the seuen Churchs of this citie and that all thy life time thou say daily fiue times Pater noster and fiue times the Aue Maria and for the space of fiue yeres thou say once a vveeke the Seuen penitentiall Psalmes together vvith the Litanies and Praiers following and once in the moneth the office of the deade called the Dirige And that foure times in the yere of the said fiue yeres thou faste and euery moneth confesse thy sinnes to a law full priest such as is allowed by his ordinarie by his counsel and coÌ„sent to receiue the B. SACRAMENT of the altar once euery moneth and in the feastes of the Natiuitie of our Lord of Easter Pentecost and the Assumption of the gloriouse and perpetual virgin Mary the mother of God And so vvee do hereby Say Iudge Enioine Decree and Declare Sending thee to the feete of our most holy Lord the POPES HOLINES for the forgiuenes of thy fructs taken absolution from the spot of Simony and for the inhabling thee to holy orders and other things vvhich are prohibited to Schismaticks Hereticks THOMAS ZOBBIVS COMMISSARIE GENERAL The aboue vvritten sentence vvas giuen avvarded and iudicially pronouÌ„ced by this vvriting by the aforenamed our reuerend father Thomas de Zobbiis of the order of the preachers Doctor of diuinitie Commissioner general of the Office of the holy Romane and vniuersal Inquisition sitting in the Iudgement seat at Rome in the Pallace of the said holy office in the Vatican of S. Peter vvas read published by me the Notarie at the commandement of the said reuerend father the Commissarie in the yere of the Natiuitie of our Sauiour 1579. in the seuenth indiction the viij day of the moneth of May in the time of the Bishoprick See of our soueraigne and most holy Father in Christ Gregorie by Gods prouidence the thirteenth of that name the said Iohn Nichols being present and vvith thanks giuing accepting the foresaid sentence vvho vvilling to obey the same and all the contentes thereof kneeling vpon his knees before the said reuerend Father Commissarie general of the holy office corporally touching vvith his haÌ„ds the holy scriptures did Abiure Accurse Detest al those errors schisme and the heresies vvhich he helde and beleeued in manner and forme as in the Abiuration hereafter follovving subscribed vvith his ovvne hand may appeere made at Rome in the pallace of the said holy office then and there being present as vvitnesses Benedictus de Solanis Peruzin and Petrus Bilaqua of the Dioces of Firmiano I Iohn Nichols the sonne of an other Iohn Nichols of the prouince of Vvales of the Dioces of Landaf in the Realme of England of the age of tvventy and fower yeres or there about kneeling on my knees before the reâ—erend Father Thomas Zobbius of the order of the Preachers Doctor of Diuinitie and Commissioner general of the office of the holy and vniuersal Inquisition of Rome touching personally the holy Gospels do sweare that I beleeue and vvil to my death beleeue that faith vvhich the holy CATHOLICK and APOSTOLICK ROMAN CHVRCH doth beleeue and teach But for so much as after the Sacraments of Baptisme and Confirmation rightly and Catholikely by me receiued and taken in my childhood I vvas brought vp and trained in pernitious schisme and sundry most impious heresies till I came to the age of twenty and one yeres and them did beleeue namely and specially That Pilgrimages to holy places Offring vp of candles such like were meere superstitious That praying vpon beads ought not to be vsed That the images of Saincts ought neither to be vvorshipped nor had That the Saincts in heauen ought not to be praied vnto nor that they haue any regard care or knowledge of the necessities of mortal men nor can pray for them That praiers ought to be made in the vulgar tong which the common people doo vnderstaÌ„d That Candles Ashes which are vsed to be put on the faithful vpon Ashwenesday all ornameÌ„ts and stuf of the Church and finally all Ceremonies ecclesiastical whatsoeuer ought quite to be taken avvay That it is lawful for Priests to marry and for all persones daily to eate flesh That the Bishop of Rome is not the head of the vniuersall Church of Christ That there is no Purgatorie after this life That man hath no freevvil is iustified by onely faith That the most blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ is onely a signe of the death passion of our Lord but not his very body That no Masse ought to be vsed in the Church or was celebrated by the Apostles That there are onely tvvo Sacramentes to wite Baptisme and the Lords supper And these heresies haue I preached by the space of half a yere and after the rite and manner of hereticks haue receiued the order of Deaconship and Priesthood and obteined one Ecclesiasticall benefice by Simonie and an other of gift and receiued the fruicts thereof And for these causes was adiuged by this holy office a Schismatick and Heretick I therfore do from my hart Abhorre Detest and Abiure all schisme and heresies namely those aboue specified And sweare that neuer hereafter will I beleeue heresies or keepe company with hereticks or read their books And do further swere that I wil denounce and declare vnto this holy court and to the inquisitors and ordinaries of the places in the vvhich I shal become al and singular persones whom I shal know either to be professed hereticks or suspected of heresie And swere also that I wil obserue and performe al the points of the penance enioyned me and in case I do not I subiect my self to al the paines and punishements due by the law to such offendors so help me God and these most holy Gospels I the foresaid Iohn Nicols haue Svvorne Abiured and Promised as before and in faith thereof this schedull written vvith an other hand I haue subscribed vvith mine owne At Rome in the Palace of the said holy office the viij day of the moneth of May Anno 1579. VVhich Abiuration being made the foresaid Reuerend Father Commissarie general did absolue the said Iohn Nicols there present and most humbly vpon his knees erauing the same and him discharged from the Excommunications Censures and Penalties by him incurred by reason and cause of the premises and him restored to the communion of the faithful to the participation of the Sacraments and to the vnitie and lap of our said holy mother the CATHOLICK CHVRCH And hath enioyned him for healthful penance as is expressed in the aboue written sentence recorded and authentiked as is before said in the presence of the aforenamed witnesses This copie vvas taken out of the first proper Original vvith vvhich vponcoÌ„fereÌ„ce made it agreeth c. In faith and vvitnes vvhereof I haue subscribed and sealed it vvith the seale of the said holy Office in such cases vsed At Rome in the Palace of the said holy Office the
some of his companions that he had talked and disputed vvith Doctor Allen and that he profered him a hundred pound English a yere to be of his religion The fellovves lif and fortune though he be not old hath ben exceding various if all vvere recorded sith he first vvas Minister vvhere his miserie began but nothing need to be spoken of the causes of his first comming ouer sea of his follovving the Camp of his vvandring in Flanders Fraunce and Italy and such like onely I thought it necessarie for an introduction to the rest to set dovvne his formal Abiuration Verbatim as it is recorded in the Court of Inquisition at Rome faithfully traÌ„slated into English Into vvhich office of holy Iustice against Heretikes he vvent to accuse him self of his ovvne accord and in the end the matter passed as follovveth A TRVE REPORT OF THE LATE APPREHENSION AND IMPRISONMENT OF IOHN NICOLS Minister at Roan and his confession and answers made in the time of his duraÌ„ce there Vvherevnto is added the satisfaction of certaine that of feare or frailtie haue lately fallen in England The true copie of the Abiurations that Iohn Nicols latly relapsed from the Church by Apostasie made at Rome in the yere of our lord 1579. vvhich Abiurations in his English reuolte latly published in print are by him termed tvvo Sermons that he preached before the Popes holynes faithfully translated into English out of the auctentik Latine copie nevvly sent from Rome vvhere the Original is extant of recorde NOS Frater Thomas Zobbius ordinis praedicatoruÌ„ Sacrae Theologia Magister Commissarius generalis sanctae vniuersalis Inquisitionis Romanae Cum tu Ioannes Nicolaus filius alterius Iâ—annis Nicolai de loco Vvalliae Dioecesis Landauiensis in Regno Angliae aetatis tuae annorum viginti quatuor velcirca sponte coram nobis comparueris in hoc sancto Officio atque confessus fueris c. Vvee B. Thomas Zobbius of the order of the Preachers Doctor of diuinitie and Commissarie general of the â—oly vniuersal Inquisition of Rome For asmuch as thou Iohn Nicols the sonne of an other Iohn Nicols of the prouince of Vvales in the Diocesse of Landaff vvithin the Realme of England of the age of twenty and fower yeres or there abouts hast voluntarily appered before vs in this holy Office and hast confessed that after the Sacraments of Baptisme Confirmation in thy childhod by thee rightly receiued after the manner of the CATHOLIKE CHVRCH thou hast ben trained and brought vp in pernitious schisme and sundry wicked heresies vntill thou camest to the age of twenty and one yeres and the same diddest beleeue namely these to vvite Pilgrimages to holy places offring of Candles and such like to be meere superstitious Beades not to be vsed The Images of Saincts neither to be had nor vvorshiped That Saincts ought not to be praied vnto nor that they haue any care or knowledge of the necessities of mortall men nor can pray for them That praiers ought to be made in the vulgar tong which the coÌ„mon people vnderstand That lamps ashes vvhich are put vpon the faithfull on Ashwednesday and al other ornaments and vestements of the Church and finally all ceremonies Ecclesiastical whatsoeuer ought to be taken away That it is lawfull for Priests to marry and for all persones to eate flesh at all times The Bishop of Rome not to be head and cheef of the vniuersall Church That there is no Purgatorie after this life That man hath not free will That he is iustified by faith onely The most blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ to be onely a signe of our lords passion but not the body of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST That no Masse ought to be vsed in the Church nor that the Apostles did celebrate any That there are onely two Sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the Lords supper Finally that thou hast preached vnto the people in many places the foresaid heresies by the space of one half yere and that after the rites and manners of Heretikes thou hast taken the order of Deacon and Priesthood and diddest obteine and get one benefice by Simonie and an other by free gift and the fruicts thereof diddest enioy by the space of three yeres And forasmuch as thou hast said that thou art right sory and penitent for those thy former errors and that by the mercie of God thou art called to that faith vvhich our holy CATHOLIKE and APOSTOLICK mother the CHVRCH of ROME dooth beleeue and teach and that thou mindest firmely to hold it to stand therein to the death and hast humbly desired that thou maist be admitted into the lappe of the holy Church and to be absolued from the censures Ecclesiasticall which thou hast incurred for those causes and to be dispensed with for such irregularities as thou hast thereby brought thy self in danger of and to haue remitted to thee such fruicts as thou hast taken of the said benefices The decree of the most honorable most Reuerend L. Cardinals Inquisitors generall in the publike assembly of the holy Inquisition by the counsel of the Doctors in diuinitie and lavv enacted the sixth of this present moneth of May being seene whereby the dispatche of this cause standing in question betwene thee and the right worshipfull and Reuerend Doctor Sig. Anselme Canutus Doctor of both lawes Canon and Ciuil Procuror fiscal of this most holy Office is committed to vs we are come to pronounce this vndervvritten sentence The name of Christ and of that most glorious virgin his mother being first inuocated we sitting in the seate of the iudgement and hauing onely God before our eyes by this our definitiue senteÌ„ce which we haue in this writing made say pronounce iudge decree and declare thee the foresaid Iohn Nicols to haue ben a Schismatick and Heretick and to haue incurred all the paines and punishments that are by the holy Cannons and Constitutions whatsoeuer general or special prouided and made against Schismaticks and Hereticks Yet for somuch as thou hast voluntarily presented thy self before vs protesting that thou art sory from thy hart and hast vvithall humilitie desired to be admitted into the lappe of the holy ROMANE CHVRCH vvhich is not vvont to be shut vp against such as retorne therevnto we doo benignely and mercifully receiue thee according as thou requirest so that thou do detest accurse and abiure from thy hart all schisme and heresies especially those aboue recited and all errors that are contrary and dissonant to the said holy CATHOLICK CHVRCH in such sorte and manner as we commaund thee by this our definitiue sentence to accurse detest abâ—â—re them And yet to the intent that Iustice be not vtterly seperated from Mercy seing that the one is linked and knit vvith the other and to the end the mercy of God by meane of Iustice may be more plentifull and large towards thee we enioine thee for holsome penaunce that thou do two seueral times visite
scriptures to be authentical or not authentical by his owne priuate vnconstant and variable spirit and refuse the Iudgement of the Church and General Councel vvhich determineth such things by the spirit of truth promised by Christs expresse vvord and so cleerely testified in scriptures to abide vvith the same to th' end of the vvorld And in truth it vvas a note sure enough for me to confirme my self in my forefathers faith and to condemne in my conscience the contrary sect of the Protestants that I heard by men of full credit howsoeuer th' English sectaries vvrith and vvrangled in the matter of late to saue their honesties that one heretick as Luther by his spirit denieth some bookes that our Caluinists accept to be Gods word by the iudgement of their spirit and I savv it plainely by mine owne late experience of them that they receiue and condemne admit or repell euen as they thinke good for the vantage of the cause and as may best serue for the defence of their deuellish doctrine Wherein truly I say for the reuerend respect and honotable dealing with the diuine booke of Gods word not withstanding the aduersaries pretending al reuerence towards the scriptures and tedious vaunting talking and tossing of them the Catholicks yet do so farre passe them in Religious keeping preseruing interpreting translating alleaging al other vse of holy vvrit as the true owner and occuper of any thing passeth the theefe and vsurper I beleeue it and haue had experience of it in both sides and therefore I speake it For the second that is th' exposition of scriptures I knew it was the property of al hereticks to abuse wrest and vvring them to vvhatsoeuer them selues list and particularly to the priuate sence of euery secte maister ech one for his owne erronious doctrine and the condemnation of his fellowes I haue heard vvith mine owne eares and seene vvith mine owne eyes that the scriptures sound al for Luther and against the Sacramentaries in Germany and in England and some other places al the Bible is at Caluins and Bezas beck and soundeth vvhatsoeuer they say against not onely the Catholicks or Lutheranes but against their ovvne booke of common praier actes and iniunctions published by authoritie the Puritanes there hauing reconced aboue an hundreth and sortie errors in th' English seruice against the scriptures vvhich I noted in the time of my being in England especially in London and Cambridge aswel the writers Preachers Readers and Disputers as most other schollers and prentises be puritanes condemning by Gods word that same seruice administration vvhich them selues daily resort vnto For vvhich who soeuer shall reade the writings of M. Vvhittakers or the disputes of Fulke Charke Vvalker and such other Ministers lately had in the Tower they shal find my vvords and obseruation true and shall see many points of puritanisme decided by them by coulor of scriptures against their ovvne authorized seruice all those things set out by authoritie I neede not stand to tell you now the Lutheranes expound this notorious text Hoc est corpus meum so farre othervvise then the Zuinglians and Caluinists that they haue prooued these by Gods expresse vvord hereticks and these them for the reciproke plaine carnal men and Idolaters both th' one and th' other vvrithing the sacred words to their owne erronious and damnable sect against the proper nature and plaine sense vvhich the letter the circumstance the conference of places the auncient fathers Councels and the vvhole Church expresly setteth downe Vvith this I haue marked that the Sectaries of our countrey and al other places being singular vaine-glorious louers of them selues and cherisers of their ovvne fantasies seeke for nothing but nouelties and in th' exposition of scriptures to finde out that which neuer neither foole nor wiseman found out before them and al this vvith a ridiculous boast of euery mans seuerall spirit gifte and knowledge vvhich to me and others that see their liues and learning and partly know their intention is a straunge case Hovv soeuer it be their exposition so nevv so improbable so inconstant so various so farre differing from the commeÌ„taries of al the fathers passing al these men in al grace and knowlege from the general Councels that not by particular fansie of a few but by vniforme consent of the most learned in the vvorld haue by Gods vvord truly through th' assistance of the holy Ghost vnderstood defined these things to our hands this consideration I say of their vngodly behauiour towards the holy scriptures the glorious Doctors the vniuersall Church of al ages and nations of which by my late being among them I haue enformed my self better then euer I could haue doÌ„ne by reading of bokes or here say hath fortified my faith against them I trust in God during life But because I professe not in this breif satisfactioÌ„ to dispute of the matter or arrogate to my self any profound knowlege in these things I for this point say no more but this that if I had ben partly bent to heresie when I vvent into EnglaÌ„d as I was not I speake it as before God the more I had ben coÌ„uersant with the ProtestaÌ„ts yea with the learnedsts amoÌ„gst theÌ„ the soner should I haue ben reclaimed froÌ„ that heresie For in other things though I may bouldly saie they haue the gifts of the mind as plentifully as any nation yet in diuinitie specially in these controuersies they are so bewitched that through the common malady of heresie vvhich by Gods iust iudgement of sinne and for saking th' obedience of his Church is euer ioyned vvith pitifull darkenes of vnderstanding especially in such as brag most of the light that when they bring but Sophismes to proue their religion they both thinke and bouldly aduouch that they are demoÌ„strations But here they wil exclaime after their manner and say they bring places of scripture wil charge me that I cal the scriptures Sophismes No God forbid for that were blasphemie but I call the false and childish exposition or the place either by false translation or exposition wrested a Sophisme the vvhich may sone be espied of him that hath any iudgement or common sense especially if God hath lightened his vnderstanding by the doctrine of the Catholick Church Besides if I had fauored heresies this would haue reuoked me to see some of those that on this side the scas were both counted know to be void of all good gifts and qualities of the minde not capable of any science yet at their retorne home to be admitted to be publick preachers and their vvords being nothing but knowne forgeries blasphemous lyes to be compted â—s Oracles and conclusions deduced out of th'expresse vvord of the Lord as they speke in our countrey One saith very vvisely of Aristotle that he vsed hard and difficult termes in Philosophie to driue awaie from the reading of his bookes those that vvere simple and vnlearned lest saith he Omnia
singularitie delite and loue of mans selfe that driueth downe persons laden vvith sinne to this heresie of the Protestants and that the next dore yea the next steape of this staire is atheisme and no beleefe at al. A fevv vvordes vvil serue a vvise man Wel when I had thus entangled my self for some daies proued that such as I had vttered my euel heretical speaches vnto kept al things close I bouldly aduētured vpon their familiaritie and secrecie to vtter diuers horrible blasphemies in plaine termes against the principal points of religion specially to one person of myne owne calling vvho aftervvard as I must needes confesse to the shame of th'ennemy godly and trewly for both our good and saluations vttered the vvhole matter vnto our superior vvhich vvas Gods great mercy to me for othervvise I had doubtles perished for euer more For a moneth space or there abouts I delt vvith my said fellovv bouldly not only by arguments and often communication to drawe him to heresie but also vttered to him my intention to goe into England there to preach heresie and to annoye the common cause of Christs Church and specially this Seminary the President and superiors thereof as much as I could possibly discoursing with him and declaring that there vvas no remedy but the counsel must needes seeke the dissolution of the Seminary or els sustaine their state to be ruyned in time by it Therevpon I vttered sondry meanes vnto him how first the president him self might be made avvay and if that missed how the vvhole company might easely be poysoned or othervvise dispersed further more offering my hand to gage that the president should not be a liue that daie tvvo yeres that I spake it one of the yeres being now gone and yet he aliue as I desire God he may be many This vvas often my deuilish communication and whether I should not haue giuen this ouerture to the counsel vvhen I came into England for dispatch of him and the said Seminarie my derest nurce my self knovv not to say he lest hovv farre the deuil vvould haue driuen me vvho novv holy occupied my hart in hope of aduauncement in England by these practises For vvhich purpose I had also fraudulently discouered certaine points of secrecie set them dovvne in vvriting with intent to giue the note of the same to the counsel vvherein I rather detected my ovvne malice then any other thing for the matters vvere of no importance in deede In breefe this I must needes acknovvledge that I vvould haue done any of these impious iniuries rather then haue fallen from the preferment I hoped gaped after so inordinatly our Lord of his infinite mercies for giue me that detestable treason against him and his Church and the abhominable periurie dissimulation fiction vvhen for a vvhole moneths space after I had discouered my minde to my fellovv yet I said Masse daily sought for leaue and viaticum of M. President to goe home to encrease by preaching and al endeuours the Catholick cause and toke an oth vpon the Euangelists that I beleeued al points of the Catholick faith and had no other purpose of going into England but for the aduancement of the same And I desire good M. Presidēt the whole howse euen for the blessed death and vvoundes of our Sauiour for vvhose sake they sustaine al this contradiction of me and other sinners to pardon and healp me by their praiers to true repentāce and remission And that good Priest my deare louing fellovv whom I vvould haue had partaker of my vvicked and damnable reuoult I cry him mercy euen vpon my knees and thanke him though to the carnal vvordly man it might be compted an iniury that he discouered al my counsel vnto his superiors and myne for els I had been vvith out doute damned for euer more But al this came of the sweet mercies and dispositions of our Lord God and Sauiour vvho ouertooke and ouer raught me happely in the very course of my malice and damnable designements and hath by his vnspeakable wisedom caused not onely my imprisonmēt and other my bodely afflictions vvhich he procured for me at the very same time that I had thought to haue been in my ruffe and iolitie amongest his ennemies but turned my very sinnes and vvickednes to the good of his honor and my saluation at the same time both deliuering his trevv and innocent seruaunts of the Seminarie and others vvhom my malice might haue annoyed and me also in most gracious miraculous sort his name be blessed therefore for euer more And it is his goodnes that hath deliuered me from the accomplishment of my vvicked desires as powrably and miraculously al most as he did Saul persecuting the Christians but vvith much more mercie then him for that he found grace because he did it of ignorance in incredulitie vvhere I did al against my ovvne skill and conscience neuer doubting but the Catholick Romane religion vvas the onely true Christian auncient and Apostolick faith and vvorship of God though I fained my self for the atchiuing of my detestable designemēt to doubt thereof and to haue some reasonable motiues against the same and sought by al meanes possible to haue enformed my conscience against that truth vvhich othervvise I in hart beleeued Novv therefore for the poore amends that lieth in me to make vnto Gods Church I protest before the blessed Trinitie and al the glorious company in heauen and by this publike vvriting vvhich I voluntarily make and subscribe vvith mine ovvne hand That I beleeue in al points the holy Catholick Apostolick Romane Church submitting my self to her and the cheefe gouernor thereof our Lord and Maister Gregory the xiij Christs supreme Minister in earth and do Detest Accurse Anathematize and Condemne from the botome of my hart al Heresies Schismes and Sectes and specially the heresies of Luther Caluin and al others vnto vvhich I might seeme by my outvvard wicked behauiour and dissimulation to haue been enclined vnto Desiring God and our holy mother the Church no othervvise to haue mercie on me to saluation then so long so farre as I keepe professe and mantaine to my povver the said faith of our holy forefathers taught set furth by the See Apostolick Giuen in my chamber at Rhemes the xiij of May 1583. in the presence of M. Thomas Bailly Priest M. Humphrey Ely Doctor of the Lavves and M. Seth Foster Priest I acknovvledge this to be mine owne act Richard Baines Priest THE SATISFACTION OF EDWARD OSBERNE PRIEST TOVCHING his frailties and fall from the Catholike Church at his being in England IT is almightie Gods great wisedom mercy that he hath besides his other iuste iudgements either tēporall or eternall vpon sinners ioyned also for most parte some great affliction and torment of minde for a continuall inward checke and chasticement of their offences euen in them selues and in this life which caused a great Clearke to saie Thou haste commaunded
times past did but be thus spoyled massacred for no fellony trespas or treason but for holding that faith which al our happy forefathers and our selues vvere baptised in and out of vvhich I knovv there is no saluation in the next vvorld nor grace in this Beseching Christ our merciful Sauiour to pardon me that I denied him and his truth for feare of man and mortall paines As I also humbly for his sake desire al Catholikes vvhom I haue vniustly offended in this my fieblenes to forgiue and pray for me that I neuer fall to the like tentation againe namely those glorious confessors vvhom I loue as mine ovvne soule and honor as the chosen vessels of God vvho vvere iniured by my vndew dealing For I confesse and acknowledge in my conscience that I should haue suffered any torments in the vvorld rather then haue vttered any their godly religious actes to their dommage vvhether it vvere trew or false and that I should not nor ought by Gods word haue disclosed any such thing though I had takē an oth to doe it and to ansvvere to al interrogatories concerning the same being assured that al such othes be vnlavvful and ought not to be taken nor be kept if of frailtie they chaunce to be taken Because no man can binde him self neither by oth vow or any other obligation to God or man to accuse or be wraye any innocent to the persecutor no such othes I say binde being one sinne to take them and an other and that greater to keepe them But the thing a lasse is novv past and can not be amended in it self but only may be forgiuen as I verely hope it is both at God and mans hand by this my sincere confessing humble crauing pardon and poore publike satisfaction till the vvhich vvas done I could neuer finde reste in my vvounded conscience nor durst approche to the holy Altar to offer the deutiful giftes of my priesthod made much vnworthy of that high function through my said greuous offence and scandal Which being now as I hope in our Lords mercy and their great charitie remitted I shal daily vvith great comfort doe during life these soueraine duties of religion for them as also as I am most bound in deutie for my deare Mother and al her Christian offpringe my dearely beloued Brethren and Sisters according to the flesh desiring God to reliue their zele vvith trew vnderstanding humbly beseeching my louing Brother Sister vvho bound them selues in a certen somme of mony for my good behauiour so they cal the conformitie to their English procedings not to impute my departure to any vnnaturall carlesnesse of the losses dangers that may fall vnto them by forfaiting their bande by my retire ouer sea for God knovveth it is the speciall vvordly thing that greueth me but rather to accompte it a supplie of my patrimonie vvhich vvould haue surmonted it much in valewe a case of such meere necessitie both of my soule and body as no interest of temporall goods vvhatsoeuer may counteruaile it and of their singuler brotherly and sisterly affection if any extremitie should be vsed towards them in the matter as I trust verely their innocencie vvel knovven to the Counsel their great earnestnes and diligence to gaine me to that religion vvhich they of error and ill education thinke to be true shal procure them al courtesie fauour therein not to accompte the losse of monye which one daye either in this or the next vvorld may be redered by God or man againe for the health saluation of their owne flesh blood or at least if they thinke this not the waie to saluation yet for quieting of his conscience against vvhich what soeuer a man doth must needes be sinne and damnable Thus I ende desiring them and al Catholikes my louing brethren in Christ to pray and thanke God vvith me for al his mercies that he hath done to my soule as it shal laude and blesse his holy name for euer more Giuen at Rhemes this 19. of May being the Ascension of our Lord IESVS to vvhom be al thankes and eternall glorie for euer and euer Amen 1573. By me a poore sinner your Brother in Christ Edvvard Osberne Priest THE SATISFACTION OF M. IAMES BOSGRAVE THE GODLY CONFESSOR of Christ concerning his going to the Church of the Protestants at his first comming into England To al Christians and al that professe the Catholike faith to al such as are chained Imprisoned or othervvise afflicted for the faith and religion of Iesus Christ peace and saluation BLessed be the God and Father of our Lord IESVS CHRIST the father of mercies and God of al comfort vvho comforteth vs in al tribulation I am merueilous heauy and sorrow full at the hart for that I vnderstand that there is a certen sinister opinion sprong spred abroade euery where of me as though I had renied that faith religion which had her beginning of our Lord Iesus Christ vvas receiued of the Apostles and Doctors hath ben perfited sealed not onely with the blood and death of the vvorthy Martyrs but principally with the blood and death of Christ our Lord. Would to God that I had either neuer ben borne or els that I had ben buried immediatly after my death If I borne of Catholike parents nourished brought vp vnder Catholike scholmaisters trained vp in learning in those countries vvhere the Catholike religion dooth greatly prosper and florish now at the length after my retorne into my coūtrey to mine owne and my parents comfort should depart from that Church vvhich S. Paul calleth the piller ground of truth should deny Christ our Lord and breake my faith plight in baptisme and vvhereas al men did expect that I should haue borne grapes to bring furth weedes My deere and vvelbeloued brethren to vvhom I write these fewe vvhose glorie and saluation I seeke and vvhom I beare in my bowels I forsake my part of heauen and vvish neuer to see the good of God in the land of the liuing and would that my name were blotted out of the booke of life if I euer either did or attempted or as much as thought any such thing let me also be accursed and a Maranatha if I vvould either crucifie Christ our Lord againe or make void and frustrate the blood that the holy Apostles and vvorthie martyrs haue shed vvho al vvere slaine for that religion faith which Christ our Lord hath communicated reuealed vnto vs gratis of the vvhich religion and faith I my self am partaker and for the vvhich I am readie to suffer death O wretch that I am of al men the vnhapiest what hope of saluation could I haue how durst I lift vp mine eies to heauen vvith vvhat face might I call Christ our Lord Father if I should forsake his spouse the Church our Mother I knovv most louing brethren that there is no more saluatiō to be looked for out of the Church
in the which I beleeue my self to be vvith you then there was out of the Arch of Noë which bare the type figure of the Catholike Apostolike Church Do not yee therefore giue ouer light credit to euery flying tale for I know that the ende shall proue al these rumors that haue ben spred of me to be false and fayned For I hope brethren and this is my desire that I shal be bound vvith the same chaine and for the same faith that you are I trust to be partaker both of your tribulations your rewards God forbid that I should glorie to vse the speach of the vessel of election and of the Doctor of the Gentils vvith out al arrogancie and pride sauing in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ I beseech you therefore as yet not being bound but peradventure to be bound in our Lord that you remaine and walke vvorthily in the vocation religion and faith to vvhich you are called and that you be ready to shed your blood for the same You haue heard that I vvas become a Protestant I call God and his Angels to vvitnes brethren that this hath ben mine election and that full often if I ly then I praie God I neuer speake more that I had rather be a Turke or a Ievv then a Protestant that is to be enrouled among those that haue renied the faith of Christ There be many I knovv vvhich haue heard me albeit vvith murmuring and indignation vtter these vvords For it were better for me in deede neuer to haue knoweÌ„ the vvay of truth then after the knowledge thereof to start back from it If therefore my freends the fame of my retorne into my countrey be come vnto your eares if peraduenture these naughtie reports of me be coÌ„monly talked of amongst you if you do ouer expect any thing of me that perteineth to the duty of a brother freend or kinsman of yours that vvhich the name of a Christian maÌ„ dooth require vvhich is borne brought vp and by the space of many yeres as it vvere confirmed in the Catholike Church and faith perswade your selues for certain that I will by Gods assistance satisfie your expectation You haue heard peradueÌ„ture that I vvould go to the Church God almightie in vvhose sight I am speake and vvho is the searcher of the hart and reines of men dooth know that I neuer went to the ProtestaÌ„ts church vvith the mind to pray or to allow and professe their sect neither by coÌ„straint or free accord to seeme by any meanes to approue by consent and liking this religion which they terme reformed but I vvent sometimes that but seldoome vvhen I thought it good only for to see their rites and then manner of preaching and doing and to make mine English tong more prompt ready Nor do you not thinke that that vvhich is lavvfull to some one for certen causes is conuenient to al men for I vvould not counsel other men to go to the protestants church yea I haue diswaded men from it aboue a thousand times and haue shewed them that it was in no case lawful because that he that loueth danger shall fall into it neither vvould I haue gone to their conueÌ„ticles for any thing if I had know that I should haue giuen occasion of scandall You haue heard and do maruel at it that I am at liberty and therefore you suspect that I am retorned to my vomit Deerely beloued I am of al lyers the vaâ—nest if I do not enuie you your chaines your prison your banishment your gard your losse of goods your tribulation for Christ and perswade not your selues I praie you that I do reioyce in this my fortune and libertie but rather that it is sorrovvful loth some vnto me that I am not vvorthy to suffer contumely for the name of Iesus Therefore I attribut my liberty to the clemency of God almightie to the courtosie of the Q. Maiesties honorable and vvise Counsellers I impute it to mine owne mishap to my great sinnes but that which is differred is not altogether taken avvaie If I vsed doutfull words before the Q. Maiesties counsel for the vvhich they set me at liberty I haue interpreted them more plainely by my letters which I haue novv sent to the Q. most honorable sage Counsellers But put the case I yelded vnto them vvhy brethren ought I to attribute more to my self then to most blessed Peter most holy Marcellinus most stout Thomas of Canterbury of the vvhich the two former were Popes and al after the denial of Christ obteined pardon and shed their blood for the Catholike faith Be you not therefore seduced vvith the vvicked example of one man but staÌ„d stoutly dwell in this church in which wee haue ben borne and bred the vvhich Christ our Lord hath built and brought forth vpon the foundation of the Apostles and their Successors vvhose ruines do begin now after a sort to be repaired and restored But to draw to an ende I beseech you brethren by by the bowels of the mercie of Iesus Christ by that charitie vvherewith he so loued vs that he vouchsaued to be hanged on a tree for vs by his crosse his wounds by the nailes and speare vvhich are the badges of our Sauiour that you be not frighted nor moued vvith false reportes th' end wil proue al and perswade your selues that as I am partaker of one countrey with you so am I partaker of one Church one faith one religion one doctrine vvith you I thought good to write this letter to witnes thereby vnto you that I am of the same religion in vvhich I vvas borne againe by baptisme and for the vvhich I am most ready to dye vvith you I desire you also to pray vnto Christ Iesus crucified for me to giue me grace to direct al my thoughts vvords and works to the glory of his most holy name to mine ovvne saluation and to the profite and commoditie of my countrey Let vs also pray continually and vvith a common accord that Christ our Lord would preserue the Queenes Maiestie and her sage Counsellers and illuminate them vvith al truth that al their beginnings proceedings teÌ„de to the glory of almighty God Christ Iesus embrace vs al in the bowels of his mercies confirme vs and make vs al in one agreement in the Church which he hath founded vvith his most precious death Fare yee vvell AN ADMONITION TO THE READER THere are no more of regard as farre as vve yet heare that haue relented al this long perilous time of practize and persecution sauing M. Aufild and M. Govwe the former in England through extreeme feare of torments yelding onely to goe to their church once and that vvith many qualifications the other in Fraunce vpon other frailtie specially for desire to retorne home and enioye the commodities temporal that God had giuen him in his countrey vvho both streight vpon their fall being in regard of humane frailtie not great vvept bitterly haue done penaunce accordingly vvritten their letter to our Presidet in Rhemes of thâ—â—â— readines to doe any satisfaction for the scandal and offence committed and so be reconciled to Gods Church againe and haue done since that and doe al they can possibly for th'aduauncement of the Catholike faith Vvhose like publike acknovvledge of their offence should here haue been set furth but that the same could not be so speedely sent hither as the dispatch of these other vvas compted necessary Onely in al this gentil reader I desire the to marke for thy coÌ„solatioÌ„ the mercies of God hovv in this loÌ„g combat vvith so forcible and povvrable ennemies according to the flesh vvho vvaÌ„t no meanes vvorldly either to force by feare of death torments or to tempt by pleasure proffit preferments or to entangle by art and pollicie he hath giuen vs his poore seruaunts and souldiars not onely to fight stand hold out haue assured hope of victory ouer the aduersaries but to haue it vvith so small a losse by the death of so fevv vvith the fall or vvounding of so fevv so easely recouered againe to farre more aduantage of the cause as our Lord hath of his grace vsed the matter then if they had neuer had experience of their ovvne infirmitie and of the necessitie of his holy ayde by vvhom onely vve are vpholden in this spiritual fight for our faith and defence of his deare Spouse our Mother the Church vvhich by no povver of man or Diuel can be ouerthrovvne Fare vvel gentil reader and make thy profit to saluation of these examples of our frailtie vvhereby thou seest Gods streinght to be perfited in our infirmitie and our vveakenes to be sustained by the force 〈◊〉 his grace to him be al honor and glorie Amen The first of Iune 1583.