so grosse so important heresies to passe vnchecked and neuer to open their mouthes against them vvheras at the verye same tyme that is vvithin the first fyue hundred yeres after Christ vvherin our aduersaries graunte thes heresies to haue bene crept in to the churche the fathers and doctors that then lyued vvrote most diligentlye against euerie other litle error that appeared But novv vvhether it be reasonable to thinke so of those holye learned and vigilant men or els to thinke our aduersaries some vvhat shameles in charginge them vvithe suche absurdities I leaue to the indifferent reader to consider And thus muche haue I bene bolde to laye dovvne to your vvisedomes right honorable both for the innocencie of our cause the equitie of our demaunde the reason of our offer and the easie meanes of our satisfaction if our aduersaries vvoolde agree to the same VVhich all tendeth onlye to this end as your honours right vvell can discerne to mitigate the greate offence conceaued against vs and consequentlie some parte of that extreame rigour vsed tovvardes vs and our cause of later dayes vvhich beinge such as in verie deed is intollerable vve are constrained to make recourse to your honours to vvhome of devv our protection appertaineth and to doe as a certaine afflicted man did vvith an Emperour in times past that is to appeale from your selues vnto your selues from your selues as offended by the instigation of our aduersaries vnto your selues mollified vvith our iust defence and innocencie in crymes obiected If by the rackinges stretchinges vvrestinges and dreadfull tortures vsed so often and to so many of our innocent afflicted brethren and that in so rigourous mercilesse manner there hath bene any one thinge vvrounge out from them of treason conspiracie or practises against the state vvhervvith our aduersaries vvithout conscience do vse dailye to accuse vs in their bookes and sermons therby to sturre her maiestie and your honours against vs lett the partie guyltie be punished openly vvith infamie also to our vvhole cause albeit in this later vve offer more than reason But if after all this adoe after all this fierse halinge and pitifull pullinge of mē in peeces nothinge hath bene founde at all no one act no vvorde no cogitation of suche matters but onlye innocencie and Zeale of religion in the tormented then is our case muche more hard at home in our ovvne countrye vnder our ovvne Soueraigne than it could be any vvhere els vnder the extremest aduersaries of our religion in the vvorlde For I knovv your honours can not but consider that the greatest enimyes of Christianitie this daie liuinge as those of the secte of Mahomet and many gētles besydes ar so far of from tormentynge Catholiques as they permit vnto them the libertie and exercise of their cōscience in respect of the antiquitie and continuance therof For vvhich cause also the most of Christian princes do tollerate vvithe the verie levves and suche as possesse the Indes and other places vvhere gentiles inhabite neuer vse to moleste and muche lesse to torment them for their consciences vvherī they vvere borne and bredd vp for that faithe beinge the guifte of God and comminge by hearinge as the scripture saiethe is not to be put in by tormentes persecution Pitifull then and compassionable is our case right honorable if of all other men vve finde lesse rest and most extremitie and that also there and from those vvhere and from vvhome manie greate considerations shoulde yealde vs hope of fauoure and mercie No protestant prince of any other countrie did euer vse the like and it is quyte contrarie both to the preachinges and protestations of all those of that religion in other places as also of our aduersaries in Englande before they came to beare rule them selues Alas my Lordes vvhat impelleth your vvisdomes for of nature I can not thinckc you sofiers pityles to exercise suche extremitie vppon poore people for that cause vvherof your ovvne fathers vvere as guyltie as vve are that is for our conscience in the auncient religion If you meane to vvīne mē therby to your opiniō it is the cleane contrarie course as I haue shevved If you thinke by terrour to make those desist vvhich of meere zeale after the apostolique manner doe offer them selues to daunger for maintenance of that faithe you knovv the vvise counsaile of honorable Gamaliel if it be of man it vvill sone be dispatched but if it be of God humane terrour can not lett it as hit herto I am sure it dothe greatlie increase it Your honours haue procured libertie of conscience for those of your religion in some other countries vvhich must proceede as vve interpret from a mercifull disposition tovvardes the afflicted and that mens consciences are not to be constrained VVe beseeche your Lordships then that vve your poore afflicted subiectes maye tast some parte of that your honorable disposition vvherof straungers doe receaue so greate releefe and comforte Consider my good lordes in most humble manner I desire and requeste it vvhat the end of all thes straininges and most rigourous procedinges can arriuē vnto In respect of the vvorlde I must speake playnelye it can be nether honorable nor profitable nor of anye secure cōtinuance beinge subiect to infinite horrour obloquie grudge and hatred as also to diuers breaches and most daungerous vvoundes as all extremities are vvonte to be And in respect of God hovv it is to be liked eche man maie gesse vvhiche readeth the scriptures detestinge euerye vvhere all mercilesse procedinge of mortall men vvith their brethren and commendinge most carefullie compassion one tovvardes the other vvith greeuous threates to them that vse the contrarie Remember right honorable that hovv different so euer our degrees be in this vvorlde yet must vve all be equall before the common iudge at the later daie and all those afflicted persons these tormēted these imprisoned these impouerished these poore men vvomen children and seruauntes vvhich lye novv in miserie by your meanes ether lurkinge in corners or driuen from place to place not daringe to appeare or shevv their countenance before your Lordships must standby you vvithout feare at that daie to geeue in euidence of thinges passed against them Good Lorde vvhat comfort can it be to any of your honours at the daie vvhen you must depart this vvorlde to haue vsed suche rigour to your ovvne fleshe and bloode for matter of conscience vvhich you haue not don to any other most impious haynous or detestable malefactor VVhat good or cōforte can the tormēted members of your brethren the stretched veines the broken synovves the dismembred iointes the rented bovvels of your countrye mē of your ovvne quiet subiectes of most peaceable modest and innocent priests yelde vnto your soules at that daye you must your selues crye for mercye in that dreadfull hovver to hym vvhome these men ether in trevvth or in opinion do serue and vvhy than may not vve aske some mercye at your honours handes
onelye a sacramentall signe vvithe Luther in one place and in an other a verye trevv sacramēt hauinge annexed vnto it the promise of grace If they vvere asked of holy orders one vvoulde deny it to be a sacrament vvith Luther and Melancthon in one place and an other vvoulde holde it a trevv sacrament vvithe Melancthon in an other place Some other vvoulde holde it an vnordinarie sacrament vvithe Caluine and thus as sheepe brought ovvt of their folde and left amazed in the brode filde not knovvinge vvhat vvaye or pathe to take they stood giddie in their ovvne opinions and yet vvith obstinacye euerie man to dye in the same but vve stand all in one faithe consonant to it selfe in euerie point not deuised by our selues but left vnto vs by the generall consent of all antiquitie in Christian dome and yet are vve more afflicted for the same then if vve vvere heretiques or deuisers of anie nevv religion The persons punished by your honours are of your ovvne bloud and nation borne subiectes of the lande and commonlye of suche lyfe and conuersation as are not vvorst lyked in the places vvhere they dvvell of quiet and ciuill behauyour most readie bothe vvithe lyfe goods to serue their Princesse and your honours vvith all devvtifull and faithfull good vvill They neither deale nor practise agaynst the state abrode nor offer iniuries to their neighbours at home But are most readye and vvillinge to concurre vvithe your Lordships for the preseruinge theyr Countrye in peace and quiet eche man accordinge to his povver callinge The onlie cause of their molestation is their conscience in religion vvhiche beinge setled vppon inuincible grounds as it semethe to them is not in their povver to alter at their pleasure neither is any persecution in the vvorde able to change the same but rather confirmethe it more more bringinge alvvaies an argument vvithe it of lacke of truthe in the persecutor vvhiche seekethe to supply by externall terror the thynge he is not able to proue by argument The ende therfore vvhiche your Lordships pretende by this rigourouse course of austeritie to vvitt to bringe men to conformitie in matters of religion can neuer doubtles take effect by this meanes but must nedes make greater disiunction for the reasons by me declared before And if your honoure shoulde vppon terrour bringe any fraile man to conforme him selfe against his conscience in suche externall actes as you require yet your vvisdomes can not but consider that he is neuer the nearer gotten for this but rather in his harte muche farther of then before hauinge vvounded his sovvle and conscience vppon compulsion vvhiche lyinge greuouse and festeringe vvith in his breast must needes often put him in mynde of the iniurye receaued and so more detest the thynge done then before VVherfore seinge there is nothinge gotten to your Lordships entent by this mans dissimulation but muche lost often tymes vnto him selfe euen as muche as the price of his soule for doinge against his conscience and iudgemēt vvherby he must be tried at the latter daye there is no cause ether in respect of pollicie or religion vvhich maie persvvade vs that your honours vvill alvvayes holde this heauie and extreame rase tvvardes vs. And because I fall into the mention here of polycie vvherunto I knovve your honours as very vvise to haue a speciall eye and particuler regarde albeit I presume not to pretende any part of that profounde iudgement vvhiche your honorable vvisedomes by nature and longe practise haue attained in the same yet to say that vvhich common reason layethe oppen to euerye meane vnderstandinge it appearethe no vvaie to impeache polycie if respect of conscience vvere laide a side to proceede some vvhat mylder vvithe the Catholique parte in Englande I vvill not talke of intrinsecall and speciall pointes mentioned heretofore by some other easie to be considered of by your Lordships as the counterpesinge of other sectes and daungerous factions grovvinge and confirminge by the quiet they enioye through our onlie molestations I vvill speake onlie of the nature of our Catholique religion vvhiche as it vvas first plotted ovvt by the most highe vvisedome of God him selfe that is by his Sonne our Sauiour and founded by them vvhiche immediatlye receaued their spirite from him that is by his Apostles and disciples so standeth it substantiallie vvith all right vvisedome and polycie beinge giftes of God and litle sparkles of his infinite vvisedome and establisheth the kingdomes vvherein it is receaued and executed accordinglie in all honour peace tranquilitie and vvealthe as may appeare by the longe continuance of other Realmes Catholique abrode and especiallie by our ovvne vvhiche hathe continued from the beginninge of her conuersion for the space of more then a Thovvsande yeres in greate prosperitie riches and renovvne by the same Vvhereas in the meane space diuers greate kyngdomes states and principalities haue ben ouerthrovven by the occasion of heresie and alteringe this religion as Asia Greece Egypt Affrica Hungarie and the like and vvhat vvill finallie become of diuers other countryes neere vnto vs and as yet lyinge vnder the tryall of Gods hande though alreadie greately rased spoyled and impouerished vve can not tell And the reason of these different effectes in heresye and in the Catholique religion besydes the particuler prouidence of God standethe principallie in this one pointe that vve haue a certayne and sure meane to kepe vnitie and consent thorovvgh ovvt the vvhole by vnderstandinge scriptures accordinge to the expositions of our forefathers from tyme to tyme and by obeyinge the determination of one Supreme pastor vvith the generall Councells of Christian prelates in all matter of stryfe that may fall ovvt VVheras the heretique in the cōtrarye parte obevinge no pastor but at his pleasure nor receauinge anie mans exposition of scripture but his ovvne must nedes rayse and maintayne much contrarietie of opinions and consequentlye muche deuision of people by the same and then hauinge no place to rest nor vvaye to end for generall Councell or pastor he vvil not heare also makinge the temporall prince hed of all vvhiche often tymes is a childe and may easelie be impelled to varietie of humours must needes make greate innouations vvhiche alvvaies are greate hazardes to kingedomes and states And this in generall is betvvixt our religion and others tovvchinge the matter of Commonvvealthe But novv if vve looke into certayne particuler commodities and helpes vvhich our religion bringeth vnto a common vvealthe and vvhiche the religiō of our aduersaries impugnethe and ouerthrovveth vve shall easelie see that permission of the Catholique can not any vvay preiudicate the vvealepublique of any state And for examples sake vve vvill make our comparison in Englande it selfe vvhere the practise and effect of bothe religiōs haue byn novv experienced and dyuers men yet alyue that haue seene and proued the consequence of bothe and can the easyer geeue iudgement of the comparison
add to this the greate numbers of all religious people bothe men and vvomen in monasteries and other vvhere vvhiche perhaps vvere tvvise as manye as the other vve shall finde the number to arise verie greate vvhiche all lyuinge then vnmaried and chast or els shoulde haue donne if vve novv allovv them to marye and accounte to euerye coople but three or fovver children and so consequentlye to their children and childrens children vve shall see that the encrease of people vvilbe huge in one age and much more in manye ages follovvinge vvhiche all beinge norished by the commō vvealthe must needes pester greatlie the lande vvithe mayne multitude of people and they for the most parte ydle also for so are clergie mens children commonlye and consequentlye muche empouerishe the same Besides this if vve consider the necessitie of temporall prouisiō cast vppon clergye men by their mariage as to prouide first for the present needes and then for the tyme to come as iointer dovvrye or some portion for the vvife lyuinges for the children and the like vve shall finde that they can nether keepe that hospitalitie for the poore vvhiche vvas vvont nor spare the leases copieholdes and other offalles of Ecclesiasticall lyuinges to helpe other men as in times past vvas accustomed and muche lesse builde Colledges Churches and other suche monumentes of pietie vvhiche their predecessours haue donne Nay if the minister dye not and leaue often a packe of orphanes vppon the poore parishe it is more tollerable So that vve see that the mariage of the clergie men dyuers vvayes spoileth the poore commonaltie and consequentlye impayrethe greatlye the vvealpublique Sixthlye our religion prohibiteth landlordes to rayse their rentes or anye other vvaie to presse their tenantes except it vvere vppon some greate cause and vvithe greate moderation knovven and allovved of by spirituall men learned diuines and if they do it rashelie and immoderatlie our Churche dothe solemly once a yere accurse them VVhiche vvas the cause that our good forefathers in tymes past and esspeciallie all religious men vsed to let their landes at a reasonable rate vvhereby infinite men vvere sustained and holpen as appearethe by our Abbayes in tyme past in Englāde the vvante vvhereof the poore countries vvhiche dvvell aboute them do novv feele Seuenthlye our religion holdeth tovvchinge the state of mariage that vvho so euer is once lavvfullye contracted in vvedlocke to another albeit they maie be vppon cause deuorced from compaininge one vvithe an other yet can the bāde of mariage neuer be so broken as either partye maie marye againe duringe the others naturall lyfe And therfore they must ether reconcyle them selues together againe or els lyue chast VVhiche is a brydell to manye mischeefes that must nedes ensevv vppon our aduersaries contrarie doctrine and practise in this matter vvho allovve the diuorced to marye againe the other partie yet lyuinge VVhiche libertie layed open to maryed people geuethe occasion of easie mislyke and diuorce betvvixt them vppō hope to marye agayne vvhere they like better to the greate disturbance of common vvealthes in processe of tyme. Eightlie our religion teachethe a pointe abovvt magistrates vvhich greatlie concernethe the common vvealthe and the contrarye doctrine of our aduersaries is very muche hurt full and daungeruose vnto the same The point is this That vve teache all lavves of magistrates be the magistrate good or euill vvhiche are of thinges ether good or indifferent or not expressely against Gods commandement doe binde the subiectes consciences to obedience that is the subiectes are bovvnde in conscience to obey them not onlie externallye but also in priuate and secrete and to accounte it as a syn before God if they vvillinglye breake the same for that the magistrate vvhat soeuer is Gods minister VVerof it folovveth that the lavves of the cōmon vvealthe are obeyed trevvlie syncerelye as vvell in secret as in open shevve vvithe loue also and vvithout grudge or contempt to the magistrate But the protestant theachethe that no lavv of man byndeth the subiectes conscience to obedience vvherof it muste needes follovv that seinge the subiect obeyethe not of conscience but onelye for policie and in respect of externall punishement vvhen so euer he is not in feare of that punishment he vvithout scruple vvill contemne and breake that commaundement of his magistrate as for example he vvil eate fleshe in the lent in suche places and companyes vvhiche he is sure vvill not accuse him albeit the magistrates commaundement and proclamation be to the contrarie and so in the lyke VVhiche thinge is verye hurtfull daungerous as I haue saied to the vveale publique For besides the common breakinge of publique lavves in priuate and secrete places vvherby the magistrate grovvethe into contempt the state hurted if at anie tyme the subiectes or any faction of them shal be so stronge and hardie as not to feare the magistrates punishement vvhat shall cause them anye longer to obey Feare of punishment there is none In conscience by this doctrine they are not bounde vvhy then maie not they as vvell prescribe lavves to the magistrate as he to them In this pointe therfore Catholique religion more vpholdethe the vvealepublique then that of our aduersaries Ninthlye it is of no small importance vnto a Christian common vvealthe vvhose end is to keepe men vvithin the limites of vertue and honestie that vvhiche our religion teachethe of the difference of synnes and of the nature of concupiscence For tovv chinge the first as vve holde that as some synnes are greeuons and mortall so some are lighter called veniall that is suche as of their nature and by rigour of iustice deserue not eternall damnatiō and expell not alvvaye grace but may stande vvithe the same Mortall vve call for exāples sake as to be droncke veniall to drincke a litle more then a man shoulde Mortall to geeue consentin a mans harte to an euill cogitation veniall to be negligent in expellinge the same though he cōsent not Our aduersaries holde that all synnes be they neuer so litle are mortall of their ovvne natures and of them selues do deserue damnation Secondlye tovv chinge concupiscence vve holde that in the regenerate that is in Christians after baptisme the naturall inclination of lustinge lefte in man ad agonem as the auncient fathers doe terme it that is to stryue vvithall is not synne of it selfe except vve geeue consent to the motion Our aduersaries holde that the verye motion it selffe though no consent be geuen vnto it is syn Of this diuersitie of doctrine flovvethe greate diuersitie of effectes into the common vvealthe For ovvt of our doctrine ensuethe this that seinge the naturall motion of concupiscence in me to euill is not syn except I yealde vnto it I vvill striue against it and not yelde consent for sauinge of my soule Againe seinge there is a difference of synne yf I should be caried avvaye a litle further then
particuler helpes for their greefes manye desperate folckes mollified and instructed in the vvayes of a nevv life Manye Landlordes and superiours brought to deale more mildly vvithe their subiectes and manye subiectes to behaue them selues more obedientlie and devvtifullie tovvards their superiours many restitutions made many vvronges recompensed many quarels ended finallie it is impossible to number vpp the infinite and singuler greate commodities vvhiche doe come to mans life and consequentlye to the common vvealthe by this spirituall courte tribunall of God in earthe that is by confession The vvhiche beinge taken avvaye as it is novv by our aduersaries in Englande albeit Lutherans in Germanie yet vse it there must needes follovve in successe of tyme intollerable inconueniences For vvhat vvaye is there novv to deale vvithe the conscience of a childe if he be disobedient to his parentes Or vvithe a seruant if he be false or prodigall to his master if you accuse him he vvill denye it if you vrge him he vvill fall out vvithe you for it but if him selfe shoulde confesse it to you as he vvas vvonte to doe to his ghostlie father askinge absolution at his handes and pardon at Gods for the same there is offered bothe fitt place occasion to entreate vvithe him for it and he in disposition to heare good councell So if a prince or greate personage abuse him selffe in life vvho vvill dare to tell him uerye fault in particuler or rebuke him for the same If a man for examples sake doe exceede in apparell or other vanitie vvho vvill goe and reprehende him for it or vvithe vvhat hope of amendment To conclude this holye exercise of confession beinge taken avvaie the verye locke of good lyfe vvherof not onlie the sovvle but also the vveale publique dependethe is vtterlye burst and remoued from amongest Christians Thes differences therfore beinge betvvixt our religion and that of our aduersaries right honorable tovvchinge the maintenance continuance vvell doinge and secure establishemēt of a common vvealthe there appearethe no reasō in policie that is in respecte of the good estate of our countrie vvherof your honours haue the charge vvhiche may prohibite your vvisedomes to shevv some more fauorable tolleration to the Catholique parte if it might please God to instill so good and gratious a motion into your hartes Nether is it for anye of our aduersaries to stepp vp heere and to impugne any of our former opinions in religion as they are vvont commonlye to eschevv the matter in hande and to deale vvith impertinent pointes not intended in that place for my purpose is not heere to handle matters of controuersie vvhiche vve bothe offer dailye desyer muche to trye vvithe our aduersaries at other tymes ether in vvritinge or publique disputation but my onlye meaninge is to shevv that the practise of our doctrine as vve holde it and of our aduersaries as they teache it vvhether it be trevv or false vvhiche at other tymes and places is to be discussed of ours I saie doe follovv infinite vtilities to a Christian commō vvealthe vvhiche doe not from the doctrine of our aduersaries but rather the cleane contrarye hurtes and damages and this is the state of our question in this place vvhiche Ileaue open to anie of our aduersaries that can to improue by reason in the pointes before recited Novv then if our religion and the secret exercise therof be in no vvise hurtfull vnto your common vvealthe right honorable but rather doe bringe greate commodities therunto it maie be one motyue vnto your vvisdomes as it hathe byn and is to some other councellers els vvhere of the contrary religion to tollerate more or at least to shevv lesse extremitie against the same hovve muche so euer you thinke vs deceaued in not conforminge our selues to the protestantes religion Albeit to saye myne opinion also herein vvithe your honorable fauours I can not thincke but that your vvisdomes beinge suche as they are bothe greate and grovvnded doe easelye see that our standinge in this pointe is not vvithout substantiall cause and reason in vs albeit not sufficient to moue your honours to the same opinion that vve are of For first vvhoe dothe not see that the verie proceedinge of our aduersaries is a stronge reason to make vs staie if there vvere nothinge els vvhoe dare not admit anye equall triall of their cause nether in vvritinge preachinge or lavvfull disputation they beinge so often requested by vs to the same But are alvvaies at your honours elbovves to sturre vpp the temporall svvoorde against vs If vve make anie reasonable offer or neuer so orderlie and devvtifull attempt for the obtaininge of this thinge euen at home vppon their ovvne grovvnde for abrode they dare not apeare vvith neuer so muche securitie or curtesie inuited to our ovvne greate toyle labour daunger and disaduantage of our cause And yet they are not ashamed for some colour of the matter to creepe into a prison to some poore man miserablye racked or othervvise pitifullie handled before and there vvithout geeuinge the partie any vvarninge or tyme to forethincke him selfe or allovvinge anie bookes or permittinge equall notaries or sufferinge hym to oppose one argument for his parte to assault vvith iumpinge interrogátions leapinge from pointe to pointe from matter to matter accordinge as they came prepared or as anye litle shevve of aduantage vvas offered vvith greate vvoordes stearne countenance bygg voyce muche threatninge and vnciuile reuilinge VVhich proceedinge of theirs declaringe manifestlie their feare and nakednes and vtter vvante both of trueth charitie and modestie must needes in the iudgementes of all vvise men dispute as muche for vs as any argument in the voorlde that vve can make for our selues Secondlye hovv cleare so euer the matter be made against vs in vvordes and ordinarie speech of men as that vve resist the Ghospell and manifest vvoorde of god and the lyke yet your honours can not but thinke that these speeches vvhen all indifferent triall is refused can not moue vs muche especiallye seeinge that in other contries vvhere other sectes doe raigne no lesse differinge from vs then this of Caluine they do orderlye saie the verie same of our Englishe protestantes vvhich they doe of vs vvherin I refer my selfe to a Lutherā Superintendents booke intituled Confessio purae doctrinae Euangelicae A confession of the pure doctrine of the ghospell vvhere he geueth sentence as a bisshoppe of the doctrine novv taught in Englande by this vvorde Damnamus vve condemne it as dissonant from the pure ghospell And I haue shevved ovvt of luther before vvhere he saieth of the teachers and maintainers therof Haereticos seriò censemus alienos ab Ecclefia dei VVe doe censure them in earnest for heretikes and remoued from the church of god The like doe Anabaptistes Trinitaries and other sectes pronounce of them So that in this common phrase and speeche of pure ghospell there is litle importance that tovvcheth the matter And
an heretique or a Shismatique shall be subiect to the same pains for high treason If anie doe hereafter reconcile an other to the vnitie communion of the sea of Rome he shall suffer the same paines punishemēts prouided for treason VVho so euer shal wittinglle and willinglie be reconciled to the same vnitie and communion shall endure the same punishment VVho so euer doeth hereafter procure any persone to be reconciled to the same vnitie and communion shall be cōdemned to the same punishement VVhat persone so euer doethe from henseforthe but onelie geue aduise or counsaille to anie to be reconciled to the same vnitie and communion thoughe he doe not procure the same shall neuer the lesse haue the same punishement If anie persone doe hereafter persuade an other to obeye the byshopp of Rome in causes ecclesiasticall he shal be condemned of the same crime of highe treason If anie suffer hym selfe to be persuaded to suche obedience he shall be demed guiltie of the same crime of highe treason If anie doe procure suche persuasion to be vsed with an other or geue counsaill thereunto he shall suffer the same payne of highe treason If anie do promise to vse in time to come anie suche obedience to the sea of Rome in causes ecclesiasticall he shall endure the penalties prouided for highe treason If a pryeste doe absolue anie of the quenes subiects yt shall be Iudged to be highe treason If anie haue authoritie to absolue in England thowghe he neuer doe in dede absolue anie yet shall he neuer the lesse be demed and taken for a traitor If anie doe make a pretense or showe that he hathe suche authoritie to absolue though in truthe he haue none yet shall he be reputed as a traitor If anie persone wittinglie be absolued of an other be yt that he eyther made sute for the same absolution or withoute making anie sute for it suffred hym selfe to be absolued he shall be punished as a traitor Yf anie do procure absolution for an other he shall haue the same punishement Yf any persone doe aduise or counsell an other to be absolued thoughe he do not procure yt to be done yet shall he therfore suffer as a traitor Yf anie doe eyther procure or counsell an other generallye to be an absoluer all be yt that he doe not moue hym to absolue any speciall persone yet he shall neuer the lesse incurr the same punishement Yf anye doe hereafter dehorte or dissuade an other frome the religion now publiklye vsed professed in Englād or doe procure any such dissuasion of intent that the persone whiche is to be dissuaded may be drawne to the obedience and religion of the sea of Rome he shall be reputed demed and iudged guiltie of highe treason and shall endure the same punishemēt whiche is dewe for that crime And that punishement is suche as foloweth First that the persone condemned and drawne a lōge by land to the place of execution be for his greater torment halfe strangled with an haulter then is he to be lett doune that whyles he is cōminge to hym selfe his priuie members may be cutt of and brent in the fyre before his face by and by his bellye is to be vpript with a knyfe his gutts haled owte and whiles he lyeth yet pantinge and struglinge his hart lungs liuer and all his bowells intrales must be plucked fourthe by the boucher throwne in to the fire there at hand in th ende his bodye ys boyled cut in peeces hanged by quarters at diuerse gates of the Citie And as for his goods and possessions they are all forfeited and no parte thereof must descend to his vvyfe children or kynred yea and they allso for this one mans sake are to be blotted with ignominie and the whole posteritie of this dead creature vtterlie attainted and disteined in bloode for euer Are not these seuere enough are they not think yow my frinde Gerard sufficient sharppe for the professors of a religion which they receiued of their grand fathers and forefathers And yet for soothe oure ministers of Englād those oure innouators oure trōpett blowers of the euangelicall doctrine and resemblers for soothe of Christian myldenesse doe daylie exclayme for the of pulpits redouble thicke and threefold through their writen bookes and beate in to the ears of the magistrate yea and of the prince allso in daylie speeche that to muche lenitie is vsed that clemencie is daungerouse that the toleration and forbearance which is vsed in the whole course of that regimēt towards Catholiques is blame woorthye and not to be suffred See nowe the vnaduised folie of spitefull and furiouse persones Is there anie haynouse offense or detestable acte that can be more sharplye punished than with these torments whiche here I haue sett downe ys there anie forte of men so vngraciouse as could be withe mo lawes lysted abowte withe greater paines restreined to mo perills subiected to mo mischeues and inconueniences layde opē than the Catholicks are in Englāde by theyse lawes And yet whan all is done wherein haue these poore Catholiques offended VVhat maner of crime ys to be imputed to the faithe and religiō of our grand fathers and auncestours vvell theyse aduersaries vvere ones of one societie vvith vs but novv vvhan they haue taken hold of Caluines faithe for saken Luthers religion and contemned oures they haue made them selues oure masters they haue banished vs ovvt of our ovvne houses and thrusten vs frome all degrees of honor and estimation But for oure part vve make no complaint thereof let them take and vse all at their moste libertie Then vvhye are they not here withall content whye procede they further sely poore mē vvhat meane they to assaile oure soules whye are they so rigorouse against oure bloode howe is yt that nothinge can satisfie them but oure deathe or oure extreme calamitie yf the quarell whiche they haue against vs be for no other thinge but onelye for oure faithe alas there are other petye sects no lesse ennemyes to Caluine thā we are yet can they be content very frindlie to entertaine them and to vse their fauorable ministerye But yf a paddlye hyddin the strawe yf Varres be affrayed to be called to accompte by order of lawe behold we are contēt to delyuer them from that trouble to seale them an acquitance and to yelde of oure owne right and interest Marye this is the thinge which we onelie desire that this be not to vs an ouerthrow and an occasion of they re perpetuall displeasure against vs for that ones we enioyed oure natiue soyle whiche nowe we want for yf this hadd not hapned their publique weale hadd now bene none And thus muche of the lawes Nowe yow see how muche oure aduersaries are hable to doe against vs vnder the pretense of theyse lawes but how muche more they wolde
fayne doe the matter it selfe declareth euidentlye in that they are not content with the seueritie now vsed but earnestlie call for sharper more painfull lawes euerye daye And yet verylie I doe not thinke that anie Christian can haue so hard and yroned a harte onlesse he haue lost bothe feelinge of humanitie and faithe but might be moued to compassion with theyse extremities which oure poore Catholiques doe suffer For no lamentable distresse can be imagined in anye kynde of calamitie well nighe which theyse men do not daylie beare no trouble in anye condition of men can be thought on which they doe not continuallye susteyne In so muche as they may moste truelie say with the Apostle in tribulatiūs in necessities in distresses in strypes in prysons in tumultes in labors And with the same soldioure of Christe in an other place in perills vvith in the Citie in perills in vvildernes in perills in the sea in perills amonge false brethren in trauaile and miserie Yea they may allso say further as the Apostle saythe euen in deathe oftētimes Yet further that same may be applyed vnto thē and not vnaptlye Skornefull mockes and beatings haue they felt ouer and besyde bothe fetters and prysōs they haue bene racked they haue bene cutt and mangled they haue abydden temptations and trialls they haue bene slayne vvith the svvoorde And to conclude that same allso verye fytlie agreeth vnto them vve are made a spectacle to the vvorlde to angels and to men vve are euell spoken of and vve say vvell of others vve suffer and endure persecution vve are blasphemed and vve pray for them vve are accompted the parings of the vvorlde and the refuse of all to this daye But to make all theyse more euident it shall not be perhaps farr from the purpose yf I touche euerye thing yet more particularlie And fyrst to speake of the last executiō whiche oure Catholiques do endure in the ende of all yt can not be doubtful I think to anie how manye men and what maner of men haue bene put to moste paynfull deathe as strangled bowelled cut in sunder boyled and dispersed by peece meale in the ayre and all for religion and though our aduersaries for more reproche make a surmise of treason yet the matter is manifest and they them selues do not denye that only religion is the cause of this deathe I make no mention here of the greate nōber of those moste reuerend bishopps doctors priests and other confessors of Christ whiche in pryson haue bene either choked with filthie stinkyng sauour or cōsumed with sorowe and hungar whose causes we referr to the Iudgement seate of Christe alone I speake here of them onelye whiche openly in the sight of all men haue geuē testimonie to the truethe with their owne bloode VVho besydes the verye torment of the executiō that common contumelie where in they die in the opinion of the people as traitors to the state and not as Catholiques haue allso for the moste part this rewarde and good turne geuen them whan they are deade that they are slaundered in dispersed libells with some notable false surmise throwne oute against their maners and doctrine In this wise verie latelie whan they had hanged on their common gallowes that godlie and zelouse priest Euerard Hanse and were affrayed leste some perchaunce wolde be moued with the martyrdome of that Innocent they gaue owt in two contrarie bookes th one impugnyng thother certaine monstruouse errors and paradoxes I knowe not what and made this deade man theauthor thereof Suche as this that the bishopp of Rome can not sinne where as in trueth maister Hanse dyd speake expresselye of the doctrine of faithe that is to be published to the vniuersall churche and therin only he sayd that the pope could not erre And this is an other that no prince hath anye supremacie vvithin his ovvne dominions sauing the byshopp of Rome onlie where in dede he spake onlie of the supremacie of the Catholique churche in causes Ecclesiasticall And this allso that no treasō against the quene of Englād is a synn VVheras being nowe at the point redie to be executed to deathe and repeting his owne woords diuers tymes before the people there present he affirmed that he spake not of euery kinde of treason but of that onlie for the which withowt desert he was then in dyeing and which his aduersaries vndiscretely call treasō being in truethe no other thing than a nedefull confession of the Catholique faithe For now by the recitall of the lawes before mencioned yt is manifeste how many cheefe points and principles of oure faithe they haue drawne to the case of hyghe treason In this point therfore oure aduersaries excede the malice of auncient persecutors that they do not make knowen the true cause why they martyre men though them selues doe confesse the same And yet the deuell in those formoste tymes hade sowne muche seede of this iniquitie whē S. Paule as pernicious seditious yea oure sauioure Christ as one seducing the people forbyddinge to paye tribute to Caesar were moste īiuriously slaundered But nowe it is I suppose skant woorthe the laboure to put downe here in writing with how greate reproches with what outcries with how many mocks and skorns with howsower and spite full skoffes with how bitter and vnsauourye taunts with what rustling noyse and dynne of mutteringe male cōtents and fowle mowthed detractors theyse our martyrs were strangled and in the sight of all the people rent and torne in peeces for the thinge of it selfe is lothesome to the eyes and terrible to the eares O howe pitifull is owre case whiche are fallen in to these tymes whan we see so greate rigoure practised by christians againste christians for the christian faithe And thus muche for the paynes and punishements ordeined for Catholiques Nowe lett vs saye somethinge of the cōtumelies that they abyde before their deathes but it is an infinit endlesse matter it can not be expressed in fewe woords For I thinke verelie that Catholiques no where in the world no not amonge Moores Gothes Tartars Saracens Turcks or whatsoeuer other confederats or sworne enemies of Christe could be more skornfullie than they are by these contumeliouse and disdeinfull new gospellers Yf they take a priest at masse a man wold marueyle to see how impiouslye how despitefilly they behaue them selues First for the sacred yea and consecrated hoste they take it away with violence treade it vnder foote thrust it through with knyues and daggers fasten it to a poste and with great wounder showe it to Catholiques insult and triumphe against yt in all skoffing and skornfull maner and call it suche is their blasphemie the wheaten or breadie god of papists Now as to the priest whan they haue after their maner first intreated hym yll withein doores then they bring hym forthe abroade and in the selfe same attyre
And this horse they dyd obserue watche diligentlye whether he dyd eate haye as other horses eate or no. And as for the priest they put a horse lock aboute his legg shutt hym vp close in a strong chāber and appointed a felow to be with hym continually bothe day and night which shoulde watche yfhe dyd put offe his bootes at any time if his feete were like horsefete or that he were clouē footed or had fete flytand forked as beasts haue For this they affirmed to be a speciall marke whereby to know the deuill vvhen he lyeth lurking vnder the shape and likenesse of a man Then the people assembled aboute the house in greate nūbres and profered money largelie that they might see this monstre vvith their ovvn eyes For by this time the people are persuaded that he is in dede an yll spirite or a verie deuill For vvhat man vvas euer heard of say they vvhiche yfhe had the mynde vnderstanding and sense of a man vvoolde of his ovvn voluntarie vvill and vvithoute anie respect or consideration at all geue or proffer suche a summe of money to a man vtterlie vnknovven of no acquaintance vvith hym and a mere straunger of an other countrie Novv vvhen they had thus contumeliouslie vexed Christs seruant a vvhile they pretended to sett the man at libertie and licenced hym to depart and goe avvay vvhether he vvolde yet all vvas but a deceiptfull practise to vvork him more spite and iniurie For loe the vngratefull churlishe Caluiniā vvhiche had receiued the monei sent oute priuilie a suborned felow to stay the good priest as he vvas goeing forth to with holde him from escaping away and to accuse hym of high treason This was no sooner done than the man was all ryfled and spoyled his horse ridden and vsed as pleased them his money all taken from hym sauing a litle portion to serue for his expenses to the citie of London whether shortly after they sent hym as a prisoner with a strong and curiouse garde And when he came thither and had opened the matter to her maiesties Councell or rather to one of thē that the matter might not be vttered abroade to the reproche of the deade he was by them casten of and put ouer to the Superintendent of London and by hym throwne first into one prison then in to an other and thyrdlie in to the Tower of Londō vvhere the space wellnigh of a quarter of a yere hardlie escaping the racke and tortures he was sore punished for that heinouse offence forsuthe of restitution And here the recitall of this historie putteth me in remembrance of that ridiculous and wanton maner of chatting of oure aduersaries as oure moste auncient enemies were wont to doe in slaundering Catholiques to be of familiar acquaintance vvith deuills And I might sooner lacke time thā matter yf I should recken vpp all the surmises and fables whiche they haue forged touching this point But among many this is one Poules steple in London was meruailouslie a fewe yeres synce blasted with lightning and sett on a light burning fyre ragiouse hoate and skant extinguishible Oure aduersaries layde the fault and blame thereof vpon vs were not a shamed to say that it was done by Iuglings and coniurings practised by Catholiques Again it hapned that certein charmes or inchauntments and deuises of witchecraft wound vp together in peeces of parchement with figures characters suche like fond toyes and hydde in the grownde were at lengthe fownd by certain persones The matter was supposed to haue bene contriued for some mischefe or destruction to the Quenes Maiestie But who was he among all oure aduersaries which did not charge Catholiques with that fact yet loe not long after yt was fownd owt and proued that a certein minister was the Author and principall of this sorcerie had diuerse complices accessaries whiche were verie zealouse gospellers whereupon all was huysht sodainlie vea as busye as they were before now they say not one woord of the matter sauynge that some to turne the fault frome one to an other that the blame might fall som way on Catholiks sayde that this minister had perhaps dissembled his religion and was a verie papist in his hart A like surmise was deuised vpō an accident that hapned in a citie and vniuersitie VVhere a booke bynder for speaking some woords in the fauoure of the Catholique religiō was arraigned at the assises before the Iudges and roughlie handled by all the benche For besyde muche griefe and vexation whiche he endured in prison the matter fell owt thus at the last partlie by the verdit of the Iurie and partlie by the rigoure of the Iudges that the poore man was fyrst made to stand openlie in the market place to his reproche and infamie then were his eares nayled hard and fast to a poste and a knyfe was put into hys owne hand there with all to cutt his owne ears in sunder so to delyuer hym selfe This was a feuere sentence aboue measure as many men then dyd think But what folowed A wonder full Iudgement of God vndowbtedlie For withein few dayes after the two Iudges and well nigh all the iurie many of the iustices freeholders with verie many other of them whiche had bene present there dyed all of a straunge kinde of disease some in the sayd citie and some in other places But all the blame for this was layd vpon Catholiques all this was imputed to magike and sorcerie as practised by Catholiques VVhat safety then or securitie frind Gerard is there for vs In how hard termes stand we think yow when not onlie other mens faults are layed vpon vs but the manifest Iudgements of allmightie God are peruerslie interpreted to oure inconuenience and infamie I could neuer make ende yf I shoulde prosecute all the other means whiche our aduersaries woork to the dishonoure and slaunder of oure cause For yf they may find one be he neuer so base so badde which can tell anie reprochefull tale against Rome or bringe anie tydinges sownding to the rebuke thereof or of any others which are thought to fauoure our faith and religion albeyt that the stuffe which he bringeth or the tale whiche he telleth be either nothīg but verie rakinges of the sinke cānells of filthie detractiō or else voyde of all probabilitie or appearāce of truthe yet such a felow is for theyr toeth hym they take holde of as affectuouslie as they can and obtrude him to the people as a prophet to hym they geue free leaue and libertie to talke to dispute to preache and to write what so euer he lusteth according to his owne phantasie pleasure so he doe it by way of despite and contumelie against the Catholique religiō Now whence cometh so great rancour and hatred wherof springeth so muche displeasure and malice what may be the cause of ali this spite and enuy can ye tell Yea but they rest not thus
they stay not with in this degree of immodestie nor are content to be kept with in these limits of folye they run headlong much further for yf there be none to be fownde which can tell skornfull and scoffing tales nor throw vp on heapes any filthynesse nor obserue and note any milbehauiours against Rome then doe these felowes forth of theyr own forge coyne and create new miracles and wondres of Rome to doe them selues some pleasure or seruice in pulpets tables books And to such an effect they haue latelie settforth in a printed pāphlet mani meruailous things to haue happened the last yere at Rome that by the space of many dayes VVherby they woulde make vs beleiue that God by greate and straunge signes and tokens doeth shew his wrath and indignation against that citie for they tell vs of two Sunnes and two rainbowes that appeared at one time that saint Peters great gate dyd fall downe and kill fourtene persones with eight soldiours That two towers allso of Saint Peters churche were fallen had beaten downe the churche and crushed in pieces much people amonge whom were eightene preests further more that the churches of the franciscanes saint sames of saint Bartilmew with oure ladyes churche the whole Monasterie of Marie Magdalen the whole Armorie of the citie of Rome the hospitall of an hundred and fiftie persones with an infinitie number of other houses and buyldings fell downe all at once And all this happened say they to the intent that the world might vnderstand the Roman Religion to displease God I passe ouer and omitt verie manie such artificiall shiftes and deuises which oure aduersaries doe leane to of purpose to make oure cause more odiouse in the open sight of the people Now therfore to come at the last to an end yow know the state of oure case in what termes vve stand and to vvhat Issue oure matters in England are grovvē All is on a hotefire vvith the light burning flames of pesecutions Catholiques and right belieuers are euerie where afflicted with all maner of discōmodities with hatreds with reproches with bōds with imprisonments with iniuries and with what else soeuer serueth to an afflicted lyfe or helpeth to make vp a calamitie full absolute and perfite And yet for all this oure aduersaries are not moued at all with any affectiō of pitie or cōpassion but their wrathe waxeth fierce and their malice groweth fresh dailie more more In so muche as now they seme to be come to that point whereof oure Sauioure foretolde that euerie one that killeth yovv thinke he doeth a seruice to God But the Catholiques doe comfort them selues with the woords of oure Sauioure foloweing in the same place These things they vvill doe to yovv because they haue not knovvne my father nor me but these things I haue spoken vnto yovv that vvhen the houre shall come ye may remembre them for I haue spoken to yovv That sayeing allso of Saint paule they doe often recite for their cōsort God is faithfull vvhiche vvill not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you maye but euen vvith temptation he vvill make an encrease that ye may ondure This encreasse of the faithfull thus promised before hand as a recompense for patient sufferance of persecution the Catholiques in England doe sēsiblie feele to be passinge good And thereupon yt falleth owte that beside the inward swetenesse of the holie ghoste they are allso not alitle animated and confirmed with this externall comfort and consolation whiles they vnderstand and see with their eyes the number of right belieuyng Catholiques to be so maruailouslye encreased syns the rigour of the persecutors haith bene doubled and redoubled vpon them For this is a manifest signification of gods loue whereby he doeth assure and certifie vs that he will neuer forsake this oure cause or rather I might say his own cause yf we for oure parts doe fullfill and kepe the rules and precepts of humilitie meknesse longanimitie and patience And withoute doubt yf in mynd and memorie we wolde runne ouer vewe the troubles whiche Catholiques haue suffered allredye or measure esteme by coniecture the vexatiōs which may hang ouer their heads to be yet suffred we shall finde how yt can neyther be imputed to the power or habilitie of man that hither to they haue susteined the same nor may be looked for that hereafter by mans power they may perseuere stedfastlie to the ende This must be begged and craued of God alone and must by cōtinuall prayers be obteined of the father of lights from vvhome euerie best guyst and euerie perfect guyft procedeth Now what puissance and valew of mynd think yow might suffice what noblenesse of courage wer nedefull what strong and steadfast constancie do yow iudge requisite to make mē hable to beare and endure those vexations whiche before I haue reported those contumelies I mean and those despites those rebukes and dishonors those prisons bolts and shakles those deformities and disorders those loothsome and ill fauored sights those stinking sauours those putrifactions for want of good lodging those consumptions waistings and pinyngs away for lacke of naturall sustinance those torments those deathes And neuerthelesse that same whiche before I haue sayde I must here eftsones repeate and yow must kepe yt in memorie for it is true that I haue skant touched the hundreth part of those afflictions whiche oure Catholiques dailie sustein in prison But yet yf Catholiques might fynde such fauour as they might be entreated and vsed in suche maner as theeues man murderers parricides and hainouse offenders are vsed or might be releued with their owne goods or refreshed with the benignitie and almes that other men wold bestow of them we showld haue no cause to grudge and we might well think that we were not hardlie delte withall For I know there will be fownd in England many aswell of honest calling as of the degrees of wooshipp and honor whiche willinglie woolde be content to sell away all their goods lands and possessiōs and to yelde them selues to become seruants to the afflicted Catholiques rather than the same Catholiques should suffer so vnsemelie and dishonorable misehiefes and inconueniences of hungre famine pouertie and want of necessaries as they doe dailie suffer and endure but it will not be allowed nor permitted Yet I wold not yow should take me other wise than I meā I speake not of those principall persones of honor or woorshipp whiche are in prison for religion who I deny not haue libertie to vse their ovvn goods But I speake of the great multitude of most miserable poore captiues and speciallie of priests vvho at this daye are kept so straitlie as no man hathe accesse vnto them and vvho so euer desireth accesse he is called in suspition and except he can purge hym selfe he is apprehended by and by So Maister hanse of late vvhen he desired to speak vvith some prisoners bicause he had almes to
delyuer to them vvas attached as suspected for religion and in short space after hanged on the galovves In like sort many other for the same cause haue bene arreasted vpon suspitiō and clapt in prison And by these means oure aduersaries do terrefie Catholiques that none should dare to bring any almes for prisoners And it is no lesse perill to the geuers than to the bringars yf the matter be once knowne But it hapneth to be knowne manie wayes and oure aduersaries to get the knowleige thereof doe oftentimes putt priests to the racke or other tortures and examin thē who they are whiche haue geuen them almes and who hathe bestowed vpon thē other woorks of pietie And yf anie by force of torment should confesse anie such thing whiche to this day by gods help none hathe done then wolde oure aduersarie thereupō two maner of wayes anoye vs. First he wold vtterlie discredit the mā as a traitor to his own frinds then wold he so afflict the geuer of almes as for drede of punishement he wold driue away others from exercise of like works of pietie Now sithe oure aduersaries by this cunnyng deuise haue brought this to passe that none dare geue almes nor anye dare carie to a prison the almes whiche is geuen yt must medes hereupō folow as plainlie with oure eyes we see haith folowed that oure Catholiques in prison through penurie nedynesse and want of necessaries must languish weare away and at the last for verie pinyng hungar nakednesse pitifullie perishe in prison I suppose yow haue heard of a certein nūber of persones latelie extinct and dead in prison at york I will not take vpon me to auouche or suspect more hardlie thereof than as I haue sayd albeit there be some whiche do suspect somewhat because that president there beareth suche mortall and inconsiderate hatred against vs as he semeth to couet nothing in the world so much as oure vtter ruine destruction God be gratiouse to hym geue hym a better mynde and send hym a mileder spirit toward miserable captiues that he hym selfe allso once at the length when the tyme will come may for hym selfe obtain mercie at the hands of the generall and common Lorde and Iudge of vs all Yf I wolde recite the bitter affliction and inhumanitie which Catholiques in that prison at york the yeres by past haue felt and suffred or at this tyme do fele and suffer more than euer before I should neuer make ende But by this one we may coniecture of the rest A certein minister competenlie learned whiche had stode a great while on our aduersaries side and had verie earnestlie to the vttermoste of his power defended the same came at the length to such intelligence by reading of the holie fathers as he dyd see verie clearlie that his companions had no truthe to leane vnto but that all was on oure side and that with out all doubt The zealouse yong man could not stopp the conceiued light of truthe nor suppresse the flame thereof burning within his brest VVhen this was knowne abroad to the worlde oure aduersaries apprehend the man they seke by threathinges to putt him in feare But he for all that is not terryfied they sett vpon hym vvith arguments but he was to hard for thē they vvold vvynne hym vvith faier vvoords but he is not allured VVhat then they thrust hym into prison they handle hym sharplie yet is he nothing relented At the last they hang hym vpvvard are in suche maner as his feet being put in a payre of high stocks he lay vvith his shoulders onlie vpō the floore and that vvithoute either bedding or any thing to leane vpō other than the bare floore the space of very many daies together sauyng that they shewed hym suche fauour onlie as at certein times thei eased him some vvhat for his bodilie nedes VVhat can be more cruell than this I omit here the rigours which are vsed against women there imprisoned for religion to whom ouer and besydes the yexations that are incident to prisons this further greefe is added that albeit their husbands do yelde and are conformable as they terme it to oure aduersaries yet are they all punished except they will eyther compell their wiues to doe as they them selues doe or elles will take away from them their necessarie foode sustinance VVhat then shall these miserable afflicted vvomen do when they cannot be permitted to haue the necessarie releefe of lyfe no not at their husbāds hāds must they not perish through the inconueniēces of penurie and nedyenesse and yet oure gospellers are not moued with any compassion or pitie for all these And as to other prisons vvhiche are in London I coulde reporte to yovv many lamentable cases asvvell of suche as late vvere extinct therein as of them vvhiche yet liue there in miserie but that I feare lest my complainte vvold be an occasion of more greuouse affliction yet this is moste certein that many haue endured verie greate extremities through penury and yet dailie looke for more greuous vexation yf that moste seuere lavv touching going to churches be put in execution For it vvill so vtterlie begger exhauste and oppresse Catholiques as they shall not be able to releiue either thē selues or their families and muche lesse to succeure others that are afflicted And therevpon the state and conditions of Catholiques in England semeth likely to fall in to extreme calamities and inconueniences neuer heard of before with christian ears in such wise as Innocents shall be spoyled of their own goods yea and pine away perish and be consumed with famine and all for their conscience onlie towching the faith and religion of their aunceters But when I beholde earneslie looke into that passing excellent singular and in dede princelie no blenesse of hart with the exceding great clemency and milde disposition whiche nature hathe planted in oure Quene I am hardlie induced to beleeue that her maiestie will permit such a straite and extreme law to be putt in execution to the vtter ruine of men afflicted with miserie to the ouerthrow of her owne subiects to the disturbance of her kingdome and to driue all the whole worlde besides in to a mase with the wōder thereof Yet neuerthelesse on the othersyde when I depelie consider how her grace is incensed against vs with the continuall clamours of oure aduer saries and by how subtile means and cunnyng shifts dailie incited and stirred vp to oure persecution and destruction whiles there is not one in the waye eyther to excuse or defend vs or yet in oure behalfe by waye of hūble sute to procure some cōpassion for oure afflictions then I see yt to be possible that not onely these extremities but greater allso and farre harder extremities may be permitted against vs. Nowe therfore to conclude all in one woord two things onlie remain for vs to doe in these straite distresses wherein we stand One that with seruent vowos
affirmed that they often had and amongest many named one of some accompt there present as it vvas crediblie told me vvhich had offered the same to hym vvith terrible threates not onelie of deathe but allso of renting of his nayles from his fyngars vvith pynnes yf he yeelded not thervnto Again their ioyfull acceptation of Iudgement and thankes geuing to God for the same vvith their seuerall and moste vehement protestation there made at the barre after their condemnation doeth declare sufficientlie the clearenesse of their coÌ„scieÌ„ces For then and there Maister Campian protested before God and his angells heauen and earthe the vvorld and that Iudgement Seate there present vvhiche as he trulie sayde vvas but a litle figure of the moste dredefull IudgemeÌ„t seat of God before vvhich he to his greate ioye expected shortlie to be presented he protested I say vpon eternall perdition of his Soule that he vvas moste innoceÌ„t guiltlesse and vnvvitting of all and singular the matters in that inditement alleiged and of euerie part and parcell thereof Maister Shervvyn protested vvith like vehemencie that yf euer his heade did imagin or his hart coÌ„ceiued or his tongue vttered or his hand atteÌ„pted any thing against his soueraigne ladie Quene Elizabeth or against any of her honorable Councell or against the common vvealthe or realme of England he renounced there his portion in heauen and desired God as a iust Iudge to daÌ„ne hym bothe in bodie and sovvle to the eternall darknesse and torments of hell fire And vvhen he had done he cried oute O happie and blessed day that euer he vvas borne The like dyd the rest vvhich vvere condemned vvith hym forgeuing openlie their false accusars there present and prayeing to God for them Novv lett anie man shevv to me that euer traitour dyed so or that a guiltie conscience dothe yelde suche coÌ„fidence vvhen they knevv novv that there vvas no vvaye vvith them but deathe VVell God be blessed for them and surelie his holye name hathe bene greatlie glorifyed by them VVhat straunge torments and other extremyties they haue suffred before they came to die he alone knovveth and vve heare onlie of some part thereof for vve see they vvere not men to complain of euery thing done to them but vvere content to put it vp in secret vvith hope to receiue theire revvarde at his hand Yet yf vve had not heard of their seuerall often rackings maister Campian his coÌ„ming to the barre vvith his handes folden in lynnen clothe and vvith that feblenesse as he vvas neyther able to pluck of his ovvne mytton of freése nor lyft a cupp of drink to his mouthe vvithoute helpe may vvell shevv hovv he had bene handled Oure sorde shevv his tourmentours more mercie at the day of his Iudgement than they haue shevved hym Hovv mans nature had bene able to beare ovvte so great rigour extremities as they haue passed except Gods holie grace had bene pleÌ„tifull vnto them I doe not see And that oure lorde dyd concurr vvith extraordinarie comfort in their torments it may appeare in this epistle goinge before of Maister Briant vvhom Maister Norton the Rackem aister yf he be not misreported vaunted in the court to haue pulled one good foote longer than euer God made hym and yet in the myddes of all he semed to care nothing and therfore ovvte of dovvbt sayth he he had a deuill vvithein hym But vvhether it be a more propertie to the deuill to suffer patiently or to torment other men mercyleslie maister Briant and maister Norton shall dispute the matter one day vvhen deuills shall be at hand to beare vvitnesse and the Iudge bothe of deuills and deuelish men shall be at hand to geue sentence In the meane space I beseche God to accept the Innocent bloode of his vertuouse preests for some part of pacification of his vvrathe tovvards vs and tovvards oure persecutors that they hauing the miste of errour taken from their eyes may see the truthe of Christs Catholique religion for professing vvhere of they afflict vs so greuouslie as he seeth to vvhose eyes al iniuries do lye open and to vvhose onelye Iudgement vve leaue oure cause and doeings to be tryed and discerned vvhen it shall seme moste conuenient to his diuine maiestie Amen FINIS Vvhat per secutioÌ„ Catholiques suffer The coÌ„parison of this persecution to that in Queene Maryes tyme Matth. 27. Esa. 58. DiffereÌ„ces betvvixt the punished protestantes and Catholiques By Luther ar 28. cont LouaÌ„ to 2. Vvitten fo 503. also by the Edict of the princes of maÌ„sfilde anno 1560. and by others a He holdeth three in apolog confes August cap. de sacra And fovver in editione vl loco coÌ„ b So he holdethe in the beginninge and end of his captiuitie of BabiloÌ„ c So he holdeth in lib. de ca. Babi d So he holdeth expresselie ar 35 cont Louan e in edi vl locoruÌ„ coÌ„ f li 4 c 14 The persons persecuted The cause of persecution The ende of this persecution Polycie by M I hovvlet M D Allen The differeÌ„t effectes of heresie and Catholique religion to vvchinge the vveale publique Particuler differences bettvvixt Catholique protestant religion for maintenance continuance of the coÌ„monvvealthe 1. Restitution Tvvo commodities of restitution 2. Obseruation of vovves Psal. 75. The consequent of keepinge and breakinge of vovves 4 Abstinence from fleshe The publique coÌ„moditie by abstineÌ„ce froÌ„ flesh 4 Fastinge The sequel of fastinge 5. Sole lyfe of cleargye men 6 Raysinge of rentes In the bulle de caena domini solemlye recited by the pope euerye yere on maÌ„dy thursdaye in the tytle de pedagiis nou is non imponendis 7 Deuorcementes Math. 19. 3. 6. 7. 8. 8 Of obedience to magistrates Ro 13. Caluin l. 4. insti c. 10. num 5. This is also the cause vvhye the prince is so infinitely at this day deceaued in hercustome of matchaÌ„dise by all marchantes report a Dangerous sequel Of synne concupiscence Iaco. 1. 15. Caluin in antid concil Tri. Augu. li. 2. cont IuliaÌ„ li. 1. de peccat merit c. vlt. 10. The revvard of good and euill and paynes for synne in this lyfe ContritioÌ„ Confession SatisfactioÌ„ Purgatorie 11 VVorkes Freevvill predestination Eccl. 15 Luc 13. Apoc. 3. Math. 5. 10. 12. Heb. 13. 12. Priuate confession Vtilities of confession an obiectioÌ„ preuented So Dâ—ffulke hathe aunsvvered M. hovvlets reasons of refusall Grauntinge the reasoÌ„s as they lye but yet quarelinge at some matter of controuersie in the reason The kinge of Bungo in Iapan beinge a heathen hathe permitted protected the catholique religion in his countries thes 28. yeres onlye for the commoditie he fee lethe his common vveal the to receaue thereof in cp Indic the like dothe the greate Turcke and other Princes of Mahometes secte at this daye The procedinge of ministers vvithe vs. Such vvas the disputation in the tovver vvith M. campian others vvher men vvere prohibited vvith billes tipstaues to enter And