scriptures directing ruling your consciences thereby On the other side againe wyll you as honest dutifull Subiects renouncing all forraigne power of Prelate Prince or Potentate whatsoeuer betake your selues hence forwarde to bee gouerned by her Maiestie and the temporall lawes of this lande and such Statutes as for the good and peaceable guiding thereof be by her Maiestie the State made agreed vpon in the high court of 〈◊〉 according to the order of this Realme What say you to this condition I aske you because I am in doubt whether you will in the ende stand to the resolution and iudgement of her Maiestie the State herein Nor to any in deed but vnto your Pope your selues and yet had yee neede I tell you resolue be resolued in this point before you make sute to her maiestie so earnest sute to haue publike disputation as wherevpon your eternall saluation dependeth c. And to this point answere hardly in your next writing for in this Epistle DEDICATORIE your wordes hetherto seeme to imploy som cōtradictiō in this matter or els your sute seemeth yf not hollowly yet cunningly made to your vantage but preiudiciall and perillous to this quiet and peaceable state setled nowe aboue these xxii yeeres together in this kind of gouernement of reiecting the authoritie of the Pope of Rome and Popish religion and receiuing the profession of the Gospel and acknowledging her Maiesties Royall soueraigntie ouer all States and degrees All which is wel and sufficiently warranted and maintained by the expresse testimonie of Gods holy worde and the wholesome lawes of this Realme as hath beene and is still both for the one the other by proofe published to the viewe of all the worlde You M. Howlet and your late start vp Iesuites and other English Romanistes or Rhemistes to be plaine with you are too weake in the shoulders God haue the glory to take in hande by disputation or otherwise to vndermine or shake this Godly State or to prooue your owne cause good Yee are but princockes and babes for the most part in comparison of those of your side aforetime that stoode in the front of the battaile whose force yet God be thanked haue beene well tryed and met with all It is vnto you a harde 〈◊〉 of the decay and vtter ruine shortly to fall vpon your huge Antichristian kingdome as that was an after demonstration in the Poet Naeuius that Tullie mencioneth when newe Oratours foolish young men arise and take in hande the administration of the common wealth who were wont so to bragge of gray haires olde men c. Yea 〈◊〉 is that that hath alreadie beene a great part of the vndoing ofit on your behalfes Young men I speake not to reproch age nor to touche towardly youth may haue good heades fresh memorie quicke sight sharpe wit ioly art and prompt and readie tongues and wordes at will which thinges if they bee well applyed wherein is all haue their commendation as in young men But in heauenly matters Gods truth reuealed in his written worde his feare a setled vnderstanding and iudgement framed by Gods holy spirite ioyned with simplicitie and sinceritie in Christes religion and a reuerent humble minde to Godwarde directed alwayes by the sacred Scriptures in young or olde are a great deale more worth and yet by your vaunt you seeme to trust much to the other and thereupon are you so earnest for disputation Of your vaine Scholasticall disputations and arguments pro contra that can make quidlibet ex quolibet or as wee speake Make men beleeue that the Moone is made of greene cheese or that the Crowe is white by your sophistrie The Churche of God to the hurt thereof hath had too great experience afore time and the faithfull at this day see but too muche of this stuffe in your subtill Doctor Scotus your Angelicall Doctors Quodlibetal questions and in numbers of bookes of that stampe We haue beene faithfully warned by the holy ghost to take heed of admitting that kind of dealing a great while since namely in Saint Paules Epistles to Timothie And in deed by tryall we find dayly that by wrangling iangling and vaine disputiug the truth commonly goeth to wracke and is lost besides other inconueniences that arise thereby There be other meanes to try out the truth by then this This kinde of exercise vnlesse it bee very soberly kept and vsed with great moderation is very dangerous in matters of diuinitie And yet God be thanked for his gifts you may be and are euen in this exercise matcheable and to bee matched if neede were with your equals heere at home You that make these great bragges were but yesterday to talke of in Oxeford you haue left your fellowes and your betters too behind you in Oxeford Cābrige abrod also if you will giue other besides your selues leaue to iudge but let vs heare what you tell vs more of y e particulars for you offer also of your liberalitie two other wayes of dealing besides publike disputation These are your wordes 15 ANd as for the particulars wee shall easily agree with them For wee offer all these three wayes both iointly and seuerally that is either by trying out the truthe by briefe scholasticall arguments or by continuall speeche for a certaine space to be allotted out the other part presently or vpon studie to answere the same or finally by preaching before your Maiestie or where els your Maiestie shall appoint And for our safeties we aske nothing els but only your Maiesties worde set downe vnto vs in no ampler maner then the Councell of Trent made the safe conduct to our aduersaries which they notwithstanding refused to accept But I hope they shall see that wee will not refuse or mistrust your Maiesties worde if we may once see it set downe by proclamation or otherwise by letters pattents for our safetie but that within 80. dayes after by the grace of God wee shall appeare before your highnesse with what danger soeuer to our liues otherwise for the try all of Gods truth which we make no doubt but to be cleare on our side 16 If our aduersaries refuse this offer they shall shewe too muche distrust in their owne case for it is with great labour perill and disaduantage on our partes and on their sides nothing at all I woulde they durst make but halfe the like offer for their comming hyther on this side the Seas it shoulde bee most thankefully taken and they with great safetie and all gentle intreatie disputed withall aud made to see as I presume their owne weakenesse But seeing this is not to bee hoped for wee relye vpon the other beseeching your Maiestie most humbly instantly that our iust demaund may be graunted for the tryall of Gods truth most necessary for vs all too our eternall saluation YEE talke vnto vs of three wayes of conference both ioyntly and seuerally as yee speake but all must
else must he heare from vs that whiche the Galatians 〈◊〉 themselues amisse sometimes 〈◊〉 from S. Paule This perswasion is not of him that calleth you c. Or to shewe the vanitie of the reason in an example of his owne alleadged here Let vs propounde that If dame Eue saith hee had not presumed to heare the serpent talke shee had not beene beguiled But if shee say I delighting in the tree forbidden to satisfie her eye and desire had not perswaded her selfe that the Serpentes talke had beene the trueth and so perswading her husbande also to leaue the truth of Gods worde to beleeue fansie and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lie brought him to obey her voice as shee did the Serpents they had not eaten of the fruite for bidden and so had not wrapped themselues and vs in miserie Then the neerer cause and Reason whereby both Adam and Eue were beguiled and the more proper that we neede not run farre off was the false perswasion they had and admitted vpon the Serpents talke against Gods expressed woorde and commandement whiche to make like your reason thus I 〈◊〉 Dame Eue perswading her selfe the tree was good for meate and to be desired to get knowledge and her husbande by her meanes the like might not venture to lacke lease so great a good benefite or might not venture 〈◊〉 do the contrary which shee he perswaded themselues was euill to them Adde you the rest if ye like to make this a good Reason for I answer you that it is very like to yours and all one in effect which is grounded likewise vpon 〈◊〉 and that a false vaine and dangerous 〈◊〉 contrary to the truth the scriptures phrase 〈◊〉 this case is good I am perswaded through the Lord c. In religion let vs learne to speake religiously with this religious Apostle c. Remember I pray you that I am the answerer and if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yee can proue no better then thus I suppose ye knowe the order of the Schooles you may be 〈◊〉 answered for all the great bragges bee made of your dexteritie and skill in briefe scholasticall arguments Because you are such a Reasoner to conuince and so great bragges is made of this Treatise besides you say your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desire 〈◊〉 is onely to giue some 〈◊〉 to them in Englande especially to her Maiestie the right honourable her counsel the learned and wise in Englande c. I aske of you ouer and aboue that I haue sayde to M. Howlet your fellow when you will make this a good syllogisme or Reason you know what I meane to conuince or to satisfie any y t is of a contrary iudgemēt vnto you I say not her highnes her graue and honorable wise coūsellers which are not so easily led as you in your muses and studdes imagin but any meane learned man of a contrary religion vnlesse one will suppose and imagine your propositions to be principles as your 〈◊〉 doth so doubte of nothing ye say or let your proofe bee an asking of the principle which is Sophistrie and no good Logique Let your compagnions and fellowes tell you what they will or let this argument and reason serue those that are already perswaded in your false religion and so neede no Reasons to conuince them Summe bragge or crowe like a Cocke vpon your owne dunghill as much as ye will I that 〈◊〉 but a simple rude man not many a day of any Uniuersitie and so not comparable with the learned and freshe Uniuersitie disputers will yet boldely heere make you this offer that keeping your propositions if you make not an Elench or fallacion of this I may say the like in the rest that is a starke naughtie Reason or a badde Syllogisiue consisting onely of particulars or of foure termes as they speake c. Briefely if you make in good mode and figure to prooue and conuince by not faultie in matter or fourme or in both let me be the answerer and I will yeelde you the whole cause You heare a playne mans offer Buckle your selfe to it take the vantage but it wil make you sweat ere you come to the end or can perfourme it you must seeke a newe midle terme as they speake in Schooles and newe propositions to confirme and proue your 〈◊〉 or else 〈◊〉 with your owne fellowes onely and stay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supposition but howe euer they easily yeelde to false propositions and 〈◊〉 wee can not suppose falshod to bee Truth and 〈◊〉 falshod And sure then can not 〈◊〉 proceede in reasoning against vs to conclude that you woulde haue false propositions wee can not nor will not admit True will not serue your turne you knowe the Logique rule Truth can not proue falshod wee can defende easily enough against all Sophistrie in the worlde that the Crowe is blacke and not white And thankes bee vnto God for his vnspeakeable gyft as it is harde for you to proue Poperie to be the truth and Popishe religion to bee the true Catholique religion So is it on the other side easie for vs to mayntayne and cleare the truth and the profession of the Gospel against all your cauilling Reasons So as one might 〈◊〉 at your impudencie and with what faces you dare presume to make your great bragges and chalenges in these learned dayes But you are knowne well enough you dare doe what you 〈◊〉 to doe and pretend one thing and meane another I am the bolder at the entrance here to mention this that the reader may knowe what he shall 〈◊〉 if hee list to enter into examination of your 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 we see the foundation of your first Reason howe darkely it is layed vpon a false perswasion whereof if the reader list to heare farder what I say he must haue 〈◊〉 to that I haue written ther of against M. Howlet before and you all touching erronious conscience and the bonde thereof Though the foundation of this Reason thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it may bee seene that it can not 〈◊〉 yet let 〈◊〉 heare what this Reasoner sayth therof further Hauing 〈◊〉 himselfe our doctrine to bee false and consequently venemous to the hearer and so may not venture his soule to be infected He rendreth a reason to conuince and proue I trowe For saith hee as it is damnable for a man to kil himselfe and consequently deadly 〈◊〉 without iust cause to put his body in 〈◊〉 danger of death so is it much more offensiue to God to put my soule ten thousande times of more value then my body in danger to the deadly stroke of false 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Note this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He doth wel to set his marginal note to expresse his meaning we might else by his much more haue iudged it to haue beene a comparison and so taken from another place in Logique whereby thinges greater lesse or equall bee compared together But let that goe for the forme and kinde of
and easily inough entreated too as God bee thanked and her Maiestie their handes be tied nowe when they were loose they had shrewde argumentes suche as I euen nowe spake of and yet God to his glory and their shame gaue them that matched with them euen then receiued their argumentes and soluted them remaining themselues still by Gods power inuincible Since that time their religion hath gained but litle by speaking and wryting and I hope shall euery day lesse then other so mightie is the 〈◊〉 of trueth and preuayleth I see not why wee here may not make as great accoumpt of Christes Religion professed in this Church as you doe of your friendes priuate opinion and thinke and say as well of it and without bragge tell you 〈◊〉 religion hath been from time to time The common receiued religion of vniuersal Christendome so can 〈◊〉 so soone be abandoned for you and your fellowes 〈◊〉 and disliking c. We who set no newe religion abroch nor confesse acknowledge any other then the only true religion of 〈◊〉 Christ grounded on the writings of the Prophets and Apostles and taken thence may better auow proue our religiō then you can your friendsopiniō which vpō brag without proofe you so confidētly boast of The matter your Authour treateth of seemeth to you great waightie and important to Godward to her Maiestie and to many a thousand of her Maiesties best subiects This is the other and second cause of your dedication of this peece of worke to her Maiestie heere want no wordes to amplifie that withall which wanteth matter to vphold it and is nothing but wordes You tell vs what seemeth you both of your freende and the matter you can doe little if in wordes you cannot commend them both if that will serue the turne you haue saide your minde and giuen them your good word your opinion is not rested vpon the coloures of your Rethoricke carry shew but moue not One must trie prooue and looke into the thing as into the man also that you praise First we wishe the matter were important to Gods cause to her Maiesties soule estate and Realme and to the estate of her graces faithful subiects Then were it in deede a thing meete to be presented to such a Prince as is our dread Soueraigne and to come into her royall presence But al is cleane contrary there is as much as you can perfourme in this discourse to hurt hinder gods cause her Maiesties soule estate Realme to poyson and infect and thereby to alienate the mindes of y e good subiects of this land from their dutifull obedience to God their lawful and most louing dread Soueraigne ours if you could do more hurt we should be sure of it but we 〈◊〉 God against you for our defence whom we humbly beseech either to turne you or to preuent ouerthrow all your wicked deuises For particular proofe of things we referre it to triall vpon reading that both partes write in a worde denie heere still that you say and but say in wordes In this second sectiō of your Epistle you increase y e troubles too much y e you imagine to bee heere therein too vndutifully also vse your self towards our Soueraigne her lawes councellers ministers After you haue once menxioned it only you leaue quite out without prosecuting gods cause her maiesties soule estate realme which were your principall cōmendations of y e matter before you folow set out like an Oratour for your cōmoditie the pretended afflictiōs of your self other your friends y e papists heere This matter you amplifie heere you are carried with full wind saile as they speak What Such afflictiō extremitie of many a thousād of her graces most louing faithful duetiful subiects as neuer was hearde of before in England that for their consciēces Thus you too oftē cal Popish 〈◊〉 treason You write of a great matter nowe if it were true There is no doubt but you your fellowes giue this foorth in speeche wryting where euer you become that dare so boldly auouch it in printe before her Maiestie I remēber besides other what your seditious Sanders in an Epiftle before his visible Monarchie of the Churche reporteth of the crueltie of this his countrey as though there were some mafsacre or the shedding of many martyrs blood heere in her Maiesties most milde gouernement as I remember also his too vile lewde slanderous report in y e same booke for y t her Maiesty hath bin forced to execute some vile traitors for their too iust deserts which I here only touch by the way because I treat thereof at large els where You wold make the world beleeue that all your stirres here haue not risē of nothing as though you had had great occasion ministred for your seditious rebellious attempts frō time to time I blame you not in respect of your selues your epistle that can not blush but I blame you for sclandering her Maiestie the state realme you woulde make many thinke y t we are not our selues or very fooles y t can not see nor vnderstande of that at home whiche you by here say being so farre off can tell vs vpon report but fame and reporte you must remember goyng farre gaineth in cariage and euil will was neuer giuen to say well you woulde enduce other and her Maiestie also to thinke there were yet some bloody and butcherly Bishops like ye wote whome yet in her Realme vnknowen vnto her highnesse vnlesse to the great reioycing of her subiects heartes she went often and often among them both farre neere and had better intelligence of the estate of her whole Realme and all her subiects than you can giue her better opinion and liking also of the Ministers of her Maiesties lawes than you woulde she had massacres and hot burning execution haue bene and are the weapons of your side know the Authours and make much of the executioners You should remembre me thinketh in what you deale and with whome our soueraigne is merciful milde pitifull where she is not to much prouoked as swelt your harts you cannot denye nay you graunt it though it bee to your owne shames y t so farre so much prouoke her gētle nature but shee is you must vnderstande with other qualities godly wise and vpright way what that and the royall estate and dignitie of her crowne and authoritie require at her hands your conceiued griefs and necessitie shoulde not make you roue so farre without the compasse of the trueth as impudētly to suggest so manifest false things such Hyperboles that is excessiue speeches are scarsely currant and yet your writing is full of them Righteous lippes are the delight of Kings and the King loueth him that speaketh right things saith the wise man Surely M. Howlet if you marke your vsage thorowe your whole Epistle this way you may thinke
aboue a thousand yeres but to descende for since that time Antichrist and his corruptions haue growen apace in the Churche shewed themselues and preuailed much God so punishing mens ingratitude But if yee ascende from a thousande yeeres if ye list to the beginning of the world and let Gods booke bee iudge wee shut out Aristotle your Philosophers and prophane men in this case you will finde 〈◊〉 vantage not in Auncientnesse though without trueth that were no great matter yet you will stil be found to come after behind giue vs leaue to say as he in old time said christ is my ātiquity Thus if you 〈◊〉 of y e old true religion thus must ye think thus must ye do Thus for trial we wish you to do ioining gods booke euer with antiquitie And so Let that that is first be true let that that is afterward brought in be false As one speaketh Gods holy word is afore al is aboue al 〈◊〉 than al that yee alledge or can do for proufe of your religion carying any good shew with it this is y e touchstone y t we woulde haue our religiō your religiō al religiōs in the world tried by It is a lowd lie a vile slander to reporte crie in her Maiesties eares y t such 〈◊〉 fauour is here shewed on y e one side as that other religiōs thā Christs haue been 〈◊〉 to put out their heads to grow to aduance themselues in cómon speech to moūt to pulpits without controulmét such extremitie on the other side that the verie suspicion of your religion hath not escaped vnpunished by terror of Lawes rigorous execution therof For one part those of your side and godles men among vs by raising slanders haue done what they can from time to time as you do to bring diuers godly men into discredite haue but to much preuailed with some though God hath alwaies giuen 〈◊〉 to the truth cleered innocencie What y t smart of some the whilest hath beene you dissemble euery body knoweth best where their shoe pincheth them I write not An Apologie nowe nor take not vpon mee to enter into euerie mans particular cause to maintaine or defend y t same much lesse to diffame accuse our Lawes and the executiō therof by her Maiesties Ministers I owe more reuerence to the state than so to do I only shew the vanitie of your reporte you can for your vantage finde out tel her Maiestie in this epistle of one whom Newgate possessed long time for his fantastical opinions as you 〈◊〉 speake wherfore soeuer the matter were in deed you vtter your choler nay your malice spight you cannot finde out one of your owne side so brainesicke that euen nowe writing an Apology on your behalfs taketh vpon him by expresse tearmes to confute her Maiesties late proclamations c. You cānot finde one so brainesicke that euen now being obstinately giuen to poperie 〈◊〉 one of his owne fellowes in his heate or rage rather Againe syr may you not remember if it please you of executiō done by fire vpō some in London abroade not long since for heresie which were no Papists nor of your Catholike religion as you define deuide things Was this litle or no controlement Litle surely or none in your opinion so long as it is not vpon your selues But what tragedies make you vs of fleabitings vpon any of your side which yet deserue worst both of church and cōmon wealth Ye thinke to winne by exclamatiō outcry Neuer was there any of your side yet that in her Maiesties daies and happy raigne euer suffred death or was executed for this religiō nor any other that I know for but these few I haue named yet this is y t string ye heere so much harpe on this is your argument that your religiō hath found lesse fauor tolleratiō thā any other newer sect or religiō whatsoeuer yea that the tempest hath been so terrible your persecution so vniuersal as the like was neuer felt nor heard of in England before c 4 THe lawe made by Protestants prohibiting the practise of other religions besides their owne allotteth out the same punishment to all them that doe any way vary from the publike communion booke or otherwise say seruice then is appointed there as it doth to the Catholikes for hearing or saying of a masse And although the worlde knoweth that the order set downe in that booke bee commonly broken by euery Minister at his pleasure and obserued almost no where yet small punishment hath euer insued thereof But for hearing of a Masse were it neuer so secrete or vttered by neuer so weake meanes what imprisoning what arraigning what condemning hath there beene The examples are lamentable and many fresh in memory and in diuers families will be to all posteritie miserable 5 To this nowe ifwee adde the extreeme penalties layde vpon the practise of certaine particulars in the Chatholike religion as imprisonment perpetuall losse of goods and landes and life also for refusall of an othe against my religion death for reconciling my selfe to God by my ghostly father death for giuing the supreame pastor supreame authoritie in causes of the Church death for bringing in a Crucifix in remembrance of the crucified death for bringing in a seely payre of beades a medall or an Agnus Dei in deuotion of the Lambe that tooke away my sinnes whiche penalties haue not beene layd vpon the practise of other religions your Maiestie shall easily finde to bee true so much as I haue saide which is that the Catholike religion where in wee were borne baptized and breede vp our forefathers liued died most holyly in the same hath founde lesse fauour and tolleration then any other newer sect or religion what soeuer 6 And albeit the worlde doth know howe that the great mercie and clemencie of your Maiestie hath stayed oftentimes and restrained these penalties from their execution from the ouerthrowing of diuers men whom otherwise they might and woulde haue oppressed yet notwithstanding as I haue said there want not very pitifull exāples abroad which woulde moue greatly and make to bleede that Princely and compassionable heart of your highnesse if their miseries in particular were knowen to the same especially it being in such subiectes as loued and doe loue most tenderly your Maiestie for such a cause as lieth not in them to remoue that is for their conscience and iudgement in religion ANd because to verifie your infamous lie and sclander in this behalfe you adioyne hereafter particular examples of two learned Bishoppes that are principall dealers in the high Commission for Ecclesiasticall causes vnder her Maiestie thoughe they need not my cleering to her Maiestie and the state that put them in trust yet to open your impudent vanitie and to satisfie such as be not to muche affectionate to your side for the
that the crime of Disloyaltie is obiected vnto you c. Heereuppon you puffe and fume or woulde seeme to bee angry yee amplifie the matter yee apeale yee protest yee bestirre you euery way heere is praeda Mysorum expounded and set out with dogge Rhetorike and much adoe The thing might haue been 〈◊〉 taken and vttered with more 〈◊〉 and modestie and your deedes if yee had any might better cleere you with wyse men than wordes will Your iudgement of the man in this passion and in your owne case will hardly bee esteemed This vpbrayding of imprisonment this charging with phantasticall opinions and shewing none and saying that the man with whome yee are 〈◊〉 can deuise any newe Religion at any time vppon 〈◊〉 weekes warning giuen him grounded but vppon this if men reporte truely This vncharitable and naughty dealing I say may sauour of immoderat choler and heate but of litle trueth or honest modestie you would scarsely be content to bee so vsed your selfe Though it bee no parte of the matter to stande in defence of particular men and their 〈◊〉 neither take I great delight in that course yet if that be the partie ye quote in your margine M. Howlet I answere not by reporte and heare say as you too lightly doe but vppon better knowledge that it is very vntrue a slaunder that you reporte of his deuising of any newe Religion vppon a weekes warning c. And that hee hath beene knowen neuer to haue altered his iudgement in Religion since hee first entred the profession thereof and at this day also thankes bee to God keepeth the true paterne of the wholesome doctrine of saluation and constantly trauaileth for the mainteynance of the Fayth against you and such other as fallen into Heresie impugne the same It maketh no great matter what you reporte of him or such other when almost yee can say well of no good man the worse hee heareth of you in this case the better wil hee bee liked among the godly Touching the matter I would your deedes M. Howlet and your fellowes did not plainely confirme and approoue that hee writeth if you bee so stifly addicted vnto Popishe heresie as yee seeme to professe and so obstinate in refusing by othe to acknowledge her Maiesties Soueraigntie giuen of GOD and by lawe propounded to her subiects heere Thinke not that it is this man his singular opinion in wryting and printing but the common opinion heere of the best that in the case you are ye be enemies to God her Royall Maiestie and the State that worse tearmes also may beseeme you your deserts wel ynough Bee not angrie therefore at this your to much stirring will but increase the opinion of you Haue you beene all this while in laying downe your griefes in disclosing your miseries and vnfolding at large nowe your pittifull afflicted case and such intollerable molestations as you cannot beare brought into such extremitie as neuer was hearde of in Englande before And is all come to this that the geuing out publikely in print of these woordes that al Papists are enemies to GOD and her Royall Maiestie is aboue all things the most grieuous iniurious and intollerable Is this the deepest wounde and the greatest hurte yee haue Is this such extremitie as was neuer hearde of in England before Alas seely mouse that appeareth after the mountaines great trauaile I woulde when your side commaunded wee had beene persecuted but by tongue and penne Is that bloody persecutiō forgotten nowe these 〈◊〉 man but wordes and in your owne estimation but the wordes and opinion of a straunge brainsicke fellowe holding phantastical opinions and vyle in the reputation of the worlde what neede you bee so much moued thereat Yee are of a noble courage file not your handes vppon euery one yee meete I see M. Howlet your choise and meaning heerein cunningly to seeke to treade vpon the hedge where it is lowest you are commonly in extremities either with the greatest or the least you can hardly keepe the golden measure and meane in any thing This renteth your Catholique hartes forsooth which are priuey of your owne trueth and duetifull affection towardes her highnesse estate and personne woulde to God that that is so priuey to your selues vnknowen to others her Maiestie at least to whome it appertaineth might bee made priuey to in deede by your submissions to her authoritie renouncing all foreigne power I woulde yee woulde haue made her Maiestie priuey before yee ran away made your selues slaues to that Beast of Rome I woulde before you had thus dealt with her Subiectes and Printed your booke without her leaue and against her minde you would haue made her Maiestie priuey of y e matter I would you would yet now at the lēgth returne home vpō her Maiesties commandement and intimation giuen vnto you of her pleasure and doe as some of your fellowes companie doe repent and stande to her Maiesties mercy Ye need not be ashamed nor afrayde you shal haue examples here before your eyes of honester men I feare than some of you will prooue except you doe the lyke This is good sooth and trueth and the duetifull and bounden affection of subiects this is good plaine English dealing man without Romish farded 〈◊〉 or deepe Italian fetches if yee bee so desirous to cleere your selues as yee pretende yeelde to this motion in time Otherwise your Rhetorique is but colde it perswadeth not all that you say or can say for your selues hath been is considered it is hardly worth the hearing Hee that prayseth him selfe is not allowed but hee whome the Lorde prayseth How if her Maiestie reply relie as you speake vpon her iust interest how if shee say ye plaine more than ye neede or haue cause for if this mans wordes be the worst is done vnto you that you make much adoe of a litle or nothing in comparison howe if her Maiestie tell you where the trueth of the matter is to bee tryed in deedes and good euidence words are in vaine and preuaile not howe if therefore shee 〈◊〉 you leaue flourishing that is a vaine praysing and vaunting your Loyaltie in glorious wordes set out with colors of petre Rhetorique 〈◊〉 you for her satisfaction and assurance goe to the matter and by taking the othe of submission testifie and approoue your obedience and shame your aduersaries that way Let another man praise thee saith the wise man and not thyne owne mouth a stranger and not thyne owne lippes Namely wee are bidden there Not to boaste our selues before the King You keepe no measure 〈◊〉 M. Howlet And in refusing conformitie to take the othe of obedience and to goe to Church vpon the reasons of the treatise folowing Ye maintaine a very corrupt conscience if it may beare the name of conscience which is so ill staied If words may be receiued your pay verely is good if deeds bee required your money is not currant That
bolde to vnfolde and lay abrode your false accusations and slaunders and to aunswere the same Ye say that the Preachers would not obey the prohibition but stept vp into the Pulpit c. As though they ran before they were called First I answere that both the first and seconde Preacher whom yee charge were by publike authoritie licenced both were by the Magistrates and Assistants of y e town requested thither both their doctrines and vsages in that solemne and notable assembly are not on ly cleered from your vncharitable slaunders M. Howlet but very well reported of by those of honourable and worshipfull calling that were present and haue giuen testimonie thereof vnder their hands to bee seene of any that list It is supposed by some M. Howlet that if you be not a husband mans sonne of y t quarters Yee are some night bird whose hauntes may possibly be spied out they were best looke to it in whose barnes or out houses ye lodge if yee chaunce to be spied men loue an Owle so ill I will say no more you wote what befel one of your ancestors at Rome aforetime This being in those quarters is likely enough to be your grief to see or heare that this assembly was so assisted and things therein so well performed but you fret are angrie without cause it quites your Puritan neuer awhit it slaunders Stamford the assembly those that had dealing therin c. You take the report of the matter as you would haue vs beleeue at least at one mans handes a minister presente there I as you see oppose to this vaine report for the truth of y e matter many to one that those of calling honorable worshipful magistrates other in the town abrod besides diuers godly learned ministers Preachers whose hāds and markes I haue seene which carry great credite haue talked with diuers therin to the reproouing of that you so rashly affirme falsly slaunderously heere enforme her Maiestie of to the testifiyng of the contrary the iust cōmendation both of the exercise and the godly Preachers euery way who there present writing diligently tooke the notes are readie to auow the same vpō oth if need be to your discredit and shame The credit of these mē as those that had cause best to vnderstand of the whole matter will weigh downe the single credit of the single sowld Minister you talke of without any indifferent men to shew that the eight articles set down by you are not true but most falsly and maliciously deuised by your selfe or by some other enimie no better then your selfe and that the doctrine other vsage at that exercise was godly and comfortable In the meane while it is neither newe nor to be wondred at that Preachers professors of Gods truth be euill spoken of for well doing it is the reward our Maister had when hee was here it is y t he hath willed vs to looke for For the dealing in that godly exercise of preaching praying fasting ioyned with almes authoritie proceeding The Alderman Cōburgesses were peticioners therein both for allowance at the Bishop of Lincolns hand and also for assistance of preachers as their letters therein declare to their great commendation for their Godly forwardnesse in so good a matter being the chiefe of that corporation wherein they stayed and forbare till they had both allowaunce and direction also for the fourme and order of proceeding set them downe in wryting particularly as the saide Bishop of Lincolnes letters of the fifth of August in answere to the letters of the Town of Stamforde of the xxx of July before doe declare But hee and his letters will carrie no credite with you and yet in this matter being by you alleadged must and iustly doth and ought to doe Besides this they had the good and fauourable allowance of one not of the meanest of the Lordes of her maiesties honourable priuie Counsell to whom vnder her Maiestie y t Borough appertayneth as three of his honourable letters of the xxv of July to the Bishop of Linclone the Alderman and Burgesses of Stamforde and to one of the preachers that you here charge do v̄eare witnesse that I speake nothing of the publike order set downe by authoritie to moue vs all generally to repentance ioyned with fasting prayer and relieuing of the poore The Camets strange sights that were seene in the heauenes the Earthquakes heere beneath among vs the disturbances and disquietnes of neyghbours rounde about this Realme the monstruous and vnnaturall dealings of those of your side with her Maiestie and this peaceable State the great miseries of God his faithfull congregation and people almost euery where and the like miseries whereby God as it were shaketh his rodde ouer mens heades seemed sufficient occasions to her 〈◊〉 the graue wise and godly here to cal to these extraordinary exercises of fasting prayer c. the practise whereof also was seene in diuers places of this Realme and namely in the Diocesse of Lincolne to giue example and stirre vp the godly minde of them of Stamforde which example they very well folowed and perfourmed the like the fourteenth of September last highly to Gods glorye their due prayse the ioy and comfort of y e godly that were present such as heare of the same abroade This that had such approbation and proceeding with consent of all to whome the same vnder God and her Maiestie doth any way appertaine can not iustly be charged by you Turning therefore your standerous reporte for the doctrine in your eight propositions set down and for other behauiour home vnto you againe where it was first bredde as vtterly false and not to be founde eyther in preachers or people at the publique fast at Stamforde I haue set downe the trueth of the whole But what sir if all these circumstances had not bin precisely kept no contempt towardes superiour authoritie being the godlines and reuerence of the matter of it selfe would sufficiently haue excused and commended it in these dayes of the profession of the Gospell vnder so godly and vertuous a Prince and other Magistrates The more godly the exercise was the more it seemeth to offende you the more it misliketh you the better is it to bee esteemed of the godly raile reuile and fret till your heart ake yet shall this godly order of publique and extraordinarie fasting vppon occasion incident ioyned with preaching meditation prayers and charitable reliefe of the poore and miserable practised vsed in this Church recommended by her Maiestie and other of the State long agoe in the great plague here and since and yet still in these dayes as very necessary this I say is so farre of from disorderly or seditious dealing as it shall neuer be iustly founde fault with by you grounded sufficiently vpon Gods booke and better tenne thousande times if such cōparison may be than eyther your blasphemous
with victorie the ambitious with honor the couetous with monie c. scripture diuines to agree with this hellike doctrine God forbidde Wee haue better Schoole maisters then so thankes bee to God Euery good giuing and euery perfect gift is from aboue and commeth downe from the Father of lyghts c. euen to this father of glory must we pray for this gyft of wisedome and reuelation through the knowledge of him that the eyes of our vnderstanding may bee lightened that wee may knowe what the hope is of his calling c. It is a seconde grace and gyfte that I may so speake aboue and beyonde nature and the lyght thereof or eche mans vnderstandyng Your Saint Thomas if you woulde haue consulted but with him would haue tolde you as muche Searche the Scriptures Are yee not therefore deceyued because ye knowe not the Scriptures c. sayth our Sauiour Christ heare him As all poyntes of Diuinitie and Religion woulde bee grounded on Gods booke and the Scriptures not vpon the Philosophers and Rhetorique so especially when there is question of conscience or of doing or not doing thereafter in matters of religion shoulde wee haue recourse vnto that heauenlye 〈◊〉 but yee say The Scripture and Diuines agree to this sentence of the Philosopher when they say That we shall bee iudged at the last day according to the testimonie our of conscience Make this sentence playner and expound it not by the first least both fall out to be very false very pernitious the better of the two make of it what you can is very perplexed darke and doubtfull at least as you set it downe and followe it This may be propounded in lecture among you by him that is your publike reader in the cases of conscience but wee haue seene to muche of your Schoole diuinitie and diuelishe doctrine in conscience to haunte your Romishe lectures or receiue that is therein taught and professed Our senses are better acquainted with the phrases of the Scriptures If this latter sentence be all one with the other and first cited out of Aristotle thē might you haue spared your Philosophers Rhetoricall sentence and rested vpon this whiche yee pretende to take out of the Scripture and Diuines The heauenly Scripture hath no neede of mans wisedome to bee vnderstood sayth one but 〈◊〉 y t reuelation of y t spirit but first I tel you I find not y t words ye set vs downe in those Scriptures whiche yee quote vs in the margin yee tell vs of beeing iudged at the last day according to the testimonie of our conscience yee sende vs to 2. Cor. 1. and to 1. Iohn 3. The Apostle in the place ye poynt vs speaketh more particularly of the testimony of a good conscience onely and of his owne that hee had in this worlde his wordes bee these Our reioycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly purenes not by fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God we haue had our conuersation in the worlde c. Marke here that Saint Paul had his conuersation in the worlde not directed by his owne vnderstanding As your Philosophical sentence pretendeth not by fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God in simplicitie and godly purenes The testimonie of suche a conscience is a goodly matter and to bee reioyced in in deede let it bee if you will a 〈◊〉 feast c. And this is the oddes here betweene a heathen and a Christian life yet doth not the Apostle in this place saye generally that wee shall bee iudged at the last day according to the testimonie of our conscience neither yet of him selfe sayth hee so muche speaking of the testimonie of his own conscience Though I deuy not but y t faithful being receiued 〈◊〉 by gods mercy ingraffed into Christ by faith shall haue matter of 〈◊〉 in a good conscience in wel doing euen at the last day But you carry it further The Apostle in another place speaking of his fidelitie in his Ministerie and of a better conscience still then you seeme hereto note sheweth yet a higher Iudge rather and more sharper of sight who will iudge him more thoroughly then according to his owne vnderstanding and conscience Nay as one that durste not iustifie him selfe though his conscience charged him with nothing in his function hee reiecteth that iudgement from himselfe and from all men also as vnfitte and vnsufficient vnto the Lorde himselfe who at his comming will lighten thinges that are hidde in darkenesse and make the counsailes of the hearts manifest The other place yee cite to shewe wee shall bee iudged at the last day according to our conscience is out of Saint Iohns Epistle where thus it is written I must ghesse because yee neyther set downe the wordes nor the verse For thereby that is by louing in deede and truth wee knowe that we are of the truth and shall before him assure our heartes For if our heart condemne vs God is greater then our heart and knoweth all things Beloued if our heart condemne vs not then haue wee boldnesse towarde GOD. Here the Apostle speaketh of that boldnesse and enterance with confidence that the faithfull here haue towardes God by Christ Iesus and by fayth in him of the benefite thereof whiche as by a certaine marke is expressed by true and vnfaygned loue and of the lacke of this full perswasion againe what a losse it is here is nothing spoken of our being iudged at the last day according to our conscience And this is all I finde of this matter in the places of Scripture here alleadged For the Diuines that ye talke of because yee quote vs Augustin alone for all sende vs to two places 〈◊〉 him and the matter is not great what is there saide I referre it to the learned Readers iudgment that is disposed to examine the places You report heere bring in Austin for proofe that wee shall bee iudged at the last day according to the testimonie of our conscience Where Austin speaketh not of the iudgement of the last day in neither of both the Chapters Consult therefore with them from whome ye tooke these places that they may appoint you fitter for the purpose or you better followe the simplicitie and sinceritie of the sacred Scriptures If yee say Austin name conscience or speake a worde thereof in both the Chapters I graunt you 〈◊〉 you must remember with all that euery thing may not be gathered of euery worde The two places much agree the first yee recite hath relatiō to the latter hee saith not that whiche you speake heere Againe speaking very briefly as for a conclusion of his first booke of Christian doctrine Of this sentence of S. Paul The end of the commaundement is loue out of a pure hearte and of a good conscience and of faith vnfained hee sheweth wherefore the Apostle put in that
ryot and complaine of the wrong and desire still that the matter may come to lawfull pleading And euen nowe os late since our new persecution beganne wee haue made vnto them diuers offers with great oddes not pretending thereby any recouery of our losses for that wee suppose to bee vnpossible but onely for the iustifiyng of our cause whereupon the honour of God dependeth and wherein wee knowe wee can not bee vanquished THus you amplifie iolilie w t similitude example your long possession as ye say of the Catholicke Church here in England our ryot also and violent intrusion vniust as you pretende which you call Law lesse proceeding You will by processe seeme to call vs afresh into the kings Bench when wee appeare your action will beare no lawefull plea against vs you accuse vs hotly M. Howlet but as good an Attorney or proctor and solicitor or man of lawe and counsellor as you are taken to bee in the Popes cause you shewe and proue nothing against vs in Gods or the Princes court we thanke God Ye suppose altogether for you say by our aduersaries confession that is for one part But wee say you say as yee are wont that is vntruly for your Church and religion as they bee at this day are not of a thousande yeeres antiquitie Some part of your corruptions may be so old we denie it not some part againe are of later time And heresies we tell you out of Tertullian doth not Newnesse so much argue as Truth whatsoeuer sauoureth against the truth that shall bee heresie euen olde Custome saith hee Againe your Iesuites a newe order of Religion instituted about fortie yeeres agoe or such such a thing seeme amōg vs at this day to be your greatest pillers and staies in this your new and strange proceeding and wee here can scarcely yet well tell what their religion is nor where it is grounded so lately though suddēly come they among vs but vpon an obscure fellowe your Pope Paul the thirde you tel vs is their foundation And in deed your Popish religion is such a confused Chaos and heape or a hotche potche that wee can not tell certainly what to make of it nor where to fetche a proper and full summe of the Popishe doctrine at this day and a confession of your fayth For leauing the Scriptures to bee the rule of your fayth and coyning vs still so many newe Articles vnder the name of vnwritten verities traditions the Churche c. Which the first and auncient Apostolique Church was ignoraunt of and referring vs for all to your Popes brest To bee playne we can finde no footing You take a similitude from a wise noble man and quiet possession of his Baronie many ages Bee as wise as yee may bee yet a similitude and example of a meaner and a more base and vile person than a Noble man of a Barne M. Howlet rather than a Baronie might fitlier serue to compare so corrupt a Church and rotten religion withall as is Poperie and the Popish Church But wee muste take suche as you offer vs. Your Prelates of the Cleargie that rule the Church are Lordes euen ouer Gods heritage they are Barons they must needes haue a Baronie No maruell therefore though in respect of thē and their vsing of the Churche yee liken it to a Baronie of a Noble man that hath many ages helde the same in quiet possession Or if you speake of the whole Catholike Churche in respect of the vnholy holinesse of the Pope of Romes fatherhood the matter is brought to a higher degree then a Noble man he is called our Lord God the Pope For quiet possession in deede I graunt yee helde that yee had in possession very quietly made as sure as you coulde not to bee vnquieted in your Palaces But a stronger thanks be to god came vpon you your god Prince to I meane the Pope Satan ouercame you took away your armour wherein you trusted c. For the vnfitnesse of your similitude I tell you first that if you liken your selues to a Noble man you must then liken the true Church to anothers and not to the Noble mans owne Baronie for that wee holde agreeable to the Scriptures that the Churche so likened can bee called no mans but Gods or Christs Baronie onely In title of lande Sir c. where prescription of time beareth great sway many ages of quiet possession be a great stay to Noble mens Baronies or others holdes especially where euidence and writinges by sundrie casualities may bee missing In religion that I may giue a further taste of your vnlikelie likelyhood and vnproper example the case is nothing like For authoritie of religion is not to bee esteemed by time saith one That which is true is not too late And y t good father again saith y e heathē say That that is first cannot be false As though antiquitie old custome may preiudice the truth But M. Howlet in going no higher for the age of your religion thē a 1000. yeeres and talking to vs of quiet possessiō of many ages since that time wee answere you first that our religion was aboue 500. yeere olde before yours came into the worlde or your Pope were hatcht supposing you kept quiet possession as you pretende nowe a 1000. yeeres For wee fetche ours from Christe and his Apostles who had lawfull possession of the Baronie yee talke of aboue halfe a 1000. yeeres before you came to possession thereof And if you will marke well those halfe thousande yeres before were the beter and more free from forgerie and corruption and therefore woulde bee more regarded But nowe I pray you tell vs how you entred into possessiō of y e Catholike Churche a thousande yeeres agoe For by inheritance once we denie that it came vnto you or by discent If there may be any lawfull conueighance thought of the best 〈◊〉 I see yee can with any probabilitie alleadge for the possession that your Cleargie euer had of this Baronie meaning thereby the true Church of Christe was that they helde the same but as Tenaunts and that tenants at will too standing vpon their good behauiour to continue or to bee cast out The Noble man himselfe the only Lorde and Baron that I may so speake of this Baronie is aliue his Baronie only may the true Church bee called If you meane that in this similitude neither yours nor any mortall mans besides Howeuer therefore you haue holden the Catholike Churche that way you haue beene but too long vniust possessors and so lost you nothing that was your owne when vppon misbehauiour you were by Gods lawfull Minister our dreead Soueraigne therein thrust out of possession of this true Church here as you were once before within mans remembrance about xl yeeres since So then this Baronie the Church heere is now the second time to Gods glory and our inestimable benefite lawefully taken from you
your rules and orders to bee guided by you haue made a very euill change if yee can consider it well heereuppon possible being wearie you woulde faine come home againe into this lande But you woulde not chaunge the Tenure of the Pope in Capite whiche you must doe or els the other is not graunted you aduise better of the matter You playne of our intrusion vpon you without euidence Our euidence is better then euer you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shewe or well to auoyde wee and all the worlde see your euidence is litle worth as which is grounded on man and mayntayned with violence and force or with entising speech of mans wisedome where that fayleth as nowe here thankes bee to God therefore Our euidence are The Scriptures and the written worde of God say you as long as you will It is the Heretikes euidence Wee are assured that in Gods matters it is the best euidence that can be shewed and the euidence of the Spirite or of the holy Ghost who is the Authour of the Scriptures We followe not deceiuable fables cunningly and colourably set out but a most sure worde of the Prophetes whereunto wee take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place vntill the day dawne and the day starre arise in our heartes c. As blessed Peter speaketh you neede not therefore crye out of Ryot This worde Ryot you thinke serueth your allusion pretily But you neede not shritch and crye out so lowde especially in her Maiesties eares quieter dealing might serue Yee complayne of the wronge which is none you call for tryall of the tytle After you haue let fall your Action and your matter is come to A Non Sute you tell of lawfull pleading and paint out your margin with Lawelesse proceeding which is all and wholly of your side All these be but your Rhetoricall floures Your Similitude and example for all this flourishe and a doe proueth litle or nothing The Plea hath been lawfully entred euen heere a great while since your tytle hath been not onely seene and perused but well weighed and tryed and after all your wrytings seene and what euer else you can say for your selues euen tyll you were wearie and gaue ouer the other part also being indifferently heard their proofes alleadged seene and weighed Definitiue sentence ' hath vpon great deliberation been giuen against you of God by his woorde and the same ratified by the highest authoritie and in the highest Court vpon Earth in this lande and there Inrould 〈◊〉 Possession here quietly deliuered and taken whiche thankes be to God and her Maiestie wee likewise peaceably holde at this day so that you may leaue your tragicall crying out of the matter Disputation when it was offered and required was of your part refused what woulde you more It seemeth they remaine the same men still els woulde they bee hearde of In another place of your Epistle Dedicatorie before commending your selues and seeking to get grace at the States handes you say you deliuered vs this Realme that is no violent taking whether onely wordes and forgerie bee of our side or yours let the worde of God be iudge and so many as can and list to iudge thereby betweene vs both And thus much of your Similitude or example taken from A Noble man and his Baronie your long possession of the Catholike Church and your tytle and right pretended thereto You bragge after this of diuers offers of late since your newe persecution as it pleaseth you to wryte made vnto vs with great ods Yee charge vs that wee are entred into possession without tryall of the tytle that wee haue thrust you out before sentence or proofe and yet both as I say haue past You crye out of the ryot you complaine of the wronge ye desire that the matter may come to lawful pleading c. And yet here agayne you say yee pretende not thereby any recouery of your losses for that you suppose to bee vnpossible Wherefore make you suche sturre and busie adoe then why cry you out so loude in her Maiesties eares why playne you I take it that the losse of your Baronie your Catholike Church in Englande as you cal it that ye so many yeres quietly possessed is your greatest losse y t which greeueth you most maketh you to houle scriche If you suppose it bee vnpossible to recouer it If you pretende not any recouerie of your losses make then lesse a doe about that which yee take to bee in so desperate a case but it is harde trusting of you for the conceipt yee haue of the recouery of your losses maketh you so importune and forwarde say and pretende what ye wil you pretende the iustifying of your cause But if you recouer not your Baronie and other your losses before you be able to iustifie your cause it will bee a great while to that day And wee shall bee sure to holde a long terme Because your side founde the State and people very desirous of alteration of religion at her Maiesties first enteraunce to the crown that swaied mightily against you in so much as vpon disputation conference of those of both religions by the marueylous prouidence of almighty God and her Maiesties godly affection singular wisedome and dexteritie to whome ouer and aboue the rest wee are in this case passingly beholding your religion 〈◊〉 out of the doores was sent packing and the true religion of Christe restored You thinke that after long profession nowe of the Gospell heere they will likewise lothe the heauenly Manna and waxe wearie thereof and bee desirous to goe backe agayne to the fleshe potts of Egypt c that I may so speake It is possible that in your trotting vp and down heere vppon your Popes messages yee may haue founde some bent but too muche that way and thereby coniecturing yee set downe in your bookes of accomptes thousands But ye may and I trust well in GOD shall be deceiued in your expectation and reckening as yee hitherto haue been And because Allen one of your mates in his Apologie euen nowe sent ouer still calling for Disputation seemeth to grounde much vppon this Philosophicall hope or ghesse rather that is takē from worldly wisedome and experience onely I will giue this short answere to you both herein Though you may finde the common people but to moueable and inconstant commonly to speake Yet is not the case then and now alike for first sir As truth and falshood be contrary so be the operations of them both in men farre different and mightie and effectuall is the force of the Holy Ghost in his heauenly truth and in their hearts in whom he stirreth vp a loue and liking thereof so that mans nature it selfe is quite altered thereby rather then any lothsomnesse or wearines is gathered Againe sir the greatest stay of your religion here was thē taken away by the change of the prince Her Maiestie y t thē first
great matters and personages Meane personages be no fit matter for their high stile and yet God bee thanked among them of countenance and great calling there are not so many so vnwise in this case as they woulde make men beleeue that abstaine from comming to Church and refuse the oth of Allegeance It is a sort of Runneagates of very meane calling that liue for most part on exhibitiō almes of other mē at Rome Rhemes c. Say this man here what he will as long as hee will they shal be iudged at the last day with a more indifferent vpright iudgement at Gods hands thē by their own corrupt consciēces or vaine opinions fancies False also is y t he saith that these men sticke to their faith sworne vnto God in their oth of Baptisme which because I treate of elswhere I referre the Reader to y t place Neere onely I note that this man maketh but two degrees of a publike faith or othe and that truly one to God the other to the ciuile magistrate vnder God which he calleth Englishe Subiectes secondarie faith and allegeance sworne vnto her highnes as to the substitute of God according to the distribution of our Sauiour Christe in the Gospell Giue to Caesar the things whiche are Caesars and giue vnto God those that are Gods I woulde hee and his fellowes woulde haue kept them to this simplicitie and honest dealing still Then shoulde they not vpon a late reconcilement to the Pope and Poperie by a third faith and othe contrary to both these haue so vnnaturally and vnchristianly shaken of obedience to God and her Maiestie First her Maiestie in Gods name commaundeth that they shoulde haunt Church assemblies and heare the preaching of the Gospel pray with the congregation and receiue Christes Sacraments Baptisme and the Lordes Supper make publike confession of the christian faith c. according to order heere taken by her Maiestie and y e State after the rule of the Gospell In refusing to doe this they breake their first oth and promise of Baptisme if they there made any to God as seemeth they confesse they did Next her Maiestie requireth that they shoulde by oth acknowledge her soueraigntie as Gods substitute ouer them that they should returne home into their Natiue countrie liue vnder their and our most naturall and gracious Queene with other true hearted English Subieets Shee cannot be yeelded vnto nor obeyed heerein by them They make another substitute vnto god here ouer English subiects besides her maiestie in matters of obediēce to their prince her lawes They doe offer her Maiestie great wrong who by their owne confession giue vnto her the seconde place the second othe may not shee iustly require at their handes to keepe their secondarie fayth and Alleageance sworne vnto her highnesse as to the Substitute of God Let them neuer talke of their obedient and well meaning mindes that voluntarily and violently so freely runne to the breaking of their secondarie fayth and alleagiance sworne vnto their ciuil Magistrate call it they as they list It can bee adiudged in deed and truth no lesse then Periurie and they in taking this wrong course periured and forsworne men It is a great worde and a high with these men to talke of their obedient and well meaning mindes Let them leaue their good intentes and well meaning mindes without all warrant of Gods booke yea commonly contrary therevnto and let her Maiestie haue them obedient according to the wordes and well meaning of the Scriptures and shee will be content to quite their well meaning myndes otherwise Yf neither the scripture nor her maiesties laws according to the Scriptures nor I that at this time put thē in minde of their dueties towards both can auaile At least with them that delight in ancient fathers let the testimonie of that most ancient father among other teaching them their duetie according to the doctrine of the Scriptures preuaile with them herein who speaking of the cheefe Ciuill Maiestrate in his time and of the Christians vsage in obedience and duetifulnesse towardes him being an enimie to the Gospell and a persecutour in those dayes wryteth thus wee reuerence or honoure the Emperour as a man next vnto God and inferiour or lesse then God onely For so is he greater then all men whilest he is lesse thē the onely true God Let Papistes embrace followe this heauenly truth vttered by our Sauiour Christ vnder the name of God and Caesar whiche are but two this being likewise repeated afterwarde by the Apostle vnder the name of God and the king and heere by this father of God the Emperour kept still keepe this moderation rule and stick therto without talking of God the Pope and then the Emperour the King Prince and Ciuill Magistrate for that is but an ill Commentarie that corrupteth the text In that which remayneth is the Argument of this Discoursing letter expressed c. The Authour promiseth most briefly to touch three thinges in this letter to his friende First what cause or reason the Catholiks haue to stande as they doe in the Refusal of thinges offered them especially of going to the Church Secondely what way or meanes they may vse to remedie or ease themselues of this affliction nowe layde ' vpon them for their consciences so hee termeth their stubburnesse Thirdely if that way or meanes doe not preuaile then howe they ought to beare and endure the same Wee see the grounde of the whole letter that is nowe published and made a Treatise or Discourse As it wel may bee so called for in deede he that euen nowe promised most briefly to touche three thinges in this letter hath so amplie discoursed trotting vp and downe in his first course that wearying himselfe partly by euill disposition of bodye as he sayde elsewhere partly by other sudden busines falling vpon him he was both inforced to leaue the place and the matter and tyme fayling him and he saying more of the first point then hee purposed at the beginning the Messēger also that brought that that was written awaye being as seemeth in poste haste he forgate likewise belike what he had promised at the beginning and therevpon eyther himselfe or some other for him rather as appeareth is forced to excuse the omission of the seconde and thirde part promised at the beginning Thus haue wee a treatise hereof borne out of time maymed and more then halfe a Monster You that are so great schoolemen and Orators shoulde haue learned at the least out of Tullie that to omit any thing in deuiding is a very great fault Yet two things are here cleane omitted or two partes of your owne diuision c. It helpeth you not if you Scholasticall men bee Scholastically or Schoolelike followed to say you haue reckened vs vppe all three partes that you purposed to treate of for we reply that you promised to treate of all three Nowe to runne such