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lord_n	baron_n	john_n	sir_n	17,609	5	6.4327	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45326	The life & death of that renowned John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester comprising the highest and hidden transactions of church and state, in the reign of King Henry the 8th, with divers morall, historicall and political animadversions upon Cardinall Wolsey, Sir Thomas Moor, Martin Luther : with a full relation of Qu. Katharines divorce / carefully selected from severall ancient records by Tho. Baily ...	Hall, Richard, 1535 or 6-1604.; Henry VIII, King of England, 1491-1547. Testamentum.; Bayly, Thomas, d. 1657?	1655 (1655)	Wing H424; ESTC R230	97,933	254

it was his secret place of Prayer This Coffer thus fenced about and in so private a place and close unto him every man beleived verily that some great Treasure had been stored up in that same Coffer wherefore because no indirect dealing might be used in defrauding the King in a matter of so great cons●quence a● this was thought to be wherefore witnesses were solemnly called to be present so the Coffer was broken up before them and much paines was taken in ●breaking up th● Coffer but when it was open they found within it instead of gold and silver which they looked for a shirt of haire and two or three whips wherwith he used full often to punish himself as some of his Chaplaine● and Servants have often reported that were neere about him and curiously marked his doings and other treasure than that found they none at all But when report was made to him in his prison of the opening of that coff●r he was very sorry for it and said that if hast had not made him forget that and many things else ●●ose things had not been to be found there at that time After this good B●shop was recovered to some better strength by the help of his Physitians and that he was more able to be carried abroad he was on Thursday the 17. of Iune brought to the Kings Bench at Westminster from the Tower with a huge number of Holberts Bills and other weapons about him and the Ax of the Tower born before him with the edge from him as the manner is and because he was not yet so well recovered that he was able to walk by land all the way on foot he rode part of the way on horseback in a black cloth gown the rest he was carried by water for that he was not well able to ride thorough for weaknesse As soon as he was come to Westminster he was there pres●nted at the Barre before the said Commissioners being all set ready in their places against his coming whose names were these Sir Thomas Audely Knight Lord Chancellor of England Charles Duke of Suffolk H●nry Earle of Comberland Thomas Earle of Wiltshire Thomas Cromwell Secretary Sir Iohn Fitz. Iames Chief Iustice of England Sir Iohn Baldwin Chief Justice of the Common-pleas Sir William Pawlet Sir Richard Lyster Chief Baron of the Exchequer Sir Iohn Port Sir Iohn Spilman and Sir Walter late Justices of the Kings Bench and Sir Anthony Fitzherbert one of the Justices of the Common-pleas Being thus presented before these Commissi●ners he was commanded by the name of Iohn Fisher late of Rochester Clerk otherwise called Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester to hold up his hand which he did with a most cheerfull countenance and rare constancy then was his Indictment read which was very long and full of words but the effect of it was thus that he maliciously treacherously fals●ly had said these words The King our soveraigne Lord is not Supreme head in the earth of the Church of England and b●ing read to the end it was asked him whether he was guilty of this Treason or no whereunto he pleaded Not guilty Then was a Jury of twelve men being Free-holders of Middlesex called to try this Issue whose names were these Sir Hugh Vaughan Knight Sir Walter Langford Knight Thomas Burbage Iohn Nudygate William Browne Iohn Hewes Iasper Leak Iohn Palmer Richard Henry Young Henry Lodisman Iohn Elrington and George Heveningham Esquires These twelve men being sworne to trie whether the prisoner were guilty of this Treason or no at last came forth to g●ve evidence against him Mr Rich the secret and close Messenger that passed between the King and him as ye have read before who openly in the presence of the Judges and all the people there assembled deposed and swore that he heard the Prisoner say in plaine words within the Tower of London that he believed in his conscience and by his learning he assuredly knew that the King neither was nor by right could be Supreme head in earth of the Church of Engl. When this blessed Father heard the accusations of this most wretched false person contrary to his former oath promise he was not a little astonied thereat wherefore he said to him in this menner Mr. R●ch I cannot but mervaile to hear you come in and beare witnesse against me of these words knowing in what secret manner you came to me but suppose I so said unto you yet in that saying I commited no Treason for upon what occasion and for what cause it might be said your self doth know right well and therefore being now urged said he by this occasion to open somewhat of this matter I shall desire my Lords and others here to take a little patience in hearing what I shall say for my self This man meaning Mr. Rich came to me from the King as he said on a secret message with commendations from his Grace declaring at large what a good opinion his Majesty had of me and how sorry he was of my trouble with many more words than are here needfull to be recited because they tended so much to my praise as I was not onely ashamed to hear them but also knew right well that I could no way deserve them at last he broke with me of the matter of the Kings Supremacy lately granted unto him by Act of Parliament to the which he said although all the Bishops in the Realme have consented except your selfe alone and also the whole Court of Parliament both spirituall and temporall except a very few yet he told me that the King for better satisfaction of his owne conscience had sent him unto me in this s●cret manner to know my full opinion in the matter for the great aff●●nce he had in me more than any other he ad●ed further that if I would herein frankly and freely advertise his Maj. my knowledge that upon certificate of my misliking he was very like to retract much of his former doings and make satisfaction for the same in case I should so advertise him when I had heard all his message and considered a little upon his words I put him in minde of the new Act of Parliament which standing in force as it doth against all them that shall di●●ctly say or do any thing that is against it might thereby ●ndanger me very much in case I should utter unto him any thing that were offensive against the Law to that he told me that the King willed him to assure me on his honour and in the word of a King that whatever I should say unto him by this his secret messenger I should abide no danger no perill for it neither that any advntage should be taken against me for the same no although my words were never so directly against the Statutes seeing it was but a declaration of my minde secretly to him as to his owne person and for the messenger himselfe he gave me his faithfull promise that he would never utter

but God forgive you wherefore Sir applying her self to the King it seemes to me to be no justice that I should stand to the order of this court seeing one of my Judges to be so partiall and if I should agree to stand to the judgement of this Court what Cou●cellours h●v● I but such as are your owne Subjects taken from your own Counsell to which they are privy and perhaps dare not go against it wherefore I refuse to stand to their advic● or plea or any judgement that is here and doe appeale unto the Sea 〈◊〉 before our holy Father the Pope humbly beseeching you by the way of charity to sp●re me till I may know what further course my friends in Spaine will advise me to and if this may not be granted then your pleasure be fulfilled With that making a low obeysance to the King she d●parted the Court leaving behinde her many ●●d hearts and weeping eyes among the which this good Bishop of Rochester was most compassionate After she was perceived to be quite departed from the Court for it was supposed that she meant to have returned to her place the King commanded that she should be called back againe but she would not in any wise returne saying to those that were about her This is no place for me to expect any indifferency for they are all agreed what they will doe and the King is resolved what shall be done Soe she departed cleare away from the Court and never afterwards did she appeare there any more CHAP. X. 1. The good Character which the King gave his Queen Katharine 2. The King declares his scruple of Consc●ence 3. Shewes the danger the Kingdom is in for lack of issue Male. 4. His proc●●dings with the Bishops therein THe King peroeiving that she was thus departed spake unto the Court as followeth Forasmuch as the Queene is now gone I will declare in her absence before you all that she hath ever been to me as true obedient and conformable a wife as I could wish or any man desire to have as having al● the vertuous qualities that ought to be in a woman of her dignity she is high born as the quality of her conditions do declare yet of so meek a spirit as if her humility had not been acquainted with her birth so that if I sought all Europe over I should never finde a better wife and therefore how willing I w●uld if it were lawfull continue her to be my wife ●●ill Death make the separation ye● may all guess but Conscience Conscience is such a thing who can endure the sting and prick of Conscience alwaies stinging and pricking wit●in his breast Wherefore my Lords this woman this good woman I say sometimes b●ing my broth●rs wife as ye all know or have heard h●●h bred such a scruple within the secrets of my breast as daily doth torment cumber and disquiet my minde fearing and mistrusting that I am in great danger of Gods indignation and the rather because he hath sent me no issue Male but such as died incontinently after they were born Thus my Conscience being tossed to and fro upon these unquiet waves almost in despaire of having any other issue by her it behoveth me I think to look ● little further and to consider now the welfare of this Realm and the great danger that it standeth in for lack of a Prince to succeed me in this office and therefore I thought good in respect of the discharging of my conscience and for the quiet state of this noble Realm to attemp● the Law herein that is to know by your good and learned counsell whether I might lawfully take another wife by whom God may send me issue Male in case this my first marriage should appeare not warrantable and this is the onely cause for which I have sought thus farre unto you and not for any displeasure or disliking of the Queenes p●rson or age with whom I could be as well contented to live and continue if our marriage may stand with the Laws of God as with any woman living and in this point consisteth all the doubt wherein I would be satisfied by the sound Learning Wisdome and Judgements of you my Lords the Prelates and Pastors of this Realme now here assembled for that purpose and according to whose determination herein I am contented to submit my selfe with all obedience and that I meant not to wade in so weighty a matter of my selfe without the opinion and judgement of my Lords spirituall it may well appeare in this that shortly after the coming of this scruple into my conscience I moved it to you my Lord of Lincolne my ghostly Father and forasmuch as you your selfe my Lord were then in some doubt you advised me to ask the counsell of the rest of the Bish●ps whereupon● moved you my Lord of Canterbury fi●st to have your Licence inasmuch as you were the Metropolitan to put this matter in question as I did to all the rest the which you all have granted under your Seales which I have here to shew That is true and if it please your Grace said the Bishop of Canterbury and I doubt not but my brethren here will acknowledge the same Now you must understand that the King having won the Archbishop wholly to his designe the Archbishop had got as many of the Bishops hands unto that Deed as he could and set the rest of the Bishops hands thereto of his own accord they both imagining that none would have been so bold as to contradict or charge so openly both the King and the Archbishop of an untruth but my Lord of Rochester being of an undaunted spirit and one of the Queenes Counsell assigned whereby he might deliver his mind the better knowing the clearnesse of his own conscience said unto the Archbishop No my Lord not so under your favour all the Bishops were not so farre agreed for to that instrument you have neither my hand nor my seale No 〈◊〉 said the King and with a ●rowning counten●nc● said to my Lord of Rochester Look here Is not this your hand and seale shewing him the instrument no forsooth said the Bishop it is none of my hand nor seale How say you to that said th● King to my Lord of Canterbury Sir said he● it is his hand and his seale No my Lord said the B●shop of Rochester indeed you were in hand with me often for my hand and seal as others of my Lords have been but I alwaies told both you and them I would in no wise consent to any such act for it was much against my conscience to have any such businesse called in question and therefore my h●nd and seale should never be put to any such instrument God willing with a great deale more which I said to that purpose if you remember Indeed said my Lord of Canterbury it is true you had such words with me but after our talk ended you were at last contented that I should

taken as undoubtedly true si●cere and perfect which Marriage carrying with it the soveraign imfortunity of all second Marriages being compleated the same Parliament enacted a Statu●e which declared the establishment of the Kings succession in the imperiall Crowne to be upon the issue which he was to have by the present Queene Anne ratifying whatsoever the foresaid Archbishop of Canterbury had decreed and disinheriting the issue which the King had by the foresaid Lady Katharine from all title to the foresaid Crowne and Government or that if any person of what state and condition soever shall by writing printing or any exteriour Act or Deed procure or doe any thing to the prejudice slander disturbance or de●ogation of the said Matrimony or the issue growing of the same every such person shall be deemed and adjudged as an high Traitour and suffer such punishment as in case of high Treason is provided and for the better keeping of this Act the Kings Majesty together with his Counsellours of their owne authority framed an O●th upon the breaking up of this Parliament which was upon the 30. day of Ma●ch and tendred it the same day to all the Lords both spirituall and temporall as likewise to all the Commons and was to be tendred to whom the Commissioners for the same purpose should call before them the words of which Oath were these viz. Ye shall swear to beare Faith Truth and all Obedience onely to the Kings Majesty and to his heires of his body and of his most dear and entirely beloved wife Queen Anne begotten and to be begotten and further to the heires of our Soveraigne Lord according to the limitation made in the Statute for surety of his succession in the Crown of this Realm mentioned and contained and not to any other within this Realme nor to any other forraign Authority or Potentate whatsoever and in case any Oath be made or hath been made by you to any person or persons that then ye doe repute the same as vaine and annihilate and that to your cunning wit and utmost endeavours ye shall observe keep maintain and defend the said Act of Succession all the whole effects and intents thereof and all other Acts and Statutes made in confirmation and for ex●cution of the same or any thing therein contained and this ye shall do against all manner of persons of what estate dignity degree or condition soever they be and in no wise do or attempt nor to your power suffer to be done or attempted directly any thing or things privily or openly to the let hindrance danger or derogation thereof or if any part of the same by any manner of meanes or any manner of pretences So help you God and all his Saints and the holy Evangelist Which Oath all the Lords both spirituall and temporall took except the Bishop of Rochester who absolutely refused it So the Parliament was ended But The said Bishop had not been 4 daies quiet within his Palace of Rochester but a Letter came to him from the Archbishop of Canterbury together with other of the Commissioners willing him personally to appear before them in the said Archbishops house by a certain day expressed within the Letter all excuses set a part And CHAP. XIX 1. The Bishop of Rochester summoned to appear before the Archbishop of Canterbury 2. Sir Thomas M●or and Dr. Wilson committed for refusing the Oath 3. The Bishop of Rochester sent to the Tower for the same cause 4. A Parliament is called wherein the Bishops imprisonment was voted lawfull 5. The Supremacy of the Church conferred upon the King c. by Act of P●●liament absolutely and w●●●out the fo●mer clause 6. An Act 〈◊〉 Parliament making i● treason to deny the King to be supreme head of the Church NOw was the thing come to passe which was no●hing terrible to him because it was foreseen wherefore he first makes his Will and leaves severall L●gacies to divers persons and uses as to Michael house in Cambridge where he received his Education to St. Iohns Colledge to the Poore to some of his 〈…〉 to all his Servants whom he leaves weeping behinde him whiles the rest followed him lam●nting his condition in his journey towards Lambeth Passing thorough the City of Rochester there were a mult●tude of p●ople gathered together both citizens and countreymen to whom he gave his benediction riding by them all the while b●●eheaded some crying that they should never see him again others denouncing woes unto them that were the oc●asions of his troubles others crying out against the wickednesse of the times and all of them lamenting and bewailing that wh●ch was their miserie and his glory Thus he passed on his way till he came to Sutors hill twenty miles from Rochester on the top whereof he rested himself descending from his horse and causing to be brought before him such victuals as he had caused to be brought thither for that purpose he said he would now make use of his time and dine in the open aire while as he might after which dinner he chearfully took his horse and came to London the same night The day of his appearance being come he presented himselfe before the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth the Lord Audely Chancelour of England Thomas Cromwell the Kings Secretary and the rest of the Commissioners authorised under the great Seale of England to call before them whom they pleased and to tender unto them the foresaid Oath then sitting at Lambeth where at the same tune the Bishop met with Sir Thomas Moore who welcomed and saluted the Bishop in these termes Well met my Lord I hope we shall meet in Heaven to which the Bishop replyed This should be the way Sir Thomas for it is a very strait gate we are in There had been Doctor Wilson sometime the Kings Confessor who together with Sir Thomas Moore had both of them refused the Oath a little before the B●shops coming for which the Knight was committed for the present to the custody of the Abbot of Westminster as the Doctor had been formerly committed to the Tower of London at which time also the Clergie of London were warned to appeare about the same businesse who all of them took the Oath at the same time Then was it that the B●shop of R●chester was called before the Archb●shop c. who putting the B●sh●p in remembrance of the Act which was made by the late Parliament wh●ch had provided an O●th to be administred to all persons within this R●alm concerning the establ●shment of the Succession c. how all the Lords both spirituall and temporall had taken the said Oath onely himself excepted how grievo●sly his Majesty was offended with him therefore how he had g●ven strict charge to himself and the rest of the Commissioners to call him before them and to tender unto him the Oath once more presented unto him the Oath laying it before him and demanded of him what he would say thereto the good man p●rusing

as Callis 6. The King sends to stop it from coming any further THe Lords were by this time put to their trump● and to use their wits how they might bring this thing to passe wherefore the next morning they sent for Sir Thomas Moore to come to Court and after they had kept them there three houre● waiting upon them they admitted him into their presence and causing the Doore to be close shut they discoursed with him about half an houre the main subject of the discourse being to perswade him to conformity and compliance with the King in these demands and to assure him how gracio●sly thereupon he should be received into the Kings favour and accustomed good opinion of him but all being in vain he was de●ained in s●fe custody within the Court and a strict charg● was given that he should not speak with any man and that none should be permitted to speak to him This being done it was given out that Sir Thomas Moor had taken the O●th so that all men believed it This done they sent for the B●shop of Rochester the same day and urged him very sor●ly to take the Oath of Supremacy saying that he resting himself wholly upon Sir Thomas Moore by whose perswasion he stood out so st●fly against the King had now no reason but to do as he had done who shewing him now the way they all exp●cted him to doe no otherw●se than to fo●low the good example which he had given him and be received unto the like grace and favour with the King as his fellow-prisoner was at that time received the good B●shop hearing as much befor● and now those Lords justifying as much as he had heard believed no less an● seemed to be much troubled thereat and sorrowfull for his sake ●ut in the end he thus spake unto the Lords My Lords I confesse I am a little perplexed at that which you now tell me which is no more than what I have heard already am exceeding sorrowfull that that courage should row be wanting to him which I once thought never would have failed him and th●t constancy had not been an addition to all his other great and singular vertues But I am not a fit man to blame him in regard I was never assaul●●d with those strong temptations 〈◊〉 of and childr●●n the which it 〈…〉 lodgings and it was likewise given out that the Bishop had subscribed to and taken the oath of Supremacy and that he was then conducted to the King to kisse his hand In this interim it hapned that Mrs. Margaret Roper the darling daughter to Sir Thomas Moore one that had much accesse unto the Lords by reason of her great friends and manifold perfections was at the same time at the Councel doore with a Petition in her hand thinking to deliver it unto the Lords in the behalf of her Father to procure him more enlargement within the Tower than what he formerly had enjoyed and hearing of her Fathers being there was resolved to inform her self of the event of that daies Conference which the Lord Chancellour Audely perceiving and knowing her businesse went out unto her and thus thought to perswade how the daughters thimble might prick a needle into the fathers conscience viz. Mrs. Roper I am sorry I can doe you no more service in that which you so earnestly solicite in your fathers behalfe truly Mrs. Roper your father is to blame to be so obstinate and self-will'd in a businesse wherein no man in the whole Realm stands out but onely he and a blinde Bishop and yet that bishop was not so blinde but at the la●● with much adoe we have brought him to see his own error with that Mrs. Margaret gave a spring for joy and asked him Are you sure that my Lord of Rochester hath taken the Oath Yes said the Lord Chancellour and more than that he is now with the King and you will see him at liberty and in great favour with the King then I will warrant you said the poore Gentlewoman that my Father will not hold out Go said the Lord Chancelour and perswade your Father that he doe not before he be brought before us for I wish him well and it is a great pity that such a man as he should be cast away Away goes Mrs. Margaret to her father but could not be admitted to speak with him back she comes to the L. Chan. and procures his warrant of admittance in she comes unto her father tells him all that she heard with a great deal of confidence when her father had heard all that she would say he onely answered her with a soft voice peace daughter my L. of Rochester hath not taken the Oath yes indeed father it is so said his daughtter for my L. Chancelor told me as much with his own mouth who wisheth you well and my L. of Rochest is at liberty and is now with the K. and in great favour Away away you foole said Sir Tho Moore thou are not used to these s●●ights I know the tricks of them all they think to take me in a Poppet snatch but they are deceived and I tell thee more if the Bishop had taken the Oath yet it should never be taken by me A Bishop is a correcter of Vice but no president for Sin After they had had much talk to this and no purpose Sir Thomas Moore was sent for to appeare before the Lords where he was no sooner entred the Room but they all called upon him to do as my Lord of Rochester had done before him all of them using no other arguments but my Lord of Rochester my Lord of Rochester as my Lord of Rochester had shewed him a good example Sir Thomas Moor asked them where my Lord of Rochester was saying that if he could but speak with my Lord of Rochester it may be his motives might induce him to take the Oath they told him that my L. of Roch. was where he might also be viz. with the King if that he would do but as he hath done May I not speak with him said Sir Thomas Moor before I take this Oath They answered that he should speak with him as soon as ever he had taken it but to speak with him before was not so proper because then it would be said he pinn'd his judgement upon anothers sleeve neither would they wish him to desire it in regard that the King would then have cause to thank the Bishop and not him for such his condescention and besides that would be too great a sl●ghting of us that are here in that you will not take our words for such a businesse I pray you then said Sir Thomas Moore let me see his hand if he have subscr●bed That said the Chancelour is carried also with him to the King Then let me tell you said Sir Thomas Moore that I do not believe that my Lord of Rochester hath either subscribed his hand or taken the Oath and if he had done both

him a fiery chariot to his journies end whirl'd by all the furious winds of rage and madness for upon the sending of the Cardinalls Hat to him from Rome which was intended to have been p●rformed with the greatest ceremony that ever any Hat was sent from thence taking no notice of the condition he was in whereby it was conceived that the King would reflect within himself and take some heed how he offended so great a body as had the Universe for its Dimension but it fell out otherwise for Harry the 8. for all the other Kings were called Henries with his dagger was resolv'd to go thorough● stitch with what he had begun wherefore as soon as ever he had intelligence hereof he sent immediately to Callis to stop the favour of the Pope from coming any further into his Dominions untill his pleasure therein was further known which was done accordingly CHAP. XXII 1. The K. sends his Secretary to the Bp. to know of him that in case the Pope should send unto him a Cardinalls Hat whether he would accept of it or not 2. The Bishops answer thereunto 3. The King highly offended with his answer 4. A notable but most wicked policy to entrap the Bishop within Delinquency 5. A Commission to enquire and determine Treasons 6. Three Monks of the Charter-house executed IMmediately hereupon the King sent Mr Thomas Cromwell his Secretary to this good Father thus in prison to advertise him what was done and to heare what he would say thereto who being come into the Prisoners chamber after some other conference had passed between them concerning divers other businesses he said unto him My Lord of Rochester what would you say if the Pope should send you a Cardialls Hat would you accept of it whereat the Bishop of Roch●ster replyed Sir I know my self to be so far unworthy of any such dignity that I think of nothing lesse but if any such thing should happen assure your self I should improve that favour to the best advantage that I could in assisting the holy Catholique Church of Christ and in that respect I would receive it upon my knees Mr. Cromwell making a report of this answer afterwards to the King the King said with great indignation Yea Is he yet so lusty Well let the Pope send him a Hat when he will Mother of God he shall weare it on his shoulders then for I will leave him never a head to set it on And now was this impregnable piece of Constancy and strong so ● of I●nocence surrounded on every side by the most watchfull eyes and diligent enquiry how a breach may be made into it by the battery of the new Law for prejudice to enter In order to which Machination it was resolved upon after that the blessed man had continued a prisoner within the Tower the space of a whole yeare and somewhat more that one Mr. Richard Rich then Solicitor generall and a man in great trust about the King should be sent unto the B●shop as from the King upon some secret message to be imparted to him on his Majesties behalf which Message was to this effect viz. that he had a great secret to impart unto him from the King which was a case of Conscience for said he the truth is my Lord that though you are lookt upon as you now look upon your selfe as a man utterly forlorne yet I must tell you and not as from my self but as a thing uttered to you by the Kings expresse commands that there is no man within the Kings dominions that he looks upon as a more able man or a man upon whose honesty and upright dealings he will more rely than on your self and what you shall be pleased to say in that b●halfe wherefore he bids me tell you that you should speak your minde boldly and freely unto me as to himselfe concerning the busin●sse of Supremacy protesting upon his royall word and the dignity of a King that if he should tell him plainly it were unlawfull he would never undertake it And one thing more said he he wished me to acquaint you with which is that you may see how farre his royall heart and pious inclination is from the exercise of any unjust or illegall jurisdiction thereby that if you will but acknowledge his Supremacy you your selfe shall be his Vicar generall over his whole Dominions to see that nothing shall be put in execution but what shall be agreeable both to the 〈◊〉 of God and good mens liking 〈◊〉 saith he the K. thinks that whiles 〈◊〉 p●ople acknowledge any other Head besides himsel●● his Crowne ●its not safe nor rightly upon his owne Wherefore I pray my Lord since the King hath been so 〈◊〉 pleased to open his breast unto you in these particulars that you will answer the respect with an ingenuity that shall be 〈◊〉 to such high favour and that without any the least suspition of any ●raud or guile intended to your good Lordship either by him or me The poore Bishop thinking he had assurance enough in conscience when for Conscience-sake his opinion was required in such and such matters answered thus freely Worthy Sir As to those high Commendations which his MAIESTY by your own mouth is pleased to give me I think them higher than what deservedly can stoop so low to take into due consideration so meane worth as that which every one must look to finde that makes true search into me however according to the ability and faithfulnesse which is resident in this poore piece of earth I shall answer freely and without feare of any other intentions towards me than what is just and honourable As to the businesse of Supremacy I must needs tell his Majesty as I have often told him heretofore and would so tell him if I were to die this present hour that it is utterly unlawfull and therefore I would not wish his Majesty to take any such power or title upon him as he loves his own soule and the good of his posterity for it will be such a president as none will follow whiles all will wonder at it and will never leave this Land till it lies bu●ied with the first power that first assumed it And to what purpose were it to make me his Vicar generall of his whole Dominions to see that nothing were done contrary to the Lawes of God when nothing is more contrary to Gods Law than that I should be so And as to his Majesty's conception of his Crown not sitting rightly upon his head whiles his people as so many half Subjects owne any other head besi●e himselfe I must tell you my Lord that such a kinde of headship is no more prejudiciall to the temporall Supremacy than judgement which is the top of the soule is inconvenient to the intellects for I must tell you my Lord there were never any greater stayes or supporters to any Crown than were your English Catholiques all along unto the Crown of England and that even