saie yea and some so simple as to thinke that they whom Christe at his departure hence did endue with most ample commission and Iohn vlt. sent foorthe with that auctorety which his father had geuen vnto him haue no power to denounce or declare when princes be heretikes or violaters of Gods lawes Nor right to excomunicate them nor to discharge the people of their othe and obedience towardes suche as no ChristiaÌ„ man by lawe of God or nature may lawfully obaie In which necessarie pointe euery studious and reasonable maÌ„ may reforme him self aswell by the forsaid as by the histories of the Churche since Christes time And heire thow shalt finde straight vpon the first coÌ„uersion of kinges to the faithe how they coulde not withdrawe them selues from the Churches discipline thoughe bothe heretikes and other of wicked lyfe haue alwaies muche repined but euer were either driuen to order obedience or in fine confounded Almoste thirtene hundrethe yeares agoe Babylas bishop of Antioche excommunicated the onely Christian Kinge or Emperoure that Chrisost in vita Babilae then was as sum counte Numerius as others Phillip for executinge a prince that was put to him for an ostage VVhervpon as ill Kinges vse to doe he martired his Bishop whom for that S. Chrisostom and others recken for the most famous martire of that time VVherby all true Bishops may lerne that it is their dutie to chastise and excommunicate disobedient tirants whatsoeuer fall to their persons therfore Afterwarde holie Fabianus the Pope pursued the same Emperour by like excomunication and other meanes till at the lenghte he brought him to repentance Ser. li. 7. cap. 24. Afterwarde S. Ambrose Bishop of Milan with notable courage excoÌ„municated the elder Theodosius Theod li. â— â— 17 19. Amâ—â—lâ— 5 epâ— 28. Aug. de Ciuâ—â—at Dei lib. â— cap. 26. the Emperour put him to eight monthes penance and in the ende forced him to make a lawe or prouisioÌ„ against the like crime for which he was excomunicated This was an other world most deare cuntrymen maruelous courage and zeale for Gods cause was then in preists great humilitie and obedience in princes Then was there no flatterers so shamefull nor no heretike on the earthe so impudent to make temporall Kinges aboue all correctioÌ„ of Gods Churche their owne pastors they hauing most nede therof yea aboue all others when they passe the limites of Iustice the lawes of God Nice lib. â—3 c. 14. Georg. Patrtar de vita Chrisost Nere this time againe Innocentius the first excomunicated Arcadius the Emperor his wife Quene Eudoxia for that they disobeyed and persecuted their Bishop S. Chrisostom I will reporte the Iuditiall sentence brefely because it is muche to the purpose and full of maiestie O Emperour the bludd of my brother Iohn Chrisostom crieth to God against the thou hast caste out of his chaire the great Doctor of the whole world and in him by thy wiues that delicate Dalida her persuasions persecuted Christe therfore I though a poore sinfull soule to whom the throne of the great Apostle S. Peter is comitted do excomunicate the and her and do suspende you bothe from the holie sacrameÌ„tes comaundinge that no Preist nor Bishop vnder paine of depriuation after this my sentence come to their knowledge geue or minister the said sacraments vnto you Thus did this blessed father whome Saint Au gustine excedingly commendethe in his time haÌ„dle that Emperor and wicked Queene which was the cause of her husbaÌ„des fall and offences and at lengthe brought them to repentance And when by processe of time the Churche became more potent and some Princes were falne to contempte of Religion as it lightly hapneth by heresie or Apostasie and that ExcoÌ„municatioÌ„ or other ordinary ecclesiasticall discipline wolde not serue being onely spirituall penalty and now not hauing ordinarely annexed that corporal vexatioÌ„ executed by sathan vpon excoÌ„municate persons therfore so much feared in the Primatiue Churche then aswell the Bishopes godlie persons their owne subiects did craue aide and armes of other Christian Princes against them as also the most holie and aunciente Popes of Rome did with all godly zeale incite the Catholike Kinges to the same that those whom the spirituall rodde could not frutefully chastise might by externall force be driuen doune or to repentance of their disorder There is no warre in the world so iuste or honorable as that which is waged for religion whether it be forren or ciuill nor crime in the world deseruinge more sharpe and zelous pursute of extreme reuenge then falinge from the faithe to strange religions whether it be in the superior or subiectes 2. Parali 15. VVho so euer seeke not after the lord God of Israell let him be stain from the highest to the lowest said Kinge Afa admonished by Azaria the Prophet And againe charge was giuen expresly in Deutronomie to slei all false Prophetes and Cap. 13. their followers were they neuer so neere vs by nature and to destroie vtterly all citties with their inhabitaÌ„ts that were proued to followe newe strange Gods or religions Princes and rulers no more excepted but muche more punis hable in this case then the people as appeareth by Gods commaundmeÌ„t to Moises that he should Num. â—â— hange vp all the Princes of Israel vpon gallowes against the sun for communication in sacrifice with the Moabites and the reste of the people euery one by the hand of his neighbor to be put to the sworde for the same faulte As an other time by Moises appointment the faithfull Leuits slewe thirty three thousand of their nert neighbours frendes and brethren for comittinge Idolatrie and forsakinge the true 2. Paral. cap 1â— God so iuste a quarrell is the deffence of religioÌ„ For which also the Kinges of Iuda as Abia and others fought moste iustly and prosperously against Hieroboam and other Kinges of Israell and iustly possesed the cities which they conquered in the warre as also Edom and Lobna for 2. Par 21. religion euen bicause he forsooke the God of his forfathers did reuolte from Kinge Ioram and could neuer be recouered Iosue 22. VVherin the example also and zeale of the children of Israell was very notable that they wold haue denounced Battell against the tribe of Rubine and Gad for erectinge as they tooke it a Schismaticall alter out of the only place in which God appointed to be worshiped by Sacrifice So did the Christian Armenians Euseb li. 9. c. 8. 9. take armes against Maximinus the Emperour for deffence of their faith So did Constantine againste Maxentius the tyrante By all which it is cleare that what people or person so euer be declared to be rebelious against Gods Churche by what obligation so euer either of kinred frendship loialté or subiection I be bounde to them I may or rather must take armes against them nothinge doubtinge but wheÌ„ my Kinge or Prince hathe brokeÌ„ with
nation and people to whom the matter so nearly apperteineth may throughly iudge aswell of this womans and her parentes deâ—ertes as of his Holines and his mightie and godly confederates moste happie intention and howe iustelie and nedefullie for our only benefiâ—e and succour they procede at this present to her chastisement and deposition Yt may please all my most deere cuntrymen and specialy our peeres and Nobilitie on whom the auncyent honor and libertie of our churche and cuntrie cheifely dependethe and by whose sworde and kinghtehood specially giuen to them and theire noble progenitors for defence of the Catholike religion our cuntrie hathe often bene deliuered from the tyranny and vexation of diuers disordered insupportable kinges and cruell vsurpers May it please them I saie to consider but alitle with me the condition of the person pursued and censured by Gods Churche together with the weight qualety number of her offences and horrible crimes which beinge open almoste to all the worlde before and now brefely recorded by this writinge no man I truste shall maruell why Christes vicar here in earthe with other highe ministers of Gods iustice wolde or could depriue this tirante of her vsurped state and dominion when no commonwealthe by lawe of nature nether wolde nor mighte iustelie suffer any suche to rule or raigne ouer any humane societie thoughe neither Christe Pope fayth nor religion were knowne The chee se poinctes of this admonitioÌ„ To procede therfore brefely and plainely we will sett downe what manner of womaÌ„ she ys against whom this holie enterprise ys made of whom and in what maÌ„ner dissended Howe intruded into that dignity wherin she standeth Howe she hath behaued herself both at home and abrode By what lawes of God and man her punishement ys pursued Howe iuste honest and necessarie causes all true Englishmen haue to embrace sett forward the same seing yt procedeth from so lawfull authorite so iust groundes so holie intentions and tendeth to so happie an ende and is to be executed by so suer and sweete meanes and chosen persons as now shall be declared And first of all it is notorious to the whole worlde that Henrie the supposed father to this pretensed Queene besides the infinite quantety and enormeous qualety of his most execrable wickednes for the which by all lawe of religioÌ„ reason nature he deserued often times to be depriued was in fine for his horrible sacriledges murtheringe of Saintes and rebellioÌ„ against Gods Churche lawfully excommunicated and depriued by Paulus tertius in the yeare 1535 and there withall by name and in particuler all the issue that should procede of his incestuous copulation with Anne Bullen was moste iustly declared illegitimate and vncapable of succession to the croune of England and that aswell by the sentence of the said Paule and of his predecessor Clement the VII in the yeare of our lorde 1533. bothe which stande in theire full force still as by sundry actes of parliament made by Henry him self and neuer repealed legitimating her sister and declaringe her to be base she must nedes be adiudged by lawe nature vnable to inherite the croune Neyther may she here alege that by consent of the states and Commonwelthe she ys lawfully possessed for that by force she intruded and constreyned many men to giue theire consentes deposinge vniustly the Lordes of the Clergy without whome no lawfull Parlament can be holden in that Realme nor Statute made which hath force to authorise Prince or binde Subiectes Ouer and besides that she neuer had consente nor any approbation of the See Apostolike without which she nor any other can be lawfull Kinge or Quene of Englande by reason of the auncyent Acorde made betwene AlexaÌ„der the. III. the yere 1171. and HeÌ„ry the II. then kinge when he was absolued for the deathe of sainte Thomas of CaÌ„terburie that no maÌ„ might lawfully take that Crowne nor be accoÌ„pted as Kinge till he were confirmed by the soueraigne Pastor of our soules which for the time shoulde be This accorde afterwardes beinge renewed aboute the yere 1210. by Kinge Iohn who confirmed the same by othe to Pandulphus the Pope his legate at the speciall requeste and procurement of the Lordes and Comons as a thinge most necessary for preseruatioÌ„ of the Realme from vniust vsurpation of Tyrantes and auoydinge other incoÌ„ueniences which they had proued and mighte easely fall againe by the disorder of some wicked Kinge But howsoeuer she be dissended or possessed of the croune her manifolde wickednes hath ben so heinous and intollerable that for the same she hathe bene in person iustly deposed by the sentences of thre sundrie Popes wherunto yf we adde the two former censures condemninge her incestuous natiuity and generatioÌ„ we shall finde that she hathe ben condeÌ„ned by fiue declaratorie iuditiall senteÌ„ces of Gods Churche Personable crimes of Elizabeth and first of Heresie And to beginne with the highest and most heinouse crime of all against God and his Churche she ys conuicted of many damnable heresies and open rebellion against Gods Churche and See Apostolike for which she ys so notoriously knowne termed and taken for an heretike aswell at home as abrode that she was glad to prouide by a special acte of parliament that none should call her heritike Schismatike Tyrante vsurper or infidell vnder paine of highe treason She arrogateth spirtiuall dignite She vsurpeth by Luciferian pride the title of supreme Ecclesiasticall gouernment a thinge in a woman in all mens memory vnheard of nor tollerable to the mastres of her owne secte and to Catholikes in the world most ridiculous absurde monstrous detestable and a verie fable to the posterite Bastardie She vnlawfully intruded herself as before I haue said in to possession of the croune of England and the annexed dominions not by any dissent of inheritannce or other lawfull title but only by enforced vniust partly made by her supposed father beinge then an excommunicated person and partely coacted by herself and her coplices in the beginninge of her pretended raigne beinge indede taken and knowen for an incestuons bastard begotten and borne in sinne of an infamous curtesan Anne Bullen after warde executed for aduoutery treason heresie and inceste amoÌ„gest others with her owne naturall brother which Anne her said supposed father kepte by pretensed mariage in the life of his law full wife the most renonmed and blessed ladie Queene Katherine daughter of Castill and Ara gon as he did before vnnaturally knovve and ke pe bothe the said Annes mother and sister Periury and impiety She ys guilty of periury and highe impietie for that she did breake violate and deride the sollemne othe and promise made in her coronation for defence of the Ecclesiasticall liberties and priuileges graunted by the auncieÌ„t Christian kinges of our realme and for the contempte of the holy ceremony vsed in the annointinge and inuestinge of all faithfull princes wher in her wickednes was so notorious that the
principall Prelate that then was in the realme and to whom by auncyent order the Cardinall of Can terbury then being deade that function apperteined durst not for feare of God and respect of his conscience nor did not annointe her Abolisshinge Catholike Religion She did immediately vpon her said intrusioÌ„ violentlie against all lavve and order the whole Clergie and many of the nobility and coÌ„mons constantlie reclaminge to the predition of infinite soules abolis he the whole Catholike Religion and faithe that all the former faithefull kin ges of our cuntrie honorably liued and died in repealinge at the same time all the godly actes that Queene Marie the onlie lavvfull daughter of Kinge Henrie the eighte made for the reconcilement of the realme to the vnite of Gods vniuersall Churche againe and reuyued all the impious statutes made by her forsaid supposed father and brother againste God the Churche the See Apostolike all innocencie by which she seuered herself and subiectes violently from the societie of all Catholike cuntries and from the felovvship of all faithefull princes and preistes in the worlde Prophaninge Sacramentes She did at the same time abolish or prophane all the holie sacramentes of Christes Churche and aboue other in particuler the very blessed and soueraine facrifice of Christes bodie and blud errectinge for the same and in disgrace therof highe idolatrie and poluted breade of schisme and abhominable desolation Forbiddinge preachers She did shutt vp bothe pulpits and Churches from all Catholike preistes preachers and people caused all Gods publike trew auncyent honor seruice and sollemnity throughout the whole realme of England a moste lameÌ„table case and not longe after in Ireland to cease vpon one daie constrayninge by greate penalties and extreme punishment many thovvsand poore christian soules of euery degree and sexe to forsake that faith and religioÌ„ in which they and all theire forfathers were baptised and brought vp euer since the realme was first conuerted to Christe to the great torment of theire mindes and coÌ„sciences and shortninge of theire daies Prophaninge of churches and all holies She impiouslie spoiled all sanctified places of their holye Images Relikes memories and monuments of Christe our Sauior and of his blessed mother and Saintes her owne detestable cognisaunce and other prophane portratures and paintinges exalted in theire places and thearwith hathe ouerthrowne destroied robbed all holy alters chalices vestiments Churche bookes and sacred vesselles with what so euer was consecrated to Gods true vvorship and the reuerence of Christian religion in the aunciente Apostolike ministerye of the holye sacraments Violatinge sacred persons She hathe ceazed vpon the sacred persons of Gods annointed euen of verie Bishops that had charge of her ovvne soule called them to accompte for their preachinge and doctrine conuented them before her prophane counsellers and comissioners deposed and imprisoned theÌ„ with all others that were of lerninge and dignitye amonge the Clergie till by the misery of their captiuité they be in effecte wholly worne and wasted avvaie Impious scorneful nes She hathe caused the Preists of God violently to be plucked from the aulter in the middest of the soueraine action and to be caried in scornefull maÌ„ner reuested through the streates and exposed to all the vngodly villanie irrision furie and follie of the simple and barberous people a thinge certes that aboue all other kindes of irreligiosity most deservethe and sonest procureth God vengeance SuppressioÌ„ of Mo nasteries She hathe suppressed all the religious houses of bothe sexes so manie as vvere restored after her fathers former horrible spoile dispersed the professed of the same and robbed theÌ„ of all their landes and possessions OppressioÌ„ of Catholike GentlemeÌ„ and exâ—orsioÌ„ She hathe by vniust tyrannicall statutes iniuriously inuaded the landes and goodes of Catho like Nobles and gentlemen that for conscience sake haue passed the seas and molested disgraced imprisoned and spoiled many at home of all degrees because they vvolde not giue othe and agreemeÌ„t to her Antechristian and vnnaturall proude challenge of supremacy nor honor the Idoll of her prophane communion borde whereby sum prouinces be in manner wholly bereaued of theire iust geÌ„tlemeÌ„ in administratioÌ„ of the lavves the people excedingly anoied by losse of so good lordes and so great houskepers for lacke of vvhoÌ„ the poore dailye perishe Destruction of the Nobilitie Besides all which sacrileges abhominations and extorsions against God his Churche and her ovvne people she passingly hath indaungered the kingdom and cuntrie by this great alteracion of religion vvhich thinge ys neuer vvith out ineuitable perille or rather sure ruine of the common vvealthe as also she hathe done by great contempte and abasinge of the auncyent Nobilite repellinge them from due gouernmeÌ„t offices and places of honor thrustinge them to shamefull and odious offices of inquisition vpoÌ„ Catholike men to the greate vexation and terror of their ovvne consciences forcinge them through feare and desier of her fauor and of her base leaders to condemne that in others vvhich in theire hartes and consciences themselues like of and putting into their houses and chambers traitors spials delators and promoters that take vvatche for her of all theire vvaies vvordes vvritinges by vvhich the principall be alredy Norfolke NorthuÌ„berland vves mer land Da cres c. ruined moste lamentablie and the rest stande in continuall thraldom daunger and dishonor so ielous be all tyrants and vsurpers of their state and so lothe they are to be seconded by any other then of theire ovvne creation Nevve Nobilitie She hathe in steade of the forsaid and to their shame and despite aduaunsed base and vnpure persons inflamed vvith infinite auarice and ambition men of great partialitie briberie and iniquity to the highest honors and most proffitable offices of her courte and cuntrie repelling from all publike actioÌ„ charge and authority vnder colour of religion the wisest Codliest lernedst and sincearest of all sortes of men to the speciall annoiance and dishonor of the vvhole state Nevve Clerglie She hathe intruded the very reffuse of the vvorst sorte of mortall men infamons amorous Apostats and heretikes to all the spirituall dignites and prefermeÌ„tes in the realme vvho by their insatiable couetousnes and concupiscence haue made lamentable hauoke vvaste and destructioÌ„ of the anncientest vvelneare and honorablest spirituall states in ChristendoÌ„ herself not alitle helpinge to the spoile of the same Harboringe straÌ„gers She hathe laid the cuntrie vvide open to be a place of refuge and sanctuarie of all Atheystes Anabaptistes heretikes and rebellious of all nations and replenished sundrie the coste tovvnes and other vvith innumerable strangers of the vvorst sorte of malefactors and sectaries to the great impouerishinge of the inhabitantes and no small perill of the vvhole realme this beinge taken to be certen that the number and qualetie of them is suche that vvhen time may serue and fauour them they may giue a sturdy
or fained yssue sauing that yt might be preiudiciall to her priuate pre sent peace which she euer prefferreth before the publike as she presumeth vpon the experience and late remembrance of her owne wicked practises against her soueraine when the time Her treae sons against queene Maria was measuring all other by her owne impatient ambition but indede yt procedeth specially vpon the agnisinge of her vnrightfull po s session vsurpers alwaies standing in more awe of the next heire and successor then lawfull princes commonly doe The pretense of mariage The Earle of AruÌ„dell others The Erle of ArraÌ„ the K. of SvvetheÌ„ Archeduke Charles the Duke of Holst HeÌ„ri novv kinge of France Monseur Alanson She all this notwithstandinge in the meane season as often before and afterward promised mariage to sum of the nobillity at home makinge many of them in single lyfe to the danger of their soules and decay of their famelies to attend her pleasure no lesse depelie dallied abused by dissembly almost all the great personages of Europe to whom aswel by letters as by sollemne Embasses she proffered herself to the mockery finall delulioÌ„ of theÌ„ all to her owne infamy and the daunger of her people and specially of late yeares she hathe most pittifuly and deuilishly abused the late noble brother of FraÌ„ce by manifold hope and promise of her mariage and croune by which baite and her deceitefull suggestion the poore yonge gentleman was driuen in to those dangerous actions and dishonorable affaires of Heretikes and rebells to his great dishonor and likelie shorteninge of his daies Her vnnaturall affection to vvardes the cuntrie By all which dishonorable vnworthy dea linge the whole worlde may see that in Atheisme Epicurisme she would yf yt were possible and might be suffred as she hathe begun turne the lyfe and whole weale of our cuntrye once most florishinge to the feedinge of her owne desordered delites being lothe no doubte that any thinge should be lefte after her lyfe that her rage and riot had not ouerrun or that her realme should be extant any loÌ„ger then she might make pleasure of it most gladd as may seeme that so florishing and auncyent a commoÌ„wealth which she hathe in manner brought to destructioÌ„ in her lyfe might be buried in her ignominious ashes when she ys dead VVherin her affectioÌ„ is so passinge vnÌ„atural that she hath bene heard to wishe that the day after her death she might stand in sum high place betwene hea uen and earthe to behold the scamblinge that she conceyued wold be for the croune sportinge herself in the conceyte and foresight of our future miseries by her onlie vnhappines procured not vnlike to Nero who intending for his recreation to set Rome on fier deuised an eminent pillar wheron himself might stand to behold it but so God may prouide for her and vs that she may see and feele sum parte of this pastime in her daies or rather she only and a fewe ofher Complices feele the paine who alone or principallie haue deserued it if we be so wise as to follow Gods ordinances Consede ration vvith rebelles Besides all these outrages in her person and regiment and besides sundrie wicked attemptes and treasons before she came to the croune against her prince cuntrie at home she hathe shewed such faithles dealinge towardes all neere neighboures most iuste mightie and Catholike kinges abrode that it is almost incredible Sum she hathe ignominiouslie spoiled of great treasures One that fledd to her for promised succor and safety yea euen her that was our true lawful and worthie soueraine she hathe against all lawe of God nature and nations after longe imprisonment at lengthe also murthered of â—um she hathe surprised tounes and teritories with sum she hathe in great simulation offreindship in effecte broken most auncieÌ„t lea gues and amitie against them all she hathe not only notoriously coÌ„federated herself with their rebelles Hugonotes Geuses publicanes Male contents giuinge them great succourse bothe of men munition and monye with muche continuall incoragement and counsell in all their wicked attempts but was and yet is knowne to be the first principall fountaine of all these furious rebellions in Scotland France Flanders to the fall almost ofall their whole states the great calamitye of the Churcheof God wher by it is euident to all the world that herself raigneth vnlawfuly as an vsurper and rebell who onely standeth and holdeth herself vp all this while by ioyning with Traitors and rebelles and succoringe them against their lawfull princes and soueraines Her lea gue vvith the Turks In this kinde she hathe by the execrable practises of sum of her cheese ministers as by their owne handes letters and instructions and by the parties confessions it may be proued sent abrode excedinge greate numbers of intelligensers spies and practisers in to moste princes courtes citties and commun wealthes in Christendom not onely to take and giue secret notice of princes intentions but to deale with the discontented of euerie state for the attemptinge of sum what against their lordes and superiors namely againste his holines and the Kinge of In fanes instructions Spaine his maiestie whose sacred persons they haue soughte many waies wickedly to destroie as furthermore it is euident how she hathe by messingers and letters dealte with the cruel and dreadfull Tirante and enemie of our faithe the Great Turke himself againste whom our noble kinges haue in olde time so valiantly foughteÌ„ and vowed themselues to all perriles and peregrinations for the inuasioÌ„ of sum partes of Christendom and interceptioÌ„ of sum defensible portes and places of the same as for the disturbance of Christianity and annoiance of the principall defenders of the Catholike religion she hathe at this day a ledgar in his courte By which Machiuelian godlesse and consciencelesse course iniuste vsurped regimentes be alwaies conducted aduaunced not by counsell or courage but by plaine trumperie treason cosinage workinge their owne peace welthe and felicity by their neighbours warrs woe and miserie which neuer endeth well nor dureth loÌ„ge nor is in fine vnreuenged thoughe the present prosperity vpholden by others calamity hathe auerted the sence the simple worldlie from the beholdinge of that extreme plague which alwaies bothe by Gods iustice and mans reuenge insueth of the same â—â—er'extreme priâ—â— VVhich longe felicitie not withstaÌ„dinge hath so puffed vp this vsurper in presumption pride of harte that besides all other insolences and glorious vanetyes and vauntes in her wordes crakes countenances and iestures in all her lyfe and behauiour in which kinde she exceadeth all creatures liuinge she hathe caused the annuall daie of her coronatioÌ„ in all partes of the realme to be sacredly kepte and sollemnised with ringinge singinge shewes cerimonies farr more vacation from all seruile labors then any day either of our blessed lorde or ladie which ys more abhominable
muche as the estates of the realme shall agree vpon with his holines and Maiestie for the restitution and preseruation of the Catholike religion and necessary punishment of the pretended Assuring you all my most deare cuntrymen by my honor and in the worde of a Cardinall that there shall be as greate care had of euery Catholike penitent person as possibly can be for that is the Pope and kinges expresse will and pleasure VVherof you may all be the more secure that his maiestie hathe appointed for the execution of this affaire so worthie fortunate and victorious a Prince no lesse renoumed for his pietie mercie and clemencie wherof you haue sene these yeares hard by you so many examples theÌ„ for his valour manifold victories obteined against the Churches and the kinges rebelles As on the otherside for your like securitie one of the worthiest peeres of Spaine for valor vertue swetenes of nature with him a greate number of the flower of that nobilitie who haue no nede of any thinge of yours are appointed for your succor that if by your faulte or mishapp the matter should come to a battaile they might after the victory ouer rule and restreine the fury of the Comon soldiors least they should ruine and sack the whole cuntry And for the same cause his Holines hath also not for my deserts but of speciall care and loue of our nation preferred me beinge of your flesh and blud to this highe function intendinge to send me as his Legate with full commission coÌ„maundment to treate and deale from time to time aswell with the states of the realme as with his holynes and the kinges maiestie for the sweter maneginge of this godly and greate affaire and with them to deliberate of all the beste meanes how with the leaste damage of our cuntrie nobillitie and gentrie and beste preseruation of the whole people this godly purpose of restoringe the Catholike religion and putting the realme in order aswell for the title of the croune as other controuersies that may fall betwixt the Churche and the common wealthe or any membre therof for what matter so euer since the time that heresy scisme disorder began may be acheiued Therfore hauinge now through Gods merci full goodnes full and sufficiét helpe for your happy reconcilement to Christes Churche and to deliuer yourselues your cuntrie posterité froÌ„ that miserable seruitude of body soule which you haue so longe bene in for the more easie acheiuinge of this godly designement and for your better information his Holines coÌ„firmeth renueth and reuiueth the sentence declaratory of Pius Quintus of blessed memorie and the Censures of all other his predecessors and euery braÌ„che clause and article of them against the said Elizabeth aswell concerning her illegitimation and vsurpation and inhabillitie to the Croune of England as for her excomunication and deposition in respecte of her heresie sacrilege and abhominable life And dischargeth all men from all other obedience lâ—altie and fidelity towards her requiringe and desiringe in the bowells of Christe and commaundinge vnder paine of excomunication and other penalties of the lawe and as they looke for the fauours and protection to them and theires afore promised and will auoide the Pope kinges and the other princes highe indignation that no man of what degree or conditioÌ„ so euer obeie abetter ayde defend or acknowledge her for their prince or superior but that all and euery one accordinge totheir qualetie callinge and habillitie immediately vpon intelligence of his Holines will by these my letters or otherwise or at the ariuall of his Catholike Maiesties forces be ready to ioine to the said army with all the powers and aydes they can make of men munition and victuals to helpe towards the restoringe of the Catholike faithe and actuall deposinge of the vsurper in suche sorte and place as by the chefe manegers of this affare and the Generall of this holye warr shall be appointed for the best aduauncement of the cause In which case vpon especiall desire I haue to preserue and continue all your noble Names Famelies beinge lothe that for the osfence of the present possessors the whole house should perishe or any other suffer but the offenders them selues Promise to make humble supplication in your behalfe that the honors and possessyons of all suche offenders may dissende to the next hei res of that name and bludd so that he or theycan be proued to ioine with the Catholike armye with all the forces and frendes they can make imediately vpon knowledge had of this present and meanes to accomplishe their desire Nowe therfore My lordes and deere Cuntrymen if yow liste followe this Gods ordinaunce and happy prouision that he hath of his great mercie made for your honors libertie and faluation If yow without delaie ioine yourselues as God conscience and nature bindethe yow If yow take parte one with an other in so Godly and honorable a quarrell you shall atteine your purpose without all bludshed where otherwise if you should either sitt still or refuse to helpe or seuer your selues one froÌ„ an other or any of you seke to vphold which God forbid the vsurper or her complices beinge thus cursed by the Churche and forsaken of God and of all good men yow that so doe shall first incurr the Angels cursse and malediction vpon the inhabitantes Iudi 5. of the land of Meros who sat still and wold not helpe God nor venture their liues in his quarrell and secondly be as depely excomunicated as she is and so yow shall be guiltie of your owne ruine and the bludd of the people and yet shall not preuaile Yow shall fieghte against God against his annointed against your next lawfull kinge against truthe faithe religion conscience and your deere cuntrie yow shall bootles defend yea to your owne present destruction and eternall shame a most iniust vsurper and open iniurer of all nations an infamous depriued accursed excomunicate heretike the very shame of her sexe princely name the cheife spectacle of sinne and abhomination in this our age And the onely poison calametie and destruction of our noble Churche and Cuntrie Feight not for Gods loue feight not in that quarell in which if yow die you are sure to be damned feight not against all your auncesters soules and faith nor against the saluation of all your deerest wiues children and what so euer you wolde wel to ether now or in the time to cum Matche not yourselues against the highest this is the daie no doubte of her fall this is the hower of Gods wraths towardes her and all her partakers Forsake her therfore betimâ— that you be not inwrapped in her sinnes punishement and damnation Trust me there was neuer any persecutor of the Churche but in himself or his next seede he came to shame and confusion Remember the ende of Antiochus Iason Iesabell Iu lian Valeus and of other the Apostatous and hereticall Emperors
with suche like vsurpers and oppressers of Gods Churche how spedely they passed to eternall ignominie Cūforts and helps of the Catholike parte On the otherside you most noble valiaunt Champions of Gods Churche the honor of Englishe kinghtehood the deffenders of the glorie and liberties therof you and all the blessed people to whom God hath giuen so happie a lote zeale and coorage to feight for your fathers faithe for your cuntries libertie for Christe for religion and for the dread soueraigne sacramēts of our saluation the honorablest quarrell the likeliest and most cōmendable cause in the sight of the present world and the posteritie that possibly can be If you winne you saue your whole realme from subuersion innumerable soules present and to cum from damnation If you die you be sure to be saued the blessinge of Christe his Churche the pardon of his Holines giuē to all in most ample sorte that either take armes die or any waie duely indeuor in this quarrell The praiers of all Christian people which be publikly promulgated for your safetie good succes The blud of all the blessed Bishops religious preistes and laymen shed in that lande crie to God at this hower for your victorie and vengaunce to your enemies their perseoutors All the Saintes in heauen whose holy Churches bodies and memories your enemies haue spoiled and prophaned make now instant sute for your happy successe All the vertuous preistes of your cuntrie who by the longe Tyrānic of this time haue suffred manifold miseries martirdomes bothe at home abrode to saue their owne soules and winne their decrest cuntrimen to saluation they also streche foorthe their consecrated handes night and day for your victorie and be present diuers of them to serue euery mans spirituall necessitie by Confessiō Counsell and all Consolation in Christe Iesus giuinge you testimony by their redines to liue and die with you how iuste the cause of this holie feight is and how happy and glorious is the bludd that shall be shed therin VVith these blessed patrons both in heauen earthe with the guarde of all Gods holy Angels with our blessed Sauiour himself in the soueraigne Sacrament present amonge you to your protection comunicatinge cōforte coorage and with the daily most holy oblation of Christes owne dere body and bludd makinge more forcible intercession frō the earthe for you then the blud of Abel with so many diuine vnspeakeable helpes if you were neuer so fewe you could not lose without these against these holies our enemies be they neuer so fierce neuer so proude neuer so manie neuer so well appointed then cā not preuail fear you not thei cā not Though neuer so great shewe be made neuer so many raised against you bicause moste of thē be Catholiltes or notoriously iniured by heretikes they be armed for vs they cā not strike they will not fighte against their owne consciēces be bolde of it they will not Many others of thē be indifferente of neither or no religion whose witt and warynesse will be suche in this extremitie and in so iust cause to desire a Chāge that where by ouerthrow of the heretikes many shal be aduaunsed and by theire good successe no man bettred in so great hassard of thinges they will neuer adore the sun setting nor folow the declininge fortune of so filthie wicked and illiberall a Creature or her so base and dishonorable leaders who also haue bene at deadly variaunce amonge themselues these many yeares and sum of them mortally hatinge their misters will neuer omitt this opportunitie to be deliuered of her and reuenged one of an other The reste of them that be pure zelous heretikes which be very fewe in comparison not very well contented neither with the former regiment of all mē in the world most effeminate delicate and least experte in the wars the Angel of God will persecute them and they shall flie in feare and torment of their owne wicked mindes though none pursue them You may all remember how the late great traitor the Duke of Northumberland was in the height of his pride and power forsakē of all his men and forced to yeilde to a poore desolate Catholike ladie All the world knowethe how the like vsurper Richard the third beinge moste worthely in the verie feild and feighte abandoned of the nobility and people was made an example of Gods ire towards all tirantes and vsurpers But how so euer it fall out throughe the sinnes of the people at home the Catholike forces are stronge enough their prouisiō sufficiēt their appointmēt passinge moe expert Captains thē the enemy hath good souldiers all resolute to die not auailable for any to flie awaye all excedingly incoraged by the equitie of the cause wonderfully confirmed by Gods mercies so oft in our dayes shewed in all quarrels of the Catholike religion These fiftie yeares there was neuer Catholike army which stoode to it but had the victorie by mistrustinge God by ouermuche trusting man by flying or auoidinge the battell by yeildinge or cōpoundinge sundry great Godly attēpts haue bene frustrated but in manly and cōfident combating for God and the Church none at all Call to minde the miraculous victories of Charles the fifte subduinge al the powrable Lutheran princes in Germanie to his the Catholike Churches obeisance with passinge small forces and in a fewe yeares or rather moneths space the enemies being almost innumerable Remember the three famous battaills that the Catholike Cantons and people of the Swisers beinge in number power prouision muche inferior to the other obteined by Gods speciall grace iustice of the cause against the Swinglians their Neighbours in one of which Swinglius himself was slaine and in euery one a maruelous nūber of heretikes and of Catholikes so fewe that in suche inequalitie of humane helpes God must nedes be the extraordinary worker of the same Reade the Histories of France and see whether the Catholikes haue not had in manner alwaies miraculous victories against the Caluinists amonge many the fights at Druse at larnabe at Saint Denis at Mountcounter and specially the mercifull worke of God this last yeare wherby we sawe the huge forces aswell of Germans as Swisers by Gods mighty arme and very small aide of man wonderfully defeated Recounte furthermore all the famous and for tunate rēcounters of a very fewe Catholikes against the heretikes and rebelles in Flanders as at Grooning at Mock at Mounts at Antwerp at Iemblous and many other conflictes wher without losse almost at all many thousandes of Gods and the Kinges enemies haue bene cutt in peices our lord God no doubte cōbatinge with his people against his enemies as he did against Senacharib Nicanor and other mentioned in holie writ VVhich thinge most noble and valiant gentle men of England may giue you courage and cōfort from God himself euen the lord God of Hostes to aduenture your selues in a quarrell most honorable in a cause that the diuine Maiestie hathe shewed himself not onely in other ages but euen in all our eyes memories to haue singular care of In a case of the extrea mest necessitie of our Iuste defence and armes that euer any Christian people had or can haue Thus much my good lordes and most deere frendes I haue thought good to forwarne you of the whole cause of these present sacred wars and of his Holines and Catholike Maiesties sincere intention therin and bothe their incomparable affections towardes our Nation wherof I could giue you farr more comfortable intelligence yf I were personally presente with you as I trust I shal be verie shortly for that is fully meant by our Holy father and his maiestie and of me so much desired that euery shorte daye semeth a longe yeare till I enioye you in our lorde though in the meane time I stand here wholy for your seruice wherin as I haue spente these many yeares of my banishemēt so wold I now as God shall appointe and nede require bestowe my bludd the remnaunt of my lyfe amonge you in my deerest cuntrie for the better accomplishment of that which all true Christians and Godly Englishe hartes doe desire Our lorde God blesse and directe you all to followe that in this action and in all your lyfe that shall be moste agreable to his glory our cuntries good your owne honor and saluation From my lodginge in the Palace of S. Peter in Rome this 28. of Aprill 1588. The Cardinall
Christe by whoÌ„ and for deffence of whose honor he reigneth that theÌ„ I may most lawfully breake with him So in olde times of the primatiue Churche the Catholike people did often by armes defend and kepe their Bishopes in their seates against the Infidels and specially against the coÌ„maunde ment of hereticall Emperours Yea and lawfully resisted them in the deffence of theiÌ„r Churches and Churche goodes So the people defended See Pruden de monacho Antioch Nazian in etus laudibus lib. â— epi. ipsius the Churche of Antioche from the Emperour Galerius his officers So they deffended S. Basil in the like case So they deffended S. Ambrose Prouided neuerthelesse alwaies in this case that we followe not our deceitfull wills as our aduersaries doe condemning for Gods enemies suche Princes or persons as the holie Churche who must be ouriudge informer in all these thinges pronounceth and holdeth to be most iuste godly and Catholike kinges But then must we take theÌ„ for heretikes when our lawful Bishops and popes do so adiudge them to be and so commaunde vs to take them yea and charge vs to forsake them Then be we sure in conscience discharged of our othe obedieÌ„ce which be bands of such qualety and nature that they hold not nor haue force against iustice and where the matter ys vnlawfull And we haue iust cause to arme our selues for defence of Gods honor and our innocencie and to seke for succor at Popes and Princes handes Theod. li 2 cap 5. 13. Soc. li. 1. cap 13. Soz. li 4 â—rp 7. Yea Bishops of the cuntrie so oppressed and so persecuted by hereticall princes should so specially doe For so did holie Athanasius who knewe his devvtie to his kinge and soueraigne vvel enoughe and vvhen and vvhere he might rise against him aske ayde against Constantius the Arian and first hereticall Emperour vvhom Pope Felix declared to be an heretike of his ovvne brother Constance the Catholike Emperour of the vvest For feare of vvhose armes he restored Athanasius and other Catholike Bishopes to their Churches and honors againe But aftervvarde vvhen the Caholike ConstaÌ„ce vvas deade the said Emperours brother did more furiously persecute Athanasius for the same Soc. lib. 4 cap. 16. 17 30. Sor. lib. 6 cap. 19. So against Valens the Arian Emperour did Petrus Athanasius his successor brother to Saint Basil seke to he Pope of Rome for succor as all other bishops in like distresses euer did that no man neede to maruell why we haue done the like now Sol. 2 ca. 18. Nice lib. 14. ca 21 So did Atticus Bishop of CoÌ„stantinople craue aide of Theodosius the yonger against the Kinge of the Persians that persecuted his Catholike subiectes and was therby forciblie depriued the Catholikes deliuered Leo epist. 7â— euaÌ„g â—i 2. ca. 8. So did holy Pope Leo the first persuade the Emperour called Leo also to take armes against the Tyrant of Alexandria for the deliuerie of the oppressed Catholikes from him and the heretikes Eutichians who then threw doune monasteries and did other great sacrileges as ours now doe and haue done in England O Emperour saied S. Leo If it be lawdable for thee to inuade the hethens how muche more glorie shall yt be to deliuer the Churche of AlexaÌ„dria from the heauy yoke of outragious heretikes by the calamité of which Churche all the Churches in the world be iniured As at this time ther is no Churche in Europe that feeleth not the smarte of our English miseries Lib. 1. epi. 72. In brefe so did S. Gregory the first moue Genâ—dius the Exarke to make warrs against the hereti kes as a very glorious thinge so haue euer all holy Bishopes of the primatiue Churche done DepositioÌ„ of Princes for heresie For which crime of heresie and iniuries done to Gods Churche as for a fault most detestable and most directly subiect to their correction they haue specially intermedled aswell by way of excomunicatioÌ„ as by force procured for their De consideratione ad Eugen li. 4. deposition For as saith Saint Bernard though Popes fighte not in person nor draw the sword themselues yet it must be done at their commaundment where Gods honor and our saluation require it For religion therfore specially though otherwise sumtimes Princes haue bene by Popes iustly bothe excomunicated otherwise punished for notorious crimes namely wheÌ„ their owne subiectes require the Churches Rhegino anno 864. aide and sentence therin as kinge Lotarius brother to the Emperour Lewis the second was excomunicated by Nicolas the first for deuorsinge Sigisberâ— Trâ—â—hem his lawfull wife and marieng a strumpet and diuers others for suche like offences yea namely Popes haue pursued in princes their fall from religion disobedieÌ„ce to Gods Churche as a sinne properly subiect to their correction Zon. in vita Leonis 3. For heresie was Leo the third both excommunicated and depriued of all his temporallties in Italie by Gregorie the second Chalc oÌ„ rerum turc li. 1. For heresie and Schisme were the Greke Empe perours discharged and the Empire therby traÌ„slated to the Germans by Pope Leo the third and like wise diuers German Emperours for iniuries done Tho. 2. 2. quest 12. art 2. to Gods Churche and for heresie by sundry holie Popes haue ben brought to order as Henry the fourthe Frederike the first Otho the first Frederike the secoÌ„d Lewis the third many other Bonifa Dec. 4. For heresie was George kinge of Bohem excomunicated ther vpon by the forces of the kinge of Hungarie finally depriued As John Albert Guie lib. 2. Honuf in vita â—ulij secundi Polid. lib. 15. had half of his kingdoÌ„ of Nauar takeÌ„ from him by Ferdinandus surnamed Catholicus Kinge of Aragon bicause he gaue aide to Lewis the xij then excomunicated by Iulius the seconde For shamefull iniuries done to the holie Churche and for persecution of Bishops religious was Iohn one of our kinges of England with his whole cuÌ„trie Interdicted and at length forced to yeild his croune and dominions to the curtesie of the Popes legate as afore is meÌ„cyoned Nubrig lib. z. c. 25. 34. For like causes and namely for being accessarie to the murther of the blessed Bishop S. Thomas of Caunterbury was Henry the second driuen by AlexaÌ„der the third to order penaunce Henry the eighte also for more horrible waste and desolation of Religion wherin he farr surmounted all his auncetors and all other that euer we reade of since the time of Julian the Apo stata for arrogatinge the title of supreme head of the Churche and forcinge all his people to sweare to his folly and that his concubine Anne Bullen was their Queene and his lawful wife for most cruell slaughter of Catholike Bishopes Preistes religious and laie men for infringinge and vtterly abolishinge against his owne othe all the priuileges and liberties graunted to the Churche of England by holie Kinge
Edward and other his forfathers for destroing all holie houses of Religion and sacrilegiously inuading all their goodes and possessions for marrienge remarringe changinge deuorcinge and killinge of his wiues when where and whome he liste Honuf in vita Pau li tertij for these and suche like vnspeakeable outrages he was excomunicated by Paulus tertius as hath before bene declared Elizabethe excomunicated and depriued anno 1570. And novv lastly not onely for iniust intrusioÌ„ and vsurpation but also for the forsaid crimes and followinge her said supposed fathers waies who was radix peccati of our daies and offended the more greuously bicause he first compelled the people of God to Schisme and sinne as Ieoroboam did the Israelites this woman was by good Pius Quintus excomunicated and depriued and all her subiects discharged of othe and obedience towardes her with charge efteâ—ones to all the subiectes of the realme of EnglaÌ„de or other her dominions that from thence forthe vnder like paine of excomunicatio and Gods holie Churches curse they shuold not acknowledge her for their Princesle or superior nor obey defend and manteine her but according to euery ones power and habillite to cocurr to her deposition and condigne punishment ExecutiÅ of the enâ—enâ—e deferred VVhich sentence most holie iuste and dread full though hitherto it haue not bene openly pursued partely by reason of the decease of Pius Quintus the publisher which ensued not longe after and partely for that the vsurpers forces rage and crueltie wer so great that they could hardly be resisted by the onely inhabitans of the realme without euident daunger destructioÌ„ of very many noble godlie persons in which case the churches censures so farr as they concerne onely temporall matters by the meaninge of him that gaue the sentence dothe not binde lastlie for that his holines that now is as his predecessors before him hauinge exceding tender care not onely of our soules but of our bodies goodes also haue hitherto tollerated in vs our enforced subiectioÌ„ and obedience to her in ciuill affaires specially vpon expectation and hope that she wold after so longe and fatherly sweete patience of the supreme pastors of our soules at the request of so many princes Christian at the pittifull sutes cries clamors complaints of so many of her owne people for the bludd of so many men meekely yeilded and the inconsolable complaintes of so many afflicted coÌ„sciences either aknowledge her faulte incline to mercie towardes the Catholikes and seeke as her supposed father desired to doe in the end of his life to reconcyle herself to the Churche or to cum to sum good order at leaste with the see Apostolike and graunt her Catholike nobibility and people leaue to serue God after their conscience and manner of all their forfathers Though I saie for all these causes and other more the former iuditiall senteÌ„ce hath not bene all this while executed yet now our holy father Sixtus the fifte seinge this vsurper and excomunicate person to be nothinge moued eitherwith pittie of the people or Apostolike authoritie but still obstinately and obdurately to persiste and procede in all her former mischeefes wickednes could not conteine or sorbeare any longer not onely himself to imploie against so monstrous and pernitious an heretike rebell vsurper and fierbrand of all mischeefe the treasures spirituall and temporall that the Omnipotent God hath giuen him for maintenannce of iustice innocencie and religion but also by the forsaid examples of his predecessors other holie Bishopes and by a speciall canon of the great De â—eret cap. 3. generall Counsell of Laterane touchinge the chastisement of princes that will not purge their do minions of heresie and heretikes hath seriously dealte with the chefe and greatest princes of his Christian Catholike coÌ„munion that they wold giue succurse to their afflicted brethreÌ„ coÌ„fede rates ioine together with him their supreme pastor for chastisemeÌ„t of that wicked womaÌ„ the bane of ChristeÌ„dome and all their kingdoÌ„s the scoorge of God and rebuke of womaÌ„kinde as in this case euery one wold haue bene most redy had they not beneforced at this time to im ploie all their forces against the heretikes rebels of ther owne dominions therfore hathe specially intreated Philip the highe and mightie Kinge Catholike of Spaine that for the greatnes of power giuen him by the almighty for his singular loue towardes that nation wherof by mariage of Holie Queene Marie of blessed memorie he once was kinge for the olde loue and league betwixt the said cuntrie and the house of Burgogne for the infinite iniuries and dishonors done to his maiestie and people by Elizabethe and to conclude for his speciall pietie and zeale towardes Gods house and the See Apostolike together with the consideration of the fresh barbarous murther of his consine the Queene of Scotland by which the sacred honor and name of Kingly dignety is dishonored and all lawfull princes highely intressed that for these and many other causes his maiestie wold take vpon him in the name of God almightie this sacred and glorious enterprise VVho at lenghte aswell by this his Holines auctority and exhortation as by his owne vnspeakeable zeale and pietie moued also not a litle by my humble and continuall sute together with the afflicted and banished Catholikes of our nation of all and euery degree who haue bene by his speciall coÌ„passion and Regall munificence principally supported in this their longe exile hath consented atlast taken vpon him this so holie and glorious an acte to the onely honor of God the benefite of the Christian worlde and your deliuerie my good brethren from the yoke of heresie and thraldom of your enemies and for restitutioÌ„ of those realmes and the subiects of the same to their auncient liberty of lawes and conscience For which causes his maiesty hath in the name of the lord God of Hostes commaunded sufficient royall and mayn forces bothe by sea lande to be gathered and to be conducted in to our cuntrie if nede be and if the pretensed and principall offender will not otherwise cum to order by the most Godly valerous Generall and Capitaines that be of his maiesties seruice in all Christendom Of whose procedinge in this action aswell of his holines as his maiesties intention meaninge therin we are to aduertife you all by these presents and to forwarne you against all false sclaunderous and seditious speaches of the enemies and heretikes by which they haue many yeres and in wonderful maner deluded some straÌ„gers to their vndoinge the ruine of their cuntreyes And to comfort yow against all other popular feares of the simple sorte that neither the CoÌ„queste of the lande dispossessinge of the Englishe distruction of Catholikes ruine of auncyeÌ„t howses abolishinge of our olde lawes liberties or customes is purposed nor any other annoiaunce or alteration in the world to be made sauinge so