Althogh it might haue bene in some sence a speciall point of vncharitable pollicy for the Iesuits to haue reiected that friendly offer to haue brought vp 30. of our English youthes as at Rome because that probably many of those would haue bin Benedictines and haue frustrat the Iesuits hope of hauing al here for themselues without copartners yet was it no pollicie in thē to beate a Priest almost to death for but making the motion of receiuing one into the Benedictines order for that foule fact did openly bewray their vnmortified passionate humours pride ambition malice auarice and other shamefull vices too too bad to be spoken of but most of all to be in any religious person that with the worlds weapons they make their vaunt that they can conquer the world Therefore dare they attempt to bid battell liuing in the world to religious men liuing out of the world and still themselues be no worldlings Herein then consists the miserie which being discouered any man may reade the riddle plaine scil that for asmuch as the Benedictines had all or the most part of the Abbey lands in England bequeathe vnto their Monasteries by sundry deuout holy and vertuous Catholike men and women in times past liuing in this Realme and for that the Dominicanes haue the chaire of authoritie for reading in the schooles especially in Salamanca in Spaine which grieues these pure spirited soules at the very heart and what banding brawling and quarrelling they haue made with them about it were too long to recite and also to them belongs of due right the soueraigne authoritie of the sacred Inquisition and withall to be called Predicatores preachers where euer they go with an higher prerogatiue then euer any Iesuite could or I hope euer shall haue for it were daungerous and great pitie that euer such ambitious men should obtaine such ample priuiledges And lastly for that the Scotists Franciscanes especially the Obseruants haue also had sundrie Frieries here in England as also the Carthusians commonly called the Charterhouse Monkes haue had the like in some sort Therefore was there bona causa cur none of all these or any other religious order that had euer enioyed either house or land in Albions Ile should euer come there again or any other religious order that might liue without the Iesuits for their sakes But all of them as reprobates and of God forsaken must be banished hence and a statute made in that high Councell that none such should euer come within this land after it is conquered by Spaniards and Iesuits sicut placuit Iesuitis The second Act enacted or statute made in that high infernall Consistorie was concerning the Church and Abbey lands scil That forasmuch as there be an hundred Bishoprickes great and small in these three kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland with well nigh 20000. Parsonages and Vicariges and how many Monasteries Nunneries Frieries and other religious houses it is hard to tell the number Notwithstanding there was a booke brought into Paules Churchyard in written hand to be bound vp and sent God knowes where into Spaine as it may be thought because the partie that brought it was a sideman of the Iesuits the collection wherof as it was there reported stood the party in foure hundred pounds In which booke of a huge volume in a small hand there were set downe all the religious houses that euer haue bene in this Realme what land was giuen vnto them where it yet lyeth who gaue it how long since vpon what condition and prouiso when by whom how much and wherein altered diminished or increased and in whose possession it is at this present These with other circumstances and particulars being set downe no man can iudge otherwise but it was a worke fit for that Synodicall court to haue the perusing and censuring of it And there if any where is their nūber of religious houses like these to be found All which as also nothing else belonging either to the Ecclesiasticall or Monasticall state must be any longer in the hands of Bishops Abbots or other secular or religious persons as heretofore they were accustomed and incorporated vnto their seuerall orders But all must be vnder the holy society of Iesus presently vpon the establishing of the spiritual monarchy Which done their father General or Prouinciall must call out foure Iesuits two secular Priests who must be also demy Iesuites else all were naught These sixe Vicars I pray God not of hell for of heauen they are not they smell so ranckly of Cartwrights and Bruses pure synodall ministery like sixe Dutch Peeres of whom the Prophecies talke or so many mighty Lords shall haue the lands mannors Lordships parsonages monasteries and what soeuer else belonged to Church or cloister resigned ouer into their hands allowing to the Bishops Parsons and Vicars competent stipends pensions to liue vpon according as Bishops Suffragans Montseniors haue allowance in other Catholike countries or rather as the Turkes Bassaes Ianizaries vnder him are maintained And all this sicut placuit Iesuitis as the Romanes in their leagues were wont to write or rather iuxta decretum Medorum atque Persarum à quo prouocare non licet as king Darius sayd Liuery and seisen thus taken by these sixe Tribunes or popular Nobles all the rest must be imploied in pios vsus as father Generall of Rome shall thinke good The Colledges in both Vniuersities must be likewise in the power of these mortified creatures No Bishop nor Parson nor Vicar nor fellow of any Colledge must be so hardy as once to demand an account what is become of their reuenues lands and Lordships If they do this shall be the answer mirantur superiores c. or in plaine tearmes how dare you seeme to inquire how a Iesuite disposeth of any thing being peculiarly guided by the Spirit c. The third Statute was there made concerning the Lords temporall and other of the Nobility Gentry of this land And this Statute did consist of this point especially sci That euery Noble or Gentleman of special account and liuing such as to omit others Sir Robert Cicill Sir Iohn Fortescue Sir Iames Harington Sir Robert Dormer Sir Iohn Arundell now his sonne maister Iohn Arundell called great Arundell of Cornwall Sir Iohn Peter Sir Mathew Arundell of Warder his sonne and heire Sir Henry Constable Sir Iohn Sauage with sundry other Knights and Esquires all which were there limited by that blind prophane Parliament what retinue they should keepe when time came of inhauncing how much should be allowed them to spend yearely and what diet they should keepe at their tables The fourth Statute was there made concerning the common lawes of this land and that consisted of this one principall point that all the great charter of England must be burnt the manner of holding lands in see-simple free-taile franke Almaigne c. by Kings seruice soccage or villanage brought into villanie scoggerie and popularitie and in
few Often and often againe must the Iesuites arrogancie and deceitful dealings in euery action transforming themselues into Angels of light be made knowne to the world and inculcated into the simple and some wilfully blinded ignorant peoples heads that will beleeue any thing they fable of against any secular Priest whosoeuer be he Seminarie Bishop Card. or Pope yet will beleeue nothing on the contrarie writteÌ„ or spoken by any whosoeuer against theÌ„ though the affirmer or apellant will euer seale it with his bloud which blind drowsie coÌ„ceit of many doth argue some horrible monster to be in breeding amongst them whom sundry of their fautor will honour as a God Otherwise sure they would neuer be so besotted as to thinke but that a religious man may be exorbitant a wise man forget himselfe a bad liuer creepe into fauor and so Fa. Parsons to be familiar with Princes and yet a starke c. For what greater meanes to worke mischiefe theÌ„ wit and fauor what sooner deceiueth and longer cloaketh deceit then a religious habite vpon a lewd person when doth the Wolfe rauine more cruelly then when he is cloathed in a sheepes skin And when did euer any heresie arise but vnder zealous pretence at the first of the churches aduancement Then seeing a veluet hearse may couer a vile and stinking hide a noysome action abuse an innocent meane and a religious yea and that truly a holy and blessed order and habite be abused by bâ—â— persons irreligiously liuing in it Let none hereafter be seduced with outward signs of religious pietie where apparant verities are of iniquity the common lawes must be wholly annihilated abolished and troden down vnder foot and Caesars ciuill Imperials brought in amongest vs and sway for a time in their places All whatsoeuer England yeelds being but base barbarous and void of all sense knowledge or discretion shewed in the first founders and legisers and on the other side all whatsoeuer is or shall be brought in by those outcasts of Moses staine of Solon and refuse of Licurgus must be reputed for Metaphisicall semie Diuine and of more excellencie then the other were The fift statute there made was concerning calumniation not much vnlike that statute of Association I meane in Father Parsons sense as he in Greencoate makes it seeme to haue bene put in at the procurement of the Earle of Leicester or like the Proclamation he there talkes of to haue bene made by his Lordships procurement against talkers of such great mens doings as he was whilst be himselfe might calumniate and call in question whom he pleased And so conformably hereunto doth this Iesuiticall act of detraction or statute of calumniation tend scil to bar all men from speaking of Fa. Parsons that blessed liue Saint or any other Iesuit whosoeuer they being such rare men as neither are their actions to be sifted canuassed or discountenanced by any secular Priest whosoeuer perhaps the Pope excepted if he keepe silence and seeme not to dislike of theÌ„ which if he do not haue at him amongst the rest with heaue and hoe rumbelow neither can it be otherwise thought of but as an act and signe of an euill spirit and vnsound in religion for any one that dare take that course they being religious men nay Iesuits and Fa. Parsons of all the rest the rarest wise man of our nation most familiar with Princes admired at in Spaine reuerenced in Italy only hated in England which is a sufficient argument of his integritie a manifest token of their euill affection to the Catholike church and religion that talke against him This collusion of Iesuiticall sanctitie caused a prouiso in the foresaid statute that whosoeuer did offend a Iesuit or speake against this high councell of Reformation it should be lawfull for the Fathers or their Syn-odicall ministers to defame destract and calumniate him or her at their pleasure be who they shall be Noble Peere or Prince Bishop Cardinall or the Pope himselfe For which cause and for the better vnderstanding of the said statute they hold two propositions one is that detraction is lawfull in generall and so was it practised at Wisbich by a Iesuit affirming that there were so many and grieuous enormities there committed amongst the prisoners that Fa. Weston and his adherents were constrained to separate themselues from the other Priests and being charged to name some particulars or if he could not he was to be reckned of for an iniurious calumniator so therein to haue offended greatly in slaundering the whole house he answered nay my words were generall and therefore I offended none Another proposition is for particulars scil that whatsoeuer particular person be he priuate or publike and that eminent or a chiefe is directly bent against them they neuer must leaue him but calumniate slaunder and inuent new matter against him to death Thus did they calumniate Doctor Gifford and maligne him to this day a man of good desert and of as many good parts abilities and graces as euer past the seas in this age and hath not his better if any be his equall of any English man beyond the English Ocean now aliue This reuerend Priest then for that he did not admire these monsters nor applaud with Panigeries of praises to their worthlesse designments for in very deede they had no other cause to calumniate or dislike him they presently deuised sundrie most vile and vniust calumniations against him They defamed him in England for a sower of sedition an informer against the Iesuits and an exhibiter of the Memoriall to the Pope They procured him to be examined before the Nuncio in the Low countries and failing of their purpose that way the Nuncio after long delaies affirming in plaine termes that he was wronged one Fa. Baldwin a turbulent fellow of a Belial breede dealt with the Nuncio for a generall pacification remission on all sides and Fa. Baldwin in the name of Father Parsons and all the Iesuits asked him forgiuenesse So shamelesse are the Iesuits as the very pulpits are prophaned by them wheÌ„ it stands them vpon to maintaine their reputation per fas aut â—efas they care not how nor what tyrannie they commit against any as poore Fisher if aliue can witnesse whom some say they sent to the Galleys at Naples after they had got what from him as they cold where he remained a galley slaue euer after and so is full if aliue or not murdered as it is lately reporâ—â—d by Parsons meanes in his way to Naples and the Doctor for his owne part for ciuilitie sake performing asmuch with this addition if he had offended any of them Which being done and the Nuncio commanding them both to be secret of what had past in fauour indeed of the Iesuits yet Father Baldwin gaue it out in a glorious sort that the Doctor had asked Father Parsons the Iesuits forgiuenesse and thereby to disgrace him a new and to make their former
appellationem factam manis est excommunicatio or as saith the glosse Nemo potest excommunicari 2. That admit there had beene no appeale yet could no excommunication suspension c. binde them in the case proposed in foro conscientiâ—e quia litterae impetratae suggesto mendacio non nocent eis contra quos impetrantur c. sententiae contra leges canonesue perlatae debent vtique pro infectis haberi c. 4. Lastly a question doth rise heere out of this article whether in foro exter an excommunication suspension c. do alwaies binde or not The Archpriest is knowne directly to haue no such authority as he master Parsons giuâ—â—ut he hath to excommunicate suspend c. neither was his holinesse priuâ— to his vsurpate intâ—nt on in taking more vpon him than he hath graÌ„ted ergo ad placâ— tum whether any will obey him in the points in question or not c. vers gra whether if by meanes made to his holinesse on the Iesuits and Archpriests behalfe there should a precept briefe or bull be obteined to command all Catholicks to be at master Blackwels command and to obey him in all things sub paena excommunicationis suspensionis amissionis omnium facultatum c. were it to be obeied or not To which I answere first that it were as is saide before scil to suffer patiently that iust torment inflicted vpon them if knowne directly that it were his holinesse will and intent to haue it so by refraining from the Sacraments and thus much propter obedientiam piae iurium ecclesiam eiusque cap. Rom. po tum ad euitandum scandalum which in this case might happen to the infirme and weake Catholicks iudgeing it to proceed of contempt and disobedience to the sea Apostolick if they should presume to come at the holy altar or frequent any Sacraments being excommunicated c. though neuer so wrongfully and iniustly Secondly that notwithstanding such an excommunication yet the said seculars and their adhaerents might proceede as before either in prosecuting the appeale begun or beginning a new and following of the same Note that the Archpriest cannot haue authoritie from the Pope to stop all appeales froÌ„ him to the Pope and by consequence thâ—ugh in Blackwell had authority to excommunâ—cate suspend c. in all thinges which he hath not neither daâ—e take it vpon him to defend he hath so yet were his excommunication void both in foro conscientiae ecclesie in this case of forbidding appeales wherein so free al men were from any bond to obey as they were bound to disobey it and reiect him as an Antipape notwithstanding any command or authority to the contrary vntill such time as the truth of their cause were made knowne to his holinesse and that they had receiued his resolute answere Which had no such censure could be incurd because the wrong accrewing in ius suum by making the Archpriest aboue himselfe it were not in the Popes power to giue him such an authoritie and remaine Pope after it for that the passage of an appeale must alwaies be from an inferior to a superior ergo if master Blackwell haue authoritie to command that none shall write nor send nor seeke for iustice from him to the Pope nor and by consequent then it followeth to any other but whom he shall assigne as his charge giuen to the apellants to goe into the Low countries c. includes so much arrogancie and vsurpation of a supremacy at least vnder paine of excommunication c. then it followeth that he the said Blackwell is the supreme head of the church Catholike at least heere in England from whom there is no appeale to be made but all iniuries to be borne off with head and shoulders neither will his or the Iesuits excuse for him serue their turns to say the seculars appeale is but about friuolous light matters in themselues proceeding of a seditious stubborne disobedient obstinate contentious spirit not well established in the grace of God c. In all which cases it were expresly against the Canons to disobey him or to appeale from him as from say they their lawfull superior and by consequent that he may command them not to trouble his holinesse with such brabling matters c. I say this neither will neither shall serue his turne For if they be but trifles or wranglings A Bishop cannot authorize his chaplein a king his secretary not the Pope his protonotary in things wherein the so authorized depriues the authorizer of his superioritie ouer him and withall of the chiefe act of iustice and title of his dignity and honor belonging to his person or place but must withal make him by that act his superior bicause no duals in popedomes kingdoms or Bishopr ckes but all singles as one in one c. then haue the seculars the woorst of it being sure to be sharpely punished when the plea shall come before his holinesse but if otherwise it will prooue then videant ipsi Iesuitae cum suo Archipr But howsoeuer be it so or be it not yet the seculars affirming that it is of matters of most moment that euer hapned in this age as both by these 10. Quodlibets and sundry other bookes written of this subiect may and will appeere it is neither Blackwell nor Garnet nor Parsons nor Lucifer nor who is the prowdest of them to face it with greatest impudency that shall dare presume to be iudge therein or stoppe it from comming to his holinesse but shall be noted for an Antipope at least Thirdly I say further that suppose there were neither Rex nor summus Pontifex in all the world as for the space of 2000. yeeres or thereabout it was so the first borne sonne of euery family being that while vnder the law of nature both king and priest in authoritie without the name and that all gouernment on earth were as it should be in that case Aristocraticall yet did not that hinder but that still a subordinate power shoud be aswell in the church as common-wealth and lawe and iustice there take place in order so as alwaies an appeale might be lawfull and not deniable from an inferior person court corporation common-wealth or what name title or authoritie soeuer to a superior but not on the contrary in any of these without preiudice of the predominant and so from one to another till it come to the chiefe and highest court Yea this kinde of subordination is euen in the lawes themselues the Ciuill lawes or lawes Common heere in England which equall the lawes Ciuill being inferior to the lawes Canon or municipall in this lande as is cleere by a plea which ordinarily may be remooued from the common Law into the court of Chauncery and the law Canon inferior to the law of Nature and Nations which commonly is taken to be one with Natures lawe and againe the lawe of Nature to the Law of God as it is giuen written
others or else deny it so you shal see in time that although our worshipfull Archpriest hath done nothing but by fahaer Garnets direction yet when his ridiculous vniust vncharitable dâ—ttyrannous proceedings shall come to the scanning father Garnet will doe the best he can to pull his necke out of the coller and master Blackwell shall be the Asse that must beare all the burden So father Parsons that holy man by his practise doth giue father Garnet a pregnant example In the most of those seditious bookes which he the said father Parsons hath published he hath either concealed his name or giuen them such names as it hath pleased him to deuise And one of his said bookes being set out by him vnder the name of master Dolman now that many exceptions are taken vnto it he good man was not the author of it his name is not Dolman and gladly he would shift and wash his hands of it but all the water betwixt this and Rome will not serue his turne so to do although by the common principle of the Iesuits he may by lying and equiuocating make a faire shew But of this enough is said before As concerning the second point I will now make it plaine vnto you that the Iesuits being charged as in the former question is set downe are not therein slaundered any way vniustly For First it is plaine that father Parsons and his company diuide it amongst them how they list haue laide a plot as being most consonant and fitting to their other designments that the common lawes of the Realme of England must be forsooth either abolished vtterly or else beare no greater sway in the Realme then now the ciuill lawe doth And the chiefe reason is for that the state of the crowne and kingdome by the common lawes is so strongly setled as whilest they continue the Iesuits see not how they can worke their wils And on the other side in the ciuill lawes they thinke they haue some shreds whereby they may patch a cloake together to couer a bloodly shew of their treasons for the present from the eies of the vulgar sort And certainly I could not choose but smile when I read this point in father Parsons booke to see how prettily this fine fingred figgeboy conueigheth his matter how the common lawyers must waite vpon the Ciuilians to beare their bookes after them and how they are to applaud to all that the doctors will auerre to be lawe vpon their bare words vnto them Secondly the said good father deeming of all men it seemeth by himselfe hath set downe a course how euery man may shake off all authoritie at their pleasures as if he woulde become a newe Anabaptist or king Iohn of Leyden to draw all the world into a mutinie rebellion or combustion And this stratageme is how the common people may be inueigled and seduced to conceit to themselues such a libertie and prerogatiue as that it may be lawfull for them when they thinke meete to place and displace kings and princes as men may doe their tenants at will hirelings or ordinarie seruants Which Anabaptisticall and abhominable doctrine proceeding from a turbulent tribe of traiterous Puritanes other heretikes this treacherous Iesuite would now foist into the catholike church as a ground of his corrupt diuinitie And sure it is strange to consider how the caitiffe handleth this point giuing aduantage thereby to all nations to reuolt from the See apostolike if any catholike prince would take holde or build vpon this absurd fellowes word or authoritie For that amongst other arguments he insisteth vpon certaine rebellious most traiterous examples how some kings in this Island haue beene dealt with As if a man should take vpon him to prooue murther lawfull bicause many examples of murther may be produced or as if this were a good argument England Scotland Ireland Denmarke Swethia many states in Germany many men in France and else where haue reiected the authoritie of the Pope his holines the See of Rome therefore Italy France Spaine other catholike countries may do the like Fourthly the said good fathers with their ringleader and muster-master father Parsons do take vpon them in the saide booke and in other treatises to deale with matters of succession and titles of the crowne as if their bare words were of higher authoritie then either Court Parliamentall Prince or Pope and bicause as it seemeth their said ringleader is a bastard himselfe it is woonderfull to see what very small account he maketh of succession by inheritance title of descent birthright or bloud Now tell me in this case A gentleman or substantiall yeoman hauing one heire and many seruants dieth were he not an asse that would affirme that the right of the saide heire should depend vpon the pleasure of his fathers seruants If they thought meet he should haue his fathers lands or otherwise they would bestow them as they thought good I am sure you would account it vniust vnnaturall indecent and ridiculous And all that this traitorous Iesuite writeth of this point is grounded vpon the like folly whilest he laboureth so giantlike in opposing himselfe against succession by inheritance to fight most impudently with all lawes nay with nature and with God himselfe Hereunto it also appertaineth how after he hath contriued the meanes as he thinketh how to depriue kings and heires from their inheritance he then taketh vpon him to appoint how others may and are to succeede in their roomes and possesse their ancient right And he proceedeth herein as grauely and substantially as he hath done in the premisses For except this may carrie a shew of a good argument fiue hundred or a thousand yeeres since the ancestors of the king of Spaine the king of Fraunce and of diuers other kings had no interest to the kingdomes which now they enioy therefore some others must be found out to be preferred to those kingdomes the good father saith nothing There is one who hath written a booke of the Bathes in England and as I remember for it is long since I saw the booke the author of it the rather to extol the first finder out of the said Bathes that therby he might prooue him to be an ancient gentleman doth set downe his petigree and neuer leaueth it I assure you vntill he come to these words which was the sonne of Seth which was the sonne of Adam It were not amisse in my poore opinion that Master Parsons should carefully seeke out for this maÌ„s kinred It is not vnlikely but that by his skil he might intitle them to very many kingdomes distributing this to one and that to another as in his omnipotentencie he should hold it most conuenient The man if he liue long will prooue mad in the end without question except you can imagine that these and such like vanities are sober conceits And yet that which he saith against the blood royall of England to aduance a pretended interest to the Infanta
secular Priests yea of our owne nation as Doctor Allane Doctor Sanders though to much Iesuited Doctor Harding Doctor Stapleton Doctor Gifford Doctor Parkinson Doctor Ely and a whole score twice told now in esse of secular Priests whō no English Iesuit is able to hold tacke withall yet haue these Machiauels got such a generall fame report to fly abroad of them as though there were not one of any talent in the world to be found vnlesse he were a Iesuit THE ANSWERE I Answer first that where there is one learned man of the Iesuites there are a hundred either of seculars apart or of religious apart Secondly where there is one learned book written by any Iesuit there are a couple of thousands written by others as learned at least if not more as they are Thirdly the cause why seculars especially the Seminarie Priests in England do not write so many nor almost any booke at all as the Iesuits do haue done is partly for want of money without which no Presse will go the the seculars and Iesuits liuing apart in extreames the former pining in defects and therefore can set out nothing the other surfetting in excesse and therfore may set out what they please partly also for that the seculars haue bene euer against writing of any such bookes as might exasperate the present State or occasionate a displeasure against all for some such priuate persons offences which the Iesuites quite contrary least regarded Nay what bookes haue they written almost but such as are farced with rebellious conspiracies and treasons iustly occasionating a generall persecution vpon vs all thereby Onely one Fa. Parsons hath written sundrie bookes for I account not of Fa. Southwell as whereof to make any ostentation of learning and all those of one practise or other in exasperating either against her Maiestie directly as his Philopator or against the whole State in generall as his Doleman or against all the bloud royall in common as his Appendix or against the whole commonwealth as his Machiauell of oeconomickes or book of Spanish Councels against England or against this or that Peere of this land in particular as his Greenecoate or Scribe And as for his booke of Resolution which gets him all the praise he hath or can deserue yet alacke alacke it is easie to lay fine threeds together when they are gathered to a mans hand and as easie to translate a work almost verbatim out of peecemeale copies into his mother language Fourthly the seculars vntill now of late had no meanes from beyond the seas for printing of any book in England they durst not venter for offending the State without leaue whereas the Iesuites haue alwaies had meanes both here and there for what is it that mony cannot compasse Fiftly the Iesuits haue learned herein one speciall tricke of Machiauell which also was throughly practised of Erasmus in his daies and that was to be at compositiō with certaine Nobles and great personages in Princes Courts to spread abroad his bookes with this prouiso that they should report of euery thing he wrote to be rare learned and eloquent and himselfe the most famous man of Europe for his pen in those dayes for pregnancie of wit dexteritie of inuention facilitie of passage pleasing accents delightfull with a naturall facilitie in all things and then would he againe in recompence of this grace and fauour to requite their honorable esteeme had and caused generally to be had of him set them foorth on the other side by dedicating of his bookes either vnto them or taking some speciall occasion to write of them or their progenitors sound foorth the Panigeries of their praises extolling them aboue the skies for their Noblenesse their heroicall hearts martiall prowesse valiant acts worthy feates warlike exploits honorable calling of parentage by birth bloud and high renowne highly descended And fame alwaies following the reports of Ecchoes such Nobles and Gentles for natures portraicture in the lineaments of their body fine conueyance of their actions not coyned by art but naturally passing from them as a forgetfull custome by instinct of proper kind comly gesture with countenance haughtie stern and champion-like yet dropt with spots of beautie bountie and magnanimitie intercepted with graces of mildnesse courtesie and affabilitie at a word courtly regardfull pleasing acceptable in al things being the right compliants of times comperters of sages and the full complements of all admirable aspects as the mirrors of vertue and all liuely graces Both by these meanes should be famous and respected inquired of talked of peerlesse And all this that I haue said concerning the pollicie of Erasmus you may please to decipher out in the Iesuits with supererogation of an ouerheaped vp measure For let the person be neuer such a dolt dunce or dotrel or his actions neuer so base ignominious dishonest or ridiculous or his words or writings neuer so simple grosse and exorbitant or impertinent to the purpose yet being a Iesuit oh he is a rare man another Salust Cicero or Demosthenes for eloquence as was Father Southwell but yet came short of them an other Chrysostome in preaching as Father Ned Coffin alas poore silly mā sent loquitur c. An other equal nay far aboue that worthy pillar of the Church Saint Augustine the Doctor Angelicall S. Thomas Aquinas the most subtill disputer Doctor Scotus as is that top of wit Fa. Parsons not worthy to hold the candle before the meanest of any of all these or sundrie other far their inferiors But what should we say fame flies farre if the Iesuits wanted this tricke of coggerie to make them seeme famous nay matchlesse nay peerelesse in setting out of bookes and doing of other like exercises pertaining to learning gouernment and knowledge I would say they had no scholerisme worth a blew button amongst them nor were they fit to foot the instep in Machiauels schooles Sixtly another cause there is why the Iesuits workes and bookes are here in England so common frequent and much talked of and almost none other named or at least accounted of at all And that is forsooth an authority they haue gotten to their Archpriest now to stop all others from writing of any thing be it good or bad without his approbation or allowance which he will neuer yeeld vnto but with disgraces to the Author as experience hath tried it true And besides before this authority came the Iesuits as high Admirals or Emperours of sea and land dealt so cunningly few or none euer imagining such an ostentatiue sleight and vaineglorious deuice as was to haue their owne doings onely praised to lye close couched and packt vp at euery mart therein as few or no bookes came euer from beyond the seas but of some Iesuits setting forth or if they did yet did not the discharge of that peece in striking saile giue so sound report thereof as of theirs and so still it seemed there was no learning nor scholers nor
Priest preacher If euery Priest shold take place agreeing to their Vice-gerencie vnder Christ there could be no order kept all being of equall power in respect of Priesthood therfore was it well prouided by the lawes and proceeded of institution deuine as may appeare by our Sauiours giuing of preheminence to Saint Peter aboue the rest of the Apostles that were as well as he all equally Priests that the power of iurisdiction should be a note to take their place by aswell amongst themselues as amongst others abroad in the world or Doctor of Diuinitie before a Knight c. And finally although in regard of the same order a Nobleman or his sonne take place of all these yet alwaies Ioels sentence stands inuiolate ratified confirmed and augmented with many sacred sanctions priuiledges and prerogatiues due to the priesthood now which were not so before in regard whereof the highest honour temporall on earth is no whit dishonoured but rather hath an augment of honour by his Priesthood which to confirme that holy Bishop Saint Ambrose was bold being moued by the Emperour and in his princely presence to drinke to the best man at the table to take the cup with a wassall to his Deacon saying all peace health honour and happinesse to you my Lord Emperour your Maiestie knoweth that a Priest represents the person of Christ and his Deacon supplies the place of an Angell and seeing the lowest Angell in heauen is farre to be preferred before the highest dignitie on earth pardon my dread Soueraigne if I haue done your Highnesse command and preferred my poore Deacon in the cup before the Imperiall Regalitie of Caesar Yea what else but onely this doth it meane that the poorest Priest on earth if admitted to heare the Popes Emperours or any other King or Prince his confession sits couered in his chaire while the other kneeles bare headed at his foote to receiue absolution at his hands But enough of this matter THE VI. ARTICLE WHether may or ought a man to seeke the like praise preferment or aduancement for another of his societie or company equally as for himselfe or whether fitter in pollicie if he seeke it for himself or his speciall friends to do it per se vel per aliam scil quartam vel tertiam personam c. THE ANSWERE IN matters wherein there is some difficultie daunger losse reproch or shamefastnesse a man may and a true friend will often attempt act and performe that for his friend which he would neuer dreame of nor wish to himselfe and then by consequent it is cleare that a man may do equally and as much for another as for himselfe in the case proposed in the former article And a simple politician is he that will do it either immediatly for himselfe or his friend For alwaies the farther off it is contriued by a fourth fifth or tenth person and that a thousand miles a sunder the more cleanely politically Machiuilean-like coÌ„ueied it is An example wherof that ignoble Polipragmon father Parsons though to the condemnation of his Atheall proud aspires yet to the high commends of his naturall ingeny may be to all posterity in his practise for a Cardinals hat The deuice for which was as followeth After many practises of father Parsons and his fellowes against her Maiesty and the English Crowne Kingdome and State whereof we will speake anone aswell by his agents in England it selfe as also in Italy Spaine and Flanders finding the secular Priests at Rome and in England alwayes opposite to his wretched designements most vnnaturall attempts and treasonable practises Cardinall Allane being now dead and Doctor Worthington homo secundum cor Parsoni ruling all the rost in the Low-countries amongst the Seminaries as that couertly sullen surly Prelate father Holt did amongst the souldiers and other pensioners there hauing deuised many shifts for father Parsons aduancement and all failing at length the King of Spaine was made acquainted therewith and how that the students others of our nation were bent against the fathers for his sake forsooth in that they sought the establishing of the English Crowne to his royal issue whereupon his Maiesty wrote earnestly to his Holinesse Pope Clement that now is A very â—â—kâ—â— lâ—t to this is their now proceedings here in England to get bowes and giâ—les vagrant fellows and such as â—ee by these scolâ—â—â— â—â—ilings against seculars 〈◊〉 it euery 〈…〉 what a part waâ— it for the 〈◊〉 to write 〈◊〉 â—â—â—terly against such blessed men as the Iesuits are whâ—â—only vphold religion amongst â—s he 〈◊〉 England whâ—â—h otherwise 〈◊〉 â—quaâ—le c. and to other Cardinals that in any case they should support beare out and mainaine the credite of the Iesuits against the complaints of the English who without all cause reason and sense but by being seduced by the Queene of England did greatly calumniate these holy fathers that sought their countries good and happinesse as he affirmed Whiles this was a hammering in drawing the kings affection from all the English seculars to the Iesuites in generall the aboue named agents like gallant states men father Holt and Doctor Worthington drew a very formall letter petitionall or supplicatiue in the names of all the common souldiers laborers artizens and pentioners aswell men as women equally without difference yea the yery scullians landresses and seruants were not omitted in that pitifull complaining shewing to his Maiesty the king of Spaine the present calamities that England stood in most humbly beseeching his Catholike Maiesty in regard of the great affection and care of our country and the afflicted English he would vouchsafe to deale most earnestly with the Pope to preferre that vnworthy dishonorable Prelate father Parsons to the dignity of Cardinall affirming it to be the only way to bind and vnite the English to his Maiesty Miranda canunt sed non credeÌ„da portae But what was the issue nunc spectatum admissi risum teneatis amice In expectation of the same preferment and for what causes else is to himselfe best knowne are not much material this good father went to Rome on pilgrimage you may please to imagine out of Spaine very deuoutly or rather directly in the yeare 1597. Where he no sooner arriued but presently he was visited or rather courted with two Cardinals at his lodging to wit Cardinall Baronius and the other a Spaniard This extraordinary curtesie and honor done vnto the poore man gaue present occasion of some speech in the city that out of all doubt father Parsons should be made a Cardinall But the conceit begun thus in Rome ended there also with a merry iest For father Parsons being counselled by the Phisitians to keepe his stomacke warme sent his brother for scarlet to make him a stomacher who of likelihood so soone as euer he heard the name of scarlet he was possessed vpon the sudden with so affectionate an opinion of his brothers aduancement that forgetting his intent to haue
sense with it that poore that simple that meane that ignorant men and women go sooner to heauen then rich then noble then learned then such wise wisards as you Iesuites are The reason whereof can be none other then this For that these three vertues faith hope and charity being the gifts of God and not to be gotten by Aristotles wit nor Caesars might nor Cresus his wealth the simple meaner and poorer sort suffer God Almighty ordinarily to worke more freely firmely sweetly in their harts vtpote suauiter disponens omnia abundantly supplying their other defects then in theirs who thinking themselues to be iolly fellowes will contend by reason or otherwise with the giuer of all things and so striue to giue God checke mate or to be halfe with him in their proud Nemrodian aspires Which is the cause that they often suffer a Luciferian fall which other that seeke not to clime so high are free from And for this cause it is and hath euer bene in vse saue amongst you Iesuits that those who did take themselues to a religious course of life did it in simplicitate cordis voiding their thoughts of all promotions popular applause or other gaine to accrue vnto them thereby Therefore do I conclude that by all probable coniecture there is not one amongst a hundreth that goes to be a Iesuit that hath any true religious intent in him but a proud ambicious vaine glorious aspiring mind For what hath pouerty to do with riches what contempt of the world with worldly honours what an abiect life with birth and parentage what originall innocency with sinfull policy what solitarinesse with panigeries of praises what mortification with popular applauses what religious renunciation with fame and renowne what perfect humility with vaunting arrogancy what Cels and Cloisters with Courts and Pallaces what true obedience with controlement of Princes what Monasticall exercise with Ecclesiasticall nay with temporall mechanicall mundane affaires Is this your profession of so high perfection O that all states in Christendome would follow Cardinall Boroneus his example either in banishing of you quite out of Europe or at least in pulling in your hornes vntill you were brought into some better order moderation knowledge of your selues For my part I confesse vnto you that as I haue hitherto alwayes prayed and enioyned others to do the like for peace vnity and concord betwixt you and the seculars so shall it be my continuall prayer hereafter that howsoeuer other states do it may please God of his mercy to looke vpon our afflicted countrey and to moue the hart of his Holinesse to call you out from amongst vs here vntill your insolency be abated and withall to remoue all Iesuites for euer out of the English Colledge at Rome where there are other manner of practises then were euer attempted by any Iesuit in the territories of Millan nay or I thinke in the Christian world besides many reuerend vertuous secular Priests being sent home into England loaden till their backes crackt with the Iesuits calumniations and slanders and none but such as will be Iesuiticall wholly and not perfunctory may find any fauour there Therefore cursed be the houre that euer they got entrance in that Colledge and cursed be the time that euer they set foote on English ground and a triple curse vnto them all that to maintaine their ambition pride and seditious factions haue scandalized the whole world brought our nation into reproch and obloquie and heaped the hote coales of furious burning nay consuming flames of fire famine and sword vpon afflicted Catholikes with their owne and their natiue countries ruine destruction and desolation so much as in them lyeth And sure he or she hereafter that shall send their children or go themselues to become students at Rome or elsewhere vnder their gouernement do either by cōsequent cast themselues into a voluntary slauery as bad as if vnder the great Turke or else must they change the true nature of an English heart and become traytors or sautors of conspiracies against their Prince countrey and dearest friends THE II. ARTICLE VVHether then seeing the Iesuites are so infest enemies to all that are not Iesuited and that it is a destruction to our English youth to be brought vp vnder them as farre more fitting to haue secular Priests to be gouernours ouer them at Rome and other places do they intend if they preuaile in England to aduance any secular or other English Priest to Ecclesiasticall dignity or else some seculars of other nations or none at all THE ANSWER I Told you before if you remember that they haue made a Puritanian diuision of the Ecclesiasticall state in their high Councell of Reformation for England wherein amongst other things a statute is made for abrogation of all Episcopall dignity and that iust like to the Puritanian or the Cartwrightian or the Brownistian or the Geneuian or the Gehenian platforme there shall a new order or gouernement be brought into the Church whose gouernors shall consist of sixe seniors or elders in the congregation of Bedlems or Dutch Peeres or what you will call them whereof the seculars shall be as it were Chaplins to the Iesuits as Pater Rector and Pater minister that is father Parsons and his minister So as cleare it is that the Iesuites will alwayes haue some seculars amongst them either to vse as asses to lay their load vpon if any thing happen amisse amongst them or else as Iebusees in this land of promise made vnto them by the king of Spaine as they report left for these choice people of God to worke vpon But howsoeuer it happen I find no mention made in that statute whether the seculars must be aliens and strangers or of a natiue brood that shall be put to these meane offices For it were an indecent thing that the great fathers should desist from preaching dealing with Princes and high affaires ministrare mensis No fie God forbid their honours should so basely be stained and the matter I thinke is disputable whether they shall be all Spaniards or all English or of a mixt hotch potch of all or so many sundry nations But I thinke sure the last for it were no pollicy to haue them all of one nation but rather like the Turkes Bassaes and Ianissaries of omnium gatherum So that if any of the English Priests be admitted to that seruile dignitie it is very like to be the Archpriest were it not that more probable it is that father Parsons will haue about with him for old done deedes or Doctor Worthington or Doctor Turner or some hote spurre of the assistants or such one or other as may be fittest to serue their turne for the time Mary for any of our nation to be in the highest roomes saue onely Iesuites that is not a thing to be looked for as too arrogant a part for any to thinke of it Yea Doctor Allane troubled them much with thought and care where to haue
answere to the Interrogatory which is of many members I say First that it pertaines to all secular and ecclesiasticall persons equally and indifferently be they catholikes protestants or puritanes to deale in state affaires in two cases the one is for the rectifying of mens and womens consciences and instructing all such as are of their flocke and liue vnder their charges how they are to behaue themselues to God their prince and their countrey when and in what cases bound to acknowledge obedience to the one or the other either coniunct or a part and what is to be done in times of persecution ciuill warres or forraigne inuasions and the like the other is for making giuing and promulgating of lawes publishing of bookes and prescribing or setting downe of orders to be obserued and therewithall deliuering a genuine true and literall exposition of the same For although all these thinges be absolutely in the prince who onely may make lawes c. and is the direct legifer to all his subiects and others liuing within his dominions or vnder his allegiance any where as appointed by God himselfe for that purpose when he said Per me reges regnant legum conditores iusta discernunt yet forasmuch as there is a dependencie of lawes and legifers one vpon another as I tolde you before in the 7. Quodlibet and for that it was said in holy writ of olde that Labia sacerdotum custodient sapientiam legem requires ex ore illius quia angeli Domini exercituum sunt which wordes expressely appointing priestes to be expositors of lawes are to be taken as they may concerne Gods honour and what in conscience they doe binde vnto how the so obliged subiects may be dispensed withall therein and how not in any wise Therefore this being the office of the clergie to explane to prince and people what the law of God and man is and how farre a temporall prince may goe in making of lawes without repugnancie to the lawe diuine It followeth that as their knowledge and experience must needes be greater then the Lords temporall in al such cases because it is their direct studie so also if any booke be to be written or lawe made giuen c. their interest vnder their prince is the greatest and most of all other therein and so by consequent in these two cases the secular clergie or eccclesiasticall persons in this sense for instruction of others and by reason of their more learning and knowledge then more temporall persons orderly haue or commonly can haue may be said to deale in state matters of what profession soeuer they be Secondly as for the secular priests heere in England in these heauie times of their frownd on state although they may lawfully deale in the premisses yet must it be with a prouiso which wanting they indanger themselues and those they liue and conuerse withall Yea and bring all other catholikes to be suspected and had in iealousie thereby And that is First not to take vpon them by word or writing to impugne the parliamentall lawes and statutes made Secondly not to controll either peremptorily or otherwise the present gouernment of the state Thirdly not to impeach the dealings or proceedings of any one of her Maiesties honorable Counsel or high commissioners in state affaires Fourthly not to meddle directly or indirectly with disposing of the crowne this way or that way or appointing out of successors thereunto Fiftly not and much lesse to stirre vp further strife as hereafter will be prooued that the Iesuits haue diued too deepe ouer head and eares in all these things Sixtly but a secular priests office being neither of Court nor Counsell is in these cases onely to admonish all good catholikes to beare Christ his crosse with patience Seuenthly not to meddle in writing printing or procuring the publishing of any such booke libell or pamphlet as may mooue exasperate or touch the present state in any of these points before specified Eightly and further their office is by the way of mediatorship and humble sute to procure by all possible satisfaction standing firme and inuiolate their function and faith to her Highnesse and those in authoritie vnder her that those sharpe penall lawes made against innocent and harmeles harts to the cause and shedding of much guiltlesse bloud that hath beene spilt for the Iesuiticall offences may either be abated and infringed by some new prouiso made or else all wholy repealed by parliamentall acte or otherwise dealt in as in her Maiesties wisedome and high prudence of her honorable Counsell shall be thought meetest for mitigation of our generall afflictions Ninthly and besides this the seculars office is to instruct euery catholike what they ought to thinke and what to doe and say in these cases if they shoulde chance to come before the ciuill magistrate Tenthly and last of all if any booke be set foorth of state as those are which concerne succession of the crowne detraction of the present gouernment detection of any publike person in authoritie defamation of the bloud royall of the land blasphemies against regall maiestie and the like or any speech or practise for inuasion of the land excommunication of our Soueraigne and getting consents for aduancement of an alien prince to write acte speake or otherwise to deale against such persons and their treacherous designements to confute their false erronious and seditious bookes of those subiects to conferre or haue intercourse with the aduersaries howe to preuent those mischieues that hang ouer the whole realme In these and all such like cases may seculars statize that is deale in state affaires how to preuent mischieuous statizers of their purpose and practises but no further and so farre onely by conniuence for the good of our common cause and safetie of our countrey Thirdly now for the Bishops and others of the clergie heere in England they no question representing the ecclesiasticall state may deale in moouing instructing expounding diuulging or doing any the like acte perteining to prime-membred numbred and accounted on state as much and so farre as the same state doth authorize them vnder that title and name to deale in Fourthly the like might be said in some sense for the Puritanean Consistorie representing the ecclesiasticall state in Scotland were not that their grounds rules and principles of their gouernment Oglogerchian iust like to the Iesuiticall platforme did vtterly ouerthrowe both states ecclesiasticall and temporall and brought both head and members of the body politicall to be a plebeian hotch potch of popularitie voide of all name nurture or nature of any state And by consequent the puritanes in England are in the same predicament for state matters that the Iesuits are in both nought vnlawfull detestable and directly to be called statists or rather statizers against the present state That this is so of the Iesuits shall be treated of in all the ensuing articles and for the present that it is none otherwise to be conceiued of
effects we now behold both clergie and laitie highly offending so the succceding occasions of erronious conceipts hath been our owne faultes in treading our forefathers steps in this point of priuate respects selfe conceits and high aspires So as iustly we may say Non sumus digni à Deo exaudiri but rather and most true it is that nostris demeritis meremur puniri and that the fault is not in her Maiestie nor honorable Councell nor ciuill magistrate nor all nor any of our aduersaries but in our selues that England is not yet conuerted and our persecution of long time still encreased scil by reason of some seditious persons and others that followed them with indiscreet zeale and those that were in expectance of great matters by a change conuerting their thoughts from heauenly hopes to earthly hazards imploying their studies how to compasse their owne ambitious aduancements God highly offended to see his blessings and graces lost and taken from amongst vs for our forefathers sinnes to be gone about by the like and woorse proceedings to haue it restored againe It could not otherwise choose but greeuously offend the diuine maiestie and vntill the archplotters of this preposterous course for our countries conuersion were either cut off or otherwise had humbled themselues and surceasing from all ambitious aspires sought sincerely the health of soules not heapes of gold England should neuer be conuerted But we all die and pine away leauing the atchieuement to those that shall succeede in our places when we are all dead and gone That the Iesuits of the more fiery hot and Puritanian humor may not snuffe at the quiet that catholikes are here said to haue liue◠in eleuen yeeres you shall heare the very words of two of their great Rabbies Parsons Creswels speaking to her Maiestie in a Puritanian stile as followeth In the beginning of thy kingdome thou didst deale something more gently with catholikes none were vrged by thee or pressed either to thy sect or to the deniall of their faith All things in deede did seeme to proceede in a farre milder course no great complaints were heard of no extraordinarie contentions or repugnancies Some there were that to please gratifie you went to your churches But when afterwards thou didst beginne to wring them c. Which whensoeuer it was we were the cause as the attempts in Fraunce and Scotland make it manifest This then being the course and cause of humane hopes our harts doe bleede to reade and heare as sundry of vs haue what hath beene printed and published out of Italie in the life of Pius Quintus concerning the indeuors of his holines stirred vp by false suggestions to ioine with the king of Spaine for the vtter ruine and ouerthrow both of our prince and countrie Would God such things had neuer beene enterprised and more that they had neuer beene printed but most of all that they neuer had fronted our natiue shores And if Parsons and his associates had not busied themselues with that they should nor then had we not now medled in this place with that we would not as whereunto for a iust defence of all loyall catholike subiects ignorant of Parsons and his complices drifts we are now constrained to make appeales apologies and replies For what good soeuer the first or againe renewing of the excommunication the printing reprinting of state bookes and other practises may bring hereafter to the Church of God we neither see it neither knowe it But sure we are that for the present nothing hath done vs greater harme nor giuen our common enimies greater aduantages against vs. It is elsewhere set downe how that her Maiestie vsed vs kindly for the space of the first ten yeers of her highnes raigne the state of the catholikes in England that while was tollerable and after a sort in some good quiet Such as for their conscience were imprisoned or in durance were very mercifully dealt withall the state and change of things then considered some being appointed to remaine with such their friends as they themselues made choise of others were placed with Bishops and others with Deanes and had their diets at their tables with such conuenient walkes and lodgings as did well content them They that were in ordinarie prisons had all such libertie and commodities as the place and their estate could affoord them yea euen thus much and more doth Parsons confesse in his Philopater as also father Creswell in his Scribe to the like effect though both very rude peremptorie and sawcie in their speech to her Maiestie with thou didst this and thou didst that c. And Parsons in Grenecoate makes the case cleere especially for state matters though he turne his passage there against the Earle of Leicester to a wanton speech as deliuered from a Lady of the Court how great quiet the state and Court was in for twelue yeeres space no talke of treasons nor conspiracies no iealousies nor suspitions no enuie nor supplantations no feare of murtherings nor massacrings no question of conscience nor religion all liued in quiet content and right good fellowship was amongst them both Lords and Ladies wiues and maidens nobles and gentles knights and esquires married and single of all degrees a ioy it was to haue been in the Court in those daies saith Parsons in that Ladies name whose words mooued much the company where she was as women saith he are potent in moouing where and when they please she did deliuer her mind with so sweete a countenance and courtly a grace c. Now whiles you were say our aduersaries thus kindly vsed of her highnes how trecherously was she dealt withall by you For what had you to doe being catholikes and religious priests as Iesuits terme themselues with spreading pamphlets libels and other fooleries abroad of any misdemeanor in her Maiesties subiects and peeres of the realme You might haue left such scoggerie as Parsons hath set out in Greenecoate to Tarleton Nashe or else to some Puritane Martin Mar prelate or other like companions And for you it was to haue handled grauer higher and more important matters and that concerning soule points not subtilties nor new deuises much lesse to haue dealt against her Maiestie and the state in so traiterous a manner as in a late treatise set out by our brethren doth at large appeere Where to our vnspeakable greefe the world shall see that we our selues who would be termed catholikes and that of all sorts haue beene the true causes of all our owne calamities When I was examined before some of the high Commissioners at the Gildhall about 14. yeeres agone concerning matters of state and especially about the six Interrogatories which we commonly called the six bloodie articles knowing my selfe innocent from the beginning of any the least disloyall thought I haue often since much mused with my selfe what should haue mooued her Maiesties honorable Councell to haue proposed these articles to priests but most of all why
conspiracies vpon more warie and further looking into their dooings drifts and plot castings comparing their infamous libels letters passages practises purposes and proceedings together and conferring one thing with an other heere and there and in all other nations kingdomes and prouinces where they come and can get footing as now in Sweuia the case is cleere how the Polonian king is defeated of that kingdome occasionated only by their treacherous ambitious tampring aspires sundry of sound iudgement and of the grauer more politike and wiser sorte amongst them that are not ledde away with passion or affection further then reason lawe iustice conscience and religion mooues bindes and compels them for to thinke are fully perswaded they escaped as great a danger of comming vnder a Iesuitical bondage when al France was in a furious combustion by them as euer they or anie other nation did at what time as the Templars the sampler of the Iesuits often mentioned by me in sundry places had confederated with the Turks or Sarazens in a general conspiracy for the ouerthrow of the whole christian world of France in chiefe And therefore as that most Christian catholike king great Henrie of France now regnant hath iust cause together with the state of France neuer to admit of the Iesuits againe to come within his borders or to like as the Scots phrase goeth within his bounds so maruell not though all that are Iesuits either in verbo or in voto in re or in spe or in faction or affection do mightily grudge murmur and euen gnash their teeth in the furie of their zeale with most bitter words reuiling as well the Popes holines as the king Christian the state the clergie the catholikes and the whole realme of Fraunce when they heare but the name of that nation or call to minde what a sweete morsell was taken out of their iawes at the reconciliation of the French king to the catholike Romish Church as the onely acte which dashed their hope for the time of that crowne frustrated their ambitious aspires to that mighty monarchie and put them halfe in dispaire of euer obtaining the like meanes of aspiring to soueraigne dominion Yea I am verily perswaded it gaue many of the more ambitious sort amongst them such a frantike phanaticall mad distraction in their wils as seuen yeeres retired exercise of contemplation will hardly bring them to a true mortified religious course and spirite againe For had they gotten Fraunce subiected vnder the Spaniards at that time as the ticklish state of all things stood here and elsewhere the Spanish title and claime to the English crowne rising thence as before is said they would haue had greater possibilitie of aduantage helpes and meanes by size ace and the dice for the conquest of all these northerne Isles then now they haue or are like hereafter easily to be possessed of the whole Christian world beginning now daily more and more to looke into them and their treacherous dealings Thirdly I might here enlarge my selfe with many weightie reasons to conuince the Iesuiticall ambition and aspires to the French crowne and kingdome as well by some suspitious speeches giuen our by their fautors of the causes moouing the marriage betwixt the Lady Infanta Isabella and the Archduke Albert and placing of them both in the Low countries as also by the generall passages and the Iesuiticall faction concerning the house of Burgundy and common applauses giuen on that behalfe how maruellous deepely affected the Burgundians are to the English how hatefull to the French how woorthy warriors of themselues and how that their forces together with the power of England and strength which the Lady Infanta their soueraigne would bring or send vnder the conduct of some Iesuiticall General perchance of Captaine Cubbocke were sufficient to bring both Fraunce and Scotland vnder the English subiection as of right they should These with many other the like perswasions vsed by them both to catholikes and others of our common aduersaries shew plaine if a man ponderate euery point particular and circumstance well with himselfe that the Iesuits aime at all these northerne Isles together with the whole kingdome of Fraunce and by consequent then these once gotten in full possession what kingdome in the world but per nullum tempus occurrens regi may by degrees come vnder their bowe bondage and Allobrogicall gouernment THE VII ARTICLE VVHether then bicause so it seemeth by this your last speech doe the Iesuits if they preuaile in England or Fraunce intend any thing against Spaine and the whole house of Austria and by consequent against the whole Empire and all other Monarchiall states of Christendome or else none but onely these before mentioned to themselues and the rest for the Spanish and Austrian lines THE ANSWERE IT is most certaine apparant and manifest by all coniecture reasons proofes and arguments ad hominem that they most traiterously haue cast the platforme and doe goe about so much as wit of man can deuise to bring all kings princes and states in Christendome vnder their subiection And therefore they haue an intendment against Spaine Austria and the whole empire as well as against England Scotland or Fraunce or any other peculiar prouince though not against all at once for that were meere follie in them but by peecemeale as I said before of these northerne Isles in setting one nation in opposition against an other and euery one to be iealous not only of their neighbour princes but also of their owne subiects each one apart and all this vnder pretence of religion making the Spaniards bicause he hath the best bag in deede though they pretend bicause he hath more religion in him then the rest a great many not knowing or at least not thinking of it how that the Spanish state is as ticklish as any in Christendome this day and as much bad and wicked liuers in it as any where almost is to be found the number of infidels Nueuo Christiano and lewd catholikes considered to be the cloake of their colorable aspires pretending for him alone as best able they thinke to beare them out against all other princes or soueraignes whosoeuer In which kinde of practise policie and matchiuilean deuise doe blinde the eies of the multitude which they chiefly labour for though it may seeme incredible to some that euer they should aspire to an absolute monarchie thereby considering they are so few in number and those dispersed here and there in sundry Nations ouer all the face almost of the whole earth yet who so doth wel consider that the Turkish empire the Ottomans race the Mahumetans state hath spred it selfe abroad vpon no expectation had either of themselues or feare conceiued at first of any other by them like to this platforme doctrine and pretend of the Iesuits they will thinke it neither strange nor impossible but rather very probable vnlesse God do strike them and confound their deuises And this I proue first to
be so much the more probable that they both aspire ayme and shoote at an absolute imperial marke and withall will be able to giue a greater assault pushe and put for it when time comes then euer any of the fower monarches or other vpstart imperiall states gaue before them to this day by how much as they are more dispersed and haue greater fatours in all Christian kingdomes then any other rebels or aspires to soueraigne dominions had in any one of these regions where they first began tyrannically to rule For if Ottoman alone could passe out of Persia with other vacabonds and in the end become so mighty a Lord in a strange land vanquishing in short space the rest of his fellowes all great princes by fortune of wars and other meanes that now his successor called Imperator Turcarum is the most powerable Emperor of the world yea aboue the Spaniards by reason that his dominions are vnited together round about him whereas the Spaniard is rather hindered and his strength diminished by multitudes of kingdomes intituled subiected and gouerned by him then otherwise by reason that they lye so far a sunder disioynted by intercurring countries betwixt him and home on each side then considering what manner of men they are none can deny but that there is great likelyhoode of the Iesuits aduancement to soueraigne dominion with inlargement of their territories further then euer it was like that the Turke should haue enlarged his vntill the effects did demonstrate it vnto the worlde that so it was Secondly this is confirmed not onely ab inductione for euery particular Nation how many great potentates side with them to second their aduersaries euery where but also by the meanes they haue to worke that feate withall scil to increase their faction by winning inueigled single harts vnto them which they do sundry waies but especially by three deuises that are the cheife aides and hopes of conquests none of which the Ottomans had when they began their enterprise One is wit practise experience and policie for in vaine are warres abroad nisi sit consilium domi neither Matchiuel nor any that euer yet was in Europe comming neere vnto the Iesuits for Atheall deuises to preuent the stoppels of their stratagems and to further their owne proceedings An other is pretended piety whereby through helpe of the former to put their rules and principles in execution in due time and place respecting the person and other circumstances and occasions offered they haue and do not onely allure multitudes vnto them dayly encreasing the number of their faction but withall there can be nothing done nor almost intended against them or for the strengthening by counterplots of their aduersaries where euer they liue but presently know it and thereby hauing their spials in euery princes court and place of most intelligence that may informe their Generall as they doe once a moneth ordinarily from all parts of Europe what is there done or intended with or against them they haue the aduantage by being thus dispersed to saue themselues from all vniuersall or any notable danger And if possibly it can be preuented or their aduersaries ouerthrowen in their owne courses taken against these fathers they haue the meanes for it else it is not in the world to be heard of or found The last is plenty of money which Ottoman also wanted And seeing to speake morally there is not that exploite to be done which money cannot compasse then consider what huge masses of money and infinite treasure the Iesuits haue euery where It is credibly reported by some reuerend priests as I told you once before that they lost at their expulsion out of Fraunce three millions at the least Adding hereunto what large collections they make yeerely here in England which is the least they haue in any other Nation vnlesse Scotland c. where they are resident little or nothing at all sometimes comming to any afflicted Catholike so mercilesse hard and cruell harts they haue of many 1000. l. which some one of them hath reeceiued as before is touched in part and more at large in other bookes written of their conni-catching deuises to get money is to be found Then I say none euer had fairer meanes or greater helpes and likelyhoods of preuailing in their ambitious aspires and affecting of soueraigne dominion in an absolute monarchiall state then they haue Thirdly that the Iesuites practise is as well against Spaine and by consequent against the whole house of Austria and the Empire as against any other Nation it is apparant by that I told you of in part before concerning Fa. Parsons winding twinding doubling and boutgates in intituling the Lady Infanta to the English crowne meaning it directly for himselfe and his societie as is manifest also by his said books of succession c. which here you may please to confirme as wel by general collections out of the same bookes as likewise by the common report giuen out by him and his faction that not onely the said king catholike was priuie to the setting forth of that luckles labour but also patronized it as a speciall worke and peece of seruice done on his maiesties behalf to the greatest preiudice that could euer haue been offered to the king catholike as well ancient as recent and now regnant in esse For first he makes his maiestie the author in a sort patron and protector of all the conspiracies treasons and treacheries that are or can be brought against himselfe or any other soueraigne prince built vpon the erronious principles and grounds there laid downe by the many wide open gaps made through his popular doctrine For all rebellious multitudes in euery prouince court or countrie liuing vnder the Spanish gouernment or else where to enter and claime authoritie ouer him if in any thing they take pepper in the nose by least conceited dislike and all this vnder pretence of glorious stiles titles of common wealths and states Then he insinuateth as though the right title as well to the crowne of England as also of Fraunce and by consequent to the crowne and kingdome of all Europe there being not one but his title to it is as good if not better then it is to England were wholy in his highnes guift and free for him to bestow where he pleaseth And out of this grosse conceit he bringeth for an assured assertion for concatenation of the catholike religion and king catholike together as bellum sacrum hath beene euer since made odious euen to a Christian catholikes eares and the Spaniard had in suspition of all other Christian princes that he aspireth to a sole absolute monarchicall gouernment despition whereas it is this said father and his societie that aime at it in very deed Which no indifferent valorous or wise man hearing of but will thinke that all princes in christendome haue iust cause to looke hereafter to their stand and to haue a iealous watchfull restlesst eye aswell vpon the
Iesuites and neuer to trust a word they speake in commendation of the Spaniard and discommendation of other people or nations compared with them as also vpō the said kings Queenes and Archduke and Duchesse c. When they pretend any thing either on the catholike church or the Iesuites behalfe and by consequent shall doe an act of high merite iustice prudence and policy if they I meane all other christian princes and states expell these seditious factions turbulent irreligious persons out of all their territories seigniories regalties and dominions that haue pesterd the Church of God with such wicked doctrine as the proiect of that booke imports As none will iudge otherwise of them but as of most conscienceles careles and bloody minded men when they shall heare first of one booke set out as Greenecote is wherein the Author doth manifestly demonstrate that no different religion be it heresie or whatsoeuer ought to depriue a lawfull heire in fee simple of his fathers inheritance being but a subiect and a forraigner then in princes rights titles to kingdomes it must and ought to hold saith father Parsons in that place bringing in sundry examples how that neither in England catholikes by that name were debard of their lawfull inheritance vnder her Maiestie since the change of religion here neither the Puritanes in Scotland vnder the Queene Regent a catholike there neither in Fraunce Germany or else where was it euer heard of that any were disinherited for religious causes c. and then againe of an other as Parsons Doleman is together with his Appendix Philopater and others that quite discard all heretikes as he termes them from all interest pretend or title to any crowne Noe not if in case hereafter they should be catholike at the attempting of such an exploit or when they should see there were no remedy This last conceite with these hote spirited Puritanian Iesuiticall faction is holden so farre wide and contrary to the former as if the parties be not catholikes euer at the instant when their fatherhoods would haue them be you fully assured for no zeale of religion but of meere machiuilian policy either thereby to exasperate them against others or others against them and so to bring all a flote in fire and sword which is the onely thing they long for they must be censured iudged and condemned presently for reprobates atheists impostors to be conuerted and men be they Princes or whosoeuer vtterly of God forsaken This doctrine when princes and other men of learning iudgement and experience in such pragmatical platformes do perspicuously looke into and withall perceiue that religion is abused and Gods holy name blasphemed as being not his honor but their owne vnder a maske of catholike zeale they wish for they enter further into a deepe detestation of their Pharisaicall proiects iealously had of their owne naturall subiects and princely feare of their royall estates When they heare a man pretend as father Parsons doth on Spaniardes behalfe make a claime neuer heard of in any age to another mans lands in whose actuall quiet and apparantly rightfull possession by lineall discent from the father to the sonne for many hundred yeeres space times and ages past it hauing continued is now diuoluted to the present incumbent or prince regnant from his auncesters whose state title and regall honour he hath possesseth and peaceably enioyeth that so ancient renowned indubitate a right should now be called in question and that vpon the bare worde of a claymorous claime exceeding al meane modestie and measure made by an arrant traytor to God his Prince his countrey and to all lawes of God of nature of nations or of man and generally misliked of by all graue discreete prudent learned wise religious true harted catholikes especially for this his sodaine camelion vnexpected vndeserued vngrounded exorbitant passionate apostrophall change of a foisted in pretend audaciously presuming without buls breue billet ticket worde or warrant of any authoritie to charge all men to allow admit ratifie and confirme without all gainesay controlment or contradiction such a Soueraigne as he the said father Parsons will appoint them otherwise to be noted for Atheistes fooles rebels malicious politikes and aduerse to his catholike Maiestie and forsooth the common cause this this is that most odious scandalous irreligious treacherous erronious doctrine which is so preiudicial to the king catholike and his pretended cause as whiles Spaine is Spaine England England Fraunce Fraunce and Rome Rome will it neuer be forgotten nor forgiuen nor the iealousie thereof put out of all princes harts So as iustly father Parsons may be pointed at for woorse then a fabling libeller and were woorthie were he not a priest to be set vpon the pillorie and that euen by his catholike Maiestie for bearing the world in hand that he was set on to write those libels by warrant and priuitie of the said surmised pretendor whereas all circumstances both in the same bookes and scheduls together with those plotcasters speeches in secret to their friendes and the many dangers damages indignities discommodities accrewing to the king and his royal estate doe argue quite contrarie This is that venemous law will pearce the king catholike to the very naked hart if his Maiestie permit it to passe currant without due punishment inflicted vpon the presumant scribe and speedie abolishment of so polypragmaticall a platforme no lesse dangerously cast then traitorously laide to intrap all princes in Christendome in a Templars snare and as preiudiciall if not more in chiefe to the crowne and safetie of his royal person to his family in esse and to his successors for euer hereafter as to any other prince or monarch whosoeuer For let his Highnes winke at this doctrine and seeme to authorize it and then what better warrant or more plausible can be deuised when minds of people in all nations as ruefull experience doth tell vs are now a daies so quickly exulcerated with grieuous sores of gustes and discontent easily corrupted with maladies of contention and hastely set on horsebacke with superfluous humors of nouelties innouations ambition disdaine reuenge thirsting after bloud desirous of liberty and greedily affecting soueraignty then thus to authorize all and euery Prouince vnder his gouernment to rebell against him at their pleasure and auouche maintaine and defend for lawfull all their outragious insurrections malepert mutinies and contagious crimes against his highnes and soundest part of his nobles and subiects euery where but especially in the Low countries vnder this counterfeited conference holden at Amsterdam amongst the States there Yea by this colourable doctrine of Fa. Parsons hotch potch prodigious common wealthes authority when it comes to reasoning standing the premises without the kings controlment they may lawfully auerre al their practises proceedings and deeds past they may admit his maiestie peacebly to gouerne and raigne ouer them with this condition that he shall mantaine the course by them begun for gouernment
to receiue take and accept of for their practise and directions in all causes martiall monasticall spirituall and temporall This grosse error of father Parsons and his no lesse great absurditie then rash foolish presumptuous and most dangerous course where unto his proiects do tend by this his pretence for the Lady Infanta to colour his owne and his societies traitorous aspires doe argue his insolencie and pride to be so great as they blind his iudgement sence and censure from discerning that these his plots drifts and deuises will be not onely condemned and laughed at by a generall applause but he also vtterly reiected and cast off out of all indifferent mens conceites be they of what religion soeuer that beare any loue to their countrie or that wish a preseruation of their auncient nobility and gentry freed by lawes customes and priuiledges from that tyrannie spoile which this hard natured and most cruell harted man seemeth most to desire for his owne priuate respects and commodities And surely when I remember the words of some of his proctors apparators somners pursiuants attornies aduocates soliciters and serieants here in England that neither could neither can yet indure to here that the Popes holinesse should haue any dealing or medling in this matter as a gust which gauleth them to the very guts to heare and see some already of a more gracious sweet mild incline to mercy in her Maiesty towards the innocent on that behalfe then heretofore hath bene or then they can hope for to themselues or any way indeede do desire to any others father Parsons and the rest of his state compartners vrging nothing more then to haue persecution of catholikes increased not diminished at all further then to grant out bulles of excommunication against all those that should impugne the spanish title and withall to send out pardons and graines of indulgence to all those that should fight on the Spaniards side against their natiue countrie both which vnnaturall practises seing the Iesuites haue sought for to be put in execution to the vttermost thereby to torment vs on euery side and by consequent incense the soe oppressed with rage against their soueraigne and the state tell me deere catholikes what moues you to fawne vpon those that thus doe labour for your heauie destruction I cannot but muse with my selfe how euer this disguised vnfortunate stepfather father Parsons being filius terrae by birth an Englishman by education a catholike by externall profession a priest by charecter a religious man by vow and order and taking vpon him by function and calling wholy to aduance Gods cause yea with hallowes and how-hubs with whowbes whowes and outcries against all that tast not on the froth of his zeale hath hitherto refused to take his holinesse for an example and his sacred predecessors the successors of Saint Peter vpon whom he ought chiefly to haue relied as a speciall note of so sound a catholike and perfect religious person as he and his would make the simple people beleeue they are for a paterne to imitate who haue euer held most mild modest and moderate courses towards all but especially towards the kings of great Britaine were they Scots or English not halfe so seuere against any as oftentimes by surreptitiall suggestions of some euill and factious persons they were vrged to haue bene As well appeered in the bull of Pius the fift which though we wish had neuer come out and much more that the other two since that time denounced against her Maiesty had neuer bene seene or heard of in this world yet to speake Gods truth when the Pope his holinesse perceiued what bloody tragedies and massacres on all sides were like to ensue thereupon by commaund of withdrawing our naturall allegiance from our natiue soueraigne vpon wrong information giuen as before we haue touched at large the said Bull was called in againe and all catholikes throughout England left as free to obey her Maiesty in all things due to her princely regalitie as they were before But letting that and other excommunications passe as spoken of before with harty wish they had neuer bene amongst many examples of the deere loue and fatherlie compassion of the Popes holinesse towards the inhabitants and princes of this land in times of eminent common welthes dangers the chiefe since the Norman conquest was shewed in the daies and raignes of king Henry the second surnamed Fitzempresse and of his sonne king Iohn the third Monarche of England of a Plantagenets royall race Against whom hauing vsed his fatherly correction as pastor vniuersall ouer the whole flocke of Christ for their great tyrannie and crueltie vsed towards their naturall subiects yet vpon their repentance mercifully receiuing them into grace and fauour of Gods church againe his holinesse on the behalf of the second did not onely accurse and excommunicate prince Lewis of France with all his adherents forcing him to yeeld vp all the interest right and title that he or his posteritie had or euer should haue to the English crowne but also surrendred vp the said crowne of England frank and free to king Iohn and his heires and successors from of the head of Cardinall Pandulphus hauing sit enthronized three daies therewith in the Popes right of purpose to abate and end the strife for euer to inioy the same in as full absolute and ample manner as any prince or monarche euer enioyed or possessed a crowne And thousands there are in England that desire as much and I verily thinke more vnfainedly and with a better more sincere true and catholike religious mind then any of the Iesuiticall or spanish faction doe desire the conuersion of our countrie who yet will be ready to lay their liues to pledge for it that if as God forbid and I hope it shall neuer happen that any Lancastrian forraigner should get possession of this land with as many oathes homages and fealties made and done vnto him or her whosoeuer as prince Lewis had whom father Parsons brings in for an example in confirmation of the Lady Infantaes title by that house bloud and line of king Lewis of France be like of purpose to vrge the English as he hath to make the like protestation on the said Infantaes behalfe yet would euen this Pope Clement the eight according to his predecessors example reuoke recall repeale and force him or her to retire and withall would of his mere mercie a gift appropriated to Saint Peters chaire in speciall manner grant to our nation the election and choise and set vp a king of our owne natiue soile bred and borne within the confines of great Britaines Ocean vpon the like repentance and submission of former princes in this and all other Christian kingdomes maugre all the Iesuites Spaniards and huff muffes in the world These important considerations should haue touched father Parsons hart with deepe remorse to remember how mightily he hath resisted impugned and violated all lawes diuine and humane whatsoeuer
raigne rule and authoritie as containing in it all three sorts of gouernment scil Monarchicall Aristocraticall Democraticall in matters of counsell and managing of common wealths causes but not in points of regaltie honor inheritance For there shal be neither title nor name nor honor giuen taken or done to any Prince Duke Marquesse Earle Vicount Lord Baron or the like all the Iesuiticall gouernors being puritan like seniours elders prouincials rectors ministers c. neither shall there be any succession by birth or blood to any honor office or magistracy from the monarch Pater Generall to the minor Pater minister but all shall goe by election and choice neither shall any title clayme or right of inheritance be made chalenged pretended intended or diuolued from the father to to sonne but all shall rest in this Presbyter Iohn or Pope-Monarchiall-Generals gift No noble knight Esquier or swayne possessing more then the monarch shall bestow vpon him as tenant at will for the time nor for terme of life iust like to the Turkes distribution of lands and honors And if any thinke that this is but a surmise let them reperuse what here passantly is written in these Quodlibets and confer if possibly they can get them Fa. Parsons bookes of titles together with his high counsell of Reformation and other passages in manuscripts and then doubtlesse they will be of my minde THE X. ARTICLE VVHether then seeing their intended gouernment is most Antichristian Tartarian Turcicall and Tyrannicall do they maintaine this their paradoxall pragmaticall and stratagemicall doctrine by any law reuelation or other authority saue onely their owne bare word will and commaund to haue it so or what is the ground of all these their strange courses THE ANSWERE STabat pro ratione voluntas was the chiefe ground of the disciplinary lawe why poore Todde was beaten in Rome vntill his bones aked knowing no cause in the world for the Iesuits to haue vsed him so And if any seeme so peremptory as to aske a Iesuite what authoritie he hath either concerning these or any other exorbitant extrauagant exlegall and extra ordinarie lawes rules customes or orders set downe obserued and kept amongst them let him looke for none other but a thunderbolt of excommunication or sharpe censure irremissibly to bee throwne against him they being such Lords lawlesse Sirs and legifers as cannot erre in any act word or thought of a matter of fact to be formed framed and fashioned by them and therefore high blasphemy to contradict these Demigods in any thing But if you aske them why such a law doctrine or order is set downe by way of submission admiration or humble acknowledgement of their powerable dignitie and woorthines aboue all other persons liuing on earth then to breede a greater reuerence dutifull regard and respectiue feare in you towards them they may happily tell you that they haue it by reuelation that as by speciall commandement from God their order or societie was miraculously instituted for this end so father Parsons was and is the prophet appointed to prophecie vnto vs a dismall change that the time is come wherein all lawes customes and orders must be altered and all things turned vpside downe and that they being the onely men that haue the name office and authoritie of Iesus by them it is that this maruellous change and alteration shall be wrought in such sort as from the beginning of the world was the like neuer heard of before to this present of the Iesuits precedencie Mary yet if you aske other men dispassionate vnpartiall and not speaking of affection by what law or authoritie they doe attempt and teach these things they will tell you they haue neither law diuine nor humane so to doe but a law irregular made by an exlegall legifer father Parsons by name who hath preiudiced iniuried and wronged by his infamous libels all lawes and lawyers customes states and orders For first he hath preiudiced the lawes common pontifical of nations of nature of God himselfe as in the premisses of sundry precedent Quodlibets may appeere Then he hath preiudiced the lawes municipiall of this noble Isle laboring to foist in to outward shew the lawes ciuill Romane of Caesar abolished aboue a thousand yeeres agoe by authoritie of the See apostolike at the instant sute of king Lucius with the general consent of all his noble Lords the woorthy Britaines then peeres of these two realmes He hath abused the law custome and order obserued in humanitie in fawning vpon the Austrian line vnder pretence to bring in the imperiall lawes of Caesar into this land but intending in very deede to thrust a law vpon vs neuer heard of before throughout the vniuersall world nor I think euer shall be put in execution vntill the comming of Antichrist that all run vpon wheeles with alteration and change He hath preiudiced the lawe of propertie in instituting gouernment gouernors and hereditarie princes to be ad beneplacitum populi and all other priuate possessiants ad beneplacitum suum He hath preiudiced the lawes ciuill and imperiall of Caesar bringing them in falsly alleged and one thing for another as a comment for a corps a code for a digest a glosse for a text a memoriall for a principle and a note of some allegation vpon a sute past on the behalfe of a client for a maxime in the lawes either vnauthentically defined or remaining litigious pliable to any opinion or else interpreted as father Parsons pleaseth to the most disgrace he can deuise to all Ciuilians applied by him against proximitie of blood to breede a diuorce of friendship and kinred by disturbing the lawfull course of succession by birth and consanguinitie prouided by lawes for passage of lands and inheritance after the law of propertie began in all nations Which violent intrusion of Caesars lawes thus abused and bolsterd out to the vtter ruine of many noble families irreuocably he hath no shift to ratifie and get it allowed of but to delude simple people to confirme it by sundry examples of banckrupt common wealths or rather disordered multitudes He hath abused and preiudiced all states common wealths nobles and gentiles of this and all other Christian nations by a temporized popularitie thrust in vpon them accomodating himselfe as he saith to the conditions manners and minds of the common people which euer do delight in noueltie and change Otherwise as he seriously noted had the Iesuites neuer bene so admired at in England as they are at this day But omnia rara sunt preclara amongst the mobile vulgus who seising quickly vpon this popular doctrine it presently imprinted a fauourable opinion and liking both of the man and the matter in their wauering harts as all the world seeth it and perceiuing they might by this popular doctrine of father Parsons controul disthronize and ouerthrow their soueraigne the state their landlords and all other nobles and gentiles as they listed and liked best hereupon then they inferd
affliction and calamity then any of these their young maisters euer yet tasted of And last of all the fire bursting out there first though first enkindled at Rome as earst I sayd then began the like of fresh at Rome againe where it burst out into so furious and mercilesse a consuming flame for fire and water haue no mercy as sundry reuerend Priests burnt therewith haue deepely protested they would rather chuse if it were in their choise to liue captiues vnder the Turke for security of their soules then vnder the Iesuits gouernement or rather indeede captiuity the temptations suggested by them are so many dangerous intricate and difficult which way to ouercome them And so by succeeding turnes Spaine Fraunce Flanders and all England became infected with these Iesuiticall contentions and garboyles the grounds originals causes and continuance whereof were onely wholly and absolutely the Iesuits ambitious aspires fallen downe now vpon their heads to their owne destruction that were the first plotcasters of their innocent brethrens ruines THE II. ARTICLE VVHether the Seminarie Priests or the Iesuits haue giuen greater scandale by publishing of matters abroad in proiects to the worlds theater concerning these contentions before in secret at the first vnknowne to the Catholike Laity and much lesse to any Protestant or other of a contrary Religion and which side part or faction was the first beginners of spreading abroad infamous letters and libels against the opposits to their designments THE ANSWERE THe Iesuits were both the beginners of the contentions as before is shewed the fewell cariers to the seditious fire-feedings and the first brokers breathers and brochers of them abroad both to Catholikes Protestants Cleargy Laity men women children home-borne and foreyners as by sundry of their letters libels and other infamous seditious and inuectiue writings is yet extant to be seene aswell in printed bookes as in many manuscripts of maister Blackwell father Parsons Creswell Currie Gerard Martin Array Baldwin Lyster and sundry others whose false malitious and most exorbitant dealings to detect defame and vtterly exterminate the name fame and memory of the Seminarie Priests and Cleargy aswell in generall as in speciall will be brought out in deposition against them when competent iudges may be had and the cause iustly tried Nay when did euer any Priest write and much lesse commit to the impression of a pamphlet any one word against them The most part euen of those that had suffered most longest and greatest disconsolation and wrongs put vp at their hands accounted that the touch of any Catholike Priests good name was tangere pupillam oculi sui so dainty nice and precise a conscience had they to detract defame or speake euill of any man or woman yea though the reports were true And vntill all was in an vprore all Priests that sided not with the Iesuits in all things were brought into obloquie contempt and disgrace all shunned auoided and such slanderous speeches raised by the Iesuits faction against them as they knew not possibly how to liue quiet or to liue in truth at all by them Vntill then I say they winkt kept silence and let passe all their letters libels and iniurious slanders vnanswered They sayd little or nothing to those erronious and yet to the Iesuits most plausible bookes of choise of ghostly fathers They let passe that erronious speech in the Wardword to Sir Francis Hastings watchword making Iesuits Christ his equals in a way of absurd comparison and insinuating Seminarie Priests and other Catholikes to be but the Churches refuse They friendly admonished the Author of the 3. farewels of the soule giuing to the Iesuits that which no religious order would accept of or durst desire to cease from publishing such grosse errours which otherwise had gone to the presse and print as extolling the Iesuits therein to the skies aboue all possible humane deserts vnder the title of religious persons distinguished thereby from meere secular Priests as they tearme the rest but neuer did they publish anything against it They suffered with patience that long lowd lye to passe vnrecalled wherein the Cardinals and by Cardinall Caietane the Popes Holinesse was informed that the cause of sending to the Sea Apostolique to haue superiours appointed ouer the English Priests was grounded vpon great and dangerous contentions risen vp betwixt the Seminary Priests and the Catholike laity in that nation knowing in their owne conscience there was no contention mouing thereunto but betwixt the Seminarie Priests and themselues and those of their and the Spanish faction They sought not to controule that seditious false infamous booke intituled Against the factions in the Church applied directly by the Archpriest to the secular Priests and those that sided with them on the Catholike Church and their natiue countries behalfe They labored not to call in question those stained records with all falshood impiety and arrogancy on the Iesuits behalfe of the memorable acts done by their society forsooth here in England viz. how that they onely were persecuted and not the Seminary Priests how such and such and in generall all that opposed themselues against their proceedings had suffered disgrace and shame and came to miserable ends notwithstanding and they cannot deny it neither are they ignorant thereof that there be a whole browne dozen twice ouertold of glorious Martyrs all Seminary Priests all defamed by them all noted for malecontents as opposits to their proceedings These indignities calmuniations iniuries lies and irreligeous vanities with many the like vnchristian practises did they let passe and neither did neither euer would haue set hand to paper to write of these contentions betwixt them vntill their long silence condemned them all as guiltie and the Iesuits preuailed and did what they list by backbiting and writing most opprobriously against them THE III. ARTICLE WHether the Seminarie Priestes gaue any scandale or committed any sinne or incurred any danger of falling into schisme by resisting the Archpriest after the first sight or hearing of the Cardinals letters and now of late since the generall admittance of him vpon sight of the Popes Holinesse his Briâ—fe whether they incurred the like offence by writing Apologies in their owne defences or was or is it no sin scandale nor offence at all in them so to do THE ANSWERE IT neither was nor is any more sin schisme scandale nor offence in the one or the other they being in iustice charitie loyaltie and obedience for defence of Christs church and their countrie bound to both then for a guiltlesse man condemned to say you do me wrong or for an appellant against a knowne Rebell in act word or thought conuinced by demonstration vel à priori vel à posteriori i. either of the cause or of the effect to haue intent to say thou art a traitor For who of common sense would not haue bene touched with scruple if but hearing of a plaine simple man vnexperienced either in the Church or his countries affaires as liuing
priuate euer since he came Priest into England and thereby vnacquainted how to manage a matter of such importance as his authoritie in shew extended vnto and that throughout a whole nation nay throughout two mightie kingdomes yea and ouer a gallant troupe of as graue sages and as fine a breed of wits as the world this day enioyes to be aduanced vpon the sudden to a higher authoritie then euer was granted to any within this Isle without all desert as no way eminent but obscure vnlesse it were for libelling against his brethren without all notice giuen or knowledge taken of any such man matter or manner of proceeding vnlesse it were perchaunce suggested by one sole man Maister Standish by name a Iesuits broker factor and follower without all markes signes and tokens of iudiciall Canonicall or sincere dealing without all relation insinuation or least shew of and to the intent of those to whom the election onely absolutely and of due right belonged without all cognisance hierogliphie or ensigne of Catholike institution christianitie or humanitie the whole summe of his authoritie consisting in very deed of no materiall point but additions of affliction to affliction in ordaining an ignorant man to be flagellum Dei ouer his brethren castigando flagellando like blind Longius that pierced our Sauiors side by others appointment directing his hand to that tender tersacred and euer blessed heart and yet he knew it not who I say hearing of such an extrauagant irregulate exorbitant and absurd authoritie to tyrannize ouer the alreadie tormented and that by their suggestion procurement and foisting in perforce who had discouered themselues a little before to be the rockes of scandale to Priesthood and shelues of sinke-downe to all princely regalitie as hereafter shall be proued ayming at no lower marke then the highest dignities on earth who would not haue suspected resisted yea and more readily roughly and roundly then hitherto the secular Priests did haue deciphered both the Iesuits and their Archpriest for how should we call him ours we hauing no part in him vnlesse a tast and touch of his headie indiscreet and euill packt-vp sententious censures by their designements flung out against vs vpon the first blast of his authority wafted ouer the sea and ere euer the poore silly man had warmed himselfe in his vaine glorie bay And againe although they knew his authoritie was gotten to be confirmed vtcunque from his Holinesse by many false suggestions shamelesse cogs and impious forgeries yet putting vp all matters letting by pasts passe for bypasts aswell for their maruellous audacious and passing all euer before heard of impudencie insolencie and banded out boldnesse in threats slaunders and exclamations for not present acceptance of their new found out authoritie vpon the bare sight of the Cardinals letters euen with as ful affiance and repose put in them as if Oracles had come downe from heauen as also for the manifest wrong offered to our brethren two reuerend learned and auncient Seminarie Priests Doctor Bishop and Maister Charnocke Batcheler in Diuinitie cast into prison dispoiled or fitlier said most cruelly vnnaturally and inhumanely robbed of all they had that could by malice of man be taken from them of purpose to stop their passage to his Holinesse and to terrifie all others from euer daring to make towards the Mother citie to complaine of their tyrannie though know they this and if their faces will not blush yet let their eares burne to heare it that accesse and audience we will haue maugre the diuels deceits and their slie deuises or it shall cost vs all our liues one after another notwithstanding all the premises with a full halfe score of reasons besides added by me in another place to proue that the Priests might haue chosen whether euer they wold haue admitted of such a violent intruded authoritie or not yet they in all humble dutifull and obedient wise with filiall submission embracing the Breue from his Holinesse when it came which was many moneths after the first cogge of that dye for the cast at all our ouerthrowes and vtter subuersion of our countrey if then and thereupon all libels had surceased for yet was nothing written against them on our part but either a sad silence or a charitable intreatie to cease of their detraction and their tampering in State affaires lien dead nay if the secular Priests could but haue liued quietly by them they would neuer haue set hand to paper against them as in the former article is declared But the forepast iniuries and still of fresh inculcated ignominies calumniations and slaunders raised vrged and laid on by them being so grieuous many and importable to flesh and bloud without Gods speciall grace as earth would burst and cloudes would breake and seas would toare in cries out against them if men kept silence our present age will and all posterity may account it to be one of the worlds wonders that the Iesuits being men holden of all but especially in their owne ouer-weend conceit to be sance peres of the Christian globe for pregnancie of wit pollicie in gouernment and pietie in intention how euer they should so farre haue ouershot themselues that bestriding the horse and hauing the bridle reines and all in their owne hand to leade the Priests and all other Catholikes which way they list they should be throwne downe from their loftie mount out of saddle seate and all by casting out libels of schisme against sounder Catholikes more learned Diuines and deuouter Priests if externall signes were iudges then any punie Father amongst them which will breed their bane ere all be ended But it was no doubt Gods iust iudgements so to haue it thereby to stirre vp the secular and Seminarie Priests to write Apologies in their iust defence yea and by occasion therof to take in hand the defence of the Catholike church and their natiue countrey nay of all ecclesiastical and temporall States against them And therefore to proue it was but a Seians iade they rode vpon for such is the nature of ambition in greedy affectation of Soueraigntie as it both makes wise men fooles in their drunken conceits and strikes them dead with their owne weapon but not Achilles his launce to hurt and heale at a stroke as most infortunate when they thinke they are most secure it were expresly against the law of God of nature and of man for the Priests not to breake off silence and send foorth Apologies Pamphlets and all kind of Quodlibets in defence of the premises otherwise all the world would condemne them as guiltie And therefore of necessitie honour credit fame and report being as deare as life and he holden for worse then an infidell by diuine Oracle that is carelesse of his neighbours much more of his owne good name the secular Priests were bound to do all that they haue done and no sinne vnlesse their too too long silence which set the Iesuites on cockehorse at vnawares to