a parte or for that in iudgement and affection they concurre heerin with Protestants and hate them euen for religions sake that is for their eminent zeale in Catholike religion And what credit this may be to them throughout the world with all good Catholiks themselues may easily consider as also what wisdome it is to exasperate without cause so great a multitude of men dispersed ouer all Christendome who haue done them euery where much good and may do and both they and theirs haue need of them in diuers places of our banishment abroad and persecution here at home being subiect to so many necessityes both spiritual and temporal wherin these mens help vnto vs hath and may be very beneficial And in this kynd also is the inconsideration of our said brethren notorious that hauing receaued for so many yeares and receyuing daylie in forraine contreys most principal releefe from the kinges of Spaine both the father now dead and the sonne raigning and our Cathol English mens affayres beyond the Seas and namely our Seminaryes depending in such sort of their good likings and liberalityes as yf they should faile vs the greatest part of all our stay must fal therwith these men not-withstanding as though they had byn hired by the common enemy to ouerthrow our owne cause seeke occasion in these books to alienate them both and the whole nation together by contumelious iniuryes layd vpon them with so intemperate a tongue as no mouth of heretike or other enemy could vtter worse Let vs heare yf yow please some of their speches touching both the one and the other king The K. of Spaine say they ayming at the crowne of England with the death of her Ma. and subuersion of the whole state togeather with the vtter ruyne desolasion and destruction of the whole Isle and the ancient inhabitants therof neuer once shewed any care or respect he or his had to the restoring of the Catholike Râ—mish faith amongst the English nay his direct course was taken quite contrary scilicet to extirpate the name of all Catholiks that were English out from the face of the earth Thus they wryte of his Cath. Ma. And further they are not ashamed in the same place to assure the reader out of the Duke of Medina his owne confession that he had order rather to spare protestaÌ„ts yf he had peruayled in warre then Catholiks And what heretike was yet euer so impudent as to affirme this seeing that both the kings owne Edict published in Spayne concerning that enterprise as also the declaration of the late Cardinal from his Hol. do testifie and protest the quite contrary namely that the old good kinges intention was principally for the aduancemeÌ„t of Catholike religion and relief of poore afflicted Catholikes himself often protesting as most certaynly wee are informed that he neuer ment or pretented in his life any temporal interest for himself to the crowne of England and that if he might haue had any reasonable hope or satisfaction in the other two poynts by any competent moderation or toleration he was desyrous to haue helde peace and good frendship with her Maiestie and the crowne of England aboue all other princes and kingdomes in Europe and the self same disposition wee persuade ourselues by many and great argumentes to be in his sonne the king catholike present of whome notwithstanding our men that spare none do ad also diuers contumelious speches saying that it is not religion which the king present doth care for more then his Father did before him but maketh that only a pretence to seduce all Catholiks c. Making them and yow all deare Catholiks to cut one anothers throat c. thus they say of him And as for his nation and people the Spaniards they raile at them most impudently calling them base villaynes swaggering mishapen swads and knowne to be the cruellest tyrants that liue vpon the earth c. which intollerable spiteful insolency comming to their eares as it cannot choose but do let vs imagine what that bountiful king and his people that haue so many of our brethren and children in their hands and dominions and do cherish them most tenderly may or wil thinke of this barbarous ingratitude not only in heretiks which were more tolerable but also in Catholiks yea priests and most of them maintayned and brought to that they are eyther in Doway Rhemes or Spaine by the said king and nations liberality And this is the deep wound indeed which these inconsiderate and passionate people not to vse more greeuous tearmes haue giuen do giue vnto their nation and to the publike cause of religion which they wil neuer be able to cure wholy nor scarse perhaps any other for them But passing forward from the kings of Spaine they go to the Popes themselues according to that saying in the psalme superbia corum ascendit semper their pride mounteth higher and higher and truly a man would not easily beleeue that priests professing themselues Catholiks and to haue byn brought vp in the Seminaryes and that they would haue no other iudge of their cause but his Hol. himselfe wold presume to be so audatious as to cal in question and condemne the actions of so many Popes togeather noe lesse contemptiously then those of the K. of Spaine before mentioned whome comonly they do conioyne with the Popes and Sea Apostolike affirming that both Pius 5. Gregory the xiij and Sixtus 5. did conspire with him yea thrust him into the inuasion of England Did not Pius 5. say they by way of a fayned obiection practise her Ma. subuersion she good lady neuer dreaming of any such mischeefe c. Did not Pius 5. mooue the K. of Spaine to ioyne in this exployte c. Had not the Pope and K. of Spayne designed the duke of Norfolke to be the head of this rebellion Did not k. Philip at the Popes instance determyne to send the duke of Alua into England with all his forces c. Thus and much more they complayne of that holy Pope and the like of his successor in these words Now whilst these practises were in band in Ireland Gregory the xiij reneweth the saidâ— Bull of Pius 5. denounceth her Ma. to be excoÌ„municated with intimation of all other particulars in the former Bull mentioned And of the same Pope Gregory they ad further thus The attempts both of the Popes and Spaniard fayling in England his Hol as a temporal prince displayed his banner in Ireland c. Of Sixtus 5. also his successor they complayne in like manner speaking of the armada in the yeare 1588. VVe doubt not but that the Pope as a temporal prince did ioyne and contribute towards this intended inuasion c. And marke that alwayes they ad as a temporal Prince for that as a spiritual and Ecclesiastical Magistrate they hold throughout the whole book that he hath no power at all to concurre or appoynt
not worthie to beare But let vs see som what of their dealing with D. Sanders and the Card. in particular It little became eyther M Saunders Say they otherwayes an excellent man or M. Persons or any other of our nation to haue intermedied with these matters and to wryte as they haue very offensiuely done in diuers of their books and treateses c. Lo heere their censure and reprehension But let vs heare further In the yeare 1572. say they out cometh M. Sanders book de visibili monarchia wherin he taketh vpon him to set downe how the Pope had sent M. Morton and M. VVebbe two priests before the Rebellion of the North to excite the Lords and gentlemen to take armes And the rather to persuade them therunto they signified vnto them by the Popes commandement that her Ma. was excommunicated c. Behold here the condemnation of three ancient Doctors ioyned by these our yong maisters with that of the Pope himselfe and then they go forward Then M. Sanders building castles in the ayre amongst his books doth magnifie the said Rebelles to the great discredit of the Church of Rome and his Hol actions in such matters c. And from this passing to his goyng into Ireland they say thus The Pope himselfe in the yeare 1579. abused stil by false pretences did set forward that course and sending thither certayne forces M. Saunders too much Iesuited did thrust himself in person into that action as a cheif ringleader c. But heere we would aske these men how they do know that D. Saunders did thrust himselfe into that action wherin all good men do wish that he had neuer byn considering the great good he might haue done to all Christendome by his most learned books yf his lyfe had not byn shortened that way But these yonkers his schollers or rather not worthie to be his schollers that so resolutely do accuse him heere of voluntary putting himselfe in that peril how can they proue it and much les that he was a cheife ringleader in that warre or what sure ground haue they of this malitious imputation For sure we are that we haue both heard and seene by letters that he was not only induced but also commanded in his Hol. name by Bishop Sega then Nuntius Apostolicus in Spayne and afterwards Card. to go in that voyage not to be ringleader in matters of warre as these men do odiously obiect but rather to be a moderator and vmpire in Ecclesiastical affayres for direction to that people as occasion should fal out But howsoeuer that was those things being now past and the man dead and with almightie God as we hope and persuade our selues for these men now to reuiue the same againe with so great hatred and enuy as they do for flattering of the present state which yet we persuade our selues beleeueth them little sheweth with what spirit they are replenished and we feare we shal daylie more and more see the fruits therof And this of him But now let vs heare a little how they handle their old good maister and foster father and late Superior Card. Allen of whome in their first two books both in latyn and English they glory greatly that he was their common father and founder that begone the Seminaryes and brought them all vp therin taught and directed them most prudently and kept all in right good order while he was aliue and that he misliked on the other syde the Iesuits education and gouernment of our youth and that he was disunited with F. Persons as misliking his nature and manner of proceeding himself giuing contentment to all beloued and approued of all c. These things and diuers others were in their first two books often incultated which now are contradicted in these later according to the growth of their spirit in passion malice and folly and according to the necessity they haue put themselues in vpon these motiues to bid warre not only to D. Sanders Card. Allen and all the good and learned men of our nation besides but to all Cath. wryters of other Nations also as before hath byn said about their fond and foolish assertion set downe in these their absurd libels But yet especially and aboâ—e all others to Card. Allen who hauing seene a false and pestiferous libel of the very same argument with this of Important ConsideratioÌ„s cast abroad in the years 1583. made by some malitious heretiks in defamaâ—ion of Catholiks and their sufferings whoâ—e little was The execution of iustice in England the said learned man made an answere therunto intituling it A true sincere and modest defence of English Catholikes that suffer for their faith both at home and abroad c. And then is added another paragraphe wherin is declared how vniustly Catholiks are charged with treason how vntruly their persecution is denyed to be for religion and how deceytfully heretiks seeke to abuse straungers about the cause grearnes and manner of their sufferings c. And finally is added vt obstrâ—atur â—s loquentium imqua all this is done to stoop the mouthes of such as speake vniustly VVhich these our priests may take now also to themselues as all the rest in like maÌ„ner which in that learned booke of the Cardinal contayning nyne large chapters is vttered against slanderous heretiks and that lying libeller that set forth the said Execution of iustice seing these men haue aduentured to take their parts and persons vpon them and to rayle ly and defame the actions and intentions of the best Catholiks no lesse then the other did VVhich things being so and the said late good Card. being indeed the most opposite and earnest enemy which they haue or many haue in this their last argument of Important Considerations hauing shaken in peeces by his former booke all the fond reasons and flaunderous calumniations which they alleadge before they came forth no maruaile though they do handle him conteÌ„ptuously and most spitefully in this book though tempering the matter somtymes in respect of their former praises giuen him with saying that the good man was abused that whatsoeuer he did or wrote to their dislike was by F. Persons induction help and persuasion which in a man of his wisdome and authority is the greatest reproch that can be obiected as though he had byn able to haue done nothing of himself but that all he did camefrom F. Persons so they say of him concerning his booke or epistle vvrytten in the yeare 1587. about the lawfulnes of the fact of Sr. VVilliam Stanley his giuing vp Dauentry to the true owner wherof we shal haue occasion to speak afterward in this book now we shal adde a word or two of their reprehension or rather calumniation in that behalf The defence of that disloyalâ—y say they made by a worther man but by the persuasions as we thinke of Persons was greatly disliked by many both myse and learned especially that he
solliciter were alledged against the sayd Earle After this there followeth in these mens narration Hitherto say they we might adde the notable treasons of M. Anthony BabingtoÌ„ and his complâ—ces in the yeare 1586. which were so apparant as we were greatly abashed at the shamelles boldnes of a yong Iesuite who to excuse the said traytors and qualifie their offences presumed in a kynd of supplication to her Maiestie to ascribe the plotting of all that mischeef to M. Secretary VValsingam c. Marke heere the exceeding malice of these men who to excuse the persecutors though neuer so eager enemyes and heretiks seek to lay all hurts vpon Catholiks and for that yf yow remember these particular examples are brought in to prooue not only that Catholiks are culpable guilty of their owne afflictions but also to confirme their former general proposition that all mischeefes synce her Maiesties raigne haue byn wrought principally by Iesuits And not finding in this fact of M. Babington not so much as any one Iesuite to haue byn accused or named as participant or consenting to this action they take occasion to name one at least that sought afterward to qualifie their offenses in a supplication to her Maiestie But what is that to the poynt it selfe that any Iesuite was actor counselour consenting or priuy thervnto Yf that blessed man whome they insinuate now a martyr did go about to mittigate the matter to her Maiestie they being all Catholike geÌ„tlemen that died for the same and did also signifie that M. VValsingham had entertayned for diuers monethes the knowledge and notice of that association as it is most certainly knowne that he did by the confession of diuers that dealt with him therin and therby also most probable that the poore gentlemen were drawne thervnto by his malice and craft what is this we say to proue that Iesuits were any dealers attempters or counselers therof VVas there any Iesuite so much as named in all the processe against them at the barre or otherwise VVere not D. Allen and F. Persons F. Holt and F. Creswel all at Rome or Naples at that tyme and no one English Iesuite remayning eyther in Fraunce or Flaunders to treat with any in that affayre VVere not all the consultations about that matter made in Paris with those that were of the opposite faction VVere not the three priests Ballard Gyfford and Gratley that dealt therin secular priests and deuided from the Iesuits as by their owne confessions appeareth which we haue cyted in our Apologie nay did not Tyrel the priest being made acquaynted therwith and opening the same in general tearmes to another priest in London being asked that point confessed plainly that Ballard had told him that neyther D. Allen nor F. Persons were priuy thervnto whervpoÌ„ the said priest disclaymed from it and refused to heare any further therin which act of the said priest soone after taken by the detection of Tyrel and charged with that conference was cleered for that he had refused to heare therof And this to be so appeareth by the register and examinations taken at that tyme. And so by this yow may see the vpright dealing of these our brethren yf any way they may be called brethren It followeth in their Catalogue of accusations against Catholiks their doyngs The treachery say they of S r VVilliam Stanley the yeare following 1587. in falsifying his faith to her Maiestie and in betraying the trust comytted to him by the Earle of Leicester who had giuen him thè honorable title of knighthood as it was greaty preiudicial to vs that were Catholiks at home so was the defence of that disloyalty made by a worthie man but by the persuasion as we thinke of Persons grratly misliked of many both wise and learned Heere marke good Reader first the odious manner of speech of these priests yf they be priests against so worthy a man of their nation and religion as is S r VVilliam Stanley calling his rendring of the citty of Dauentry to the King of Spaine treachery and falsifying of his faith to her Maiestie betraying the trust committed vnto him c. which is both malignant and false for that the place which S r VVilliam gaue vp was not vnder her Maiesties obedience at that tyme nor S r VVilliam or this soldiars that held the same were in her pay but in the pay of the rebelled states vnto whome those of DaueÌ„trie being free before and without any garrison the Earle of Leicester by deceipt and force made them subiect by drawing in an English garrison against their willes It is manifestly false also that S r VVilliam was made knight by the Earle of Leicester as these men heere most fondly affirme for that he had his knighthood by S r VVilliam Drury deputy of Ireland long before the Earle of Leicester had charge in Holland neyther can he be said to haue falsified his faith to her Maiestie as these caluÌ„niators obiect for so much as he was not sworne to her Maiestie in that gouernment as hath byn shewed holding not the towne for her but for the States whome knowing in his conscience to be rebels and most wrongfully to detayne from ther true Lord and lawful king that and other townes the good religious knight thought himselfe bound vnder paine of greuous sinne as indeed he was by all true diuinity to make restitution therof to the true owner when it lay in his hand no lesse then when a theefe hauing robbed or spoyled any honest man and put the booty in pawne or deposition in another mans hand he is bound knowing the truth not to keep it for the theefe nor to restore it to him againe but to the true owner and this we thinke our brethren in their diuinity wil not dare to deny as nether this case following suppose any Spaniard Italian or other subiect of the King of Spayne should hold any towne at this day in Ireland of the Earle of Tyron and vnder his pay and becoming a Protestant should therwith thinke it iust and reason and himself bound in conscience to yeld the same freely and frankely without reward or couenant to her Maiestie as to the true owner would our men trow you cry out heere of treachery and breach of faith against the King of Spaine And yet yf they be Catholiks as they pretend they must needs confesse the case to be no lesse fauorable on S r VVilliams side yf not much more both in respect of his great zeale in Catholike religion and rare piety of lyfe shewed euer synce wherin would God the wryters of these books being priests as they say had any resemblance or would follow him as also for that as we are certainly enformed besides the former warrant of conscience and iustice he had also for safegard of his honour a particular Patent from his General the Earle of Leicester when he returned into England with expresse licence
within was wrytten this in cyphar as the rest of the letter also is said to haue byn A note for F. Holt such other confident frends as he shal thinke good to communicate the same withal And then began the letter thus The principal causes of this my iorney are to setle with his Holines and F. General all such poynts as shal seeme necessary for the vpholding of the Seminaries of Spayne Flaunders Italy and of the mission of the society to England and therfore whatsoeuer shal offer it selfe vnto yow about any of these points to wit for facultyes gouernment priuiledges maintenance or the like I pray yow and other frends to aduise me with the best speed that may be for I meane to procure that my aboad in Italy be as litle as may bee and so I haue promised in Spaine and for diuers reasons it wil be necessary Yf I can do any good also in compounding or ending the troubles of the English Roman Seminary and of our controuersyes betweene those of our nation els where I shal do my best at least I hope I shal make his Hol. and other principal persons vnderstand the true causes and grounds therof By these two first points we may see that F. Persons iorney to Rome was neyther in post as these men say being 5. or 6. monethes in coming nor to cause the book of English titles to be read in the Refectory as fondly heere is deuised about which whole matter of succession he speaketh in his letter so temperatly and indifferently as may shame his aduersaryes to alleadge it for he saith in substaÌ„ce That he meaneth to proceed therin very softly and coldly letting his Hol. only to know how matters do stand that English Catholiks do only desire after her Maiestie some sincere Catholike Prince without respect of English Scottish Spanish or other nation in respect of religion that F. Persons is not an enemy to the king of Scotland nor Agent for king Philip as some haue enformed shewing in the first what good offices he hath done for the king of Scotland for many yeares whilst their was hope that he would be a Catholike and in the second shewing by testimony of the Nuntio of Madrid Patriarke Caetan who hath wrytten effectually in that behalf that F. Persons hath alwayes persuaded the king his counsel that it wil not stand wel for his Maiestie to pretend England for himself that he hath obtayned of the king ful promise therof about which poynt the Nuntio hath seene the papers byn priuy to the speches which F. Persons from tyme to tyme hath had vnto that effect These are the words of this secret letter and finally he concludeth that the best of all would be yf to auoyd contention opposition and garboyles after her Maiestie such a person might be thought of as would be fit and stand wel both for his Hol. and Maiestie Catholike Inglish and Scotish Catholiks the kings of Fraunce Denmarke and all the rest but who that person or persons be he meaneth to suffer his Hol. to thinke vpon c. Thus he wryteth as yow see in great confidence and secresy to his dearest frend and was to treate to the same effect with the Pope by the commission as heere is insinuated of the king of Spaine himselfe And his Hol. can be witnesse whether he did so or no and whether he hath changed his course or no vntil this day And then let the discreet reader iudge whether these cogitations and endeauors of F. Persons do not tend more to peace vnion composition sauing of his countrey from warres and garboyles pacifying of Princes round about and furthering the Catholike religion which principally is sought by him as the first and cheef meanes of all ioy and felicity both in this lyfe and the next then the distracted passionate clamors of these few discontented people that cry out to pul downe but set vp nothing that calumniate other mens actions but can do nothing themselues being only fit to vndo discompose wrangle trouble cry and curse but let vs see yet a litle further They obiect that F. Persons hath intitled the king of Spaine to all the 3. kingdomes of England Scotland and France the Lady Infanta to the said three kingdomes Let them shew this out of any wryting of his and if they cannot as is most certaine let them be ashamed of this their shamelesse calumniation For in the book of succession which they attribute vnto him is no such matter eyther about the kingdome of France or Scotland for eyther of those two persons but rather the quite contrary which proueth these men not to speak by line or measure or regard of verity but only what they imagine may sound odiously And is this fit for priests yea Catholike priests The tale of the students subscribing swearing and promising in Spaine to promote with mayne and might poyse of words dentibus â—nsibus as our Orators say the Infanta her title is much like poetical comentaryes and fictions vpon some litle ground of truth For all are lyes but only this that our late good Cardinal thinking seriously towards the later end of his dayes of the perilous state of our countrey yf her Ma. should faile and what great contention and warres were like to ensue about the succession of a new prince he was greatly troubled and afflicted in mynd and casting diuers wayes about how these mischeefes might best be preuented and matters wrought to some moderation and composition both to the contentment of forrayne princes and probability to reduce the Cath. faith agayne into England he took his pen in hand and set downe a very wise moderate and pious discourse of his opinion and iudgment therin sending the same into Spayne with desyre to heare the opinions of his frends about the same who liking it very wel and being desyrous to haue the same continued and set forward diuers of the cheef English there as wel lay men as Ecclesiastical as namely Sr. Frauncis Inglefield M. D. Stillington and others wrote their likings and approbation therof and requested that the like might be performed froÌ„ the Semynaryes for encouraging the good Card. to go forward in that pious cogitatioÌ„ And this is all that in that matter was done or atteÌ„pted without any promise oath or obligation at all so as all the rest which these men ad is eyther poetical fictions or exaggerations as we haue sayd The calumniation about the L. Dacres is most false slaunderous and hath many malignant vntruthes That which passed betwene him and F. Persons is this as we are certaynly enformed by them that know it He went out of England to Vallidolid in Spaine about the yeare 1590. where finding F. Persons begynning his new Seminary he was most curteously receyued and treated by him therin and after some dayes recommended by his letters very effectually to the court at Madrid where also he
it is both often and expresly prouided in this book that the old auncient lawes customes and vses of Englād how so euer some of them may seeme incommodious and different from other natiōs in diuers poynts yet are they not easily to be chaunged or altered but rather conserued and persited by other good things to be added vnto them which being considered and the peeuish and maligne calumniation of these men therby vnderstood we shal leaue them to their wrangling and lying humour and so passe to set downe the said promised preface of the memorial whose title is this The Preface of the author shewing how and why these notes were gathered and the principal parts to be treated c. 1596. The notes and obseruations of this memorial following were gathered layd togeather in tyme of persecution when there was no place to execute or put them in vre and it is now more then 17. or 18. yeares past that the gatherer began first to put some of them in wryting and hauing had the experience of the yeares which haue insued since and his part also of trauel in the Cath. affayre of his coūtrey and seene the practise of diuers other Cath. nations abroad he was desyrous in case that himselfe should not liue to see the desyred day of the reduction of England yet that some of his cogitations and intentions for the publike good therof might worke some effect after his death and that therby other men might be the sooner mooued to enter into more mature consideration of these and such other like points yea and to descend also vnto many more particulars then heere are set downe for that the gatherers meaning was only to open the way to insinuate certayne general and principal heads that might serue for an awaking and remembrance at that happy day of the conuersion of our countrey vnto such persons as shal be then able and desyrous to further the common good and to aduaunce almighty Gods glory with an holy zeale of perfect reformation who yet perhaps may be so intangled with multitude of other busines and cogitations at that tyme as they wil not so easily enter into these except they be put in mynd therof by some such memorial and aduertisments as heere are touched And what is said in this Treatise for the kingdome of England is meant also for Ireland so farre forth as it may do good seing the author desireth as much benefit for Gods seruice and good of the nation to the one countrey as to the other And for that the principal members and braunches whome this memorial may concerne are three to wit the whole body of the realme iointly and then the Cleargie and temporalty apart therfore the same order shal be obserued for more perspicuityes sake in treating the matters that are to be handled according to these three parts First of things that appertayne to the whole body of the Realme in general and then to the Cleargie and Laytie in particular deuiding each one of these two later members into his particular braunches also as namely the Cleargie and spiritualty into Bishops priests and religious men and the laytie or temporality into the Prince with his counsel the nobility and commons making of euery one of these cheefe members their particular Chapters also a part as in prosecution of this Treatese shal appeare And to the performance of this the author was encoraged especially by two points which for diuers yeares he hath byn persuaded in the first that God wil most certainly at his tyme appointed restore the realme of England to the Catholike faith againe as may appeare by the euident hand he holdeth now in the worke the other that England being once conuerted may be made the spectacle of all the world and an example of perfection to all other Catholike countreys and churches round about it if want of zeale and good wil do not hinder it in those that God shal bring to see that blessed day which the gatherer of this memorial hopeth wil not And with this hope he setteth downe the notes and aduertisments ensuing This is the Preface verbatim and by this yow may in part conceyue of the Authors whole drift and meaning which he prosecuteth afterwards according to the former three parts to wit of the whole body iointly and then of the Cleargie Churches schooles and vniuersityes particularly and lastly of the laity or temporalty making 10. Chapters of the first part 7. of the second and 5. of the third proposing diuers and sundry most excellent obseruations concerning each one quite contrary to all that which his detractors do heere or els where set downe or insinuate vpon meere suspition coniectures and vpon the very name or hearing of this book without reading or seing it only to contradict his endeauors whome they haue neyther vertue nor ability to imitate It were ouer long and not standing with our purpose of breuity in this place to alleadge as we might many excellent places out of this memorial for our comfort yet some few peeces shal we touch as it were for a tast and to discouer these mens malitious enuying humour The first Chapter of the first part hath this inscription Some special reasons why England aboue all other Realmes ought to procure a perfect reformation when tyme shal serue c. And then it followeth in the Chapter thus If euer nation vnder heauen were bound to shew themselues grateful to almighty God and turne hartily and zealously vnto him and to seek his highest glory by a perfect reformation of their countrey when his diuyne Ma. shal open the way it is the English nation for these reasons following First for that no other nation in the world on whome God hath layd the scourge of heresy hath receaued so many helpes and graces to resist the same as England hath done which is euident by the multitude and valour of English Martyrs by the fortirude and zeale of so many and such confessors by the constancy patience and feruour at home by the store of Seminaryes abroad and by the seruent spirit of priests brought vp in them and by many other fauors and priuiledges vsed towards the English nation in these our dayes All which do require an extraordinary demonstration of forwardnes in English Catholiks when the tyme shal serue to be answerable in some sort to these extraordinary benefits This is his first reason wherunto he addeth 4. more of no lesse moment which we notwithstanding are forced for brenityes sake to pretermit our intention being only to giue a tast both of the argument handled in this book and of the maner how it is handled yet for that the fourth reason being further considered by vs seemeth to beare with it an euident demostration as wel of F. Persons syncere and plaine meaning as also of his good opinion of these priests that now make so many clamors against him we are induced to
late Cardinal Allen Sir Francis Englefield and others the most principal Catholiks of our nation beyond the seas as by their owne hands is yet extant what malepert saucinesse is this of a few yonglings so bitterly now to inueigh against it And if we wil consider the contents therof we shal more maruaile at so insolent dealing of these indiscreet and rash greene heads deuowed wholy as it semeth to carp at other other mens actions though they vnderstand them not For what argument we pray yow could there be more important graue serious and necessary to be handled at that tyme when this book was wrytten English affayres standing as they did and do then the matter of succession to our crowne wherof both religion and Realme spirituality and temporality for the most part dependeth especially the subiect of the former book for two they are in number is of such weight and consideration and so ought to be with Catholiks as it were irreligious to be ignorant or carelesse therin to wit that in all pretence and pretenders ro reigne ouer Christians and succession to crownes the consideration of true Cath. religion is the principal point to be respected and that this is conforme to all lawes both diuine and humane but especially to the ancient accustomed lawes of our land and that no good Catholike may or can dispence with himselfe or others in this point for any humaine respect or consideration whatsoeuer which point is so substantially prooued by all variety of learning both ecclesiastical and prophane and by so many examples and customes of all nations in 9. seueâ—al chapters as our enuious brethren cannot turne their hands to answere any one thing therin contayned though neuer so much they maligne both the matter and the wryter And this of the first book handling matters in general against heretikes and Atheists But the second book of this conference conteyning ten Chapters passeth further on from generalityes to particularityes setting downe all the particular titles preteÌ„ces and pretenders which are or may be probably of the blood royal of our land with an open protestation of all indifferency therin vsed without hurt hinderance or preiudice to any which Protestation for that it wypeth of all the cauillations which these men or others of their humour do endeauour to lay against the wryter as though he had penned the same partially in fauour of some particular prince we haue thought good to set his owne words downe in this place which ate these Hauing to speak saith the common lawyer in this discourse of many princes peeres and nobles of the royal blood of England to all which by law of nature equity and reason he affirmed that he bare reuerent honour and respect and to discusse their seueral pretentions rights interests and titles to the crowne he said that his meaning was to offend hurt or preiudice none nor to determine any thing resolutely in fauour or hinderance of any of their pretences or claymes of what side family faction religion or other party soeuer he or she were but rather plainly and indifferently wihout hatred or partial affection to or against any to lay downe syncerely what he had heard or read or of himselfe conceaued that might iustly be alleadged in fauor or disfauour of euery â—iteler Thus wryteth and protesteth he and seing that whatsoeuer he putteth downe in this affayre is registred in our owne cronycles and both the authors and places alwayes cyted by him for his defence and for the discent of blood and genealogie in euery preson named and that the obiections and arguments to and fro in euery pretence and pretenders are layd forth clearly without partiality we do not see what reason or probability in the world our discontented preists can haue yf they be Catholiks so intemperatly to exclayme against this book which in the iudgment of farre wyser Catholiks and more disappassionate then themselues was most needful at that tyme when it was wrytten and is greatly profitable now and wil be most of all hereafter for so much as the first parte therof openeth mens eyes to se their due obligation to religion aboue all other respects and considerations and the second shewing the variety of pretenders togeather with their reasons and propinquityes of blood and other pretences giueth more scope to theÌ„ that shal haue to do therin that yf the said due circumstance of Cath. religion be not fouÌ„d in one it may be sought and preferred in another which is no smal help and comodity to right meaning consciences And thus much now being opened and declared we would aske of these our out cryars what they haue in reason to say or reply in this case They tel vs in diuers places of this last libel of Important Considerations and other where that the wryting of this worke is greatly misliked and thought preiudicial and that for this cause that one M. Paget a cheef man of their crew hath answered the same which maketh vs somwhat to maruaile For albeit we haue seene a certayne vayne pamphlet set forth about this matter said to be printed at Colen 1600. others think rather at Paris Intituled A discouery of a conterfes Conference c. And though we doubt not much of M. Pagets affection in these affayres neyther of his desyre to contradict the supposed author of the said book of succession as yow may wel perceaue by that we haue alleadged more largely in our Apologie and albeit on the other side we easily persuade our selues that the wryters of this last rayling and heretical libel of important considerations do know sufficiently who was the true author of the forsaid foolish pamphlet for the good intelligence they haue one with another of that contradicting company yet hardly can we yeild to thinke so basely of M. Pagets wit howsoeuer his wil be that so contemptible a thing should come from him and his pen we would rather thinke it to be of a certaine neighbour of his of greater title in learning but of lesse discretion and capacity in wit or reason wherunto yf nothing els yet the very fond and ridiculous title would induce vs which yf yow wil heare it all is this A discouery of a counterfet Conference held at a counterfet place by counterfet Trauellers for the aduauncement of a conterfet Title c. VVherunto yf he had added By a counterfeite Catholike or companion all had byn ful of counterfets it had fitted both the knowen vanitie of the counterfet doctors stile and the quality of his person There followeth the Preface or Epistle to the author of the Conference wherin no one thing of moment is handled but a quarel pickt against him for not putting downe his name wherunto we may answere with those words of S. Paul Inexcusabilis es o homo qui iudicas in quo enim iudicas alterum teipsum condemnas cadem enim agis qâ—ae iudicas Thow
were in Rome at their arriual these And the like course by all probabilitie wil his Hol. according to his accustomed clemency take with them if they go thither and so we all do most earnestly desyre and that all may be wel and soundly examined and ended And yet to prosecute the argument of this Chapter somwhat further to the effect we haue begone we cannot but aduertise our said brethren of their great folly and indiscretion in taking this course of clamors in their way towards Rome for â—ecouering as they pretend their same nothing being more opposite and coÌ„trary theirunto then to professe a cause so many wayes reiected and condemned there already as partly by his Hol. owne Breues partly by this Card. sentence of visitation you haue already heard especially they adding publikely two circumstances which must needs with his Hol. make their matter farre worse The first that whoras in the former styrres of Rome it was but suspected that heretiks and the common enemy had secretly their hand therin and were eyther ayders or abetterers to make those demaunds of remouing Iesuits from England and from the Colledges now it is openly knowen and confessed that they are the cheef dealers and styrrers therunto The second not much vnlike to this is that wheras in the former broyles of Rome some of the troublesome did vnder hand only and by indirect meanes seek to bring in some princes Embassadors to fauour their sedition by making it a matter of State as though they had byn contradicted only by men depending of Spaine now these our brethren do manifestly in the sight of all the world attempt the same seditious course by running to â—aris and seeking to informe falsely his most Christian Maiestie that he hath interest in their tumultuations and that it is a matter of State for him to fauour them for that they oppose themselues against Spaniards and Iesuits deuoted to them VVhich vnchristian deuise tending to set Christian princes togeather by the eares about our countrey affayres as it cannot be but odious to God and all good men that heare of it so aboue all other it is iniurious to his Holines whose spiritual authority and ordinations are drawen by these men to matters of state as we haue before both in the Apologie and this book noted about his Hol. institution of the Archpriest malitiously drawne by them to matter of Premunire and no lesse malitious is this to entangle now their obedience to wards his Holines with interest of secular princes For we would aske them heere seriously in all law of reason or honesty what can it concerne the state eyther of the King of France or Spaine that these men should obay or disobay the Ecclasiastical substitute of his Holines in England Is this to be made a matter of state by these new Statists is this a thing to intrecat secular Princes and monatches with all no truly but only where there is intent to set sedition and to put in garboyle and variance secular princes with the Pope therby themselues to be free to say and do what they list vnder the protection of some of those princes abused by them as Martin Luther and his parteners did vnder the protection of Fredericke Duke of Saxony when they ment to be tumultuous and to break with the Pope himself protesting on the other syde no lesse obedience then these men do now though we hope these meane better but the course is not vnlike nor other effects hitherto These points then and circumstances as we said his Hol. of his wisdome cannot but consider and then hearing furthermore as is probable he eyther hath or wil do of their bold and intemperate speches vttered already in their booksâ— as that his Holines could not appoint them an Archpriest without their consent and that in doing so he did against the Church Canons warning him also very presumptuoufly of his daâ—nger of damnation therby in those woords of the scripture Qui amat periculum peribit in eo He that loueth danger shal perish therin affirming moreouer that they had sufficient power to examine and demurre not only vpoÌ„ the Cardinal Protectors letters as they did though written in his Holines name expressely but vpon his Holines letters also them selues if they had come from him c. And conforme to this when his Breue came they saying therof that they knew not out of what shop it was procured And then further that his Hol. was not endewed with the worthy gyft of the holy Ghost tearmed discretio spirituum when he made his deputation to the Card. Protector for ordayning the Archprist c. And then againe that his Holines was deceaued in sesting vp the Archpriest as Pius 5. was in his fact against her Maiestie and that it was no vnusual thing with Popes so to be deceaued in matters of fact c. And yet moreouer that the Archpriest is an vsâ—rpâ—r in the behalf of the Sea of Rome that F. Campion M. Sherwyn and other martyrs ought plainly and reseluttly to have professed to stand against the Pope if he should mooue armes for religion and not hold their peace or eschue the question as they did c. That his Hol. hath no authority to mooue warre for religion against any temporal prince whatsoeuer or for whatsoeuer cause or pretence c. And that they wil oppose themselues against him yf he should come in person in any such attempt and that they wil also reueale whatsoeuer they shal come to know therin And finally that all the hurts damages losses deaths rackings and other calamityes hitherto suffered by Catholiks in England are to be layed not so much vpon the persecutors as vpon the rash vnlawful and inconsiderate doings and wrytings not only of Englishmen but especially of Popes themselues as Pius 5. Gregory the 13. Syxtus Quintus and now this Pope for concurrance in this last attempt in Ireland c. VVhen all these things we say shal be read heard and vnderstood by his Hol. and that they professe to do this for recouering of their good names and credit both with his Hol. others abroad yow may easily gesse what wil be thought of them and what opinion wil be conceaued both of their affection wisdome in choosing such meanes to obtayne their purpose And so much shal suffice for Rome and forraine nations and countreys And now it shal not be amisse to returne to England againe and to consider what credit or reputation they can gayne there by this their maner of proceeding For first with Catholiks who doth not see the infinite iniuryes which they haue done them and do lay daily vpon them by discrediting so much as lyeth in them both their cause and persons and that with all sort of men both at home and abroad Their cause in that they would persuade the whole world that all is seditioÌ„ conspiracy and rebellion among
condition of men at all frends or enemyes And finally it is a most lewd libel fraught with foolery ignorance audacity and notorious impudency and irregilious impiety and would require as many volumes as he hath Quodlibets to set forth the egregious impicty and contemptibility of this ridiculous Quilibet which hereafter may chaunce be donne though in a farre shorter summe when the rest of his books promised of this argument shal come forth And in the meane space we vnderstand that the latyn interpreter of our English late Apologie hath taken vpon him in that language to say somwhat by way of a certaine Appendix to the said Apologie as wel of this Decacorden as the other former libels of that sort and sute wherunto we remit our selues thinking this to be sufficient for this place CERTAINE DIRECTIONS vnto Catholikes how to discerne the truth and how to beare themselues in this tyme of contention with an examination of diuers notorious and famous lyes of VV. VV. in his book of Quodlibets CAP. VIII ALbeit we doubt not good Catholike Reader but that yow are weary to heare and peruse these things already vttered against our brethren and no litle greeued to behold such scandalous contentions raysed continued among professors of one and the self same Cathol religion yet cannot we let passe to trouble yow somwhat further and to ad a few words more of this matter in the end of this treatese which may serue for some direction in this troublesome and perilous tyme for such as haue not so great experience of like euents And the first aduertisment amongst others may and must be to fly to the contemplation of Gods inserutable prouidence wherby he permitteth these scaÌ„dals to fal out in which high prouidence we shal fynd not only the necessitie or ineuitability of these disgustful accidents but the profit and vtility also albeit the first be more easilie seene and confessed by vulgar men then the second but both are most certayne For as for the first about the necessity of these accidents it is sufficient to remember the wordâ— of the Apostle oportet haereses esse it is necessary that heresyes and diuisions should be and then the words of our Sauiour necesse est vt veniant scandala it is of necessity that scandals should fal out c. And furthermore he that wil but consider the practise of almighty God in this behalf from the first planting of Christian religion vntil this day how among the Apostles the Deacons the disciples the first beleeuers the bishops pastors and other learned men that followed in all ages how this prouidence and discipline of almighty God did exercise them in this kynd of scandals breaches diuisions contradictions contentions treasons afflictions and combustions of mynd called so by the Apostle when he saith Quis scandalizatur ego nonvror who is scandalized and my hart borneth not for it he that considereth this we say wil easily see the necessity and ineuitability of this probation euery where in Gods worke and consequently in our English cause also and reduction of our contrey being so great and weighty a matter as it is and no man wil greatly maruaile to see the diuel rage and rayse vp so many scandals stumbling blockes therin as he doth but rather wil maruayle that he doth not more and that he had not done it sooner coÌ„sidering matters how they haue past And this for the first point of the necessity As for the second of vtility more men doubt as not seing so easily what profit or emolument may be expected at least wise in our English cause by these scandalous and enormous attempts which bring with them so many apparant hurts perils and damages but God that draweth out mel de petra oleumque de saxo durâ—ssimo hony from stones and oyle from the hardest rockes can bring forth good also if he wil of these so great euils And to speake of that we see and begin to feel already of his Fatherly mercy therin one great and important good effect mentioned by S. Paul in the place before touched hath begun now to shew it selfe which is vt qui probati sunt in vobis manifesti fiant that those that be of proof amongst vs may comme to be knowne publikely by these meanes that is to say ther zeale their feruour their fidelity to God and his cause their vnion with his seruants and other such like poynts Another effect is vttered by the holy prophet S. Simeon in S. Lukes ghospel who hauing said of our Sauiour yet an infant Ecce positus est hic in ruinam in resurrectioneâ— multorum in signum cut contradicetur c. Behold this child is set for the ruine and resurrection of many and for a signe which shal be contradicted c. he addeth presently vt reuelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes all this shal happen to the end that the cogitations of many harts may be reuealed as though he had said that one principal end and purpose why God sent his sonne into the world to be contradicted by many troublesome spirits was therby to make knowne the good from the bad and reueale the cogitations of many mens harts which otherwise would be hidden and this to the ruine or resurrection of many c. behold heere a misterious effect and such a one as is deeply to be wayghed and pondered by those that desyre to comfort themselues in the secrets of Gods iudgments for permitting so great strife contention and scandals in his Church as he doth But now if we wil apply this to our owne particular case therby to instruct and comfort our selues in this doleful and disgustful affayre of our brethrens scandalous clamors contradictions and that any should aske vs what particular good or vtility may be expected therby in England or to English Catholiks we answere First that the effect mentioned by S. Paul to manifest those that are of proof among vs is euidently already seene for that many good Catholikes both in EnglaÌ„d and abroad as wel of other nations as our owne seing the indignitie of this scandalous fact of diuision set in our church by these disordinate and discoÌ„tented priests haue maruelously shewed their compassion loue and zeale in behalf of vnion order and disciplyne and of all good men impugned by the seditious which otherwise perhaps they would not haue done if this occasion had not byn offered others also that liued only to themselues before and medled with no other mens actioÌ„s seing now this manifest assault of SathaÌ„ vnder priests coates against our whole cause and religion haue styrred vp themselues to knyt and ioyne with others of the same zeale to resist the enemyes malice herin And this for the first important effect prophesied by S. Paul vt qui probati sunt in vobis manifesti fiant A manifestation no doubt which wil turne to the euerlasting prayse of many
benefices but ample commission rather for all parts with a sufficient stipend to liue vpon vntil things be better setled Lo heere that which is spoken to great good purpose for some few preachers only to be free from any particular charge and this for a while to the end they may attend to all places is turned odiously by these men to all priests in general VVhat wil yow say of this malitious kynd of dealing but the narrownesse of this place suffereth vs not to passe herein any further There remayneth then the third part of this book concerning the laytie conteyning the Prince with his counsel the nobility communalty and hath this title in the first chapter therof Of the laity temporalty in general of their agreement and concurrance with the Cleargie most needful for both their good the difference also of both their states And then the Chapter beginneth thus By that which I haue spoken in the first Chapter and second part of this memorial about Cleargymen the difference and distinction may appeare that is betwixt these two principal braunches of a Christian and Catholike comon-wealth to wit the Cleargie and layty which is a distinction obserued from the very beginning of Christian religion and the primatiue Church as may appeare by the first second third eight seauenty and diuers other cannons of the first general Counsel of Nice where often mention is made of this distinction And before that againe Tertullian a most learned and auncient wryter not only setteth downe the same distinction of cleargy and lay-men as receaued generally in his tyme but sheweth also and reprehendeth earnestly the emulation and enuy that euen then begonne by art of the diuel to be in diuers of the laity against the Cleargie c. VVe cannot prosecute the rest at large but only giue yow a gesse what manner of matter it is which ensueth by the first entrance and so the next chapter being of the Prince and the counsel begynneth thus As the Prince in euery common-wealth is the head and hart from whence all lyfe and vigour principally cometh vnto the same so aboue all other things is it of importance that he be wel affected and disposed and so much the more in England aboue other countreys by how much greater and eminent his authority is and power with the people more then in diuers other places by which meanes it hath coÌ„men to passe that England hauing had more store of holy kings in ancient tymes then many other contreys togeather came to haue also religion and piety more aboundaÌ„tly setled by their meanes then diuers realmes about them c. Thus there The 3. Chapter is of the nobility and gentry beginning in these words By the nobility of England we do vnderstand according to the fashion of other countreys not only noble men of title but gentlemen esquyres knights and other degrees that be aboue yeomen husband men and the communalty in which inferior sort of nobility beneath Barons I meane of knights esquyres and gentlemen there is not that distinction obserued betwixt their degrees in forraine countreys as in ours and I take ours farre the better and more laudable order This nobility then and gentry being the cheef members of our Realme are carefully to be preserued by our Catholike Prince in their ancient honors dignityes and priuiledges and whatsoeuer iniury or disestimation hath byn layd vpon them these later yeares by occasion of heresy it is to be remooued and particular inquiry is to be made by commissioners appointed by the parlament For this purpose wherin and in what points the nobility of England hath byn iniured dishonored or oppressed to the end that supplication may be made to the Catholike Prince for remedy therof And as the ancient nobility of England in tymes past came to that dignity in the common-wealth and to their credit estimation both with Prince and people first for their piety and zeale in Christian religion and secondly for their fidelity and valour in seruice of their prince and countrey so their heyres and posterity must conserue the same by the self same meanes c. And so he followeth on with many other considerations which wee pretermit The 4. Chapter of this part is intituled Of the Innes of Court and study of the common lawes with diuers considerations also about the lawes themselues c. About which subiect diuers important points are suggested for making that study to florish with more honour and profit of the weale-publike and the students good The 5. Chapter is Of the common people of England and how greatly they are to be cherished and made of which Chapter beginneth thus The communalty being the body and bulk of the Realme and those that sustayne the poyse and labour of the same they are greatly to be cherished nowrished esteemed conserued and next after the planting of true religion and knowledge of God greate care is to be had of their enâ—itching for that as Constantius the Emperour was wont to say the princes true treasure are the coffers of his subiects and especially of the communalty who if they be poore and needy can neyther pay their landlords nortil or mannure their ground nor help the Prince in his necessityes And by the communalty in this place I vnderstand labouring nun seruingmen husbandmen yeomen aertificers citizens and marchants all which labour and â—oyle to the end that others may liue in rest And in England their condition as before I haue touched was wont to be more prosperous and happy then in any countrey els of the world besides and may be againe by the grace of God with the restoring of true religion the losse wherof brought not only spiritual but also temporal misery vpon vs all and our Realme c. Thus wryteth he there laying downe many excellent meanes for comfort of this communalty which we wil not prosecute in this place for breuityes sake nor say any more at all of this whole book or Treatese but only remit our selues to the iudgment of the indifferent Reader to gesse by this litle he hath seene what manner of matter and with what piety moderation and tender loue of our countrey the whole is wrytten which these men so spitefully do maligne and cauil at And this shal be sufficient for a tast of this fourth book Touching the third intituled A conference about the next succession to the Crowne of England had in the yeare 1593. for that it is in printe and in the hands of many and the contents therof sufficiently knowen we shal need to say lesse but only to note vnto the Reader the like great passion and intemperate folly of these our brethren in exclaming now so eagerly against it which not long ago when they were in good tune they liked wel and highly commended and wheras it is knowen that it came forth with the consent liking and approbation at least of our