year sends out his Sentence of Anathema against her Wherein he first sets out his own Title and Authority Sanders 3. De Schis Angl. pag. 368. in these words He that reigneth on High to whom is given all Power in Heaven and Earth hath committed the One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church out of which there is no Salvation to One Alone on Earth to wit to the Prince of the Apostles Peter and to Peters Successor the Bishop of Rome to be governed in Plenitude of Power c. Next he acquaints us with his own great care and endeavours for the discharge of this great trust then draws up a particular charge of several crimes and misdemeanors against Elizabeth pretended Queen of England whom he calls the Servant or Slave of wickedness Flagitiorum Serva And therefore saith he Supported with his Authority who was pleased to place Vs though unable for so great a burthen in this Supreme Throne of Justice out of the Plenitude of Our Apostolical Power We do Declare the aforesaid Elizabeth being a Heretick and Favourer of Hereticks and her Adherents in the matters aforesaid to have incurred the Sentence of Anathema and to be cut off from the unity of Christ's Body and Her to be Deprived of her pretended Right to the Kingdom aforesaid and of All Dominion Dignity and Priviledge whatsoever and also the Nobles Subjects and People of the said Kingdoms and All others who have in any sort Sworn unto her to be for ever Absolved from the same Oath and from All manner of Duty of Dominion Fidelity and Obedience As we do by Authority of these presents Absolve Them and Deprive the same Elizabeth of her â—â—tended Right to the Kingdom and of all other things abovesai◠〈◊〉 we Command and Interdict All and Every the Noblemen Subjects People and others aforesaid that they Presume not to Obey Her or her Monitions Mandates and Laws Those who shall do otherwise we Innodate in the like Sentence of Anathema This was sent over and toward the end of May affixed upon the Bishop of London's Palace Gates and Copies of it to be dispersed through out England sent to Bidolph Catena who having by the Popes Order distributed 150000. Crowns Aurea among the Confederates and all things here being again made ready against the Queen is sent to acquaint the Pope with their preparations which he approving presently sends him to the King of Spain promising that if need be himself will go to their Assistance and will pawn All the Goods of the Apostolick See the Chalices Crucifixes and Sacred Vestments Hereupon the Spaniard presently gives express Command that Vitellius with an Army shall Invade England and the Pope prepares his money in the Low-Countries But it pleased God that a messenger coming over with Letters to the Queen of Scots the Spanish Ambassadour Norfolk and others being intercepted the whole business is discovered Norfolk and others committed and all their Preparations and Hopes disappointed Which says Catena the Pope took sadly and the Spaniard condoled who said before Cardinal Alexandrino the Popes Nephew not long before sent to him from the Pope that no Conspiracy was ever more advisedly undertaken nor with greater unanimity and constancy concealed Which in so long time was revealed by none of the confederates and that the forces might easily have been transported from the Low-Countries in the space of twenty four hours which might have suprised the Queen and the City of London restored Religion and setled the Queen of Scots in her Throne especially when as Th. Stucley an English fugitive had taken upon him at the same time with 3000. Spanish Souldiers to reduce all Ireland to the Obedience of Spain and with one or two scouting Ships to fire the English Navy The Duke of Norfolk was brought to his Tryal the 16. of January following and Condemned and the 2. of June after beheaded The Pope in the mean time the first of May being called to his tryal and to give an account for these things before a far other Supreme Throne of Justice than what he pretended himself here placed in 27. Before we leave this Pope Pius v. we may take notice of two notable horrid exploits about his time practised in our neighbour Countries The first in Scotland the murther of the Lord Darby King James his father in the first year of his Papacy and the house wherein he was murthered at the same time blown up with Gun-powder in relation to which Thuanus tells us Ad haec Pontificis ut passim jactabatur Caroli Lotaringi Cardinalis Literis incitabantur nam cum per eum a Pontifice petiissent pecuniam ad instaurandam majorum religionem responsum fuerat frustra ipsos conari nisi sublatis iis per quos stabat ne res exitum sortiretur c. lib. 40. ad finem Anni 1566. The other in France that barbarous Massacre at Paris which though not executed till near two moneths after this Popes death yet it is observable that Cicarella notes in his life Ad Regem Galliarum ejusque Ministros optima misit documenta ad eosdem Hereticos Regno illo exturbandos and what these documenta were we may the better guess if we take notice of the temper and employments of this man a most severe austere man who had with so much rigor exercised the business of the Inquisition wherein he was imployed as made many dread his severity when he was chosen Pope And the same Authour notes his irreconciliabile in Hereticos odium though he looks upon it as matter of Commendation But how exceeding mad he was against them condemning and burning even for familiarity with Sectaries or those that were suspected such may be seen at large in the Noble Author de Thou lib. 39. pr. And in both these exploits is observable the Care that was taken to cast the Odium of the fact upon others But to return to our own story 28. After the death of this man the thirteenth of the same moneth was Gregory XIII chosen Pope And although with their late disappointment their party also in England was much broken and disabled for the future the chief heads being taken off yet was it not long before this Pope was also engaged in the same Combination Which was first begun between him and Don John of Austria base brother to the King of Spain and by him about that time appointed Governour of the Low-Countries and in pursuance thereof the Pope wrote to the King of Spain But Don John's Exploits were prevented by his own death before ever he could put them in practice Yet the like Consultations were soon resumed by the Pope and the King himself 〈◊〉 lib. 65. Camd. hoc An. and now England and Ireland both are to be invaded together and Th. Stucley whom the Pope had honoured with the Title of Marquess Earl Viscount and Baron of several eminent places in Ireland is to command the forces thither the Pope providing
the enemies of the Truth and of the the Church In Hadriani mole Toward the evening the Guns were fired at St. Angelo Bonefires every where made and nothing omitted of those things which used to be done upon the greatest victories for the Church of Rome Two daies after there was a Procession to St. Lewis with very great resort of the Nobility and people the Bishops and Cardinals going before then the Switzers then the Embassadors of Kings and Princes then under a Canopy the Pope himself a Deacon Cardinal on either side him and the Emperors Ambassador bearing up his train and a troop of Knights and Gentlemen following Being come to the Church which was adorned with more than ordinary magnificence Mass was said by the Cardinal of Lorain who for the incredible joy which he conceived for the so much desired news had ordered a thousand * Aureos Franks to be given to the Messenger who was a Gentleman sent by his Brother the Duke of Aumale Upon the Church-doors was set an Inscription in which the Cardinal of Lorain in the name of the King of France did congratulate the Pope and the Colledge of Cardinals the most wonderful effects and incredible issue of their Counsels and Assistances This done Cardinal Vrsin is appointed to go Legate into France who speedily took his journey Thu. l. 54. and being come as far as Lions where next to Paris was the most bloudy slaughter he began to extol with many commendations the Faith of the Citizens and publickly praised Boidon a most vile wicked fellow who afterward came to a death worthy of his wicked life being executed at Clermont but now was the ring-leader and principal promoter of the barbarous and horrid slaughters and murthers committed at Lions and upon him he also Etiam ei potestatis plenitudine gratiae benesicium impertinit out of the plenitude of his legatine power conferred some of the Pope's favours and graces And although by the King's Ministers who were now much otherwise affected with the sense of the barbarous slaughters of their Country-men than was the Pope and his Ministers he was admonished to be very sober and sparing in his speech of the Massacre yet could he not hold but every-where both in private conference and in publick to commend the King's prudence and magnanimity in that business and so full was he of it that being come to Paris and endeavouring to perswade the King to the admission of the Council of Trent in France he urged it with this as a most weighty argument That the memoâ—y of the late fact which is to be commended to all ages as conducing to the glory of God and the dignity of the holy Roman Church might be as it were sealed by the approbation of the holy Synod For so would it be manifest to all who now are or hereafter shall be that the King consented to the destruction of so many lives not out of hatred or revenge or sense of any private injury of his own but out of an ardent desire to propagate the glory of God That what could not be expected whilst the faction of the Protestants stood now they being taken away the Catholick Apostolick Roman Religion which by the Synod of Trent is cleared and defended from the venome of the Sectaries might be establishâ—d beyond controversie and without exception through all the Provinces of the French Dominion But the King had no mind to admit the Council much less to make that an occasion to perpetuate the memory of that fact which he was already contriving how to excuse And therefore was the Legate dismissed without any effect as to that particular to the Pope's no great satisfaction yet he solaced himself with atchievement of the Massacre which because it had happened in the beginning of his Papacy he reckoned a most prosperous omen Thu. l. 5â— Seres p. 794. and among his greatest felicities And to increase his comfort the head of Colinius was sent him to Rome for a present 47. Thu. l. 54. But alas in France all men generally and the King himself had already far other thoughts of that Tragedy and the Legate found a far other face of things there at his coming than he expected and had left at Rome for the King now more sensible of the foulness and odiousness of the fact when done as is usual in such cases the heinousness of sin seldom appearing to wicked minds till actually committed was in great perplexity whether to own it or not and how to excuse it And therefore it was long debated at Court whether to admit the Legate at all or by some handsome excuses to put him off without audience though out of respect to the Pope and to the person of the Legate thought well affected to the interest of France it was at last permitted but not without such caution and admonition to him as hath been mentioned For this unhappy King had no sooner accomplished these deep designs from which he promised himself so great security content and happiness but he found himself surprized and involved in inextricable difficulties perplexity and misery And besides the daily secret horrors of his mind and conscience Thu. l. 57. which appeared in their nocturnal effects and productions disturbing and interrupting his sleep with direful and frightful dreams which drove him to the use of Saul's remedy 1 Sam. 16. by Musick to refresh and quiet his disturbed spirits that anxiety which arose in his mind after the fact committed from his fears and doubts of what might be the ill consequence of it was now no less than his hopes had been before of that happiness and tranquility which he had promised himself that he should obtain by it For though he had before promised himself great security by the destruction of the heads and slaughter of so great a party of the Protestants yet having done the deed that desperation into which he apprehended his perfidious cruelty had driven those who remained and by the articles of the last agreement of Peace held Rochel and other strong places in their possession rendred them not a little formidable to him and perplexed his mind with doubts and fears of new troubles from so just and great provocation These cares of what might be the consequence of this action at home Thu. l. 53. were increased and aggravated by his apprehension of what effects so barbarous an act which is reporâ—ed to have filled with stupor and amazement the Great Turk himself at the hearing of it might produce in his neighbours abroad lest they thereby might be moved out of commiseration to send their aid and relief to his so injuriously oppressed subjects Wherefore all ways and means were studied and devised to give some satisfaction to the Protestants at home by treaties and favourable Edicts though his former often and foul breaches of his Faith made this very difficult and to excuse the foulness of the late fact
Common Law and renounced all priviledges contrary to it But the Parliament thought fit rather to remit the whole business to a General Council or to a Convention of the Gallicane Church And at a great meeting of the Bishops at the Conference at Poisy they were admitted to teach but under many conditions to change their name be subject to the Bishop of the Diocess to do nothing to the prejudice of the Bishops Colledges Curates Universities or other Orders or their Jurisdiction and Function but be governed according to the prescript of the Common Law and renounce all contrary priviledges c. Hereupon was opened Clermont School at Paris But when this liberty was interrupted by the whole University of Paris the business was again brought before the Parliament The University having before advised with Carolus Molinaeus his Consultation or opinion and resolution of the Case which was afterwards published was that the University had good cause to declare against them for a Nusance because they had erected a new Colledge contrary to the ancient decrees of Synods the General Council under Innocent 3. the Decrees of the Court c. their Institution was not only to the detriment of the several Orders but to the danger of the whole Kingdom and every wise man might justly fear that they might prove spies and betray the secrets of the Kingdom they seemed to be instituted to lie in wait for the estates of dying people they set up a new School in a University to which they would not obey which was not only monstrous but a kind of sedition c. And it was argued on both sides in full Parliament by Pet. Versorius for the Society highly commending their Original and Institution and by Steph. Pascasius for the University as much condemning both their Institution and their Practice their Institution in respect of their obligation by vow both to their General who is always chosen by the King of Spain and whom they profess to respect as God present upon earth and promise a blind Obedience as they call it to him absolutely in all things and to the Pope to whom because they are so obsequious they ought so much the more to be suspected by the French who indeed acknowledge the Pope as Head and Prince of the Church but so as that he is bound to obey the sacred Decrees and Oecumenical Councils as inferiour to them that he can decree nothing against the Kingdom or their Kings or contrary to the Decrees of the Court of Parliament or in prejudice of the Bishops within their limits and therefore to admit those new Sectaries would be to nourish so many enemies within the bowels of the Kingdom who if it should happen that the Popes in a fury should raise arms against us would denounce war against the King and Nation of France also in respect of their unreasonable and exorbitant priviledges contrary to the Common Law and of their ambitious Title their Practice for corrupting of youth and ruining of Families and lastly addressing himself more especially to the Senators he admonished them to beware that they did not when too late condemn their own credulity when they should see through their connivance that the publick tranquility not only in this Kingdom but through the Christian World should be endangered by the craft guiles superstition dissimulation impostures and evil arts of these men But the Senate whether through security or hatred of the Protestants whom these men were believed born to subdue determined to deliberate further on the business 5 Apr. 1565. in the mean timegranting them liberty publickly to open their Schools and instruct the youth And here we may take notice by the way who were the first and chief favourers and introducers of the Jesuites and thence further observe whose Scholars they were who were the chief actors in those troubles in France Apr. 1594. Thu. l. 110. But thus hung the cause till after the discovery of Barrieres conspiracy the University with unanimous consent nemine reclamante renewed their Suit and prayed Judgment by their supplication to the Parliament wherein they set out that the Estates in the Senate had long since complained of this new Sect that great confusions were then raised by them in the discipline of the Schools that from that time they have given occasion of greater troubles since the factious did openly addict themselves to the Spaniards party and have confounded not only the City but the whole Kingdom with horrid seditions that this was prudently foreseen from the beginning by the Colledge of Divines who by their Decree declared this new sect to have been introduced to the destruction of all Discipline as well Civil as Ecclesiastical and namely denying the obedience of the University as well to the Rector of it as moreover to the Arch-Bishops Bishops Curates and others the Prelates of the Church that notwithstanding those Jesuites made supplication to the Senate to be incorporated into the University and the cause being heard the Senate suspended the the Suit Salvo partium jure so that nothing in the interim should be innovated in the cause in prejudice of the Decree that yet the Jesuites have not only not at all obeyed the Decree of the Court but forgetting their sacerdotal profession have thrust themselves into publick businesses carried themselves as spies for the Spaniards and managed their concerns and therefore pray that since all these things are openly and publickly known the Senate will interpose their authority and by their Decree command that Sect to depart not only from the University of Paris but out of the Kingdom and exterminate them thence Hereupon after various delays by the Jesuites the cause came again to an hearing in the Parliament not openly but at the instance and through the importunity of the Jesuites and their friends the dores being shut And Ant. Arnald of Counsel for the University deploring the condition of France heretofore formidable but of late become despicable to all through sactions which factions have been caused by the Jesuites largely confirmed from experience of what had since been acted the truth of what was wisely foreseen and foretold so many years before That the Emperor Charles 5. when fortune favouring him he conceived hopes of obtaining and transferring to his Family a universal Monarchy and by his own sagacity and long experience found that many were tied up by scruples of conscience could not devise a more effectual means to work upon them than by introducing men of the Spanish design the Jesuites to the destruction of others under shew of Religion who in secret at confessions and openly also when occasion should be offered in their Sermons alienating the credulous and simple people from the obedience of their lawful Governors should insensibly draw them to his party That the principal Vow of these men is to be absolutely and in all things obedient to the General of their Order who for the most part is a
they did were only such turbulent spirits or poor deluded souls as many of these Nor hath the holy providence of God escaped their prophane abuse by entitling it to such trifles as a prudent Historian would disdain to mention and palpable lyes as may be seen in Sanders Ribadeneira and other such like Writers To which if we add the abuse of miracles by lyes and forgeries we shall find that the gates of Hell that is the counsels have prevailed against these degenerate successors of Peter with a witness Nor could a more effectual means be devised for the subversion of Christianity and all Religion not the very arms of Mahomet and his sect than this mystery of iniquity nor if it be well considered hath the whole World produced any thing which doth better deserve the name of Antichrist And indeed if we consider the present growth of Atheism and Infidelity among us and trace it to its roots and original we shall find it all to be of an Italian Extraction and from thence propagated to France and so to England and other parts Nor shall we find any other reasons for it than what are here mentioned the Italians perceiving better what is acted among themselves than those who are more remote For let the Italian subtilty be what it will I think it is plain that they have made no deeper search into either the secrets of Nature or of Antiquity from one or both of which they must derive their principles if they have others besides what are here mentioned than other Nations have made 63. And now before I conclude I must crave leave to make this address to several sorts of persons distinctly And first to all Christians in general that they will seriously consider whether they be not obliged for the honour and reputation of our holy Profession and whether our great Lord doth not require it of them to declare against this Romish Faction and their Unchristian or rather Antichristian and abominable scandalous principles and practices that is all National Churches and Vniversities publickly by solemn Decrees and Protestations if not by excommunication and all particular private Christians by abstaining from their communion and coming out of that Babylon that they be not partakers of her sins and receive not of her plagues 2. To those who are not of that Communion and have hitherto escaped those delusions that they beware that they be not again entangled therein For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment 2. That they be careful that they do not hold the truth in unrighteousness Atrocius sub sancti nominis professione peccatur but walk worthy of their vocation c. worthy of God who hath called them to his Kingdom and Glory out of darkness into his marvellous light as children of the light and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them and as becometh the Gospel of Christ and that while they separate from the scandals of others they themselves do not administer occasion of scandal to others 3. That they who are in authority whether in Church or State be careful both by their example and authority as much as in them lieth to discourage and suppress all manner of vice and debauchery and to encourage and promote all manner of virtue and particularly piety and devotion in Religion For as vice and debauchery and even coldness and indifference in matters of Religion in any man makes him the more obnoxious to the delusions of the Papists so they well perceiving so much by experience are not without reason believed to endeavour first the debauching of the Nation that the people being thereby the better prepared and disposed to receive their impressions they may the more easily compass their design as Physitians who cannot immediately cure the present distemper of their Patient are fain many times by art to divert it into some other disease which they hope more easily to cure Nor do the Papists look upon debauchery as a more dangerous disease than that they call heresy This is such a means as is of natural efficacy to obviate and obstruct the endeavors of the Papists but of all most likely to be effectual by the blessing of God upon it whereas the neglect of it doth both naturally expose the people to their delusions and is most likely to provoke the judgment of God to give them up to be deluded by them Nor need Governors to fear that their people will prove less morigerous and governable by being more devotely affected to Religion but may well hope the contrary provided they will require nothing of them that may be thought contrary to Religion which certainly they need not Christianity containing nothing inconsistent with any solid principle of policy 4. That they be careful to walk worthy of their vocation particularly in that wherein the Apostle doth particularly instance and which he earnestly urgeth endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doing according to the truth in Charity Eph. 4.1 3 15. for it must be remembred that separation and division among Christians is like homicide generally unlawful and though the one as well as the other in certain special cases and under certain circumstances may be not only lawful but an indispensible duty which the Romanists cannot with any reason deny since it hath been the judgment and frequent indeed too frequent practice of that Church both anciently and of later ages as is apparent in their excommunications of whole Churches even all or most of the Eastern Churches and in the last age many of the Western for no other cause but the reformation of many scandalous abuses which the Church or Bishops of Rome by their Agents had transfused into them whereby they do unanswerably justify our separation from them were not themselves the authors of it for just and necessary causes yet ought not this to be done but with great caution and mature deliberation and under such conditions as these 1. That it be just and necessary for just and necessary causes 2. That it be done with Charity and with intention and desire to return to communion again as soon as the causes of the separation are removed and reformed 3. And therefore that it be done with Sobriety not widening the difference or quarrelling at such things as may be or ought to be tolerated such as being in their own nature indifferent are left to the prudent ordering and disposition of each particular National or Provincial Church Unaquaeque Provincia abundet in suo sensu c. Hier. ep 28. v. can ult Concilii Ephesiu so as may be best for order decency and edification that it proceed no further than for just and necessary causes it ought lest if we measure truth as for example in this case by its distance from
proved dangerous to the Holy See But he made them amends for it afterward though without any expense of his Treasure for he sent out his Excommunication against the King of France himself although a man of an irreconcilable hatred against the Protestants and who had been a promoter of the Parisian Massacre unless within ten days he should set at liberty the Cardinal Bourbon whom the Rebels desired to make head of their party This was published in May and the 1. of August after was the King murthered by James Clement a Jacobin who was thus resolved in the Case by the * F. Edm. Burgoin who was afterwards excuted for it drawn in pieces by four horses his quarters burned his ashes scattered in the wind Danita l. 10. p. 857. Prior of his Covent that if he undertook it not out of hatred or desire of private revenge but inflamed with the love of God for Religion and the good of his Country he might not only do it with a safe Conscience but should merit much before God and without doubt if he should die in the act his soul would ascend to the Quires of the Blessed and as some say he was likewise encouraged by F. Commelet and other Jesuites This fact of Clement was highly extolled in France both in Sermons and Printed books and the Leaguers had that opinion of his Martyrdom for he was presently killed in the place and afterward pulled to pieces and his body burned that they came to the place and scraped up the very dust and earth whereon any of his blood lighted as Sacred Relicks and put it into a Vessel in which they came intending to carry it to Paris and there erect a Monument of his Martyrdom ad adorationem but by a vehement wind which suddenly arose both vessel and passengers were all drowned not one escaping and the relicks cast away Nor was the fact less extolled at Rome even by the Pope himself in a Premeditated Speech in the Consistory wherein he not only preferred that wicked wretch before Eleazar and Judith but most impiously and blasphemously compared his fact for the greatness and admirableness of it to the Mystery of the Incarnation and Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour The King had caused the Duke of Guise who was head of the Rebels to be slain and this was one main matter which incensed the Pope against him Thu. l. 94. For the Pope had agreed with Guise in secret to marry his Niece to the Prince of Jonvil Guise his son and heir and to depose the King thrust him into a Monastery and compel him by the Popes authority to renounce his right to the Kingdom and to set up Guise the father King in his place But how zealous and jealous he was for the Dignity and Authority of the Holy See is worth our further notice in an instance related by a good Catholick the learned Civil Lawyer William Barclay in his book De Potestate Papae dedicated to Pope Clement VIII None of all the writers of the Popes part saith he hath either more diligâ—ntly collected or more ingeniously proposed or more smartly and subtilely concluded their reasons and arguments for the Popes Authority than the Eminent Divine Bellarmine who although he attributed as much as with honesty he could and indeed more than he ought to have done to the Authority of the Pope in Temporals yet could he not satisfie the Ambition of that most Imperious man Sixtus v. who affirmed that he held a Supreme Power over All Kings and Princes of the whole Earth and all People and Nations delivered to him not by humane but Divine Institution In so much that he was very near by his Papal Censure to have abolished to the great detriment of the Church all the works of that Doctor which at this day oppose heresie with very great success as the Fathers of that Order of which Bellarmine was have seriously told me cap. 13. But enough of Sixtus By whom for example we may guess by these fruits what likelyhood there is that he and such as he whereof there hath been no small number Popes since the tenth Age especially that Seculum Infelix when with a great Eclipse of Learning the Popes of Rome as even Bellarmine noteth degenerated from the Piety of the Ancients were partakers of and directed by that Holy Spirit which God giveth to them that obey him to conduct them in all truth or rather the Spirit of the world the Spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience whose works they have done 35. The three next succeeding Popes Vrban 7. Gregory 14. and Innocent 9. did not all of them live out half three years from the death of this and therefore we cannot expect to hear of any attempts or design of theirs against this Kingdom But after Clement VIII who was elected Pope 3. Feb. 1591 2. was settled in his seat the like practises soon began again wherein those agents whom we have mentioned before Hesket Lopez and Complices his Cullen York and Williams who confessed some others and Squire were imployed to raise rebellion poison or assassinate the Queen Lopez by the King of Spain's Ministers of State not without the privity and consent of himself all the rest incited and encouraged by the Jesuites who for the like practises at the same time against the most Christian King though then become Catholick too Thu. l. 111. were exterminated out of all France and a Pyramid erected for their perpetual Infamy But from all these God still preserved her the Emissaries being discovered taken and Executed Nor did he only preserve her from their attempts but shortly after blessed her with happy successes in an Expedition against the Spaniards then preparing again to Invade England Bacon Observ wherein the King of Spains Navy of 50. tall Ships besides twenty Gallies to attend them were beaten and put to flight and in the end all but two which were taken by the English burned only the twenty Gallies by the benefit of the Shallows escaping the town of Cadiz manned with 4000. foot and 400. horse taken sack'd and burnt but great Clemency used toward the inhabitants Camd. an 1596 and at last the English returning home with honour and great spoils besides the two Gallions and about 100. great brass Guns and great store of ammunition and provisions of war taken in the town and with very small loss and but of one person of quality the Spaniards having lost in all first and last 13. of their best men of war and 44. other Ships of great burden and in Ships great guns and military provisions by the estimate of the most knowing persons above 3000000 ducates And when the King of Spain not long after that he might repair this loss in a heat had from all parts gathered together all the Ships he could and manned even the strangers Ships which were in the Ports of Spain and set out this Navy to Land upon the
but his little stature saying that there needed a more robust man In his journey at Vermand he understood that the King was reconciled to the Church and came to the Crown by lawful succession yet he went on as far as St. Denys but from thence returned to Bruxels to the Legate and gave him this reason of his return whereat the Legate shaked his head and telling him that the Bearnois so he called the King and all his party stood still excommunicated by the Pope perswaded him to persevere in his purpose to whom Ridicone answered if I could see the Pope's mandate then it should soon be considered on At the same time Pet. Arger of the same Monastery at Gant having first treated with Malavicinus at Bruxels and then going to Rome being returned from thence likewise undertook the design of killing the King Some time after Ridicone with whom a servant of the Legates had afterward dealt in secret went also to Rome whither Malavicinus had returned where being by him confirmed in his purpose he took his journey by Milan and having there communicated the business to the Spanish Ministers he came into France about the same time that Alex. Medices the Pope's Legate arrived there the King being then reconciled not only to the Church but to the Pope also At last being taken when the King saw that the business could not be examined in a judiciary way without the great infamy of Malavicinus and that not without some reflexion upon the Pope with whom he was already reconciled and moreover casting some suspition upon the Arch-Duke to the disturbance of the business of peace whereof some overtures had been made by the Legate he resolved to dissemble it and dismiss Ridicone out of the Kingdom requiring him not to return again upon pain and penalty of Treason Being returned to Gaunt he resumed his former design of killing the King and after some secret conference at the Monastery of St. Vincent in the King of Spain's Territories he returned again into France where being again apprehended he was condemned and executed At his Trial being asked how he could think of such a thing as to kill the King he answered that by the frequent Sermons from the Pulpit and daily Disputations in the School which he heard and moreover the praises of James Clemont as of a glorious Martyr who had devoted himself for the liberty of the French every where resounding not only at the Churches but in the Markets Streets and at Feasts he was easily perswaded that he should do a thing pleasing and acceptable to God who should kill the cruel Tyrant who without any right tore in pieces that most Christian Kingdom with the loss of so many souls and therefore when Malavicinus did moreover furnish him with the authority of God and the Pope to that purpose he readily undertook it being put to the rack he made no otheroâ—nsession than he had done before At the same time was also executed one Nic. Anglus a Capuchin Frier of St. Michel in the Diocess of Thoul in Lorrain being convicted and condemned for the same crime The next year after Ridicone was first apprehended and while he was in prison Ledesma a Minister of the King of Spain Thu. l. 118. employed one Pet. Owen a Carthusian Frier who for his dissolute manners being censured in his Monastery had fled into Spain to suborn an emissary to murder the King Owen having treated with a Souldier in the King's Army about it to whom he had made great promises was himself the next year after apprehended and convicted both by witnesses and by his own confessions but was pardoned by the King in respect to the Carthusians being satisfied to have taken the evidence in a judicial manner whereupon he might when he pleased expostulate with the Spaniards But shortly after these things ensued the Peace with Spain at Vervins and not long after some hopes given of the restitution of the Jesuites which was at last granted as we have seen whereupon one might have thought that his enemies being all either subdued or reconciled having reconciled himself to the Church to the Pope to those of the League who remained unsubdued to the Spaniard and to the Jesuites that he should henceforward have enjoyed his Kingdom his new Religion which had brought all these blessings with it and his Misses too at least his life in safety But alas it may be feared he had forgotten to reconcile himself truly to his God which made the rest but male facta gratia quae ne quiequam coit rescinditur For when a mans ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him But while he was thus endeavouring to engage the Jesuites to himself the Spaniard on the other side spared neither pains Thu. l. 132. nor promises that by their emissaries they might allure to themselves the minds of those who through the late Civil Wars were alienated from him and under the specious colour of Religion might invite them to disturb the publick peace and quiet of the Kingdom laying hold on all occasions for that purpose and that they might discover his arcana secret counsels and from the knowledge of them the better order their own designs made it their main business to corrupt those who were employed by the principal Officers and Ministers of State Thus among others Nic. L'Oste whom the Secretary Villeroy employed in decysering letters being corrupted by them with an annual pension of 1200 Crowns l. 128. continually discovered all the secrets of the mto the Spanish Embassador They had before corrupted the Mareshal de â—iron and some other persons of Quality which being discovered brought him to his end about two years since and now they not only again set upon the Count d'Auvergne L 132. 134. who had been convicted of Biron's conspiracy and pardoned but also the Seigneur d'Entragues and the Marquise de Vernevil his beautiful and witty daughter the King's Miss to corrupt them and that by no meaner or other agents than their Embassadors in France Jo. Taxis and his successor Batth Sunica who to introduce him at first made use of an English sugitive Th. Morgan an actor in the Conspiracies against his own Princess Queen Elizabeth L. 134. The next year this same Embassador Suniga first in person and afterwards to avoid suspition by his Secretary Brunellus treated and at last agreed with Lewis Merargues a Gentleman of Provence to betray Marseilles to the King of Spain which both Merargues and Brunellus confessed being apprehended in private conference in Merargues's Chamber and in Brunellus his hose under his garter was a paper found written in Spanish with his own hand which confirmed the same Vn memoire contenant le plan de son entreprise Perefix These things I the rather note because of use as well to confirm the truth of their like practices in England as to help to ground some conjecture
rock of his salvation and relying upon vain policies had ungratefully forsaken him by whom he never had nor should have been forsaken so long as he continued faithful and constant to his duty and prostituting his conscience to obtain a staff of reed Isa 35.6 had broken the staff of his surest confidence aggravating also the offence of his spiritual Fornication and the burden of his galled conscience which is alwaies heaviest in times of danger by persisting in the continual scandals of his Amores whereof the Arch-Bishop Perefix often complains as justly to be blamed * Pag. 461. in a Christian Prince a man of his age who was married on whom God had conferred so great mercies and who had such great enterprizes in his hand This was it which made his apprehension of his approaching death so strong and lamentable and subjected him to the effects of that Religion to which he had subjected himself as those who consult and crave the assistance of witches and evil spirits make themselves thereby the more obnoxious to their power and malice Thus did he fall from that Grandure which by the space of near another eighteens years he had been raising upon this false foundation Such profane policies subjecting Religion to a subservience to secular ends though succesful for a while yet frequently at last concluding in an unhappy catastrophie Nor could the specious pretence of his grand design find acceptance with him who prefers obedience before sacrifice This was it which was in general foreseen and foretold by our good Queen by a more genuine spirit of Prophesie and from better Principles than they were moved by who foretold the same indeed more particularly but yet only like witches and evil spirits who foretell the storms they mean to raise And she her self who built her assurance upon a better foundation continuing constant to the last to her Conscience and Religion and to her God was by him constantly blessed and preserved to the last during a Reign more than twice as long as his and from conspiracies neither fewer nor in themselves less dangerous than those against him and this was it which made her to hear the full relation of a horrid conspiracy against her person with that undaunted courage which amazed him who should have been the actor of it Parry apud Cambd. an 1585. to behold it and with admirable constancy to contemn the many like conspiracies which she certainly knew were at one and the same time by the Seminaries and Spanish Ministers in agitation against her Cambd. an 1594. See before p 26 27. Ps 31.14 reposing her confidence in him whom she knew was able to save her with this pious ejaculation Thou art my God my times are in thy hand not They will kill me I shall never go out of this City I shall dye c. 62. The same distinguishing Providence might be further observed in another History to which this is a proper introduction but leaving that to the observation of others I will here conclude with some REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS upon what hath been already related that we may see what use and improvement may be made of it 1. And first in the History of England we may plainly behold the continuance of the combination of Rome and Spain which was the occasion of that part of the discourse even to the very time of those consultations which were designed to commence in execution immediately upon the Queens death which may therefore reasonably induce us to believe that it did not then cease but was continued in and produced at last that monster of all devillish and infernal conspiracies of blowing up the whole State at one blow 2. We may therein also clearly perceive the justice reasonableness and even necessity of those Laws which in the Queens Reign were made to prevent and restrain those wicked practices of the Jesuites and other Romish and Spanish Emissaries and their disciples which hath been acknowledged by some of the more sober Priests 3. We must also therein take notice of the admirable Providence of God in the preservation of that Queen from so many so various so mysterious secret conspiracies the truth of which is further confirmed by the like practices of the Romish and Spanish Agents in France and other places about the same times and from so great open hostility one while diverting another while defeating her enemies and making her victorious and this notwithstanding the several * V. sect 26 33 36. excommunications and solemn execrations and imprecations of several Popes one after another against her as of Pius 5. Greg. 13. Sixtus 5. and Clement 8. which were all not only ineffectual but rather turned into a blessing unto her 4. In the History of France compared with the other that distinguishing Providence which was the occasion of that part of the discourse is no less conspicuous and observable in a most remarkable judgment of God upon all those who either persecuted or deserted or so much as refused or neglected that reformation of Religion which she happily established and defended for in this last sort also we have †V. sect 48. p. 97-100 noted it though by the by and this notwithstanding all the incitations and encouragements of several Popes and Cardinals So that here we have a most remarkable example of their Curses turned into a Blessing and their Blessings into a Curse 5. And here if we take for Principles the two last of Bâ—llarmines Notes of the true Church of Christ 4 De Ecclesia c. 17. the one the unhappy exit or end of those who oppose the Church For as he adds although God punisheth his and whips them yet at length he casts the rod into the fire Deut. 32 43. Praise his people ye Nations for he will avenge the blood of his servants C. 18. and render vengance upon their adversaries the other the temporal felicity by the Divine Providence conferred on those who defend it For never says he did Catholick Princes cordially adhere to God but they most easily became triumphant over their enemies If I say we take these for our Principles it will be very easy for any one upon what hath been here related to make the conclusion viz. which is the true Church of Christ and which the meretricious and adulterous who have been true Catholick Princes and who the Kings of the Earth who have committed fornication with the great Whore the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints and this will further appear from what follows 6. And therefore in both these Histories we may also take notice of the actions and practices of the Pâ—pes and their party their Adherents Agents Emissaries and Disciples viz. exciting and fomenting wars and invasions among Christian Princes with breach of publick Faith seditions and rebellions by Subjects against their own Princes and the murders of Princes by their own Subjects encouraged thereunto by an impious pretence of
am very willing to think charitably of many of our English Romanists yet I see not how they can be excused who separate from the Church of England which is and ought to be their own Church so long as it continues a member of the Church of Christ which an unjust excommunication by an apostate Church cannot hinder to joyn with such a Faction Nor do I see how they can be excused who refuse to take the Oath of Allegiance which I am very confident not a man of the ancient Christians would have refused and it is hard not to think that because they received not the love of the truth offered to them that for this cause God hath sent them strong delusions that they should believe a lie c. But notwithstanding that some who for the reason mentioned continue in that communion may by the mercy and grace of God escape these delusions yet it is apparent that these are the Doctrines of the Pope the Church and Court of Rome and of the Jesuites and the rest are generally so seasoned and levened with such conceits of the Pope's authority as are easily improved into these when ever occasion is offered especially if any thing of private interest intervene as is very observable in the History of France though they of all Papists are least inclined to favour the Papal Usurpations where scarce a City unless restrained by the powerful presence of some of the loyal Nobility or inhabited most by Protestants but did or was ready to revolt to the League at every occasion 11. And here again if we take for our Principles two more of Bellarmine's Notes of the true Church viz. * C. 11. Sanctity of Doctrine containing nothing false as to the Doctrine of Faith nothing unjust as to the Doctrine of Manners and †C. 9. Agreement in Doctrine with the ancient Church we may hence also conclude whether this Church of Rome hath continued a true and faithful Church of Christ or hath indeed made that defection which was foretold should succeed the dissolution of the Roman Empire as the Christians in all ages have unanimously and universally understood that which should be taken away and become the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth which is expresly said of the mystical Babylon the great City which then reigned over the Kings of the Earth the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints whether there reigneth not that man of sin the son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God above all nominal Gods as Kings and Emperors or that is worshipped or reverenced so that he as God Cum super Imperatorem non sit nisi solus Deus qui fecit Imperatorem dum se Donatus super Imperatorem extollit jam quasi hominum excesserat metas ut se ut Deum non hominem aestimaret c. Optatus l. 3. which with more reason may be said of the Pope sitteth in the Temple the Church of God though adulterous and apostate Church shewing himself that he is a God above all earthly Gods as Kings and Emperors and the immediate Vicar of the true God For the Doctrine of the Primitive and Ancient Church how contrary that is to these Principles and Practices every one may see in the sacred Scriptures and it is almost vulgarly known from the writings of the ancient Christians commonly cited as to obedience to temporal Princes and Magistrates But be this never so evident I know it will be hard to perswade one who hath been trained up in the Popish Principles to believe it Not only the prejudice of Education but more particularly the opinion of the Perseverance and Infallibility of the Church which above all things from their tender years is deeply rooted in their minds will be a great obstacle and stumbling block in their way But let them take heed that a too particular application of a general promise do not deceive them The Jews had as express promises as any they can pretend and were as zealous as they are now and yet were deceived with lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord as they do now the Church the holy Catholick Apostolick Roman Church 12. Here also such Princes as having escaped these corruptions will again subject their necks to the Roman yoak may see what a snare they involve themselves in and what a slavery they must lie under to the Papal Tyranny how dangerous it is to have their peoples minds infected with these Principles and their consciences directed by such Guides And here King James's Defence of the Right of Kings sub fin if there be any truth in that speech of Cardinal Perron That so long as the Kings of France have kept good terms of concord with the Popes they have been the more prosperous and on the contrary when they have jarred with the Holy See they have been infested with boisterous storms and tempests here I say if this be true they may perceive the true reason of it viz. in the one case they were free from the molestation of the Popes and their Emissaries and in the other they were infested by them But how little truth there is in that assertion may partly appear by what hath here been written and is also proved by our late learned King James in his solid confutation of it by instances not only in France but other Countries also And in England who hath been more prosperous and succesful than she who wholly cast off the Pope's authority and would not be courted to so much as to admit his Legate and who more unhappy than they who have too much complyed with them 13. Lastly we must here take notice of that which cannot but administer matter of grief to all true and cordial Christians and that is the scandal of these Principles and Practices the occasion which thereby is given to those who are not well acquainted with the Doctrines and Practices of the ancient genuine Christians nor have well considered the great evidences of the truth and excellence of the Christian Religion to suspect it to be no other than what they apprehend it to be in the lives and actions of such spurious professors of it viz. a meer Imposture with great subtilty and artifice managed for secular ends and the injury which thereby is done to the holy Martyrs when we shall see Rebels seditious Traytors and Parricides honoured and magnified as Martyrs and that not by the vulgar only but by their Popes themselves and Cardinals by their learned Writers in printed Books and Preachers from their Pulpits nay when we shall see Relations in printed Books and representations by printed Cuts and Pictures of most horrible persecutions and martyrdoms pretended to be suffered where in truth was no such matter what a tentation may this give to weak unlearned or prejudiced minds to suspect that the ancient holy Martyrs either suffered not at all or if
Rome we not only with many errors and abuses cast off some truths and useful matter of decency but also become guilty of breach of Charity while not insisting only upon what is just matter of exception we contend about that which is capable of a charitable construction That these conditions are necessary to be observed to make breach of communion between several Churches justifiable in either I think no Christian will deny And therefore as those Churches which shall contrary to these conditions make a separation from others do thereby transgress the Law of Charity and become guilty of Schism so much more do they who shall so separate from their own particular Church to which their habitation and abode doth subject them as special members and besides to their Schism and breach of Charity add also the guilt of disobedience and which ought well to be considered among us do thereby though contrary to their intention effectually cooperate with the Romish Agents in the promotion of their grand design one of whose principal methods for the subversion of the Reformed and restauration of the Popish Religion as might plainly be demonstrated is the raising and promoting of Sects Factions and Divisions among us which were there no other obligation upon us ought in reason to make us very wary how we do that which gives so great advantage to the common adversary 5. That they who are of chief authority in the Church be very cautious not to administer unnecessary occasion of separation to the weakness of their brethren which may be and frequently is done by these two means especially 1. By rigorous pressing of things in their own nature indifferent For though these things be left to the prudent ordering of each particular National or Provincial Church yet when through the weakness and scrupulosity of many they become matter of offence and scandal to them and so occasions of separation in that circumstance they cease to be indifferent and it would be no less contrary to Prudence than to Charity to impose or longer strictly to require them and is plainly contrary to both the Doctrine and the Practice of the Apostle v. Rom. 14 15. 1 Cor. 8. 9.20 21 22. 10.22 and 2 Kin. 18.4 especially in so dangerous a circumstance as this when it gives so great advantage to such an adversary who so studiously and industriously endeavors our divisions it can never be approved as any way consistent with prudence and that care of the flock which all faithful Pastors ought to have not to allow at least such indulgence and liberty in such things as is necessary to the prefervation of unity in the Church 2. By scandalous coldness in Religion and worldliness in the Clergy It is certain both from reason and experience though perhaps not commonly observed that there is scarce any so universal and powerful a cause of separation and factions as this For the generality of people do rarely judge by any other rule than that of our Saviour by their fruits and are therefore very apt to judge of the truth of mens Doctrine by the virtue and piety of their lives and actions And there is a certain authority of reputation which ought always to accompany authority of Jurisdiction and is in truth the more powerful of the two to retain people in a sweet voluntary and so more perfect obedience and this being lost the other which alone holds them only in a kind of violent and forced not natural and genuine obedience is very difficult to be managed very hazardous to be cast off and is seldom of long duration Now the former which is the proper authority of the Church and Clergy for what is coercive more than bare excommunication is in truth a branch of the Civil Authority can never be retained by only abstaining from those we call scandalous fins but by the constant sincere and vigorous practice of those great virtues of Religion Humility Meekness Heavenly-mindedness contempt of the World devotion in Religion and zealous endeavors for the Salvation of Souls without which the observance of the rules only of ordinary moral virtues will be attributed rather to humane Prudence than to Religion But to see men zealous for the accidents and formalities of Religion and cold in the practice and promotion of the great essential and substantial parts and the very business of it to hear men cry up morality as if there was nothing more in Religion than that and yet in the practice even of that to come far short of the very Heathen Moralists to see men prophanely turn the sacred Profession into a kind of trade to design it and apply themselves to it no otherwise than others do to civil or secular employments as a means to get a livelihood to get wealth honour and preferment in the World and when they have and perhaps by indirect means heaped Living upon Living and Preferment upon Preferment accordingly use or rather abuse the charity of our Ancestors and the revenues of the Church in such indulgence to Pride Ostentation voluptuous or delicious living as would be scarce excusable in the religious Laity nay to vie with them in such vanities or insatiably to heap up treasures not for the necessary relief of their own Families but to raise great Families in the World even of their more remote relations that which the time hath been hath been held no less than sacriledge without any regard to such works of Charity and the promotion of Christianity as all good Christians according to their ability are obliged to These things to which might be added the general decay and neglect of the ancient discipline do more effectually weaken the proper authority of the Church and Clergy than any Ecclesiastical Canons or Civil Laws can establish it and being naucious in the sight of the people provoke the more religious to run to private meetings and sects and the rest to jealousie and suspitions of all Religion to Infidelity Irreligion and Prophaneness and so in both give great advantage to the Romanists and help forward the promotion of their labours and designs The truth whereof is confirmed by the happy success of those who take a contrary course For thanks be to God we are not without some who by their good employment not only of the revenues of their Ecclesiastical preferments but also of their private fortunes their virtuous and pious lives and their fervent sound and profitable Preaching prevail with many of the several sorts of Non-Conformists to become their auditors and reclaim them And were there some good and effectual course taken that we might have more such lights set up in the more conspicuous Candlesticks of the Church we should find that the most effectual means both to dispel the mists of Separatists and keep out the Romish Foggs from overwhelming us and to promote and establish the honour and authority of the Church and Clergy Nor would the blessing of God be wanting to
or State or repute for Learning as are thought inconsistent with a real belief of what they possess whence some who affect to know more than the vulgar will needs perswade themselves and others that all such are Atheists and Infidels and thereupon bring all Religion under a suspition of being nothing else but a more refined piece of policy and because I have found by experience that many have no better arguments for their affected infidelity than this and yet few of those who have written of the verity of the Christian Religion have taken any notice of it or thought it worth a particular answer I shall recommend these things to their consideration 1. That this is no argument or evidence against Religion but only a bare supposed opinion and judgment of such persons without any evident and express ground or reason for it 2. That the opinion or judgment of great Statesmen or Scholars meerly as such is of no greater authority in this particular than the judgment or opinion of other men for such men may in general well deserve that reputation which they have and yet be utterly ignorant of those Principles which are necessary to be known to ground a judgment in this case There are very rarely found any men that are well skilled in all the parts of Learning or of some one profession as for example of the Law some are good Conveyancers who are very unskilful in Bar-Practice many good Chancery-men who are no great Common Lawyers c. So in Divinity some are well skilled in Textual some in Polemical or Scholastical some in Casuistical Divinity and yet but meanly skilled in the other parts of it and this part which considers the evidences of Religion is but rarely studied by any but such as have to do with Infidels each man ordinarily applying himself especially to that part to which his peculiar employment engageth him and usually men in great place have of all others least leisure for this particular study 3. But were their judgment never so considerable yet could it not in this case be certainly concluded from their actions For 1. It is agreed by all sorts of men Christians and Heathens and daily experience confirmeth the same that men frequently act contrary to their setled judgment and who may not often truly say Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor Nor is the thing it self more apparent than the reasons of it But I shall not here trace it to its first and original causes but only shew it in its next and immediate causes which are Surpize Impotence and Presumption From Surpize there is certainly no man whose care and caution can always secure him that he may not sometimes through the heat of passion or suddenness of a tentation be * Gal. 6.1 overtaken This we may all observe in our selves and in most we familiarly converse with Nay our very caution it self in many things makes us apt to be surprized by fear and thereupon to do those things we otherwise would not or neglect what we would otherwise do And though there be not a like Impotence in all yet is there more or less in every one whence men often do themselves contrary to what they would advise their children or dearest friends We daily see those who doubt not the directions of their Physitians to be good and necessary to be observed yet frequently overcome to transgress them to the hazard of their health and life it self nay Physitians themselves do the same whereof I could give a late notable instance in one of the most famous of his time Nor are we to think great Statesmen Polititians and learned men more exempt from all impotence than others are It is sufficient that they be well qualified for the places they hold to which their very impotence in some respects may sometime be a special qualification and they who are not easily overcome by one passion or affection may yet be perfectly enslaved to another What is wanting to these two causes is frequently made up by Presumption whether upon God's mercy in general and hope of pardon upon an intended repentance afterward or upon the priviledg of being within the pale of the Church by profession of Christianity or being members of the Catholick Church or zealous for the party they espouse that is as the Prophet saith Trusting in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord Jer. 7.3 The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord a Presumption so powerful heretofore that notwithstanding that reproof and after a notable experience of the vanity of it we find it in our Saviour's days still continued and again reproved by John Baptist Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father c. Mat. 3.9 And yet after all this as experience sheweth still prevalent in our days and very common among the Romanists and the Disciples of the Jesuites especially their new Proselytes who seem to hope for indulgence in their sinful courses or to expiate the same by their zeal for the Church whereunto great occasion is given by their abominable abuse of Absolution Commutation of Penance Indulgences and complying Conduct 2. Tâ—â—â—e actions may proceed from error in the understanding and ignorance or mistake about some particular Christian Doctrine through an erronious Conscience thinking that to be lawful or a Christian duty which is absolutely unlawful So our Saviour telleth his Disciples that they who should kill them would think they do God service Jo. 16.2 and Saul thought that he ought to persecute the Christians Act. 26.9 and this may be consistent with a firm belief of the Christian Doctrine in general And this I take to be in truth the case of the Romanists and that they are given up to believe a lye through strong delusions wherein they do not more deceive their disciples than they are themselves deceived for do but admit me one or two of their Principles and there is nothing so monstrous in their actions but I think I can easily prove it lawful I had therefore intended to have shewed from what Principles those actions have proceeded that those Principles are mistaken and are no Christian but rather Antichristian Doctrines what hath been the cause occasion and progress of that mistake and lastly that this defection from the Christian Doctrine and Manners hath been foretold by the first Propagators of the Christian Faith in that manner as I think would not only do much to the removing of the scandal but moreover afford no inconsiderable evidence to the truth of Christianity it self but that I see would be too long for this place and time but I am well assured of the truth of what I say and doubt not but ere long it will be made manifest 3. There is one cause more from whence men may act contrary to Christianity and that in the highest degree and yet without the disbelief of the Truth of it in general or of any particular Doctrine
by his Mother and by those Tutors that she appointed him did not at all abstain the example whereof proceeding from the Court to the Cities and from the Cities to the Country Towns and Villages they now at every third word swore by the head death bloud heart of God Moreover the patience of God was even wearied with their Whoredoms Adulteries and such lusts as are not fit to be spoken Lastly nature it self doth now expostulate as it were with God for his so long patience and forbearance nor could the Country of France any longer bear such prodigious wickedness For as for the causes which are pretended against Coligny they are feigned with such improbability that they can hardly perswade children much less can they be proved For how is it probable that Coligny should enter into such a conspiracy within the walls of Paris who though he were guilty before the Pacification to suppose that yet certainly after the Edict if indeed the publick Faith and the King's promises ought to be observed he came to the King guiltless altogether abhorring a Civil War and solicitous only about the Belgick War But whereas they say he conspired after he had received his wounds this hath less colour of truth For how could Colligny that was indisposed by two such wounds now grown old disabled in both his arms one of which the Physitians tallted of cutting off rise with three hundred young men that attended him against an Army of sixty thousand men that bare him deadly hatred and that were well appointed with Arms How could he in so little time consult concerning so great and vast a design for he lived hardly forty hours after he had received his wound in which all conference was forbidden him by his Physitians Then had he been accused of any crime was he not committed to Cossenius and his guards and the passages being every where secured was he not in the King's power that he might in a moment if it had so pleased the King been thrust into prison and witnesses being prepared after the manner of judicial proceedings might he not have been proceeded against in form of Law Moreover if Coligni with his Dependents and Clients had conspired against the King why must needs the rest that were innocent so many Noble Matrons and Virgins who came thither upon the account of the Marriage so many great-bellied women so many ancient persons so many bed-ridden persons of both Sexes and all professions that were ignorant of these last counsels of Coligni be comprehended in the same guilt To whom doth it not seem absurd and most ridiculous that Coligni should at so unseasonable a time conspire against Navar that professed the same Religion with him and whom he had in his power for four years together Thus many did discourse and so they judged that upon the account of this fact the French Name would for a long time labour under an odium and infamy and that posterity would never forget an act of so great unworthiness Typographical Errors to be Corrected as followeth in THe Hist of the Massacre Pag. 5 l. 1. Burleigh l. 7. Cosmus p. 7. l. 4. compact p. 8. l. 10. when he l. 36. Palace near the Louvre p. 12. l. 1. receive p. 13. l. 28. Antonius Marafinus Guerchius without commas so p. 14. l. 2. Rochus Sorbaeus Prunaeus l. 7. Armanus Claromontius Pilius l. 8. Moninius l. 26. racket p. 18. l. 7. your Kingdom p. 21. l. 9. as he did p. 28. l. 11. Cossenius l. 36. Atinius l. 37. Sarlaboux p. 29. l. 5. Merlin the Minister Coligny p. 32. l. 32. Claromontius Marquess of Renel p. 34. l. 19. Caumontius p. 35. l. 25. Monralbertus Roboreus Joach Vassorius Cunerius Rupius Columbarius Velavaurius Gervasius Barberius Francurius p. 36. l. 15. Armanus Claromontius Pilius l. 32. Bellovarius l. 36. Durfortius Duracius l. 37. Gomacius Buchavanius p. 40. l. 36. Perionius p. 41. l. 13. Languages who had private fends and contentions with Carpentar l. 22. to those l. 30. Roliardus p. 43. l. 2. Sancomontius Sauromanius l. 3. Bricomotius p. 53. l. 33. Meletinus p. 57. l. 17. Arles where l. 36. suspition of poison given p. 58. l. 2. Mombrunius p. 62. l. 20. Helionorus Chabotius p. 63. l. 11. Chabotius THe Hist of the Powder-Plot Pag. 8. l. 27. Harrington p. 14. l. 30. detest p. 15 l. 21. for wikes r. de Vic p. 16. in marg So on the p. 22. l. 27. dele Look entituled l. 29. for Provincial r. Father General A TRUE NARRATION Of that Horrible CONSPIRACY AGAINST King JAMES And the whole PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND Commonly called the Gun-Powder TREASON Written in Latine by Jacobus Augustus Thuanus Privy-Councillor to the King of France and President of the Supream Senate of that Kingdom Faithfully rendred into English LONDON Printed for John Leigh at the Sign of the Blew Bell by Flying-Horse Court in Fleet-street 1674. MDCV. The History of the Powder-Plot Translated out of Thuanus lib. 135. NOw shall we in a contiued Relation declare that Horrid and by all Parties justly * So detestable it seems it was to some of the Students of the English Colledge at Rome that being informed of the discovery of the Plot Sixteen of them abhorring such jugling and bloody Designs forsook the Colledge slipt into France some of them turning to the Church of England whither they came Foulis Hist of Popish Treasons li. 10. c. 2. p. 692. detested Conspiracy entred into a-against the King of Great Britain which being discovered about the end of this year 1605 was in the next year suppressed by the Death of the Conspirators To the Petition for Liberty of Conscience made by the Papists in the former Session of Parliament and rejected by the King there was a rumour there would be another preferred at the next Sessions which had been now often deferred which should be in no danger of being denyed as the former but should carry with it a necessity of being granted by the King whither he would or not Therefore those that managed the Affairs of the Kingdom under a generous and no wayes suspcious King fearing nothing worse did make it their business to avoid such Petitions and that necessity that did attend them But among the Conspirators it was consulted not how they might obtain the Kings favour which they now despaired of but how they might revenge that repulse though with the ruine of the Kingdom which the other never thought of The beginning of these Counsels are to be derived from the latter end of Q. Elizabeth For then as appeared afterwards by proofs and confessions Robert Winter to whom Oswald Tesmond alias Greenwell of the Society of the Jesuits joyned himself as his Companion was by the advice of Hen. Garnet Provincial or Superiour of the said Society in England Robert Catesby and Francis Tresham of the Gentry instigating privately sent into Spain in the name of the Catholicks with Letters Commendatory