grant the fact and know not how to excuse the same Yet they seeme to haue a great desire to excuse the Pope if possibly they could tell how And therefore they say he was misinformed and indirectly drawen to these courses For which respect I will put downe the next conclusion The second conclusion THe pope was neither misinformed nor indirectly drawn to deale as he did in the matters of treason I proue it many waies First because he knew that our gracious Ladie Queene Elizabeth was heire to the crowne of England by succession in blood royall that she was opposite to his disholy holines in religion and that the crowne was set vpon her head by Oglethorpe the bishop of Carlett a papist to his owne liking 2. Because he knew his owne plottings in that matter viz. that he did excommunicate her Maiestie that he did depriue her from her kingdome by his Bull that he did pronounce her an vsurper and that he discharged absolued and freed all her subiects from their allegeaÌ„ce to her 3. Because he knew Ridolphi the Florentine the king of Spayne the Duke of Guise and Stukeley to say nothing of the rest 4. Because he denounced his Bull as theÌ„selues grant purposely to further the intended rebellion 5. Because he designed Ridolphi as the priests also grant to take 150000. crownes to set forward the said attempt So then it is verie ridiculous to say the Pope was misinformed For euerie thing was truly related to him and he was ignorant of no important point No no he will not say as the priests doe that hee hath no such authoritie For the Iesuite Bellarmine ascribeth the saide authoritie to the Pope and defendeth it in that verie booke which hee dedicated to the Pope himselfe which booke is this day in pâ—int in all or most parts of Europe If the priests doe not recant this point and submit themselues to his holinesse I am well assured they must smart for the same I would therefore aduise them that as they haue wisely renounced the Iesuites and the Archpriest so they will also as I haue conceiued some hope therein renounce the vsurped and diabolicall authoritie which the bishop of Rome falsely chalengeth to himselfe The third conclusion THe Pope euen by the doctrine of the secular priests hath erred iudicially in a matter of faith For the proofe whereof we must oâ— serue first that the Pope hath no authoritie neither from Chirst nor from Saint Peter to translate kingdomes tradere gentem in gentem or to giue the 〈◊〉 of one prince to an other He hath no such powe granted him vpon the face of the earth Thus much â— freely granted in expresse termes by the testimonie of th secular priests Their words are set downe in the chapte next aforegoing Sect. 2. Secondly that the Popes power is wholy spirituall and that hee can no way proceede against transgressing kings and kingdomes but onely in denouncing Gods displeasure against them by ecclesiasticall censures Thus much the priests grant Cap. 8. sect 3. Thirdly that such a tradition as of England to Spaine by the sword can no way stand eyther with Christs honour or his vicars Thus much the priests graunt Cap. 8. sect 4. Fourthly that to obey the pope in that he seeketh to aduance an enemy to the crown is against the law of nature of nations and of man And consequently that such a uommaundement ought not to be obeyed neyther will the priests obey the same Thus much the priests confesse freely Cap. 8. sect 5. Fiftly that the pope hath de facto thus commaunded This I prooue by two strong reasons First because the Iesuite Parsons did charge the English priests vnder paine of excommunication to ioyne themselues foorthwith with all their forces to the Spaniards against our most gracious Ladie Queene Elizabeth Secondly because Cardinall Alien did affirme openly that the pope had made him cardinall with intent to send him as his Legate for the sweeter managing of the said great affayre I will heere alleage their expresse words as the secular priests haue published them in print Thus they write Father Pâ—rsons ascribeth it to error of conscience and want of couraâ—e terming the same an effeminate dastardy that we had then suffered her maiestie almost 30. years o raigne ouer vs. He threatned vs with excommunication and vtter ruine both of our selues and all our posteritie if we did then any longer obay or aide defend or acknowledg her highnesse to be our Queene or superiour and did not forthwith ioyne our selues with all our forces to the Spaniards The good Cardinall Allen by Parsons meanes is drawne to say that the Pope had made him Cardinall intending to send him as his legate for the sweeter managing of this forâ—oth godly and great affaire and to affirme vpon his honor and in the word of a Cardinall that in the fury of the Spaniards intended conquest there should beeas great care had of euery câ—tholike and penitent person as possiblie could be And to allure the nobilitâ—e of his Realme he promised them to become an humble suter on their behalfes that so as they shew themselues valiant in assisting the King of Spaine his forces they may continue their noble name and families These words are set downe in the important considerations page 25. 26. quodl 8. art 7. page 247. See the fourth booke and the fift chapter in the first section and note it well Sixtly that by popish doctrine euery papist is bound in conscience to employ his person and forces by the popes direction For in iustifying the disloyalty of Sir William Standley a worthy papist laid downe this ground viz. that in all warres which may happen for religion euery Catholike man is bound in conscience to imploy his person forces by the Popes direction viz Now farre when and wher either at home or abroad he may and must breake with his temporall soueraigne These wordes are sette downe in the important considerations page 24. See the fourth booke and fift chapter and note it well in the first section Out of these obseruations well marked and throughly pondered the verity of my third conclusion is inferred of necessitie For first seeing it is a matter of conscience faith and religion to follow the Popes direction in all warres concerning religion as is proued in the sixt obseruation Secondly seeing the Pope hath intended willed directed and commanded his english Priests other his popish vassals to â—oyne themselues with the Spaniard and to assist them with all their forces as is proued in the first obseruation Thirdly seeing the Pope hath no such power and authoritie as he may or can lawfully so will direct or command as appeareth by the first Second third and fourth obseruations it is so euident as none hauing but common sence can denie the same that the Pope hath erred de facto euen iudicially and in a matter of faith when he affirmed it to be
pouertie aswell in generall as in particular as it is in all the orders of begging Fryers But because their pouertie had neede to be expounded let vs see the commentaries they bring vs by their constitutions They haue three sorts of houses one for their nouices an other for their religious bounde by their solemne vowes which they call the house where there Church is and an other which they call a colledge for the religious that are bound only by the simple vow whereof some are schollers probationers others coadiutors some spirituall some temporall In domibus vel ecclesiis quae á societate c. That is to say in those houses and Churches which the societie shall except of for the saluation of soules there shall be no reuenewes proper either to be applied to the vestrie or to the frame and buildinges or for any other purpose whatsoeuer That the societie may haue nothing to dispose of but onely to depend vpon God whome by his grace they serue trusting that without reuenewes he will prouide thinges necessarie for vs to his praise and honor They that are professed that is men of the last great and solemne vowe shall liue by almes in their houses when they are not sent forth to any countrie nor to take the ordinarie charge of Rectors of Colledges or Vniuersities except it be vpon necessitie or vrgent vtilitiy require it neither shall they vse the Colledges reuenewes in their houses they shall be readie to begge from doore to doore wheÌ„ obedience or necessitie requires it And to this purpose let there be one or two or more appointed to craue almes for the sustenance of the societie which shall begge the almes simply for the loue of our Sauiour Iesus The houses and churches of the societie shall not onely haue no rents or reuenewes but no possessions or inheritance in generall or particular Gather all these particulars together was there euer pouertie more obstinately vowed then this And therfore it was that first Pius 5. after that Gregorie the 13. ordained that this societie should be placed among the orders of the mendicants If they would obserue that which here is enioyned them I would excuse them with all my heart of the herefie of their first vow And that because that after they had a long time enioyed goods during the time of their simple vow at the last to make satisfactioÌ„ to God for it they are come to the periode of their great vow by reason whereof they haue the name of fathers aboue the other religious yet not onely they vow from thence forwards a beggerie but also themselues to become treasurers thereof I would honor them as the true followers of Saint Peters repentance after he had denied his master and would esteeme them aboue all the other orders of mendicants But when sawe you them goe with a wallet vp and downe the towne For al this they liue richly and plentifully not with the manna of God for they are not children of Israell but by a notable point of Sophistrie and see how The houses where these holy fathers dwell are not permitted to haue any goodes but onely their colledges are Now so it is that vnder their generals authoritie they haue all there care and gouernment of their colledges These are the old Cincinnati of Rome that boasted they had no gold but commanded them that had In like sort these masters though they may haue noe proper reuenewes but their wallet which they scorne yet doe they gouerne them that haue good store This foundation presupposed you may easily iudge what will follow For it is reason that being fathers they should be sed and maintained by their children and it is more honesty for theÌ„ to aske almes of their colledges where they command then to stragle vp and downe the townes to craue it See how carefully they make sheaues off carne for God as Caine did and yet heerein they are the true and lawfull children of their good father Ignatius who in all his actions reserued for himselfe the principall care of his kitchen Nothing is more familiar to them by their buls and constitutions then beggerie and yet neuer had any men better skill to scrape vp coyne that they may liue at their ease These words are put downe in the Iesuites catechisme libr. 2. cap. 14. fol. 10. fol. 11. Note here gentle reader the pouertie of the Iesuites which is wonderful For first they professe and vow beggerie and yet they neuer begge Secondly they can haue no possessions no inheritance no lands no goods and yet they abound in welth lands and goods and haue the worlde at will Oh who would not be a begging Iesuite Fâ—ier Thirdly they renounce all possessions except their bare wallet which they sreone and will not vse and yet they command both the possessions and the possessours to come and goe at a becke Fourthly the professed Iesuites abandon and forsake all but the other Iesuites who stand at their command shall refuse nothing that may be had The fathers can teach them to fish for whales and not for Gudgins This then is a goodly religious pouertie Paragraph VIII Of the miracles of the Iesuites Ignace the founder of the Iesuites left a writing in a litle coffer in manner of a iornall how thinges passed betweene the holy Ghost and him and the visions set down wherewith he was inspired when he made his constitutions These remembrances were found after his death with great wonderment presented to the generall congregation held at Rome in the yeare 1558. Where all that he had ordred was considered of and then passed through the hands of their printers and stationers You blame Ignace in your discourse for all his apparitions and say they were impostures contriued by him vpon which ground his societie hath coyned many fables Pardon me I pray you for you iudge of these matters like a punie not like a states man I tell you againe I doubt not but that Ignace hath told you all his visions whereof he himselfe alone was witnesse But when not in the flower of his age when he was in action but when sicknesse and age had broken him and he saw himselfe at the graues brinke perswading himselfe there could be no better meane to stablish his order after his death and confirme his statutes theÌ„ to feede them not with these holy but rather fained illuâ—â—i nations These words are set downe in the Iesuites catechisme lib. 1. cap. 18. fol. 64. One Iustinian a Iesuite in Rome calleâ— father Iustinian counterfeicted himselfe to be Leaprous to make his cure miraculous Againe he would haue men beleeue that being shot with a pistoll through his garment the bullet rebounded backe againe from his bodie without hurt and so by the wonderfull grace of God hee was not wounded These matters were beleeued by the simple people at the first but after they were founde to be false this marred the whole roast of the Iesuites cookerie
states disauthorizing of Magistrates and seducing of subiectes from their allegeance These wordes are set downe in the franke discourse Page 98. 1. Vanitas vanitatum that religious men who should spend their time in studie and contemplation doe take their greatest pleasure delight and contentment in writing and receiuing packets of newes from all coastes and countries making that their whole studie and trauaile These words are set downe in D. Elies notes vpon the Apologie Page 264. vers 20. The whole profession of the Iesuites is nothing else but a particular coozning of our priuate families and a generall villanie of all the countries where they make their aboade Thus it is written in the Iesuites Catechisme Lib. 2. cap. 12. fol. 106. This is not to stand long hammering about the matter this is to make short worke and to tell you in a word that looke how many cleargie men your Maiestie hath so many subiects hath the Pope in France and so kings concerning the cleargie are not soueraigne princes This is my liege in good french to erect another state within your state and another kingdome within your kingdome These words are in the franke discourse Page 24. vers 1. If it please you to consider what is now in practise among our Iesuites you shall find they follow the same steps in christianisme which Ismael first trode in Mahumetisme Their Prophet Ismael is the great Ignatius who with his fabulous visions would beare the world in hand that sometimes he spoke with God somtimes with Christ somtimes with our Ladie or S. Peter And as Ismael fetched out of Hali the pretended brother of Mahomet a new branch of religion taken from the old stocke so Ignatius christening himselfe with the new name of a Iesuit in steed of the name of a Christian authorized from the Apostles builded vp a religion neuer anciently obserued by our Church Ismael vnder a new vow changed the ancient Turban Ignatius inducing a new monachisme amongst vs yet retaineth not the anciēt habit of munks Ismael first assembled a handfull of people after raised millions Ignatius doth the like Ismael to make himselfe great mingled pollicie and religion together Ignatius followed him Ismael and his successors were adorned and magnified by their followers Ignatius hath beene so idolatrized and the rest of the successours in the generalship Ismael made himselfe be called the Prophet of God the generall of the Iesuits termeth himselfe Gods Vicar In these proceedings and practises Ismael troubled and turmoyled the Mahometicall state and shall not we mistrust in Rome this same new Iesuited Sophi whosoeuer suspecteth them not is no true and legitimate child of the holy sea These words are set downe in the Iesuites catechisme Lib. 3. cap. fol. 230. Note heee Gentle Reader these points of great momēt with me First that the Iesuites harbour no other proiect in their hearts but the subuersion of kingdomes and the withdrawing of subiects from their alleageance Secondly that they imploy their whole time study in hunting after newes Thirdly that their profession is nothing else indeed but a particular coozning of your families and a plaine villany of all countries Fourthly that Iesuiticall religion is a semimonarchicall dominion and a flat diminution of all royall regiment Fiftly that Iesu itisme is a new late vpstart Mahumetisme And thus much of Iesuiticall religion in generall let vs now see what it is in speciall Paragraph XI Of the religion and profession of Iesuites in speciall FIrst the Iesuites hold and defend this proposition hominem non christian̄ posse esse Romanum pontificem Thus in English one that is not a christian may be the Bishop of Rome Thus it is written in the discouery pag. 37. quodl 4. art 2. page 100. Let us admit this proposition gentle reader with our Iesuites perswading our selues that the holy Ghost who made Balaams asse to speake hath enforced them to speake the truth vnawares against themselues For. as I haue proued at large in my Suruey of poperie Their owne renowmed popish writers freely graunt that dame Iohan a woman not a man was once Pope of Rome And certes if a woman may be Pope who by Saint Paules doctrine may not be permitted to speake in the Church a Fortiori an Ethnicke Pagan Turke or Iew who is no christian may well bee the Bishoppe of Rome Secondly Archer the Iesuite defended this proposition the Stewes are as lawfull at Rome as the Pope himselfe or any order of religious men the Iesuite Weston also did defend the same against D. Bagshaw These words are set downe in the relation pag. 47. Note here gentle reader that the force of truth and true christian religion is such that the verie enemies thereof doe often vnwittingly and vnwillingly acknowledge the same for by this Iesuiticall doctrine it followeth of necessitie that the Popes authoritie and his being at Rome is altogether vnalwfull as also that all the religious there that is munkes Friers Iesuites and Nunnes are vnlawfull wicked and most execrable which conclusion by Gods assistance shall be made more euident when I come to speake of the Pope and his authoritie in particular Thirdly the Iesuites hold teach and practise this doctrine that a malefactor being condemned so die after hée hath once made confession of his sinnes to his ghostly Father is not tied to reueale it to his iudge nay it is lawfull for him to stand in stiff deniall thereof at the time of his execution as being cleare before God after hee hath discharged the depth of his conscience to his confessour Thus is it writen in the Iesuites catechisme libr. 3. cap. 12. fol. 166. Note here gentle reader with what strange docrine our Iesuites vse to feed the humours of their deuoted vassals And for the better clearing of the falshood thereof thou must duly obserue with me that if it were true as the Iesuites suppose take pro confesso that the malefactor were washed wholy purged frō his offence by his confession and absolution receiued at the priests hands yet would it not follow by good consequution that he might lawfully denie his former committed offences to the iudge and that for these two insoluble reasons First because he doth formallietell a lie which hee ought not to doe as Saint Austine affirmeth if he might therby saue the whole world For to lie is euer a sinne as all learned diuines doe teach But that he lyeth in saying he did not commit such a fact all the world knoweth The reason hereof is euident because a murder committed not to haue beene committed is a thing so impossible that God himselfe cannot performe it Neither doth this argue anie imperfection in God but contradiction in the thing that should be done God is truly called omnipotent because he can doe indeed whatsouer is dowable or can be done Yet whatsoeuer implieth imperfection or contradiction that can he not doe not for anie defect or impotencie in himselfe God forbid But for
to institute three seminaries on his Maiesties costes and charges that graines and indulgences must be published in England on the Spanish behalfe for all that take his part that all who come out of Spayne must sweare vow professe or at least acknowledge an obedieÌ„ce to master Blackwell in all things Yea euen to become ranke traytors against their prince and country for that is principally intended These words are set downe in the end of the preface which is annexed to the sparing discouerie Parsons caused diuers by fayre meanes and threats to subscribe that in all conferences they should when they came into England aduance the Infantaes title not intending therby to expect her Maiesties death but by all means to remoue her from the present possession of her royall estate These words are set downe in the discouerie Pag. 57. as also in the important considerations Page 34. By these testimonies gentle reader two things are cleared the one that Parsons the Iesuite aliâs bastard Cowbucke taketh vpon him as roundly as traiterously to place and displace to put on and take of royall Diademes at his good will and pleasure The other that the three English hispanized semiminaries erected in Saint Lucars Siuill and Valledolid are and must be mainteyned to further ayde and assist the Spanish bloodie intendments against their vndoubted soueraigne and natiue countrey CHAP. VIII Of the Popes authoritie I Haue discoursed at large of this theame in my booke of motiues I meane heere to speake thereof onely as the printed bookes published by the secular priests haue ministred â—t occasion to me Where I wish the indifferent reader to marke well what I shall by Gods helpe deliuer in this behalfe In which my dispute I will for perspicuitie sake proceede by way of sections Sect. I. Of the Popes fact in assoyling her Maiesties subiects from their homage to her TOuching the Bull of Pious Quintus and the same since confirmed by Gregorie 13. against her Maiestie as neither the Spaniard nor any other forraine power is eyther by expresse or implied termes thereof incited to dominion ouer this land as little are English hearts therby disallegeanced so from her Maiestie as to concurre with any forraine inuadour For though the said Buls vpon her Maiesties excommunication therein promulged doe de facto assoyle the subiects of this Realme from their homage to her it therfore followes not that they must and ought to be parties against her Maiestie and their country to a forraine power howsoeuer pretending euen Religion or the ciuill good thereunto For that were to conster the Popes act so ouermuch in religion and grace as to the destruction of nature which were against the marime aforesaid These words are taken out of the answere to the Iesuited gentleman Page 39. Sect. II. Of power granted to Saint Peter A Man to goe against his owne countrey is and euer was holden in the ciuill part of the world an act contraius gentum also vnnaturall yea against all grace Besides that Christ neuer did delegate any such power to S. Peter as tradere gentem in gentem that being a meere temporall reuenge and he but his vicar spirituall Sect. III. Of the confirmation of the power named in the former Section SAint Peters commission against transgressing kings and kingdomes is no more then onely to denounce by excommunication and other the like ecclesiasticall censures Gods displeasure against them for their transgression and not to exercise the secular sword at all These words conteyned in the third and second sections are set downe in the answere to the Iesuiticall gentleman Page 40. Sect. IIII. Of the explication of the former confirmation I Say againe I doe not see howe that chaire and those keyes to be imbrued in blood and to atchieue conquests especially such a tradition as of England to Spaine by the sword can any wayes stand eyther with Christs or his said vicars honour These words are set downe in the answere to the Iesuited gentleman Page 42. Sect. V. Of the obeysance to the Popes comamundement WE all of the secular cleargie doe with one assent vtterly renounce both Archpriest and Iesuites as arrant traytors to their prince and countrey whom to death we will neuer obey no if the Popes holinesse should charge vs to obey in this sense to aduance an enemie to the English crowne we would neuer yeeld to it as by no law of nature of nations or of man to be compelled thervnto These words are set downe in the preface to the important considerations Fol. 9. pag. 2. Sect. VI. Of the Popes stat commaundement in matters of treason THe secular priests hauâ—ng told vs that the Pope denounced his â—ul against her Maiesty purposely to suffer the intended rebellion that he gaue order to Ridolphi the Florentine to take 150000. crownes to set forward the said attempt and much other matter to the like effect wherof I haue spoken at large in the sixt chapter doe adde thervnto these expresse words when we first heard these particulars â—e did not beleeue them but would haue laid our liues they had beene false but when we saw the booke and found them there God is our witnesse we were much amazed and can say no more but that his holines was misinformed and directly drawn to these courses These words are set downe in the important considerations Page 10. Now out of these waightie and important points conteyned in these Sections certaine conclusions are necessarily inferred for which I haue reserued the next chapter wishing the reader seriously to obserue the same CHAP. IX Of certaine memorable conclusions worthie to be kept in perpetuall remembrance The first conclusion THe bishop of Rome hath no authoritie deriued from Christ or S. Peter by which he may lawfully depriue and dispossesse her Maiestie that now most happily raigneth ouer vs from her royall Diademe and regalitie and giue the same to the king of Spayne to Isabella his sister or to any other forraine potentate whosoeuer This conclusion is effectually proued by all the sections of the former chapter For in the first section this authoritie is said to tend to the destruction of nature which power is denied to the Pope In the second section it is flatly affirmed that Christ neuer gaue any such power to Saint Peter whom all papists will grant to haue had as great power as their Pope hath I am sure In the third section it is said plainly that Saint Peters commission was onely to denounce by excommunication Gods displeasure against trangressors of his lawes In the fourth section it is auouched that this kinde of proceeding doth neither stand with Christs honour nor with his vicars In the fift section it is affirmed in plaine termes that subiects can not be charged to obey such a commaundement and the reason is yeelded to be this because it is against the law of nature of nations and of man In the sixt section the priests
in manie thinges they doe often vnwares appeach themselues of high treason I say vnles they ioyne themselues with vs in sacrament and common prayer because many disloyally affected subiects will present themselues in the church with vs as also eat flesh on frydays and temporize with all companies as is proued in the seuenth and eight preambles But if they will receiue the holy Communion with vs reade or singe Psalmes publikelye in the Church with vs that were a signe most probable though not euer infallible This is a grate aduiso it may not bee forgotten Aduiso IIII. Concerning the appeale of the seculars to the Pope THe instituton of the Arch-priest was procured from the Pope sea and court at Rome and that by a bull and in such meaner as not only a Premunire was incurred thereby by auncient lawes of this land but also and much more by recent statute lawes there being treason vpon treason committed in the action quodlibet 6. art 3. 4. 5. This aduiso conteineth matter most important in regard whereof I purpose in God to examine it ad amussm for the better satisfaction of the indifferent reader The secular priests impute notorious treason to the Iesuites as appeareth by their owne words vttered in the defence of their appeale because the Iesuites procured the arch-priests authoritie from the Pope but this notwithstanding they affirme peremptorily that they themselues are cleare and free from all offence For these are their words the seculars are so cleare and farre from all danger of any offence committed by appealing from the arch-priest to the sea of Rome as most daungerous vniust vnnaturall indiscret irreligious and preiudiciall to all both Pope Prince Church common-wealth and all estates if they had not appealed These wordes are set downe quodl 6. art 5. q. 171. Note here gentle reader that these seculars are great wisemen in their owne conceits and so they may rightly be esteemed if they can make good indeed that which they take vpon them in externall shewe of words viz. that they may acknowledge and performe their professed obedience to her maiesties knowen enemie the bishop of Rome that they may submit themselues to his resolution in all thinges and concurre with his bloudie designments against the honour state crowne regalitie and life of their naturall soueraigne and all this notwithstanding still be cleare and free from all offence I will truely lay downe their owne reasons in their owne words and frame my sincere answeare to the same Which when the indifferent reader shall haue pervsed dulie all partialitie set a part I wish that he giue his censure accordingly The first reason of the Seculars TO whome the iniurie is done to him the right of reuenge doth accurne but the popes holinesse was iniured by the Iesuits their suggestion in obeying the bull ergo Thus doe they reason The Aunswere I say first that the right of reuenge belongeth to God alone for so saith holy writte Vengance is mine I will repay And for this cause when lawfull magistrates doe take reuengement vpon this or that malefactor for his irregular and bad dealing all such penall mulcte is hereby iustified for that they are Gods vicegerents on earth and what they doe is done in his name and by authoritie giuen them from aboue So saith God himselfe I say yee are Gods and ye all are children of the most high Againe thou couldest haue no power at all against me except it were giuen thee from aboue Againe there is noe power but of God Secondly that iniurie was done to the secular Priests themselues farre rather then to the Pope and yet doth it not follow by any necessarie consequution that they being priuate persons either ought or could take reuenge either vpon the Iesuites or vpon their Iesuited Blackwell that Romiâ—h traytorus arch-priest for of priuat persons is this text verified all that take the sword shal perish with the sword Thirdly that the greatest iniury of all was done to our gratious Soueraigne most noble Queene Elizabeth For first the Iesuits that procured the authority and the Arch-priest excepting it were all her maiesties naturally borne subiects and so thereby committed execrable villany and intollerable iniurie against her most sacred person Secondly the seculars being also her maiesties subiects did in like manner offend most disloyally against their most gratious and mercifull soueraigne in submitting themselues to the Romish tyrannizing Bishop the professed enemy of her honour her state her crowne her life her regalitie Thirdly the seculars promised their homage and obedience to the Pope so that he would make his good pleasure knowne vnto them and to signifie their alacrity herein they designed two priests Bishope and Charnocke by name to take along painfull dangerous and chargeable iourney euen to the gates of Rome but they were so farre from yeelding any obedience herein to her maiestie that they would not once intimate the matter to her or to her most honourable counsell Nay it is confessed plainly that the Romish faith is defended outwardly on both sides alike quodl 4. art 10. pag. 135. The Second Reason The Iesuites in procuring the Popes Bull and authoritie made it a matter of state in preiudice of regall Maiestie But the sculars in appealing made it a matter of conscience thereby to refell infring and abrogate all such premunireall treacherie The answere I say first that the seculars make it a matter of state as well as did the Iesuites For they professed solemnely to the Pope that they would dutifully obey the authoritie of the arch-prieste if his holinesse would so command them Secondly that albeit the seculars did indeuoure indéede to stay and hinder the arch-prists authoritie yet was not that done for any loyall part in them or seruiceable dutie to her maiestie but for their owne fréedome and to defends themselues from Iesuiticall bondage The disloyall act it selfe was really and intrinsecally the selfe same in them both and not but accidentally and meere respectiuely different in the one and in the other The popes authoritie and power was acknowledged on both sides the Iesuites vrged his authoritie the seculars yelded to his authoritie this only was the difference The Iesuites affirmed that the Pope had authorized the arch-priest the seculars stood only vpoÌ„ this point that so much was not yet knowen to them So then they differed not in the thing but in the modification of the thing Thirdly that the seculars made in deede a matter of conscience because it troubled their dissoyall conscience to disobey the Pope Conscience they had I graunt but in repect of their bloud thirstie Pope not in regard of our most clement and mercifull soueraigne Gods faithfull seruant Queene Elizabeth The Third reason The pretence was made outwardly by the Iesuites to be wholy for matters pertaining to the catholike Church religion and order in workes of charitie pierie deuotion c. Ergo the seculars approuing the contraire
that they neuer had such a meaning neither did the arch-priest practise any such matter meddle no way in any thinges by their appeale whereby a Premunire can be incurred no not so much as interpretatiuely The Answere I say first that the seculars haue an huge multitude of popish fauourites aswell counsellers skilfull in our municipall lawes as others both of the nobilitie and gentry as they confesse els where This former I gather hence for that they make a flourish of these words premunire and premunireall wherein I confesse I haue no skill as being noe parte of my profession Secondly that albeit I am ignorant what the lawe word premunire meaneth yet doe I constantly auouch that if the Iesuites haue incurred the premunire for their dealing in the arch-priests case and cause as they affirme and I willingly admit then haue the seculars likewise incurred the same pemunire by reason of their appeale to the bishope of Rome In which dispute I am content to encounter with them when they shall challenge me for the same Thirdly that the seculars aswell as the Iesuites notwithstanding their contrarie pretence in outward shew of bare words did by their appeale to yâ— romish tyrant repute hermaiesties parliaments of no authority her statutelawes of no validity her royall prerogatiue of no soueraigne excellencie but ascribed all wholy and soly without respect of English regalitie to their professed papall vsurpate primacie All which shall God willingly be made more plaine cleare and euident before the end of this aduiso The fourth reason The Iesuites bolster out and build aswell the intended vsurpate authority of the arch priest as also their owne treasonable attempts ploâ—s and practises vpon the saide bull and his holinesse authority Ergo none other to appeale vnto for iustice against them The Aunswere I say first that this reason doth ouerthrow abandon and turne it selfe vpside downe for seeing the Iesuites doe builde all their treasonable plots and practises vpon the Popes Bull and authoritie it had beene expedient and agreeable to all right and reason that the seculars if they doe or will acknowledge any true loyalty and faithfull allegeance to Queene Elizabeth should not haue appealed to the Pope the mortaâ—l knowen enemie of the said allegeance but from the Pope to her Maiestie or to some in authority vnder her But the seculars haue no such meaning because forsooth they will acknowledge no such allegiance Secondly that seeing the seculars doe resolutely affirme that there is none other to appeale vnto but the Pope alone they desperately appeach them selues of high treason The reason is euident because they peremptorily auouch a forein potentate yea a foraine knowen enemie to be the competent iudge ouer her maiesties subiects euen within her Maiesties Realmes and dominions Which themselues els where graunt to be vnlawfull The fift reason The seculars by their appeale clearely exempt redeeme and keepe out themselues from acknowledging any obedience to that alreadie premunirized arch-priest by consequent from all daunger of incurring a premunire The Aunswere I say first that though the seculars doe not now acknowledge any obedience to the arch-priest yet doe they acknowledge obedience to the Pope which is an offence of like qualitie and greater deformitie and by consequent they neither enioy immunitie from the premunire neither from treason in the highest degree Secondly that the seculars did once acknowledge de facto the arch priests authoritie and humbly yeelded their obedience to him viz. when they vnder stood by the Popes Breue his holinesse holy pleasure therin And that they now reuoke and denie the said obedience to the arch priest such deniall procéedeth of méere malice against the Iesuites and Iesuited crew and not of loyall dutie to Queene Elizabeth whome they outwardly pretend to loue for seruile feare The sixt Reason They labour by their appeale for securitie to her maiesties person for quiet to the state for auoydance of all inuasions for cutting of all conspiracies state-taÌ„perings erasperating libels c. And for assuraÌ„ce of relaxation and fréedom from their heauie persecution procured by the Iesuites against them aswell by false suggestions to his holinesse as also by stirring vp other princes against our soueraigne and nation thereby bringing warres and feares vpon all and heart breaking frownes to be cast vpon the innocent ergo so cleare and farre from all danger of any offence committed by appealing from the arch-preist to the sea of Rome as most daungerous vniust vnnaturall indiscâ—â—t irreligious and prediuciall to all both Pope prince Church common-wealth and allestates if they had not appealed but let the matter he dead in discontent obloquie and daunger of sorest trialles The Answere For the better vnderstanding of this reason and full answere to the same I obserue first in the contents thereof the seculars are freede and made cleare from all offence by their appeale to the Pope Secondly that if the secular priests had not appealed to the Pope they should thereby haue béene made vniust vnnatural indiscrete irreligious preiudiciall to Pope Prince Church and all estates These two obseruations are contained in the words followinge the seculars their Ergo. Thirdly that this appeale was taken in hand for her Maiesties security which I gather out of the first line of the reason Fourthly that the said appeale was for the quiet of the state Fiftly that it was also for auoidance of inuasions and cutting of conspiracies These obseruations well remembred the argument will be aunswered with all facilitie but to the cold comfort of the seculars For first they appealed to the Pope as is in the first obseruation and so they are traytors to Queene Elizabeth by the lawes of Englande For as the seculars write els where euerie appeale is an acknowledging of highest authoritie in the partie appealed vnto And this answere is confirmed by their fourth reason where they flatly denie her Maiesties royall prerogatiue ouer them while they affirme disloyally peremptorily saucily and tootoo arrogantly that there is no other to appeale vnto but onely the bishoppe of Rome whom they know as is alreadie proued to be her Maiesties mortall enemie and the chiefe agent in all conquests inuasions plots conspiracies treasons bloodie intendments whatsoeuer against Queene Elizabeth her sacred person her Realmes her royall honour her princely Diademe and most noble peerelesse regalitie Secondly by not appealing seculars should haue beene vniust and vnnaturall as is in the second obseruation but to the Pope not to Queene Elizabeth To her they are thereby in deed vniust for that they withhold thereby their homage due vnto her to her they are indeed vnnnaturall because they deny that loyalty which by nature they owne vnto her and they are in a sort naturalized to his disholie holines by the said appeale For they say flatly in the next article of the same quodlibet that they may not yeeld to the Iesuites vntill his holines haue decided the cause in the
of Constance and one of the best account in the same councell Out of whose words I gather many verie excellent documents well worthie to be written in golden letters First that no Christian is bound to beléeue the decrée definition determination or resolution of the Pope as he is barely and precisely Pope or Bishoppe of Rome without the assistance of a generall councell Secondly that the Pope may erre both priuately and publikely in resolutions of faith aswell as other bishops and ministers of the Church Thirdly that the Pope is subiect to a generall councell and may be controlled by the same Fourthly that the contrarie opinion is a flat heresie condemned in the councell of Constance Fiftly that an inordinate affection to the bishoppe of Rome withdraweth many men from the truth of Christs Gospell Sixtly that a generall councell is so aboue the Pope that it hath power and lawful authoritie to depose the Pope for any notorious crime whatsoeuer Which authoritie saith this great papist was practised and de facto put in execution both in Pope Iohn the 12. and in Pope Iohn the 23. of that name Seuenthly that a generall councell hath full power to compell a Pope lawfully elected to the place to renounce and forsake the popedome and to giue place to him whom the councell shall appoint Eightly that if the pope shall withstand the councell and refuse to obey the decrées and constitutions thereof he must be excommunicated and reputed as an Ethnicke and publican Ninthly that a generall councell may be summoned and kept without consent of the pope that is both lawfully elected and then liuing Tenthly that the Church or a generall councell is a rule set downe by the holy Ghost and giuen vs by Christ to which all people aswell the pope as others must yeeld obedience or else be as the ethnicks and publicans Eleuenthly that neither the pope nor any one man vpon earth is or can be an infallible iudge in matters of faith Twelftly that the iudgement which we must rest vpon in all controuersies of faith and religion is eyther the vniuersall Church or a lawful generall councell This is sound and most Catholike doctrine though procéeding from the penne of a great papist Which doctrine as the councell of Constance did approue so do I embrace the same with all my heart humbly thanking God that by the mightie power of his truth our aduersaries are enforced to deliuer vs the truth against themselues This doctrine is proued more at large in my my booke of Motiues and in my Suruey in many places also of this present volume euen by the confession of the priests vnawares and shall be confirmed God willing in my Golden ballance of triall now readie to the presse Aduiso XII Of the tolleration expected by the Seculars TOuching the toleration which the secular priests ayme at I will only put downe the reasons which perswade me that it cannot stand with the peaceable gouerment of this land referring the decision thereof as appertayneth to the graue consideration of higher powers The same toleration is no lesse daungerous in the kingdomes of Scotland and Ireland a poynt that would not be forgotten The first reason In the booke which Cardinall Allen published in his owne name when the inuasion of England was chiefely intended with the cruell massacre of her Maiesties sacred person in the yeare 1588. which booke the Iesuites partly framed to his hands they first make their entrance into their discourse with a most odious and shamefull declaration against her Maiestie thereby to stirre vp her subiects hearts to contempt of her highnes and to make her beholden euerie where for odious both to God to the world and to all good men Secondly in that booke the Cardinall and the Iesuites threaten the nobilitie genâ—rie and all the rest of the inhabitants of this kingdome with losse of all their goods their lands their liues and with damnation besides except that presently vpon the landing of the Spaniards they ioyned themselues and all their forces men munition victuals and whatsoeuer else they could make with that Catholike armie The words of that booke be these if you will auoid say they the popes the kings and other princes high indignation let no man of what degree soeuer obey abet aide defend or acknowledge her c. adding that otherwise they should incurre the Angels curse malediction be as déeply excoÌ„municated as any because yâ— in taking her maiesties part they should fight against God against their lawful king against their country Ergo the Iesuites are vnfit men to enioy any toleration in a well managed commonweale And whatsoeuer I say of Iesuites coÌ„cerning this toleratioÌ„ I vnderstand yâ— same indifferently of the secular priests My reasons mouing me therunto are manifold First because Cardinal Allen with whose opinioÌ„ all the seculars did euer iumpe put his owne hand to this shamelesse abhominable libell Secondly because many of the secular priests were in the campe as is said in the same article which is quoted in the margent Thirdly Because Ballard the secular priest did at his comming ouer about the yeare 1586. deliuer a like message to al reconciled persons buzzing into their eares to acknowledge the quéen of Scotland for their soueraigne Fourthly because all the seculars professe their obedience to the Pope and are still deuoted to him euen as they were before Fiftly because the seculars iumpe with the Iesuites in all things concerning the Popes authoritie as is alreadie proued The second reason Many nobles and others in high esteeme and authoritie vnder her maiesties are secretly entered into league on the behalfe of the Spaniard and that by procurement of the Iesuites as I haue proued in the eight aduiso Ergo the Iesuits and seculars are vnfit men to enioy and toleration in a well managed common weale The third Reason All papists must imploy their persons and forces by the Popes direction how farre when and where either at home or abroade as men bound in conscience to further all warres for religion and to breake with their temporall soueraigne at the Popes appointmeÌ„t This is proued preamble 18. Ergo Iesuites and Seculars c. The fourth Reason The King of Spaine plotteth and by Iesuiticall faction resolueth to proceede where his father left against England And for this ende sundry persons are sent into England to be agents in that behalfe This is proued preamb. 19. Ergo. The fift Reason The seculars confesse in plaine termes that the penall statutes are iustly made against them this is proued in the seuenth aduiso Ergo vnfit men to haue a toleration The sixt Reason The seculars commend the pope for taking the English diademe from the king and highly approue the dissoyal fact of Cardinall Pandulphus in kéeping the said English crowne three dayes vpon his heade in the Popes right Ergo. c. This is proued in the first aduiso in the second reason The seuenth
cannot be ignorant that all the world would hate and detest them to their liues end if such their reports of killing of princes and the like should be proued false and slaunderous So then the reports made of the Iesuite Parsons supposed to be true and constantly admitted for such it followeth of necessitie yâ— his owne bare deniall in his owne cause of his bastardie expulsion and whatsoeuer els neither is nor can be demed a sufficient purgation to any indifferently conceited man Read the next chapter throughout and note it well with the obseruations thereof CHAP. VI. of the Iesuites heere in England and of their demeanour Paragraph I. Of the Iesuite Garnet THe Iesuite Garnet the prouinciall for England hath vsed the libertie of his tongue against the secular priests of this Garnet thus writeth Iohn Collington Father Garnet the superiour of the Iesuites affirmed that we ministred and receiued sacraments in deadly sinne that we gaue poyson in liew of medicine that we were such by the opinion of all the learned as his brother Lister had censured vs to be that our criminous sinfull irregular and excommunicate state was so plaine and notrious as none vnder sinne could forward or assist vs in the exercise of our funcions Thus writeth Maister Colleton out of the Iesuite Garnets letter the tenth of Nouember Againe in an other place the same Iesuite hath these words ye haue in the iudgement of all the learned incurred the most shamefull note of scisme You haue so intangled them whom you-haue brought to Christ or whose pastor and father you haue béene as if they shall receiue sacraments of you if they shall induce you to say Masse or shall assist you in celebrating they seeme to partake with you in the crime of exercising your function vnworthily and in liew of medicine carry a way poyson Thus writeth Colleton out of Garnets letter dated in March 1599. Paragraph II. Of the Iesuite Lister LIster the sawcie and malepeart Iesuite in a foolish and very malicious treatist hath these words ye are rebels ye are schismatikes ye are falleÌ„ from the Church and spouse of Christ. Yea hane troden vnder foote the obedience you owe to the Pope Ye haue offended against all humane faith and authoritie by reiecting a morall certaintie in a morall matter Ye haue runne headlong into excommucation and irregularity ye haue lost the faculties by which you shold haue gained soules to christ ye haue raised vp such great scandall in the minds of all the godly that as infamous parsons you are tenesed in euery mans mouth Ye are no better then sooth sayers and Idolaters and in regarde ye haue not obeyed the Church speaking to you by the highest Bishoppe you are as Ethinkes and Publicans Thus writeth Colleton of Lister the Iesuite Paragraph III. Of the Iesuite Iones Father Iones the Iesuite gaue forth and our superiour said the position was true that whosoeuer maintayned vs not to bee the abandoned creatures which father Lister iudged vs to be in curred ipso facto for there defending of vs the censures of the holy Church thus writeth Maister Collington of our reuerent father Iesuite Iones Againe in an other place the same Colleton telleth vs that the same Iesuite Iones affirmed peremptorily that whosoeuer should stifly mainteyne that their refusall to the subordination appointed before the arriuall of his holinesse breeue did not make them schismatikes incurred by such his patronage of the secular priests the censure of holy Church Thus much of this Iesuite I will here surcease to speake of the Iesuite Holtbie and the rest of that crew and vse a conuenient if not necessarie conuersion to our archpriest of the new religion because by very pregnant presumptions he seemeth to be a couert and close Iesuite or at the least so Iesuited as he dareth to doe nothing but after their command Paragraph IIII Of Blackewell the Iesuited Arch-priest THat all men may know what a man this new-hatched Arch-priest is the golden epithyte which the seculars haue bestowed on him shall heere be set downe for a preamble to the rest Now all catholikes say the priests must depend vpon the arch-priest and the arch-priest vpon Garnet and Garnet vpon Parsons and Parsons vpon the diuell the author of all rebellions conspiracies treasons murthers disobedience heresies and all such other diabolicall and bloudie desigments as this wicked Iesuite hath hitherto deuised This is the doctrine deliuered by the secular priests discouery page 70. quodl 5. art 8. page 151. The next thing to be considered is this that this arch-priest was appointed by the procurement of Robert Parsons the Iesuite of whose honest demeanour you haue heard sufficient y. This to be so is proued already if all thinges bewell maâ—rked but Maister Collington maketh better proofes thereof father Parsons saith he in the eight chapter of the Apologie cunningly fassioneth a narration lasting for foure of the first leaues but with addition of moe vntruths then he vsed full points in the tale Hence suddenly arose an vrgent or as it were a fatall necessitie in father Parsons conceit of making a superiour in England ouer the secular priests if witnes be demanded at our hands we will saith Collington name no other but father Garnet and father Parsons themselues hauing their owne words for testimonie for when father Garnet asked Maister Iohn Bennet for his name to olim dice bamnr that is to a pretensed letter of thankesgiuing to his holinesse for institution of the authoritie and found him vnwilling to giue his name he told him that the subordination was the fact and prosecution of father Parsons his old friend and therefore stood assured he wold not denie the graunt of putting to his hand Likewise father Parsons in his speeches with M Charnocke at Rome among other thinges fréely acknowledged that hearing how we went about in England to make a superiour among our selues he thought it wisedome to preuent the effecting of such our indeuours by choosing and promoting one to the roome whom they knew to be their frind and would comply with them Thus writeth Colleton with many moe wordes to the same effect The third thinge to bee pondered is the notorious bad dealing of the arch-priest our Iesuited Blackewell First then he said he had receiued a resolution from the mother city that the refusers of his authoritie were schismatikes and therevpon denied absolution to such as made no conscienced thereof And yet by his owne affirmance hee receiue that resolution either from father Warford or father Tichburne two English Iesuites at Rome And yet Blackwell did so propose grace the said resolution as many then did and as yet some doe beleeue that it came as a definitiue sentence from the Pope Colleton page 199. Secondly Blackewell in his letter to M. I. M. bearing date the 22. of Feburarie 1600. writeth thus I determined that hereafter whosoeuer had faculties of me he should