Streatchlie took Skarborow castle a fort then of some strenth in yorkskyre to hould against the Spanyards and in recompenc of so great a seruice they worthilie lost ther heads Henrie Duke of Suffolk to vvhome Quene Marie had once before giuen his lyfe being father to Ladie Iane a priuie counsellor to the treasons of Northumberland and her prisoner in the towre he flijng into Leicestershyre vvith the Lord Gray in his iournie he likewise mayd proclamations against the Quenes marriage vvith Spayn for that vvas then the greatest obiect of the Protestants mallice and finding his disabilitie to leuie a commanding armie he fled and lurked in corners till the Earl of Huntingron discouered his hole apprehended and brought hym vp to the towre his old lodging whear he mayd an vnfortunate end I might vrge the practises of Syr Nicholas Throgmorton a man of great witt and pollicie who was endited of high treason and arraigned at Westminster vvith Arnold Warner and Others And though the case vvas playne the Iurie acquited hym but to ther constand trowble Albeyt he had cawse to thank God that it vvas not in a tyme vvhen the Aduocates vvear so skilfull to triumph at the barr vpon calamities and vvilling rather that the prisonner should loose his head then they vvould loose ther Oration and the glorie of the daye Thus vvas Quene Marie tossed in a sea of trovvbles tantae molis erat Romanam Condere gentem But some haue obiected that no Ministers had a hand in these tumults nor vvear the trompettors of sedition at that tyme. yes surelie both ther heads and ther hands ded cooperate Doe yovv taik Goodman and Gilbie to haue bean no ministers Ievvel preached at Gloucester against the Quens proceadings D. Sands vvalked vvith the ragged staff and being vicechanlor of Cambredg assisted the proclaymers of ladie Iane. Hooper Rogers and Crowlie vvear enrolled as frends of these actions and diuers others vvho in Quene Maries tyme after vvyats fall ded forsake the realme And what think yow of the tvvo Apostles of that tyme Cranmor and Ridlie wear not they instruments of the Quenes trovvbles A great Doctor vvith great subtilitie laboureth to excuse Cranmor and Ridlie that they committed no trespass against Q. Marie nor in her tyme. Syr though the tyme doth not excuse ther offence yf it had bean fullie committed in kings Edwards dayes being actions of iniustice and against the rules of common reason and conscienc Yet y may say uon bene diuisa sunt haec temporibus D. for it is euident that Ridlies sermon was after king Edwards death and so could haue no shelter vnder his authoritie bycause all men of vnder-standing know that the raign of a Prince commenceth not at the tyme of his coronation but actuallie vpon the death of his predecessor Now it is certan that the Sondaye after king Edward dyed D. Ridlie being Bushop of London sayling vvith the vvynd in his sermon at Powles crosse like an Other infamous Shavve magnifiet and defended the title of the ladie lane to the crowne of this realme perswaded the people to accept and obeye her as Quene and so impugned the inuincible right of both king Henries Daughters against his ovvn conscienc and knovvledg and directlie against king Henties will and ther for he vvas iustlie convicted and attainted of treason As for Cranmor he was a counsellor and oracle in the busienes and therfor was arraigned and condemned with the Ladie Iane and Guildeford Dudlie as a contriuer and principall assistant of that treasonnable practise to disherit bothe the Quenes and to graft the princelie roses vpon a crabtree stock as appeareth by the records in the kings bench and I may trevvlie affirm of that Proteus that in all his actions he showed hym self ever seruilie plyable to anie humor of the kings First a principall instrument of the diuorce whearby the court gates vvear set open to welcome Ann Boodein then afterward to serue the kings appetite he and Cromwel wear the cheafactors employed for her condemnation and deathe as appeareth by the statut 28. H. 8. c. 7. whear Cranmors sentenc is recorded iudiciallie as of his own knowledg convincing her of that fowle fact So as Quene Elizabeths frends had no cawse to fauour hym either for dew respect of her or of her father or for kyndnes to her moother and all vnpartiall men vvill condemn hym of inexcusable iniquitie that being a counsellor of strate primate and Metropolitan and pretending to be a reformer of religion he would betray his maister whose creature he was vvould frustrate and voyd his will wheareof he was cheaf executor would subscribe to extinguish and root owt his issevv his tvvo daughters two Quenes to set vp Ladie Iane in there places And all this baselie and against his ovvn conscienc and all to pleas a subiect all for feare of affliction against which he was never vvell armed as appeared by his so manie chainges relapses and periuries offences which I leaue to God as faults of frayltie and batges of humain vveakenes But to come to the matter All these aforesayd being overt acts and treasons in se and simpliciter and by the common lawes of the realme and by the statut of 25. Edw. 3. I think I may vvell conclude that Caluinism and the nevv religion ar most daingerous to princes and haue bean the greatest cavvse of all the vvarrs seditions and depopulation in Europeever since Luther a man of vnhappie me morie And yet I can not but commend that religion Mâ—tonimia bycause it is semper eadem yovv may allwaies know it by the coonisance by the operation and fruits of it It is the same that induced them of Geneua to expell ther Bushop and Lord the same that mooued them of Sweueland to depriue ther lawfull king the same that procured Holland to depose ther soouerain the same that sollicited subiects to deposeth ' Emperor king of Bohemie the same that emprisoned the vertuous martyr and Quene of Scotland and cast her into that calamitie vvhich haunted her euen tho deathe the same that authorized Rochel and Montauban to stand at defianc against ther king the same that begot so manie monstruous conspiracies against Quene Marie of England as yow haue hard So as in 60. yeares mo Princes haue bean deposed by the Protestants for ther religion then had bean by the Popes excommunication or the attempt and meanes of Catholicks in 600. And yet foall this I perceaue all these action haue some Champions at least some men of note seak to excuse them as vvhen vve obiect Svvedia maister T. M. defends it and geues reason that it vvas the demand of the vvhole state for defenc of ther priuiledges and liberties and fruition of religion A writ is brought de eiectione firmae against Sigismond king of Svvecia by hys ovvn subiects the king is eiected therupon and T. M. allovves it bycause it vvas the demand of the vvhole state c. Consider better
then he would read a lecture more Nay to conclude his fidus Achates Philip Melancton in his book called Didimus saith Equidem sapient em virum iudico fuisse vviclesum Anglum qui omnium primus quod ego sciam vidit vnmersitates fuisse Sathanae Synagegas And this I wonder maister Philip Wold so generallie affirme and aprooue vviclefs error that vniuersities arr the Synagogue of satan being so skilfull an artist hym self But at the beginning they wear all vncertan what to mantain for sownd and trew doctrine and aboue all Melancthon was euer an Academick and never long coÌ„stante and that yow may see by this that libro ad waldenses he recanted that opinion and reuoked his error vvhich Carolostade never ded So as yow may perceaue that at therfirst rising and preaching reformation the spirit had not in manie yeares fullie illuminated ther vnder standing nor directed ther iudgment with full perfection as he ded the prophets and the apostles and S. Paul Hearby it appeareth that at threblowes Luther laboured to cut down the thre great Cedars of the empyre The Cleargic The Canon â—avves and the vniuersities For vvith ovvt vniuersities the cleargie covvld not be in structed nor with owt Lawes be gouerned and so being necessarilie chayned together he could not break the link with owt subuerting all for he ded not seak a reformation of them but a totall extirpation and destruction as appeared by the Bushopricks And this I dare affirme that all the Hundred His behaviour to Caesar and the Princes Grauamina Germanie presented to the Emperor Charles at Norembergh ded not containes articles of that dainger greauances of that loss and such an oppression of the state as the se thre had beane And yet a greater mischeafe follovves For novv I vvill lay dovvn his positions of state and declare to the vvorld a prodigious inciuilitie and his arrogancie disobedienc and presumption tovvards the Emperor and the Princes of Germanie Desiryng your patienc that I may but a litl digress to maik his spirit more plainlie appeare in his likenes and hovv immodestlie and vnreuerentlie he ded esteame Regiam Maiestatem by the exampl of his vsage of king Of k. H. 8. Henry the VIII of England libro contâ—a Regem Angliae He calls king Henry in his preface An enuious madd fool ful of Dastardie and with owt one vaine of princelie blood in his bodie After that he saith He is a Basilisk to vvhome I denâ—unc damnation And pag. 335. This glorious king lyeth stowtlie like a king Note his moralitie for which he is famous And again he is a lijng Scurra couered vvith the title of a king and a chosen vessel of the Deuel And pag. 338. Thou art no more a king but a sacrilegious theaf And most sloouenlie and like hymself pag. 333. Ius mihi erit Maiestatem tuam stercore conspergere c. I am ashamed to procead I wil omitt infinite and these ar too manie vvhich it wear incredible to haue bean vttered by the Elias of Almaing but that both his own books ar extant and S. Thomas Moor the most famous Chancelor of England recapitulates them with a nomber more in his lattin vvork against Luther printed at Loouain 1566. And these places I haue selected and cited not onelie bycause they touched Henry the eight as he vvas a king and at that tyme one of the most mightie and Renoumed Princes in Europe but bycause also therby yow might discouer the modestie and Holie disposition of Doctor Martin and how like a man he was to preach and persuade obedieÌ„c to magistrates Novv note how he ded behaue hym self to the princes of the Empyre and whether he ded geue to Caesar his soueraine lord that which is Dew to Caesar It is worthie the obseruation to see his religious and ciuil respect of an emperor Libro contra duo mandata Casaris he vvrites Turpe quidem est Casarem ac Principes manifestis agere mendacijs It is a shame for Caesar and the Princes to lye so palpablie and in the same book and with the same spirit saith he Deus mihi dedu negotium non cum hominibus ratione praeditis sed Germanicae bestiae debent me occidere Meaning that the Princes the Sauages and beasts of Germanie should murder hym But he showes therin yet more gall and bitternes Oro cunctos pios Chrisitanos dignentur simul rogare Deum pro eiusmods exâ—aecatis Principibus quibus nos ma no trae suâ— furore corripuit ne vlâ—o pacto eos sâ—quamur vel in militiam ire vel dare aliquid contra Turcas quodâ—quidâ—n Turca decies prudentior probiorque quam sunt Principes nostri quid â—alibus faâ—â—â—s contra Turcam prospere euenâ—at qui Deum tam alâ—etentant blasphemant Was this but a Peccadilio Caesar and the Princes to be censured with such scandalous comparisons and reproches but this is not all in libro artic 500. in articulo 367. Quid ergo boni in rebus diumis vel decernant vel constituant tyranni tam impij prophant Before they wear fooles novv he maâ—ks them tyrants and then he goeth a degree higher still For libro de seculari potestate he deliuers his opinion of all princes and kings in general and how they ar to be esteamed Scâ—re debes quod ab initio mundi rarisâ—ma auis est prudens princeps ac multo rarior probus sunt communiter maximè faiui nequisâ—imi nebulones in tâ—rra And there also bycause his good meaning might more perspicuouslie appear he interprets hym self planilie Quis nesâ—â—t Principes esse carnem Ferinam in Caelo As yf it wear as great a dayntie as vennieson to Head of y church see that a prince should be saued And in his book de belio contra Turcas Casarem negat esse Caput reipublicae Christiana defensorem fidei ac Euâ—ngelij oportere sanè Ecclesam habere alâ—um defer sorem quam sunt Imperatores Reges And mark his reason Eos namque esse peâ—imes hos es Christianismi fidei the which concludes my assertion for he mantains doctrine opposite to all king and contemneth government And as yf he would Vnking and depose them he dothe encoorage the people to dravv ther swords against all crowns and scepters Therfor lo. 1. contra Rusâ—icos he sendeth this greating to the princes Sciatis boni â—omini Deum sâ—c procurare quod subditi nec poâ—suâ—t nec debent nec volunt tyâ—annidenâ— vestram ferre diutius Mark that debent as a good encooragement to the Bowers Who can mantaine such Paradoxes or that they proceaded from the spirit of a prophet of God can anie Lutheran iustifie these wild propositioÌ„s or coolor them with tolerabl glosses Ded euer anie prophets Apostles or Martyes vse such a barbarous libertie of speach against Nero Dioclesian Iulian tho the greatest persequutors Ded Elias rage so madlie against Achab and Iesabel S. Paul gaue hym a
and there he prouided for his rest and securitie and in the interim setled and planted Lutheranism in all his dominions notwithstanding the decree and entered into the league of Smalcald for maintenanc thereof All which actions that yovv mayÌ„ vnder staÌ„d how directlie they ar against lawe and Iustice Let Andrew Gayle deliuer his opinion Libro de Pace publica cap. 10. § 36. Receptores Bannitorum perinde puniantur atque Banniti Domini praediorum tenentur reos exhibere and learned Brunus lib. 1. de haeres c. 4. In excommunicatis qui bannitis comparari solent vnica receptio noxia est Now Luther was both banished and excommunicated And Gayle in an other place Qui bannito Commeatum annonam suppeditat paena receptorum ordinaria tenetur Per aduenture yovv may think that the Duke Luthers Mecenas was not tyed with in this tedder these lavves vvear in force for meaner subiects ther for that learned Gayle shall maik his own comment lib. 1. c. 1. § 9. de Pace publica saith he Conditio pacis publicae omnes omnium ordinum status Imperij maiorum minorum geÌ„tium cuiuscunque dignitatis personas aequè obligat etsi contra Potentiores sit promulgata So as the greater the person is the more he is bovvnd to obey the lavve But the Duke not obeying the law and kovving that Caesar had oft vvritten ovt of Spayn to haue the edict of vvormes strictlie executed fearing Cesars indignation intred into a league took armes and so ded aggrauate both his ovvn and his fathers offenc and thought them vnpardonable Yet after that league the Emperors Embassador 1529. at Spyres offred vnto the leaguers most aequall and moderate articles viz. vtrinque ab omni iniuria damno conuitijs abstinerent quod transgressores contrahaec sint proscribendi Who vvould not thing this a reasonnable offer from the supreme magistrate to the inferiors that stood in dainger of lawe the Catholiques could never hope for so much in Q. Elizabeths tyme. Yet vvas this refuled and reiected Again at Auspurg 1530. Caesar verrie graciouslie entertained the Duke and receaued his petition exhibited vvith as much fauor and indifferencie as he might with his honor And there againe he reuiued his Embassadors former motion that no more innouations should be mayd nor moe books to be by them published but that all things should stand quietlie and peacable till 17. May next So much ded he yeald to them for desyre of peace and for the publick good of Europe the Turk hauing so latelie before beseaged Vienna and taken Rhodes Not vvith standing the Duke reiected the motion and much displeased the Emperor therby vvho plainlie replied that yf they obeyed not they should repent it And yet againe tho thus prouoked rather to dravv his svvord at Spyres he ded labor by persvvasion to â—reuayle quietlie vvith them but thither the Duke ovvt of I ealousie and feare vvould not come at all tho he was summoned By this course yow may iudg how vnwiling Caesar was to disturb the peace of the â—mpyre or to enter into an offensiue warr â—eaking to winn theÌ„ so oft and so graciouâ—lie So as it was the more inexcusable for men that pretended onelie to defend â—hem selfs to reiect peace vvhen it vvas offred and then to offend by taking armes before they weare offended If I should relate the mallice and contempt they showed of hym yow might conceaue that they could never haue hoped to haue fownd a spark of mercie in his hart towards them For in all ther publick acts and letters â—hey vouchsafed to geue hym no other tiâ—le then Charles of Gandt vsurping the name of the Emperor wherby they renounced all obedienc to hym and deposed hym as farr as laye in ther power which was an indignitie which a wise prince could â—ardlie swallow with patienc I may not forget how the Landsgraue ingreat brauerie both by letters and messagers assured the citties and Princes of ther confederation perhaps therby to procure a larger contribution and engaged his promise that with in thre months they would force Charles to flie owt of Germanie and abandon the empyre How then ded these things coheare That this holie league was mayd onelie se defendendo and to resist for ther law full protection and yet to strike the first blow inuade the Emperor offend first and promise to expell hym owt of Germanie before he offered anie tokeÌ„ of hostilie against them or they had iust and euident cawse to march into the feald And long before that they sollicited the kings of France England and Denmark the Hans townes and Swisses to ioyn with them in league against hym whome they dishonored and prouoked vvith most infamous libells and vnvvorthie aspersions France tho an enemie noblie denied them Denmark lingred expecting the succes king Harrie was not forwars tho Cromwel diligentlie sollicited ther cawse and promised them 100. thowsand crownes for ther ayd And at that tyme D. Thirlebie Bushop of westminster and Syr Philip Hobbie wear the kings Embassadors with the Emperor and wear wituesses and spectators of the whole Tragedie Lastlie to disprooue these there proceadings by lawe Remember first the decree at Wormes read the edict of Maximilian the 1. anno 1495. and 1500. the words ar these Consentientibus stautum ordinum imperij votis necessarium de pace publica constitutionem landifrieden promuâ—garunt quapacem publicam armata manu violantibus pâ—na proscriptionis quam bannum imperiale appellamus irrogatur Scil vitae necisque And to explain that A. Gayl l. 1. c. 14. de Pace publica Omnia bella in quit quae inâ—â—â—su summi principis Imperatoris puta vel sine eius licentia geritur priuata quadam vindicia in iusta sunt And afterward cap. 5. he puts bothe Sleydan Bilson and the and by law ouerthrowers all ther foundations In crimen lesae maiestat is incidit qui bellum in imperio sine Caesaris licentia mouet quia vsurpat sibi ea quae sunt solins principis mouere bellum ad solum imperatorem pertinet So also Goldastusl 1. tit 190. cites this ancient law Nemo intra imperis fines suis alienisueditionibus militem sollicito nise de voluntate ducis isius circuli caeueatque fide iussione statuum nihil se in Caesarem principes subditos clientes Impers moliturum And in tomo 2. he produceth a decree of Ludouicus Pius against the king of the Romans and his confaederates guiltie of high treason for attempting against the Emperor wherby the king was iudged to loose his head The like ded Henrie the first against Arnulphus Duke of Bauier who had rebelled against hym And Otho the 1. ded asmuch against Ludolphus king of the Romans I will conclude all with one exemble late memorable and to our purpose Maximilian the 1. ded forbed all subiects of the empyre to gene ayd to the french king in his warrs Emicho Earl of Lingen in contempt of
an extent of Dominion 4. And to maik this bad proposition seame good cap 5. v. 25. Kings saith he forget they ar men that is of the same mould that others arr They ar called kings and Dukes Dei gratia To vvhat end serue these vvords to shovv by ther title that they acknovvledg no superior And yet vvill they tread vpon God vvith ther feate vnder that cloke So it is but an abuse and disguisement vvhen they vaunt that they raign Dei gratia Is not this excellent doctrine to be preached in a Monarchie and a fyne Deskant vpon Deigratia Yet he goeth an further c. 5. v. 21. Kings maik ther boast that they raign Deigratia yet they dispise the Maiestie of God Voila quelle est la rage forcenerie de tous Rois. Hear is no exception but a generall accusation and to maik that good he addeth this strenth to it It is common and ordinaire to all kings to exclude God from the government of the vvorld Consider wel that Caluin writt this not as a Politician but as a Deuine and in his prime and maister peace his institutions he deliuers these daingerous positions in his sermon to the people and in his readings vpon Daniel not in priuat discourses and as matters of discipline and doctâ—ine to be generallie beleaued and so making a course against Nabugad nezzar he run the wild goose chace against all kings and that rather owt of pleaÌ„ then owt of his text For to what end and pupose tend these speaches so scandalous and derogatoire to princes certanlie to disgrace scepters and sooueraines both for follie and impietie And bycause yovv shall see hovv vvell Caluin and Luther doe symbolise in this poynt that they speak one language and both weare like coolors and the same fashion I will deliuer vnto yow how Luthers opinion of thes poynts agreeth with Caluins These knaues of the nobilitie tyrants tom 7. fol. 441. Nebulones isti ex nobilitate tyranni c. qui inducunt animum ideo Deum nobis euangelium dedisse eosque ex carcere pontiâ—icio expediuisse vt possent ipsi auaritiae suae litare And in epistolis fol. 350. Principem esse non ex aliqua parte latronem esse aut non aut vix possibile est a Prince can not be but a robber and oppressor tom 3. fol. 325. Non est Principis esse Christianum paucos esse Christianos oportet And tom 6. fol. 143. in psalm 101. Mirum non est seculares Reges Dei hostes esse eiusque verbum hostiliter persequi Hoc â—psis à natura est insitum haec eorum proprietas whear it is vvorthie to be obserued Nota. vvhat an Antipathia ther is betvvean Royaltie and religion by Luthers rules and so betwean Lutheranisme and loyaltie by as good consequenc vvhich is the mayn quaestion But procead tom 3. latin fol 459 in psal 45. Aulae principum verè possunt dici sedes thronus diaboli vbi tot sunt diaboli quot ferè aulici For such as the king is such is the court like to be and yf the courts be the thrones kings must be the Deuels Tom. 2. fol 81. De seculari magistratu Principes flagitiosissiminebulones The reason he giueth is this Sunt enim Dei lictoreâ— carnifices quibus ira diuina ad puniendos improbos ad conseruandam externam pacem vtisolet fol. 190. Nullum nequè tus nequè fidem nequè veritatem apud principes seculares reperiri licet And then yf kings and princes haue neither honestie truthe nor Iustice Quid ego principes doceam huiusmodi porcis scribam vvhy should I vvrite and instruct such porck tom 3 fol. 149. Who can not discern hovv these tvvo holie men iumped in vnitie as led vvith the same spirit ay ming bot-at one end which is to noorish a deadlie feud in all mens mynds against kings and crownes that will not subscribe to ther superintendencie and Caluins Institutions And that yovv might more euidentlie discern that read c. 6. v. 25. vpon Daniel Saith he Darias by his exampl vvill condemn all those vvho at this day profess them selfs either Catholik kings or Christian kings or defendors of the faith and yet not onely they doe deface and burie altrevv pietie and religion but they corrup and depraue the vvhole vvorship of God Hear is in dead vvork for the Covvper not by a Marprelat but by a Mar prince The most Christian king must be again nevv Catechised and learn a new Christian Credo Hear is a new portraicture of a reformed Catholik dravven for the instruction of the most Catholik king and a nevv priuate spirit to direct the Catholik The defendor of the faith bycaus he erreth in his faith not hauing a sauing and iustifiâ—ng faith must haue a nevv faith created and inspiret into hym by this great Prophet And so by this nevv model all the old religion in the church and all the lavves in the state concerning it must be abolished Thus presumed Caluin to reform kings and government and to build a nevv ark to saue and preserue the vvorld from an inundation of impietie ignoranc and irreligion of vvhome I may trevvlie say plus quam regnare videtur cui ita liceat censuram agere regnantium But of this I shall more pertinentlie speak in the appendix In the interim Can a man sovv more seditious seads yf he vvould seak to Cantonize a kingdome into seuerall circles as they haue doon ther french church Yet shall yovv heare hym preach more like a Svvisser and Lutheranize vvith the proper spirit of Luther cap. 6. v. 3. 4 he toucheth kings to the quick and describes what kynd of beasts they ar at this tyme. Les Rois sont presque tous hebetez brutaux aussi semblablement sont-ils comme les cheuaux les asnes de bestes brutes And he giueth this reason bycause they honor and preferr most ther Bavvdes and ther vices What a seditious declamation is this against the title and maiestie of Gods anointed Mark the age and tyme when Caluin writ this book and note in that age what renoumed kings France had Lewes 12. Frances the 1. and Henry the 2. what maiestie wisedom and magnificenc wear in the emperor Maximilian and Charles vvhat state in Henry 8. of England what hope in Edward what vertue in Marie for Scotland Iames the 5. raigned and two such Maries as at worthie to be Canonized And for Castill and Portugal there kings never floorished more for government greatnes encreas of state discoueries of a new world peac and plentie Then what was his meaning to affirm that almost all kings wear so stupid and brutish Surelie to bread and noorish a contempt of hings and to induce the people that liue in free states to despise and hate them and conninglie to seduce them that liue in kingdomes to be sorie for ther yoke and seruitude to shake of ther fetters and purchase
to defend the principles of ther religion by disputation vvhich the protestants would not accept * Camden nisi Baconus in theologicis parum versatus tanquam iudex praesideret and he being a professor of the common lawes vvhy he should be chosen moderator of such a Diuinitie disputation Cambredg can neither geue reason nor president nay rather yf yow ask ther opinion they will answer Spectatum admisi c. for it is a tidiculous Solaecism Since Father Parsons and diuers others haue mayd the same challeng desirous to bring I ruthe to the Tryal and touchstone in solemn and publick manner And let no man obiect the colloquies at Poissy Ratisbon Wormes Altenburg Murbrun c. which wear fruitles bycause formeles they ded not produce the effects expected bycause they erred in ther course of proceading and I confess I vnder stand not the misterie vvhy the protestants in England now draw bach seing Ievvel in the beginning was so forward and mayd so liberal offerts which yf anie would now defend it would quicklie appear which religion weare counterfeit and which currant whether doctrine wear solide and vvhether not speciallie hauing a moderator who could discouer evasions guid the disputers and iudiciouslie determin to whome the prize should be giuen And yf perhaps some would except and alledg the conferenc betwean M. Hart and D. Reignolds betwean Gode and Campion which wear honored and diuulged as triumphes and that these ought to stand as sufficient proofes co convinc the Catholicks yf the truthe so well sifted by disputation may satisfie them and preuayle I answer it is iniquissima conditio for a man armed to sett vpon a prisoner to insult vpon a man weakned with fetters and destitute of books withowt preparation and vvarning and which is worst in the face of a rack and torments whear Campion had bean posed with crewel quaestions before and in a place of no indifferencie whear they may sett down what they list and frame a combate at ther pleasure as Roynolds ded And whear as perhaps for politick cavvses the king and the Lords may dislike anie publick disputation vpon the grownds of religion yet this may well be granted and the french kings president may induce it The preasts and fathers offer to prooue that Iewel the mainster Carpenter of that Apologie of the Churche of England that Luther Caluin Melancthon and the later Doctors Colonells of the new plantation haue overcrowed and born down the Catholicks for opinion of truthe sinceritie and learning onely by false quotations corruptions falsifications misrecitalls and that both of scriptures and fathers both of the text and the gloss And this they humblie pray and hope that his Maiestie in his own tyme vvould be pleased to grant bycause these be heynous offences and the temple of veritie can not be builded vpon error and false grownds and bycause illusions and forgeries be stratagemata satanae that at least he would permitt the triall of that iust accusation and so afthervvard esteam of ther integritie as they shall acquite them selfs Concerning the third poynt that the 3. Preasts ar no practisers Seminaries bread such preasts as ar ministers of practises and stirr the people to rebellion as they ar charged both by the book of execution of iustice and by the proclamation 1580. whearin particularly they ar accused to haue bean priuie and accessarie to the counsells and proiects of the king of Spayne the Pope and others who intended and combined at that tyme to invade England to depose the Quene and subdevv the realme I must freelie answer that iealousie is trewlie described to be full of eyes and yet all pur-blind fearefull of her own shadowe euer in motu trepidationis and contrarie to the motions of other starres And tho they vvear great statesmen ye with all ther Opticks they could not foresee the great daingers like to fall vpon them till they wear at ther doors And hauing by error drawen and prouoked them yet took they the course rather to continew the flame then quench the fyre to encreas the mallice then preuent the mischeaf For first yf anie such confaederation had bean which never yet could be discouered nor was recorded in anie historie was it probable that so great and so wise Princes would acquaint the poor speculatiue preasts at Reams or Douay or the fathers of the societie with ther plats and intentions is it credible that they would manage matters of state so vveakelie yea but these Princes purposed by the meanes of the preasts and religious to prepare a partie assistant in England how by reconciling the people to the Pope that they might ioyne vvith hym and the king of Spaynes armie One error begets an other for preast doe not reconcile men to the Pope but to God and his Churche 1. And yet surelie it was a miracle that emong so manie preasts and in so long tyme and when Spies and intelligencers wear employed and rewarded neither anie such preast could be nominated who was then or after so corrupted or induced by these great Princes nor anie was afterward apprehended or discouered for anie such trespasse and which is most to be marked not anie subiect was called in quaestion or accused for entertaining anie preasts to that end then how phantastical was this feare what an imagination of Chimeraes and terrors most iniurious to touch the reputation of all the English preasts in generall and by statuts and proclamations to call ther names and ther liues in quaestion and to haue no su sufficient vvitnesses to accuse them no euidenc against them nothing but presumptions and probabilities to attaint them of treason the lyfe and honor of subiects wear wont to be esteamed more pretious and the function of preasts more reuerenced 2. I may also add this that when the king of Spaynes armado was vnder sayle towards England not a preast nor Seminarie man was fownd in it And though in the proclamation they wear traduced to be men suborned for preparation and making the way leuel for ther better landing yet hovv vvell they prepared it appeareth by this that neither preast nor Catholick vvear apprehended and attainted for anie such offenc as is afore sayd 3. Besides hovv litl affianc the king of Spayn had in the English preasts and Catholicks of that tyme was demonstrated by this that all the religious English at Valladolid and Burgos 1589. wear fettered and committed close prisoners when the armie of England assaulted Lisbone and invaded Portingal Furthermore in all the actuall treasons and conspiracies supposed to be mayd against Q. Elizabeth ther was never preast or monk or friar touched or taynted for anie of them For certanlie the holie altars of God will not suffer nor indure so vngodlie machinations and cloysters bread better humors eleuate ther sowles from the world they think not of Princes but in ther prayers and venite ad iudiciū sownding ever in ther eares requires a continual preparate in
rather bycause now 1519. Maximilian the emperor was latelie dead whose power and wisedome he had great cawse and worthilie to feare and Charles the fifth vvas chosen to succead hym a yong Prince not tvventie yeares of age whome he hoped to persvvade to ruine the Papaltie to keap his court at Roome and maik the castl of St. Angelo subiect to his commands And then he dreamed that he might easilie reforme the church and cast it in a nevv mould Speciallie being assured to haue the Duke of Saxonie old Iohn Frederic the elector his secret frend and patron who for his riches strenth allianc and abilities was farr superior to anie Prince in the empyre What follovved then obserue his course I Luthers bul against the Bushops and Bushopricks and iudg vnpartiallie vvheter it vvas modest and devvtifull or seditious and arrogant First he ptoclaymes open vvart against the Bushops of Germanie endeuoring to suppresse ther authoritie abrogate ther iurisdiction and maik them odious and contemptible to the vvorld Therfor in his booke contra Statum Ecclesiae aduersus falso no minatum ordinem Episcoporum emong his works printed at Iena tom 2. Latin He fends ovvt his bull against the sayd Bushops in these vvores Attendite vobis Episcorum vmbrâ— Doctor Lutherus vislt nobis bullam edictum legere non valde teneris vestris auribus placiturum His lecture vvas worth the haring First he vseth an exhortation Secondlie he geues direction what the godlie auditors should doe and lastlie his benediction and the blessing wich shall follovv by obeying his covvnsell And this vvas his graue and modest counsel Omnes quicunque opem ferant bona famam sanguinem in hoc impendunt honoremque suum in hoc exponentes vt â—â— Episcopatus Pompatici deuastentur tam remoâ—â— alieni ab omni functione Apostolica totumque hoc Sathanicum regimen Episcoporum extinguatur Ili sunt dilecti â—â—lij Dei vere Christiani obseruantes praecepta Dei who soever will hazard ther liues honor and fortune in so Christian a work as to root owt and destroye all Bushops and Bushopricks Satans ministers and pul vp by the roots all ther authoritie and iurisdiction these ar worthie to be honored and esteamed the trew children of god and such as obey his commandements And in libro contra Siluest Prieratem tom 1 Lat. witteberg Si fures furca latrones gladio haereticos igne tollimus Cur non magis hos magistros perditionis hos Cardinalâ—s hos Papâ—s totam istam Romanae Sodomiae colluniem omnibus armis impetuâ—us eorum sangume manus nostras lauemus So hear he will sight against the whole ecclesiasticall Hierarchie and wash his hand in the blood of Bushops But saith he obijciâ—nt periculum esse ne excuetur tumultus en respondeo an ideo negligetur verbum Dei peribit populus as yf Luthers doctrin with owt tumult coult not be preached Martin Marprelat of England and Iohn Marprelat of Scotland wear not possessed with so wicked a spirit and tho they wear mad enong yet they camm not to the height of this surie Let Brunus Minsinger and Gayl iudg whether thi sermon and proclamation of Luthers will beare an action of sedition and conspiracie and whether it weare consonant to the peace and lawes of the empyre For hearby the people was taught and animated to pull down the principal pillers of the state to overthrow the ecclesiastical regiment the Archbushops of Ments Coolen and Trier the Primate of Magdeburgh the Archbushop and Princ of Saltzburgh the great maister of Prussia Wirtzburgh and manie others who haue voyce and place in the diet and a povver full hand in the gouernment Think yovv that this can be avovved to be the act of a loyall subiect of the empyre or vvarrantable by anie lavves or example in a ciuil gouernmeÌ„t that a priuate man should thus insolentlie attempt of hym self against all authoritie for a subiect against the cheafe magistrates for a sheap to depose the pastor and by such meanes and aduise to stirr vp rebellion and insurrection against persons of that qualitie and inso high place and calling Neither ded he euer cease or geue over practising til effectuallie he procured the expulsion and banishment both of the iurisdiction and name of Bushops ovvt of Saxonie Hessia Wirtenberg and vvhear soever he preuayled which paradox I am assured the Lord Bushopes in England vvill not allovv nor patronise such seditious proceading for ther ovvn safetie and ther Baronnies But hear he stayed not he proceaded further 2. Against the He took vpon hym to deface and Canon Lavves burn the Canon Lawes Indulgences and bulles of Popes at wittenberg Yf yow ask Quo warranto he ded that by this own authoritie his own priuate spirit was his commission And the pretenc of the gospell was his Apologie But was that a sufficient warrant Though most of the Canon Lawes wear the constitutions of Popes whome he now both contemned and condemned yet some wear decreed by prouinciall Synodes some by generall counsells and all of them wear ratified bothe by praescription generall approbation of that contrie and the Imperial Lavves And so it appeareth they could not be lawfullie and orderlie suppressed in the empyre withwt the authoritie of the empyre But as he ded seak to abrogate the Canon Lawes so he ded also vilefie and abase the Ciuil lawes of Germanie as shall more pertinentlie appeare hearafter Furthermore as yf it weare to bring in 3. Againsts vniuersities Barbarisme and to pull owt the eyes of the Almains that they might not see his follie and errors he endeauored to abandon deface and ruine all vniuersities Which Oxford and Cambredg wil hardlie beleaue yf I could not produce his own vvords Libro contra Ambrosium Catharinum he writes thus Vt videatur ad Euangelium funditus extinguendum nec astutius nec efficacius inuenisse Satan commentum quam erigendarum vniuersitatum Be vniuersities then an inuention of the deuel and a subtil deuise to oppresse the gospell Is it not likelie That no man might coolor and excuse this grosse paradox vvith some fayre pretence as they oft labor to doe read his opinion libro de Abroganda Missa there he disswades the people from sending ther children to the vniuersities and generallie condemnes them all by these vvords Academias per Idolum Mâ—loch figuraâ—aâ— puto Vniuersities resemble the Idol Moloch By wat reason bycause saith he Existo enim fumo prodeunt istae locustae quae omnes Cathedras occupant Would he then haue all vniuersities suppressed onelie bycause therein the Catholick religion and school diuinitie is taught no in dead for why ded he shut vp the schoole doores formanie yeares together why ded he neglect the teaching and education of yovvth in his own religion and profession why ded he banish Tullie and Aristotle who medl with no religion why ded Carolostad go to the plough rather
Deus ipse effâ—câ—tur immeâ—iate eorum caput As now yow imputed to D. Allen the citing of that text in Num. to be a position and principl of Papists to depose and murder Princes I shovv a Caluinist that affirmes the same and overmatcheth hym Iam sumus ergo pares but yet is ther odds for D. Allens words and scope differ from Goodmans Goodman warrants the peopl to execut ther Princ geues them reasons shovves the vvay and to confirm them maiks it Gods act D. Allen complayning against the rigour and seueritie of the lawes of E. showes they ar not to obey and perform them but stirrs not vp the peopl to rebell he showes what resistanc may be warranted but incites not to resist I vvill cite his own vvords cap. 5. â—ro Catholica religione certaere praeclarum sed modo tempore Vt conscientiae lex sacra supremi pastoris sententia dirigant So then he recites Deuter. 13. and Num. 25. and infers Illud autem in omnibus ijs exemplis notandum populum non sua voluntate impetu ad has Caedes sed à prophetis Sacerdotibus commonefacti id quod omni posteritati sequutur examplo est ne aliâs priuato odio superbia c. in errores ruamus imbrobitatem nostram religionis velo tegamus So hear is more discreation and more dewtie then ad furcas abripere more order and governement then suspendere as in furie more religion then to teach that God ded authorise the peopl to so desperate actions Doctor Sutclif in his book called Turcopapismus 2. F. Parsons obiected this against Fa. Parsons Lopez à personio Iesuita Hispanis quibusdam ad reginam interficiendam magna pecunia conductus nisi vigilantia Essexij scelus deprehensum I will tell the Doctor such an other tale to maik hym amends Peter Pannie a Cooper was reported to haue bean hyred by Mauaraeus rector of Douay prouincial of the Iesuits to kill Count Morrice and vpon examination of the matter it was found a fable as this is which the Doctor deliuereth so confidentlie for in that action of Lopez ther was no man accused but Portingals and Spanyeards and in the examinations which I haue sean and read whearin all the circumstances ar declared all the aydors moouers and actors ar nominated there is not one word of Fa. Parson And vvhen maister Egerton ded in the Guildhall most largelie and eloquentlie vrg all he could against Lopez not a word was spoken of F. Parsons which he would not haue omitted yf ther had bean cawse and all men knevv that knew hym that he was not a like man to venture his reputation in a forrein bottom subiect to so manie leaks and so much dainger as that was and therfor this was a scandalous fiction But the Threason of Parrie is low dlie 3. Parrie sownded in all mens eares as a reproach and stayne of Catholick religion bycause the Pope by his letters had prouoked hym to kill the Quene hear is some probabilitie yet this is no stayne at all for Parrie confesseth that maister Wats a seminarie preast with whome he had conference disliked both his motion and attempt and tould hym that it vvas an vnlawfull practise and that diuers other preasts ded the like Besides at Lyons when he cam to Fa. Creighton a Iesuit after his confession he opened to hym his intentions belike perswading hym self that the good father would byte at such a bate But Fa. Creighton vertuoushe resolued hym quod omnino non liceret it was against Gods lawe and by diuers reasons disswaded hym and thus much he hym self confessed to the Quene Hollinshead in his chron wituesseth it and few men that ar of experienc abowt London but know and acknowledg it So ther is a discharg both to the fathers and preasts for Parries treason Now touching the Popes letter yow must vnderstand that this counterfeit had bean long vsed in Italie as a spie and fynding vpon his return so litl encooragement at Lyons by the fathers he trauelled to Paris whear he sought to insinuate hym felf into D. Allen and Fa. Parsons who wear there with the Lord Paget But not fynding such entertainment at ther hands as he expected he was brought by means to the Nuncio to whome he deliuereth a letter written by hym self in Italian and directed to the Pope 1. Whearin first he confessed the wrongs he had doone to Catholicks 2. That he was going into England to maik some satisfaction by his seruices and 3. desiring his bsnediction and approbation vvithovvt specifiâ—ng anie particularitie he meant to performe there which letter is yet extant at Room vpon record and to this letter Card. Como answered and vpon this is all the triumph The letter of C. Como is common examin it and see yf either ther be anie particuler seruices intimated or anie seditious directions giuen from the Pope more then an encooragement in genere to an offer in genere What then can yovv reasonablie infer vpon this to disgrace Catholicks yow may inferr that the Popeshowed a fatherlie affection to England that would vouchsafe to write to Parrie promising to doe some good seruice but by that letter yovv can not infer that he exhorted or encooraged Parry to anie treasonabl act speciallie considering that such actions be notoriouslie condemned by the sea Apostolick Councels fathers and schoolmen But it vvas Parries deuise to procure that letter to serue his turn in England and to vse the Popes name both to abuse the Catholicks and deceaue the Quene vvhen he departed secretlie from Paris vvithovvt an Adieu to F. Parsons vvith vvhome he vvas not vvel pleased for being ill regarded he vvrit to the Lord Burlie for a passport that he might come over and impart to the Quene great matters he vvas admitted the Quene hard hym and he informed that the Iesuits mooued hym to kill her yet in the Parliement hovvse he defended boldlie Catholicks and religion for vvhich the hovvse committed hym to the tovvre not knovving that the Quene vvas priue to his purposes and that her intention vvas therby to geue hym reputation and credit vvith the Preasts and fathers for now he had continuall accesss to the Quene he hoped to be maister of S. Katharins vvas in great fauour vvith the lo. Threasorer and was employed to discouer the plats and intentions of forreiners and at home to betray the Catholicks and particulerly the Lord Lattimor whome the Threasorer studied to haue caught in Parries nett But he that was trew to no man prooued false to hym self and vvas taken in his own snare hauing met vvith witts overreaching his and perished so worthilie as I may trevvlie conclude quis paena eius mouebitur qui id commiserit pro quo nemo misereri misericors potest Yet this was generallie iudged the more 4. Fa. VValpool and Squire probable that the Pope and the papists ded employe Parrie bycause Fa. Richard Walpool was accused to
and diuers others and with drew them from ther obedienc Bycause it is a matter which concerneth all preasts it is necessarie to examin it with deliberation Cuthbert Mayn was indited at Launston 1577. that he had and obtained from Roome a bull and instrument for absolution and that maister Tregion knowing hym to haue obtained the same 20. April after ded ayd and mantaine hym and was reconciled These wear the accusations and iudg of them 1. First for his reconciling Mayn answered that they wear deceaued preasts ded vse to reconcile men onelie to God neither by reconciliation was euer anie man withdrawen from his remporal obedienc by anie consequenc but rather had a greater obligation 2. And touching his being at Room and procuring this bull of the Pope he sayd he vvas never at Room nor sought to obtain from thenc anie Bull at all for absoluing anie man 3. Moreover that it was copie of a bull printed which he bought at Douay onelie to peâ—ule and see the manner of it 4. But that which is most to be noted is that it was printed at Douay and by the enditement he was accused that 1. Octob. 1597. he ded obtain from Room the afore sayd instrument for the law intended that the trespassor should obtain immediatlie from the Pope not a copie but the instrument it self and that it should contain some matter preiudiciall to the Quenes person or the quiet and good of the state or to seduce and corrupt the subiects for it is not to be imagined that the parliement would maik that treason by which no hurt nor dainger can ensew to the state 5. But what bull was this that maketh the matter cleare it was a bull concerning the Iubilie which by the Pope is granted of course and not at the suit of anie priuate person and for all contries not for anie one and once in 25. yeares and that bull ded continue in force butone yeare which yeare was ended 1575. and so the date of the instrument was expyred before he bought it much more 1. Octob. 1597. when he was endited so yow see parâ—uâ— iunt montes Yet bycause he had the bull tefused to come to the Church and obey the Quenes proceadings iudg Manhood tould the iurie whear manifest proofs can not be had persumptions must be allowed and therupon the iurie fovvnd hym guiltie though the enditement contained altogether matter insufficient and impossible and neither answearable to the words nor senc of the statut For in this bull ther wear neither words nor matter to withdraw or seduce anie subiect from dew obedienc neither vvas ther anie thing preiudicial to the Q. to be executed Notwithstanding maister Tregion lay long in prison emong fellons in a dongeon noysom for smells toads c. fed with bread and water and was afterward condemned in the premunire and his lands seazed by writ from the excheckor and the date of the vvrit vhas before the iudgment giuen as yf they knew it should be so he was prisoner 16. yeares an ancient gentlmen and honorablie allied and his lands 1000. pownds of old rent and tho it was entayled yet the knight marshall fownd means to avoyd it who had begged his lands of the Quene And all this vvas but for religion and vpon false accusation of one Twigs a parish Clack who affirmed that he had speach with Mayn at Christenmas 1575. and at that tyme was Mayn at Douay But to go forward ex pede Herculem by this iudg of the rest which is so much obiected Touching the rising in the North and 7. The Bull of Pius V. the attempts of Babington and his complices they wear mixt actions not for religion onelie or state onelie but for bothe and not procured by the suite and sollicitation of religious men but owt of ther ownzeal and compassion of the Quene of Scotland whome the Earles accoumpted nearest allied to the crovvne And such actions ar not comprehended vvithin the compass of the Question I am to cleare and discusse 1. But concerning the bull of PIVS V. Preasts vvear not to ask the reason of the Popes doeings yet yovv may fynd some of the reasons specified in the bull diuers haue ascribed it partlie to the soodain reuolt of England from the Church partlie to the prouocations mayd by the ministers there who in euerie pulpit vvhotelie and slanderouslie proclaymed the Pope Antichrist and the man of perdition and some haue attributed it to minsinformation of the Quenes case and the Catholicks But I am sure manie graue men vvear sorie that it vvas either procured or defended 2. And C. Allen vvitnesseth multos illud factum agre tulisse as before yovv see Bushop Watson and the rest ded and he wished that it had bean Dei iudicio reseruatum 3. And Fa. Parsons and Campion sollicited the mitigation thereof as appeared at his arrainment that it might not bynd the consciences of subiects to disobey the Quene Whearupon Gregorie the 13. declared withowt anie limitation or restraint that subiects ought to performe all dewties to Quene Elizabeth notvvithstanding the censure 4. Lastlie yow may probablie coniecture that the Popes ar not lightlie induced to vse so extream courses seing they neither sought by such censures to disturb the peace of k. Ed. 6. of the kings of Scotland Denmark Svveden the Duke of Saxonie or Marques of Brandenburg Neither doth it at all touch the Catholicks nor the present state for actio moritur cum persona which is the thing most concerning vs. The greatest blott is that ther vvear 8. The preasts more treasons by the preasts committed in Q. Eliz. tyme then euer wear in anie age by protestants and that is no quaestion disputable bycaus it is manifestè verum near 200. preasts and religious haue bean executed for that offenc In dead Norton D. HammoÌ„ and Topclif affirm that it is trew but bycaus Catholicks denieit let vs examin whether it be a trew Thesis no preasts wear executed for religion but for Treason 1. And to determin that the better enquire what be the acts for which they ar condemned to be a preast to come ouer into England to refuse the vath to say mass 10 absolue and â—econcile to preach and minister Sacraments and to bebred vp in the Seminaries Ar these matters of State and not of conscience temporall and not spiritual crimes of treason and not religion Ther must then be a new lexicon de verborum significationibus for els in forrein contries they will exclayme bycause it toucheth them all by participation both in conscienc and câ—edit who ar preasts and fynd ther function and profession so tainted 2. Thâ—n consider and defyne what is treason The best definition thereof is the statut 25. Ed 3. which was mayd according to the common lawes of England how know yow that maister Ploydons opinion directeth me In that act the Question vvas what was treason by the common law now saith he it is a principle in
Ashbie and manie other places can witnes and the author of the execution of Iustice giueth better testimonie thereof and vseth it as an argument of the Quenes rare clemencie and her confidence of ther loyaltie further more yf yow look curiouslie and iudiciouslie into it that bull ded not concern ther going to the Church and seruing God but touching the Quenes being lawfull Quene and seruing her after the excommunications Now How these noble gentlmen and others succeading wear vsed and oppressed to what reproaches they wear subiect by the basest skoome of men it is a lamentable storie and would mooue a hart of flint It was not affliction enough to authorise purseuants to search ther howses and Promoters to informe against them but they must also haue a Felton surue yor of ther lands and estates What losses ded they sustain by the leases of the third part of ther lands what loss of goods by rapine what spoyle of woods what bribes wear they forced to geue gratiam emendicando I nead not repeat them I haue sean some part of the proceading For ther committing to Wâ—sbich Banhurie Elie the Fleat York or Ludlovv though they ded suffer ther restraint patientlie yet I must neads pittie them bycause ther they lost ther libertie hazarded health wear forced to neglect ther state vvear detained from ther wiues and children and mayd subiect to the contempt of the world And touching ther being Disarmed yt was more disgrace then loss it prooued they wear distrusted which was a course rather to prouoke then reclayme them But for ther twentie povvnds a month payd into the excheckor that ded lie heauie and mayd the meaner sort grone though I know by the lo B. the rigor and extremitie was a litl qualified Compare these with the Puritans recusants who will beare no such burdens yow shall fynd in the Catholicks more vertue and less insolencie more humilitie and less dainger to the state Compare them with the recusants of France and yow will think our geÌ„tlmen preasts and ther ministers Capitains our Catholicks vnwilling to offend theyrs vnwilling to obeye they defend ther faith with ther swords and resist the magistrate ours endure and sâ—io cui credidi is ther comfort and bycause they haue no Bezaes no Knoxes no Synodes no boutefeus they can not shovv yow a Mountauban or a Mountpellier nor anie other place of assuranc and retrayt but the Fleat or the Gatehows And yet neither in these plotts and treasons supposed to haue bean against her person in Quene Elizabeths tyme nor in that inuincâ—bl armado 1588. nor in that inuisible armie the skarcrowe of London 1599. nor in the vvarrs of Ireland whearin the Quene required ayd of her subiects no men ded shovv them selfs more forward to doe her maiestie seruice nor performed more readilie and franklie what was imposed vpon them nor behaued them selfs vvith more devvtie and less dainger The reason is playne they that refuse to go to Protestant Churches in respect of ther conscienc vvill far more refuse for conscience sake to committ treason a sinn of so highe degree and surelie they that regard so litl ther own bodies for safetie and saluation of ther sowles will never attempt or consent to anie desperate act against the kings person or the state of ther contrie and by such greauous and crijng sinnes hazard the destruction of both bodie and sowle Now yf yow will compare the greauances The Inquisition of Recusants Preasts and Catholicks in England vvith the Inquisition of Flanders one of the long cawses of that warr yow shall fynd heare moe burdens and theirs not heauier It is a rule taught commonlie but learned of fevv quod tibi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris The protestants of E. condemned the name of Inquisition in Flanders bycause ther brethren groned vnder that burden and yet a more greauous load being imposed vpon ther contriemen frends and kinsmen at home they taik no remorse no compassion ther for I will set before yow a glass which shall trewlie represent vnto yow the face form and differenc of ther punishments Charles the 5. at Worms 1521. decreed against Luther onelie Exile and Fyre for his books Anno 1526. at Machlin he set dovvn this penaltie against Hereticks or those that disputed of controuerses of religion or that keapt books prohibited for the first offenc 40. shillings for the second 4. povvnds and for the third 8. povvnds and perpetual banishment as a proper remedie to remooue them from infecting others Anno 1529. yf at a tyme limited they ded not repent ther errors nor disclayme then he adiudged Viris ignem mulieribus fossam as the Canons ancientlie prescribed and as Calum hym self vsed Seruetus Anno 1531. he confirmed the former acts adding that these who keapt such books and defaced and puld downe images male animo should loose ther goods and yet he vsed some limitation and for heresie yf he vvear worth 6. l. and be conuicted of it the delinquent should pay 3. And to avoyd all quaestions 1555. he interpreted and explayned hym self for the penaltie of thes lawes with the aduise of Viglius to taik avvay all occasions that might hinder traffick he limited that the penaltie against those that vvear receauors or abettors of such men should not extende to inkeapers victuallers marchants or mariners and yf the accusors ded slander anie iniuriouslie they should be punished for example sake this though it wear generallie enacted yet it was both intended and accordinglie more seuearly executed against Anabaptists and Libertines the greatest plages of a state After ward king Philip 1555. set down instructions rules and orders direct this court properlie erected for heresie and to preuent secret conuenticles the moothers of sedition and these regia mandata exquisitorum I refer yow to see in the storie of Vander Hare Whearin the king addeth no new amerciements nor deuiseth anie new seueritie for as he answered Montigny he purposed not to bring in the Inquisition of Spayne but to reuiue his fathers lawes nor to create anie new offences but such as wear of old censured for offences both in the Churche and state And yet this proceading ded work ill effects bred in the Catholicks a commiseration of ther contriemen and a greater obstinacie in the protestants Now look vpon E. match and compare The lavves of England against Catholicks them together and yow will fynd the penalties far moe and more seuear To acknowledg the Popes suprematie in spiritualibus is Treason To be reconciled is Treason To refuse the oath of supremacie is for the first offenc premunire for the second Treason For preasts to come over into E. is Treason 1585. or yf they stay in E. 40. dayes after the parliement or yf they wear mayd preasts sinc 1. Elizab. To harbour a preasts is fellonie Yf yong students continue beyond the seas and return not and abiure ther religion and show them selfs conformable it is
video mulcos Euangelicos nullos aut paucos Circumspice mihi populumisium euangelicum obserua num minus illâ—â— indulgeatur luxâ—i libidini pecuniae quâ—m facium illi quos detestamins profer mihi quem isâ—ud Euangelium ex comessatore sobrium ex impudiâ—o reddiderunt verecundum Ego tibi ostcndam qui facti sunt seipsis deteriores Quis vnquam vidit in eorum concionibus quemquam fundentem lachrimas aut ingemiscentem And Luther in self confesseth as much in postil Super 1. Dominic Aduentus pag. 623. Mundus fit quotidie deterior sunt nunc homines magis vindictae cupidi magis auari magis immodesti mdicisplinati multoque deteriores quam suerunt in papatu Aurifaber pronounceth from Luthers mouth that post reuelatum Euangelium virtus est occisa deuotio pulsa c. And Caluin complayneth that omnes fere ad corruptelas degenerant and Smidelin saith vt totus mundâ—s agnoscat eos non esse papistas nec bonis oâ—eribus â—uâ—â—quam sidere illorum operum nullum exercent penitus I will conclude with Bucers testimonie l. 1. c. 4. de regno Christi Maxima corum pars visa est id tatum ex Euangelto Christipetâ—â—sse vt iugum qualiscunque disciplinae penitentiae religionis quae in papatu reliqua fuit abijcereÌ„t proque carnis suae arbitrio ac libidme instuuereÌ„t omnia Nec pauci eorum qualem cunque euangel â—predicationeÌ„ eo tantum receperuÌ„t vt in opes muadereÌ„t Ecclesiastiâ—as Yf yow desyre to know the most probable cawse of this confusion sinn and impietie Luther hym self hauing set open the port of libertie and broken down the hedges of order and discipline could not so easilie shut it again nor geue lawes to them that come in When a multitud haith learned the way of pleasur yow can hardlie restrain them yow bet them from confession to preasts from pennance from fasting and aduanced the reputation of sola fidâ—s as a medecin for all diseases by so manie nevv quaestions of faith they haue buried charitie and by ther disputes of religion they haue frozen vp all deuotion and reuerenc of pietie So hauing showed yow how well and 2. His reformation and deâ—ection of Antichrist effectuallic Elias haith restored and reformed all things let vs examin hovv vvel he haith detected Antichrist and hovv like a Prophet or whether he haith not mistaken hym self like a head trowbled vvith vertigo and giddienes First consider well how wear to knovv Antichrist and what characters and marks the holie ghost haith set dovvn that the Church might not err in so vveightie a matter 1. his title is the man of sinn and sonn of perdition 2. an aduersarie to Christ 3. extolled aboue all that is called God or vvorshipped as God so that he sitteth in templo Dei as yf he wear God 5. his comming is in all povver lijng signes and vvonders 6. he must be reuealed before the reuolt 2. Thessal c. 2. 7. and S. Iohn 1. Ep. c. 2. v. 22. addeth this he is a lyer that denieth Iesus is not Christ this is Antichrist vvhich denieth the father and the sonn 8. and as Daniel described hym so Apocal. c. 13. § 1. he must haue vpon his dead the names of blasphemie and § 7. a powr to maik batl vvith the Saincts he must haue horns like the lamb but the mouth of the dragon and c. 19. the beast and vvith hym the fals prophet vvho seduced them that took the character of the beast these two vvear cast aliue into the pit of fyre and brinstone Novv examin vvho doth bear these badges and to vvhome ar they most proper The infallibl and certan mark is to be opposite fullie to Christ ex diametro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most contrarie more then a diuersitie or difference king of a kingdom opposite to Christs a prophet and lavv maker opposite to Christs an enemie both to his preasthood to his testament to his royaltie to his name Iesus and to the sonn of the liuing of God And one that striueth vvith Christ both vter esset and vter imperaret and so persequutes his saincts and servants It is not vice not superstition not a false vvorship of God nor errors of opinion that must reare vp the vvalls of this Babilon it must be kingdom against kingdom and crown against crown and contain and express the full povver pride and mallice of satan Whether then can this be trewlie and properlie applied to the Pope No in dead and I will show my reason 1. Luther contra Anabaptistas Ego dico sub Papatu esse verum Cristianismum imo nucleum Christianismi multos pios Fatemur apud Papistas Ecclesiam quia habet baptismum absolutionem textum Euangelij c. in 1. Galat. ibi verum concionandi munus verus Catechismus vt sunt oratio dominica deceÌ„ paaecepta fidei artic And whitacre saith haec ad nos ab illis deuenerunt Iunius confesseth in fundamento essentiali conuenimus controuers l. 3. c. 19. Inuito satana tenuit Ecclesia illa precipua fidei fuÌ„dameÌ„ta saith Zanchius Sarauia de gradibus minist p. 30. saith Ecclesia Romana Ecclesia est ipsa est mater nostram qua per quam Deus nos regenerauit And manet ibi ordinatio vocatio ministerium verbi And ther is reason for to acknowledg it bycaus otherwise the ministers haue no calling nor can prooue it and yf she be the moother Church and filia deuorabit matrem no ther is in that Church yet remaining verus baptismus verum Sacramentum verae claues ad remissionem peccatorum The Bushop of Elie cals it membrum sed non sanum and Caluin acknowledgeth as much but cals it Ecclesiam semirutam deformen and yet Ecclesias Christi Resp ad Sadoletum And l. 4. c. 2. § 11. Instit. foedus Dei apud eos inuiolabile permansit And vvhitacre saith est apud illos quoddam ministerium aliqua verbi praedicatio quae valet nonnullis ad salutem sine dubio Lay these together and put them into the ballance The Church of Room by the confession of ther cheaf aduersaries holdeth entirelie baptisme the Lords prayer the ten commandements absolution foedus Dei the ark of couenant both the testaments the thre Creads the fovvr first general counsels the fowndations of faith ordination vocation and the preaching of the word Nay I will add one no small piller they teach and mantain the trew doctrine of the blessed Trinitie which no protestant Church doth hould inuiolatelie but onelie the Church of England then vnder whose banner doe they fight vnder whome is the Pope Vicarius at vvhose alter and to whome doe they offer sacrifice yf to God to Christ his sonn and ther redeamor then surelie vve must look for an other Antichrist he is not heart to be fownd wresting of words and straining of some texts of the Apocalips vvill not serue your turn Luther at first denied the Apocalips