wherewith you being kindled haue no lesse constantly and couragiously then wisely and religiously withstood so great rashnesse wee had been vtterly ouerwhelmed with intolerable griefe and indeed this had been a fearefull token seeing wee may not without cause suspect lest into France haue flowen sparkes of the lamentable fire of England to the consuming and destruction of all true Pietie and Religion in that most Christian Kingdome which wee trust relying on Gods helpe shall alwayes more and more increase vnder the patronage of so godly a King trained vp with so great vigilancie to this end principally by a most religious and truely most Christian mother you thereunto diligently yeelding your helpe as you alwayes commendably haue done but although such hopes doe not a little comfort vs yet are wee not for all this free and voide of all affliction and trouble yea wee are vehemently anguished considering with our selues in how crosse and stormie a time wee by the secret dispensation of God vndertooke the guiding of S. Peters Barke standing doubtfull and perplexed lest happily through our negligence the sinke of vices increase and consequently the nauigation growe more dangerous and difficult for this cause wee dayly flie vnto him and implore his helpe who as without any merit of ours so also when wee thought nothing lesse was pleased we should sit at the sterne and guide the helme whom wee pray that while the waues rush against the Prow and heapes of foming Sea swell on each side and tempest follow in the Sterne hee not suffer any wracke notwithstanding so violent shaking of the shippe meane while we giue the greatest thankes to his infinite goodnesse that in the greatest danger which hitherto happily wee haue been in hee hath relieued vs with most seasonable succours to wit by your singular vertue and prouided for the safetie of the Kingdome of France by the counsell industry and religious fortitude of the Ecclesiasticall order of that Kingdome and on the other side wee gratulate you much and withall greatly praise you that your France nowe beholdeth flourishing againe in you the zeale pietie learning and magnanimity of her holy Fathers Denis Hilary Martin Bernard and the rest whose memorie is blessed for their care of Gods honour and the Churches dignity yea and all the holy Church of God may acknowledge of your company Cardinals of such eminence as become so worthy members of the holy Apostolike Sea and Bishops and Prelats and Pastours who are good seruants and faithfull and truely worthy of their Master hauing really shewed that they loue his glory more then themselues true Pastours of the sheepe of Christ who for the saluation of their flocke haue not doubted to lay downe their owne life while by shedding of their owne blood they haue with so great feruencie of minde shewed themselues ready to maintaine the fences of the Lords folde that is the Churches Rights Highly therefore doe wee praise you and gratulate you againe for what is more laudable what more glorious then for the Priests of God setting aside respect of all humane commoditie constantly to haue defended the dignity of holy Church and through zeale of maintaining the Catholike trueth to neglect their owne life As also it is to bee ascribed to the greatest happinesse that it so fell out this noble triall of your Priestly vertue should be made the Pietie and Religion of holy King Lewis his Progenitour no lesse reigning in your King then the memory of his glorious name reuiues in him wherefore wee doe the more exhort you that you alwayes more earnestly persist in your most laudable enterprise God verely will perfect the worke hee hath begun in you acknowledge his hand wonderfully moouing the hearts of Kings which hee holdeth and with one accord beare vp against the violence of the raging Sea stirred with the storme of humane pride and the whirlewind of secular wisedome seuered from the feare of God doubtles the tempests that are risen he will allay who failed not his wauering disciples indeed hee suffereth vs to bee tempted but giues an issue with the temptation therefore bee of good courage knowing that the Iudge standeth aboue and beholdeth the combate of his seruants to giue vnto euery one a reward worthy of his labour and he that fighteth valiantly shall be worthily rewarded Now we whose charitie hath been alwayes great toward you in the Lord vehemently louing you and highly esteeming your excellent vertue doe most willingly promise to afford you whatsoeuer helpe or Comfort in the Lord vpon this occasion we can yeeld being exceedingly bound to you for your so glorious and admirable exploit not ceasing in the meane time daily to pray vnto God the Father of mercies that by the increase of his holy grace hee would vouchsafe alwayes to keepe and strengthen you in his holy seruice and because wee cannot sufficiently according to our desire manifest vnto you by writing this most louing affection of our heart vnto you wee haue giuen in charge to our Venerable Brother Robert Bishop of Montpellier our Apostolike Nounce that what hee hath receiued in Commission touching this businesse more at large from vs hee carefully by word of mouth impart vnto you who will also further declare vnto you what wee thinke fitting for the full perfecting of the businesse To him therefore shall yee giue altogether the same credence which yee would to our selues speaking vnto you God confirme you in euery good worke and direct alwayes your Counsels and endeuours according to his holy pleasure and we from the inmost bowels of our charitie bestow vpon you our Apostolike benediction Yeuen at Rome at S. Mary the greater vnder the Signet of the Fisherman the last of Ianuary 1615. the 15th yeere of our Popedome Petrus Strozza Now as long as such griefe such ioy such hope such feare such loue such ielousie is so passionately expressed in the main businesse about which his Maiesties personall and publique quarrell with Rome first beganne what likelihood is there of perswading his Maiestie that no Roman Catholike in the world can bee his enemie except first hee bee perswaded that the Pope of Rome is no Roman Catholike yet how farre hee was mooued to anger vpon occasion of the Powder-treason against the body of that profession his owne wordes deliuered in the next session of Parliament after the discouery of that bloody designe shall testifie as for mine owne part sayth hee I would wish with those ancient Philosophers that there were a Christall window in my brest wherein all my people might see the secretest thoughts of my heart for then might you all see no alteration in my mind for this accident further then in these two points The first caution and warinesse in gouernment to discouer and search out the mysteries of this wickednesse as farre as may beâ— The other after due triall seuerity of punishment vpon those that shall bee found guilty of so detestable and vnheard of a villenie This was
alterum diem Deo volente Qui te seruet Illustrissime Domine Londini VIII Eid Sept. MDCXIII Tuae Reuerentiae obseruantiss cultor IS CASAVBONVS Right Reuerend my Gracious Lord I Send vnto your Grace the Letter whereof you haue heard The Letter was sent me with intent it should be communicated vnto the King but I thought it fitter to bee suppressed and to be shewed vnto none For I cannot approue the drift of that learned man who wrâ—te the Letter Wherefore I answered him forâ—â—with and with many words aduised him to desist from that purpose I brought him many reasons why I certainely beleeued it was folly or rather frensie to hope for any good from the Romish Phalaris for that very terme I vsed who laughs at our euils if there be any amongst vs. I laid before his eyes how auerse the Peeres of the Romish Church are from all equitie specially Bellarmine of whose impiety I wrote at large vnto him I set before his eyes with how great danger to himselfe he seemed to become the Popes Patron I alledged testimonies of Matthew Paris of the great misery of England when it was vnder the Popes obedience I added the example of that Narbonois who of late sent vnto the Kings MAIESTY a booke of the like argument that being commanded by the KING to say my mind I professed my detestation thereof and that it was his MAIESTIES will to haue some animaduersions set in the margent of the booke After which what became of Carier I know not This I thought good to signifie vnto your Grace but I expected vntill you were returned vnto the Citie for the publishing of my booke stayes meat home I haue other weighty matters whereof to aduise with your Grace within this day or two God willing who preserue you my gracious Lord. London Sept. 6. 1613. Your Graces most respectiue Obseruer ISA. CASAVBON B. C. 17. There is a statute in England made by King Henry the VIII to make him supreame head of the Church in spirituall and Ecclesiasticall causes which Statute enioynes all the subiects of England on paine of death to beleeue and to sweare they doe beleeue that it is true and yet all the world knowes if King Henry the VIII could haue gotten the Pope to diuorce Queene Katherine that he might marrie Anne Bullen that Statute had neuer been made by him and if that title had not enabled the King to pull downe Abbeys and religious houses and giue them to Lay men the Lords and Commons of that time would neuer haue suffered such a Statute to be made This Statute was continued by Queene Elizabeth to serue her owne turne and it is confirmed by your Maiestie to satisfie other men and yet your Maiestie yeeldeth the Church of Rome to be the mother Church and the Bishop of Rome to bee the chiefe Bishop or Primate of all the Westerne Churches which I doe also verely beleeue and therfore I doe verely thinke he hath or ought to haue some spirituall iurisdiction in England and although in mine yonger dayes the fashion of the world made me sweare as other did for which I pray God forgiue mee yet I euer doubted and I am now resolued that no Christian man can take that oath with a safe conscience neither will I euer take it to gaine the greatest preferment in the world G. H. 17. The Statute here intended can be none other then the Sâ—tute 26. of H. VIII Cap. 1. for that is the first Statute that medleth with the Supremacie which Statute is as the Common Lawyers terme it Statutum declaratiuum not introductiuum noui iuris as doth clearely appeare by the Preamble which hath these words Albeit the Kings Maiestie iustly and rightfully is and ought to bee taken and accepted supreame head of the Church of England and so is recognized by the Clergie in their Conuocation yet neuerthelesse for corroboration and confirmation thereof Be it enacted that the King shall bee taken and accepted Supreme head c. So that the Doctor is fowly mistaken to say that there was a Statute made by K. Henry the VIII to make him Supreme head for it was his ancient right that made him so and it was his Clergie that had acknowledged him to be so before the making of this Statâ—te nay the very phrase and letter of this Statute it selfe doeth purposely renounce the power of making and assumes onely the authority of confirming Whereby it is cleare that Henrie VIII made not a statute to make himselfe Supreme in Ecclesiasticall causes as Mr. Doctor affirmeth but to confirme those Statutes and Rights which his noble Progenitors as iuâ—tly challenged to belong to their Crown as the Bishops of Rome vniustly pretended to be annexed to their Myter And where he sayes that the Statute which according to his vnderstanding made him Supreme head did also enioyne the Subiect to beleeue and sweare it tâ— bee true it is manifest that there is not any mention at all of any oath in that Statute but it is true indeede that in the 28. of Henry VIII chap. 10. there is an oath of Supremacie ordeined the refusall whereof by some certaine persons enioyned by that Act to take it was made high Treason And herein againe is the Doctour deceiued nay which is worse seeketh to deceiue others for onely some certaine persons were bound by that Statute to take the oath and not all the Subiects of England as he falsely surmiseth Anno 35. Henry VIII cap. 1. the oath of Supremacie ordeined by 28. was repealed and a new forme of oath prescribed and extended to more persons but neuer to all in generall The same Parliament Cap. 3. enioyneth that the stile of Supreme head be receiued and vsed and this was all that was done by Henry VIII in the point of Supremacie by way of Statute So that to say as Master Doctor doth that all the Subiects in England are bound vpon paine of death to beleeue the Supremacie is a malicious fiction in two respects First touching the persons enioyned to take the oath and lyable to the punishment and then againe as touching the offence for that beliefe alone which is a secret inclination of the minde knowne onely to God the searcher of the heart and not issuable nor tryable by any Law humane should be made an offence punishable by death is in it selfe so absurde as it cannot but appeare to bee a false imputation to charge our Law-makers therewithall Lastly whereas hee sayes that Henry the VIII would neuer haue made that Statute if he could haue gotten the Pope to haue diuorced Queene Katherine that he might haue married Anne Boleine it is cleare and all the world may know that if King Henry would haue ioyned with Francis the French King in the warre of Naples against Charles the Emperour the Pope would not haue stucke to haue giuen way to that diuorce for the better procuring of which Combination hee did not onely
the euents are so cleane contrary to the Prefaces and pretences of them as if God of purpose would laugh them to scorne G. H. 35. If the Crowne haue more Pence paid in now then in former times it must needes follow that were it not by default of officers the meanes might bee greater to doe great workes both in peace and in warre whereas you vpbraid his Maiestie that his are but yet hoped for hee hath had other occasions as the world well knoweth of expence then his ancestors had and those occasions that they had hee hath not whether in building at home or in warring abroad theirs it may be were more conspicuous but his more necessary and yet I doubt not but vpon iust occasion his Maiestie would bee able to maintaine as great and as powerfull an armie as any of his predecessors to the terror of Rome and the Romanists who are so farre from complaining of his Maiesties wants as they would rather triumph most in this that hee were not rich Gretser in your account I am sure a good Catholike complaines not butscoffes at his Maiesties neede of money in his answere to Monsieur Plessis his Epistle Dedicatory to his Maiesty prefixed to his Mysteriū iniquitatis in which his Maiestie being incouraged by that noble Lord to lay by his Pen and take his sword in hand though it were to the passing of the Alps and the sacking of Rome Gretser in his replie makes it the burden of his song in diuers periods Sed deest pecunia But the onely sure way you say for his Maiestie to inrich himselfe is to turne Romane Catholike as if it were not fresh in memorie what infinite masses of treasure the pretence of that Religion carried out of the land to the triple Crowne of Rome and other forreiners well neere as much as was brought to the Crowne of England it selfe as appeares in Bonners Preface to Gardiners oration of true obedience In the reigne of King Henry the third it amounted by iust computation to the summe of 60000. markes which amounts to an incredible masse at this day and was more then the standing reuenues of the Crowne at that time as the Author of the British antiquities reports it out of Matthew Paris in the life of Boniface Archbishop of Canterburie in which relation are also set downe the grieuances which the Bishops the Abbots the Barons and the king himselfe exhibited in their seuerall Letters to his Holinesse touching the grieuousnesse of his exactions the effect whereof was as followeth That the Pope being not content with that aide which is called Peter-pence hee made money here in England by a thousand cunning sleights and trickes without the consent of the King against the ancient Right and Liberties of the Kingdome and against the Appeales put in by the Kings Ambassadours and Proctors in the Council of Lions That the Benefices and Prebendaries in England were by him conferred vpon Italians and Romanes not able to speake or so much as to vnderstand our language and that many times one Italian succeeded another as in lawfull inheritance the Church reuenues being by this meanes wasted and caried out of the kingdome the word of God not preached Ecclesiasticall dueties not obserued hospitality almes and Diuine Seruice neglected and lastly the walles and roofe of Chancels and Parsonage houses suffered to drop downe to the indangering of many soules and the vtter desolation of the Church That of those Churches into which hee thrust not strangers he exacted Pensions against his owne promise by letter That the natiue English were vpon all occasions drawen by Citations to the Court of Rome against the Customes and Common Law of the Kingdome and against the Popes owne priuiledges formerly granted To like purpose is that which I finde in a Manuscript of Mr. Hales a man renowned in his time aswell for his learning as his honestie his words are these speaking of the cunning fetches of the Bishops of Rome for the enriching of themselues and their Clergie to the impouerishing of the King and the State First saith hee they exempted the Clergy aswell the Secular as the regular from the authoritie of the Kings of England whereby they neither would obey the Prince but when and wherin it pleased them nor albeit they had the greater part of the possessions and profits of the Realme they would be contributory to the charges of the defence thereof but when it listed them Secondly they reserued to themselues the collations generally specially of all Archbishopricks Bishopricks Abbies Priories all other dignities and benefices in England which many times they gaue to aliants that neuer dwelt in England nor euer came into England So the reuenues thereof were not spent in the Realme but caried out of the same when they gaue them to any of the Realme they made them pay exceeding summes of money for Palls Annats First fruits Tenths and such like whereby the Realme from time to time was very much impouerished Thirdly they vsed to dispence not onely with their owne Lawes and Canons but also many times with Gods word in matters of Matrimony and otherwise whereby they sucked no litle treasure out of the Realme Fourthly in causes testamentary in causes of Matrimony and diuorces right of tithes oblations and obuentions they had decreed that men might appeale from any Court within this Realme to the Court of Rome whereby the people of this nation was very much troubled by reason it was so farre distant from this Realme and when they came thither they could not in long time haue redresse but with long delayes were constrained to spend whatsoeuer they had Fiftly with dispensations for eating flesh and white meates for pardons and redemption of soules out of Purgatory for dispensations with vowes and such like beggery they scraped together infinite summes of money and because no fish should escape for lacke of bait they had their Dataries and Collectours continually gaping for the prey resident here in England Lastly the Clergie of this Realme being animated by the authority of the Bishop of Rome the Arch-bishops Bishops and such as had Spirituall Iurisdiction within this Realme not onely vnreasonably troubled and vexed the people of this realme in their Courts but also exceedingly pilled polled and robbed them vnder colour of Fees and duties The Parsons and Vicars were not content with the moderate Mortuaries and Corse-presents but also daily increased the same and would haue what it pleased them without any consideration of the misery and pouerty of the widow and children liuing yea and many times where the dead had but a bare vse and no property in the goods and chattels they were found in his possession and in many places they would neither baptize nor marry nor bury but they would haue some extraordinary reward the common sort of Priests would not depart with any their Masses or praiers vnlesse they were sure to haue money Of these and the
themselues might haue liued and died in the seruice of God without posteritie and haue helped to maintaine the rest of their families which was so great a benefit to the Common-wealth both for the exoneration and prouision thereof as no humane policie can procure the like The Farmer and Husbandman who laboureth to discharge his payments hath little or nothing left at theyeres end to lay vp for his children that increase grow vpon him may remember that in Catholike times there were better penny-worths to bee had when the Clergie had a great part of the Land in their hands who had no neede to raise the Rents themselues and did what they could to make other Lords let at a reasonable rate which was also an inestimable benefite to the Commons so that whereas ignorant men carried with enuie against the Clergie are wont to obiect the multitude of them and the greatnesse of their prouisions they speake therein as much against themselues as is possible for the greater the number is of such men as be mundo mortui the more is the exoneration of the Commons and the more the land is of such as can haue no proprietie in them the better is the prouision of the Commons for themselues can haue no more then their food and their regular apparell all the rest either remaines in the hands of the Tenants or returnes in hospitalitie and reliefe to their neighbours or is kept in a liuing Exchequer for the seruice of the Prince and Countrey in time of necessitie so that the Commons doe gaine no wealth at all but rather doe lose much by the Schisme G. H. 41. You proceede and assure the Commons that our separation from Rome makes much against their wealth and libertie for proofe whereof you beginne with the Puritan vnthrift who lookes for the ouerthrow of Bishops and Churches Cathedrall hoping to haue his share in them Now I denie not but some such vnthrifts there may bee shrouding themselues vnder the vizard of those whome you call Puritans but their power is not so great God bee thanked as wee neede feare them nor I hope shall bee whiles his Maiestie and his posterity sway the Scepter who is so farre from pulling them downe or giuing any way vnto it that hee hath not onely to his immortall fame bound his hands from withdrawing any thing from them but restored them in Scotland and both often and openly professed No Bishop no King and as for them which looke for that ouerthrow let their eyes drop out of their sockets with looking and the yong rauens deuoure them I haue heard of a platforme of our Church gouernment deuised by Parsons if the Pope should once againe recouer his footing amongst vs in which one especiall piece of his proiect is the pulling downe of the Bishopricks Churches Cathedrall that his Holinesse and the Padres may bee all in all so that the Iesuites may most properly bee termed those Puritan vnthrifts And I make no doubt but if his Holinesse could dispence with those who withhold the Tenths of the Church he might as well dispence with the pulling downe of Bishoprickes and Cathedrall Churches Now for those honest Protestants who for matter of religion could be content it were as it was conditionally themselues might receiue more benefit their heads may bee in England but sure their hearts are in Rome deceiuing themselues aswell in vndervalewing the benefit they haue as in expecting that they haue not nor are euer like to haue the faire pretexts and promises made them from Rome being like the Apothecaries boxes haâ—â—ng Catholicon set on their front in capitall letters as if they conteined a soueraigne medicine for all diseases but within are full of deadly poison or like the apples of Sodome which are to looke to beautifull buâ— being touched onely with the finger presently are turned into dust The first apple you present the Commons if they yeeld to the reentertaining of Popish religion is increase of wealth But before we goe any farther in the triall of this point I shall desire all ingenuous Papists rightly to informe both themselues and others what the two Monkes Matthew Paris and Matthew of Westminster haue left vpon record touching the Bishop of Romes most intolerable exactions in this kingdome whiles his authority here preuailed and then to iudge indifferently whether by submitting our neckes to that yoke which our fathers were not able to beare it be likely the wealth of our land should be increased That which one of the Popes pronounced touching our Countrey was doubtlesse the opinion of them all I speake of latter times Verè hortus noster deliciarum est Anglia verè puteus inexhaustus est vbi multa abundant de multis multa possunt extorqueri England is our Paradise of pleasure a well neuer to bee drawne drie and where much abounds much may be taken It was the speach of Innocent the IV. reported by Maâ—thew Paris anno 1245. about which time S. Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury vndertooke a voyage to Rome to complaine of the great vexations and extortions offered the Clergie and people by Caâ—dinall Otho his Legate who hiding himselfe in the tower of Ousnie Abbey for feare of a tumult of the Schollers of Oxford they termed him Vsurer Simonist rent-racker money-thirster peruerter of the King subuerter of the kingdome enriching strangers with the spoiles of the English but Edmund returning home without successe in his complaint and weary of his life in England by reason that hee could not redresse the Popes oppressions made choise of a voluntary banishment at Pountney in France where hee died with the honour and opinion of a Saint Not long after his Holinesse desirous to see England caused his Cardinals to write their letters to the King that it would be a thing tending much to his honour and safety and to his kingdomes immortall glory to enioy the Lord Popes presence who did long to view the rarities of Westminster and the riches of London but the Kings Counsell told him plainely that the Romane rapines and simonies had enough stained the English puritie though the Pope himselfe came not personally to spoile and prey vpon the wealth of this Church and kingdome the like deniall of entrance hee had found both in France and Arragon it being said that the Pope was like a mouse in a sachell or a snake in ones bosome who but ill repay their hosts for their lodging and the infamies of his Court deserued none other whose filth saith our Monke sent foorth a steame and stench as high as the very cloudes These and worse were the effects of the Bishop of Romes vsurpation here in England by imposing continuall taxes and tallages being sometimes the tenth sometimes the fifteenth sometimes the third sometimes the moity of all the goods both of the Clergie and Laity vnder colour of maintaining the Popes holy warres against the Emperour and the Greeke Church who were then
betake themselues to Monâ—sticall liuâ—s they doe now apply themselues to the study of the Law Secondly for that the possessions of the Monasteries being then in Mortmaine could not be aliened whereas now being in the hands of Lay-men they are daily bâ—ught and solde which settetâ— the Lawyer doubly aworke first in 〈◊〉 coâ—ueyances for them and then in alterâ—tion about them Thirdly the Abbots and Priors foreseeing their ruine Set many leases vnder hand which could not but breed a great intanglement in their possessions Fourthly and lastly the dispersing of them into the hands of so many particular men resting before in the possessions of Corporations cannot but proue the cause of much strife and consequently of many suites and controuersies no marueile then if by our increase of people other trades and professions increasing Lawyers should doe the like But if the Canons of the Church and the Courts of Confession were you say in request the Lawyers market would soone bee marred what say you then to those Countreys where both these are in request and yet doe their Lawyers both encrease and flourish more then ours And when both these were in request among vs their number as I shewed before was little lesse if not as great or more then now it is if â— vnderstand the words of that reuerend Iudge aright And if most of our Lawyers bee in this point Puritans that is in refusing the rescripts of the Popes as the Canons of the Church and your seale of Confession as a diuine ordinance for my part I blame them not but for the Canons of our owne Church collected by William Linwood in the reigne of King Henry the 5th and afterwards by 32. selected persons Bishops inferiour Diuines and Cannonists deputed to that worke by King Henry the eight after his death by his Sonne King Edward the sixth as also our present Canons now in force I haue knowen some of our Lawyers much esteeme But if they furnish the Parliament with vniust and vnnecessarie grieuances I defend them not but leaue them to make their owne apologie only thus much I say that the whole body of a profession is not to bee charged with the fault of some fewe specially being imputed by those who desire most to fish in our troubled waters to warme their handes at the fire of our contentions and to rippe vp our woundes if we haue any with smiling countenances Hoc Ithacus velit magno mercentur Atridae Now if the one incroach vpon the other farther then their proper and limited bounds permit I excuse them not but leaue them to the censure of his wisedome and restraint by his power vpon whom they depend both and from whom they both receiue their limits and being Lastly whereas you make him a Petty-fogging Lawyer that would fetch the antiquity of the Lawe from the Saxons that were before King Ethelbert herein you make that famous Iudge before named whom in his time they esteemed a Father of the Law and a learned antiquarie a Petty-fogging Lawyer in as much as in his Book aboue mentioned he thus speaketh The realme of England was first inhabited by the Britanes next after them the Romanes had the rule of the land and then againe the Britanes possessed it after whom the Saxons inuaded it and changing the name thereof did for Britaine call it England after them for a certaine time the Danes had the dominion of the realme and then the Saxons againe but last of all the Normans subdued it whose descent continueth in the gouernment of the Kingdome at this present and in all the times of these seueral Nations and of their Kings this realme was still ruled with the selfe same customes that now it is which if they had not bene right good some of those Kings mooued either with pride or with reason or affection would haue changed them or altogether abolished them and specially the Romans who did iudge all the rest of the world by their owne Lawes likewise would other of the foresayed Kings haue done who by the sword only possessing the realme of England might with the same power haue extinguished the Lawes thereof and touching the antiquitie of thesame neither are the Romane ciuil Lawes by so long continuance of ancient times confirmed nor yet the Lawes of the Venetians which aboue all other are reported to be of most antiquitie for as much as there Iland in the beginning of the Britanes was not then inhabited as Rome it selfe was then also vnbuilded neither are the Lawes of any which worshipped God so ancient wherefore the contrary is not to bee sayd nor thought but that the English Customes are very good yea of all other the very best neither can I conceiue any other reason Mr. Doctor hath thus bitterly to enuie against our Lawes as if they came from the Court infidel and were a burthen to the Common wealth but because some of them are bent against the Popes vsurpation and the admission on of his emissaries from Rome and as the Canon Law carries vp the Arke of the Church that is the Pope fifteene cubits aboue the highest mountaineâ— of Soueraigntie so is the Common Law so fauourable and aduantageous in extending the Prerogatiue of the King as his Maiestie professeth For a King of England to despise the Common lawe is to neglect his owne Crowne and a little after protesteth that if it were in his hand to chuse a new law for this Kingdome hee would not onely preferre it before any other nationall lawe but euen before the very iudiciall law of Moyses So that whether wee expect Spirituall instruction and comfort or the semporall wealth and libertie of the Commons of England if the Iesuite and Seminarie Priest who both seeke the ouerthrow of our Church and deceiue and consume the people would let them alone there would quickly appeare no reason of State at all why they should desire reconciliation to Rome which with sugred speaches and counterfeit faces doth so much abuse them or loathe the reformation which is euery way so comfortable and beneficiall vnto them B. C. 44. I am therefore in very assured hope that by my comming to the Catholike Church beside the satisfying and sauing of mine owne soule I shall doe no ill seruice to your Maiestie neither in respect of your selfe nor your children nor in respect of your Lords and Commons and that there is no reason concerning the state of any of these that is sufficient to disswade vnitie There is onely the Clergie left which if Caluinisme may goe on and preuaile as it doth shall not in the next age bee left to bee satisfied and there is little reason that any man that loues the Clergie shall desire to satisfie such Clergie-men as do vnder-hand fauour Caluinists and maintaine such points of doctrine as if your Maiesties fauour were not would out of hand ouerthrow the Clergie and in stead of them set vp a few stipendary Preachers
not some reason here to sweare that Garnet was not put to death for Religion but for Treason The like might bee verified of Campian who in the yeere 1580. came couertly into England in the company of Robert Parsons with a Facultie obtained of Gregorie the XIII conceiued in these very words Petatur à summo Domino nostro explicatio Bullae declaratoriae per Pium Quintum contra ELIZABETHAM ei adhaerentes Quam Catholici cupiunt intelligi hoc modo vt obliget semper illam haereticos Catholicos verò nullo modo rebus sic staÌ„cibus sed tum demum quando publica eiusdem Bullae executio fieri poterit Has praedictas Gratias concessit summus PoÌ„tifex Patri Roberto Parsonio Edmundo Campiano in Angliam profectur is die 14. Aprilis 1580. praesente Patre Oliuerio Manacro Assistente Let Petition bee made to our highest Lord that some explication be made of the declaratorie Bull of Pius Quintus against ELIZABETH and her adherents which the Catholikes desire so to be vnderstood that it may bind her and heretikes but Catholikes by no meanes as the case now stands but then onely when the said Bull may publikely be put in execution These Faculties the Highest Bishop granted to Robert Parsons and Edmund Campian being bound for England the 14. of April 1580 in the presence of Oliuer Manacar Assistant Here againe I would demaund of Mr. Dr how many of the Romish profession are ready to sweare solemnely as the olde Romans did in the Deifying of their Emperours that hee is now a Saint and that hee died a glorious Martyr not for treason but for religion But were not Harte and Horton Rishton and Bosgraue of the same religion Priests by their order and some of the same societie and yet died not for it Are there not at this present diuers Seminary Priests at Wisbich and Baldwin the famous Iesuite in the Tower Certainely if there bee any fault in their vsage it is that they find too much mercie their mercilesse disposition toward vs hauing so lately so fully and so often been tried I will conclude this point with a case of conscience wherwith your Romish Priests were to arme themselues their disciples in the reigne of Q. ELIZABETH in case they should be apprehended and examined to the 55. Article when thâ— question is demaunded Whether notwithstanding the Bull of Pius the 5th that was giuen out or any Bull that the Bishop of Rome can hereafter giue foorth all Catholikes bee bound to yeeld obedience faith and loyaltie to Queene ELIZABETH as to their lawfull Prince and Soueraigne this resolution is framed Qui hoc modo interrogat illud quaerit Anid potuerit S. Pontifex facere cui quaestioni quid debeat Catholicus respondere clarius est quà m vt à me hâ—c explicetur sirogatur ergo Catholicus Credis Romanum pontificem ELIZABETHAM potuisse exauthor are respondebit non obstant e quouis metu mortis credo questio enim haec ad fidem spectat exigit confessionem fidei Hee that demandeth this question asketh in effect Whether the Pope might doe it or no to the which demaund what a Catholike ought to answere it is plainer then neede here be further expressed if therefore a Catholike bee asked Doe you beleeue the Bishop of Rome may depriue Queene ELIZABETH of her Crowne hee must answere not regarding any danger of death I beleeue hee may for this question is a point of faith and requireth the profession of our faith If any such Cabale onely the names changed runne yet as current among such as bee reconciled to the Church of Rome at this day as I know nothing to the contrary but it may if Mr. Dr. had returned vpon his returne endeuoured to haue framed his Proselites to those or the like conditions he might iustly haue suffred for it without any aspersion either of persecution vpon his Maiesties gouernement or cruelty vpon his Lawes howsoeuer it hath been discouered by the Missiues of of some such reconcilers sent to their Generall that for so many as they haue reconciled they dare sweare vpon what occasion soeuer may fall out they will bee ready to side with them and for such for mine owne part I dare not sweare being conuicted and sentenced that they die for religion But yet I commend Mr. Doctors witte aboue the zeale hee boasteth of that hee thought it fitter to stay there and dispute the matter with his pen then by comming ouer and practising put his person in hazzard And herein as through his whole discourse hee playes the Polititian chusing rather to sleepe in a whole skin then to resist vnto blood and to indanger his body for the gaining of soules CHAP. II. The hopes I haue to doe your MAIESTIE no ill seruice in being Catholike B. C. 1. MY first hope is that your Maiesty will accept of that for the best A seruice I can doe you which doth most further the glory of our blessed Sauiour and mine owne saluation B Indeed there are kingdomes in the world where the chiefe care of the gouernour is non quà m bonis praesit sed quà m subditis Such were the heathen kingdomes which S. Augustine describes in 2. de Ciuitate Dei Cap. 20. In such Common wealths the way to be a good Subiect is not to be a good man but to serue the times and turnes of them that beare the sway whatsoeuer they are C But if it be true that as some holy and learned Fathers teach in a well ordered gouernment there is eadem foelicitas vnius hominis ac totius ciuitatis then I am sure it must needes follow that in a Common-wealth truely Christian there is â—adem virtus boni viri ac boni ciuis And therefore being a Minister and Preacher of England if I will rather serue your Maiesty then my selfe and rather procure the good of your kingdome then mine owne prefâ—rment I am bound in duety to respect and seeke for those things aboue all other that may aduance the honour of God and the saluation of my owne soule and the soules of those which do any way belong to my charge And being sufficiently resolued that nothing can more aduance the honour of our Sauiour and the common saluation then to be in the vnity of his Church I haue done you the best seruice I could at home by preaching peace and reconciliation and being not able for the malice of the times to stand any longer in the breach at home I thinke it safest in this last cast to looke to mine owne game by my dayly prayers and dying to do your Maiesty the same seruice in the vnity of the Church which by my dayly preaching and liuing I endeuoured to doe in the midst of schisme G. H. 1. A In furthering the glory of God you shall doe others as much and in sauing your owne soule your selfe more seruice then his Maiesty but
my Kingdomes was grounded vpon the plaine words of the Scripture without the which all points of Religion are superfluous as any thing contray to the same is abomination I had neuer outwardly auowed it for pleasure or awe of any flesh I take his meaning to be either for loue or feare of any mortall man or rather for any worldly and fleshly consideration whether it were to gaine and make aduantage by entertaining and embracing it or to loose and suffer disaduantage by reiecting and opposing the contrary I speake not this as if by Gods grace as much and more both honour and securitie did not waite vpon our Religion as vpon the Romish but onely to shew that these are no sufficient inducements to draw so much as a priuate man much lesse to mooue the diuine and noble spirit of a Christian prince specially such a prince as hath often shewed himselfe able to iudge of reasons of a higher straine to the accepting of a new beliefe and another forme in the seruice of God but only the plaine demonstration and cleare euidence of the truth of that beliefe and necessitie of that forme B. C. 3. The first reason of my hope is the promise of God himselfe to blesse and honour those that blesse his Church and honour him and to curse and confound those that curse his Church and dishonor him which hee hath made good in all ages There was neuer any man or Citie or State or Empire so preserued and aduanced as they that haue preserued the vnitie and aduanced the prosperitie of the Church of Christ nor any been made more miserable and inglorious then they that haue dishonoured Christ and make hauocke of his Church by Schisme and heresie G. H. 3. To grant that which you assume that the Church of Rome is the onely true Church this argument drawen from temporall blessings is sometimes false vncertaine alwayes and your assertion that neuer any man or Citie or State was preserued aduanced as they that haue presâ—rued the vnitie and aduanced the prosperitie of the Church of Christ is very broad and too large considering it extends euen to Solomon himselfe who though hee aduanced the Church yet can it not properly bee said that hee aduanced the Church of Christ nay out of the Church who were euer more prosperous succesfull in their affaires then Augustus and Traian Of the former of whom it is said that he found Rome of Bricke and left it of Marble of the later that hee raised the Romane Empire to the highest pitch of glory and spread the power of their Command vnto the farthest borders and largest circuit that euer before or since hath by them been possessed for the kingdome of Dacia hee subdued Armenia Parthia and Mesopotamia made subiect Assyria Persia and Babylon conquered passed Tygris and stretched the confines of the Romane Empire vnto the remotest dominions of the Indies which neuer before that time had seene the Romane Banners or so much as heard of their name besides his morall vertues were such that in the choyce of a new Emperour they euer wished for one more happie then Augustus better then Traian and yet this man with whom for outward prosperitie no Christian Emperour can bee balanced was not only out of the Church but an enemie to it raised against it the third and one of the hotest persecutions of the tenne For further proofe hereof I referre the reader for this point to S. Augustines first 10. bookes of the Citie of God and surely he that shal duely consider the flourishing greatnesse of the Assy rian and Grecian but especially the Romane Monarchy will easily discouer the lightnesse of this reason and the vanitie of the assertion I speake not to detract from the Christian and truely Catholike religion euen in regard of outward blessings but onely to proue that God bestowes them sometimes vpon the good thereby to shew that absolutely and in themselues they are not bad sometimes againe vpon the bad to shew that in themselues they are not good and takes them sometimes from both to shew that in their owne nature they are indifferent B. C. 4. If I had leasure and bookes it were easie for mee to enlarge this point with a long enumeration of particulars but I thinke it needlesse because I cannot call to mind any example to the contrarie except it be the State of Queene Elizabeth or some one or two others lately fallen from the vnitie of the Catholike Church or the State of the great Turke that doth still persecute the Church of Christ and yet continues in great glory in this world but when I consider of Queene Elizabeth I find in her many singularities she was a woman and a mayden Queene which gaue her many aduantages of admiration she was the last of her Race and needed not care what became of the world after her dayes were ended she came vpon the remainders of deuotion and Catholike religion which like a Bowle in his course or an Arrow in his flight would goe on for a while by the force of the first moouer and shee had a practise of maintaining warres among her neighbours which became a woman well that she might be quiet at home and whatsoeuer prosperitie or honour there was in her dayes or is yet remaining in England I can not but ascribe it to the Church of Rome and to Catholike religion which was for many hundred yeeres together the first mouer of that gouernment and it is still in euery setled kingdome and hath left the steppes and shadow thereof behinde it which in all likelihood cannot continue many yeeres without a new supplie from the fountaine G. H. 4. Why you should ioyne Queene Elizabeth with the great Turke I see no reason but onely for the iustifying of Rainolds his booke of Caluino Turcisme Otherwise a marueile it is that you would instance in her happinesse whom the Pope in his Briefe declared amiserable woman and yet her gouernement was not more happie then her sisters who notwithstanding shee submitted her necke to the Romane yoke was vnfortunate howbeit in her owne disposition she is reported to haue been a gracious and vertuous Lady instance may bee brought in the bringing in of a forreiner the frustrating of the great hope of her conception her short and bloody reigne extraordinary dearths and hurts by thunder and fire and lastly the losse of Calis the last footing wee had in France being held by her predecessors the space of about 250 yeeres whereas Queene Elizabeth oppugned and accursed from her very Cradle by the Church of Rome their thunderbolts returned vpon their owne heads and her selfe like a tender plant after a thunder shower prospered the more and being no lesse full of honour then dayes she was gathered to her fathers as a ripe sheafe of corne that is carried into the barne in so much that her Successour our most renowned SOVERAIGNE in admiration of
and Alexander the VI. who lying vpon his death-bed the very night of his departure making a lamentable and bitter complaint to the Priests and Monkes that stood about him of the miserable estate of the Church and laying the burthen of so great a mischiefe vpon the Popes shoulders whom therefore he called Heretike and Antichrist at length hee yeelded vp his soule vnto God with these words in his mouth Non liberabitur Ecclesâ—a ab Egiptiaca seruitute nisi in ore gladij cruentandi The Church will neuer bee freed from this Egyptian slauery but by the point of a bloodie sword Thus did this holy man foresee and foretel as it were by a Prophetical Spirit that which we see accoÌ„plished So that Henrie the VIII serued onely as a midwife to bring to the world that birth wherewith our countrey had bene in trauell many yeres before and had not he bene borne some other meanes would haue beene found out for the doing of that which he did and what we see already done in England will also vndoubtedly be brought to passe in other Nations when their measure is full and God will In the meane time that the trueth of this assertion may the better appeare I will adde to those examples and instances brought to this purpose by his Maiestie in his Premonition two others in my iudgment very obserâ—able the one of William surnamed the Conquerour the other of Henrie for his learning surnamed Beauclerke his third sonne and second Successor in the Kingdome both out of the Manuscripts of that noble Antiquarie Sr Robert Cotton knight Barronnet The father thus writes to Gregory the VII commonly knowen by the name of Hildebrand vpon notice giuen him from his Legate Hubert that he was to doe him fealtie and â—o pay him money as his ancestors had done Hubertus Legatus tuus Religiose Pater ad me veniens ex tua parte me admonuit quatenus tibi successoribus tuis fidelitatem facerem de pecunia quam antecessores mei ad Romanam Ecclesiam mittere solebant melius cogitarem vnum admisi alterum non admisi fidelitatem facere nolui nec volo quia nec ego promisi nec antecessores meos antecessoribus tuis id fecisse comperio Hubert your Legate Religious Father comming vnto me aduertised me as from you that I was to doe fealtie to you and your Successors and that I should bethinke my selfe better of the money which my Predecessors were wont to send to the Church of Rome the one I admitted the other I admitted not The fealtie I would not performe neither will I because neither my selfe promised it nor doe I find that my Predecessors performed it to yours Vpon which occasion as it may well be supposed the Pope returned this answer to his Legate Hubert after signification how little he esteemed money without honour giuen him hee comes to the person of the King in these termes Multa sunt vnde Sancta Romana Ecclesia aduersus eum queri potest nemo enim omnium Regum etiam Paganorum contra Apostolicam sedem hoc praesumpsit tentare quod is non erubuit facere There are many things whereof the holy Roman Church may complaine of against him in as much as none of the Pagan kings haue attempted that against the Sea Apostolike which hee hath not blushed to put in execution Now for Henry the sonne who in this regarde swarued not from his fathers steppes part of Pope Paschals letter vnto him runnes thus Paschalis seruus seruorum Dei dilecto filio Henrico illustri Anglorum Regi Salutem Apostolicam benedictionem Cum de manu Domini largiùs honorem diuitias pacemque susceperis mir amur vehementius grauamur quod in Regno potestateque tua beatus Petrus in beato Petro Dominus honorem suum iustitiamque perdiderit Sedis enim Apostolicae nuncij vel literae praeter iussum Regiae Maiestatis nullam in potestate tua susceptioneÌ„ vel aditum promerentur nullus inde clamor nullum inde iudicium ad sedem Apostolicam destinatur Paschal the seruant of the seruants of God to our beloued sonne Henry the most renowned King of England health and Apostolicall benediction Sythence you haue plentifully receiued honour riches and peace from the hand of the Lord We exceedingly woonder and take it in ill part that in your Kingdome and vnder your Gouernment S. Peter and in S. Peter the Lord hath lost his honour and right in as much as the Nuntioes and Breues of the Sea Apostolike are not thought worthy entertainement or admittance in any part of your Dominions without your Maiesties warrant No complaint now no appeale comes from thence to the Sea Apostolike To which the King after termes of complement replies in in this manner Eos honores eam obedientiam quam tempore Patris mei antecessores vestri in Regno Angliae habuerunt tempore meo vt habeatis volo eo videlicet tenore vt dignitates vsus consuetudines quas pater meus tempore antecessorum vestrorum in regno Angliae habuit ego tempore vestro in eodem regno meo integrè obtineam Notumque habeat Sanctitas vestra quod me viuente Deo auxiliante dignitates vsus regni Angliae non minuentur Et si ego quod absit in tanta me deiectione ponerem Optimates mei imo totius Angliae populus id nullo modo pateretur Habita igitur Charissime Pater vtiliori deliberatione ita se erga nos moderetur benignitas vestra ne quod inuitùs faciam à vestra me cogatis recedere obedientia That honour and obedience which your predecessors had in the Kingdome of England during the Reigne of my father my will is you should haue in my time with this condition that my selfe fully and wholly enioy all the Dignities Prerogatiues and Customes which my father enioyed in the sayd Kingdome in the time of your predecessors and I would your Holinesse should vnderstand that during my life the digninities and prerogatiues of the Crowne of England by Gods grace shall not bee minished and if I should so farre abase my selfe which God forbid my Lords and Commons would by no meanes endure it wherfore most deare Father vpon better aduice let your gentlenesse be so tempered toward vs that I bee not enforced which I shall vnwillingly doe to withdraw my selfe from your obedience Whereby it appeares that Henry the first began to hammer and beate vpon that which Henry the last by Gods appointment in the fulnesse of time brought to perfection and though these two Kings the Father and the Sonne gaue way to some part of the Popes iurisdiction as I shewed before Yet hereby it appeares it was a burthen vnto them B. C. 23. Therefore to the Lords and fauorites of the Court was giuen the lands and inheritance of the Abbies and religious houses that hauing once as it were washed their hands in the bowels and bloud of the Church
one example for all may be that lewd libeller who in the very entrance of his libell exclaimeth That the Protestants haue no Faith no Hope no Charitie no Repentance no Iustification no Church no Altar no Sacrifice no Priest no Religion no Christ. What shall we say to these intemperate Spirits if they speake of malice then I say with Michael the Archangel The Lord rebuke them But if they speake of ignorance then I say with the holy Martyr S. Steuen Lord lay not this sinne to their charge or with our blessed SAVIOVR Father forgiue them they wote not what they doe Now for our slandring the doctrine of the Church of Rome when you or any other shall produce the like Assertions out of any Writer amongst vs of note and credite I shall be content to yeelde farther credite to your Assertion then as yet I finde reason I should for the residue of this Section I referre the Reader to my marginall notes as deseruing in my iudgement no better or other answere B. C. 30. But perhaps there is so great opposition in matter of State that although the doctrine might bee compounded yet it is impossible to heare of agreement and if there bee the same reason of State which there was in beginning and continued all Queene Elizabeths dayes there is as little hope now that your Maiestie should hearken vnto Reconciliation as then was that King Henry the VIII or Queene Elizabeth would but when I doe with the greatest respect I can consider the State of your Maiestie your Lords your Commons and your Clergie I do see as little cause in holding out in reason of State as I doe in trueth of doctrine G. H. 30. From the matter of doctrine you passe to thereason of State in which if your reasons be of no greater waight or truth then in the former his Maiestie his Lords his Commons his Clergie haue no more reason to hearken to reconciliation with Rome then King Henry or Queene Elizabeth or the Subiects in their times had which hee that lookes not through the spectacles of a preiudicate opinion will as easily discouer as you confidently affirme the contrary B. C. 31. King Henry the VIII although hee had written that Booke against the Schisme of Luther in defence of the Sea Apostolike for which he deserned the title of Defensor fidei yet when he gaue way to the lust of Anne Bullen and the flattery of his fauorites and saw hee could not otherwise haue his will he excluded the Pope and made himselfe Supreame head of the Church that so hee might not onely dispence with himselfe for his Lust but also supplie his excesse with the spoyle of the Church which was then very rich But when hee saw God blessed him not neither in his wiuing nor in his thriuing hee was weary of his Supremacie before he died and wished himselfe in the Church againe but hee died in the curse of his father whose foundations he ouerthrew and hath neither childe to honour him nor so much as a Tombe vpon his graue to remember him which some men take to bee a token of the Curse of God G. H. 31. King Henry the VIII wrote a Booke indeed or at least a Booke was in his name written in defence of the seuen Sacraments against Luther as Mr. Doctor might haue learned if no where else yet out of Cardinall Bellarmins Apologie But in defence of the See of Rome which hee cals Apostolike I haue not mette with any and it should seeme by his mistake of the subiect handled in that booke himselfe neuer mette with it as for the Title which King Henry receiued the world is not ignorant how liberall his Holinesse is in bestowing Titles where hee expects some greater aduantage sticking down a feather that hee may quietly carrie away the goose Thus did hee giue Charles the Emperour neere about the same time the Title of Defensor Ecclesiae for directing a Writ of Outlawrie against Luther whereupon at the Emperours beeing here in England those verses were set vp in the Guildhall in London ouer the doore of their Councell Chamber where they yet remaine Carolus Henricus viuant defensor vterque Henricus fidei Carolus Ecclesiae And in the Bull by which Leo the tenth confirmed this Title to the King subscribed with his owne name and the names of fiue and twentie Cardinals and Bishops it appeares that their chiefe scope of honouring him with this Title was to tye him and his posteritie faster to that See But as a learned and graue Prelate of our owne hath well obserued being the high Priest for that yeere not so in the next he foretold by way of prophecie what the King of England should bee which we find to the honour of CHRIST and the glory of our kingdome most truely and happily accomplished in our Gracious Souereigne now reigning who hath to the vtmost defēded the truly Christian and Catholike faith by his Pen and will no doubt bee as ready to doe it when occasion shal serue with his sword and yet were it not for feare of crossing your imaginarie reconciliation you would with Bellarmine tell vs that his Maiestie in present as vndeseruedly retaines that Title as King Henry receiued it deseruedly who afterward notwithstanding as deepely incurred his Holinesse disfauour aswell by calling into question that Title which the Bishops of Rome had assumed to themselues of Pastours vniuersall S. Peters successours and Christs Vicars as by resuming to himselfe that Title which some of the Popes had yeelded his predecessours as may appeare in the Letter of Eleutherius Bishop of Rome to Lucius King of Great Britaine in which Eleutherius attributeth to the King the Title of Gods Vicar within his kingdome which letter howsoeuer the Authour of the Threefold conuersion labour to staine with the blemish of forgery yet is it to be found inrolled in the Copie of King Edward the Confessors Lawes Neither is it true that Henry tooke this Title to himselfe it was giuen him by the Parliament of his Lords and Commons and Conuocation of his Clergie not as a new thing but as renewed And if he were desirous to change his bedfellow in hope of heires male as you tell vs before it was not to giue way to the lust of Anne Bulleine as here you affirme and if hee might haue had his will in being dispensed with by yeelding to the Popes will in ioyning with Francis the French King against the Emperour Charles as before it is proued then did he not exclude the Pope take that Title to dispence with himselfe especially being mooued with the approbation of so many Vniuersities and learned men But if thereby he made himselfe a way for the supply of his excesse with the spoyle of the Church wee haue not wherein so iustly to excuse him howbeit hee conuerted much of it to good vses namely to the erecting of sixe Bishoprickes
hee concluded a match betwixt his sonne Prince Edward and Queene Mary of Scotland that as his father had vnited the white and the redde Roses in the royall branches of Yorke and Lancaster so his sonne might vnite the Lions passant and rampant in the armes of England and Scotland but it so pleased God that that match vpon occasion fell asunder and that happy vnion was reserued to our times Now for Queene Elizabeths feare those of her Sexe indeed by their nature are fearefull and great Princes by reason of the place they stand in are â—ealous specially of the heire apparent if hee be potent if neere at hand if remote in blood if in Religion different yet all the feare she conceaued from his Masties Mother arose partly from the practises of the French with whose King she matched and partly of the Seminarie Priests and Iesuites and pretended Catholikes euer making her the highest marke and pitch of their ambition till they had brought her to the lowest ebbe of her misfortune which was also hastned through her Subiects feare rather then their own as appeares by her seuerall answeres and replies to the demands of the Parliament and propositions of her counsel touching that point as also in that as soone as the newes of it was brought to her not thinking on any such matter she receiued it with indignation her countenance her speech shewed it with excessiue griefe for a while she stood as it were astonished and afterwards betook her selfe in priuate to mourning and weeping shee sharpely entertained her counsellers remooued them from her presence and commanded Dauison her Secretarie whom shee accused of being more foreward and officious in that businesse then she either desired or expected to be brought to his triall in the Starre Chamber where he was deepely censured in a mulcte of ten thousand pound and imprisonment at the Queenes pleasure but her displeasure was so heauy against him that hee continued there long and assoone as the excesse of her griefe gaue her leaue she thus briefly wrote with her owne hande to the King of Scotland now our gracious Soueraigne Most deare Brother I Wish you vnderstood but felt not with what vnmatchable griefe my minde is perplexed by reason of that wofull accident executed against my meaning which my pen trembling to mention you shall vnderstand by this my cousin I shall request you that as God and many others can testifie mine innocencie herein so you would rest assured that had I commanded it I would neuer haue denyed it I am not of so base a minde as either to feare to doe that which is iust or to denie it being done I am not so degenerate or of a Spirit so ignoble but as it is no Princely part to couer the inward intention of the minde with the outward speech so will I neuer dissemble mine actions but labour rather that they may appeare to the world in their proper colours Be you therefore fully resolued as the trueth is that had I intended such a matter I would neuer haue cast it vpon others neither haue I reason to charge my selfe with that which I intended not For other matters this Bearer will impart them to you and for my selfe beleeue it there is none liuing that loues you better and more intirely or is more carefully prouident for you and your good and if any happen to suggest any thing to the contrary perswade your selfe that such thereby aime at their owne aduantage rather then yours God keepe you long and long in safetie Yet out of the blacke cloud of this sad accident did the disposition of diuine prouidence as some wise men haue obserued most clearely shine in as much as those things which both Q. Elizabeth of England Q. Mary of Scotland chiefly desired and shot at in all their consultations were by this meanes effected The latter as at her death she witnessed wished nothing more earnestly then that the two diuided Realmes of England and Scotland might bee vnited in the person of her dearest sonne The former that true Religion together with the safetie and securitie of the Kingdome might bee preserued entire and that God was pleased to grant both their wishes to our comfort wee feele and can not but most willingly acknowledge And for his Maiestie he both signified to Queene Elizabeth by Sir Francis Walsinghame in the yeere 1583. almost foure yeeres before his mothers death that he would most constantly maintaine the same Religion which was then publikely receiued and againe sent her the same message by Sir Robert Sidney about two yeeres after So that she needed not to feare his right in that regarde and for his affection otherwise hee both testified it before her death in the Preface to his Basilicon Doron where he thus speakes In England reignes a lawfull Queene who hath so long with so great wisedome and felicitie gouerned her kingdomes as I must in true sinceritie confesse that the like hath not beene read or heard of either in our time or since the dayes of the Roman Emperour Augustus And since her death hee hath yeelded the like testimonies of her aswell in his Apologie as also in his Premonition where he remembers that being chosen to be his Godmother shee sent into Scotland the Font wherein he was baptized So that if by outward actions and speeches we may make coniecture of the inward thoughts and Passions of the minde shee was so farre from fearing his Maiesties right to the Crowne as she endeuoured rather by all conuenient meanes to aduance it neither doe I find it recorded by her friends or obiected by her enemies that during all her reigne vpon any occasion shee euer conceiued a thought or cast out a word toward the setting vp of any other Successour or the preiudicing of his right Nay in the yeere 1587. she sent the Lord Hunsdon gouernour of Berwike into Scotland to giue him notice that the Iesuiticall faction euen while his mother liued proiected how they both might be put by their right and the Spaniard brought in and withall was presented him an instrument subscribed by the Iudges of England assuring him that the sentence passed vpon his mother could no way bee preiudiciall in law to the right of his title But it will be sayd shee discouered her feare in stopping any declaration of the heire apparent specially being vrged thereunto by the three estates assembled in Parliament in the yeere 1566. whereas in trueth she in reading might haue obserued that few or no Successors in collaterall line had beene declared aâ— Lewis Duke of Orleans was not declared heire to Charles the eight yet succeded peaceably that it hath oâ—ten prooued dangerous to name a successour not only to the possessours but sometimes to the Successours themselues as it did to Roger Mortimer Earle of March designed heire to the Crowne by Richard the second his sonne Edmund being helde in prison and there pining away vpon none other
like most vnsufferable vexations Iohn of Sarisbury in his 6. booke and 24. chapter De nugis Curalium complaines Polidor Virgil himselfe an Italian in his 8th booke and second chapter De inuentoribus rerum is not sparing in the relation of them and the booke aboue mentioned intituled Antiquitates Britannicae is so full of them as it seemes to haue bene written to none other purpose which notwithstanding I finde not gainesaid by any Romanist And can wee expect then that his Maiesty by the helpe of Romish Catholike Religion should euer bee enriched Surely in reason that which is the meanes of impouerishing his Realme and his subiects can not be a meanes of inriching him In the want of people saith Solomon he might as well haue sayd in the peoples want is the destruction of the Prince For as the multitude of people is the kings honour so the wealth of the people is the kings riches and the welfare of the people the kings safety But saith Mr. Doctour one of the maine pretenses of Henry the VIII was to enrich himselfe in the spoile of the Church which notwithstanding in euent proued to be contrary to which I reply with the Poet Careat successibus opto Quisquis ab euentu facta not anda putat Actions are not so much to be measured by their issues and euents as by the causes from which they spring and the ends to which they are directed When the people exceeded too much in offring gifts toward the worke of the Sanctuary by the discretion of Moses they were restrained and a proclamation made throughout the Campe they should bring no more Why should it not be as lawfull for Henry the VIII to restore it backe againe to the owners if too much were giuen as for Moses to restraine them for giuing hee tooke it out of their hands who vpon al occasions at the Popes command were ready to vse it as a weapon against himselfe and in defence of their holy Father and conferd it vpon those who therewith were to serue both himselfe and the State in peace at home and in wars abroad As the Church prayes for the ciuill state so is it to shield the Church and better it were the Church should quit a part of her maintenance then that the whole should lie obnoxious to the â—acrilegious hands of forreine vsurpation If in performance hereof that which should haue bene ordained to publike or sacred was by some ill disposed persons or the king himselfe turned to priuate and prophane vses or if that which inseperably belongs to the maintenance of Ecclesiasticall persons were put into the possession of those who serued not at the altar this manner of proceeding might so staine and vitiate the whole action as it might carry a secret curse with it vpon the authours and actours of it No doubt but a good cause and in it selfe most iust both may bee and oft is marred in the handling and being handled neuer so well yet in the issue it may miscarry Gods iudgements being alwayes in themselues most iust but many times their causes hidden from vs. I vndertake not the defence of Henry or any other Prince or person in robbing the Church but to his vnfortunate euents we may oppose the happy successe of Queene Elizabeth his daughter and successour both in gouernment and in opposition to the Church of Rome She maintained long and chargeable wars in diuers kingdomes abroad against Balak and Balaam Gog and Magog to the infinite expense of her treasure and yet at her death she left more in her coffers then her Romish Catholike sister and immediate predecessour notwithstanding her peace abroad her mariage with the Lord of the Indies and her readmittance though with much adoe of the Popes authority Lastly for full satisfaction in this point Mr. Doctor hauing so good intelligence of his Maiesties disposition and being so inwardly acquainted with his secrets as he makes himselfe could not well be ignorant that his Maiesty is so farre from inriching or hoping to inrich himselfe in the spoile of the Church vnder colour of religion that to his immortall fame since his comming to the Crowne he hath bound his owne hands and his posterity from alienating the reuenues consecrated to the Churches vse so that your inuectiue in this place is malicious against King Henry if in no other regard yet because it is impertinent in regard of his Maiesty who hath no Monasteries to pull downe nor as your selfe before confesse will to pull downe Churches but though he haue no will to pull downe Churches but rather to set them vp it followes not but that he should be willing to preserue that Church wherof vnder God he is set by God as the chiefe Gouernour from the spoile and tyrannie of forreine vsurpers Nay the latter may not vnfitly be inferred vpon the former And if in regard of that preseruation onely wee now pay his Maiesty what those tyrants formerly receiued he receiues nothing but what he rightly may nor we pay but what in duety and conscience we ought B. C. 36. There is yet another obiection or two in reason of state concerning your Maiesty which seeme to be harder to answere then all the rest Whereof the one is that your Maiestie hath vndertaken the cause in writing and set out a booke in print and it must needes be great dishonour to you to recall it This indeede is it which I haue heard the Caluinists of England often wish for before it was done and much boast of after it was by meanes effected that your Maiestie should no longer be able to shew your selfe indifferent as you did at the first but were now ingaged vpon your honour to maintaine their party and oppugne the Catholikes and altogether to suppresse them But there is nothing in that booke why your Maiesty may not when you please admit the Popes Supremacie in spirituals and you are partly ingaged thereby to admit the triall of the first general Councels and most ancient fathers and as for the question of Antichrist it is but an Hypotheticall Proposiâ—ion and so reserued as you may recall your selfe when you will And howsoeuer that booke cameforth either of your owne disposition or by the daily instigation of some others that did abuse your clemency and seeke to send you of their owne errand it cannot serue their turnes nor hinder your Maiestie from hearkening to an end of conteâ—tion For if King Henry the VIII in the iudgement of Protestants might saue his honour and contradict hiâ— booke from very good to starke naught they must not deny but that your Maiesty may increase your Honour by altering your booke from lesse good to much better G. H. 36. There are not onely two but many more Obiections that might be made in reason of State concerning his Maiesty which not onely seeme but are indeede harder to answere then your poore and slight euasions can giue satisfaction
and that in as honourable and publike a forme of triall as euer was vsed in this kingdome and although as his Maiesty himselfe hath well obserued the onely reason they gaue for plotting so hainous an attempt was the zeale they caried to the Romish Religion yet were neuer any other of that profession the worse vsed for that cause as by his Maiesties gracious Proclamation immediately after the discouery of the said fact doth plainely appeare onely at the next sitting down againe of the Parliament were there Lawes made enacting some such orders as were thought fit for the preuenting the like mischiefe in time to come amongst which a forme of oath was framed to bee taken by his subiects whereby they should make a cleare profession of their resolution faithfully to persist in their obedience according to their naturall allegeance to the end a separation might bee made betweene so many of his Maiesties Subiects who although they were otherwise Popishly affected yet retained in their hearts the print of their naturall Allegeance to their Soueraigne and those who being caried away with the like fanaticall zeale that the Powder-traitours were could not containe themselues within the bounds of their naturall Allegeance but thought diuersitie of Religion a safe pretext for all kinde of Treasons and Rebellions against their Soueraigne Which godly and wise intent God blessed with successe accordingly for very many Subiects that were Popishly affected aswell Priests as Laickes did freely take the same oath whereby they both gaue his Maiestie occasion to thinke the better of their fidelitie and likewise freed themselues of that heauie slaunder that although they were Fellow-professours of one Religion with the Powder-traitors yet were they not ioyned with them in treasonaâ—le courses against their Soueraigne whereby all quietly minded Papists were put out of despaire and his Maiestie gaue good proofe that hee intended no persecution against them for conscience sake but onely desired to be secured of them for ciuill obedience which for conscience sake they were bound to performe I vse his Maiesties very words because he is best able to expresse himselfe and I know not how to expresse my selfe better nor by many degrees so well These were the greatest effects of his Maiesties anger vpon occasion of the Powder-treason which notwithstanding to shew your Rhetorike you compare to a storme vpon the Sea raising vp the billowes to the height making him inexorable impatient of any equall hearing chiding and punishing vntill he were weary wheras if his Maiâ—stie had but giuen way to the fury of the multitude the chiefe offenders no doubt had beene torne in pieces before they could haue come to the place of execution or of triall and if the like monstrous and neuer heard of offence had beene committed by Protestants for their Religions sake in other countries the body of that profession had suffered for it Indeed his Maiestie had sufficient occasion giuen that his wrath should haue beene as the roaring of a Lyon which is the Herauld of death but bearing the Image of God and being the Vicegerent of God on earth nay stiled God by God himselfe his mercy so triâ—mphed against his iustice that he seemed not to be mooued as the hainousnes of so horrible a fact required vntill his Holinesse by his two Breues and Cardinall Bellarmine by his Letter to the Arch-priest throughly awakened him they thereby disswading his Subiects from taking that most reasonable Oath of Allegeance and checking the Arch-priest for taking it to these his Maiestie in his booke Intituled Triplici nodo triplex cuneus or an Apologie for the oth of Allegeance vouchsafed with his owne Penne to frame a full and quicke answere aswell for the satisfaction of scrupulous consciences as for the iustifying of his owne proceedings to which the Cardinal vnder the name of Tortus makes his reply and hauing on his visarde dealt with his Maiestie at his pleasure in such termes as neither became a Churchman to giue nor a Prince to take whereupon his Maiestie being nowe somewhat warmed once againe tooke his quill in hand and wrote that excellent Premonition to the Monarchs and free States of Christendome as the Prince of Aurange did his Apologie to the States of the Netherlands hauing his head proscribed by Phillip the second King of Spaine for the summe of 25000. Crownes wherein hee not onely refutes Bellarmines reply but by a large Confession of his Faith cleareth himselfe from all imputation of Heresie and with all most iudiciously setteth downe the reasons of his opinion why he cannot but conceaue the Bishop of Rome to be Antichrist To this the Cardinall againe reioyneth somewhat more manerly in shew but indeed no whit lesse saucily then in his former discourse and how many Hell-hounds haue followed vpon the same sent the world to well knoweth besides it is not vnknowen how some of the plotters or at leastwise abettors in that intended Tragedy haue their Apologies published from Rome and others their protection in Rome nay the doctrine which gaue life to that and giues way to the like attempt is as violently maintained by the Romish Doctors as euer beside infinite other writers witnes Beaumanoirs expostulatory defence of Suarez against Seruius expository coÌ„plaint as also Cardinal Perrons and his fellow Prelates late proceedings in France together with his Holinesse benedictioÌ„ for that speciall peece of seruice both the Cardinal in his oration the Pope in his Letter labouring to disgace our Church State with what assurance then can this Maiesty ioyne hands with Rome since though the Powder be remoued froÌ„ vnder the Parliament house yet they still prepare new matter for the like Blow and no doubt but Paulus V. would be as ready to make his Oration in Conclaue in commendation of it being once acted as Sixtus Quintus was in commending that mortall blow giuen Henry the thirde of France by a Friar Iacobin which that it may the rather appeare I will hereunto annexe the Translation of his Letter to Cardinall Perron and the other French Prelates assembled in Parliament the Originall it selfe is but a barbarous Papall stile and therefore it cannot be expected but the Translation should be sutable the Letter was written vpon occasion of a Bill passed in the Lower-house crossing the Popes pretended Power in Deposing and Murthering Princes and crossed by the Clergie Pope Paul the fifth VEnerable Brother our beloued Son and likewise Venerable Brethren and beloued Sonnes greeting and Apostolicall benediction The excesse of boldnesse wherby some as we haue heard in the generall assembly there held in the 2. of Ian. haue endeuoured to violate the sacred authority of the Apostolike See hath so troubled our minde that were we not comforted by the firme confidence wee haue in the singular pietie and prudence of our dearest children King Lewis and Queene Mary his mother whom we vnderstand to haue been carefull to represse so vnaduised an attempt and in the admirable zeale