Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
state_n	church_n	civil_a	punish_v	1,086	5	8.9722	5	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16828	A true, sincere and modest defence, of English Catholiques that suffer for their faith both at home and abrode against a false, seditious and slanderous libel intituled; The exectuion of iustice in England. VVherein is declared, hovv vniustlie the Protestants doe charge Catholiques vvith treason ...	Allen, William, 1532-1594.	1584 (1584)	STC 373; ESTC S100110	150,813	230

al in that they haue submitted them selues and their scepters to the sweet yoke of Christ are subiect to discipline and to their Pastors authoritie no lesse theÌ„ other sheepe of his fould And although the state regiment policy power temporal The Ciuil gouernour subiect to the spiritual amongst Christians be in it self alwayes of distinct nature qualitie and condition from the gouernment Ecclesiastical and spiritual common weath called the Church or bodie mystical of Christ and the Magistrat spiritual and ciuil diuers and distinct and sometime so far that th' one hath no dependance of th' other nor subalternation to th' other in respect of them selues as it is in the Churches of God residing in heatheÌ„ kingdomes and was in th'Apostles times vnder the Pagane Emperours yet now where the lawes of Christ are receiued and the bodies politique and mistical the Church and Ciuil state the Magistrate Ecclesiastical and teÌ„poral coÌ„curre in their kindes together though euer of distinct regiments natures and endes ther is such a concurrence and subalternation betwixt both that th' inferior of the two which is the Ciuil state must needes in matters perteining anie way ether directlie or indirectlie to the honor of God and benefit of the soule be subiect to the spiritual and take direction from the same The condition of thes two powers as S. Gregorie Nazianzen most excellentlie resembleth it is like vnto the distinct state of the same spirit and bodie In Orati ad popul trepidaÌ„tem Impera commotum or flesh in a man wher ether of them hauing their proper and peculiar operations endes and obiects which in other natures may be seuered as in Brutes wher flesh is not spirit Nazians similitude to expresse the subordinatioÌ„ of Ciuil and of Spiritual gouernmeÌ„t in Angels wher spirit is but not flesh are yet in man conioined in person and neuerthelesse so distinct in faculties and operations that the flesh hath her actions peculiar and the soule hers but not without al subalternation or dependance Where we see euidentlie that in case the operations of the bodie be contrarie to th' end weale and iust desires of the soule the spirite may and must commaund ouerrule and chastise the bodie and as superior appointeth fasting and other afflictions though with some detriment to the flesh commanding the eyes not to see the tonge not to speake and so forth So likewise the power Political hath her Princes Lawes Tribunals and the Spiritual her Prelates Canons Counsels Iudgements and thes when the Princes are Pagans wholy separate but in Christian Common-wealths ioined though not confounded nor yet the Spiritual turned into the Temporal or subiect by peruerse order as it is now in England to the same but the Ciuil which in deed is the inferior subordinate and in some cases subiect to the Ecclesiastical though so loÌ„g as the temporal State is no hinderance to eternal felicitie the glory of Christs kingdome th' other intermedleth not with her actions but alloweth defendeth honoreth and in particular Common-wealthes obeyeth the same Yet wher it is otherwise VVhen the Spiritual gouernmeÌ„t is to correct the Temporal and the temporal power resisteth God or hindreth the proceeding of the people to saluation ther the Spiritual hath right to correct the Temporal and to procure by al meanes possible that the terrene kingdome giue no annoyance to the State of the Church which now adorned in the new TestameÌ„t with the power of Christs Priesthood and with seueral and distinct officers appointed by the Holie-ghost must needes so far excel the terrene state and dominatioÌ„ as the Sonne passeth the Moone the soule the bodie and heauen the earth By reason of which excellencie and preeminence aboue al states and men without exception of Prince or other our Lord proclameth in his Gospel Math. 18 that who soeuer obeyeth not or heareth not the Church must be taken and vsed no otherwise then as a Heathen This being so plaine and in truth so beneficial to the verie Kinges and CommoÌ„-welthes them selues that the preseruation of both specially standeth vpon this concurrence with the Church and Priesthood and with the due subalternation of the temporal to the spiritual regiment and which al Kinges that be not for punishment of their owne and their peoples sinnes obdurate and prepared by Gods iudgment to be an example of his power and iustice most gladlie acknowledge yet their be so manie either flatterers of Princes that so say Deceatful persuasions of Politikes vnto Princes for their ruine or Heretiques that so thinke that the Ministers of Christs most deare Spouse of his verie bodie mystical his kingdome and house in earth whom at his departure hence he did endowe with most ample Commission and sent forth with that authoritie that his Father before gaue vnto him haue no power ouer Princes to denounce or declare them to be violators of Gods and the Churches lawes nor to punish them either spirituallie or temporallie not to excommunicate them nor to discharge the people of their othe and obedience towardes such as neither by Gods law nor mans a true Christian may obey Wherin it may please the geÌ„tle readers to enforme their conscieÌ„ces partlie by that is said before and speciallie by that which foloweth Wher they shal finde that streight vpon the first conuersion of Kinges to the faith The examples of disobedient Princes to the Church and of their punishment or confusioÌ„ as the good and godlie haue euer obeyed the Church and submitted them selues to Ecclesiastical censures and discipline so the euil obstinate could neuer orderlie discharge them selues from the same without euident note of iniustice tirannie and irreligiositie and were either in fin brought to order and penance or els to confusion both temporal eternal Chrisost in vita Baby About xiij hundreth years agoe Babylas Bishop of Antioche excommunicated the onely Christian king or Emperour that then was as some count Numerius The exaÌ„ple of Bishop Babylas as others Philip for executing a Prince that was put to him for an hostage Wherupon as euil kinges sometimes doe he martired his Bishop whom S. Chrisostome and others recken for the most famous Martyr of that time because he gaue both by his constancie and courage in God a notable example to al Bishops of their behauiour towardes their Princes and how they ought to vse th'Ecclesiastical rodde of correctioÌ„ towardes them what soeuer befal to their persons for the same After the said Prince had murthered his owne Pastor Nicep li. 5. cap. 25. then holie Pope Fabian for that he was the general shepard of Christendome or as some thinke Fabius the successor of Babylas pursued the said Emperour by like excommunication and other meanes til at length he brought him to order and repentance Afterward S. Ambros Bishop of Millan excommunicated th' elder Theodosius th'Emperour Soz. lib. 7. Cap. 24. Theo. lib. 5. Cap. 17 Amb. li. 5

the conducting of them to life and peace euerlasting and the temporal perteineth principallie to the good and traÌ„quilitie of this traÌ„sitorie life comparing theÌ„ both together it must needes be coÌ„fessed that the spiritual is the higher nearer and liker to the Soueraintie of God ouer his reasonable creatures theÌ„ is the terrene power or Humane creature as the Apostle here termeth the King his presideÌ„ts 2. Pet. 7. So as euerie power both spiritual and temporal being of God as S. Paul teacheth and obedience and subiection due to both in their kind though in seueral subiects causes and respectes yet is it most cleare that of the two the ecclesiastical power and regiment is more excellent In respect wherof S. Ignatius The subordination of the tvvo povvers according to S. Ignatius giueth this order in honoring and respecting our superiours Honour God the author and Lord of al and the Bishop as the Prince of Priestes being the Image of God and holding his Princedome of him and his Priesthood of Christ Epist ad SmirneÌ„ And after him you must honor also the King For none is to be preferred before God nor equal to him nor more honorable in the Church then the Bishop exercising the Priesthood of God for the saluation of the vvorld Nether is anie equal to the King in the hoste or campe procuring peace and beneuolence to the other Princes vnder him For he that honoreth the Bishop shal be honored of God and he that dishonoreth him shal of God be dishonored For if anie man rising against the king is vvorthie of damnation hovv can he escape Gods iudgementes that attempteth anie thing against or vvithout the Bishop For Priesthood is the cheef and somme of al mans good vvhich vvho so euer disgraceth dishonoreth God and our Lord IESVS CHRIST the chefe Priest of God c. And if anie man list farther to see what the olde Christian Emperours thought and acknowledged in this matter The opinioÌ„ practise of old Christian Emperours in this cause and how they behaued them selues towardes Gods priestes in al causes of religion and spiritual affaires and with what honour priuilege and prerogatiue they respected their persons and holie calling euen in temporal causes let him reade Zozomenus how Constantine the great behaued him self towardes the Bishopes in the first Councel of Nice Li. 2. ca. 2. trip and S. Augustines 162. epistle of the same Emperours contentment to aske pardon of the Bishopes for taking vpon him to deale in the Cause of Caecilian properlie perteining to them S. Ambrose epistle 32. of Valentinian the elders lawe that in ecclesiastical causes none should iuditiallie deale that were not of the same order The like he writeth of the Emperour Gratians behauiour in the Councel of Aquileia And to be breefe let him reade the Emperour Iustinianus sixt constitution wher he both putteth the true difference betwixt the Priesthood and the Empire and preferreth that before this saying thus The greatest giftes of God among men Auth. Quomodo oport Episcop c. in p. is the Priestood and the Empire of vvhich tvvo the former hauing the administration of diuine thinges the other of humane both proceeding of one beginning doe adorne mans life c. And thus it is euen in thos Countries where the Church and Ciuil state concurre in one common wealth wher like as the Prelates be in some respect and causes subiect to the temporal Prince so againe the Prince and state reciprocallie in spiritual matters are obedient to the Church Prelates ether of them deferring due honor to the other but the spiritual souerantie euer preferred among the faithful though for worldlie power force and glorie most necessarie to keepe the people in awe order kinges doe lightlie exceed the other Which exterior shew and splendour of Prince the Prelates of their seueral dominions doe most humblie by al seruice and office manteine But now for the Pope cheefe of al Bishopes and Christian people being in respect of his temporal state subiect to no Prince nor Potentat of the world and for his spiritual dignitie and iurisdiction farre passing al the Prelates of particular Churches and prouinces his principalitie being in nether kind subiect or subalternate to anie other he must needes be greater and more pearles without al exception and limitation And though his state and authoritie temporal be not holden nor chalenged by Gods expresse lawe immediatlie of him as the spiritual supremacie is The prouideÌ„ce of God for the Popes teÌ„poral povver which he hath and holdeth immediatlie and directlie of Christ yet it is Gods great prouidence that sith the Emperours and Kinges haue bene christened and submitted them selues to the obedience of Christ and his Church that the cheefe Bishop should for the honour of Christ and his high dignitie be made free from al subiection by the Princes and Emperours owne grauntes be possessed of the capital Citie of al the world Which could neuer haue bene brought to passe nor so manie worlde 's continued in the reuolutions changes and ouerturninges of so many kingdomes states great Monarchies round about him had it not bene done by Gods special pleasure ordinance to the end that being subiect to none he might with more libertie lesse danger and greater indifferencie doe iustice to al and vse discipline without feare or respect of persons as wel towardes great as smal Which if he were subiect to some secular Princes as most other Bishopes are could hardlie be done In which case also some of our ignorant Heretiques as among other this Libeller be so vnsensible that they sticke not to alleage the saying of S. Paul Absurd allegatioÌ„ of S. Paul by the Libeller Rom. 13. That euerie soule must be subiect to superiour povver to proue therbie as it seemeth that the Pope should be obedient to our Queene or to some other particular king As though euerie person should be subiect to euerie power or to anie other then to him that hath superioritie ouer him or in anie other matters then wherin he hath superioritie may commaund Or as though God had onelie ordeined secular power and commaunded al obedience therunto and not appointed spiritual power and prelacie with charge of subiection vnto the same also With such grosse felowes the Church hath to doe that nether haue sense reason nor religion and which alleage that for obedience to earthlie powers onelie which ether in expresse wordes or by necessarie sequele much more commendeth subiection to spiritual powers As with like blindnes the man also alleageth this our Sauiours sentence The Kinges of the Gentils haue rule over them Luc. 22. but you not so to proue that Popes should arrogate no temporal authoritie but feede onelie as he saith Peter did and manie of the next Popes after him Which he would neuer haue cited if he had knowen that hereby onelie al tirannical domination vsed among the heathen Princes

and prayers depending vpon his soueraine determination a thing that al nations haue to take heede of by our example for the redresse of which pernicious absurditie so manie of our said brethren so willinglie haue shed ther blood The ridiculous varietie of Heretiques about the Headship of the Church In the first ParliameÌ„t of her Maiesties reigne it was indeed in a maner thrust vpon her against her wil because otherwise ther could haue bene no colour to make new lawes for change of ReligioÌ„ and this title of Cheefe gouernesse was thought to be a qualification of the former tearme of Headship But in truth it is al one with thother or rather worse for in some kinde of improper speach the King may be called the Head or cheef of the Church of his countrie for that he is soueraigne lorde and ruler of bothe persons spiritual and temporal al sortes bound to obey his lawful ciuil lawes and commandementes and so in that sense is he Head of the cleargie and of al others But when in the new forme of our statute it is expreslie and distinctlie added that she is the onelie Supreame gouernour euen in al causes as vvel Spiritual and Ecclesiastical as temporal Ciuil and furthermore enacted that al iurisdictions priuiledges superiorities and preeminences ecclesiastical as by anie power spiritual haue bene or may be exercised are taken froÌ„ the Pope to whom Christ gaue them in most ample maner and are vnited or rather as they say restored by an old decree to the crowne of England this can haue no excuse nether trew or likelie sense in the world Absurdities that in sevv vppon making the temporal prince head of the Church making indeed a King and a Priest al one no differeÌ„ce betwixt the state of the Church and a temporal common wealth giuing no lesse right to heathen Princes to be gouernours of the Church in causes spiritual then to a christian king it maketh one parte of the Church in different teritoires to be independent and seueral from an other according to the distinction of realmes and kingdomes in the world And finallie it maketh euerie man that is not borne in the kingdome to be a forreiner also in respect of the Church thes and a thowsand absurdities and impossibilities more doe ensue which for breuitie we omitt onelie this which is in most mens memories we may not ouerpasse that the verie same yeare that this new preeminence was giuen by lawe to the Q. and th'othe accordinglie ministred to many some hauing remorse of the matter for to auoide daunger pretended for their refusal that it seemed to them by the wordes of th'othe and acte that the Q. might minister also the SacrameÌ„tes wherunto they wolde not sweare by anie meanes Wherupon in her next visitation of the cleargie a special iniunction was printed and published by her commaundement declaring that in truth she had no such intent Marke this circle in declaration of the title and that no suche thing was implied in her title or claime of spiritual regimeÌ„t nor no other thing nor more then was before graunted to her father by the tearme of Supreame head requiring al her louing subiectes to receiue th'othe at least in that sense and so it should suffice her highnesse By which it is now cleare by ther owne authentical declaratioÌ„ that we speake no vntrewth as this libeller sayth nor abuse not the world when we say she is called and taken for the Supreame head of the Church of England albeit the thing it self being far more absurde and of more pernicious sequele then the makers of the law which were mere laymeÌ„ and most of them vnlearned could then perceiue their folowers now would disauow the same For this article therfore as the famous bishoppe of Rochester Sir Thomas More and a great number more in king Henrie the 8. his dayes so did thos twoo last named martyrs and diuers others before them most gladlie and constantlie yeld vp their lyues and so consequentlie dyed for mere matter of religion onelie And to end this point we lastlie referre the aduersarie to the late Martyrdome of Cartar a poore innocent artisan who was made away onelie for printing a catholique booke De schismate in which no worde was found against the state the quarel onelie most vniustlie being made vpon a certaine clause which by no likelie honest construction could apperteine to the Q. person viz. that the Catholike religion should once haue the vpper hand of heresie and Iudith cutt of the head of Holophernes which they in their extreame ielousie and feare of all thinges wold needes wreast against her Maiestie And the place serueth here to saye some-what of the cause also of their racking of Catholiques which they wold haue strangers beleeue neuer to be done for anie point of religion Fol. 20. As for example say they in the addition to th' end of the libel none is asked by torture vvhat he beleeueth of the Masse or Transubstantiation or suche like Questions asked of catholiques vppon torture As though forsooth ther were no question perteining to faithe and religion but touching our inward beleefe Wheras in deed it concerneth religion no lesse to demaund and presse vs by torture wher in whos houses what dayes and tymes we say or heare Masse how manie we haue reconciled what we haue hard in confession who resorteth to our preachinges who harboreth catholiques and Priestes who susteineth aideth or comforteth them who they be that haue their children or pupilles in the Societie or Seminaries beyond the seas wher such a Iesuite or suche a Preist is to be found wher catholique bookes ar printed and by whom and to whom they be vttered in England which thinges being demaunded of euil inteÌ„t and to the annoyance of the Catholique cause Godes Priestes and innoceÌ„t men no man may by the lawe of God and nature disclose though he be expreslie commaunded by anie Prince in the world for that God must be obeyed more then man Yet thes were the Interrogatories for which the famous confessor M. Briant M. Briant was tormented with needles thrust vnder his nayles racked also otherwise in cruel sorte and speciallie punished by two whole dayes and nightes famine which they attribute to obstinacie but indeed susteined in Christes quarel it was most honorable constancie The like demaundes were put to the blessed martyrs Campion Sherwin and others vpon the torture M. Shirvvine and of this later namelie was asked where F. Persons and Campion were and whether he had said Masse in M. Roscarockes chamber and what money he had giuen him M. Thomson M. Thomson a venerable and learned Priest was put to tormentes onelie to get out of him to what end he kept certaine Superaltaries and wher he enteÌ„ded to bestowe them The said yong man Cartar Cartar of whos martyrdome we last treated was examined vpon the racke vpon what Gentlemen or catholique Ladies he had bestowed or

intended to bestowe certaine bookes of prayers and spiritual exercises and meditations which he had in his custodie Which may suffice to refute th' aduersaries asseueration that none haue bene tormented for other matter then treason But the wordes of M. Thomas Cotam M. Cotam vttered in sense at the barre and thus verbatim left in writing discouereth the case more plainlie to the shame of this cruel heresie for aduauncement wherof so shameful thinges be committed Thus therfore he spake and auouched openlie in the presence of the racke masters In-deed quoth he yow ar searchers of secrettes for yow wolde needes knowe of me what penaunce I was enioined by my ghostlie father for my sinnes committed and I acknowledge my frailtie that to auoide the intollerable torment of the racke I confessed God forgiue me what they demaunded therin but when they further vrged me to vtter also what my sinnes were for which that penaunce was enioined me a lothesome and vnchristian question I then answered that I wolde not disclose my offences sauing to God and to my ghostlie father alone Wherupon they sore tormented me and stil pressed me with the same demaund and I persisted that it was a most barbarous inhumane question and that I wolde not answere though they tormented me to death Thus spake M. Cotam at his arreignmeÌ„t wherwith the enimies being ashamed the LieutenaÌ„t of the Tower ther present begaÌ„ to denie the whole wheruÌ„to M. CotaÌ„ replied againe thus And is not this trew Here is present D. HammoÌ„ with the rest of the commissioners that were at my racking to whos consciences I appeale God is my witnesse that it is most trew and you knowe that Sir George Carie Sir George Carie. did aske me thes vnnatural questions denie it if you can In truth al your torture and demaundes euerie one were of no other treasons but matter of mere conscience faith and religion or els of such folies as I haue rehearsed As for the moderation great pitie and courtisie which by your Libel you wold haue the world beleue her Maiesties ministers haue euer vsed The crueltie in racking Catholiques in giuing the torment to the persons aforesaid and other Catholiques the poore innocentes haue felt it and our Lord God knoweth the contrarie And we can put you in remembrance that you did it with extreame rigour and dispite commonlie vpon no dew presumption nor reasonable suspition of discouerie of anie important matter therby Looke in your recordes what suspicion of treasons or great matters you could haue in yong Sherwood who was the first in our memorie that was put to the rack for matters of conscience then when no man dreamed of anie thes feined new conspiracies See whether a portable Altare be a sufficient cause to giue the torture to a graue worshipful person not so much as suspected of treason or anie disobedience other then in cases of conscience Whether bookes of prayers and meditations spiritual or the printing and spreading of them be a racke-matter in anie common wealth Christian Looke whether your ordinarie demaundes were of that weight and qualitie as were to be answered by coÌ„straint of the racke Let the world see what one confession of treasonable matter you haue wrested out by the so often tormenting of so many and what great secresies touching the state which you pretend so earnestlie to seeke for you haue found amongst them al No no nothing was ther in thos religious hartes but innocencie and true religion it is that which you punished tormeÌ„ted and deadlie hated in them Yf they wold haue in the least pointe in the world condescended to your desires in that or but once for your pleasures presented them selues at your Schismatical prayers al racking treasons had bene cleared and past Wherbie al the world seeth you did al for religioÌ„ not as for anie conscience that way wherwith most of you ar not much troubled but because the particular state of a number dependeth on this new religion Remember whether you layd not M. Thomson on the racke against al good vse and order before you euer examined him what presumptions had you so pregnant that you must racke the famous man father Campion about the Irishe commotion or collection of monie for the maintenance of the same or of anie knowledge he had of killing the Greatest as you mistically speake in your booke Fol. 2. Haue you not ordinarilie threatned men with the rackes and dongeons and sometimes brought them to the racke-house doore yea and laid some on the racke without either cause or intent to touche theÌ„ but onely by thos terrors to driue them to denie their Faith or to confesse wher they had said masse or other like thinges which you desired to knowe How often haue you by famine and filthie dongeoÌ„s tormented the happie yong confessor M. Iohn Harte M. Harte which could not now be after his condemnation for anie thing els but for his religioÌ„ and because he wold not yeeld to one Rainoldes a minister with whom you appointed him to confere For what other cause did you threaten the torture to M. Osburne but to make him confesse that he had said Masse before the true noble confessors of Christ my L. Vaux and Sir Thomas Tressame And which is more vntollerable is not your racke vsed or threatned to force men by the feare therof to speake thinges against truthe by your appointment and speciallie for false accusation of innocent gentlemen In his epistle to D. Alane set forth in priÌ„t Fo. 10 Iohn Nichols him self a protestant and one of your owne instrumentes hath acknowledged so muche iÌ„ publique writing affirming that Sir Owen Hopton lieutenant of the Tower enforced him to accuse diuers gentlemen by name of highe treason whom he neuer knew which he did to auoide his threatned tormentes as he writeth Thomson Borschoe Henslovve Clifton We speake nothing of the pitiful extremities you haue brought diuers vnto by horrible Fetters Stockes DongeoÌ„s Famine Or of the deathe of welneare twenty happie Catholiques at once infected and pestered in Yorke prison wher they perished by the vnmercifulnesse of the protestantes of whom by no pitiful complaintes they could obteine libertie or freshe aire for the sauing their liues without condescending to goe to their abhominable seruice We tel you not here againe that for the more affliction of Catholiques a thing to be marked and lamented Most barbarous cruelties of al christian hartes that you haue prophanelie made choice of SoÌ„daies great Holidayes to practise your torments vpon them after th' olde fashion of the Pagans rather then vpon workedayes that you bring other catholique prisoners neare to the place of torment to heare their brethrens sorowful cries and eftsoons leade some newlie taken from the racke vnder their fellowe prisoners windowes and to their doores that by hearing their pitiful complaintes sighes and grones proceding of infinite paines they may relent in religion Of al which

being laid for the ground of al hath nether the conclusion looked for against thos Priestes in particuler nor truth of narration in the premisses For nether were ther anie such Bulles and excommunications which they say were tollerated or contemned for certaine years none at al I say of that kind published in her dayes before that one of Pius quintus mentioned in the next argument folowing nether were ther extant anie old statutes that we know to be reuiued against such excoÌ„munications in any such sense as they wil seeme to make them The second Argument prooueth onelie that Felton for publishing Pius quintus his Bul The second reason was by their lawes condemned and put to death and was the first that was executed for matters comming from Rome wherupon how substantiallie it is inferred that father Campian and his fellowes were not condemned for Religion but for transgression of old statutes of treasons let the wise consider and withal let the learned in our lawes determine whether the bringing in of a Bul of excommunication from Rome were treason in the dayes and by the statute of K. Edward the third The third reason Thirdlie they reason thus the people raised rebellioÌ„ in the North ergo her Maiesty can not be blamed for vsing force against them and punishing the authors of the same which maketh litle against the persons here named The fourth reason Fourthly that the Pope stirred to rebellion and succoured the Irish therfore she hath great reason to search out al seditions persons as Priestes and Iesuites be and so to trie condemne execute them Nether of which reasons haue anie further sequele in the sight of anie reasonable and indifferent man then to punishe them that ar by lawful trial prooued to be partakers of thes actions which was impossible to doe in anie of the Priestes case arraigned neither was any of the said commotions laid in particular to any one of them al at the barre though impertinentlie such matters were for a deceitful florish often as in this Libel touched A rhetorical preuention of the Libeller And wheras by preuention of some obiections ether made or that may be made that thes poore religious Priestes scholers and vnarmed men could not be any doers in the warres of England or Ireland the Libel maketh a solemne rhetorical tale for answere that though they were not in the feeld to fight yet they might by their counsel encouragement and perswasion be partakers of the same crime and executed as accessorie to the other treasons which needed not so many superfluous wordes in so short a worke al the world confessing that the ministers messingers espials and abettours of offendors ar often no lesse punishable then the principal actors But in sincere dealing it had bene to be prooued that F. Campian and thos other holie men were secret workers and aiders of the Northerne and Irish commotion wherof nether now in this booke nor then at the barre any one word is alleaged Al is ful of wild and wast wordes artificiallie couched to abuse the ignorant that knew not the state of this disputation al running to this odde issue that her Maiesty hath reason to punish traitors but no word to conuince them of thes or any other old treasons for which they were endited nor to reproue vs that boldlie vpon euident demonstration yea and certeine knowledge doe testefie before God and man that they were not guiltie of thos offences of which they were endited and for which they were by vnlauful calumniation and violence cast away as in the face of the world but iÌ„ the sight of our Lord atteined a pretious death and the glorie of Saints euerlastinglie When it came to the verie point of the accusation and al rouing and rayling talke against Pope Rome Religion Seminaries Bulles Masses Preachinges Reconciliations Agnus deis and Beades with which they larded al their euidence though of such thinges they professed not to condemne them was to be set aside and now by witnesses to be prooued that they were guiltie of the forsaid conspiracie against the Q. person The vvitnesses that gaue euideÌ„ce against the Priestes of God Epist 212. c. two or thre such fellowes were sought out and procured to giue testimonie against them as first professed them selues to be heretiques and therfore by S. Augustines IudgemeÌ„t were not to be heard against a Catholique Priest Secondly seing heresie maketh no exception in England they were knowen to be otherwise common coosiners lost companions salable for a souz and bought by th'enimie to betray them beare witnes against them Thirdly some of them charged in the face of the court with shameful adultery with dooble or triple murther and other like horrible crimes pardoned for this purpose Fourthly they were discouered both then and afterward of notorious falshood incongruitie and discord of tymes persons places and other circumstances and their iniquity eftsoons disclosed by their owne * Iohn Nichols in his letters imprinted fellowe And to see now the men of God so manie so excellent for vertue so famous for learning religion zeale and deuotion to hold their liues vpon the conscience of such notorious Atheistes and out-castes of the world yea as in M. Paines case vpon the bare word of one of them onely A pitiful case against diuine humane lawes requiriÌ„g twoo witnesses at the least it was surelie verie pitiful to behold but not maruelous to vs that coÌ„sidered the conditioÌ„ of our time easelie forsawe that thes holy mens deathes were now designed and thought necessarie by our Politiques for conseruation of their state as the Libeller here subtilly insinuateth Fol. 16. that it was to be done in regard of the dangerous tyme when the Popes forces were in Ireland and more in preparation to folowe aswel into England as he conningly faineth to make the necessitie of this Iustice more excusable as also into Ireland as though he wold say that by some one pretence or other for terrour and example they were to be found guiltie and so dispatched StraÌ„ge proceedings in matters of life and death Well thus their good witnesses gaue in euidence of thinges spoken and contriued in Rome and Reims which were knowen to be most false of al that were in ether place the times and dayes by them named whatsoeuer was ether trulie or falselie testefied to be done or said in ether of the twoo places by anie English ther dwelling it was vniustly applied to al euery one of thes good men now standing in iudgement yea it serued against some that were neuer in ether place in their life as against M. Foord and M. Collington as also against Father CampiaÌ„ that dwelt a thowsand myles of in Prage occupied by his Superiours in teaching and preaching wholie estranged from al Englishmen and English affaires otherwise then in his prayers for aboue nine years together not euer sene or knowen to diuers

of conscience if for feare they obey or of their vndoing in the world if they refuse The taking of their deare children from them by force and placing them for their seduction with Heretiques which violence can not be done by the lawe of God to Iewes them selues the burning of our Priestes in the eares the whipping and cutting of the ears of others carying some in their sacred vestments through the streetes putting our chaste virgins into infamous places appointed for strumpets other vnspeakable vilanies â—ot inferiour to anie of the said heathnesse persecutions They haue pined and smothred in their filthie prisons aboue thirtie famous Prelates The sufferinges of Catholiques aboue fourtie excellent learned men of nobles gentlemen and maâ—â—ones a number whos Martirdome is before God as â—lorious as if they had by a speedie violent death â—ene dispatched euerie dongeon and filthie prison ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ England ful of our Priestes brethen al Prouinâ—es and Princes christianed witnesses of our banishâ—ent In al this we yeeld them our bodies goods â—ountrie blood liues nothing wil queÌ„ch their haâ—red of our Priesthood faith and profession Thus in ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ causes we suffer and yet they would not haue vs â—omplaine they say al is sweet clement and merciful â—n this regiment But as we said we no otherwise â—omplaine of this persecution against vs but as it is exercised for that faith and quarel which the lawes of God and man approue and iustifie in vs That it is done by the sheepe and subiectes of Godes Church against their owne Prelates and pastors to whom in causes of religioÌ„ they ar bound to obey by th'expresse word of God When the lauful magistrate bearing sword by God for punishment of offenders putteth theeues heretiques or murderers to death who accompteth it crueltie who complaineth of persecution But when contrariwise by anie violent disorder the malefactors get head and take hart in a commen wealth and kil a lauful officer iudge or superior that is a cruel and horrible fact though it be done but in one or two persons in stead of a thousand wicked men executed by iust lawes So wheÌ„ the Prince and Prelate proceed together against such as by the sentence and law of the Church of Christ ar adiudged to be heretiques and iniuries to God that is Iustice but when the temporal Prince or lay people rebel against their owne Bishops to whom in spiritual matters they ar bound by Godes word to giue eare vnder paine of damnatioÌ„ yea wheÌ„ mere lay meÌ„ most of theÌ„ wholie vnlearned disorderlie take vpon theÌ„ to prescribe vnto their owne pastors what they should beleeue how they should minister the SacrameÌ„ts force vpon them false and impious othes and articles and that in Parliament wher the Bishops by the lawes of our countrie hauing the principal suffrages and the rest of the whole Conuocation representing the Church of England honorablie and vniformelie resisted whoÌ„ thes meÌ„ afterward deposed of their honors toke their pulpits churches titles prerogatiues from them imprisoned their sacred persons and abused some of them True persecution namelie the noble Confessor and Bishop of London by al sortes of vilanie This loe is a persecutioÌ„ indeed wher the sheep subiects and inferiors violentlie oppose them selues against them whom the the Holie-ghost hath placed to be the guides gouernours and curates of their soules Yea when they depose disauthorize spoile punishe imprison their owne rulers Gods annointed Priestes giue warrant by wicked lawes to the temporal powers to visit correct iudge discerne of the doctrine of their Maisters in religion that is a persecution sedition and rebellion in the highest degree And we may trewlie say hereof to our lost Countrie with the Prophet Osee 4. Populus tuus sicut hi qui contradicunt Sacerdoti the state of the persecution being wholie agreable to the mutinie of Chore DathaÌ„ AbiroÌ„ and their confederats in the desert against their lauful Priestes and Gouernors yea properlie against the high Priesthood of Aaron as our contries reuolt now is against the sea Apostolique and al lauful spiritual regiment proceeding from the same And therfore the Libeller guilfullie iÌ„ respect of the simple but fondlie and falslie in our eyes disproueth our lauful refusal to obey men before God and our resistance in matter of conscience by th' example of Chores conspiracie which toucheth al their rebellions froÌ„ the sea Apostolique Catholique Church and confirmeth al our endeuours for maintenance of the same against what aduersaries so euer And their rebellion is the more plaine The nevv cleargie and persecution more hateful and intollerable for that they haue not onely vnnaturallie done this violeÌ„ce to their owne spiritual rulers but therupon also haue chosen at their pleasures and intruded into their places a sort of greedie wolues vnordered Apostats amarous and godlesse companions the very filth and chanel of the Realme who for hatred of the Catholique faith from which they ar Renegates and through a kind of competencie or emulatioÌ„ of the true Bishops whos roomes by secular force they vniustlie haue inuaded and doe deteine beare such vnquenshable malice to the true annointed cleargie to their obedieÌ„t folowers that they cease not to iÌ„cite the powers of the Realme against vs and exercise them selues vnder the pretensed title of their vsurped dignities and other temporal commissions the greatest tirannie and crueltie in the world standing in feare of their state so long as they see anie true Bishop or Catholique man aliue Who 's actioÌ„s are the rather intollerable for that they know and hath beene prooued in open court that they not onelie vsurpe thos places against Gods and the Churches lawes but that they were not made and inuested according to the new lawes of the Realme speciallie made for creation of them So as our true pastors being vexed spoiled tormented and slaine against lawe nature and al reason by temporal men hauing no authoritie in causes ecclesiastical and by a new forged cleargie that exerciseth no Iurisdiction but by euident vsurpation against both the Canons of the Church and the lawes of our countrie who is of so dul a wit as not to see the difference of the discipline of the Church and Realme done towardes offendors in Catholique times and states by lauful authoritie both spiritual and temporal and the iniust persecution of the Church and her children now proceeding of nether lauful authoritie temporal nor spiritual VVhat clemencie vvas vsed to them of the old Clergie at the beginning Therfore let not the Libeller here so much extol the equitie and mercie vsed in her Maiesties regiment to certaine of the old principal cleargie because they put theÌ„ not to death as they haue done others sitheÌ„ce Cicero wil not sticke to tel them what a benefit is done to an honest man when his purse is taken from him and yet his life saued and what thankes ar to be rendred in that case to the

benefactor What courtesie so euer was shewed at that time more then afterwards to such as folowed which iÌ„ good sooth was no other then in stead of a present quicke dispatch on Gibet to allow them a long and miserable life or rather a lingering and languishing death in durance desolation and disgrace a far worse kind of persecution as S. Hilarie noteth against Constance the Arrian Emperour then anie other But whatsoeuer it was that moued them not to put such to present death as they haue done some of the yonger sort afterward no difference of cause ther was the later sort being indeed no more traiterous or disloyal then the former This may perhaps be the cheefe cause that persecutors lightlie at the beginning vse of purpose and pollicie VVhy they vsed Catholiques better at the beginning the novv gentle allurements hoping that way to gaine the grace of al sortes which is the reason that Iulian the Emperour in the beginning was much noted of clemencie but in fin when he saw he could not extinguish the Christian faith by art his former hypocritical lenitie was at length turned into extreme furie In our countrie at the first entrance of Heresie they had al the principal Cleargie and diuers cheefe Catholiques in prisons or places at commaundmeÌ„t wher they could not exercise their functions and being ancient men most of them they knew they could not liue long wherof diuers hauing bene in high offices hard before had shewed pleasures to some protestaÌ„ts that should haue els suffred for their Heresies or treasons in Q. Maries dayes who now by sauing some of the said Bishops liues thought to requit their courtesies in part They litle thought that thes old holy CoÌ„fessors being worne out by years and imprisonment a new generation would rise to defend their old Bishops and Fathers faith Wherin perceauing now after twentie fiue years struggling against Gods Church al their humane counsels to be frustrat and that they can haue no rest in their Heresie nor security of their state depending as they thinke therupon they ar now in greater furie and rage towards vs making chalenge for our ancestors faith then they were with the said holie Bishops though to say truth in respect of the others high calling and vnction to degrade onely and imprison one of them was greater punishment theÌ„ twentie deathes to vs being to them but punies and their pupiles and most obedient children of their pastoral dignitie But wher the Libeller pretendeth vs to be guiltie of other treasons and trespasses then they were and therfore punished by death rather then they as also pressed by thes new questions of the Bul and other capital matters as they neuer were we auouch both assertions to be vntrue nether our treasons being other then matter of our conscience and religion more then theirs were nor yet they beiÌ„g in deed so quiet obedient subiects as you coÌ„fesse them to haue bene were alwayes free from such or other bloodie and quareling demaunds as now are put to vs for entangling of our blood Wherof aswel the honorable Confessor and Bishop of LondoÌ„ may be an example before any excommunication of the Q. was heard of as other Prelates and prisoners of that time and ranke conuented afterward about nine yeares agoe and had interrogatories concerning the Bul of the verie same sense and peril as thes that quiet Catholique men ar now tempted euen to death with-al As for the high praises and special testimonie of wisdome Praises geeuen to the old Clergy by the Libeller learning and loialtie that it liked the maker of the Libel to giue in particuler and in very nice fashion and miniard tearmes to certaine of the cheefe Clergie though it be but the sweet Salue of Ioab to Amasa kissing and killing both at once for within six lines he crieth shame and reproch to them al yet it is a condemnation to him and his fellowes that presumed to dispossesse so noble wise and learned Prelates and to prefer the iudgment and verdict of men ignorant and prophane before such mens sentence euen in matter of ReligioÌ„ and much more to put into their places a number of incircuncised Philistines takeÌ„ of the raskalitie of the whole Realme and of such onely as could would fil my Lordes of the Courtes handes with the benediction giuen to Esau in respect of whom or of any or al the route that suffred for Heresie in Q. Maries daies the poorest and worst that be in trouble for religion at home or in banishment for the same abrod of whom this Libeller vpon ether his malicious heretical humor or artificial policie to diminish their credit with the people or their grace with the Princes and Prelates abrode vnder whos protection they liue speaketh so contemptiblie and in part so reprochfullie and slaunderouslie may be in al life and behauiour accounted Saints It is a shame to folowe the Libellers follie in the pursuite of such childish thinges The comparison of thos that suffer novv vvith theÌ„ that suffred in Q. Maries time but he compelleth vs and therfore we be forced to compare our cases persons to theirs that were burned in our countrie for Heresie and Apostacie not long before The Libel therfore maketh a glorious muster of Archbishops so he speaketh by Enalage numeri for indeed ther was but one and he a notorious periured and often relapsed Apostata recanting swearing forswearing at euerie turne CraÌ„mer and at the verie day and houre of his death sacrilegiouslie ioyned in pretended mariage to a woman notwithstanding his vowe and order the verie first and principal cause of of th' English calamitie Other Bishops or clergie men were ther none of al the packe that was burned though two or three of them had iniustly vsurped some Prelates roomes but were of the basest for most part worst and contemptiblest of both sexes In so much that the verie saint-woman Foxes Saint-vvoman whos child as he sayth vpon lying Foxes credit burst out of her bellie into the fier was nought of her bodie and therfore to couer her incontinencie would not vtter to the Officer her case nor claime after the custome of our countrie the benefit of her bellie but for the honor of her holie Martirdom forsooth went to the fier with the child iÌ„ her woÌ„be her self onelie knowing therof wher almightie God discouered her filthe and shame wher she looked for the glorie of a Saint of a virgin Martyr of which sort ther is none in al Foxes Martirologe nor commoÌ„ly amoÌ„gst protestaÌ„ts saincts Now for thes we yeeld vnto the Libeller The nomber and qualitie of Catholiques that haue suffered first fourtene noble and most worthie Bishops at one time such as him self vpon euil inteÌ„t commeÌ„ded euen now so highelie and indeed they were inferior in vertue learning to none in Europe who al were depriued of their honors high callinges and most of theÌ„ imprisoned spitefullie vsed

heauen as it is reported were so partiallie or rigorouslie scanned by the malice of his great and potent professed enemie that many yeares hath sought his ruine together with his zealousnes in the Catholique faith brought him to his most pittiful end to the great regret of the whole countrie But the importunitie of the aduersarie hath brought vs somewhat out of our intended cours To returne backe therfore to our famous Prelates deposed in this Queens dayes the principal wherof was Archebishop of Yorke D. Heath Archbishop of York highe Chancelour of the realme the Primate of Canterburie being deceased before which worthie man this Libeller hipocriticallie commendeth for his loyaltie though in Religion differing from them therby to make the Q. Maiesties mercie towardes him a paterne forsooth of clemencie not to be matched as he wiselie writeth in Q. MARIES time which Queene notwithstanding pardoned a number of heretiques and ranke condemned traitors both of life and landes whom we could name al the world knoweth yet aliue And further he addeth which is a notorious vntruth that the said Prelate voluntarilie left both his Chauncelorship and Archbishopricke wher al wise men wil witnes with him and for him that he was most vniustlie with the rest of his Suffraganes and brethren Bishops for refusing to take that absurd othe of the Q. Supremacie and to vse the new Caluinistical seruice in his prouince deposed by violence from his spiritual function dignitie Who 's courage and resistance for quarel of Gods religion how loial and obedient so euer the Libeller would make thos men in comparison of vs therby to insinuate that the more bloodie rigour is vsed now towardes vs then in the beginning towardes them was such in them specially in the said Archbishop that he worthelie and as became his Excellencie refused to anoint or crowne the Q. Maiestie that now is though it apperteined to his special office to doe the same the Metropolitan being dead as hath bene said before and so did al the rest of the Bishops refuse the same vntil with much a doe they obteined the Bishope of Carlisle The Bishop of Carlisle the iÌ„ferior al most of al the rest to doe that function Which is here remembred by me for that the Libeller of his good discretion recordeth it for special courtesie of that man towardes his Princesse Which refusal of him specially that by office should haue done the same might in reason haue bene construed to as hainous and treasonable a purpose as most thinges that afterward haue bene done for the Catholique cause by anie of the later years if the malice of that time had bene as ripe then as now it is against Gods Church and Priestes The cause why they durst not theÌ„ nor could be adduced by anie humane feare or authoritie to inuest her was VVhy the Catholique Bishops refused to croune this Q. for that they had euident probabilities and arguments to doubt that she ment ether not to take the othe or not to keepe the same which al Christian kinges and speciallie ours in England doe make in their Coronation for maintenance of holy Churches lawes honors peace and priuileges and other duties due to euery state as in the time and graunt of K. Edward the Confessor They doubted also lest she would refuse in the verie time of her sacre the solemne diuine ceremonie of vnction accustomed in the consecration of al Christian princes through the euil aduises of certaine yoÌ„g counsellers being then in the heate prime and pride of their Heresie wherby great scandal might arise and hurt to the Realme Which they the rather doubted because they saw not loÌ„g before her Highnes at her first entraÌ„ce to that high estate commaund a certaine Bishop euen the same of Carlisle now named staÌ„ding readie to say Masse before her a strange case in a woman towardes a Bishop not to eleuate the holy consecrated Hoste but to omit that ceremonie because she liked it not Which the said Bishop to his great honor constantlie refused to obey A thing that in one of vs poore men now perchaunce would be accompted high treason and disloialtie towardes our Soueraine And of this his courage in Gods cause it neuer repented him but for doing the other office at the Coronation when he sawe the issue of the matter and both him self and al the rest of his sacred order depriued and the Churches Holie lawes and faith against the conditions of her consecration and acceptation into that royal roome violated he sore repented him al the dayes of his life which were for that special cause both short and werisome afterward vnto him Otherwise doubtles al the Bishops and the rest of the principal of the inferior Cleargie did stoutlie and worthelie as could be wished as was possible in that sodaine assault of Heresie fearing at the same time their personal peril so litle The intention of the Clergie to ExcoÌ„municate the Q. that they were manie of them of that mind that it should be good to vse the censure of Excommunication against her Highenes and some of her leaders into that reuolt so dangerous and shameful to the state so latelie reconciled to the sea Apostolique and by othe and promis of al estates confirmed But the wiser of the Bishops or at least the mylder sort persuaded the contrarie for manie inconueniences that might ensue and so they rather resolued the matter to be remitted to the high Pastor of Christes vniuersal Church then to be executed by them that were her subiects not without peril perhaps of some further tumult scaÌ„dal and trouble to the whole Cleargie whom they would haue interpreted to haue done it of malicious and rebellions mind rather theÌ„ of loue and dutie of which al such censures indeed doe proceed how so-euer the partie affected and sicke in soule especiallie Princes except they be verie wel trained in the feare of God accept the same wel remembring that manie Kinges had killed their Pastors in like cases Al this we put doune that no man be abused by the enemie to thinke that the Reuerend Prelats at the first were lesse zealous which he calleth more loial or more obedient to the Prince in lauful thinges then we their scholars and of-spring be or we lesse loial theÌ„ they and therfore more punishable then they were though in deed their perpetual imprisonment and pining away in miserable desolation their tossing and shifting from one superintendents house to an other from one keeper to an other from one prison to an other subiect to extreme wantes and to a thowsand daylie vilanies besides wherof some of theÌ„ now haue tasted for twentie fiue years together is worse then any death in the world This then is a true PersecutioÌ„ indeed when such men for such causes against al reason and lawes be so vexed by such as owe them al reuerence dutie and obedience Such is also the miserable fortune of the Catholique Nobilitie

CaÌ„bridge as also your confessor Iewel of Salisburie had done the like in Oxford if he had not bene in time preueÌ„ted Were not al the packe of your Protestantes confederated or acquainted wyth Wiates conspiracie and open rebellion against their Prince and Countrie This is proued by their ovvne testimonie herafter with other wicked attemptes against the state of that time as they haue bene sithe wel neare against al the states and Prouinces Christened But of this you must needes heare more anone But it is a world to see the cunning winding of this Libeller for being ashamed as it seemeth or els in doubt of that which he had boldlie affirmed before now cometh to foist in a word to salue al as he thinketh and that is Anice shift That at their death they denied not their Q. c. And in such deceipt-ful cobling in of wordes he passeth no line lightlie without fraude But for answere herof we say that what they did at their death or the day after God knoweth but it is plaine that in their life they were notorious Rebels as most of that sect be And how manie of our men I pray you Sir of whos liues deathes so great noÌ„bers can beare witnes denied their obedience or meeklie prayed not for the Q. at the verie place and tyme of their execution Euerie one of theÌ„ as they liued exemplarlie for dutie and loyal behauiour to al their superiours both temporal and spiritual so yeelded they their happie life and blood in al Apostolical patience peace and meeknes for the faith wherin they our countrie and al conuerted nations in the world were baptized for the verie same beleefe wherin th' olde glorious Martirs of Godes Church gaue vp their liues This Faithe this Church this Cause seuereth our true Martyrs from the notorious malefactors of the contrarie side And so giueth vs iust cause to coÌ„plaine of persecution and th'enimie no reason at al of what number name obstinacie age or qualitie so euer they be that haue suffred for their Heresie THAT OVR PRIESTS AND CATHOLIQVE BRETHREN HAVE BEHAVED them selues discretlie and nothing seditiouslie iÌ„ their ansvvers to the questions of the Bul of Pius Quintus and that they can not laufullie be pressed nor put to death as traitors by the true meaning of th' olde lavves of the Realme for the same vvith examination of the six Articles proposed about the said Bul. CAP. IIII. IN times of heretical regiment wher Politiques haue al the gouernment though Religion be sometimes pretended as a thing wherof they make their aduauntage for th' affaires speciallie entended yet indeed the first and principal care is of their temporal state so consequentlie of the Princes and their owne wel being in this life the lote wherof The differeÌ„t gouernment of Politiques and of true Christians they often preferre with Esau before the weal of the world to come the blessing of Iacob or the kingdome of Christ which is his reigne regiment spiritual in the Church the howse of his glorie our saluation in earth Contrariwise in Christian Catholique common wealthes the cheefe respect is euer was as it ought to be of the honor of God the good of holie Church the saluation of the soules of their people and so to passe through thes secular thinges as eternal ioyes be not lost and put in hasard In which difference of thinges you shal easilie perceiue that in the dayes of disorder errour the faultes done against the Prince or so said to be done are far more odious and punishable then what so euer is directlie done against God against the Common wealth then against the Church against the bodie then against the soule more adoe about Caesars tribute then about Gods due As in the time and regiment of Hieroboam when al the care was how to manage matters so The gouernmeÌ„t of Ieroboam that the kingdome of Israel might be seuered from Iuda and so established in it self that no spiritual vnion by worship in Hierusalem might reduce the deuided tribes to their former state againe and al thiÌ„gs tendiÌ„g to that reunioÌ„ were greuouslie punished but matters of faith religion wholie contemned In our countrie when God and his kingdome had the first place the terrene state the second as in truth it ought to be wher it is otherwise whatsoeuer is pretended Christ hath no place at al then were the crimes committed against God first and principallie punished as blasphemie schisme and such like and secondlie treasons and trespasses done against the Prince countrie whereof Q. Maries dayes and regiment may be an example when without the forgerie of new or false treasons the latelie named Archbishop and other principal heretiques being conuicted of coÌ„spiracie open traiterous actions might haue iustlie suffered for the same but yet were rather burned for Heresie as for their more heinous crime and which a Christian Prince ought to regard far more then anie thing committed against his Regalitie But now and euer when the Superioritie temporal hath the preeminence the spiritual is but accessorie dependent and wholie vpholden of thother errour in Fayth is litle accompted of what so euer their pulpit men to make them selues and their patrons sport bral of such matters and al our doings endeuours and exercises of Religion are drawen to treasons and trespasses against the Queene them selues protesting in al their doings that they medle not with vs for our doctrine what-soeuer therby ether insinuating that our religion is true and in deed by the iudgement of their owne conscience not punishable or els that they care not for it nor what we beleeue no further then toucheth their Prince temporal weal wherin yet they wipe so hard as they draw blood For finding no errors heresies A nevv deuise of our Persecutors or false opinions concerning God his worship worthie to coÌ„demne vs of being ashamed of their statutes of new treasons as it seemeth they haue found out a new fault and a terme for the same not vsual ether in writers of our schooles and diuinitie or in their owne lawes which they cal trayterous assertions treasonable malicious opinions against the Q. as in a former like pamphlet euil affection or euil disposition towardes her Maiestie which is now the onelie and proper point they pursue against vs both in iudgement and writing For which as of late they haue put diuers to death so by the same they trie as they say whither Papistes be traytors or no and accordinglie to vse them And for better trial therof they propose vnto al men whom they list make away or otherwise indanger certaine demandes which in effect are thes that ensue Whether the Bul of Pius Quintus against the Q. Maiesty be a lauful sentence and ought to be obeyed by the subiects of England Demandes proposed to Catholikes for their intrapping Whether the Q. Maiesty be a lauful Q. and

a dozen years sithence and not manie after the Bul was published he being asked of English affaires and how the Catholiques so much distressed helde yet out and what effect th'excommunication had answered that the Bul was troblesome to them and cause of the Q. more heauie hand vpon them insinuating that it were good it were mitigated so that it should not bind the subiects but that they might obey her as their lauful Princesse notwithstanding anie contrarie sentence of the sea Apostolike before giueÌ„ Which good office of speach and meaning the aduersaries were not ashamed to charge him withal in his iudgement As their follie and partialitie are also so great herein that in this Libel they speciallie put doune Touching the petition of F. Persons and F. CampiaÌ„ for moderatioÌ„ of the Bul and Censure to proue both the said good Father and his Superiour the Reuerend F. Robert Persons guiltie of treason for that they made special sute vnto his Holines that now is to qualefie the Censure of his predecessour at least so far that it might not bind or make culpable anie her Catholique subiectes in conscieÌ„ce for obeying and seruing her as their Soueraigne how so euer it stood against the Protestants who neither looked nor cared to be discharged of it as the Catholiques for conscience sake most desired to be free They knew his Holines would not wholie alter that ceÌ„sure the case standing with the principal partie as it did before his predecessors sentence They knew the Q. and protestants them selues made no accompt therof nor desired to be loosse They knew it singularlie perteined to the safetie of her person and the quiet of the state that the Catholiks were perswaded they might laufullie obey her as their Q. and Gouernesse notwithstanding the said sentence They knew the subiects would gladlie doe that with safetie of conscieÌ„ce as a way far more secure for both them selues and the Q. which they did before onely for feare They knew they could not profitablie proceed in their spiritual worke of confessing conuerting and reconciling the subiects to the Holie Church except they might by Apostolique warrant resolue them for their lauful obedience to the Q. They thought good wher neither the Pope could be induced without the repentance of the partie to cal in the censure nor the Q. to yeeld to anie condition that way rather thus to seeke for mitigation then to leaue it in ful force stil and finally rather thus by moderation and sweetnes to temporize betwixt both their Superiors to see whether God might not moue the hart of her Maiesty wholie lying in his hand to enter into some good conditions for her reuniting to the communion of the ChristiaÌ„ world th'onlie way of sauiÌ„g her Realme in this world and her soule in the next Alas what euil office haue thes good Fathers done herein What treason is committed more now then if they had desired his Holines to haue discharged the Q. and Protestants also of al bond of that Bul How could ether they or the rest of the Priests doe more dutifullie and discreetlie in this case then to prouide that al such with whom they onely had to deale might stand free and warranted in their obedience and commit the rest that cared not for Excommunication to the iudgement of God By al which we may see the notable discret and sincere dealing of Catholiques al this while about fiftene years that this sentence hath bene extant and published and their manifold endeuours to mitigate and ease the burthen therof in al such as might therbie haue remorse to obey and acknowledge the Q. Regalitie Neuer writing of the matter nor dealing in it but to th' end of pacification publique rest and securitie of the state brought into brandle and doubt by this vnhappie alteration in Religion And so they might haue had al the learned of our nation either silent in the question of th'excommunication or mitigators of it stil had not the vnwise and verie impolitique importunitie of certaine in gouernment seeking by al direct or iÌ„direct driftes the blood of poore Catholiques forced men to their needful defence interpretation of their meaning herein Vnvvise and verie impolitique proceeding yea verelie to seeke with diligence the truth of the matter which of purpose they did let passe before as a thing impertinent to their edification or saluation Which they did the rather for that Pius Quintus the author therof being departed his successor Gregorie the thirtenth that now happely sitteth in the Apostolique throne neuer reuiued the same that we know of but by conniuence and expectation of our Q. and Countries returne to holie Churches peace and to the societie of other Christian kinges suffred the sentence after a sort to die specially so far as it concerned the Catholiques as is said euen as the like Censure of excommunication and depriuation published by Paulus Tertius against K. Henrie th' eight did passe ouer in peace to his dying day The excoÌ„munication of K. Hen. 8. by Pope Paulus tertius by the patience of other Popes following and the manie hopes and profers which the said king made of his returne to the Churches obedience againe though preuented by death it pleased not God to make him worthie of the same And this was the Catholiques honest desire and behauiour touching th'excommunication euer since the publishing therof The desire of Catholiques to auoid matter of state vntil now of late wheÌ„ by their interrogatories and new order of most bloodie vnlauful and vnwife search of mens consciences not deedes words or writinges but verie inward opinioÌ„s thoughtes and cogitations of hart are wrong out of men by the questions before rehearsed Wherby not onely diuers holy Priestes that haue suffered but also some other being strangelie and conninglie brought into this odious and dangerous matter of state and pressed against their wils to say their cogitatioÌ„s they did notwithstanding as much as was possible auoide anie wayes so to determine or answere as might be preiudicial to their allegeance which they obserued not onelie whilest they had hope of life but eueÌ„ after their condemnation also and at the very last houre of death The diuers ansvvers of sondrie to the for named interrogatories Some meeklie and discreetlie declined from the questioÌ„ one way some an other but alwith great shew of honestie fidelitie and innocencie One as Father Campian answered they were controuersies and questioÌ„s not determinable iÌ„ that court but in schoole An other that he thought the Pope that gaue the sentence might erre in some cases that is though not in doctrine yet iÌ„ fact for waÌ„t of informatioÌ„s prooues and other circumstances needfullie in such cases to be obserued but whether he did erre or no and abuse his authoritie in this CeÌ„sure that he referred to God him self not being sufficient to iudge of his Superiours doinges Some said they neuer saw the Bul in their life and therfore

yet for that he was a cruel man and would ether haue killed or spoiled theÌ„ they were excused in obeying him Thus doth this notable schoolman write nether doe we knowe anie Catholique diuine of anie age to say the contrarie Cap. Aliu cuÌ„ sequen xv q. 5. Cap. fin de Haeret. We wil not alleadge the Canon lawes which for that they be the decrees speciallie of Popes whom our aduersaries accompt partial shal weigh litle with them though they be authentical in al the lauful tribunals of the ChristiaÌ„ world and make al Heretiques not onelie after they be namelie particularlie denouÌ„ced but by the law it self ipso facto as soone as they be Heretikes or de iure excoÌ„municated for the same to be depriued of their dominioÌ„s though the subiects vntil denuntiation need not take knowledge therof Onelie it is not good to omit the definition and wordes of the famous general Counsel of Laterane The senteÌ„ce and definition of the great learned ad general Councel of Laterane celebrated aboue 300. years since wherin ther were Patriarches and Archbishops 70. Bishops 412. and other Prelats 800. In al of the most chosen learned men of al nations 1282 with th' Ambassadors of the Romane Emperour of the king of Hierusalem of England of Fraunce of Spaine and of Cipres as also of other Christian states then which ther can be no surer iudgement vpon earth which assemblie representing the whole Christian world would neuer agree vpon anie assertion traiterous Cap. 3. de Haeret. Thes theÌ„ are the words of their most renowned decree put onely in English for breuities sake Yf anie Lord temporal required admonished by the Church neclect to purge his state from Heretical filth let him be excommunicated by the Metrapolitane and conprouincial Bishops but yf he contemne to come to order within one years space let relation be made to the supreme Bishop that from thenceforth he may declare al his subiectes to be discharged of their fealtie towardes him and giue vp his land to be possessed by Catholiques which Catholiques without al contradiction when they haue driuen out the Heretiques shal haue and hould the same and so preserue it in puritie of faith the interest and right of the cheef Lord euer remaining safe whole so that him self giue no impediment to th' execution of this decree And the same law to take place in such also as be soueraigne Lords and haue no superiors Thus both Schooles and Lawes speake and resolue for the matter in hand both Catholiques and Protestants agreing that Princes may for some causes and especiallie for their defection in Faith and Religion be resisted and forsaken though in the maner of executing the sentence and other needful circumstances Protestants folowe faction and populer mutinie we reduce al to lawe order and iudgement But for the further clearing of this cause we meane now in the next chapter by the helpe of God to declare and plainlie deduce al that hitherto hath bene said in the premisses from holie Scriptures and warrant of Antiquitie that al indifferent men may see how far we be from treason or vndutifulnes to our Princesse in thes our opinions especially when by a certaine violence we be coacted to vtter the same OF EXCOMMVNICATION AND DEPRIVATION OF PRINCES FOR heresie and falling from the Faith speciallie of vvarres for Religion and of the office and Zeale of Preists of th' old and nevv lavv in such cases CAP. V. PRinces being not subiect to superiours temporal The daÌ„gerous state of a teÌ„poral Prince if he be not subiect to spiritual couÌ„cel nor patient of correction or controlment by their inferiours may easelie fal to greeuous disorders which must tend to the danger and ruine of whole countries In respect wherof great spirite power courage freedome of speech haue bene from the beginning graunted by God as wel ordinarie to Priestes as extraordinarie to some Prophets and religious persons in al ages and times both of the new old testameÌ„t So by Gods great prouidence who by his Prophet warned kinges to take discipline Psal 2. and to serue him in feare lest in his ire he should suffer them fal to iniquitie the first kinges of his peculiar people had lightly some Prophets or Priestes in maner as ouerseers that might from time to time charge them boldlie and as it were by office with their enormities and namelie with their fal from Faith the God of their Fathers to denounce his threatnings yea and execute the same vpon them at sometimes if need so required which ministers of their Lord God al godlie Princes did heare honor obey as contrariwise the kinges that were wicked and disloyal to God haue euer sought cruellie their death and destruction that so their wickednes might passe without controlment Saul the first temporal king that euer the Iewes being then Gods peculiar had 1. Reg. 10 15.16 though chosen and inspired by God was for al that led and directed by Samuel so long as he was in order Saul deposed for vsurping spiritual function But afterward for aspiring to spiritual function and other disobedience was by Gods appointmeÌ„t and sentence pronounced by the said Samuel deposed of his kingdome and an other named Dauid annointed by him Which Saul now after his depriuation or after as it were his excommunication by Samuel was inuaded by an euil spirit that prouoked him to kil not onelie Dauid that was now made the rightful owner of his crowne 1. Reg. 22 but also to seeke for Samuels death yea and to coÌ„maund al the holie Priests of Nobe fourescore and fyue in number as holy Scripture recompteth to be slaine murdered in most pitiful wise as traitors to him and fouorers of Dauid the competitor of his kingdome And so it was done at last though at the beginning his gard refused to execute so vile horrible an act in this sort he remained enemy many years against God and Samuel and kept the kingdome by tirannical force notwithstanding his deposition Dauid neuertheles in whom was the right of the croune was laufullie vp in Armes with one of the principal Priests whose name was Abiathar that escaped the foresaid murther not of such power as the pretensed king was til at length the vsurper whom as S. Augustine deduceth August coÌ„tra Adamantium he might laufullie haue killed but would not being slaine in batail Dauid obteined his right first of a part of the kingdome and afterward of al the rest which Isboseth did for two years by the pretended right of Saul his father vsurpe By which it is plaine that the Priests and Prophets of God Priests most subiect to danger in time of vsurpation being the executors of his sentences and rule of the people in such doubtful and partial times of varietie for claime and competencie are most subiect to the hatred of vsurpers as also to death and danger for the same You

shal be said in the next chapter and others folowing The Libellers importunate insolency inforcing vs therunto like as the Ciuil Magistrats most captious and bloody conceipts coÌ„strained some of our blessed brethern before their martirdomes to speake more therof then otherwise they desired though nothing so much as by warrant of Gods word and holy writ they might haue done THAT IT IS MVCH TO THE BENEFITE AND STABILITIE OF COMMON vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the difference betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize CAP. VI. THE Libeller once or twice in his discours seditiouslie calleth vpoâ— the Monarches and Princes of the world warning theÌ„ of the doubtful and seruile state they be in whiles the Popes may be suffred to make and vnmake kinges and Princes at their pleasure The seditious sleight of the Libeller and to licence their subiectes to resist them And the man perchance might haue his tale heard if he spake to the simple sort or to such Kinges as feared nether God nor man nor sought otherwise not anie longer to vphould their estates but by desperate force and practize and for their owne time without regard of their posterity But speaking to them whos wisdomes susteine the world whos Crounes are worne Swordes are borne for Christ his spouse whos glorious Auncestors partlie first rose partlie were established and them-selues yet safelie stand and happilie florish which our Lord God long coÌ„tinue by the benediction of the Sea Apostolique and good intelligence correspondece with the high Bishops of the same good audience hardly can they looke for Th' example of some other Princes Protestants about â—hem forsaking the felowship of the Catholique and Apostolique sea and speciallie of king HeÌ„rie th' eight â—â—rst his sonne and daughter after him in EnglaÌ„d ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ man a child and a woman not onely seuering them â—elues from the same but annexing to their regalitie â—y strange lawes al Apostolical and Papal power spiâ—itual with infinite emolumentes made by confiscatioÌ„ of al religious mens landes and goods in the whole Realme which was the beginning of that new Ecclesiastical regiment thes thinges being of greater â—emptation then the Libellers bare wordes could â—et neuer moue th'Emperour nor either of the great Monarches nor anie other king of wise counsel in the world to breake with Gods Church and the cheefe Pastors therof Knowing by the recordes of al ages siâ—hence Christ that what Princes or PoteÌ„tates soeuer haue formallie opposed theÌ„ selues to Christes Vicar and refused to communicate with him in the faith and felowship of the Catholique Church were euer in them selues or their posteritie confounded and their kingdomes ouerthrowen or brought to miserable seruitude of Turke or other heathen Tirant It is not the good fortune of a few yeares felicitie that moueth the graue and sage gouernours of the world though the Libeller to make fooles faine The vvise considerations of Catholique Princes vrgeth their good lucke in England much since their breach with Gods Church but they wil looke farther about them and see the euents of thes strange attempts in vs and the iudgements of God for the same not onelie til th' end of K. Henrie th' eight his race who was Radix peccati but afterwarde if our Lord deferre his sentence so long to some new generations to come Ouer which as vpon the Prince and state present of our Countrie we humblie on our knees with continual teares desire God to haue mercie and to auert his indignation from them and vs that the Princes and people of the world may rather be edified by th' example of our conuersion and returne to Gods Church then be instructed by the sight of our punishment and confusion But now for the coÌ„ceipt that this good man would driue into mens heades that no state should be in safetie if the Pope might depriue the Prince at his pleasure it is a bugge fit onelie to feare babes Al wise men in the world that ether see the present times The Popes authoritie touching Princes regalities or looke backe into the ages past knowe that the Pope neither chalengeth nor vsurpeth nor vseth anie such authoritie at his pleasure to depose or exalt whom he list And al learned deuines confesse that he hath not anie direct or immediate iurisdictioÌ„ or superioritie ouer the temporalities Ciuil states or regalities of secular Princes or Magistrates and therfore can not dispose of their kingdomes nor actions alter nor abrogate their lawes as he daylie doth and may doe at his good pleasure of Prelates Bishops and Priests affaires vpon whom he hath direct power and iurisdiction but that he may onely intermedle indirectlie with temporal Princes as he is the Cheefe officer vnder Christ and hath charge of their soules and therbie hath to looke whether their regimentes tend anie way to the iniurie of the Church and true Religion or to their owne and their subiects damnation as in case of Schisme Heresie Apostasie Idolatrie Sacriledge and other intollerable defectes in gouernmeÌ„t for which he being their Bishop is bound to admonish them sondrie times with al lenitie if that serue not to excommunicate them and if they contemne that and the Churches discipline and authoritie then be they esteemed as heathens and vnworthie of superioritie ouer Gods people This is not to depose Kinges at his pleasure nor is cause sufficient why anie iust and Christian Prince should stand in doubt of the Popes censures onelie such as be Heretiques or intend to shake of the yoke of Christ and their faith in him VVhat Princes only feare the Pope haue cause in their conscience to doubt both the Churches discipline the plagues of God which wil not faile them how so euer by humane force and violence they protect them selues for a time from his Ministers sentence sweet corrections Al iust and Catholique Kinges are so far from doubting or misliking Gods ordinance and the practize of the sea Apostolique herein that they perceiue it most necessarie for the stabilitie of their kingdomes and the continuaunce of their posteritie in the glorie therof that for their regiment in faith and life they stand in some reuereÌ„d awe of their cheefe Pastors which is a necessarie and honorable bridle of Princes in their youth and al the dayes of their life to stay them from dangerous disorders and so to temper them in ther gouernmeÌ„t that they may raigne loÌ„g and happilie ouer their people wher otherwise they might fal into infinite calamities and be ether forsaken deposed or shamefullie destroyed by their owne subiects whether they be depriued by holie Churches censure or no. Nether doth anie godlie Christian Prince at this day as we thinke wishe their Empire ether

rather thral obnoxious then to submit theÌ„ selues to the sweet yoke of Christs kingdome and Priesthood or to concurre in happie vnitie with such as Christ and the Holie-ghost haue placed ouer the Church for the guiding of her people to saluation and that also in worldlie peace and tranquilitie as much as in them lieth which is their cheefe honor and greatest guarde that may be both to Prince people as the contrarie motion of wicked men to sowe debate betwene PriÌ„ces Pastors is surely more vnnatural theÌ„ to put discord betwixt the bodie the soule iÌ„ the regimeÌ„t of a maÌ„s persoÌ„ A fit similitude wheriÌ„ as the whole frame is best gouerned preserued when the flesh can be coÌ„tented to be ruled by the spirite so no doubt the teÌ„poral power consisteth most safelie endureth longest when it hath good correspondence and subordination to the spiritual which seeketh euer al aduauncement and safetie to the secular Powers appointed by God for the worldlie weale of their subiects Which terrene felicitie necessarie for the cleargie also in this life no lesse then for others is alwaies by the state Ecclesiastical most zealouslie mainteined against the disturbers of peace concord and due obedience to superiours And therfore as the Church of God and namelie the Sea Apostolique hath receiued in respect of the honor due to Christ his principal Apostle S. Peter infinite exaltation by the Christian kinges of al nations so on th' other side the Popes of al ages haue sought by al meanes possible to aduaunce to honor glorie and encrease Christian kinges and states not onelie spirituallie which is their first cheefe care but also temporallie wherof euerie nation Christianed hath had sufficient proofe But to say nothing of Catholique Kinges or Countries which gladlie acknowledge the benefite and wil auouch the right and iust title of anie their dominions Dominions holden by the Popes meanes receiued of the sea Apostolique or adiudged theirs by the same for though the Libeller would make them weene it were a base and perilous matter to stand at the Popes courtesie in such things yet he can persuade none of them that they hould anie peece of their states by euil conscience which is fallen vnto them that way by the Popes warrant nor is he so eloquent as to make them yeeld vp the same to their old owners againe the states and Princes Protestantes must ether acknowledge the benefite and iust possession of diuers high dignities titles and crounes receiued by the said sea of S. Peter or els they be neither kind nor wise Is not the Emperial dignitie the highest humane preeminence that can be in this world And can the German protestants denie but that they hould or had that of the Pope The Empire from the Pope For where some wrangle that it came by election of the people of Rome that is most false contrarie to al histories and reason Dare they denie the Pope to haue had lauful power to translate th' empire out of Greece or wil they say their Emperour that now is and al other his predecessors since Charles the great were vsurpers as they should be if the order or disposition of the holie Sea were not lauful No protestant nor other man in his wit wil so say and speciallie no Alman to the glorie of whos nation this thing so much perteineth This nation therfore hath no cause to complaine of the high spiritual authoritie by which it self hath bene an hundreth times more aduaunced then hindred or diminished As Likewise th' order of the Election and which al men esteeme for a title of most high dignitie the Electorship it self was giuen to certaine Princes of Germanie by Gregorie the fift who as the Magdeburge historians them selues speake being a German and desirous to adorne his natiue Countrie with some excellent honor Cent. 10. Cap. 10. deuised that the election of the king which after his coronation by the Pope should also be called Imperator and Augustus should onelie pertaine to the Germans Now let the Heretiques speake and yeeld ther reason who tooke the matter so much in dougeÌ„ thes last years past that the Pope should intermedle with the displacing of the Elector of Colen The fond reasoning of Heretiques about the Popes deposing of the late Bishop of Colen What A Pope to depose an Elector said they As though a Pope might not depriue an vnworthie Apostata Bishop of his Sea and Electorship who first created and gaue vnto that nation and to that Sea both Elector and Electoral dignitie it self Let them tel vs why his authoritie is not as great in depriuing for iust cause as his power was sufficient to establish that honor in Germanie And Let the Libeller that accompteth it so vnworthie a thing that some Popes haue giuen censure vpon the Princes of the holie Empire be demaunded who established that high state in that countrie and whether he that had power to doe that can want anie warrant to depriue an euil or wicked person of the Empire And in breefe let him be asked whether that noble nation haue not receaued more dignitie and profit temporal then hurt and hinderance by that Papal power ouer kingdomes which this man in his seditious pride so much abhorreth But to come to that which we the Libeller best of al doe knowe and toucheth vs English more neare at home and may be an instruction and proofe of the cause in hand to other strangers abrode Surely if the people of our Country knew ther owne good and were grateful as they were wont to be for now this brutish Heresy hath made them without affection as S. Paul speaketh of such vnnatural Sectaries they would acknowledge that as to the Sea Apostolique England greatly indebted to the sea Apostolique they owe their first faith and Christianity not only for conuerting the Britons who were the ancient inhabitants of the Iland but also the English them selues afterward and that in very memorable sort reconciling them eftsons againe to holy Church after their relapse and endowing their Princes and Prelats with such singular prerogatiues as no particular Church or CommoÌ„ welth iÌ„ the world with the good grace of al other Christian states be it spoken had greater or more honorable so would they iÌ„ like maner besides thes spiritual fauors confesse them selues indebted for the temporal aduauncement of our Princes receiued from the same Sea Apostolique seeing the regiment and Lordship of Ireland was by the Popes only gift bestowed vpon our Souerains in the time of Pope Adrian the fourth and K. Henry the second 400. years agone Irland the Popes gift vnto England they hauing no other title therunto in the world but by this graunt of the Sea Apostolique Which title notwithstanding we doubt not but that our English Protestantes wil accompt sufficient euen vnto this day and K. Henrie th' eight being fallen from the Church and making him self of

as we read in the first of the Machabies of the Priestes infortunate fight against the heathen yet to make this a general rule as this Libeller doth that the Pope may no wayes vse the sword for defence of iustice or religion is most false and absurd The true vvay vvhich the Libeller should haue vsed for improuing the Popes actions in Ireland The true way of defence for English protestantes in this case touching the warres of Ireland and for impugnation of the Pope concerning his allowing or assisting the same should be in mine opinion not to affirme absolutelie as our fond most ignorant Libeller doth that the Pope may no way fight or take armes at al for that is against a knowen truth and not onely we but al Catholiques in the world wil therin stand against him but rather for condemnation of his Holines actioÌ„s to proue that his cause was not iust her Maiesty not to stand rightelie excommunicate not any way to be an Heretique as Pius Quintus declared and consequentlie her subiectes in no case to remaine absolued from their othe and obedience of which pointes we may not at al dispute seing our defence is onlie general that the Pope may in some cases excoÌ„municate for some causes depriue and in many respectes fight and wage warre for Religion And it may be thought that the Protestants would neuer denie this but in regard of their owne particuler interest in some priuate case only For they wil not affirme neither doth it displease them as we thinke that Pius Quintus the last Pope was an Author of the late league and warres against the Turke The Popes vvarre against the Turke and had also his Captaines and banners displayed in that renouned battail against him by the same Against whos armes the Turke notwithstanding might as wel haue alleaged the Scriptures as now our Protestantes doe to make him put vp his sword For in truth if it be lauful for him to occupie his forces which God hath giuen him against the heathen that be no way vnder his iurisdiction much more may he employ them against thes whom he accompteth as Rebels to the Church which be properlie vnder his correction first in respect of their soules and then secondarilie of their teÌ„poral goodes so farre as is requisite to their soules good Al which is most true euen in consideration of his Priestlie and Apostolical function onelie as is plane in Phinees whos priesthood was established vpon his zealous pursuing the enimies of God to death with his owne hand But further marking that the high Priestes of Godes people haue bene lightlie in al ages temporal Princes also and iudges of the world not onlie in spiritual but in worldlie affaires too ther can no doubt remaine but they may vse their forces temporal to the maintenance of iustice Gen. 14. Hebr. 7. Melchisedech the samplare of our new preisthood was both a Priest and a King and alwaies in the lawe of nature the eldest of the principal stockes were both Kinges and high Preistes In quaest Hebrai Priestes may make vvarres for iust occasioÌ„s as S. Hierome witnesseth So is it plane that Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob and the like had the rule spiritual and temporal ouer their families and people And so likewise in the lawe Moyses was both the highe temporal officer and also a cheefe Preist Hely iudged not onelie in temporal but spiritual causes fortie yeares together Finallie the Machabees Iudas Ionathas Simeon and others were both godlie high Preistes wise iudges in politique and valiant captaines in martial affaires Euen so the cheefe Bishops of Christes Church our supreme Bastors in earth by Gods prouidence and by the grauntes of our first most christian Emperours and kinges and by the humble and zelous deuotion of the faithful Princes and people afterward haue their temporal states dominions and patrimonies wherby they most iustlie hould and possesse the same and are therby lauful Princes temporal and may most rightfullie by their soueraintie make warres in their owne or other mens iust quarel as occasion shal vrge them therunto The Popes temporal iurisdiction most lavvful and firme And whatsoeuer the enimies of Gods Church and Sea Apostolique doe barke or blaspheme against the Popes high preeminence in thes thinges as they doe no lesse in deed against al spiritual Soueraintie their is no King nor man in Christendome that hath better title to his state or so manie yeares of prescription for rightful possession or so long and sure protection froÌ„ God in such infinite mutabilitie of states and kingdomes or such great likelihood of coÌ„stancy and continuance as hath the temporal state of the Sea Apostolique For as for the spiritual function and power therof it shal not faile til the day of iudgemeÌ„t though to vse S. Augustines wordes Heretiques neuer cease to bay and barke on euerie hand round about it Li. de vtil credendi And as thes humane succours of temporal thinges be often necessarie for the Churches peaceable regiment and the dooble honor due to the cheefe Pastors of our soules so the free gift of such thinges by deuout Princes and people is maruelouslie commended in the example of Barnabas and others who of deuotion sould their landes goodes and dedicated the price therof to Gods Church by the disposition of the Apostles humblie laying the same doune at their feete As on the other side the prophane persons that disdaine such honours and liuelihoodes of the Church and seeke to defraud her of the same may be warned by the terrible death of Ananias and Saphira which they suffred by S. Peters word for their like sacrilegious fact conceipt For if thes were thought worthie to be thus excommunicated seing it was an excommunication according to S. Augustines iudgemeÌ„t and withal were so extremlie punished corporallie Lib. 3. ca. 1. cont Parmeni for witholding vpon pretence perhaps of a litle better consideration of their necessitie to come a peece onely of that which they promised to God before in the Churches behalf and yet was not actuallie bestowed How much more doe they deserue excommunication and death or rather damnation perpetual that endeuour to spoile the Mother and Mistres of al Churches in the world of her prerogatiue and patrimonie and sacrilegiouslie to robbe her not of some part of their owne giftes but of al that by the deuotioÌ„ of others the first and most faithful Princes hath bene for the honour of Christ and his cheefe Apostle with great alacrity and good wil bestowed that way The which almes and patrimony dispensed by the godly prudence and charitie of the Apostolique Bishops redoundeth more to the auaile of Gods Church and the poore therof to Christes honour and to the benefite of al Christianitie be it spoken without comparison to the honour of God alone theÌ„ anie temporal Princes patrimony liuiÌ„g though many of their worldly habilities be farre greater theÌ„ any Popes are or

coÌ„tention betvveÌ„ the spirit and the flesh hovv far tollerable and contrariwise the spirit the flesh eche one of them seeking after a sort to enlarge his owne limites and commodities by some hinderance of the other which combat conflict notwithstanding is ether tollerable or not damnable so long as the inferiour which is the flesh by ouer greedie appetite of her owne aduancement destroieth not the superiour which is the soule So doubtles in a Christian Common-wealth the spiritual and temporal state being ioined together as it were in one bodie must needes keepe some moderate strife and combat for maintenance of ether of their limites in external regiment which may be borne withal of eche side so long as nether part seeketh ouer obstinatelie the destruction of the other but doe agree and conioine in preseruation of the principal But where the bodie politique as it is now in our miserable Countrie by intollerable disorder doth striue not so much with the Sea Apostolique The intollerable proceeding of England and bodie mistical of Christ for thinges ether indifferent or not merlie necessarie to the spiritual regiment but by euident rape and violence against the lawes of God man bereaueth Christes Vicar of his whole soueraintie high Preisthood and Prelacie and the Catholique Church of al the rightes douries which our Master her spouse endowed her withal and tiraÌ„nicallie draweth al to the Princes REGALITIE altering by the authoritie therof the whole faith and true worship of God into abhominable Apostacie Scisme and desolation ther the Libeller can find no example in anie Christian Lawes or Countries through out the world in any age to proue his purpose though vainlie and impertinentlie he alleage thes Concordates of Fraunce other Nations as also the compositions of England with the Pope or what orders and lawes soeuer besides ether lauful or vnlauful concerning restraint of any Papal or Ecclesiastical power which serue nothing at al for defence of the late English general and most impudent reuolt from the vnitie of Gods Catholique and Apostolique Church Manie things might the wordlinges of our Countrie euen in Catholique times attempt for their owne aduantage Some vncoÌ„scionable lavves might passe in a Catholique time against the commodities of the Church Our Kinges other in times of dissention with certaine Popes of their dayes might driue the weaker to vnequal conditions and serue their owne ambitious humours to the Churches disaduantage Some lawes might also passe by the powerablenes of Princes in their owne dominions the Sea Apostolique vtterlie reclaiming against them which though they were not directlie against anie point of Faith or Religion yet might be verie preiudicial to the state ecclesiastical and liberties of holie Church as the lawe of Premuniri was which is mentioned by the aduersarie Against which diuers Popes speciallie Gregorie the eleuenth and Martin the fift opposed them selues earnestlie The lavv of Premuniri and dealt with K. Edvvard the thrid and Henrie the sixt for abrogating the same which they both promised to doe but neuer did and coÌ„sequeÌ„tly it remaineth stil in his first vncoÌ„cionable force if the makers had any such meaning as their folowers haue found out for that it may by calumnious interpretation be vsed at the onlie pleasure of the Prince to the confiscation of al Church-mens goodes imprisonment of their persons destruction of the whole Cleargie wherof king Henrie the eight in the beginning of his Scisme gaue an horrible example Which iniquitie the Libeller him self is not ashamed to commend and to propound to other Princes for imitation Thes iniustices and the like may be by some Kinges committed and are as we haue said for peace and Charities sake borne by theÌ„ who are taught by their Maister and by the Apostolical Bishops of the primitiue Church to set more by one soule then by al the honours goods priuileges in the world otherwise So that God be honored whether causes at the first instance or by appeale onelie be differred to the Court of Rome or no whether the Pope Prince Cleargie or people appoint the Pastours or no a thing diuerslie vsed in diuers ages the Church can beare al and turne al to good so long as the true Faith and substance of Ecclesiastical iurisdiction be not destroied Wherin yet this may be comfortable to al obedient children of the Church Ecclesiastical restraintes haue not proued so profitable and worthie to be considered of discret persons that in al or surelie in most part of such limitations restraintes diminishinges or alteratioÌ„ of the Popes Churches authoritie thinges haue afterwardes so fallen out that wise men hartilie wish no change euer had bene made And for the euidence therof we refere al men to the pondering of this one point speciallie amongst manie concerning the nominations and elections of Bishopes Abbots and other Prelates whether the world weÌ„t not as wel when such thinges passed by canonical election or the Popes prouision as it hath done since or hereafter euer is like to doe At the beginning of such alterations men pretended reasons for the particular Churches commodities of sondrie Nations which a few yeares experience and the euent of thinges haue in most matters controuled But were it wel or euil it can nether be example nor warrant to our present Contrie to destroy Abbeis kil the religious murder Gods Priestes imprison al the sacred persons of Bishops through out the Realme to hate blaspheme abolish al authoritie and iurisdiction Apostolical yea and to make a solemne publique prayer in the litanie That God vvould deliuer our Country from the Pope in stead of that which the whole Christian world deuoutlie singeth and saieth daylie Vt Dominum Apostolicum omnes ecclesiasticos ordines in sancta religione conseruare digneris Barbarous malice of English Heretiques against the Sea Apostolique Would anie man thinke that ether they should fal to such barbarousnes or to such impudencie as to defend so grosse impietie by the examples of other Catholique Kinges Contries and times in the cases aforesaid Or can it be possible they could imagine the difference betwene K. Henrie the vij and the Pope that then was The grosnes of the Libeller about a matter of Alume should warrant her Maiesty that now is or her Councellours to stand against the high Priest of God and to goe to lawe with him for his spiritual Prelacie What a Grossehead is this Libeller or rather what a deceiptful person for he can not be so rude as not to knowe the difference of thinges so farre distant that alleageth the warres sometimes fallen out betwixt certaine Popes and Princes about their temporal interests to proue that Catholique kinges care not for the Pope or that them selues may resist him by armes and contemne his authoritie in matters of Faith Religion Wherin his exaÌ„ples also are very euil chosen when he goeth about to make vs beleeue that Charles the fift cared not for

the same vpon matter of far different nature and qualitie from Faith and Religion THAT THE SEPERATION OF THE PRINCE AND REALME FROM THE VNITIE of the Church and Sea Apostolique and fal from Catholique religion is the onely cause of al the present feares and daÌ„gers that the State seemeth to stand in And that they vniustly attribute the same to the Popes Holines or Catholiques and vntruly cal them enimies of the Realme CAP. VIII HIEROBOAM for the better establishing of his Soueraintie ouer the ten tribes The vvicked policie of IeroboaÌ„ thought it an high pollicie to deuide the temporal lot partage which by Gods appointemeÌ„t was fallen vnto him from al communion societie with the other remaining in Iurie and seruing their Lord in the temple at Hierusalem And therfore instituted for him self and his people strange Gods new waies of worship other vnordered base Priestes and seueral places to serue in and al vpon this humane imagination that if his people at their sondrie appointed times should goe vp to the Temple to doe their sacrifice and other rites according to the lawe as also conuerse with the Priestes and people of the other partie and be subiect to them in matters of conscience and religion as they were bound that then they might easilie be induced or much tempted to returne to Salomons successours in Hierusalem againe and that his people being subiect to him onely in temporal matters and not in religion he might seeme to be but half a king yea as at this day our ProtestaÌ„tes for flatteriÌ„g the person whom herby they wil ruine vse often to say of our ancieÌ„t kinges of England and of other Catholique Countries abrode that they were but half Kinges in their owne Realmes if we compare their authorities with the ample regalitie of her Maiestie now reigning whos iurisdiction extendeth aboue the old wont to al causes spiritual no lesse then temporal Wel so thought Hieroboam then and so did he and was no doubt most highly commended for the deuise by his Politiques that were about him But yet this thing which was esteemed so prudently done for preseruatioÌ„ of his state was after as wel by the mouth of Gods Prophet as by the miserable euent of thinges proued within a very few yeares to be the onely destruction of his whole house and perpetual calamitie of his people The secular prudence of the children of this world compared to the true wisdome of the godlie and resisting any way the cours of vertue and saluation The vvisdome of vvorldlinges in the end confounded is found in fin alwaies deficient and in truth follie But it neuer appeareth so weake deceitful pernicious as when it opposeth it self to the ordinance of God to the force of his spirit truth to the Spouse Kingdome and Priesthood of Christ In which case the Giantes building of Babel preuailed not the proposition of Achitophel was dashed the purpose of Herode for murdering of Christ in his cradle lest he should bereaue him of his croune and of the Ievves afterward in prosecuting his death to saue their state and Countrie from the Romanes was turned to their owne destruction Saul found how hard it was to spurne against the spurre Iulianus cried out Vicisti Galilee that is Thou hast the victorie of me maÌ„ of Galiley so that Apostata of contempt called Christ and finally true it wil euer proue that their is no counsel against God nor no long peace to anie that resist him And therfore thos Princes and people onelie to be happie both in this world and in the next and their states alone lauful durable that haue learned faithfullie to submit their Scepters to Christes sweet yoke and to ioine their terrene kingdomes with the Priesthood and Spouse of him by whom al Kinges doe raigne The calamities vvhich en sue to them that oppose them selues against the Church of whos Church it is said long sithence by the Prophet and proued by the experience of al ages that the Nation and People that serueth her not shal perish who so euer heare obey her not must be accompted as Ethniques who so euer despice her and her gouernours despice Christ him felf who so euer refuse her regiment and superiority specially for matter of Faith and Religion and would rather haue a King ouer them to lead both their body and soules doe not so much refuse to be ruled by Gods Priestes as they reiect Christ him self being not contented that he should raigne ouer them Finallie who so euer doe giue to Caesar that which is due to God preposterouslie preferring the temporal prerogatiue of worldlie Princes before the spiritual power of the Priestes of the new Testament directlie doe repine against Gods ordinance and shal at length proue with what humane prowes power or prudence so euer they susteine their factions that they haue vneauenlie and vnaduisedly matched their combat The house they impugne is founded vpon an impregnable rocke ther is no tempest of heathen The inuincible rocke of the Romane Church heretical or domestical persecution nor no stormes of wether or water that can ouerthrowe it hel it self and the powers therof can not preuaile against it And to the end that the Nemroths and other new euangelical Giantes of our Countrie mistake vs not nor beguilâ— them selues in their desperate contradiction against the Citie of God S. Augustine telleth them it is the Sea and succession of the Church of Rome Psal Contra partem Donati which is so inuincibly garded Thes be his wordes Count the Priestes from the verie Sea of PETER and in that order of Fathers vvho to vvhom hath succeded that same is the rocke vvhich the proude gates of Hel doe not ouercome The chosen corner stone of this building is by the Prophetes and by Christes owne declaration such as who so euer falleth vpon it shal be broken and on whom it falleth The ancieÌ„t Popes preuailed against the ancieÌ„t Emperors it shal crush him in peeces Not onely the Faith of Peter by our Lordes promis protection being infallible but the Apostolique regimeÌ„t by the assistance of the holie-Ghost shal endure to the end of the world Which hath alredy borne doune by her patience and constancie al the heathen Emperours against whom the high throne of Christes Priesthood in earth and tribunal of Faith and religioÌ„ was placed and preserued by the mightie arme of God in the verie cheefe Citie and seat of their Empire for diuers hundreth yeares together after Christes ascensioÌ„ notwithstanding al the humane meanes of worldlie policie or tirannical crueltie that could be deuised or exercised against them Thos great Monarches in that time more doubting and fearing the Popes in their pouertie and persecution and more loth to haue them in their owne Citie of Rome so neare them if they could haue chosen then anie other powerable competitour or emulatour of their Empire as S. Ciprian saith of Decius the

with the rebellious states of Flaunders In FlaÌ„ders or with the Apostata of Colen or other their correspondents wil come they partelie perceaue and may acknowledge theriÌ„ as al other wise meÌ„ doe the mightie iust and prouident hand of God The secret miserie of English ProtestaÌ„tes When our Protestantes consider of thes thinges deeplie and attend the issue of al their extraordinarie proceedinges and as men out of al aime now and compasse of their intended cours can goe no farther without desperate ouerthrowe and hazard of al what miserie they may be in let wise men iudge how so euer theÌ„ selues couer their perplexed cogitations from the vulgar sort by telling them of faire wether and of their plentie of corne and cattle long reigne and prosperitie of her Maiesty aboue al Popes and Princes of her daies But the origine of al the former dishonorable desperate plottes and of the extreme feares and miseries The true origine of English miseries they manie wayes shew them selues to be in and indeed are notwithstanding the pretence of their prosperitie is their first fal from the God of their forefathers and the alteration of Catholique religion into this Caluinisme or Atheisme by which our Realme hath so long perished Though this Libeller and other English new writers no wiser nor better then Children or Beares that are offended with the roddes stones or staues wherwith they be beaten nether looking aâ— the cause nor cheefe author of their punishment attribute their trobles or apprehended feares to the excommunication and to the godlie endeuours of Catholique Priestes instructing the people peaceablie to their saluation And how much this forsaking of holie Church Faith and communion of al Christian people displeased God and how vnwiselie it was done in respect of the temporal state and safetie of our Prince Countrie the same Lord God hath in their owne daies that were the authors therof reuealed as otherwise natural reason and experience if they were neuer so voide of conscience and religion might haue foretold theÌ„ But alas their owne particular aduauncement and infinite ambition which they thought should not haue so free cours if the old state of religion had continued ether brought them into errour of iudgemeÌ„t as it commonlie happeth or els which is no rare case nether made theÌ„ against their owne knowledge folowe that which was so pernitious both temporallie and spirituallie For who could not see though his iudgement reason Al mutations daÌ„gerous but especially of Religion or reading were neuer so smal that al great alteratioÌ„s in Common weales are dangerous Let but an attempt be made to change your temporal statutes and national lawes into the ciuil lawes change but your customes that now you be guided by in manie thinges change your forme of gouernment which is now a Monarchie into an other kind of regiment what infinite broiles would it bring But ther is no alteration so perilous as of Religion and of that ReligioÌ„ which was planted by our first Apostles receaued from the mother Church of Christendome confirmed by miracles approued by al the lawes councels customes and tribunals of the Church for to be the only true worship of God and consonant to his sacred word wil. What counsaile could be more dangerous in the world then this They could not but thinke that the subiectes of the Realme so manie of them being Catholique so latelie reconciled to the Church and by publique Ambassie othe and promis to his Holines aduowed neuer to fal againe into Schisme could not but be much discontented They could not but see what hart-sore it would be to al thos that depended on the old honorable Cleargie to behold the depriuation and imprisonment almost of the whole order and an other fleshlie company intruded into their roomes whom no man almost liked of and sith are more and more taken and proued to be the filth of the land They were not ignorant that the Pope and Sea Apostolique now the secoÌ„d time so contemptuouslie forsaken could ether of conscience or dutie to his flocke or his owne honour The peril by excoÌ„munication not vse one time or other the rodde of the Churches discipline which is ExcoÌ„munication against the offendors which how so euer they thought by errour of Religion they might contemne by power withstand yet they could not be so farre ouerseene that such Censures by which manie a mans conscience at home might be perced and of which anie forreine Prince abrode as time and aduantage serued him would perhaps make his profit might not seeme to them verie like to breed more trobles then were to be wished They looked not wel about them ConsideratioÌ„s against change of Religion in England if they foresawe not that their defection from the Pope who is most dearlie coÌ„federated with al the Catholike and mightie Kinges of Christendome might not breed a great alienation of their hartes from vs and an occasion of much inconuenience and danger to our Countrie Their wisdomes and experience of the diuers bloody conflictes foughten in our Fathers dayes for religion in Zwicherland and in our Countrie in K. Henrie the 8. and K. Edvvard the sixt late daies and the doubtful euent of such thinges might haue forewarned them of the like that might fal and sithence haue fallen as wel in England as Ireland where al the Countrie being in good wil Catholique they might easilie perceaue with what a general torment of conscience and danger of ciuil warre the new Religion were to be enforced vpon them Feare is neuer a sure nor long keeper of his maister And because no Prince ruleth his subiects so securelie by force and feare as by loue and liking how could they not conceaue that al Ireland and a great peece of England was euer to be interteined in subiection by power and plaine awe nothing by loue and sweetnes And which is of more perilous sequele in this case and ought most of al to haue bene by them foreseene is that the diuersitie of religion ioined with the censure and sentence of the Sea Apostolique may make such alteration in the opinions of manie otherwise most loial subiectes that diuers may seeme to obey onelie of feare and nothing of conscieÌ„ce Which conscience of the subiectes doubtles is the onelie sure piller of the Souerains estate They should haue foreseene how manie persons of honour and qualitie for freedome of conscience and other discontentmeÌ„t grounded on religion were like to flie into forreine partes who might by zeale or miserie be so irritated against the causes of their banishment and occupiers of their liuelihoodes that their absence might proue daÌ„gerous to their enimies state Whom they can not represse by calling them Fugitiues or such like names of vulgar reproch for that terrefied not the noble Prince Henrie the seuenth K. Henry the 7. grandfather to the Queenes Maiesty for pursuing the cruel Tirant and vsurper Richard the third whom he

honorablie notwithstanding he was an annointed king and in possessioÌ„ of the Realme deposed of the croune They should haue made their accompt before alteration of religion that ther would rise therby DissentioÌ„ in religion deadlie implacable diuision among the subiectes and pernicious difference betwixt the dearest frendes and neerest kinsfolkes no dissention nor hatred being so capital and deadlie as that which cometh of contrarietie in Faith and worship of God And the vnitie of Christes Church being once broken that the Protestantes them selues should be combred with infinity of sectes and opinioÌ„s pernicious to the state Wherof no doubt they should haue receaued good proofe and lamentable issue ere this had not the heades as wel of the rulers as of the Puritanes Anabaptistes BrethreÌ„ of loue and other sectes bene so fullie and fearfullie attent vpon the Catholiques and their endeuours But the aduersarie telleth vs that they haue gone through al thes perils and haue had so manie victories against what enimies soeuer at home or abrode and that therfore al was wiselie done and luckelie To which we say that if al proue wel in the end it is better for them and that it is not so properlie perteining to prudence to escape dangers when they fal which good luck fond men also sometimes haue by fortune as to preuent and prouide that no dangers fal and to flie from such thinges wherof euident perils must needes ensue But in this matter of Religion God him self also hath checked their worldlie purposes and conceiptes maruelouslie The Heretiques expectatioÌ„ deceaued about extinctioÌ„ of the Catholique religion For wher they had thought by seueritie of such straÌ„ge lawes as were neuer made in anie common wealth heathen or Christian by putting al the old Prelates into prison and wearing them away by yeelding al Churches pulpites schooles offices honours and commodities to men of their owne sect and creation and by what other extremitie policie or diligence so euer to haue in a few years extinguished the name and memorie of faith Catholique they now yearlie and daylie find the number zeale constancie patience and knowledge of the children of the Catholique Romane Church so to encrease in al orders sexes degrees of men that they may see and confesse that Digitus Dei est hic and that if they persist Exo. 8.19 Mat. 27.64 Nouissimus error ipsorum erit peior priori Once they shew them selues to be so terrified by God in the blood death of so manie Martirs which they in a kind of extreme desperate obstinacie and obduration doe dailie kil yet are so appalled by the truth and the common sense of al men that they dare not or are ashamed to execute them for religioÌ„ wherby euen now in the vaunt of their wealth peace and prosperitie they shew such extraordinarie feares as is wonder to behold Wherin their miserie is so lamentable as we conster it the perplexitie which God hath driuen them vnto The extreme feares of English ProtestaÌ„ts so terrible that ther is not a poore Priest can enter to say Masse but they imagine he bringeth their destruction Ther can not a ship appeare in anie coast nor anie Princes preparation for his owne affaires but it is for inuasion of the Realme Ther can be no College founded to releeue mens banishmeÌ„ts abrode no intertainment giuen to anie Catholique ether in caÌ„pe or court The speech of the Ievves Iohn 11. but al is against their state euerie man crying out QuÃ²d venient Romani tollent locum gentem nostram So long as our Realme was in the vnitie of the Catholique Church and liued ether in iust warres or honorable peace with our neighbours was ther anie such extreme feares of present inuasion was ther such mustering such diligent watch and swearing against the Pope at euerie porte such examination of passingers such a doe generallie and such mistrust of the subiectes fidelitie such ielousie ouer al men as though the whole Realme were a Campe that feared and expected euerie houre some secret Camisado Is this the felicitie securitie that the Libeller so much glorieth of wherof he saieth other countries wishe some part Surelie a moderate fortune with securitie is without comparison much better then al the pleasures in the world with perplexitie And it seemeth by outward signes that ther is no Nation in Europe which standeth this day in so doubtful termes as ours doth Woe be to our sinnes therfore Which we say not vpon anie likelihood of anie such present dangers as seeme there now so extremlie to be feared or for that the Priestes of God or other Catholique men can possiblie be anie cause therof which is indeed no more but this Psal 52.6 Deum non inuocauerunt illic trepidauerunt timore vbi non erat timor God onelie hath driuen them vnto it to giue them some sense of their miserie and some remorse of their reuolte from him and motion of repentance But our consideration is speciallie of the dreadful and most desperate case our whole Countrie euerie order and eche particular man therof is in The daÌ„ger of the Realme by vncertaintie of the next inheritour by the vncertaintie of the next heire to the Crowne yea by the certaintie of most bloodie ciuil forreine warres among such a number of Competitours such diuersitie of religions such ambitious spirits that alredie make their packes and complots for the same al our rest peace and felicitie what so euer depending vpon a few vncertaine dayes of one sole persons life wel growen in yeares subiect to casualties and vnder the hand of the omnipotent Lord that taketh away when he listeth the spirits of Princes and is terrible vpon the Kinges of the earth It were to miserable for anie noble or gentleman or other person ether of possession wealth or issue in the whole land not to knowe or not to care to whom his liuelihood should descend after him but to prouide for his owne time onelie to let them goe by the eares and skamble for it afterward Farre more miserable vnnatural and lamentable it is to see such a noble whole Realme and publique state driuen to thes straites and incomparable distresses that almost it looketh for no longer life and being and no person subiect therunto for longer peace wealth and vse of their owne goodes then her Maiesty liueth that is to say for ten twentie moe or lesse years as it pleaseth God to allot her Which thing being an euident demonstration and palpable proofe of our greatest calamitie the deceiptful aduersaries shame not to turne the same not-with-standing to the high commendation of their gouernment telling the people how happie they be by the same and how needfullie they haue to pray and prouide for the preseruation of her Maiesties person by whos onelie life they enioy so great felicitie afterward al to be in extremes Which the Counselours them selues sticke not to confesse and publish

iote or circumstance though neuer so much coÌ„moditie might ensue therof Which matter of libertie of Conscience we moue not perchaÌ„ce for our owne benefite so much as for our aduersaries weale and worldlie securitie wherof they wil seeme to haue both mistrust and sollicitude And perhaps the wisdome of God wil sound otherwise and say to vs Mat. 20.22 Nescitis quid petatis iudging it to be farre more to his honour and glorie and the breefer way to saluation of our whole Nation The vvay of persecution more sure for vs. and of moe soules in particular that we should passe through this persecution and winne our owne and our brethrens saluation by our blood And indeed if the Germane Catholiques had bene so restreined persecuted put to death as the English haue bene thes years and had not gone by halfes with the Protestantes as in some places they haue done they had had perhaps farre moe Catholiques at this day and them more zealous and their whole nation perchance reduced ere this which now for the protestants standeth not so much on their religion or conscience in Heresie as vpon their mutual peace concord and concurrence with Catholiques Wel what were best for vs in this case God onelie knoweth Ro. 6.19 Nos humanum dicimus propter infirmitatem nostram as the Apostle speaketh But sure we are that the first best for our English nation as wel Prince as people were both in respect of God and the world of them selues and other men Tvvo vvaies of composition very profitable to the realme to restore the state againe to the obedience of Gods Church and to the happy felowship of al their forefathers other faithful people Princes now liuing The next best were in respect of their owne securitie and perpetuitie if the first may not take place to desist from persecuting their Catholique subiectes and brethren and to graunt some libertie for exercise of their consciences diuine offices and holie deuotions that so they may pray for her Maiesty and Councellors as their Patrones whom now they pray for onelie as their Persecutours If to none of thes conditions they can be brought but wil haue our bodies goods life and soules The Conclusion then let our Lord God the iust Arbitrer of al thinges and Iudge of Princes as wel as poore men and the onelie comforter of the afflicted discerne our cause In whos holie name word and promis we confidentlie tel them and humblie euen in Christs blood pray them to consider of it that by no humane force or wisdome they shal euer extinguish the Catholique partie ouercome the holie Church or preuaile against God Ther can no Herode kil Christ in his cradle Math. 3. Exod. 1. Hest 7. nor anie Pharao droune our male sexe and destroy Gods people nor anie Aman extirpate the stocke of Iacob Let them seeke with al desperation to diminish bridle spoile impouerish disgrace and extinguish the whole generation of Catholiques at home and in banishment let them by artificial Libels as this against which we haue written and otherwise by most impudent lies and fictions slaunder vs charge vs with treasons and other trespasses Mentientes propter Christum belying vs for Christs sake let them confederate them selues against vs with al the Protestants Turkes Sectaries and Atheistes in the world yet the Catholiques that is the seede of God wil encrease in number power and zeale the Priestes wil not leaue of to folowe their dutiful trade with more spirite diligence deuotion patience and coÌ„stancie then euer before remembring the aduertisement of their Maister Mat. 10.22 that he shal be saued that perseuereth to the ende as also that worthie record left in scripture of Esay the great faithful Prophet qui spiritu magno vidit vltima Eccl. 48. as the holy-Ghost saieth of him for that his corage neuer failed him in Gods seruice to the end The persecutours be now no stronger then thy were of old The Church is no weaker then she had wont to be Her assistant and defender is as neere her as euer he was We are no better theÌ„ our forefathers We lesse feare death and lesse set by our liues then euer before Our countes are cast allowed it is better to die in this Apostolical fight and coÌ„bat QuÃ m videre mala gentis nostrae sanctorum 1. Mach. 3.59 assuring our selues that to be vndoubted which S. Leo writeth Nullo crudelitatis genere destrui potest Sacramento Crucis fundata religio Leo. Non minuitur persecutionibus Ecclesia sed augetur That the religion founded in the sacrament of Christs Crosse can be destroied by no kind of crueltie The Church is not diminished by persecutions but encreased And that S. Augustine saith Nemo delet de Coelo constitutionem Dei Nemo delet de terra Ecclesiam Dei Laus Deo THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKE THAT many Priests and other Catholiques in England haue bene persecuted condemned and executed for mere matter of religion and for transgression onely of nevv statutes vvhich doe make cases of Conscience to be treason vvithout al preteÌ„ce or surmise of any old treasons or statutes for the same Cap. 1. 1 That F. Campian and the rest of the Priests and Catholiques endited condemned and executed vpon pretence of treason and vpon statutes made of old against treasons vvere neuer yet guiltie of anie such crimes but vniustly made avvay Cap. 2. 18 That vve novv haue great cause to complaine of iniust persecution intollerable seuerity and cruelty tovvardes Catholiques in England and their Protestantes no reason to doe the like for the Iustice done to them in Queene MARIES and other Princes dayes and the cause of the difference Cap. 3. 34 That our Priests and Catholique brethren haue behaued them selues discretlie nothing seditiouslie in their ansvvers to the questions of the Bul of Pius Quintus and that they can not laufullie be pressed nor put to death as traitors by the true meaning of th' olde lavves of the Realme for the same vvith examination of the six Articles proposed about the said Bul. Cap. 4. 59 Of excommunication and depriuation of Princes for Heresie and falling from the Faith speciallie of vvarres for Religion and of the office and Zeale of Priests of th' old nevv lavv in such cases Cap. 5. 89 That it is much to the benefite and stability of Common-vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the differences betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize Cap. 6. 116 Of the late vvarres in Ireland for religion hovv the Pope may vse the svvord and that the differences betvvixt temporal Princes and him or their resisting him in some cases of their vvorldlie interest can be no vvarrant to the Protestants to contemne his censures or authoritie in matter of Faith and Religion Cap. 7. 134 That the separation of the Prince and Realme from the vnitie of the Church and Sea Apostolique and fal from Catholique religion is the onely cause of al the present feares and dangers that the State seemeth to stand in And that they vniustly attribute the same to the Popes Holines or Catholiques and vntruly cal them enimies of the Realme Cap. 8. 161 The conclusion conteining a charitable motion and a ioinder vvith the Libeller touching some meanes of tolleration in Religion and ceasing or mitigating this cruel Persecution Cap. 9. 209 The faultes correct thus Pag. Lin. Read 49. 33. faith brought faith that they brought 55. 20. persecuted prosecuted 60. 17. as Blasphemy as Heresy Blasphemy Ibid. 30. spititual spiritual 64. 34. obyed obeyed 77. 1. EcommunicatioÌ„ Excommunication 90. 15. fouerers fauorers 98. 7. Common weath Common wealth 144. 15. Bastours Pastours 182. 28. causes causers 195. 13. can much can not much

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