned tongues of Hebrue Greek and Latin And lastelie he must be sure of the true sense and exposition which also are hard matters for a man of Sir Francis learning and much more for others that knowe lesse then he Yea and when all is done if he had all these helpes needfull for such a matter as he hath not yet were it but a priuate mans opinion and consequentlie his faith should be grounded but vpon his owne particuler iudgement which maketh no faith at all but opinion only as ofteÌ„ hath byn saied for that faith must haue Gods expresse authoritie for her foundation So that to conclude the first blessing which Sir Francis in particuler thinketh to haue recâ—yued by this change of his religion is in effect that wheras before when he beleeued the Catholique and vniuersal fayth of Christendome deliuered vnto him by the vniuersal churche as founded on scripture which churche Christe and his Apostles gaue him expresse comission to credit his beleef was properly fayth and founded vpon a rocke that could not fayl now hauing left that fortresse and cast himself into the waues of new opinions he hath nothing certayne at all but so much as he list to chuse of himself or of other mens opinions which choise is properly called heresy for that the woord heresie in Greek as all learned men know signifyeth nothing els but a certayne election and choise in matters of religion to witt when a man leauing the common consent of the generall Churche chuseth only to follow that which his owne priuate iudgement induceth him vnto And to make this more playne how all these people haue no other rule of beleef but only what their owne faâ—sie leadeth them vnto I aske Sir Francis not of any Catholyque Doctor nor of anie auncient father as S. Augustin S. Ierom or the rest whome easely he would contemne but rather of his owne Doctors Martin Luther Iohn Caluyn Theodore Beza and such others whome he supposeth to haue bin seruantes of God and indued with his holie spirit and all the world knoweth that they were more learned then Sir Francis yet why should he beleeue his owne iudgmeÌ„t more then theirs in poyntes of faith wherin they differ from him as Luther about the real presence and the number and forme of Sacraments and many other pointes Caluyn in matter of the Q Supremacie which he denieth Beza in the whole gouernement of their churche Or why should I beleeue Sir Francis or his new maisters of England rather then these that were more learned then hee or his or what reason rule or foundation haue any of these men to beleeue their owne opinion more then others but only self will and fansie This then is the first and greatest spiritual benediction or malediction rather that I fynd to haue happened to our realme and nation by this wofull alteration of religion that whereas before we had â— direct rule squyre and pole-starre to follow which was the vniuersal churche now euery man being set at libertie holdeth beleeueth and teacheth what he listeth Nor is there any waie or meane lefte to restrayne him for streight way he appealeth boldly and confidently to the scriptures and there he wilbe both
maister and pilot and boteswayne himself to gouerne the barke at his pleasure for he admitteâ—â— no iudge no interpreter no authoritie no antiquitie nor anie other manner of triall which is the greatest madnes and malediction that euer could happen amonge men of reason And I haue byn the longer in this first blessing for that it is the head and welspring of all other spirituall miseries insued by this alteration vpon vs which now in haste I will runne ouer as men are wont to drinck a medicine with as litle stay or reflexion as may for the euil sauour After assurance stabilitie and vnion in beleef the next greatest spiritual benedictions that can be expected of any doctryn are the good effects of vertue which it woorketh in mens myndes and manners as it was foretold by Esay the prophet that Christes doctrine should so alter mens conditions and natures that such as were most fearce sauadge and wicked before should by this doctryn become most humble kinde and gentle The wolfe sayth he shall dwell with â—he lambe and the parde shall lye with the goat the calfe lyon and sheep shall abyde together and a litle childe shalbe able to gouerne them all VVell then hath the protestantes doctryn wrought these effects of peace meekenesse mansuetude and agreement I haue touched before the bloody tragedies raysed in Fraunce Flaunders Scotland and other places vpon the first rysing therof I might adde Swizerland and Germanie where their owne stories do testifie that aboue a hundreth thowsand people were slayne within one yeare by the rebellion and warres of the countrie-men agaynst their Lordes for the controuersie of religion such humilitie obedience and meeknes of hart imâ—rinted presently this new doctryn when it came But let vs see other effects Christes doctrine exhorteth to Peâ—ance to Mortification of the flesh to Continencie Virginitie Faâ—ting Praying Almes voluntarie Pouertie renouncing of the world the lyke Are there more of these effects now adayes in England or before Or are there more in Sir Francis and his men then in ours doth he and his ghospellers pay their debtes better then Catholiques doe or keepe better Howses or more Hospitalitie or â—rayse their Rentes lesse or take lesse Fines or vse their Tenantes â—etter or lend their Neighboures more money without vsurie Or doe they helpe to Marrye more Poore mens daughters and other such like good VVoorkes of Charitie Is Pryde in apparayle Glutâ—onie Dronkennesse Lecherie Swearing and For swearing Coueâ—ousnesse Crueltie Falsehood Deceipte Theeuerie Lack of Conâ—cience Oppressing of poore men more of lesse noweadayes in vre or before when yet this change was not made Let Sir Francis anâ—were me to this and not he only but the whole countrie rouÌ„d about him and then let him tell me with wittnesses whether they be Spirituall blessinges or curses that haue insued vpon this change of Religion so much commended by him and so I shâ—l passe to weigh his temporall benedictions which perhappes he esteemeth farre more then these spirituall For better vnderstanding whereof men are wont to bring into consideration two poyntes First what was likely to haue bin or â—allen out if the the change of ReligioÌ„ had not bin made in her Maâ—esties tyme and then what hath insued vpon the change made To the first they saie that if as her Maiestie entered most happily and ioy fullie into the Crowne of England by generall consent of all and promoted especiallie by the peculier forces of Catholiques that were at that day moste potent without comparison and that as her Maiestie entered Catholiquely that is to say shewing herâ—self in all poyntes of religion and behaueour à Catholique according as she had done also before in her sister Q. Maries râ—â—gne and was now crowned and anoynted Catholiquely by a Catholique bishop at a Catholique masse and other like circumstances iâ— she had continued that course still not yeelded to the persuasionâ— of some new counsellors agaynst the iudgement of all her olde aâ— in deed she was hardly brought to yeelde therunto at the beginning for that she foresawe by her wisdome diuers of the inconueniences that sythence haue insued then say these men if this had bynâ— so both her Maiestie and the realme had byn moste happie at this day And in particuler they alleadge these benefytes following which of all probabilitie would haue fallen vpon vs. First her Maiestie at this day had had a moste florishing kingdome vnited both to her and among themselues in Religion iudgment affection fidelitie and frendshippe as other realmes Catholique of the worlde are seen to be and as ours for aboue a thowsand yeares together with much honour and felicitie is knowne to haue remayned Here of had insued that none of these feares and terrors of Conquestes Inuasions Assaultes Treasons Conspiracies and the like which this Wach-man indeuoreth to lay before vs had euer come in consideration For that England vnited in it self hath euer since iâ— was a Monarchie made other Kingdomes and Prouinces rownâ— about it to feare her forces as by matters happened in FraÌ„ce Ireland and Scotland for many ages is euident and she neuer greatlie feared any Thirdly England had had her Maiestie at this day by all likelihood a ioyfull mother of many fayre and princely children for thaâ— the principall cause of her graces not marying is to be presumed to haue proceeded of the different Religion of forrayne Princes who desired the same on the on side and on the other the inequalitiâ— of blood in her owne subiectes for such aduauncemeÌ„t For to attribute this great resolution of her Maiestie to the onlie loue of sole lyfe and Mayden head I doubt how it can be iusâ—ifiable seing that among Catholiques where such professioÌ„ is more praised and practised they vse sometymes to draw out euen vowed Nunnes from their Cloisters to mariadge for so weightie a cause as is the sauing of succession in so great a crown as England is known to be And among protestants virginitie is not of that necessitie or merit as for it to incurr so great inconueniences notwithstanding the base and seruile flatterie of this crowching Knight who casteth in now and then the memorie of a Mayden Queen without respecting the deadly wound which his countrie receiueth thereby Fourthly of this had followed the sure establishment of the succession of this Imperiall crown in the blood and race of the vnited Royall Howses of York and Lancaster and of the lyne of the Noble King Henry the seuenth which lyne being now to end with her Maiestie in the direct discent is lyke to bring great dangers to the realme For albeit there want not of collateral branches yet their causes are otherwise so implicated for diuerse respects but espetiallie by difference of religion which had neuer happened if the change had not byn made as no man can tell what wilbe the end and most men do â—eare extreme calamities therby Fifthly if
to accuse them of cruelty in this behalf their affections being so notoriously known to the coÌ„trary in those times and this was one cause and perhaps not the least of her graces safety Secondly was the generall hope that moste men had of her graces being a Catholique as then she bore herself both in woorde deed hearing two Masses among other things euery day one for the quick and the other for the dead and receiuing no seruant lightly into her hows or seruice nor retaining any towards her but with this expresâ— condition and many other signes and arguments that way Thirdly was there a great reason of state that stood mightely also for her graces safety at that tyme in that if she had fayled the next poteÌ„t preteÌ„der seemed the Queen of Scots theÌ„ maried to the Dolphin and heir of France who by this means might haue come to be king of France England and Scotland together which thing many English-men but more Spanish could not abyde to hear of Now then let our miracle-maker tel me whether these be no reasons and whether no reach of man can yeeld him any reason of her graces deliuerance If his reach and insight in matters of state be no greater then this it is no merueil though he be not of her Maiesties counsell though he flatter neuer so deeply for it and thus much may be said of her graces dangers in Queen Maries tyme. Let vs see now what hath happened since This notable calumniator beginneth thus But when this our Soueraigne Lady Q. Elizabeth was fully possessed of this her princelie place and had the roiall diadem and crown with the applause and liking of all true harted English-men both nobles clergie and comons as a due by right belonging vnto her then began Satan to rage and his ministers to fret and chafe I would aske of this Sir knight by whome was Queen Elizabeth put in possessioÌ„ of this her princely place by whose hands helps receiued she this royal diadeÌ„ was it by haÌ„ds of protestaÌ„ts onely or principally or of Catholiques he cannot say of protestants for he nameth also heer the clergie whereof none of the principall that is of the Bishops that had hand in this worke was then a protestant and very few of the nobility far the less parte of the coÌ„monalty now then could these men that were Catholiques fret and chafe so soone to see her Maiesty placed in the crown wherin themselues had willingly and freely placed her aduaunced her crowned her and aâ—ointed her taken her othe of preseruing the lawes and priuileges of â—he realm and sworne fidelity to her agayn These calumniations of this carping knight are but tales of a tub to intertain fools igoraÌ„t â—eople that know not how matters passed at that day But let vs exâ—mine notwithstanding some particulers of the hostilities which he â—lleageth aduising first the reader by the way that if it be honorable â—o her Maiesty now as it is to be named sacred and anoynted as the â—anderer himself seemeth also to take it for that often he vseth the â—ermes this also she hath only and wholy from the Catholiques for â—hat protestants do not vse but rather do iest at the ceremony calling â—t greazing espetially in Priests to whome yet first of al and principalâ—y this sacring and anointing by Gods ordenance was vsed and afterwards to kings and princes by imitation only of Priestly dignity in â—his behalf and these are the benifits her Maiestie hath receiued of Caâ—holiques now to the hurts and perils obiected by this calumniator In the first place he bringeth in D. Story whome he titleth by the â—ame of a blood-sucker as he called before Bâ— Gardener bloody monster for â—ou must note as he is light witted so is he foule mouthed also he â—lleageth against D. Story that he should say in the first parlament when he saw how matters were like to go in religion that if his counsell â—ad bin followed in Queen Maries tyme they had stricken at the roote meaning â—ereby sayth this man the bereauing of our deer Souereign of her life a bloody â—each of a bloody traitor who afterward was brought by a good chance from beâ—nd the seas indited araigned found guiltie and condemned of treason receaâ—ed his iudgment at the seat of iustice and was executed accordingly as he was â—ell worthy at Tiburn and so may all speed that wish to Queen Elâ—zabeth as he â—d Thus far the accuser In which narration three things may be considered first Doctor â—ories woords then the interpretation therof by this accuser and â—irdly the punishment which he suffered for them And in all three â—u shall see more passion then truthe and more rigor then reason â— I be not deceaued wherof let the reader be iudge with inâ—fferency For the woords theÌ„selues they had neuer yet any other proof thâ— they were spoken to my knowledge but only that his enimies affirmed them to make him therby more odious when they had him in their power and desired his destruction For I neuer heard that himâ—self confessed them either in liberty captiuitie at the bar or at his death and that he should not speak them though he had thoughâ— them when Queen Elizabeth was now setled in her crown as this Kâ— affirmeth he being knowen to be wise and no fool all reason may induce vs to think and beleeue seeing they could not serue to any purpose but to his own ruine But let vs suppose secondly that he should speak them say thâ— he was sory they had not strickeÌ„ at the roote of heresie it self in Queen Maries dayes why is it necessarie we should admit the bloody commentarie and heauy exposition only of his enemies and namely oâ— this his malignant accuser who will needs haue him mean by those woords the bereauing of our dear Souereigns life was lady Elizabeth I pray you taken to be this roote of heresie in Queen Maries time being holdeÌ„ by most Catholiques to be no protestant at all as beforâ— I haue shewed why might not D. Storie meane rather if he had spoken those woords of some Bacon some Cecill some Cook somâ— Knoles some ThrogmortoÌ„ some Russel many other like that were knowen protestants in Q. Maries time supporters of others and pâ—â—ctitioners against the present state and yet suffered yea borne out by knowen Catholiques whyle other poor coblers clothiers cariers â— such like were punished at which maÌ„ner of dealing I do coÌ„fesse thaâ— D. Storie being a man of zeal in his religion misliked exceedingly aâ—â— stormed also publiquely one day before the Bishops priuie Councell in a publique consistory for that Councellors also for honours sake and to protect their frends and kinred would needs be inquisitors in that gouernmeÌ„t complaining grieuously of this abuse in somuch as he would needs haue giuen ouer publiquely his office 〈◊〉 Commission in presence of all the rest of the inquisitors and Councellors
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