sent to Eely to the Catholike recusants there imprisoned from the Lords of Queene Elizabeths priuie Councell with (c) A forme of submission sent down to the Catholiks from the Councell a forme of protestation of their duty and alleageance penned by the sayd Queens learned Councell with direction and commission to take the saide recusants subscriptions thereunto being altogether vnexpected of them they being close prisoners and hauing no intelligence at all of any Commissioners repairing to them So soone as these Commissioners had read some part of their commission to the Catholikes there they foorth with were seuerally deuided and in close prison restrained And notwithstanding the sayd formall originall sent purposely for them to subscribe vnto yet the Commissioners as it seemed for a more triall or for a more aduantage taking against the Catholikes there taxed euery of them to set downe immediately the protestation of their alleageance and dutie to like purpose as was set foorth in the originall seat to them from the Lordes of the Councell which the Catholike Gentlemen were permitted to haue but one onely time read vnto them This seuerall forme of submission in such strict order exacted by the Commissioners was in that (d) The catholikes exhibite a form of submission-far more complete theÌ„ that which was sent them ample 2 They had some dispensation to do vvhat they did and yet they did no great matter manner performed by the said recusants that the sayd Commissioners singularly extolling greatly preferring the same before the said originall accepted thereof and required not at all the Catholikes to subscribe to the said originall so penned by the said Queens learned Counccil and addresled by the Lords of the priuie Councell to whom the said prorestations being sent and by them perused they receiued such a full approbation that after that time neuer any odious imputation or calumniations against the fidelity of the Catholikes preuailed The like was the valour (a) The fidelity of Irish Catholikes fidelity and laudable seruice of the Irish Catholike recusants at Kinsale in Ireland anno 1600. who joyning their forces with the late Quens against the Spanish power and against then owne Countrimen and Kinsmen expelled with their assistance the Spaniard and were 1 These bastardly English do rob their ovvn countrimen of their honor in the battell by Kinsalo an 1600. and giue all to the Irish Gods glory like rebells to God they suppresse speciall meanes to keep Ireland in obedience to the Crowne of England which otherwise in the opinions of the commanders of the English forces then there had been vtterly lost And none of iudgement there doubted but that it was in the power of those Irish 2 Of these goodly Catholikes there vvere 4. rebells at the least for one true subiect in the Queens army Catholike Earles Barons Knights Gentlemen and their followers to haue betrayed then that Realme of Ireland to the hands of the Spaniards if either zeale of extirping the Protestant religion thence and firme establishing of the Catholike religion could haue preuayled with them or dread of (b) Excommunication hindred not the Irish Catholikes to do the duties of good subiects excommnnication or threatning of the powerfull inuader proclayming by sound of Trumpet and deuulging proclamations that his sword should no more spare a Catholike recussâ—t disobeying that excommunication then it should doe a protestant resisting in armes And this singular act of loyalty so shortly after seconding and confirming the like of the English catholikes in Eighty eight without all gain-saying conuinceth that the English and Irish Catholike recusantes are not (c) English Itish Catholikes no conditionall subiects conditionall subiects but most true loyall and 3 To the Pope rather then to the king faithull subiects to their Prince and to the Crowne of England therein giuing place to no subiectes of those two Realmes whosoeuer or of what degree soeuer and whose proofe and triall herein farre excelleth all other the subiects of those Realmes if preheminence should in that behalfe be attributed to any profession of Religion in the sayd Kingdomes This argument of our sormer behauiour and of our obedience vnder the 4 Shame you not to charge so mercifull a Princesse vvith seuerity vvhen your selues both by color of lavv by lavvlesse massacres most or uelly murder quiet Christians seuerity of the late Queen may in all reason assure your maiesty that in matter of our loyalâ—e we are like pure Gold fined and refined in the fire of many years probation and therin not to be any way stained The second triall of our fidelities consisteth in matter likewise of fact (d) Catholiks behauiour towards his Maiesties Pre towards your Maiesties Predecessors your Title in them and in your selfe and the effect of our loue and affection performed in all occasions that might giue contentment to your Maiesty both before and since your entrance into this your Kingdome of Ergland which we will endeauour to touch as briefly as we can It cannot be denied then in the first ranke of these our comportements but that we our selues in our times and our Catholike Parents before vs at all times of opportunity offered haue declared our deuouted affectioÌ„s to your 1 As may appear by ParsoÌ„s his book of Titles by Coluils libells and by the subscriptions and allovvances of them by diuers papists said Highnes (a) Catholiks alwaies affected to the Kings Title to England right to this crowne the testemonies whereof are in printed books and publike facts so manifest to the world that we need not long dwel on that point vouchsafe therefore patience we beseech you Deare Soueraigne to heare som instances of the (b) Blessings benefits his Maiesty hath receiued by catholikes blessings and the benefits your Maiesty hath receiued by 2 But not by papists beleeuing the doctrin of Trent and the kingkilling positions maintained by the popish faction catholikes and by our seruices and fidelities King Henry the 7. and his eldest Daughter from whome your Maiesty hath receiued lineally and directly your birth right and naturall succession to this crowne were most zealous and religious Catholikes and for that singular affection he did beare to the (c) Henry the 7 preferreth the Scotish King before the French Scotish nation principally for their great zeale at all times to the catholike religion preferred the same before France bestowing his sayd eldest Daughter on your Highnes great Grandfather and the yonger vpon the 3 King Henry the 7. vvas dead before the mach made vvith his daughter French King by which happy mariage came that lineall and rightfull descent of bloud that made your Maiesties renowned Mother Heyr apparant to this crowne of England who also was the vndoubted (d) His Maiesties Mother lineall heir to K. Edward the Confessor lineall Heire to King Edvvard the Confessor by his sister Margaret Queene and Saint and
resisted and vvold not suffer the popes agēts to cut their throtes Countries Reason then the life of the law will acquite vs if we prefer a Faith that hath taken so deep roote whose goodlie fruits we daylie see and tast before 6 Not so slēder sleight as the papists are slēder sleight green Christiās a slender sleight green and far lesse fruitfull plant About twenty four years now past when a certaine conference was held in the Tower betweene Master Campion and Master Shervvin Catholike 7 Or rather the seditious priests of Baal that came to stir rebelliō in Englād as appeared by Parsōs Cāpiōs faculties Priestes and some of the selected learned Protestant diuines there were then in prison in the Fleet diuers Catholikes both of honourable and worshipfull degree for Testimony of their conscience only as the Lord Vaux Master Thomas Somerset brother to the Earl of VVorcester Sir Thomas Thresham Sir William Catesby others who offered the warden of the Fleet to procure them licence of the priuy Councell to be present at the conference and to haue that question of repairing to the Protestant Church discussed and decided one hundred 1 They tell lyes by hundreds Frenche Crownes for euery day that this question should remaine thus vnder examination but their request could not then be 2 Diuers yet liuing can testify the contrary admitted albeit the said warden did vndertake the suite and confidently promised to effect it and seriously laboured it aswell by his honourable friendes in Court as by all other meanes he could possibly The same offer of conformity and desire to be satisfied in this point which we made then we in humble wise make now and that with so much the more greater efficacy as your Maiesty hath a most full and ample possession of our 3 Hovv can the hart be deuided betvvixt the king and the Pope harts and affections for manifold important respects both for the loue your gratious Mother did beare vs and the cause for which we suffer as also for the often to vs most comfortable protestations your Maiesty hath made and that in publique and in priuate that you haue a mind free from persecution or thravvling your subiects in matters of conscience that you vvold not increase our burdens vvith 4 The King is here compared to an insolent and vvicked yong man Roboam to which adding your Clemency of which wee haue tasted and your gratious promises wherewith wee liue in hope and your daily discourses springing from your natiue bounty and beniguity make vs 5 Jf you straine your selfe through a colendar yet nothing commeth from you but vain promises strayne our selues to the vttermost to giue your Grace satisfaction And therefore if we may obtayne this fauour at your Graces hands to be assured in conscience by the decision of the learned 6 Let your Diuines or rather sophisticall priests prooue vvhat they can in vvriting and they shall be ansvvered Deuines of both sides that the act of going to the Protestants sermons and seruice is not a damnable sinne then if after such (a) A most hāble and reasonable request A Councell conference or disputation dispute decision and information we shall refuse to conforme our selues to your Maiesties vvill example we thinke then there is reason to giue life and reestablishment to the lawes made against vs. And this may suffice we hope for discharge of the dutiful respect we beare to your Maiesty and desire we haue to giue your Grace all 7 All the vvorkers of iniquity vaunt themselues as the Prophet saith Psal 94. and so do these also But their cracks are vaine proud and foolish possible satisfaction in mater our beleefe and Religion The answere to the 3 and 4. chapter of the petition HItherto these petttioners haue well dissembled theire violent humors pretending only humilitie submission and offring in termes to giue satisfaction and cōtentment to his maiesty But now before they come to the cause of their religion they tell his maiesty of their nūbres both in England and Jreland secretly intimating that if they may not haue their petition by faire means they haue power to take other courses they doe also signify that some of theire consorts haue holden the popes handes from censuring the king and intreated him to censure those that should offer the king any disturbance in the firste plainly threatning the state in the second aduācing the pope making the King beholding to him for his crowne Many other particulers there are in these two chapters worthy to bee censured First they go aboute to perswade his maiesty that as many of his subiects in England and Jreland are papistes as professors of true religion they woulde percase say the same of Scotland but that theire consciience told them contrary But first they must shew that Papists houlding with the pope are true subiects before they place them in the nūber of the Kings true subiects next they must bring forth the rolls of the ministers of papists and name them or else no man wil beleue them For in Ireland howsoeuer the commō fort reteineth some popish ceremonies the number of that znuerstand the principall grounds and doctrines of popery is very slander In England except certaine stage plaiers old women adicted to superstition sely husbands ouerruled by theire wiues and certaine Mal-contentes and frequenters of ordinaries that despaire to obteiue preferment in this state and and only hope for honour and dignity in a newe worlde there are but fewe papists and all theire numbers forces if we respect the multitude of true Christians amounteth to nothing Secondly they talke very idlely of the dignity of English papists But they name no one man of that sort that either for his greate seruice in warres or peace deserueth any singuler commendation Therefore they runne out into a long rehersall of matters forepast and talke of theire auncestors saying that they haue deserued wel of this cōmonwealth But as well might the Moderne Romanes alledge the greate seruices and noble actes of Scipio Paulus Aemilius Sylla Marius Catulus Caesar Cicero Cato and others or of the auncient Troyans from whom they pretend to be descended they commend their auncesters also for theire loue fidelitie vnto theire princes But what is that to iustifie the Practises of late papistes both againste his maiestyes predecessors king Edward and Queene Elizabeth and also againste himselfe both in Scotland and sence his comming in England Beside that if they claym to be descended from those rebels that oppugned king Iohn and king Henry the 8 and sought to bring them vnder the Popes most greeuous yoke and to depriue them of their crownes it shall not procure them any greate honour with the people or grace from the king They say they are not degenerated in any poynt from their ancesters and that they haue endcuoured to serue god as theire forefathers haue done
religion neither inioy honours nor goods nor lands nor liberty nor life pristine honours and honest reputations and to our birthright freedome and liberty by your onely Peerles justice clemency and benignity permitting vs to liue in peace come dere buccellam nostram sine dolore to put a bit of meate into our mouthes without sorrowe without flights without flights and without circumuentions of our Aduersaries our woundes are so deepe and daungerous in matters of our honours states and liberties that no Phisitian can cure vs but your selfe with the soueraigne balme of your renowned clemencye What pleasure or profit can redownd to your Maiesties person or estate if we your approued and assured seruantes and subiects 3 Many hane been satted in prison fevv haue rotted in prison though committed for treason and not religion lot in prison die in banishment and liue in penury and disgrace for no other crime or offence but for the constante profession of that Religion which in conscience we are perswaded to be the only true worship of God and saluation of our soules Of which our faith and beleefe we haue rendred so 4 You haue only told false reports and fabulous conccits of your ovvn braines dennyd of reason sufficient reason that wee hope it will fully satisfie and content so wise learned politique and discreete a Prince as your Maiesty hath shewed your self to be in all occasions presented to make trial thereof which maketh vs the more confident in our iust and reasonable defence because we sue to a most wise iust and learned Monarch And albeit more then this can hardly be required of men whose fidelities are so sufficiently tried and testified as appeareth by the whole substance and tenor of this our Apology yet pro abundantiore cautela we humbly lay down at your Maiesties feete in forme of submission and security following in behalfe of our Precsts and pastors The answere to the 6. Chapter THJS is the somme of this quarrelsome accusation flender in comparison of the matters obiected and witlesse in respect of the handling of it as the sequele will declare First they accuse a student of Lyons Inne a lawyer by profession as they call him But what is this to vs Nay what is that to the Ministers they speake of Further they sould know that there is some difference betwixt students of Lyons Inne and lawyers betwixt the Innes of court and chancery but that they lack law and experience This lawyer by profession as they say in a discourse of treasons against the Queenes Maiesty by Francis Throckmorton telleth how there were founde among other his papers 12 pedegrees of the discent of the Crowne of England printed and published by the Bishop of Rosse in the defence of the pretended title of the Scottish Queene his Mistris But whether they say true or no god knoweth Neither neede we to examine it the matter concerning vs nothing And yet if these men in those tymes shold haue discredited Queen Elizabeths title and preferred another before her they woulde hardly haue answered the matter if they had been called to Tiburne for it Neither if this students offence be so great which only telleth matter of fact will they be able to cleare Parsons and many recusants in England that haue heertofore allowed that traytorous booke of titles which infringeth the kings title that nowe reigneth in despite of all his oppugners Next they mention the attempt of the duke of Northumberland for setting vp the Lady Jane agaynst Queen Mary and thereto adde a commemoration of the execrable murther of the Kings father grādfather with thē also they conioyn Dauid the Queenes Secretary as they cal him Lastly they run out into a large discourse of Iames the base brother of the late Queen of Scottes of Bothwel Gowry others that in time past made some attemptes against the King and his mother But what maketh all this J pray you to the ministers of England against whom they pretend to frame theire odious accusation did not the duke of Northumberland as they say dye a papist and was he not assisted and folowed by more papists then true Christians Furthermore did not the Erle Gowry bring with him the seedes of popery witchcraft cōiuration yea of Atheism out of Jtaly and was not Bothwell an hypocrite at least in religion aswell as a traytor in his rebellion but had they doone wickedly we are not to iustify their particuler actions neither can these accusers iustifie their absurd discourse ioyning to gether matters so vnlike and so farre from the purpose and in some poyntes making against them selues Dauid was no man fit to be ioyned with kings James the Queenes brother was wickedly murthred by a practise of papists that the Kings grandfather was murthred we cannot learne they were none of our religion certes that laide hands either vpon his maiesties father or grādfather-likewise his maiesties mother was brought into trouble by the practise of Sāmier a wicked Iebusite as is testified by him that wrote the Iebusites Catechisme a papist a mā of more credit learning thē these libelling lay papists therfore not so easily to be shaken of But if they will not beleeue him nor Watson a Martyre of their Church yet I hope they will beleeue pius Qnintus his letters extant in his life written by Hierome Catena and shewing that she was animated in those courses by the pope and his faction of which any man may gather what were the causes of her calamity the same also may be proued by histories and all the proceedings in that cause which J forbeare to relate leaste I should offend as these libellers doe without all respecte of persons refreshing the kings greefe and speaking of matters which he most graciously hath forgotten Lastly they mention certaine statutes made partly for the settling of the title of the Crowne and partly to meete with the seditions and conning practises of papistes which with reconciling men to the pope and by diuers notes of faction as agnus deies beads graynes and such like sought to vnite their consorts to stirre vp tumults and to make a side to depose Queen Elizabeth But all this rehersall of lawes as it sheweth the greate or rather necessary occasions giuen to the state to make lawes against factions preests and their adherents so it maketh nothing for the cause in hand seeing the peace of the land was thereby confirmed and the Kinges right no way preiudiced But if the Masseprestes and the Popes agents had beene left at liberty to found the popes kingdome within England then if the King had not founde geate trouble at his entrance yet should he haue felt halfe his authority and kingdome shared by the pope This discourse therefore proceeding from men aduerse to the state and fauorable to forrein enemies and dealers for the Jnfantaes title as is recorded in diuers books and proued by diuers witnesses known by good experience
A BRIEFE EXAMINATION OF A CERTAINE PEREMPTORIE MENACING AND DISLEAL PETITION PRESENTED AS IS PRETENDED TO THE Kings most excellent Maiestie By certaine Laye Papistes calling themselues The Lay Catholikes of England and now lately Printed and diuulged by a busie compagnion called JOHN LECEY Epist Iude verse 16. These are murmurers complainers walking after their owne lusts whose mouthes speak proude things hauing mens persons in admiration because of aduantage AT LONDON Printed for William Cotton and are to be sold at his shoppe adioyning to Ludgate 1606. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD TOBIE BY GODS GRACE Bishop of Duresme his speciall good Lord. THE last Session of the Parliament my good Lorde I answered a certain petition then diuulged and printed by the Masters and teachers of Popish religion and this I had well hoped would haue satisfied their disciples and folowers seeing their learned leaders so silent and vnable to replie But I perceiue that the common saying now prooueth true That many schollers a Cicer. Epist famil lib. 9. ad varronem passe their Masters For if they had not excelled their teachers in immodesty they woulde not haue rubbed ouer that rustie stuffe which their betters are ashamed to bring againe vpon the stage and if they had not passed them in boldnesse and importunitie they would haue forborne to importune his Maiestie and the state further in matters formerlie for such graue and important considerations most worthilie reiected And yet I speake not this to the intent to clear their masters For beside that this seemeth a deuise of their Masters the Massepriestes and Iebusites that make others to solicite their forelorne cause Chrysostom homil 43. op imperf in Math. telleth vs that the impiety of the schollers is to be imputed to the masters The argument of both petitions is one in effecte and therefore much more needeth not to be said now then that which is formerly aunswered to the Masse-priests Yet because all haue not seene the former petition and answer nor vnderstood their gunpowder and rebellious practises and these Lay or rather lame Romane Catholikes seeme to stand more vpon their loyaltie then the other I thought it not amisse after this late discouery of their most horrible treasons particulerly to examine this discourse also and with marginall Glosses to poynt to the fooleries of their text which notwithstanding I would not haue all simple papists take as spoken to thēselues for my meaning was to touch only these Petitioners and such as subscribe this factious Petition Much adoe we haue about toleration of popish religion but we may say as Saluianus lib. 7. de prouidentia said sometime in another case vtinam hoc remedium malorum non diuturna toleratio I would this toleration which they desire were a remedie of their pretended euills and not rather a long continued toleration of mischiefes and that both in the Church and state For why I beseech you may we not so say seeing nothing can be granted that is either more derogatorie to Gods honor or more preiudiciall to the Kings maiesty and state as hath in part appeared by this late attempt and as God willing it shall at large with moste inuincible arguments be demonstrated This my discourse most reuerend Father I present to your Honor as a pledg of my loue and an acknowledgment of your Lordships fauours towards me and the rather that both your Lordship and al true Christians truelie zealous for the cause of true pietie and studious of the safety of their countrie may thereby vnderstand how much it importeth them all to concur in repressing such notorious insolency factious courses These men they are like the heretiks of whom Irenaeus lib. 5. aduers haeres speaketh which being blind in matters of truth did contradict their own saluation Caecutientes circa veritatem saith he suae contradicunt saluti But pious governours will neither neglect the safety of religion the state nor of these contētious gainesayers of truth if they doo not wilfully shut their eares to the truth and their eies to the light and carelesly neglecte the restraint of the vnderminers both of the Parliament house and whole State Wherefore referring these matters next to Gods prouidēce to the zealous care of our superiors I commend this worke and my selfe to your Lordship and your Lordships prosperous estate to the fauour of the almighty London this first of Ianuarie Anno. 1605. Your Lordshippes in all pious affection MATTH SVTCLIFFE To the Christian Reader I DOE not beleeue gentle reader that many lay papists will subscribe this petition albeit pretended to bee framed and exhibited by all of them to the King It were a matter too sawcy for wise and ciuill men to challenge the king of breach of promise as they do pag. 8 and too presumptuous to rayle on religion publiquelie professed and the professors thereof to the Kings face as they do in diuers places Neither do I think that all are so foolish as to make themselues pledges and hostages for their Masse-priests suffering such slippery cōpaniōs to dominere in their houses to confer with their wiues daughters to wast their estate while they haue no Counterbond from them either for the others good behauiour or theire owne securitie This I am well assured that what soeuer is pretended this petition neuer came Originally from the heades of lay papistes For neyther may such men withoute licence reade Caluines Institutions nor Luthers bookes nor other discourses written by men of our side nor may they take vpon them to discourse of Religion as the Authors of this petition doe I wold therfore pray the simpler sort of plain meaning Papists not to take what soeuer is sharpely spoken against the Masse Priestes masked vnder the name of lay papists and the sole deuisers of this petition and their abherents the Authors of many treasons and mischiefes as spoken or meant against themselues and all seduced simple soules And against such as so violently run a course against truth and seek to blow vp the King and State I doubte not but all indifferent men will esteeme my speech moderate and this kinde of dealing most fitting and conuenient What shall vncircumcized Philistims raile at the people of God and seeke our destruction and shall not true Christians be permitted liberty to represse theire insolency to countermine their vndermining treasons and freely to defend the truth When themselues do publish their petitions they may not refuse to haue them publiquelie examined and no reason haue they to complaine of wrong seeing themselues thus handled when notwithstanding their wicked intentions they put forth their Apologyes requests and discourses into other mens handes as if they were most loyall and honest men Hitherto they haue abused the worlde with a false pretence of antiquitie and falselie chalenged to themselues the name and title of Catholiques They doe also before such as are ignorant of matters of state stand vpon termes of loyalty and loue
toleration of popery is conformable to reason But little doth he seem to vnderstād what is reason that requireth things so cōtrary to truth law reasō For first what reasō can he pretēd to desire the practise of a religiō rebellious seditious fals erroneous foolish absurd new strāge idolatrous blasphemous and full of diuers other moste grosse abuses either therfore the papists must clear their religiō from these crimes or else confesse they haue small reason to demand a toleration for it We haue iustified our charge in diuers treatises both in latin and English and yet they answere nothing particulerly Secondly litle shew of reason haue they to desire his maiesty to admitte a religion which depriueth him of halfe his authority halfe his subiects halfe his reuenewes and maketh him subiect to the pope Thirdly they doe without all reason demand the free exercise of a religion that bringeth mens consciences into thraldome their persons into danger and their landes and goods into the hands of tyrantes Fourthly the pope and massepriestes make merchandise of mens soules and make little conscience to buy and sell churches altars dignityes heauen grace and all spirituall thinges They spoyle the poore the widdowe and fatherlesse and for maynteinaunce of their owne estates make hauocke of Christian mens estates Haue they then reason to sue for such a bargayning and spoyling religion 5. They shew thēselues deuoid of reasō that admit masse priests into theire houses that like owles fly the light and sight of the magistrate that intertaine intelligence with forreign enemies that deuoure theire substance that like impure lechours abuse the wiues daughters and maides of such as giue them intertainement and pretending to make them Catholike doe indeed make them Cuckoldlike Sixtly we finde by proofe that Masse-preests and Jebusites haue combined thēselues with foreign enemies haue sought the destruction of the ire souereigne princes the thraldome of their natiue country to strangers Jf any man doubted of this before the horrible treason and rebellion of Percy Catesby their followers and their wicked deseignements may resolue him And therfore if reason may rule them none of the kings true subiects can seek the aduancement of this treache rous religion Finally papists haue no reason to aske that of vs in England which themselues deny to vs and our brethren in Spaine and Italie There they will not cease their butcherly proceedings nor put downe their houses of Inquisition Neither will they be induced to suspend their penall lawes made against true Christians What face and forehead then haue papists to aske that in England of vs which they will not yeeld to vs and our brethren in other countries is it not reason that they should doo to others as they would haue others to do to themselues and doth not the law quod quisque ff quod quisque iuris contain great reason determining that euery man should be iudged according to the law which himselfe vseth But if papists wil needs vrge things vnreasonable then must they vnderstand that true Christians haue reason to reiect their treacherous false erroneous new absurd ido latrous and blasphemous religion And next that his Maiesty hath iust cause to abhor the practise of that religion that as hath bin foreshewed maketh him the Popes vassall and taketh away halfe his authority halfe his subiects halfe his reuenues and bringeth the rest into question Now his Maiesty is in no daunger by the grace of God if he can suppresse the growing faction of Antichrist Sixtus Quintus in his declaratory Bull anno D. 1588. against our late gratious Queen confesseth that hee had no meanes to proceede against her as he had in countries professing popery to deale with other princes But let Massepriests gather their bands of seditious persons together and then both prince and state shal incur great hazard Thirdly the preachers of the Catholike faith haue good occasion to oppose themselues against these wolues that seeke to enter vpon Christs flock They seek to alter both religion and state and will not rest before they haue depriued al true pastors both of their liuings and life will not then true pnstors awake and vigorously resist them Fourthly Wise politikes may not admit a religion that will cause dinision and trouble the peace of the state Neither may they tolerate such as depend on strangers and concurre with forain enimies 5. The disciples of Christ may haue no felowshipp eyther with the priests of Baal or the caniball Massepriests that say they eat Christs flesh with their mouths and teeth swallow his blud into their bellies or with the disciples of Antichrist that seeke to suppresse the true catholike faith 6. No true louer of his country can endure rinegued Iebusites and Massepriests that are combined with forreign enemies and seeke to bring their countrimen vnder the commaund of straungers and to murder all that are studious of the peace and honor of their nation as Walleyes and others Iesuites actions of late haue plainly declared 7. Charitable Christians may not tolerate either a race of sturdy begging friars or a packe of lazy Monkes or a swarme of caniball Massepriestes which say they eat vp Christs body really and corporally but indeed and really deuour the poor the widow and the fatherlesse 8. Men of honest minds and disposition are enemies to all lecherous and fodomiticall Friars Monks and Massepriests neither will they salute them heare them or conuerse with them least they be partakers of their sinns and consequently of theyr plagues 9. Christians maintain their Christian liberty and haue reason to detest the doctrine of Antichrist that enthralleth both theyr persons and consciences Further as it pilleth theyr goods so it destroyeth vtterly the soules of them and theyrs Finally seeing they cut our brethrens throates abroade no Christian man hath reason to suffer them to harbour here purposing to cut our throats at home Faux Percie and Catesbie haue left a race of cutthrotes and gunpowder fellowes behind them shold then reasonable men so far forget reason as to harken to a petition so vnreasonable Chap. 15. That popish religion may not be tolerated if we respect the groundes of christian religion and policy confessed by the papists themselues THat diuers religions are not to be suffered in a christian common wealth we haue before demonstrated by the confession of papists themselues It resteth therefore now that we proue by generall pofitions holden and confessed by the papists that popish religion may not bee tolerated by princes and states eyther professing true religion or els holding the true rules of policie 1. First it is confessed by our aduersaries themselues that no idolatrous religion is to be tolerated in any state But it is clearly demonstrated heretofore Chap. 7. that popish religion in diuers pointes is idolatrous 2. Neither will they yeeld to permit any sects or heresies but it is apperant that monks friars and Massepriests are diuided into sects and manifestly
haue we prooued Chap. 8. that popish religion is a masse of old and new heresies 3. Further they confesse that all impious and blasphemous opinions are to be seuerely punished and neither by publike graunt to be authorized nor by conniuence to be passed ouer But hardly shall the papists be able to cleare themselues of the impieties and blasphemies wherewith formerly they stand charged 4. Fourthly that cannot be true religion that containeth either falshood or foolery or error Nor do papists deny that such false religions are to be repressed and by lawes exterminated out of the commonwealth But in our suruey of Popery we haue shewed that diuers positions of popery are not onely erroneous and false but also foolish and ridiculous 5. Kings that are subiect to the Pope will not suffer any religion if they can chuse that is either preiudiciall to their dignity or dangerous in respect of their safety But many arguments examples do shew that popish religion is of that nature as formerly hath bin declared 6. The Popes themselues albeit vsurpers will not suffer any of their subiects to bind themselues by oath to forreine princes in enmity with them or to entertaine intelligence with them Why then should such as are sworn to the enimies of the state and entertain intelligence with them and practise against the state be suffred in England 7. In Italy no man is permitted to harbour any priest or friar that denieth the Popes vsurped supremacy Why then should the Massepriests and their adhaerents be tolerated among vs that deny his Maiesties supreme authority in the gouernmēt of the church of England that is due to him both hy the lawes of god and man 8. Finally the papists asmuch as they dare resist the popes pillages and cry out vpon his exactions Shold true Christians then that are now released and freed from these burthens admit a religion which teacheth and vrgeth these manifold exactions and oppressions Chapter 16. An answere to the title of the petition of lay lapists and the preface of Iohn Lecey NOw least any ignorant papists shold be abused by glozing reportes of their consortes as if they were able either to cleare these doubts or to alledge iust causes of theire boulde request for a toleration of popish religion wee haue thought it not amisse to examine the seuerall chapters and partes of this apologeticall petition adding our answers to their titles prefaces demandes accusations letters and idle discourses The title front of theire petition foloweth to gether with Iohn Leceys preface A PETITION APOLOGETICAL a It is not credible that papists vvold either present or signe and allovv such baggage stuffe PRESENTED TO the Kings most excellent Maiesty by the Lay b Hereticks and idolaters deserue not the name of Catholikes Catholikes of England in Iulie last In eo quod detractant de vobis tanquam de malefactoribus ex bonis operibus vos considerantes glorificent Deum in die visitationis In that c Here vvanteth the beginning of the sentence viz. haue your conuersation-honest can vve then repute them honest that cut of honest conuersation wherein they misreport of you as of malefactors by the good workes considering you they may glorifie God in the day of visitation 1. Pet. 2. v. 12. Printed at DOVVAY by JOHN MOGAR at the figne of the d To shevv that they saile not alvvay vvithout cōpas Compas 1604. THE PREFACE REuerend Sir 1 adde Iohn and then it vvill stand thus reuerend Sir Iohn There came to my hands by the way of 2 That is by the nearest vvay about Bruxels on the xxviij day of this moneth a certaine Petition or Apologie of the lay Catholikes of England as I stand 3 His best ground you see is false information informed presented to his Highnesse about the later end of the Parliament which semeeth so 4 Or rather confrontable to reason conformable to reason so 5 Hovv absolute vvhen it is made vvith conditions and limitations as appeareth aftervvard absolute in forme of their submission and so 6 True For euery politike Christian may vvoonder at their presumption and foly that suppose that a king or state vvill rest assured vpon the othes or promises of massepriests and their namelesse consorts admirable for the assurance by them offered for their 7 Priests of Baal ordered by Antichrist to sacrifice for quicke and dead and not true priests or pastors Priests and Pastors that the publishing thereof cannot but giue contentmente in mine 8 Not vvorth an onyon opinion to al sorts of men that desire both to be clearelye informed of the true state of things and that iustice and equity shold take place according to mens comportments and deserts and not according to the preiudicate opinions of such This had been truly spoken if it had heen applied to the inquisitors of Spain Italy And vvith the great auda ciousnesse and soly of these petitioners whome nothing but the bloud and vtter beggering of Catholikes can satisfie And therefore I thought good in more publike manner then it was before to make the world acquainted therewith Reasons of publishing this treatise THE publishing of this Apology cannot but tend much to his 1 Js it honorable for the king to submit himself to enemies and to receiue conditions of levvd subiects as these petitioners vvould persvvade him Maiesties honour His Maiesties honour and seruice and more to his satisfaction and 2 A goodly security vvhen a kings life and state shall depend vpon a single threed of popish fellovves promises And a most simple satisfaction vvhere nothing is performed but only promised security for so much as the Catholikes affectionate 3 Seruices supposed and obligations broken seruices and obligations therein contayned must needs be arguments of some supereminent vertue and goodnes in his sacred personage that could draw from them at all times such extraordinary effects of 4 Such as appeared in the tumultuous stirres of papists in Scotland against the king and in the practises of Brook Watson and Clerk executed at Winchester for conspiring the destruction of his Maiesty And lastly in Percie and Garnet loue and deuotion and the more manifest the 5 VVhat vvil resusats novv turn protestants it shold seem so But vve are to vnderstād it no further thē a laxatiue purgatiō retcheth protestations of their purgations shall appeare to the world the more manifold shall be their bondes and obligations of performance and perseuerance therein The Protestant 6 They haue no reasō to like either their murmuring petitiōs or their bald pleadings Prelates cannot with reason disalow thereof The Protestant Prelates because herein is nothing required 7 A goodly proceeding vvhen fugitiues and malcontents call foorth true subiects to ansvver at their hands but a reasonable conference and satisfaction in points of their mission and vocation And when they shall make
the whole parliament to omit to speake of their secret combinations and practises it is no good signe that they seeke to satisfie the King and to serue him deuoutly when they seek to set vp a religion displeasing to God disgracefull hurtfull to the King and most praeiudiciall to his subiects Secondly He supposeth the Prelates of the Church of England cannot with reason disallowe this petition seeing nothing is required at theire hands but a reasonable conference and satisfaction in poynts of their mission and vocation But it seemeth he meaneth to giue them but little satisfaction that refuseth to giue them theire due titles and telleth them of I know not what wealth pleasures and pallaces pretēded to be enioyed by them Hee is also very ignorant that imagineth that the teachers of the truecatholike faith can abide a false wicked idolatrous hereticall blasphemous religiō or true subiects treason and rebellion and very impudent to call true Bishops in question for theire vocation and mission hauing no colour of defence eyther for the mission and vocation of Masse Priestes to sacrifice for quicke and deade as for the Pope to rule the whole Church or for the Cardinalls to practise the troubles of Christendome Further he was not wise to talke of Bishops winess being allowed by sainte Paule seeing the periured Romish preistes forswearing mariage and swearing continency doe notwithstanding keep concubines whoors and Bardassaes As for the calling of our prelates and ministers it hath been often and sufficiently iustified already and shal be againe when the intrusion of the pope and his poleshorne crewe of sacrificing preeests into the Church shal not by any means be mainteined or coloured Thirdly he seemeth very carefull not to offend the Puritanes as he calleth them But it is offence inough to giue the names of faction to true Christians Furthermore if the papists be no better able to pleade for themselues and theire religion then these petitioners haue done not only such as they call Puritanes but also all other good Christians will condemne them to be neither half subiects nor condicionall subiects nor subiects at all As for their religion it groweth euery day more odious and execrable then other Fourthly the schollers of Cambridge and Oxford of all men rest worst satisfied with this petition being voyd both of learning and reason as for the conceipt which ignorant creatures haue of masse preests they regard it not knowing thē to be but shallowe fellowes in diuine matters though very profound in rebellions and treacherous practises miserable are they that followe such guides and trust such false fugitiue compagnions Fiftly the Artizans and prentizes of London would make a wiser speake then this petition so seely defences are therin made for the popish preests that how so euer they thought on them before they cannot chuse now but both cry out againste them and stoppe them as false fugitiues seditious traitours and professed enemies to their prince and country In the meane while the masse preests haue litle cause to thāk Iohn Lazy that maketh them pleade theire cause before artizans and prentises who generally detest them and theire abhominable doctrine and practises and hope to see thē shortly hold vp their hands at the barre for treason Finally the papists at home and abroad will be very sory to see theire cause so nakedly handled and so weakely defended and if they be wise will curse him that published so bare a discourse giuing vs occasion to discouer theire treacherous hereticall and wicked doctrines and other mysteries of the popish faction As for the example of Saint Albā and of his teacher it fitteth the papists in no sorte Those two knew no one poynte of that wicked doctrine of papists which the Church of England condemneth neither was Albane martyred for the popes quarrell or the doctrin now cōteined in the decretales but for the faith and doctrine of Christ and his Apostles being as loyall to his gouernors as the Jebusites and their complices are peruerse and disloyall And therfore at vnawares where the prologue wold vse the example of the primitiue church of England he printeth priuatiue church shewing himselfe to be a member rather of the popes priuatiue church of England that is depriued woulde depriue Christians of all true faith in veritie of religion and sincerity in conuersation then of the true primitiue Church founded by Christe and gouerned by the Apostels and their true successors But what shold J need to stand longer about the examinatiō of this poor speak of this rude Lazy prologue who so far forgot himself in his dates of his discourse that he publisheth in print the 16. of octobre this apology that as hee saith in the beginning of the prologue came to his handes the 28. of that month which if he be able to make good then he hath sent vs rather a prophesy then a preface telling vs what the lay papistes pleaded some 12 daies before their pleading came to his handes Chap. 17. An answere to the two first chapters of the petition conteining causes both of the petitioners long silence and of their breach of silence IF the two first Chapters of these laye mens petition had beene spared it mighte percase haue beene imputed for wisdome vnto them For then neither theire ingratitude in not acknowledging his maiesties rare fauors towardes them gratiously pardoning their offences nor their presumption in accusing him for breach of promise nor their vntrueth in charging his maiesty the parliamente and state with rigorous and cruell dealing against them nor their vaine brags in pretending that they were so forward in maintening the Kings title and the principall meane that placed him in his royall throne woulde so clearely haue appeared But seeing they woulde needes acquaint vs with the reason of their present speech and former silence let vs heare them what they can say A PETITION APOLOGETICAL PRESENTED TO the Kings most excellent Maiesty by the Lay Catholikes of England in Iulie last Chapter 1. The cause of our silence MOST 1 His grace you abuse his souerainty you deny his might you hinder Mighty and gratious Soueraign Many are the reasons that haue caused vs to expect with perpetual patience and profound silence your Maiesties most gracious resolution for some benigne remedy and redresse of our moste greeuous 2 You vvrong his Maiesty charging him to be a persecutor and your cause shevving your selues vnthankefull for his fauour calamities and afflictions as the confidence of a good cause the testimony of an incorrrupte conscience the memory of our constant and continuall affection to the vndoubted right and Title in remaynder of your renowned Catholike Mother to the Crowne of England the imputations Crosses and afflictions we suffered many 3 If your plots had taken you had marred all yeares therefore the publique and gratefull acknowledgment that your saide glorious Mother made thereof at the time of her Arrainement and execution in
the presence of the Lords there assembled for her conuiction vttering these words [a] Her bludis shed yet remaineth peace authority to work them redemptiō of her so desired VVo is me for the poore Catholikes and the miseries I foresee they are like to endure for their irremoueable affection to me and miue If I vvere as free as mine estate and innocency requireth I vvould gladly redeeme their vexations vvith my dearest bloud The same zeale and promptitude after her decease we shewed in your Maiesties right and 1 His Maiesties right is but pretention to these lay papist pretention to the Crowne of England the oppositions were 2 Parsons did indeed oppose against the Kings right in his booke of titles so did al his folovvers made by vs and our Catholike brethren and friendes abroade and at home leauing nothing in our power vndone that might lawfull aduance your Maiesties rightful Title as Heir apparent to the Crown of England against all practises or proiects to the contrary (b) The L. Monteagle M. Fran. Treshā Sir Lewis Tresham in the Towre of London Our 3 VVhen there vvas no remedy forewardnes in proclayming your Maiesty without any further warrant then the right and iustice of your Title and the loyalty and affection of our harts (c) Sir Thomas Tresham at North-hampton The 5 Was it dangerous to proclame the king dangers and difficulties that some amongst vs passed in performing thereof in times so green and doubtfull (d) The Vicount Montague largely casting mony among the people The generall 6 Rather greef sorovv and anger ioy and applause shewed by vs with remarkable signes of infinite contentemente at your Highnes entrance into the Realme with dutiful offices of ioy and readines to proclaime and receiue your Maiesty were performed by Catholikes with such alacrity in most places of the Realme and those in such 4 None of these I hope vvill either subscribe this petition or confes the Pope to be supreme head of the church (e) The Lord Winsor the L. Mordent distance one from the other that they cold haue no intelligence one with another how they should behaue themselues in that occasion which maketh it euident that so generall a consent in so suddaine and important an affaire of persons so by places deuided could not proceede from any other fountaine but from an vniuersall and setled deuotion to your Maiesties vndoubted Title All which offices of our loue and loyalty we assure our selues are aswell knowne to your Maiesty as your Maiesties Cādor Clemency is knowne vnto vs by vs blazed throughout the Christian worlde And not by our tongues and pens onely are these your heroicall vertues made so notorious as they are by the often publique and 7 Will you say the King hath broken promise gracious promises also protestations which your Maiesty out of the infinite bounty and magnanimity of your minde hath made aswell to Princes abroade as to priuate Men at home as well before as after the Queenes death as well before as after your entrance to the Realm both in priuate and in publique both in Palace and Parliament that you vvoulde haue no bloud for Religiō that you vvold hane no sale mony for conscience cōtrary to the vvord of God that you vvold review the lavves made against Catholikes and giue order for clearing of them by reason in case they baue beene in times past farther or more rigorously executed by the iudges then the meaning of the lavv vvas The intended performance of which your most gracious promises receiued a memorable commencement in Iuly last past some fewe dayes before your Royall coronation when by speciall order of your Highnes without any suite or motion of Catholikes certain Recusāts of the best quality and ability out of diuers parts of the Realme were sent for to Hampton Court by the Lords of your Maiesties priuy Councel and were by them very respectiuely and curteously vsed also assured by the saide Lords that your Maiesties Royal pleasure and Clemency vvas to exonerate the Catholikes of this realme from henceforth of that pecuniarie mulcte of xx pound a moneth for recusancy The xx pound a Moneth for Recusancy released by the Kings voluntary promise in Iuly 1603. which your Maiesties grace and relaxation the saide Lords signified that they shold so long enioy as they kept themselues vprighte in all ciuill and true cariage to vvardes your Maiesty and the State vvithout contempt whereunto reply was made that recusancy might be held for an act of contempt It was auswered by the Lords of the Councell that your Maiesty vvoulde not accompt 1 Can men refuse to concur in gods vvorship and yet be guiltlesse recusancie for a contempt And this your Maiesties gratious order and pleasure the sayde gentlemen recusants were willed to signifie to all other Catholikes Which grace proceeding from your Maiesties meere clemency voluntary good will in that moste dangerous time of the discouery of the conspiracy of the Lord 2 But contriued by Watson Clerke tvvo Romish traiterous martyrs Gray and Cobham semed to vs so inuiolable and so little subiect to chaunge or alteration that comparing these bountifull effects with the repose trust which your Maiesty in your Printed booke to your Peerles son seemeth to put in them that were faithfull and resolutely affected to your Mother and with the speech your Highnes made the first day of the Parliament tending to some more 3 Bevvare least your presumptuous challenges treasons alter not the kings course temperate course in matter of Religion then was of late vsed we had great reason to abstaine from farther importuning 4 VVhat then meant you by your importune petitions your Maiesty either by friends or petition but to exspect with silence patience and all humble submission how your Maiesty should please to dispose of vs without any diffidence or distrust either in our own 5 If merits vvere respected vvhat can you claime merites or your mercy Chapter 2. The reasons that haue driuen vs to * Better it is to be silent then to speak foolishly breaech of silence and to a necessary and iust defence BVT Alas Dreade 1 The Popes vassalls dread him not nor count him supreme Soueraigne we see our filence modesty and simplicity so abused by some 2 They should be indeed very indiscreet if they cold not discerne your false religion from catholike doctrine indiscreet Ministers who in their Bokes and Sermons make it euident they think no abuse or indignitie offred vs sufficient to satisfie theire 3 Remember your bloudy persecution rigour in queen Maries cruell raign you massacrers of Christians rigorous mindes or supresse our righteous cause that wee are driuen thereby to breake our determinate course of filence vrged and inforced thereto by these sequent occasions Firste The firste
Clerk Brooke Percy Garnet and their confederates hearty affection we beare to your Maiestie and the commonwealth of your Potent Monarchie deserueth It is not our meaning most mightie Monarch being meerly lay men that make no profession of lettres to examine 4 They thinke to slubber matter ouer vvith out examination curiously and contentiously all that our aduersaries haue thundred of late against vs or to dispute with them in mood figure which combate we leaue to the diuines of both parts when your Maiesty shall thinke good thereof but with due respect to giue your Grace an accounte and reason of our beleefe and religion and a full and ample securitie and satisfaction of our fidelities and submission The answere to the first and second Chapter THus we see the causes of their silence and of theire speakeinge but wee cannot see that they are either true or sufficient the first reasons pretended for their silence are these as they tel vs. the coÌ„fidence of a good cause the testimony of an incorrupt conscience the memory of their coÌ„staÌ„t continuall affection to the vndoubted righte and title in remainder of the king to the crowne of England their zeale and promptitude shewed in his maiesties righte and pretention as they call it to the crown of EnglaÌ„d theyr forwardnesse in proclaiming his maiesty King of England and their generall ioy and applause at his maiesties enterance into the realme and for these reasons they say they haue in profound silence expected for some benigne remedy and redresse of their most greeuous calamities and afflictions But first what absurde fellows are these to talke of silence hauing of late time published so manye discourses libells rimes and pamphlets both in defence of themselues and in disgrace of others and presented so many petitions both to his maiesty and to all that could helpe them or were likely to fauour them Secondly if the Massepreestes and theire associates had a conscience so incorrupte as they pretend and such confidence in their cause as they boast why doe they fly the light and hide themselues in corners againe why doe they not make the goodnes of theire cause appeare and particulerly clear themselues of those hereticall and treacherous doctrins wherewith they stand charged they shew themselues most shamelesse when they defend the popes clayme in deposing kings and translating kingdomes and adhere vnto him as his sclaues and maynteine grosse idolatries and absurd nouel tyes to talke either of a good cause or of a good conscience Thirdly if they indeede had fauoured the kings vndoubted righte then woulde they not haue called it pretention nor put him in remainder as heere they doe Nor would so many of them haue fauoured Parsons and Coluill that haue oppugned the kings title in bookes published to the worlde nor haue receiued pensions and interteined intelligeÌ„ce with other clay mers and pretenders Fourthly those which fauored the Iebusites and spaniardes and pope did not then much applaude when either his maiesty was proclaimed king of England or firste entred into the realme But when they sawe the states forwardnes then whatsoeuer heauinesse lay at their hartes they were forced to set on the best face they cold and to do as others did though with smal alacrity as the deiected countenances heauy sighes and sobre cheare of diuers of them did declare Knowing the king to be of a religioÌ„ aduerse to the Pope by the rules of the Popes decretales which they regard as much as the holy scriptures they might not fauoure him nor consort with him if they had beene able to resist Lastly most vniustly they charge the state as oppressing the papists with greâ—uous calamities and afflictions whereas their consorts in Spaine and Italy with all cruelty spoyle and murder our brethren and the state doth only punish recusancy with pecuniary mulctes and very rarely and of few and of late tyme hath begun to exact them But had these fellowes so good a cause and conscience as they pretend yet should the same rather mooue theÌ„ to speak then to keepe silence For who is not bolld to speake in a good cause to mention the kings mother or the conspiracy of Gray and Cob ham they shold say of Clerk and Watson the principall contriuers of that plot they had no reason being the causes of her destruction drawing her indirectly into theire intricate practises most dangerous to her person and that conspiracy proceeding onely from the inuention practise of Papists The next causes of their silence were as they say the promises made by his maiestie both in publique and priuate the courteous vsage of certain recusants at Hampton courte and his maiesties speech the firste day of the parliament But these are matter that rather mighte moue them to open theire mouths and to giue thankes to his Maiesty for his vndeserued fauors then either to suppresse his prayses in silence or to mutinously to mutter and to vtter wordes of discontentment as if they had bene dealt withall hardlie and vniustly Furthermore they do bewray their vngracious and crooked nature that seeme to charge the king with breach of promise and alteration of his courses who promised more then they deserued and performed all that hee promised and altered not his course of Clemency though forced thereto necessarily by alteration of theyr lewde course and their agents importunity For his promises at Hampton courte which are principally vrged this I answere that in that place neither was any toleration of religion demanded nor any such matter promised nay the cause of the repaire of diuers recusants thither was the suspition conceiued of them as if they were guilty of the preests treason and not any new motion for toleration Thereuppon they prayed his maiesty to haue a good opinion of them being guilty of no other crime as they sayd theÌ„ recusaÌ„cy And he like a most gracious king father of his people answered that the same shoulde be no conuiction if other wise they d emeaned themselues loyally Had they beene as dutifull as his maiesty was benigne and gracious they woulde not haue entred into those plots and rebellions which some did afterward That his maiesty did neuer promise any toleration of popery at any other time a noble Counsellor did assure all that were present when Digby vpon occasion did mention and vrge the same at his arreignement His Maiesty saide hee as well before his comming to the crowne as at the very tyme and alwayes sence was so farre from making a promise or giuing hope of toleration that he professed he shoulde not endure the very motion there of by any whatsoeuer For his clement courses against recusaÌ„ts euil deseruing papists I need not say much the same being notorious to the world only J wish that this generatioÌ„ wold not abuse his clemeÌ„ cy but seeke to bee thaÌ„kful for his former fauors theÌ„ prouoke his iustice by their coÌ„tinued il carriage misdemenors secret plottings The
spirits vvhich sought to alter the state her course and to enter into bloud but all was 7 Onely the malcontent faction of papists vvas so filled filled with feares and suspitions at home with 8 Shame come to the Pope and his adherents that occafinned them The losse hath lighted vppon them already wars and diuisions abroad and with continuall frights and allarmes of strange attempts either against 9 Looke vvho these attempters vvere and you shall finde them to haue been either papists or Atheists set on by papists her person or state and in fine when her treasure was 10 This may be truly of firmed of her Maiesties enemies and their states But not of England as I hope his Maiesty vvill vvitnesse But vvere vve hurt by the vvars yet should not this cause vs to loue papists that mingled heauen and earth and stirred the vvorld against vs to vvin their purpose exhausted her subiects and kingdomes extreamely impouerished and all the kingdomes almost about vs disgusted and in open tearmes of iealousie and 11 Much to their ovvne losse and paine as the sequell had declared if the king had not giuen them peace hostilitie with her she began againe to thinke of her former fortunate dayes and to incline to a 12 It is rather madnesse then mildnesse to spare either professed enimies or secret traitors milder course as the onely meanes to setle her and her Realme in peace security and former prosperity which times compared together do demonstrate that the seuerity of lawes made against Catholikes were the 1 Lavves made against papists are the onely bands that hold the flate together and the best meanes vve can vse to contrecarre the mischiefs in â—eded by them forerunners of infinite mischiefes and miseries And least your Maiestie beholding such bloudy and strange lawes made against vs with their 2 They vvere alvvaies most slovvly executed rigorous execution by the space of so many yeares in so long a Raigne as was that of our late Queen might thereby coniecture that such new and neuer hearde of decrees could not without vrgent or notorious occasions haue beene inuented constituted and so seuerely executed least this apprehension of these former proceedings might make the like impression in your mind and auersion from vs we humbly craue your Maiesties gratious eares and attention And when you shall reuiew and consider deeply the lawes made against vs compare them with the objected crimes that then some ouerture may be proposed to the present Parliament for clearing the lawes by reason which is the soule of the law to them that distinction may be made by iustice betweene the innocent and guilty persoÌ„s for howsoeuer the late (a) The reason that might moue the late Queen to make lawes against Catholikes Queen might haue pretention to make them both by reason of her 3 A shamelesse slander It was only a deuise of the popish faction illegitimation by her own Father in publique Parliament notoriously diuulged and the jealousie she euer stood in of the Queen your gratious Mother both for the back and alliance she had with Fraunce and the right she semed to haue by the 4 The Pope is the Church to these men and by the same reason his close stoole may be their chappell But if they giue the Pope power to excommunicate princes and to depose them these popes churchmen are but mean subiects sentence of the Church pronounced against the diuorce of her Father and the diuers censures and 5 Very vvickedly and saucily and treacherously aliovved by papists excommunications promulgated against her Yet your Maiesty of whose rightfull succession and most lawfull and legitimate possession of this Crowne 6 Then is Parsons and his follovvers more diabolically disposed tovvards the king then Satan himself For they haue long impugned and denyed the kings title to the crovvn of England Satan himselfe being put to his shifts can make no doubt or difficulty against whom no 7 VVe report vs for disproofe of this to certain discourses set out by Parsons and Coluil CoÌ„petitor either hath or had purpose or power to contend (b) Vide D. Giffords coÌ„mission and MoÌ„sieur de Be thunes letters whom the 8 This Sea of Rome is a sea of abhominations and mischiefes And therefore it is not much materiall vvhat is regorged out of such a guise of impieties But that the Pope hath not excommunicated the King it hath proceeded rather from fear then loue or any indeauor of Gifford or Bethune His predecessorr got nothing by excommunicating Queen Elizabeth and lesse vvold the Pope novv vvin by censuring his Maiesty Sea of Rome is so far from censuring that she hath 9 VVhat thè vvhore of Babilon doth his Maiesty hath no cause to like This is certain the Pope nener censured Clerk nor WatsoÌ„ nor Percy nor Digby nor Garnet and the rest that sought the subuersion of the state already censured all those that shal any way seek to giue you any disturbance or molestation and with whome all the Princes in Christendom are in perfect peace and amity and whom Catholikes haue as yet no way 1 Hath the king no reason to be offended vvith the tumults practises of papists in Scotland England vvhy then vvas WatsoÌ„ hanged and order taken to persecute the Scottish rebells vvhy vvas the lavv executed against Faux and Digby other traitorous papists offended but by all meanes endeauoured to serue satisfie and content (a) His Maiesty hath no such reason to continue the lawes against Catholikes as the late Queen had to inact them Your Maiesty we say for these respects hath no such apparant cause to continue those lawes as the late Queen had to inact them the reasons and foundations of those lawes being by this happy mutation of state time and persons vtterly 2 Neuer as long as the king professeth true religion or refuseth to become the popes vassall remoued If then Dread Soueraign we haue been are and will be as we haue and will demonstrate as loyall 3 As the leaguers vver to Henry the 3. of France vvhose throat they cut Or as Percy and Catesby of late vvere to our King faithfull and affectionate to your Maiesty your predecessors and posterity and euen to those Princes that dealt most hardly with vs and to the good and peaceable estate of our Country as any sort of your Maiesties subiects within the Realme of our Ranke whatsoeuer we see not how by authority we can be driuen to forsake our Catholike 4 Your faith is proued neither to be Catholik nor your fathers faith Fathers faith and beleefe vnlesse authority can by reason 5 Authority is one thing reason another These iumble both together conuince vs that our faith is infidelity our Religion superstitron and the seruice we vse Idolatry or the 6 This is proued and all your brabling obiections ansvvered
consequently your Maiesty from your Catholike Mother and her Catholike Predecessors hath not onely receiued the hereditary succession of the kingdome of Scotland but also a double right to the Crowne of England as (e) His Maiestie true heir both to the Saxō Norman Princes heire to the Saxon lineall line by a holy Saint and Catholike Queen and heire to the Norman line by a most worthy Catholike Prince and a blessed Martir and all them vnited in her and now duly descended to your Maiesty It was the pious and vertuous Queen Mary and her Catholike subiects Queen Mary who 4 Do not the papists professe themselues falsaries cancelling the authenticall vvills of kings cancelled the forged will of her Father King Henry the eight exceeding preiudiciall to your right in this Crowne that disproued itin Parliament and deposed the Protestant vsurping Queene Iane (f) Queen Ianc set vp by Protestants deposed by Catholikes 5 More papists then true Christians concurred in that action set vp then by the Protestants to the disinheriting of Henry the eight his daughters Queene Mary and Queen Elizabeth and his eldest sisters issue who was your Maiesties great Grand Mother and whose issue were in all right to haue beene preferred before her yonger sister Grandmother to the vsurping Protestant Queen Iane who so deposed by that renowned pious Catholike Queen Mary the crown by her roiall prouidence was reserued to the righful lawfull heirs thereof consequently descended now to your Maiestie conformable to the lawe of God Nature and Nations The serpentine inuectiue made by Hales and other Protestants in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths raigne directly against 1 Not so but rather against such as pretended a right before Queen Elizabeth your maiesties Title thereby intending (a) Hales inuectiue against the Title of Scotlād the aduancemente of a pretender potently in those daies possessed in the breasts of no meane multitudes was vpon the setting forth thereof in the time of Queen Elizabeth indelayedlie vndertaken fullie aunswered and learnedlie confuted by (b) Hales answered by Iustice Brown and Master Ployden both Catholikes 2 Neither be nor Ployden durst speak directly Neither can it he shevved that they acknovvledged the Popes supremacy Sir Anthony Brovvn then one of the Iustices of the common Pleas and lately before in Queen Maries raigne had beene chiefe Iustice of the same Court and M. Edmund Ployden famous Lawyers with the assent of other Catholike Diuines ciuill Lawiers and Gentlemen of good worth iudgement and experience How many (c) Hawards Persies Pagets Vaux Treshams Throgmortons Salisburies Abington families of Catholikes haue endured great damages and detrimentes in renowne and state for desire they had to maintain the right of your most blessed Mothers Title 3 They cared not a stravv for her Title furthen they thought the same a good pretence and colour for their sedicious courses as appeared aftervvard plainly vvhen they vvent to others and oppugned the kings Title in remainder and 4 By their aduentures they brought her to her end vvithout all peraduenture aduentures made to relieue her and deliuer the afflicted Princesse out of her captiuitie with much abundant loue teares and affection your sacred Mother testified publiquely at the end of her life Since your Mothers death we remained euer (d) Catholiks behauiour after the martyr dome of his Maiesties Mother constant to your Maiesties right to the succession of this Crowne not ebbing and slowing in our affections but resolute euer to liue or die with your Maiesty in that most iust pretence but if any particular person in forraign countries hath spoken or written to the contrarie for his priuate and particular pretentions he 5 As if none concurred vvith him that vver to answere also as vvel as he for oppugning the kings Title is to answer for himselfe and his own fact for therein we disclaime which party as we are credibly enformed hath both before and sithence the Queens death done great diligence to giue your maiestie 6 Viz. if vvords and leasings were paiment satisfaction And your Maiesty is not ignorant we are assured what hath bin the cariage opinion and opposition of vs and our friends euen in that particular in the fauour and defence of your Maiesties right both within and without the Realme what (a) The dangers damages and disgraces which M. Charles Paget Cap. Tresham M. Iohn Stoner of Stonor and diuers others suffered therefore are notorious dangers we haue passed at home and what slanders and damages very many of our catholike brethren haue suffered 1 So it appeareth his Maiesties Title vvas oppugned abroad abroad for shewing themselues Scotish in faction as we were tearmed that (b) Scotish in faction what is firmely and immoueably affected to your Maiesties righte of succession to this crowne your Maiestie haue heard and we haue felt and shall feele our honors and estates thereby being extreamely diminished and eclipsed whiles we liue vnlesse your Maiesties pious royall hart vouchsafe to repaire and relieue the same Neither did your Maiesties (c) His maiesties zeale in the Protestāts Religion did nothing diminish the Catholikes forwardnesse towards his right and iustice zeale in the Protestant 2 Nickname not true religiō you professors of antichristian religion religion any way alter or 3 Then are ye no papists For such may not tolerate any professing our religion if they dravv others to it by Bellarmines doctrin diminish the just conceit and dutifull consideration we caried to that iustice and right which God and nature had prepared for you from your cradell If then our cariage and affection to your Maiesty was such when your Religion was to ours so different your Person to vs vnknown your fortune doubtfull the factions diuers the oppositions in all likely hoode very great and the euent of your affaires very vncertaine what may your Maiestie presume of vs now or rather what may you not promise and 4 Iust nothing For the pope taketh on him to dissolue bonds of alleageance assure to your selfe of our fidelities in this time of your Maiesties present prosperitie and fruition of this crowne hauing proued our selues so faithfull to your Maiesty in times of your expectations And to conclude such is the (d) The confidence catholikes haue in his Maiesties roiall dealing with them confidence wee haue in your Maiesties 5 Abused by papists that infringe his lavvs and maintaine intelligence vvith traitors and enemies abroad clemencie and so farre we rely vpon the bountie of your nature and roiall proceeding with vs that whereas the not paiment of twentie pounds a moneth for recusancie into the Exchequor at the tearms by law prescribed puteth vs absolutelie into your Maiesties hands and mercie for two parts of all our lands and reuenues during our liues and maketh vs a praie to the discretion of our enemies and promotors disabling
declaration of Sixtus Quintus against our vertuous and religious Queene Elizabeth in the feditious libell of Parsons and Allen to the nobility and people of England and Ireland in Sanders his factious booke de schismate and proued by diuers letters and NegotiatioÌ„s of Englefield Norton Parsons and others Fourthly some of this sort came with the Spanish armada an D. 1588. and others were to folow Likewise did they follow the Adelantado in the enterprise by sea an 1598. and of D. Iuan d' Aquila into Jreland 1600. and much did the forrein enemy depend vpon the intelligence and forces of recusants as is made euident by the Adelantadoes proclamation Fifily I hope the recusaÌ„ts will not deny but that they haue depended in tyme past and purpose still to depend vpon the pope and must be forward in exequuting his bulles 6. no small numbre of Papists haue serued forrein enemyes receiued pensions froÌ„ theÌ„ which is no good argument of loyall cariage 7. the archpreests factioÌ„ hath loÌ„g stood for the infaÌ„taes title against his maiesty no doubt reteine the same humor stil but that the kings streÌ„gth doth keepe them in tempre 8 SaÌ„mier the Iebusite coÌ„ming disguised into England about the yeare of our Lord 1585. did plot so with diuers principall recusants in England as is testisied by the Iesuites catechisme that he brought his maiesties Mother and diuers others to theire destruction 9. we find that the principal men that in King Edward the 6. his dayes hindred the vnioÌ„ of England and Scotland and the aduancement of the state of late tyme were papists and that the quarrel about religion hath beene the cheefe stay thereof 10. euery man knoweth that the principall contriuers of that treason for which Watson Clerk and Brooke were exequuted were preests and reculants So likewise were Pearcy Catesbie Digby Tresham and their consorts that by fire and gunpowderment to make an end of the King and his Royal progeny They were I say most refolute and principall popish recusants and thought by fire and gunpowder to make good theire Romish fayth And shall any man so farre exceed all duty and modesty to make such felowes loyall Finally seeing al papists professe to serue the Pope deuoutly they cannot serue the king faithfully that is so contrary to him in religion For no man can serue two contrary masters To let former practises passe euery papist now is so combined with the Pope that he is bound to follow him and to exequute his censures Neither if they were asked the question would they either condemne former rebellions for popish religion being warraÌ„ted by the Pope or resist the popes forces inuading vs or stand with the king being excommunicated But howsoeuer they woulde promise their doctrine is such as no loyal subiect can hold it For their masters teach that the king is subiect to the pope that the Pope hath power to depose kings and to assoyle subiects from their obedience vnto them that the king is not to make Ecclesiasticall lawes nor to meddle with the gouernment of the church but as an exequutioner of the popes laws that Ecclesiasticall persons and their goods are exempt from the kings gouernment diuers others such disâ—oy all poynts Lastly if we compare popish recusants eyther with auncient or moderne true Christians we shall easily perceiue a mayn difference betwixt them For neither doe we read that ancient or later Christians did murther their kings that were Heathen nor that they thoughte it lawfull to doe such an act as the leaguers of France did nor that they allowed either the breach of oathes or the rebellions of subiects against their kings nor that they beleeued those trecherous poynts of doctrine which papists of late both beleeue and teach Now then let vs proceed on with our discourse and consider whether these lay papists haue either answered these obiections or broughte any matter sufficient to cleare them selues and their consorts from the iust imputations of infidelity and disloyalty toward their princes Both which poynts may be resolued by examination of the particuler poyntes of this fift chapter wherein they tell first that before their restrainte for recusancy some of them bare offices in the common wealth and were dignified by the Queen and that others had there putation of worshipfull and honest men But if they meÌ„t to haue iustified their former cariage as they pretended promised then should they haue told vs of their loyal affection to their prince and of theire good seruices performed for their country They should also aswell haue mentioned the cause of populer recusants as of the gentlemen But herein they altogether fayled For neither do they clear themselues nor their coÌ„sorts of those trecherous practises doctrines formerly noted nor are they able to bring proofe of either good affection or good action seruice performed for their prince country But where they talk of the diguifiing of many recusants by the Queene insteed of discharging themselues they charge theÌ„selues with great vnthankfulnesse and disloyalty that alwaies hated and persequuted her which ceased not to dignify and honor them Secondly they say their behanior after theire restraint was such as became Catholike Christians towards christian magistrates with all humility respect modesty and subiection But this would rather haue beseemed some others to speak then the laye papistes who for want of good neighbors ruune out into an high commendation of themselues Further more neither are prisoners much to be commended for carrying themselues modestly and respectiuely seing prisons at no places for men to exceed and grow proud rebellious nor did the papists here falsely called Catholikes keepe themselues in so good temper and ordre but that they were to be charged with diuers intelligences correspondences practises with the enemies of the state as appeareth in the recordes concerning Throckmorton Arden Someruille Babington Abington Parry Brooke and others And although for want of meanes and occasions they broke not forth alwaies into open action yet their modesty subiectioÌ„ did neuer so far restrein theÌ„ but they thought it lawful to kil and murder depose princes excoÌ„municated by the pope vnlawful to obey such without dispeÌ„satioÌ„ especialiy in ecclesiastical causes that therfor which they talk of obeying princes not for anger but for conscience sake and of their carriage without shadowe of disloyalty and of theire integrity and vnimpeachable demeanor is nothing else but a vaine brag without colour or shadowe of modesty For their conscience is ruled by the popes will and their practises treasons and rebellions are recorded both in story and in the Crown office Furthermore their treacherous doctrine agaynste the authoritye of Kings is published in their owne bookes and cannot be denyed by themselues Thirdly they tell his maiesty what offers were made by certaine recusantes in the I le of of Ely and by the lord Vaux anno 1588. when the Spanish and the popes forces came againste
theire country but many things are often offered that are slenderly performed and such no doubt would the seruice haue been that is or was offered by them who seared more the Popes thunderboltes then the princes double cannons and onely desired to free themselues out of prison that they mighte after take part with the stronger to desire to bee placed in the forefront of the battel in theire shirts they had no reason vnlesse they had meante after they hadde put of their armes and clothes to runne awaye more ligtly My Lord Vaux was so good a man of warre that I woulde wish no greater benefit to England then that all our enemyes were such But suppose some few recusants did offer to serue the Queen yet neither had she reason to trust them nor we to beleeue that all the rest of the recusants meant to serue her faithfully being sworn vassals to the pope her sworn enemy Vnhappy had this land beene if theire prayers and vowes had been performed Foralbeit some papists then did acknowledge the Queenes authority notwithstanding the popes excommunications yet that was for that the excommunication did not bind them vntill such tyme as the Popes bulle might be put in exequntion as appeareth by the faculties granted to Parsons and Campian Fourthly out of England they runne into Ireland to tell vs of the fidelity of Irish papists But it appeareth those men neuer came there to trye it they shew so greate ignorance of the Irish and of the affaires of Ireland For in the battaile at Kiusale they cannot name 10. Jrish that did any greate seruice At other times the most part alwayes abandoned and betrayed those that relied vpon them and euer for one Irish man that truly serued the Quene there might bee reckened 10. that willingly serued the rebells And this should the king finde at theire hands J feare if he had occasion to trie them If then these petitioners haue no better argumentes to proue the fidelity of recusants then such as these they will not proue refined gold nor good copper but rather Corke guilt ouer like gold or some such other light and slight stuffe good for nothing Fiftly they tell his maiesty of the affection and behauiour of papists toward his predecessors himselfe and his title neither forgetting King Henry the 7. nor King Edward the confessor But all the question being concerning the moderne papists and theire loyalty to princes of contrary religion who seeth not how farre theire discourse runneth out and is transcendent aboue theire purpose the welshmen of our tyme may with better reasō alledge the noble acts of Hector and Aeneas of Troy or of king Brute King Arthur or some auncient famous man of Britayne How much they fauored the King it appeareth by diuers attempts against him in Scotland and by the treason of Clerk VVatson Copley Brooke Markham and now lately of Percy Catesby and others sence his comming into England Parsons and Coluill directly oppugned the Kings title in books in print and to that boke which Parsons set out as is saide in diuers languages the Iebusitical faction yeelded a greate applause Many of them also as the seculer preestes charged them subscribed vnto it Jf then nowe they pretend to fauour the kinges title it is because it were bootelesse and dangerous now to oppugne it likewise the papistes that heeretofore wrote and spake in defence of his Maiesties Mother and of the Kinges title respected nothing else but theire owne particuler thinking by theire glosing wordes either to bring in Popery or to aduaunce theire owne priuate pretences Finally they shew they haue great Confidence in his Maiesties clemency that they haue refused to pay the twenty pound a month due for recusancy albeit the penalty be greate But here they shoulde rather alledge cause to moue the King to trust them then to shew that they may assuredlie trust the Kings mercy whose Clemency is so exceeding and word so assured Further this rather argueth their disobediente and repugning humor then iustifieth theire sober disposition and desire to be loyal Lastly they shewe a great differēce betwixt the gentle proceeding of true christians that with light penaltyes seeke to winne men and are slow in exacting them and the rigor and cruelty of papistes that confiscate all the Lands and goods of true Christians most barbarously torment and massacre their persons without pitty or mercy Jf then our lay papistes haue no better defences nor pretēces for their fidelity then they haue formerly alledged theire owne words will rather conuince them then cleare them and such as had no euill opinion of recusants before will take occasion to suspect that this stubble of theirs is nothing but a couer for the seed of much hartburning discontentment and disloyalty as their billetts and fagots of late were laid to couer their barrels of gunpowder couched vnder the higher house of Parliament Chap. 20. An answere to the petitioners calumniations agayust the professors of the Gospel set downe in the 6. chapter of their popish apologetical petition IT were a most simple defence for a prisoner standing at the Barre of iustice and answering for his life before his iudges to alledge for his defence that his behauiour is as honest and loyall as that of his accusers Yet this is the best defence which these Massepriests vnder the maske of lay papists make in this place supposing very absurdly the accusation of their aduersaries to be a iustification and defence of their own actions Nay where they pretend to deale against their accusers they mistake the matter vtterly and speake against such as are long since departed this life and neuer either accused them or knewe them and inueigh against the ministers of the Church of England which are not parties against them leauing the kings sergeants and atturney to speak what they list and aunswering nothing to their informations accusations and enditements which principally touch them But will you heare their wooden weak accusation against vs as it followeth Chapter 6. The cariage and behauiour of our Accusers IT resteth now lastly to consider what hath been the behauiour of some of our 1 Your accusers are your ovvne consciences the kings Atturney and other officers The Ministers accuse you not but ansvver your sooleries accusers the Ministers we meane The cariage of our Antagonists and some hot spirits of their adherents and followers from time to time in your maiesties affaires that hath so cherished dignified and aduanced them and to other their lawfull Princes that haue not so fully concurred with them in matter of religion as your Maiesty doth vt contraria iuxta se posita magis elucescant that contraries compared together may the more cleerly appeare If you demand what they were that accounted it a matter treasonable to retain any book or paper in fauour of your Maiesties Title and that in publique books called your Mothers right to this Crowne a pretended Title Agendum est
hath well sayd we are in deed but halfe subiects not that our bodies minds wills wittes vnderstandings sences memories iudgements intentions or our breaths blouds or liues are deuided or deuouted to the supreme honour or seruice of any terrene 1 Is the pope a terrene creture if he be hovv can you say that you are not deuoted to his supreme seruice creature other then your Maiesty only but that the (a) In what sense the Catholikes may be called halfe subiects better-halfe of our liuings goods friends and fortunes wherewith we should be the better able and haue greater courage to serue your Maiesty are taken from vs and yet your Maiesties coffers little the better therefore Our desire then is most gratious Prince to become your Maiesties whole 2 Hitherto then you are not come to be subiects subiects your Maiesty may so make vs in the twinckling of your eye or stamp of your foote wherewith you are able to raise vp more 3 Not one true papist may serue the king if the Pope excommunicate him But to omit this case if papists can raise vparmies so easily in England it is time to looke to them Let vs remember Persies late treason armies then euer Pompey the great could doe from whom the metaphor is borowed in all his pompe and presumptuous pride Vouchsafe then Dread Soueraigne to make vs as others your subiects are of all professions The conclusion with an Apostrophe to his maiesty intire and absolute 4 You must be founded in another mould then popery if you vvill become true Euglishmen Englishmen for nothing by Gods holy assistance can or euer shall deuide vs from our subiection and dutifull affection to your Maiesty but death which is vltima linea rerum the last period of all things for all other deuisions we renounce from all other seruices 5 VVill you leaue to serue Saints images and the pope you may not vvithout renouncing popery we disclaime but that onely which is due to God in the supernaturall course of our saluation which being gouerned by secret influences and supernaturall concurrences of his grace we alot to God without disparagement to your Maiesty assuring our selues that your Maiesty so conuersant in all good writers and perfect Theologie is well assured that there is no diuision so honorable for a Prince as that which was attributed long sithence to Caesar and now is not improperly applied to your Maiesty Iupiter in coelu Caesar regit omnia terris Diuisum imperium cum 6 This is a prophane speech and repugneth to the vvords of scripture Further it cannot vvell stand vvith the vvords of decretales Ioue Caesar habet Whiles this Apologie or Petition was a printing there came to my hands the copie of a Letter written by the late banished Priests to the Lordes of his Maiesties most honourable priuie Councell which for the coherence of the argument I thought good to annexe hereunto The examination of the 7. chapter THE matter hādled in this chap. is of more cōsequence then all the rest For therein they craue an immunitye or toleration for their massing Preestes to which no man that is truly religious can be enduced to yeelde although he coulde be content to yeeld any lawful fauor to the rest For albeit seduced souls ar to be pitied and may percase be reclaimed from their haggarrd popish superstition yet no mā hath reasō to tolerate seducers grosse idolaters especially when they depend vpon forreine enemies and are gresed and marked for the popes slaues haue heeretofore been blotted both wiith trecherous doctrines and treasonable practises The treason first of Watson and Clerke and lately of Garnet Hall Hamond and others that consorted with Percy and his complices doth demonstrate this to be true But yet no parte of the petition is more loosely or foolishly handled For first in this conclusion they inuolue a request for their masseprests hauing spoken nothing of thém before which is alone as if they should conclude without premisses Secondly they require some quiet graue and vertuous clergy men for the comfort of their souls But this is spoken against the polshorne Prestes of Antichrist For they are not quiet but turbulent and seditious they are not graue but light giddy headed ready to runne vp the gallowes for the Popes seruice They are not vertuous but base filthy and lecherous fellowes and this is proued by diuers particulers Finally the confort of Christian mens soules confisteth not in faculties indulgences popish absolutions and such antichristian trash as they bring but in Christs sweete promises and in apostolike doctrine and comfortable wordes of true preachers and to such if they would open their eares they should haue both quiet graue vertuous clergy men and true and godly pastors also Thirdly they tel vs what fauours were doon to Queen Maryes Preests and other lay men affected to popery especially in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths reign But they could not do vs a greater fauor or thēselues greter dishonor thē to mētion these matters For first they testify against themselues Queen Elizabeths greate Clemēcy that spared thē who had dealt so rigorously her self others did not proced against the papists before they began to practise attēpt against her Secondly wee seeheerin that al fauor doon to papists is lost as bestowed vpon vngratful persons enemies irreconciliable We may deal mercifully with thē giue thē life that otherwise wold perish But if they haue once the sword in their hands they satiffy thē selues with nothing but the death and destruction of such as professe the truth But to let this passe little doth the exāple of Queene Maryes preests relieue thē For they were made preests at home these by forreine enemyes they acknowledged the princes supreme authority these defend the authority of the Pope They depēded on the princes grace fauor these depēd on the popes grace withal their forces defēd his authority they offēded of ignorāce notknowing the truth these of malice rūning out of their countrie and oppugning a truth once known They professed a playne kind of popery and were not factiously disposed these are factious compagnions and professe a more desperate kinde of doctrine newly forged in the conuēticle of Trent Finally they acknowledged the Queens mercy these bark at her being dead neuer ceased to work against her being aliue For proofe of the conformity of their petition to reason they adde in the fourth place that no religion did or cold euer consist without preestes and pastors But what is that to these preests of Baal that at no true Prcests succeeding the Apostles in teching administring sacramēts according to christs institution but idolatrous sacrificers ordeined by Antichrist to offer for quick ded again what is that to these murdrers bloudsuckers that are no pastors but rather gunpowder traitors sheepbiters and destroyers of Christ his flock Lastly if