all religion become retrograde And that fair tyre the mask of sinn be mayde And better to effect a speadie end Lett ther be fovvnd tvvo fatal instruments The one to publish the other to defend Impious contention and provvd discontents Printing Maik that instamped characters may send Abroad to thovvsands thovvsand mens intents And in a moment may dispatch much more Then could a vvorld of pennes perform before VVereby all quarrels titles secrecies May vnto all be presentlie mayd knovvne Factions prepared parties allured to rise Sedition vnder sayr pretences sovvne VVhereby the vvlgar may become so vvise That vvith a self presumption ouergrovvn They may of deapest misteries debate Controule ther betters censure acts of state And then vvhen this dispersed mischeaf shal Haue brought confusion in each misterie Calld vt contempt of stâ—tes in generall And ripend the humour of impietie Then take the other engine vvhervvith all Coâ—nes They may torment ther self vvrought miserie And scourge each other in so strainge a vvise As tyme or tyrants neuer could deuise c. BABEL OR MONARCHOMACHIA PROTESTANTIVM NOT manie yeares since Reasons for the match vvith Spayn vpon the divulging of a letter vvritten by mayster Aldred against the match with Spayne and of that scandalous libel against the embassador Count Godomer as also by the instigation of somè whote-spoors in therpulpits men oft of more feruor then iudgment The people of London vvas much incensed to snarle and murmur euen at the verrie name of Spayne and euerie artificer presumed as an Aristarchus to censure the king for that negotiation as for an error of state vvch vvear like to cast the vvhole bodie of the kingdome into a distemper As yf the kings Zeale to the realm and to his issevv had bean vnnaturallie frozen and his iudgment had fayled hym and that those great planets of the counsel had also lost ther light and erred in ther course Whearupon I vvas vrged by diuers of my good freÌ„ds to vvrite the Apologie of that actioÌ„ and proceading bycause somme of them had hard me deliuer not onelie a full ansvver to all the objections of the contrarie faction but also diuers reasone in defenc thereof fovvnded vpon a rock and growndwork subiect to no battrie nor vndermining And to speak trevvlie and freelie the benefites vvhich the realme may reape by that match ar so maine and so aduantagious as I vvish yt rather doon then disputed on For it setleth a firme peace betvvean both the kingdmes aliquid amplius then they apprehend vvho oppugn yt Traffick shal therby be establisthed and encreased the seas by a concurrens of bothe the kings may be purged and cleared from Turks and pyrates The kingdome shal also be again stored and enriched with threasour coyne yf it be locked vp infraquatuor maria and not stil offred to that Idol of Cambaia The crown shal be disingaged from a burdensome vveight of debts and consequentlie the subiects ar like to be much eased of contributions and taxes And is the renevving and confirmation of the treaties vvith the house and Princes of Burgondie to be accompted as a Cypher or is it nothing to haue so great a Monarch as the king of Spayne a firme allie and frend vvhome England knoweth what it is to haue an enemie It is trew that England was neuer so full of moonie as it was by spoyles and depredation betwean the yeares 1576. and 1590. but how dearlie had that prochase bene bought yf god who had predetermined to dispose the crowne of England to her issew who had suffred deathe and disgrace for his glorie had not mayd the wynds and sea fight for England Virginia a Colonie now to be tenderlie regarded shall hearby setle her staples and mart with more securitie and aduanc ther traffick both by a fafer passage and entercours with the Ilands But aboue all arguments nothing mooueth me more then that is for the honor Safetie and commoditie of Prince Charles the darling of England which euerie trew Patriot is bownd in coÌ„scienc to further and aduance But so we shall be sayd to leaue Holland in the briars an old and assured frend and of powre to assist the realm vpon all occasions god grand the prince may neuer stand in nead to vse them and remeniber how small furthernas nay rather hovv great hindrance they haue bean to the traffick of this realme and vvhat great losses and dammage by ther meanes our merchants haue sustained in the Indies Moscouie Groenland In ead not tell yow how chargeabl a neighbour they vvear and how vnsure a frend euer preferring france and for England cum nemini obtrudi potest iâ—ur ad me And not vvith standing vvise men may easilie discern vvhat fauor they may yet reap at his maiesties hands yf they deserue not the contrarie by inconsiderate courses But vvhat cavvse can they instlie pretend that repyne and murmur at the name of Spayne They obiecte the sin the curse and the disparagement to match vvith a Catholick What is the reason for that barr bycause the Ievves might not be tollerated to match vvith the Ammorites nor religions persons vvith the prophane That opinion taisteth too much of Iudaisme and the Tabmud the barr is remooued for now vvear vnder the lavv of grace bothe Ievves and gentiles circumsision and vncircumcision ar all vnited to Christ by faith and Charitie and incorporated into his bodie and Church The Ievves might not marrie vvith of ther trybes for the promise was mayd to Abraham and his sead which was not to be stayned vvith vnpure blood and a commixtion of paganisme but novv the promise is alreadie performed and the iudicial lavv is abrogated Yea but that showeth that god disliketh that his Children should be defiled vvith the mixture of a superstitious people Trevv but who ar the superstitious and which is the trew religion is an other quaestion Bothe ar Christians both ar baptized in that name bothe laye hold on the promises testaments and the gospell bothe saye one Pater noster and one Credo both reuerenc the 4. first general counsels but vvho is the Catholick is filius Christs of the surer syde by the moother Church And of the elder howse Besides is it so strainge to heare that a protestant should match vvith a Catholick To passe ouer Quene Elizabeths treatie with Monsieur ded not Henrie the king of Nauarr the protector of the reformed churches in France marrie with the french kings sister a Catholick in regard of bonum publicum and yet the Elders and consistorie of Geneua ded not condemne that nor reprooue hym for that Ded not the same king aftervvard match his sister a famous protestant with the Duke of Lorraine one of the Champians of the Catholick churche Ded not Levves the Prince of Conde the Archipiller of the french church apprehend vvith great applavvse the overture of a marriage vvith Marie Quene of France and Scotland which certanlie had bean
performed yf the Admiral for his own particular had not layd a block in his vvays But aboue all others it is memorable and worthie to be remembred vvhat a bloodie quarrel it vvas mayd that king Edvvard the sixt the first protestant king in England might not marrie Quene marie of Scotland vvho was euer honored and esteamed a Catholik and yet the protector vvould haue mayd no scruple of Conscienc in that Caluinisme and Lutheranisme ar as opposite as Antipodes and yet they haue matched oft together and ther Issews ar the records thereof And was it then tollerable in the reformed churches and is it intollerable vvith Spayne what then is the cawse of this great scrupulositie and feare Is it for the state of the kingdome or feare of alterations The husband is head of the vvyfe and tho the Infanta vvear born in familia Imperatrice yet ther is no soverainetie invested in her she can maik no mutation of State without the censent of the state And yovv haue the les cavvse to distrust that hauing a president before of king Philip vvho being king of England yet neither could nor vvould attempt anie alteration And yf the protestants ar sure to hould ther religion it is inhumanitie to repyne that she shall be suffred to enioye hers No man of honor vvil offend a ladie of such honor for a quarrel to her sovvle to her faithe and her vvorship of god What then is the reason vvhy this match is so distaist full Is it for the hate and odiousnes of the name and qualities of a Spanyard surelie ab initio non fuit sic that is neither an anciēt quarrel nor a naturall impression in the English For in the tyme of king Edvvard the 3. Ther vvas a firm and fixed amitie betvvean England and Portingal and of Lancaster ther king ar discended And for Castil they matched Constance the Daughter and heyr of king Peter to Iohn of Gaunt by vvhose right the crovvn appertained to hym And his daughter Catharin married vvith Henry the third king of Castil and therby the vvhich remaineth in the Sauoye records resignation of that crovvn vvas mayd by Iohn of Gannt and so all the controuersie vvas ended betwean them and the kings of Spaȳne as floorishing brainches of the tree and stock of Lancaster haue peacablie possessed that kidgdome So as Prince Charles shal by this match vvarme his bedd with his own blood I may add further that king Henry the seuenth married his sonn̄ to king Ferdinando his daughter to continew the succession of amitie I might remember the treaties of 1505. betvvean k. Henry the 7. and king Philip for the preseruation and noorishment of that league and frend ship And hovv much and hovv tenderly Charles the 5. embraced and esteamed yt vvell appeareth by the Treatie arctioris amicitiae 1543. And by the renoumed treatie of Callice the greatest honor that was evver doon to the crovvn of England and by the treatie 1507. bevvean Maximilian the Emperor Charles king of Spayne and king Henry the 8. by the treaties for entercourse 1515. and 1520. by the treatie of Cambray 1529. and by that famous treatie 1542. Thus the tvvo kings and kingdomes still renewed and noorished mutuallie and vvarmelie a perfect frendship and kind correspondencie till the schisme of Henry the 8. the diuorce disgrace and dishonor of Quene Katharin and the cōfederation therupon with France cooled the zealle of this seruent affection So as ther vvas at that tyme no such cavvse of hatred disfauor or vnkindnes bevvean these tvvo kingdomes nor anie national dislike or contention vvhich first brake out end appeared in England in Quene Maries tyme principallie for the quarrel of a new religion then fiuee yarres old For ther vvas no pretenc but onelie that to maik the breach which Wyat desired Yet this is not the trevv and sole motiue of the grudg ther is and impostume vvhich can not be cured till it be lanched The hatred and remembranc of 1588. Manet alta mente repostum It is trew Hinc illae lachrimae But let vs be indifferent look vpon the wrongs doone to them aswel as ther attemps for reueng And vnpartially consider who gaue the cawse and forced them to taik armes The Moonie intercepted which the king had sent to the Duke of Alua the Assistanc of the princ of Oreng by Gilbert Morgan and others ther seconds the first voiage of Syr Frances Drake the inuasion and sacking of S. Domingo the protection of Holland by the Earl of Leicester the infinite depredations and letters of mart to the wnspeakable dammage of Speyne the Philippicae and inuectiues in euerie pulpit ballets and libels in euerie press against king Philip wear such prouocations as flesh and blood nay crovvnes and scepters could hardlie disgest I speak nothing of the Portingal vorage of the surprize of Cales nor of the Iland viage and can anie vvise man imagin that the king of Spayn vvas not sensible of such indignities vvas it not probable that he vvould send a futie to Kinsale to reuenge that Yet for all this hostilitie vvhen his maiestie cam to the crovvne how frendly and quicklie ded the king of Spayne alter his course and send the high Constable of Castil as the doue owt of the Ark to see yf the flood of mallice vvear fallen and vvith an Oliue brainch in his hand to seak for peace to maik an Amnestia and perpetual obliuion of all vnkyndnes past to couer all offences to burie all quarrels and to reconcile the two crovvnes and the subiects thereofs And surelie Cursed vvil he be vvho shal seak to violate that peace and vnder the coolor of religion to banish peace and Charitie the badges of religiō a malicions Cayn he is that maiks all contentions perpetuall and searsehe can he be holden loyal that remēbreth onelie the sudes and quarrels vvith Scotland and not what and how dear wnto vs it is now and so should be euer embraced and esteamed Furthermore the Crovvn of England shal hearby be thus more beautified and magnified But staye My pen shall intrude no further into the secret Cabbienet of counsel wthowrt warrant Bycause I kow not whether it be agreable to the kings pleasure or whether it be sit to be discoursed and speciallie bycause I hold it impossible forme to satisfie so profovvnd a Iudg vvithovvthis ovvn instructions and directions For I consider vvel hovv vnsearchable the secrets of princes art vvhich lie oft in abisso and ar too deape to be sovvnded by euerie shallow discourser And I remember also both what praying and preaching vvas vsed against the match of Quene Elizabeth vvith Monsieur in the like case and for feare of alteration and afterclaps and yet some vvho ded then most impugn it vnder pretenc of religion ded in dead least of all other counsellors regard religion Syr Philip Sydnie like a noble and vvourthie courtier laboured by a short treatise to present to her Maiesties iudgment the
rather bycause now 1519. Maximilian the emperor was latelie dead whose power and wisedome he had great cawse and worthilie to feare and Charles the fifth vvas chosen to succead hym a yong Prince not tvventie yeares of age whome he hoped to persvvade to ruine the Papaltie to keap his court at Roome and maik the castl of St. Angelo subiect to his commands And then he dreamed that he might easilie reforme the church and cast it in a nevv mould Speciallie being assured to haue the Duke of Saxonie old Iohn Frederic the elector his secret frend and patron who for his riches strenth allianc and abilities was farr superior to anie Prince in the empyre What follovved then obserue his course I Luthers bul against the Bushops and Bushopricks and iudg vnpartiallie vvheter it vvas modest and devvtifull or seditious and arrogant First he ptoclaymes open vvart against the Bushops of Germanie endeuoring to suppresse ther authoritie abrogate ther iurisdiction and maik them odious and contemptible to the vvorld Therfor in his booke contra Statum Ecclesiae aduersus falso no minatum ordinem Episcoporum emong his works printed at Iena tom 2. Latin He fends ovvt his bull against the sayd Bushops in these vvores Attendite vobis Episcorum vmbrâ— Doctor Lutherus vislt nobis bullam edictum legere non valde teneris vestris auribus placiturum His lecture vvas worth the haring First he vseth an exhortation Secondlie he geues direction what the godlie auditors should doe and lastlie his benediction and the blessing wich shall follovv by obeying his covvnsell And this vvas his graue and modest counsel Omnes quicunque opem ferant bona famam sanguinem in hoc impendunt honoremque suum in hoc exponentes vt â—â— Episcopatus Pompatici deuastentur tam remoâ—â— alieni ab omni functione Apostolica totumque hoc Sathanicum regimen Episcoporum extinguatur Ili sunt dilecti â—â—lij Dei vere Christiani obseruantes praecepta Dei who soever will hazard ther liues honor and fortune in so Christian a work as to root owt and destroye all Bushops and Bushopricks Satans ministers and pul vp by the roots all ther authoritie and iurisdiction these ar worthie to be honored and esteamed the trew children of god and such as obey his commandements And in libro contra Siluest Prieratem tom 1 Lat. witteberg Si fures furca latrones gladio haereticos igne tollimus Cur non magis hos magistros perditionis hos Cardinalâ—s hos Papâ—s totam istam Romanae Sodomiae colluniem omnibus armis impetuâ—us eorum sangume manus nostras lauemus So hear he will sight against the whole ecclesiasticall Hierarchie and wash his hand in the blood of Bushops But saith he obijciâ—nt periculum esse ne excuetur tumultus en respondeo an ideo negligetur verbum Dei peribit populus as yf Luthers doctrin with owt tumult coult not be preached Martin Marprelat of England and Iohn Marprelat of Scotland wear not possessed with so wicked a spirit and tho they wear mad enong yet they camm not to the height of this surie Let Brunus Minsinger and Gayl iudg whether thi sermon and proclamation of Luthers will beare an action of sedition and conspiracie and whether it weare consonant to the peace and lawes of the empyre For hearby the people was taught and animated to pull down the principal pillers of the state to overthrow the ecclesiastical regiment the Archbushops of Ments Coolen and Trier the Primate of Magdeburgh the Archbushop and Princ of Saltzburgh the great maister of Prussia Wirtzburgh and manie others who haue voyce and place in the diet and a povver full hand in the gouernment Think yovv that this can be avovved to be the act of a loyall subiect of the empyre or vvarrantable by anie lavves or example in a ciuil gouernmeÌ„t that a priuate man should thus insolentlie attempt of hym self against all authoritie for a subiect against the cheafe magistrates for a sheap to depose the pastor and by such meanes and aduise to stirr vp rebellion and insurrection against persons of that qualitie and inso high place and calling Neither ded he euer cease or geue over practising til effectuallie he procured the expulsion and banishment both of the iurisdiction and name of Bushops ovvt of Saxonie Hessia Wirtenberg and vvhear soever he preuayled which paradox I am assured the Lord Bushopes in England vvill not allovv nor patronise such seditious proceading for ther ovvn safetie and ther Baronnies But hear he stayed not he proceaded further 2. Against the He took vpon hym to deface and Canon Lavves burn the Canon Lawes Indulgences and bulles of Popes at wittenberg Yf yow ask Quo warranto he ded that by this own authoritie his own priuate spirit was his commission And the pretenc of the gospell was his Apologie But was that a sufficient warrant Though most of the Canon Lawes wear the constitutions of Popes whome he now both contemned and condemned yet some wear decreed by prouinciall Synodes some by generall counsells and all of them wear ratified bothe by praescription generall approbation of that contrie and the Imperial Lavves And so it appeareth they could not be lawfullie and orderlie suppressed in the empyre withwt the authoritie of the empyre But as he ded seak to abrogate the Canon Lawes so he ded also vilefie and abase the Ciuil lawes of Germanie as shall more pertinentlie appeare hearafter Furthermore as yf it weare to bring in 3. Againsts vniuersities Barbarisme and to pull owt the eyes of the Almains that they might not see his follie and errors he endeauored to abandon deface and ruine all vniuersities Which Oxford and Cambredg wil hardlie beleaue yf I could not produce his own vvords Libro contra Ambrosium Catharinum he writes thus Vt videatur ad Euangelium funditus extinguendum nec astutius nec efficacius inuenisse Satan commentum quam erigendarum vniuersitatum Be vniuersities then an inuention of the deuel and a subtil deuise to oppresse the gospell Is it not likelie That no man might coolor and excuse this grosse paradox vvith some fayre pretence as they oft labor to doe read his opinion libro de Abroganda Missa there he disswades the people from sending ther children to the vniuersities and generallie condemnes them all by these vvords Academias per Idolum Mâ—loch figuraâ—aâ— puto Vniuersities resemble the Idol Moloch By wat reason bycause saith he Existo enim fumo prodeunt istae locustae quae omnes Cathedras occupant Would he then haue all vniuersities suppressed onelie bycause therein the Catholick religion and school diuinitie is taught no in dead for why ded he shut vp the schoole doores formanie yeares together why ded he neglect the teaching and education of yovvth in his own religion and profession why ded he banish Tullie and Aristotle who medl with no religion why ded Carolostad go to the plough rather
an extent of Dominion 4. And to maik this bad proposition seame good cap 5. v. 25. Kings saith he forget they ar men that is of the same mould that others arr They ar called kings and Dukes Dei gratia To vvhat end serue these vvords to shovv by ther title that they acknovvledg no superior And yet vvill they tread vpon God vvith ther feate vnder that cloke So it is but an abuse and disguisement vvhen they vaunt that they raign Dei gratia Is not this excellent doctrine to be preached in a Monarchie and a fyne Deskant vpon Deigratia Yet he goeth an further c. 5. v. 21. Kings maik ther boast that they raign Deigratia yet they dispise the Maiestie of God Voila quelle est la rage forcenerie de tous Rois. Hear is no exception but a generall accusation and to maik that good he addeth this strenth to it It is common and ordinaire to all kings to exclude God from the government of the vvorld Consider wel that Caluin writt this not as a Politician but as a Deuine and in his prime and maister peace his institutions he deliuers these daingerous positions in his sermon to the people and in his readings vpon Daniel not in priuat discourses and as matters of discipline and doctâ—ine to be generallie beleaued and so making a course against Nabugad nezzar he run the wild goose chace against all kings and that rather owt of pleaÌ„ then owt of his text For to what end and pupose tend these speaches so scandalous and derogatoire to princes certanlie to disgrace scepters and sooueraines both for follie and impietie And bycause yovv shall see hovv vvell Caluin and Luther doe symbolise in this poynt that they speak one language and both weare like coolors and the same fashion I will deliuer vnto yow how Luthers opinion of thes poynts agreeth with Caluins These knaues of the nobilitie tyrants tom 7. fol. 441. Nebulones isti ex nobilitate tyranni c. qui inducunt animum ideo Deum nobis euangelium dedisse eosque ex carcere pontiâ—icio expediuisse vt possent ipsi auaritiae suae litare And in epistolis fol. 350. Principem esse non ex aliqua parte latronem esse aut non aut vix possibile est a Prince can not be but a robber and oppressor tom 3. fol. 325. Non est Principis esse Christianum paucos esse Christianos oportet And tom 6. fol. 143. in psalm 101. Mirum non est seculares Reges Dei hostes esse eiusque verbum hostiliter persequi Hoc â—psis à natura est insitum haec eorum proprietas whear it is vvorthie to be obserued Nota. vvhat an Antipathia ther is betvvean Royaltie and religion by Luthers rules and so betwean Lutheranisme and loyaltie by as good consequenc vvhich is the mayn quaestion But procead tom 3. latin fol 459 in psal 45. Aulae principum verè possunt dici sedes thronus diaboli vbi tot sunt diaboli quot ferè aulici For such as the king is such is the court like to be and yf the courts be the thrones kings must be the Deuels Tom. 2. fol 81. De seculari magistratu Principes flagitiosissiminebulones The reason he giueth is this Sunt enim Dei lictoreâ— carnifices quibus ira diuina ad puniendos improbos ad conseruandam externam pacem vtisolet fol. 190. Nullum nequè tus nequè fidem nequè veritatem apud principes seculares reperiri licet And then yf kings and princes haue neither honestie truthe nor Iustice Quid ego principes doceam huiusmodi porcis scribam vvhy should I vvrite and instruct such porck tom 3 fol. 149. Who can not discern hovv these tvvo holie men iumped in vnitie as led vvith the same spirit ay ming bot-at one end which is to noorish a deadlie feud in all mens mynds against kings and crownes that will not subscribe to ther superintendencie and Caluins Institutions And that yovv might more euidentlie discern that read c. 6. v. 25. vpon Daniel Saith he Darias by his exampl vvill condemn all those vvho at this day profess them selfs either Catholik kings or Christian kings or defendors of the faith and yet not onely they doe deface and burie altrevv pietie and religion but they corrup and depraue the vvhole vvorship of God Hear is in dead vvork for the Covvper not by a Marprelat but by a Mar prince The most Christian king must be again nevv Catechised and learn a new Christian Credo Hear is a new portraicture of a reformed Catholik dravven for the instruction of the most Catholik king and a nevv priuate spirit to direct the Catholik The defendor of the faith bycaus he erreth in his faith not hauing a sauing and iustifiâ—ng faith must haue a nevv faith created and inspiret into hym by this great Prophet And so by this nevv model all the old religion in the church and all the lavves in the state concerning it must be abolished Thus presumed Caluin to reform kings and government and to build a nevv ark to saue and preserue the vvorld from an inundation of impietie ignoranc and irreligion of vvhome I may trevvlie say plus quam regnare videtur cui ita liceat censuram agere regnantium But of this I shall more pertinentlie speak in the appendix In the interim Can a man sovv more seditious seads yf he vvould seak to Cantonize a kingdome into seuerall circles as they haue doon ther french church Yet shall yovv heare hym preach more like a Svvisser and Lutheranize vvith the proper spirit of Luther cap. 6. v. 3. 4 he toucheth kings to the quick and describes what kynd of beasts they ar at this tyme. Les Rois sont presque tous hebetez brutaux aussi semblablement sont-ils comme les cheuaux les asnes de bestes brutes And he giueth this reason bycause they honor and preferr most ther Bavvdes and ther vices What a seditious declamation is this against the title and maiestie of Gods anointed Mark the age and tyme when Caluin writ this book and note in that age what renoumed kings France had Lewes 12. Frances the 1. and Henry the 2. what maiestie wisedom and magnificenc wear in the emperor Maximilian and Charles vvhat state in Henry 8. of England what hope in Edward what vertue in Marie for Scotland Iames the 5. raigned and two such Maries as at worthie to be Canonized And for Castill and Portugal there kings never floorished more for government greatnes encreas of state discoueries of a new world peac and plentie Then what was his meaning to affirm that almost all kings wear so stupid and brutish Surelie to bread and noorish a contempt of hings and to induce the people that liue in free states to despise and hate them and conninglie to seduce them that liue in kingdomes to be sorie for ther yoke and seruitude to shake of ther fetters and purchase
ther libertie Speciallie for religion for at that he aymed most the propagation of his doctrine and he knevv vvell that in popular estates he might preuayle stronglier and vvith bette hope of success for all his religion is popularitie and pleasing and as Swinglius fovvnd he could not induce FraÌ„ces the first to applaude hym So by the exampl of Henry the second Caluin ded perceaue that kings and Deigratia vvear blocks in his vvaye And therfor to remooue them that they might not empeach the course and current of his preachings and proceading C. 6. v. 22. he speaks in a tune full of sharpes and menaces Abdicant se potestate terreni principes dum insurgunt contra Deum imo indigni sunt qui consâ—anturâ—â— hominum numero Potius ergo conspuere oportet in illorum capita quam ilâ—is parere vbi sic proteruiunt vt velâ—nt spâ—liare Deum â—uo â—â—re What a learned homelie is this to teach subiects obedienc Ioyne all these good instructions together and so shall yovv best interpret and explain one by an other D. Bilson in his book of Christian subiection taketh paynes to expovvnd and vvrest Caluins vvords and to saue his credit sets the berst coolors on them he could I. Caluin saith he in this place Speaks not a vvord of depriuing princes or resisting them vvith armes but onelie shovveth that Daniel ded rightlie defeÌ„d hym self for not obeying the kings vvicked edict ioyned vvith the dishonor of god Secondly by Abdicant se he meanes not they loos ther crovvnes but that they loose ther povver to command in thes things but in lavvfull things they retain ther povver 3. For the phrase conspuerè it seams something hard yet the comparison so standing as he maiks it whether it wear better to contemn ther impious edicts or to obey them Caluin vrgeth it in vehement wordes And this is farr from Rebellion An other excuseth it that it was spoken comparatiue not rebelliouslie that is yf the king should contradict Gods lavv A poor shift but he sets not dovvn vvho should be iudg of that betwean God and the king And so it is nihil ad rem I answer to the first it is idle and impertinent what yf he vse not these words of depriuation and resistanc for then had he erred too palpablie ar therfor the other words he vseth excusable For Daniels right full defenc it is not pertinent to the quaestion D. Allen mayd Besides what was Daniels defenc what arms took he All with owt contemps of the king humilitie prayer and patienc Not after the Geneua fashion so brauelie as to spitt in Nabugodonosors face nor alledging that he was not worthie to liue emong men And for the second by abdicantse what meanes he that kings doe loose not ther Crownes but onely povver to command let vs speak plaine English withowt halting Yow confess the king looseth his authoritie and soouerain power to command and yow add obscurlie in thes things Yovv mean in matters of religion for so it is to be vnderstood tho yow cast a cloke over the words and cover the matter Then I desyre to know what is a kings crown withowt power to coÌ„mand He that teacheth they loose ther royall power dothe he not mean they forfeit it and yf they doe forfeit it who is tho challeng and taik the forfeiture of a crown but by such lectures doth not Caluin stirr vp and arme against the king his trayterous subiects yf they reuolt from ther obedienc for religion Is not that the grownd of all the combustion and ciuill warrs in France Yea but in other things lavvful yow say kings retaine ther power First these ar maister Bilsons words not Caluins for they contradict Caluin whose proposition is indefinite abdicant se potestate they loose and forfeit all ther authoritie and power absolutelie not after a sort and in all things not in some particuler and for altogether not for a tyme for when kings ar dispossessed they seldome recouer ther hold againe Besides what court or what magistrates ar fitt to heare and determin whear in kings may loose ther power and whearin not and to decide and iudg the difference betwean these vnlawful matters yow speak of and the lawfull tho Caluins words import no restriction at all The vvhich doth playnlie appear by his harsh phrase as yow tearm it of spitting in ther faces that is as yovv interpret to defye them to ther faces to contemn them and ther acts But this yow say is farr from rebellion trew and yet nothing to the purpose For rebellion is but one species of Treason and therfor tho he teach not rebellion he may teach treason And so yovv help hym litl Labor to extenuate the vvords as much as yovv can and yet vvill they be reallie heynous and seditious For he that houldâ—th a king is not vvorthie to be or liue in hominuâ— numero dothe he not as it vvear eiect and excommunicate hym from all goverment and confyne and censure hym to liue vvith beasts as Nabugodonosor ded Yf yovv teach that insurgunt contra Deum doe yovv not maik hym hatefull for his impietie But to conclude this yovv grand in effect to be his meaning That yf the king threaten Daniel except he vvorship the Idolle or yf the king of France seake to compell his subiects to obey his lavve and communicate at the alter of the church then abdicat se potestate the king ought to loose obedienc subiects ar not bovvnd to obey hym but rather to spit in his face vvhich is a conteÌ„pt in the highest degree and that vvas the cavvse vvhy Doctor Allen ded obiect that against Caluin as seditious doctrine Besides he mayd his ovvn quarrel Gods quarrel the defenc of Caluinism as the defenc of religion and so embroyled the king and the kingdome in perpetual quarrell for his doctrine But D. Bilson ded knowe or might haue knovven that seditious doctrines wear not so daintie at Geneua For in hatred of the thre Q. Maries of England and Scotland he set abroach and defended that poyson and factious doctrin of Gunocratia and by his inspiration knox and Goodman ded publish ther books against ther lawfull princes Besides look vpon the storie of Scotland printed by Wautroller p. 213. and yow shall fynd that knox for an Apologie of his practises alledged Caluins authoritie That it is lavvful for subiects to reform religion vvhen princes vvil not But Caluins opinion of that poynt may be more manifestlie prooued by the practise of his darling maister Beza who sowndlie ded vnderstand his doctrin and ded brauelie second hym in all his platts In the preface to the nevv testament dedicated to Quene Elizabeth 1564. he vsed these vvords Quo die scilicet 19 december ante biennium Galiica nobilitas illustrimo Principe Condaeo Duce tuis illustrissimorum quorundam Germantae principum subsidijs freta non procul vrbe Druidum fortissime praeliata prima restunendae in Gallijs
the 8. nor in Cromwel or the protectors eares and surelie yf a man should ask whether Murrie and Murton in Scotland vvhether Oreng and Horn in the Netherlands vvhether the Admirall and the Princ of Conde in France whether the Protector and the Duke of Northumberland in England had anie politique respects anie odd ends of ambition and auarice other then religion yow will fynd them guiltie and subiect to this censure An other cawse he assigneth for deposition of Princes quando grauant conscientias subditorum And after ward in an other place to show his constancie in that opinion and to expownd his own meaning saith he subditi aduersus superiorem magistratum se veram religionem possunt etiam armis iure defendere si aliter in conscientijs incolumes esse nequeunt with which I think ther is no Counsellor or vvise man but vvould be iustlie angrie yf it should be thus translated the Catholik subiects in England Scotland Denmark or the Palatinate may with armes by law defend them selfs against ther superiors for defenc of ther religion yf they can not other wise quietlie enioy the freedome of ther conscienc For it is not enough and a sufficient replie to say ther religion is irreligious bycause that is the question And in his commentaries in Iudices Magistratus minor potest occidere maiorem and expresseth his meaning in that Case quod tyranni domestici magis sunt reprimends As yf a man should saye baylifs sherifs and Constables for religion may kill kings and counsellors bycause tyrants vvith in our doores ar most to be feared and cut of vpon the former conditions before alledged But was Parreus the onelie protector of these paradoxes and the onelie Doctor that poysoned the Palatinate vvith this infectious doctrine no in dead Gracerus his pewfellow taught that coercenda gladio est Antichristi malitia and in cap. 13. of the Apocal. Benedictus Aretius laboureth to stirr vp the people to hate the name and authoritie both of the empyre and Emperor with this lecture Draconem ait dedisse imperio potestatem suam the deuel errected and authorised the Empyre why In Imperio habitare plenitudinem diabolismi for in the Empyre dwelleth the fullnes of the Deuels Impietie But these opinions I nead not to condemn and aggrauate the dainger thereof yf it be trevv that I haue hard that in Powles Churchyard the fyre confuted them and that worthilie And yet be not so gross as to imagin that onely Parreus Gracer and Aretius taught this doctrine for it is the practise of ther churche Doe not look so stearnlie vpon me for saying so bycause I will iustifie it with euident proof Ther own neighbors and ther elder brothers they haue vsed with this vnciuil and turbulent inhumanitie ask Giesekenius a man of learning and accoumpt emong the Lutherans how they behaued them selfs at Emden a Lutheran state he showeth first ther act 1. Emdenses illustrem Dominum suum mota seditione fere tota ditione pepulissent The subiects of Emden had almost driuen ther Lord owt of his dominions 2. Then ther force and violeÌ„c Pactietiam sunt ne illustrissimus Comes habeat potestateÌ„ vllius religionis nisi Caluinisticae exercitium subditis suis concedere Emdae They articled with hym that his excellecie should not haue powre to grant to his subiects at Emden the exercise of anie religion but Caluinisme 3. Lastlie ther grace They hate and persequute the Lutherans and kyndnes to ther soouerain Et tamen liceat ei in aula habere concionatorem qui sit Augustanae cenfessionis They will notwith-standing tolerate that he shall be suffred to haue a preacherin his court of the confession of Auspurgh A great fauor subiects will tolerate ther Princes religion and frame it for them selfs after ther own cutt they will direct ther gouernor and he must obey Some curious man will suppose this was a tumult and that the church of the Palatinate ded not warrant anie such proceading against Lutherans ther brethren then mark and consider this Anno 1602. ther wear 20. poynts established in the church of the Palatinate And the first articl was totus Lutheranismus omnes libri eorume â—edio tollentur They decreed that all Lutheranism and ther books and writings should be prohibited and abolished and in the same Synod diuers opinions of the Lutherans ar recited and condemned as yow may see by Schulting in Hierarchica Anacrisi libro 15. pag. 98. whearof certanlie ther is great reason for ther is an impossibilitie that Lutherans and the ministers of the Palatinate should quietlie liue tother in one Ecclesiasticall government they ar incompatible in respect of ther discipline ther consistories ther elders to say nothing of ther doctrine For these ar the barr that hold owt all ciuil societie and concurrenc betvvean them these ar the cawse why they eiected the Lutherans ovvt of the Palatinate ovvt of Brandenburgh and owt of Emden these ar the cawse why the Lutherans wiselie prouide that they shall haue no footing in Saxonie Hamburgh and the Hans townes And these vvear the cavvs why that great Synode of Torgaw convented by the meanes and procurement of the protestant Princes ded testifie that Caluiniani Christianas Ecclefias omnes academias regna turbauerunt ac vastauerunt And yet neither ar Caluinists comprehended vnder the peace and protection of the Empyre and the religions vried is no vvaye permitted to them As appeareth by the edict of Charles the 5. de compositione pacis cum protestantibus anno 1532. not in his sentenc de confessione Sueuica 1530. nor in the interim 1548. nor in the constitution de pace publica And touching the acts mayd by the Emperor Ferdinand at Passau 1552. the verrie words exclude them from all benefit of the pacification as a thing not intended vnto them viz. Intereatemporis nec nos Electores Principes c. quempiam ex Augustanae confessionis statibus propter religionem vicogere bello c. volumus sedsuae religioni fideique quietè stare cadereque sinentes And he declareth and explaneth hym self 1555. at Auspurgh Propter Augustanae religionem confessionis nullam violentiam Ecclesiastici inferant sed liberum eius exercitium permittant vsque ad controuersae religionis compositionem I may hear fitlie alledg the conclusion and agreement of the states of the confession of Auspurg the thre Electors and the rest of the Princes and Citties Postquam Deo it a permittente praeter nostram Christianam religionem confessionem haereses sacramentariorum Anabaptistarum Osiandrinorum c. irrepserunt quae omnes à pace religionis exclusae sunt volumus vt contra illas in communi mandata edantur vt eiusinodi haereses eradicentur and this was enacted 1557. so it is most playne that Caluinism is ther iudged an heresie by the protestant Princes them selfs and banished the Empyre and anno 1566. Caesar and the Princes in the Dyet decreto publico scripserunt ad Fredericum Palatinum vt
fictions mayd faults by law deuised by pollicie and mayd offences rather then being so of them selfs How playne was her gouernement and how farr from triks a litl seuear to which â—he was oft forced for thoughe she was a great Iusticer yet withall how merciefull she was appeared manifestlie by her gracious compassion to the Dutches of Sommerset to Syr Iohn Cheak to Syr Edward Mountagevv the cheaf Iustice to Syr Roger Cholmlie to the Marques of Northampton Syr Henrie Dudlie Syr Henrie gates the Lord Robert Dudlie who stood attainted and to the Duke of Suffolk whome all she knew and had before fownd to be enemies of her religion and no frends to her title and yet she released them all ovvt of the tovvre whear they weare prisonners Notwithstanding all this the Protestants wear never quiet nor suffred her to be quiet Some ded libell against the regiment of voemen some picked quarrels to her marriage some published discourses and invectiues against her religion and some conspired her depriuation to aduance her successor by vvhose aduancement euerie Caluinist expected a golden fleace The grovvnd of all these seditious actions vvas the religion they professed then nor fullie six yeares old a religion of more libertie more pleasing to the gallants of a court and voyd of these austerities and mortifications which the ancient Catholiques obserued with reuerence But emong manie others that book of obedienc prepared most the vulgar to insurrections and mutinies for pag. 94. he affirmeth that Quene Marie deserued to be put to Death as a tyrant and monster Ded euer anie Catholich write so or ded the pen of anie seminarie man blot the paper with so barbarous a sentenc Yet knox libro appellat ad nobilitatem popul Scot. ioyneth hands with a Goodman and backeth his opinion Illud inquit audacler affirmauerim debuisse nobiles rectores iudices populumque Anglâ—anum non modo refistere repuguare Mariae illi Iesabeli quam vocant reginam suam verum etiam de ea Sacerdotibus eius supplicium sumere and these yet vvear not all Procead Syr Thomas VVyat is worthielie chronicled for his rebellion vvho marched as a Cyrus ouer Shooters hill with his armie threatning both court and cittie Prince and people Yet this holie Goodman cap. 14 in his Obedienc commends hym and saith he ded but his dewtie and that it was the dewtie of all that professed the gospell to haue risen with hym and pag. 43. He affirmeth that it is lawfull to resist the superior powers and vrgeth all states to taik armes against her But whear ded Goodman and knoâ— suck this sweat doctrine at Geneua the school of Monarchomachia whear Buchanan ded learn the same and all for one end and maister VVhitingham in his preface to that book confesseth that it was approoued to be a good and godlie treatise by the principal of that cittie that is Caluin and Beza And albeyt in Qurne Elizabeths tyme Goodman is said to haue recalled that opinion yet it was neuer publicklie recalled by hym and disalowed and besides it showeth in Quene Maries tyme vnder the cross and affliction of what spirit he end his faction weare of Yf yow dowbt vpon what pretenc wyat ded rise bycause some maik quaestion thereof surelie it was partlie for religion partlie for bonum publicum to hinder the Quenes marriage for both ioyntlie concurred as Stow and Hollinshead agree He that shall presume to defend that it was not for religion Quene Marie in her oration at the Guildhall in London doth refell hym for she declared that she had sent diuers of her counsell to wyat to demand the pretences of his insurrection and she sayd it appeared to her counsell that it vvas a Spanish Cloke to Couer religion It is trew that wyat vrged to haue the Towr deliuered to hym and to haue powr to nominate and choose new counsellors and that he would not trust but be trusted Wear these in different demands af a subject Or regalities fitt to be offred to his mercie was this to preseru the Quene Surelie Violenc and the Svvord be vnfitt keapers of a Prince person And touching Religion Fox hym self saith that for religion they coÌ„spired emong them selfs and mayd vvyat ther Cheafe the reason was that by forren marriage the Quene vvould bring a seruitude vpon the realme and establish popish religion ther in Vovv vpon these premisses mark vvhat ensevved VVilliam Thomas conspired to kill the Quene and at his execution he gloried that he dyed for the good of his contrie Doctor Pendlton preaching at Povvles Crosse one discharged a peace against hym and at the same place an other daye one threw a Dagger at maister Bourn being in the pulpit wheare the lord Maier could skarselie appease the tumult so as the lords of the counsell the next sonday after together vvith the Garde vvent thither to preuent or to punish such disorders yf anie should there happen againe And at vvestminster vpon an Easter daye a desperare fellovv wounded a preasts as he was saying Masse in saint Margerets Church So great vvas the distemperature of these inflamed puritans vvho complayne so much against the persecution of that tyme and yet they prouoked it and hauing no powre to command yet had they no humilitie to obeye and when they might haue liued quiet them selfs yet vvould not suffer others to liue quiet in whose authoritie it laye to disquiet them But I will mount to offences a degree higher William Fetherston a counterfet king Edward was brought vpon the stage as a Parkin Warbeck to disturb both the Quene and the state What strains of inuention and pollicie wear these against a Prince for her religion but hear they stay not for One Clebar sometymes a Paedante remaining at yakeslie in Northfolk vvas put to death for a conspiracie against the Quene Vdal Stanton Peckam and Daniel wear committed both for conspiracie and haeresie and for attempting to robb her threasure and the Exchecquor for which they had there dew punishment To let passe the treason of Dudlie and Ashton who wear sett on and stirred vp by the French Syr Peter and Gawin Carse great protestants together with Syr Thomas Dennie took armes in Deuonshyre to hinder and empeach the king of Spayne his arriual in England possessed them selfs or Excetor Castl and afterward perceauing ther own weaknes and less assistance then they expected they fled into France which was then the harbour for the malcoÌ„tents of his nation Thomas Stafford comming vvell instructed from Geneua mayd proclamations publicklie in seueral places that Quene Marie was not lawfull Quene and vnworthie to be Quene and so abuse the people he gaue owt boldlie and falselie that twelf of the strongest houlds in England and best fortified wear committed to the custodie and command of the Spanyards to maik them the more odious whome they hated onelie for ther religion and povver and no other particuler quarrel and therfor he Bradford Procter and
persons it a bated much the glorie of her wisedome and heroicall spirit and gaue the world occasion to suspect that all her former actions wear counterfeit and camposed for her securitie to temporize and to misdowbt that she was not innocent and cleare of these great not capitall crymes layd to her charge for vvhich she had stood in no smal dainger Ant to speak frelie and trewlie my opinion she was a Prince of great Maiestie and magnificens but fitter for governement then deuotion and of more pollicie then religion and not as her sister vvas the same in a storme and a calme a Quene and a subiect nor semper eadem But how and by what means ded she Hovv religion vvas chainged contriue and work this admirable mutation of state I vvill breaflie declare for tho it be not proper to my quaestion it is not impertinent and may be of some vse 1. First the long sicknes of Q. Marie gaue her great aduantage and tyme both to deliberate and draw her plattformes prepare her instruments in readienes maik choyce of her means and resolue of the fittest counsellors to aduance her ends 2. Secondlie she layd her honor to pawne and mayd protestation in open parliament that she would never trovvble the Roman Catholiques for anie differenc in religion vvhich ded geue the Cleargie great hope of some more indifferencie and tolerable fauors the which is related by How 's in prefat of Q. Elizabeth for knowing well that a king can not create a new religion as D. Bilson sayd trewlie meaning that it must be the act and work of a parliement therfor to winn the Bushops either to silenc or patienc she wiselie vsed that peace of art The which thing vvas vvell noted by Monsieur de Mauuissier vvho was long french Embassador in England and a curious searcher and obseruer of matters of that nature saith he lib. 2. pag. 61. in Les memoires de Monsieur Mich Castelnau Quene Elizabeth purposing to chainge religion that she might the better vvinn the Bushops she promised to follow ther aduises in all things and therby preuayled not a litle And though manie fyne sleights wear vsed frownes and fauors promises and threats yet notwithstanding by that parliement both the statuts for the supremacie and the abrogation of the old religion wear enacted 3. Add also that when the act vvas mayd for supremacie vvhich must ever be as the first great vvheale of motion bycause by king Henries lavv Bushops and Barons stood in dainger for Syr Thomas Moor and Bushop Fisher had giuen them vvarning to look to ther heads therfor novv in this nevv edition of the supremacie first the vvords of supreme head vvear chainged into supreme gouernor vvhich qualification of the vvords being aequiualent vvas vsed but as a mask and shadovve to bleare the eyes of the people and secondlie the Barons and Lords vvear exempted from the rigour of the Oath to vvinn them the rather to consent to the act and so to leaue the Bushops in the briars to beare the brunt of the storme ensewing 4. I knovv yow will admire and yow maye how this chainge could be vvrought in the vpper howse by most voyces considering so manie Bushops and so manie Lords vvell affected to religion had ther suffrages there Remember first that king Henrie pulling dovvne the Abbies vveakened the strenth of the Cleargie taking avvay by that meanes twentie fiue voyces of Abbots who satt there as Barons of Parliement and besides Sinon who managed that busienes showed all his conning therin and as a maister of his art For the noble Earl of Arōdel abused and fed with a vayne hope by the ayd of the Duke Northfolk engrossed into his hands the proxies and voyces of so manie Lords to be disposed at his pleasure and to serue and further the Quenes desyre and ends that the Catholicks wear overswayed and born downe by the pluralitie of six voyces onelie And how God rewarded these tvvo great Princes the instruments of that seruice the world may iudg by ther afflictions as spirits that haunted them tho to expiat that fault the religious and noble Earl Philip suffred the martyrdome of a languishing sowl A strainge and memorable mattet it was to haue a new religion introduced and no Bushop nor religion man to consecrate and aduance it with one voyce for the vehement oration of Abbot Fecknam aginst it is fresh yet in memorie and how all the Bushops obstinate refragati sunt Camden doth witnes and that noble Lord Montagew sensible of the scandall thereof opposed it vvithall his force vvho together vvith D. Thurlebie Bushop of Elie had so latelie bean employed at Roome abowt it and vrged that the vvorld would disgrace fullie censure such a soodain chainge and innouation proposing also the daingers which weare like to ensew and so ded by excommunication But for ther better assurance to preuayle in the vpperhowse and more stronglie to ouer-rule the Bushops and the Abbots the Quene created diuers nevv lords VVilliam lord Parr Marquis of Northampton a good speaker and a wise man the Earle of Hartford the Vicount Bindon the lord Saint Iohn of Bletso and the lord Hunsdon all Protestants and men fitt to build a new Churche And to be better armed the Catholick partie was weakened by discharging from the counsell table manie of the old counsellors the lord Chancelor the lord Priuie seale Secretarie Boxall and Syr Frances Englefeald and in ther roomes wear placed Syr Nicholas Bacon the Marques of Northampton the Earl of Bedford Sr A. Caue Syr Frances Knolls Rogers Parrie and secretarie Cicil all fitt men to beare parts in that Pageant And further she deposed manie of the old Iudges and mayd also new Iustices of peace and gaue order to vse all vvarienes in the election of knights and burgesses that they might likewise maik ther partie good in the lovver hovvse which yow would wnder to heare how politicklie it was performed Furthermore to taik all scrupule owt of the heads and harts of the people and that they might conceaue that the seruice and religion still continued the same the ould was but transtated into Englishe onelie for ther better edification and vnder standing they directed that the alteration should be framed as near to the old as they might well doe And so it was in dead verrie politiclie handled For they bothe admitted and continued the title and iurisdiction of Bushops vvith some litl grace and authoritie and they permitted the vse of surplises caeremonies anthems Organs and manie prayers in the forme of the old Whearby the Quene vvas the better able to excuse her fact to forrein princes for this great chainge as she ded vse the same for her reason to Secretarie d' Assonuile who was sent by king Philip to congratulate her aduancement 7. And touching the communion book it vvas composed by certan commissioners appointed for that purpose Parker Grindal Horn VVhytehead May Bill and Syr Thomas
to defend the principles of ther religion by disputation vvhich the protestants would not accept * Camden nisi Baconus in theologicis parum versatus tanquam iudex praesideret and he being a professor of the common lawes vvhy he should be chosen moderator of such a Diuinitie disputation Cambredg can neither geue reason nor president nay rather yf yow ask ther opinion they will answer Spectatum admisi c. for it is a tidiculous Solaecism Since Father Parsons and diuers others haue mayd the same challeng desirous to bring I ruthe to the Tryal and touchstone in solemn and publick manner And let no man obiect the colloquies at Poissy Ratisbon Wormes Altenburg Murbrun c. which wear fruitles bycause formeles they ded not produce the effects expected bycause they erred in ther course of proceading and I confess I vnder stand not the misterie vvhy the protestants in England now draw bach seing Ievvel in the beginning was so forward and mayd so liberal offerts which yf anie would now defend it would quicklie appear which religion weare counterfeit and which currant whether doctrine wear solide and vvhether not speciallie hauing a moderator who could discouer evasions guid the disputers and iudiciouslie determin to whome the prize should be giuen And yf perhaps some would except and alledg the conferenc betwean M. Hart and D. Reignolds betwean Gode and Campion which wear honored and diuulged as triumphes and that these ought to stand as sufficient proofes co convinc the Catholicks yf the truthe so well sifted by disputation may satisfie them and preuayle I answer it is iniquissima conditio for a man armed to sett vpon a prisoner to insult vpon a man weakned with fetters and destitute of books withowt preparation and vvarning and which is worst in the face of a rack and torments whear Campion had bean posed with crewel quaestions before and in a place of no indifferencie whear they may sett down what they list and frame a combate at ther pleasure as Roynolds ded And whear as perhaps for politick cavvses the king and the Lords may dislike anie publick disputation vpon the grownds of religion yet this may well be granted and the french kings president may induce it The preasts and fathers offer to prooue that Iewel the mainster Carpenter of that Apologie of the Churche of England that Luther Caluin Melancthon and the later Doctors Colonells of the new plantation haue overcrowed and born down the Catholicks for opinion of truthe sinceritie and learning onely by false quotations corruptions falsifications misrecitalls and that both of scriptures and fathers both of the text and the gloss And this they humblie pray and hope that his Maiestie in his own tyme vvould be pleased to grant bycause these be heynous offences and the temple of veritie can not be builded vpon error and false grownds and bycause illusions and forgeries be stratagemata satanae that at least he would permitt the triall of that iust accusation and so afthervvard esteam of ther integritie as they shall acquite them selfs Concerning the third poynt that the 3. Preasts ar no practisers Seminaries bread such preasts as ar ministers of practises and stirr the people to rebellion as they ar charged both by the book of execution of iustice and by the proclamation 1580. whearin particularly they ar accused to haue bean priuie and accessarie to the counsells and proiects of the king of Spayne the Pope and others who intended and combined at that tyme to invade England to depose the Quene and subdevv the realme I must freelie answer that iealousie is trewlie described to be full of eyes and yet all pur-blind fearefull of her own shadowe euer in motu trepidationis and contrarie to the motions of other starres And tho they vvear great statesmen ye with all ther Opticks they could not foresee the great daingers like to fall vpon them till they wear at ther doors And hauing by error drawen and prouoked them yet took they the course rather to continew the flame then quench the fyre to encreas the mallice then preuent the mischeaf For first yf anie such confaederation had bean which never yet could be discouered nor was recorded in anie historie was it probable that so great and so wise Princes would acquaint the poor speculatiue preasts at Reams or Douay or the fathers of the societie with ther plats and intentions is it credible that they would manage matters of state so vveakelie yea but these Princes purposed by the meanes of the preasts and religious to prepare a partie assistant in England how by reconciling the people to the Pope that they might ioyne vvith hym and the king of Spaynes armie One error begets an other for preast doe not reconcile men to the Pope but to God and his Churche 1. And yet surelie it was a miracle that emong so manie preasts and in so long tyme and when Spies and intelligencers wear employed and rewarded neither anie such preast could be nominated who was then or after so corrupted or induced by these great Princes nor anie was afterward apprehended or discouered for anie such trespasse and which is most to be marked not anie subiect was called in quaestion or accused for entertaining anie preasts to that end then how phantastical was this feare what an imagination of Chimeraes and terrors most iniurious to touch the reputation of all the English preasts in generall and by statuts and proclamations to call ther names and ther liues in quaestion and to haue no su sufficient vvitnesses to accuse them no euidenc against them nothing but presumptions and probabilities to attaint them of treason the lyfe and honor of subiects wear wont to be esteamed more pretious and the function of preasts more reuerenced 2. I may also add this that when the king of Spaynes armado was vnder sayle towards England not a preast nor Seminarie man was fownd in it And though in the proclamation they wear traduced to be men suborned for preparation and making the way leuel for ther better landing yet hovv vvell they prepared it appeareth by this that neither preast nor Catholick vvear apprehended and attainted for anie such offenc as is afore sayd 3. Besides hovv litl affianc the king of Spayn had in the English preasts and Catholicks of that tyme was demonstrated by this that all the religious English at Valladolid and Burgos 1589. wear fettered and committed close prisoners when the armie of England assaulted Lisbone and invaded Portingal Furthermore in all the actuall treasons and conspiracies supposed to be mayd against Q. Elizabeth ther was never preast or monk or friar touched or taynted for anie of them For certanlie the holie altars of God will not suffer nor indure so vngodlie machinations and cloysters bread better humors eleuate ther sowles from the world they think not of Princes but in ther prayers and venite ad iudiciū sownding ever in ther eares requires a continual preparate in