inuincible courage constancie of the Pope often brought to penance and extremitie that in fin by armes he droue the said Pope out of his sea and placed an Antipape An Antipape that is to say one so opposite to Christs vicar as Antichrist shal be against Christ which by armes and patronage of this wicked Emperour vsurped and occupied the Apostolical throne against the true Pope Gregorie the seuenth whom the Libeller after the vulgar vaine of Rebellious Heretiques voutsafeth not the name of Gregorie the seuenth but calleth him commonlie Hildebrand as the Heretiques when they were in armes in Germanie against their Emperour Heretical malice would not name him Charles the fifte nor Emperour but Charles of Gaunt And now because this good and notable Pope The coÌ„tentioÌ„ betvvene Pope Gregorie the seuenth and Henrie the third Emperor was â—ot able in fin to resist th'emperours forces the which Emperour as al the histories of that time record was a most wicked sacrilegious simoniacal and heretical person th' aduersaries of Gods Church doe triumphe as the Libeller here doth ouer the blessed man as Herode might haue done ouer Iohn Baptist whos admonition was taken in so euil gré that it cost him his life as also th'executing of the Churches sentence which is Gods hath done to manie a Prophet and Bishop in the world By which euent of thinges who so euer measureth the right of causes wil make a good religion and a good defence of th' execution of iustice For so most Tirants might be iustified for a time against al the Saints of God This Gregorie say they was in sin banished by the Emperour and so was S. Chrisostom by Archadius and Eudoxia and dyed in banishment as Gregorie the seuenth did yet they were but homelie Christians that would iustifie the Emperours and condemne S. Chrisostome And indeed this Pope whom they speciallie hate because as it may be thought he was the first man that authenticallie condemned the Berengarians heresie in open disputation refuted it though certaine of the said Emperours flatterers enimies of the sea Apostolique as the fashion of our Heretiques is at this day wrote slaunderous Libels against him Pope Hildebrand a good man yet was he a very notable good man and learned and did suffer what so euer he did suffer for mere iustice in that he did godlie honorablie and by the dutie of his Pastorship what so euer he did against the said Emperour wherof we could alleadge al the best writers of thos dayes or near that time but that we should be tedious Of whom yet this one graue testimonie of Baptista Fulgosius a noble and learned man that was Duke of Genua aboue an hundred years past we shal not let to set doune as we finde it in latine Constantissimus habitus est Gregorius septimus Pontifex Lib. 3 Cap. vlt. factoruÌ„ memorabilium qui quòd Henricum tertium Imperatorem propter aperta nimis Symoniae crimina pro pastorali officio reprehendebat grauibus ab eo iniurijs affectus est itaque iniuriarum magnitudine compulsus Henricum Gregorius vt haereticum Imperij honore priuauit Cum autem Henricus solui ecclesiastica censura non emendatione vitae sed armis quaereret alium creare Pontificem enixus capta Vrbe obsidere Gregorium coepit Quae mala cum Gregorius pateretur nunquam tamen a iusto proposito dimoueri potuit That is Gregorie the seueÌ„th was notable for his constancie who for that according to his pastoral charge he had admonished Henrie the third The testimonie of the Duke of Genua for Pope Hildebrand Emperour to leaue his knowen impietie of Simonie was by manifold intollerable iniuries vexed by the said Emperour and by the greatnes of his wickednes was compelled to depriue him as an heretique of his Imperial dignitie But Henrie seeking not by amendment of his life but by armes to be absolued from the censure he went about to set vp a new Pope and beseiged the citie of Rome and brought the Pope into great distres In al which miseries Gregorie could neuer be remoued from his iust purpose So he writeth of the parties both See Vspergen lib. 5. Annal. And of the horrible crimes for which the Emperour was most iustlie iÌ„ the sight of al good meÌ„ deposed Thus Trithemius reporteth iÌ„ breef of the wickednes of this Emperour Episcopacus CoÌ„staÌ„tiensem c. He sould the Bishoprikes of Constance Bamburgh Mentz diuers other for money thos of Ausbourg Straisburgh for a sword that of Munster for Sodomie and the abbacie of Fulde for aduoultrie Trithem in Chron. heauen and earth witnesse and crie out of thes and for the same abhominations he standeth excommunicated depriued and therfore hath no power nor iust title to reigne ouer vs Catholiques But to goe forward this same Gregorie the seuenth did the like commendable iustice vpon the king of Pole Bolislaus the second Chrom lib. hist PoloÌ„ li. 4. aswel excommunicating as depriuing him for murthering of his Bishop S. Stanislay at the verie Altar Against which sentence though he stoode by force and contempt for a time Kinges of later times excoÌ„municated yet at length he was forsaken and resisted wholie by his subiects fled and in fin slew him self For Heresie also was George K. of Boemland excommunicated and thervpon by the forces of the king of Hungarie at length actuallie depriued As also Iohn Albert had half his kingdome of Nauarre taken from him by Ferdinandus surnamed Catholicus of Aragon for that he gaue aide to Levves the twelueth beiÌ„g excommunicated by Iulius the second For great iniuries also done to holie Church for persecution of Bishops and religious was Iohn one of our kinges of England Kinges of England with his whole land interdicted and brought after long strugling against God and the Sea Apostolique to yeeld his Croune to the courtesie of the Popes Legate and to make both his Realmes of England and Ireland tributaries Lib. 1. de Repub. Cap. 9. The authentical instrument wherof Iohn Bodin saith he hath seene For like causes and namelie for that he was vehemeÌ„tlie suspected of the murther of the blessed Bishop S. Thomas of Canterburie was Henrie the second driuen by Alexander the third to order and penance A number of the like examples moe we might recite of our countrie and of the christian world wherby not onelie the practize of the Church in al ages may be seene but also Catholique men warranted that they be no traitors nor hould assertions treasonable false or vndutiful in answering or beleeuing that for Heresie or such like notorious wickednes a Prince otherwise lauful and annointed may be excommunicated deposed forsaken or resisted by the warrant of holie Churches iudgement and Censure Whervnto we wil adde onelie the sentence of Gregorie the great and first of that name whom the aduersaries confesse to haue bene both learned and holie who being as
tēporal spiritual authoritie cōfounded by the Libeller As though ther were no distinction betwixt Christes bodie mistical and a body politique or humane Common-wealth As though Christ had giuen his said bodie spouse and spiritual Common-wealth to be gouerned ether vnto Kinges and Empeperours who were then and some hundreth yeares afterward persecutours of his Church and Faith and yet had as large whole and perfect Regalitie as anie faithful Prince hath or vnto Christian Kinges afterward who are by receauing Christes sweet yoke Faith made children and members of the Church not Heades therof As though our Sauiour had not in his time appointed special officers for the regiment of his Church or the holie-Ghost afterward not placed Apostles Prelates Pastors and Doctors to gouerne the same euen to the end of the world This deuilish confusion of thinges and attributing al spiritual Soueraintie to the temporal Prince and power The vvay to Antichrist which the Scripture calleth for distinctiō sake Humanam creaturam or rather this turning al Prelacie into Regalitie 1. Pet. 2. if it be permitted wil take away the verie life and essence of the Church of God and of al religiō and wil plane the way to Antichrist who shal by the title of his only Regalitie Antichrists Regalitie destroy if it be possible al power spiritual and temporal and set him self to be adored aboue what-soeuer is named in heauen or earth Woe be to our Nation and to the sinnes of our people which God hath suffred to be the first example of this abhominable conuerting of the spiritual power and regiment of our soules into our Kings Regalitie And Fye on this godles Libeller and his prophane intention that by the defence of this special turpitude of our Kinges and Countrie so foulie slaundereth also other most godlie Princes with his shameful surmise Hovv fouly Catholique Princes are slaundered by this Shameles Libeller that they doe but permit in their dominions the Popes authoritie of policie and no further then is for their aduauntage Who 's impudent calumniation may easily be refuted by their Maiesties zealous deuotion and most sincere obedience to his Holines in al matters of Faith and Religion wherin his Superioritie speciallie and properlie consisteth by their dailie Roial offices done against Heretiques for defence of the Romane Sea and Faith and by open profession of the same both in their liues and deathes by their continual resistance of the enimies therof to their infinite charge yea and often to the hazard of their persons crounes dominions by the due obseruation of the holie decrees of the Sea Apostolique as farre as the great loosnes of this time and the manifould importunity of Heretiques and Atheists wil permit by exact iustice done in many of their kingdomes vpon the rebels of the Church holy Sea and finally by their continual intelligence with his Holines in al their affaires of Conscience Religion and the vse of al his spiritual Graces Indulgences and Benedictions with as great humilitie as the poorest Catholique man in the world But the aduersarie telleth vs for al this that diuers Princes and Countries before named Al examples are not to be stood vppon haue abbridged limited and resisted the Popes doinges and authority To which we say that in such cases we should not stand alwaies vpon examples but rather on reason and lawe For a man might say that Herode killed Iohn Baptist Philip made away Babylas Theodosius banished S. Chrisostome Constance persecuted Athanasius king Henrie of England caused to be murdered his Primat and holy Metrapolitane Thomas of Canterburie manie moe haue resisted the Bishops and Pastours of their owne soules wherof diuers haue bene sorie and sore repented their iniquitie afterwardes as our said Henrie the second amongest other Who 's exāples may not be made a rule how kinges should behaue them selues towardes their Prelates God forbid No more in this other kind we now speake of need we to allowe al the Pragmatiques Praemunires or other National decrees and prouisions which euerie particular Prince hath made or may make though in conscience Catholique by which the Popes iurisdiction and preeminences in some sort and in some cases are abbridged and limited As on the other side againe we nether need nor wil condemne the same because they be not of thinges mere spiritual Al restraintes of the Popes iurisdiction in Catholique countries nether vvholy allovved nor vvholy to be condemned but ether plane temporal or mixt such as had ether by the Princes lawes or custome of Contries bene graunted of deuotion to the Sea Apostolique before and afterward vpon farder consideration by the difference of times or of lesse deuotion reuoked vpon pretence of preseruation of the temporal state and benefiting particular Prouinces vnto which the emolumentes and large priuileges yeelded before to the cheefe Bishop and other of the cleargie might seeme some hinderāce Or els were of that nature that the supreme Bishop might indeed of reason chalenge as thinges incident to his high office and requisite for the better administration of the same but yet not such for al that as were necessarilie or by diuine lawes apperteining directlie to his spiritual regiment and iurisdiction and therfore might by his wisdome ether be tollerated as manie thinges in this case be which he alloweth not for auoiding of scandales or for other detriment of soules or by composition for the better reteining Princes and prouinces in ecclesiastical peace be condescended and agreed vnto the limitation or imminution of his accidental rightes honours and preeminences nothing esteemed so material vnto him as the saluation and preseruation of kingdomes and Contries in the vnitie of Christes faith and Church The Pope may yeeld ī his humane prerogatiues but not in his spiritual Ther is no humane prerogatiue be it houlden neuer so rightlie or giuen neuer so iustlie for the honour of Christ and his high office but he may ether him self for iust causes yeeld it vp or by violence ether of persecutours or carnal and wordlie persons be bereaued therof Onelie his preeminence Prelacie ouer our soules and ouer al Christian Countries and persons be they publique or priuate and whatsoeuer our Sauiour graunted to the Prince of the Apostles vpon whom he builded his whole Church and to whom and to his successours he gaue the keyes of Heauen with ful commission to bind loose punish pardon feede confirme in fayth decide and determine c. this he can not yeeld this can no earthlie power take frō him this doth no Catholique King or Countrie restreine him of nether euer were ther anie lawes made in Fraunce Spaine or in our owne Countrie so long as it was Catholique for abbridging his Apostolical mere spiritual authority ī the premisses Though otherwise as it falleth out in a mans owne person wherin as the Apostle writeth and as we al feele the flesh resisteth the spirit The
this man was M. Kirkman M. Kirkeman an happie Priest also martyred for that he acknowledged him-self to haue reconciled certaine persons to the Catholike church For which likewise were put to death M. Thomson M. Harte and M. Threlkeld M. ThoÌ„son M. Hart. M. Threlkeld afterward in the same citie of Yorke neuer charged nor suspected of anie other treasons then of hearing Confessions absoluing and reconciling sinners to the fauor of God and to the vnitie of the Catholique churche againe which both in the Priest that absolueth and in the partie that is absolued they haue made to be the crime of les-Maiestie vnder this false and most vniust preteÌ„ce that al parties so reconciled are assoiled of ther obedience to the Q. and doe adhere to her enimie and admit forreine iurisdiction power and authoritie which is exercised in Confession for remission of sinnes Thes be the treasons and none other for which the blood of Gods Priests is so abundantlie shed in our poore countrie thes yeares Adde to thes the two famous confessors Ao. 1583. M. Slade M. Bodie M. Iohn Slade and M. Iohn Bodie who both by certaine interrogatories being driuen to say their mindes touching the Q. chalenge of supreme regiment ecclesiastical contrarie to the asseueration of this libeller set downe before for confessing their faith of the Popes spiritual soueraigntie and for denying her to be head of the churche of England or to haue anie spiritual regiment were coÌ„demned to death in publique iudgement at two diuers sessions and that at twise a rare case in our countrie the latter sentence being to reforme the former as we may gesse in such strange proceedinges which they perceiued to be erroneous and insufficient in ther owne lawes Wherupon one of them was executed at Winchester th' other at And ouer in the same prouince being neuer charged with disloyaltie or olde treasons as not onelie by the recordes of their arraignment and condemnation we are able to prooue but also by their owne speeches and by the whole action of ther Martyrdome The booke is intituled The Seueral executions of Slade and Body c. imprinted in London by Richard Iones 1583. which is put in print by one of their owne protestantes that was present and is witnessed by thousandes of others that both heard saw their deathes and iudgement I wil for examples sake alleage some thing out of the said printed pamphlet of that which was said vnto them by the enimie at their martyrdome Confesse your fault saith one of the cheefe * Sir VV. Kingsmel gentlemeÌ„ and ministers of execution ther present for satisfaction of the vvorld in the cause of your death to which the holie confessor I. Bodie answered after protestation of his loyaltie in temporal thinges Yovv shall vnderstand quoth he good people that I suffer death for denying her Maiestie to be Supreame head of Christes churche in England in causes ecclesiastical other treasons except they make hearing the holie Masse or saying Aue Maria treason I haue coÌ„mitted none So his happie companion M. Slade condemned for the same onelie cause was thus spoken vnto in the houre of his agonie The cause vvhy M. Slade and M. Bodie vvere murdered by one doctor Bennet a great minister of ther new congregation let not the Pope saith he that vnvvorthie Priest be preferred before thine ovvne natural Princesse vvho is the lavvful supreame head of the Church next vnder Christ So said this minister by whom we may not onelie perceiue vpon what statute and treason they were executed but also which in an other parte of this libel is without shame most boldlie denied Pag. 10. that indeed the Q. is commoÌ„lie of protestantes called Supreame head of the Church So their preachers in pulpit doe sounde owt daylie as al men know and their writers in bookes dedicated to her as M. Bridges M. Bridges against doctor Saunders and D. Stapleton and others doe tearme her expreslie Wherof the wiser sorte as we may see by this libel are so ashamed that they wolde haue it giuen out to strangers speciallie who wonder at the monstruous title that ther is no such thing chalenged of her or giuen her by the new lawes of Religion in England The protestaÌ„tes ashamed of their Head of the church For which cause and for that they had an intention streight to publishe at home and in forreine partes that none were put to death for anie such matter of faith or religioÌ„ they suppressed the said printed pamphlet of thes twoo mens martyrdome and punished the Author therof though he wrote in that point the plaine truth as he hard and sawe but not discretlie inough nor aggreable to the politique practise they had then in hand which was to perswade the world that none were put to death for their conscience nor that the Q. chalenged anie such title of Supremacie or Headshippe ouer the Church Pag. 10. which later point it seemeth conuenient to the politiques of our Realme to disauowe with such vehemencie in this libel as they geue vs the manifest lye for that we reproue them of it for thus they write vvhich title of headship of the Church the aduersaries doe most falslie vvrite and affirme that the Q. Maiestie doth novv vse a manifest lie and vntruth c. Wherfore of this matter I am inforced in this place to speake a word or two by the waye The truth is that in the first yeare and Parliament of the Q. reigne when they abolished the Popes authoritie and wolde haue yeelded the same authoritie with the title of Supreame head to the Q. as it was giuen before to her Father and Brother diuers speciallie moued by Minister Caluins writing who had coÌ„demned in the same Princes that calling liked not the â—earme and therfore procured that some other equiualent but lesse offensiue might be vsed Vpon which formalitie it was enacted that she was the Cheef gouernour asvvel in causes ecclesiastical or spiritual as ciuil and temporal And an othe of the same was conceiued accordinglie to be tendred at their pleasures to al the spiritual and teÌ„poral officers in the Realme by which euerie one must sweare that in conscience he taketh and beleeueth her so to be and that no Priest or other borne owt of the realme can haue or ought to haue anie maner of power in spiritual matters ouer her subiectes Which othe is compted the verie torment of al English consciences not the protestantes themselues beleeuing it to be trew of al trew catholiques as before it was deemed in her Father a lay man and in her Brother a childe very ridiculous so now in her self being a woman is it accompted a thing most monstruous and vnnatural and the verie gappe to bring anie Realme to the thraldome of al sectes Heresie Paganisme Turcisime or Atheisme that the PriÌ„ce for the time by humane frailtie may be subiect vnto al our religion faith worship seruice
ought to be obeyed by the subiects of England notwithstanding the Bul of Pius Quintus or anie other Bul or sentence that the Pope hath pronounced or may pronounce against her Maiesty Whether the Pope haue or had power to authorize her subiects to rebel or take armes against her or to inuade her dominions and whether such subiects so doing doe laufullie therin Whether the Pope haue power to discharge anie of her Maiesties subiects or the subiects of anie Christian Prince from their alleageance or othe of obedieÌ„ce to her Maiesty or to their Prince for anie cause Whether D. Sanders in his booke of the visible Monarchie of the Church and D. Bristow in his booke of Motiues writing in allowance commendation and confirmation of the said Bul of Pius Quintus haue therin taught testified or mainteined a truth or a falsehood Yf the Pope doe by his Bul or sentence pronounce her Maiesty to be depriued and no lauful Q. and her subiects to be discharged of their allegeance and obedience vnto her and after the Pope or anie other by his appointment and authoritie doe inuade this Realme which part would you take or which part ought a good subiect of England to take Wherin if you say nothing or refuse to answere somewhat in contempt or derogation of the sea Apostolique then are you iudged no good subiect but a traytor wherby let al Princes and People Christian beare witnes of our miseries and iniust afflictions who are inforced to suffer death for our onelie cogitations and inward opinions vnduelie sought owt by force and feare yet not condemned by anie Christian schoole in the world nor vttered by vs but vpon forcing interrogatories we hauing committed nothing by word or deed against our Prince or lawes but doing al actes of honour and homage vnto her suffering meekelie what punishement so euer she would lay vpon vs for our Religion The behaueour of English Catholikes since the Bul of Pius Quintus for so most part of al sortes of Catholiques haue done both in EnglaÌ„d and Ireland for this twentie fiue years space onelie a verie few Nobles of both countries taking once armes for their defence in al this long time of intollerable affliction the like patience you shal hardlie find in ProtestaÌ„tes as their furious rebellions against their Soueraignes in France Flandres and Scotland doe testifie our Nobles gentlemen hauing borne al thos anguishes of bodie and mind with losse of honours countrie landes libertie for so long time haue both at home and abrod obeyed her with such loialtie as subiects ought to doe their Soueraine neuer tooke armes in al EnglaÌ„d vpoÌ„ the Bul of Pius Quintus nor anie time since the publication therof contrarie to the deceiptful diuisioÌ„ of thos times things actions set doune by the Libeller placing that after which was done before the Bul was published but haue shewed them selues in al cases as seruiceable as before The Clergie men also whether religious Priestes The proceeding of Cleargie-men concerning the Bul. or students of the two colledges in Rome and Rhemes whether they were in the seruice of their countrie at home or in the schooles absent did al in maner notwithstaÌ„ding the said CeÌ„sure of his Holines vse al due reuereÌ„ce respect vtteriÌ„g in no preachiÌ„g speech or booke no nor at the houre of their death Martirdome nor euer before in anie their confessions to the Magistrate anie disloyal worde against her Maiesty No which we further auouch not anie one Priest of the Societie or Seminaries can be prooued by the aduersarie to haue absolued in secret Confession anie one man liuing from his allegeance or to haue euer ether in publique or priuate disswaded anie one person in the Realme from his obedience in Ciuil causes to the Q. Furthermore it is certaine that neuer Priest had anie such Commission giuen hitherto by ether the Popes Holines Priests Commissions or such other superiours in Religion or college to deale in anie such matters touching the Q. nether is ther anie such thing implyed in ether the authoritie or act of reconcilement how so euer the ielous enimie hath found knots in thos rushes that of theÌ„ selues are smooth As the contrarie is doubtles most true the Gouernours of the students alwayes of purpose prohibiting and as much as in such numbers of al sortes not al euer hauing discretion to season their zeale could be prouiding that in the cours of our schoole questions and controuersies concerning the Popes preeminence no matter of depriuing or excommunicating Princes should be disputed no not so much as in generalities and much lesse the particularizing of anie point in our Q. case Which matter notwithstanding it be determinable by Diuinitie and doe come in cours to be handled in schooles as other questioÌ„s doe yet because it is incident to matter of state as now our countrie most vnfortunatly standeth and consequently might be interpreted by the suspitious to be ment of her whos case men liked lest to deale in it was thought best to passe ouer al with silence The particuler doinges of D. Sanders of D. Bristoe Which moderation was kept in al places and persons of our Nation two onelie learned men of great zeale excellencie indeed D. Saunders and D. Bristowe excepted who had their special reasâ—ns to doe as they did which we wil neither defend nor reproue but manie Catholiques were sorie therfore and wished the matter so offensiue had neuer bene touched but committed onelie to higher powers and especiallie to Gods iudgement that he might ether in this world or the next wher both Popes Princes must come to their accomptes discerne of the coÌ„trouersie betwixt our two superiours th' one being our spiritual Head and Soueraigne who is the higher and in matter of Religion rather to be obyed th' other our temporal Prince to whom likewise in such sort and matter as the Holie Scriptures appoint vs we owe al dutie and obeisance WherupoÌ„ afterwardes not onely D. Bristow omitted in his second edition or abridgement of his booke that odious point not fit at that time to be handled but D. Saunders also though his former treatise was not of anie stranger Catholique and learned in anie nation misliked being more free therin because they be not entangled by authoritie and sway of lawes as we are yet called he in and suppressed to his liues end a verie learned booke made in defence of Pius Quintus his sentence and printed aboue fortene years since no copie therof that is knowen being now extant Which cours of moderation al Catholiques of al sortes both spiritual and temporal haue followed euer since restraining as much as in them lay the rigour of that sentence And the blessed Martyr F. Campian him self as is recited in the storie of his arraignemeÌ„t The speech of Father CampiaÌ„ at Rome falling in talke with a certaine principal Cardinal in Rome at his first arriual ther
our cōtentmēt this Libeller so often alleageth if in scoole booke or pulpit it had bene affirmed that for Heresie or Atheisme a Prince or her self might be deposed Yf in the famous vniuersitie of Paris or honorable college of Sorbon VVhat forraine Princes accōpt of such propositions that conclusion of diuinitie were defended that the Pope in case of Heresie might censure their king would that trouble his most Christian Maiesty who desireth no longer to reigne then he doth aduaunce the glorie of Christ The like might be said of th' other great Monarch of Spaine who would not haue his owne issue which God almightie blesse succede him if it were not Catholique No more would th' Emperours sacred Maiesty no nor the Popes Holines in spiritual affaires and regiment of our soules superior to al the rest count anie of his owne subiects traitors for houlding that in case of Heresie or Apostacie he might be deposed or loose the right of his place and dignitie We aske here the Libeller by what law or custome Canon Ciuil or National of our countrie or other is this made treason Or why it should be more treason in England then in anie other place seing no lawe hitherto hath passed by authoritie against the same nor anie opinion to be compted preiudicial to anie Prince or state no assertion treasonable that is true in diuinitie for that no truth agreable to Gods lawe and mans can be contrarie to the lauful soueraigntie of anie power or potentate in earth But you wil say and that is al you can say that though the general proposition An obiection vvith the ansvver that Princes for Heresie may be deposed were true yet th'application therof to her Maiestie in particuler may be treason for that it is made high treason by act of Parliamēt in the thirtenth yeare of the Q. reigne for anie to cal her an Heretique or a Shismatique vnder paine of death To which we answere first that our affirming that she may be deposed for Heresie doth not at al auouch her to be one no more then the like assertion of the K. of Spaine would implie him to be such an one or vs to thinke him such an one and therfore if your owne conscience accuse your selues or giue you suspition that what soeuer is said toucheth you it is you that applie the general speach to your owne particuler and not we Secondlie we say that your said law may bind vs that be subiects not to speake so vnreuerentlie of her to whom God hath giuen power ouer vs in this lyfe as to cal her Heretique Infidel or Schismatique for thos be the termes of your statute though we should know her damnably to erre in Religion but the Pope is not subiect to that lawe but he may according to th' authoritie giuen vnto him determine by the lawes of God holie Church who is an Heretique and so wil the learned of forraine schooles whether you wil or no applie the definition of Heresie or of an Heretique to what person they please As for vs our brethren executed you know none euer called the Q. Heretique voluntarilie contemptuouslie or malitiouslie as your statute runneth but when they were driuen by you of set purpose to offend the lawe so to haue some quarel to make them away The malice of our persecutours in driuing and inforcing men to offend their lavves For example of your charitable and no lesse politique dealing in such matters we wil set doune the holie Martyr Iohn Nelsons case This man being brought before the Magistrate was demaunded what Religion he was of to which when he bouldlie answered that he was a Catholique they further asked what he thought of that Religion and seruice which was vsed in England and to that when he answered that he tooke it to be heretical and schismatical then quoth they what is Schisme A volūtarie reuolt said he from the Romane and Catholique Church Wel then said the Magistrate goe toe what thinkest thou of the Q. is she a Schismatique or no for of anie thing said before they had no iust pretence of law to cōdemne him of treason the man of God answered that he neuer so called her for reuerence of her highe dignitie nor could tel for that he knew not her Maiesties meaning whether this Religion were established by her special commandement and authoritie or no and therfore humblie prayed them not to vrge him wittinglie to commit anie crime wherin hitherto he had neuer offended But they would not so cease but said they could wel resolue him in that that in deed this English religion was established by her and by her mainteined the Confessor refused stil to answere saying that he knew not so much for al that of her mind cōscience but it might proceed rather of some of her ministers more then of her self in which sort as S. Augustine noteth a man may be deceaued by heretiques but yet properlie no heretique Haereticis credens non propriè Haereticus A differēce betvvene an Heretique and one that beleeueth Heretiques But because they would needes haue the poore mans death they left him not so but what say they if she were the author of this religion then whether were she a Schismatique or Heretique or no The Confessor being loth to exasperate the Prince on the one side and more loth to offend God or giue scandal on thother after he had paused a while and asked strength from aboue finallie he said if she be the setter forth and defender of this Religion then she is a Schismatique Heretique in deed And so they got the holie person into the cōpasse of their lawe for which afterward he was Martired Now we doe appeale to the equitie of al Christian people how loth our brethren be to offend by word or deed the honour of the Q. The offence of Catholiques coacted after what a shameful captious sort they be forced to doe or say that which the enemie chargeth them withal euen to death Alas it is not Catholiques that applie thos vniuersal truthes of schooles to the particuler case of our state but it is their owne vneuen driftes questiōs feares and suspicions that make them imagine and conuert al to them selues As also it is their errour in regiment wel near as may be doubted incorrigible that hath brought them selues to thes perplexities and vs to thes coacted miseries and complaints Lastlie we say that how soeuer anie one Catholique or other hath bene driuē or shal be forced hereafter to offend against the said Statute of Supremacy or Heresy or against any new law made in that behalf yet in equity they can not be pursued to death for that cause seing our aduersary protesteth here publiquely in his Libel that no other trespasses shal be obiected to vs as matter capital sauīg treasōs so made by th' olde lawes of the Realme As we for our partes eftsons doe protest and
the Lantzgrane gaue this reason Lib. 21. of their taking armes against their supreme Magistrate For as much say they as Caesar intendeth to destroy the true religion and our anciēt libertie he giueth vs cause inough why we may with good conscience resist him as both by prophane and sacred histories may be prooued Lib. 22. The same writer reporteth the like of the Ministers of Magdeburge declaring how the inferiour may defend him self against the superior compelling him to doe against the truth and rule of Christes lawes By al which you see that to resist the Magistrat defend them selues in cases of consciēce and to fight against the superiour for religion is a cleere and ruled case and no treasonable opinion at al against the Prince if we wil be iudged by Protestants wherin their knowen facts be far more notorious then their writinges The examples of the Protestants taking armes for their Religion For that Beza and other the cheefe ministers of the French Caluinical Congregations were them selues in feeld agaīst two or thre of their natural leige lordes and kinges Zwinglius also the vnfortunate Father of our English faith was killed in the battail as al the world knoweth and therby it is euident that the instance of D. Saunders who followed of zeale the late commotion in Ireland can not be so much obiected to the Catholiques reproch as th' aduersarie would haue it seeme whos report notwithstanding of the maner of his death is also a verie slaunderous vntruth The Protestants of Flanders held it for a most certaine truth by the approbation also and sollicitation of England that they might rebel against their supreme Magistrate for Religion when by force of armes they altered al and deposed their Soueraigne Which ought the more to weigh with th' English Caluinistes for that as I haue signified their pudding lay also in that fier As likewise it is wel knowē that them selues haue bene the cheefest procurers and doers in the depriuing of the lauful and annointed Q. of Scotland and for her further affliction haue kept her also in captiuitie thes fourtene years together And here in thes cases of their owne The variable mutable dealing of Protestants no treasonable propositions no resisting of Gods annointed no disobeying the king as being the most precellent no ouerruling the person that acknovvledgeth no superior in earth but holdeth onely of God for al thes termes the Libeller seemeth to make great aduantage of against the resisters of our Q. deposing of her Maiestie by the sea Apostolique can haue place or beare sway But when it cometh to a point of their owne freshe and florishing religion then neither vnction nor lauful succession nor anie other princelie prerogatiue can serue lauful Magistrates or saue them from their subiects furie th' English brethren euer speciallie assisting the rebellion as wel by their diuinitie as otherwise by force of armes to their power The question therfore is not nether is it material to the purpose which the Libeller so much florisheth verie idlie of the Princes lauful creation or consecration The true state of the question about resisting of Princes but whether a Prince laufullie inuested and annointed may be for anie cause namelie for matter of Religion resisted by his subiects We say that the Protestants of al sectes doe both holde and practize it England it self speciallie allowing of the same And therfore ther is no treason in this case if we folowe the present diuinitie of England nor new example if we respect the furious attempts and rebellions of Scotland Flaunders Fraunce and Germanie against their superiours for maintenance of their heresies al wel allowed by the ministerie of euerie Prouince And vpon thes examples you should look my Masters of England when you make so much adoe for one poore commotion made in defence of the Catholiques in twētie six yeares space of the greatest persecution and tribulation that euer was since the Gothes and Vandals times Wher if the Q. had holden her Ancestours faith and had ruled ouer so manie protestants but a quarter of the time afflicting them as she hath done Catholiques though perhaps not her self so much as her vnmerciful Ministers her Maiesty should haue seene other maner of attemptes against her state and quietnes then haue fallen by Catholiques ether in England or Ireland in this her reigne Which her long prosperitie in gouernment proceedeth speciallie of the said Catholiques timorous consciēce quietnes of nature loue of order obediēce great detestatiō of garboiles sturres troubles Which the verie Heretiques them selues haue oftē reprochfullie and scornefullie imputed vnto them openlie The scorneful speeches of Heretiques to Catholikes saying to some of great accompt whom they had afflicted extremelie What wil you or what dare you doe Your hartes we know and your wishes but you are verie cowardes and beastes that be Papistes We stād in no feare of your forces or what soeuer you can doe against vs. Yea the verie ministers wil out of pulpits protest that the Papistes shal neuer haue the world for them come what change of Prince or lawes so euer for they wil fight for it to death Which chalenge and vaunt they make on euerie hand so boldlie and yet verie vndiscreetlie because they see the Catholiques more sadde graue honest and quiet natured men The differēt natures of Catholiques and of Protestāts consisting of deuout and aged persons and of godlie weemen wher as the Protestants now in possession of state goodes and gouernment ar risen most of the principal by alteration spoile and factiō their cheefe folowers youthful persons venterous and desperate and the rest both of laitie and speciallie cleargie entangled by the present commodities and pleasures which this new Religion yeeldeth in al fleshlie lustes and turpitude are impatient vindicatiue restles and furious and in a verie few in comparison of Catholiques and quiet men make a great shew and a terrible muster in the sight of quiet honest and peaceable persons Now thes violent and factious men when the Prince lawes goe for them they make their aduauntage therof but if they be against thē they breake al bōdes of obedience despise dominatiō make spoile and hauocke of al thinges and runne headlong into al most detestable disorders If you marke thē you shal perceiue they make their market most in the minoritie of Princes or of their infirmitie as ī Englād in K. Edwards time The seditious and craftie practise of Protestāts In Fraunce vnder the deceased two yong brethren of his Maiesty that now is In our countrie againe by the infirmitie of the Princesse sexe that now reigneth otherwise truly of most excellent giftes but alwayes a woman easilie seduced and not hardlie ledde and drawen by thos whom she ether trusteth or feareth ī which case commonlie the more gentle or innocent the Soueraigne is the more violent is the gouernment through th' abuse of their
the whole stocke and issue of the said King contrarie to al hope and expectation to faile and be frustrate Wherin it is but a smal comfort and remedie for thes our publique distresses that the Libeller so often The Libellers fond repetition of a mayden Queene by shameful flatterie and odious we dare say to the Q. Maiesty her self telleth vs she is A MAYDEN QVEENE seing that with the Protestants it is no great merite nor praise to be a virgin who compare the state of maried persons in al pointes of dignitie vnto virginitie preferring it also in some And with vs Catholiques in this case of the Realmes extreame danger euen sacred and professed virgins haue bene iustlie taken out of their better life and by dispensation maried And would God in stead of her Maiesties virginitie so that it had stood with Gods wil hers we might rather haue had for the Realmes safety issue of her bodie ī honorable wedlocke In which state ther is godlie continencie also and perhaps as thinges stand as meritorious and glorious to her self as her virginitie But al are signes of Gods ire towardes our poore Countrie the euil lucke wherof and of King Henrie is so much more that this noble line and issue now failing they wil not suffer vs to goe to the next of the same royal blood descending from the renouned Prince Henrie the seuenth grandfather to her Maiesty by whos victorious entrie happie mariage and issue al diuersitie of former claimes of the Croune and most cruel Ciuil warres were ended and the coniunctiō of the two Royal houses of Lancastre and Yorke fortunatelie atchiued but by most shameful packing of certaine Puritanes and ambitious persons with the emulous house and contrarie faction to the familie of this said noble Prince Henrie the 7. would bring al to skambling and as they hope gape after and worke for to their owne poste That so by Gods iust iudgemēts our Countrie should at once fal into two extreme miseries both by forsaking God and the Catholique religion on the one side as also by refusing and tooto shamefullie abusing the onelie next true and lauful heire and consequentlie the whole blood of kinge Henrie the seuenth on the other side Wherein our feares might be the lesse if they would or could preuent the said mischeeues by declaring at least now at length the heire apparant But herein also our future calamities are shewed to be ineuitable except God vse mercy aboue humane meanes For the matter is so farre past and ouerruled by certaine that they can now skarce enter into anie deliberation of the succession as they imagine without extreme peril which they had rather put of to the end of the Queenes life and their owne then haue it to fal presentlie in their dayes Our Lord God turne al to the best and to that end that most shal tend to his glorie what deserued confusion so euer fal vnto vs. This yet we can not but lament and maruaile at in this cause that the coniunction and vniting the two noble Realmes of England and Scotland into one Monarchie which we haue sought for with so manie cruel battailes and so much blood of both Nations being now offred by God and nature in the sweetest and doubtles most indifferent sort that can be The cōiunction of the tvvo Realmes into one Monarchie and in two persons Mother and Sonne the one for approued prudence vertue patiēce constancie courage in aduersitie and equal loue of both the Countries the other for the rarest towardlines in al Princelie partes of anie of his age in al Christendome both of our flesh and blood and the neerest of al the beloued race of Henrie the 7. most proper for this purpose euen as it were prouided by God him self can not yet be accepted but sought by vniust lawes shameful practises imprisonment of the one raising rebellion against the other ether vtterlie to be defeated or made vncertaine of their certaine right and forbidden to chalenge or vtter the same while others intending vsurpation vpon the next lauful successours vncertaintie make their profit and packe for atchiuing their ambitious purpose Of whom as wel the Queene as the whole State present stād in farre more dāger then they could euer doe by the publique acknowledging of the lauful heire which yet is their pretence in concealing the same from the Realme Into thes straites loe on euerie hande is our poore Countrie brought by the iudgementes of God whilest our Libeller and other Protestantes tel the simple people of their faire weather and present abundaunce of al thinges to auert their mindes from the foresaid endles miseries Which for our forsaking the faith of our Fathers al wise men extremlie feare and certainlie expect if we returne not to our Lord God and vnite our selues againe to the Catholique and Romane Church which we haue so vnworthelie left and cruellie persecuted Out of whos companie and obedience ther is nether saluation in the next nor anie true peace securitie in this world which both Christian charitie and natural loue towardes our dearest countrie frendes flesh and blood causeth vs so often and earnestly to inculcate Deut. 32.29 Vt gens absque confilio sapiat nouissima prouideat Alas it is nether Pope nor Priest as the Libeller vntrulie affirmeth VVho are indeed true enimies to her Maiesty and our Countrie and manie deceaued men simplie may suppose that desireth their destruction the one as a most louing Father and Pastor with vnspeakable paines solicitude grones teares and expenses and the other by voluntarie death and shedding of their owne blood seeking their brethrens saluation and the reconcilemēt of their Countrie to Christ and his Vicar But they onelie are in truth and so wil in the end proue most capital enimies to our Queene Countrie that first were authors to her Maiesty to forsake the Church and Sea Apostolique doe stil animate her and the Realme after so manie signes of Gods wrath towardes them to contemne the authoritie censures of the same and violentlie to resist by force of armes and bloodie lawes the supreme Pastor of Gods faithful people as though he vsed the rodde of correction towardes offendours vpon malice hatred or partialitie and not of entire affection loue and charitie Moyses and Aaron resisted Chore and his confederates and executed Gods sentence vpon them and were not their enimies Samuel denounced and executed Gods sentence against Saul Elias against Iesabel and other Prophets and Priests against other Kinges without al malice and with much loue No otherwise then Io. Roffensis Sir Thomas Moore and others did who resisted vpō great loue and dutie to their Soueraine disswading both his diuorce from the Church and from his wife Which kind of men be nether traitors nor enimies to be resisted by sword or lawes but they are onelie such aduersaries as our Sauiour comaundeth the faithful to agree withal in the way for diuers dangers