by their bulles of deposition and excommunication c Bull. Sixti 5. Pij 5. contua Reginam charged vnder the paine of excommunication all English Subiects forceably to depriue that most Gracious Lady and Queene Elizabeth and although God of heauen had set her ouer vs yet the earthly god with his triple crowne to whom all power vpon earth was giuen as one of them speaketh sitting in the high throne of his See did d Bull Pij 5. vnqueene her make her as another ordinary Subiect But what were the English Chiefe-leaders guilty of any one of these plots and practises Let Cardinall Allen march first who although he * Related by the moderate Answerer would seeme to touch and reprehend those who gaue information to Pius the 5. it was not for want of good will to the matter it selfe but because the state of England did not then permit it ◠the Pontificians being not strong enough to put in execution Pope Pius his depositiue sentence for otherwise in his booke called the defence of English Catholikes hee doth most eagerly defend the Popes power to depose Princes and constantly auoucheth that he may charge all Subiects and authorize them to depriue Princes in case of Heresie and other needfull occasions of Church and Common Wealth the which doctrine as he doth most politikly and cunningly seeke to establish by sophisticall reasons and many deuised vntruthes so is hee most learnedly confuted by that singularly learned and iudicious Prelate the e Bishop Bilson of the supremacy Bishop of Winchester so soundly that neither Allen himselfe nor any of his Seminarists durst euer yet attempt to make any reply against that very learned and iudicious worke Againe call to minde Cardinall Allens declaration to the Nobles in England in 88 the which hee himselfe conceiued and dictated in very great haste to three or foure Scribes together at once to haue with speede more copies to send hither into England thereby to incite the Peeres and all Pontificians of this Kingdome to ioine with the Armado which King Philip of Spaine sent hither for the conquering of this Kingdome which Spanish fleete came also full fraught both with Pope Sixtus his prophesies his blessings and curses and with the blessings of their maide of Lisboe with a vaine prediction of their victory but through the power of God both Horse and Horseman were drowned in the Seas where most of their ships with the Popes blessings and curses made shipwracke God conuerting their curses vpon their owne heads These bookes of this Cardinall with many other of his discontented speeches against the English State before 88. doe discouer liuely how much he had borrowed of a worse spirit then that was which our Sauiour f condemned in two of Luc 9. his Apostles I say before 88. for I haue obserued since that time God checking by that miraculous ouerthrow his spirit he hath beene farre more moderate then Robert Parsons into whose soule how a double spirit of that kinde hath ascended from below it is almost superfluous to stand to prooue His Doleman which I know by some speeches that I haue heard from his owne mouth he purposely intended against the vndoubted Title of our most Gracious Soueraigne whom Iesus vouchsafe long to preserue and to intitle as much as lay in him the Archdutchesse with an imagined and chimerian title to the English Crowne and to that purpose he dispersed as many of those bookes into this kingdome before the death of Queene Elizabeth as he could conueniently earnest he was with me some fifteene yeeres since to haue brought some of * How often haue I heard this man reioice at the shuffling and ciuill commotions which he foreimagined would light vpon the English at Queen Elizabeths death How often haue I heard him say and Ios Creswell also with diuers other Ignatians that England will neuer be happy and fully conuerted without the sword and a conquest thereof his Dolemans ouer with mee into England which I vtterly refusing highly displeased him therewith Againe his publike reioicing when he heard by a false Alarum that the Spaniards had safely landed in England in 88. and his deiected countenance when that false newes by true report was checked How ioyfully did he trot vp and downe to carry the first newes amongst the Popes friends and Englands Enemies But good God how was hee confounded at the hearing of the second newes of the burning and drowning of the Spanish Fleete All Elements concurring to the confusion of Pharaohs host This * Diuers worthy persons haue obserued this spirit in Parsons especially that worthy Deane of Life D. G. who for his loue to his Countrey and openly disliking the Ignatians courses was by Parsons others of his fellowes procuremēts banished out of the low Countries mans spirit was euer thought to be plotting and deuising for Englands conuersion by Englands subuersion against which time he had prouided certaine rules of reformation amongst all which I will tell you one pretty one When England is conuerted at first said he there must not be admitted into it any religious excepting poore Capuchins and the contemplatiue Carthusians and his owne brethren the Ignatians for some selfe pretences as is obserued A politike deuise that so he and his might haue the shooting at the purse the hitting of it for * When in Spaine by a witty libell the Capuchine Friars were described to shoote from the purse the Franciscans wide of it the Ignatians were described to hit it in the very middest with this posie teattino which word signifieth Theatine and I hit thee Of this the Ignatiās complained to the present King who wittily replied to them Doe ye not then his the purse Fathers and all will be well the Capuchines hauing no possessions shoote from the purse the Carthusians being contemplatiue should not so much as draw an arrow to shoote at the purse and so he and his might carry away the bell and doe all and purse all How Ioseph Creswell another of that societie and an English Chieftaine hath beene tainted with that spirit it is too to manifest hee must forsooth carrie Priests that come from Spanish Seminaries into England vp and downe to visite the Peeres of that Kingdome and to take their leaues of them that they may bring some comfortable newes to the oppressed English of their Kings intentions for England hee must carrie them also vnto the late King of Spaine to kisse that Kings hands and to heare from the Kings owne mouth words of comfort not of patience to carrie to the distressed English Catholikes that hee forsooth would aide and assist them as soone as possibly hee could c. Oh how did I my selfe see and heare the same man about some fifteen yeres since applaud commend a certaine Spanish g Adelantado is an Admirall Adelentádo for protesting and vowing that if his master the King of Spaine would giue him leaue
same Church so Apostolicall so Christian that me thought I saw the very Primitiue faith and practise of the Apostles and the verie rites of their Church to be in it obserued And in these obseruations I began more inwardly to be moued because as my knowledge and inclination to allow of the Church of England and to abhorre the Romane heresies and abuses increased so also my soule increased in the loue of God detestation of sinne and auoiding the occasions of sinne the loathing of this life and an earnest desiring to be with Christ whom since my renouncing of Papistrie with the Father and holy Ghost as my soule euidently testifieth vnto me I do most sincerely loue and esteeme aboue all things in this world and so fully with my whole soule heart that me thought I could comfortably and confidently say vnto it with the words of the holy Prophet k Psal 114. conuertere c. my soule be couerted into thy rest for the Lord hath done well to thee And I could not me thought hinder the working of God within me nor refuse that testimony of S. Paul the holy l Ad Rom. 8. Ghost giueth testimonie vnto our soules that we are the children of God yet so if we suffer with Christ that we may also raigne with Christ The ninth Motiue I Should heere adde somewhat largely of their pernicious The ninth Motiue doctrine of equiâ—ocation which hath beene another no small Motiue with me for my conuersion which doctrine the Ignatians haue specialy set a foote at least in practise within this kingdome they forsooth who will not permit that the Scriptures of God should be promiscuously read by the vulgar people haue in their vulgar language in Pamphlets rather libels being without name dispersed throughout this kingdome the pestiferous doctrine of equiuocation with their strange and paradoxicall half propositions Amphibologies propositions forsooth out of their r Treatise of equiuocation written or published by Henry Garnet Ignatian Logicke halfe written halfe spoken halfe concealed and why bring they not in also as well propositions of a triple difference whereof one part may be spoken a second written a third concealed and not vttered and why not propositions of a quadruple difference as part written part spoken part by signes and part by concealment and so make mentall verball written and dum or silent propositioÌ„ all in one to set vp their vaine doctrine of equiuocation Some ingenious Pontificians of my acquaintance there are who do what you can yet you cannot driue this doctrine of equiuocation into their heads but such as haue beene brought vp vnder the Ignatians and are deuoted vnto them they haue their lesson at their fingers ends Not long since there was Å¿ Iohn Koome one of these Ignatian Priests who being examined by the Archibishop of Canterburie not long before his death did not onely denie himselfe to be a Priest but also by religious oath did forsweare the same being challenged for it he excused the same by the art of equiuocation stoutly auouching that he had beene so taught by his master a reader of the societie of Ignatius and indeed it is the doctrine almost of them all that any proposition whatsoeuer is or may be allowed by the art of equiuocation the same also may be confirmed and auerred true by religious oath and yet this equiuocating swearer so ready to forsweare and deny his Priesthood was a most bitter enemie against all such as would take or allow the taking of the oath of Alleageance in any sense whatsoever I could produce many such examples of equiuocating Ignatians one I will not omit of a friend of the Ignatians who wouldfaine haue beene an Ignatian before this but that Master Strange the Ignatian lately banished * R. C. the common collector for Recusants by the art of equiuocatioÌ„ protested to certaine Priests in the Clinke cóplaining of their wants the very day before the 1000 and certain 100 of pounds were taken from him that he knew not in the world where to fetch 20 shall this man had not sorgotten his Accidence rule huic habeo non tibi I dare auouch there is no day passeth in which he doth not religiously vse this art Some three daies since the 9. of Ianuary he hath sent in writing an equiuocating super sedeas that because he was thé sicke with an il stomack for the oath of allegeance he would provide for the Clinke prisoners no longer out of the towre told him that his imperfections should not be laid vpon their order being of such rare pharisaicall perfection forsooth This man is gracious with diuers worthie persons of the feminine sexe into whole fauours he hath wound himselfe so greatly that he can obtaine one of their fauours to weare next his skinne and ouer his whole bodie a whole weeke togither yea in the time of his holy imprisonment to comfort his imprisoned corps Freshly vpon the discouerie of the damnable powder-treason it was his chance to be taken to be brought before the honorable Lord Maior of London by whom being examined vpon suspition of his person and religion and asked whom he thought to be head of the Church of England without any difficulty he answereth thus the King which his answere might well haue deceiued that honorable person if he had not more narrowly obserued some other of his answers in which he found him faultering and thereupon committed him to the Counter where he staid not long he being afterward questioned withall by some zealous Romane Catholicks how he could without deniall of his faith concerning their article of the Popes supremacie acknowledge the King to be supreme head of the Church what replieth he peremptorily I meant not the King of England but the King of heauen the truest word he euer spoke for the King of heauen is indeed the onely supreme head of the Church of England and he added that he thought in respect of the dangers of the times that he might iustly vse such equiuocation Pardon me courteous Pontifician Readers that I thus particularize this man there is more in store I doe it onely that our English Ladies and some worthie persons of the deuout sexe may know what manner of men those are to whom they commit their secrets And if he hereafter deale with some of them as he hath alreadie dealt with a verie worthie Ladie too worthy for him or any other Pontifician Priest they will haue no great cause of Comfort in him or his like I could discipher the spirits of some other equiuocating and dicing westerne Priests to conceale the rest God turne their hearts to consider the states in which they stand and vouchsafe O mercifull Iesus in t 1. Pet. 2. whose mouth was found no guile nor deceit rather to confound them then suffer them to defend their equiuocating practise by your most sacred doctrine and immaculate examples of your purest conuersation The tenth Motive TO proceed
and allowance hee himselfe would imploy all he could make towards the subduing of England this was the Admirall of whome I mentioned before that hee affirmed his King and Master had no neede of England and the reducing of it to the Roman Religion Againe the entertainement and encouragement which the same * The same Cres caused a Te Deum to be saide in the Roman Colledge for a false alarum of the Spaniards good successe in Ireland Creswel gaue to Winter in his traiterous proiect standeth firme in our English records and the acknowledgement of Garnet himselfe to haue beene partaker of Winters plotte doe demonstrate both of what spirit Creswell was and also of what spirit the English Ignatians probably are whereas their Prouinciall Garnet was so deeply by his own confession tainted By h The relation of the solemnity Wherewith Philip the third and his Queen were receiued by the Colledge of the English in Valladolid pag. 31. those verses amongst diuers others set vp in the colledge of Valladolid in Spaine when the King that now is with his Queene was by the same entertained with this posie ouer them fugient a facie ignis they wil flie from the face of fire and ouer the same posie beeing set also the Armes of England the Lions and the Armes of Valladolid which are Fire Those verses I say approoued by such Ignatians as did read them and many since which haue defended them do demonstrate the Ignatians holy spirits against this Countrey These are the verses first in Latine Perdomat indomitos effrenatosque Leones flamma feras vincit vincitur igne Leo. Angliacisaeuo ne lanient dente Leones innocuas pecudes innocuosque greges Ferteciti Hesperias Britanna adlittora flammas indomitasque feras Pincia flamma domet Sic fugient timidi posita feritate Leones sic poterit tutum viuere mite pecus In English thus The vntam'd Lions sterne and bold with fire are ouercome Fire tames them when nought else preuailes with fire it must be done Lest English Lions with their teeth and with their cruell pawes Should teare the tender English flocke which are to neere their iawes Bring Spanish fire to British shores bring foorth your Pincian flame So will they leaue their cruelty and fly away for feare So shall the gentle cattell liue in safty euer there But William Hoult another who in 88. was all in all in Flanders was not hee to be touched with this spirit doubtlesse the state of England is not vnacqainted with his proceedings but one thing I can here report of him from the mouth of a certain English Ignatianed Priest correctour of the presse at S. Omers to wit that the said William Holt in 88. sent into England as many currants as stood him in fiue hundred pounds by that meanes to conuey some letters into the same Kingdome doubtlesse those letters carried some mysterie with them that were so closelie and with such great care to bee carried But the practicall spirit of that man and his solicitudes for England are to well known therefore of him ynough But one word with the Corrector who iumpe at the time when the damnable Powdertreason should haue been acted came downe from Rome and in the company of some fiue or sixe Ignatians a matter not vsuall to haue so many Ignatians sent together in one mission for England appointed and purposed with all expedition to passe for England but so soone as they vnderstood of the discouerie of the powder plot they all and this Corrector also changed their courses and setled themselues elsewhere one of the speciallest of them now playing the Rector at S. Iohns mount in Louain At the same time with like care all the * The sudden vnexpected and diligent inquity and search made after these books was much noted by diuers of the Seminary of Doway and much descanted vpon in secret when the Powder-plot was discouered and many thereupon inferred surely the Ignatians fingers were in it bookes of Doctour Stapleton were sought for with such hast as though they should haue beene presently put into the possession of the Ignatians to whom Doctour Stapleton had bequeathed them for the first colledge they should haue in Oxford What these things might portend I would it were not too to easie to coniecture For my part I will not iudge any certainetie onely I obserue howe in that most hellish attempt when i Apoc. 9. Abaddon with his smoakie Locusts would haue blowen vp together all the glories of this kingdom there were none but Ignatians as Garnet Gerard Holcorne Tesmond or Ignatianed as Catesby Rookewood c. who loued the Fathers so dearly that they esteemed of none who did not highly reuerence the Fathers were to bee found partakers or abettors of that hellish attempt and yet the Ignatians and their friends beyond seas what with their * Iohn Gerrard and Oswald Tesmond do beyond seas with most horrible othes protest that they had no knowledg of the â—owder treason equiuocations protestations c. haue so cleared themselues that amongst those outlandish people there are very few who thinke the holy Fathers guilty but all suspition that is lighteth vpon the poore Secular Priests which God knoweth are farthest froÌ„ such courses if they haue not drunke more or lesse of the Ignatians cuppe but there is no suspition of the holy Fathers God forbid no rather let the acknowledgement of Garnet himselfe with his owne letters euidences vnappeallable and that which was done before the most honourable and most publike Court of this Kingdome be all inualid and counterfeit rather then that any Ignatian should bee found guiltie of so execrable a treason O immortall God of heauen how hath the God of this world blinded their eies that they will post vppe and downe the strawie face of that wretched maÌ„ they doubtles herein are delighted with counterfeits and a maske of straw prouided for the fire with the worshippers therof Here if I may be so bold I would aske of the President of Doway because he is a speciall chieftaine amongst them what spirit might bee obserued to haue been in him when hee with more then ordinary contentment entertained Guy Fawkes the Powder-matchman some diuers whole daies together before his comming into England with much conference with him not without admiration of diuers of the Colledge who knew not the mistery considering the meannes of the man Surely if the k D. N. Vice-president had been there then who cried auengance on a certaine Soueraigne when he was for his clemency commended by a true hearted English Priest hee had been a fit man to haue been of the Councell But I maruell not at his cursing spirit for he came from the Campe to the Seminaries and of a souldier quickly which in ancient times would not haue been so commendable was made a Priest But alas to make an end of this matter that the Ignatians and the Ignatianed were too too well acquainted with
indeede some doubtfull speeches in Caluines Institutions but if it would please them but to interpret fauourably his speeches in like for as they interpret the speeches of many later Dinines yea and sentences of the very scripture it selfe which in some places seemeth more directlie to make God the Author of sinne then euer Caluine did their calumniating spirit would bee satisfied and know that hee teacheth nothing else then what their own Christian Philosophers do teach therein of Gods immediate and positiue concurring to the entitie and nature of euery sinne and to the entitie and nature of euerie morall or naturall occasion of sinne and if hee should say that God as a vniuersall Cause doth not onely immediately concurre and intrinsecally coworke with morall second Causes in their morall euill actions as you all teach or must teach vnlesse you bee Heretikes but also that God as the Prime vniuersall and supreame independent Cause of all things doth in a kind of priority of nature also preuent and moue such morall second causes in their free morall actions beeing either of vice or of vertue tell mee is there none of your Pontifician Doctours Friars or Monks who teach the same if not farre worse who can be ignorant of this who hath vnderstood of the great * I my selfe when I was some yeere ago in Doway saw this doctrine that God doth moue with a priority of nature of causality and effectually all morall agents in all their actions printed in certaine Theses which were to be defended publikely vnder the moderation of one D. Estius who obstinately as I was there informed defended the same position controuersie betwixt the Ignatians at Doway and some other Professours of that Vniuersity the noise of which scandalous controuersie soundeth euen vp to Rome it selfe there to be determined c. The English Liturgy is most egregiously calumniated to be vaine irreligious a most slanderous imputation for the forme thereof is conformable to all antiquity is very religious and if some priuate disorderly persons sometimes minister not the Sacrament according to the forme there prescribed what of that But I haue often wondered why the speciall absurdities and abuses if there be so many in the Booke of English Common Praier as they pretend haue not been by any of the aduersaries in some special sort largely discouered and confuted considering how often and in how speciall sort the many turpitudes abuses cōtradictions fooleries of their Roman Masses haue been learnedly deciphered Commonly and daily is the Church of England calumniated for giuing vnto the Prince the Title of Supreame head or gouernor of the Church of England which yet is giuen in no other sense then to shew that very power and Supreame Iurisdiction which all Ancient Christian Emperours and Kings in the q 1. Paralipom 28. 2. Paralip cap. 17. 19. Reg. 4. cap. 18. 3. Reg. 2. old Testament and since haue euer more or lesse had in their Kingdomes to wit that for the publike setling establishing execution and administration of all manner of iustice whether in matters of Religion or other Temporall causes the Prince hath Supreame authority and that without his command or permission no man may so much as beare or wagge any rodde of any publike Iustice or gouernment But touching the ministration of Sacraments giuing of Orders giuing the power of the Keies and in or touching defining of faith it is a meere foppery to say the Prince challengeth any such matter in this Kingdome or that any such is giuen him But in al such respects he doth most religiously acknowledge himselfe to be one of the sacred sheepe of Christs sacred flocke vnder Christ his ministeriall Shepheards of the English Churche Remember I pray you how r Parsons his Catholike letter and answer to our Kings Apology Parsons admitteth that the Kings supreamacy as his most excellent and pious Maiesty most religiously and excellently explaneth the same in his Apology for the Oath of Allegeance is allowable and such as may be receiued The truth is you care not so much for what the Prince hath as for that the Pope is excluded from his gainful Supremacy ouer this Kingdom who was accustomed with his Annats Reseruations Vnions Comendaes Expectatiue graces Prouisions Presentations Nominatiōs and with infinite such like ſ 1 ad Tim. 6. nouelties of names and prophanations to corrupt all Church discipline and Religion of this Kingdome as the t Lincoln Epise apud Matth. Paris in Henrico 3. famous and holy Robert Bishop of Lincolne long agoe obiected to your holy Pope Innocent the 4. And heere to note by the way your vanities you thinke it to be eternall blemish to the Church of England for that King Henrie for loue of Queene Anne Bolleyne as you say and to be diuorced from Queene Katharine did exclude the Popes authority out of England meerely vpon fancy and passion But alas your deuise is vaine for it was first giuen vnto him by the learned Vniuersity of Oxford then Pontifician vpon this occasion which I desire you to marke There was earnest suite made by some certaine Pontificians to the Kings Maiesty to condemne Martin Luthers opinions as being the very same in many points with those of Iohn Wicleff who had beene long before often condemned in that famous Vniuersity of Oxford and by many of his former predecessors whereupon the King being desirous to see a copy of Wicleffs Articles one was brought vnto him the which hee seriously perusing found one of them to be thus to wit that the Bishop of Rome had no power nor iurisdiction by right ouer the Church of England Which when the King saw hauing at that time the weighty controuersie about his diuorce with the Bishop of Rome he seemed to like thereof but willing to doe nothing rashlie or against Faith u This standeth recorded in Oxford as M. Thomas James hath affirmed vnto me very lately hee presently dispatched the same Article to the Vniuersity of Oxford to haue it by the learned anew examined and their iudgements freely to bee giuen vpon it the which was accordingly done and the Article approued whereupon that Prince resolued by Consent and Authority of Parliament to exclude the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome ouer the Church of England which vnder his most tyrannicall oppressions had a long time groned but by this meanes came to be deliuered from the Egyptian seruitude as the holy Bishop of Lincolne long agoe Prophesied it would And if King Henry the 8. vpon your supposed motiues did impugne the Papacy yet I pray you what greater disgrace is it to the Church of England that King Henry should exclude the Popes supremacy then it is to the Church of Rome that he should establish the Statute of sixe Articles for your Masse auricular confession c and what disgrace to your doctrine of adoration of Images because the vsurping and auaricious Empresse x Baron in
Baldach of certaine Popes make mee thinke there wanteth no good will but onely meanes and possâ—ssion which their Canonists and Ignatians labour a pace in euery place where they can finde footing by their preachings secret conferences and bookes to procure vnto him And consider this what bookes are with more fauour receiued printed and published at Rome then those of this stampe and kinde For this respect Pesantius Bozius and such like shal be cherished there Bellâ—rmine in the time of Sixtus the Monarch of the world who had deuoured England in his vaiâ—e Psendopropheticall hope Bellâ—rmine I say because hee applauded not the Papall Monarchy of Sixtus but wrote against it found no fauour but was glad to auoid Rome for feare of frying but h Bâ—llar against Barkley and his anâ—wer to a Ve netiaÌ„ Doctor saepâ—ssime de Rom Pon. â— 5. c. 6 now by end euouring to bâ—ing the Monarchy of christendome vnder the Popes command with the distinction of indirect direct he hath profited so much that hee hath purchased a Cardinals hat the next steppe to the Romane Monarchy it selfe the which if he euer obtaine doubtlesse he will speake as Sixtus did for as his doctrine is much changed from that it was in Sixtus time so doubtlesse if he proue Pope it will * Hanores mutant moâ—â—s come to greater perfection i Baron in annalibus saepissime Steuch lib. de donat Constant Bozius alij Cardinall Baronius good God how he trauaileth as though he were wich child to bring forth this Monarchy throughout his Annals and Augustinus Steuch more earnest then he if it may be how carelfully doth he record Diplomes and Charters by which the Popes challenge the direct and supreame Soueraignties ouer most kingdomes of the West as of Spaine France England Ireland Hungary Norway Sicily and of which not but such baubles I passe ouer the trying of those Charters I put off to those whome it concerneth I will onely a little examine how this man of sinne that sitteth in the Temple of God is saide to sit in Gods Temple doubtlesse it cannot otherwise bee well vnderstood then of some principall part of the externe and visible Church of Christ there beeing no other temple of God of which it may with any probability bee expounded To expound it of the Temple in Hierusalem were very incongruous yea impossible coÌ„sidering the same is destroied and that the desolation thereof shall continue til the end as k Dan. 9. Hieron ibidem Daniel the Prophet hath foretold yea and Christ himselfe seemeth also to haue l Math. 24. In the time of Iulian the Apostata when the Iewes atteÌ„pted to haue reedified their temple in Hierusalem they were miraculously letted by God a tokeÌ„ that the same shal neuer bee reedified Baronius his Annals in Iuliano Theod Socrates lib. 3. foretold so much to say that Antichrist when he commeth shall reedifie the Temple of Hierusalem in the same place where that of Salomon stood and it therefore to be called the Temple of God by the Apostle is too too improbably and idlely said with as much congruity as to say that the turkish moskyes in Constantinople are the Church of God because standing in the same places and within the same materiall walls in which once the True and onely God Iesus Christ was worshipped The Pontificians would be offended to heare their Church of the blessed Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs in Rome to be now called the Temple of all false Gods because it was so once called by the name of Pantheon Besides if wee will beleeue the Rhemists * The substaÌ„ce of Lessius demonstrating book coÌ„sisteth in that hâ— confoundeth diuers predictioÌ„s concerning the states of diuers enemies of Christ and diuers calamities of the Church to the imagined 3. yeeres and a halfes raigne of one singular maÌ„ Antichrist Leonard Lessius in his laborious and demonstratiue booke of Antichrist we must think that Antichrist when he commeth shall worship no God a toy for if so how then shall he be thought to build a temple to the true God what Worship no God and yet build a Temple to the true God a Paradoxe But most cleare it is and to me it hath beene often confessed by diuers learned Papists that Antichrist is said to sit in the Temple of God because he shall vse a tirannical proud vsurped imperious gouernment in the visible Church excluding the society paritie of any other in that vsurped office of his changing that forme of gouernment which Christ left in his Church and by tiranny seeking to draw all to himself m Annotation in 2. ad thes 2. an 5 as the Rhemists themselues affirme But that this Antichrist of which Saint Paul speaketh shall sitte in the visible Church of Christ visible I said for so they are to be expounded diuers auncient n Aug lib. 20. de ciuita cap. 19. Hieron ad AlgasiaÌ„ q. 11. Greg. l. 4. epist 34. 38. 39 et in 2. ad Thes cap. 2. apud Paterium clarissime Robertus lincolniens apud Math. Paris in Henrico 3. anno 1162. Coruelius mussorat habita in con Trid. dominica 3. adueÌ„tus Athanas in epist ad solitar vitam agentes Hilar. li. cont Constan Lucifer in lib. moriendum pro filio dei Bernar. ser in conc Rem et serm 33. in cantica Hieron in Dan. 11. Hila. cont Auxent This greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antichrist in properlinar gie significatioÌ„ according to the differeÌ„t vse of the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke signifieth one that is for insteed or against another all which three significations are vnited in the man of sinne called Antichrist beeing annointed insteed and against the true annointed Lord Iesus Christ Fathers eyther expresly affirme or by most euident consequence it is deduced out of them S. Austin S. Ierome S. Gregory and others expresly Cornelius Mus seemeth to affirme so much although hee dare not speake it expresly Athanasius also agreeingly with Hilary and Lucifer Calaritane make therefore Constantius the Arian Emperour Antichrist because he assumed to himselfe all rule tiranically in the Church and against Church-men Saint Bernard not farre from this conceit where hee chargeth the Church-men for seruing Antichrist Saint Gregory is most cleare for otherwise how vnworthy an argument were it in that Father to call Iohn of Constantinople Antichrist and the Title of Vniuersall Bishop Antichristian if Antichrist when hee should come was not to bee either a Bishop or not to challenge any such vsurped power or any such name Along while King Henry the eight Queene Elizabeth both of renowned memory were certaine Antichrists with the Pontificians in respect they challenged the titles of cheefe Gouernours in the Church of England the sense whereof being now sufficiently explaned and by the same made euident that they require no more then what their predecessors had and vsed though not with the name
desire them to point me out some illustrious person some Arrogant Bishoppe who sitting in the Church challengeth all rule and Empire to himselfe to iudge all to bee iudged by none who challengeth to bee honoured and worshipped as an earthly God extolling himselfe aboue all things that are called God marke what the k 2. ad Thes 2. Apostle saith which is called God not thus which is God again shewing himself as if he were a God but not the true and onely God for it is a meere imagination that the Antichrist here described shal make himselfe to be the very true God indeed for he shall only by his tyrannicall outlawish Godlike behauiour in vsurping in commanding doing vndoing in dispensing binding against al lawes diuine and humane heare himselfe as if he were a God Reade to this purpose l Greg. in 2. ad Thes 2. apud Paterium Baron ad anno 992. Saint Gregory and withall the resolute verdict of Arnulphus a French Prelate cited by Barontus in his Annals But if the expositions of some learned Pontificians bee true that Antiochus Epiphanes who adored the God Maâ—zim and despised the Gods of his Fathers Antichrist was prefigured then doubtlesse he shall worship some God And if the exposition of some other Pontificians take place that m Dan. 11. Daniel in that Chapter prophecied of Antichrist himselfe and that hee should worship the God Maozim who will gainsay it and affirme that Antichrist shall worshipe no God but here I desire the Reader by the way to remember that of the word Maozim there is a treble interpretatio by some it is interpreted summi roboris or fortitudinis of greatest strength or fortitude so that the God Maozim is the God of greatest power I finde also that Maozim is interpreted inhabitatio tabernaculi in-dwelling of a Tabernacle so the interpreter of the Hebrew wordes in the old Bibles of Saint Hieromes edition it is interpreted also turris fortitudinis a tower of fortitude or strength c. by all which interpretations fitly agreeing to the nature of the word I leaue it to the Christian Reader to iudge whether the God of the Tabernalces or Sacramentall towers amongst the pontificians bee the God Maozam God of Fortitude of which the Prophet foretold that Antichrist should worship One thinge I meruaile at why the interpreter of the Hebrew wordes in the last editions of the bibles interpret not this word Maozim which is so greatly to the purpose for one side or other as for my parte I will absolutely iudge nothinge of these interpretations Iesus Chrisi vouchsafe to open our eyes that we may both see his truth and imbrace it and beware that wee worshippe not falselie and idolatrouslie any false God in Turrets or Tabernacles The Romane Empire thus dissipated and ouerthrowne and dissolued into diuers Kingdomes accordinge as it was prophecied by n Daniel 2. Daniel The Popes still by their vndermining indirect power and by the earnest defenders of the same the Ignatians and other fauourites doe strongly endeauor to bringe all Kingdomes of the world vnder their command wherin hee vseth the spirituall power as hee would seeme of the lambe pretending to proceed onely against Kings and Kingdoms in holy Churches necessity and for the temporall quietnesse and necessary safety of common weales but not for that he aymeth at any profit therby but onely to reduce them to holy Churches obedience Wherein for my part I giue no more credit vnto such a saying then I did to the great Admiral of Spaine some 16. yeares agoe who in my hearing affirmed that his * Philip the 2. King of Spain Master the King of Spaine sent not the great Armado in 88. so much to make a conquest of England as to conuert it to the Church and to make it a friend for my Master the King said he hath already so many Kingdomes that hee is scarce able to gouern them with peace and content and surely the proceedings of Pandulph Legat with King Iohn do liuely demonstrate what the Popes ayme at when they presume to correct Princes and dispose of Kingdomes our Historians will tell vs that it was not inough to haue the kingdome to be idlye made feudatary by that King to the Pope but also there must be yeerely summes sent vp to Rome in token of this subiection Doubtlesse p Platina in vita Paschalis 2. Paschal the second was well acquainted what Popes aymed at by their direct and indirect powers when at his installing a mysticall girdle with seuen keyes seuen seales hanging at it was put about him I haue spoken sufficiently against this indirect power in my booke vpon the oath of Allegeance which as yet I see no otherwise answered then by a libell from some of the wise mens punies of Saint Omers as is reported who esteeme the same a sufficient answere to it doubtlesse desperata causa theire cause is desperate beeing growne to libelling But alasse that is too too common with them for what booke almost commeth from them with any name q Iohn 3. or any more insinuation of the Author then with N. D. H. I. or some two like letters the truth is they are ashamed or afraid of their Gospell and therefore as children of darknesse they deale so couertly and will not come to the light because they feare reproouing yet before I leaue this matter I will set downe a sentence or two out of two of the Pontificians bookes by the which the Curteous Reader may gather to what their indirect power of Popes tendeth Heare their r Coquae pa. 170. Coquaeus in his most seâ—itious booke against his Maiesties Premonition to Christian Princes thundering rather against our Soueraignes Person whom he reputeth a notorious Heretike and his Kingdome rather then against his Doctrine Si autem crimen haeresees sit notorium et publicum c. But if the crime of heresie saith he be notorious or publike in a Prince * Was not this Catsbyes atheistical position on which the powdermine of the IgnatiaÌ„s and the Ignatianed was grounded the subiects may lawfullie before any declaratiue sentence of the crime if they haue strength withdraw themselues from the obedience of such a Prince for euident notice of such a fact is insteed of a sentence Whereas therefore the crime of Heresie is notorious in the King of England so that by no tergiuersation it can be auoided it is certaine that neither for the forme of the Oathe nor for any respect of the person to whom the Oath is made that his subiects are bound therewith Thus the most seditious Coquaeus but if I should heereto adioyne how in his 48. or 49. page hee in the like case of notorious crime of heresie approueth the murthering of Princes non expectata sententia Iudicis no sentence of any Iudge expected and endeuoureth also most prophanely to proue the same out of Å¿ Deut. cap. 13. holy Scripture
whole English audience at S. Omers he did most bitterly inueigh against all such Priests as in England did allow and commend the Oth of Allegiance to be taken and according to his k Pat. Fea. name hee did so feake them that hee doubted not to call them Wolues yea rauening Wolues and although said he they say Masse minister the Sacraments say their other praiers liue vertuously and so appeare with the outward clothing of sheep yet they are Wolues their rauenous and woluish sinne being because they did not teach forsooth according to the order * Marke the nature of the Popes Mission as the Ignatians interpret it of their mission marke his words nor according to his commandement from whom they had their mission can you conceiue the mystery of those wordes the order of their mission in teaching the Oath of Allegiance to be lawfull surely this order of mission is that policy which Robert Parsons ment when to a certain Pope seeming loath to send such proper men into England as came before him to kisse his feet and to take his Benediction where it was probable they should fall into danger of death and saying that ere it were long he would take some other course for the conuerting of England that politik man replyed thus in the very hearing and not without admiration of those Priests Holy Father it is meet that they stay not but goe and that the l Parsous policy policy be still continued which word policy stroke so deeply into one of those m M. Wors Priests minds that he hath politikely kept himself out of England liueth still a poor life beyond seas rather then he will come into a Plentiful Country to vphold Robert Parsons policie with danger of his life When the Reporters of the late most detestable murther of Henry the fourth the French King was somewhat fresh and newes was brought how that most hatefull villaine Rauilliacke did seem to make some shew of repentance at his end in so villanous a sort as before God his repentance was as bad as the deed it self to wit in these words as it was reported that hee was sorry for that he had committed murther but not sorry that he had killed Henry the fourth the king of France which report when I heard I both detested and reproued the repentance as wicked and as diuelish but against me therein although diuers Priests and Recusants were at Table onely a certaine n Pat. Freem alias Warr. Ignatian Priest opposed himselfe desending Rauilliacke that in such a kind of repentance he might haue true and Christian contrition to which seriouslie beholding the man ashamed of his Spirit and almost of my selfe who was then a fellow prisoner with him I replied thus * A certaine pedanucall Ignatian in his confutation of Anticotton subscribeth his Epistle Dedicat. to the Queen of France thus Seruus bumilimus Cliens ob sequen sissimus O rator sidelissimus unus Patrum de Societate Jesu Father for so they must be all called you and your order haue little reason in any respect to defend that most wicked villaine considering what a Patron the late murthered King was to your Order but notwithstanding my reply he held on to maintaine his paradoxe He is now recollecting his spirit at Louaine God indue him with better Diuinity and sounder distinctions before he returne into this Countrey he was heere reputed halfe a Saint and therefore I doubt he may returne againe somewhat sooner then welcome to England Not many yeeres since there was a certaine worthy and very worshipfull Gentle woman for whose loyall heart to Prince and Countrey and for al those who with her haue issued from the same stocke I dare vndertake I am so well acquainted with their true English hearts and dutifull affections who being at S. Omers had and wore about her necke a certaine Iewell which was once belonging to a great Princesse The Iewell being very precious and of gold had set into it an Agnus Dei and vnder a cleare Christall vpon one side thereof it had the picture of our Sauiours face vpon the otherside the picture of our most excellent Soueraigne when hee was a childe but how that good Gentlewoman was taken vp by an Ignatian Priest in my hearing for wearing of it about her necke and before her breast because it had our Princes picture vpon it who as the Ignatian said was a persecutor and an enemy to Catholike religion I can tell because I heard his reprehensions of her and defended her wishing her and charging her in what I could to continue that custome still But since that time I being not long to stay at Saint Omers and returning into England I know not how they haue beene so busie with her that for one respect or other shee could not keepe it quietly but hath sent it away to Loretto when I saw the Gentlewoman at S. Omers some tweluemonth and more agoe I was very earnest with her to know vpon what occasion she had put the Iewell away but I could not possibly learne of her she respecting doubtlesse the Ignatian Fathers credit at S. Omers onely shee told me because she could neuer be in rest about it but that they would be still vrging to c I doe not well remember whether her word was to get or beg it get or begge it from her she vowed it to Lorette whither also shee accordingly sent it notwithstanding many oppositions against the same her fact where also now it remaineth hanging vpon the blessed Virgin Maries Picture which is there worshipped and adored These three particulars with some like which I partly haue forgotten partly omit I write not God is witnesse for any other end but to discouer their Spirits that they may be taken as they are for the very despisers of authority of whom the Apostle Iudas hath so expressely foretold long agoe admonishing vs to beware of them For it is a thing which I haue euer specially obserued that those who are the children of God are guided with Gods Spirit especially when they are prosecuting of the workes which apportaine to God if therefore these men do thus most egregiously abuse themselues in the deliberate prosecuting of their religious courses what may be thought of their Spirits They doe often impose as against the truth of the Gospell of the reformed Churches that * I dare stand to the defence of it that the liues of Calan Beza were more commen dable then the life of Parsons Creswell or Hoalt Garnet their famous Martyt who was as it is reported by honourable persons tipfie a very few daies before his end Caluin was a wicked man an incestuous man that Bean also was voluptuous man before he fell from them But let them not tell what maner of men they were when they were with them but when they left them when they were gon from them for if they liued vertuously religiously