glimmering twi-light of Nature yet howsoeuer their profession was vpon this ground haue they all agreed That when either their Religion their King or their countrey was in any extreme hazard no good countreyman ought then to withhold either his tongue or his hand according to his calling and facultie from ayding to repell the iniurie represse the violence and auenge the guilt vpon the authors thereof But if euer any people had such an occasion ministred vnto them It is surely this people now nay this whole Isle and all the rest belonging to this great and glorious Monarchie For if in any heathenish republique no priuate man could thinke his life more happily and gloriously bestowed then in the defence of any one of these three That is either pro Aris pro Focis or pro Patre patriae And that the endangering of any one of these would at once stirre the whole body of the Common-wealth not any more as diuided members but as a solide and indiuiduall lumpe How much more ought we the trewly Christian people that inhabite this vnited and trewly happy Isle Insula fortunata vnder the wings of our gracious and religious Monarch Nay how infinitely greater cause haue we to feele and ressent our selues of the smart of that wound not onely intended and execrated not consecrated for the vtter extinguishing of our trew Christian profession nor ioyntly therwith onely for the cutting off of our Head and father Politike Sed vt nefas istud sacrilegiosum parricidium omnibus modis absolutum reddi possit And that nothing might be wanting for making this sacrilegious parricide a patterne of mischiefe and a crime nay a mother or storehouse of all crimes without example they should haue ioyned the destruction of the bodie to the head so as Grex cum Rege Arae cum focis Lares cum Penatibus should all at one thunderclap haue beene sent to heauen together The King our head the Queene our fertile mother and those young and hopefull Oliue plants not theirs but ours Our reuerend Clergie our honourable Nobilitie the faithfull Councellors the graue Iudges the greatest part of the worthy Knights and Gentry aswell as of the wisest Burgesses The whole Clerkes of the Crowne Counsaile Signet Seales or of any other principall Iudgement seate All the learned Lawyers together with an infinite number of the Common people Nay their furious rage should not onely haue lighted vpon reasonable and sensible creatures without distinction either of degree sexe or aage But euen the insensible stockes and stones should not haue bin free of their fury The hal of Iustice The house of Parliament The Church vsed for the Coronation of our Kings The Monuments of our former Princes The Crowne and other markes of Royaltie Al the Records aswell of Parliament as of euery particular mans right with a great number of Charters and such like should all haue bene comprehended vnder that fearefull Chaos And so the earth as it were opened should haue sent foorth of the bottome of the Stygian lake such sulphured smoke furious flames and fearefull thunder as should haue by their diabolicall Domesday destroyed and defaced in the twinkling of an eye not onely our present liuing Princes and people but euen our insensible Monuments reserued for future aages So as not only our selues that are mortall but the immortall Monuments of our ancient Princes and Nobility that haue beene so preciously preserued from aage to aage as the remaining Trophees of their eternal glory and haue so long triumphed ouer enuious time should now haue beene all consumed together and so not onely we but the memory of vs and ours should haue beene thus extinguished in an instant The trew horror therefore of this detestable deuice hath stirred mee vp to bethinke my selfe wherein I may best discharge my conscience in a cause so generall and common if it were to bring but one stone to the building or rather with the Widow one mite to the common boxe But since to so hatefull and vnheard-of inuention there can be no greater enemy then the selfe the simple trewth thereof being once publikely knowen and that there needes no stronger argument to bring such a plot in vniuersal detestatiō then the certainty that so monstrous a thing could once be deuised nay cōcluded vpon wrought in in full readinesse and within twelue houres of the execution My threefold zeale to those blessings whereof they would haue so violently made vs all widowes hath made me resolue to set downe here the trew Narration of that monstrous and vnnaturall intended Tragedie hauing better occasion by the meanes of my seruice and continuall attendance in Court to know the trewth thereof then others that peraduenture haue it onely by relation at the third or fourth hand So that whereas those worse then Catilines thought to haue extirped vs and our memories Their infamous memory shall by these meanes remaine to the end of the world vpon the one part and vpon the other Gods great and merciful deliuerance of his Anoynted and vs all shall remaine in neuer-dying Records And God graunt that it may be in marble tables of Thankefulnesse engrauen in our hearts WHile this Land and whole Monarchie flourished in a most happie and plentifull PEACE as well at home as abroad sustained and conducted by these two maine Pillars of all good Gouernement PIETIE and IVSTICE no forreine grudge nor inward whispering of discontentment any way appearing The King being vpon his returne from his hunting exercise at Royston vpon occasion of the drawing neere of the Parliament time which had beene twise prorogued already partly in regard of the season of the yeere and partly of the Terme As the winds are euer stillest immediatly before a storme and as the Sunne blenks often hottest to foretell a following showre So at that time of greatest calme did this secretly-hatched thunder beginne to cast foorth the first flashes and flaming lightnings of the approching tempest For the Saturday of the weeke immediatly preceding the Kings returne which was vpon a Thursday being but tenne dayes before the Parliament The Lord Mountegle sonne and heire to the Lord Morley A letter deliuered to the Lord Mountegle being in his owne lodging ready to goe to supper at suen of the clocke at night one of his foot-men whom he had sent of an errand ouer the street was met by an vnknowen man of a reasonable tall personage who deliuered him a Letter charging him to put it in my Lord his masters hands which my Lord no sooner receiued but that hauing broken it vp and perceiuing the same to bee of an vnknowen and somewhat vnlegible hand and without either date or subscription did call one of his men vnto him for helping him to reade it But no sooner did he conceiue the strange contents thereof although hee was somewhat perplexed what construction to make of it as whether of a matter of consequence as indeed it was or whether some
foolish deuised Pasquil by some of his enemies to skarre him from his attendance at the Parliament yet did he as a most dutifull and loyall Subiect conclude not to conceale it what euer might come of it Whereupon notwithstauding the latenesse and darknesse of the night in that season of the yeere he presently repaired to his Maiesties Pallace at Whitehall and there deliuered the same to the Earle of Salisbury his Maiesties principall Secretarie Reuealed to the Earle of Salisbury Whereupon the said Earle of Salisbury hauing read the Letter and heard the maner of the comming of it to his hands did greatly encourage and commend my Lord for his discretion telling him plainly that whatsoeuer the purpose of the Letter might proue hereafter yet did this accident put him in mind of diuers aduertisements he had receiued from beyond the Seas wherewith he had acquainted aswell the King himselfe as diuers of his Priuie Counsellors concerning some businesse the Papists were in both at home and abroad making preparations for some combination amongst them against this Parliament time for enabling them to deliuer at that time to the King some petition for toleration of Religion Purpose of the Papists for deliuering a petition to his Maiestie to craue toleration of Religion which should bee deliuered in some such order and so well backed as the King should be loth to refuse their requests like the sturdie beggars crauing almes with one open hand but carying a stone in the other in case of refusall And therefore did the Earle of Salisbury conclude with the Lord Mountegle that he would in regard of the Kings absence impart the same Letter to some more of his Maiesties Councell whereof my L. Mountegle liked well onely adding this request by way of protestation That whatsoeuer the euent hereof might proue it should not be imputed to him as proceeding from too light and too suddaine an apprehension that he deliuered this Letter being onely mooued thereunto for demonstration of his ready deuotion and care for preseruation of his Maiestie and the State And thus did the Earle of Salisbury presently acquaint the Lord Chamberlaine with the said letter The Lord Chamberlaine made priuie to the Letter by the Earle of Salubury Whereupon they two in presence of the Lord Mountegle calling to mind the former intelligence already mentioned which seemed to haue some relation with this Letter The tender care which they euer caried to the preseruation of his Maiesties person made them apprehend that some perillous attempt did thereby appeare to be intended against the same which did the more neerly concerne the said L. Chamberlaine to haue a care of in regard that it doth belong to the charge of his Office to ouersee as well all places of Assembly where his Maiesty is to repaire as his Highnesse owne priuate houses And therfore did the said two Counsailors conclude That they should ioyne vnto themselues three more of the Councell to wit the Lord Admiral the Earles of Worcester and Northampton to be also particularly acquainted with this accident who hauing all of them concurred together to the re-examination of the Contents of the said Letter they did conclude That how slight a matter it might at the first appeare to bee yet was it not absolutely to be contemned in respect of the care which it behooued them to haue of the preseruation of his Maiesties person But yet resolued for two reasons Thought meet by the Councellors to acquaint the King with the Letter first to acquaint the King himselfe with the same before they proceeded to any further inquisition in the matter aswell for the expectation and experience they had of his Maiesties fortunate Iudgement in clearing and soluing of obscure riddles and doubtful mysteries as also because the more time would in the meane while be giuen for the Practise to ripen if any was whereby the Discouery might be the more cleere and euident and the ground of proceeding thereupon more safe iust and easie And so according to their determination did the sayd Earle of Salisbury repaire to the King in his Gallery vpon Friday being Athallow day in the afternoone Vpon Alhallow day the Earle of Sasuburie shewed the Letter to the King which was the day after his Maiesties arriuall and none but himselfe being present with his Highnesse at that time where without any other speach or iudgement giuing of the Letter but onely relating simply the forme of the deliuery thereof he presented it to his Maiestie The contents whereof follow MY Lord Out of the loue I beare to some of your friends I haue a care of your preseruation Therefore I would aduise you as you tender your life to deuise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and man haue concurred to punish the wickednesse of this Time And thinke not slightly of this Aduertisement but retire your selfe into your Countrey where you may expect the euent in safety For though there be no apparance of any stirre yet I say they shal receiue a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who burts them This counsell is not to be contemned because it may doe you good and can doe you no harme for the danger is past so soone as you haue burnt the Letter And I hope God will giue you the grace to make good vse of it To whose holy protection I commend you The King no sooner read the Letter but after a little pause His Maiesties iudgement of the Letter and then reading it ouer againe he deliuered his iudgement of it in such sort as hee thought it was not to be contemned for that the Style of it seemed to bee more quicke and pithie then is vsuall to be in any Pasquil or libel the superfluities of idle braines But the Earle of Salisbury perceiuing the King to apprehend it deepelier then he looked for knowing his nature told him that he thought by one sentence in it that it was like to be written by some foole or madman reading to him this sentence in it For the danger is past as soone as you haue burnt the Letter which hee said was likely to bee the saying of a foole for if the danger was past so soone as the Letter was burnt then the warning behooued to bee of little auayle when the burning of the Letter might make the danger to be eschewed But the King by the contrary considering the former sentence in the Letter That they should receiue a terrible Blow at this Parliament and yet should not see who hurt them Ioyning it to the sentence immediatly following already alledged did therupon coniecture That the danger mentioned should bee some suddaine danger by blowing vp of Powder For no other Insurrection Rebellion or whatsoeuer other priuate and desperate Attempt could bee committed or attempted in time of Parliament and the Authours thereof vnseene except onely it were by a blowing vp of Powder which might
bee performed by one base knaue in a darke corner whereupon he was moued to interprete and construe the latter Sentence in the Letter alledged by the Earle of Salisburie against all ordinarie sence and construction in Grammar as if by these words For the danger is past as soone as you haue burned the Letter should be closely vnderstood the suddaintie and quickenesse of the danger which should be as quickly perfourmed and at an end as that paper should be of bleasing vp in the fire turning that word of as soone to the sense of as quickly And therefore wished that before his going to the Parliament His Maiesties opinion for searching of the vnder roume of the Parliament House the vnder roumes of the Parliament house might be well and narrowly searched But the Earle of Salisbury wondering at this his Maiesties Commentary which he knew to be so farre contrary to his ordinary and naturall disposition who did rather euer sinne vpon the other side in not apprehending nor trusting due Aduertisements of Practises and Perils when hee was trewly enformed of them whereby hee had many times drawen himselfe into many desperate dangers and interpreting rightly this extraordinary Caution at this time to proceede from the vigilant care hee had of the whole State more then of his owne Person which could not but haue all perished together if this designement had succeeded Hee thought good to dissemble still vnto the King that there had beene any iust cause of such apprehension And ending the purpose with some merrie ieast vpon this Subiect as his custome is tooke his leaue for that time But though he seemed so to neglect it to his Maiestie yet his customable and watchfull care of the King and the State still boyling within him And hauing with the blessed Virgine Marie laid vp in his heart the Kings so strange iudgement and construction of it He could not be at rest til he acquainted the foresaid Lords what had passed betweene the King and him in priuat Wherupon they were all so earnest to renew againe the memory of the same purpose to his Maiestie as it was agreed that he should the next day being Saturday repaire to his Highnesse which hee did in the same priuie Gallery and renewed the memory thereof the L. Chamberlaine then being present with the King The determination to search the Parliament house and the roumes vnder it At what time it was determined that the said Lord Chamberlaine should according to his custome and Office view all the Parliament Houses both aboue and below and consider what likelihood or appearance of any such danger might possibly be gathered by the sight of them But yet as well for staying of idle rumours as for beeing the more able to discerne any mysterie the nearer that things were in readinesse his iourney thither was ordeined to bee deferred till the afternoone before the sitting downe of the Parliament which was vpon the Munday following At what time hee according to this conclusion went to the Parliament house accompanied with my Lord Mountegle beeing in zeale to the Kings seruice earnest and curious to see the euent of that accident whereof hee had the fortune to be the first discouerer where hauing viewed all the lower roumes Wood and Coale found by the Lord Chamberlaine in the Vault hee found in the Vault vnder the vpper House great store and prouision of Billets Faggots and Coales And enquiring of Whyneard Keeper of the Wardrobe to what vse hee had put those lower roumes and cellars he told him That Thomas Percie had hired both the House and part of the Cellar or Vault vnder the same and that the Wood and Coale therein was the said Gentlemansowne prouision Whereupon the Lord Chamberlaine casting his eye aside perceiued a fellow standing in a corner there calling himself the said Percies man and keeper of that house for him but indeed was Guido Fawkes Guido Fawkes bearing the name of Percies man the owner of that hand which should haue acted that monstrous Tragedie The Lord Chamberlaine looking vpon all things with a heedfull indeed yet in outward appearance with but a carelesse and racklesse eye as became so wise and diligent a minister hee presently addressed himselfe to the King in the said priuie Gallery wherein the presence of the Lord Treasurer the Lord Admirall the Earles of Worcester Northampton and Salisbury The Lord Chamberlaines report and iudgement of what he had obserued in the search hee made his report what hee had seene and obserued there noting that Mountegle had told him That he no sooner heard Thomas Percy named to be the possessour of that house but considering both his backwardnes in Religion and the old dearenesse in friendship betweene himselfe and the said Percy hee did greatly suspect the matter and that the Letter should come from him The said Lord Chamberlaine also tolde That he did not wonder a little at the extraordinary great prouision of wood and coale in that house where Thomas Percie had so seldome occasion to remaine As likewise it gaue him in his minde that his man looked like a very tall and desperate fellow This could not but encrease the Kings former apprehension and iealousie whereupon hee insisted as before that the House was narrowly to bee searched and that those Billets and Coales would be searched to the bottome it beeing most suspicious that they were layed there onely for couering of the powder Of this same minde also were all the Counsailours then present Disputation about the maner of the further search But vpon the fashion of making of the search was it long debated For vpon the one side they were all so iealous of the Kings safety that they all agreed that there could not be too much caution vsed for preuenting his danger And yet vpon the other part they were all extreme loath and daintie that in case this Letter should proue to bee nothing but the euaporation of an idle braine then a curious search beeing made and nothing found should not onely turne to the generall scandall of the King and the State as being so suspicious of euery light and friuolous toy but likewise lay an ill fauoured imputation vpon the Earle of Northumberland one of his Maiesties greatest Subiects and Counsailors this Tho. Percie being his kinsman and most confident familiar And the rather were they curious vpon this point knowing how far the King detested to be thought suspitious or iealous of any of his good Subiects though of the meanest degree And therefore though they all agreed vpon the maine ground which was to prouide for the securitie of the Kings Person yet did they much differ in the circumstances by which this action might be best caried with least dinne and occasion of slaunder But the King himselfe still persisting that there were diuers shrewd appearances and that a narrow search of those places could preiudge no man that was innocent hee at last plainely
our Myne vnto the Wal and about Candlemas we had wrought the Wall halfe through And whilest they were in working I stood as Sentinell to descrie any man that came neere whereof I gaue them warning and so they ceased vntill I gaue notice againe to proceed All we seuen lay in the House and had shot and powder being resolued to die in that place before we should yeeld or be taken As they were working vpon the wall they heard a rushing in a cellar of remoouing of coales whereupon we feared wee had bene discouered and they sent mee to goe to the cellar who finding that the coales were a selling and that the cellar was to be let viewing the commoditie thereof for our purpose Percy went and hired the same for yeerely rent Wee had before this prouided and brought into the House twentie barrels of powder which we remooued into the cellar and couered the same with billets and faggots which were prouided for that purpose About Easter the Parliament being prorogued till October next wee dispersed our selues and I retired into the Low countreys by aduice and direction of the rest aswell to acquaint Owen with the particulars of the plot as also lest by my longer stay I might haue growne suspicious and so haue come in question In the meane time Percy hauing the key of the cellar layd in more powder and wood into it I returned about the beginning of September next and then receiuing the key againe of Percy wee brought in more powder and billets to couer the same againe and so I went for a time into the countrey till the 30. of October It was further resolued amongst vs that the same day that this acte should haue bene performed some other of our confederates should haue surprised the person of the Lady ELIZABETH the Kings eldest daughter who was kept in Warwickshire at the Lord Haringtons house and presently haue proclaimed her Queene hauing a proiect of a Proclamation ready for that purpose wherein wee made no mention of altering of Religion nor would haue auowed the deed to be ours vntill we should haue had power ynough to make our partie good and then wee would haue auowed both Concerning duke CHARLES the Kings second sonne we had sundry consultations how to seize on his person But because wee found no meanes how to compasse it the duke being kept neere London where we had not forces ynough wee resolued to serue our turne with the Lady ELIZABETH THE NAMES OF OTHER PRINCIPALL PERSONS THAT WERE MADE PRIVIE AFTERwards to this horrible conspiracie Euerard Digby knight Ambrose Rookwood Francis Tresham John Grant Robert Keyes Commiss Notingham Worcester Suffolke Deuonshire Northampton Salisbury Marre Dunbar Popham Edw. Cooke William Waad ANd in regard that before this discourse could be ready to goe to the Presse Thomas Winter being apprehended and brought to the Tower made a confession in substance agreeing with this former of Fawkes onely larger in some circumstances I haue thought good to insert the same likewise in this place for the further clearing of the matter and greater benefit of the Reader THOMAS WINTERS CONFESSION TAKEN THE XXIII OF NOVEMBER 1605. IN THE PRESENCE OF the Counsellors whose names are vnder-written My most Honourable Lords NOt out of hope to obtaine pardon for speaking of my temporall part I may say The fault is greater then can bee forgiuen nor affecting hereby the title of a good Subiect for I must redeeme my countrey from as great a danger as I haue hazarded the bringing of her into before I can purchase any such opinion Onely at your Honours command I will briefly set downe mine owne accusation and how farre I haue proceeded in this businesse which I shall the faithfullier doe since I see such courses are not pleasing to Almightie God and that all or the most materiall parts haue bene already confessed I remained with my brother in the countrey from Alhallontyde vntill the beginning of Lent in the yeere of our Lord 1603. the first yeere of the Kings reigne about which time master Catesby sent thither intreating me to come to London where hee and other my friends would be glad to see me I desired him to excuse me for I found my selfe not very well disposed and which had happened neuer to mee before returned the messenger without my company Shortly I receiued another letter in any wise to come At the second summons I presently came vp and found him with master Iohn Wright at Lambeth where he brake with me how necessary it was not to forsake our countrey for he knew I had then a resolution to goe ouer but to deliuer her from the seruitude in which shee remained or at least to assist her with our vttermost endeuours I answered That I had often hazarded my life vpon farre lighter termes and now would not refuse any good occasion wherein I might doe seruice to the Catholicke cause but for my selfe I knew no meane probable to succeed He said that he had bethought him of a way at one instant to deliuer vs from all our bonds and without any forraine helpe to replant againe the Catholicke Religion and with all told mee in a word It was to blow vp the Parliament house with Gunpowder for said he in that place haue they done vs all the mischiefe and perchance God hath desseigned that place for their punishment I wondered at the strangenesse of the conceipt and told him that trew it was this strake at the root and would breed a confusion fit to beget new alterations But if it should not take effect as most of this nature miscaried the scandall would be so great which Catholicke Religion might hereby sustaine as not onely our enemies but our friends also would with good reason condemne vs. He told me The nature of the disease required so sharpe a remedie and asked me if I would giue my consent I told him yes in this or what els soeuer if he resolued vpon it I would venture my life But I proposed many difficulties As want of an house and of one to cary the Myne noyse in the working and such like His answere was Let vs giue an attempt and where it faileth passe no further But first quoth hee Because wee will leaue no peaceable and quiet way vntryed you shall goe ouer and informe the Constable of the state of the Catholickes here in England intreating him to sollicite his Maiestie at his comming hither that the penall Lawes may be recalled and wee admitted into the rancke of his other Subiects withall you may bring ouer some confident Gentleman such as you shall vnderstand best able for this businesse and named vnto mee master Fawkes Shortly after I passed the Sea and found the Constable at Bergen neere Dunkirke where by helpe of master Owen I deliuered my message Whose answere was that hee had strict command from his Master to doe all good Offices for the Catholickes and for his owne part hee thought himselfe
bound in conscience so to doe and that no good occasion should be omitted but spake to him nothing of this matter Returning to Dunkirck with master Owen wee had speach whether hee thought the Constable would faithfully helpe vs or no. He said he beleeued nothing lesse and that they sought onely their owne ends holding small account of Catholicks I told him that there were many Gentlemen in England who would not forsake their countrey vntill they had tried the vttermost rather venture their liues then forsake her in this miserie And to adde one more to our number as a fit man both for counsel and execution of whatsoeuer we should resolue wished for master Fawkes whom I had heard good commendations of hee told mee the Gentleman deserued no lesse but was at Brussels and that if he came not as happily he might before my departure he would send him shortly after into England I went soone after to Ostend where sir William Stanley as then was not but came two daies after I remained with him three or foure daies in which time I asked him if the Catholicks in England should do any thing to helpe themselues whether he thought the Archduke would second them He answered No for all those parts were so desirous of peace with England as they would endure no speach of other enterprise neither were it fit said hee to set any proiect afoot now the Peace is vpon concluding I told him there was no such resolution and so fell to discourse of other matters vntill I came to speake of master Fawkes whose company I wished ouer into England I asked of his sufficiencie in the warres and told him wee should need such as hee if occasion required hee gaue very good commendations of him And as wee were thus discoursing and I ready to depart for Newport and taking my leaue of Sir William Master Fawkes came into our companie newly returned and saluted vs. This is the Gentleman said Sir William that you wished for and so we embraced againe I told him some good friends of his wished his companie in England and that if hee pleased to come to Dunkircke wee would haue further conference whither I was then going so taking my leaue of them both I departed About two dayes after came Master Fawkes to Dunkirck where I told him that we were vpon a resolution to doe somewhat in England if the Peace with Spaine helped vs not but had as yet resolued vpon nothing such or the like talke wee passed at Graueling where I lay for a winde and when it serued came both in one Passage to Greenwich neere which place wee tooke a paire of Oares and so came vp to London and came to Master Catesby whom wee found in his lodging hee welcommed vs into England and asked mee what newes from the Constable I told him good words but I feared the deedes would not answere This was the beginning of Easter Terme and about the middest of the same Terme whether sent for by Master Catesby or vpon some businesse of his owne vp came Master Thomas Percy The first word hee spake after hee came into our company was Shall we alwayes Gentlemen talke and neuer doe any thing Master Catesby took him aside and had speach about somewhat to be done so as first we might all take an oath of secrecie which wee resolued within two or three dayes to doe so as there we met behind S. Clements Master Catesby Master Percy Master Wright Master Guy Fawkes and my selfe and hauing vpon a Primer giuen each other the oath of secrecie in a chamber where no other bodie was wee went after into the next roome and heard Masse and receiued the blessed Sacrament vpon the same Then did Master Catesby disclose to Master Percy and I together with Iacke Wright tell to Master Fawkes the businesse for which wee tooke this oath which they both approued And then was M. Percy sent to take the house which M. Catesby in mine absence had learned did belong to one Ferris which with some difficultie in the end he obtained and became as Ferris before was Tenant to Whynniard M. Fawkes vnderwent the name of M. Percies man calling himselfe Iohnson because his face was the most vnknowen and receiued the keyes of the house vntill wee heard that the Parliament was adiourned to the seuenth of Februarie At which time we all departed seuerall wayes into the countrey to meete againe at the beginning of Michaelmas Terme Before this time also it was thought conuenient to haue a house that might answere to M. Percies where we might make prouision of powder and wood for the Mine which beeing there made ready should in a night be conueyed by boate to the house by the Parliament because wee were loath to foile that with often going in and out There was none that we could deuise so fit as Lambeth where Master Catesby often lay and to bee keeper thereof by M. Catesbies choice we receiued into the number Keyes as a trustie honest man this was about a moneth before Michaelmas Some fortnight after towards the beginning of the Terme M. Fawkes and I came to M. Catesby at Morecrofts where we agreed that now was time to beginne and set things in order for the Mine So as Master Fawkes went to London and the next day sent for me to come ouer to him when I came the cause was for that the Scottish Lords were appointed to sit in conference of the Vnion in Master Percies house This hindered our beginning vntill a fortnight before Christmas by which time both Master Percie and Master Wright were come to London and wee against their comming had prouided a good part of the powder so as wee all fiue entred with tooles fit to beginne our worke hauing prouided our selues of Baked-meates the lesse to need sending abroad We entred late in the night and were neuer seene saue onely Master Percies man vntill Christmas Eue In which time we wrought vnder a little Entry to the wall of the Parliament house and vnderpropped it as we went with wood Whilest we were together we began to fashion our businesse and discoursed what we should doe after this deed was done The first question was how we might surprize the next heire the Prince haply would bee at the Parliament with the King his Father how should wee then bee able to seaze on the Duke This burthen Master Percie vndertooke that by his acquaintance hee with another Gentleman would enter the Chamber without suspition and hauing some doozen others at seuerall doores to expect his comming and two or three on horsebacke at the Court gate to receiue him hee would vndertake the blow beeing giuen vntill which hee would attend in the Dukes Chamber to carrie him safe away for hee supposed most of the Court would bee absent and such as were there not suspecting or vnprouided for any such matter For the Lady ELIZABETH it were easie to surprize her in the Countrey by
them hee told them these things and therefore they know saith hee what the impediment was Verse 6. and who did withbold that the man of Sinne was not reuealed Verse 7. although the mysterie of iniquitie was already working That the Romane Emperours in Saint Pauls time needed no reuealing to the Christians to bee men of Sinne or sinfull men no childe doubteth but the reuelation hee speaketh of was a mysterie a secret It should therefore seeme that hee durst not publish in his Epistle what that impediment was It may be he meant by the translating of the Seat of the Romane Empire and that the translation thereof should leaue a roume for the man of Sinne to sit downe in And that he meant not that man of Sinne of these Ethnicke Emperours in his time his introduction to this discourse maketh it more then manifest For he saith fearing they should be deceiued thinking the day of the Lords second comming to bee at hand he hath therefore thought good to forewarne them that this generall Defection must first come Whereby it well appeareth that hee could not meane by the present time but by a future and that a good long time otherwise he proued ill his argument that the Lords comming was not at hand Neither can the forme of the Destruction of this man of Sinne agree with that maner of spoile that the Gothes and Vandals made of * For so doeth Tortus call Rome when it was spoiled by them though it was Christian many yeres before Ethnick Rome For our Apostle saith 1 Verse 8. That this wicked man shull bee consumed by the Spirit of the Lords mouth and abolished by his comming Now I would thinke that the word of God and the Preaching thereof should be meant by the Spirit of the Lords mouth which should peece and peece consume and diminish the power of that man of Sinne till the brightnes of the Lords second comming should vtterly abolish him And by his expressing the meanes of his working he doeth likewise in my opinion explane his meaning very much For he saith It shall be by a strong delusion Verse 8.9 by lying wonders c. Well what Church it is that vanteth them of their innumerable miracles and yet most of them contrary to their owne doctrine Bellarmine can best tell you with his hungry Mare Bellar lib. 3. de Eucharist cap. 8 that turned her taile to her prouender and kneeled to the Sacrament And yet I am sure he will be ashamed to say that the holy Sacrament is ordained to be worshipped by Oues Boues caetera pecora campi Thus haue I prooued out of S. Paul now that the time of the Antichrists comming and the generall Defection was not to be till long after the time that he wrote in That his Seat was to be in the Temple and Church of God and That his Action which can best point at his Person should be to Exalt himselfe aboue all that were called Gods S. Iohn indeed doth more amply though mystically describe this Antichrist which vnder the figure of a monstrous Beast with seuen heads and ten hornes he sets forth in the xiij chap. and then interpreteth in the xvij where hee calles her a Whore sitting vpon many waters and riding vpon the sayd monstrous Beast Reuel 17. v. 1. Vers 3. concluding that chapter with calling that Woman that great City which reigneth ouer the Kings of the earth And both in that Chapter Vers 18. and in the beginning of the next he calles that great Citie Babylon Vers 5. Cap. 18. v. 2. So as to continue herein my formerly purposed Methode of the Time Seat and Person of Antichrist this place doth clearely and vndenyably declare that Rome is or shal be the Seat of that Antichrist For first no Papist now denieth that by Babylon here Rome is directly meant and that this Woman is the Antichrist doeth clearely appeare by the time of his working described by 42. moneths in the xiij Chap. Vers 5. which doeth iustly agree with that three yeeres and a halfes time which all the Papists giue to the Reigne of Antichrist Besides that the Beast it selfe with seuen heads and tenne hornes hauing one of her heads wounded and healed againe is described iust alike in the xiij and xvij Chap. being in the former prooued to be the Antichrist by the time of her reigne and in the latter Rome by the name of Babylon by the confession of all the Papists So as one point is now cleare that Rome is the Seat of the Antichrist Neither will that place in the eleuenth Chapter serue to shift off this point and proue the Antichrists Seat to bee in Ierusalem where it is saide Chap. 11.8 That the Corpses of the Witnesses shall lie in the great City spiritually Sodome and Egypt where our Lord also was crucified For the word spiritually is applied both to Sodome Egypt and Ierusalem in that place And when hee hath named Sodome and Egypt hee doeth not subioyne Ierusalem with a single vbi but with an vbi as if hee would say and this Antichrists abomination shall bee so great as his Seate shall bee as full of Spirituall whoredomes and Idolatries as Sodome and Egypt was nay and so bloody in the persecution of the Saints as our Lord shall be crucified againe in his members And who hath so meanely read the Scriptures if he haue euer read them at all that knoweth it not to be a common phrase in them Matt. 25.40 to call CHRIST persecuted and slaine when his Saints are so vsed Acts 9.4 So did CHRIST say speaking of the latter day and in the same style did hee speake to S. Paul at his conuersion And that Babylon or Rome since Bellarmine is contented it bee so called is that great Citie where our Lord was crucified Reuel 18.24 the last verse of the xviij Chap. doeth also clearely proue it For there it is said That in that City was found the blood of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slaine vpon the earth and I hope CHRIST was one of them that were slaine vpon the earth And besides that it may well bee said that hee was slaine in that great Citie Babylon since by the Romane authoritie hee was put to death vnder a Romane Iudge and for a Romane quarrell for he could not be a friend to Caesar that was not his enemie This point now being cleared of the Antichrists Seate as I haue already sayd we are next to find out the Time when the Antichrist shall reigne if it be not already come Cha. 13.3 In the xiij Chapter S. Iohn saith that this Beast with the seuen heads and tenne hornes Chap. 17.10 had one of his heads wounded and healed againe and interpreting that in the xvij he saith that these seuen heads are also seuen Kings whereof fiue are fallen one is and an other is not yet
Weale of his Estate And lastly if you will rightly consider the meanes and wayes how to bring all your labours to a good end you must remember That you are heere assembled by your lawfull King to giue him your best aduises in the matters proposed by him vnto you being of that nature which I haue already told wherein you are grauely to deliberate and vpon your consciences plainely to determine how farre those things propounded doe agree with the weale both of your King and of your Countrey whose weales cannot be separated And as for my selfe the world shall euer beare mee witnesse That I neuer shall propone any thing vnto you which shall not as well tend to the weale publike as to any benefite for me So shall I neuer oppone my selfe to that which may tend to the good of the Common-wealth for the which I am ordeined as I haue often said And as you are to giue your aduise in such things as shall by your King be proposed So is it on your part your dueties to propone any thing that you can after mature deliberation iudge to be needefull either for these ends already spoken of or otherwise for the discouery of any latent euill in the Kingdome which peraduenture may not haue commen to the Kings eare If this then ought to bee your graue maner of proceeding in this place Men should bee ashamed to make shew of the quicknesse of their wits here either in taunting scoffing or detracting the Prince or State in any point or yet in breaking iests vpon their fellowes for which the Ordinaries or Ale-houses are fitter places then this Honourable and high Court of Parliament In conclusion then since you are to breake vp for the reasons I haue already told you I wish such of you as haue any charges in your Countreys to hasten you home for the repressing of the insolencies of these Rebels and apprehension of their persons wherin as I heartily pray to the Almightie for your prosperous successe So doe I not doubt but we shall shortly heare the good newes of the same And that you shall haue an happie returne and meeting here to all our comforts Here the Lord Chancellor spake touching the proroguing of the Parliament And hauing done his Maiestie rose againe and said SInce it pleased God to graunt mee two such notable Deliueries vpon one day of the weeke which was Tuesday and likewise one day of the Moneth which was the fifth Thereby to teach mee That as it was the same deuill that still persecuted mee So it was one and the same GOD that still mightily deliuered mee I thought it therefore not amisse That the one and twentieth day of Ianuary which fell to be vpon Tuesday should bee the day of meeting of this next Session of Parliament hoping and assuring my selfe that the same GOD who hath now granted me and you all so notable and gracious a deliuerie shall prosper all our affaires at that next Session and bring them to an happie conclusion And now I consider GOD hath well prouided it that the ending of this Parliament hath bene so long continued For as for my owne part I neuer had any other intention but onely to seeke so farre my weale and prosperitie as might coniunctly stand with the flourishing State of the whole Common-wealth as I haue often told you So on the other part I confesse if I had bene in your places at the beginning of this Parliament which was so soone after mine entry into this Kingdome wherein ye could not possibly haue so perfect a knowledge of mine inclination as experience since hath taught you I could not but haue suspected and mis-interpreted diuers things In the trying whereof now I hope by your experience of my behauiour and forme of gouernment you are well ynough cleared and resolued A SPEACH TO BOTH THE HOVSES OF PARLIAMENT DELIVERED IN THE GREAT CHAMBER AT WHITE-HALL THE LAST DAY OF March 1607. MY Lords of the higher House and you Knights and Burgesses of the Lower house All men at the beginning of a Feast bring foorth good Wine first and after worse This was the saying of the Gouernour of the Feast at Cana in Galile where CHRIST wrought his first miracle by changing water into Wine But in this case now whereof I am to speake vnto you I must follow that Gouernours rule and not CHRISTS example in giuing you the worst and sowrest Wine last For all the time of this long Session of the Parliament you haue bene so fed and cloy'd specially you of the Lower house with such banquets and choise of delicate speeches and your eares so seasoned with the sweetnesse of long precogitate Orations as this my Speach now in the breaking vp of this Assembly cannot but appeare vnto your taste as the worst Wine proposed in the end of the Banquet since I am onely to deliuer now vnto you matter without curious forme substance without ceremonie trewth in all sinceritie Yet considering the Person that speaketh the parties to whom I speake the matter whereof I meane to speake it fits better to vtter matter rather then wordes in regard of the greatnesse of my place who am to speake to you the grauitie of you the Auditorie which is the high Court of Parliament the weight of the matter which concernes the securitie and establishment of this whole Empire and litle world Studied Orations and much eloquence vpon little matter is fit for the Vniuersities where not the Subiect which is spoken of but the triall of his wit that speaketh is most commendable but on the contrary in all great Councels or Parliaments fewest wordes with most matter doeth become best where the dispatch of the great errands in hand and not the praise of the person is most to bee looked vnto like the garment of a chaste woman who is onely set forth by her naturall beautie which is properly her owne other deckings are but ensignes of an harlot that flies with borrowed feathers And besides the conueniencie I am forced hereunto by necessitie my place calling me to action and not leauing me to the libertie of contemplation hauing alwayes my thoughts busied with the publique care of you all where euery one of you hauing but himselfe and his owne priuate to thinke of are at more leisure to make studied speeches And therefore the matter which I deliuer you confusedly as in a sacke I leaue it to you when you are in your chambers and haue better leysure then I can haue to ranke them in order euery one in their owne place Thus much by way of Preface But I proceed to the matter Whereof I might say with S. Paul I could speake in as many tongues as you all but I had rather speake three wordes to edification then talke all day without vnderstanding In vaine saith the Psalmist doeth the builder build the house or the watchman watch the Citie vnlesse the Lord giue his blessing thereunto And in the New Testament S.
doe write of Piety or Deuotion compile a History giue Precepts of Policy handle Moralls or treate of some rare Experiences of Nature wee doe in these things commend his Iudgement admire his parts without any euill cogitation against his Person There can hardly be giuen a more viue Example in this case then is to be found in the Writings of his Maiestie When the King had published his Basilicon-Doron a Booke so singularly penned that a Pomegranat is not so full of kernells as that is of Excellent Counsells What applause had it in the world How did it inflame mens minds to a loue and admiration of his Maiestie beyond measure Insomuch that comming out iust at the time his Maiestie came in it made the hearts of all his people as one Man as much to Honour him for Religion and Learning as to obey him for Title and Authoritie and gaue vs then a taste or rather the first fruits of that we haue since reaped a plentifull Haruest of by his Maiesties most prudent and Gracious Gouernment ouer vs. The like I may say of his Maiesties Demonologie a rare peece for many Precepts and Experiments both in Diuinitie and Naturall Philosophie Jn these there was nothing heard of but Sunne-shine and faire-weather euery countenance sweet and smiling vpon them But as soone as his Maiestie dealt against the Pope tooke the Cardinall in hand made the world see the vsurped power of the one and Sophistry of the other Good Lord what a stirre we had what roaring of the wilde Bulls of Basan what a commotion in euery Countrey Jnsomuch that I thinke there is scarce a People Language or Nation in Christendome out of which his Maiestie hath not receiued some answere or other either by way of resuting or at least by rayling So that had not the King contemned and made himselfe sport and recreation by such kinde of Reuelling rather then bene mooued to passion It could not haue bene but a marueilous perturbation to a Prince of so exquisite sense and vnderstanding But what of all this Shall wee wish his Maiestie had not fought with beasts at Ephesus stopped the roaring of the Bull nor encountered the Cardinall Trewly when J thinke vpon the wonderfull abuses and Hyperbolicall indignities his Maiestie hath receiued from these men I am somewhat of that minde But when on the other side J consider his Maiesties zeale for to maintaine the cause of GOD and Right of Kings his singular dexteritie to doe it the blessing of GOD that hath followed vpon his so doing of it I cannot but change my opinion and bee of another minde And the better to induce you to bee of my minde I will make vnto you a trew Relation of his Maiesties entering into this businesse and then leaue it to your consideration whether there were not a Diuine hand that led his into it or no. Jt is the Speach of our Blessed Sauiour that there is nothing hid that shall not be knowne and what is spoken in darkenesse shall be heard in the Light This his Maiestie as himselfe confesseth found trew in the comming foorth of one of his Bookes and I thinke it may bee found as trew in the comming foorth of some other of them For after the Pope had put forth his Breues and the Cardinall had sent his Letters to the Archpriest the one to enioyne the People not to take the Oath of Allegiance affirming they could not take it with safety of their Saluation the other to reproue the Arch-priest for that hee had taken it and to draw him to a penitencie for so foule a Lapse His Maiestie like as became a Prudent and a Religious Prince thought it not meete that these things should passe for current but that it was expedient his People should know that the taking of this Oath was so farre from endangering their Soules as that it intended nothing but ciuill Obedience and without touching any point of their conscience made the State secure of their Allegiance To performe this worke his Maiestie thought the Bishop of Winchester that then was a very fit man both for his singular Learning as for that he had long laboured in an Argument not much of a diuers nature from this Whereupon his Maiestie calling for penne and incke to giue my L. of Winchester directions how and in what maner to proceed in this Argument I know not how it came to passe but it fell out trew that the Poet saith Amphora coepit Institui currente rota post vrceus exit For the Kings Penne ranne so fast that in the compasse of sixe dayes his Maiestie had accomplished that which hee now calleth his Apologie which when my Lord of Canterburie that then was and my Lord of Elie had perused being indeed deliuered by his Maiestie but as briefe Notes and in the nature of a Minute to bee explicated by the Bishop in a larger Volume yet they thought it so sufficient an Answere both to the Pope and Cardinall as there needed no other Whereupon his Maiestie was perswaded to giue way to the comming of it foorth but was pleased to conceale his Name And so haue wee the Apologie beyond his Maiesties owne purpose or determination After that the Apologie was out his Maiestie diuerse times would bee pleased to vtter a Resolution of his that if the Pope and Cardinall would not rest in his answere and sit downe by it take the Oath as it was intended for a point of Allegiance and Ciuill Obedience Hee would publish the Apologie in his owne name with a Preface to all the Princes in Christendome wherein hee would publish such a Confession of his Faith perswade the Princes so to vindicate their owne Power discouer so much of the Mysterie of Jniquitie vnto them as the Popes Bulles should pull in their hornes and himselfe wish he had neuer medled with this matter The Cardinall contending against the Apologie his Maiestie confirmed his Resolution and with the like Celerity in the compasse of one weeke wrote his Monitory-Preface for as Hirtius said of Caesars Comentaries Qua foelicitate they were done let others iudge but Qua celeritate J can tell And being so written published it and the Apologie in his owne Name and made good his word sent it to the Emperour and all the Kings and free Princes in Christendome Now hauing made this Relation wherein J haue deliuered nothing but trewth Let me offer vnto you some few things worthy Consideration First that vpon the comming foorth of that Booke there were no States that disauowed the Doctrine of it in that point of the Kings power And the Venetians mainetained it in their writings and put it in Execution The Sorbons maintained it likewise in France Secondly their owne writers that opposed it so ouerlashed as they were corrected and castigated of men of their owne Religion Becanus his Booke corrected by the Cardinalles of Rome Bellarmines Booke burnt in Paris Suarez his Answere burnt also in France As for the
in the head as ye heard already and legged like a beare because in the Beares legges consists his greatest strength and durablenesse this proportion signifies that this Monarchie is farre greater then all the rest and all their powers are reuiued in it as I said before 3 And I perceiued that one of the heads of the beast had bene deadly wounded but the wound thereof was healed and the whole earth followed this beast with a great wondering this was to signifie vnto me that it was not of this beast that I was ordained to forewarne you for the worst of this beast is almost past already and this Monarchie shall be within short space destroyed but this beast or Monarchie is shewen vnto me because out of the ruines thereof shall rise in that same Seate where it was that hereticall Monarchie whereof I am to forewarne you which is signified by the deadly wound it gat on the head which was healed againe for as the Phaenix reuiues of her owne ashes as prophane stories make mention so out of the ashes of this Empire shall rise and be reuiued an other which shall grow so mighty that the whole earth that is without Sanctum Sanctorum shall with amasement reuerence obey and follow it as ye heard presently declared 4 And they adored the Dragon who gaue power to the Beast for they shall giue themselues ouer to the workes of darkenes which is to serue and adore the diuel who raised vp this beast to make warre against the seed of the woman Chap. 12. as ye heard before And they also adored the diuel in his instrument by reuerencing that Beast and Monarchie erected by him and they said Who is like vnto the Beast or who may fight with him for this Monarchie shall be so strong in worldly power as the world shall thinke it so farre in strength aboue all other powers that it is impossible to ouercome it especially that the little stone which was cut without hands out of the mountaine mentioned by Daniel Daniel 2. shall euer destroy it which notwithstanding at the last shall bruise it in pieces 5 And there was a mouth giuen vnto it to speake great things and blasphemies It is said in Daniel Daniel 7.11 that his mouth shall speake in magnificencie and vtter words against the Soueraigne to wit this Monarchie and King thereof shall extoll himselfe farre aboue all liuing creatures and shal vsurpe farre higher Styles then euer were heard of before by the which and by his false doctrine together he shall so derogate from the honour of GOD and vsurpe so all power onely proper vnto him as it shall bee great wordes against him and blasphemie of his Name And there was power giuen him to doe to wit GOD shall permit his Tyrannie to encrease and persecute the Saints the space of two and fourtie moneths This space was mentioned vnto me to let me know thereby that this Monarchie risen out of the ruines of the other Chap. 11. is the same which is meant by that Citie whereof ye heard alreadie in the sixt Trumpet which persecuted the two Witnesses for the same space is assigned to her there and consequently it is that same seate and Monarchie which is meant by the angel of the bottomlesse pit Chap. 9. called Apollyon in the fift Trumpet by the Rider on the pale horse Chap. 6. called Death in the fourth Seale and also obscurely meant in the sixt Trumpet by the halfe of that great hoste of horsemen Chap. 9. of the which halfe the armed horse which I saw in the vision was a part of the power whose head and Monarchie was the plague for idolatry as ye heard which Monarchie together with the other of whom yee also heard obscurely in that place as the plague of the sinnes against the second Table to wit this great beast here mentioned and the other reuealed a vowed and open enemie of Christs Church shall both gather their forces to fight against it in that battell of the great day of the Lord Chap. 16. whereof ye shal heare in the owne place Then this beast according to the power which was giuen him opened his mouth in blasphemies against God and spake iniurious words against his Name his Tabernacle to wit his Sanctum Sanctorum which is the Church militant and them that dwell in heauen for his reigne shall be so great that hee shall not onely blaspheme the Name of God in such sort as ye heard alreadie and persecute the members of Christ that shall be on the earth in his dayes but likewise vpbraid with calumnies the soules of the Saints departed 7 And for that effect he was permitted by God to make warre against the Saints and hee gaue him power to ouercome them corporally and to rule ouer all tribes tongues and nations so great shall his Monarchie and power be 8 And so all the in-dwellers of the earth shal adore him to wit a great part of them shall reuerence him whose names are not writen in the booke of life which is the Lambes that was slaine which booke was written before the foundation of the world was laide for these are alwayes excepted from bowing their knees to Baal who were predestinate by Christ to saluation before all beginnings 9 He who hath an eare let him heare and take heede vnto this sentence that followeth to wit 10 If any man leade in captiuitie in captiuitie shall he be led againe if any man slay with the sword with the sword shall hee be slaine againe then since ye are assured that God in his good time shall iustly mete to their tyrannie the same measure that they shall mete to his Church let not your hearts in your affliction through despaire of Gods reuenge because of his long suffering swarue from the bold and plaine professing of his trueth for in this shall the patience and constant faith of the Saints or the chosen be tried 11 And then I saw another beast rise vp vpon the earth and it had two hornes like vnto the Lambe but it spake like the dragon for lest this Monarchie should be taken to be a ruler onely ouer the body and that I might vnderstand the contrary to wit that he was specially a spirituall tyrant ouer the soules and consciences of men this other beast was shewen vnto me which representeth the hereticall kingdome of the grashoppers whereof Apollyon was made King in the fift Trumpet Chap. 9. and it vseth the coloured authoritie of Christ by pretending two swords or two keyes as receiued from Christ which is signified by the two hornes like the Lambes but the end whereof it vseth that authoritie is to get obedience to that false doctrine which it teacheth signified by speaking like the dragon or deuil 12 It is this false and hypocriticall Church then which doeth exercise all the power of the former beast to wit teacheth the Kings of this Monarchy and seat by what
their constancie and patience in the time of their persecution they shall as it were reigne ouer the earth and by their Martyrdome be Iudges therof for it is called Christs reigning and the Saints vpon the earth when his word and trew professours thereof shine visibly therein as I haue said and these were they who adored not the beast to wit they are the elect who were predestinate before all beginnings to be preserued from all infections and heresies which is generally represented by this part of them that the beast or Babylon shal raise and maintaine as the greatest and most perillous that euer shall be raised by Satan And the honourable sitting of the Saints and soules of Martyrs was shewed to me to assure me that how soone the soule of any faithfull man is parted from the body it ascendeth immediatly vnto heauen there abiding in all glory the reioyning againe of his glorified body at the latter day coniunctly to possesse all glory in heauen eternally like as by the contrary the reprobate soule how soone it parteth from the body of the wicked goes down immediatly to hell there abiding in all torment the knitting again with his cursed body at the latter day there iointly to be subiect to eternall paine neither is there any resting place by the way for any of them and the rest of the dead to wit all the wicked shal not be reuiued while this space be complete for the wicked shall neither during this space nor at any time thereafter taste of the regeneration which is the first resurrection and second birth as Christ said to Nicodemus and therfore as I said already Blessed and happy are they who are partakers of the first resurrection for the second death to wit hell shall haue no power of them but they shall be Priests of God and Christ and reigne with him these thousand yeeres to wit they shal eternally in heauen offer vp that Eucharisticall Sacrifice of praise to God and so be ioyned in fellowship with the chosen which were vpon the earth in that aforesaid time This first part of this vision is begun alreadie now followeth the next part 7 And when these happy dayes are expired then shal the deuill be loosed out of his prison 8 And he shal go forth with greater liberty to seduce the nations which are in the four airths of the earth to wit he shal not only after the spreding of many heresies cause a general blindnes defection but also make a great persecution vpon the faithful Church by gathering Gog and Magog to battell against them whose number is like the sand of the sea to wit after innumerable troubles at last he shall gather to the great day of the battell of the Lord of the which ye heard in the sixt Trumpet and sixt phiale and last immediately before this Vision Gog and Magog to wit two great seates of Monarchies and Tyrannies ouer the Church who both at one time shall rise in the latter dayes and both at another time shal be destroyed by the blast of Christes breath as ye shall heare whereof the one is the auowed and professed enemie of GOD and his CHRIST but the other is Babylon the hypocriticall and most dangerous aduersary Of these two ye heard in the sixt Trumpet and so these two although pride and enuie shall still keepe a rooted malice betwixt them yet they shall both with innumerable forces make warre against the trew Church as Herod and Pilate did band themselues against Christ notwithstanding the particular dislikes which were betwixt them It is these and their forces that must fight against the Saints at Arma-geddon as ye heard in the sixt phiale and the special drawers on of this battell shal be the three frogs who are the last vermin bred of the smoake of the bottomlesse pit as ye also heard in the said phiale 9 These great forces then went vp vpon the earth for the diuel raised them out of the bottomlesse pit and they spread themselues vpon the breadth of the earth so great was their number and compassed the Tents or dwellings of the Saints and the holy Citie for they were prepared to inuade the trew Church on all sides and by all meanes but the fire came downe from heauen and deuoured them for God by his Almighty power euen when their power was greatest and nothing so like as an apparant rooting out of all the faithfull in rebus desperatis did miraculously confound all the aduersaries of his Church And now comes in the third and last part of this Vision to wit the description of the Consummation 10 For I did see the diuel who seduced these wicked cast into a lake of fire and brimstone to wit in hell out of the which he shall neuer come againe where also the beast and the false prophet were as ye heard before Here now I saw the diuel punished eternally to my greater comfort for troubling the Church where before I saw onely his instruments punished as I said in the beginning of this Vision and he and his instruments shall be tormented there day and night to wit incessantly for euer and euer 11 Then I saw a great white Throne and one sitting thereupon in all glory and brightnesse to wit IESVS CHRIST now comming from heauen to iudge the earth and from his sight fled the earth and the heauen and their place was not found for the whole earth and much of the heauen shall be destroyed and renewed at his last comming 12 And I saw all the dead great and small standing in GOD his sight for then is the resurrection of the dead who at that time must be iudged And the bookes were opened to wit the counsels and secrets of all mens hearts and another booke to wit the booke of Life was opened to the effect that all those whose names were written into it to wit predestinated and elected for saluation before all beginnings might there be selected for eternall Glory And the dead were iudged out of these things which were written in the bookes according to their workes for as God is a Spirit so iudgeth he the thoughts of man and so by faith onely iustifies him which notwithstanding is done according to his workes because they as the fruits of faith cannot be separated from it and beare witnesse of the same to men in the earth 13 And the Sea gaue vp all the dead she had for all the dead must then rise as I haue shewed already And death and hell gaue vp all they had for not onely the bodies but euen the soules of the wicked shal be iudged there and euery one was iudged according to his workes as I presently did shew you 14 And hell and death were casten in the Lake of fire which is the second death to wit hell and death shall then be closed vp for euer within themselues and shall neuer againe come forth to trouble the Saints for death which is the last
of God for the weale of them that doe well and as the minister of God Rom. 13. to take vengeance vpon them that doe euill as S. Paul saith And finally 1. Sam. 8. As a good Pastour to goe out and in before his people as is said in the first of Samuel Ierem. 29. That through the Princes prosperitie the peoples peace may be procured as Ieremie saith And therefore in the Coronation of our owne Kings as well as of euery Christian Monarche they giue their Oath first to maintaine the Religion presently professed within their countrie according to their lawes whereby it is established and to punish all those that should presse to alter or disturbe the profession thereof And next to maintaine all the lowable and good Lawes made by their predecessours to see them put in execution and the breakers and violaters thereof to be punished according to the tenour of the same And lastly to maintaine the whole countrey and euery state therein in all their ancient Priuiledges and Liberties as well against all forreine enemies as among themselues And shortly to procure the weale and flourishing of his people not onely in maintaining and putting to execution the olde lowable lawes of the countrey and by establishing of new as necessitie and euill maners will require but by all other meanes possible to fore-see and preuent all dangers that are likely to fall vpon them and to maintaine concord wealth and ciuilitie among them as a louing Father and careful watchman caring for them more then for himselfe knowing himselfe to be ordained for them and they not for him and therefore countable to that great God who placed him as his lieutenant ouer them vpon the perill of his soule to procure the weale of both soules and bodies as farre as in him lieth of all them that are committed to his charge And this oath in the Coronation is the clearest ciuill and fundamentall Law whereby the Kings office is properly defined By the Law of Nature the King becomes a naturall Father to all his Lieges at his Coronation And as the Father of his fatherly duty is bound to care for the nourishing education and vertuous gouernment of his children euen so is the king bound to care for all his subiects As all the toile and paine that the father can take for his children will be thought light and well bestowed by him so that the effect thereof redound to their profite and weale so ought the Prince to doe towards his people As the kindly father ought to foresee all inconuenients and dangers that may arise towards his children and though with the hazard of his owne person presse to preuent the same so ought the King towards his people As the fathers wrath and correction vpon any of his children that offendeth ought to be by a fatherly chastisement seasoned with pitie as long as there is any hope of amendment in them so ought the King towards any of his Lieges that offend in that measure And shortly as the Fathers chiefe ioy ought to be in procuring his childrens welfare reioycing at their weale sorrowing and pitying at their euill to hazard for their safetie trauell for their rest wake for their sleepe and in a word to thinke that his earthly felicitie and life standeth and liueth more in them nor in himselfe so ought a good Prince thinke of his people As to the other branch of this mutuall and reciprock band is the duety and alleageance that the Lieges owe to their King the ground whereof I take out of the words of Samuel dited by Gods Spirit when God had giuen him commandement to heare the peoples voice in choosing and annointing them a King And because that place of Scripture being well vnderstood is so pertinent for our purpose I haue insert herein the very words of the Text. 9 NOw therefore hearken to their voice howbeit yet testifie vnto them and shew them the maner of the King that shall raigne ouer them 10 So Samuel tolde all the wordes of the Lord vnto the people that asked a King of him 11 And he said This shall be the maner of the King that shall raigne ouer you he will take your sonnes and appoint them to his Charets and to be his horsemen and some shall runne before his Charet 12 Also hee will make them his captaines ouer thousands and captaines ouer fifties and to eare his ground and to reape his haruest and to make instruments of warre and the things that serue for his charets 13 Hee will also take your daughters and make them Apothicaries and Cookes and Bakers 14 And hee will take your fields and your vineyards and your best Oliue trees and giue them to his seruants 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your Vineyards and giue it to his Eunuches and to his seruants 16 And he will take your men seruants and your maid seruants and the chiefe of your yong men and your asses and put them to his worke 17 He will take the tenth of your sheepe and ye shall be his seruants 18 And ye shall cry out at that day because of your King whom ye haue chosen you and the Lord God will not beare you at that day 19 But the people would not heare the voice of Samuel but did say Nay but there shal be a King ouer vs. 20 And we also will be like all other Nations and our King shall iudge vs and goe out before vs and fight our battels That these words and discourses of Samuel were dited by Gods Spirit it needs no further probation but that it is a place of Scripture since the whole Scripture is dited by that inspiration as Paul saith which ground no good Christian will or dare denie Whereupon it must necessarily follow that these speeches proceeded not from any ambition in Samuel as one loath to quite the reines that he so long had ruled and therefore desirous by making odious the gouernment of a King to disswade the people from their farther importunate crauing of one For as the text proueth it plainly he then conueened them to giue them a resolute grant of their demand as God by his owne mouth commanded him saying Hearken to the voice of the people And to presse to disswade them frō that which he then came to grant vnto them were a thing very impertinent in a wise man much more in the Prophet of the most high God And likewise it well appeared in all the course of his life after that his so long refusing of their sute before came not of any ambition in him which he well proued in praying as it were importuning God for the weale of Saul Yea after God had declared his reprobation vnto him yet he desisted not while God himselfe was wrath at his praying and discharged his fathers suit in that errand And that these words of Samuel were not vttered as a prophecie of Saul their first Kings defection
it well appeareth as well because we heare no mention made in the Scripture of any his tyrannie and oppression which if it had beene would not haue been left vnpainted out therein as well as his other faults were as in a trew mirrour of all the Kings behauiours whom it describeth as likewise in respect that Saul was chosen by God for his vertue and meet qualities to gouerne his people whereas his defection sprung after-hand from the corruption of his owne nature not through any default in God whom they that thinke so would make as a step-father to his people in making wilfully a choise of the vnmeetest for gouerning them since the election of that King lay absolutely and immediatly in Gods hand But by the contrary it is plaine and euident that this speech of Samuel to the people was to prepare their hearts before the hand to the due obedience of that King which God was to giue vnto them and therefore opened vp vnto them what might be the intollerable qualities that might fall in some of their kings thereby preparing them to patience not to resist to Gods ordinance but as he would haue said Since God hath granted your importunate suit in giuing you a king as yee haue else committed an errour in shaking off Gods yoke and ouer-hastie seeking of a King so beware yee fall not into the next in casting off also rashly that yoke which God at your earnest suite hath laid vpon you how hard that euer it seeme to be For as ye could not haue obtained one without the permission and ordinance of God so may yee no more fro hee be once set ouer you shake him off without the same warrant And therefore in time arme yourselues with patience and humilitie since he that hath the only power to make him hath the onely power to vnmake him and ye onely to obey bearing with these straits that I now foreshew you as with the finger of God which lieth not in you to take off And will ye consider the very wordes of the text in order as they are set downe it shall plainely declare the obedience that the people owe to their King in all respects First God commandeth Samuel to doe two things the one to grant the people their suit in giuing them a king the other to forewarne them what some kings will doe vnto them that they may not thereafter in their grudging and murmuring say when they shal feele the snares here fore-spoken We would neuer haue had a king of God in case when we craued him hee had let vs know how wee would haue beene vsed by him as now we finde but ouer-late And this is meant by these words Now therefore hearken vnto their voice howbeit yet testifie vnto them and shew them the maner of the King that shall rule ouer them And next Samuel in execution of this commandement of God hee likewise doeth two things First hee declares vnto them what points of iustice and equitie their king will breake in his behauiour vnto them And next he putteth them out of hope that wearie as they will they shall not haue leaue to shake off that yoke which God through their importunitie hath laide vpon them The points of equitie that the King shall breake vnto them are expressed in these words 11 He will take your sonnes and appoint them to his Charets and to be his horsemen and some shall run before his Charet 12 Also he will make them his captaines ouer thousands and captaines ouer fifties and to eare his ground and to reape his haruest and to make instruments of warre and the things that serue for his charets 13 He will also take your daughters and make them Apothecaries and Cookes and Bakers The points of Iustice that hee shall breake vnto them are expressed in these wordes 14 Hee will take your fields and your vineyards and your best Oliue trees and giue them to his seruants 15 And he will take the tenth of your seede and of your vineyards and giue it to his Eunuches and to his seruants and also the tenth of your sheepe As if he would say The best and noblest of your blood shall be compelled in slauish and seruile offices to serue him And not content of his owne patrimonie will make vp a rent to his owne vse out of your best lands vineyards orchards and store of cattell So as inuerting the Law of nature and office of a King your persons and the persons of your posteritie together with your lands and all that ye possesse shal serue his priuate vse and inordinate appetite And as vnto the next point which is his fore-warning them that weary as they will they shall not haue leaue to shake off the yoke which God thorow their importunity hath laid vpon them it is expressed in these words 18 And yee shall crie out at that day because of your King whom yee haue chosen you and the Lord will not heare you at that day As he would say When ye shall finde these things in proofe that now I fore-warne you of although you shall grudge and murmure yet it shal not be lawful to you to cast it off in respect it is not only the ordinance of God but also your selues haue chosen him vnto you thereby renouncing for euer all priuiledges by your willing consent out of your hands whereby in any time hereafter ye would claime and call backe vnto your selues againe that power which God shall not permit you to doe And for further taking away of all excuse and retraction of this their contract after their consent to vnder-lie this yoke with all the burthens that hee hath declared vnto them he craues their answere and consent to his proposition which appeareth by their answere as it is expressed in these words 19 Nay but there shal be a King ouer vs. 20 And we also will be like all other nations and our king shall iudge vs and goe out before vs and fight our battels As if they would haue said All your speeches and hard conditions shall not skarre vs but we will take the good and euill of it vpon vs and we will be content to beare whatsoeuer burthen it shal please our King to lay vpon vs aswell as other nations doe And for the good we will get of him in fighting our battels we will more patiently beare any burthen that shall please him to lay on vs. Now then since the erection of this Kingdome and Monarchie among the Iewes and the law thereof may and ought to bee a paterne to all Christian and well founded Monarchies as beeing founded by God himselfe who by his Oracle and out of his owne mouth gaue the law thereof what liberty can broiling spirits and rebellious minds claime iustly to against any Christian Monarchie since they can claime to no greater libertie on their part nor the people of God might haue done and no greater tyranny was euer executed by any Prince or
being scantly inhabited but by very few and they as barbarous and scant of ciuilitie as number there comes our first King Fergus with a great number with him out of Ireland which was long inhabited before vs and making himselfe master of the countrey by his owne friendship and force as well of the Ireland-men that came with him as of the countrey-men that willingly fell to him hee made himselfe King and Lord as well of the whole landes as of the whole inhabitants within the same Thereafter he and his successours a long while after their being Kinges made and established their lawes from time to time and as the occasion required So the trewth is directly contrarie in our state to the false affirmation of such seditious writers as would perswade vs that the Lawes and state of our countrey were established before the admitting of a king where by the contrarie ye see it plainely prooued that a wise king comming in among barbares first established the estate and forme of gouernement and thereafter made lawes by himselfe and his successours according thereto The kings therefore in Scotland were before any estates or rankes of men within the same before any Parliaments were holden or lawes made and by them was the land distributed which at the first was whole theirs states erected and decerned and formes of gouernement deuised and established And so it followes of necessitie that the kings were the authors and makers of the Lawes and not the Lawes of the kings And to prooue this my assertion more clearly it is euident by the rolles of our Chancellery which containe our eldest and fundamentall Lawes that the King is Dominus omnium bonorum and Dominus directus totius Dominij the whole subiects being but his vassals and from him holding all their lands as their ouer-lord who according to good seruices done vnto him chaungeth their holdings from tacke to few from ward to blanch erecteth new Baronies and vniteth olde without aduice or authoritie of either Parliament or any other subalterin iudiciall seate So as if wrong might bee admitted in play albeit I grant wrong should be wrong in all persons the King might haue a better colour for his pleasure without further reason to take the land from his lieges as ouer-lord of the whole and doe with it as pleaseth him since all that they hold is of him then as foolish writers say the people might vnmake the king and put an other in his roome But either of them as vnlawful and against the ordinance of God ought to be alike odious to be thought much lesse put in practise And according to these fundamentall Lawes already alledged we daily see that in the Parliament which is nothing else but the head Court of the king and his vassals the lawes are but craued by his subiects and onely made by him at their rogation and with their aduice For albeit the king make daily statutes and ordinances enioyning such paines thereto as hee thinkes meet without any aduice of Parliament or estates yet it lies in the power of no Parliament to make any kinde of Lawe or Statute without his Scepter be to it for giuing it the force of a Law And although diuers changes haue beene in other countries of the blood Royall and kingly house the kingdome being reft by conquest from one to another as in our neighbour countrey in England which was neuer in ours yet the same ground of the kings right ouer all the land and subiects thereof remaineth alike in all other free Monarchies as well as in this For when the Bastard of Normandie came into England and made himselfe king was it not by force and with a mighty army Where he gaue the Law and tooke none changed the Lawes inuerted the order of gouernement set downe the strangers his followers in many of the old possessours roomes as at this day well appeareth a great part of the Gentlemen in England beeing come of the Norman blood and their old Lawes which to this day they are ruled by are written in his language and not in theirs And yet his successours haue with great happinesse enioyed the Crowne to this day Whereof the like was also done by all them that conquested them before And for conclusion of this point that the king is over-ouer-lord ouer the whole lands it is likewise daily proued by the Law of our hoordes of want of Heires and of Bastardies For if a hoord be found vnder the earth because it is no more in the keeping or vse of any person it of the law pertains to the king If a person inheritour of any lands or goods dye without any sort of heires all his landes and goods returne to the king And if a bastard die vnrehabled without heires of his bodie which rehabling onely lyes in the kings hands all that hee hath likewise returnes to the king And as ye see it manifest that the King is ouer-Lord of the whole land so is he Master ouer euery person that inhabiteth the same hauing power ouer the life and death of euery one of them For although a iust Prince will not take the life of any of his subiects without a cleare law yet the same lawes whereby he taketh them are made by himselfe or his predecessours and so the power flowes alwaies from him selfe as by daily experience we see good and iust Princes will from time to time make new lawes and statutes adioyning the penalties to the breakers thereof which before the law was made had beene no crime to the subiect to haue committed Not that I deny the old definition of a King and of a law which makes the king to bee a speaking law and the Law a dumbe king for certainely a king that gouernes not by his lawe can neither be countable to God for his administration nor haue a happy and established raigne For albeit it be trew that I haue at length prooued that the King is aboue the law as both the author and giuer of strength thereto yet a good king will not onely delight to rule his subiects by the lawe but euen will conforme himselfe in his owne actions thereuneto alwaies keeping that ground that the health of the common-wealth be his chiefe lawe And where he sees the lawe doubtsome or rigorous hee may interpret or mitigate the same lest otherwise Summum ius bee summa iniuria And therefore generall lawes made publikely in Parliament may vpon knowen respects to the King by his authoritie bee mitigated and suspended vpon causes onely knowen to him As likewise although I haue said a good king will frame all his actions to be according to the Law yet is hee not bound thereto but of his good will and for good example-giuing to his subiects For as in the law of abstaining from eating of flesh in Lenton the king will for examples sake make his owne house to obserue the Law yet no man will thinke he needs to take a licence to
drawing friends together at an hunting neere the Lord Haringtons and Ashbie M. Catesbies house being not farre off was a fit place for preparation The next was for money and horses which if wee could prouide in any reasonable measure hauing the Heire apparant and the first knowledge by foure or fiue dayes was oddes sufficient Then what Lords we should saue from the Parliament which was first agreed in generall as many as we could that were Catholickes or so disposed but after we descended to speake of particulars Next what forraine Princes wee should acquaint with this before or ioyne with after For this point wee agreed that first wee could not enioyne Princes to that secrecie nor oblige them by oath so to be secure of their promise besides we knew not whether they will approue the proiect or dislike it And if they doe allow thereof to prepare before might beget suspition and not to prouide vntill the businesse were acted the same letter that caried newes of the thing done might as well intreate their helpe and furtherance Spaine is too slow in his preparations to hope any good from in the first extremities and France too neere and too dangerous who with the shipping of Holland we feared of all the world might make away with vs. But while we were in the middle of these discourses we heard that the Parliament should bee anew adiourned vntill after Michaelmas vpon which tidings we broke off both discourse and working vntill after Christmas About Candlemas we brought ouer in a boate the powder which we had prouided at Lambeth and laide it in M. Percies house because wee were willing to haue all our danger in one place We wrought also another fortnight in the Mine against the stone wall which was very hard to beate thorow at which time we called in Kit Wright and neare to Easter as we wrought the third time opportunitie was giuen to hire the Cellar in which we resolued to lay the powder and leaue the Mine Now by reason that the charge of maintaining vs all so long together besides the number of seuerall houses which for seuerall vses had beene hired and buying of powder c. had layen heauie on M. Catesby alone to support it was necessarie for him to call in some others to ease his charge and to that ende desired leaue that hee with M. Percy and a third whom they should call might acquaint whom they thought fit and willing to the businesse for many said hee may be content that I should know who would not therefore that all the company should be acquainted with their names to this we all agreed After this Master Fawkes laid into the Cellar which hee had newly taken a thousand of Billets and fiue hundred of Faggots and with that couered the Powder because we might haue the House free to suffer any one to enter that would Master Catesby wished vs to consider whether it were not now necessary to send M. Fawkes ouer both to absent himselfe for a time as also to acquaint Sir William Stanley and M. Owen with this matter Wee agreed that he should prouided that hee gaue it them with the same othe that wee had taken it before videlicet to keepe it secret from all the world The reason why we desired Sir William Stanley should be acquainted herewith was to haue him with vs so soone as he could And for M. Owen hee might holde good correspondencie after with forreine Princes So M. Fawkes departed about Easter for Flanders and returned the latter end of August He tolde me that when he arriued at Brussels Sir William Stanley was not returned from Spaine so as hee vttered the matter onely to Owen who seemed well pleased with the businesse but tolde him that furely Sir William would not be acquainted with any plot as hauing businesse now afoot in the Court of England but he himselfe would be alwayes readie to tell it him and send him away so soone as it were done About this time did M. Percy and M. Catesby meete at the Bathe where they agreed that the company being yet but few M. Catesby should haue the others authoritie to call in whom hee thought best By which authoritie hee called in after Sir Euerard Digby though at what time I know not and last of all M. Francis Tresham The first promised as I heard M. Catesby say fifteene hundred pounds the second two thousand pounds M. Percy himselfe promised all that hee could get of the Earle of Northumberlands rents which was about foure thousand pounds and to prouide many galloping horses to the number of ten Meane while M. Fawkes and my selfe alone bought some new Powder as suspecting the first to be danke and conueyed it into the Cellar and set it in order as wee resolued it should stand Then was the Parliament anew prorogued vntill the fift of Nouember so as we all went downe vntil some ten dayes before when M. Catesby came vp with M. Fawkes to an house by Enfield Chace called White-webbes whither I came to them and M. Catesby willed me to enquire whether the yong Prince came to the Parliament I tolde him that I heard that his Grace thought not to be there Then must wee haue our Horses said M. Catesby beyond the water and prouision of more company to surprise the Prince and leaue the Duke alone Two dayes after being Sunday at night in came one to my chamber and told me that a letter had beene giuen to my L. Mountegle to this effect That he wished his Lordships absence from the Parliament because a blow would there be giuen which letter he presently caried to my L. of Salisbury On the morrow I went to White-webbes and told it M. Catesby assuring him withall that the matter was disclosed and wishing him in any case to forsake his Countrey He told me he would see further as yet and resolued to send M. Fawkes to trie the vttermost protesting if the part belonged to himselfe he would trie the same aduenture On Wednesday Master Fawkes went and returned at night of which we were very glad Thursday I came to London and Friday Master Catesby Master Tresham and I met at Barnet where wee questioned how this Letter should be sent to my L. Mountegle but could not conceiue for Master Tresham forsware it whom we onely suspected On Saturday night I met M. Tresham againe in Lincolnes Inne walkes wherein he tolde such speeches that my Lord of Salisbury should vse to the King as I gaue it lost the second time and repeated the same to M. Catesby who hereupon was resolued to be gone but stayed to haue M. Percy come vp whose consent herein wee wanted On Sunday M. Percy being dealt with to that end would needs abide the vttermost triall This suspicion of all hands put vs into such confusion as M. Catesby resolued to goe downe into the countrey the Munday that M. Percy went to Syon and M. Percy resolued to follow the same
the peace of his Kingdome will beare in mind the great and faithfull seruice of those who in matter of religion dissent from his Maiestie as of the onely men that haue preserued and saued the Crowne for the King his father of most glorious memorie I am perswaded my brother of France wil beleeue that his liege people pretended by the L. Cardinall to bee heretikes are not halfe so bad as my Romane Catholike subiects who by secret practises vndermine my life serue a forreine Souereigne are discharged by his Bulls of their obedience due to me their naturall Souereigne are bound by the maximes and rules published and maintained in fauour of the Pope before this full and famous assemblie of the Estate at Paris if the said maximes be of any weight and authoritie to hold mee for no lawfull King are there taught and instructed that Pauls commandemement concerning subiection vnto the higher Powers aduerse to their professed religion is onely a prouisionall precept framed to the times and watching for the opportunitie to shake off the yoake All which notwithstanding I deale with such Romane-Catholikes by the rules and wayes of Princely clemencie their heinous and pernicious error in effect no lesse then the capitall crime of high treason I vse to call some disease or distemper of the mind Last of all I beleeue my said brother of France will set downe in his tables as in record how little hee standeth ingaged to the L. Cardinall in this behalfe For those of the reformed Religion professe and proclaime that next vnder God they owe their preseruation and safetie to the wisedome and benignity of their Kings But now comes the Cardinall and he seekes to steale this perswasion out of their hearts He tells them in open Parliament and without any going about bushes that all their welfare and securitie standeth in their multitude and in the feare which others conceiue to trouble the State by the strict execution of lawes against Heretikes He addeth moreouer Note by the way that here the Church of Rome is called a Sect. that In case a third Sect should peepe out and growe vp in France the professors thereof should suffer confiscation of their goods with losse of life it selfe as hath bene practised at Geneua against Seruetus and in England against Arians My answere is this That punishments for heretikes duely and according to Law conuicted are set downe by decrees of the ciuill Magistrate bearing rule in the countrey where the said heretikes inhabite and not by any ordinances of the Pope I say withall the L. Cardinall hath no reason to match and parallell the reformed Churches with Seruetus and the Arians For those heretikes were powerfully conuicted by Gods word and lawfully condemned by the ancient Generall Councils where they were permitted and admitted to plead their owne cause in person But as for the trewth professed by me and those of the reformed Religion it was neuer yet hissed out of the Schooles nor cast out of any Council like some Parliament bills where both sides haue bene heard with like indifferencie Yea what Council soeuer hath bene offered vnto vs in these latter times it hath bene proposed with certaine presuppositions as That his Holinesse beeing a partie in the cause and consequently to come vnder iudgement as it were to the barre vpon his triall shall be the Iudge of Assize with Commission of Oyer and Determiner it shall bee celebrated in a citie of no safe accesse without safe conduct or conuoy to come or goe at pleasure and without danger it shall be assembled of such persons with free suffrage and voyce as vphold this rule which they haue already put in practise against Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage that faith giuen and oath taken to an Heretike must not be obserued Now then to resume our former matter If the Pope hitherto hath neuer presumed for pretended heresie to confiscate by sentence either the lands or the goods of priuate persons or common people of the French Nation wherefore should hee dare to dispossesse Kings of their Royall thrones wherefore takes he more vpon him ouer Kings then ouer priuate persons wherefore shall the sacred heads of Kings be more churlishly vnciuilly and rigorously handled then the hoods of the meanest people Here the L. Cardinal in stead of a direct answer breakes out of the lists alledging cleane from the purpose examples of heretikes punished not by the Pope but by the ciuill Magistrate of the Countrey But Bellarmine speakes to the point with a more free and open heart hee is absolute and resolute in this opinion that his Holinesse hath plenary power to dispose all Temporall estates and matters in the whole world I am confident saith Bellarmine and I speake it with assurance Contr. Barclaium cap. 27. that our Lord Iesus Christ in the dayes of his mortalitie had power to dispose of all Temporall things yea to strip Souereigne Kings and absolute Lords of their Kingdomes and Seignories and without all doubt hath granted and left euen the same power vnto his Vicar to make vse thereof whensoeuer hee shall thinke it necessary for the saluation of soules And so his Lordship speaketh without exception of any thing at all For who doth not know that Iesus Christ had power to dispose no lesse of priuate mens possessions then of whole Realmes and Kingdomes at his pleasure if it had beene his pleasure to display the ensignes of his power The same fulnesse of power is likewise in the Pope In good time belike his Holinesse is the sole heire of Christ in whole and in part Sess 9. The last Lateran Council fineth a Laic that speaketh blasphemie for the first offence if he be a gentleman at 25. ducats and at 50. for the second It presupposeth and taketh it for graunted that the Church may rifle and ransacke the purses of priuate men and cast lots for their goods The Councill of Trent diggeth as deepe for the same veine of gold and siluer It ordaines That Emperours Kings Dukes Princes Sess 25. cap. 19. and Lords of cities castles and territories holding of the Church in case they shall assigne any place within their limits or liberties for the duell betweene two Christians shall be depriued of the said citie castle or place where such duell shall be performed they holding the said place of the Church by any kind of tenure that all other Estates held in fee where the like offence shall be committed shall forthwith fall and become forfeited to their immediate and next Lords that all goods possessions and estates as well of the combatants themselues as of their seconds shall bee confiscate This Councill doeth necessarily presuppose it lieth in the hand and power of the Church to dispose of all the lands and estates held in fee throughout all Christendome because the Church forsooth can take from one and giue vnto an other all estates held in fee whatsoeuer as well such as hold of the