For there practise is to Alienate the hearts of our English Subects from the obedience to their soueraigne In which imployment though the Iesuites bee most notorious yet I account the Seminarie Priests more dangerous Because their estimation stealeth to it selfe a better opinion in the hearts of the simple Notwithstanding all their worke is directed to one and the selfe same end If all good subiects then shall desire the administration of Iustice according to the Lawes established they may either be conuerted or supplanted By whome our subuersion and vtter supplanting hath so often times beene attempted I therefore leaue them their actions and proceedings to be iudged off and carefullie to be lookt into by your most mature consideration and best diligence least that our too too much conueniencie doth yet vntimely bring vppon vs some dangerous mischiefe Them and their actions therfore are principally in the first place to be enquired of and that with such regard as their cunning may be no meanes outreach the meaning of the Statute Law inacted for their punishment wherin though there be as much concluded as the wisedome of our state could deuise in the preuention of any future euill yet as I heare the Pope hath already granted such dispensation as that by their hellish Sophistrie of Equiuocating they may take a course wherein to deceiue our hope of there amendment but in Gods name let the law prouided receiue a iust and faithfull execution then doubt not but their faithlesse Popish policie shall be sufficiently preuented And that in time the most sacred person of Gods anointed King whome Pope Clement the ninth cold proudly dare to tearm the scottish Heritike shall vnderneath his Princely foot tread downe Romes faithlesse Papall proud and Antichristian heresy now in hells despight vertuous King Iames being the Emperiall Maiesty of great Brittaines Monarchy the strength of whose establisht awfull gouernment makes the proudest Territories most strong foundation of earths Babilonde to shake I doubt not but in his royall selfe and his most blest posterity as is already by force of his commaunding power not without iust cause fearfully suspected the destruction of the scarlet whore shall be made certaine to her and her adulterates when they together shall bee with wrath destroyed for the accōplishing of which most glorious worke let all true beleeuing protestants like faithfull subiects to their lawfull Soueraigne yeelde there best obedience to his highnesse lawes and thus much concerning Romane Catholikes Those that you are in the second place to enquier of are a second manner of Recusants though nothing so dangerous as the Popish recusant is yet are they a Sect not to be tollerated in any Monarchyall gouernment They are a certaine Brotherhood which can indure no Bishops The originall founder of their schisme as they now professe it hath as some of them say turnd an Apostate to his first profession so as now they are ashamed of his name and will by no meanes in their fraternity be deriued from him yet they remaine knowne to the world by the name of Brownings The most part of them are simple Illiterate people And they together with those of that sorte which seeme to haue learning are as all the rest onely arrogant and wilfully peruerse fitter to be reformed by punishment rather then by argument And though their ignorance vnderstands not what they doe yet doe their endeauours striue to shake in sunder the whole frame of our Emperiall gouernment for if as they desire the forme of our Ciuill Lawes were abrogated Then should our Common Law and it of necessity fall togither For they are so wouen and incorporated each in other as that without the one the other cannot stand for example An action Reall beeing brought at common Law in Bar thereof Bastardy is pleaded our common Law can then proceed no further vntill by the ciuill Law the matter of Bastardy be determinned So is it in the right of a Womans Dowre and in the tryall of VVills In all these and diuerse others without the Assistance of the ciuill Law the comon Law hath no power to determine If then the ciuill Law must of necessity remain it is no lesse necessary that the iudges therof should be continued And againe without the graue assembly of our Reuerend Bishops his Maiesties high court of parliament should be vnfurnished no law being there enacted but that which is by the King his Lords spirituall and temporall confirmed These therefore that would haue no Bishops amongst vs do in their desires striue from his highnes and the dignity of his State to pluck the right hand of gouernment and as much as in them lyeth to break in sunder the golden frame of iust Authority for if no Bishops then no Lawes if no Lawes no King and to this height doth their presumption clime although their ideot blindnes seems as if they did not vnderstand so much the mischiefe of their schisme is most vnsufferable For neuer was there a nation knowne to flourish hauing a Monarchie in the kingdome and a Mallachie in the Church And therfore you of the Iurie faile not to enquire of all such Sectaries and present them It is therefore the faith full Protestant that only sets the Crowne vpō our Soueraignes head holds it vp so fast as no opposition can make it shake And by their loyall hands will Heauen bepleased to keep it safe from falling which Mercy in the most Royall issue now established God for christs his sake cōfirme vnto vs so long as Sun Moon endureth The last sort of Recusants though trouble some yet in my conscience the least dangerous are those which do with too much violence contend against some ceremonies vsed in the Church with whose indirect proceedings in mine owne knowledge his Maiestie is not a little grieued But I will hope as his Highnesse doth that in time they will grow wise enough to leaue their foolishnesse and consider that ceremonies not against the Analogie of Faith nor hindring Faiths deuotion are no such bug-beares as should scar them from the exercises of diuine duties nor cause them to disturbe the peace of our Church whose gouernment is more consonant to Scripture then all the best reformed Churches at this day in the world You of the Iurie faile not therefore to enquire of their abuses which doe delay to conforme themselues vnto the lawes obedience that such of them as doe growe insolent may not goe vnpunished And thus much concerning our three sorts of Recusants Thus hauing touched these groning euills which beeing well considered doe cry for iustice against themselues threatning if not suppresse To make our Commōwealth to grone vnder the burthē of inforc'd calamity I will now from them proceed vnto those growing enormities whose vngouernd height is already to such imperfectiō grown as that the iustice of this kingdomes gouernment receiueth scandall by their meanes and the publick weale grieued by vniust oppression I heare
take vpoÌ„ him the Place person of a Iudge but did vse all his Friendes and greatest power of meanees to perswade the Senate to alter their determination concerning him and to bestow so great an Office on some other that might more worthily deserue the same Whilest this young man continued in a discontented passion with purpose to desire some good aduice he goeth vnto a faithfull friend of his whom he acquainted with what the Senate purposed and how loath he was to vndertake so high an Office as to be a Iudge His friend vpon hearing the cause presently concluded that hee had great reason to shun the execution of such an Office in the discharge whereof so much danger rested For said he Caue ne sis Iudex inter Amicos because inter Amicos Inditare AmoÌ„gst friends to iudge is a thing nothing more daÌ„gerous And therfore he coÌ„staÌ„tly aduised that in any wise he should refuse such honor though offered vnto him and rather be contented with a meane and priuat life then in such a place to be imployed in which he should assuredly loose old friends and get new enemies This yong man though thus by his friend aduised and in himselfe resolued neuer to take vpoÌ„ him any such as he accounted dangerous dignitie yet wheÌ„ he vnderstood that the Senat would not be altered in their purpose but that by them the place was decreed vnto him he then determined with himselfe to trie the counsell of some other friend whose Iudgement and Experience might beare some generall note in directing the high affaires to the State belonging And in this purpose he went vnto a certain Nobleman whose prudent wisdome had oft bin vsed in businesse of most wâ—ighty consequence vnto whom when he had laid open his mind shewed his griefe and signified the Senats pleasure The noble Gentleman with pleasant yet graue alacritie of spirit seasoned with the soundnesse of a learned and vnderstanding wisedome did most powerfully aduise that this young man should cheerfully accept so worthy an Office being so freely bestowed vpon him And that he should by no means seeme to neglect the gracious clemencie of supreme authoritie Nor in any sort account it dangerous amongst friends to iudge for in the Office and execution of Iudgement he that is a Iudge Desinet esse Amicus ceaseth to be a friend for in the manner of iudgement no acquaintance no griefes no friends no remembrance of fore-passed present or hope of future friendship must direst the thoughts of him that is a Iudge All that on iudgements seat is done must be because Iustice commaunds the doing thereof and that with no other affection but onely because it is just And therefore said this Noble Gentleman vnto his friend arme thy selfe in the constancie of a conscionable vprightnes and be noe longer loath to execute the Honorable Office of a Iudge but in thy loue to Romes Common-wealth dedicate thy laboures to her publique benifit By the graue and sage aduice of that Honored Lord this yong man was perswaded contrarie to his former purpose with humble thankfulnes to accept that Office which the Senate without any meanes of his was pleased freelie to bestowe vpon him and yet generallie made shewe as if he ment the contrarie and soddainlie preparing a sumptuous Feast vnto which he enuited all his Friends Kinsfolke and familiar acquintance seeming that in regard he did rather choose to leaue his Countrie then to take vpon him the Office of a Iudge he had prouided a BaÌ„quet or Feast to Banquet with his Friendes before his departure and in some solemne maner would take leaue of them all Who being as they thought to this end assembled did sorrowfully expect the occation of their griefe by the departure of their friend which when the yong man perceiued he spake thus vnto them It is true that I purpose as I must to take my leaue of you all and to be a stranger to my dearest friends and nearest Allies I must forget all former friendships and my most familiar Acquaintance I must accompt as greatest straÌ„gers vnto me Thus must I depart from you yet continue amongst you for by the loue power authoritie of the Senate I am appointed to be a Iudge and in the seate of Iustice I must forget the remembrance of your former friendships and acquaintance and onely in the person of a Iudge with respect to keepe my conscience cleare I must with equitie vprightnes iustly administer iustice vnto you all And this is my cause by the loue fauour of my greatest maister King Iames in whose royall and gratious disposition I am Sinè precationè vel precatio without price or request freely called vnto this great Office by the fauour of my King Vnto whose seruice my life and all I haue is humbly bound by him and by his gratious Clemency I am thus sent to bee a Iudge amongst my Kinlfolkes and familiar friends euen in bosome of my natiue Countrie I must therefore as the young Romaine did take leaue of all former Acquaintance do that which is iust vnto all Estates and Degrees without partialitie Which dutie by Gods permission and assistance I will faithfully performe so long as God and my King shall please that in this place I be employed in the vprightnesse and equitie of Iudgement shall all my performance entirely consist The contrarie whereof shall as I hope neither be desired nor expected And thus much for my selfe ¶ Here followeth the words of his Charge in Order AS concerning the manner and Method of my charge I will for order and memorie sake extract or draw forth all that I purpose to speake from fiue words in his Maiesties Commission contained the words are these Quis Quibus Quid Quomodo and de Quibus Quis from whom the Commission commeth Quibus to whom it is directed Quid what it concerneth Quomodo how it ought to be executed and de Quibus of whoÌ„ and of what causes wee are to enquire by vertue of the Commission vnto vs graunted and this last De Quibus is of all the rest the greatest As touching the first word Quis whom or from whom our Commission commeth that is from the Imperiall Maiestie of Great Brittaines Monarchie our dread Lord and Soueraigne King Iames the lawfull Heyre vnto our Kingdomes Throne whose Princely Scepter is his proper owne by a most royall and lineall discent It is his Commission by whose powerfull authoritie we are now and at all times commaunded to doe him seruice for the awfull sway of his Soueraigne gouernment doth ought and must inioyne all his subiects to a due subiection and obedience for he is ouer vs the Lords annointed and in these his Realmes and Dominions in all Causes ouer all Persons as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuile next vnder Christ Iesus our supreame Gouernour Vnto his Highnesse then let our liues submission bend let our faiths loyaltie dedicate it selfe vnto his vertues praise and for the
I behold a Riuer with a siluer currant bounded in her equall course with what just proportion shee doth disperse her streames without bewraying any little rage of intemperate violence But if the passage of that streame bee stopt then how like a raging Sea shee ouer-flowes her banckes and that then by an vnresisted force the Meadowes humble Vallies weake and low growne Shrubs are drowned vp enduring a recure-lesse wracke whilest Hilles Mountaines stand safe from feare of harme Euen so it fareth with vs The equall course of Iustice being stayed the poore meaner sort of people they are ouerwhelmed with wrongs oppression whilest great and wealthy men like Hilles and Mountaines buyld their Stations sure being freed from any cause of griefe Iustice with-held only the poorer sort are those that smart for it Iustice vnto all estates doth measure an euen proportion to rich and poore her met-wand keepes an equall length being sealed with the testimonie of an vpright conscience To Kings Rulers Iudges and Magistrates this sentence is proper Vos Dijestis you are Gods on earth when by your execution of Iustice and Iudgement the God of heauen is by your actioÌ„s represented but if by vs that so are called Gods Iustice and Iudgement be peruerted it will be heauy for our soules when we shall dye like men Briefly the office of a Iudge is patiently to heare each party speake soberly to answere or object directly to see as neere as may bee possible each truth substantially prooued And then to Iudge with an vpright heart according to Iustice and Equitie Neuer in any one thing preferring Conclusion before a conscionable wise and judiciall Consideration In which vprightnesse the execution of Iustice vsed by the Right Honourable my most worthie Predecessor in this place shall be an Example which I will desire to follow Of all the Morall vertues Iustice Queene-like is enthroned for vnto her onely is a Throne ascribed because her Execution doth neerest represent Heauens eternall Deitie Iustice and Mercie are inseparable Vertues Mercie and Iudgement as it was Righteous King Dauids and lately our good Queenes heauenly Elizabeth so it is nowe vertuous King Iames his Song in whose princely breast Mercie and Iudgement are most gloriously vnited And to the end that I his Subiect and in his place his Substitute and you his Subiects may execute Iustice as wee ought I will nowe out of my last word de Quibus declare vnto you of whom and of what Causes wee are to enquire that Iustice and Iudgement may thereby receiue a more cleare and powerfull Execution Those then of whome wee are in the first place to enquire are such by whome our King is most disobeyed his State disturbed and Kingdomes threatened Whereof if you consider it will be euident That all those growing and desperate attempting euils by which wee are most prowdly menaced and Aflicted doe principally proceed from three sorts of Recusants liuing amongst vs. Of all which the Popish Recusant is the most dangerous with our English Romanists will I therefore at the first begin and in the discription of their Actions and practises I doe desire that my wordes may bee entertained with your best Attention Our Worldes Admired Queene Renowned Elizabeth did as you know in the beginning of her Raigne change the State of Religion in this Kingdome in her first Parlament by the consent of her Lordes Spirituall and Temporall being especially by the Lord of Heauen directed Error Popish blindnesse and Faithlesse Constitutions grounded vpon Humaine Traditions were extinct And Religions Puritie according to the Law of Faith was Reestablished being built vpon the vnremoued foundation of the alone Autenticke word Canonicall The bookes of the old and newe Testament from the trueth whereof shee did alwayes direct the course of her so happie and Tryumphant Gouernment Notwithstanding the Change of Religion it cannot bee denyed That for the first tenne yeeres of her Maiesties Raigne the estate of Romaine Catholique in England was Tollerable though some were Committed in the beginning of her CoÌ„ming to the Crowne yet none but those whose precedent Actions had caused the faith of their Allegience to remaine doubtfull and so was the manner of their commitment mixed with such gratious Clemencie As that they rather endured a fauourable restraint then any straight or rigorous imprisonment But aswell those so restrayned as generally all the Papists in this Kingdome not any of them did refuse to come to our Church and yeeld their formall Obedience to the Lawes Established And thus they all Continued not any one refusing to Come to our Churches during the first tenne yeeres of her Maiesties gouernment And in the beginning of the eleuenth yeere of her Raigne Cornewallyes Beddingfield and Silyarde were the first Recusants They absolutely refusing to come to our Churches And vntill they in that sort began the name of Recusant was neuer heard of amongst vs. In the beginning of the eleuenth yeere when three Recusants were onely in this Kingdome to bee found In the same yeere Pope Impius though abusiuely surnamed Pius Quintus his Hellishnes was informed by some of our English Iesuits that such was the number of Romaine Catholiques here in England as that if his Horriblenesse would denounce an Excommunication against the Queene there was in this Realme and Kingdome a power Catholical which would presently vpon an instant be in redinesse to enter into open hostilitie with force sufficient to depose and vtterly to supplant her Highnes and to reestablish the Romaine faith Pope Impius of that name the firste vpon the Information specified the better to seuer his hope in his good meaning to this Kingdome presently plotteth with the King of Spaine for asuddaine Inuasion vpon the present Excommunication of the Queene And to this end one Robert Rodulphy a gentleman of Florence was sent by the Pope vnder colour of Marchandize to sollicit a Rebellion amongst vs. And gaue order vnto him for the receiuing of one hundred and fiftie thousand Crownes to set forward this Attempt And Phillip King of Spaine by the instance of the Pope had determined to send the Duke of Aâ—lna into England with all his forces in the Low Countries To Assist some great men amongst vs who were by the Pope Sollicited to be the principall Agents in a most Rebellious enterprise vnto whome some of the one hundred and fiftie Thousand Crowns was deliuered and some other part sent into Scotland for the like effect Thus as you haue heard euen at the same time when her Maiesty the late Queene delt most mercifully with the Papists did the Pope with them conspire to worke her Ruyne this Kingdomes Ouerthrowe secretly complaning how on sodaine they might bring vpon vs Distructions Spoyle and generall Desolatton when our then Soueraigne that Queene of Vertue knowing Shee had diserued no such euill did not in the least sort suspect any such danger The Pope hauing as he thought surely Established the foundation of his hopes Hee
then Denounced the ExcoÌ„munication against the Queene which was not vnto her selfe made knowne vntill the intended Rebellion in the North brake forth a little before Christmas in the yeere 1569 being the twelfth yeere of her Highnesse Raigne And then it was knowne that the Pope had Excommunicated her Maiestie And thereby freed her Subiects as the Bull imported from their Subiection and Obedience But God was pleased that the Popes Bull was so Bayted as that the Rebellion by it procured was sodainly suppressed For the Pope whose labour is to defend Lies was himselfe deceiued with a lie for the strength of the Papists here not being such as hee was enformed The true harted Protestants taking parte with the Soueraigne did quickly Cutt the Throats of our English Romaines dryuing some of the heads of that Rebellion vnto a shamefull flight and brought the rest by our Lawes Iustice to a shamefull death Her Maiestie in the thirteenth yeere of her Raigne hauing made the Law before specified the very next yeere following out Commeth Sanders Booke de Visibili Monarchya wherein he plainely seteth downe how the Pope had sent one Morton and Web two Priests before the said Rebellion to the Lords Gentlemen in the North to Excite them with their followers to take vp Armes signifying vnto them the Popes Commandement Alleadging That her Maiestie being excommunicated Her Subiects were released from their Obedience And therefore he doth Directly Iustifie the sayd Commotion Ascribing the euill successe thereof to the late publishing of the saide Excommunication Because it was not generally knowne vntill the yeere after it was Denounced VVhen Felton had set it vpon the Bishop of Londons gate Affyrming that if it had bin published the yeere before or when the Rebells were in Armes they had assuredly preuailed against the Queene and executed the saide Sentence at the same time for her deposinge from the Crowne Thus Trayterously with more then Brazen Insolence did that Traytor Sanders spitt out his poysoned venim Thereby desiring to Corrupt the hearts of her highnes Subiects and to make them fit for a newe Rebellion which course by him takeÌ„ was Immitated by Parsons many others to the like effect Who ceased not by there Hereticall and Lying Pamphlits with most Trayterous impudencie to abuse her Maiestie and the State And not thus contented in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred seuentie and nine Stukely assisted by Sanders and other Catholiques both English Irish and Italian with the Popes Commission entred into Ireland The Pope himselfe in the furtherance of that Course sending thither certaine forces vpon his owne Charge Whilest all that time her Maiestie that Queene of mercie was so farre from being moued as that with Patience shee endured all these Iniuries onely inforcing that one Lawe which as you haue heard shee most Iustly made against them Whilest Ireland by the Popes procurement remained in Combustion It happened that Pius Quintus dyed and Gregorie the thirteenth succeeded in his place who presently Reneweth his Predecessors former Bull and denounced her Maiestie to bee Excommunicated with Intimation of all other particulers in the former Bull mentioned which done there was by him sent ouer into England Campion and Parsons they came vnto vs in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred and eightie there comming was to Alienate the hearts of her Maiesties Subiects from their due obedience And to make a partie strong to depose the Queene Ioyning with the Pope and King of Spaine by whome there was then an intended preparation against vs. But the Attempts and practises of them both at that instant fayling in England The Pope as a Temporall Prince displayeth his Banner in Ireland with purpose to depriue her Highnes First from that Kingdome and then by degrees to depose her from this Notwithstanding so mild was the proceedings of her Maiestie against them as that there were in the space of Tenne yeers not much aboue twelue persons that were by the Iustice of her Lawes adiudged to die and the most of them Semenaries and all of them Conuicted in causes of Treason Her Maiestie when shee heard of the second Excommunication and had seene what followed in her Kingdome vpon the first Shee was then in all Christian Pollecie enioyned to preuenr the successe of dangers imminent Her Highnesse therefore in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred eightie and one caused a Proclamation to bee made for the calling home of her Subiects from beyond the Seas such especially as were Trayned vp in the Seminaries perceiuing that they learned nothing there but disloyaltie Treason And presently after this her Proclamation shee called a Parliament wherein a Lawe was agreeable in effect to the sayd Proclamation enforced with a penaltie of death for any Iesâ—ite or Seminary Priest to repayre into England and for any to receiue or intertaine them shee would willingly that those of such profession should keep themselues without the Lymits of her Kingdome But if against her will they would come into her Land to sow the seed of Sedition and Rebellion amongst her Subiects and to lay their plots how to supprize her life and to make a way for Forraigne Enemies with bloodie handes to enter vppon her Dominions And by Hostill Inuasion to bring her Kingdomes to distructition and to expose her people vnto the Slarie of a seruile yoake What shoulde her Maiestie lesse haue done in the preuention of such a Lamentable euill but to hang vp them that were the principall Actors in so bloodie and Tragecall a Tyranny From the yeere eighty one to eightie eight her Maiestie was not free from Continual Traiterous and Rebellious practises desperately attempted against her life or intended subuertion of her Kingdome First the Popes forces being ouerthrowne in Ireland the Pope and King of Spaine presently ioyned with the Duke of Guise for the executing of a most desperate disignment against her Maiestie Arden and Someruilde would haue layd vyolent handes vpon her sacred person Dostor Parrie intended the like villanie Northumberland reuolted from his ObedieÌ„ce Mendoza the Iesuite and others of that Crue or Sect appointed by the Pope to order and Mannage these deuelish designments In the yeare eightie to forerunne the purposed Spanish Inuasion against which time Campion Parsons Haywoode and all the Iesuites and Seminaries had so besturred themselues There is certaine bookes printed beyond the Seas sent ouer into England therby to prepare the hearts of our people to Ioyne with Spaine and to take vp Armes against their Soueraigne with perswasions grounded vpon this position Viz. That in all warres which may happen for Religion euery Catholike man is ioyned in conscience to imploy his person and forces by the Popes direction that is how far when where how either at home or abroad he may and must breake with his temporall Soueraigne and that vpon paine of deadly sinne Vpon a foundation so diabolical What fruits other then diuellish can be expected And yet do but further note how
vs to get something But in the middest of this intended preparation it happened that her Maiestie Royall and most gracious Elizabeth died And our now Imperiall Soueraigne King Iames did both inherite her kingdomes and her vertues His Majestie beeing with peace established in his royall seate the king of Spaine would no longer embrace his former purposed appointment Nor would consent that any thing should against a king be plotted with whom he neuer had warre Nor by whom he neuer receiued any iniurie So as our Papists were in that behalfe dismissed of their expected hope and enforced to seeke out some other meanes and now I will bewray a secret I am sure not generally knowne In the discourse whereof I doe desire attention Pope Clement the ninth who was accounted the last best of many Popes all notwithanding being naught He vnderstanding Spaines purpose as before is specified concerning an inuasion supposing that the Queene might die before that businesse tooke effect And foreseeing vnto whom these kingdomes should of right descend sent secretly a Bull into England which was so closely concealed amongst our Papistes here as that her Maiestie in her life time knewe not thereof For if she had I am sure that by reasoÌ„ of mine employment neare vnto her I should haue heard if she had knowne any such thing But assuredly both her selfe and the State were ignorant therof But now this Bull being brought to light which my selfe haue seen read it importeth thus much quaÌ„do contingeret illam miserimaÌ„ ElizabethaÌ„ mortuaÌ„ esse That when that miserable wench Elisabeth should happen to dye Tunc nos volumus Then we will that all and euery of you do vse your best vttermost endeuors quibuscunque modis et viâ—s by what strength or meanes so euer to keepe out the Scottish Hereticke that in any wise he may not be admitted to the kingdome of England vnlesse he would reconcile himselfe to Rome and hold his crowne of the Pope and conforme himselfe and all his subiects to the religion of the Romane Church This Bull vntil Garnet was taken slept in England beeing filled with a most proud scornfull and Trayterous boldnesse When that miserimam foeminam Miserable woman or wench Elizabeth shall dye had the Papall proud vsurper no other attribute to bestowe vppon a Queene then Miserable wench shee liued Renowned thorough all the Corners of the worlde shee ruled in peace beloued of all her Subiects vnlesse those infected with the Romane Leprosie shee was admired feared coâ—freâ—â—ing all oppositions with vndoubted confidence shee was a Prince potent enough to defend her Kingdomes and to helpe her Neighbours beeing oppressed with glorious victorie she beat Spaine from off her coasts and rifled him in the bosome of his owne kingdome wrapping his townes and shippes in cloudes of fire and smoake She swayed the Royall Scepter of her kingdomes gouernement with triumphant victorie maintaining peace ámongst her people euen in the worlds despight 44 yeares her vnmatched wisedome and vnconquered prowes crowned her the Peerelesse wonder of her sexe she liu'd and di'd a Queene her life beloued and her death lamented And yet for all this was she no more in the Popes account then a miserable wench Let the Popes pride sinke to hell whilest heauens Elizabeth whose blessed soule from earth to heauen is taken doth and shall with God and Christ for euer liue in the heauenly glorie of eternall happinesse Pope Clement the ninth hauing by his Bull as before specified giuen commaundement that the Papists should by all meanes howsoeuer withhold our now Soueraigne from his lawfull right And notwithstanding that Rebellious Commission his Maiestie being with great ioy peaceably enstalled Peersie Catesby went vnto their great Prouinciall Garnet of him enquired whether the king being as he was alreadie established they might by vertue of the Popes Bull vse any meanes to supplant or depose him considering they were not of force to withstand his comming at the first And Garnet answered that vndoubtedly they might whereuppon they presently resolued to put in execution that most horrible powder treason the like whereof vntill that time was neuer to the world reported Some are of opinion that if a tolleration of religion had bin admitted vnto the Papists that then no such bloudie stratagem should by any of them haue bene practised But if you shall consider the tenor of the Popes Bull you may then perceiue that their request of indifferent Tolleration was but a colourable pretence in them For that might not haue serued their turnes For they were enioyned to worke his Maiesties ouerthrow vnlesse he would reconcile himselfe to Rome hold his Crowne of the Pope and conforme himselfe and all his subiects to the Religion of the Roman Church It is not then a toleration only which they seeke nor could they haue bene contented therewith although so much shall neuer be granted vnto them They may therefore easily despaire of the rest though they the Pope and the Diuell doe neuer so much conspire to bring their Hell-borne practises to passe As touching the last horred treason by inhuman sauages complotted I know not what to speake because I want words to describe the trayterous detestable tyrannicall bloudie murtherous villanie of so vilde an action Onely this had their horrible attempt taken place This Sea-Inuyrond-Iland the beauty and wonder of the world This so famous and farre renowm'd great Brittaines Monarchie had at one blowe endured a recouerlesse ruine being ouerwhelmed in a sea of bloud all those euils should haue at one instant happened which would haue made this happiest kingdome of all kingdomes the most vnhappy Our conquering Nation conquered in her selfe her faire and fertile bosome beeing by her owne natiue though foule vnaturall children torne in peeces should haue beene made a scorne to all the nations of the earth This so well planted pleasant fruitfull worlds accounted Edens paradise should haue beene by this time made a place disconsolate auast and desert wildernesse generally ouerrunne with heards of bloud-desiring wolues This so well gouern'd Populous potent Monarchy had in one moment beene left without either King Queene Prince State Nobility Law Iustice or any strength of gouernment sodainly had we then beene throwne not onely to the cruelty of ciuill warre that too too murtherous Domestick spoyling enemie But also euen in that instant generally haue beene exposed vnto the all-deuouring hand of forraine Enemies in our Congregations the songs of Syon had no more been sung But in their steed had bin brought vnto vs the songs of Gehenna seÌ„t from Rome that Sathans synagogue all our best-freedomes liberty had by this bene turn'd into the worst bondage of most slauish seruitude Papists Romane Catholickes that would haue wrought all our destructions thus Should not Iustice iustly then commaund their actions chiefly to be enquired of If what hath bene spoken be vnto your memories committed you may then consider that from the eleuenth yeare of Queene Elizabeths