Monsieur de Bethunes lettres whome the Sea of Rome is so farre from censuring that she hath already censured all those that shall any way seeke to giue you any disturbaunce or molestation with whome all the Princes in Christendome are in perfect peace and amity whome Catholikes haue as yet no way offended but by all meanes indeuoured to serue satisfie cōtent a His Maiestie hath no such reason to continue the lavves against Catholikes as the late Q. had to inact them Your Maiestie we say for these respects hath no such apparent cause to continue those lawes as the late Queene had to inact them the reasons and foundations of those lawes being by this happy mutation of state time and persons vtterly remoued If then DREAD SOVERAIGNE we haue beene are and will be as we haue and will demonstrate as loyall faithfull and affectionate to your Maiesty your predecessors and posterity and euen to those Princes that dealt most hardly with vs and to the good and peaceable estate of our Country as any sorte of your Maiesties subjectes within the Realme of our Ranke whatsoeuer we see not howe by authority we can be driuen to forsake our Catholike Fathers faith and beleefe vnlesse authority can by reason conuince vs that our faith is Infidelity our Religion superstition and the seruice we vse Idolatry or the Doctrine we receiue heresie These are points first to be decided and determined amongst Deuines and learned men of both partes and therefore that Magistrates should proceede against vs as men conuicted of those crimes before our cause be heard and determined by them that are by God appointed to handle those high and important pointes of diuinity we hope your Maiesties clemency and piety will not permitte But judgment being past on our side already in so many generall Councels abroade and conuocations and Parliaments at home commending and approuing the faith we professe what reason can giue life to that lawe that doth reuerse a sentence so authentically giuen without the full forme of justice and processe therein required CHAPTER 4 The reasons why we are so resolute in our Religion Reasons of Religion THE first reason that we giue of our faith Religion SACRED SOVERAIGNE why we ought not to suffer therefore as delinquents is that neither obstinate pride The 1. reason nor presumptious pertinacy nor dislike of order or Discipline nor contempt of authority nor curiosity affectation of nouelty or discontentment in our priuate humors maketh vs so constant and resolute in the profession thereof but our consciences meerely so informed and inforced in manner by the instinct of Gods grace and reuelation of his holy word and will but our vnderstanding captiuated in obsequium fidei by most euident a In no Religion but the Catholike only doe all these Testemonies concurre Testimony of holy Write of Vnity Vniuersality Succession Antiquity authority of Scriptures Fathers Saints Doctors Councels Parliaments Virgins and Martirs which all concurre only and joyntly in the Catholike Religion and in no other profession whatsoeuer which considerations accompayned with the feare of Gods judgments the danger of Hell fire and the desire of eternall Saluation commaund vs by the rules of reason in the practise profession of that Religion to obey the lawe of God before the lawe of Man The 2. reason It is an instance and maxime that suffereth no exception that neuer any generall or vniuersall innouation or alteration in matters of Faith or Religion from badde to better hath beene heard of either in the whole world or in any particular nation be it either from Iudaisme Gentilisme Paganisme Atheisme or Idolatry but that the commission and vocation of the messengers haue beene authorised Domino coöperante sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis Mar. 16. our Lord working with all and confirming the word with signes that followed which sithence our new messengers and reformers as yet haue not duly nor clearely shewed pretending as they doe to purge Christendome of superstition and Idolatry howe can they in reason craue at our handes credit or conformity to the newe lawes made on that behalfe God is ipsa vita lux veritas God that is the life The 3. reason light and truth it selfe cannot giue commission credit and authority to death darknes falshood but it is most euident and cannot be doubted of or denied that the first Apostles Conuertors of this our nations of England Scotland Ireland Fraunce and Germany were sent from the Church of Rome and deliuered vs the same Romane faith we nowe professe the same Masse and the same Sacraments and preached the selfe same Doctrine Mar. 16. Domino coöperante sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis our Lord working with all and confirming the word with signes that followed Reason then cōcludeth thus that either God in this case hath giuen testemony to falshood or else the doctrine confirmed by the testemony of God is true and auowable and not to be forsaken for feare of any humane lawes till we haue like testemony from Heauen to the cōtrary when our aduersaries shal duly reproue ours herein and make their owne mission as manifest by the word of God then if we doe not conforme our selues to the newe lawes imposed vpon vs worthely we are to endure these late inflicted penalties for matter of recusancy To conuince vs then that either we haue not the true Scriptures The 4. reason or interpret them not as we ought or that we dishonour God in honouring his Saintes or erre in the number or nature of our Sacraments or that our Doctrine is false and defectiue and to condemne vs and punish vs therefore as Heretikes and Idolators requireth in all reason an absolute commission from God the which when it shall be produced willingly we will obey If they alleadge Scriptures the Scriptures are common to vs both The 5 reason yet more likely in reason to be ours then theirs because that if the Church of Rome had not conserued them and communicated the same vnto vs our aduersaries had beene at this day Scripturelesse the very originall Bible the selfe same numero which S. Gregory sent in with our Apostle S. Augustine being as yet reserued by Gods especiall prouidence as a Testemony a We receiued the Scriptures from the Church of Rome that what Scriptures we haue we had them from Rome and haue nothing of our reformers but that we haue not so many bookes of Scriptures discanonized and rejected because they be expresse Testimonies against their newe and negatiue Religion If they stand vpon the sence and true interpretation we stand on that point more confidently then they they hauing no further warrant then their priuate spirit and we relying on the assistance of the holy Ghost therein promised to his Church for the instruction of all truth which is Columna firmamentum veritatis the piller
was it heard of that in England or Scotland any Minister or Ministers euer suffred any thing for that gratious Lady or your Maiesties Title but infinite are the a In Scotland Setons Gordens Simples Maxuelles families of the Catholikes that haue suffered for them both As the Seatons the Gordens the Simples the Maxuells in Scotland the b In England Havvards Persies Pagettes Treshammes Throgmortons Salisburies Abington Winsor Hawards Persies Vauxes Pagets Treshams Throgmortons Winsors Salisburie Abington and diuers other worthy Gentlemen in this Land the shipwrackes of whose opulent abundant states and fortunes are inuincible testemonies of the Libellers falsehood and follie in this his objection and of the constant fidelity of Catholikes to your Maiesty and all your race and predecessors in all their fortunes whatsoeuer And thus your Maiesty doth see the comparison of our former times and our precedent behauiours with our present affection and future assurance If then we be not rewarded and respected as all others are of other professions that haue done their duties as we did in aduauncing your Maiesties affaires and acknowledging your rightfull Authority yet at the least we hope that it will not be thought reasonable that we should be left in the same masse of misery which your Maiestie found vs in at your entrance Make vs then SWEETE SOVERAIGNE as able as we are wiling to serue you not by newe dignities and authorities but by restoring vs to our pristine honours and honest reputations and to our birth-right freedome and liberty by your only Peerles justice clemency and benignity permitting vs to liue in peace comedere buccellam nostram sine dolore to put a bitte of meate into our mouthes without sorrowe without frights without slights and without circumuentions of our Aduersaries our woundes are so deepe and dangerous in matters of our honours states and liberties that no Phisition can cure vs but your self with the soueraigne balme of your renowned Clemency What pleasure or profit can redowne to your Maiesties person or estate if we your approued and assured seruants and subjectes rotte in prison die in banishment and liue in penurie and disgrace for no other crime or offence but for the constant profession of that Religion which in conscience we are perswaded to be the only true worshippe of God saluation of our soules Of which our faith and beliefe we haue rendred so sufficient reason that we hope it will fully satisfie and content so wise learned politique and discreete a Prince as your Maiesty hath shewed your selfe to be in all occasions presented to make triall thereof which maketh vs the more confident in our just and reasonable defence because we sue to a most wise just and learned Monarch And albeit more then this can hardly be required of men whose fidelities are so sufficiently tried and testefied as appeareth by the whole substance and tennor of this our Apologie yet pro abundantiore cautela we humbly lay downe at your Maiesties feete this forme of submission and security following in behalfe of our Priests and Pastors CHAPTER 7. The forme of the Catholikes submission IF we may be permitted to enjoy some quiet graue The lay Catholikes submission and vertuous Clergie men for the comfort of our soules we doubt not but to giue your Maiestie a farre greater security for the fewe hundreds of our Priests then was giuen for the many thousands of Queene Maries Priests and Prelates in the late Queene Elizabethes dayes against whome albeit aboue a 10000 Clergie men lefte their liuings rather then they vvould leaue their religion ten thousand of them did abandon their Ecclesiasticall Liuinges rather then they would conforme themselues to the times especially the b All Queene Mary Bishops forsooke their Prelatures rather then they vvould forsake their chiefe Pastor holy Senate of Bishops no one excepted yet in the time of the said Queene for the space of thirty yeares extreame and restlesse persecution no capitall lawes were made or executed And in the c The booke intituled execution for treason not for religion made by the late L. Burleigh booke intituled Execution for treason and not for Religion composed set forth by the late L. Burleigh then high Treasourer of England on whome for his great wisdome and polecie the menaging of the Common wealth of this Realme vnder the Queene principally depended Anno 1583. and Anno Regni Eliz. 26. it is in expresse wordes set downe what fauour these Priests found in tearmes as followeth And though there are many subiects knowne in the Realme that disser in some opinions of Religion from the Church of England and yet doe also not forbeare to professe the same yet in that they doe all professe loyalty obedience to her Majestie and offer readely in her defence to impugne and resist any forraigne force though it should come or be procured from the Pope himselfe d None of Q Maries Priests or Prelats persecuted for region none of these sort are for their contrary opinions in Religion persecuted or charged with any crimes or paines of treason nor yet willingly searched in their consciences for their contrary opinions that sauour not of treason After which Narration he reckoneth vp great numbers as e D. Heath Arch-bishop of Yorke D. Heath Arch-bishoppe of Yorke B. Poole B. Tunstall B. White B. Oglethrop B. Thurlby B. Watson B. Turberuill none of all these were pressed with any capitall paine though they maintayned the Popes authority against the lawes of the Realme he recounteth a Abbot Feenam one Abbot diuers Deanes whome he commendeth for learning modestie knowledge concludeth that none b None of all these held or punished as traitors though they maintayned the Popes authority against the lavves of the Realme of these nor yet diuers others of the like morall and indifferent carriage were euer called to any capitall or bloudie question vpon matter of Religion nor were not depriued of any of their goodes or proper liuelihoods of the like indulgence and lenity mention is made in the same booke vsed towardes the layetie in wonderful pleasing wordes as followeth There are great numbers of others being lay men and of good possessions in Lands and men of credit in their countries that doe enjoy their estates though they holde contrarie opinions in Religion for the Popes authority and yet none of them haue beene sought hetherto to be impeached in any point or quarrell of treason or losse of life member or inheritaunce So that it may plainely appeare it is not nor hath not beene for contrary opinions in Religion or for the Popes authority alone as the Aduersaries doe boldly and falsely publish that euery person hath suffered death since her Maiesties Raigne yet some of this sorte are well knowne to hold opinion that the Pope ought by authority of Gods word to bee supreame and only head of the Catholike Church throughout the whole world
A PETITION APOLOGETICALL PRESENTED TO THE KINGES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY BY THE LAY CATHOLIKES OF ENGLAND in Iuly last In eo quod detractant de vobis tanquam de malefactoribus ex bonis operibus vos considerantes glorificent Deum in die visitationis In that vvherein they misreporte of you as of malefactors by the good vvorkes considering you they may glorifie God in the day of visitation 1. Pet. 2. v. 12. Printed at DOWAY by IOHN MOGAR at the signe of the Compas 1604. THE PREFACE REVEREND SIR There came to my hands by the way of Bruxels on the xxviij day of this moneth a certayne Petition or Apologie of the lay Catholikes of England as I stand informed presented to his Highnes about the later end of the parliament which seemeth so conformable to reason so absolute in forme of their submission and so admirable for the assurance by them offered for their Priests and Pastors that the publishing thereof cannot but giue contentment in my opinion to all sorts of men that desire both to be clearely informed of the true state of things and that iustice and equity should take place according to mens comportments deserts and not according to the preiudicate opinions of such whome nothing but the bloud and vtter beggering of Catholikes can satisfie And therefore I thought good in more publike manner then it was before to make the world acquainted therewith Reasons of publishing this treatise THE publishing of this Apology cānot but t His Maiesties honour and seruice end much to his Maiesties honour and more to his satisfaction and securitie for so much as the Catholikes affectionate seruices and obligations therein contayned must needes be argumentes of some supereminent vertue and goodnes in his sacred personage that could drawe from them at all times such extraordinary effectes of loue and deuotion and the more manifest the protestations of their purgations shall appeare to the world the more manifold shall be their bonds and obligations of performaunce and perseuerance therein The Protestant Prelates The Protestant Prelates cannot with reason disalowe thereof because herein is nothing required at their hands but a reasonable conference and satisfaction in pointes of their mission and vocation And when they shall make it euident out of the written word that they are the true Sheepheardes and Pastors sent from God to haue charge of soules they make profer without delay to followe them and with all conformity to obey them and heare their voyces which when they shall proue the controuersie is charitably composed and though they fayle of their proofes yet they remayne as they doe with their wealth their wyues their pleasures and pallaces the poore Catholikes desiring only a secret and silent permission of such Pastors as shall shewe to them and the whole world sufficient euidence and approbation for the charge of soules they vndertake The Puritans The Puritans herewith cannot be offended if they peaceably and precisely seeke after contentment and not contention because they shall finde diuers of their maximes zealously or rather odiously conceiued by them against Catholikes ouerthrowne and euacuated by most euident demonstration and instances in matters of facte practise and experience especially in that point of conditionall subiects which is so much vrged by the Ministry Academikes of Oxford Cambridge The flourishing and learned Academikes of Oxford and Cambridge may perceiue hereby that Catholikes knowe their Priests intus incute and take them neither for ignorant in diuinitie nor dunces in humanity neither for Catalines towardes their Senate nor for Absolons towardes their Dauid that dare aduenture life liuing for their vertues loyalties And I imagine that if your Ministers were put to the like plunges they would hardly finde the like pledges wherefore I could wish that your Ministers would endeuour rather to excell and surpasse them in their Godly qualities then in their pamphlets and pulpets to vrge the State to suppresse them with seuere exilementes and edictes which are nothing but argumentes of their feare and whetstones of the others fortitude The Artisans and Prentises The Godly and zealous Artisans and Prentises of London and other places may learne hereby to moderate themselues a little in their outragious alarmes of Stoppe the Traytor when they see an Innocent Priest passe their streets for by reading hereof they may be rightly and truly informed and instructed howe farre the poore Innocent men are from treasons and all treasonable purposes The Catholikes of England The Catholikes at home must needes hereby be comforted and animated in well doing and faithfull seruing and obeying their Soueraigne in pace gaudio if they may be permitted and if not that yet in suffering with alacrity what shall be imposed vpon them for their Religion when by this Apologie they shall be disburdned of those former clogges and imputatims of disloyaltie and treason The Catholikes abroade The Catholikes not onely here in Flaunders but in the whole Christian world besides must needes be hereby much edified and excited to the sincere practise and profession of zeale and pietie towardes God of fidelity and obedience towardes their Princes and of a Reuerent respect and regard towardes their Priests and Pastors when they finde in this present Apologie so rare and remarkeable an example of English Catholikes constancy in the one conformity in the other and such confidence for the third that sithence the Apostles time and the dayes of the priuatiue Church of England neuer the like President either in the time of peace or persecution hath beene heard or read of that the sheepe should engage them selues for their shepheardes and make voluntary profer to bee bound body for body and life for life for their fidelity except that famous Protomartir of England S. Albane who was to them herein a patrone and president the end of whose blessed conuersation our English Catholikes beholding doe Imitate his faith and fortitude and doe succeed him in a reuerenciall but and deuotion towardes their Pastors Which heroicall minde and resolution of our said English Catholikes must needes be as famous to posterity as it is repugnant to all worldly wisdome and policy and must also needes bee accompanied with asmuch honour and merit in the sight of God and all good men as it cannot but be incombred with dangers and difficulties in the sight of flesh and bloud and of all those quorum Deus venter est Whose God is only their belly profit and pleasure in this world Of this Apologie two copies were sent ouer the one to Fraunce and the other to Flaunders all one in sence and substance but it seemeth that the copie sent to Flaunders was taken verbatim out of the first fountayne and originall And that the other which came to Paris was not all togeather so ample and compleate Therefore I haue thought good to aduertise you that I haue followed and setforth that copie which I found or at