Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	catholic_a	zeal_n	zealous_a	22	3	7.9124	4	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13158	A briefe examination, of a certaine peremptorie menacing and disleal petition presented, as is pretended, to the Kings most excellent Maiestie, by certaine laye papistes, calling themselues, the lay Catholikes of England, and now lately printed, and diuulged by a busie compagnion, called Iohn Lecey	Sutcliffe, Matthew, 1550?-1629.	1606 (1606)	STC 23452; ESTC S117870	127,037	159

sent to Eely to the Catholike recusants there imprisoned from the Lords of Queene Elizabeths priuie Councell with (c) A forme of submission sent down to the Catholiks from the Councell a forme of protestation of their duty and alleageance penned by the sayd Queens learned Councell with direction and commission to take the saide recusants subscriptions thereunto being altogether vnexpected of them they being close prisoners and hauing no intelligence at all of any Commissioners repairing to them So soone as these Commissioners had read some part of their commission to the Catholikes there they foorth with were seuerally deuided and in close prison restrained And notwithstanding the sayd formall originall sent purposely for them to subscribe vnto yet the Commissioners as it seemed for a more triall or for a more aduantage taking against the Catholikes there taxed euery of them to set downe immediately the protestation of their alleageance and dutie to like purpose as was set foorth in the originall seat to them from the Lordes of the Councell which the Catholike Gentlemen were permitted to haue but one onely time read vnto them This seuerall forme of submission in such strict order exacted by the Commissioners was in that (d) The catholikes exhibite a form of submission-far more complete theÌ„ that which was sent them ample 2 They had some dispensation to do vvhat they did and yet they did no great matter manner performed by the said recusants that the sayd Commissioners singularly extolling greatly preferring the same before the said originall accepted thereof and required not at all the Catholikes to subscribe to the said originall so penned by the said Queens learned Counccil and addresled by the Lords of the priuie Councell to whom the said prorestations being sent and by them perused they receiued such a full approbation that after that time neuer any odious imputation or calumniations against the fidelity of the Catholikes preuailed The like was the valour (a) The fidelity of Irish Catholikes fidelity and laudable seruice of the Irish Catholike recusants at Kinsale in Ireland anno 1600. who joyning their forces with the late Quens against the Spanish power and against then owne Countrimen and Kinsmen expelled with their assistance the Spaniard and were 1 These bastardly English do rob their ovvn countrimen of their honor in the battell by Kinsalo an 1600. and giue all to the Irish Gods glory like rebells to God they suppresse speciall meanes to keep Ireland in obedience to the Crowne of England which otherwise in the opinions of the commanders of the English forces then there had been vtterly lost And none of iudgement there doubted but that it was in the power of those Irish 2 Of these goodly Catholikes there vvere 4. rebells at the least for one true subiect in the Queens army Catholike Earles Barons Knights Gentlemen and their followers to haue betrayed then that Realme of Ireland to the hands of the Spaniards if either zeale of extirping the Protestant religion thence and firme establishing of the Catholike religion could haue preuayled with them or dread of (b) Excommunication hindred not the Irish Catholikes to do the duties of good subiects excommnnication or threatning of the powerfull inuader proclayming by sound of Trumpet and deuulging proclamations that his sword should no more spare a Catholike recussâ—t disobeying that excommunication then it should doe a protestant resisting in armes And this singular act of loyalty so shortly after seconding and confirming the like of the English catholikes in Eighty eight without all gain-saying conuinceth that the English and Irish Catholike recusantes are not (c) English Itish Catholikes no conditionall subiects conditionall subiects but most true loyall and 3 To the Pope rather then to the king faithull subiects to their Prince and to the Crowne of England therein giuing place to no subiectes of those two Realmes whosoeuer or of what degree soeuer and whose proofe and triall herein farre excelleth all other the subiects of those Realmes if preheminence should in that behalfe be attributed to any profession of Religion in the sayd Kingdomes This argument of our sormer behauiour and of our obedience vnder the 4 Shame you not to charge so mercifull a Princesse vvith seuerity vvhen your selues both by color of lavv by lavvlesse massacres most or uelly murder quiet Christians seuerity of the late Queen may in all reason assure your maiesty that in matter of our loyalâ—e we are like pure Gold fined and refined in the fire of many years probation and therin not to be any way stained The second triall of our fidelities consisteth in matter likewise of fact (d) Catholiks behauiour towards his Maiesties Pre towards your Maiesties Predecessors your Title in them and in your selfe and the effect of our loue and affection performed in all occasions that might giue contentment to your Maiesty both before and since your entrance into this your Kingdome of Ergland which we will endeauour to touch as briefly as we can It cannot be denied then in the first ranke of these our comportements but that we our selues in our times and our Catholike Parents before vs at all times of opportunity offered haue declared our deuouted affectioÌ„s to your 1 As may appear by ParsoÌ„s his book of Titles by Coluils libells and by the subscriptions and allovvances of them by diuers papists said Highnes (a) Catholiks alwaies affected to the Kings Title to England right to this crowne the testemonies whereof are in printed books and publike facts so manifest to the world that we need not long dwel on that point vouchsafe therefore patience we beseech you Deare Soueraigne to heare som instances of the (b) Blessings benefits his Maiesty hath receiued by catholikes blessings and the benefits your Maiesty hath receiued by 2 But not by papists beleeuing the doctrin of Trent and the kingkilling positions maintained by the popish faction catholikes and by our seruices and fidelities King Henry the 7. and his eldest Daughter from whome your Maiesty hath receiued lineally and directly your birth right and naturall succession to this crowne were most zealous and religious Catholikes and for that singular affection he did beare to the (c) Henry the 7 preferreth the Scotish King before the French Scotish nation principally for their great zeale at all times to the catholike religion preferred the same before France bestowing his sayd eldest Daughter on your Highnes great Grandfather and the yonger vpon the 3 King Henry the 7. vvas dead before the mach made vvith his daughter French King by which happy mariage came that lineall and rightfull descent of bloud that made your Maiesties renowned Mother Heyr apparant to this crowne of England who also was the vndoubted (d) His Maiesties Mother lineall heir to K. Edward the Confessor lineall Heire to King Edvvard the Confessor by his sister Margaret Queene and Saint and

coloure of traditions they thrust vpon the Church not onelie diuers Fables and superstitious toyes but also a greate part of the errors of the church of Rome Finally they talke of Apostolicall and Ecclesiastical traditions and yet can not certainely deriue them eyther from the Apostles or from the Ancient catholike Church These foundations therefore are ruinous and rather serue to prooue the erroncous doctrine of Antichrist then the faith of Christe Iesus Canus in his booke de locis theolog among his principall groundes and proofes of christian religion reckoneth not only the acts of Councels and writings of the fathers but also the authority of schoolemen and canonists of profane writers and of humane reason yea of the popes and moderne church of Rome Now what I beseech you is more vncertaine then to rely vpon the vncertaine actes of councels and connterfact writings set out vnder the name of fathers Againe what is is more vnreasonable then to bring forth the pope his complices for witnesses or iudges in their owne cause Lex dei saith Athanasius Apolog 2. inimicum ne que testeÌ„ ne que iudicem esse vult the lawe of God admitteth not our enemies to bee either iudges or witnesses Finally naturall reason is blind in the cause of true religion profane men write profanely These groundes therfore as they are faultie cannot serue for immoueable groundes of the christian fayth CoÌ„monly all papists doe build their faith not so much vpon holie scriptures as vpon vnwritten traditions popish decretals lying miracles feyned visions the Romish churches Practise But theire miracles and reuelations haue for the moste parte no better authoritie then from the forged and lying legendes of saintes the falshhood of their Decretalls and traditions is declared by the writings of auncient fathers the practise of the moderne Church is contrary to the apostolike and catholike church of old time For in that Church we neither finde any vniuersal pope with triple crown guard of Swizzars nor any Romish masse nor popish indulgences or purgatory or such like trash Vpon these false and erroneous grounds it is no maruell if they haue framed to themselues a most false and erroneous religion as may appeare by these particulars Concerning scriptures they teache that they are no perfect canon of our fayth and next that they are not authenticall to vs vnlesse they be consigned and deliuered to vs by the Pope and his adherents Thirdly they say that the Latin translation is authenticall which they doo not affirme of the originall books Fourthly they say they are obscure and hurtfull Lastlie they permit them not to bee read publikely in tongues vnderstood of the multitude But the Apostle 2. Tim. 3. sayth They are able to make the man of God perfite and none but heretikes as we may read in Ireneus euer accused them of insufficiency Secondly as lawes so scriptures haue receiued theyr strength from the author of them that is from the holy ghost And those are very absurd that do beleeue the Pope speaking in his decretalls and will not beleeue God speaking in holy scriptures Thirdly all the fathers prefer the originall books of scripture before the translations Fourthly the word of god in scriptures is called light and the food of the soule Who then that is not led by the spirit of Satan can repute them obscure or hurtfull Lastly neuer was it taught or hearde in auncient times that scriptures were publikely red in tongues not vnderstood Secondly they giue to Christ in the sacrament a body neither felt nor seen nor any way like to our bodies For what man J beseech you euer had a body that was in many places at once and yet filleth no place they holde also that being in his mothers womb he was vir perfectus that is a grown man and that as man he was omniscient and knew all things His office of mediatorship they communicate vnto the virgin Marie and other saints and to Angells and somtime stick not to call saints their redeemers as Bellarmine in his first book de iudulgentijs confesseth To make a treasure of indulgences they mix the merits of Christ and his saints together as if Christs merits were insufficient Their Massepriests as they say are after the order of Melchisedech Finally they make them mediators for Christs body as these words of the Masse declare suscipe hanc oblationem c. and again supra quae propitio sereno vultu respicere digneris That is receiue this oblation viz. of Christs body and blood And again Looke vpon it with a fanourable and serene countenance Of which doctrines no one is true and diuers are blasphemous and impious Thirdly they say the Pope is saint Peters successour and Christs Vicar albeit he neither teach the gospell nor administer the Sacraments nor resemble them almost in any thing Him also they make the heade spouse and foundation of the vniuersall church albeit he can shew graunte for none of these prerogatiues They teach further that he is aboue general councels and hath power to depose kings and that his lawes bind mens consciences but such doctrines are not only erroneous but also absurd Fourthly they cast out of the catholike church all that professe not their faith although elect to life and contrarywise make reprobate persons hereticks and wiched men professing the Romish faith and communicating with the Romishe church true members of christs body they hold also that the catholike church is alwayes so visible that euery man may see it and discerne it Finally they shut the catholike church within the limits of the Romish church Matters repugnaunte to holy scriptures and no way agreeing with the nature of the true catholike and apostolike church nor very well with reason Fiftly most falsly they teache that the Pope onely hath power to confirme generall councells and that no man els ought to summon them and praeside in them They hold also that the conuenticles of Laterane Constance Florence and Trent are comparable to the fowre firste generall councells Sixtly they make their followers belieue that the moderne church of Rome differeth not from the aunciente Romane Church and that the same is guided by gods spirit and cannot erre But their erroneous doctrine different from that which S. Paul taught the Romans declareth the contrary 7. Commonly they take to themselues the name of Catholikes yet their doctrine of the masse of their half communions adoration of the sacrament merites of congruity and condignity of Popish indulgences worshippe of images and such like was neuer receiued of the Christians of all times and places 8. Parsons in his booke of 3. conuersions giueth out that Saint Peter and Eleutherus did teache the moderne Romane faith to the aunciente Britones and Austen the monke to aunciente Saxons But hee faileth in his proofes and with a harde and bare face telleth nothinge but bare and improbable lies 9. They teache their followers to worship saintes and to say

in Augustine de haeres c. 39. Epiphanius haeres 38. doth condeÌ„n the CasaÌ„s for inuocating both good and bad angels Tertullian also in his book de prascript aduers haeret condemneth them that serue angelt doe the papists then think it catholike religion to worship and serue Angels and to call vpon them 19 As the papists doe proue their religion by forged miracles and lyes so did the Seuerians which therfore were ranged among heretickes by Saiut Augustine de haeresib c. 24. 20 The Papists c. proposuists dist 82. call mariage fleshlie pollutions and say that maried folkes liue in the flesh and and cannot please god But for the like doctrine the Tatians and Encratites were adiudged hereticks 21 As the Manicheys coÌ„deÌ„ned mariage in their priests caled electi absteined froÌ„ the cup in the Eucharist gaue to christ a body extended to diuers places and not solide so do papists 22 Montanus first broughte in lawes of fasting and extolled vnwritten traditions and was author of oblations for the dead The firste is prooued by the testimony of Apollonius in Eusebius his history The last two poynts are made euident by Tertullian following Montanus his heresy and deriuing them from his Paracletus in his booke de corona militis Why then shoulde not papists offending in the same poynts be reputed Montanists 23 Further I haue shewed in my late suruey of Popery chap. 8. that as the pepuzians honored Pepuza so the Papists honor Rome that with the Catharists they hold that a man may performe the law perfectly and bragge of their purity perfection that with the I acobites and ArmeniaÌ„s they make the images of God the father and the holy ghost that with the Staurolatrians Chazinzarians they worship the crosse that with the Collyridians they worship the virgin Mary and offer consecrated hostes in her honor that with the Circumcellions they murder such as are opposite to their faction that which the Priscillianists they periure themselues and teach aequiuocating periurie that with the Eutychianistes they giue Christ a body without iust dimensions or circumscription that with the Pelagians they extol the force of free will and diminish the praise of gods grace that with the here ticks mentioned by Jrenaeus they accuse scriptures and to make short that they haue embraced many other old condemned herefies As for the master of SeÌ„tences Innocent the third Thomas Aquinas Scotus Albert Durand Steuchus Harding Stapleton AlleÌ„ Bellarmine Baronius and other particuler agents of the Romish Church we are able to charge them with infinite hereticall opinions But because our's duersaries doe not take themselues bounde to defend euery priuate mans doctrines and opinions J will reserue the proofe hereof to some other place Finally if all doctrins brought into the church since the Apostles tymes sauor of heresies as Tertullian affirmeth theÌ„ we need not to doubt but that al those popish doctrins coÌ„cerning vnwritten traditions apocryphall scriptures the reading of scriptures in tongus not vnderstood the being of Christs body within the accidents of bread and wine in the Eucharist traÌ„substantiatioÌ„ the sacrifice of the masse half coÌ„munions the adoration of the sacrament the popes vniuersall monarchy the popish worship of saintes reliques and images the 7. sacramentes the merits of workes and such like nouelties as are broughte into the Church by the pope and his complices are mere heresyes Chapter 9. That popish religion is new and not as the Papists call it the old religion ANtiquity in matter of religion cartieth no small weight with it in the reputation of ChristiaÌ„s Saint Iohn 1. epist 1. saith he declareth vnto vs that which was from the beginning and Ephes 2. we reade that the church is founded vpon the prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ being the chiefe corner stone Jf then popish religion was not froÌ„ the beginning nor can be iustified to haue proceeded from christ or his apostles or the holy prophets then is it for the noueltie thereof to bee reiected But that is so apparant as hee that will deny it muste needes speake againste his owne conscience and knowledge if he haue either conscience or learning 1. The masse is a principall matter which papists contend for Yet is the same a playne corruption of Christs institution of the Eucharist and wholy repugnant to the apostles doctrine Christ taking bread said this is my body but the masse priests deny that any breade remaineth in the sacrament after the words of the institution spoken He said take and eat The Massepriests say to the people gape and gaze and in the mean while eat and drinke all themselues He said do this in remembrance of me they offer vp Christ in honour of saints He commanded all to drinke that receiued the other kind They exclude all but the Priest from the cup. He ordeined the sacrament to be receiued of the communicaÌ„tes they receiue it not but oftentimes hang it vp cary it about and adore it The Apostle 1. Cor. 11. sheweth that the sacrament was instituted to declare the Lords death but these celebrate the masse in tongues not vnderstood insomuch that few papists vnderstand what is doon in the celebration of the masse 2. Christ certes neuer instituted the Popes monarchie Nay where the Apostle Ephes 4. speaketh of the ministers of the church this great monarch is not once named True it is that Christ said to Peter feede mysheepe and promised that to him he would giue the keys But what is that to the Pope that is no Apostle nor in any thing like to Peter further Peter had no monarchicall power giuen by these words For equally were the Apostles called and authorized Much lesse therefore are we to imagin that any bishop had this vniuersal monarchy bestowed on him 3. Further it is mere madnesse to affirme that either Christ or his Apostles taught the worship of the Crosse or of images or of Saints or their reliques or that they deliuered to their disciples and folowers the popish doctrine of the 7. sacramentes or of Purgatory and indulgences or of the merites of congruitie or of the foundations and other pointes of Popishe Religion 4. In our suruey of Popery we haue shewed that those poynts of popery which the Church of England refuseth are repugnant both to auncient councells and the auncient fathers of the Church The auncient fathers of the Church and Bishoppes of Rome neuer thought that any one bishop had authority aboue a generall councell The sift canon of Nice forbiddeth to receiue any that were excommunicated by other Bishops The 6. Canon of that councel equalleth other Bishops to the bishop of Rome in that councell it was decreed that Priests should not be separated from their wiues The councell of Eliberis condemneth the superstitious lighting of candles in churchyards and pictures in churches The councell of Gangra taxeth such as disprayse mariage or despise the oblation of maried priests or refuse to eate flesh or condemn such as weare common

apparell The councell of Laodicea condemneth the worshippe of angels Neyther is there any abuse in Popery that is of any antiquity but lightly the same is taxed in some ancient councel The popish worship of angells images crosses and such like halfe communions straunge and vnknown tongues and other abuses of popish religion likewise are either not knowne or generally condemned by the fathers 5. The auncient Christian religion came from Hierusalem but the popish worshippe of images and saints the doctrine of the carnall eating of Christs body transubstantiation halfe communions indulgences the popish doctrin of purgatory and the popes monarchy came neuer from thence 6 Finally we find when and where the principail points of popish doctrin which the church of England refuseth were established by the synagogue of Rome the worship of images was first receiued and established in the idolatrous second councell of Nice vnder Irene Gregory the 7. first tooke on him the vse of both swords and began with sorce to depose Emperors and to translate kingdomes from one to another Innocent the third first brought in transubstantiation and auricular confession in the councell of Lateran The conuenticle of Constance first decreed that accidents in the Eucharist subsist without a subiect and that all Christians beside the priest were to content themselues with one kind in the sacrament Eugenius the fourth in the conuenticle of Florence as is said setled the doctrin of purgatory and the popes supremacy then also was deliuered the doctrin of the 7. sacraments and established first by authority The rest of those popish doctrines concerning the sacrifice of the Masse indulgences and such like deuises which we refuse were lately confirmed in the conuenticle of Trent From thence the papists deriue the authority of the missalls breuiaries and other rituall books If any thing be taught by them more then this contrary to the sound forme of faith deliuered by the Apostles the same hath bin receiued either from olde hereticks or els from later Popes of Rome That religion therfore which papists teach ouer and aboue the christian faith is newly deuised and not to be deriued from the Apostles or prophets or ancient fathers of the church Chap. 10. That Popish religion is impious and blasphemous THE people of God vnder the law were so zealous of Gods glory that they vsed to rend their cloths if they did heare any man vtter any thing souÌ„ding like blasphemy Nay for the word that signifieth blaspheming the Hebrewes vse the worde of blessing which sheweth that all our actions shoulde tend to the prayse of god and none to his dishonor Is it not then straunge that Christians which shoulde excell all others in zeale and loue towards God should either professe or suffer popish religion that is so full of impieties and blasphemies against god This they thinke to wipe away with one impudent denial But this name of blasphemy is too deep grauen in the forehead of the whore of Babylon to be defaced with any deniall For first the Pope challengeth to himselfe the name and honour of God as is euident by the chap. satis dist 96. and c. inter corporalia de translat pral and the Canonists giue vnto him that name and honour as is to be seene in the glosse in c. cum inter extr Ioan. 22. de verb. signif and in the commentaries of Felin in c. ego N. de iureiur ando and Baldus in l. vlt. Cod. sententiae rescindendae StapletoÌ„ in his epist to Gregory the 13. before his doctrinale principles doth call the pope supremum numen in terris that is the soueraigne god of the earth 2. Secondly blasphemously the papists translate the honour of Christ to the Pope they call him the head foundation and spouse of the Church as appeareth by the disputes of Bellarmine lib. 2 de pontif Rom. c. 31. and by the glosses of the Canonists Abb as Panormitanus saith that Christ the Pope haue but one consistory This honour also the Pope is content to take to him as by the Chap. quoniam de imunitate in 6. and diuers other decretales it appeareth In the booke of Ceremonies hee applieth to himselfe these words which Christ vttereth of himselfe all power is giuen to me in heauen and earth 3. Thirdly they giue the name and titles of God to creatures Biel lect 48. super can missae saith the prieste is the creatour of his owne creator the same blasphemy is also found in Innocentius de mysterijs missae and in Stella Clericorum and was vttered by Bonner to certaine Priestes in the beginning of Queen Maries dayes 4. Fourthly they confesse theyr sinnes to angells and saints as well as to God as is euidently proued by their common confession in tfieir missalls Horatius Tursellinus in his Epistle to Peter Aldobrandini before his history of our Lady of Loreto saieth that god dooth at our Ladies pleasure gouerne the earth and bestow at her becke heauenly gifts vpon men Commonly they giue the office of mediation to our Lady to saintes and angells 5. They teach that the Massepriests are constituted priests after the order of Melchisedech Nay they make the priestes mediators for christs body as it appeareth by these wordes of the masse supra quae propit to ac secreno vuliu respicere digneris c. 6. They are not ashamed to affirme that a dogge or hogge or mouse eating a consecrated hoast doth eate christes true bodie as we may see in Thomas Aquinas 3. p. q. 83. art 6. and in 4. sent dist 13 and in Biel in 4. sent dist 12. in Alexander Hales and diuers other schoolemen 7. Nicholas the 2. in the chap. Ego Berengarius dist 2. de consecrat maketh Berengarius to confesse that Christs glorified body is torue with teethe and sensibly handled by the Priest 8. Clemens the 6. in the chap. vnigenitus extr de paenit et remiss doth make Christe like to the sinfull people of the Iewes in whome as we reade Isay c 1. from the heade to the foote there was nothing sound 9. Faber in his booke against the anatomy of the masse compareth christe to druÌ„ken Silenus annon sayth he mirificus Silenus suit christus in another place he calleth him an enchanter 10. Bellarmine lib. 1. de cult sanct c. 13. alledging a place out of Iustine Martyr but most fasly placeth angels before the holy ghost and woulde haue them worshipped together with the holy trinity 11. Julius the third called for his Peacock in despight of god and nothing is more common among papists then blasphemies imprecations as is confessed by themselues in the Romish catechisme 12. In the Romish breuiary the blessed virgin is called dulcis amica dei that is the sweet friend of god the happy gate of heueÌ„ They giue vnto her also power ouer her sonne and say iure matris impera redemptori that is by thy motherly power commaÌ„d the Redeemer of the world 13. Bellarmine lib. 1. de

that are enimies to the Pope and by all meanes seek to perswade men to take away their liues These fellowes caused Henrie the 3. of France anno 1589. to be most cruelly murdered by a Dominican Frier and the like they attempted against king Henry the 4. now raigning Jf God had not watched for the safety of our King and state Catesbie Percie Faux had by fire gunpowder destroyed the King the Queen the Prince and all the Lords Iudges and commons assembled in parliament How many they haue lately empoysoned we refer to Gods secret iudgement That the pope dooth entend the destruction of all Christian princes whom he excommunicateth it is not to be doubted seeing he armeth their subiects against them and promiseth not onely remission of sins but also rewardes to such as lay holde vppon them Whosoeuer therfore meaneth to reigne securely and to maintaine his regall authority must diligently prouide that his subiects professe not popish religion that is so opposite both to his authority and security Chapter 13. That popish religion is greeuous both to true christians and to papists themselues THat popish religion is greeuous to al true Christians it cannot wel be denied For who is not vexed especially if his hart bee enflamed with true zeale seeing the holy scriptures abused and accused of imperfection insufficiency and flexibility and popish traditions either aequalled or preferred before them what true christian can endure to see Christs honoure and office emparted to angels and saintes and idols worshipped more fre quently and deuoutly then the true and euer liuing god What zealous Christian doth not burne with indignation to see the man of sin to dominere in Christs Church to call himselfe Christes vicar the heade and spouse of the church and to exalt himselfe aboue al that is called god Finally who wold not greeue to see gods holy name and truth blasphemed as it is by the teachers of popery Furthermore as Christ was greeued to see the house of god made a denne of theues so it cannot chuse but greeue his disciples to see the house of god possessed by Antichrist and al true teachers chased away oppressed and murdred in places where his complices can preuaile there also scriptures in toÌ„gs vnderstood of the multitude are suppressed and the Popes hests followed more diligently then the lawes of God Thirdly what can be deuised more greeuous to a christian soule then to see gods true worship suppressed idolatry superstition publikelye mainteined and of ignorant people so grossely abused Fourthly as nothing is more pleasing to truÃ© Christians theÌ„ frÃ©edome of conscience and liberty of true catholike religion so can ther be no greater vexation of conscience then to see the institution of Christ in his holy sacraments and worship violated and mens consciences forced to embrace errors and true professors cruelly persecuted Finally it is no small vexation of spirit for free Christians to see princes made the Popes vassals and his exequutioners to murder such as professe the truth for free meÌ„ to endure the Popes exactions and pillages to heare the vntruth and calumniations of his agents defaming innocent christiaÌ„s with notes of heresy schisme and other most greeuous crimes Nay so heauy is the yoke of the popes tyranny that theÌ„ papists themselues are forced to complaine thereof and would noe doubte cry outlouder if they durst Petrus de Alliaco in his booke de reformat ecclesiae complaineth of the principall abuses which were most greeuous and burdensome The first was the multitude of the popes lawes the second was the frequent vse of excommunications and other censures of the Churche The third was the heauines of the popish prelates exactions beside these three he shewes that the multitude of religious orders and begging friars was a heauy and intolerable burthen in the church The Germans not long sence collected a hundred matters of grecuance offred them by the pope and his Clergy and officers and presented them to the pope desiring redresse The speciall poynts are set downe in their petition entitled centum grauamina Germaniae c. So many abuses reigned in the Church of Rome some hundred yeares agone that the bishop of Chems writing thereof a speciall treatise called it onus Ecclesiae the burthen of the Church Aluarus Pelagius also that liued some time before Martin Luther began to discouer the errors and abuses of the church of Rome and doth most greeuously compleyne of them intituling his booke de planctu ecclesiae that is the lamentation of the Church And this hath been the complainte of diuers Christians as we may perceiue by some Epistles of Petrarch and other writings of Arnold de villa nona of Nicholas Orem Thomas Bradwardine and many others The papists themselues feele the greef of auriculer consessions the fraudulent practises of the friars in theire absolutions and enioyning of satisfactions The multitude of the popes lawes the burthen thereof lyeth heauy vpon their consciences for their friars teach them that they binde the conscience The vow of single life in many youngmeÌ„ women doth work desperate effects When they see theÌ„ selues haltred they runne into a greate dissolution of manners and grow carelesse what sinnes they commit The massepriests liue in great subiection to theire prelates and the rules of moÌ„kish life ar greuous to al that professe those forged religioÌ„s And therfore few obserue the rules of their profession none long doe well content them selues to liue vnder them Jn Italy and Spaiue they mure vp their Nunnes and yet neither walles nor lawes can keepe them in order The taxes imposed both vpon the clergy and laity are many and greeuous No act of religion almost is done without paying of these payments the pope rayseth great treasures If any transgresse the popes lawes out flye suspensions excommunications and interdictions and no release is graunted with out greeuous compositions especially if matters concerne the popes prerogatiue Finallie if any spurne either against the popes authority or agaynste any poynt of his erroneous religion then hee passeth through the hands of the inquisitors and to the racke if not to the fire he goeth if a man be suspected he is a long time imprisoned if he be conuicted then is he to passe to the fire his goods are seysed and his wife and children vtterly empouerished And of these cruel exequutions kings and princes are the ministers Neither dooth the father respect the child nor the wife the husband if the pope doe accurse him nay oftentimes without form of law eyther they cause such as they suspect to be empoysonned or massacred and vnder this gouernment do papists liue Is it not then strange that free men shold endure this slauery and that Christians shold not seek remedy for so greeuous oppressions Chap. 14. That the petition of papists for a toleration of popish religion is voide of reason IOhn Lecey in his preface doth vant that the petitioÌ„ of his coÌ„sortes for

toleration of popery is conformable to reason But little doth he seem to vnderstaÌ„d what is reason that requireth things so coÌ„trary to truth law reasoÌ„ For first what reasoÌ„ can he preteÌ„d to desire the practise of a religioÌ„ rebellious seditious fals erroneous foolish absurd new straÌ„ge idolatrous blasphemous and full of diuers other moste grosse abuses either therfore the papists must clear their religioÌ„ from these crimes or else confesse they haue small reason to demand a toleration for it We haue iustified our charge in diuers treatises both in latin and English and yet they answere nothing particulerly Secondly litle shew of reason haue they to desire his maiesty to admitte a religion which depriueth him of halfe his authority halfe his subiects halfe his reuenewes and maketh him subiect to the pope Thirdly they doe without all reason demand the free exercise of a religion that bringeth mens consciences into thraldome their persons into danger and their landes and goods into the hands of tyrantes Fourthly the pope and massepriestes make merchandise of mens soules and make little conscience to buy and sell churches altars dignityes heauen grace and all spirituall thinges They spoyle the poore the widdowe and fatherlesse and for maynteinaunce of their owne estates make hauocke of Christian mens estates Haue they then reason to sue for such a bargayning and spoyling religion 5. They shew theÌ„selues deuoid of reasoÌ„ that admit masse priests into theire houses that like owles fly the light and sight of the magistrate that intertaine intelligence with forreign enemies that deuoure theire substance that like impure lechours abuse the wiues daughters and maides of such as giue them intertainement and pretending to make them Catholike doe indeed make them Cuckoldlike Sixtly we finde by proofe that Masse-preests and Jebusites haue combined theÌ„selues with foreign enemies haue sought the destruction of the ire souereigne princes the thraldome of their natiue country to strangers Jf any man doubted of this before the horrible treason and rebellion of Percy Catesby their followers and their wicked deseignements may resolue him And therfore if reason may rule them none of the kings true subiects can seek the aduancement of this treache rous religion Finally papists haue no reason to aske that of vs in England which themselues deny to vs and our brethren in Spaine and Italie There they will not cease their butcherly proceedings nor put downe their houses of Inquisition Neither will they be induced to suspend their penall lawes made against true Christians What face and forehead then haue papists to aske that in England of vs which they will not yeeld to vs and our brethren in other countries is it not reason that they should doo to others as they would haue others to do to themselues and doth not the law quod quisque ff quod quisque iuris contain great reason determining that euery man should be iudged according to the law which himselfe vseth But if papists wil needs vrge things vnreasonable then must they vnderstand that true Christians haue reason to reiect their treacherous false erroneous new absurd ido latrous and blasphemous religion And next that his Maiesty hath iust cause to abhor the practise of that religion that as hath bin foreshewed maketh him the Popes vassall and taketh away halfe his authority halfe his subiects halfe his reuenues and bringeth the rest into question Now his Maiesty is in no daunger by the grace of God if he can suppresse the growing faction of Antichrist Sixtus Quintus in his declaratory Bull anno D. 1588. against our late gratious Queen confesseth that hee had no meanes to proceede against her as he had in countries professing popery to deale with other princes But let Massepriests gather their bands of seditious persons together and then both prince and state shal incur great hazard Thirdly the preachers of the Catholike faith haue good occasion to oppose themselues against these wolues that seeke to enter vpon Christs flock They seek to alter both religion and state and will not rest before they haue depriued al true pastors both of their liuings and life will not then true pnstors awake and vigorously resist them Fourthly Wise politikes may not admit a religion that will cause dinision and trouble the peace of the state Neither may they tolerate such as depend on strangers and concurre with forain enimies 5. The disciples of Christ may haue no felowshipp eyther with the priests of Baal or the caniball Massepriests that say they eat Christs flesh with their mouths and teeth swallow his blud into their bellies or with the disciples of Antichrist that seeke to suppresse the true catholike faith 6. No true louer of his country can endure rinegued Iebusites and Massepriests that are combined with forreign enemies and seeke to bring their countrimen vnder the commaund of straungers and to murder all that are studious of the peace and honor of their nation as Walleyes and others Iesuites actions of late haue plainly declared 7. Charitable Christians may not tolerate either a race of sturdy begging friars or a packe of lazy Monkes or a swarme of caniball Massepriestes which say they eat vp Christs body really and corporally but indeed and really deuour the poor the widow and the fatherlesse 8. Men of honest minds and disposition are enemies to all lecherous and fodomiticall Friars Monks and Massepriests neither will they salute them heare them or conuerse with them least they be partakers of their sinns and consequently of theyr plagues 9. Christians maintain their Christian liberty and haue reason to detest the doctrine of Antichrist that enthralleth both theyr persons and consciences Further as it pilleth theyr goods so it destroyeth vtterly the soules of them and theyrs Finally seeing they cut our brethrens throates abroade no Christian man hath reason to suffer them to harbour here purposing to cut our throats at home Faux Percie and Catesbie haue left a race of cutthrotes and gunpowder fellowes behind them shold then reasonable men so far forget reason as to harken to a petition so vnreasonable Chap. 15. That popish religion may not be tolerated if we respect the groundes of christian religion and policy confessed by the papists themselues THat diuers religions are not to be suffered in a christian common wealth we haue before demonstrated by the confession of papists themselues It resteth therefore now that we proue by generall pofitions holden and confessed by the papists that popish religion may not bee tolerated by princes and states eyther professing true religion or els holding the true rules of policie 1. First it is confessed by our aduersaries themselues that no idolatrous religion is to be tolerated in any state But it is clearly demonstrated heretofore Chap. 7. that popish religion in diuers pointes is idolatrous 2. Neither will they yeeld to permit any sects or heresies but it is apperant that monks friars and Massepriests are diuided into sects and manifestly

Papists study as much for the Popes grace as for gods grace in hac vita gloriam in futura From my study in Dovvay this 7 That is 12. dayes before the receit of the book which vvas the 28. of this moneth 16. of October 1604. Your very louing Sonne and seruant in Christo Dommo IO. LECEY The answer to both HOw little our aduersaries respÃ©cte true and sincere dealing wee may in part coniecture by the vntruths of thÃ¨ title and preface praefixed before this petitioÌ„ For firste they giue the title of Catholikes to papists whose religion is prooued seditious false erroneous hereticall idolatrous and blasphemous and in no sorte catholike or professed of true catholikes and secondly they pretend that it was made by the lay papists of EnglaÌ„d whereof J doe no suppose them to be so vnwise as that they will auowe what soeuer is sayde in this petition or so presumptuous as to charge the King with disgraceful breach of promise or to defame him with suspition of heresy as these men do Further the authors hereof page 19. do cite Caluine Knoxe Luther and Goodman whose books lay papistes may not reade and whose testimonyes they haue no reason to alledge vnlesse thÃ©y haue read them Leceys praeface concerning the conformity and perfection of this petition the contentement to be receiued of all sortes of men thereby is nothing but a pack of foolish and vntrue surmises as we shall declare heereafter alledging the wordes of Saint Peter 1 Epist 2. they leaue out the beginning of the sentence vpon which the words by them cited do depend Haue your conuersation honest among the gentils saith saint Peter that wherin they detract from you as malefactors considering good works they may glorify god in the day of visitatioÌ„ those words haue your conuersation honest being guilty in their consciences of dishonesty they leaue out and translate by the good workes considering you for considering your good works Further their title and testimony is not more destitute of truth theÌ„ of reason For neither is a petition an apology nor an apology a Petition that they should call their discouse a petition apologeticall Nor had they reason to alleadge saint Peters wordes concerning the good workes of Chrstians who notwithstanding were reputed malefactors For little doe they fit the cause of papists whose good works are gheason and whose practises of treason and rebellion in so many recordes doe conuince them to be truly malefactors The secular preestes also confesse that the exequutions done vpon Masse-priestes and theire adherentes were iust and necessary The preface of John Lecey or rather lazy Iohn is nothing else but an idle declamation in prayse of this pseudaposticall petition and the authors thereof wherein this scraping fellowe endeuoureth to tickel the galled backs of his owne compagnions with his forged commendations But let them beware they trust him not to farre least he draw them within the compasse of his own disloyalty and bring them where Percy and Catesby left them The Lazy fellowe directeth his speech to some odde namelesse sacrificer for hee calleth him reuerend Sirre but if the Masselouers were not blinded with affection they might thereby see howsoeuer this geare is thrust forth vnder the name of lay papists that all the aduantage proceeding therof commeth to the polshorne preests of Baal In the entrance of his matter he maketh greate bragges telling his frend that this petition or apology he knoweth not whether to call it is so conformable to reason so absolute in forme of the petitioners submission and so admirable for the assurance by them offered for theire preestes and pastorus that the publishing thereof cannot but giue contentment in his opinion to all sorts of men But his performance is nothing correspondent to his greate countenance For firste we haue already shewed that this request for a toleration of popery is not only contrary to reason but also to religion all Christian policy Secondly the submission that they make is very defectiue coÌ„sidering theire denyall of the Kings authority in Ecclesiast icall causes and their de pendance vpon the Pope that claimeth a superiority ouer the king But did they submit themselues wholy to his maiesty yet shoulde they doe nothing but that which is required of all good subiects Thirdly theire admirable assurance is most admirably ridiculous For who doth not wonder and laugh to heare assuraÌ„ce offred for the life of so great a King and so potent a state by a few thridbare fellowes we know not who they are the parliament house had beene blowne vp who shoulde haue sued their bonds who should haue brought them into the Starchamber for periurye Againe when the Pope so easily dispenseth with oathes and dissolueth contracts what reason hath any Christian to depend either vpon him or his adherents for either oth promise or bond Besides all this our prologue where hee thinketh himselfe horribly eloquent speaketh playne contradictions fooleries For firste if the petitioners had such reason as he pretendeth what should they neede to make a submission as hauing committed some greate crime againe what submission can a subiect make to his souereine that it is not required of him by duty thirdly such as make such absolute submissions as he talketh of neede nor to put in bonds or pledges Finally it is foolery to thinke either that papists are true catholikes or that such as ar truly informed of the continual practises of the fierye Iebusites and massepriestes agaynste the state will like of their vnreasonable requestes and no man can take them to bee wise that charge their iudges with praeiudice before hearing but to say or signify that nothing can satisfie the state but the blood and vtter beggary of Catholikes or rather papists is plaine villany and not to be proued againste any gouernor of this state No they desire their reformation and not their destruction or hinderance and much it were to be wished that Percy and other papists had been no more malitiously affected to vs theÌ„ we to them Alledging reasons for the publishing of this treatise he disputeth like a wilde man running far beyond his witte reason firste hee saieth that the publishing of this Apology cannot but tend much to his maiesties honor and more to his satisfaction and security as if those did honoure him that charge him with breach of promise note him with the stain of heresy hatred to catholike religioÌ„ as the petitioners do Further what security and satisfaction can those yeelde his maiesty that esteeme neither othes nor bonds when the pope contremandeth them but did they meane to keepe both yet prinate mens bonds are no security for such a king kingdom They talke J confesse of loue and deuotion to the king But it appeared but little by the practise of Brooke Clerke and VVatson first les lately by the treason of Percy Catesbie and Faux who of meer loue sought to blow vp the king

is as they say that their cause is poore and more porely defended And therefore great simplicity haue they shewed in prating of things aboue their capacity and for this cause they stand condemned by all true Christians which wold haue liked much better their sober silence then their violent and foolish libells Thirdly their Children whom these petitioners that deuide themselues from gods church do deuide from the Christian world as being no part of it shall in time to come haue iust cause to curse such parents as bring them vp in ignorance of true religion and open idolatry And if they haue grace will wish their babbling parents had neuer medled in this desperate cause Fourthly so far are they from making any iust defence against their aduersaries that they giue both them and others iust cause to insult and tryumph seeing that the wittes of lay papists and their teachers beeing sommed and pressed togegether no drop of reasoÌ„ or piety hath proceeded from them to season their vnsauory religion Finally they confesse that they obserue no decorum and yet professe that they will not examine curiously that which by their aduersaries hath beene thundred out against them nor dispute in moode and figure with them And yet they pretend to be desirous to giue his maiesty all possible contentment and an accompt of their beleefe and religion and a ful and ample security and satisfaction But if they obserue no decorum it is not like they will content his Maiesty and hardly will they giue satisraction to so learned and wise a prince without curious examination of matters obiected They must also dispute if not in moode and figure yet in some better forme then now they do if they will either proue vnto vs their disfigured and euil qualified religion or els iustifie vnto his Maiesty the reasoÌ„s of their rude request that is not only subscribed as approued by subscriptions of a thousand hands as that was of the Millenary ministers of which these lay papists talke idelly but also with the terror of many thousands of the popish faction as it were obtruded to his Maiestie So we may see that these petitioners are able to bring neither truth nor reason for the iustification of their cause keeping silence when they should haue spoken and speaking nothing to purpose when they resolued to breake silence But if we please to examine the true cause both of their former silence and this present petition we shall find that their silence proceeded partly from their great occasions beeing busied in diuers practises against the state as these horrible treasons lately discouered do declare and partly from the lewdnesse of their cause that by farre better orators then these laymen cannot be defended Contrarywise the occasion of their petition is not any wrong offered by vs but rather a wrong intended by them and that both to his maiesty and to the state while bragging of the numbers forces and correspondeÌ„ce with strangers they endeuor to strike a terror into his maiesty and buzzing these foolish tales into the ears of the multitude desire to trouble the peace of the state But the state of things being well known neither shall his maiesty haue cause to feare their threats nor the people reason to beleeue their foolish tales For as they feede themselues like as all fugitiues and malcontents do with a fond conceit of their owne strength without grounds of reason so they feed their readers with words and shewes without any sound demonstration of any point of their erroneous religion God grant that the simple seduced papist may as well apprehend it as we shall prooue it and then will they hereafter be more wary how they venture their state and soules vpon the masse-priests warrant who vpon the hazard and losse of others doe reape no small aduantage now and seek to bring all into aduenture hereafter Chap. 18. Of the quality number and forces of English papists and of their assurance and resolution which they praetend in their religion IT were much to bee wished that thepapists of England did either well know them selues and theire owne qualities numbres and forces or else had learned for what religion they contend For then neither would they stand so much vpon theire merits qualities numbers and forces nor yet once offer to talke of the assurance of their religion for which they haue no ground and this euerie other man doth acknowledge seeing theire merites if we respect fauor to be slender their good qualityes to be fewe theire forces to be nothing in regard of his maiesties numbers of true subiects and considering that theÌ„ doctrine of popery may not be examined by lay papists and wholy resteth on the Popes pleasure Theire pleading is moste simple as the two chapters following doe declare Chapter 3. The estate and quality of your Maiesties Catholike Subiects FOR the cleare vnderstanding of which two pointes maye it please your Grace to consider first what is the state and condition of your faithfulll and Catholicke subiects for 1 They vvould terrifie his Maiesty vvith shevv of numbers reproch him as vngratefull not regarding their deserts number quality and desert next what 2 Their religion is declared to be a hochpot of heresies impieties and nouelties Their grounds are vncertain traditions and the popes decretaline fancies Religion it is they professe and vpon what grounds lastly what they are of your Maiesties subiects of their Rank that for former of future seruices and submission in all ciuill and temporall causes against all both domesticall and forraigne enemies haue and will go farther or venter more willingly their liues liuings for the honour and defence of your person greatnesse and posterity then they and their friends both haue and vvill doe In deliuery of which points we hope your Maiesty will expect no farther art or eloquence then may be required of men plunged and perplexed with the 3 The Pope belike hath giuen his clients a purgation that are thus troubled vvith fluxes and refluxes But for vexations they haue no reason to complaine here in England considering their vvealth and case at home and the cruelty of their consorts abroad and their deserts at home and abroad flux and reflux of perpetuall vexations which is truth that craueth 4 If you cry for iustice vvhat needeth mercy vve find your pleadings so absurd and destitute of truth that neither your crocodiles teares can excuse you nor iustice acquite you iustice and teares that crye for mercy It is euident Dread soueraigne that the subiects of your Maiesties Realmes of England and Ireland consist of Catholikes Protestants 5 They put themselues before his Maiesties loyall subiects and rayle at the state as bearing vvith sectaries They do also leaue the Scots out of the number of the kings subiects Iudge then vvhether it be possible to find more proud beggars or insolent malcontents or rayling hypocrites Puritanes and other sectaries the Catholikes and Catholikely

affected in this Realme notwithstanding the long persecutions in the late queens dayes were at the entrance of your Maiesty to this Realme 6 God forhid the x. part of the people shold be the Popes marked slaues esteemed to be as many as any other of the sayd professions of Religion and as for Ireland few there are of that nation that are of any account or freehold An Irishman a protestant is rara auis in terris but are 7 They obserue onely certaine externall rites for vvant of better teaching but vnderstand scarce any point of popish sophisticall religion professed Catholikes besides those that are Catholikely affected And as for the Catholikes of this Realme it is well known that their 8 Some of your ancestors vvere also pagans or heretikes Ancestors haue deserued well of this commonwealth both in warre and peace both at home and abroad and for their fidelities and laudable seruices haue bin aduanced by your Maiesties progenitors vnder whom they liued and serued from whom we hope that in no point we 9 In infinite as may be specified by the bastardly doctrin of Trent and of other late coÌ„uenticles of popes schoolmen and such like teachers of popery degenerate only that which in them was esteemed the 10 Your polestar is not Catholike religion but the Popes chaire polestar of all their vertues to wit the Catholike Religion is in vs 11 Not Catholike faith but seditious practises and doctrines couered vnder this maske are punished in England punished for wickednes and impiety This did our Catholike Parents dignified by your Maiesties catholike progenitors leaue vs to succeede them in their Religion towards God their fidelity towards 1 You succeed them in neither being neither sound in religion nor affecton to your princes our Princes and theyr natiue freedome in this your Realme of England which we haue 2 So malefactors loose their liberty lost of late yeeres vnder the Raigne of our late Queene for no other crime or offence then for that we endeuoured to serue God as our Catholike forefathers haue done before vs euer since the conuorsion of our 3 Not onely Christians but also Pagans may be ashamed thus to ly For not only the seruice of Saints and Idolls vsed in the Church of Rome but also the Popish Masse and all those doctrines of popery vvhich vve refuse haue been brought into the Church long after this conuersioÌ„ which they talke of Country from Paganisme and to saue our soules which are more pretious in his sight then all the kingdoms in the world and although we were debarred from all offices and dignities and liued as it were in perpetuall banishment and confinement yet was it neuer heard that any one of our number of such suffering recusants euer 4 Did not the rebells in the North Anno. 1560. and in Ireland An. 1599. and at other times lift vp their fingars and hands against the Queen and are not the Papists in all places ready to rise against Princes excommunicate by the Pope lifted vp a finger to the least damage or detriment in the world of our Prince or country And thus by these few lines your Maiesty may see the multitudes condition and disposition of your Catholike subiects who humbly prostrate at your Maiesties feet craue to be restored to their former and ancient freedom What we haue here spoken or shall hereafter speake of our 5 See the ingratitude of recusants and vvhat Princes receiue for sparing them hard vsage in our late Queens dayes we are driuen thereto by necessity for mouing your Maiesty to commiseration by comparing in your wisedom the grieuousnes of our punishment with the quality of our deserts that thereupon you may temper the 6 Compare it vvith the proceedings of the bloudy inquisitors of Spaine and compare our Kings vvith Popish princes and then the vvorld may as vvell see the moderation of Christians as the cruelly of papists asperity of the former proceedings against vs which our late Soueraign her selfe in her later dayes began to do giuing the world to vnderstand by the last proclamation that euer she made in that kind that she began to 7 She did alvvayes distinguish aright betvvixt the articles of religion and treason But papists hold it a point of religion to execute the Popes bulles against their lavvfull princes vvhich true Christians accompt to be treason distinguish between Religion and Treason and aswell therein as in diuers other books and proclamations tending to that purpose before published vpon any notorious execution vpon Catholikes she diuers times and by her Ambassadors to diuers Princes abroad did promise and protest that her will and intention was not to punish her subiects for their (a) Our late Queen euer made profession that she meant neuer to punish for Religion Religion conscience whereby we conceiued som hope and found some effect a little before her Maiesties death and in this mind and disposition God did take her and your Maieste found vs which considered we hope your Maiestie hauing no occasion to hate vs and we many old and new occasions to loue you that you will rather imitate your predecessor in her first best and 1 Of her nature she vvas alvvaies iuclined to mildnesse But it had been better for her and the state if she had permitted her iudges to execute her lavves last disposition tending to mildnes mercy and moderation then in her other hard and sharpe courses sithence the fruits and effects of the one were (a) The fruites of a sweet mild course ioy peace 2 Or rather discomfort rebellion penury abundance and vniuersall vnion and combination of minds and affections both at home and abroad which your Maiesty seemeth most to desire and the harbingers and handmaids of the other haue been (b) The handmaids of blud and persecution wars 3 Or rather victories against our enemies and discontentment and hurt to none but malcontents and traitors dissensions discontentments bloud and beggery which your Grace cannot so well digest And that appeareth most euidently by the first twelue yeares of the late Queens Raigne which as they were free from bloud and persecution so were they stawght with all kind of worldly prosperity no Prince was for that space better beloued at home or more honoured or respected abroad no subiects euer liued with greater 4 Then vvere the papists most vvicked and vngratefull that liuing thus securely and contentedly practised against her sought her bloud being set on by Pius Quintus security or contentment neuer was the Realme more 5 VVhy then did the Papists anno 1569. take armes against their Queene and seek to alter this opulent state opulent or abundant neuer was both in Court and Countrie such a generall time of triumph ioy and exultation but no sooner did she begin to alter 6 She altered no course but onely repressed vnquiet

spirits vvhich sought to alter the state her course and to enter into bloud but all was 7 Onely the malcontent faction of papists vvas so filled filled with feares and suspitions at home with 8 Shame come to the Pope and his adherents that occafinned them The losse hath lighted vppon them already wars and diuisions abroad and with continuall frights and allarmes of strange attempts either against 9 Looke vvho these attempters vvere and you shall finde them to haue been either papists or Atheists set on by papists her person or state and in fine when her treasure was 10 This may be truly of firmed of her Maiesties enemies and their states But not of England as I hope his Maiesty vvill vvitnesse But vvere vve hurt by the vvars yet should not this cause vs to loue papists that mingled heauen and earth and stirred the vvorld against vs to vvin their purpose exhausted her subiects and kingdomes extreamely impouerished and all the kingdomes almost about vs disgusted and in open tearmes of iealousie and 11 Much to their ovvne losse and paine as the sequell had declared if the king had not giuen them peace hostilitie with her she began againe to thinke of her former fortunate dayes and to incline to a 12 It is rather madnesse then mildnesse to spare either professed enimies or secret traitors milder course as the onely meanes to setle her and her Realme in peace security and former prosperity which times compared together do demonstrate that the seuerity of lawes made against Catholikes were the 1 Lavves made against papists are the onely bands that hold the flate together and the best meanes vve can vse to contrecarre the mischiefs in â—eded by them forerunners of infinite mischiefes and miseries And least your Maiestie beholding such bloudy and strange lawes made against vs with their 2 They vvere alvvaies most slovvly executed rigorous execution by the space of so many yeares in so long a Raigne as was that of our late Queen might thereby coniecture that such new and neuer hearde of decrees could not without vrgent or notorious occasions haue beene inuented constituted and so seuerely executed least this apprehension of these former proceedings might make the like impression in your mind and auersion from vs we humbly craue your Maiesties gratious eares and attention And when you shall reuiew and consider deeply the lawes made against vs compare them with the objected crimes that then some ouerture may be proposed to the present Parliament for clearing the lawes by reason which is the soule of the law to them that distinction may be made by iustice betweene the innocent and guilty persoÌ„s for howsoeuer the late (a) The reason that might moue the late Queen to make lawes against Catholikes Queen might haue pretention to make them both by reason of her 3 A shamelesse slander It was only a deuise of the popish faction illegitimation by her own Father in publique Parliament notoriously diuulged and the jealousie she euer stood in of the Queen your gratious Mother both for the back and alliance she had with Fraunce and the right she semed to haue by the 4 The Pope is the Church to these men and by the same reason his close stoole may be their chappell But if they giue the Pope power to excommunicate princes and to depose them these popes churchmen are but mean subiects sentence of the Church pronounced against the diuorce of her Father and the diuers censures and 5 Very vvickedly and saucily and treacherously aliovved by papists excommunications promulgated against her Yet your Maiesty of whose rightfull succession and most lawfull and legitimate possession of this Crowne 6 Then is Parsons and his follovvers more diabolically disposed tovvards the king then Satan himself For they haue long impugned and denyed the kings title to the crovvn of England Satan himselfe being put to his shifts can make no doubt or difficulty against whom no 7 VVe report vs for disproofe of this to certain discourses set out by Parsons and Coluil CoÌ„petitor either hath or had purpose or power to contend (b) Vide D. Giffords coÌ„mission and MoÌ„sieur de Be thunes letters whom the 8 This Sea of Rome is a sea of abhominations and mischiefes And therefore it is not much materiall vvhat is regorged out of such a guise of impieties But that the Pope hath not excommunicated the King it hath proceeded rather from fear then loue or any indeauor of Gifford or Bethune His predecessorr got nothing by excommunicating Queen Elizabeth and lesse vvold the Pope novv vvin by censuring his Maiesty Sea of Rome is so far from censuring that she hath 9 VVhat thÃ¨ vvhore of Babilon doth his Maiesty hath no cause to like This is certain the Pope nener censured Clerk nor WatsoÌ„ nor Percy nor Digby nor Garnet and the rest that sought the subuersion of the state already censured all those that shal any way seek to giue you any disturbance or molestation and with whome all the Princes in Christendom are in perfect peace and amity and whom Catholikes haue as yet no way 1 Hath the king no reason to be offended vvith the tumults practises of papists in Scotland England vvhy then vvas WatsoÌ„ hanged and order taken to persecute the Scottish rebells vvhy vvas the lavv executed against Faux and Digby other traitorous papists offended but by all meanes endeauoured to serue satisfie and content (a) His Maiesty hath no such reason to continue the lawes against Catholikes as the late Queen had to inact them Your Maiesty we say for these respects hath no such apparant cause to continue those lawes as the late Queen had to inact them the reasons and foundations of those lawes being by this happy mutation of state time and persons vtterly 2 Neuer as long as the king professeth true religion or refuseth to become the popes vassall remoued If then Dread Soueraign we haue been are and will be as we haue and will demonstrate as loyall 3 As the leaguers vver to Henry the 3. of France vvhose throat they cut Or as Percy and Catesby of late vvere to our King faithfull and affectionate to your Maiesty your predecessors and posterity and euen to those Princes that dealt most hardly with vs and to the good and peaceable estate of our Country as any sort of your Maiesties subiects within the Realme of our Ranke whatsoeuer we see not how by authority we can be driuen to forsake our Catholike 4 Your faith is proued neither to be Catholik nor your fathers faith Fathers faith and beleefe vnlesse authority can by reason 5 Authority is one thing reason another These iumble both together conuince vs that our faith is infidelity our Religion superstitron and the seruice we vse Idolatry or the 6 This is proued and all your brabling obiections ansvvered

Contraryvvise you proue nought against vs and yet force vs to embrace your vvicked opinions Doctrine we receiue heresie These are points first to be decided and determined amongst Deuines and learned men of both parts and therefore that Magistrates should proceede against vs as men conuicted of those crimes before our cause be heard and determined by them that are by God 7 They vvill onely haue the pope to be iudge appointed to handle those high and important points of diuinity we hope your Maiesties clemency and piety will not permit But iudgement 8 Neuer vvith you in any lavvfull generall councell being past on our side already in so many generall Councells abroad and 9 Proue your popes mitre and massing sacrifice by conuocations and Parliaments if you can conuocations and Parliaments at home commending and approuing the faith we professe what reason can giue life to that lawe that doth reuerse a sentence so authentically giuen without the full form of iustice and processe therein required Chapter 4. The reasons vvhy vve are so resolute in our Religion Reasons of Religion THE first reason that we giue of our faith and Religion Sacred Soueraigne and why we ought not to suffer therefore as delinquents is that neither 1 The Turks and any other heretikes are able to say so much as these do albeit they proue nothing obstinate pride nor presumptuous pertinacy The 1. reason nor dislike of order or Discipline nor contempt of authority nor curiosity affectation of nouelty or discontentment in our priuate humors maketh vs so constant and resolute in the profession thereof but our consciences meerly so informed and inforced in maner by the 2 Proue this grace and exhibit this holy vvord and then you say somthing instinct of Gods grace and reuelation of his holy word and will but our vnderstanding captiuated in obsequium fidei by most euident (a) In no Religion but the Catholike only do all these TestimonÃ®es concur Testimony of holy Write of Vnity Vniuersality Succession Antiquity and 3 Fevv lay papistes vnderstand scripturs in strange tongues and in vulgar tongues they may not read them Hovv then come they to knovv that scriptures make for them do they beleeue the pope and his emissaries that giueth them black for vvhite authority of Scriptures 4 VVith vhose vvorks you are but little acquainted Fathers Saints Doctors Councells Parliaments Virgins and Martyrs which all concur onely and jointly in the 5 VVhat is that to those that professe the popes particular doctrine Catholike Religion and in no other profession whatsoeuer which considerations accompanied with the feare of Gods judgements the danger of 6 You feare purgatory fire Hell fire you feare not that runn vvith your holy father headlong into hell and vvith rebells into treason Hell fire and the desire of eternall Saluation command vs by the rules of reason in the practise and profession of that Religion to obey the law of God 7 VVhy then doo you prefer the popes lavves before the letter of gods lavves before the lawe of Man It is an instance and maxime that suffereth no exception that neuer any generall or vniuersall 8 VVhat is that to vs innouation The 2 reason or alteration in matters of Faith or Religion from bad to better hath been heard of either in the whole world or in any particular nation be it either from Iudaisme Gentilisme Paganism Atheisme or Idolatry but that the commission and vocation of the messengers haue been authorised Domino cooperante sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis Mar. 16. our Lord working with all and confirming the word with signes that followed which sithence our new messengers and reformers as yet haue not duly nor clearely shewed pretending as they do to purge Christendome of superstition and idolatry how can they in reason craue at our hands credit or conformity to the new lawes made on that behalfe God is ipsa vita lux veritas God that is the life light The 3. reason and truth it selfe cannot giue commission credit and authority to death darknes and falshood but it is most euident and cannot be doubted of or denied that the first Apostles and Conuertors of this our nations of England Scotland Ireland France and Germany were sent from the Church of Rome deliuered vs the same Romane faith we 10 That is the question We proue the contrary by particular instances and euident demonstrations now professe 9 All vvas not of your religion The Greek church at this day renounceth your erros the same Masse and the same Sacraments and preached the selfe same Doctrine Domino cooperante sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis our Lord working with all and confirming the worde with signes that followed Reason then concludeth thus that either God in this case hath giuen testimony to falshood or else the doctrin confirmed by the testimony of God is true and auowable and not to be forsaken for feare of any humane lawes till we haue like testimony from Heauen to the contrary and when our aduersaries shall duely reproue ours herein and make their own 1 VVe haue proued it clearly But the caniball masse priests stick alvvaies in this brake mission as manifest by the word of God then if we do not conforme our selues to the new lawes imposed vpon vs worthily we are to endure these late inflicted penalties for matter of recusancy To conuince vs then that either we haue not the true Scriptures The 4. reason or interpret them not as wee ought or that we dishonor God in honouring his Saints or erre in the number or nature of our Sacraments as that our doctrine is false and defectiue and to condemne vs and punish vs therefore as Heretikes and Idolaters requireth 2 As if ordinary pastors vver not to reproue errors according to the doctrine of the prophets and Apostles vvithout extraordinary authority in all reason an absolute commission from God the which when it shall be produced willingly we will obey If they alledge Scriptures the Scriptures are common to vs both The 5. reason yet more likely in reason to be ours then theirs because that if the Church of Rome had not conserued them and communicated the same vnto vs our aduersaries had been at this day 3 If Rome had sunke many yeers since yet had the scriptures been preserued Scripturelesse the very originall Bible the selfe same numerâ— which S. Gregory sent in with our Apostle S. Augustine being as yet 4 Where further vvhat maketh that for you reserued by Gods especiall prouidence as a Testimony (a) We receiued the Scriptures from the Church of Rome that what Scriptures we haue we had 5 As if vve had in England no Bibles but Gregories Bible or as if Gregory vver the author of the Bible them from Rome and haue nothing of our reformers but

euer since our countries conuersion from paganisme and Lastly that no suffering recusant euer lifted vp a finger to the leaste dammage or detriment of his prinee or country But theire sayings are conuinced to bee most vntrue both by publike records and common experience for if wee respecte matter of religion we find that they hold diuers poynts of doctrine confirmed in the late conuenticles of Lateran Constance Florence Trent which were not known nor heard of when this land was conuerted from paganisme nor long after Likewise both their missals and breuiarics their masses and formes of gods seruice are new and not known of the ancient Britons and English If we consider matters of state we finde that popish recusants and papists haue been principall actors in moste of those rebellions and treasons that haue beene practised and intended against king Henry the 8. king Edward the sixth Queen Elizabeth and his maiesty And J hope they will not deny that Brooke Markham Watson and theire complices were popish recusants or that the attempt of the Spaniards anno 1588 was againste theire country and set forward by papists Lastly it is notorious that Percy Catesby Digby and all theire consortes were desperate recusants and that they lifted vp not onely theire fingars but also theire whole armes and bodies against the king yet should a man bee very strangely conceited if hee thought they ment no harme to their prince and country Thirdly they runne out into a large discourse of theire hard vsage in the late Queenes time as they call it and of the Queens proceeding against them and of the effectes thereof ensuing pray the king to follow her rather in her dispositioÌ„ to mildnesse then in her other hard and sharp courses But first al this discourse is from the purpose and the intent propounded in the 3. chapter for therein they shoulde declare vnto vs the estate and qualities of Papists and not the proceedings of our late Queene of blessed memory Secondly the sameis most slanderous charging that moste gratious and clement Queen with hard sharp and bloody courses But this is all that Christian princes are to looke for at these mens hands or penns Let them vse all mildnes and remissenesse in proceeding againste papists yet vnles they suffer rebells and traytors to practise the ouerthrowe of the state and saucily attempt against their persons they shall be charged with sharpenesse and cruelty she indeede distinguished betweene religion and treason and so do others also But the papists did not so cunningly distinguish but that seeking to set vp theire wicked religion and to bring into the country the popes tyranny they fel also in to diuers practises and cases of treason Thirdly they falsly coÌ„meÌ„d her mild courses shew that troubles ensued of the exe quution of laws against papists whereas in truth her resolute course a gaynste theÌ„ secured her her slow exequutioÌ„ or rather suspeÌ„fioÌ„ of penal lawes against papists caused troubles rebelioÌ„s trecherous practises heaped sorrows both vpoÌ„ her her true friends I feare brought her to her end Finally they coÌ„fes their own lewd disposition that being not troubled the first 12 yeares of the Queenes raygne did not withstanding procure the Popes Bulle against her rebelled in the north anno 1569. sought to deposeher murder her now rail against her beingded let al christiaÌ„ princes therfor bewar what fauors they shewto such vipers how they heap benefits on such vngratful persons Fournhly theym ention diuers excommunications censures of popes passed againste queen Elizabeth and talke of Giffords commission and Bethunes letters in fauoure of the king as it seemeth and of the pope that hath not censured the king as yet But all these matters are also from the purpose-futher they bewraye the disloyall humors of papistes that make kinges the popes vassals and blush not to signifie that the pope might in iustice censure the king if he woulde Lastly they doe therein bewray the weakenes of the pope and the fading force of antichristes kingdome For now the pope doth not hold his hands from excommunicating the king at the request of Bethune or Gifford or any such base fellowe but because he feareth his rayling and cursing wold eyther take no effect againste the king or else ouerthrowe the credit of Antichrists thunderbolts Finally they conclude if they haue been ar and will be loyal to his Maiesty that they may not by authority be driuento forsake their fathers Catholike faith vnles their faith beproued infidelity their religioÌ„ superstitioÌ„ thire seruice idolatrie their doctrin here sy they do pretend also that the faitq professed by them is coÌ„firmed by iudgement passed on thir side in many generall councels abroade and in connocations and parliamens at home This they conclude But theire conclusion is grounded vpon false premisses theire exceptions are disproued theire assertions notoriously false and rediculous For what theire carriage hath beene it appeareth by the practises firste of VVatson Clerke Brooke nexte of Percy and his mates thirdlye of the Lorde of Fentry and their complices againste the king the same is also made euident by there bellions treasons of papists against Henry the 8. King Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth of pious memory How loyall they are and will be we may imagine seeing their dependance on the pope and foreine enemies and treacherous doctrines concerning deposing of kings by the pope and the assoyling of subiects from theire obedience to princes their religion and seruice hath been shall alwais be declared to superstitions idolatrous wicked and hereticall Neither are they or theire teachers able to mainteine it or to answer our obiections against it We haue also proued that both auncient fathers councels make against popish doctrine and that the doctrine of Trent was neuer receiued either by auncient fathers or by the parliaments or conuocations in England or known to papists before the yeare 1564. themselues must needes confesse vnlesse they bee both blindly foolish desperately obstinate Wee may therfore coÌ„clude vpon their own confession against theÌ„ that if papists neither haue been nor can be loyal to princes or louing to their couÌ„try desiring to bring both vnder the pope if their seruice be idolatrous their doctrine hereticall and their practise superstitioÌ„s as is formerly demoÌ„ strated howso euer idleheads prate of toleratioÌ„ of popery that neither their religioÌ„ nor their audacious boldnes sawcines is any loÌ„ger to betolerated we may also conclude that the reasons alledged by this resolution in religion are either false or not coneludent First they say they haue their vnderstanding captiuated in obsequium fidei scilicet papisticae by most euident testimony of holy writ of vnity vniuersality succession antiquity and authority of fathers saints doctors couÌ„cels ParliameÌ„ts virgins martyrs these they say coÌ„curre in popish religioÌ„ in no other But of holy writ these lay papists haue little resoÌ„ to make

chsignatis tabulis and we must needs tell you that it was a 2 A goodly denise all the professors of religioÌ„ must ansvver for a student in Lyons Inne Student of Lyons Inne a Lawyer by profession and a Protestant in Religion that in a booke printed Anno 1584. intituled A discouery of treasons against the Queens Maiesty by Frances Throgmorton amongst other his treasons he reckoneth this for one in these words There vvere also sound among other his papers 12. petegrees of the descent of the Crovvne of England printed and published by the Bishop of 1 He oppugned Queen Elizabeths right Rosse in the defence of the pretended Title of the Scotish Queen his Mistrisse What could be more vniust and iniurious to that blessed Lady and all her posteritie then in a booke printed in defence of an execution of iustice to call her Title false pretended and vniust and account the cuidences and recordes thereof as treason in the highest degree If inquiry be made who they were that in prejudice of your 2 But first of Queen Maries and Queen Elizabeths right Maiesties right to this Crowne did set vp the vsurping Queen Ianc descended from the yonger sister of your Maiesties great Grandmother that was the eldest daughter to King Henry the vij Our histories tell vs that they were (a) The Duke of Northumb. the Dukes of Somerset Suffolk other Protestants al the Protest Bishops Clergie Councell of K. Edvvard principallie the clergie enemies 3 Then it appeareth that papists vvere enemies to the catholike faith For they vvere principall actors therein to the Catholike faith which we professe and the first aduancers of the new Religion in this Country If we call to mind the complotters and compassers of the murther committed on the Person of your Highnes (b) His Maiesties Father Grandfather slaine Father and Grandfather and the barbarous butchering of your Mothers Secretary in her Royall presence and the miraculous escape of your Graces person by Gods singular protection when a (c) His Maiestie pursued in his Mothers womb and miraculously preserued charged pistoll put to your Mothers womb by one of the traytorous race of the Govvries to haue destroied you both at one blow could not giue fire we find by the printed monumentes of Scotish Annales that the actors authors and inuentors of those tragedies were not of the Catholike religion If we demand who they were that tooke (d) The Ministers and Presbitery authors of these tumults armes against your Maiesties gratious Mother that ouerthrew her in the field that laide violent hands vpon her sacred Person and imprisoned her in Lavvgbleuen that depriued her of her Crowne and expelled her out of her Kingdome and procured afterwardes her captiuitie in this Realme no man is ignoraunte that the (e) The Earle or Moray Knox the catalin of ScotlaÌ„d Bastard of Scotland with the Presbitery that runnegate Fryer Iohn Knox mortall enemies to all order rule authoritie were the Architects of these detestable actions How zealous (f) Bothvvel Govvry two pillars of the Presbiterie Bothvvell and Govvry were against pore Catholikes and what pillars and patrons they were of the Presbiterie the world knoweth but your Maiesty by experience can best restifie what perilous turbulent and seditious members they were of the common wealth and how often your sacred Person was indangered by them others of their profession Moreouer we hope that we may without offence to any confidently affirme that they were not Catholikes that caused your Mothers vntimely death the memorie of which times for many respects wee had forborne to touche but onlie to remoue the odious and vniust imputations diuulged in the time of this present session of Parliament against vs in a certaine libell or rather a clamorous calumnious inuectiue published in this present session of Parliament against a most modest learned and submissiue supplication dedicated to your Maiestie in March last where the Libeller calleth Catholikes to the Barre and would haue them indighted and pasle their triall for that matter * But iustified by proofe and testimony of a man of more credit then Colebranded Coleton or any of these libellers * Sutcliffes own words in the 8. chapter of his said libel VVhich doone saith he his maiesty may easily perceiue that they are to be hated and abhorred as causers and contriuers of all his mothers troubles and calamities his proofes are the author of the Iesuites Catechisme (a) The author of that catechisme an inueterate enemy of that order therfore more credulous theÌ„ conuenient in matter of their dishonour written in disgrace of that order which book is of as great credit with 1 But these tendre consciences make no scruple to rebell against princes excommunicated by the Pope and to say that he hath povver to depose kings and to translate kingdoms men of tender consciences and vpright cariage in matter of trueth and equity as Lucians Dialogues 2 VVill you deny the testimony of a popish martyr and a conspirator against the king VVatsons Quodlibets or Esopes fables and what this Catechiste wrote of priuate passion without any authenticall warrant this Libeller doeth vrge with the like perturbation And here Dread Soueraigne we might as readily as liuely produce a world of inuinceable proofes in reproofe of this 3 You that are libellers in print haue no reasoÌ„ to charge others vvith your ovvn falts and yet to ansvver nothing Libeller by prouing the actors of that complotment and tragicall proceeding not to haue been any one of them Catholikes or their welwillers but we carefully shunning to charge any with bloudy imbrumems in that lamentable fact of Englands agony and onely to free our selues from that most odious impudent and false calumniation we soly resort to matter of highest record dayly extant to be seen of all men in publike printed statutes beeing the forerunners of that straunge execution of your blessed and most glorious Mother Whereby it is most euident and well known 4 Are papists blear eyed pollers of crovvns true Christians certes knovv no such maters etiam lippis tonsoribus to blind men and barbers that they were not 5 How proue you they vvere not papists Catholikes that made and enacted those statutes of the thirteenth of Queen Elizabeths Raign for the (b) 13. Elizabeth Limitation of the right of the Crowne limitation of the right of the Crown to the disposition of the Lords and Parliament from the free right and course of blud and descent That made it treason in the same Parliament to (c) Treason to say that the persons Titles possibilities of all pretenders to the Crown be not subiect to the acts made in Parliament hould or say that the common lawes of England and statures to be made in Parliament are not of sufficient validity to gouerne the persons to bind and limit

the Titles of any that hath any possibilitye to the Crowne They were not Catholikes that made it treason in the same Parliament (a) Reconciliation treason to absolue from sinne and reconcile or to be so absolued or reconciled (b) Agnus Dei Beades or Crosses premunire A premunire to bring in any tokens called Agnus Dei or Crosses Pictures or halowed Beads or to haue or receiue them They were not Catholikes that the 23. of Queen Elizibeths Raigne made it treason (c) 23. Elizabeth treason to perswade men to the 1 Catholike religion to perswade men to the 1 Popery maketh many of her professors rather cuckold-like then Catholike Catholike religion and the losse of 200. markes to heare (d) 200 marks for saing 100 marks for hearing a maasse Masse or to pay xx pounde monethly so (e) xx pound a moneth for recusancy refusing to goe to the Protestantes seruice or the forfeites of x. pound monethly for such as should keepe any (f) x. pound a moneth for keeping a schoolmaster Schoolmaster not allowed by the Bishop of the Dioces and refusing to go to Church They were not Catholikes who made an act 27. of the sayd Queene by vertue whereof your gratious (g) 27. Eliz. the act was made which caused the death of his Maiesties Mother Mother lost her life and in the same Parliament it was made treason for all (h) In thesame year it was made treason to be a Priest and com in or remain in the land felony to receiue or relieue them Priestes or Religious men that had taken orders by any 2 These orders taken from the Pope and his adherents marking priests in the crovvn vvere the marks of Antichrist foraigne authority to remaine or come into this Kingdom and felony to relieue or entertain them It was made treason to be brought vppe in the Seminaries premunire to send thither anye reliefe In the 28. of the said Queene it was enacted that the two partes of the lands and leases of such recusants as shoulde faile to pay the xx pound a moneth in the Exchequor at the tearms prefixed shold be seazed into the Queens hands In the 35. it was enacted that euery (i) 25. Elizab. certaine recusants were by an act then made to abjure the Realme recusant aboue the age of sixteene yeares being not woorth twentie Markes exceeding his confined limittes should abjure the Realme and if hee refused to abjure or retourned after abjuration to be accounted a fellon Item that the partie shoulde pay ten pound a moneth that (a) Tenne pound a moneth for keeping a recusant in the house keeps any recusant in his house after warning In the same Parliament recusants are (b) The same yeare was the statute of confinements enacted restrayned to their certaine vsuall and common places of abode and are not to remoue aboue fiue miles thence without licence of the Bishop and two Iustices vpon paine of forfaiting of all their goods and all their free and coppyhold lands and annuities during life and all such recusants that had not lands of twenty marks value by yeere or goods of fourty pound if they conformed not themselues or repaired not to their places of limitation shall abjure the Realme By the course and contriuing of such capitall and cruel laws at the same time and in the same sessions aswell against Catholikes as against your gratious Mother it seemeth by all probability to persons esteemed of iudgement and great experience in the insighte of worldly drifts both in this Realme and in forraigne Regions that the principall marke which was aymed at in those times was at the selfe same season by seuerity and shadow of the same lawes an instance to ruinate and ouerthrow the (c) The person of his Maiesties Mother her right and Title and the Catholikes cause all shot at by the same lawes and at the same time person of your gratious Mother and her right and the professors of the Catholike religion supposing that those three must either stand or fall togither of necessity but non est consilium contra Dominum there is no councel against God her right and posterity hath God be thanked preuailed and the poore Catholikes from that time to this the more they haue bin oppressed the more they haue increased which cannot fall out otherwise vnlesse it proue false which God hath sayde by the mouth of his Saints and seruants Preciosa in conspectu Domini mors Sanctorum eius pretious in the sight of our Lord is the death of his Saints Et sanguis 1 These fellovves knovv not vvhat belongeth to martyrs that vvrite martirum and put Traytors in the catalogue of martyrs Martirum semen Ecclesiae the bloud of Martyrs the seed of the Church We accuse no man in particular in this case and could haue been content vlcus hoc intactum leuiter pertransire to haue sleightly past ouer this boch vntouched but that this respondent would needs deale with vs as Putifars (d) The libeller like Ioseph his Mistrisse and Susannaes iudges wife did with holy Ioseph or the carnall judges with the chast Susanna viz. put vs to our plunges and purgations for such crimes as were proper and peculiar vnto themselues Neuer was it heard of that in England or Scotland any Minister or Ministers euer suffered any thing for that gratious Lady or your maiesties Title but infinite are the (a) In Scotland Setons Gordens Simples Maxuelles families of the catholikes that haue suffered for them both As the Seatons the Gordens the Simples the Maxuells in Scotland the (b) In EnglaÌ„d Hawards Persies Pagets Treshams Throgmortons Salisburies Abington Winsor Havvards Persies Vauxes Pagets Treshams Throgmortons VVinsors Sclisburie Abington and diuers other worthy Gentlemen in this Land the shipwracks of whose opulent abundant states and fortunes are inuincible testimonies of the Libellers falshood and follie in this his obiection and of the constant fidelity of Catholikes to your Maiesty and al your race and predecessors in al their fortunes whatsoeuer And thus your Maiesty doth see the comparison of our former times and our precedent behauiours with our present affection and future assurance If then we be not rewarded and respected as all others are of other professions that haue done their duties as we did in aduancing your Maiesties affaires and acknowledging your rightfull Authority yet at the least we hope that it wil not be thought reasonable that we shold be left in the same 1 As long as you beleeue in the masse that is a masse of superstition idolatry and foolery you must needs be subiect to a masse of misery masse of misery which your maiesty found vs in at your entrance Make vs then Sweet Soueraign as able as we are willing to serue you not by new dignities and authorities but by restoring vs to our 2 In Spain and Italy our brethren that proses true christian

exiled for that the state cold not otherwise be well secured against their plots and practises and yet are so farre from rendring thankes for any fauour that they expostulate with his maiestyes councell as doing them wrong and in effect protest they will not submitte themselues to his maiestyes order Nay it is apparent that they resolued to return to continue their former treasons as may be collected by the examinations of the actors in Percyes treason and rebellion THE COPIE OF THE BANISHED Priestes Letter to the Lords of his Maiesties most honorable priuie Councell To the right a VVhy is this petitio directed to the Lords is the king no body with these meÌ„ Honourable our very good Lordes the Lords of his Maiesties most honorable priuie Councell RIGHT Honourable As we haue suffered for 1 Not so but for Antichrist and his damned practises and pretences Christ his sake and the profession of the true Catholike religion which he 2 Men plant vvith hands not vvith bloud but these priests of Baal tread vpon Christs blud root vp the Church by him planted planted with his pretious bloud many years imprisonment and 3 Those that liued at Wisbich in prison fared like Lords and fatted theÌ„selues like proks other massepriests abroad vvere either chaÌ„berlaines to their hostesses or MaggiordoÌ„s to their hostes waÌ„ting nothing that they could vvish And this against the Iebusitical faction may be proued out of WatsoÌ„s quodlibets depriuation of all worldly comforts and commodities so do we with the like patience and humilitie endure this hard heauy 4 For those that by lavvs deserue death this is extraordinary fauor sentence of exile which is a certaine kind of ciuill death or rather a languishing and continuall dying especially to them that haue the honour and safety of their prince and Country in that recommendation as we 5 TheÌ„ neuer haue they had their prince and country in recoÌ„mendation seeking to make both subiect to the pope his abhominable heresie nay to destroy both as appeared by the late gunpovvder treason euer both haue had and haue Notwithstanding least it might be imputed vnto vs here after that this banishment was rather an extraordinary fauour and grace then an vndeserued 6 This thanks the Lords ar to look for at the haÌ„ds of the priests of Baal punishment or penalty we thought it our dutie to let your Honors vnderstand that as we are 7 VVhy then do ye murmure content with patience and humility to suffer and support whatsoeuer you should impose vpon vs for our 8 For your trecherous practises and combinations Religion so are we bound with all to make protestation of our innocencie according to that of S. Peter 9 But you suffer contrary to these vvords of Peter for railing libelling practifing against the state Nemo vestrum patiatur vt sur ant latro an t maledicus aut alienorum appetitor si autem vt Christianus non erubescat glorificet autem Deum in isto nomine May it please your Lordships therfore to vnderstand that the quality and condition of those that are comprehended vnder the selfe same sentence of banishment is very different and considerable both in honour and 10 What do these base conscienceles svvads talk of honor conscience that hane no other foundation of their actions but the popes vvil conscience among the which some there are that came voluntarily into prison vpon a proclamation set out by your Lordships in the late Queens daies and name with assurance of fauor vpon such their submission som came neither voluntarily into the prison nor into the Realme and therefore not subiect to any censure and all of them haue bin euer most 1 Such faithfull seruants and vvelvvillers vvere Clerke Watson and Brook executed not loÌ„gsince at Winchester and Digbie Grant Faux and others executed in Pauls Churchyard at Westminster but nether for their faithfull seruice nor their affectioÌ„ to his Maiesly faithfull seruants affectionate well-willers of his Maiesty and haue to shew vnder the great Seale of England his Maiesties gratious generall pardon by which they are restored vnto the peace of his Maiesty place of 2 This shevveth that their conscience accused them of trechery disloially before true subiects since which time they haue committed nothing against his Maiesties quiet Crown and dignity as being euer since in 3 As if prisoners might not be disleall and trecherous captiuity and therfore in the rigor extremities of those lawes which in their best sence nature were euer held both 4 Most gentle if they be coÌ„pared vvith the lavves of the Spanish inquisition or the popes bloudy decretales extreame and rigorous cannot be punished by any form or course of law with so seuere a correction as aqua igne interdici to be depriued of the benefit of the common Ayr and elements of our most naturall and dear 5 VVhen you sold it to forrein enimies you made it deare both to them and your selues country Yet sithence it is your Lordships pleasure we should be transported we are 6 This is the patience of Lombards not of saints content in signe of obedience coÌ„formity to that we see is your order for this time to forbear the Realm for a while to absent our selues reputing our selues notwithstanding as men free from all danger or penalty of lawes and neither by this fact of banishment nor by any other act of our necessarie retourne into 7 If this be your country vvhy did you abandon it take your self to the seruice of Italians Spaniards our country hereafter in worse estate then your Lordships found vs in the prison when your Lordships warrant cam for the carying vs out of the Realme And so hoping your Honours will conceiue of vs as of men that haue the feare grace of God before our eies and the sincere loue of our 8 For pure loue they their consorts an 1588. sought to cut their countrimens throats and to bring their prince and country into the haÌ„ds of straÌ„gers for like causes sought Percy to blovv vp the parliament house Prince and country in our harts and dutifull reuerence and respect to your Lordshippes in all actions we humbly beseech your honors that if we happen for want of health or other helpes necessarie for our reliefe to 9 Hauing bin in Italy they shold know the penally of banishedmeÌ„ returning vvith out pardoÌ„ or liceÌ„ce retourne hereafter into the Realme this banishment may not any waie aggrauate our case or make vs les capable of fauor grace then we were the xxj of September when your Lordships order came to remoue vs froÌ„ post to 10 You shold haue bin left at Tiburn post neuer haue bin suffered to return to the pope Cardinals vvhich you count pillers but that you haue encouÌ„tred vvith

merciful meÌ„ piller from prison to exile so desiring God to enspire your lordships vpon whose resolutions depends the repose of the Realm and the 11 You saue none destroy al that receiue not the beasts mark your pestileÌ„t doctrin saluatioÌ„ or perdition of many thousand soules with his holy grace and assistaÌ„ce in all your most graue waighty determinatioÌ„s in most humble dutiful maner we take our leaue froÌ„ 12 Many of your felovvs an 1588. that came a gainst their couÌ„try ly in the botoÌ„ of the sea from vvhence they send no libelling letters your hap is better your cause equal the Seaside this 24. of Sept. 1604. His Maiesties true 13 As true as the Irish rebells or as Watson Clerk Brook Percy Catesby Faux Digby the rest of that crevv that vvere as true papists as the rest of these massepriests and loy all subiects and your honors most humble seruants The late banished Priests The censure THE Lords no doubte looked for thanks for their gentle and milde course taken with these massepreests if they looked for none yet his maiesty deserued at their hands both thanks and praises that gaue them life who had so well deserued death and though he sent them out of England yet did send them into no place but whether they had fled before voluntarily of themselues But see the malicious disposition I pray you of this viperous generation For thankes to the Lords they send reprofes and expostulations direct their letters to the lords as thinking the king to be no king nor worthy to be written vnto by such glorious creatures of antichrist as they take themselues to be They suppose that they haue written wisely pithily But of that meÌ„ may the better esteem by these particulers First they say they haue suffred for christ his sake and the profession of the true catholike religion which he plaÌ„ted with his precious bloud But this is a grosse slander to the state and to his maiesty principally who is here charged with persequuting Christ the true catholike religion Further the same is a most impudent and vntrue assertion For neither did Christ plant nor water the masse nor the worship of saints and images nor the popes triple crown with his blood nor is popery Catholike religion nor did these fellows suffer for their superstitious false opinion vnlesse the same drew them into practise of treason and made them to fetch their greasy ordination from forreign enemies and to depend vpon them and to ioyn with them in seeking to blow vp the state Secondly they pretend to haue been depriued of all worldly comforts commodityes But the author of the quodlibers saith no and the world knoweth how they haue domineered in the places of their resiance and liued with all plenty ease and contentment in prison Gerrard and Garnet are fat and well liking and neuer did men enioy more worldly delightes 3 They cal the sentence of exile hard and heauy But in Spayn and Italy our brethren would thank god for such a fauoure so woulde they also considering they haue deserued death but that they are gracelesse and vnthankfull 4. They blush not to affirm that they haue the honor and safety of their prince in recommendation when their doctrine maketh theire prince and country subiect to the pope and his censures and their practises tend to bring in strangers and to dishonor and ouerthrow both prince and state as before is declared and as appeared by Percies treason 5. They say theire banishment is an vndeserued penalty But the lawes of England say they deserued death and their treasons prooue it are not then fauors well bestowed on these treacherous and murmuring fellowes 6. They alledge the words of saynt Peter Nemo vestrum patiatur vt fur vt latro aut maledicus aut alienorum appetitor si auteÌ„ vt Christianus c. But they are no followers of S. Peter or of his doctrine suffering for trecherous combinations with forreine enemies and domesticall Gunpowder men and hauing long railed againste the state and sought the spoile thereof diuers of theÌ„ deuiding bishopricks and benefices in England in conceipte and being inducted into them at Tiburn or Wisbich and none of them suffering for any poynte of Christian faith 7. They tell vs of the diuers qualityes of the Massepreestes banished But what is that to the purpose seeing none wold reuounce intelligences with forreigne enemyes nor acknowledge the kings supreme authority Further they cannot prooue that they haue any good qualities being so farre ingaged in Percyes conspiracy and other practises 8. They signify that they purpose agayn to return into their country But how agreeth this with their former protestation of suffering with patience and humility agayn why shold they intrude themselues where no man sendeth for theÌ„ why shold they thrust theÌ„selues in amoÌ„g true pastors being ordeined by Antichrist to sacrifice for quick dead why shold wolues be suffered to entre within Christs fold hereticks among Christians trecherous compagnions among the kings loyall subiects 9. They pray their honors to conceiue of them as of men that haue the fear and grace of god before their eies and the sincere loue of their prince and country in their harts But their doctrines actions and practises doe vtterly remooue this conceit both out of the minds of the councell of others Som particulers of their dooings we haue touched before the treason of Catesby and Percy toucheth them at the very hart Finally they call them selues his maiesties true and loyall subiects But how true it appeared first in the practises of Clerke and Watson hanged at Winchester not loÌ„g sence and next in the attempt of Percy and his complices diuers of theÌ„ being absolued and resolued by massepreests in their wicked purposes and generally in the doctrine of massepreests against the authority of Kings before mentioned and in their combinations and intelligences with the pope other traytors and forreine enemies as Parsons and the popish cardinals and such like What then remayneth but that such as finde them selues agreeued with the sentence of banishmeÌ„t should haue the senteÌ„ce of the law and that such as loue the Pope and Jtaly better then the King and their owne country should be forced to liue with theyr holy father in their Italian Babylon god grant that neither Prince nor country receiue harme by their return or by any of their associates or companions Amen FINIS The contentes of euery chapter of the Book precedent Chap. 1. THE resolution of the petition apologeticall of the lay papists together with a som of the answer made vnto it Chap. 2. That the toleration of any false hereticall or idolatrous religion is repugnant to reasons of religion and holy scripture Chap. 3. That conuinence and toleration of false religion and heresie and of the professors thereof is reproued by the authority both of ancient fathers of the church and of auncient christian Princes Chap. 4. That to admit the exercise of false religions formerly forbidden is contrary both to christian policy and reason Chap. 5. That toleration of diuers religions is contrary to the doctrine and practise of papists Chap. 6. That popery is a false and erroneous religion Chap. 7. That popish religion is heathenish and idolatrous Chap. 8. That popery is a religion composed of old and new heresies Chap. 9. That popish religion is new and not as the papists call it the old religion Chap. 10. That popery is a religion impious and blasphemous Chap. 11. That toleration of popery is contrarye to reasons of state Chap. 12. That popish religion is enemy to kings Chap. 13. That the same is burthensome to christians Chap. 14. That the petition of such as desire a toleration of popery is voide of reason Chap. 15. That the same is repugnant to grounds of religion and policy practised by papists themselues Chap. 16. An answer to the title of the petition of lay papists and the preface of John Lecey Chap. 17. An answer to the two first chapters of the petition conteining causes both of the petitioners long silence and of their breache of silence Chap. 18. Of the quality number and forces of English papists and of their assurance and resolution which they praetend in their religion Chap. 19. The examination of lay papists fidelity of which they endeuour to make proofe in the fift chapter of their petition Chap. 20. An answere to the petitioners calumniations agaynst the professors of the Gospell set downe in the 6. chapter of their popish apologeticall petition Chap. 21. The insufficiency and foolery of the submission promised by lay papists for themselues and their priests is examined Chap. 22. A censure vpon certain letters of the banished massepreests sent backe to the Lords of his Maiesties councell anno 1604. and annexed to the former petition Escapes correct thus Pag. 8. line 18. reade the apostle 2. corinth 6. p. 14. l. vl vlli magistratui p. 26. lin 28. Hierem. 2. p. 31. l 23. Basilidians l. 25. exorcizations p. 34. l. 5. with the priscillianists p. 48. l. 7. and ignorant people p. ead l. antepenul three principal p. 60 l. 9. whereas I doe not suppose p. 62. l. 6. if the parliament-house p. 73. lin 26 are matters p. ead l. or so mutinously p. 74. l. 26. but rather seek p. 76. l. 12. daungerous deseins p. 91. l. 22. numbres of papists p. 94. l. 15. fourthly they mention p. 95. l. 31. for their resolution p. 99. l. 33. Helas pore soules Literall faults and transpositions of titles pardon

Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Text snippets containing the quad