Catholiks for cause of religion then excluding all spiritual authority and Iurisdiction of the Sea Apostolike from England as forrayne and subiect to the law of Premunire Thirdly denynig the said Sea and Bishops therof all authority to restrayne punish or force by way of armes eyther by him selfe or others any temporal prince for heresy Apostasy or whatsoeuer other cryme pertayning to Religion Fourthly affirming that if any Pope should attempt such matters he may and ought to be resisted by Catholike subiects and that themselues would do it though he came in person Fifthly they lay all the fault of so long and greeuous persecution as hitherto English Catholiks haue suffered for religion vpon themselues and their owne doings not excepting heerin the very martyrs and Saints of God and further they are not ashamed to affirme that yf they had byn of the Counsel themselues they could haue done no lesse then to haue agreed to the said persecution and to the lawes and statutes made for the same Sixtly that they meane hereeafter to change their former course and as their phrase is to turne ouer the leafe and with such resolution as yf they should know any disignments or treatese of his Hol. or other Catholiks for reformation or restraynt of heresy by way of force in England they would reueale the same to the persecutors The 7. and last poynt is that they condemne the Semynaries and education of our youth therin beyond the seas wherin themselues or the most part of them haue byn brought vp and made that they are now excepting their sedition and they dehort all Catholikes with great vehemency from sending their children thither counseling them rather to keep them at home where they assure them that God wil prouide other masters euen of the ministers themselues yf need be to instruct them better then in the Seminaryes they are instructed These are the wise and holesome positions which these men haue in this booke set downe and do handle as the subiect and argument therof which yow see of what quality consideration they are to wit the first ful of adulation and meerly parasitical the second third and fourth pernicious erroneous and heretical the fifth wicked and reprochful the sixt trayterous and the last ridiculous or rather impious which in part shal appeare by these few words which in this place we are to say of each of them in order The first point of this argument is set downe in the title it selfe of the book which they cal Important considerations to mooue all true Catholikes that are not wholy Iesuited to wit not so base or wickedly mynded as themselues to flatter and fawne vpon teÌ„poral fauour to acknowledge all the proceedinges of the state of England against Catholikes since it excluded the Roman faith and fel to heresy to haue byn not only iust but also myld and merciful c. Thus they say adding further another peece of the said title in these words Published by sundry of vs the secular priestes in dislike of many treateses letters and reportes which haue byn wrytten and made in diuers places to the contrary with our opinions of a better course hereafter for the promoting of the Catholike faith in England Thus they frame their title wherby as yow see they first make themselues publike proctors for the heretiks and presecutors and then open accusers against the presecuted Catholikes on their owne side That which they adde of the publication of this booke by sundry of them secular priests we easily beleeue that they were rather sundy and sundered also then many vnited in so wicked an attempt and that they were not only secular in order and degree but in mynd also hart and desyres which S. Paul conioyneth with impiety when he saith abnegantes impietatem saecularia desideria As for the treateses letters and reports which haue byn wrytten and made in diuers partes of the world against the persecution vsed vpoÌ„ Catholiks in England which our new doctors heere do protest to mislike they hauing byn wrytten and made by the grauest and most learnedest men of our nation and others and vpon the grounds and proofes which in their books they haue set downe little importeth what these men may like or dislike therof now being vnworthie to be admitted for iudges or ceÌ„surers of their Maisters doings and wrytings especially seing them so transformed by the passion of enuy malice as they seeme to haue sold their tongues to the common enemy to contradict whatsoeuer others haue done before them for which cause also their offered opinions of a new and better course hereafter for turning ouer the leafe as after they cal it is ridiculous and contemptible to all Catholiks of discretion coÌ„sidering the learning vertue grauity seuerity constancy wisdome and other commendations of these that went before and the very effects and fruits themselues of their labors hitherto and comparing theâ—with the conâ—rary in firmityes and imperfections of these men and that thâ—y set vp nothing but seeke to pul downe And when they come to the end of their book and should shew vs what this new course of theirs is which they cal better for promoting of Catholike Religion herafter in England yow shal find no other thing prescribed by them but only a flattering persuasion to sticke to the State against the Pope and Sea Apostolike wherin we persuade our selues that the aduersaryes themselues do not beleeue them then a vehement exhortation to Catholiks to send their children no more to the Seminaryes beyond the seas least they be infected with the contrary doctrine which is so foolish and absurd as we are ashamed to mention or relate it And thus much touching the first point The second is about the law of Premunire many tymes mentioned before by them and now againe greatly vrged in the preface of this book where hauing rayled without all modestie or measure against F. Persons and all other Catholiks and priests vnited with him in admitting his Hol. ordinance about the Archpriest they say thus As by this meanes to wit by admitting the Archpriest he and his confederates haue incurred a double premunire as in another place siz in the booke of Quodlibets I meane God willing to declare so entendeth he therby to draw yow all good Catholiks into the same predicament premunireal and of treason with him Touching this booke of Quodlibets heere meÌ„tioned yf these men do meane therby that they may say or vnsay therin what they list without controlment then may all the other books also hitherto set forth be called Quodlibets no lesse then this hauing tyed themselues therin to no law eyther of truth probability proof or modesty Neyther can we immagine what occasion this booke of Quodlibets may bring to handle more at large this matter of Premunire then heere and in other their wrytings hath byn expressed seing that applying that law as they do to
ouerthrow therby the Popes institution of the Archpriest their intention must needs be consequently to exclude all Papal authority and iurisdiction from the kingdome of England except the prince of what religion soeuer agree thervnto VVhich doctrine of what quality it is no man can but see And for better explication therof we are in this place to aduertise the Reader that albeit we haue said so much already in our Apologie about this matter as was needful for that place and the obiections made by these people did require yet hauing both thought and sought more of that poynt since by occasion of the often vrging it we find somwhat to be added heere to wit that the Appellation to Rome in the first instance which there we mentioned was rather an antecedent or preamble to the law it selfe of Premunire then the cheefe substance therof which preamble was begon specially vnder K. Henry the second in the cause of S. Thomas of Canterbury about the yeare 1170. and continued on vntil towards the later end of the raigne of K. Edward the 3. to wit about the yeare 1375. which was but a yeare before the said Kings death when VVickclif now had begone to styrre against Cleargie men and the king being impotent permitted the gouernment most to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster his fourth some at great variance in those dayes with the bishops namely VVickam and Courtney the first of VVinchester the second of London and himselfe not a litle incensed with Iohn VVickcliffes new diuelish persuasions against the cleargy and religious men VVherfore a contention being in those dayes about the collation of benefices and bishopricks in England wherof the Popes were wont to dispose for the most part they concluded in England after many contentions and disputes and many sendings forth and back to Auinion in France where the Popes at that tyme resided that such prouisions of benefices should not be sought nor made from the Pope immediately for the tyme to come but only in England by consent of the prince and confirmation afterward of the Pope for the most principal benefices and dignityes and whosoeuer should contrary to this procure prouisions immediately from the Pope or any other power or iurisdiction contrary to this lawe should incurre the penaltyes therof And this to haue byn the only true meaning and intent of the said law and lawmakers that were Catholiks is euident by all authors that haue wrytten therof And in this sense there is no controuersy among vs for that later Popes haue eyther agreed thervnto or permitted the same and we see the like in vre also in other Catholike countreys at this day by agreement and composition betwene the Sea Apostolike Princes and Catholike Cleargie But besides this sense and meaning of the law there hath byn another inuented by heretiks and enemyes synce that tyme as though by this law all external iurisdiction of the bishop of Rome should be vtterly excluded from England not only in prouiding of benefices whervnto are annexed temporalityes but euen in matters also meere spiritual In which sense K. Henry the eight Father of her Maiestie was persuaded by some of his Counsel infected with Luthers Doctrine at that tyme to condemne the Card. of Yorke and all his English Cleargie in the losse of all their temporalityes by pretence of this law for admitting the authority and iurisdictioÌ„ of the Popes legats Campegius the said Cardinal without the kings expresse licence And in this sense also hath the Popes authority byn called forrayne and external and vtterly excluded from England by diuers lawes statutes oathes set forth by Protestants against the same since that tyme. And in the same sense and signification being plainly false and heretical as yow see do these libellers vrge it now against the Archpriest and others that admit and approue his authority though meerly spiritual as all the world seeth as hauing nor benefice nor temporality annexed to it or ioyned with it And so we see with what kynd of people these men are drawen by passion to conspire and iump The third point of their argumeÌ„t in this book is to shew that nether the Pope nor any other ecclesiastical power what soeuer hath any authority to restrayn punish or presse by way of force or armes immediatly or by others any Christian teÌ„poral prince whatsoeuer for any delict of heresy Apostasy impugnation of Christian faith extirpation of religion or other cryme whatsoeuer though neuer so much danger or damage should eâ—sâ—e by his default to the commouwealth or to the rest of Christendome And this irreligious paradox they go about to maintayne throughout their whole book alleadging fond childish argumeÌ„ts for the same as that the word of the spirit not the swords of the flesh or any arme of man is that which giueth life and beauty to the Catholike Churche and that the promise made to S. Peter is a sure and sufficient ground to defend Catholike religion without armes And other such faÌ„cies which the Anabaptistes do vse to proue that there should be no external force or ciuil magistrate vsed by Christians and as Martyn Luther disputed when he would prooue that warre was not to be waged against the Turke for religion especially at the Popes direction And yet are our men so confident in these their follies as they are not ashamed to say in the same place to Catholiks Giue no eare deare Catholikes to any priuate VVhisperings or Iesuitical persuasions to the contrary all arguments that can be brought assure your selues are false and vnlearned sophistifications Thus they say and thus they assure Catholiks but much more sure are wee that this is pride ignorance â—olly and falshood in them for that they cannot but know that all the Catholike learned men of Christendome are against them in this position and that the proofes and reasons which they alleadge for the same called by these men heere priuate VVhisperings Iesuitical persuasions and vnlearned sophistications are so learned and weighty as they are not able to answere one of them and if we should heere set downe the ranke of authors that haue wrytten of this point within these 400. yeares as also in our dayes against heretikes and atheists and conuinced the same by most learned demonstrations both out of scriptures councelles fathers and theological reasons to wit that albeit directly the supreme pastor of Christs Churche according to the coÌ„mon opinion of diuynes haue not temporal dominion or iurisdiction ouer christian temporal princes that are supreame in their owne states yet indirectly for conseruation and defence of religion when it is impugned or put in hazard by them he may also vse the sword or help of temporal forces for his restraint eyther immediatly from himself or by other princes at his direction if we say we should cyte heere all the learned Catholike authors of all nations that haue wrytten and
within was wrytten this in cyphar as the rest of the letter also is said to haue byn A note for F. Holt such other confident frends as he shal thinke good to communicate the same withal And then began the letter thus The principal causes of this my iorney are to setle with his Holines and F. General all such poynts as shal seeme necessary for the vpholding of the Seminaries of Spayne Flaunders Italy and of the mission of the society to England and therfore whatsoeuer shal offer it selfe vnto yow about any of these points to wit for facultyes gouernment priuiledges maintenance or the like I pray yow and other frends to aduise me with the best speed that may be for I meane to procure that my aboad in Italy be as litle as may bee and so I haue promised in Spaine and for diuers reasons it wil be necessary Yf I can do any good also in compounding or ending the troubles of the English Roman Seminary and of our controuersyes betweene those of our nation els where I shal do my best at least I hope I shal make his Hol. and other principal persons vnderstand the true causes and grounds therof By these two first points we may see that F. Persons iorney to Rome was neyther in post as these men say being 5. or 6. monethes in coming nor to cause the book of English titles to be read in the Refectory as fondly heere is deuised about which whole matter of succession he speaketh in his letter so temperatly and indifferently as may shame his aduersaryes to alleadge it for he saith in substaÌ„ce That he meaneth to proceed therin very softly and coldly letting his Hol. only to know how matters do stand that English Catholiks do only desire after her Maiestie some sincere Catholike Prince without respect of English Scottish Spanish or other nation in respect of religion that F. Persons is not an enemy to the king of Scotland nor Agent for king Philip as some haue enformed shewing in the first what good offices he hath done for the king of Scotland for many yeares whilst their was hope that he would be a Catholike and in the second shewing by testimony of the Nuntio of Madrid Patriarke Caetan who hath wrytten effectually in that behalf that F. Persons hath alwayes persuaded the king his counsel that it wil not stand wel for his Maiestie to pretend England for himself that he hath obtayned of the king ful promise therof about which poynt the Nuntio hath seene the papers byn priuy to the speches which F. Persons from tyme to tyme hath had vnto that effect These are the words of this secret letter and finally he concludeth that the best of all would be yf to auoyd contention opposition and garboyles after her Maiestie such a person might be thought of as would be fit and stand wel both for his Hol. and Maiestie Catholike Inglish and Scotish Catholiks the kings of Fraunce Denmarke and all the rest but who that person or persons be he meaneth to suffer his Hol. to thinke vpon c. Thus he wryteth as yow see in great confidence and secresy to his dearest frend and was to treate to the same effect with the Pope by the commission as heere is insinuated of the king of Spaine himselfe And his Hol. can be witnesse whether he did so or no and whether he hath changed his course or no vntil this day And then let the discreet reader iudge whether these cogitations and endeauors of F. Persons do not tend more to peace vnion composition sauing of his countrey from warres and garboyles pacifying of Princes round about and furthering the Catholike religion which principally is sought by him as the first and cheef meanes of all ioy and felicity both in this lyfe and the next then the distracted passionate clamors of these few discontented people that cry out to pul downe but set vp nothing that calumniate other mens actions but can do nothing themselues being only fit to vndo discompose wrangle trouble cry and curse but let vs see yet a litle further They obiect that F. Persons hath intitled the king of Spaine to all the 3. kingdomes of England Scotland and France the Lady Infanta to the said three kingdomes Let them shew this out of any wryting of his and if they cannot as is most certaine let them be ashamed of this their shamelesse calumniation For in the book of succession which they attribute vnto him is no such matter eyther about the kingdome of France or Scotland for eyther of those two persons but rather the quite contrary which proueth these men not to speak by line or measure or regard of verity but only what they imagine may sound odiously And is this fit for priests yea Catholike priests The tale of the students subscribing swearing and promising in Spaine to promote with mayne and might poyse of words dentibus â—nsibus as our Orators say the Infanta her title is much like poetical comentaryes and fictions vpon some litle ground of truth For all are lyes but only this that our late good Cardinal thinking seriously towards the later end of his dayes of the perilous state of our countrey yf her Ma. should faile and what great contention and warres were like to ensue about the succession of a new prince he was greatly troubled and afflicted in mynd and casting diuers wayes about how these mischeefes might best be preuented and matters wrought to some moderation and composition both to the contentment of forrayne princes and probability to reduce the Cath. faith agayne into England he took his pen in hand and set downe a very wise moderate and pious discourse of his opinion and iudgment therin sending the same into Spayne with desyre to heare the opinions of his frends about the same who liking it very wel and being desyrous to haue the same continued and set forward diuers of the cheef English there as wel lay men as Ecclesiastical as namely Sr. Frauncis Inglefield M. D. Stillington and others wrote their likings and approbation therof and requested that the like might be performed froÌ„ the Semynaryes for encouraging the good Card. to go forward in that pious cogitatioÌ„ And this is all that in that matter was done or atteÌ„pted without any promise oath or obligation at all so as all the rest which these men ad is eyther poetical fictions or exaggerations as we haue sayd The calumniation about the L. Dacres is most false slaunderous and hath many malignant vntruthes That which passed betwene him and F. Persons is this as we are certaynly enformed by them that know it He went out of England to Vallidolid in Spaine about the yeare 1590. where finding F. Persons begynning his new Seminary he was most curteously receyued and treated by him therin and after some dayes recommended by his letters very effectually to the court at Madrid where also he
vrged or exaggerated more then against the rest neyther doth this flattering malignant discouerer so much as obiect any such thing done or attempted by the author of this conference nor can he with any shew of truth so do And if the said author any where doth shew lesse desyre of the aduancement of the King of Scots his title towards England which yet in words we find not expressed while he is of different religion from him and no Catholike his Maiestie is wise inough to consider that he could not do otherwise according to the cheef and mayne principle set downe throughout that book about the necessity of true religion that is to say Catholike required in all pretenders that must or may be admitted by Catholike subiects VVhich principle being granted as in the Conference it is prooued and demonstrated by all arguments both humayne and deuine to be a most true Christian religioâ—s and necessary principle it followeth we say that the author being a Catholike could not possibly according to the sincerity of that religion though otherwise he louing and reuerencing the K. of Scotland neuer so much wish or desyre his preferment ouer Catholiks whilst he remayneth of the opposite Religion Nether can this flattering discouerer or his mutinous parteners how desyrous soeuer of gayning fauour say or do the contrary yf they be Catholikes as they professe and haue Catholike consciences and wil conforme their actions therunto for that all true Catholike doctrine and piety is against them in this behalf And finally whatsoeuer this maleuolous calumniator doth prattle in this place of the Authors euil affection towards the king of Scotland to grace himselfe by another mans iniury yet yf he be the man that he is taken for and that the author of the Conference be the party whome the other and his consorts 〈◊〉 giue out it is easily seene and discryed by their former doyngs who do beare most true good wil to that king the one being constant in desyring his conuersion to Catholique religion and therby all true aduauncement both in this life and the next the other variable vp and downe heere and there and after many windings and turnings and castings about as offering their seruices now to one and now to another do now at length fawne vpon him for priuate interest whome before they most impugned and this vpon bare need being broken of where once they hanged on And this is sufficient for the present argument in hand and for confutation of so fond an answere to the book of Succession THEIR FOLLY AND DEceaued spirit in persuading themselues to get credit or recouer that which is lost with any sorte of men be they frendes or enemyes by this their maner of proceeding with clamors and libels CAP. VI. IT is said by a certayne spiritual wise man of some others that in their owne sight seemed farre more learned and wise then he obscuratum est insipiens cor eorum their foolish hart was blynded not to see and consider though they were learned philosophers that which euery simple man of meane vnderstanding being lightened with Gods grace may see and behold to wit that they ran to their owne perdition which folly also and blyndnes we feare hath so possessed the deceaued spirits of these our passionate if not possessed brethren as we may say thesame words of them Obscuratum est insipiens cor eorum for that hauing suffered their harts to be obscured and ouerwhelmed with the perturbation of enuy emulation malice reuenge anger and other like inchauntments and sorceryes of their soules yea rather â—uryes as we may say of spiritual madnesse do rage and runne a desperate course of rayling and rauing against all that stand in their way without any respect of persons state degree or merit or of their owne condition calling or function or credit therof and haue not so much inward light of vnderstanding or consideration as once to ponder or weigh with themselues as it seemeth what other men wil think of them or wether it wil turne to their credit or discredit help or hurt releef or ruyne thus to proceed wherfore to assist them somwhat in this consideration and to the end that we may lay before their eyes some few pointes of that which is most probable to ensue in this behalf and therby to styrre vp their memory and help their iudgment in this contemplation VVe shal runne ouer breefly the cheef partyes or persons with whome they may persuade themselues by this their manner of outeryes and printing libels to gaine or loose credit and to repayre or vtterly ouerthrow their owne reputation And first of all we may consider of forrayne Catholiks in all countreys Christian what they wil think of them when hearing as they haue and do of the tumults raysed by them heere in England and before in Rome and other places which are now renewed againe and more published then euer in other nations sending abroad lately their cheef Captaynes to diuulge the same by their iorney through Flanders France and other kingdomes and prouinces towards Rome as they pretend and giue out but as we persuade our selues they meane not to go thither hauing done said and wrytten as they haue no more then they went or sent thither for prosecuting of their Appeale when lawfully they might and should haue done before his Hol. determination made theron but they as now for certaine we vnderstand neuer so much as caused the same to be exhibited in Rome from them or in their names and much lesse prosecuted or prooued according to law notwithstanding all their clamors and vaunts in the meane space made heere in England as though they had made the same appeale lawfully and with true intention to follow it which was not meant in deed but only to gaine tyme and liberty and to persuade simple men that they were out of all obligation of obedience to their Superiors whilest that controuersy lasted to make a playne delusion of themselues and others VVel then this is their manner of proceeding hitherto which is of all mutinous and seditious people to make outcryes and great noyses that they haue receaued great iniuryes and intolerable oppressions and other like greuances that they wil both say do and proue and yet do meane nothing lesse but onely as curst childreÌ„ to vex their mother and trouble the whole house where they are by crying without cause only of stomack and stubbernesse and the more they are sought to be quieted and appeased by reason the more they cry and skrich VVe haue hard of their late iorney from Douer to Calis from Calis to Newport in Flanders where the Popes Nuntio was sending first a messenger or two before like great men that dout of their owne estate to aske a pasport or safe conduct consider how confident these men are in Cath. Countreys that they need such protections of his Hol. ministers which being graunted they went thither And it
deuised and cast abroad this memorial to wit Robert Fisher sent ouer into Flanders by the seditious of VVisbich to that effect as hath byn shewed at large in the 7. Chapter of our Apologie where we haue set downe the examination of the said Robert vpon his oath before his Hol. Fiscal in Rome and how he misliked his owne dooings therin bewrayed the falshood detected his complices and confessed all to be deuised vpon malice and stomake which our brethren knowing sufficieÌ„tly by the authentical copie of the said deposition sent into England and hauing seene also the publique testimony of six very reuerend and graue Priests Assistants to the Archpriest against that memorial as also the letters of many other priests which we haue there cyted it is strange that perturbation of mynd should so much preuayle with our brethren and the remorse of conscience be so litle as to reuiue the same now againe and being only in latyn before to print it now in English to the vew of all men And do they not know or remember that the publishers of infamous libels and defamations are as deeply both in the synne it selfe as also in Church censures as are the makers and wryters therof VVho can doubt of this But now to the contents of the libel The first paragraphe after many falsityes alleadged against Iesuits concludeth thus They hold no doctrine Catholike and sound that commeth not from themselues no dispensation auaylâ—able that is not graunted by them which is worse they haue beate into the heads of most that the masse is not rightly celebrated of any but of a Iesuite Thus they wryte And do our brethren beleeue this to be true Againe in the fourth paragraph besides many calumniations they say thus No Iesuite goeth to visit any one in England or trauayleth from one place to another but he is richly apparaylled attended on with a great trayne of seruants as yf he were a Baron or an Earle Is this true also in the consciences of our brethren Againe in the fifth paragraph They neuer send one scholler out of England to the Colledge of Doway to study there c. nay they haue laboured by all meanes vtterlâ— to dissolue it Is this true also Let the President and books of that Colledge testifie In the seauenth paragraphe they say VVomen also are induced by them to become Nunnes to leaue such goods as they haue to them c. And is there any one example thinke yow to be giuen of this Or is it any way probable seing that Nunnes haue such neede of their dowries for their owne maintenance yf they wil be receaued into any monasteryes beyond the seas The eight paragraph beginneth thus All vniuersity men and such as haue taken any degree in schooles the Iesuits hate despise contemne reproch And is this verifiable thinke yow or likely to be true Their conclusion is this To conclude say they Catholikes stand in more â—eare of the Iesuits then of the heretikes c. and that indirectly they cause priests to be apprehended by the enimy c. The censure of which conclusion as also of the spirit and pious disposition of these our brethren which do publish these things in print and in vulgar tongues against the whole order of religious men we remit to all good Catholiks iudgment And so much of this first memorial The second and third Catalogue of slanders which they put downe as well against the whole Society of Iesuits as also against those that labour in England are much more deceytfully though yet childishly handled by our brethren then the former For wheras they wel knowe that these poynts of defamation by them published were wrytten by some of their owne frends and this very secretly and couertly vnderhand by them sent to Rome therby to incense the flame of the Roman Sedition when it was on fire with order to spread the said slaunders abroad but in no wise to discouer the authors therof these our men without eyther scruple of conscience for the things themselues being notoriously false or respect of their said frends credit haue divulged them now in print vnder this tytle Certaine cheife poynts of accusations wherwith many Englishmen haue iustly charged the Iesuites c. But marke heere their manifold falshood for first no man hitherto to our knowledge eyther English or other in the world hath offered to come forth and accuse or prooue lawfully these points against the Iesuits and much lesse these many Englishmen that heere are insinuated who writ their calumniations in corners as hath byn said and sent them to Rome to be spread in secret for so one of them wryteth in the article heere set downe vse my letters secretly but effectualy c. And-further where heere it is said that many Englishmen gaue vp these false accusations we fynd but two named in the latyn original copy to wit Ch. P. VV. G. who by these men are guilfully omitted in the English and by vs also should not be meÌ„tioned but that we are forced in some sort to figure their names by the first letters for testimony of the truth for seing they denyed the same afterward by many protestations to many one of them before a publike magistrate and the matters obiected being so absurd impious and apparantly false in themselues we would willingly haue held silence therin cannot but wonder at the folly of these shamelesse libellers that repeat them heere againe and moreouer to auerre as they doe that the Fathers were iustly charged with them And we doubt not but that euery modest man of what religion or profession soeuer he be wil wonder also with vs when they shal heare and consider both the absurdity of the things obiected and the open apparant malice in setting them forth to the world with such approbation as heere they do For better vnderstanding wherof we must note that these calumniations which heere they set abroad were certayne briefe articles collected by some of the Fathers in Rome out of a greate masse of seditious letters which at the making vp of the peace and ending of the stryfes in that cytie were partly discouered and exhibited voluntarily vpon scruple of conscience by those that had byn troblesome partly found by chance or rather perhaps by Gods prouidence the better to confirme the said peace within the colledge which letters had byn wrytten and sent thither by the foresaid two frends C. P. and VV. G. out of Flanders for the intent before mentioned of increasing those troubles And for somuch as the said partyes during the styrres protested euery where that they had no part therin but rather were sory for them these letters being found to the contrary were put togeather in a good large booke yet extant and out of that booke of larger relations were gathered certayne briefe articles yet in the very woords so neere as might be of the wryters themselues which
articles had this title Capita quaedam c Certayne heads of Calumniations c. conteyning as hath byn said a briefe some of the cheefest slaunders which the forsaid two men and some few more of their correspondents had wrytten to the schollers at Rome and by them divulged abroad against the fathers of the Society both in Rome England and els where for their defamation and thervpon it was thought best that the said Collection of Articles should be sent vnto them or at least vnto one of them to be considered of yf by that meanes perhaps they entring into the consideration of so great iniuryes offered where they professed and owed frendship might be mooued to cease froÌ„ this course and to that effect were they sent vnto the later to wit VV. G. with a letter wrytten in very frendly manner laying downe vnto him plainly and sincerely both the iniquity of the thinges theÌ„selues as also the bad maner of proceeding therin and after all the wryter sayth thus And now Sir as stil a frend that wisheth yow well and would gladly haue yow make vp these foule matters as cleanly as may be I am sory they haue fallen out so much against your credit as they haue done and are like to doe yf they passe further and yf yow would haue followed any part of your old and true frends counsel yow should neuer haue waded so farre in them But a litle anger oftentymes or emulation or incitation of others with a free nature doth draw a man by litle and litle to many incoÌ„ueniences And now I see but two wayes for yow to choose the one to set your selfe to proue these thinges that yow haue auouched of our fathers yf yow can or els to giue some manner of satisfaction to them laying the fault vpon mistaking misinformation or the like But the best satisfaction of all would be to leaue of this course of contradiction and to attend to peace and vnion in our nation for the tyme to come for that our diuisions are odious both to God and man and none can abide now in this place to heare of them or of any that wil foster them c. This was then wrytten and yow may easily discerne herby the spirit of peace and quietnesse in the wryter and how sâ—al an appetite he his had of reuenge seeing that for so intollerable iniuryes and infamations offered them which after yow shal heare they were content with so simple a satisfaction as to haue peace for the tyme to come And truly these things being now past and wel neare dead we are exceeding sory to be inforced by the petulancy of our indiscreet brethren to repeat or renew the memory of them againe for which cause we passed them ouer in our Apologie eyther in sylence or generalityes and heere we endeauour as yow see to couer mens names as much as may be without preiudice of the knowne truth and very loath truly we shal be to be constrayned in our larger promised Apologie to set downe these things at length with the persons places and other circumstances Yet must yow heere note by the way that in the foresaid collectioÌ„ of calumniations sent to VV. G. in Flanders there was adioyned in the latyn copy to euery article the author also or wryter togeather with the quotation of the place or wryting wherin it was to be found which thing our brethren to make the matter more obscure and intricate haue purposely omitted in their English traduction to the end it might be thought that many Englishmen had agreed among themselues as they affirme to iustifie these false and infamous accusations deuised by some one only of his owne malitious head which accusations and slanders we shal now repeat vnto yow at least wise some of them for all were ouerlong and the foule quality of a few wil easily glut your appetite yf we be not deceaued from desyring the rest First then the very first article concerning the whole Society or body of Iesuits for into two branches yow remember they were deuided is vttered by them in these woords The Iesuits are so ambitious as not còntent with the bounds which their Fathers placed they haue in their insatiable desyre already swallowed vp kingdomes and monarchies And then was added in the latyn copie where yow should fynd this wise asserâ—ion to wit VV. G. epistola ad Temp. 13. April 1596. which quotation our brethren thought good to leaue out as wel in this as in all the other articles partly not to discouer their frends the authors of these calumniations partly also as hath byn said to haue them thought to come from the consent of many togeather But letting passe this fraud we would aske them sadly seriously with what conscience can they publish this slaunder to the world of all Iesuits or of their Society and body as the title â—aith VVhat kingdome or monarchie haue they already swallowed vp or deâ—owred as the latyn woords import is not this exceeding madnes to proceed with so impoteÌ„t blyndnes of passion But let vs heare further It followeth in the sixt article that yf this ambition of the Iesuits do remayne vnpunished the age that is to come shal see that it wil bring in bondage not only prelats but the very princes and monarches themselues whon â—yet shee flattereth in her infancy Thus they report this article leauing out the citation as before VV. G epistolam eadem And vpon this they inferre for remedy another article immediatly following in these woords They beseech the Pope in latyn rogat VV. G. Pontificem that he wil lay the axe to the râ—ote of the tree and cut of this pride of the Society spreading it selfe farre and neere least yf it once arme it selfe with the authority of his Hol it powre out a ful reuenge vpon all others to their destruction make an infinite slaughter and massaker of soules as already they haue begone in wretcâ—ed England c. ibid. VV. G. And furthermore to inâ—yte his Hol. yf they had byn able to cut downe this religious tree of the Society they tell him of diuers most greuous crymes and faults of Iesuits without prouing any one or shewing them at least to be probable as for example That the Pope can comound nothing in all his mandats but the Iesuits find meanes to frustrate iâ— by secular power And can this be true or probable And againe that the Iesuits do eagerly wayte for the death of the Pope and of the renowned Cardinalâ— Toled that they may bring vpon all slaughter bloudsheed as they haue long assayed c. VV. G. altaep ad Tâ—p 29. Sept. 1596. The quotation is left out But is the matter likely or was it christian charity in the wryter to cause such things to be put into his Hol. head The one of the two is now dead and his soule we trust with God and at his death he
left great signes of his loue and reuerence towards his mother the Society as he was bound and as we haue shewed in our Apologie neyther hath any slaughter or bloudshed followed from the Iesuits by his death nor is like to do by the grace of God whensoeuer it shal please him to cal vnto him his Hol. whome we desyre and pray for daylie that he may liuelong and so we do assure our selues the Iesuits do also whatsoeuer this vnchristian calumniation doth cast out to the contrary which how wel grounded it is may appeare by two other that ensue the one that the Iesuits seeke the gouernmeÌ„t of the Colledge of Doway and the other immediatly following that the Iesuits by their Machauillian practises go about to procure the dissolution of the same Colledge But of these matters the President Doctors and Ancients of Doway Colledge togeather with the facts and effects themselues wil testifie against this slaunderous tongue as also against that impious obiectioÌ„ wherby they say in another Article That it is a knowne positioÌ„ or maxim among the Iesuits Diuide impera set in diuision and then shal yow gouerne at your pleasure VVhich is so malitious a conceyt against so religious men that we blush to relate it albeit they blush not to affirme it as neyther another cryme more improbable then this saying That the Iesuits in Rome do vse to intercept all manner of letters of all men what soeuer not forbearing the packets of Cardinals nor Princes c. VVhat forehead would affirme this and put it in print could neuer yet any one be taken with this seing it is said to be vsed to so many so punished for the same But that yow may better see their good consciences heare we pray yow what true and pious protestations they make of English affayres and Catholikes there N. calleth God his angels to witnes in latin Deum testatur VV. G. angelus eius that the greatest part of the Nobility and Cleargie in England both at home and abroad do be wayle with sighes and teares their most miserable estate in that they suffer more greuous things vnder these new tyrants the Iesuits then by all their other greuous daylie persecutions VV. G. ep ad Marc. Now whether this be true or no that the farre greater part maxima pars of the Nobility and the English Clergie both at home and abroad wherin no doubt must enter all the Seminaryes also do thus weepe and bewaylâ— their miseryes and calamityes receyued by Iesuits and whether this be so certaine a truth as VV. G. may cal God and his Angels to witnesse therof and whether these men with a good conscience could publish the same in print we leaue to any Catholike man or ciuil Protestant to iudge And yet they repeat the very same againe as most true and notorious in the article following saying That the persecution of the Iesuits is more greuous to the Catholiks then that of the heretikes in England And all this yow must note was wrytten in the yeare 1596. When these later broylâ—s and reuolts of these our mutined brethren were not yes fallen out Further also they tel his Hol. for his better information in English affayres that nothing doth so vex the English Catholiks as the contempt and hatred in the Iesuits of the President that now is in latyn praesentis Pontificis and the slaunderous reproches imputed by them to the renowned Cardinals Toled and Alexandrinus VV. G. epist. ad Temp. 19â— Septemb. 1596. And could enuy her selfe thinke yow inuent more odious and malitious stuffe But yet harken further Of three hundred priests say they which haue entred into England scarse six or seauen haue fallen away but of twenty Iesuits eight haue reuolted And is this iustifiable Nay is there any one of them that was sent to England hitherto by obedieÌ„ce of his superiors reuolted or fallen Yf there be not what impudensie is it so boldly to auouch it what folly also to name so many of their fellow priestes whose number wee pray God that some of these men do not encrease But yet let vs hearefurther of English matters and English Iesuits set downe vnder another general head or branch intituled Touching the Iesuites in England wherof the first is The Fathers of the Society in England do discent amongst themselues F. HeÌ„ry the Superior and F. Edmund in the prison at VVisbich and there are 26. articles of their dissention Thus saith this article and then is quoted Ch. P. in colloq cum P. Bonardâ—vt patet ex eiusdem literis 27. Sept. 1597. VVhich quotation our brethren for sparing of their frends do omit though in all their later books they do contradict the whole substance of this article also by complayning that F. Garnet F. Edmund and F. Persons with the rest are too much vnited the one obaying the others beck c. After this they lay on load saying â—hat the Iesuits are the firebrands of all sedition enemyes to all secular priests such notable lyâ—rs as none wil beleeâ—e them no not when they sweare That by the schismatiks in England they are called horseliches and bloud suckers And thus they go on rayling and reuiling without stop or stay eyther of shame fastnes or conscience as though it were not wrytten neque ebriosi neque maledici regnum Dei possidebunt both which synnes these men heare do notably expresse by their intemperancy of tongue and yet for very shame they leaue out â—6 whole articles which are in the latyn albeit these which they set downe heere in English are so slaunderous and malitious as we are ashamed to wade further therin Yet wil we end with one that wil make yow laugh or rather pitty the blyndnes of their folly for thus they wryte that F. Holt and his companions had gathered such an infinite masse of money in Flanders of the Catholiks in England for dispensations or vnder the colour of expending it to their vses as many credibly affirmed it to exceed the some of fifty thowsand pounds English which make two hundred millioÌ„s of Italian scudes VV. G. â—p ad Marc. 8. August 1596. The quotation they omit according to their fashion for couering their freÌ„ds credit that wrote this notable excesse but yet do ouerthrow their owne credit in this ridiculous multiplication of two hundred millioâ—s of Italian scudes which is more money perhaps then all the princes in Italy orels where in ChristeÌ„dome can lay togeatherâ— In the latyn copy taken out of VV. G. his letters it is ducenta millia two hundred thousand which these men eyther by ignorance or malice would needs increase to the number of two hundred millions And we haue byn credibly informed that wheÌ„ F. Persons came to Rome in the yeare 1597. Cardinal â—urgheâ—ius who at that tyme was imployed by his Hol. as Viceprotector in compounding the styrres of the tumulâ—uous
plaine opposite spirit both of speaking and doing For within a few pages after this againe they shew their said spirit in scoffing at this blessed mans recollecting himself to prayer when he was to treat any matter of moment a thing as all godly men know most laudable and vsed by all old saints as also by the best religious men of our dayes for when the foresaid M. Dolman and as these men say also M. D. Bauyn with him enduced by them and their clamors to desyre some final end whatsoeuer of so odious braules came to the forsaid Father to treat about the leauing of for peace sake that fraternity or spiritual congregation which the bigger and better part of the prisoners had made to themselues for orderly lyfe and avoyding the disorders comytted by others these men relate the matter thus But M. VVeston after the new fashion desyred them first to fall downe and pray with him which done he arose and framing his countenance as though he would haue wept said vnto them c. Lo thus with contempt they relate as yow see the good mans recollection of himselfe by prayer before he would treat so weightie an affayre which custome of prayer these men cal the new fashion for that it is like they vse it not and yet they confesse the argument of his speech to haue byn such as it caused M. D. Bauyn a wise and learned man to shed teares which these pleasant men also turne to a iest Then D. Bauyn say they to pay M. VVeston with his owne coyne pretended to be so mooued with his words as yf he likewise could scarsely haue refrayned from teares which we obseruing doubted to find him but an halting arbitrator c. Heere yow see nothing but scoffing at all pietie and godlynes condemning so graue and learned a man as M. D. Bauyn is knowne to be of halting for that he was so easily moued to teares wherwith their harts and eyes are little acquainted The like course they take with that Reuerend and learned man F. Garnet setting downe most godly words of his in his letters vnto them and then condemning his intention a thing proper to the diuel as before we shewed out of Iob calling him also a diuelish polititian for the same transforming himself into an angel of light and then for that the said Father wrote to them for their comfort that not only he but certaine gentlemen also that had byn with him at VVisbich remayned much edified of their reunion and peaceable conuersation adding also those words of S. Paul Testis enim est mihi Deus quomodo cupiam omnes vos in visceribus Iesu Christi for God is my witnes how much good I wish yow all in the bowels of Iesus Christ and then of his companions I assure yow that their being with yow hath wrought such effect in the harts of all that were with me that they neuer saw place or persons which more delighted them c. To which words our brethren do adioyne this scoffe In deed say they these were three or foure gentlemen whome we afterward tearmed his deacons and subdeacons Lo their good interpretations who can deale with such kind of spirits iâ—rrisores as the Apostle calleth them scoffers and scorners but as another Apostle sayth Deus non irridctur God wil not be scorned and so to him we leaue them though we cannot leaue of yet to prosecute this vayne of foolish cauilling and calumniation in them euen against very good things as appeareth by this other example about the same F. VVeston his sitting at table wherof they relate that he would not keep any certaine place at the vpper table as other auncients did but only tooke his place as he came they endeauour to turne all against him by malitious interpretation of his meaning M. VVeston say they did not long sit at the vpper table with vs and below M. Bluet and M. Bagshaw where his due place was but that he desyred and had it easily graunted vnto him that he might leaue his said place and sit in some other as he thought good wher-vpon as disdayning to sit where he did before be bound himself afterward to no certayne place but sate yow must thinke for humilityes sake now heere now there as he list c. Lo heere a greeuous accusation of disdayne to sit at the vpper table and togeather yow may note the great humility and ciuility of these two their frends heere named that tooke place alwayes as due vnto them aboue F. VVeston whome yet in this booke they say to haue byn the Prouincial of Iesuits before he came into the prison which yf it be so what the place of a religious prouincial is throughout the Christian world in respect of M. Bluet and M. Bagshaw all men know that are of experience but F. VVeston was as forward to contend in humilitie and seeke alower place as the other were in striuing for a higher and yet this humilitie also they condemne in him for that he would not stryue with them nor yet accept any place at the higher table but sit as he came which promiscual sitting vsed by religious men and others liuing in community we haue shewed yf yow remember in our Apologie out of M. Bagshaws owne letters that he condemneth as fit for Anabaptists reuiued Arrians and those of the Cynedrical congregations of Geneuae c. and what stir there is amongst them for sitting and keping places euen vnto the fifteenth difference and degree appeareth by the forme of their new common wealth set downe by watson their Secretary who now is sayd to haue gotten a place also at the Bishop of Londons table cited by vs in our Apology VVe might heere alleadge many other examples in this kynd of folly and passionate proceeding wherby our brethren not seing what maketh for them or what against them do go about to discredit others by such meanes as do giue greatest credit honour vnto them as for example when desyring by all meanes possible to bring in contempt and discredit the venerable godly and learned Society of religious men called the Iesuites they tel vs euery where how strong and powerable they be in all countreyes how greatly in credit throughout all Christendome calling also the most famous men of our age secular and religious priests and lay men Iesuits or Iesuited when they make against them though they neyther are nor euer were of that order and so they cal M. D. Sanders D. Bristow Card. Allen and others of our owne nation Iesuites though they were neuer so but only frends vnto them And the like also they do with many principal men of other nations yea though they be lay men as Don Bernardino de Mendoca late Ambassadour for the Catholike king in France and diuerse principal gentlemen in England which is rather to commend and grace the Society then otherwise And the very same course they hould
a parte or for that in iudgement and affection they concurre heerin with Protestants and hate them euen for religions sake that is for their eminent zeale in Catholike religion And what credit this may be to them throughout the world with all good Catholiks themselues may easily consider as also what wisdome it is to exasperate without cause so great a multitude of men dispersed ouer all Christendome who haue done them euery where much good and may do and both they and theirs haue need of them in diuers places of our banishment abroad and persecution here at home being subiect to so many necessityes both spiritual and temporal wherin these mens help vnto vs hath and may be very beneficial And in this kynd also is the inconsideration of our said brethren notorious that hauing receaued for so many yeares and receyuing daylie in forraine contreys most principal releefe from the kinges of Spaine both the father now dead and the sonne raigning and our Cathol English mens affayres beyond the Seas and namely our Seminaryes depending in such sort of their good likings and liberalityes as yf they should faile vs the greatest part of all our stay must fal therwith these men not-withstanding as though they had byn hired by the common enemy to ouerthrow our owne cause seeke occasion in these books to alienate them both and the whole nation together by contumelious iniuryes layd vpon them with so intemperate a tongue as no mouth of heretike or other enemy could vtter worse Let vs heare yf yow please some of their speches touching both the one and the other king The K. of Spaine say they ayming at the crowne of England with the death of her Ma. and subuersion of the whole state togeather with the vtter ruyne desolasion and destruction of the whole Isle and the ancient inhabitants therof neuer once shewed any care or respect he or his had to the restoring of the Catholike Râ—mish faith amongst the English nay his direct course was taken quite contrary scilicet to extirpate the name of all Catholiks that were English out from the face of the earth Thus they wryte of his Cath. Ma. And further they are not ashamed in the same place to assure the reader out of the Duke of Medina his owne confession that he had order rather to spare protestaÌ„ts yf he had peruayled in warre then Catholiks And what heretike was yet euer so impudent as to affirme this seeing that both the kings owne Edict published in Spayne concerning that enterprise as also the declaration of the late Cardinal from his Hol. do testifie and protest the quite contrary namely that the old good kinges intention was principally for the aduancemeÌ„t of Catholike religion and relief of poore afflicted Catholikes himself often protesting as most certaynly wee are informed that he neuer ment or pretented in his life any temporal interest for himself to the crowne of England and that if he might haue had any reasonable hope or satisfaction in the other two poynts by any competent moderation or toleration he was desyrous to haue helde peace and good frendship with her Maiestie and the crowne of England aboue all other princes and kingdomes in Europe and the self same disposition wee persuade ourselues by many and great argumentes to be in his sonne the king catholike present of whome notwithstanding our men that spare none do ad also diuers contumelious speches saying that it is not religion which the king present doth care for more then his Father did before him but maketh that only a pretence to seduce all Catholiks c. Making them and yow all deare Catholiks to cut one anothers throat c. thus they say of him And as for his nation and people the Spaniards they raile at them most impudently calling them base villaynes swaggering mishapen swads and knowne to be the cruellest tyrants that liue vpon the earth c. which intollerable spiteful insolency comming to their eares as it cannot choose but do let vs imagine what that bountiful king and his people that haue so many of our brethren and children in their hands and dominions and do cherish them most tenderly may or wil thinke of this barbarous ingratitude not only in heretiks which were more tolerable but also in Catholiks yea priests and most of them maintayned and brought to that they are eyther in Doway Rhemes or Spaine by the said king and nations liberality And this is the deep wound indeed which these inconsiderate and passionate people not to vse more greeuous tearmes haue giuen do giue vnto their nation and to the publike cause of religion which they wil neuer be able to cure wholy nor scarse perhaps any other for them But passing forward from the kings of Spaine they go to the Popes themselues according to that saying in the psalme superbia corum ascendit semper their pride mounteth higher and higher and truly a man would not easily beleeue that priests professing themselues Catholiks and to haue byn brought vp in the Seminaryes and that they would haue no other iudge of their cause but his Hol. himselfe wold presume to be so audatious as to cal in question and condemne the actions of so many Popes togeather noe lesse contemptiously then those of the K. of Spaine before mentioned whome comonly they do conioyne with the Popes and Sea Apostolike affirming that both Pius 5. Gregory the xiij and Sixtus 5. did conspire with him yea thrust him into the inuasion of England Did not Pius 5. say they by way of a fayned obiection practise her Ma. subuersion she good lady neuer dreaming of any such mischeefe c. Did not Pius 5. mooue the K. of Spaine to ioyne in this exployte c. Had not the Pope and K. of Spayne designed the duke of Norfolke to be the head of this rebellion Did not k. Philip at the Popes instance determyne to send the duke of Alua into England with all his forces c. Thus and much more they complayne of that holy Pope and the like of his successor in these words Now whilst these practises were in band in Ireland Gregory the xiij reneweth the saidâ— Bull of Pius 5. denounceth her Ma. to be excoÌ„municated with intimation of all other particulars in the former Bull mentioned And of the same Pope Gregory they ad further thus The attempts both of the Popes and Spaniard fayling in England his Hol as a temporal prince displayed his banner in Ireland c. Of Sixtus 5. also his successor they complayne in like manner speaking of the armada in the yeare 1588. VVe doubt not but that the Pope as a temporal prince did ioyne and contribute towards this intended inuasion c. And marke that alwayes they ad as a temporal Prince for that as a spiritual and Ecclesiastical Magistrate they hold throughout the whole book that he hath no power at all to concurre or appoynt
of all other seeketh most to do them good yf they had vnpassionate eyes to see it VVherfore we shal runne ouer breefly some few more that concerne him especially and so make an end hauing receyued from him and others particular information of the truth and falshood of the matters obiected VVherfore to touch them briefely as theyâ—ly in this their book of Important Considerations for we wil omit eyther all or the most part of those that are in their other libel tearmed their Relation of wisbich wherin there are so many heaped togeather in a certayne mad and furious innectiue of VV. VV. prefixed in name of the rest before the said bookâ— as these only with the spiteful maner of vttering the same are sufficieÌ„t to make them knowne and to discreedit not only the wryter but all his ayders and approuers with all honest and sober men of what religion soeuer For first they affirme heere that F. Persons hath seâ—t sundry of his subiects into Ireland already in the behalf of the Spaniard and that that warre was plotted and sollicited by him and his that he hath intituled the K. of Spayne to all the 3. kingdomes of England Scotland and Fraunce and the lady Infanta to the same kingdomes that he did constrayne the students of the Semynaryes in Spayne to subscribe to her interest forcing them to promise that when they should returne into England they would aduance her title to their vttermost abillity power and poyse of words that for not applauding to this Spanish pretence of the Infanta the L. Dacres was dryuen out of Spayne and all other Spanish dominions being slaundered to be a spy for England and to haue intended to haue set the Spanish fleet on fyre That F. Persons hath caused diuers of our countrey to be vtterly disgraced discredited yea and to leese their lyues in Spayne for not yeilding to his desyre therin That after he came in post to Rome and would needs haue the book of Tytles read in the Refectory of the Colledge yf it had not byn resysted and that for hatred to the secular Seminary priests he gaue out that book of Tytles to haue byn made by M. Dolman a secular priest c. These and a great multitude more of like accusations and calumniations which for breuity and lothsomnesse we omit are heaped togeather in this place and sprinkeled againe throughout the whole book as occasion is offered And albeit the most of these are so euidently false and ridiculous as theyneed no answere yet wil we say somwhat to each of them in order and first of that of hauing sent diuers of his subiects already into Ireland to set forward that warre all men knowe that F. Persons hath authority ouer none but only English Iesuits wherof yf any one can be proued to haue byn sent hitherto into Ireland or any one to be there at this day or any one priest of those Seminaryes to haue byn directed by him that way for diuerse yeares then may these slaunders haue some shew or pretence of this their malicious sycophancy but none being at all it maketh them more in excusable Moreouer weâ— adâ— that we haue seene a letter lately wrytten out of Spay ne by a man o credit about the protestation of two worshipful and honorable gentlemen Sir VVilliam Stanley and M. Thomas Fitzherbert concerning this affaire of Ireland wherin they bothe affirme and protest vpon their soules and coÌ„sciences that to their knowledge neyther they nor any one English-man els was euer so much as asked his opinion in this late affayre of Ireland nor any one hitherto of our nation imployed or sent in that action And M. Thomas Fitzherbert nameth in that letter one Hewghe Boye an Irish-man Agent for the Earle of Tyron in the court of Spayne who residing there many monethes to deale in this matter and seing M. Fitzherbert euery day as lying in the same court neuer yet broke the matter with him nor was willing that any English-man at all should be priuy thervnto as whome both he and other Irishmen treating therabout presumed to be contrary to their desires and designments therin And this can and wil the said Boye testifie seing since that tyme he is passed from the said Earle of Tyrone to her Maiesties seruice And further more the said two gentlemen do protest in like maner vpon occasion offered that both they F. Persons and F. Creswel who haue had hitherto most dealings with the spanish King and counsel did neuer treat in their lyues nor consent that the said king should haue any temporal interest in the crowne of England for himselfe and much lesse that any such conquest of our countrey should be made or attempted as these folish malitious people do faygne and giue out And further they protest by the same asseueration that neyther the old king now dead nor his sonne now raigning did euer pretend the same in word or deed but alwayes assured the contrary to wit that their only meaning and desire was and is by their warres against England that the Catholiks might be releeued from their most greeuous pressures and oppressions for religion and themselues deliuered from continual molestations which in Flanders Indies and other places they receyued from England hauing a desire in themselues to lyue in peace and loue with that crowne aboue all other forraine nations as in former tymes they did when the State was Catholike This and diuers other such poynts do the foresaid two worthie gentlemen auow in manner aforesaid is testified by the foresaid letter which we haue seene dated in Madrid the first of October last past 1601. By this then most of the foresaid calumniations against F. Persons are discouered concerning his dealing with and for the king of Spayne which is greatly confirmed and made euident by a certaine letter wrytten by the said Father himselfe in great confidence and cyphar also as his aduersaryes say to F. Holt in Flaunders from Genua vpon the 15. of March 1597. when the said father arryued there towards Rome which letter or the copy therof being stolne afterward as it seemeth from F. Holt and giuen to his aduersaryes which in some places they haue shewed and is like to be that which heere they brag of saying that his owne books handwrytings wil be brought out as witnesses against him But hitherto they are not brought or alleadged and it semeth that this in particular wherof we haue the copie serueth not their turnes so much as they dare to alleadge it finding more sincerity religion wisdome and grauity conteyned therin though wrytten in secret and confidence where he might vtter himselfe boldly than their malignant enuy wil suffer them to be glad to see which yet we be inforced in this place through their malignity not to thinke amisse to acquaint somwhat the Reader therwith The superscription was thus To the Reuerend Father F. VVilliam Holt c. And then
In the seauenth place yow are to ponder certayne notes of his set downe in the margent of his book wherby for breuityes sake we leaue yow to gesse what is handled more at large in the text First then he complayneth in one note thus That the Queene must seeme to be put in security for her tyme for these are the words of his marginal note and from that he passeth to other matters of like substance and quality as may appeare by these other marginal notes following to wit first that the wryter of this conference neyther profiteth the king nor the common cause by discourse of succession And then againe to the same effect he maketh this other annotation The disseruice done to the king by this Conference And yet further in another margent The book of Conference was not printed with the late Kings priuâ—â—y or liking And yet againeâ— This author and lawyer do mock and abuse the K. of Spaine By all which yow may see how dutiful a seruant to the K. of Spaine this discouerer would make himself which yet lying in Paris we maruaile much that he would professe so openly as also how he wil like of these confederates of his faction now gone thither out of England we meane the reuolted priests who in all their late books and libels do band against the said king and shew egregious hatred and enmity towards him But each one of these good fellowes speaketh for himself and for the tyme present and as it standeth best for him at that instant hauing no other vnion or agreement with his followes but to impugne a third and all their barking is but as of little whelpes against them that passe athwart them and when all is done they may be gotten againe with a bit of bread And we haue seene a letter of one of them wrytten from Paris to Spaine not long since wherin he offereth that yf he might haue but 4. or 5. Crownes the moneth from that king he would be content as before And we haue the original letter to shew yf need be though for this tyme we wil conceale his name And the like may yow presume of this eager discouerer that yf any least commodity might be had from Spaine or els where he would quickely bite at it as he did while it was to be had though for the present they say he is most busy and earnest in Paris to set forward the seditious that seek to lay the foundation of their fauour and credit as wel in England as with the K. most Christian by professing auersion from Spaine and this is thought a wise politike course by them but the end wil prooue all And so we returne to the treatese of our counterfet discouerer againe VVe haue shewed hitherto what trifles he hath handled in his vayne and idle discouery not touching any one substantial point of so many of great moment as are contayned and handled in the said two books of succession For to speak nothing of the second book wherin matters are treated historically for the most part what more weighty or important matters can be handled about the right and interest of the succession of any crowne then is treated in the first book by the author of the coÌ„ference as for example whether gouernmeÌ„t â—e by law of nature diuine or humane how monarchies and kingdomes were begon and continued and by what right how great and high reuerence is due vnto Princes and yet how in some cases they may be restrayned or chasisted by the common wealth what interest Princes haue in their subiects goods lands and lyues How oathes made vnto them do bynd and what oathes princes themselues as namely those of England do make in their coronation to the common wealth and how farre they bynd VVhat is due to only succession by birth or propinquity of blood without other needful circumstances concurring therwith what are the principal points which a Catholike and godly common welth ought to respect in admitting or excluding any pretender to a crowne or Principality and how greuously they do synne that neglect these considerations for interest feare negligence or other humane respects c. All these and diuers other most worthie and weighty points are handled in the first book only of the conference to say nothing of the second which is yet of more variety with great aboundance and store of proofes arguments and demonstrations wherof no one at all is answered or so much as touched by this discouerer but only certaine impertinent trifles as hath byn said and therby is discouered his owne weaknes and his folly displayed And yet to the end not to seeme wholy to say nothing he standeth finally vpon two fond calumniations the first that the conference conteyneth popular doctrine perilous to Princes states and common wealthes c. And herof he giueth certayne vayne and foolish examples of Antonio Perez that raysed some trouble against the K. of Spaine in Aragon and of George Buchanan in Scotland and of the Prince of Oreâ—ge in Flanders c. But this cauil is answered at large in the third Chapter of the said first book of Conference others that ensue shewing that there is no reason why the lawful graue iust and orderly proceeding of true subiects and moderate commoÌ„ wealthes against pernicious or vnlawful princes should be stayned or their iust authority left them by all law both diuine and humane should be denied for that some wicked and trooble some subiects haue against law and order misbehaued themselues against their lawful princes The other cauil is that this conference is iniurious to the king of Scotland with whome the discouerer would gladly get some credit by malitious impeaching of others and to this end he noteth in his margent these words The authors extreame malice against the king of Scotland But whether this lightheaded discouerer doth shew himselfe more malitious in setting downe so malignant a marginal note or the author of the conference in wryting so temperaâ—ly and reuerently as he doth as wel of the king of Scotlands pretence to England as of all other princes and pretenders to that crowne besides let the indifferent reader be iudge Sure we are that in reading ouer that part which toucheth his Maiestie of Scotland we neuer discouered any the least malice at all in the wryter but rather a very indifferent mynd to haue the vttermost right of euery man knowne without offering wrong or iniury to any according to which indifferency the said king of Scotlands title is set downe in the very first place in that book as first and cheef pretender among the rest neyther is there any one thing emitted to our knowledge that truly and rightly may be said or added in setting out of the same title And when the exceptions made by the opposite pretenders against him are declared nothing is auouched which is not openly knowne to be true neyther any thing
were in Rome at their arriual these And the like course by all probabilitie wil his Hol. according to his accustomed clemency take with them if they go thither and so we all do most earnestly desyre and that all may be wel and soundly examined and ended And yet to prosecute the argument of this Chapter somwhat further to the effect we haue begone we cannot but aduertise our said brethren of their great folly and indiscretion in taking this course of clamors in their way towards Rome for â—ecouering as they pretend their same nothing being more opposite and coÌ„trary theirunto then to professe a cause so many wayes reiected and condemned there already as partly by his Hol. owne Breues partly by this Card. sentence of visitation you haue already heard especially they adding publikely two circumstances which must needs with his Hol. make their matter farre worse The first that whoras in the former styrres of Rome it was but suspected that heretiks and the common enemy had secretly their hand therin and were eyther ayders or abetterers to make those demaunds of remouing Iesuits from England and from the Colledges now it is openly knowen and confessed that they are the cheef dealers and styrrers therunto The second not much vnlike to this is that wheras in the former broyles of Rome some of the troublesome did vnder hand only and by indirect meanes seek to bring in some princes Embassadors to fauour their sedition by making it a matter of State as though they had byn contradicted only by men depending of Spaine now these our brethren do manifestly in the sight of all the world attempt the same seditious course by running to â—aris and seeking to informe falsely his most Christian Maiestie that he hath interest in their tumultuations and that it is a matter of State for him to fauour them for that they oppose themselues against Spaniards and Iesuits deuoted to them VVhich vnchristian deuise tending to set Christian princes togeather by the eares about our countrey affayres as it cannot be but odious to God and all good men that heare of it so aboue all other it is iniurious to his Holines whose spiritual authority and ordinations are drawen by these men to matters of state as we haue before both in the Apologie and this book noted about his Hol. institution of the Archpriest malitiously drawne by them to matter of Premunire and no lesse malitious is this to entangle now their obedience to wards his Holines with interest of secular princes For we would aske them heere seriously in all law of reason or honesty what can it concerne the state eyther of the King of France or Spaine that these men should obay or disobay the Ecclasiastical substitute of his Holines in England Is this to be made a matter of state by these new Statists is this a thing to intrecat secular Princes and monatches with all no truly but only where there is intent to set sedition and to put in garboyle and variance secular princes with the Pope therby themselues to be free to say and do what they list vnder the protection of some of those princes abused by them as Martin Luther and his parteners did vnder the protection of Fredericke Duke of Saxony when they ment to be tumultuous and to break with the Pope himself protesting on the other syde no lesse obedience then these men do now though we hope these meane better but the course is not vnlike nor other effects hitherto These points then and circumstances as we said his Hol. of his wisdome cannot but consider and then hearing furthermore as is probable he eyther hath or wil do of their bold and intemperate speches vttered already in their booksâ— as that his Holines could not appoint them an Archpriest without their consent and that in doing so he did against the Church Canons warning him also very presumptuoufly of his daâ—nger of damnation therby in those woords of the scripture Qui amat periculum peribit in eo He that loueth danger shal perish therin affirming moreouer that they had sufficient power to examine and demurre not only vpoÌ„ the Cardinal Protectors letters as they did though written in his Holines name expressely but vpon his Holines letters also them selues if they had come from him c. And conforme to this when his Breue came they saying therof that they knew not out of what shop it was procured And then further that his Hol. was not endewed with the worthy gyft of the holy Ghost tearmed discretio spirituum when he made his deputation to the Card. Protector for ordayning the Archprist c. And then againe that his Holines was deceaued in sesting vp the Archpriest as Pius 5. was in his fact against her Maiestie and that it was no vnusual thing with Popes so to be deceaued in matters of fact c. And yet moreouer that the Archpriest is an vsâ—rpâ—r in the behalf of the Sea of Rome that F. Campion M. Sherwyn and other martyrs ought plainly and reseluttly to have professed to stand against the Pope if he should mooue armes for religion and not hold their peace or eschue the question as they did c. That his Hol. hath no authority to mooue warre for religion against any temporal prince whatsoeuer or for whatsoeuer cause or pretence c. And that they wil oppose themselues against him yf he should come in person in any such attempt and that they wil also reueale whatsoeuer they shal come to know therin And finally that all the hurts damages losses deaths rackings and other calamityes hitherto suffered by Catholiks in England are to be layed not so much vpon the persecutors as vpon the rash vnlawful and inconsiderate doings and wrytings not only of Englishmen but especially of Popes themselues as Pius 5. Gregory the 13. Syxtus Quintus and now this Pope for concurrance in this last attempt in Ireland c. VVhen all these things we say shal be read heard and vnderstood by his Hol. and that they professe to do this for recouering of their good names and credit both with his Hol. others abroad yow may easily gesse what wil be thought of them and what opinion wil be conceaued both of their affection wisdome in choosing such meanes to obtayne their purpose And so much shal suffice for Rome and forraine nations and countreys And now it shal not be amisse to returne to England againe and to consider what credit or reputation they can gayne there by this their maner of proceeding For first with Catholiks who doth not see the infinite iniuryes which they haue done them and do lay daily vpon them by discrediting so much as lyeth in them both their cause and persons and that with all sort of men both at home and abroad Their cause in that they would persuade the whole world that all is seditioÌ„ conspiracy and rebellion among
consequently cannot be presumed to haue had any hand in such publike affayres secondly it is notorious to all men that M. Doctor Lewis afterward Bishop of Cassano Archdeacon at that tyme of Cambray and Referendarie to his Holines being the principal Ecclesiastical person of our nation in Rome was the cheef and only man that set the action of Sir Thomas Stukeley forward with Pope Gregory the .xiij. procuring the said Sukeley to be made Marquesse and to haue the forces he carryed with him and vpon that point had he the controuersy with Sir Richard Shelley Lord Prior of England which these lying people do mencion heere and lay to F. Persons charge which matter both Doctor Fagon and other Irish men yet in Rome as we are informed wil testifie against our Appellants when they come thither against these their shamelesse bookes if they deny them not as no doubt but they wil which Irish men were taken by violence out of their beddes at midnight to be carryed away with Stukely as was also M. Myuers an Englishman and M. Thomas Clement should haue byn if he had not saued himselfe in a Card. house which he wil testifie to this day being aliue in Flanders and that he conferred first his whole affayre with F. Persons who disliked vtterly such hard proceeding both with him others and had some disgust with D. Lewes about the same which Doctor notwithstanding thâ—se false libellers do neuer once so much as name in all this matter he being the cheef doer as hath byn said and this for that they wil haue men thinke that he was of their faction against the Card. and Iesuits All that which followeth for diuers pages against F. Persons if it be against him and not much more against themselues us that by practises and factious disposition he came to be made Prouincial of the Iesuits that were to be sent into England a good disposition yow must think to get credit amongst such men that he entred with two subiects only Campian and Câ—tam that M. Blackwel bewayled his coming in as an vnfit man to be sent and that it was an indiscreet fact of Doctor Allen to send him that the Catholikes also misliked it and told him plainly that if he desisted not from his courses they would deliuer him into the hands of the ciuil magistrate that F. Heywood and he striued about superiority that he made great collections of money pretending therwith to releeue prisoners but hauing once fingered the money fled therwith into France c. These we say and a huge heape of other such wilful calumniations as do follow in this book we find to be so false hauing informed our selues of the truth as if they can prooue but any one of all these points to be true but only the first that he was made superior of the mission of England and sent in with F. Campian another but not Cottam if they can prooue we say but one point only of these and many other which they name we shal say they are honest men in the rest and if they can proue none of the former nor of a hundred more besides set downe by them in this and other their bookes for truthes we shal yet be more liberal with them and giue them another to prooue which followeth immediately in their fabulous Lucianical narration which is so famous aâ—ly as it may deserue a crowne to be paynted in the margent as some learned men did to some of Luthers wrytten no doubt by the same spirit of spite and lack of shame that this is and consequently if our libellers wil saue their honesty let them bring forth some proof of this tale which is that F. Persons coming to Paris in the yeare 1584. and desyring to exempt himself from the subiection of the Prouincial and other Superiors of his order there for alwayes these good Christian men do ascribe some naughty meaning to all his actions he persuaded them that the Q. of England and her counsel did pursue him with such diligence as they had sent ouer already two men to murder him in Paris for which cause it was not conuenient for any one of the Society to go abroad with him but that he might go alone to make the matter more probable he hyred a couple of Englishmen with no smal some of money accoÌ„pagned with a flemming to come 〈◊〉 the Colledge late as night and to enquire for him wher with the Fathers being sumwhat terâ—ified suffered him to depart to Rome c. This is their tale which being deuised by one of them is auouched and printed againe and againe in all their later bookes with some addition alwayes by him that commeth after the rest and how probable this tale is that F. Persons liuing in Paris in his habit which cannot be denyed should seek to go out alone without a companion therby to be the more safe from violence or that he should procure to be deliuered from the subiection of the Prouincial Superior there by such a stratageme as they cal it and with so much cost seing it was in his owne hand to stay or not stay with them being not their subiect this we say is easy for euery man that hath common sense to iudge but much more for that we vnderstand that he went not to Rome immediatly from thence as these men giue out but aboue a yeare afterward with D. Allen from the Spaw where the said D. had byn extreme sick in the yeare 1585. And finally hauing informed our selues thorowly of this fact we find that there was neuer any such thing eyther done spoken or thought of by the said Father or his Superiors vntil this ridiculously so many others came abroad in print the infamy wherof we leaue vnto the relators and meane to passe no further in this matter hauing byn longer therin then otherwise we meant to the end to satisfie such obiections as follow in the other bookes also of which it seemeth that this is a compendious abstract conteyning a fardel of lyes packt vp close togeather which in the other libels are somwhat more delated though in substance the same c. And surely if impudency her self with neuer so brasen or iron a face should step forth to scold against all truth honesty modesty other vertues at once she could not behaue her selfe more desperately then these fellowes do in this their book For if yow would haue a list only of loud lyes most lewdly and desperatly faced out in this libel and hitherto not so much as named or touched by vs yow may vew ouer the pages following to wit pag. 30. the whole story of D. Gyfford his conuention before the Nuntio in Flaunders for slaundering the Society and styrring sedition in the colledge of Rome that F. Baldwyn did first aske him pardon in name of the Society c. The quite contrary wherof is euident both by the order
of the action it selfe the Doctor being conuented and nor conuenting as also by the Nuntio his expresse letters yet extant about that matter Page 31. that Robert Fisher who spread their infamous libel against the Society was sent from Rome to the gallyes of Naples and remayneth there a galley slaue others ad he was slayne wheras the contrary appeareth by his owne letters wrytten to Rome from Viterbo a quite contrary way to Naples after his departure from thence this doth testifie the whole company of English schollers then in Rome who both saw his good treaty there and read his letters afterward Page 32. The whole tale about D. Lewes being their General Visitour as they say and namely his procuring to hush a notorious fraud of the Iesuits for alluring a gentlewoman in the City of Perugia to giue theÌ„ a rich chayne of pearle without her husbands priuity c. whervpon they say the Society should haue byn expelled from thence All this we find vpon search to be so notorious a ly as that neyther the bishop of Cassano was euer General Visitour ouer the Iesuits in his lyfe but only was ioyned for coÌ„panion to the Bishop of Montreale for visiting seculars and some certayne religious in Rome and that his authority neuer extended to Perugia though it be within the State of the Church and that neuer any such thing happened in Perugia concerning the Iesuits as the fact and chayne heere mention and consequeÌ„tly neuer any such hush needful c. The like monstrousâ—ly in the same page is that deuised prayer of the Iesuits against the B. of Cassano Vel Turâ—a vel mors vel daemon cum cripiat à nobis And almost as impudent is the other that followeth page 34. that F. Hieronimo Fâ—orauanto Rector of the Colledge would not suffer the studeÌ„ts to visit Card. Allen vpon his death-bed himself desyring it wheras all that liue now in Rome of the Card. kinred and family do testifie the contrary that they weare all there at 2. or 3. tymes No lesse shamelesse and yet more insolent is their speech of Card. Bellarmyne page 37. and iterated so often in their other bookes to disgrace him to wit about his speech that Pope Syxtus 5. was damned c. but more impious are the suspitions cast out by them in the same places about the poysoning of the said Syxtus 5 and of Pius 5. before him as also Card. Allen the B. of Cassano and others by the Iesuits c. which we are sure the diuel himself wil not obiect for that he knoweth the contrary The sending also of F. Haywood for pennance into Calabria where he neuer was in his lyfe set downe pag. 49. and the dealing with the Duke of Guise to haue intelligence with the Queene of Scotland the Earle of Northumberland and others in England anno 1583. layd by them to F. Persons but proued before to haue byn done by Mope or Charles Paget their cheef pillar sent into England for that purpose Their accusing also of F. Persons for Parry his fact sent into England as himself confessed by Thomas Morgan that crew The accusing and deprauing the institution of the Seminaryes in Spayne pag. 53. and that Card. Allen wept for sorrow in Rome when he saw the oration made by an English scholler in Vallidolid to the King at his comming to the English Colledge for thanks geuing in the yeare 1592. and that this oration is left out in the printed book set forth about that matter as they affirme pag. 54. These we say and a hundred other assertions as wyld mad and insolent as these are set downe without any proof at all but their owne words and so recounted as though they were without all controuersy true This desperate course we say is such as seemeth rather to be of franticke and possessed men then of moderate and wel coÌ„scienced Christians and therfore we leaue further to refute the same remitting them to that which we haue said before VVherfore to conclude seing that this whole libel is nothing els but a connexion of monstrous lyes absurd prophanityes malitious fictions and conscienceles calumniations we wil follow them no further eyther in defence of the whole Society or of F. Persons in particular whose actioÌ„ns are so opeÌ„ly knowne by apparant publike facts to the general good of our countrey as these wretched and miserable mens harts that wryte so dispitefully against them may sooner breake with enuy and rancor then any least discredit come vnto them by these furious barkings in the sight of wise and indifferent Reader And heere now the very multitude of these outragious libeâ—s with the immensity of hatred hellish spirit poysoned entrals discouered therin do force vs against our former purpose to cut of and stay all further passage and proceeding in this horrible puddle of lyes slaunderous inuectiues diuelish detraction for that the very looking them ouer doth weary the hart of any true Christian and consequently wheras before we had determined with our selues to giue yow some tastes or examples out of them all yet now finding the multitude to be without end and the quality so base vile and malitious as the venome of any lost or loose tongue armed with audacity and defended with impudency stirred vp with enuy and enraged with fury and bounded no way by any limits of conscience piety or feare of God can vomit or cast out to defame their brethren finding this we say we haue thought good to cease heere without further styrring the lothsome ragges of so filthie a donghil Of the libel intituled A Dialogue betwixt a secular priest and a lay gentleman c. §. 2. HAuing ben ouerlong in examining the former libels we shal be so much the shorter in this that followeth The title is as yow haue heard A Dialogue c. and the author therof is esteemed by many to be M. Mush one of the cheef AppellaÌ„ts gone to Rome and for the litle substance therof it may be wel inough though we doubt not but he wil deny it when he coÌ„meth thether the inuention of the book is a deuised talk had bewixt a secular priest and a lay gentlemen before which treatese VV. VV. to wit whyly VVat tumbler before mencioned hath put as wise a preface as he is wont to the other bookes of his fellowes that come forth through his handes And as this worthy worke deserueth bestowing 7. or 8. pages to proue by all lawes and lawmakers diuine and humane reasons and authorities that mans nature is so weakned by the fal of our first parents as Iesuits may synne also and consequently are no better then other men which is like to the discourses made in the beginning of K. Edward his dayes to allure old priests to marry by telling them and proouing that concupiscence doth remayne after baptisme and consequently all must needs haue wyues or do worse though indeed the discourse of VV.
his letter and messenger both which saith he are yet extant to be her Maiesties true intelligencer from Spaine is this likely That the king of Spaine after the losse of his Armada ran to an aulter and taking a siluer candle stick swore a monstrous oath that he would wast not only all Spaine but also all his Indies to that candle stick but he would be auenged on England c. which how likely it is all they which knew the said King his graue and modest nature may easily gesse That the Iesuits haue by letters gone about to reproch and desame Cardinal Allen since his death alleadging for proof the words of Doctor Haddock to Sir Francis Inglefeld bene profectâ— obije c. which Doctor was neuer Iesuite in his life nor euer wrote such words in latinor English since he was borne That F. Persons hauing hyred a couple in Paris wherof he saith that he knoweth one 〈◊〉 come one euening late to their colledge gate with pistole half in sight and half out and so wish angry lookes to speake with him c. and himself with pale look and trembling members to 〈◊〉 the Rector c. that very nâ—ght he was conueyed priâ—ily out of the Colledge with mency inâ—â—ugh in his purse the next day he took his iorney to Rome c. which how salfe a deuise it is before hath byn handled That the said F. in his book of reformatioÌ„ doth appoynt all bishops Deanes Prebeâ—â—s persons c. to be pencioners to the Popes Hol. and to haue no other prâ—prictyes c. but 4. Iesuits with only 2. seculas priestes of their choosings to be his Holines Collectors of these renewes c. VVherof no one word or the like is found in that book nor euer passed by the wryters cogitation as may appeare by that weeyted before And finally his deadly and diuelish hatred to Iesuits in General and to this man in particular to whome notwithstanding he was wont to professe great obligation for his spiritual good as he is not ashamed to conclude thus of him In breef if he haue byn a Iudas to Gods church and his countrey to the disparage of the Seminaryes c. And now where yow fynd such vngrateful trayterous and Iudas-like natures to them that haue byn benefical to him and so profitable to Gods Church and his countrey as this man hath byn what disputing is there with him VVe leaue him to Gods iudgment and so an end of that Of other two libels the first called a Memorial the other the Quodlibettes §. 4. IF the former three bookes lately come forth stuffed as yow haue hard with infinite slaunders lyes and reproches would require as many volumes to answere them and lay forth the malice vntruthes therin conteyned then much more would these two books that ensue demaund the same the first being only an infarcemeÌ„t of malitious deuised calumniations partly layd togeather in England and partly supplyed in Flaunders by the factious crew as the author himselfe Robert Fisher returning afterward to himselfe going to Rome of purpose to discouer the same and discharge his conscience did declare vnder his oath to his Hol. Fiscal as by publike record appeareth which Robert Fisher confessed also that notwith staÌ„ding diuers of the poynts he had to set downe were knowne and proued to be false before he came out of EnglaÌ„d yet was he willed to set them downe and publish them when he came to Flanders He discouered also his complices both in England and Flanders in England the faction of VVisbich wherof now the heads are gone to Paris and Rome in Flaunders the two Doct. of the Cleargle in Cambray and 〈◊〉 wherof the first is gone 〈…〉 which we beseech Goâ—â— may be merciful vnto him in this behalf The second 〈…〉 we heare hath wrytten letters of late into England to some frends of his though nothing of his humour of no lesse seditious falshood then were the points of that Memorial affirming that he neuer liked the proceedings of such as eyther in word or worke haue dealt or wrytten against the State of England wheras notwith standing no man euer flattered so much the late Card. in that kynd as hee nor any maÌ„ of the nation hath byn so intemperate in his words hitherto as himselfe for which we could alleadge his sermons in Rhemes while he was there his orations also to the Duke of Guise and other princes at their coming thither his speches to many priuate men yet aliue his letters extaÌ„t to D. Allen Sir Francis Inglefield and others with such speches of the highest in England as very modesty maketh vs to forbeare to repeate except we beforced therunto And finally his printed book de iusta Reip. in principes impios authoritate wherunto his name is set doth conteyne such violent matter against all Princes but especially him of France at that tyme being also a Catholike and with whome he had nothing to do as it is most ridiculous now to see him wryte into England as he doth against modest religious men who neuer came neare by ten degrees to the acerbity of his spirit against both Prince and State which we offer our selues to proue at large in another more ample treatese if we be required thervnto And for the present it shal suffice that this memorial of Fisher was recalled by himself disauouched by the cheef suggestors afterward impugned as â—â—lfe and diuelish by the cheef and most grauest Cleargie men of England as appeareth by a letter of six 〈◊〉 testifying the same many other letters of the grauest priestes of that realme and finally so absurd in it selfe and apparantly forged and malitious as the very reading therof did cause men to abhorre it togeather with the deuisers and publishers therof and yet haue these shamelesse creatures presumed to diuulge the same now againe in print but it is their condemnation withal men of iudgment piety or other good respects As for the other great grosse libel intituled A Decacordon of ten Quodlibetical questions wherin the author framing himself as he saith a quâ—libet to euery Quodlibet decideth an hundred cros interrogatory doubts c. This is so ridiculous but yet impious a peece of worke as we dare say neuer came hitherto out in our tongue by any sort of fond furious mad or pathetical men whatsoeuer For whether yow consider the Quodlibets or the Quilibets that is to say eyther the worke it selfe and questions proposed or the author and answerer to wit wil wat the â—umbler nothing can be imagined more contemptible or contumelious His questions are foolish impertinent triuial but yet audacious His answering rash vnlearned confuse and inconsiderate his speach and manner of handling fanâ—astical sâ—urrilous infamatorie and for the most part contradicting himself and the purpose that he hath in hand He spareth no man that standeth in his way nor beareth respect to any state or