resisted and vvold not suffer the popes agēts to cut their throtes Countries Reason then the life of the law will acquite vs if we prefer a Faith that hath taken so deep roote whose goodlie fruits we daylie see and tast before 6 Not so slēder sleight as the papists are slēder sleight green Christiās a slender sleight green and far lesse fruitfull plant About twenty four years now past when a certaine conference was held in the Tower betweene Master Campion and Master Shervvin Catholike 7 Or rather the seditious priests of Baal that came to stir rebelliō in Englād as appeared by Parsōs Cāpiōs faculties Priestes and some of the selected learned Protestant diuines there were then in prison in the Fleet diuers Catholikes both of honourable and worshipfull degree for Testimony of their conscience only as the Lord Vaux Master Thomas Somerset brother to the Earl of VVorcester Sir Thomas Thresham Sir William Catesby others who offered the warden of the Fleet to procure them licence of the priuy Councell to be present at the conference and to haue that question of repairing to the Protestant Church discussed and decided one hundred 1 They tell lyes by hundreds Frenche Crownes for euery day that this question should remaine thus vnder examination but their request could not then be 2 Diuers yet liuing can testify the contrary admitted albeit the said warden did vndertake the suite and confidently promised to effect it and seriously laboured it aswell by his honourable friendes in Court as by all other meanes he could possibly The same offer of conformity and desire to be satisfied in this point which we made then we in humble wise make now and that with so much the more greater efficacy as your Maiesty hath a most full and ample possession of our 3 Hovv can the hart be deuided betvvixt the king and the Pope harts and affections for manifold important respects both for the loue your gratious Mother did beare vs and the cause for which we suffer as also for the often to vs most comfortable protestations your Maiesty hath made and that in publique and in priuate that you haue a mind free from persecution or thravvling your subiects in matters of conscience that you vvold not increase our burdens vvith 4 The King is here compared to an insolent and vvicked yong man Roboam to which adding your Clemency of which wee haue tasted and your gratious promises wherewith wee liue in hope and your daily discourses springing from your natiue bounty and beniguity make vs 5 Jf you straine your selfe through a colendar yet nothing commeth from you but vain promises strayne our selues to the vttermost to giue your Grace satisfaction And therefore if we may obtayne this fauour at your Graces hands to be assured in conscience by the decision of the learned 6 Let your Diuines or rather sophisticall priests prooue vvhat they can in vvriting and they shall be ansvvered Deuines of both sides that the act of going to the Protestants sermons and seruice is not a damnable sinne then if after such (a) A most hāble and reasonable request A Councell conference or disputation dispute decision and information we shall refuse to conforme our selues to your Maiesties vvill example we thinke then there is reason to giue life and reestablishment to the lawes made against vs. And this may suffice we hope for discharge of the dutiful respect we beare to your Maiesty and desire we haue to giue your Grace all 7 All the vvorkers of iniquity vaunt themselues as the Prophet saith Psal 94. and so do these also But their cracks are vaine proud and foolish possible satisfaction in mater our beleefe and Religion The answere to the 3 and 4. chapter of the petition HItherto these petttioners haue well dissembled theire violent humors pretending only humilitie submission and offring in termes to giue satisfaction and cōtentment to his maiesty But now before they come to the cause of their religion they tell his maiesty of their nūbres both in England and Jreland secretly intimating that if they may not haue their petition by faire means they haue power to take other courses they doe also signify that some of theire consorts haue holden the popes handes from censuring the king and intreated him to censure those that should offer the king any disturbance in the firste plainly threatning the state in the second aduācing the pope making the King beholding to him for his crowne Many other particulers there are in these two chapters worthy to bee censured First they go aboute to perswade his maiesty that as many of his subiects in England and Jreland are papistes as professors of true religion they woulde percase say the same of Scotland but that theire consciience told them contrary But first they must shew that Papists houlding with the pope are true subiects before they place them in the nūber of the Kings true subiects next they must bring forth the rolls of the ministers of papists and name them or else no man wil beleue them For in Ireland howsoeuer the commō fort reteineth some popish ceremonies the number of that znuerstand the principall grounds and doctrines of popery is very slander In England except certaine stage plaiers old women adicted to superstition sely husbands ouerruled by theire wiues and certaine Mal-contentes and frequenters of ordinaries that despaire to obteiue preferment in this state and and only hope for honour and dignity in a newe worlde there are but fewe papists and all theire numbers forces if we respect the multitude of true Christians amounteth to nothing Secondly they talke very idlely of the dignity of English papists But they name no one man of that sort that either for his greate seruice in warres or peace deserueth any singuler commendation Therefore they runne out into a long rehersall of matters forepast and talke of theire auncestors saying that they haue deserued wel of this cōmonwealth But as well might the Moderne Romanes alledge the greate seruices and noble actes of Scipio Paulus Aemilius Sylla Marius Catulus Caesar Cicero Cato and others or of the auncient Troyans from whom they pretend to be descended they commend their auncesters also for theire loue fidelitie vnto theire princes But what is that to iustifie the Practises of late papistes both againste his maiestyes predecessors king Edward and Queene Elizabeth and also againste himselfe both in Scotland and sence his comming in England Beside that if they claym to be descended from those rebels that oppugned king Iohn and king Henry the 8 and sought to bring them vnder the Popes most greeuous yoke and to depriue them of their crownes it shall not procure them any greate honour with the people or grace from the king They say they are not degenerated in any poynt from their ancesters and that they haue endcuoured to serue god as theire forefathers haue done
it euident out of the written word that they are the true Sheepheards and Pastors sent from God to haue charge of soules they make profer without delay to folow them and with all conformity to obey them and heare their voices which when they shall proue the controuersie is charitably composed and though they faile of their proofs yet they remaine as they do with their wealth their 8 These tvvo vvords are euil placed together But if talking of massepriests he had ioyned their whores pleasures he had spoken properly wiues their pleasures and pallaces the poore Catholikes desiring onely a secret and silent permission of such 9 Of vvolues rather for vvho made them pastors or is so simple as to commit Christs sheep to them Pastors as shall shew to them the whole world sufficient 10 Can they proue the Popes authority and the function of priestes offering and deuouring Christs body and bloud vvith their mouth they shall then vvorke vvonders euidence and approbation for the charge of soules they vndertake The 1 They laugh at this pild prologue that vvould threape kindnesse vpon them Puritans herewith cannot be offended if they peaceably The Puritans and precisely seek after contentment and not contention because they shall find diuers of their maximes zealously or rather odiously conceiued by them against Catholikes ouerthrown 2 Soon may Iohn Lazy euacuate hu brain but the principles of popish practises he shall neither euacuate nor ansvver euacuated by most euident demonstration and instances in matters of fact practise and experience especially in that point of conditionall subiects which is so much vrged by the Ministerie The 3 They shall soon trusse your schoolboy masse priests flourishing and learned Academiks of Oxford and Camoridge may perceiue hereby that Catholikes know their Priests 4 And to requite their kindnesse the massepriests knovv their follovvers and their vvines daughters intus ad cutem intus in cute Academikes of Oxford Cambridge take them neither for ignorant in diuinity nor 5 Their pitifull ignorance both in diuinity and humanity is too too apparēt dunces in humanity neither for Catalines towards their Senate nor for Absolons towards their Dauid that dare aduenture life liuing for their vertues and loyalties And I imagine that if your Ministers were put to the like plunges they would hardly find the like pledges wherefore I could wish that your Ministers would endeuor rather to excell and surpasse them in their Godly qualities then in their pamphlets and pulpits to vrge the State to suppresse them with seuere exilements and edicts which are nothing but argumentes of their feare and 6 VVhetstones for lying they deserue Their faces also are as hard as vvhetstones whetstones of the others fortitude The godly and zelous 7 They are sory they attend not on the masse-priests to Tiburn as they vvere vvont Artizans and Prentises of London and other places The Artisans and Prentises may learne hereby to moderate themselues a little in their outragious alarms of Stop the Traitor when they see an innocent Priest passe the streets for by reading hereof they may be rightly and truely informed and instructed how far the poore Innocent men are from treasons and all treasonable purposes The Catholikes at home must needs hereby be comforted and animated in well doing and faithfull seruing The Catholikes of England obeying their 8 Viz. The Pope for to papists the king is not soueraign Soueraign in pace gaudio if they may be permitted and if not that yet in suffering with alacrity what shall be imposed vpon them for their religion when by his Apologie they shal be disburdned of those former clogs imputations of disloialty and treason The Catholikes not only here in Flanders but in the whole Christian world besides must needs be hereby much edified and excited to the sincere practise The Catholikes abroade and profession of zeale and piety towards 9 That is tovvards their god on the earth God of fidelity and obedience towards their 10 VVere the leaguers of France and ebells that rose against king Henry the 8. and his children obedient to princes Princes and of a reuerent respect and regard towards their Priests and Pastors when they find in this present Apology so rare and remarkeable an example of English Catholikes constancy in the one and conformity in the other and such confidence for the third that sithence the Apostles time the dayes of the primitiue Church of England neuer the like President either in the time of peace or persecution hath been heard or read of that the sheep should engage themselues for their shepheards and make voluntary profer to be bound body for 1 They are not so mad I trovv body life for life for their fidelity except that famous 2 He died for Christ and not for the cause of Antichrist as the Popes martyrs do Protomartir of England S. Albane who was to them herein a patrone and president the end of whose blessed conuersation our English Catholikes beholding do imitate his faith and fortitude and do succeed him in a reuerentiall loue and deuotion towards their Pastors Which heroicall mind and resolution of our said English Catholikes must needs be as famous to posterity a it is repugnant to all worldly wisedome and policie and must also needes be accompanied with asmuch honour and merit in the sight of God and all good men as it cannot but be incombred with dangers and difficulties in the sight of flesh and bloud and of all those quorum Deus venter est whose 3 This is properly said of the Popes cardinalls their adherents God is only their belly profite and pleasure in this world Of this Apologie two copies were sent ouer the one to France and the other to Flanders all one in sence and substance but it seemeth that the copie sent to Flanders was taken verbatim out of the first fountaine and originall And that the other which came to Paris was not altogether so 4 Quod dissonat verum non est saith Hierome ample and compleate Therefore I haue thoughte good to aduertise you that I haue followed and set foorth that copie which I found or at least presumed to be most consonant to the good minds and affections of them whom it most concerned And thus willing you to make your profit spirituall of these my endeuors and of the sequent Apologie desiring God that it may serue to mollifie the hearts of our heauy 5 No vvay so heauy as the spanish inquisitors aduersaries and fortifie and corroborate the Saints and seruants of God in well doing and patiently suffering and carrying the Crosse of christ and crown of thorns which prick to the quick on euery side I wish you the two most pretious iewels that can happen to a christian sovle Gratiam 6
sent to Eely to the Catholike recusants there imprisoned from the Lords of Queene Elizabeths priuie Councell with (c) A forme of submission sent down to the Catholiks from the Councell a forme of protestation of their duty and alleageance penned by the sayd Queens learned Councell with direction and commission to take the saide recusants subscriptions thereunto being altogether vnexpected of them they being close prisoners and hauing no intelligence at all of any Commissioners repairing to them So soone as these Commissioners had read some part of their commission to the Catholikes there they foorth with were seuerally deuided and in close prison restrained And notwithstanding the sayd formall originall sent purposely for them to subscribe vnto yet the Commissioners as it seemed for a more triall or for a more aduantage taking against the Catholikes there taxed euery of them to set downe immediately the protestation of their alleageance and dutie to like purpose as was set foorth in the originall seat to them from the Lordes of the Councell which the Catholike Gentlemen were permitted to haue but one onely time read vnto them This seuerall forme of submission in such strict order exacted by the Commissioners was in that (d) The catholikes exhibite a form of submission-far more complete theÌ„ that which was sent them ample 2 They had some dispensation to do vvhat they did and yet they did no great matter manner performed by the said recusants that the sayd Commissioners singularly extolling greatly preferring the same before the said originall accepted thereof and required not at all the Catholikes to subscribe to the said originall so penned by the said Queens learned Counccil and addresled by the Lords of the priuie Councell to whom the said prorestations being sent and by them perused they receiued such a full approbation that after that time neuer any odious imputation or calumniations against the fidelity of the Catholikes preuailed The like was the valour (a) The fidelity of Irish Catholikes fidelity and laudable seruice of the Irish Catholike recusants at Kinsale in Ireland anno 1600. who joyning their forces with the late Quens against the Spanish power and against then owne Countrimen and Kinsmen expelled with their assistance the Spaniard and were 1 These bastardly English do rob their ovvn countrimen of their honor in the battell by Kinsalo an 1600. and giue all to the Irish Gods glory like rebells to God they suppresse speciall meanes to keep Ireland in obedience to the Crowne of England which otherwise in the opinions of the commanders of the English forces then there had been vtterly lost And none of iudgement there doubted but that it was in the power of those Irish 2 Of these goodly Catholikes there vvere 4. rebells at the least for one true subiect in the Queens army Catholike Earles Barons Knights Gentlemen and their followers to haue betrayed then that Realme of Ireland to the hands of the Spaniards if either zeale of extirping the Protestant religion thence and firme establishing of the Catholike religion could haue preuayled with them or dread of (b) Excommunication hindred not the Irish Catholikes to do the duties of good subiects excommnnication or threatning of the powerfull inuader proclayming by sound of Trumpet and deuulging proclamations that his sword should no more spare a Catholike recussâ—t disobeying that excommunication then it should doe a protestant resisting in armes And this singular act of loyalty so shortly after seconding and confirming the like of the English catholikes in Eighty eight without all gain-saying conuinceth that the English and Irish Catholike recusantes are not (c) English Itish Catholikes no conditionall subiects conditionall subiects but most true loyall and 3 To the Pope rather then to the king faithull subiects to their Prince and to the Crowne of England therein giuing place to no subiectes of those two Realmes whosoeuer or of what degree soeuer and whose proofe and triall herein farre excelleth all other the subiects of those Realmes if preheminence should in that behalfe be attributed to any profession of Religion in the sayd Kingdomes This argument of our sormer behauiour and of our obedience vnder the 4 Shame you not to charge so mercifull a Princesse vvith seuerity vvhen your selues both by color of lavv by lavvlesse massacres most or uelly murder quiet Christians seuerity of the late Queen may in all reason assure your maiesty that in matter of our loyalâ—e we are like pure Gold fined and refined in the fire of many years probation and therin not to be any way stained The second triall of our fidelities consisteth in matter likewise of fact (d) Catholiks behauiour towards his Maiesties Pre towards your Maiesties Predecessors your Title in them and in your selfe and the effect of our loue and affection performed in all occasions that might giue contentment to your Maiesty both before and since your entrance into this your Kingdome of Ergland which we will endeauour to touch as briefly as we can It cannot be denied then in the first ranke of these our comportements but that we our selues in our times and our Catholike Parents before vs at all times of opportunity offered haue declared our deuouted affectioÌ„s to your 1 As may appear by ParsoÌ„s his book of Titles by Coluils libells and by the subscriptions and allovvances of them by diuers papists said Highnes (a) Catholiks alwaies affected to the Kings Title to England right to this crowne the testemonies whereof are in printed books and publike facts so manifest to the world that we need not long dwel on that point vouchsafe therefore patience we beseech you Deare Soueraigne to heare som instances of the (b) Blessings benefits his Maiesty hath receiued by catholikes blessings and the benefits your Maiesty hath receiued by 2 But not by papists beleeuing the doctrin of Trent and the kingkilling positions maintained by the popish faction catholikes and by our seruices and fidelities King Henry the 7. and his eldest Daughter from whome your Maiesty hath receiued lineally and directly your birth right and naturall succession to this crowne were most zealous and religious Catholikes and for that singular affection he did beare to the (c) Henry the 7 preferreth the Scotish King before the French Scotish nation principally for their great zeale at all times to the catholike religion preferred the same before France bestowing his sayd eldest Daughter on your Highnes great Grandfather and the yonger vpon the 3 King Henry the 7. vvas dead before the mach made vvith his daughter French King by which happy mariage came that lineall and rightfull descent of bloud that made your Maiesties renowned Mother Heyr apparant to this crowne of England who also was the vndoubted (d) His Maiesties Mother lineall heir to K. Edward the Confessor lineall Heire to King Edvvard the Confessor by his sister Margaret Queene and Saint and
religion neither inioy honours nor goods nor lands nor liberty nor life pristine honours and honest reputations and to our birthright freedome and liberty by your onely Peerles justice clemency and benignity permitting vs to liue in peace come dere buccellam nostram sine dolore to put a bit of meate into our mouthes without sorrowe without flights without flights and without circumuentions of our Aduersaries our woundes are so deepe and daungerous in matters of our honours states and liberties that no Phisitian can cure vs but your selfe with the soueraigne balme of your renowned clemencye What pleasure or profit can redownd to your Maiesties person or estate if we your approued and assured seruantes and subiects 3 Many hane been satted in prison fevv haue rotted in prison though committed for treason and not religion lot in prison die in banishment and liue in penury and disgrace for no other crime or offence but for the constante profession of that Religion which in conscience we are perswaded to be the only true worship of God and saluation of our soules Of which our faith and beleefe we haue rendred so 4 You haue only told false reports and fabulous conccits of your ovvn braines dennyd of reason sufficient reason that wee hope it will fully satisfie and content so wise learned politique and discreete a Prince as your Maiesty hath shewed your self to be in all occasions presented to make trial thereof which maketh vs the more confident in our iust and reasonable defence because we sue to a most wise iust and learned Monarch And albeit more then this can hardly be required of men whose fidelities are so sufficiently tried and testified as appeareth by the whole substance and tenor of this our Apology yet pro abundantiore cautela we humbly lay down at your Maiesties feete in forme of submission and security following in behalfe of our Precsts and pastors The answere to the 6. Chapter THJS is the somme of this quarrelsome accusation flender in comparison of the matters obiected and witlesse in respect of the handling of it as the sequele will declare First they accuse a student of Lyons Inne a lawyer by profession as they call him But what is this to vs Nay what is that to the Ministers they speake of Further they sould know that there is some difference betwixt students of Lyons Inne and lawyers betwixt the Innes of court and chancery but that they lack law and experience This lawyer by profession as they say in a discourse of treasons against the Queenes Maiesty by Francis Throckmorton telleth how there were founde among other his papers 12 pedegrees of the discent of the Crowne of England printed and published by the Bishop of Rosse in the defence of the pretended title of the Scottish Queene his Mistris But whether they say true or no god knoweth Neither neede we to examine it the matter concerning vs nothing And yet if these men in those tymes shold haue discredited Queen Elizabeths title and preferred another before her they woulde hardly haue answered the matter if they had been called to Tiburne for it Neither if this students offence be so great which only telleth matter of fact will they be able to cleare Parsons and many recusants in England that haue heertofore allowed that traytorous booke of titles which infringeth the kings title that nowe reigneth in despite of all his oppugners Next they mention the attempt of the duke of Northumberland for setting vp the Lady Jane agaynst Queen Mary and thereto adde a commemoration of the execrable murther of the Kings father grādfather with thē also they conioyn Dauid the Queenes Secretary as they cal him Lastly they run out into a large discourse of Iames the base brother of the late Queen of Scottes of Bothwel Gowry others that in time past made some attemptes against the King and his mother But what maketh all this J pray you to the ministers of England against whom they pretend to frame theire odious accusation did not the duke of Northumberland as they say dye a papist and was he not assisted and folowed by more papists then true Christians Furthermore did not the Erle Gowry bring with him the seedes of popery witchcraft cōiuration yea of Atheism out of Jtaly and was not Bothwell an hypocrite at least in religion aswell as a traytor in his rebellion but had they doone wickedly we are not to iustify their particuler actions neither can these accusers iustifie their absurd discourse ioyning to gether matters so vnlike and so farre from the purpose and in some poyntes making against them selues Dauid was no man fit to be ioyned with kings James the Queenes brother was wickedly murthred by a practise of papists that the Kings grandfather was murthred we cannot learne they were none of our religion certes that laide hands either vpon his maiesties father or grādfather-likewise his maiesties mother was brought into trouble by the practise of Sāmier a wicked Iebusite as is testified by him that wrote the Iebusites Catechisme a papist a mā of more credit learning thē these libelling lay papists therfore not so easily to be shaken of But if they will not beleeue him nor Watson a Martyre of their Church yet I hope they will beleeue pius Qnintus his letters extant in his life written by Hierome Catena and shewing that she was animated in those courses by the pope and his faction of which any man may gather what were the causes of her calamity the same also may be proued by histories and all the proceedings in that cause which J forbeare to relate leaste I should offend as these libellers doe without all respecte of persons refreshing the kings greefe and speaking of matters which he most graciously hath forgotten Lastly they mention certaine statutes made partly for the settling of the title of the Crowne and partly to meete with the seditions and conning practises of papistes which with reconciling men to the pope and by diuers notes of faction as agnus deies beads graynes and such like sought to vnite their consorts to stirre vp tumults and to make a side to depose Queen Elizabeth But all this rehersall of lawes as it sheweth the greate or rather necessary occasions giuen to the state to make lawes against factions preests and their adherents so it maketh nothing for the cause in hand seeing the peace of the land was thereby confirmed and the Kinges right no way preiudiced But if the Masseprestes and the Popes agents had beene left at liberty to found the popes kingdome within England then if the King had not founde geate trouble at his entrance yet should he haue felt halfe his authority and kingdome shared by the pope This discourse therefore proceeding from men aduerse to the state and fauorable to forrein enemies and dealers for the Jnfantaes title as is recorded in diuers books and proued by diuers witnesses known by good experience
haue we prooued Chap. 8. that popish religion is a masse of old and new heresies 3. Further they confesse that all impious and blasphemous opinions are to be seuerely punished and neither by publike graunt to be authorized nor by conniuence to be passed ouer But hardly shall the papists be able to cleare themselues of the impieties and blasphemies wherewith formerly they stand charged 4. Fourthly that cannot be true religion that containeth either falshood or foolery or error Nor do papists deny that such false religions are to be repressed and by lawes exterminated out of the commonwealth But in our suruey of Popery we haue shewed that diuers positions of popery are not onely erroneous and false but also foolish and ridiculous 5. Kings that are subiect to the Pope will not suffer any religion if they can chuse that is either preiudiciall to their dignity or dangerous in respect of their safety But many arguments examples do shew that popish religion is of that nature as formerly hath bin declared 6. The Popes themselues albeit vsurpers will not suffer any of their subiects to bind themselues by oath to forreine princes in enmity with them or to entertaine intelligence with them Why then should such as are sworn to the enimies of the state and entertain intelligence with them and practise against the state be suffred in England 7. In Italy no man is permitted to harbour any priest or friar that denieth the Popes vsurped supremacy Why then should the Massepriests and their adhaerents be tolerated among vs that deny his Maiesties supreme authority in the gouernmēt of the church of England that is due to him both hy the lawes of god and man 8. Finally the papists asmuch as they dare resist the popes pillages and cry out vpon his exactions Shold true Christians then that are now released and freed from these burthens admit a religion which teacheth and vrgeth these manifold exactions and oppressions Chapter 16. An answere to the title of the petition of lay lapists and the preface of Iohn Lecey NOw least any ignorant papists shold be abused by glozing reportes of their consortes as if they were able either to cleare these doubts or to alledge iust causes of theire boulde request for a toleration of popish religion wee haue thought it not amisse to examine the seuerall chapters and partes of this apologeticall petition adding our answers to their titles prefaces demandes accusations letters and idle discourses The title front of theire petition foloweth to gether with Iohn Leceys preface A PETITION APOLOGETICAL a It is not credible that papists vvold either present or signe and allovv such baggage stuffe PRESENTED TO the Kings most excellent Maiesty by the Lay b Hereticks and idolaters deserue not the name of Catholikes Catholikes of England in Iulie last In eo quod detractant de vobis tanquam de malefactoribus ex bonis operibus vos considerantes glorificent Deum in die visitationis In that c Here vvanteth the beginning of the sentence viz. haue your conuersation-honest can vve then repute them honest that cut of honest conuersation wherein they misreport of you as of malefactors by the good workes considering you they may glorifie God in the day of visitation 1. Pet. 2. v. 12. Printed at DOVVAY by JOHN MOGAR at the figne of the d To shevv that they saile not alvvay vvithout cōpas Compas 1604. THE PREFACE REuerend Sir 1 adde Iohn and then it vvill stand thus reuerend Sir Iohn There came to my hands by the way of 2 That is by the nearest vvay about Bruxels on the xxviij day of this moneth a certaine Petition or Apologie of the lay Catholikes of England as I stand 3 His best ground you see is false information informed presented to his Highnesse about the later end of the Parliament which semeeth so 4 Or rather confrontable to reason conformable to reason so 5 Hovv absolute vvhen it is made vvith conditions and limitations as appeareth aftervvard absolute in forme of their submission and so 6 True For euery politike Christian may vvoonder at their presumption and foly that suppose that a king or state vvill rest assured vpon the othes or promises of massepriests and their namelesse consorts admirable for the assurance by them offered for their 7 Priests of Baal ordered by Antichrist to sacrifice for quicke and dead and not true priests or pastors Priests and Pastors that the publishing thereof cannot but giue contentmente in mine 8 Not vvorth an onyon opinion to al sorts of men that desire both to be clearelye informed of the true state of things and that iustice and equity shold take place according to mens comportments and deserts and not according to the preiudicate opinions of such This had been truly spoken if it had heen applied to the inquisitors of Spain Italy And vvith the great auda ciousnesse and soly of these petitioners whome nothing but the bloud and vtter beggering of Catholikes can satisfie And therefore I thought good in more publike manner then it was before to make the world acquainted therewith Reasons of publishing this treatise THE publishing of this Apology cannot but tend much to his 1 Js it honorable for the king to submit himself to enemies and to receiue conditions of levvd subiects as these petitioners vvould persvvade him Maiesties honour His Maiesties honour and seruice and more to his satisfaction and 2 A goodly security vvhen a kings life and state shall depend vpon a single threed of popish fellovves promises And a most simple satisfaction vvhere nothing is performed but only promised security for so much as the Catholikes affectionate 3 Seruices supposed and obligations broken seruices and obligations therein contayned must needs be arguments of some supereminent vertue and goodnes in his sacred personage that could draw from them at all times such extraordinary effects of 4 Such as appeared in the tumultuous stirres of papists in Scotland against the king and in the practises of Brook Watson and Clerk executed at Winchester for conspiring the destruction of his Maiesty And lastly in Percie and Garnet loue and deuotion and the more manifest the 5 VVhat vvil resusats novv turn protestants it shold seem so But vve are to vnderstād it no further thē a laxatiue purgatiō retcheth protestations of their purgations shall appeare to the world the more manifold shall be their bondes and obligations of performance and perseuerance therein The Protestant 6 They haue no reasō to like either their murmuring petitiōs or their bald pleadings Prelates cannot with reason disalow thereof The Protestant Prelates because herein is nothing required 7 A goodly proceeding vvhen fugitiues and malcontents call foorth true subiects to ansvver at their hands but a reasonable conference and satisfaction in points of their mission and vocation And when they shall make
the whole parliament to omit to speake of their secret combinations and practises it is no good signe that they seeke to satisfie the King and to serue him deuoutly when they seek to set vp a religion displeasing to God disgracefull hurtfull to the King and most praeiudiciall to his subiects Secondly He supposeth the Prelates of the Church of England cannot with reason disallowe this petition seeing nothing is required at theire hands but a reasonable conference and satisfaction in poynts of their mission and vocation But it seemeth he meaneth to giue them but little satisfaction that refuseth to giue them theire due titles and telleth them of I know not what wealth pleasures and pallaces pretēded to be enioyed by them Hee is also very ignorant that imagineth that the teachers of the truecatholike faith can abide a false wicked idolatrous hereticall blasphemous religiō or true subiects treason and rebellion and very impudent to call true Bishops in question for theire vocation and mission hauing no colour of defence eyther for the mission and vocation of Masse Priestes to sacrifice for quicke and deade as for the Pope to rule the whole Church or for the Cardinalls to practise the troubles of Christendome Further he was not wise to talke of Bishops winess being allowed by sainte Paule seeing the periured Romish preistes forswearing mariage and swearing continency doe notwithstanding keep concubines whoors and Bardassaes As for the calling of our prelates and ministers it hath been often and sufficiently iustified already and shal be againe when the intrusion of the pope and his poleshorne crewe of sacrificing preeests into the Church shal not by any means be mainteined or coloured Thirdly he seemeth very carefull not to offend the Puritanes as he calleth them But it is offence inough to giue the names of faction to true Christians Furthermore if the papists be no better able to pleade for themselues and theire religion then these petitioners haue done not only such as they call Puritanes but also all other good Christians will condemne them to be neither half subiects nor condicionall subiects nor subiects at all As for their religion it groweth euery day more odious and execrable then other Fourthly the schollers of Cambridge and Oxford of all men rest worst satisfied with this petition being voyd both of learning and reason as for the conceipt which ignorant creatures haue of masse preests they regard it not knowing thē to be but shallowe fellowes in diuine matters though very profound in rebellions and treacherous practises miserable are they that followe such guides and trust such false fugitiue compagnions Fiftly the Artizans and prentizes of London would make a wiser speake then this petition so seely defences are therin made for the popish preests that how so euer they thought on them before they cannot chuse now but both cry out againste them and stoppe them as false fugitiues seditious traitours and professed enemies to their prince and country In the meane while the masse preests haue litle cause to thāk Iohn Lazy that maketh them pleade theire cause before artizans and prentises who generally detest them and theire abhominable doctrine and practises and hope to see thē shortly hold vp their hands at the barre for treason Finally the papists at home and abroad will be very sory to see theire cause so nakedly handled and so weakely defended and if they be wise will curse him that published so bare a discourse giuing vs occasion to discouer theire treacherous hereticall and wicked doctrines and other mysteries of the popish faction As for the example of Saint Albā and of his teacher it fitteth the papists in no sorte Those two knew no one poynte of that wicked doctrine of papists which the Church of England condemneth neither was Albane martyred for the popes quarrell or the doctrin now cōteined in the decretales but for the faith and doctrine of Christ and his Apostles being as loyall to his gouernors as the Jebusites and their complices are peruerse and disloyall And therfore at vnawares where the prologue wold vse the example of the primitiue church of England he printeth priuatiue church shewing himselfe to be a member rather of the popes priuatiue church of England that is depriued woulde depriue Christians of all true faith in veritie of religion and sincerity in conuersation then of the true primitiue Church founded by Christe and gouerned by the Apostels and their true successors But what shold J need to stand longer about the examinatiō of this poor speak of this rude Lazy prologue who so far forgot himself in his dates of his discourse that he publisheth in print the 16. of octobre this apology that as hee saith in the beginning of the prologue came to his handes the 28. of that month which if he be able to make good then he hath sent vs rather a prophesy then a preface telling vs what the lay papistes pleaded some 12 daies before their pleading came to his handes Chap. 17. An answere to the two first chapters of the petition conteining causes both of the petitioners long silence and of their breach of silence IF the two first Chapters of these laye mens petition had beene spared it mighte percase haue beene imputed for wisdome vnto them For then neither theire ingratitude in not acknowledging his maiesties rare fauors towardes them gratiously pardoning their offences nor their presumption in accusing him for breach of promise nor their vntrueth in charging his maiesty the parliamente and state with rigorous and cruell dealing against them nor their vaine brags in pretending that they were so forward in maintening the Kings title and the principall meane that placed him in his royall throne woulde so clearely haue appeared But seeing they woulde needes acquaint vs with the reason of their present speech and former silence let vs heare them what they can say A PETITION APOLOGETICAL PRESENTED TO the Kings most excellent Maiesty by the Lay Catholikes of England in Iulie last Chapter 1. The cause of our silence MOST 1 His grace you abuse his souerainty you deny his might you hinder Mighty and gratious Soueraign Many are the reasons that haue caused vs to expect with perpetual patience and profound silence your Maiesties most gracious resolution for some benigne remedy and redresse of our moste greeuous 2 You vvrong his Maiesty charging him to be a persecutor and your cause shevving your selues vnthankefull for his fauour calamities and afflictions as the confidence of a good cause the testimony of an incorrrupte conscience the memory of our constant and continuall affection to the vndoubted right and Title in remaynder of your renowned Catholike Mother to the Crowne of England the imputations Crosses and afflictions we suffered many 3 If your plots had taken you had marred all yeares therefore the publique and gratefull acknowledgment that your saide glorious Mother made thereof at the time of her Arrainement and execution in
reasons which they alledge for the making and exhibiting this petition are these firste they tell vs that they are excluded as superstitious persons from that supreme courte of Parliament that was firste founded by and for catholike men Next that daily bills Books ar exhibited in Parliament againste them taxing them with odious names of haereticks sectaries superstitions persons idolaters Thirdly that his Maiestie is often solicited to extirpate the race and memory of papists out of his dominions and rather to admit miscreants and Iewes then Papists And lastly that a new motion hath beene made for the reuiuing of former capitall lawes and pecuniary payments and other penalties For these causes they say they haue emboldned themselues to present to his maiestyes view this apology and that firste Leaste god should be offended with theire silence in matter of his honor and next leaste the Christian world should condemne them of negligence in defence of theire distressed estate and thirdly leaste theire children and posterity shoulde argue them of carelesnesse and pusillanimity in a cause concerning theire liues estates and soules saluation and lastly least theire aduersaries shoulde insult ouer them and repute them tanquam confitentes reos But firste we answer that diuers maters heere alleadged are false and some wicked and. slanderous next that theire reasons are impertinent not concludent That papists are excluded out of parlia ment it may be proued false by the exāple of diuers particulers which I could name if I list Thisis most certain that no Papisticall burgesse or knight is refused in the lower house vnlesse he refuse to acknowledg his maiesties supreme anthority which if he doe he is not only to be excluded out of the house but out of the lād if he haue his right Jt is also an old trick of falsity to affirme papists to be catholikes they must shew that they hold Apostolike and Catholike doctrine or els renounce the name of catholikes Thirdly they erre grossely if they suppose that Parliaments wer founded by papists professing the puddle doctrine of the popish sect flowing out of the sink of the conuenticle of Trent or that they were made for such as impugne the Kings authority and adhere to forreigne enemies Fourthly they shew themselues not onely to be spreaders of false tales but also ignorant of Parliament causes that say that books wer exhibited against thē in parliament for that sacred senat is no place where to exhibit books But if in parliament time any Books were published abroad it was to answere theire iangling supplications and discourses which thought to be heard for theire much babling Fiftlie ridiculously in the superlatiue degree they call thēselues the kings most faithfull subiects The falsity thereof appeareth by the proceedings at VVinchester againste George Brooke a lay and lame papist and subiect and his complices but much more is the same made euident by the flagitious treason of Percie Catesbie Faux Owen Baldwine and theire consorts and the rebellion which thereupon ensued wherein they expected and the Iesuites and massepreests promised the aid and concurrence of al the papists in England and many no question woulde haue ioyned with them but that they were taken before their tyme and choked in the birth of their dangerous destinies Sixtly wickedly they slander the state if they suppose that any therein doe desire that eyther Iewes or other miscreāts may be admitted and wrong his maiesty if they say hee giueth eare to such motions Nay hee desireth rather the cōuersion then the destruction of papists albeit they are the onely miscreants that are to be feared in this land Finally it is no new matter to make motions for restraining the insolency of the massepriestes and their adherents For if these petitioners be not old such motions were made before they were borne King Henry the 8. at the motion of his subiects repressed such as shold attempt to maintain the popes authority which is a main ground of popery And long before his time were lawes of prouisions and praemunire made to stop the popes encrochements and dayly do recusants giue occasion to make new lawes against them But admit inassepriests and their adherents and the Popes truely deuoted creatures had been excluded out of parliaments and that in bills books they had been charged as sectaries superstitious persons hereticks and idolaters and further that his Maiesty had bin moued to take a course with them and the parliament to aggrauate their penaltyes and to prouide for the execution of lawes against them yet haue these lame witted lay papists no cause eyther to make these outcries or to publish these slanderous libells not onely to the disgrace of our late gratious Queen and King Edward that excellent spirite but also against his maiesty as if he meant to giue intertainment to miscreants and knew not how to keepe measure in punishing papists and other sectaries and heretikes For first the Parliament is no place for such as loue strangers better then their owne princes and depend vpon forrayners rather then their countrimen Secondly papists are no catholikes nor were parliaments founded eyther by such as beleeued the filthy doctrine of popery pomped out of the popes brest in the conuenticle of Trent nor for such caitiffs miscreants as beleeue that doctrine Thirdly if such as in England adhere to the Pope and positiuely hold his doctrine be called hereticks sectaries superstitious persons and idolaters they are not wronged For the same is clearly demonstrated in diuers treatises and partly in this answer And litle are these lame petitioners able to say for themselues to the contrary Nay they haue fauor considering their intelligence and practises of late with the pope and his agents that they are not called far worse Lastly they haue no reason to complaine of penall lawes made against lay-papists for the penalties are only pecuniary and very remissely pursued but the bloudy inquisitors and the popes adherents murdre and massacre all that professe true religion in places where they command and this had Percie and his compagnions doon in England if they had preuailed Further themselues will not deny but that idolaters heretikes and sectaries may lawfully be punished And if they should deny it yet woulde the examples and practise both of Hezekiah Iosiah and other godly kings before Christs time and of Constantine Theodosius and other christian emperors since christianity began to be professed plainly proue it But it hath been and shall alwayes be plainly proued that papists are sectaries superstitious persons heretikes and idolaters Their feare therefore least God wold-be offended with them for their silence in this cause is superstitious and very foolish For god is rather displeased with such as seeke to erect open idolatry and to maintaine grosse superstition and heresie as these ignorant lay papists or rather lame Masse-priestes seek to do then with such as keep themselues within the lists of their ignorance and hold their peace Secondly true it
theire country but many things are often offered that are slenderly performed and such no doubt would the seruice haue been that is or was offered by them who seared more the Popes thunderboltes then the princes double cannons and onely desired to free themselues out of prison that they mighte after take part with the stronger to desire to bee placed in the forefront of the battel in theire shirts they had no reason vnlesse they had meante after they hadde put of their armes and clothes to runne awaye more ligtly My Lord Vaux was so good a man of warre that I woulde wish no greater benefit to England then that all our enemyes were such But suppose some few recusants did offer to serue the Queen yet neither had she reason to trust them nor we to beleeue that all the rest of the recusants meant to serue her faithfully being sworn vassals to the pope her sworn enemy Vnhappy had this land beene if theire prayers and vowes had been performed Foralbeit some papists then did acknowledge the Queenes authority notwithstanding the popes excommunications yet that was for that the excommunication did not bind them vntill such tyme as the Popes bulle might be put in exequntion as appeareth by the faculties granted to Parsons and Campian Fourthly out of England they runne into Ireland to tell vs of the fidelity of Irish papists But it appeareth those men neuer came there to trye it they shew so greate ignorance of the Irish and of the affaires of Ireland For in the battaile at Kiusale they cannot name 10. Jrish that did any greate seruice At other times the most part alwayes abandoned and betrayed those that relied vpon them and euer for one Irish man that truly serued the Quene there might bee reckened 10. that willingly serued the rebells And this should the king finde at theire hands J feare if he had occasion to trie them If then these petitioners haue no better argumentes to proue the fidelity of recusants then such as these they will not proue refined gold nor good copper but rather Corke guilt ouer like gold or some such other light and slight stuffe good for nothing Fiftly they tell his maiesty of the affection and behauiour of papists toward his predecessors himselfe and his title neither forgetting King Henry the 7. nor King Edward the confessor But all the question being concerning the moderne papists and theire loyalty to princes of contrary religion who seeth not how farre theire discourse runneth out and is transcendent aboue theire purpose the welshmen of our tyme may with better reasō alledge the noble acts of Hector and Aeneas of Troy or of king Brute King Arthur or some auncient famous man of Britayne How much they fauored the King it appeareth by diuers attempts against him in Scotland and by the treason of Clerk VVatson Copley Brooke Markham and now lately of Percy Catesby and others sence his comming into England Parsons and Coluill directly oppugned the Kings title in books in print and to that boke which Parsons set out as is saide in diuers languages the Iebusitical faction yeelded a greate applause Many of them also as the seculer preestes charged them subscribed vnto it Jf then nowe they pretend to fauour the kinges title it is because it were bootelesse and dangerous now to oppugne it likewise the papistes that heeretofore wrote and spake in defence of his Maiesties Mother and of the Kinges title respected nothing else but theire owne particuler thinking by theire glosing wordes either to bring in Popery or to aduaunce theire owne priuate pretences Finally they shew they haue great Confidence in his Maiesties clemency that they haue refused to pay the twenty pound a month due for recusancy albeit the penalty be greate But here they shoulde rather alledge cause to moue the King to trust them then to shew that they may assuredlie trust the Kings mercy whose Clemency is so exceeding and word so assured Further this rather argueth their disobediente and repugning humor then iustifieth theire sober disposition and desire to be loyal Lastly they shewe a great differēce betwixt the gentle proceeding of true christians that with light penaltyes seeke to winne men and are slow in exacting them and the rigor and cruelty of papistes that confiscate all the Lands and goods of true Christians most barbarously torment and massacre their persons without pitty or mercy Jf then our lay papistes haue no better defences nor pretēces for their fidelity then they haue formerly alledged theire owne words will rather conuince them then cleare them and such as had no euill opinion of recusants before will take occasion to suspect that this stubble of theirs is nothing but a couer for the seed of much hartburning discontentment and disloyalty as their billetts and fagots of late were laid to couer their barrels of gunpowder couched vnder the higher house of Parliament Chap. 20. An answere to the petitioners calumniations agayust the professors of the Gospel set downe in the 6. chapter of their popish apologetical petition IT were a most simple defence for a prisoner standing at the Barre of iustice and answering for his life before his iudges to alledge for his defence that his behauiour is as honest and loyall as that of his accusers Yet this is the best defence which these Massepriests vnder the maske of lay papists make in this place supposing very absurdly the accusation of their aduersaries to be a iustification and defence of their own actions Nay where they pretend to deale against their accusers they mistake the matter vtterly and speake against such as are long since departed this life and neuer either accused them or knewe them and inueigh against the ministers of the Church of England which are not parties against them leauing the kings sergeants and atturney to speak what they list and aunswering nothing to their informations accusations and enditements which principally touch them But will you heare their wooden weak accusation against vs as it followeth Chapter 6. The cariage and behauiour of our Accusers IT resteth now lastly to consider what hath been the behauiour of some of our 1 Your accusers are your ovvne consciences the kings Atturney and other officers The Ministers accuse you not but ansvver your sooleries accusers the Ministers we meane The cariage of our Antagonists and some hot spirits of their adherents and followers from time to time in your maiesties affaires that hath so cherished dignified and aduanced them and to other their lawfull Princes that haue not so fully concurred with them in matter of religion as your Maiesty doth vt contraria iuxta se posita magis elucescant that contraries compared together may the more cleerly appeare If you demand what they were that accounted it a matter treasonable to retain any book or paper in fauour of your Maiesties Title and that in publique books called your Mothers right to this Crowne a pretended Title Agendum est
doth playnly declare the authors thereof to want shame modesty reason and wit For if they had not wanted shame then woulde they haue blushed to charge others with disloyalty themselues being vnable to discharge themselues if they had not wanted modesty they woulde haue contented themselues with present fauors being such as they afforde not to our brotheren in other countries and not soughte audaciously to haue dignity honour and further liberty Jf they had not wanted reason they woulde not haue saide that they haue yeelded sufficient reason for theire religion and finally if they had not wanted wit they woulde no haue vndertaken to accuse innocentes themselues being guilty nor would they haue compleyned of wounds deepe and dangerous in their honors being honored aboue their desert nor would they haue called the King Sweete Soueraigne or once mentioned Souereinty considering that they ouer throw the kings Souereinty and make him the popes subiect by their doctrine but yet that passeth all the rest of their fooleries that not being able to cleare themselues nor hauing spoken one worde in defence of theire sacrificing preests and Iebusites now in the conclusion of their request they speak for them also for masse preests I say which contriued the kings destruction by the practise of Clerck and Watson and lately absolued Percy Catesby Tressam and their complices which went about to blowe vp the King Queene Prince and high Courte of Parliament with gunpowder to massacre true Christians to alter lawes and to ouer throw the state Chap. 21. The insufficiency and foolery of the submission promised by lay papists to the king is examined and refuted THere is no chapter nor almost clause of this petition of lay papists whereto we may not take iust exception But yet if we doe put them alltogether and compare them with the 7. Chapter wherein they offer to be bound for the King and his Kingdome and to tender a submission to his maiesty for his satisfaction this will passe all the rest in fooolery and absurdity listen therefore I pray you and hear what they say for theire massepreestes and how they secure the kings person and Crowne from the trechery of their shauen Crowned trecherous masse preestes Chap. 7. The forme of the Catholikes submission IF we may be permitted to enioy some quiet graue The lay Catholikes submission and vertuous Clergie men for the comfort of our soules we doubt not but to giue your Maiesty a far greater security for the few hundreds of our Priestes then was giuen for the many thousands of Queen Maries Priests and Prelates in the late queen Elizabeths dayes against whome albeit aboue 1 Abate nine thousand (a) 10000. Clergy men left their liuings rather then they wold leaue their religion ten thousand of them did abandon their Ecclesiasticall Liuings rather then they would conform themselues to the times especially the (b) All Queen Mary Bishops forsook their Prelatures rather then they would forsake their chiefe Pastor holy Senate of Bishops no one excepted yet in the time of the said Queen for the space of thirty years extreame and restlesse 2 You are extreamly vngratefull that suffer not our late gratious Queen to rest that alvvayes fauoured you to her ovvne hurt persecution no capitall lawes were made or executed And in the (c) The booke in tituled execution for treson and not for religion made by the late Lord Burleigh book intituled Execution for treason and not for Religion composed and set foorth by the late L. Burleigh then high Treasurer of England on whom for his great wisedome and policy the menaging of the Commonwealth of this Realme vnder the Queen principally depended Anno. 1583. and Anno Regni Eliz. 26. it is in expresse words set down what fauour these Priestes found in tearmes as followeth And though there are many subiects knovvn in the Realm that differ in some opinions of Religion from the Church of England and yet doo also not for heare to professe the saeme yet in that they doo all professe loyalty and obedience to her Maiesty and offer readily in her defence to oppugne and resist any forraigne force though it should come or be procured from the Pope himselfe (d) None of Q. Maries priests or Prelates persecuted for religion none of these sorte are for their contrary opinions in Religion persecuted or charged vvith any crimes or paines of treason not yet vvillingly searched in their consciences for their contrary opinions that sauour not of treason After which Narration he reckoneth vp great numbers as (e) D. Heath Archbishop of Yorke D. Heath Archbishop of Yorke B. Poole B. Tunstall B. VVhite B. Oglethrop B. Thurlby B. VVatson B. Turberuill none of all these vvere pressed vvith any capitall paine though they maintained the Popes authority against the lavves of the Realme he recounteth (a) Abbot Feenam one Abbot and diuers Deanes whome he commendeth for learning modesty and knowledge and concludeth that none (b) None of all these held or punished as traytors though they maintayned the Popes authority against the lawes of the Realme of these nor yet diuers others of the like morall and indifferent cariage were euer called to any capitall or bloudy question vpon matter of Religion nor were not depriued of any of their goods or proper liuelihoods of the like indulgence and lenity mention is made in the same booke vsed towards the layety in wonderfull pleasing words as followeth There are great numbers of others being lay men and of good possessions in Lands and men of credit in their countries that do enioy their estates though they houlde contrary opinions in Religion for the Popes authority and yet none of them haue been sought hitherto to be impeached in any point or quarrell of treason or losse of life member or inheritance So that it may plainely appeare it is not nor hath not been for contrary opinions in Religion or for the Popes authority alone as the Aduersaries do boldly and falselie publish that euery person hath suffered death since her Maiesties Raigne yet some of this sort are well knowne to hold opinion that the Pope ought by authority of Gods word to bee supreame and onely head of the Catholike Church throughout the whole world and that the Queenes Maiesty ought not to be (c) To deny the Queen to be supreame gouernesse ouer Ecclesiasticall persōs not persecuted with charge of treason gouernesse ouer any her subiects in her Realmes being persons Ecclesiasticall yet for none of these points hath any person been persecuted with the charge of treason or in danger of life If then this were the case of Queen Maries priests and other quiet and faithfull subiectes in the late Queens dayes we hope that our Priests being aswell qualified in all respects to our Princes good liking satisfaction as they were both for quiet behauiour ciuill life and sincere affection to your Maiesties seruice may for our comfort obtaine