euer haue bene Which euery indifferent man that behouldeth the immortal workes of Charitie which this one blessed Pope hath done in the dayes of his high Priesthood must of necessity confesse Wherof we thought meet to make some mention in this place The seditious practise of this Libeller for that both other Protestantes are not ashamed to accuse the Holie Sea of Robberie and rapine in getting and houldīg the temporal state which now it hath so manie ages occupied to the great honour of God as also for that this Libeller oftē glaunceth at some iniuries which he pretendeth to haue bene done by the Popes tirānous excessiue power as he termeth it to the Princes of the world ī this case sometimes seditiously and subtellie suggesting to the Emperour and other the greatest and best Kinges of Christendome to abbridge his power sometimes craftelie commending them vpon a deuilish and deceiptful fiction of his owne that they onely tollerate his title and iurisdiction for a time and of pollicie so farre as they see it is not preiudicial to their owne states otherwise nether caring for his curses excommunications canons nor commaundements no more thē the protestāt Princes doe who haue withdrawen from him in their states al both temporal emolumentes and spiritual prerogatiues Of which restraint limitation or plaine contempt of the Popes power and censures the writer alleageth certaine examples of diuers Catholique Kinges and Countries that the English may seeme to haue done no new thing in this their shameful reuoult from the Sea Apostolique and contempt of the Ecclesiastical curse and excommunication Which this prophane Atheist affirmeth none but the simple people to feare or care for wise men Princes to haue no scruple or conscience at al in such matters but to resist by armes al lawes and ordinances as they list For proofe whereof he bringeth to no purpose how diuers kinges of Fraunce haue by their lawes pragmatiques restreined the Popes of diuers claimes prerogatiues and profits Touching Catholique Princes restraint of the Popes iurisdictiō How they in England in old time limited and abbridged his iurisdictiō by the law specially called Praemuniri How the noble Emperour Charles the fift feared not their curses when by his Captaines he beseiged tooke and sacked Rome imprisoned and ransomed the Pope him self How his sonne the King Catholique now raigning nothing respected excommunicatiō when his armie was led before Rome walles by the conduction of the Duke of Aluas How King Henrie the seuenth resisted the Pope in a matter of Alume and his neece Queene Marie her self as much as she was deuoted to the Romane religiō withstood him in the fauour of her cosin Cardinal Poole against doctor Peyto about a Cardinals Hat the bringer of which hat and the Buls for the said Peyto she did forbid to enter the Realme commanding thē to be staied at Calles and finally that Cardinal Poole him self hauing the Queene for him in the cause had no feare to disobey the Popes commaundementes and his threatned excommunications or curses but continued Legate and made the other poore Peyto being an obseruant frier to goe a begging stil Thus much in sense saith the Libeller in defence of their resistance of the Pope and contempt of his Censures But looke attentiuelie into the particular reasons and examples of this his discours The ansvver to the exāples alleaged and you shal find nothing but fraude and falshood First it is a most impious and godles conceipt that the Emperour and other great Kinges and Potentates of Christendome ether of old or at this present haue suffred or doe yet endure the Pope to command or haue iurisdiction in their countries onely for some respectes in policie and so farre as they list rather then vppon conscience and for religion when it is certaine that his spiritual authoritie and high Prelacie ouer al faithful Princes and people as instituted by Christ clearlie deduced out of the Scriptures approued by decrees of ancient Councels testimonies of al the old Doctors and by both imperial and national lawes of the Christian world is acknowledged in conscience of al Catholique Kinges that haue bene or yet be within the happie vnitie of holie Church And it is a most shameles slaunder of their sacred Maiesties that this Atheist would make the world beleeue that pretending conscience deuotion religion and sinceritie in their obedience to the Sea Apostolique they doe al in deed of policie As wel might this Machiuilian beare men in hand that the Christian religion is no otherwise admitted in Common-weales but so farre forth as it serueth for pollicie and the aduauncement of the Prince or temporal state And God graunt this be not the marke that our Protestantes and Politiques shoot at much it is to be feared that it is our English elne and analogie of Faith for measure of al actions And certes to no other end they vse their pretended Ministerie new cleargie of their creation occupying them to interteine and amase the people VVith the vvord of the Lord whilest they accomplish their worldly and wicked intentions as apparant it is that the good author of this Libel would not if he were a Prince as such be to neare Princes elbowes thes dayes admit ether Peter Paul or Christ him self into anie iurisdiction ether spiritual or temporal within his Realme nor would be depriued or excommunicated by anie of thē more then now by the Pope nor further deale with them then his aduantage and policie requireth And indeed by the meanes of such Lycurgians as this we haue in England new lawes against al claime of iurisdiction spiritual or temporal The Machiuilian drift of this Libeller that can be made by anie person whosoeuer borne out of the Realme Which no question might exclude Christ and his Apostles no lesse then their successours being as wel forreiners as they Wherin it seemeth singularlie to be noted that this craftie Politique putteth no difference betwixt spiritual regiment and temporal yea rather taketh away al ecclesiastical iurisdiction calling in this his pestiferous Libel which you shal not as we thinke read in anie other of the Heretiques writīges of thes dayes the Queenes spiritual power which she chalengeth against the Popes supremacie her REGALITIE The Q. REGALITIE seeking by al meanes possible wholie to extinguish the Hierarchie and Prelacie of Christes Church and concluding al in Kinglie authoritie Wherby as also by the Scriptures which they foolishlie in the sight of wise men but to the simple perswasiblie alleage That al men must obey the King as the Cheefe or precellent they exclude Peter frō his high spiritual function which he had in the time of Nero and giue vnto the said Nero as his regalitie no lesse thē now they yeeld both Papal and al other Bishoplie Ecclesiastical authoritie in England to the Queene as a peece of her Regalitie As though ther were no difference betwene a King and a Priest The
they knowe manie hundreth years before Gregorie the seuenth and our special Apostle pratised the point we now stand on and therfore likely to be beleeued of al reasonable men He therfore in the forme of his priuiledge graunted to S. Medards Monasterie thus decreeth An excommunication of S. Gregorie vpon Kinges and Princes In fine libri 12. Epist Si quis inquit Regum Antistitum Iudicum vel quarumcunque personarum saecularium huius Apostolicae authoritatis nostrae praeceptionis decreta violauerit cuiuscunque dignitatis vel sublimitatis sit honore suo priuetur If anie king Prelate Iudge or what other secular person so euer shal transgresse this decree of our authoritie and commandement of what preeminence or height so euer he be let him be depriued of his dignitie This was the right and power of S. Gregorie and this hath bene the faith of Christian men euer sith our countrie was conuerted and neuer subiect called in question much lesse accused of treason for it til this miserable time and lest of al made or found treason by th' old lawes in K. Edward the thirdes reigne as is pretended how so euer by their new lawes they may and doe make what they list a crime Capital And euer sith the said S. Gregories time or ther about al kinges in Christendome speciallie thos of Spaine Fraunce Pole and England take an othe vpon the holie Euangelistes at ther coronation The othe of the Kinges of England at their Coronation to keepe and defend the Catholique faith and ours of England expreslie to manteine also the priuileges and liberties of the Church and Cleargie giuen by K. Edward the Confessor and other faithful kinges their auncestors Wherof S. Thomas of Canterburie putteth his soueraigne Henrie the second in memorie both often in speech and expreslie in an epistle written to him in thes wordes In vita S. Thomae Memores sitis confessionis quam fecistis posuistis super Altare apud VVestmonasterium de seruanda Ecclesiae libertate quando consecrati fuistis vncti in Regem a praedecessore nostro Theobaldo Keepe in memorie the Confession which you made and laid vpon the Altar at Westminster touching the keepiÌ„g of holie Churches liberties when you were consecrated and annointed king by my predecessor Theobald And the Patriarches of Constantinople tooke an instrument of such as were to be crouned Emperours speciallie in the times of Heresie wherin they made the like promis and profession to keepe and defend the Faith and decrees of holie Councels So did the Patriarche Euphemius in the Coronation of Anastasius Nicephorus in the inuesting of Michael and others in the creatioÌ„ of other Emperours of the East And Zonoras writeth that the Patriarche of Constantinople plainlie told Isaac Commenus th'Emperour that as by his handes he receiued th' Empire Zonor tomo 3. Cuspinianus in Anastasio in zimiste so if he gouerned not wel by him it should be takeÌ„ from him againe Likewise when kinges that before were infidels doe enter by Baptisme into the Church they submit their scepters to Christ In vvhat cases subiectes may breake vvith their Princes and consequeÌ„tlie make them selues subiect punishable if they reuoult from their Faith and promis Vpon thes conditioÌ„s therfore and no other Kinges be receiued of the Bishop that in Gods behalf annointeth them which othe and promis being not obserued they breake with God and their people and their people may and by order of Christes Supreme minister their cheefe Pastor in earth must needes breake with them Heresie and Infidelitie in the Prince tending directlie to the perdition of the Common wealth and the soules of their subiects notoriousliâ— to the annoiance of the Church and true Religion foâ— the defence of which Kinges by God are giuen By the fal of the King from the faith the danger iâ— so euident and ineuitable that God had not sufficieÌ„tly prouided for our saluation and the preseruation of his Church and holy lawes if ther were no way to depriue or restraine Apostata Princes We see how the whole world did runne froÌ„ Christ after Iulian The exaÌ„ple of a Prince most dangerous to plaine paganisme after Valens to Arrianisme after Edvvard the sixte with vs into Zwinglianisme would doe into Turcisme if anie powerable Prince wil lead his subiects that way If our faith or perdition should on this sort passe by the pleasure of euerie secular Prince and no remedie for it in the state of the new Testament but men must hould and obey him to what infidelitie so euer he fal then we were in worse case then heatheÌ„s and al other humane commoÌ„ wealthes which both before Christ and after haue had meanes to deliuer them selues froÌ„ such Tyrants as were intollerable and euidentlie pernicious to humane societie and the good of the people for whos peace and preseruation they were created by man or ordeined by God The bond and obligation we haue entred into for the seruice of Christ and the Church Our bond to Christ more then to our Prince farre excedeth al other dutie which we owe to anie humane creature and therfore wher the obedieÌ„ce to th' inferior hindreth the seruice of th' other which is superior we must by lawe and order discharge our selues of th' inferior The wife if she cannot liue with her owne hushand being an infidel or an heretique without iniurie and dishonor to God Hovv man and vvife may depart for Christ she may depart from him or contrariwise he from her for the like cause nether oweth the innocent partie nor th' other can laufullie claime â—nie coniugal dutie or debt in this case The verie bondslaue which is in an other kind no â—esse bound to his Lord and maister Theodos. l. Manachaeos C. de haereticis then the subiect â—o his Soueraigne may also by the ancient imperial â—awes depart and refuse to obey or serue him if he become an Heretique yea ipso facto he is made free Finally the Parents that become Heretiques lose the superioritie and dominion they haue by law or nature ouer their owne children Cap. fin Extra de Haereticis Therfore let no man maruel that in case of Heresy the Soueraigne loseth his superioritie and right ouer his people and kingdome In case of Heresy the Soueraigne loseth his authority which can not be a lauful Christian state or common-wealth without due obedience to Christ and to the Churches lawes but may wel consist and not perish at al by change of their Prince or king No anie one person being simplie necessarie for the preseruation of the same as some one being an Heretique and enimie to Religion may lightlie is if he be suffred the destruction therof And thus much may as we trust suffice with al reasonable indifferent persons for defence of our brethrens answers touching the question of excommunication or deposition of Princes by the Pope wherof by occasion more
tēporal spiritual authoritie cōfounded by the Libeller As though ther were no distinction betwixt Christes bodie mistical and a body politique or humane Common-wealth As though Christ had giuen his said bodie spouse and spiritual Common-wealth to be gouerned ether vnto Kinges and Empeperours who were then and some hundreth yeares afterward persecutours of his Church and Faith and yet had as large whole and perfect Regalitie as anie faithful Prince hath or vnto Christian Kinges afterward who are by receauing Christes sweet yoke Faith made children and members of the Church not Heades therof As though our Sauiour had not in his time appointed special officers for the regiment of his Church or the holie-Ghost afterward not placed Apostles Prelates Pastors and Doctors to gouerne the same euen to the end of the world This deuilish confusion of thinges and attributing al spiritual Soueraintie to the temporal Prince and power The vvay to Antichrist which the Scripture calleth for distinctiō sake Humanam creaturam or rather this turning al Prelacie into Regalitie 1. Pet. 2. if it be permitted wil take away the verie life and essence of the Church of God and of al religiō and wil plane the way to Antichrist who shal by the title of his only Regalitie Antichrists Regalitie destroy if it be possible al power spiritual and temporal and set him self to be adored aboue what-soeuer is named in heauen or earth Woe be to our Nation and to the sinnes of our people which God hath suffred to be the first example of this abhominable conuerting of the spiritual power and regiment of our soules into our Kings Regalitie And Fye on this godles Libeller and his prophane intention that by the defence of this special turpitude of our Kinges and Countrie so foulie slaundereth also other most godlie Princes with his shameful surmise Hovv fouly Catholique Princes are slaundered by this Shameles Libeller that they doe but permit in their dominions the Popes authoritie of policie and no further then is for their aduauntage Who 's impudent calumniation may easily be refuted by their Maiesties zealous deuotion and most sincere obedience to his Holines in al matters of Faith and Religion wherin his Superioritie speciallie and properlie consisteth by their dailie Roial offices done against Heretiques for defence of the Romane Sea and Faith and by open profession of the same both in their liues and deathes by their continual resistance of the enimies therof to their infinite charge yea and often to the hazard of their persons crounes dominions by the due obseruation of the holie decrees of the Sea Apostolique as farre as the great loosnes of this time and the manifould importunity of Heretiques and Atheists wil permit by exact iustice done in many of their kingdomes vpon the rebels of the Church holy Sea and finally by their continual intelligence with his Holines in al their affaires of Conscience Religion and the vse of al his spiritual Graces Indulgences and Benedictions with as great humilitie as the poorest Catholique man in the world But the aduersarie telleth vs for al this that diuers Princes and Countries before named Al examples are not to be stood vppon haue abbridged limited and resisted the Popes doinges and authority To which we say that in such cases we should not stand alwaies vpon examples but rather on reason and lawe For a man might say that Herode killed Iohn Baptist Philip made away Babylas Theodosius banished S. Chrisostome Constance persecuted Athanasius king Henrie of England caused to be murdered his Primat and holy Metrapolitane Thomas of Canterburie manie moe haue resisted the Bishops and Pastours of their owne soules wherof diuers haue bene sorie and sore repented their iniquitie afterwardes as our said Henrie the second amongest other Who 's exāples may not be made a rule how kinges should behaue them selues towardes their Prelates God forbid No more in this other kind we now speake of need we to allowe al the Pragmatiques Praemunires or other National decrees and prouisions which euerie particular Prince hath made or may make though in conscience Catholique by which the Popes iurisdiction and preeminences in some sort and in some cases are abbridged and limited As on the other side againe we nether need nor wil condemne the same because they be not of thinges mere spiritual Al restraintes of the Popes iurisdiction in Catholique countries nether vvholy allovved nor vvholy to be condemned but ether plane temporal or mixt such as had ether by the Princes lawes or custome of Contries bene graunted of deuotion to the Sea Apostolique before and afterward vpon farder consideration by the difference of times or of lesse deuotion reuoked vpon pretence of preseruation of the temporal state and benefiting particular Prouinces vnto which the emolumentes and large priuileges yeelded before to the cheefe Bishop and other of the cleargie might seeme some hinderāce Or els were of that nature that the supreme Bishop might indeed of reason chalenge as thinges incident to his high office and requisite for the better administration of the same but yet not such for al that as were necessarilie or by diuine lawes apperteining directlie to his spiritual regiment and iurisdiction and therfore might by his wisdome ether be tollerated as manie thinges in this case be which he alloweth not for auoiding of scandales or for other detriment of soules or by composition for the better reteining Princes and prouinces in ecclesiastical peace be condescended and agreed vnto the limitation or imminution of his accidental rightes honours and preeminences nothing esteemed so material vnto him as the saluation and preseruation of kingdomes and Contries in the vnitie of Christes faith and Church The Pope may yeeld ī his humane prerogatiues but not in his spiritual Ther is no humane prerogatiue be it houlden neuer so rightlie or giuen neuer so iustlie for the honour of Christ and his high office but he may ether him self for iust causes yeeld it vp or by violence ether of persecutours or carnal and wordlie persons be bereaued therof Onelie his preeminence Prelacie ouer our soules and ouer al Christian Countries and persons be they publique or priuate and whatsoeuer our Sauiour graunted to the Prince of the Apostles vpon whom he builded his whole Church and to whom and to his successours he gaue the keyes of Heauen with ful commission to bind loose punish pardon feede confirme in fayth decide and determine c. this he can not yeeld this can no earthlie power take frō him this doth no Catholique King or Countrie restreine him of nether euer were ther anie lawes made in Fraunce Spaine or in our owne Countrie so long as it was Catholique for abbridging his Apostolical mere spiritual authority ī the premisses Though otherwise as it falleth out in a mans owne person wherin as the Apostle writeth and as we al feele the flesh resisteth the spirit The
wil not name though he named them to commence such a foule tragedie considering therfore al thes thinges and desiring to couer the foulenesse of the fact as much as might be aswel in respect of their owne people manifoldlie discontented and speciallie impatient of such iniurious proceedings as also of strangers to whom the rare vertues of father Campian and of some of th 'others were knowen besides other violeÌ„t meanes by seuere punishments and proclamations to stay the hard speaches and conceates of the people therin They caused some of them that yet were not executed The substance and inteÌ„t of the six Articles propounded to the Priestes before their execution to be examined vpon certaine Articles six in al cleane of an other pourport then their former accusation of killiÌ„g the GREATEST as our Libel speaketh al which articles doe concerne onelie the authoritie and fact of Pius Quintus of famous memorie in censuring the Q. by excoÌ„munication and depriuation for Heresie and what they thought or how far they allowed of the same Wherunto because they did coniecture their answers wold be odious in the sight of the simple speciallie of zealous protestantes as it fel out in deed they deuised to publish and read them to the people at the martyrdome of the rest that therby they might at least conceiue that they were worthie of death for other causes though not for that wherof they were condemned and so ether lesse pitie theÌ„ or lesse marke the former vniust pretensed matter of their condemnation And this coÌ„ning cours they haue folowed euer sith in defence of that pretended Iustice and is the whole conueyance of this Libeller now who to defend th' execution of their crueltie towardes thes Saintes of God bestoweth his labour onelie to proue that they haue bene tried by the six Articles coÌ„cerning the Excommunication and that ther was found a note after Father Campians death touching the same Bul procured for th'interpretatioÌ„ force therof brought from Rome by father Persons and the said F. Campians sute that M. Hart confessed the Bul in such and such sort to bind and otherwise not to stand in force Whereby onelie he goeth about to perswade the world and speciallie strangers vnacquainted in our affaires the said men to haue bene traytors iustlie punished as though new crimes ether found out or done after the sentence of their death past yea after the execution of the same could iustifie their condemnation past before But the world looked for some iustification of that former iudgement and verdict of court which passed with such great solemnitie against thos innocent men before vpon transgression as was pretended of an old statute for compassing the Q. death For as for al other declamatioÌ„s and Inuectiues be they true or be they false can not excuse the fact froÌ„ plaine murther nor condemne them after they be dead for other crimes then they were coÌ„uicted of in their liues Which the Libeller him self coÌ„fesseth in thes expresse wordes after al his idle worke and wordes Vpon refusal to ansvvere to thes questioÌ„s directlie saith he as they might haue bene iustlie conuicted of treason Fol. 18. so yet vvere they not therupoÌ„ condemned Which yet is false for they haue latelie executed diuers Priestes as M. Haddock Preestes nevvlie martyred in England M. Hemmerford and others most cruellie onelie about the matter of excommunication of the Q. But vpon their other former actions committed both abrod and in the Realme But what thos actioÌ„s were and how they were prooued to be committed particulerly by thos whom we auouch to be vniustly condemned vpon old treasons and to be onely killed for their religion that should haue bene your whole endeuour Sir to shew al other superfluous railing or recital of preteÌ„ded offenses for which your self confesse they were not condemned being not of force to mainteine the defence of your pretended Iustice nor yet to stay the Christian world and Church of God from accompting them Martyrs whom you haue murdered Against whos holy ashes and memories you can strugle no more then th' olde heathen and heretical persecutours did to diffame thos glorious men of the primatiue Church whom they executed in pretence of like treasonable trespasses who yet notwithstanâ—ing their enimies manifold endeuours to stay the â—onours due to them after their deathes by Christ â—nd his Churches iudgment haue gotten the victory â—uer their aduersaries and so remaine as glorious in heauen and earth as their persecutors be infamous â—hrough al the world What worldlie honour the two king Henries of England had The comparison of the Persecutors vvith the persecuted I meane the second and eight which â—n the dayes of their reigne no doubt was great or what esteeme so euer the Princesse present and her greatest Ministers haue now by the height of their â—oome and fortune in this life it is but a very dreame â—hadow or phantasie to the glorie of Thomas of Canâ—urburie Iohn of Rochester Chancelor More Father Campian and the rest whoÌ„ fame felicity foloweth vpon their deathes and vppon such contradiction of sinners seeking to disgrace them As also in the contrary part the persecutors glory dieth with their authority if not before and they are commonly better knoweÌ„ to posterity by executing of such meÌ„ though to their shame then by other their factes in their life whatsoeuer And so doth God protect his Saints A contradictione linguaruÌ„ from the ganesaing of tongues and giueth theÌ„ victorie of the world by the fortitude of their Fayth in him But of the six Articles concerning the Bul of excommunication more shal be said in the next chapteâ— and other places folowing that their innoceÌ„cie theriâ— also may appeare and the slaunderous Libeller repressed euery way THAT WE NOWE HAVE GREAT CAVSE TO COMPLAINE OF INIVST persecution intollerable seuerity and cruelty tovvardes Catholiques in England and their Protestantes no reason to doe the like for the Iustice done to them in Quene MARIES and other Princes dayes and the cause of the difference CAP. III. THE Libeller by-sophistical reasons popular perswasioÌ„ going about to make men thinke th'english persecution to be nothing so violent as is diuulged nor any thing comparable to the iustice exercised towardes the Protestantes in the raigne of the late Q. Marie telleth of hundrethes for our scores as also of the qualities of them that then suffred of their innocencie in al matters of state and treason and such like To which we say breeflie clearlie and to the purpose that we measure not the matter by the number nor by the seuerity of the punishment onely or specially but by the cause by the order of Iustice in proceeding by the lawes of God al Christian NatioÌ„s and such other circumstances wherby we can prooue Q. MARIES doings to be commeÌ„dable and most lawful th' other towardes vs and our Brethren to be iniust and impious The difference is in thes pointes you professe to
of conscience if for feare they obey or of their vndoing in the world if they refuse The taking of their deare children from them by force and placing them for their seduction with Heretiques which violence can not be done by the lawe of God to Iewes them selues the burning of our Priestes in the eares the whipping and cutting of the ears of others carying some in their sacred vestments through the streetes putting our chaste virgins into infamous places appointed for strumpets other vnspeakable vilanies â—ot inferiour to anie of the said heathnesse persecutions They haue pined and smothred in their filthie prisons aboue thirtie famous Prelates The sufferinges of Catholiques aboue fourtie excellent learned men of nobles gentlemen and maâ—â—ones a number whos Martirdome is before God as â—lorious as if they had by a speedie violent death â—ene dispatched euerie dongeon and filthie prison 〈◊〉 England ful of our Priestes brethen al Prouinâ—es and Princes christianed witnesses of our banishâ—ent In al this we yeeld them our bodies goods â—ountrie blood liues nothing wil queÌ„ch their haâ—red of our Priesthood faith and profession Thus in 〈◊〉 causes we suffer and yet they would not haue vs â—omplaine they say al is sweet clement and merciful â—n this regiment But as we said we no otherwise â—omplaine of this persecution against vs but as it is exercised for that faith and quarel which the lawes of God and man approue and iustifie in vs That it is done by the sheepe and subiectes of Godes Church against their owne Prelates and pastors to whom in causes of religioÌ„ they ar bound to obey by th'expresse word of God When the lauful magistrate bearing sword by God for punishment of offenders putteth theeues heretiques or murderers to death who accompteth it crueltie who complaineth of persecution But when contrariwise by anie violent disorder the malefactors get head and take hart in a commen wealth and kil a lauful officer iudge or superior that is a cruel and horrible fact though it be done but in one or two persons in stead of a thousand wicked men executed by iust lawes So wheÌ„ the Prince and Prelate proceed together against such as by the sentence and law of the Church of Christ ar adiudged to be heretiques and iniuries to God that is Iustice but when the temporal Prince or lay people rebel against their owne Bishops to whom in spiritual matters they ar bound by Godes word to giue eare vnder paine of damnatioÌ„ yea wheÌ„ mere lay meÌ„ most of theÌ„ wholie vnlearned disorderlie take vpon theÌ„ to prescribe vnto their owne pastors what they should beleeue how they should minister the SacrameÌ„ts force vpon them false and impious othes and articles and that in Parliament wher the Bishops by the lawes of our countrie hauing the principal suffrages and the rest of the whole Conuocation representing the Church of England honorablie and vniformelie resisted whoÌ„ thes meÌ„ afterward deposed of their honors toke their pulpits churches titles prerogatiues from them imprisoned their sacred persons and abused some of them True persecution namelie the noble Confessor and Bishop of London by al sortes of vilanie This loe is a persecutioÌ„ indeed wher the sheep subiects and inferiors violentlie oppose them selues against them whom the the Holie-ghost hath placed to be the guides gouernours and curates of their soules Yea when they depose disauthorize spoile punishe imprison their owne rulers Gods annointed Priestes giue warrant by wicked lawes to the temporal powers to visit correct iudge discerne of the doctrine of their Maisters in religion that is a persecution sedition and rebellion in the highest degree And we may trewlie say hereof to our lost Countrie with the Prophet Osee 4. Populus tuus sicut hi qui contradicunt Sacerdoti the state of the persecution being wholie agreable to the mutinie of Chore DathaÌ„ AbiroÌ„ and their confederats in the desert against their lauful Priestes and Gouernors yea properlie against the high Priesthood of Aaron as our contries reuolt now is against the sea Apostolique and al lauful spiritual regiment proceeding from the same And therfore the Libeller guilfullie iÌ„ respect of the simple but fondlie and falslie in our eyes disproueth our lauful refusal to obey men before God and our resistance in matter of conscience by th' example of Chores conspiracie which toucheth al their rebellions froÌ„ the sea Apostolique Catholique Church and confirmeth al our endeuours for maintenance of the same against what aduersaries so euer And their rebellion is the more plaine The nevv cleargie and persecution more hateful and intollerable for that they haue not onely vnnaturallie done this violeÌ„ce to their owne spiritual rulers but therupon also haue chosen at their pleasures and intruded into their places a sort of greedie wolues vnordered Apostats amarous and godlesse companions the very filth and chanel of the Realme who for hatred of the Catholique faith from which they ar Renegates and through a kind of competencie or emulatioÌ„ of the true Bishops whos roomes by secular force they vniustlie haue inuaded and doe deteine beare such vnquenshable malice to the true annointed cleargie to their obedieÌ„t folowers that they cease not to iÌ„cite the powers of the Realme against vs and exercise them selues vnder the pretensed title of their vsurped dignities and other temporal commissions the greatest tirannie and crueltie in the world standing in feare of their state so long as they see anie true Bishop or Catholique man aliue Who 's actioÌ„s are the rather intollerable for that they know and hath beene prooued in open court that they not onelie vsurpe thos places against Gods and the Churches lawes but that they were not made and inuested according to the new lawes of the Realme speciallie made for creation of them So as our true pastors being vexed spoiled tormented and slaine against lawe nature and al reason by temporal men hauing no authoritie in causes ecclesiastical and by a new forged cleargie that exerciseth no Iurisdiction but by euident vsurpation against both the Canons of the Church and the lawes of our countrie who is of so dul a wit as not to see the difference of the discipline of the Church and Realme done towardes offendors in Catholique times and states by lauful authoritie both spiritual and temporal and the iniust persecution of the Church and her children now proceeding of nether lauful authoritie temporal nor spiritual VVhat clemencie vvas vsed to them of the old Clergie at the beginning Therfore let not the Libeller here so much extol the equitie and mercie vsed in her Maiesties regiment to certaine of the old principal cleargie because they put theÌ„ not to death as they haue done others sitheÌ„ce Cicero wil not sticke to tel them what a benefit is done to an honest man when his purse is taken from him and yet his life saued and what thankes ar to be rendred in that case to the
heauen as it is reported were so partiallie or rigorouslie scanned by the malice of his great and potent professed enemie that many yeares hath sought his ruine together with his zealousnes in the Catholique faith brought him to his most pittiful end to the great regret of the whole countrie But the importunitie of the aduersarie hath brought vs somewhat out of our intended cours To returne backe therfore to our famous Prelates deposed in this Queens dayes the principal wherof was Archebishop of Yorke D. Heath Archbishop of York highe Chancelour of the realme the Primate of Canterburie being deceased before which worthie man this Libeller hipocriticallie commendeth for his loyaltie though in Religion differing from them therby to make the Q. Maiesties mercie towardes him a paterne forsooth of clemencie not to be matched as he wiselie writeth in Q. MARIES time which Queene notwithstanding pardoned a number of heretiques and ranke condemned traitors both of life and landes whom we could name al the world knoweth yet aliue And further he addeth which is a notorious vntruth that the said Prelate voluntarilie left both his Chauncelorship and Archbishopricke wher al wise men wil witnes with him and for him that he was most vniustlie with the rest of his Suffraganes and brethren Bishops for refusing to take that absurd othe of the Q. Supremacie and to vse the new Caluinistical seruice in his prouince deposed by violence from his spiritual function dignitie Who 's courage and resistance for quarel of Gods religion how loial and obedient so euer the Libeller would make thos men in comparison of vs therby to insinuate that the more bloodie rigour is vsed now towardes vs then in the beginning towardes them was such in them specially in the said Archbishop that he worthelie and as became his Excellencie refused to anoint or crowne the Q. Maiestie that now is though it apperteined to his special office to doe the same the Metropolitan being dead as hath bene said before and so did al the rest of the Bishops refuse the same vntil with much a doe they obteined the Bishope of Carlisle The Bishop of Carlisle the īferior al most of al the rest to doe that function Which is here remembred by me for that the Libeller of his good discretion recordeth it for special courtesie of that man towardes his Princesse Which refusal of him specially that by office should haue done the same might in reason haue bene construed to as hainous and treasonable a purpose as most thinges that afterward haue bene done for the Catholique cause by anie of the later years if the malice of that time had bene as ripe then as now it is against Gods Church and Priestes The cause why they durst not thē nor could be adduced by anie humane feare or authoritie to inuest her was VVhy the Catholique Bishops refused to croune this Q. for that they had euident probabilities and arguments to doubt that she ment ether not to take the othe or not to keepe the same which al Christian kinges and speciallie ours in England doe make in their Coronation for maintenance of holy Churches lawes honors peace and priuileges and other duties due to euery state as in the time and graunt of K. Edward the Confessor They doubted also lest she would refuse in the verie time of her sacre the solemne diuine ceremonie of vnction accustomed in the consecration of al Christian princes through the euil aduises of certaine yōg counsellers being then in the heate prime and pride of their Heresie wherby great scandal might arise and hurt to the Realme Which they the rather doubted because they saw not lōg before her Highnes at her first entrāce to that high estate commaund a certaine Bishop euen the same of Carlisle now named stāding readie to say Masse before her a strange case in a woman towardes a Bishop not to eleuate the holy consecrated Hoste but to omit that ceremonie because she liked it not Which the said Bishop to his great honor constantlie refused to obey A thing that in one of vs poore men now perchaunce would be accompted high treason and disloialtie towardes our Soueraine And of this his courage in Gods cause it neuer repented him but for doing the other office at the Coronation when he sawe the issue of the matter and both him self and al the rest of his sacred order depriued and the Churches Holie lawes and faith against the conditions of her consecration and acceptation into that royal roome violated he sore repented him al the dayes of his life which were for that special cause both short and werisome afterward vnto him Otherwise doubtles al the Bishops and the rest of the principal of the inferior Cleargie did stoutlie and worthelie as could be wished as was possible in that sodaine assault of Heresie fearing at the same time their personal peril so litle The intention of the Clergie to Excōmunicate the Q. that they were manie of them of that mind that it should be good to vse the censure of Excommunication against her Highenes and some of her leaders into that reuolt so dangerous and shameful to the state so latelie reconciled to the sea Apostolique and by othe and promis of al estates confirmed But the wiser of the Bishops or at least the mylder sort persuaded the contrarie for manie inconueniences that might ensue and so they rather resolued the matter to be remitted to the high Pastor of Christes vniuersal Church then to be executed by them that were her subiects not without peril perhaps of some further tumult scādal and trouble to the whole Cleargie whom they would haue interpreted to haue done it of malicious and rebellions mind rather thē of loue and dutie of which al such censures indeed doe proceed how so-euer the partie affected and sicke in soule especiallie Princes except they be verie wel trained in the feare of God accept the same wel remembring that manie Kinges had killed their Pastors in like cases Al this we put doune that no man be abused by the enemie to thinke that the Reuerend Prelats at the first were lesse zealous which he calleth more loial or more obedient to the Prince in lauful thinges then we their scholars and of-spring be or we lesse loial thē they and therfore more punishable then they were though in deed their perpetual imprisonment and pining away in miserable desolation their tossing and shifting from one superintendents house to an other from one keeper to an other from one prison to an other subiect to extreme wantes and to a thowsand daylie vilanies besides wherof some of thē now haue tasted for twentie fiue years together is worse then any death in the world This then is a true Persecutiō indeed when such men for such causes against al reason and lawes be so vexed by such as owe them al reuerence dutie and obedience Such is also the miserable fortune of the Catholique Nobilitie
yet for that he was a cruel man and would ether haue killed or spoiled thē they were excused in obeying him Thus doth this notable schoolman write nether doe we knowe anie Catholique diuine of anie age to say the contrarie Cap. Aliu cū sequen xv q. 5. Cap. fin de Haeret. We wil not alleadge the Canon lawes which for that they be the decrees speciallie of Popes whom our aduersaries accompt partial shal weigh litle with them though they be authentical in al the lauful tribunals of the Christiā world and make al Heretiques not onelie after they be namelie particularlie denoūced but by the law it self ipso facto as soone as they be Heretikes or de iure excōmunicated for the same to be depriued of their dominiōs though the subiects vntil denuntiation need not take knowledge therof Onelie it is not good to omit the definition and wordes of the famous general Counsel of Laterane The sentēce and definition of the great learned ad general Councel of Laterane celebrated aboue 300. years since wherin ther were Patriarches and Archbishops 70. Bishops 412. and other Prelats 800. In al of the most chosen learned men of al nations 1282 with th' Ambassadors of the Romane Emperour of the king of Hierusalem of England of Fraunce of Spaine and of Cipres as also of other Christian states then which ther can be no surer iudgement vpon earth which assemblie representing the whole Christian world would neuer agree vpon anie assertion traiterous Cap. 3. de Haeret. Thes thē are the words of their most renowned decree put onely in English for breuities sake Yf anie Lord temporal required admonished by the Church neclect to purge his state from Heretical filth let him be excommunicated by the Metrapolitane and conprouincial Bishops but yf he contemne to come to order within one years space let relation be made to the supreme Bishop that from thenceforth he may declare al his subiectes to be discharged of their fealtie towardes him and giue vp his land to be possessed by Catholiques which Catholiques without al contradiction when they haue driuen out the Heretiques shal haue and hould the same and so preserue it in puritie of faith the interest and right of the cheef Lord euer remaining safe whole so that him self giue no impediment to th' execution of this decree And the same law to take place in such also as be soueraigne Lords and haue no superiors Thus both Schooles and Lawes speake and resolue for the matter in hand both Catholiques and Protestants agreing that Princes may for some causes and especiallie for their defection in Faith and Religion be resisted and forsaken though in the maner of executing the sentence and other needful circumstances Protestants folowe faction and populer mutinie we reduce al to lawe order and iudgement But for the further clearing of this cause we meane now in the next chapter by the helpe of God to declare and plainlie deduce al that hitherto hath bene said in the premisses from holie Scriptures and warrant of Antiquitie that al indifferent men may see how far we be from treason or vndutifulnes to our Princesse in thes our opinions especially when by a certaine violence we be coacted to vtter the same OF EXCOMMVNICATION AND DEPRIVATION OF PRINCES FOR heresie and falling from the Faith speciallie of vvarres for Religion and of the office and Zeale of Preists of th' old and nevv lavv in such cases CAP. V. PRinces being not subiect to superiours temporal The dāgerous state of a tēporal Prince if he be not subiect to spiritual coūcel nor patient of correction or controlment by their inferiours may easelie fal to greeuous disorders which must tend to the danger and ruine of whole countries In respect wherof great spirite power courage freedome of speech haue bene from the beginning graunted by God as wel ordinarie to Priestes as extraordinarie to some Prophets and religious persons in al ages and times both of the new old testamēt So by Gods great prouidence who by his Prophet warned kinges to take discipline Psal 2. and to serue him in feare lest in his ire he should suffer them fal to iniquitie the first kinges of his peculiar people had lightly some Prophets or Priestes in maner as ouerseers that might from time to time charge them boldlie and as it were by office with their enormities and namelie with their fal from Faith the God of their Fathers to denounce his threatnings yea and execute the same vpon them at sometimes if need so required which ministers of their Lord God al godlie Princes did heare honor obey as contrariwise the kinges that were wicked and disloyal to God haue euer sought cruellie their death and destruction that so their wickednes might passe without controlment Saul the first temporal king that euer the Iewes being then Gods peculiar had 1. Reg. 10 15.16 though chosen and inspired by God was for al that led and directed by Samuel so long as he was in order Saul deposed for vsurping spiritual function But afterward for aspiring to spiritual function and other disobedience was by Gods appointmēt and sentence pronounced by the said Samuel deposed of his kingdome and an other named Dauid annointed by him Which Saul now after his depriuation or after as it were his excommunication by Samuel was inuaded by an euil spirit that prouoked him to kil not onelie Dauid that was now made the rightful owner of his crowne 1. Reg. 22 but also to seeke for Samuels death yea and to cōmaund al the holie Priests of Nobe fourescore and fyue in number as holy Scripture recompteth to be slaine murdered in most pitiful wise as traitors to him and fouorers of Dauid the competitor of his kingdome And so it was done at last though at the beginning his gard refused to execute so vile horrible an act in this sort he remained enemy many years against God and Samuel and kept the kingdome by tirannical force notwithstanding his deposition Dauid neuertheles in whom was the right of the croune was laufullie vp in Armes with one of the principal Priests whose name was Abiathar that escaped the foresaid murther not of such power as the pretensed king was til at length the vsurper whom as S. Augustine deduceth August cōtra Adamantium he might laufullie haue killed but would not being slaine in batail Dauid obteined his right first of a part of the kingdome and afterward of al the rest which Isboseth did for two years by the pretended right of Saul his father vsurpe By which it is plaine that the Priests and Prophets of God Priests most subiect to danger in time of vsurpation being the executors of his sentences and rule of the people in such doubtful and partial times of varietie for claime and competencie are most subiect to the hatred of vsurpers as also to death and danger for the same You
inuincible courage constancie of the Pope often brought to penance and extremitie that in fin by armes he droue the said Pope out of his sea and placed an Antipape An Antipape that is to say one so opposite to Christs vicar as Antichrist shal be against Christ which by armes and patronage of this wicked Emperour vsurped and occupied the Apostolical throne against the true Pope Gregorie the seuenth whom the Libeller after the vulgar vaine of Rebellious Heretiques voutsafeth not the name of Gregorie the seuenth but calleth him commonlie Hildebrand as the Heretiques when they were in armes in Germanie against their Emperour Heretical malice would not name him Charles the fifte nor Emperour but Charles of Gaunt And now because this good and notable Pope The coÌ„tentioÌ„ betvvene Pope Gregorie the seuenth and Henrie the third Emperor was â—ot able in fin to resist th'emperours forces the which Emperour as al the histories of that time record was a most wicked sacrilegious simoniacal and heretical person th' aduersaries of Gods Church doe triumphe as the Libeller here doth ouer the blessed man as Herode might haue done ouer Iohn Baptist whos admonition was taken in so euil gré that it cost him his life as also th'executing of the Churches sentence which is Gods hath done to manie a Prophet and Bishop in the world By which euent of thinges who so euer measureth the right of causes wil make a good religion and a good defence of th' execution of iustice For so most Tirants might be iustified for a time against al the Saints of God This Gregorie say they was in sin banished by the Emperour and so was S. Chrisostom by Archadius and Eudoxia and dyed in banishment as Gregorie the seuenth did yet they were but homelie Christians that would iustifie the Emperours and condemne S. Chrisostome And indeed this Pope whom they speciallie hate because as it may be thought he was the first man that authenticallie condemned the Berengarians heresie in open disputation refuted it though certaine of the said Emperours flatterers enimies of the sea Apostolique as the fashion of our Heretiques is at this day wrote slaunderous Libels against him Pope Hildebrand a good man yet was he a very notable good man and learned and did suffer what so euer he did suffer for mere iustice in that he did godlie honorablie and by the dutie of his Pastorship what so euer he did against the said Emperour wherof we could alleadge al the best writers of thos dayes or near that time but that we should be tedious Of whom yet this one graue testimonie of Baptista Fulgosius a noble and learned man that was Duke of Genua aboue an hundred years past we shal not let to set doune as we finde it in latine Constantissimus habitus est Gregorius septimus Pontifex Lib. 3 Cap. vlt. factoruÌ„ memorabilium qui quòd Henricum tertium Imperatorem propter aperta nimis Symoniae crimina pro pastorali officio reprehendebat grauibus ab eo iniurijs affectus est itaque iniuriarum magnitudine compulsus Henricum Gregorius vt haereticum Imperij honore priuauit Cum autem Henricus solui ecclesiastica censura non emendatione vitae sed armis quaereret alium creare Pontificem enixus capta Vrbe obsidere Gregorium coepit Quae mala cum Gregorius pateretur nunquam tamen a iusto proposito dimoueri potuit That is Gregorie the seueÌ„th was notable for his constancie who for that according to his pastoral charge he had admonished Henrie the third The testimonie of the Duke of Genua for Pope Hildebrand Emperour to leaue his knowen impietie of Simonie was by manifold intollerable iniuries vexed by the said Emperour and by the greatnes of his wickednes was compelled to depriue him as an heretique of his Imperial dignitie But Henrie seeking not by amendment of his life but by armes to be absolued from the censure he went about to set vp a new Pope and beseiged the citie of Rome and brought the Pope into great distres In al which miseries Gregorie could neuer be remoued from his iust purpose So he writeth of the parties both See Vspergen lib. 5. Annal. And of the horrible crimes for which the Emperour was most iustlie iÌ„ the sight of al good meÌ„ deposed Thus Trithemius reporteth iÌ„ breef of the wickednes of this Emperour Episcopacus CoÌ„staÌ„tiensem c. He sould the Bishoprikes of Constance Bamburgh Mentz diuers other for money thos of Ausbourg Straisburgh for a sword that of Munster for Sodomie and the abbacie of Fulde for aduoultrie Trithem in Chron. heauen and earth witnesse and crie out of thes and for the same abhominations he standeth excommunicated depriued and therfore hath no power nor iust title to reigne ouer vs Catholiques But to goe forward this same Gregorie the seuenth did the like commendable iustice vpon the king of Pole Bolislaus the second Chrom lib. hist PoloÌ„ li. 4. aswel excommunicating as depriuing him for murthering of his Bishop S. Stanislay at the verie Altar Against which sentence though he stoode by force and contempt for a time Kinges of later times excoÌ„municated yet at length he was forsaken and resisted wholie by his subiects fled and in fin slew him self For Heresie also was George K. of Boemland excommunicated and thervpon by the forces of the king of Hungarie at length actuallie depriued As also Iohn Albert had half his kingdome of Nauarre taken from him by Ferdinandus surnamed Catholicus of Aragon for that he gaue aide to Levves the twelueth beiÌ„g excommunicated by Iulius the second For great iniuries also done to holie Church for persecution of Bishops and religious was Iohn one of our kinges of England Kinges of England with his whole land interdicted and brought after long strugling against God and the Sea Apostolique to yeeld his Croune to the courtesie of the Popes Legate and to make both his Realmes of England and Ireland tributaries Lib. 1. de Repub. Cap. 9. The authentical instrument wherof Iohn Bodin saith he hath seene For like causes and namelie for that he was vehemeÌ„tlie suspected of the murther of the blessed Bishop S. Thomas of Canterburie was Henrie the second driuen by Alexander the third to order and penance A number of the like examples moe we might recite of our countrie and of the christian world wherby not onelie the practize of the Church in al ages may be seene but also Catholique men warranted that they be no traitors nor hould assertions treasonable false or vndutiful in answering or beleeuing that for Heresie or such like notorious wickednes a Prince otherwise lauful and annointed may be excommunicated deposed forsaken or resisted by the warrant of holie Churches iudgement and Censure Whervnto we wil adde onelie the sentence of Gregorie the great and first of that name whom the aduersaries confesse to haue bene both learned and holie who being as
shal be said in the next chapter and others folowing The Libellers importunate insolency inforcing vs therunto like as the Ciuil Magistrats most captious and bloody conceipts coÌ„strained some of our blessed brethern before their martirdomes to speake more therof then otherwise they desired though nothing so much as by warrant of Gods word and holy writ they might haue done THAT IT IS MVCH TO THE BENEFITE AND STABILITIE OF COMMON vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the difference betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize CAP. VI. THE Libeller once or twice in his discours seditiouslie calleth vpoâ— the Monarches and Princes of the world warning theÌ„ of the doubtful and seruile state they be in whiles the Popes may be suffred to make and vnmake kinges and Princes at their pleasure The seditious sleight of the Libeller and to licence their subiectes to resist them And the man perchance might haue his tale heard if he spake to the simple sort or to such Kinges as feared nether God nor man nor sought otherwise not anie longer to vphould their estates but by desperate force and practize and for their owne time without regard of their posterity But speaking to them whos wisdomes susteine the world whos Crounes are worne Swordes are borne for Christ his spouse whos glorious Auncestors partlie first rose partlie were established and them-selues yet safelie stand and happilie florish which our Lord God long coÌ„tinue by the benediction of the Sea Apostolique and good intelligence correspondece with the high Bishops of the same good audience hardly can they looke for Th' example of some other Princes Protestants about â—hem forsaking the felowship of the Catholique and Apostolique sea and speciallie of king HeÌ„rie th' eight â—â—rst his sonne and daughter after him in EnglaÌ„d 〈◊〉 man a child and a woman not onely seuering them â—elues from the same but annexing to their regalitie â—y strange lawes al Apostolical and Papal power spiâ—itual with infinite emolumentes made by confiscatioÌ„ of al religious mens landes and goods in the whole Realme which was the beginning of that new Ecclesiastical regiment thes thinges being of greater â—emptation then the Libellers bare wordes could â—et neuer moue th'Emperour nor either of the great Monarches nor anie other king of wise counsel in the world to breake with Gods Church and the cheefe Pastors therof Knowing by the recordes of al ages siâ—hence Christ that what Princes or PoteÌ„tates soeuer haue formallie opposed theÌ„ selues to Christes Vicar and refused to communicate with him in the faith and felowship of the Catholique Church were euer in them selues or their posteritie confounded and their kingdomes ouerthrowen or brought to miserable seruitude of Turke or other heathen Tirant It is not the good fortune of a few yeares felicitie that moueth the graue and sage gouernours of the world though the Libeller to make fooles faine The vvise considerations of Catholique Princes vrgeth their good lucke in England much since their breach with Gods Church but they wil looke farther about them and see the euents of thes strange attempts in vs and the iudgements of God for the same not onelie til th' end of K. Henrie th' eight his race who was Radix peccati but afterwarde if our Lord deferre his sentence so long to some new generations to come Ouer which as vpon the Prince and state present of our Countrie we humblie on our knees with continual teares desire God to haue mercie and to auert his indignation from them and vs that the Princes and people of the world may rather be edified by th' example of our conuersion and returne to Gods Church then be instructed by the sight of our punishment and confusion But now for the coÌ„ceipt that this good man would driue into mens heades that no state should be in safetie if the Pope might depriue the Prince at his pleasure it is a bugge fit onelie to feare babes Al wise men in the world that ether see the present times The Popes authoritie touching Princes regalities or looke backe into the ages past knowe that the Pope neither chalengeth nor vsurpeth nor vseth anie such authoritie at his pleasure to depose or exalt whom he list And al learned deuines confesse that he hath not anie direct or immediate iurisdictioÌ„ or superioritie ouer the temporalities Ciuil states or regalities of secular Princes or Magistrates and therfore can not dispose of their kingdomes nor actions alter nor abrogate their lawes as he daylie doth and may doe at his good pleasure of Prelates Bishops and Priests affaires vpon whom he hath direct power and iurisdiction but that he may onely intermedle indirectlie with temporal Princes as he is the Cheefe officer vnder Christ and hath charge of their soules and therbie hath to looke whether their regimentes tend anie way to the iniurie of the Church and true Religion or to their owne and their subiects damnation as in case of Schisme Heresie Apostasie Idolatrie Sacriledge and other intollerable defectes in gouernmeÌ„t for which he being their Bishop is bound to admonish them sondrie times with al lenitie if that serue not to excommunicate them and if they contemne that and the Churches discipline and authoritie then be they esteemed as heathens and vnworthie of superioritie ouer Gods people This is not to depose Kinges at his pleasure nor is cause sufficient why anie iust and Christian Prince should stand in doubt of the Popes censures onelie such as be Heretiques or intend to shake of the yoke of Christ and their faith in him VVhat Princes only feare the Pope haue cause in their conscience to doubt both the Churches discipline the plagues of God which wil not faile them how so euer by humane force and violence they protect them selues for a time from his Ministers sentence sweet corrections Al iust and Catholique Kinges are so far from doubting or misliking Gods ordinance and the practize of the sea Apostolique herein that they perceiue it most necessarie for the stabilitie of their kingdomes and the continuaunce of their posteritie in the glorie therof that for their regiment in faith and life they stand in some reuereÌ„d awe of their cheefe Pastors which is a necessarie and honorable bridle of Princes in their youth and al the dayes of their life to stay them from dangerous disorders and so to temper them in ther gouernmeÌ„t that they may raigne loÌ„g and happilie ouer their people wher otherwise they might fal into infinite calamities and be ether forsaken deposed or shamefullie destroyed by their owne subiects whether they be depriued by holie Churches censure or no. Nether doth anie godlie Christian Prince at this day as we thinke wishe their Empire ether
occasion but to moue sedition and rebellion and therfore are so farre from giuing him humble thankes as they ought to doe as our Nation wil once doe if euer it come to it self againe that they hate his person and office for this cause most deadle and doe publish by this Libel and otherwise that it is a worke of high hostilitie against her Maiesty But alas for pitie and woe be to our sinnes that the state of our Common-wealth is now so neerlie ioined vnto Heresie that nether Christes Vicar by charitie and discipline nor Gods Priestes by anie office of ther life and death can seeke to remedie the one but they shal be accompted enimies and traitors to the other Which fond malice yet through our infelicitie is more apparant in England then in anie other people of the world besides though in error and out of Gods Church as ours The godlie Zealous doinges of this Pope for religion It is the peculiar glorie of Gregorie the thirtenth aboue al his predecessors and other Prelates of al ages that in so sweet and Apostolique sort he prouideth for the instruction of innumerable youthes for their owne saluation and for the reduction of their natiue countries and interteining the Catholique faith in most prouinces of the world Many are the people in the world abrod especiallie in the East South and North partes therof which are in Schisme Heresie or Error no lesse thē the English and the incomparable care of this general Pastor prouideth for euerie one in the best maner that is possible as wel by corporal as spiritual releefe He hath at this day some of the fathers of the Societie of Iesus in Constantinople The Society of Iesus in Constantinople Alexandria and els wher-soeuer is anie oportunitie to gaine soules in the dominions of the Turke in Muscouia likewise and other Prouinces addicted to the errors of the Grecians He hath instituted Seminaries for the Greekes Armenians and Sclauonians he hath placed colledges of the Societie and Seminaries in Suetia Liuonia Polonia Boëmia Transiluania for Scotland also and speciallie for the noble Prouince of Germanie Yea his pastoral solicitude reacheth euen to the East Indies wher in Iapon he hath founded this last yeare past and mainteineth a goodlie colledge not without his great expenses Thus he doth in the cause of Christ from one end of the world to an other whilest his and holie Churches miserable aduersaries waste their time in wrangling and wrastling against the truth And ther is none of al thes Nations of what sect or sort so euer that can be so suspicious or malitious as to interprete his Holines meaning as th' English doe or that conceiue anie feare of treasons confederacies inuasions or destructions of their countries as our men dreame of Other natiōs in Scisme not so ingrat as England The Germanes though al be not Catholiques but manie much altered by their vnaduised folowing of Martin other as madde sectaries yet they al count it a singular honor profit to their nation that they haue so famous a college in Rome it self as our Nation did of olde when it had there a great schoole about a thousand yeares agoe builded by king Offa and afterward an hospital Wher now we of England be come by this wicked Heresie to be so careles of our publique profit and honor that we contemne and maliciouslie condemne a gift farre more excellēt thē euer was bestowed vpon our Countrie before in forreine places and most deuillishlie doe hate the giuer Wherin the Heretiques in this Libel and otherwise shew such ignorant barbarous mockerie touching the terme of Seminaries as though they were estranged from al actions of the Christian world through out al which that terme and calling is so common namelie since the godlie decree of the holie Councel of Trent The name of Seminaries giuing order for the erection of such nurceries for the clergie as it is tooto ridiculous in our English Heretiques to make them selues sport at it as they wiselie doe in this Libel also at the name of the Popes Buls The name of Buls by pretie allusion as they thinke but in deed with smal grace resembling them to the bubles of water with such scorneful companions the Church of God hath now to deale But for defence of the Societie Seminaries and the sending of Priestes into England the men of thos orders and qualitie haue age and habilitie to answer for them selues and it is done to our handes plentifullie in their Apologie The English Apologie which the aduersaries shal neuer answere with reason and credit And therfore of that matter inough OF THE LATE WARRES IN IRELAND FOR RELIGION HOW THE POPE may vse the svvord and that the differences betvvixt temporal Princes and him or their resisting him in some cases of their vvorldlie interest can be no vvarrant to the Protestantes to contemne his censures or authoritie in matter of Faith and Religion CAP. VII Hovv the Pope may vse the svvord BVT the aduersarie obiecteth that whatsoeuer the Pope doth or may doe by his Buls excommunications institution of Seminaries or other such like spiritual endeuours may either be contemned or neglected by the example of her Maiesty who regarded not his doinges against her so long as he satt stil in his Chair but when he rose vp in anger and left Verbum the word and tooke Ferrum the sword against S. Bernardes direct aduice to Eugenius saith this Libeller yea and when contrarie to the Scriptures he drew forth the sword which Christ commaunded Peter to put vp into the scabard and inuaded by his forces her Maiesties kingdome of Ireland then saith this good man she could doe no lesse but vse such resistance by armes and otherwise as was requisite for her owne defence Wherat we maruel lesse indeed for that before she had contemned the Popes spiritual rodde of excommunication and al Ecclesiastical admonition and censure Lib. 1. cōt Faustum cap. 17. which is the high Priestes and Churches most proper weapon and is more to be feared of al faithful persons as holie S. Augustine saieth Then to be hevved in peeces vvith the svvord burned vvith the fire or torne in sonder of vvilde beastes and is a punishment so dreadful that euen then when it is knowen to be executed without iust cause by some errour or wrong information it may not be contemned Therfore where that was not regarded we knowe ther could be no scruple to withstand anie other Martial attempt against Pope or whomsoeuer nether could it seme strange But at this al the world may wounder and it is maruelous in our eyes why the Popes hostilitie in Ireland The Popes doinges no cause to martyr Priestes should condemne so manie innocent Priests and Catholiques that neuer were in Ireland nor euer were acquainted with the action of that Countrie or anie other rebellion against the Queene in ether of her kingdomes Put
doune to the world if you can anie one word writing or approued witnes that anie Iesuite Priest or Seminarie man of al thos whom you haue executed thes late yeares were ether authors persuaders or dealers therin and then you may haue some shadow of defence for your iustice Proue only that his Holines euer communicated his doings or intentions whatsoeuer they were that way to anie one of them al and we wil confesse that you haue reason in the rest If Pius quintus addressed Doctor Nicholas Morton D. Mortō sixtene yeares since about the matter of the excommunication into England shal al Priestes Iesuistes be deemed traitors therfore If Doctor Saunders D. Sāders ether vpon his owne zeale and opinion of the iustnes of the quarel or at the Popes appointmēt were in the warres of Ireland emploied for defence of the Catholique Religion against the Protestants may you by your lawes or anie other diuine or humane ordinance condemne therfore to death a number that neuer knew ether the man or the matter Some pretence you may haue to be offended with the Pope and perhaps lacke no lawes to punish the said two Doctors that neuer were ether of the Societie or Seminaries but to make al the Priestes and Catholiques at home or in banishmēt traitors therbie it is to vnreasonable and to murther so cruellie one man for an others fault is tooto foule and intollerable iniquity And as for his Holines action in Ireland The vvarres of Irland we that are neither so wise as to be worthie nor so mallepert as to chalenge to knowe his intentions councel and disposition of thos matters can nor wil nether defend nor condemne it Onelie this is euident that thos smal succours which were giuen by him to the Irish or rather suffred at their owne aduenture to goe into thos warres came vpon the importunate sute of the sore afflicted Catholiques and some of the cheefest nobilitie of that countrie Of whos continual complaints knowen calamities and intollerable distresses of conscience otherwise it may be he was moued with compassion and did that in cause of Religion against one whom he tooke in his owne iudgement rightlie by his predecessours sentence to be deposed and in a quarel in his sight most iust and godlie which both her Maiesty and other temporal Princes sticke not to doe verie often towardes their neighbours with whom otherwise they pretend good amitie and no breach of their league at al in cases which ether they esteeme lauful or at lest behoofful for their owne estate and affaires And it is a strange case that thes men should with such ful mouth cry out against the highe Preest and Pastor of Gods Church for vsing the sword or geuīg his consent therunto against a Prince not any way his superior if no way his subiect wheras the Ministers and maisters of their sects both in Flanders Scoteland and other places doe not only councel and persuade subiectes to take armes agaīst their owne lauful Princes and sacred Kinges but also doe practise and in person oppose them selues against them yea in Scoteland against a Prince of their owne Religion For tel me Sir Libeller if you please were not the Ministers of Scoteland the principal fannes and firebrandes of the last Conspiracy and open rebellion against his Maiesties person and the state of that Country Were not they in person at Starling and els wher both in feeld and councel with the Erles of Anguish Marre other rebels against his Roial person Were not al their pernicious machinations of betraing their country and their Princes blood detected by the Erle of Gory before his late behedding for that Conspiracy Are not Patrike Galovvay minister of S. Ihonson Andrevv Pollard subdeane of Glasco Iames Carmihel minister of Haddingtō Andrevv Hay person of Ranfroe Andrevv Meluin professour of diuinity in S. Andrews and diuers other cheefe ministers of that country fled into England for this traiterous fact and ther receaued cherished and protected And since that time wheras in a Parliamēt houlden in Edenburgh by his Maiesty and al the three states of Scoteland begonne the 19. of May last past certaine lawes were amongst others enacted for the restraint of thes Ministers tumultuous authority and to bring them vnder their owne Bishops iurisdiction a thing so resonable and consonant to Gods word as nothing can be more and practised not only in Englād amōg their fellow-sectaries but also thorough-out al Christendome disorderly and seditious Geneua only excepted and when thes lawes that were made by authority of the three Estates and published not only in the Councel-house called Toulbooth but also at the Crosse of Edēburgh by Heraldes at armes for the state did not Robert Pont and VValter Baquanquel two most impudent and rebellious Ministers of that toune by the consent and prouocation of Iames Lauson cheefe preacher ther as afterward appeared oppose them selues in publique against the Kinges authority therby to raise vp some commotion by their open protestation made by instrument in the handes of George VVakeson publique Notary and toune-Clarke of that Citty and did not al thes three named Ministers by night flye presently into England after their insufferable insolency and are ther receaued harboured and maintained Againe in the last Parliament before this being about two yeares agone did not thes Ministers intending therby some dangerous reuoult and seditious defection demaund of their king in most impudent wise to be admitted into the Parliament as equal or aboue their Bishops whom they deny by Gods word to haue any supereminent authority Is not this one of their articles for which their archebishop of S. Andrews doth withstand them and hath bene of late in England to cōferre with the Protestāts of that Country about the same Is it not an other of their articles that it is an Heresy for any Prince to cal him self Head of the Church within his owne Realme that he may be excommunicated and deposed by the Ministers Haue not they excommunicated and held out by violence thes two yeares and more their archebishop of Glasco elected by the King named M. Robert Montgūmery vntil now that this last Parliament of May hath absolued and restored him vnto his archebishoprike againe You exclame against the Pope being the first and cheef prelate of al Christendome euē by your owne confession for geuing his consent that any thing be done or attempted by armes and violence against any lauful or annointed Prince whatsoeuer be it for Religion or any other neuer so rightful or iust cause in his conceipt but what would thes good-fellowes of your Ghospel doe if they had his authority his power and his pretence against foraine Princes of a contrary Religion seing in quarel of faction and fauour of ranke traitors they deale thus against their owne Leege and against their owne annointed sworne King of their owne country blood educatiō and Religion who as he neuer iustly offended them
the same vpon matter of far different nature and qualitie from Faith and Religion THAT THE SEPERATION OF THE PRINCE AND REALME FROM THE VNITIE of the Church and Sea Apostolique and fal from Catholique religion is the onely cause of al the present feares and dāgers that the State seemeth to stand in And that they vniustly attribute the same to the Popes Holines or Catholiques and vntruly cal them enimies of the Realme CAP. VIII HIEROBOAM for the better establishing of his Soueraintie ouer the ten tribes The vvicked policie of Ieroboā thought it an high pollicie to deuide the temporal lot partage which by Gods appointemēt was fallen vnto him from al communion societie with the other remaining in Iurie and seruing their Lord in the temple at Hierusalem And therfore instituted for him self and his people strange Gods new waies of worship other vnordered base Priestes and seueral places to serue in and al vpon this humane imagination that if his people at their sondrie appointed times should goe vp to the Temple to doe their sacrifice and other rites according to the lawe as also conuerse with the Priestes and people of the other partie and be subiect to them in matters of conscience and religion as they were bound that then they might easilie be induced or much tempted to returne to Salomons successours in Hierusalem againe and that his people being subiect to him onely in temporal matters and not in religion he might seeme to be but half a king yea as at this day our Protestātes for flatterīg the person whom herby they wil ruine vse often to say of our anciēt kinges of England and of other Catholique Countries abrode that they were but half Kinges in their owne Realmes if we compare their authorities with the ample regalitie of her Maiestie now reigning whos iurisdiction extendeth aboue the old wont to al causes spiritual no lesse then temporal Wel so thought Hieroboam then and so did he and was no doubt most highly commended for the deuise by his Politiques that were about him But yet this thing which was esteemed so prudently done for preseruatiō of his state was after as wel by the mouth of Gods Prophet as by the miserable euent of thinges proued within a very few yeares to be the onely destruction of his whole house and perpetual calamitie of his people The secular prudence of the children of this world compared to the true wisdome of the godlie and resisting any way the cours of vertue and saluation The vvisdome of vvorldlinges in the end confounded is found in fin alwaies deficient and in truth follie But it neuer appeareth so weake deceitful pernicious as when it opposeth it self to the ordinance of God to the force of his spirit truth to the Spouse Kingdome and Priesthood of Christ In which case the Giantes building of Babel preuailed not the proposition of Achitophel was dashed the purpose of Herode for murdering of Christ in his cradle lest he should bereaue him of his croune and of the Ievves afterward in prosecuting his death to saue their state and Countrie from the Romanes was turned to their owne destruction Saul found how hard it was to spurne against the spurre Iulianus cried out Vicisti Galilee that is Thou hast the victorie of me mā of Galiley so that Apostata of contempt called Christ and finally true it wil euer proue that their is no counsel against God nor no long peace to anie that resist him And therfore thos Princes and people onelie to be happie both in this world and in the next and their states alone lauful durable that haue learned faithfullie to submit their Scepters to Christes sweet yoke and to ioine their terrene kingdomes with the Priesthood and Spouse of him by whom al Kinges doe raigne The calamities vvhich en sue to them that oppose them selues against the Church of whos Church it is said long sithence by the Prophet and proued by the experience of al ages that the Nation and People that serueth her not shal perish who so euer heare obey her not must be accompted as Ethniques who so euer despice her and her gouernours despice Christ him felf who so euer refuse her regiment and superiority specially for matter of Faith and Religion and would rather haue a King ouer them to lead both their body and soules doe not so much refuse to be ruled by Gods Priestes as they reiect Christ him self being not contented that he should raigne ouer them Finallie who so euer doe giue to Caesar that which is due to God preposterouslie preferring the temporal prerogatiue of worldlie Princes before the spiritual power of the Priestes of the new Testament directlie doe repine against Gods ordinance and shal at length proue with what humane prowes power or prudence so euer they susteine their factions that they haue vneauenlie and vnaduisedly matched their combat The house they impugne is founded vpon an impregnable rocke ther is no tempest of heathen The inuincible rocke of the Romane Church heretical or domestical persecution nor no stormes of wether or water that can ouerthrowe it hel it self and the powers therof can not preuaile against it And to the end that the Nemroths and other new euangelical Giantes of our Countrie mistake vs not nor beguil◠them selues in their desperate contradiction against the Citie of God S. Augustine telleth them it is the Sea and succession of the Church of Rome Psal Contra partem Donati which is so inuincibly garded Thes be his wordes Count the Priestes from the verie Sea of PETER and in that order of Fathers vvho to vvhom hath succeded that same is the rocke vvhich the proude gates of Hel doe not ouercome The chosen corner stone of this building is by the Prophetes and by Christes owne declaration such as who so euer falleth vpon it shal be broken and on whom it falleth The anciēt Popes preuailed against the anciēt Emperors it shal crush him in peeces Not onely the Faith of Peter by our Lordes promis protection being infallible but the Apostolique regimēt by the assistance of the holie-Ghost shal endure to the end of the world Which hath alredy borne doune by her patience and constancie al the heathen Emperours against whom the high throne of Christes Priesthood in earth and tribunal of Faith and religiō was placed and preserued by the mightie arme of God in the verie cheefe Citie and seat of their Empire for diuers hundreth yeares together after Christes ascensiō notwithstanding al the humane meanes of worldlie policie or tirannical crueltie that could be deuised or exercised against them Thos great Monarches in that time more doubting and fearing the Popes in their pouertie and persecution and more loth to haue them in their owne Citie of Rome so neare them if they could haue chosen then anie other powerable competitour or emulatour of their Empire as S. Ciprian saith of Decius the
Emperour in regard of Pope Cornelius who was therfore afterward as al other his predecessours before him martired By the same promis and like assistance of the Holie-Ghost the same Sea hath worne out al the old Heretiques The Sea of Rome hath preuailed against al old Heretiques and their Persecutions of farre greater power pride and learning â—hen thes ProtestaÌ„tes be susteined not onely by some â—articular Princes of certaine prouinces but by diâ—ers most mightie Emperours persecuting the Catholique Bishops Priestes and other through the whole Romane world as heuilie as now some smaller Princes protestantes doe within the boundes of their dominions onelie The same Sea hath gone through al other distresses forreine and domestical standeth and florisheth now notwithstanding al the threates molition and machination of her forsakers in al vertue strength and glorie Neuer more loued honored and regarded of the Catholique Kinges in the world Neuer more reuereÌ„ced and obeyed of the Churches children neuer more feared of her forsakers As we may see by the desperate and most obstinate cours they take in our poore afflicted Countrie not so much thinking to defend them-selues by the dailie sheding of most innocent mens blood as baselie to wreake their inqueÌ„shable anger at the Sea of Rome The inqueÌ„shable rage of England against the Sea of Rome vvith their feare of the same which they feare must be the instrument of Christes rodde of iustice towardes them in time for forsaking the felouship therof in Christian Faith and Religion Them selues doubting that the stroke of this ExcoÌ„munication so often reuiued by them selues wil neuer in the ende fal voide as other wher we see it hath not though by the flatterie of a few yeares good fortune our men at home cry peace sport and securitie to the poore people perswading them that al is wel safe by the killing of a few Priestes when ther is no other way of sauing our beloued Countrie assuredlie from perdition both temporal and eternal but by repeÌ„tance and humble crauing pardon of Gods Church If they could kil al the Cleargie true beleeuers in the world had the Popes owne person to doe their pleasure with him or could make away as many Popes one after an other as they haue done Priestes and as the first persecutours of our faith did martir yet could they not preuaile nor escape the hand of God reuenging alwaies at length thes Contempts Schismes Heresies and Apostasies with memorable punishment In warning wherof he geeueth vs a good admonition by his owne writ when he saith Ne dixeris peccaui et quid mihi accidit triste Altissimus enim est patiens redditor Eccle. 5. Doe not say I haue sinned and no misfortune hath fallen vpon me for the same God paieth home at length For that God is a patieÌ„t restorer or payer So that God payeth home at length albeit with great patience and then taketh the saying of S. Austen place that he recompenseth his slownes with the greatnes of his punishment Into what desolatioÌ„ al Afrique was finally brought by the schisme and sect of the Donatists how the Heresie of the Arrians Plagues vpoÌ„ Heresie after the wearisome toile almost of the whole world for many yeares discharged it self at length into Machometisme how the diuision of the Oriental Church from the Sea of Peter hath bene the losse of libertie and the eternal destruction of so manie noble most free and florishing Prouinces of that part no man can be ignoraÌ„t As also not see into what hazard and extreme perils thes deuilish doctrines of our dayes and the seditious folowers of the same haue brought the glorious kingdome of Fraunce with the states of Flaunders The peril of diuers kingdomes by this nevv Heresie Germanie Poole and most of the North partes of the world neere vnto vs. Which consideration draweth vs also into the doleful accompt of our English present feares and miseries and much more to the foresight of our calamities to come seeing clearlie by the recordes of our Countrie that no Nation hath oftener susteined general alteration of the state and gouernment then ours nor yet euer anie violent change or mutation but for some notable contempt of the house of God As appeareth by the sondrie inuasions and conquests made on vs and by the notes which Gildas the wise venerable Bede and other men of experience and foresight haue in their monumeÌ„ts set doune which were too long and needles to rehearse Onelie this is euer to be borne in mind that when our kinges of England had good intelligence with the Pope and mutual offices of loue and honour passed betwixt them and our bodie politique and Ciuil magistrate had al godlie and charitable correspondence with the spiritual Common-wealth of Christs Church and the prelates therof then had we a most happie and victorious Contrie blessed of God with al spiritual and temporal benediction In such sort surelie that to remember onelie what grace and glorie our Realme hath receiued by ioining and submitting it self to the lawes and regiment of holie Church might make our hartes ioyful if the consideration of this our present infelicitie by seuering our selues from the same did not eftsoons turne al to inconsolable sorowe Truelie what so euer is or hath bene singular to our Countries honour ether in Church Citie The benefites honours of our Countrie by Catholique religion Vniuersitie College Schoole Monasterie Librarie or anie part of the Common-wealth not lest renouned in the world al came of the Catholique religion and the greatest part of the famous Prelates of our NatioÌ„ As likewise what pietie iustice fidelitie conscience deuotion feare of God peace order obedience truth and honestie was once in anie state of men it can be referred to no other but to the godlie discipline forcible doctrine and manifold graces of the Church and her holie Sacramentes as on the contrarie the waste of al goodnes is now by manie yeares experience found to proceed of the Protestantes not onelie fruitles but pernicious preachers and doctrine Who by inuading the old honorable roomes of most noble Prelates founded neither by them nor for them haue made pitiful spoile of the goodliest ecclesiastical states and monumentes Our miseries by Heresie almost in al Christendome And by taking away the dailie dreadful Sacrifice Confession chastitie fidelitie obedience humilitie order and al honestie of life and maners haue giuen our people doleful experience of the deadlie fruite of their schisme and reuolt from the Sea Apostolique and Catholique communion of the faithful world Which we are forced to treat of here more largelie through the importunate and odious vaunting of this Libeller concerning their felicitie vnwonted prosperitie in England since their breaking from the vnitie of the Church of Rome speciallie sith the Queene saith he was cursed and excommunicated by the Pope al matters haue gone luckelie Not talking at al of the Realme or peoples increase in
by alteration of the Catholique religion into Heresie thus aduaunced their particular is by thes men called the State and their abundance peace and prosperitie the happines of the whole Realme Wher the happines of a King The true happines of a King countrie is the weale of the Subiectes no lesse then of the Soueraine and where wicked men as Theues Murderers Heretiques and others like be in miserie and beare the paines of the lawes and not wher Gods Priestes the Churches children and true Catholiques for whos defence and protection both Kinges and al iust lawes are made be in continual troble and vexation To conclude then the greatest and best part of our Countrie being in the extremest worldlie miserie besides the tormentes of conscience which passe al other paine that euer mē were in sith Christianitie was founded the aduersaries bragge of the English felicitie is too vaine fond and friuolous But going further with this Politique or Atheist whether yow wil that measureth al by worldlie felicitie deeming the Popes Anathema or Curse to be voide towardes vs or rather turned into blessing by the good succes the Protestantes of our countrie haue had in al their life and doinges since the publishing of the same we wil set aside the miserie of so great numbers of particuler men named before and presume for the clearer proceeding in this cause that the present happines of some protestātes were the peace and prosperitie of the whole Realme and state The vniuersal infelicitie of the English state by Heresy and that being admitted yet we haue to tel the man and shal proue it now in the sight of al indifferent people that our Countrie and State is in the greatest miserie most dangerous tearmes that euer it was sith or before the Conquest and farre in worse case then anie Countrie of Christēdome which notwithstāding he saith would wish anie peece of the English felicitie It were a hard matter to perswade this to a thriftles yonker a vulgar reader a common person or such an one as brutishlie beholdeth and esteemeth the present pleasures or profits that he enioyeth with licentious libertie aboue al that may fal to him or his be it wealth be it woe afterward for euer but to wise men and speciallie to such as haue charge of Common weales it is nothing dificil who if they knowe not of them selues as lightlie they doe by the lawe of Nature precepts of policie and holie Scriptures yet they may easilie be induced to consider that the present peace and pleasure of a cōmon bodie or state or the calme of a few yeares if it be ether procured or supported by iniust and dishonorable meanes or be ioined with euident perils present or to come is indeed no true prosperitie nether in common nor in particular but rather a prognostication of Gods great plagues to come and of the future miseries either to fal afterwardes in our owne daies or to our posteritie No weale-publique is happie without iustice honour securitie If our wealth be obteined by spoile or sacrilege it is vniust If our peace be mainteined by our neighbours warres it is iniurious and dishonorable If no respect be had for the continuance securitie and stabilitie of this good fortune we seeme to be in thē ether we or our posteritie shal feele as much woe as we now doe ioye Of the reuolt from the Sea Apostolique alteration of religiō spoile of Churches and Cleargie by which they made their entrie into this new blessednes how iust and lauful it was we wil not now stand vpon nor shew what ignominious practises and plaguy iniustice they haue vsed to susteine the same farre differing from the old royal dealinges of our Kinges Countrie who ether by lauful open warres or honorable leagues and assured amitie procured their rest and peace To make the subiectes of Scotland first then of Fraunce and last of al of Flaunders The dealinges of England vvith other Countries and diuers other states to rebel against their lauful Princes to imprison some to surprise the tounes of others to seaze vpon the money of others to hazard the persons of others to mainteine horrible ciuil garboiles in al the Countries neere vs and against al their next neighbour Princes with whom otherwise they pretend good amitie and intelligence to be confederate with al the infamous Heretiques and Rebels of thes daies yea surelie with the Turke him self finallie by sondrie piracies proditions spieries and foule artes to afflict and coosen the world round about vs what conscience honour or equitie can be in this cours None at al surelie Nether can our peace and prosperitie by such dishonorable and sinful meanes mainteined euer be secure or durable but alwaies ful of feare danger and doubtfulnes as wel to the authors of so foule and vnwonted proceedinges as to the people though the simplest of this latter sort auerted by the present peace and pleasure of a few yeares can not espie their future miserie so easilie as thos which hauīg ledde both their Soueraine and her Subiects by strange pathes into thes perplexities are now them selues come almost both to their wittes and to their worldes ende hauing nether God to stand for them whom they haue highlie offended by forsaking him abolishing his holie seruice honour and Sacramentes nor anie Prince or state sure vnto them euery of which they haue so notoriously annoied in the times of their distresses that they can looke for no office of true frēdship at their handes In al which God hath so wonderfully ouerrought their humane counsailes that seemed to such as had no deepe insight in thinges present Gods controlemēt of English practizes nor much foresight or care of that was to come to be ful wise and farre to excel the compas of our old Fathers or anie forreiners at this day and therfore our Nation by the passing prudence of certaine Councellours to stand in peace and ioye whē al their neigbours about vs by their deuises were in misery God him self we say hath so controuled thes wise follies by the contrarie euentes of euerie of their sinful deuises that the world may see and wonder at Gods waies and how different they be from mans cogitatiōs and how farre the sound Councels of such as be trulie wise differ from the present and pregnant wits or desperate aduentures of such as menage al matters for their owne present and particular without regard of the general ende or their owne posteritie See you not how euen God him self hath defeated al their driftes in Scotland In Scotelād and brought the matter by marueilous meanes of his prouidence to the iust contrarie issue of that which they shot at Were not their endeuours euē so crost in Fraunce In France in euerie of the three brethrēs kinges daies Where they haue bene alwaies frustrate of their purposes and lost both their vnthākful labours and their money To what end their intelligence
in any sort so hath he by infinite fauours and graces bound them vnto him in al most dutiful allegeance Againe as in the rebellions of Scotland so likewise in Flaunders and Fraunce Englād geueth aide also to other Princes subiects hath England thes late years yeelded no aide to the subiects against their lauful Princes Haue not their bāners bene openly displayed vpon their anciēt frēdes and confederates wals Haue they not houlden their tounes from them by maine force Haue they not manie wayes stirred and succoured with men money and munition the rebellious subiects of al countries nere about them Yea haue they not in diuers Parliamēts See the Acts of subsedies A0. 5. Reg. Eliz. cap. 29. 30. A0. 13. cap. 23. and namely in the Parliamēt houlden in the fift yeare of her Maiesties reigne 1563. as also in an other Parliament in the 13. yeare of her reigne 1571. published in print that the cheef consideratiōs moouing the whole assembly of Caluinistes both of the Cleargy and Temporalty gathered in thos Parliaments to graunt thos two great Subsidies were in respect of the Inestimable charges for such is their owne phrase susteined by the Queene in maintenance of the rebellious Heretikes their deare brethren against their leege Lords and Souerains of France Scoteland and other places Is it not now a special rule in gouernment amongst the worldlie Machiuelians to mainteine their owne repose by their neighbours trouble If this be vsual in al other cases and of manie not much reprehended for the aduantage of the temporal state of anie Prince is it onelie so great a maruel that the Pope should doe that for zeale of true Religion which other Kinges doe for matters of far lesse importance And if our coniecture may serue anie thing in this matter perhaps he was the rather redie to do this for Ireland for that the Sea Apostolique hath an olde claime vnto the soueraintie of that Countrie and that before the couenantes passed betwene King Iohn and the same sea Which chalenges Princes commonlie yeeld not vp by what ground so euer they come Though for this Pope present whom God long preserue we may be bould to say that he had rather haue the two Ilandes Catholique then the real possession of al the world for the saluation of the people wherof no doubt he would spend in Apostolique wise his owne blood so great an enimie he is to our nation The issue ioined vppō S. Bernardes opinion vvhether the Pope may vse the svvord But the Libeller saieth he should vse the VVord and not the Svvord according to S. Bernardes admonition Wel let vs then stand to that holie Fathers iudgement herein the matter wil be more easilie tried as also the fraude of this faitheles Libeller by our faithful repeating the whole sentence shal be discouered withal the Scriptures alleaged for the same purpose expounded Li. 4. Cap. 3. ad Eugenium Propter hoc saieth he magis aggredere eos sed verbo non ferro Quid tu denuo vsurpare gladium tentes quem iussus es ponere in vaginam quem tamen qui tuū negat non satis mihi videtur attendere verbum Domini dicentis sic Conuerte gladium tuum in vaginam Tuus ergo ipse tuo forsitan nutu etsi non tua manu euaginandus alioquin si nullo modo ad te pertineret is dicentibus Apostolis Ecce duo gladij hic non respondisset Dominus satis est sed nimis est Vterque ergo Ecclesiae spiritualis scilicet gladius materialis sed is quidem pro Ecclesia ille verò ab Ecclesia exercendus est ille Sacerdotis is militis manu sed sanè ad nutum Sacerdotis iussum Imperatoris That is in our tongue For that cause thou shouldest the rather set vpō them marry with the word not with the sword Why seekest thou againe to vsurpe the sword which thou wast cōmaunded to put vp into the scabard Which sword for al that who soeuer denieth to apperteine to the seemeth to me not to marke the word of our Lord thus speaking Returne thy svvord into his scabard Therfore euen the sword is thine at thy becke perhaps to be drawen though not by thine owne hād Hovv both svvords belōg vnto holy Church for otherwise if it should no way belong vnto the when the Apostles said to Christ Loe tvvo svvordes here he would not haue answered them that it was inough but that it had bene to much Therfore both the swordes belong to the Church the spiritual and material But the material is to be vsed for the Church the other by the Church The spiritual by the hand of the Priest the other by the hand of the souldiar and commaundement of the Emperour but at the Priestes * Nutu appointment So farre this holie Father in the verie place alleaged by the aduersarie Wherby we see that though it be not alwaies comelie nor commendable for Priestes which should be the authors and persuaders of peace to al Princes and people to be giuen to blood warres and destruction especiallie by their owne handes or without great cause to vse external force and violence against offendors yet the sword may be drawen for their defence and is to be drawen according to their councel and direction Wherunto we adde further that though the Apostles were taught and counceled Euāgelical meeknes by that metaphore of putting vp the swordes Al tēporal corporal punishmēt not forbidden to the Apostles and their successors had prescribed to thē a sweeter forme of gouerning their flocke then the heathen or other temporal powers vse towardes their subiectes yet al temporal or corporal punishment was not therbie prohibited to the rulers of the Church As we see by the example of S. Peter him self who after the said prohibition did not onlie feede with the word but stroke also corporallie euen to death Ananias and Saphira Which as he might doe laufullie by miracle so his successours now may doe the like by ordinarie iustice Which example we vse the rather Bern. ep 238. for that the said S. Bernard vseth it for proof of the very same matter when he saith Qui locum Petri tenet potest vno ictu extinguere Ananiam vno Simonem Magum He that occupieth S. Peters roome may with a word destroy Ananias and at one word extinguish Simon Magus And the next epistle before that speaking also to Eugenius the Pope he saith thus Ad hoc enim constitutus es super gentes regna vt euellas destruas vt aedifices plantes for that end art thou constituted ouer nations and kingdomes that thou maiest plucke vp build and plant c. Wherin as in other execution of iustice though the Pope as a mortal man may sometimes doe thinges out of season and without good succes euen thē when the cause he would aduaunce is most godlie and lauful