priests fuch as haue lost not onely all sauour of priestly wisedom shining light of true vnderstanding but also the true spirit of Christian priests and priesthood with an application also of the vncleane spirit departing from a man and returning entreth with seauen worse then himselfe and infinite other inuectiue speeches as proud turbulent irefull impudent c. ¶ In the first Chapter Fol. 1. Passionate writers of distempered humors our bookes seditious full of iniquity vanity scurrility fol. 2. Passion and perturbation of minde folly imprudencie clamorous in writing with contempt fol. 3. Men free of speech and conuersation giuen to liberty fol. 4. Contemners of all helps for the increase of spirit vsed by vertuous men that we be de larga manica of scandalous conuersation turbulent standing in defence of disorder liberty and dissolution imputation of whoredome drunkennes dicing pewter stolne c. all this against the priests in Wisbich fol. 5. Extreame surfet of vnchristian malice passion leuitie anger high and odious malice malice and stomacke perturbation of minde fol. 6. Shamelesse Libellers open apparant malice fol. 7. Petulancie fol. 8. Exceeding madnes impotent blindnes of passion slaunderous tongue malicious obiection fol. 9. Want of good conscience enuie her selfe odious and malicious stuffe impudency and folly rayling and reuiling without stop or stay eyther of shamefastnes or conscience men expressing the sinnes of drunken men and cursers or euill speakers by their intemperancie of tongue slaunderous and malicious ignorance or malice fol. 10. Giberâ— fitter for Ruffians and Souldiers c intemperate tongues passionate brethren fol. 11. Folly phrenzie furious inuectiues spite highly enuying others gifts and graces priuate mutiners publique enemies bidding warre and defiance to all c. madnes fol. 13. Iustifying the proceedings of heretikes and persecutors c. excluding all spirituall authority c. defenders of paradoxes absurd positions parasiticall adulation pernitious eroneous and hereticall wicked and reproachfull trayterous ridiculous impious base and wickedly minded publike proctors of heretikes and persecutors open accusers against the persecuted Catholickes sundred in wicked attempts secular in order degree minde harts desires fol. 14. Transformed by passion of enuie and malice sold their tongues to the common enemie ridiculous and contemptible rayling without modesty or measure tyed to no law of truth probability proofe or modesty fol. 15. Libellers by passion conspiring with heretikes defenders of irreligious paradoxes compared to Anabaptists and Luther confident in follies pride ignorance folly falshood fol. 16. Base flattery of new fawning brethren impious brauing against the Pope fol. 17. Of Priests made Souldiers fighting against theyr chiefe pastor anger enuie passion giuing consent à posteriore to spilling of blood c. accusers of their brethren flattering and perfidious champions that will fight euen with God himselfe c. perfidious to their owne people Sycophants possessed with one of the seauen wicked spirits ¶ In the second Chapter Fol. 18. Discontented and distempered brethren of indiscretion bad spirit odious arguments defence patronage of disorder and liberty open rayling and rebellion against superiours errors in doctrine extreame passion lacke of iudgement modesty and moderation contemptible and odious no reason desire of truth zeale of reformation loue of vnion spite choler enuie malice desire of reuenge and other pernicious inductions insufficiencie in wisedome learning and all other vertues fol. 19. Fury of passion and rage of reuenge gall choler enuie hate folly and lacke of discretion venome malice gallings and spightfull speech simplicity folly want of wisdome and more necessary vertues folly malice contemptuous spirit fol. 20. Outrageous iniuries rebellious subiects intemperance angry contumelious censure high folly and higher maleuolence folly frenzie passionate people troublesome and dissolute vnchristian censure spirit of scoffing fol. 21. Clamours odious braules disorders contempt scoffing at piety scoffers and scorners foolish caueling and calumniation against good things malicious interpretations disdaine fol. 22. Folly passionate proceedings folly simplicity blindnes of passion folly passion simple passionate fol. 23. Wrangling brethren pickers of quarrells cauill calumniats fol. 24. Cauillations to procure a worse breach grosse folly gone in blinde passion egregious folly highest folly immodest scoffings railing speeches fol. 25. Pride phrenzie comparison to Luther rancour malice fol. 26. Malice scold insolents and intemperate raylings notorious ingratitude folly bitter gauling and venomous speeches bitternes of raylings spightfull venomous slaunderings soft and delicate nicenes in words scandalous behauiour disorders discontented brethren fol. 27. Passion fury of passion passion blindnes obscurity of passion passion fol. 28. Ioyning with most bloody enemies impious fol. 29. Malice passion folly passionate spirits ¶ In the third Chapter Fol. 29. Angry men passion lauished out and bidding battell all in their wayes spirituall sinne pride and presumption fol. 30. Disordinate brethren contumeliously presumptuous and haynous sinâ—e infinite discredite folly no credite but with heretikes great passion and folly hate for religions sake notorious inconsideration hired by the common enemie contumelious iniuries intemperate tongue fol. 31. More impudent then heretikes intollerable spightfull insolency barbarous ingratitude inconsiderate and passionate people pride audatious contemptuously fol. 32. Contumely to the Pope intemperate behauiour make warre against the Popes highest authority transported by the force of passion intemperate speeches fol. 33. Diuers false slaunders against Doct Bagshawe and Ma. Bluet Ma Champney and Ma Barnebee desperate petty Doctors young Maisters fol. 34. Younkers malicious imputation odiously hatred and enuie passion malice folly bid warre to all good and learned men of our Nation foolish assertion absurd Libells take vpon them the parts and persons of heretikes raile lye diffame the actions and intentions of best Catholikes slaunderous calumniation contemptuously most spightfully fol. 35. Calumniation raile extreamly contentious words enemies in hart hatred and faction to Cardinall Allen follies madnes enmity and principall hatred intemperatly passion of hatred conspiring and coniuring factious attempts and desires fol. 36. Clamorous bookes slaunders scoffes contumelious speeches much malignity shamefull passionate brethren raging and rauing wonderfull extreame passion with open mouth and most violent spirit impugne true Martyres fol. 37. Flattering the state betraying their companions like to make other men Martyrs by betraying them false malicious calumniation fol. 38. Passion hostility with Martyrs troublesome and sedicious proud and disobedients fol. 39. Pride folly lacke of discretion reproach contempt belyed the Seminaries to make them traytours that come from thence passion enraged by force of choler and impotent appetite of reuenge ¶ In the fourth Chapter Fol. 39. Follies improbabilities open vntruthes passionate brethren bad or no conscience at all custome of telling vntruthes not reflecting vpon conscience or credite falshood vttered with facility notorious falshoods and vntruthes fol. 40. Manifest and open vntruthes slaunders and calumniations forsworne fol. 41. Lyes false calumniations little conscience poyson of malice malignant fruites cries clamors oathes fol. 42.
A REPLIE VNTO a certaine Libell latelie set foorth by Fa Parsons in the name of vnited Priests intituled A manifestation of the great folly and bad spirit of certaine in England calling themselues seculer Priestes With an addition of a Table of such vncharitable words and phrases as by him are vttered in the said Treatise aswell against our parsons as our bookes actions and proceedings ¶ Pro iustitia agonizare pro anima tua et vsque ad mortem certâ pro iustitia et Deus expugnabit pro te inimicos tuos Ecclesiast cap. 4. ¶ Noli esse humilis in sapientia tua ne humiliatus in stultitiam seducaris Ibidem cap. 13. ⧠Justitiae et innocentiae permissu Anno Dom. 1603. The Epistle to the Priests said to be vnited with the Archpriest * ⎠* REuerend and my deere bretheren whom with my soule I loue and honour with my hart I cannot but be sory to see you so vniustly abused by the slights and cunning deuises of the Iesuits and more to see you whom wisedome and discretion should make perfect and expert in the affaires of our poore afflicted Church so applaude their proceedings that worke your bane or at the least by holding your peace to approoue such actions in them as tend to the ouerthrow of your selues Tell mee I beseech you in your owne vnderstandings are you not highly abused in bearing the name of these two late Libells viz. the Apologie and Manifestation in both which not onely the honour of priesthood is impeached and our whole Cleargie disgraced debased and sought to be held in slauery and subiection to the Iesuits theyr creatures but also such vndutifull actions and practises as haue beene attempted by them or any other Catholicke from the beginning of her Maiesties raigne vntill this day are maintained defended excused or iustified whereby your liues are engaged as accessary to all treasons plots practises done or attempted against our Soueraigne and Country by such parsons in that to approue defend or maintaine any action is as you knowe to make the approuer defender and maintainer accessary thereto iudge then what cause you haue to thanke such Maisters for this theyr good office in laying snares to entrappe you withall and thinke whether this deuise be not a plot of purpose to bring you into as great obloquy with your Prince as through theyr own vndutifull practises they haue brought themselues thereby to turne the sword of persecution vpon all as heeretofore for some particuler mens offences Deere brethren if you regard not the wrongs and oppressions doone to vs your brethren and neerer vnto you in all right of reason then the Iesuits are if you regard not the deiection and oppression of your Cleargie which they violently seeke if you respect not theyr actions and attempts against your natiue country and neerest friends yet regard your selues respect your owne liues haue a care to the common and generall good of altogether insiduated and betrayed by them disclaime from such actions wherein you haue no part neither desire I thinke to haue I know your harts to be loyall let them not be stained by a false imputation from a deceitfull Iesuit Beleeue me her Maiestie dooth make difference betwixt practisers in matters of state and religion and therefore suffer not your names to be brought into question for such odious dealings by the cunning policies of Fa. Parsons inrowling thē to the approbations of such hatefull trecheries And if there were n◠difference at all made as I know there is yet were it glorious to die a Cath priest in profession of the Cath fayth without taint or imputation of those foule crimes But some of you happily may be ignorant how farre you are abused in this kinde vouchsafe but the reading ouer of this reply to the latter Libell you shall easily perceiue more danger to be couched therein then you are aware of and thereby see the better what wrong is offered you in publishing the same in your names If in the perusing hereof any word may seeme ouer-sharpe which yet I haue endeuoured to auoyde consider I beseech you the deformity of some matters vniustly vncharitably auerred against vs that all such sharpe words touch onely one man the Author of these iniurious Libels and Architect of this whole businesse and then I hope you will with more ease yeeld pardon to such excesse If any other faults eyther in stile or defectiue handling of matters obiected occur beare with the author this beeing his first worke and hudled vp in hast without such helpes as longer time might haue affoorded him yeelding him in all things as fauourable a censure as you may who is ready to protest in the sincerity of a Catholicke priest that neyther malice anger passion nor desire of reuenge drew him to vndertake this worke but onely a sincere opinion of iustice and innocencie so much impugned by Fa Parsons in defence wherof hee thought himselfe bound as well in respect of the common cause as his owne particuler interest therein to shew his best indeuours Your friend and brother VV. C. ⧠The Preface generall to Catholickes COurteous and beneuolent Catholicks I present here vnto you a reply vnto a certaine Libell intituled A manifestation of the great folly and bad spirit of certaine in England calling themselues seculer Priests which happening into my hands I diligently red ouer hauing without passion perused it and with indifferencie as to my selfe seemed poysing and considering as well the matter deliuered with the forme and manner of the deliuery as also the verity thereof I could not but a little wonder to see a man so mightily inueigh against passion and bitter writing in others shewing so much choler passion yea and impatience as hee doth here And did I not descry the Author thereof to be one particuler Parson not many priests vnder whose names falsly yea and vncharitably it is published thereby to bring them into obloquy with their Prince and state vnto whom the Iesuits practises in state matters heere defended are odious I should much admire to see so palpable vntruths defended so manifest vniust actions maintained and such apparant verities with such boldnes denied but the worke proceeding frō the party it doth hammered in the forge it was I could expect no other then I found therefore my wonder was the lesse and my admiration sooner at an end For why the man is well knowne to be of such a naturall disposition as that if he once enter into any course he will with infinite violence prosecute the same Vpon which headstrong cariage irremouable wilfulnes many straines you know and ouerstrainings must needs follow and many fained inuentions with concealements of truthes yea and in the end open impugnations of verities the better to iustifie former proceedings least happily otherwise the fault might seeme too light where it may in no case be indured Pardon mee deere Catholickes in deliuering the truth with
such plainenes let not your antecedent conceits of Fa Parsons worthines preiudicate your censâ—â—es in matters so apparant and such as will admit no refuge for that were to blind your selues wilfully with affection beyond reason I remit the iudgement of this my discourse wholy vnto your discreet indifferent censure if you find not iust cause to condemne the aforesaid Libell and author thereof for the faults aboue cited then blame me iustly of wrong done and I will yeeld to satisfie at your discretions if you do find true this which I haue said giue not ouer your selues heereafter to be abused with too much credulitie in father Parsons proceedings And heere I must a little craue pardon if in this my discourse you find me more plaine and bold with the said Father then you would wish imputing the same to the extremity of matters falsely and vniustly by him deliuered and to the desert of his actions as beeing in very deede the Arch-plotter of all such disgustfull affaires as haue caused all these troubles and garboyles from time to time amongst vs which thing enforced me a little to presume to display and discouer him plainly vnto himselfe and the world if happily thereby eyther hee may reduce himselfe vnto better courses or otherwise remaine loathed reiected of all good English Catho as he deserueth whereby he shall be no more able henceforward to deceiue through vndeserued opinion the best meaning minds nor plot heereafter against our Prince country with the conuivence of any If herein my desires may either way take effect I shall rest satisfied and thinke these my first labours happily bestowed Your affectionate seruaunt in Christ to the shedding of his blood W. C. An aunswer to the first chap concerning our pretended manifest folly apparent bad spirit in chusing the argument and subiect of our former Bookes IT is a world to see the boldnesse of F. Parsons in all his writings concerning these our late garboyles in England but especially in this his last rayling Treatise intituled A manifestation of follies c. I must needs lay the worke vnto his charge so euidently doth it shew it selfe both in the manner of style phrases particuler words vsuall in other his writings as also diuers things related and excused which could proceede from no other forge then Vulcans In this his Treatise as he immodestly and most falsly dealeth against vs yea and contrary to his owne knowledge and conscience as you shall most euidently perceiue by this reply so also after his accustomed manner doth he deale with no small cunning as well in concealing of truths sometimes totally sometimes in part as also by couert and fine colouring and fashioning of the falshoods hee deliuereth in such sugred and pleasing manner as with ease hee may deceiue the well-meaning minde especially drawne by affection towards his habite and religion from whence nought els but veritie and iustice should flowe But as this kinde of poyson is most dangerous and infectiue because tempered vvith sweete mixtures and shewe of compassion where indeede nought els but deceite lurketh so I hope it wil be with more care and diligence auoyded and reiected of all sorts when by this our reply his cunning deceits shall euidently appeare in theyr proper colours the poyson beeing extracted from the hony and the subtile deceauing vntruths sequestred froÌ„ the sugred and smooth sentences wherewith they are cloked First therefore concerning our first booke intituled Declaratio motuum et turbarum he sayth it containeth nothing but a certaine intemperate inuectiue against many good and worthie men c. and is prooued by no other reasons authorities or testimonies but the wordes of passionate writers c. Let euery indifferent man that vnderstandeth the Latine tongue reade our aforesaid discourse and but indifferently iudge thereof whether it be without proofe authoritie or testimonie First it was published not by one man but by diuers and in the right and name of many which were men woorthy to be thought sufficient whose testimonies might passe currant in law Secondly the matters related were matters of fact and euen then in practise and too too well knowne vnto all our Country at home if not to all the world abroade For proofe whereof I refer my selfe to all Cath in England concerning the matter of schisme maintained by the Iesuits Archpriest against vs with infinite violence much infamy for the time and innumerable particuler wrongs therupon not vnknown to the meanest Cath in England All which seuerall iniuries are touched in that discourse besides diuers other particulers as of intermedling in matters of state discouer'd by theyr owne foolish bookes pamphlets euident practises letters messages which I omit as needlesse to rehearse referring the Reader to the booke it selfe Thirdly that booke was but a declaration or setting downe of many things in generall to be particulerly proued in time and place conuenient where reformation was expected as I doubt not but they haue found to no great aduantage since and therfore not to coÌ„taine particuler proofes of euery assertion though for the most part they be euident as I haue sayd in themselues Fourthly I wish the Reader to consider the weakenesse of this Calumniation besides the vntruth and folly thereof by this one Consideration that the booke was dedicated to his Holines in a quarrell which wee meant to pursue as you see we haue doone and therefore not like to containe such iniurious and manifest false slaunders with an intemperate inuectiue against good men as this good Father affirmeth vnlesse we were mad men and cleane depriued of wit and common sence For in so dooing wee should haue prouided whips scourges for our selues and ouerthrowne our cauâ—e though otherwise neuer so iust and honest when wee had come to the tribunall of his holines Add to this that the booke hauing beene presented to his holines and perused and by vs iustified still no condemnation thereof hath yet come from thence but it passeth currantly without imputation of such slaunderous falshoods and inuectiues against good men as this man would make you belieue See by this what weight his assertions carry and marke how worthy of credit hee will proue heereafter Of the second booke intituled The copies of discourses c. he affirmeth that the first part is contrary to the second so doth both aunswer and confound it selfe c. And why forsooth are they contrarie to themselues Because saith hee in the former discourses we stoode onely vpon the Popes owne Letters to coÌ„firme those of Cardinall Caietane assuring them that when any such should come from his holines there should be no more controuersie and yet in the next ensuing discourses his holines breve of approbation beeing then published he saith wee were much farther of from obeying the Archpriest then before This is the worthy contradiction which aunswereth and confoundeth all therein written Beleeue me I doe stand heere at a non
betters the worthy congregation of the Inquisition vnto whom it is dedicated and presented And as for his carping at the similitude of the man casting out deuils in Christes name I will let it passe for him to take his aduantage as he list and make his owne exposition For I verily thinke that euery wise man that readeth his interpretation thereof will discouer more folly in him for his applycation not intended by the Writer in that sence but onely a simili then in him that first alledged the example And for our accepting or seeking of fauour at the hands of Protestants and our Gouernours in temporalities I think no man can condemne vs therein vnlesse he will also condemne the practizes of all times of persecution both in the time of the law of Moses and also since Christ In the 28. page he citeth certaine words of the Epistle to the Important considerations wherein it is affirmed that there is no sinne arising vpon infirmitie and frailty of man committed by an Apostata an Infidell an Hereticke a Schismatike an Atheist cast out of the fauour of God and accursed out of his Church but a Cath may fall into the same and yet remaine constant in his religion to death This father Parsons affirmeth to be a false assertion And therein say I that fa Parsons manifesteth more folly then all the follies hee noteth in all our writings put theÌ„ all together to say nothing of his ignorance or simplicitie For it is a matter certaine and de fide that a man hath free wil vnto all kinde of sinnes and it is no lesse manifest that sinnes of infirmitie and frailty neuer cut a man off from Gods Church Neither can infidelitie heresie or schisme be termed sinnes of infirmitie or frailtie but of malice For no man can be an Infidell heretick or schismatick without obstinacie and pertinacity of will which cannot be called frailtie Therefore may a Catholicke commit of frailty any sin that an Infidell hereticke or Schismaticke committeth remaining still a resolute catholick And this we see daily by experience all Catholicks being not saints See therefore vvhat learning fa Parsons dropped out heere and what store of wisedome hee shewed in contradicting so manifest a truth Now will I leaue the Reader duly to consider whether our follies in relating such things as heere and in the first chapter fa Parsons obiecteth being vrged thereto vpon necessity in defence of our innocencie be greater or his in cunning iugling and shifting alwaies flying the true and reall poynt of controuersie and carping at by-matters and for his aduantage reporting our words and speeches falsly and otherwise then they were deliuered by vs. Whereby we haue been enforced as you see to take him tripping to his eternall disgrace if he haue any grace left which we had not done if his ouermuch boldnesse had not made him run himselfe out of breath forgetting all truth honestie and sinceritie An aunswer to the third â—â—â—pter concerning our pretended follie and presumptuous spirit in making to ur selues such aduersaries as we doe IN father Parsons handling of this chapter I cannot but wonder at his exceeding ouersight in that he admiring so greatly our follies would so palpably discouer his owne For what man I beseech you of wit or vnderstanding would vrge the contradicting of our Archpriests vniust oppressions our exclaming against the Iesuits vncharitable courses against our selues and condemning their vnnaturall practises against their prince and state our resisting of the King of Spaines attempts against our Country our displaying the cruelty of Spanish Souldiers the tyrannie of their gouernment to auert the minds of all naturall English men from all vaine and mad expectations of any good by their inuasions as foolish occasions giuen by vs to make to our selues enemies of our Archp the Iesuits and the King of Spaine What great potent person is Ma. Blackwell in the world that he may not be contradicted when hee doth amisse Is it lawfull to resist and appeale from a Bishop an Archbishop a Patriarch and is it not lawfull to appeale from an Archpriest Must iustice be afraid of bugges If any irreuerent speeches haue beene vttered where they should not haue beene we are sorry for it and let your payment made to the full in the same kind cancell ours But otherwise for our proceedings against Ma Blackwell our Archpriest wee doe and will defend them and you in all your discourse in his behalfe seeme to draw more from vs vnto him then euer was due to any subordinate Superiour in the world vnlesse you would put infallibility in euery gouernour without the which no such bands can be but that iust exceptions may be taken against them and appeales there-vpon framed prosecuted as you see in our case is admitted Concerning your potent order such vizards are for children and temporisers and not for men of our profession who should in euery cause preferre iustice and right before potencie and might We know many in your order to be apt to remember old quarells and to pay home when aduantage time serueth and we looke for no other at your hands But what then Shall we therefore desist to prosecute iustice and hinder your exorbitant endeuours Shall I hold my tongue because Fa Parsons may worke me a shrewd turne if I come into Spaine or Italy No no non confundar pro anima mea dicere verum I will God willing vtter nothing but truth and necessary truth and that shall out let Fa Parsons threat what he can And touching the Spaniards they are professed enemies to our Prince and Country and seeke nothing more then our subuersions As they are Cath in Christian charity we wil loue them but as enemies to our Country we contemne them and will with our bloods resist them And as I suppose we haue not onely right so to doe in respect of our Countries defence but also iure gentium in that they were the first breakers of the league betwixt vs and them as by their attempt in Ireland in the yeere 1579 may appeare to omit the plot of Robert Rodulphi some yeeres before But in this Fa Parsons plainly discouereth his loue and affection towards his Country and what a treacherous minde he carieth towards his true and naturall Prince in that he seeketh to draw her naturall subiects to keepe amity and beare affection towards her professed aduersarie and the onely enemie of our Country Howsoeuer false harted he be yet was it a point of exceeding great folly for him so openly to discouer the same that now no man of wit or discretion and loue to his Prince and Country which euery naturall borne English is bound to haue can iudge other of him then as a professed enemie vnto them both And touching the Colledges and Pensions that are maintained and giuen by the Spaniard which he so oft inculcateth we no whit thanke him for them as things are handled and occasions thereby ministred of
said that neither his holines nor any other competent Iudge euer heard of the coggery preiudice and blasphemy done against the sea Apostolicke and the sacred Maiestie of our Prince not that their imprisonment was either coggery preiudice or blasphemy to her Maiestie but that by their imprisonment his holines could not heare of their preiudiciall dealings against our Prince and state nor of their coggery and blasphemy against the Sea Apostolicke all Princes and Prelats in the world being in a sort abused by such dealings As touching fa Parsons returne into Spaine whether by Mendoza his commendations or not which little importeth we will omit as not much to the purpose All the world by experience seeth that his going thether was not for any good to our country but to procure inuasions and to raise a new bloodie title to the Crowne of England I will note but two circumstances in this fathers discourse of this matter not to be omitted the first is that no letter or message passed for many yeeres together betweene Mendoza and him to wit after the desastrous affaire of Ballard and Babbington By this you see that Letters and messengers were wont to passe between them before this desastrous affaire and so it is very probable that fa Parsons was made acquainted with all those practises wherein Mendoza had dealt concerning Throgmorton Babington by those letters and Messengers The second obseruation is that when Mendoza some yeeres after returned to Madrill there passed great expostulation betweene them two about that affaire of Babbington and some other such matters Wherein the said Embassador had beene thought to haue beene ouer-much ledde by the forward men and their mates Doth not this shew first that Mendoza was a subiect to the Iesuits by some hand or other or else why should Father Parsons a Iesuit expostulate matters with a Duke a Prince an Embassador to so great a King How durst he otherwise haue noted by way of expostulation which sheweth an authority his beeing ouermuch misled by the forward men which insinuateth a dislike or checke for following too much the aduise and directions of such men blaming the manner and circumstances but not directly the matter Doe not these circumstances leaue a suspicion of Fa Parsons consent to that plot though he disliked that Mendoza was ouermuch ledde therein by the forward men See how God will that father Parsons should bewray himselfe An aunswer to the fift Chapter concerning our pretended folly and malignant spirit in obiecting certaine bookes to father Parsons which tend to his commendation and of his confutation of a little Treatise in answer to his booke of Succession NOw are we come at length to the fift chap of bookes obiected to Fa Parsons which he will haue to increase his credite Of these bookes he citeth 4. in number vrged by vs to wit Philopater the ward word the high counsell of Reformation or Memoriall as hee termeth it and the booke of Titles or succession to the Crowne These hee nameth but leaueth out the scurrilous pamphlets of Perneus and Greene coate or Leisters common-wealth with such other of that rabble full of exasperations against the Queen state and very scandalous as conteyning infamous slaunders against both and in particuler against some of the counsell which could not but giue occasion to incense them beeing in power and authoritie against all Catholicks and priests in England And all England knoweth that the booke against the Earle of Leister did mightily auert him from all Catholicks in generall But it is a true saying which often I haue heard spoken of father Parsons that hee will rather lose his friend then his iest it is verified in all his proceedings For if once he apprehend a course he wil thorow with it though all the world smart for it of so violent and pernicious and head-strong a nature he is But to come to the bookes which by himselfe are cited Of the two first viz. Philopater and the Ward-word he saith no more but that they be in defence of the Catholicke cause the first against the rigorous Edict the second against a bloody-minded Knight As for the first it is full of most bitter rayling arrogant exasperations as euery man that hath read it can tell besides foolish scoffings against great persons which no man of wisedome and charitie would haue vsed in these times vnlesse he had meant to whet a double edged sword to cut Catholicks throats The second was a fond and foolish reuiuing of a dead matter not worth a rush no man either thinking or regarding the follies of such a pamphlet But by his raking againe in the old forgotten dunghill he hath raised vp such new stirres and drawne such persons into the matter that as euery man may see the dead matter is now new on foote and aliue againe and in a more hurtfull sort then before Let him see what the Deane of Exceter Ma. Doctor Sutcliffe hath written in aunswer of his Wardword and iudge whether the wound be not worse then before The Knights obscure toy no man regarded but I dare not say so of Ma. Doctor Sutcliffs booke And this was the wisedom of this good Fa in aunswering the Watchword needes he must haue his iest though it cost him deere As touching his third pamphlet of Reformation it is a world to see the pride of the man to take vpon him to meddle with all estates and giue rules and directions what must be done as well in the Court as Country Clergie as Laïty And when forsooth must this be done Mary when our Country is reduced againe to Catholicke religion But when or how must that be doe you know Presently forsooth by a Spanish conquest For you must vnderstand that this worke was hatched about the same time or immediatly after the booke of Titles if not before so that you see the booke of Succession was for the conquest and this for Reformation to follow What simplicity was it for a man of wit or vnderstanding to thinke that after a Spanish conquest hee should haue the managing of matters for our Country to prescribe orders lawes as though the Spaniard would haue deliuered all matters into Father Parsons hand and hee must haue beene Lycurgus to direct all Alas poore man or rather mad man how great a conceit soeuer you haue of your selfe and how much so euer you presume of your greatnes with the Spaniard you must giue me leaue to thinke that when that time had come as God forbid it euer should Ma. Spaniard would haue as little regard to Fa Parsons in those affaires as to any of vs. I will omit his fond supposall of easie reformation because both our Clergie and Catholickes hauing liued in persecution all this time would willingly concurre to a holy and perfect reformation as who would say that all difficulty in that point should remaine in the priests and Catholickes of our owne nation and not rather in the
to the second part or booke of Succession he saith and that with protestation that he dealeth indifferently for all tytles impeaching none but shewing the true right of euery one without partiality of fauour more to one then other VVhich notwithstanding his protestations that are more frequent then faithfull is most false and vntrue For first what title is there which he doth not invalidate one way or other with bastardie or the like the Infanta her title onely excepted Doth he not bring the marriage of the Earle of Harford in question to debar that line Doth he not exclude the Scot by the association and so in the rest onely hee leaueth the Infanta sole heyre without spot or staine Againe hath he not raked vp a title for the Infanta frō Iohn of Gaunt and before neuer dreamed of in the world till his time to bring in her as a Competitor I am sure hee might bring in 300 at the least within our owne Country aswell and with as good right and interest to the Crowne Is this to deale faithfully and indifferently But wee will leaue this poynt to be farther searched by such as I thinke haue taken a little more paines herein for his sake Now to come to the pamphlet forsooth against the said booke of Succession attributed to Ma. Charles Paget but by Fa Parsons not thought to be his and I verily thinke iustly But howsoeuer weake it may be in aunswering particulers by Fa Parsons layd downe in the conference about succession which I think it intended not to prosecute yet doth it shew the worke to be inconuenient as well for the King of Spaine himselfe as for our owne Soueraigne or the king of Scots He that shall diligently peruse that treatise consider the drift of the Author shall find it to be of a farther reach then fa Parsons will seeme to discerne as ayming at nothing but to shew his folly his desperate and trayterous courses which by arming subiects against theyr Soueraignes may touch in time all Christian Princes as well as her Maiestie It is pitty that the Treatise is no more common so as therby the States in England might cleerly perceiue what a gallimaufrey he would make of lawes cōmon ciuill Ecclesiasticall and of the whole Common-wealth if Parsons might haue his will according to the plot hee hath layd in that his worthy worke of Succession An aunswer to the sixt chapter touching our pretended folly deceiued spirit in perswading our selues to get credit by the manner of our proceedings with clamors and libels IT is a common obseruation and noted of all men that when any person giueth himselfe to a custome of maintaining absurdities hee will in the end grow to perswade himselfe that the things he maintaineth are true be they otherwise neuer so absurd and false yea and at the first so reputed by the maintainer And euen so fareth it with Father Parsons for certainly he could not possibly with any face deliuer matters as hee doth and so apparantly false with such confidence yea and iterations if the custome of wrangling and maintaining paradoxes had not perswaded his vnderstanding that what hee will defend must needes be as hee sayth so to be belieued as he telleth it Tell me I beseech you who would so peremptorily haue affirmed that we neuer meant to prosecute our appeale but onely to gaine time and libertie as he here doth if such a custome of maintayning vntruthes had not wholy possest his vnderstanding in such sort as he cannot perswade himselfe otherwise then his extrauagant imagination conceiteth and that a strong imagination did not assure him that all hee said should be belieued The world now seeth the contrary to this loud vntruth But to goe further with him What man that regarded honestie and truth if he were not possest with the aforesaid humour and custome would say that one of our friends sent before vnto the Nuncio falling into the company of an Irish man should say he was a Iesuit to win credit Ma. Barnbee was the precurser he aimeth at who protesteth that he neither was in the company of any such Irish man neither euer vsed the name of the Iesuits Againe out of what other humour could hee auerre that they shewed diuers pasports to the Nuncio viz one of banishment the other more large generall and ample full of fauour and priuiledge to passe how when and where and with what they would sith it is most certaine they had but one onely pasport and that of Banishment this is the full truth therein Some of the company beeing stayed at Douer contrary to their expectation they were enforced to send back to London and therevpon procured a note to the searchers and officers there that they should passe freely without search with such things as they had to carry with them In the same sort doth hee deliuer you another vntruth that all that our friends could say when they came before the Nuncio in Flaunders was that the Archpriest had taken away some mens faculties did not equally distribute almes There can be no men amongst you so ignorant as not to see this to be an egregious fiction Was the matter of schisme all the wrongs therein done vs whereupon all our stirres and contentions haue risen nothing Were all our complaints of medling in state matters whereby the Prince and state were offended and affliction increased matters of no moment Who doth not see the vanity of this vntruth And vpon this followeth another as notorious that the Nuncio hearing they could say no more tooke vpon him to end the matter writing backe to the Archpriest to require his aunswer but being afterwards better acquainted with our malicious bookes as he termeth them hee wrote againe into England in another style concerning theyr beeing with him then hee would haue done as after he said if he had beene so farre priuie to theyr dooings and meanings before This is not onely an egregious abuse of his holines Nuncio who most kindly entertained our friends beeing throughly acquainted with their busines approued their course as most reasonable and writ vnto the Archpriest to restore all in pristinum statum which hee contemned but also a meere deuise in that neuer any such Letter appeared in England from the Nuncio for ought we can learne of different style to the former nor can they produce any such Besides that the Nuncio wrote to his holines concerning our affaires But Fa Parsons must haue leaue to belye vs when hee dare to belie and abuse his holines Nuncio Like vnto this and out of the same humour of custome is his often malicious comparing vs to Luther and sundry hereticks which tasteth of a malitious vnconscionable spirite of defamation I could say vnto him that this humor of maintaining paradoxes and custome of lying is and alwaies hath beene the first step vnto heresie But God keepe him from the spirit of Machiauell and Atheisme which these courses
Romaine Colledge Neither doth the Counsell of dismissing some with these termes of wanton or lasciuious Colts seeme to proceede from the Cardinall especially if we consider that the chiefest of such as were to be dismissed whom he termeth wanton Colts were 〈◊〉 be addressed for our Country as they were How vnfitting such men were for such an excellent vocation the world may â—udge and thinke whether in conscience they could giue them faculties yea and some of them particuler fauours also for our Country This conuinceth that either there was no such speech vttered by the Cardinall or else vttered without true ground vpon partiality to the Iesuits Vnto whom it seemed he leaned too too much in that hauing another one M Monsignior oro ioyned with him as Visitor in these stirres and finding him inclined to equity and no whit partiall to the Iesuits he shaked him off taking the matter wholy into his owne hands Which might make vs to thinke that he was some-what partiall in his memoriall deliuered vp but if he were so partiall as Fa Parsons relateth it was admirable and most vniust as we haue shewed After this memoriall Fa Parsons addeth two circumstances which hee applyeth to the proceedings as well of the Scholers in Rome in those tumults as to ours heere in England First hee saith that whereas in those it was onely suspected that the heretikes common enemie had their hands as ayders or abetters to make these demaunds of remouing the Iesuits from England and the Colledge now it is openlie knowne and confessed that they are indeede the chiefe dealers and stirrers therein This is a common practise with Iesuits when any thing maketh against them then to bring in the common enemie as an actour with vs thereby to grace themselues as impugned by heretiques and disgrace their opposers as pertakers with the common enemie but it is as ridiculous a shift as common For who of wisedome or vnderstanding will thinke that the state of England cannot deliuer themselues of a handfull of Iesuits without the concurrence of a few poore secular priests or that they respect or regard such simple helps These buzzes are for fooles and children and not for men of iudgement and discretion to regard The second circumstance is that as the students in Rome sought to procure some Princes Embassadours to fauour their cause by making it matter of state so in like manner we should deale with the King of Fraunce that he may back vs. But Fa Parsons must vnderstand that wee are not so simple but that wee doe know it to be a matter of state And that point is now most euident by the vniforme banding of the Iesuits and Spaniards in this our cause The Spaniards doe openly professe themselues to be for the Iesuits as in the behalfe of their owne interest and to requite them the Iesuit doth openly professe himselfe in Rome to be for the Spaniard engaging him in the cause Whereby come all the demurres and delayes in that Court where-with our brethren are there now perplexed and driuen off from the deciding of our cause What the strength of the Spaniard can worke against them they shall be sure of Our cause therefore concerneth not onely his Maiestie of Scotland but also of Fraunce and all other Princes adioyning For if the Spaniard should preuaile against England where-vnto all these indeauours of the Iesuits tend then is not onely his Maiestie of Scotland depriued of his possibility but also the King of Fraunce and other states indangered by his mightines and neighbourhood A thing which Princes will consider say Fa Parsons what he can to the contrary An aunswer to the 7. chapter concerning fiue other of our bookes falsly termed by Fa Parsons absurd and slaunderous Libels I Remember that this father Parsons in the discouerie of Iohn Nichols saith that the fellow when he came to Rome went onely to the Brothell-houses Canalls and base and stinking corners of the Citty where he might finde most lewdest and filthiest stinkes and not to any publique places as Court Churches or the like where he might see maiesty order reuerence or deuotion c. And thus or to the like effect he writeth of him because of the venome filth and reprochfull slaunders which hee disgorged afterwards against that holy place And euen so may it be said that he himselfe this good Father in the suruey of all the bookes that haue beene writ by any of our friends hath imployed his greatest paines to auoyde all substantiall and sound matters such indeede as conuinced the vnderstanding of the Reader and to rake onely in by-corners and matters of least moment carping at sharpe and cholericke speeches deliuered in heate running vpon some such particulers as were writ vpon relation onely Where if he find any circumstance failing as coÌ„monly in matters related at the second hand falleth out though the substance thereof be neuer so true there hee fasteneth his hold and maketh such clamors and outcries as though the matters were meere inuentions really and totally falshoods and neuer any such things had beene in rerum natura And so doth he deale in the seauenth Chapter as well concerning the booke entituled The sparing Discouerie as the rest His first entrance vpon the sayd Discouerie is with generall inuectiue and then he carpeth at the posie or sentence vidi calumnias quae sub sole geruntur which hee will retort vpon the writers But if you consider the proceedings of the Iesuits and their faction against vs in the beginning of the erection of Ma Blackwell to his dignity with what reproches indignities and calumnious slaunders they abused vs you will say we had reason to vse that sentence in the discouerie of such dealings It is an easie matter to dally in this sort We could with more shew of reason catch at his sentence prefixed to this libell of Manifestation viz theyr folly shall be manifest to all men Which saying how fitly it may be retorted vpon fa Parsons you wil perceaue if you do but consider his actions and intermedling in matters as well vnpleasing as vnbefitting and vnbeseeming him whereby hee hath not onely kindled a flame of sedition heere in our poore afflicted Church but also drawne a great burden vppon his owne necke in opposing himselfe against our whole Clergie which he needed not to haue done as also perpetuall discredit thereby and a note of a factious tumultuous seditious headstrong man All the world certainly that shall see the effects of this his turbulent spirit as well in these our affaires as in matters of continuall practises against our Prince and country must needes say that his folly is exceeding great apparant in giuing vs occasion of publishing such his idle fancies furies and vndiscreet attempts vnto the world which by moderate indifferent dealing hee might peraduenture haue auoyded His second sentence is of the vncleane spirit which if wee consider his fore-said actions and the great oppressions wrongs and
Malice exceeding the malice of heretikes malignant proceeding malignities malignity exceeding malice fol. 43. If they be brethren if they be Priests odious speech malignant false calumniators fol. 44. Sedicions ioyning with enemies and heretikes cynicall or sycophanticall fol. 45. Opprobrious and contumelious calumniations sedicious people fol. 46. Barbarous insolencie of slaunderous companions contempt hollow harts oath and consciencelesse protestation spightfull and iniurious arraignment of Catholikes perfidious and vnchristian malice lost lads apparant false calumniations lye notoriously against their conscience fol. 47. Blinde rancor wilfull malice lacke of conscience malignant passion mad and furious inuectiue spightfull calumniations ridiculous malicious sycophancie fol. 48. Foolish malicious people calumniations malignant enuie malignity fol. 49. Distracted passionate clamours of discontented people calumniate discompose wrangle trouble cry and curse shamelesse calumniation lyes fol. 50. Poeticall fictions false slaunderous malignant vntruthes open calumniation seditious writer make-bate manifest slaunder fol. 51. Malicious fictions lying detractions malicious cauillation absurd calumniation fol. 52. Bold ridiculous assertion vnprofitable wrangling people fol. 53. Contumely farre from wisedome c. extreame audacity absurd and ridiculous matters fol. 54. Meere faction audacity little shame and conscience wrath raile follies open falsities immodesty passionate and inconsiderate brethren folly falshood fol. 55. Fond rayling without end or measure exceeding folly and malice conspiracie seditious designments folly passion ¶ In the fift Chapter Fol. 56. Enuie emulation anger passion boysterously furiously passionate people outragious dealing enuie exceedingly rancor malice enuie rayling and calumniation all their vertue humanity extinguished with enuie greefe and enuie fol. 57. Falsity falsly calumniation notoriously false peeuish and maligne calumniation wrangling and lying humor fol. 58. Detractors want of vertue malicious enuying humor fol. 59. Impugne the very name of reformation fol. 61. Calumniators calumniations odiously malicious fol. 62. Spightfully doe maligne and cauill fol. 63. Great passion intemperate folly malepert saucines younglings insolent dealing indiscreete rash greene heads deuoued to carpe maligne cauilations men of humor fol. 64. Intemperatly exclaime dispassionate hereticall Libell contradicting company counterfet Doctor impupudent cauiller fol. 65. Egregious foolery wise Doctor wise discouerer fol. 66. Confederates of faction reuolted Priests hatred and enmity eger discouerer sedicions fol. 67. Weakenes and folly calumniation malicious empeachings of others malicious malignant flattering malignant discouerer fol. 68. Flattering discouerer mutinous partners maleuolous calumniator ¶ In the sixt Chapter Fol. 68. Folly and blindnes deceaued spirits passionate if not possessed perturbation of enuie emulation malice reuenge anger and like enchauntments and sorceries of theyr soules furies of spirituall madnes rage and runne a desperate course of rayling and rauing out-cries fol. 69. Clamors mutinous and sedicious people out-cries stomack sobernes notorious lye flattery false procupation grosse and odious vntruthes fol. 70. False detraction sedicion clamors scandalous tumultuation deceitfull speaking dealing malicious books scandalous and sinfull action folly fury shamelesse Libells horrible scandall fol. 71. Hired to make debate and set diuision spies in way to be heretikes rebellion tumultuous scandalous tumultuation of turbulent students tumults broyles sedicion tumultuous people fol. 72. Tumultuous tumultuous students tumultuation hatred of order discipline and superiority tumultutous tumultuous people troublesome tumultuous tumultuous tumultuous fol. 74. Tumultuous troublesome enuie emulation malice fol. 75. Troublesome out-cries Horses Colts fiercely wanton tumultuous turbulent crew folly and indiscretion clamors fol. 76. Troublesome sedition sedicious course tumultuations vnchristian deuice odious to God and good men maliciously malicious set sedition tumultuous presumptuously fol. 77. Passion venome of stomack indiscretion intemperance lacke of conscience modesty shame contumelious speeches a most wicked and iniurious deuise vnfortunate men hired by the publike aduersary capitall slaunder fol. 78. Slaunderously iniuriously strife contention great and strange passion intemperate spirit reuenge enuie and precipitation treason traytors contemptible fol. 79. Betrayed and iniuriously vexed by our own small consideration mutable weake and passionate fol 80. Folly bad and mad course ¶ In the seauenth Chapter Fol. 80. Transported brethren exceeding the limits of modesty anger emulation passionate motiues no stay of conscience or religion open breach to all licentious liberty of vnshamefull rayling opprobrious and contumelious scolding breach of modesty contempt infamy fol 81. Notorious lyes manifest slaunders false calumniations scurrilous immodest neither modesty shame nor conscience disgorging gall wanton malapert mad speeches wicked Libell fol. 82. Hideous and horrible detractions slaunders and infamations sinfull dealing sinfull burden horrible sinnes vnchristian calumniations sinfull lad sinfull suds defectuous and sinfull wrong shapen blinking aspect looking nine wayes at once wanton imaginations lasciuious phrases sensuall and venerous apprehensions contemplations and desires fol. 83. Sinfull and wretched poore fellow lost lad true staine of his religion and order falsly and wickedly vsed by the deuill publique reproach of our profession infamous books factious base and absurd instrument base instrument mutined brethren rebellion begging boy contemptible ridiculous thing fol. 84. Liberty sensuallity dizzards and absurdities fol. 85. Bewraying and betraying Cath simple ridiculous no learning voluntary conspiring with the common enemie meere malice enuie pride fol 86. Miserable fellow state of damnation desperate case licentious course shifter malice disorderly life notorious foolery dignity of perdition mutined and discontented priests mutinie dissension no care of truth raile reuile and reuell as turbulent spirits shamelesse fooâ—ish malicious insolently faction and rebellion impudent lyes absurd wicked impious speech fol 87 Hereticall obiection a most ridiculous companion pride as high presumption as any heretike can professe few companions impiety Lucianisme raylings lyings fol. 88. Proctors for persecutors wicked impious Herodians wicked deuises bloody companions odious dispute impiety suggested by heretikes ribauld speech notorious lyes shamelesse contemptuous and scoffing spirit fol. 89. Infidelity prophane irreligiosity lacke of spirit sence in Gods affaires outragious detraction fiery darts of hellish hatred serpentine tongues mad and possessed men raue and rage sedicious contentious tumultuous desastred dissolute malicious and enuious calumniation passionate emulators malicious slaunders impudencie lyes and malicious inuentions miserable men enuie setters on of heretikes malice wicked men vnchristian and deuillish deuise malicious people fol. 90. Wicked companions exorbitant malice consciencelesse rayling people malice scurrilous obiection fol. 91. Malicious cauill counterfet or cauiling Cath malignity pure malice swelling enuie pestilent bookes violent and virulent people without wit or honesty fol. 92. Shamelesse bookes false Libellers wilfull calumniations fabulous Lucianicall narration spirit of spite lacke of shame fol. 93. Infamy fardell of lyes impudencie her selfe brazen or iron face desperate behauiour a life of loud lyes desperatly faced out monstrous lye impudent lye shamelesse insolent impious fol. 94. Wild mad insolent desperate course frantike possessed men monstrous lyes absurd prophanities malicious fictions consciencelesse calumniations wretched and miserable mens