important he notwithstāding promiseth himselfe without doubt as hauing y e disposition of their hearts in his hande that they also will at last for their own soules for many thousand soules that depend vpō their gouernmēt discoūtenāce the religiō hearken vnto Papistry He would not beforehand make this promise which is his chiefe purpose drawe the multitude to expect backsliding in their honors if he did not highly esteeme his owne basenesse basely iudge of their excellēcie But how doth this inconstant Iesuite still giue in one line and take away in another Haue her Maiesties most honorable Counsell wisdome in cases most importāt are they without wisdome in the most importāt cause of religiō which more thē al other causes importeth them for their owne soules many thousande soules beside Without this wisdom of God in the Gospell there is no wisedome in the wisest men of the worlde Then the Iesuite withdrawing from their honors this wisdome he attributeth to them a wisedome which is no wisedome and so his praises are no praises But he findeth in their wise gouernment feeleth their wisedome to bee according to knowledge their knowledge ioyned with zeale according to y e reuealed trueth which they vnder her Maiestie mainteine to Gods glory y e cutting off of Popish enterprises to the contrary Wherefore y e ages that shal come after shall witnes for her Maiestie for them that in singular wisdom they haue restored mainteined the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ blessedly withstoode the flatteries of Iesuites and the violence of the vnholy fathers army that would in Englād set vp the beast that must be throwen downe into the nethermost hel neuer rise againe whose feareful fall will draw with it the fall of as many as depend vpō her yeeld their seruice to her notwithstanding her intolerable pride bloody fornications Moreouer this Iesuite writeth to their honor without regard of their honors For as if they had no eyes to see nor hearts to consider what may be and what hath bene said for Popish religion he wil now open the questions of religion so faithfully that their honors shall see the substantiall groundes whereon the Popish faith is builded Haue all other Iesuites wanted learning Haue euen this Champions masters wanted strength in the field and dexteritie in their enterprises To heale the woundes of the beast are all other Phisitions Phisitions of no valew Thus we see how this Iesuite chargeth the Lordes as not hauing their eyes yet open to see what religion is and also noteth the wantes of his masters that haue not done that himselfe will vndertake But to performe all these promises he must not alledge the authoritie of his oracle for the oracle himself may sooner with Atlas beare the weight of the worlde vpon his shoulders then mainteine so great a quarell as is the defense of the Romish Church against the Gospel of God as is the maynteining of the worldly kingdome of the Pope against the spirituall and mightie kingdome of Iesus Christ After these things he returneth to his slaunders against the preachers of the worde charging them that they huddle vp and confounde questions of religion But whatsoeuer the Iesuite thus casteth out in malicious false termes God bath blessed the preachers of the Gospell with worthie gifts and a pure forme of preaching agreeable to the puritie of the Gospel which they professe So that if our aduersaries their giftes come to a right examination it shall appeare to al men that if Papists haue learning so we also if they haue order and methode so wee also if they haue giftes to perswade we much more vpon more excellent groundes And which is more then all whereas they preach men we preache God whereas they preache error we preache the trueth not according to men but according to the foundation of the holy Prophets and Apostles Christ Iesus being the head corner stone As for Antiquitie Fathers Coūcils we allowe them as farre as the worde of God doeth not disalowe them But if any oracle from heauen or consent of all the worlde teache or perswade any thing otherwise then we haue receiued in the word we subscribe to the sentence alreadie pronounced by Saint Paul and registred in his holy Epistle to the Galathians What kinde of new preaching these new Iesuites bring I know not but if they followe the veine of their forefathers the auncient Friers then I know that they wil draw byase whether they huddle or no. The worlde is yet full of volumes wherein their sermons are penned downe but with matter so ridiculous and Latine so barbarous that all bookes written to make sport must giue place to them From charging the preachers he proceedeth to charge y e sway of the time for preuayling against him and his The time is neither shorter nor longer better nor worse in it selfe therefore in this figuratiue speach he couertly chargeth the gouerners of the time Wherein he againe vttereth his murmuring repineth that his golden times so often calculated can yet take no place But blessed be the Lord that hath stretched out his arme the swaye and stroke whereof preuayleth against all enemies of the kingdome of Iesus Christ and let not their praises die for euer whome the Lord hath raysed vp to be his instruments in so glorious a worke As for the best blood in your bodies which you woulde spēd for their honors which of them require any such sacrifice at your hande who stand in neede of it In so euil a cause as the perswading of error what can it auaile If I may againe aduise you keepe it to preserue life it may be the Lord hath appointed a day for your true repentance that renouncing your former workes of merite and supererogation you may receiue y e loue of the trueth and builde your faith vpon the merites of Christ alone which shalbe your owne saluation And leaue to professe loue where you practise treason cease to promise the sheading of your blood willingly as in a good cause whereas experience hath lately shewed that you your confederates lost blood in a notorious euill cause But that was the mercy of God that watcheth ouer vs still to take the wicked in their wickednes which mercie shall watch ouer vs continually if we auoide the contempt of y t Gospel we professe and shewe our selues thankefull to his maiestie for so great mercies Againe the Iesuite flaunteth in words vaunteth of his innocent handes lifted vp to heauen euery day euery houre as for the good of their honours To make your hands no fowler then they are yet those innocent handes haue written no innocent bookes they haue cast abroade no innocent libels they helde out no innocent banner of Popish obedience in their actual rebellions heretofore in England presently in Ireland But if those handes may be innocent that haue done
An answere to a seditious pamphlet lately cast abroade by a Iesuite with a discouerie of that blasphemous sect By William Charke 1. Reg. 20 11. Let not him that girdeth on his armour boast as he that putteth it of ¶ Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker Printer to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie Anno 1580. Decembris 17. To the Reader THe Lord hath many wayes to bring the enemies of the Gospel to the loue thereof Especially he requireth of vs the defence of his trueth and earnest prayer that such defense may reforme the iudgement and conscience of the aduersarie For though there were will and labour for the trueth on both sides which is to be wished yet it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercie This mercie we must pray at Gods hand that our planting and watering may receiue of him daily and great increases Therefore good reader when this smal or any great defense of the trueth cometh to thy hand reioyce that the trueth is defended that error and vanitie is discouered but ioyne with that ioye a care to haue him brought into the waye of saluation which either ignorantly or wilfully wandreth from the same Hate his errors but in compassion pray for his reformation Who knoweth whom and when the Lord will call Moreouer when thou seest the diligence and boldnes of the enemies so great in repayring the ruines of Babylon pray also that we marking what wisedome they haue in their generation may the rather be prouoked to greater diligence might infinishing the walles of IerusaleÌ„ Last of al let vs as manie as professe the Gospel bring forth fruites worthie of the Gospel least the Papists on the one side and the godlesse familie of selfeloue on the otherside preuaile more and more against the trueth for a iust punishment of our sinnes in contemning the Gospel which by doctrine with discipline and by mercie with iustice must be maintained and bring forth fruite to the glory of God and the peace of his Church for euer Amen An answere to a seditious Pamphlet lately cast abroade by a Iesuite ALbeit the questions of religion which the Papistes hold haue bene by them alreadie from time to time maintained with all their iudgement and learning in their publique wrytings and are also in writing sufficiently answered to make all men see the trueth that do not wilfully shut their eyes against it yet notwithstanding as Affrica is saide still to bring foorth some new monsters so the schooles of the Romish church are continually occupied in forging some new misshapen arguments and instrumeÌ„ts against the Gospel esteeming it great seruice to their general Prouost to be still in the chalenge though they receiue no honour in the fielde still to cast out their dartes though they be beaten back to the wounding of that head they would most defend Hereupon it commeth that one Edmond â—ampion a principal champion belike of y e â—opish religion flying farre from the fielde some yeres past for want of armour is nowâ— returned with furniture out of Germanie and Boeme from Rome and other places maketh he one alone like another Golias y e chalenge wherein whole armies heretofore haue had as great ouerthrowes as euer had the Philistines by the arme of God fighting with Israel This Coronell doeth by a pamphlet most vnsittingly writteÌ„ as to her Maiesties most honorable priuie CouÌ„sel more vnsittingly scattered abroade require disputation before all and with all and hauing in deede small hope to preuaile and in trueth litle will to come to the triall for he can not but see the heauie hand of God against him his cause yet he hath a purpose to disturbe all by the very proclayming of this spiritual fight and by giuing aime to them that in the same league attempt otherwyse more dangerous matters against the state These letters comming to my hand after I had read them and considered his insolent vaunts against y e trueth ioyned with woordes pretending great humilitie his protestation of zeale to saue soules deliuered with matter that draweth them into damnable heresies I expected a present yssue by his personall answere before them to whom such causes apperteine But not vnderstanding of any such yssue and finding the letters to be more and more spred as Libels abusing the name and holy authoritie of the Counsell and that they prepare inconstant mindes to the mislike of religion and desire of Poperie which plainely appeareth to be the practise of the Champion in scattering them I thought it my dutie to answere the same in respect of the publique iniurie offred to religion with all humilitie offering this answere or further proceeding with the saide Libell to their honours most wise consideration But before I come to y e particular points of his letters I am shortly to touch y e chiefe and onely matter therein pretended which is a desire to haue a disputation graunted or solemne audience for some sermons to bee made in the mayntenance of the most worthily abandoned Popish religion This petition seemeth to all Papists needfull I can not blame theÌ„ for it would do them good to obteine if it were but a question for somewhat who haue right to nothing But I would woÌ„der if any which professe the Gospell should now looke for a disputation to answere euery vaine chalenge that after so many blessed yeeres wherein error hath euery way bene confuted the trueth established For our partes we are so assured of the manifest trueth that we make no doubt thereof For their parts if they sought conference in a good conscience with a desire to learne it were necessary to regard their desires to relieue their conscience But returning into the lande with vngodly vowes and obstinate mindes to persist in their errors and hauing hope with their maskes to deceiue many it is meete to keepe them as farre from doing harme by their lies as they withholde themselues farre from receiuing good by our trueth For to our profession they minde not to be brought they are votaries to the contrarie What then shall we gaine by disputing with them when they will not bee gained to the trueth To our selues alreadie through the great mercie and power of God and his word we haue by disputations made great gaine within the realme and abroade and the same gaine increaseth to the saintes of God with increase of sorowe and lamentation to all that yet haue traffique with the whore of Babylon Moreouer in this disputation to ouerthrowe the chalengers by the worde as often their masters haue bene and they easily may bee what great victory can it bee ouer two or three of the last least in y e quarrel They make accompt to gayne nothing indeede yet by false report of some that stand readie prest to post away y e newes of victorie before there be a stroke striken they may winne some piece
of their desire Also they think it some profit onely to barke against y e trueth But whē Rabshakeh came from Babylon and blasphemed at the gates of Ierusalem good Ezechias following the rule of Salomon commanded saying Answere ye him not And I pray you who of vs woulde in the things of this life yeelde to an euill minded man that he should enter an action for the things whereof we haue the right and quiet possession But here the pretensed Catholiques are wise in their generation For when did they graunt to a free disputation or to haue any sermons made by them of the religion but beeing enforced thereunto Yea at this very time howsoeuer this Champion and some others challenge and call for disputation yet their forerunners and fathers in Poperie refuse the same With what forehead then can these Iesuites demaund of vs that themselues will not graunt Or seeing it hath bene graunted at Auspurge and at Poissy and els where and they gained nothing by the graunt why should they call the Ministers to an vnorderly disputation from their ordinarie charge wherein beside other dueties of their ministerie they soundly confute by the plaine word of God as occasion is offred euen the chiefest arguments that the enemie can alledge As for the trial these Iesuits wil make it shalbe w t false weights and measures which are an abomination to the Lord while after their custome they dispute with vnlearned and peeuish distinctions false arguments absurd interpretatiōs plausible notwithstanding to them that haue a forestalled iudgement against the trueth But S. Paul warneth vs to auoide thē that trouble the Church with such disputations and contentions For it is euident that the purpose of these Iesuites is but to cast in matter of griefe to the godly when they see so bolde enterprises of the enemie not at the walles of the citie but euen in the market place and as by a blasing starre to prognosticate some further matter to the Papist and time seruer but most of all to disturbe the peace of the Church and to make the people stagger in religion as many of them as by diligent hearing of the worde haue not attained to the certeine loue of the trueth Neuerthelesse although I thinke it inconuenient in a settled estate to haue the trueth of God and her Maiesties most godly proceedings called into disputation by these men who are her alienated subiectes and in this maner against a singular peace yet vpon other circumstances as disputations haue bene heretofore graunted so they may agayne For not wee but the Papistes refuse lawfull disputation not we but they feele and confesse that they get nothing thereby The inconueniencie is that which I note in the seditious practise of this man and his confederates Otherwise the common wealth hath more cause then y e Church to dreade their forces Wee seeke not to esche we any snare they can laye we feare not their euidence or doubt of our owne title They haue had and may haue the libertie of their pen if these Iesuites haue any thing that their masters had not or which our fathers in the Gospell haue not answered let thē lay it downe in writing w t true forme of argument which is the most certeine tryall of greatest iudgemēt in writing by the grace of God they shalbe answered For howe litle we feare them howe much they feare vs it appeareth by that they suffer not a scroule of religion or tending neuer so litle that way in any mās hand but it is presently a matter for the inquisition Yea they withhold the very word it selfe Wheras we find y t the very view of their outward Rome with her abominations and the inward seeing into y t heart of popish religion with her absurdities haue made many as well grosse Papists as others indifferent betwene both religions to stand resolued in the trueth and to acquaint themselues with the cleare and comfortable doctrine of Iesus Christ after the execrable superstitions of the Pope once throughly knowen But nowe to come to his letters I finde to speake generally that they haue a preface to nine articles the preface and articles being to the same purpose For all is in effect thus much that he hath taken a farre dangerous iourney boldly plainely to offer himself a procter to mainteine against al commers in disputation at the commandement of the Pope the Popish religion to confute the doctrine of Christ Iesus This is the chalenge The promise is to persuade euen Prince people professing the trueth that they are in error as if both Prince and people had not sufficient assurance of their faith or the chiefest Papistes did not from day to day receiue great ouerthrowes both in disputatiō and writing For to the glory of God in the ministerie of the Gospell be it remembred and to the heart griefe of al Romish Catholiques the Lord addeth to the true Catholique Church of his elect great numbers continually to those that openly professe the religion many notable cities which lately were first in the zeale of Poperie and are nowe not the last of them that embrace the trueth notwithstanding so many artes and insolencies vsed to stoppe the course and increase of the Gospell Therefore if the Lord do not punish our contempt of the word we professe what hope may our Chalenger haue that the Pope shall recouer others when he can not keepe his own no not them that lately carried the canopie ouer his head In the preface y e Iesuite reporteth his pilgrimage out of Germany and Boeme into Englād his deare coūtry at the cōmādemēt of his superiours y t sent him where he giueth a note of his danger of his obedience But touching his obedience it commeth to be noted afterward As for his dāgers I see them not so great as he pretēdeth For I dout not but he was wel contented that this place fell to his lot that he wayted a time to aduenture himselfe when there was in his opinion lesse danger then heretofore more hope of some golden daye But the man is come into this noble realme for the glorie of God and the benefite of soules What glory of God cā come by a man sworne to Antichrist against Gods glory sworne to the Councill of Trent against the peace of this kingdom What care of soules can hee haue which would withdraw their foode in enraged therfore would enrage others with y e cup of poison wherwith the whore of Babylō hath heretofore poysoned the princes of y e earth What benefite of soules can poore soules looke for at his hand that in place of the most cleare light of the Gospel would bring in a greater plague of darkenes then that of Egypt This is the effect of the Iesuites loue which he would shew to his deare coūtry after so many yeeres absence out of her sight Being now arriued
verely hold Images Pardons Praying to Saints seruice in an vnknowen tongue as wicked things But let thē all true professors also know that y e Papists hold Steuen Gardiners rule Yelde but in haly water said he to Cardinall Poole that blusshed at some enormities in popery and yeeld in all Thereupon Papistes yeeld in nothing howsoeuer our home Papists thinke or dissemble the matter This is proued by the open dealing of the Iesuites for there is nothing be it neuer so impious neuer so absurde yea though in their owne conscience neuer so contrary to trueth commō sense but they defend it in a booke written w t publike consent called y e Censure of Colen Hitherto it hath bin truely declared y t y e Iesuites are wicked Monkish Friers y t they labour for learning to abolish learning that they ouerlay the nations where they come that they defend all absurdities of the popish Church But for proofe of their absurd and blasphemous doctrines out of a treatise cōcerning this matter I haue enterlaced their owne words as they are to be foūd in y e same book in other of their writings adioining to euery article of their doctrine y e cleane cōtrary doctrine out of y e word of God as foloweth 1 It is not sinne whatsoeuer is against the Lawe of God Censure of Colen leafe 44. Contrary to y e word of God 1. Ioh. 3.4 The transgression of the Law is sinne 2. Cōcupiscence remaining in the regenerate although it be against the lawe of God yet it is not sinne properly in it self or of it owne nature Cens Col. 38. c. in the hādling of Canisius Catechisme leaf 184. A contrary doctrine is taught by Christ Mat. 5. 28. I say vnto you y t whosoeuer shal see a womā to lust after her he hath already committed adulterie with her in his heart 3 The first motions of lust are without hurt of sinne Cens Col. Fol. 54. 89. contrary to the tenth commandement Thou shalt not couet Exod. 20. 17. 4 The holy Scripture is a doctrine vnperfect maymed lame not conteining all things necessarie to faith saluation Cens Col. fol. 220. cōtrarie to that place of Paul 2. Tim. 3. 16 17. Al y e Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God is profitable to teache to confute to correct to instruct in iustice that the man of God may bee perfect and throughly instructed to euery good worke 5 The want of the holy Scriptures must be supplied by peecing it out with traditions Cens Col. 220. Contrary to a Lawe in Moses Deut. 4. 2. Thou shalt not adde to the wordes which I speake to thee neither shalt thou take from them 6 The holy Scripture is a nose of waxe Cens Col. 117. Contrary to the wordes of Dauid The law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule Psal 19. 7. 7 The reading of the holy Scripture is not onely not profitable but many wayes very hurtfull to the Church Cens Col. 21. Christ deliuereth a cōtrary note Mat. 22. 29. Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor parte of Christendome or heathenesse vpon lyke assignation I doubt not as I sayde before but that hee was more readie and ioyous to bee sent into his owne countrey But what authoritie hath the Pope to send out swarmes of Iesuites into all the worlde Are they not content falsely to make him Peters successor and head of the Church but that they will also allowe him to apoynt these newe Apostles to goe out into al y e worlde namely these Iesuites enemies to the doctrine of the true Apostles yea and that in nūber not so fewe I thinke as xii hundred for xii because he would haue more to pull downe then Christ sent abroad to build vp withall 3 His assigned charge is laide downe in the third article which is of free cost to preach the Gospell and minister the sacraments Cunning wordes to cloke an euill matter For he speaketh in words fit for the Gospel to auoyd the vsuall and proper speaches of his Popish priesthod and order that are full of derogation agaynst the trueth For they preach not the Gospell but against the Gospell in the traditions and ordinances of the Pope Their ministerie of the Sacramentes is the saying or singing Masse and corrupt baptisme with other actions which they call Sacraments but are none by any warrant out of the word of God For in their definitions of these other fiue falsly named Sacraments they surcharge their margents with great shewe of proofes but almost all are authorities of men there are very fewe places of scripture quoted and those manifestly peruerted The wordes that folowe in his charge To instruct the simple reforme sinners confute errors and in briefe to crye an alarme spirituall against foule vice and proude ignorance howe great shewe doe they make in the monster Tullie noteth those byers and sellers that gayne but litle except they lie much Euen so these marchants that bye and sell with the woman that sitteth vpon many waters in whose forehead this name is branded A mysterie Great Babylon the mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth they gayne nothing but by their shamelesse lyes For that which they set out to sale for instruction is destruction touching the fayth their reformation is a deformation and in their kingdome it may seeme waste labour seeing they haue a shorter way to woorke in blotting that out spel He hath taken vpon him a speciall kinde of warfare vnder the banner of obedience If it be of obedience to God vnder Christes banner it is common to all Christians if it be of obedience to some new false Apostleship of the Popes creation it is as much disobedience to God as it is obedience to those monkish ordinances What plaine dealing then can this be Vnder the title of the glorious banner of obedience the Iesuite recommendeth to the Lordes of the Counsell his disobedience to God his disobedience to the trueth and obedience onely to his Fathers chiefely y e Pope the most blasphemous enemie of God most open enemie to her Maiestie both in his consistorie in the field Obedience acceptable to God is according to his word not according to y e traditions ordināces of mā As for y e Pope he holdeth vp a bāner of rebelliō alwaies against y e kingdō of Iesus Christ many times also against y e kingdome of Princes Vnder this banner he hath lately placed these Iesuites w t some armour finding all other vnlettered and idle Monkes Friers not so fit for y e campe as for the cloister If this votarie hath resigned great interest or manye possibilities of welth honor felicity as he pretēdeth thē the iudgemēt of God was y e heauier against him y t he should sell all he had not to bye the precious pearle recōmēded by Christ but to purchase the
their Father and their order aboue the heauen of heauens they haue a rule that the vnlettered among them shoulde not care to learne letters But the Iesuites they professe and teache knowledge Let vs see what knowledge and for what cause It is the very same knowledge which y e serpent performed who promised the knowledge of euill to take away the knowledge of good who promised life and brought in death Therein also the cause appeareth for this master promiseth to roote out proude ignorance minding in deede to roote out the fyncere knowledge of the Gospell which is the power of God to saluation Here the Iesuite most wickedly calleth the knowledge of the Gospel ignorance and the stedfast confession of our faith hope that wauereth not he termeth pride But Poperie which this rooter out of the Gospell woulde plant in place thereof is in deede proude ignorance and a treading vnder foote of y e blood of Christ For it proudly refuseth to heare and reioyceth to bee without vnderstanding Therefore Poperie is that proud ignorance that must not reenter and the disease therof remaining in many is that which must be more more rooted out For though it promise all good things what one good thing can that religiō bring which ioyneth the merittes of man with the merittes of Christ which matcheth or ouermatcheth the worde of God with traditions the commandement of God with the countermaund of the Pope the Temple of God with Idoles Which doctrines and many other are the doctrines of men as contrary to y e holy worde of God as is darknes to light infidelitie to faith in Christ Iesus What I say can the Iesuites religion bring but some vnblessed blessings of a mā which draw after them the euerlasting curses of God The sunne of righteousnes that shineth into our hearts being thus taken awaye this Iesuite would bring vs to some knowledge of the woman that is arayed with purple scarlet ouerlaid w t gold precious stones and pearle Which woman is set out vnto the carnall eye sense by such allurements to recouer y e kings of y e earth her old louers that she may make thē drunken againe with her cup of fornications Therefore in the bowels of Iesus I beseech all my deare countrey men not to be deceiued by this Iesuite who bringeth into Englād a worship cleane contrary to the worship of God For Gods worship is in Spirit and trueth and poperie is in gold and siluer pearle and crucifixes and Agnus deis all for the eye and to snare the heart of a carnall man bewitching it with so great glistering of the painted harlot It is also in all kynde of musike to fyll the eare with delight and in all excellent perfumes to please the smell These and all the rest are carnall intisements to quenche the Spirite bewraying that Poperie worketh in vs not a feeling or iudgement of Gods seruice in Spirite but of fleshly pleasures to cary vs away to the fornications of that strumpet of all the worlde Nowe as Popery is not a worship of God in Spirit so is it not ioyned with any worship of God in trueth but in y e canons decrees of men who to rayse vp their owne kingdome goe about to throw down both the kingdome of men and which is their chiefest practise the kingdome of Iesus Christ Therefore it was too broade to charge the Gospel nowe preached as an abusing of his poore countreymen whereas he himselfe seeth wherewith they are many of them abused from Rome and by these close messengers from thence namely with most foolish and beggerly trashe as Bulles pardons holie graines copper pieces of Agnus dei with such other childish inuentions wherein if a strong spirit of error did not reigne in some I maruell that the beggerlinesse and follie of their religion is not more espied and had in a perpetuall detestation 4 The fourth article doeth shew as much trueth in his words as is in his religiō For in wordes hee doeth openly deny that which is most apparant in his doinges and most necessary for his cause He neuer had mind and was streightly forbidden by his father that sent him to deale in any respect with any matters of state c. Here he doeth earnestly affirme that which must not be beleeued here he doeth perswadingly craue that which must not at al be giuē him He would be thought no enemie of the state no dealer with the common wealth or policie rendreth a reason if you wil beleue him It apperteineth not to his vocation and from it he doeth gladly estrange and sequester his thoughtes But all these wordes are as if a man woulde manifestly wounde his neighbour to the heart and yet in the deede doing cry out saying I doe not so much as thinke him any harme For he that smiteth our religion woundeth our common wealth because our blessed estate of policie standeth in defence of religion and our most blessed religion laboureth in the mayntenance of the common wealth Religion and policie in Englande are through Gods singular blessings preserued together in life as with one spirite hee that doeth take awaye the life of the one doeth procure the death of the other Neyther can any Iesuite from Prage or Rome come ouer to confute and alter religion but hee must attempt the change of the state to the lamentable destruction of the lande Hee can not agayne bring in the Pope but he must take awaye from her royall Maiestie her iust supreme soueraintie and depriue her at one clappe of the authoritie shee hath ouer all persons and ordinances She must haue nothing to doe with the bodie or goods of the Clergie as they speake shee must seeke a reconciliation from the Popes curse her chiefe lawes must bee no lawes the present gouernement that I may not saye the present gouerner must bee changed a newe established and made subiect to the checke of the Priest of Rome Notwithstanding this man that woulde ouerthrowe all woulde make vs beleeue his purpose is to touche nothing Because he caryeth no sworde he woulde hee thought to cary no weapon But is not one trumpet worse then many swordes What manifest dissimulation is then in the champions wordes what playne contrarietie But it is no new thing for his whole pamphlet is full of such monsterous contrarietie while hee deliuereth humilitie in shewe but pryde in deede agayne while he vttereth the words of swelling pryde hauing no matter but vile and base But Antichrist and his ministers must needes learne of their father his chiefest lesson which is to lye that the saying of Christ may appeare Satan is a lyer and the father of lyes As for his reason that thinges of policie appertayne not to his vocation although it bee true in deede yet it is so sayde onely to couer his purpose which is to the contrary For appertayneth it to Saunders in Irelande by
these things and moreouer crucifie the sonne of God againe euerie day in their most blasphemous sacrifice of the Masse yet when you holde vp those handes in prayer I doubt not but it is with desire to haue Popish religion restored to haue the Lords of the Counsell remoued to haue way made for you to returne frō your beggerly estate to the dignities and regencie of the lande And why then doe you that are knowen to make this prayer and to followe your prayers with practises notwithstanding make mention of them as a dutiful and holy seruice towarde the Counsell If the things ye seeke by prayer otherwise were good then the prayer enterprise also may be good but if ye aske the thinges that are euil the praier is turned into sinne and you finde how true the wordes of Iames are concerning such praiers and such purposes you aske and receiue not But howsoeuer you pray or purpose we in all trueth loue holde vp both our handes and heartes vnto God for you that are in darkenes and in the shadowe of death praying him in his deare sonne Iesus Christ to cast vpon you the light of his countenance that you may see finde that righteousnes which S. Paul desired with the losse of al the other helpes preeminences namely not the righteousnes which was his owne which is of the lawe but the righteousnes which is of God through faith This is vnfeinedly our publique and priuate praier for you with continuall supplication that God woulde make vs all sheepe of the same folde whereof Iesus Christ alone is the great Pastor To come againe to that which followeth in the letter he addeth the praise of English students beyonde Sea saying Their posteritie shal not die No more shall the posteritie of Antichrist til they and their abominations be brought into iudgement As for the vertue sufficient knowledge which they gather I would know whether it be vertue or knowledge that cause them in some places to carie letters to enter into sedicious matters priuilie in other places to carrie armes against her Maiestie openly Other fruite of their abandoning the lande great studies beyond sea I heare of none a fewe motiues excepted In the next wordes you professe better vertue and more knowledge if the euil cause were not stil the same For in deede it is y e heauenly gift of God in our calling to despise the death of the bodie for the life of their soules whom otherwise we cannot in our ministerie bring to saluation But your cause tendeth not to the saluation but to the condemnation of those whom you carie away with your carnall worshippings and false doctrine Moreouer it may be these are but wordes of a vaine bragge as hitherto appeareth For albeit you woulde seeme determined vpon your league neuer to giue ouer the Lords of the Counsel but either to winne them to heauen as if now they were lost to hell or to die vpon their pikes yet you that haue taried so long from so great a worke tarie yet longer making no haste to come to so good a match These valiant resolute souldiers vnder y e Popes banner of obedience appeare not euen this Campmaster appeareth not But it may be he hath withdrawen himselfe to write his letters consolatorie into Ireland and backe againe to Rome and among other his large offers he mindeth to afforde vs this that we shall haue some time to prepare for so dangerous a combat To let this passe that which followeth doeth shew his spirit For out it must with ful mouth and great sound he can no longer keepe his own counsel It woulde be marked and taken heede of not for feare of the matter but to see the rebellion of the men The societie of Iesuites proclaime by their trumpet Master Campiō make it knowen that they haue all made a league not to leaue a mā of thēselues aliue free from the honor of Stories Tiburne or consumption in prison til they haue ouer-reached all the practises of Englād Fearefull wordes threatning paper shot But the weakenes of their force taketh nothing frō the greatnesse of their malicious and trayterous purpose For if their power were as their purpose see I pray you what an alteration they would soone worke in this land Neuerthelesse these Iesuites that minde to leaue no way that they thinke may establish the beast whom they worship yet they vtter this traiterous branch of the vnholy league as if it were no other thing thē by preaching to winne men to saluation But I haue largely shewed that it is destruction that they call saluation Therefore to conclude these matters his purpose is with his confederates by al meanes to subdue men to the Popes bondage and in this piece of seruice to preuayle or to die vpon any daungers A great offer for so small gayne a great danger for so wretched a purpose But if the Iesuite report the conclusion of y e league truely when it is put in execution which notwithstanding they wil flee more then we cā feare it wil not go so ill with the Church of God in England as it will go wel with all other Churches For if all the Iesuites in the worlde bend their forces towarde England and come to carie the crosse that here shalbe layd vpon them we shalbe ouerlayed with those swarmes of grashoppers except the Lord prouide a mighty west wind to cast them violently into the Sea but all other Churches shalbe free from that plague But if answereably to our professiō we remaine y e Israel of God though Egypt be plagued yet there shalbe no complaining in the tents of Iacob After these bragges in words only howe readie they are in the planting of Popish religion to die at Tiburne or in any other torments he sheweth vs that the expence is reckoned the enterprise is begun To gather these matters First he publisheth a general cōspiracie of al the Iesuites in the world and they were not alone in the decree to die vpon our pikes or to draw vs frō religiō Secōdarily he forewarneth definitiuely that this their league succession multitude must ouerreach al the practises of England Thirdly that the accōpt is made the enterprise begun In respect of any thing these Iesuites or their adherēts can doe we haue no cause to feare at all for their rage shal turne to y e praise of God who wil cōfound thē for his trueth to get glory to his name But in respect of our sinnes in not bringing forth fruites worthie of the Gospell we may feare least some of these noysome beasts in their swarmes cast some shadow vpō the tree of life Touching those last wordes so playnely laying downe their multitude confederacie threats and beginnings I leaue any further to examine them they are for an other examination as drawing neere the heart of the common wealth for the purpose and execution thereof The
last wordes of this article are in sound very plausible as the rest of his speeches pretending nothing but trueth in his false cause nothing but loue in his seditious pamphlet Therfore let them be examined Speaking of Popish religion he sayth it is of God A bare affirmation without any proofe So in all his letter he onely affirmeth referring vs to his credite whereas men would rather be caried w t reason But his reasoÌ„s are to be looked for wheÌ„ he commeth to answere his chalenge Yet to answere him with a reason Poperie is not of God for then it could not haue receiued so great ouerthrowes only by the word of God Neither was y e Popish religion planted in blood neyther is it like whatsoeuer is layd downe in bragges that in blood these Iesuites or any other wil restore it Otherwise the wordes may haue this true construction Popish religion was planted in strength by sheading the blood abolishing the doctrine of the Martyrs in like sort they hope to restore it agayne By persecutions it preuayled at the first and by persecutions they looke to preuayle at the last But blessed be God that hath shewed y e vanitie of this hope by shewing in our daies that the blood of his Martyrs whose godly cause iustifie their godly death is the seede of the Church France Flanders and our owne countrey are wonderfull arguments of this if any man will descend into y e deepe coÌ„sideration of the particulars If the Lord hath heretofore made Nebuchadnezzar his seruant to punish Israel it was not the power of Babel that did it but the sinnes of Ierusalem All such chastisements of the Church redound to the good of the Church and leaue wrath against those that rise vp against his people and the blood of his saints that is so precious in his eyes 9 In the last place he aggreueth the fault of her Maiesties most honorable priuy CouÌ„sell if they will not receyue that which he doeth not offer For although his letters be full of promises and verball offers yet in trueth and deede he offreth nothing no not so much as these letters They were scattered abroade before any copie came to their handes so it appeareth that as he meant not to stand to the answere of his chalenge so he meant not so much as to sende the letters of chalenge whyther he woulde haue them thought to be directed Now after all stormes and other outrageous actes in this tragedie and imaginarie chalenge the Iesuite hauing charged y e Lords for their part if they reiect his offer reward his endeuours and pilgrimage of many thousande miles with rigour he for his part falleth to a calme conclusion Therein he promiseth hauing no more to say to recoÌ„mende our case and his owne to Almightie God the searcher of hearts and prayeth that in heauen we may be made friends This prayer if he will make from the heart we also will pray that through their coÌ„uersion God may graunt it in Christ Iesus If he wil pray it in loue and trueth to that praier he shal haue our Amen But let euery man that speaketh well meane accordingly least the searcher of hearts finde out punish their hypocrisie His last wordes somewhat touch the former sore therefore must not be passed ouer with silence In being our remembrancer that in heaueÌ„ all iniuries shalbe forgotten he couertly complaineth againe of iniuries The iniuries he susteineth he alone is guiltie of For what greater iniurie can be done to another theÌ„ he hath done vnto himself He hath departed froÌ„ the faith left his couÌ„trey refused y e protection of a gracious Prince with many other honours felicities as he declared in y e first article In him therfore y e coÌ„plaint of iniuries is vniust but against him y e complaint not of iniuries alone but of seditions of heresie of impietie is very iust so y t he is to take heed hereafter vnto his steps least though al iniuries be forgotteÌ„ in heaueÌ„ yet for want of repentaÌ„ce such iniquities receiue punishment in an other place Therefore briefly to see into al this matter to coÌ„clude these letters of Ed. Campion y e Iesuite which were cast abroad w tout a directioÌ„ to comfort the Papists sweetely to feed them w t hope of a great coÌ„quest against the religion are fouÌ„d vpon examination to sound a false Alarme hauing nothing for y e Papists to feede vpon but vaine hope or venim to satisfie a hart nourished w t reproches nothing to trust vnto but a broken reede that not yet in hand Touching the Protestants the same libel hath nothing that can either strike the least feare into them or cast the least discredite vpon them or their religion Notwithstanding against y e Papists and for the Protestants especially those in place further to consider it the pamphlet hath beside the vanitie many points discouering as well great mischiefe intended against her Maiesties peaceable and godly gouernement as against the heauenly and most fruitful preaching of y e Gospel Which mischiefe notwithstaÌ„ding the Lord our God hath from time to time and lately wonderfully disappoynted that the Papists which will not heare what is taught out of the worde may see and consider what the Lord preacheth to them in those his notable iudgements and that we both Prince people so blessed of God woulde with new songs praise the Lord who is euermore good to Israel the Lord I say whose mercie and trueth endureth and preuaileth for euer Amen FINIS Reue. 18. 11. 2. Reg. 18. 36 Prou. 26. 4. Prou. 20. 23. 2. Tim. 2. 23. Tit. 3. 9 10. R. Maffeus in Iudam Watson and others at home Reuel 17. 2. Heb. 9. 26. 10. 12. 18. Iesuites Philip. 2. 9. Act. 11. 26. Exod. 8. 2. Censur Colon. Donati Gotuisi lib. de fide Iesu Iesuitarum Catechis Canisii Cic. offic 1. Apo. 18. 11. Apoc. 17. 5. 2. Thes 2. 4. His bulles His forces in Ireland Iere. 7. 22. Mat. 15. 9. Mat. 13. 46. Reuel 13. 16. His most insolent and malicious Bull. 1569. answered by M. Bullinger Prou. 26. 2. Galat. 1. 10. 3. Cor. 4. 5. Galat. 1. 8 9. Apoc. 16. 14. Acts. 16. 14. Gen. 19. 16. Colloquium Iesuiticum 2. Tim. 3. 8. Gen. 3. 1. Rom. 1. 16. Hebr. 10. 22 23. Apoc. 17. 4. Ion. 4. 23. 24 Iohn 8. 44. Mat. 12. 34. Mat. 4 6. Councils Fathers Stories 2. Tim. 3. 16. Psal 119. 130. Esai 11. 4. 2. Thes 2. 8. 1. Cor. 2. 14. Psal 51. 10. 1. Kin. 11. 5. 1. Kin. 3. 12. Mat. 16. 16. 2. Tim. 3. 16. Exod. 32. 1. 1. Tim. 3. 16. Canon lawe Sententiae Halleri ex decretis canon collectae Common lawe A treatise of the supremacie Also sermoÌ„s and bookes by Tunstall Gardiner Bonner and other papists against the Pope Reuel 14. 8. 18. 2. Friers and such like entring into their order are saide to die may make their will which is proued standeth in force as if they were dead Iam. 1. 8. Iere. 5. 2. Iosh 7. 10. Papinianus Ael Spartianus in vita Caracalli Horatius Quid dignuÌ„ tanto feret hic promissor hiatu 2. King 18. 30. Ephes 4. 3. Col. 3. 14. 1. Cor. 2. 6 8. Rom 8. 5 6 7 Reue. 1â—8 18. 21. Iob. 13. 4. Ephe. 2. 20 Gal. 1. 8 â— Phil. 3. 7. c. In Ireland 29. Nouemb. Iam. 4. 3. Phil. 37. c. Iohn 10. 11. heb 13. 20. Phil. 2. 17 30 Iere. 25. 9. 27. 6. Ier. 24. 7 8 9 Psal 116. 15.