any money for them onely they must pay for the sawce which according to the custome of the faire they must haue or els they must haue no goose O happy day wherein that faire was first instituted and a secret discouered which no Catholike Kings or Prelats could euer attaine vnto And thrice happy are they who by the light as it should see me of that day did see to make that Statute in the third yere of the Archipres byterie of M. George Blackwell vidi preuaricantes c. 18. Octob. 1600 wherein al right to appeale to Rome being most Catholikely conserued the penalties therein conteined doe onely light vpon such as haue set their hands to that which is prefixed to the Appeale which is nothing els but the causes thereof without which according to the custome and Canons of holy Church the appeale is of no force and are therefore by name to be expressed as we haue before shewed out of the Clementine Appellantide Appellationibus Now it remaineth that we shew when and vpon what occasions the Statutes were made by which the prouisions from Rome and some Appeales to Rome were forbidden First concerning these prouisions there was a statute made either in the 30. or 35. or as some other affirme 25. Edward 1. which was aboue 300. yeeres since wherein it is agreed and established that they should not be suffered There was also the like statute made in the 25. yere of Edw. 3 to the like effect by which it was forbidden that any should be placed in any dignitie without the assent of the King The same is also forbidden in the Parliament holden in the 38. of the same King The occasions of enacting these statutes are set downe as well in that of the 25. of Edw. 1. as elsewhere the iustice of those which were made in the time of Edw. 3. is the more apparant by a letter which hee and his nobles sent in the 17. yeere of his reigne to his Hol. to haue redresse for such defaults as were in that kind committed The Letter was to this effect King Edward and his Nobles perceiuing the derogation that was done to the Realme by such reseruations prouisions and collations of benefices as the Pope practised here in England wrote to him requiring him that sith the Churches of England had beene founded and endowed by noble and worthy men to the end the people might be instructed by people of their owne language and that he being so farre off could not vnderstand the defaults yet his predecessors and hee more then had been vsed by diuers reseruations prouisions and collations made to diuers persons some strangers yea and some enemies to the Realme whereby the money and profits were carried forth their Cures not prouided for according to the founders minds they therefore vpon due considerations thereof signified vnto him that they could not suffer such enormities any longer and therefore besought him to reuoke such reseruations prouisions and collations wholly to auoid such slanders mischiefes and harmes as might ensue and that the Cures might be committed to persons meete for the exercises of the same beseeching him further without delay to signifie his intention sith they meant to bestow their diligence to remedie the matter and see that redresse might be had Giuē in full Parliament at Westminster 18. of May Anno Dom. 1343. Thus far out of Iohn Stow 17. Edw. 3. where he also citeth Auesburie and Honingford Secondly concerning the forbidding of the appeales to Rome we find a Statute made in the 27. of Edw. 3. against those who shall drawe any person in plea out of the Realme of a thing whereof the knowledge appertained to the Kings Court or of such things whereof iudgement was giuen in the Kings courts or should sue in any other courts to defeate or let the iudgements giuen in the Kings Court. To these and other Statutes to the like effect the author of the Apologie affirmeth that the Catholike Bishops neither did nor could assent But whatsoeuer may be said for or against this position concerning the appeales no man can in reason think but that they both might very well and did assent to those statutes which were made against the prouisions or bestowing of dignities in England without the kings consent the causes are so apparantly layd downe by the King and the Nobles for that abridging of his Holines his promoting whom he would and to what dignities hee would in England And thus much may be alledged in the behalfe of the consent of the spirituall Lords to the statute against those appeales That in the new great abridgement printed Anno 1551. there is this clause set to the end of some statutes But the spirituall Lords assented not to this statute And there is no such note set to any of these Statutes which we haue here cited It is also euident that these statutes were not made vpon any heate of emulation against the Clergie for as we finde that in the 38. yeere of King Edw. 3. the statutes against those prouisions made in the 25. and 27. of the same King are confirmed although there be some fauour giuen to the Lords and Prelats offendors so in the 39 yeere of the same King which was the next yeere after we find that the Clergie in England was in as great honour as any Clergie in the worlde as may be shewed by the offices which the Bishops and Priests had then in England For the Bishop of Canterbury was Lord Chancellour of England the Bishop of Bath was L. Treasurer the Archdeacon of Lincolne was Lord priuie Seale the Parson of Somersam was master of the Rolles ten beneficed Priests were masters of the Chancerie the Deane of S. Martins le grand was chiefe Chancellour of the Exchequer Receiuer and Keeper of the Kings Treasure and Iewels the Archd. of Northampton was Chancellor of the Exchequer a Prebendarie of S. Martins was Clerk of the priuie Seale a Prebendarie of S. Steuens was Treasurer of the Kings house the Parson of Auon or Oundell was master of the Wardrobe the Parson of Fenny Stanton was one of the Chamberlaines of the Excheq and Keeper of the Kings Treasury and Iewels Other of the Clergie are noted to haue ben in office also in France in Ireland as well as in England Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth sonne of King Edward 3. hauing the gouernement of England committed vnto him in the time of his fathers last sickenesse which was in the 50. and 51. of his reigne disposed so farre of matters and offices as he conceiued some possibility to attaine to the Crown and to depriue his nephew Richard of Burdeaux who was sonne to the Blacke prince Edward the eldest sonne of King Edward the third But perceiuing that it would be hard for him to obtaine his purpose so long as the Church stood in that estate it did and the citizeens of London enioyed their liberties hee laboured to ouerthrow them both
and also all and euery branch article and clause mentioned or in any wise declared in any of the same statutes concerning the making of any offence or offences to be felony or within the case of Premunire not being felonie nor within the case of Premunire before and all paines and forfeitures concerning the same or any of them should from thenceforth be repealed and vtterly void and of none effect King Henrie the eighth also when he was so deuoted to the Catholike faith and particularly to the Sea of Rome as he gaue monethly 60000 angels towards the pay of an Armie vnder Mounsieur de Foy for the deliuery of Pope Clement the 7 when he was holden prisoner in the Castel Angel in Rome by the Duke of Bourbon his Armie and the prince of Oringe Yea when Pope Leo the the tenth esteemed of him as of the best prince in Christendome and either to his deserts or vnder them gaue him this glorious title Defender of the faith he did so far foorth execute the law of Premunire against all forraine prouisions of dignities and authority to be practised within his Realme without his assent as the Cardinal Wolsey notwithstanding an extraordinary affection in the king towards him dared not to exercise his power Legantine vntill he was licenced therunto by the king vnder his hand and broad seale Io Stow. 21. Hen 8. which he pleaded that he had when he was indited afterward in a Premunire for his exercise thereof And yet was the king himselfe a sutor to the Pope to giue that authority to the Cardinal as may be seene in the tenth yeere of his reigne which was about three yeeres before he was intituled Defender of the faith But all aswell princes as other must stand to this good fellow his checke and if they displease him it is enough to haue them accounted in the highest degree of badnesse how pious and godly soeuer hee esteemed them before with the same breath But now concerning that which is sayd by the Priests of Bishop Watson that he refused vpon these statutes all externall iurisdiction offered him ouer his fellowe prisoners this good fellow sayth that it is most contumelious and false Whome shall we beleeue in this case those who were Priests and fellow prisoners with him and were present at the offer and his refusall and are eare witnesses therof or this peremptorie fellow who careth not what passeth him But perchance his reason may ouerpeaze the relation of these witnesses although for many respects most reuerend For sayth hee that had bene to deny his Holines Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in England Marke I pray you this reason and weigh it with that which is before saide and shewed concerning this point Card. Wolsey would not exercise his power Legantine in England vntill he had licence of his Maiestie as appeareth by his plea before cited and yet neither the king nor he denied his Holines Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in England as appeareth by that the king of England made request to Pope Leo to constitute Card. Wolsey his Legate in England and behaued himselfe so Catholikely as hee was called Defendor of the faith Also the most Catholike Bishops who liued in the times of many and those most Catholike Princes without al doubt obserued the law yet no way were to be touched as this peremptory companion would haue them with a deniall of his Holines iurisdiction in England And in the Parliament holden 16. Rich 2. the Bishops doe make a difference betweene authoritie in the Pope to excommunicate and the execution thereof in England Moreouer this Doctor Watson when he was made a Bishop hee had licence of her Maiestie who then was before he would take vpon him to vse his Episcopall iurisdiction in England as he related himselfe to some yet liuing of credit And no doubt this was done vpon the same ground that lawe of Praemunire standing in full force in her time as being neuer repealed but rather suffered voluntarily to stand in full force as may be gathered by an acte primo Mariae yet no Catholike doubteth but that her Maiestie did acknowledge the Popes authoritie in England as appeareth by her repealing diuers statutes made by her father to take away the Popes authority in England Anno 1. 2. Philip. Mariae So that the folly of this fellow is exceeding great in giuing this reason why the Bishop could not refuse all externall iurisdiction offered him from his Holines Againe although Doctor Watson were Bishop of Lincolne and had vsed his iurisdiction in that Diocesse by the licence or permission of Queene Mary yet he was neuer Bish of Ely in which Dioces these prisoners liued who offered him that externall iurisdiction so that his refusing all externall iurisdiction ouer his fellowe prisoners is no way to be brought within the compasse of denying his Holines Ecclesiastical iurisdiction in England And if his Episcopal iurisdiction were so inlarged by his Holines that he might haue vsed it ouer all England yet might he most iustly haue refrained from the present exercise thereof in that ample maner hauing neuer had any such license or assent from his Soueraigne according to that Statute which was made 25. Edw. 3. wherein it is enacted that first the Kings license to chuse was to be demanded and after election his royall assent was to be had And as he was not to expect that a Prince of a contrary Religion should legitimate any such authoritie in him so he was to assure him selfe that a Prince of a contrary Religion would take hold of that Statute against him seeing that Princes who were of the same Religion did both enact it and cause it to be most strictly obserued and yet they neuer denyed his Holines Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in England And by this it is made most manifest how Bishop Watson might acknowledge his Episcopall iurisdiction from Rome and yet refuse to exercise the same without deniall of the Popes Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in England any more then for 200. yeeres together al the Catholike Bishops in England did before him But I cannot a little marueile that this authour would compare the association intended in England with this Archipresbyterie which is so pontificall or maiesticall as the Title which by vertue thereof he vseth is enough to make such meane men as his fellowes are not to know which way to looke For thus he writeth himselfe George Blackwell by the grace of God and the ordinance of the Sea Apostolike Archpriest of England We will put the case that the association intended had gone forward but then how sayth he would that haue stood without externall turisdiction seeing that one of these two points they must confesse that either they would haue asked confirmation thereof from Rome and consequently it would haue beene an externall iurisdiction as well as this of the Archpr. or else they would haue gouerned absolutely of themselues without any dependance or approbation of his Holinesse And
left out so memorable an abridgement of so many impertinent and false matters and so well suting with the Apologie I call all that impertinent which concerneth any diuision either of Iesuites and other Catholikes of the Clergie or of the Laitie before the comming of the Cardinall Caietans letters for the institution of the Archpriest in the yeere 1598. or the ambitious attempt of the knowen and couert Iesuites in the scandalous diuision in Wisbich For vpon the not yeelding of some secular Priestes to subiect themselues first to the Iesuites in direct termes and the not admitting of an authoritie procured by them afterward for their indirect soueraintie this present controuersie began and being once ended at the sight of a Breue it was renewed againe by the rashnesse of the Iesuites and the indiscretion of the Archpriest as it is prooued at large in the bookes set out by the Secular priests and promulgated in the latter Breue dated the 17. of August 1601. as shall hereafter be shewed I affirme the rest to be false because so it shal be proued for so much as is touched thereof either in the Apologie or in this Epistle Omitting therefore what is here propounded to his Holinesse concerning the Catholikes their going to the Protestants Churches at the beginning of her Maiesties raign who now is a thing which would not haue bene published to the world by any who tendered their honour vnlesse there had bene some greater cause for it the subornation of some by the Counsell to poyson D. Allen afterwardes Cardinall and the Students raising of sedition among the Catholikes beyond the Sea the euill successe which some had about the Queene of Scots and diuers Gentlemen which is here attributed to their secret keeping of their practises from Fa. Parsons and other the inducing of two Priests to write two bookes in fauour of heretikes as it were by reason of State and to become spies the one in France the other in Spaine Lastly to let passe that which is here said that Car. Allen perceiued that there was a faction begun in England by the same acte of the Counsell against the Fathers of the Societie and writ most earnestly against it that Card. Sega had found out that a few vnquiet spirits were set on craftily by the subtill instruments of the Counsel were the cause of many troubles in that Colledge at Rome we wil here only touch such points as do concerne our selues and the matter now in controuersie Your Holines therefore saith this Author seeing prudently these causes and effects and hauing put a finall end to the long and fastidicus troubles of the English Romane Colledge giuen your straight commandement by words of mouth to such persons of the tumultuous as departed into England in that yeere 1597 to be quiet for the time to come to haue peace with all but namely with the Fathers of the Societie and hearing notwithstanding the next yeere after by diuers letters out of England that this was not obserued but new meanes rather deuised of further diuision and sedition your Holines did vpon these considerations and vpon the letters and requests of diuers of the grauest Priests of our nation which after we shall cite ordaine by the Card. Protector his letters an easie and sweet subordination c. If wee had no other proofe of this fellowes falsehood then might be made apparant in this second point of the Epistle it would giue euery honest man sufficient satisfaction His Holines is here put in minde of such strange matters and his wisedome very highly commended vpon so false grounds as if this Epistle had bene euer deliuered vnto him hee would speedily haue discouered a notable sycophancy He is here told of two principall motiues for his ordaining our easie and sweet subordination The one were certaine letters which signified that betweene the tumultuous who departed into England in the yeere 1597 and the Fathers of the Societie there was not that peace which he had commanded but new meanes rather deuised of further diuision and sedition The other were other letters and requests of diuers of the grauest priests of our nation which after saith he wee shall cite Concerning the first least there should be any error in Iudgement what those new meanes of further diuision should be there is this note in the margent The new association which conceite is deliuered in plainer termes and more at large in the first Chapter of the Apol. fol. 6. in this maner But the reliques of those that had bene troublesome and vnquiet before their comming into England and conferring againe with their consorts of their former actions and designments frustrated as they thought by F. Parsons dealing at Rome resolued to begin againe but after another fashion To wit by deuising a certaine new Association among themselues c. And in the 2. Chapter fol. 13 his Holines hearing of certaine new Associations begun in England soone after the tumults ended in Rome c. These to omit other places in the Apologie are sufficient to shew that his intention is to make the Pope beleeue that the Association which was begun in England by the Secular priests was a new deuise of those who were sent from Rome in the yeere 1597 as tumultuous and vnquiet persons That this is a meere deluding of his Holines all who were then in England can very well testifie yea F. Parsons himselfe will doe vs the fauour I am sure to say this is a very false tale who vnderstood at his first comming to Rome by M. Iames Standish that such an Association had bene long before intended and consequently could not bee a deuice of such as thought themselues frustrated of their designments by his dealing in Rome The 6. assistants in their letters of the 2. of May 1601. doe testifie that this association began foure or fiue yeres since Cap. 7. Apol. fol. 90. and that must needs be before those priests came into England on whom it is fathered if it be true which is sayd Cap. 2. Apol. fol. 12 that they were not gone from Rome at the beginning of September 1597. It may also be gathered out of the same Chapter fol. 89. that this association very probably was begun long before by others for there we finde this storie But M. Mush returning into England as he went forth and the Cardinall soone after dying in the yeere 1594. as appeareth Cap. 1. Apol fol 6. hee ioyned with another of his owne humour c. And they two with some few other determined to make a certaine new Hierarchy of their owne calling it an association of Clergie men c. The truth is that M. Mush and M. Dudley hauing made the peace at Wisbich in the yeere 1595. as appeareth Ca. 6. Apol fol. 79. returned to London and there dealt with M. Iames Standish a man growing in deed into that humor to wit of being a Iesuit which M. Mush was then leauing and not with
to the 2. and 11. Chap. of the Apol. where hee doeth too-much discredit himselfe as shal be there shewed But lest the Reader should conceiue according to the broadnesse of these termes we will here only note the propositions which he termeth scandalous and temerarious and so leaue them vntill their place come to be defended Authoritie is not an infallible rule of trueth in all who haue authoritie No man is bound in all things to beleeue or execute what euery man in authoritie ouer him shall put vpon him Archpriests and their superiors also the Archdeacons and other of higher degree haue done amisse and swarued from the trueth and who vpon earth is warranted from erring but one and not he in all things These propositions are put in the second Chapter of the Apol. fol. 16. and in the margent there is this note Dangerous and offensiue doctrine And in the same Chap. fol. 19. there is exception taken at this proposition The sacrament of Cōfirmation is either most necessary in time of persecution or altogether vaine and as a superfluous ceremony in Gods Church And in the margent there is this note set A very temerarious proposition and he proueth it because it is not absolutely necessary to saluation If this fellow had euer bene a Souldier he would haue conceiued the necessitie perchance of Armor and weapons in warres although no man will say that armor or weapons are absolutely necessary to the getting of a kingdom In the 11. Chapter here quoted there is nothing but a certaine remembrance of this point with a reference to the 2. Chapter where what is said shal be discussed and answered with lesse danger of the Inquisition then this good fellow is in And whereas here also it is said that by the Priests their owne letters it may be proued that they haue dealt expressely with the Queene and Counsell against the Fathers of the Societie and such as stand with them It is a false bragge and wil be taken for such vnlesse some other letter be forged then that which is cited in the 13. Chap. For this doeth not proue any such matter as any man may see These are the words in that letter fol. 210 I haue in some sort pacified the wrath of our Prince conceiued against vs and of her Counsell and haue layed the fault where it ought to be and proued that the Secular priests are innocent for the most part Which words cannot import that he who writ this letter had dealt against any but onely that he had dealt for some who were before thought to be as deepe in matters displeasing to the State as others the State being before out of doubt that there were such plots as were not beseeming subiects much lesse beseeming men of our calling and so much the more odious by how much the shew of piety is dangerous for the effecting of any stratageme And the Counsell thought that all had bene of one stampe wherein the Inditer of that letter affirmeth he hath otherwise enformed them and freed the innocent Now we wil see how this Author beginneth to close vp his Holines mouth with as notorious a falshood as any of the rest They haue obteyned saith he that foure of their seditious company that were in prison before haue libertie vnder the Queenes letters patents to ride vp and downe all England for a time to gather money and letters which few Cath. will dare to deny them least they detect them to the Councell c. This also is a meditation vpon the same letter which is before cited and is to be found in the 13. Chap. of the Apol. fol. 210. wherein are these words I haue by opening the case vnto their Honours and to Caesar obteyned that foure principall men shal be banished after a sort to follow the appeale D. Bagshaw Bluet Champney Barneley all prisoners they shall be here with me on Wednesday next A moneth they shall haue within the Realme to ride abroad for money amongst their friends and then chuse their port c. And from hence perchance this fellow had some part of his intelligence but how commeth he to inlarge himselfe so farre as to say that these Priests had her Maiesties letters Patents vpon what record hath he found this or doth he meane thereby to draw the Lord Keeper into question as though he stood now in his light for some what which he hath to effect all Letters patents being at his perill vpon record or doth he know any Cath. who in such quandaries did giue these Priests any money we knowe some who notwithstanding the great bond they had to some of them would not see them neither would the priests presse vppon them Some againe we know who were requested to giue somewhat to their iourney to Rome if not for loue of the men yet for the loue which they pretended to peace and to haue a final end of the controuersie which could not be had but at Rome and nothing would be giuen But this fellow careth not what he saieth to the Pope presuming perchance that by some way or other all accesse should be shut and his falshood should neuer bee discouered And thus forgetting that which hee saith in the Apologie cap. 11. fol. 162. that the intention of the Priests seemeth not to be to informe his Holinesse but to make a noise in England and to gaine time of libertie and to preoccupate some mens minds by making a shew that they appeale to the highest in this their controuersie but yet indeed would be loth that hee should know it and much lother to answere it before him especially this Pope c Here he telleth the Pope in this Epistle that the Priests are to passe into France and there by the helpe of the Queenes Ambassadors and other meanes to procure if they can his most Christian Maiesties letters to your Holines in their fauor pretending that they can get the Queene of England to giue libertie of conscience to some Catholicke vnder certaine conditions whereof some must bee that the Iesuits must goe forth of England All this is in handling most holy Father by the children of iniquitie against Gods cause and his seruants and will no doubt bring forth lamentable effects if your Holines doe not speedily put your hand thereunto In this Apologie we do lay downe by cleare historicall narration and authenticall testimonies the grounds of all Christ our Sauiour inspire your Holines c. In the 10. Chap. of the Apol. fol. 147. there is a prayer made to God by the Archpr. to giue him his grace so to vse Fa. Parsons benefits as that neuer he abuse them and that neuer hee fall into any ingratefull behauiour c. And in the margent there is this note A prophecie of the Archpriest to Fa. Parsons How much more worthily doeth this place in the Epistle deserue to be noted for a prophecie but perchance hee was loath that there should be any such
and such as would gladly be seene in any of his actions and his fellowes who both in their Libel which was spread abroad vnder F. Lister the Iesuits name in this Apologie yea almost immediatly after this godly resolution are so farre from Christian spirit or ordinary modesty as it could not but be an exceeding ioy to all their friends to see any iot of Gods grace or assistance of his holy Spirit in them But as it seemeth by the latter end of this preface there is some kinde of resistance made against this assistance of Gods grace and holy Spirit Where this authour faigning vnto himselfe that these bookes against which he writeth could not be published in the style they goe in by any modest and Christian spirit he concludeth that they are published by some one or few discomposed passionate people or by some heretike c. and so as to such we shall answere saith he and not to our brethren yet doth his answere throughout all the Apologie light vpon the Priests although indeede the termes which are vsed would much better fit an heretike against an heretike so little doe they sauour either of modestie or Christian spirit CHAP. 6. How this present controuersie about the abuse of this newe subordination is deduced from Iohn of Gaunt and other matters most impertinent thereunto Apol. cap. 1. HAuing shewed through how foule darke vneuen and ill sauouring an entry this authour hath lead his deuoted to this Apologie the indifferent reader may probably coniecture that in the end there will be nothing to be seene but a boldnesse in auerring any vntrueth a sleight in casting mistes before his eyes to hold him still in ignorance of the trueth a defect of plaine dealing when he is driuen to say something and a heape of slanders with most odious insinuations to bring the Secular priests into contempt and obloquy In the first chapter of the Apologie intituled What great hurts haue come to England by emulation of the Laitie against the Clergie and of Secular priests against religious and of the state of the present controuersie in question he maketh an abridgement of the whole booke following and contriueth it in such manner as whereas he beginneth at Iohn of Gaunt he might asmuch to the purpose haue begunne at the diuision emulation and contention which the enemy raised in Cain against his brother Abel For although he intitle the Chapter of hurtes come to England by emulation and therefore a story of emulation in England may seeme to come neerer to his purpose yet his discourse being of emulation by which the reduction of England to the Catholike faith hath bene hindred he might aswell haue applyed the story of Abel and Cain as that of Iohn of Gaunt and Iohn Wickliffe who were dead and buried Iâ—… Stow. in vita Ric. 2. An. 1384. and this last also had his bones taken vp and burned aboue 40 yeeres after to wit in the yeere 1425. by commandement of Pope Martine the 5. which was an hundreth yeeres before the discontinuance of the Catholike faith in England or the least declining thereof as may appeare by the most zealous disposition of K. Henry 8. who in Anno 1521. deserued that most glorious title Defender of the faith But let vs see how handsomely he patcheth his geere together thus he beginneth the first chapter If euer the enemy of mankind did bestirre himselfe and all his power to let any publike good of the English nation it hath bene in this of the reduction of the Catholike faith For hindring whereof he hath tried all his possible meanes as before we haue noted but especially that of diuision emulation and contention hath bene his chiefest For by emulation of the Nobility against the Clergie and of Secular priests against religious he raised Iohn Wickliffe aboue 200. yeeres past whom Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster sonne to King Edward the 3. together with the residue of his faction vpon emulation he had with B. Arundel of London B. Wickam of Winchester and others did set vp and maintaine against those and the rest of the Clergie especially against religious men that had possessions Wickliffe being a Secular priest himselfe Thus saith this author and then he goeth forward affirming how that certaine motions were made concerning the taking away of the Abbey lands giuing them to the Crowne which motions were made vpon the same emulation vnder the Kings Richard 2 Henry 4 Henry 5 and others and tooke effect in the time of King Henry 8. And in the end concludeth that the want of restitution of Abbey lands was the hindrance of reconciliation in Queene Maries dayes But this doubtlesse argued rather an vnwillingnesse in the Laitie to part with the Church liuings of which they were now in possession then an emulation in them against the Clergie or religious And therefore in this conclusion the Author doth seeme much to forget himselfe who vndertooke to shew that emulation and not want of restitution of Church liuings hindered the reduction of England to the Catholike faith It seemeth that hee aimed onely at this that the controuersie being now principally betweene some Secular priests and some religious hee might driue into his Readers head some sinister conceit of the Secular priests and to that ende telleth a tale of the enemie of mankinde and how hee raysed a Secular Priest against religious and how that malice tooke effect in K. Henry the 8. dayes and the Laity would not restore the Church liuings in Q. Maries dayes And if the Reader can put all this together and cry out against the Secular Priests habetur intentum as truants vse to say in the schooles when they knowe not how to deduce the conclusion to their mindes in forme out of the premisses without laughter in the hearers We haue before shewed how that neither by Wickliffe nor by Iohn of Gaunt there could be any hinderance of the reducing of England to the Catholike faith and consequently how impertinent this story is to that for proofe whereof it was brought But for the better discouering of this fellow his falshood and sinister dealing you shall vnderstand that this Iohn Wickliffe was a Secular Priest And although in receiuing that holy Order he also receiued so indelible a character as he must be still a Priest how wickedly soeuer he behaued himselfe yet he did not receiue any confirmation in grace but might fall into most great enormities as the most holy not confirmed in grace may doe And entring out of a melancholy humor which grew vpon him by being depriued of a benefice which he had into a good conceit of himselfe that he was not sicut caeteri homines as other men were hee changed his life from the ordinary life of the Secular Priests into a streighter rule and tooke another habit Io. Stow in Ed. â— An 1377. He and all his followers went barefooted and in course russet garments downe to the heeles and in
contempt of temporall goods his conuersation was with those Religious that had no possessions and ioined himselfe vnto the begging Fryers approouing their pouertie and extolling their perfection Euident tokens that hee had left the state of a Secular Priest and ascended to some higher degree of perfection But as it should seeme he was neither Monke nor Frier but talis qualis such as he was or as other perchance who came after him although they follow him not in all things For as it appeareth in our Chronicles hee preached against Monkes and other religious men that had possessions and taught such doctrine as hee was condemned for it in the Council of Constance as an heretike and his bones were taken vp and burned as is beforesaid Whereby also this authour is proued to forget himselfe very much to number him amongst the Clergie which is generally taken for such as are not onely in Orders but liue also in vnitie of the faith Wherefore purposing to tell a tale of emulation in the Clergie against the Religious he should haue taken some other to haue prooued it then Wickliffe who also by his pretence no doubt of greater perfection had forsaken the state of a Secular Clergie man as appeared by his habit and conuersation To these falshoods and couert calumnies against the Secular Priests this deceit of this author may be added That whereas the Chronicles doe mention that not only Iohn Wickliffe but foure doctors of diuinitie also one of euery Order of the begging Fryers ioyning with him were imployed by Iohn of Gaunt in his grudge against Bish Wickham of Winchester in whose defence the B. of London not Arundell as this author affirmeth but Courtney speaking as became him to doe Iohn of Gaunt threatned him also and swore that he would pull downe both the pride of him and of all the Bishops in England this author mentioneth onely the Secular Priest as he termeth him without any mention of the orders of Religion which were also imployed Moreouer it soundeth very foolishly that Iohn of Gaunt would set Iohn Wickliffe against the Monkes vpon an emulation which hee had against the Bishops their estates depending so little vpon the estate of the Monkes as when all the Abbyes in England were put downe the Bishops remained in as great honour as euer they did And wheras it is further said that the Abbey lands were taken from the Monkes and giuen to the maintenance of the crowne by the same emulation of the Clergie against the Religious in the time of K. Henry the eight it is most false the Abbyes being then put downe by a change of Religion which had not the beginning vpon any such emulation as this author affirmeth but vpon the perswasion of Longland B. of Lincolne the Kings confessor fortified by Card. Wolsey viz. that his Highnesse mariage with the Lady Katherine his brother Prince Arthurs wife was vnlawfull and against the word of God whereby the King being induced to seeke a diuorce but crossed therein with the Pope by Charles the fift nephew of the Lady Katherine and some others as well of the Laytie as the Clergie both Secular and Religious here in England it wrought in the King such a dislike of his Holines and others as it procured not onely the ouerthrow of the Abbyes but such a change in Religion as since the world hath seene Of this alteration therefore if any emulation were the beginning it was an emulation in the Cardinall who dealt with B. Longland to perswade the King as is mentioned and afterward did second him with all his might himselfe against the Emperour for hindering him of the Popedome and neither the sister nor the mother to ambition as this author would haue it but her daughter But the greatest folly committed by this author in this his exordium is not yet touched and that is that among all other histories impertinent to the cōtrouersie in question he would make his choyse of one wherein himselfe if we are not deceiued is notoriously disciphered Iohn Wickliffe was a Secular priest being a priest and neither Monke nor Friar and no Secular priest as differing from them in habit and conuersing with the religious Mendicants vnder pretence of greater perfection His followers tooke no name of him as both Monkes and Friers do of their founders and Sectaries of their Masters but went vnder the name which the common people gaue them to wit Lollards He was vsed as an instrument by Iohn of Gant to bring that to passe which this Duke had long conceiued in his mind For he saw saith the Historie Ioh. Stow. sup that it would be hard for him to obtaine his purpose the Church standing in his full state c. Wherefore he laboured first to ouerthrow aswell the liberties of the Church c. And to this end did Iohn Wickliffe bestow his talents for he was not onely eloquent saith the historie but also seemed to contemne temporall goods for the loue of eternall riches c. This authour being in a state which once was of Secular priests now no state of Secular priests not because he will be taken for either Monke or Frier or goe barefoote as Iohn Wickliffe did and his followers or basely clothed for these are outward mortifications which of what edification soeuer they are yet are not worthy of that honour which is due to the inward mortifications which lie hid and are not seene by the corporall eye But because Pope Gregorie the 13. hath so declared it yet so as he being filius populi as people say hath no other name but what the people giue him he is imployed not by Iohn of Gant himselfe in his owne person for this great Duke died aboue 200 yeeres since but by Iohn of Gant in some of his posteritie who hath somewhat to bring to passe which he hath long conceiued in his mind for the effecting of which this godly Father is busied in the corrupting the Cleargie of England or the vtter ouerthowing it which at this present he and his doe worke by taking from them their good name and fame and making them odious without iust cause to the people And to the end that he would be knowen not to haue spent his time idlely in Wickliffe his schoole he hath not onely imployed his tongue but his pen also and in his first platforme of Reformation hath ordeined that none of the Clergie shall possesse any temporall liuings but shall liue vpon such pensions as shall to certaine of his company and some secular Priests ioyned with them in their wisedome seeme necessary for their maintenance But let vs now see whether this authour can fit himselfe better in the next point In the beginning also saith he of this Queenes dayes the little affection which the Laitie did beare vnto the Clergie procured by some vnquiet spirits as also the small vnion of diuers Clergie men among themselues some holding with the heretikes and politikes by beate of faction
Iesuits it is a meere mockery as may appeare by the letter it selfe for so much as is set downe to this purpose in this Apologie cap. 2. fol. 11. where we find these words I haue heard to my great griefe that there is not that good correspondence betweene the Fathers and other priests I cannot tell vpon what discontentment c. But whereof soeuer it commeth it is of the enemie and with all possible discretion and diligence by the wiser sort on both sides to be rooted out or els it wil be the ruine of the whole cause c. And therefore in this point especially M. Mush be earnest and peremptory with all parties and euery one in particular c. By which we vnderstand not how it may rather be gathered that there was a factiō by the Secular priests against the Iesuits then that there was a faction by the Iesuits against the Secular priests neither is here any relation to any former speech had with him as doubtlesse there would haue bene had M. Mush giuen any such information to him but rather the contrary as may be gathered by these wordes I haue heard to my great griefe c. which argueth that this was put into his head by some other that this being before layd for a groūd they might afterward build thereon to their owne best liking nothing at any time being accounted so much their honor and glory as others falling out which howsoeuer they doe vnderhand nourish it while they would seeme to remedy it maketh them wise and charitable purueyours for the common cause and what not good men beeing as innocent of these broyles and diuisions as Sinon was of the betraying of Troy Moreouer it may appeare by this letter that the Car. had a very great good conceit of M. Mush who would employ him in a matter in which lay the ruine of the whole cause and therefore willed him to be earnest yea and peremptory with all parties His good affection was also shewed in that at his cōming into England he perswaded the Pope to giue vnto him very speciall faculties and power to name at his returne into England to a certaine number who hoc ipso should haue the like And yet this author is not ashamed in this place to set downe to his discredit these words Hauing bene with the Cardinall at Rome and hauing done some euill offices as is presumed c. the Card. perceiuing his humour wrote most effectually to him and by him to others against this diuision and faction but little preuailed And in the margent there is a note of the aboue cited letters which as they are set downe in the Apologie are a most absurd instance to proue thus much as is here presumed of the Cardinals sinister conceit of M. Mush as that it was farre from trueth which was auowed that the Cardinall was disunited from the Fathers before he died For thus this author maketh his tale hang together But it litle preuailed as now appeareth onely it may serue to prooue how false and farre from trueth it is which he M. Mush and others of his faction doe auow in their bookes that the Cardinall was disunited from the Fathers before he died for that he said as they relate that when he should be dead farre greater troubles and oppositions would fall out against the Iesuits which may be true for that he saw so much emulation against them by Libertines and factious people already begun in his time which yet were reteined somewhat from breaking forth by this authoritie while hee liued But the Cardinall liuing yet sixe moneths longer what proofe could this letter be that hee was not disunited from the Iesuits before he died Or what proofe is it of any such vnion to the Iesuits when he writ it as it could not be likely that hee was disunited before he died he willeth Master Mush to be earnest and peremptory with all parties in which words the Iesuites are included aswell as the Secular priests and consequently the Cardinall was peremptorily conceited that somewhat was amisse in the Iesuits or else hee would not haue bene so bold with them as he might vpon any small occasion with the Secular of whom he had a particular charge To our remembrance also the words of the Cardinall related vnto vs were not those which are here cited to wit that when he was dead farre greater troubles and oppositions would fall out against the Iesuits but that there would be very great troubles by the Iesuits their ambitious courses bad carriages towards the Secular priests And this gloze that he foresaw so much emulation against them by Libertines and factious people is piously made by this authour that the reader should be out of doubt what spirit it is which doeth assist him in the making of this his necessary Apologie But the good Cardinall being dead in the yeere 1594 all factions saith this fellow brake out together against the Iesuits destitute now of the Cardinals assistance c. This Author mistaketh the matter For after the Cardinals death the Iesuits began their raigne in euery place where any English were resident as at Rome and in England especially at Wisbich where through the folly of the Lay Catholicks they had greatest hope to preuaile first and afterward to haue an easier conquest of the rest The stirres troubles of Rome are particularly to be set downe in a discourse thereof whither wee are to referre the Reader The stirres in England began at Wisbich by the insolencie of the Iesuits there in durance F. Weston F. Buckley F. Bolton and others who had deuoted themselues particularly to their order or passed their vowes in secret And to effect this the better the Lay gentlemen by whose charitie the Castle had bene relieued were dealt withall by the Iesuits or their factious adherents to withdraw their charitie from all those who would not subiect themselues to F. Weston the Iesuit by whose instructions it is most falsly here auowed that the company had liued a Collegiall and religious maner of life for before hee came thither they liued indeed in such sort but after his comming his ambitious humor disturbed the whole house as it is set downe in a booke already published of The stirres at Wisbich And as for the stirres which were in the Low-countries the cause is here in patt set downe by the Author of the Apologie to wit that Fa. Holt and M. Hugh Owen were deemed partiall against some and did not further them for the getting of their pensions But as it should seeme these two had some intent in which because those other would not ioyne with them they were accompted as factious and not worthy of the Spanish charitie F. Holt was sufficiently knowen to haue bene a notorious actor in the yeere 1588. and was not without cause thought through his folly to haue bene the cause of the death of the duke of Parma His treacherie was afterward better
And if any haue since promised obedience to the Archpriest when they receiued their faculties they are ready to giue a reasonable cause why in such and such particulars they did not obey him For as I take it this fellow will not stand obstinately in this heresie that a superior cannot doe any thing or command any thing amisse wherein a subiect may refuse to obey him although he were sworne to obey him as now many are For such oathes are alwayes to be vnderstood to be obserued in iust and lawfull matters or at the most in such as are not to bee prooued most vniust and vnlawfull as these are which the Archpriest doth command to wit that they shal not defend themselues nor be defended of other from the infamie of schisme sedition faction rebellion and such like whereof they know themselues to be most cleere and that the suffering of such slanders to goe vncontrolled would bee most iniurious to themselues preiudiciall to Gods Church in which they liue as pastors and dishonorable to God himselfe to whose seruice they haue with their vttermost peril deuoted themselues But to make all apparant in one word the priests obeyed so soone as they knew it to be his Holinesse will that it should be so as appeareth by the second Breue dated 17 August 1601 if there were no other profe for it These are the words of the Breue Quae nostrae literae simulatque promulgatae advestram filij presbyteri notitiam deuenerunt omnem illico sedatam fuisse discordiam summam pacem reconciliata inter vos gratia depositisque odijs simultatibus initam fuisse magno nostro cum gaudio cognoutmus Which letters of ours the Breue so soone as they were promulged and came to your knowledge we perceiue to our great toy that all discord was presently appeased and that a full peace was made by a mutuall atonement and a laying apart all hatred and priuate grudge So that we doe not a little marueile at this fellow his boldnes who without any regarde of so many testimonies as would be brought against him or of this Breue would set foorth to the view of the world this vntrueth concerning the priests obedience at the sight of the Breue to induce his Reader to a contrary conceit of the priests actions For thus he telleth his tale But at length his Holinesse to resolue all doubts declared by his Breue that all and euery point of the former institution by the Cardinall was by his order consent knowledge and commandement and should not this haue brought some remorse to good and tender consciences of all the broyles and turmoiles raised vp before about this vnnecessary doubt Or at least wise should not this haue so appeased men for the time to come as that whatsoeuer the superiour had bene for his person yet should his authority neuer more haue bene called in question But what insued Truely we are afraid to recount it remembring that dreadfull saying of the Apostle Mali autem homines proficiunt in peius Euill men shal go frō worse to worse And it seemeth to haue come to passe for that diuers of these chiefe heads of this seditiō seeming to haue lost much of Gods grace in not obeying promptly that Apostolicall declaration determination haue run since to farre greater contempt and perturbation of mind c. Could this fellow haue vsed himselfe more malapertly against the Popes Breue then after his wonted and graceles conceits and insinuations to tell his reader that the Priests did not promptly obey that apostolicall declaration whereas the words of the Breue are most plaine to the contrary Quae nostrae literae simulatque promulgatae ad vestram filij presbyteri noticiam deuenerunt omnem ilico sedatam fuisse discordiam c. So soone as our Breue came to your viewe presently all discord was a appeased and peace was made c. which peace is in diuers discourses shewed to haue been broken by the Archpriest when complaint being made vnto him by the priests of that audaciousnesse of Fa. Iones the Iesuite in renewing his fellow Fa. Listers absurd and seditious assertion of schisme against the priests hee did not onely anouch asmuch now a fresh but published a resolution which he sayd hee had receiued from Rome to the same effect and with such appurtenances as might well declare how deepe a roote the infection had taken The other two points to wit of vndutifulnes and of scandalous temerarious propositions are handled somewhat confusedly But for the fuller satisfaction of the Reader they shal be answered as they lie And whereas this author doeth first begin to except against some speeches vttered by letters conteined in the English booke as cōtemptuously spoken of the dignity and office of the Archpriest and also of the maner of the institution thereof by his Hol. the reader is to vnderstand that in this there is very euil dealing cōsidering that those speeches which were vsed were vsed before it was knowen that his Holines had his finger in it And they were the more boldly vsed because it was presumed that the authority was not instituted by his Holines but by the Cardinall Caietane who in his letter constitutiue affirmeth that this was his owne ordinance although hee saith in one place in generall termes that he was commanded to make a peace in England vpō the false suggestion that the priests and Catholiks were at warres And in another place that hee followed the Popes will who thought it meet that there should be a subordination in England being induced thereunto by reason giuen him by priests whereas to this day neither were the reasons euer heard nor what priests they were who gaue them except perchance a few Iesuits who are exempted frō the authoritie Nothing then being knowen to the contrary but that it was a deuise of the Iesuits and an institution of the Card. Caietane by their meanes without any letters to one effect or other from his Holines as is here confessed in this Apol. Cap. 1 fol. 7. the priests might the more iustly terme the authority by such names as to them it seemed then to deserue to wit a new and extraordinary authority vnpleasing obtruded disorderly procured gouernment exorbitant and altogether dissonant from reason the accustomed practise of Gods Church and that it was already thought by the Councell to bee of purpose erected not for Religion but for the better effecting of plots and designments of State For although neither the title of an Archpriest be new nor the authoritie of an Archpt extraordinary yet may this authoritie be termed both new and extraordinary being such as was neuer heard of to haue bene before giuen to so meane a Prelate It was called an vnpleasing authority for that it was meerely affectiue as may appeare by the constitutiue letters and if it haue now any power to do any good to any the Prelate is to giue thankes for such thankes
could not suffice to maintaine the pastour at the least after so meane a rate as we doe conceiue in is kept in diet and apparell in the Iesuites Seminaries And this dislike in the Cardinall of the Iesuits gouernement of his Seminarie might stand with an opinion that many of them were good men and to bee vsed otherwise As also the Cardinall Tollet might conceiue of them how euill soeuer some of them behaued themselues in the gouernement of the English College at Rome Lastly whereas the priests are here challenged to haue done iniurie to his Holinesse for that his exhortation to the Iesuites in their generall congregation is remembred by them is a very foolish conceite of this author as also that he would haue vs to thinke that his Holinesse did exhort the Capuchines to lay downe their pompe who are generally knowen to vse none But as this authour said at the beginning of this chapter All sorts seeke companie and of all other the Iesuites loue the Capuchines because they desire nothing CHAP. 10. How the stirres in the English Colledge at Rome began the cause wherof this Apologie-maker doth seeke to colour and to lay it where it should seeme it was not Apo. cap. 5. IN the fifth chapter this Author treateth of the great troubles which were raised in the English Colledge at Rome after the Card. Allen his death and challengeth the priests of imprudencie for bringing them in now againe and defending them in their bookes And forsomuch as this chapter doth wholly consist of this point here is little to bee sayd thereof the story being particularly set downe by such as to whom these things doe principally appertaine only these few matters are to be noted that whereas this Author would make shew that the Iesuites were drawen into the gouernement of that Colledge there are priests yet liuing who will iustifie that they were sollicited by the Iesuits to take them for gouernours which how willingly soeuer and sincerely the Students then performed being caried away as many yet are though not so faultily as those who are now deluded therewith with the religious name of some who little deserue it M. Sherwine who is here named in this chapter sayd not long after in the presence of some from whose mouth wee writ it that they had done they know not what What would he haue said if he had liued to see this loue vnto the Iesuits vsed by the same Iesuits to bring the Secular priests into hatred euen with such as will they nill they must take them for their pastors as all the world doth and hath done and haue prospered in soules health for the space of 1500 yeres and more before this society surnamed of Iesus was begun And whereas there is a touch here also of some troubles raysed in that Colledge not long after the foundation therof it is wel knowen that they grew vpon the Iesuits their dealings with the students to become Iesuits which how pious soeuer the desire was in the one to dispose or in the other to attaine to a higher perfection was a trouble to the rest who grew in contempt with the new inspired and were much lesse regarded of the Iesuits But these troubles were quietly ended within the Colledge after that the Students perceiued that the Iesuits notwithstanding their publike protestations to the contrary did vnderhand practise themselues bare some others out which were their chiefe instruments in this action And this is the true solution of that riddle which is in more generall tearmes related in the second chapter of the Apologie fol. 170 where speaking of M. Mush the author affirmeth that no other thing euer wrought the fathers more trouble in the Colledge while this man was there then their ouermuch loue and fauour to him aboue his merits as other men thought to wit when the Rector was informed that hauing at that time deuoted himselfe to the Iesuits as also there it is sufficiently insinuated he vsed to perswade the Students to become Iesuits and the profes were very euident the Iesuits would neuer beleeue it and their trouble grew by deuising sleights to saue him from blame hauing offended in that for which in publike sermons the Iesuits would often protest whosoeuer he were that should vse it he should be the same day turned out of the Colledge These troubles being ended and the schollers acquieted as seeing no remedy without further trouble and contented to beare what was offred them by this new spirit which first began to be the ouerthrovv of that Colledge and now of England Other began in the time of Pope Xistus of holy memorie and then there was a visitation made in the Colledge But what the causes were thereof we doe not vnderstand If this authour could doe any thing impudently doubtlesse he sheweth his weakenesse in bringing this matter For as we are informed those who were reputed the chiefe in that faction since they came into England not finding belike such among the Secular priestes as could sort with that humour haue betaken themselues to the Iesuits order and some of them who are now in England are as factious in their Religious humor as they were busie before against the same religious order CHAP. 11. How this Author beslirreth himselfe to lay the fault of the scandalous diuision in Wisbich vpon those Priests who would not subiect themselues to that insolent Agencie of the Iesuits Apol. cap. 6. THe sixt chapter of the Apologie is of the troubles which were raised among Catholike prisoners in Wisbich the beginning whereof this author affirmeth that the priests doe declare in the Latine booke pag. 11. to haue beene a repining in themselues that their fellowes would haue certain rules of orderly liuing which is most false For they haue alwayes attributed the cause of these stirres to the separation which the Iesuits and their adherents made from them because they would not subiect themselues to F. Weston the Iesuite as a new illuminate vnder the name of an Agent which I leaue to those to whom it appertaineth to discouer if this Apologie minister occasion to say more then hath already bene sayd of these matters And whereas this author promiseth to put down authenticall informations and originals against the narration which is already made of these stirres he bringeth his proofes onely out of the letters of the Iesuits and their faction who are and were parties in the controuersie And although the testimony of Fisher may seem to some to be of some weight against the Priests as hauing been sometime an enemie to the Iesuits yet it ought not to mooue any man of discretion what he said against them For if the author of this Apologie be of any credit Fisher mst be of no credit For in the seuenth chapter fol. 93. Fisher is sayd to haue bene one of the most exorbitant disorderly fellowes in the Romane stirres and professing to haue been now more then halfe conuerted fol. 94. what is
Paris in this maner First there was no man to enforme the Doctors for the Archpriest As though the Doctors censure had not passed vpon those informatiōs although no one of any side had been present The case was propounded and they gaue their iudgement vpon the case and not vpon any particular person If any that might haue bene then present for the Archpriest could haue proued the case to haue been wrong put let it now be done and it shall be all one For as it is sayd it was the case which was censured which might haue come out of Moscouia for any thing that was set downe to the contrary in the information And the decree being giuen according to the information will be iustified notwithstanding this sencelesse and shameful Edict 29. Maij 1600. We George Blackwell Archpriest of England and protonotary apostolicall c. do strictly command in vertue of obedience and vnder paine of suspension from diuine offices A notorious vsurper and losse of all faculties in the fact it selfe to be incurred all ecclesiasticall persons and also all Lay Catholikes vnder paine of being interdicted likewise in the fact it selfe to bee incurred Is not this a strange charge considering the state in which as well the Lay Catholike as the Ecclesiasticall person now liueth in England Who is it that doeth not expect a prohibition of some grieuous crime You haue heard the charge Now listen to the matter forbidden That neither directly nor indirectly they maintaine nor defend in word or writing the censure of the Vniuersitie of Paris whether it be truely giuen or forged Was there euer in Christendome heard the like presumption that a man of some two or three yeres study and in no Catholike Academi◠of fame should condemne the censure of the most famous Vniuersity in Christendome But wil you heare him excel himselfe who hath excelled the most proud and temerarious censurer in the world Note that which he addeth whether vpon true information or otherwise the Sorbonists haue spun a faire threed when what informations soeuer be giuen vnto them their censure is not to be regarded The second exception which this author seemeth to take is that the Doctors did lightly passe it ouer and defined the matter in the senior Bedels house which such as haue studied in Paris do know to be the vsuall place of their meeting as standing most commodiously for all those who are chosen to meete vpon all causes comming to the Vniuersitie to be determined they themselues not liuing in any one place but scatteringly in the Citie Religious men in their Couents Pastors in their parishes Readers and other Doctors in their seuerall houses or Colledges How lightly they passed it ouer I know not neither is the matter of any such difficultie in it selfe that it should aske great studie But it is an argument that they were not ouer carelesse what they sayd who commanded the Bedell to write it downe as their definition in such wise as euery thing els doeth passe them in their consultations of greatest matters The third exception is that it was giuen vpon some sinistrous information and that therefore the Doctors did prudently giue their censure in this maner They committed no sinne at all in that fact in it selfe considered And that they added these words for that they knew not what scandall euill example sedition and contention and hurt to the common cause had ensued thereof Had this author in place of this word thereof put after he had done more wisely as I thinke for in that he vseth this word thereof either he declareth himselfe to be very sottish or els that the Vniuersitie was very vnaduised in adding these words that fact in it selfe considered for which words this author commendeth their wisedom for if the fact in it selfe were such as so much hurt did ensue thereof how could the fact in it selfe be cleered from all sinne True it is that scandal followed after But it yet remaineth vnproued that it ensued vpon the priests fact doeth not much hurt come after much good and shall we say that the harme ensued vpon the doing of the good in such sense as that the good which is done must be a necessary cause of the euil which had not perchance otherwise been The fact then in it selfe considered being without sinne we are to seeke who sowed the Zizania which perchance had neuer been sowed where it was had not the husbandman sowed good corne before The priests perceiuing what was intended and was likely to fall vpon them if they sought not some meanes to preuent it sent two of their brethren vnto his Holines to preuent it if they might for contrary to all custom in Christendome there was a superioritie challenged ouer all England and Scotland as deriued from the Sea Apostolike without any letters from the said Sea for warrant thereof and in the meane time the priests deferred their submission to the authoritie as well vpon this cause as other contained in the information to the Doctors of Sorbon The Iesuits and their faction of which the Archpriest being now become the head were impatient of delay and because the priests did not subiect themselues in this interim but stayed their submissiō vntill they did see the Popes letters they first vsed their tongues then their pennes and both writ and approoued seditious libels against the priests tearming them therein Schismatikes excommunicate persons irregular fallen from the Church of God and what not that malice it selfe could deuise from which slanders while the Priests sought to defend themselues great troubles haue risen in England Now then the question must be whether the Priests were the sinfull cause of these contentions by this their forbearance to subiect them selues before they sawe the Popes letters or rather the Iesuites and Archpriest by those their seditious and sinnefull tongues and libels The fact of the Priests in it selfe considered that is their forbearance vpon such causes say the doctors and prudently sayth this author was no sinne at all but the doctors were not truly informed sayth this author and therefore their sentence was of no force But what then were the defects in the information giuen to the doctors through which the doctours are thought to haue erred in their sentence Forsooth first the priests did not tell them that the Card. was Protector of the nation What if the priests did not know that he was Protector of the nation when his letters came into England but onely Protector of the English Colledge at Rome as his predecessour was intituled and neuer knowen by any other title as may appeare by the Bull of Pope Gregory 13. for the institution of that Colledge and the Thesis either in Philosophie or Diuinitie which were in the publike exercises dedicated vnto him Moreouer it is euident that this which this Card. Protector did hee did it by a delegation from his Hol. and not as a Protector and therefore it had beene
against our brethren Priests that had beene of the same Colledge and Vniuersitie here in Rome and had gone hence into England iointly to labour and aduenture our liues for the same cause of the Catholike faith though before them and were quickly wearie thereof yet their maner of proceeding had been and was so preiudiciall to common peace these good Proctors were 12 yeeres before or there about gone out of England and vnion and so scandalous to all good and honest men that either we must oppose our selues against them in the name of our head they meane the Archpriest who was not their head they liuing at Rome and of all the rest of our Catholike body in England and abroad they wil make their foresayd head a yong Pope or els we should seeme to betray the same cause impugned by them O scrupulous conscience who would thinke that all his tale were onely an imagination what might haue been sayd neither he nor his fellow Proctor hauing as yet vttered one word But let vs heare this saint make an end of this lewde and lowde lie Wherefore wee prayed their Graces in what language not to be scandalized to see this diuision amongst vs for that these were the moaths O gentle mouthes speake that did breed in the best clothes and the wormes O noble Proctor that were commonly found vnder the barke of euery tree if they were not looked to in time and that this happened also in the verie primitiue Church permitted by God for the better proofe and exercise of good men And that this was a very heresie in maners actions as th' other in Protestants was in faith and Religion that this would breake into that in time if that it were not looked into as in diuers of the Iesuits darlings it had done already and must needs doe For that it was contention founded vpon the same grounds of emulation euery ambition hatred couetousnes and libertie of life as the other heresie was and wrought a spirit conforme to that in all respects c. This letter being written 3. or 4. dayes after that the priests had appeared before the Cardinals and after a friendly composition demaunded by the Proctors and pretended by the Cardinals Can it be an argument of any other thing then a desire to continue strife and diuision Could the most hatefull professed enemy in the world haue disgorged his filthy stomache in more spitefull termes Had this bene vttered by the Proctors before the Cardinals against the two priests with shame ynough it had bene written into England but without the least â—ot of honesty the Proctors themselues hauing most humbly desired a friendly composition But the Proctors not hauing vttered one word much lesse in these most vile termes who may not iustly iudge that when this letter was written which was after the apparance of the two priests as appeareth by the date that it was not meant by that side that euer there should be peace But marke I pray you yet a most wicked relation and which may conuince more euidently if it be possible that these fellowes would not haue peace And then saith he we gaue vp a writing which before had bene exhibited vnto his Holines was remitted hither as it seemeth it seemed so indeed for D Haddocke had it ready to giue vp to the Cardinals so soone as F. Parsons had told his tale that these men came hither onely to trouble the peace of England and to reuiue stirres in Rome and that of their owne heads as it seemeth for that they had brought no one letter of credence with them of Superior or other to his Holines Protector or other man in Rome c. wherefore we desired remedy in this behalfe and exhibited diuers letters of the doctors of Doway and M. Wright the deane of Cortrac and of other graue men of our nation to this effect All these letters here said to haue bene exhibited by the Proctors were no other then one letter from the D of Doway and an other from M. Wright which are set in the Apologie fol. 125 126. whereof the first beareth date the 25. of Octob. 1598. and the second 10 Nouemb. 1598. and they were both to the Protector Yet must M. Martins friend beleeue that he and his fellow Protector did vpon the 17. of February exhibit many other letters to the Protector who was chiefe Iudge notwithstaÌ„ding the exceptions taken against him at this time But how were these letters exhibited In no other sort then as a part of that writing for they were inserted in it as may appeare by the writing it selfe of which I haue seene a copy But let this passe let vs heare what he saith was answered by the priests to all these grieuous accusations Against all which saith he the Ambassadors were able to say little and willing to say lesse but onely excused their owne intentions and asked pardon if they had giuen scandall by their maner of proceeding more then they euer meant But put the case indeed as it was and as the Card. Burgesius without doubt will acknowledge and the Iesuits with all the rest of that faction then present must auouch it one day against their owne soules will they nill they that Fa. Tichborne the Iesuit who here also supplied the place of a publique Notary and read this Libel had no sooner done reading it then M. Bishop required that the Proctors might take their othes that the Libel contained nothing but trueth To which when the Card. Caietan would not consent he requested that a copy of the Libel might be deliuered vnto him his fellow that they might make their answere vnto it as most false and iniurious whereat D. Hadd who had giuen vp the writing stepped to the table requested that it might not be deliuered vnto them but that all things rather should be peaceably concluded To which the Card. Caietan presently consented the sooner perchance for ioy that both the Proctors were not dumbe for before this acte of D. Haddocke it is most certaine that neither of them spake one word howsoeuer that his fellow vanteth of his workemanship when he was bidden to speake like a Proctor Now would I aske of an indifferent Iudge whether it were possible that there could be any desire of peace in fellowes who in cold blood and after three nights rest if rancor and malice would suffer them to rest would write thus into England cleane contrary to all trueth in a matter of such moment as was the handling of the cause concerning which all the diuision was which was or was like to be in England And if this were necessary to be done lest that they should seeme to betray the cause impugned by the two priests as this fellow saith in this letter must not consequently this cause be a most fowle cause which must be vpholden with such shamelesse falshood could these fellowes thinke that Master Bishop or Master Charnocke should euer come to
attend principally to such matters and were the sole actors in making this ordination and moderating thereof as hath more apparantly since beene seene and at the very first they did so grossely interesse themselues therein as the Archpriest must needs haue one of his instructions not to doe any thing of moment without the aduise of the Superiour of the Iesuits here in England Although now in a consult in the Inquisition it is adiudged to be taken away notwithstanding his Holines former confirmation thereof in the first Breue the 6. of April 1599. which also conuinceth that his Holinesse may doe that which without offence may afterward be vndone In the thirteenth leafe this author repeateth more matter out of the Copies of discourses for the hope of peace ministreth little matter for him to speake against and the booke to the Inquisition much lesse as it should seeme by this Appendix but it is sufficient that there is a pamphlet intituled An Appendix for the examination of these two bookes it skilleth not how little therof is handled therein but let vs see what this geare is They adde sayth hee in the same page that by the opinion of diuers men of iudgement in the lawes of our countrey this our case may and will be drawen within the compasse of the law of Praemunire loe here these men seeme to be counsellers that can say it may and will be drawen for that perchance themselues had suggested it against other Catholickes But doe yee marke the reason why it may and will be so drawen because say they it is an externall iurisdiction brought into the real me against the will and notice of the prince and countrey doe you not see his Holines Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction wholly here excluded by these good men as externall vnlesse it be allowed by the prince or countrey notwithstanding any difference in religion And doe we marueile that these men are fauoured by the Counsel that will publish such things in their be halfe against their owne religion A marueilous story and stoutly vrged If the holy Ghost himselfe should say as once he sayd by the Prophet Dauid Dixit insipiens in corde suo non est Deus The foole said in his heart there is no God would this companion chalenge the holy Ghost that he said there is no God yet is it true that these words proceeded from him but not proceeding from him as his wordes but as the words of a foole related by him they might well be spoken euen by God himselfe The like case is this of the priests who affirmed in this place quoted by this Author no other matter then this By the opinions of diuers men of iudgement in the lawes of our countrey this our case may and will be drawen within the compasse of an old law enacted as well by our Catholicke Bishops and Prelates as by the Prince aboue 300. yeres agoe viz. the law of Praemunire Is here any assertion of the priests that it may and will be drawen c. Haue they not deliuered it in as plaine termes as they may that it was the opinion of other men they then are the counsellers and not the priests who onely haue related what they said and this poore fellow sheweth that his wits were small in this deuice and that his honestie was much lesse in that which followeth for that perchance themselues had suggested it against other Catholickes Is this a matter of so little weight as it may be published at a venture Is the fame of Catholike priests no more to be regarded but to haue such surmises cast abroad against them The new illuminated may see if they will in whose pawes they haue put their soules and what spitefull guides they haue chosen in place of their spirituall fathers But concerning this lawe of Praemunire mentioned by those whose words or opinions the priests did onely alledge there is enough said in the reply to the second Chapter of the Apologie here onely is to be noted what this author hath since manifested in a late libell commonly called The manifestation of spirits concerning this statute Wherfore sayth he a contention being in those dayes about the collation of benefices and Bishopricks in England whereof the Popes were wont to dispose for the most part they concluded in England after many contentions and disputes and many sendings forth and backe to Auignon in Fraunce where the Popes at that time resided that such prouisions of benefices should not be sought nor made from the Pope immediatly for the time to come but onely in England by consent of the Prince and confirmation afterward of the Pope for the most principall benefices and dignities and whosoeuer should contrary to this procure prouisions immediatly from the Pope or any other power or iurisdiction contrary to this law should incurre the penalties thereof And this to haue beene the onely true meaning and intent of the said law and law-makers that were Catholickes is euident by all authors that haue written thereof And in this sense there is no controuersie among vs for that latter Popes haue either agreed thereunto or permitted the same and we see the like in vse also in other Catholicke countreys at this day by agreement and composition betweene the Sea Apostolike Princes and Catholike Cleargie Can the priests themselues giue a plainer testimony for confirmation of the Lawyers their opinions by them cited But sayth hee in this sence there is no controuersie among vs. In what sense then is the controuersie forsooth beside the sense and meaning of the law there hath bene another inuented by heretickes and enemies since that time c. And in the same sense and signification being plainely false and hereticall as you doe see these libellers vrge it now against the Archpriest and others c. If one and the same sentence doe beare a Catholike and an hereticall sense it was wont to be iudged according to the partie his disposition who pronounced it as for example this sentence Pater maior me est my father is greater then I am beeing spoken by a Catholicke was taken for Catholicke but being spoken by an Arrian was taken for hereticall Such was the guise of Christians before these new reformers appeared in the Christian world but now the world seemeth to be otherwise instructed and Catholike priests how Catholikely soeuer they behaue themselues either in words or actions must be taken for hereticks schismaticks and such like at the discretion of such as whose actions although they are most damnable as was the writing spreading and approouing of that most impious treatise of schisme and other heathenish proceedings against Catholicke priests must be counted religious and the authors to seeke nothing but the glory of God And no man must say otherwise when the very stones in the street are ready to cry out of their wickednes which they haue vsed against Cath priests The other place noted in this same lease out of the copies of discourses