gouernours as I haue sayd with equal authoritie all in his opinion or the far greater parte very catholique But he was no sooner dead but all these orders of his were ouerthrowen and a protector made the third day after the kinges death and sone after religion changed and the law of six articles abrogated and as litle regard had to king Henries will and ordinances as if he had neuer byn king of this realme or mayster to the breakers And among other these changes was displaced Gardener himself one of the cheef of those sixteen appoynted for gouernours by king Henry and not only thrust from all authoritie but sent also to the tower of London prisoner as before I haue shewed and other Catholique Lordes remoued in lyke manner from the Councel for lyke endes and purposes Then began a new world of making new Lordes new Earles new Marqueses new Dukes in deuiding great states offices dignites in good felowship amonge themselues all in the name of the childe king though he were not yet crowned nor three weekes past synce his fathers death New men also were called out of Germany to wit Peter Martir and Martin Bucer two apostated friars with their wenches that had been Nunnes who must come to teache a new religion in England but with expresse condition to be indiffereÌ„t to reache that sect opinion either of Luther Swinglius or Caluin or other that should be determined and agreed vpon by the Parlament then in gathering together and so they were contented and with that condition they were sent the one to Oxford and the other to Cambrige Then was the new English forme of seruice drawen out in hast by certayne of the Protectors chaplayns in Somerset place in London not fully agreeing to any of the Captaynes doctrine aforesaid but somewhat mingled of them all and much also of the Catholique ryte and forme all which was approued soone after for apostolical and established by the lay part of the Parlament for the cleargie reclaymed and all men inforced to sweate vnto it and so for the old religion receaued by the vniuersal church and continued in England for aboue a thousand years and confirmed by so many miracles at the beginning as S. Bede and other ancient authors do affirme and allowed by the consent of all our learned English for so many ages now was there a new religion deuised in corners set vp by certayne obscure and hungrie fellowes in hast within the space of two monethes and authorized by a parlament of vnlearned lay men to be the rule of our saluation But in the meane space the Duke of Somerset now head of this church for that the childe king was at play could think nothing of it attended principally to his temporall aduancement to purchase good old land and caused his seruantes to set forward the new religion without troobling him therin saying that all should be examined and approued afterward by the authoritie of the yong king as trew head of the Church and so it was Then followed great tumultes and rebellious in the realme as also iarring and falling out of the great protestant Councellors among themselues The protector first cut of the head of his brother the Admiral and then the Earle of VVarwicke cut of the head of the Protector and diuers of his frendes and made himself duke of Northumberland and then plotted with the duke of Suffolke to cut of all king Henries children and to bring in Suffolkes daughter and Northumberlandes sonne as they did For which soone after both their heades were cut of also by Queen Marie and Catholique religion was restored agayne to the state wherin first it was when king Henry her father began this tragedie and first put all out of ioynt Thus passed the matter briefly and all this Bishop Gardener had seen and passed through and had plaied his parte in diuers actes and pageantes to wit as an actor in the beginnyng and as a patient after as hath byn shewed And being now restored to his old estate agayne and more ouer made Chancelour of the realme and looking back vpoÌ„ the dream past had he not trow you iust cause to preache hora iam est nos de somno surgere it is tyme to aryse from sleep wherin we haue slumbered these tweÌ„ty yeares and more in suche varietie of tossinges and to walk with more light and stead fastenes for the tyme to come let it be left I say to the iudgment of euerie discreet reader whether this theame parable were fitly chosen and wel applied by B. Gardener or no or rather blasphemously peruerted as our Hunting deuyne Sir Francis wil needs haue it and so much for this tyme of Bishop Gardener About C. Allen for that I haue byn ouer large in B. Gardeners affaires I meane to be verie breef so much the breefer for that the matters obiected agaynst him by this accuser are very cauils if we consider the substaÌ„ce of the thing it self for he sayth that this English traytor though he were a Cardinal at Rome and sworn to the Popes paÌ„table hath sent froÌ„ thence many slanderous and seditious pamphlets and in one which was the treatise against the English execution of iustice he seemeth to wish that doctor Sanders and doctor Bristow had spared to speak so much in defence of Pius Quintus Bul agaynst her Maiestie and yet he doubteth not to affirme that these two learned men of â—reat zele and excellencie had their special reasons to do so which he will neither desend nor reproue c. And further he proceedeth sayth this maÌ„ to excuse all the preestes and studentes beyond the seas and all such as haue come ouer and saith that all of them â—ince that censure of his holinesse to vse sayth he his owne wordes did vse all â—euerence and respect to her Maiestie vttering in no preaching speach or booke â—o not at the houre of their death and martyrdome nor euer before in any their confessions to the magistrate any disloyal word agaynst her Maiestie These woordes recyteth Hastinges out of the discourse against their English iustice as wordes of moderation or rather blushing as he â—ermeth them for that which was done before and yet he sayth that â—n an other treatise of defence of Sir VVilliam Stanlies act in geuing â—uer Deuentrie to the king of Spayne the Cardinal cometh to â—tter himself as far as either Sanders or Bristow or any other in approbation of the sayd excomunication which thing albeit this kinght â—o greatly condemne yet cannot I any thing marueyle thereat considering that the Cardinals opinion being as he was could be no other in substance touching matters of controuersie then was that of doctor Sanders doctor Bristow and the rest And though for peace â—â—oderation and edification he liked wel in others and specially â—n the yonger sorte of preestes that they should auoyd all occasion of â—ateful speach in this odious
together for their gaines more then for deuotion which Bishop Gardener seeing and not able to resist he spake his minde plainly touching religion in a sermon before the yong king and councell vpon Saint Peters day which was but fiue moneths after king Edwards raign for which sermon he was sent to the tower the morning after and lay there prisoner all king Edwards time and came not out vntill Queen Marie at her first entrance into the tower of london wheÌ„ she was Queen deliuered him and other catholique prisoners together and how then doth our steel-brow-knight write that Bishop Gardener Hattered both father and sonne and neuer shewed himself in religion vntil both of them were called to their last home and Queen Marie entred the crown let some frend blush for him if he haue not shame to do it himself Againe it is as great an vntruth and as grosse ignorance besydes to say as this man doth that Bishop Gardener and his complices brought in the Spaniard and mached him in mariage with Queen Marie For that euery childe acquaynted with that state knoweth or may learne that Bishop Gardener was of the contrarie part or faction that fauored yong Edward Courtney the Earle of deuonshire and would haue had him to Marie the Queen whome Bishop Gardener had held for his spiritual childe in the tower all king Edwardes tyme. And now the matter was so far forward as the mariage was held for certayne but that the contrarie syde and especially the Lord Paget partly by the acquaintance and credit he had gotten with Charles the Emperor in Flanders during king Edwards tyme and partely for the ielosie he had perhappes of B. Gardeners great affection to the Duke of Northumberland his greatest enemie who in king Edwards reigne had indeuored vtterly to disgrace him they procured I say the said Emperors most earnest and effectual letters to the Queen about her mariage with the Prince of Spayne which they did so vrge to the sayd Queen and with so many argumentes against Courtney espetially that he was neither sound in body nor religion as they got her consent and subscription to the sayd letters of the Emperor And then there was no further dealing to the contrary for that Queen Mary bore such exceeding loue and reuerence to the Emperor Charles her Cosin as she would not fayl in her word geuen to him for all the world VVherby we may imagin what a mortification Bishop Gardener and all the rest of his side that fauored Courtney did receaue by this change of the Queens will and purpose and therby also perceyue the folly and temerite of this rashe accuser who layeth to there charge the bringing in the Spaniard which yet if they had donne or had byn cause of that greatest and most honorable mariage that for many ages hath byn in Christendom and of greatest consequence if issue had followed therof if this I saie bad byn so as it was not why did they betray therin both God the Queen and there countrie as this wise Censurer affirmeth what grownds what reason may there be aleaged of this triple treason God receiued by this mariage the strengthening of his true religon the Queen got the greatest noblest and richest husband that was extant in Europe our countrie got many a thowsaud of Spanish treasure without losse of any as heerafter shal be shewed And wherin then stood this great offence But let vs passe ouer these follies of our knight in matters of state for that perhaps his prayse and skyll is only in armes yet one point more must I examine wherin he condemneth B. Gardener and this is for his sermon made at S. Paules crosse vpoÌ„ the wordes of the Apostle to the Romanes hâ—ra est iam nos de somno surgere It is now high tyme for vs to ryse out of sleep the night hath gone before the day is come c. and the rest that followeth there All which sacred scripture this learned religious knight sayth very peremptorily that it was most prophanely and blasphemously peruerted by the said Bishop and that to bloody purposes which we shal now à litle discusse This famous sermon was preached as I sayd before at Paules crosse after the mariage was celebrated between the King and the Queen who both were present at this speech of the Bishop nowe also hygh Chancelor and there prsent in like maner both Cardinal Poole legate of the sea Apostolique as also the Embassadors of the Emperor french King and other Princes and a marueylous great learned and noble auditorie besydes as euer perhaps was at any sermon in England before or after The Chancelors discourse was how long they had runne astray and byn in darknes of diuision and stryfe among themselues since first king Henry lefte the old troden path of his ancestors kinges and Queenes of England in matters of religion and brake from the vnion of the church of Rome and of other catholique kingdomes round about him and that now it was time to arise out of this sleep and to looke about them And in this discours and sermon the Chancellor vttered two principal thinges among other that greatly moued the whole auditory The first was the hartie and humble accusation of himself for his â—all and consenting to King Henryes will in that booke de vera obedienâ—tia which he did vtter with so great vehemencie of spirit and abundance of teà res as he could not goe forward and was forced diuers tymes to make some pawses which in such an audience especially of strangers also he being the cheefest person of the realme after the prince we may imagin what a temporal shame and confusion it was vnto him and how greatly it would moue the hearers and lookers on to see him make such an accusation of himself willingly of his owne accord without compulsion and with such earnestnes as he did And that there was no fiction or dissimulation in this act of his the end declared for when he fell sick afterward and drew neer vnto his death he desired that the passion of our Sauiour might be redde vnto him and when they came to the denial of Saynt Peter and how after Christe had looked back vpon him he went out and wepte bitterly the Bishop cried out and bid them stay there and see whether his sweet Sauiour wold vouchsafe also to looke back vpon him and geue him some part of Saynt Peters teares for sayth he negaui cum Petro extui cum Petro sed nondum fleui amare cum Petro I haue denied Christe with Peter meaning that subscription to the supremacie of king Henrie I haue gone out with Peter meaning the participatioÌ„ of that schisme but yet I haue not wepte bitterly with Peter so bitterly as I should do and by often repetition of those woordes and asking God sorgeuenes with cryes and syghes he intertayned himself vntill great floodes of teares came downe vpon him and so gaue vp the
great Saint for his Christian libertie and constancie S. Chrysostome in lyke manner shalbe condemned for a great traytor who had greater contentions with his temporal Lordes Arcadius and Honorius Christian Emperours and with their wyues Theodosia and Eudoxia then euer S. Thomas had with king Henry the second For he prâ—ached agaynst them publiquely with great vehemencie and thundred out excomunication agaynst them and was twyce banished and driuen out of his Bishoprike by their disfauor and died in exile And yet was he neuer called or accompted a traytor but a singuler holy man and Theodosius the yonger son of Arcadius brought his body with great solemnitie honour and reuerence into Constantinople and wept most bitterly for the sinnes of his pareÌ„tes in persecuting so blessed a man And as the story sayth made prayer to him now dead for pardon of his fathers sinnes As did also often our king Henry the sonne for the offence of his father in being some cause of the death of this iust man his pastor and spiritual father Wel then to conclude this matter treason there was none nor could be in this contention of S. Thomas agaynst king Henry for it was donn with all due respect of the Archbil hopes parte and according to the lawes ecclesiastical both of churche realm And as for the mannes behaueour and actions in the rest of his lyf if we beleeue three or foure historiographers together of greate credit and sanctitie that liued at the same tyme and conuersed with him they were admirable in all kynd of vertue His death was by wilfull murder without iustice or commaundment of king or any magistrate as all the world knoweth His canonization was presently vpon his death by diligent inquiry of all factes and circumstances and by vniuersal applause of all christendom King Henry the second excused himself of the murder admitted his canonization builded his shryne and sepulcher adorned the same with greate giftes came thither in person and not only denyed as I haue sayed that his intention euer extended to his murder but also tooke seuere punishement and pennaÌ„ce of himself for the vniust wrath that by incitation of others he had conceyued agaynst so holy a man of which penance of the kings one that liued at the same tyme and saw it wryteth that he opened his naked shoulders at the sepulcher and receyued first fyue ierkes at fyue Bishops handes and fourescore and three at so many monks â—andes and after lay on the bare ground and other such circuÌ„stances as in the author you may read All those that had byn enemies to the blessed man or had had parte in his death came after to greate miserie by Gods iust iudgmentes And fynally all the Christian world for these foure hundred yeares haue holden him for a glorious martir and builded many a churche to God in his memorie in other countries many great moâ—arches haue come to England of purpose to visit his sepulcher and others haue sent great presentes and donaries Many miracles haue â—yn recorded by graue authors and publique testimony of the whole â— land to haue byn wrought by God at his sepulcher in witnes of his â—anctitie All these testimonies then being extant in the world for so many hundred yeares together let any man iudge whether they ought â—ot to be of more weight with a wyse and pious Christian then this â—raynles calumniation of a mad hasty hoat spurr that knoweth â—ot what he sayth and much lesse careth or indeuoureth how to â—roue it But let vs see now his third position that he feigneth to be among â—s as a grouÌ„d of religioÌ„ These two irreligious prophane grouÌ„des saith he â—eing layd though you haue seen that the knight hath layd them as fiâ—ions of his own grownds of ours they proceed to a third set it down â—r a Popish ground also that it was a dangerous and deadly sinne for any man 〈◊〉 disobey the Pope and his cleargie in any of their orders inioyned and commanded in such reuerence and regard must he and his cleargie be had that the meanestâ— masse Priest comming with authority from him must be obeyed vnder payn of damnation though he commaund that which is blasphemous before God in Christians and disloyal to men in subiects This is his narration from which if ye separate a manifest lye oâ— two with some fond exagerations for without this kynde of leuiâ— the poore knight can make no batch as for example that the Pope anâ— his Cleargie must be obeyed though they commaund blasphemies against God and disloyalty against princes which is a shameles slander and that the disobedience if he speake of omission in any one order inioyned by Pope and Cleargie is a deadly sinn and the lyke if you separatâ— I say these ouer lauishings of the hastie knight all the rest he obiecteth is rather commendation of Catholique religion then any reproche at all for in that he saith wee obey the meanest preest as the highest if he come with authoritie of the highest he sheweth therby that we haue among vs true obedience and subordination and thaâ— for conscience sake Not respecting so much the person that commandeth as him for whome and in whose name and authoritie hâ— commandeth and therin we fulfill the precept of S. Paule Obedite praâ—positis vestris subiacete eis ipsi enim peruigilant quasi rationem pro animabuâ— restris reddituri Obey your Prelates and humble your selues vnto them he distinguisheth not betwene high and lowe for they keep diligent watche ouer your soules as men that must render account theroâ— to God And in other places he sayth that this obedience must bâ— with such reuerence humilitie and inward affection as vnto Chryâ—â— himself whose substitutes our spiritual superiours be though neuer so mean or contemptible in mannes sight And again S. Paul sayth this obedience must be non solum propteâ— iram sed etiam propter conscientiam not only for feare of punishment but also for conscience that is vnder pain of deadly sinne or of damnation though this wise knight do iest at the phrase which yet is the proper phrase of S. Paul himself in the same place saying qui autem resistuâ— damnationem sibi acquirunt those that resist to obey procure damnation to themselues And this is answere sufficient for so ydle an obiectionâ— that we obey the meanest masse Priest coÌ„ming with authority of the highest in which matter I could teach Sir Francis a spirituall poinâ— of doctrine if he were capable of it and most true to witt that the meaner the substitute is that is obeyed in the name and place of any potent prince or superior the greater honor is donn to the sayd prince or superior and the greater vertue is argued therby to be in him that obeyeth for that he is not induced by any talent or commendation of the sayd substitute to obey him but only for loue
grace to themselues but to mingle also biting stuff now and then wherby to pinch and draw blood of their neighbours so this gentle knight hauing heaped many things together by â—atterie and forging in the beginning of his booke to claw thereby â—he present state prince as in the former two conferences you haue â—een he entereth now vpon a more odious argument to exasperate â—oth the one the other against Catholiques whome he would gladly â—aue destroied if the strength of his hornes were according to the measure of his hatred But he being but a barking beagle among the â—owndes of Huntington though neuer so cruel and bloody mouthed I hope so to rebate his choller before I make an end or at least-wise his force as albeit he barke still yet shall he not much byte nor doe any other effect of moment then discouer the worme of heresie that lyeth vnder his poisoned tongue inciting him to furie and woodnes against Catholiques First then touching perils past by her Maiestie during the reign of Qu. Marie this gentleman writeth thus in recital of the same I hasten to put you in minde of our most blessed and happie delliuerance out of this spirituall pit and thraldom of popery and superstition by ladie Queen Elizabeth as the instrument whose perill and danger before she came to that abilitie to performe this holy woorke among vs I may not pass ouer for by Gods goodnesse only and wholy she was preserued her life being malitiously and with great cunning shot at by the Romish clergie then in place of credit For Gardener that most prowd and bloody monster left no corner of his wit vnsought being wise enough to woorke mischief but set all his skil and cunning awoorke to shorten her dayes and to preuent her by bloody slaughter of her sacred person from euer being our Queen and no reach of man can yeeld me a reason of her doliuerance but the mighty God of power c. In which woords you may see how our poet to make the succes of his feigned comedy more wonderfull and plausible frameth strange misterâ—es and miracles of mil-wheeles deuising mtghtie dangers and mayn perils auoyded without any means humane at all neither is there any reason able to be rendred to him of his riddle as himself affirmeth but I shall indeuoure to solue both the one and the other and that without any miracle by humane reason only if Sir Francis can vnderstand it and now I begin That the state of lady Elizabeth now our Souereign Queen was subiect to diuers suspitions and dangers during the reign of her sister Queen Marie no man of discretion in matter of state will deny or can greatly merueil at for she being the next heir to the crown and her sister hauing no issue nor any great probability euer to haue and furthermore being presumed by many to be inclined to a different religioÌ„ though she shewed it not that all the disconteÌ„ted of that state depended of her and made their recours vnto her as to their rising sun future hope no marueil though she was bad in ielousie especially seeing the often and perilous attemptes of VVyate Courtney the Carews Cobham Throgmorton and the like did seem to leane also that way for I will enter no further to discus those affaires and so did hold both the Queen and state in suspence and care VVhich circumstances what daungers they are wont to bring to future pretenders diuers examples vnder our former kings and lastly that of the Queen of Scots in our days may easily teach vs. But that the life and blood of her grace at that day should be so earnestly malitiously sought after by so many so poteÌ„t men and means as this knight heer and in other places of his booke doth affirm and would haue beleeued to witt by Bishop Gardener then Chancelor by B. Bonner D. Story and al the Catholique clergy by name and furthermore by the King of Spayne himself by all Spanyards by the Queen also then in gouernment consequently by her counsel and nobility with her and by all catholiques together who had power at that day to doe as they thought best and no impediment either at home or from abroad that I know to let them in their â—â—esignments and yet all this notwithstanding that nothing in this affaire so much desired should be effectuated this passeth indeed if it were true all rule of reason and might set Cicero to schoole again who teacheth in his thetoriques for an euident for me of argument that qui potuit facere voluit fecit he that both would and could doe a thing must needs be presumed to haue donn it VVhich yet in this our case holdeth not as it seemeth for that our knight affirming that the parties aforenamed would haue made away the Lady Elizabeth and I assuring that they could yet is it euident that she was not and â—herefore either I am deceiued in their power or he in their willes or some other secret cause must be sought out which he will needs haue to be miracle but I think it not necessary and so shall indeuour to reâ—ell the mistery by way of reason if it may be First then I doe not deny but that the preseruation of Lady Elizabeths life in Queen Maries time may be referred to the prouidence of â—lmightie God as the first and principal cause who aboue our reach â—or reasons to himself best knowne doth dispose of all matters but â—specialy of princes liues and states yet deny I that no secondary or â—mmediate humane causes can be found to haue concurred also with â—his prouidence of God as this our miracle-maker affirmeth for I can â—ecount him diuers causes and those pregnant also and potent which â—id concur in those days to the preseruation of her grace which being most euident and true doe deliuer the case from all such necessity of miracle as this poore knight would perswade vnto vs. And first of all was the age and yong years bewty felicity meekâ—es and other good graces and talents of the princesse her self which â—rought much with all sortes of men but especially with the Spanâ—ardes and other strangers and aboue all with the yong king himself as often his neerest about him at that day haue reported since And namely the Duke of Feria while he was aliue who being then but Count and sent Embassador from the king then lying in Flanders to visit Queen Marie had such earnest and spetiall charge to visit and comfort the L. Princesse Elizabeth immediatly after his Embassage to the Queen that all of the court of England merueiled at it and some perhaps did not greatly like of it and in very deed the yong lady was so extraordinarily fauored and affected by his Catholique Maiestie and all his nobility present with him in England as it is most base barberous ingratitude in this sicophant to deny it now and monstrous inciuility
his dignitie Bishopâ—ke held in the tower all the tyme of that gouernmeÌ„t wherin the â—uke ruled all but yet the duke being condeÌ„ned to death knowing â—e gentle nature of the Bishop that he was nothing vindicatiue he â—esolued to rely vpoÌ„ him of all other men so made petitioÌ„ after senâ—ce of death geueÌ„ agaynst him that he might speake only with the Biâ—hop before his death as well about matters concerning his soule â—nd conscience as also for disposing of his other affaires VVhich peâ—tion being graunted though somewhat hardly by the Queen and â—ouncel for that it had byn hindred by the Dukes aduersaries that â—new and feared in this case the Bishops tendernes of hart at last he â—as sent to the tower in the company of an other Councelor to be â—resent at their talke who afterward recounted and I haue heard it â—om his own mouth the hartie teares that the said Bishop shed at â—e sight and conference with the Duke who after much speech said â—o the Bishop towards the end with great affliction of mynd My â—ood lord B. And is there no hope at all for me to liue and to do â—ome pennance in the rest of my dayes for my sinnes past alas let me â—ue a litle longer though it were but in a mous-hole To which the Bishop answered o my lord I would God that any thing could haue â—ontented your grace but a kingdom when you were at libertie and â—n prosperitier and now also I would it lay in my power to geue you â—his mous-hole for I would allow you the best pallace I haue in the world to be your mous-hole and I do offer to do for you what I can â—oâ—sibly But yet for that your offence is great sentence is past aâ—aynst you and your aduersaries are many it shalbe best for you to prouyde for the woorst and especialie that you stand well with God in matters of conscience and religion for to speake playnlie it is mosâ— lykely that you must dye To that the Duke answered that he would dispose him self and desired he might haue a learned preest sent him for his confession and spiritual coÌ„fort And as for religion sayd he you know my Lord B. that I can be of no other but of yours which is the Catholique for â— neuer was of any other in deed nor euer so foolish as to beleeue any of that which we haue set vp in King Edwardes dayes but only to vse the same to my owne purpose of ambition for which God forgeue me and so I meane to testifie publiquely at my death for it is the truth so he did and his coÌ„fession was put forth in print as the world knoweth and at this day much of it extant in Stowes chronicleâ— B. Gardener went away with an afflicted hart for the Duke shed many a teare for him on the way as he returned and presently went to the Queen and intreated so earnestly for him as he had haâ— gayned her consent for his lyf which so much terrified the Dukes aduersaries as presently they got the Emperour Charles that was iâ— Flanders to wryte to the Queen a verie resolute and ernest letter that it was not safe for her nor the state to pardon his lyf and with that he was executed All which story I haue byn inforced to repeate a litle the more larger therby to check the malignant speech of this our sicophanâ— knight against so worthie a man whome he will needes make â— bloody and cruel monster and to haue sought malitiously the death of her Maiestie when she was Lady Elizabeth VVhich was so faâ— of from his condition and nature espetially she being at that tyme an obiect rather of loue and compassion then of enuy and hatred aâ— I dare say he doth him apparent and wilful wrong Yet it may be that he hath heard somewhat about the discouery of a certaynâ— bracelet imputed to the Chancelor in examination of Sir Thomas Wiattes affayres and his complices In which bracelet it was said that all the secretie of that conspiracie lay hidden and that the Chancelor did pearse the matter further then others which may be alsâ— true that point belonging then to his office and obligation but that he euer vsed or vrged the knowledge gotten therof to the ladies peril this Hastinges neither in hast nor by leasure will euer be able to proue And so much of this poynt touching her Maiesties person Let vs examine the rest that he writeth of B. Gardener some â— the woords were repeated before but heer they are necessary againâ—â— by reason of the commixion with that which followeth The recusants sayth he cannot professe more loyalty and loue to the Queen that now is then did Gardener to her father and brother writing a booke de vera obedientia c. But when these two noble princes were dead and Queen Marie in the kingdom then he did tear of his glorious vizard for he and his compliâ—ces neuer rested vntil they had brought in the Spanyard aud matched him with Queen Marie by which they betrayed God her and the whole realme It seemeth that this poore seely man is either very ignorant in matters of our own realm or very badly bent to tel manifest vntruthes For who knoweth not that albeit Bishop Gardener at the beginning of king Henryes defection from the church of Rome being born away with the stream of the tyme and with some feare of the kings violent proceeding and not very full instructed perhaps in that controuersie of the Supremacie for that it was at the very first entrance to his Bishoprik after the fall of Cardinal VVolsey shaken also with the frailty of humane infirmity he shronk with S. Peter and stepped somwhat asyde in that booke of his de vera obedientia c. But yet how soon he did recall himself agayn and condemned his owne doing therin and how much also he preuailed in secret with the king himself in that poynt of doctrine you shall hear afterward by his own testimony And as for king Edwards raigne it is a flat fable and fiction which our knight telleth vs of Bishop Gardeners following the sway also of that time for it is well knowen that he being one of the cheifest among those sixteen counsellors that were apoynted by king Henries testament and earnest charge of mouth at his last hower to gouern his sonne and realme during the minoritie of the yong king with expresse commaundement also of the dead king that neither protector should be chosen nor yet any poynt of Luthers Zwinglius or Caluins religion brought in Bishop Gardener as a faithful counsellor striued what he could at the very first entrance to haue both these orders of king Henry obserued But ambitioÌ„ ouerbearing all first a Protector within 40. howers after the kings death and then soone after an innouation also of religion was thrust vpon the realme by violence of some that packed
ghost The second notable poynt which the Bishop vttered in this sermon was concerning king Henrie the eight his lord and mayster which moued the auditorie no lesse then the other And this was that the sayd king a litle before his death had dealt with him verie secretly and seriously to haue sent him to a certayne dyat in Germanie vnder pretence to treat other matters but in deed the cheef poynt should be to seeke out some honorable way and meanes as from himself and not from the king either by the Emperor legat popes Nuntio or other fit instrument to reconcyle him agayne to the church of Rome And this the Bishop affirmed to be most true vpon his oath and fidelitie to God and the world and to the memorie of the sayd king his master dead whome he shewed to loue so tenderly and dearly as he wepte most bitterly also in that place for that this holie motion had not taken the effect he desired attributing the let therof to Gods seuere iudgmentes and to the great difficulties which the sayd king found of making that recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ with his honour and reputation which temporal honour he lamented much that it was more regarded by the king and some that counselled him then in so weightie a woork of eternall saluation ought to haue bin Thus then was the substance and these were the circumstances of that sermon Let vs now coÌ„sider whether the theam he tooke iam hora est nos de somno surgere were fit and to his purpose or no or whether it were prophanely blasphemously peruerted as this wise gentleman affirmeth who taketh vpon him to censure the matter First let it be considered that if euer any man of our realm might take vpon him to talk of a sleep or dream in matters of our coÌ„mon-wealth as a Counsellor and of his own knowledge Bishop Gardener might do it which had seen such alterations both of religion and temporalityes within our land such chopping and chaunging such pulling down and setting vp as he might fitly call the tyme a time of sleep or dream For as in a sleep things are represented to a man confusedly and out of hand they passe away and contrarie representations come in their place so had Bishop Gardener seen in the publique affaires of the realme no lesse alterations of comicall and tragical acts after he came to be a councellor For first he had seen his own king and maister king Henry the eight so earnest in the defence of the catholique faith of the sea of Rome in perticuler as he wrote a booke in defence therof though he were disswaded by some of his counsell to do it for reason of state And after that again being to send this very man Gardener then his secretarie to Rome for his Embassador about soliciting of the diuorce between himself and Queen Catherine he commanded him to tel the Pope and Colledge of Cardinales that whatsoeuer they determined in that matter he would accept it with all indifferencie and euer be a most obedient childe of the Romane churche And this commission he gaue him in the presence of Cardinal VVolsey and yet soone after he saw the same king so chaunged for the affection he bare to an other partie as he brake with the Pope and churche of Rome and pulled down the sayd Cardinal and put to death two of the men that he esteemed most for vertue and learning of all his realme or of any other forrain kingdome of Christendom and whom he had loued before exceedingly to wit Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More Chancelor Again Gardener had seen the same king wax weary soone after of the party for whose loue he had first begun to make all those stirres and to put her to death openly and yet to continew his former breaches and to run from one difficulty to an other and from one inconuenience to an other neuer to stop the fountain from whence all this vnquietnes came He had seen him also passe from on wife to another to the number of six dismissing some and putting others to death according to the affection or disaffection which he bare to each of them for the time He had seen him make diuers and different actes of parlament in preiudice or preferment of his own children now for their legitimation and inheritance now for the contrarie as by the statutes themselues yet extant in print is euident to the world And from the liking or disliking of his said wiues he passed also to the liking or suspition of his own kinred subiects and familier frâ—nds of which he pulled downe so many as by the stories may be seen And Bishop Gardener was wont to say of him that knew him ful well that after he once left to loue that person which by Gods law and mannes he was bound to loue aboue all others to wit his first wife and Queen he neuer loued any person harâ—ely and constantly afterwards Moreouer he had seen the poore king so combered and troobled about matters of religion as was pitiful to behold For that on the one side the point of his spiritual Supremacy taken vp in his choleâ— against the Pope seemed to touch his honor so neare as he might not shew to yeeld any one iote therin and consequently he was fain to put to death all such Catholiques as denyed the same though otherwise he both loued and highly esteemed themâ— and on the other side his iudgement and conscience in matters of the Catholique truthe against the protestants and all new sectaries conuinced his conscience and vnderstanding as he cleerly vttered in the statute of six articles which iudgement also enforced him to burne as many of that fide â— were conuicted And finally being wearied towards his later end with these combats of conscience and honor iudgement and passion he conferreâ— with Bishop Gardener as you haue heard about the mayn remedy and only sure redresse of all which was his returning to the vnion of the Romane churche and the rest of Christendome And besides all this Bishop Gardener had seen the same afflicted king brought to such streights and doubts in his later howers of life about the weightiest affaires that he had in this world as he could not tell what to determine ordayne or establish for the securitie of his owne children espeâ—ially of his only sonne prince Edward thaâ— had but nyne yeares yet of age and for that cause was the fatherâ— hart more peâ—siue about him For first he was afeard to leaue any protector vnto him remembring the eueÌ„t of king Edward the fourâ—â— his children vnder their vncle protector the Duke of Glocester And secondly he was as greatly afeard and afflicted also to think least after his death the perilous waues and fluddes of heresies should enter vpon him by the very same gate that hymself had opened VVhetfore both these poyntes he forbad expresly and appoynted for execution therof sixteen
to our posteritie And albeit for the present there be warres and hostilitie between our nation and our prince and theirs and that especially in respect of religiō yet our trust is our prayers are cōtinually to our euerlasting God of peace that he will once finish well that controuersie to all our comfortes and benefites And in the mean space I do presume so much of the good natures and ciuilitie of most protestants in England that they alow not of such bitter and barbarous proceeding as Sir Francis Hastinges hath vsed to his owne discredit and dishonor of our nation in these malignant calumniations against so modest a prince In which respect also I haue bin somwhat the bolder to giue him his check with more freedom and feruor I pray God it may do him the good I wish or at least keep others from being deceiued by him THE REMISSION OF THE VVHOLE ANSVVER TO THE IVDGEMENT and arbitrement of the Lords of her Maiesties most honorable Councel vvith the ansvverers opinion and petition for the ending of these dissentions and controuersies ANd now right honorable hauing brought to an end so much as I thought expedient to be answered at this tyme to Sir Francis Hastinges iniurious libel none occurred more fit vnto me to haue the first sight and view and iudgement of the whole then your Lordshippes who though in the controuersie it self between him and his and vs and ours I cannot expect to haue you equall iudges nor indifferent arbiters you professing the religion you do yet in the manner of prosecution thereof I presume so much of the good partes that God hath indued your Lordshippes withall as I dare remit the arbitrement to your selues to whome if this rayling wachword had byn first presented before it was punished as in right it ought to haue byn you being by office the wachmē of that commonwealth and not Sir Francis who intrudeth himself I think verely that either it had byn wholy stopped and repressed or at least wise so moderated as it should not haue geuen the offence that it hath and will do for vnto graue men such troblesome sticklers as these are euer commonly and ought to be vngratefull and suspected and vnto wise Councelours and honorable persons such rayling and slanderous tongues are contemptible odious and to all good natures and ciuill conditioned men be they of what estate or profession soeuer such base detractions and contumelious fictions as heer you haue heard are insufferable and rather seuerely to be punished then any way to be permitted But yet so much the more in this case of ours where the iniurie is not offered only to your owne home-born subiects whome yet in all rightful quarrel your place requireth that you protect and defend but also to great and potent anoynted princes with whome you haue had and may haue again most honorable freindship heerafter and negotiation in important and weightie afaires whose honors you ought not to permit iniuriously to be violated by the passion and rage of any particuler man which cannot after make recompence with any humane abilitie that he hath though his life also should go therin for the hurt ensewing therof Diuers authors do note that the cheef flame of that furious hatred which grew to be implacable afterwardes betwixt Marius and Sylla Pompey and Caesar in the Roman commonwealth was inkindled first by certayne opprobrious speaches vttered by some followers of those Princes which yet the parties iniured interpreted to come from their patrons that bare them out and therof followed such warres murthers and other lamentable tragedies as all the world can wel remember And our English chronicles do also make mention that some reprochfull wordes cast out by King Harold agaynst Duke VVilliam of Normandy and his daughter whome he had promised to take to wyf stirred him cheefly to make that fatal armie by which he conquered England and brought all the English nation in to his subiection As also an other scof vttered by king Phillip of France against the same VVilliam now king touching his fat belly cost France full dear and many thowsand men their lyues of both sides so impacient are princes comonly of contumelyes and do easier remit and forget any other kinde of iniurie then reprocheful speaches VVherfore my first petition to your Lordships wisedome and moderation should be to restraine such turbulent spirits as those are which more of a mad and malitious kinde of wantonnes then of wit do loose their tongues with ouer much libertie against the honors of mightie Catholique princes abrode and thereby do put in aduenture to trooble the waters of common-wealthes more deeply then either themselues or others can easily calm again afterwards My next desire and humble supplication should be in the same matter but of far more moment that your Lordships by this occasion and by some fit concurrance of times and busines which at this present may seeme to offer themselues would voutsafe to enter more seriously into the consideration of matters depending between your Lordships and the Catholique parte of her Maiesties subiects who for many yeares haue had a hard conceyt and heauie hand born ouer them and are brought to tearmes of extreme affliction and that your Lordships as fathers of your common-wealth would resolue at length to be mediators vnto her Maiestie contemning the dangerous and seditious eggings of vnquiet spirits to further extremitie for some more gentle milde merciful course to be taken with them Vnto which resolution me thinketh that many circumstances might iustly moue your Lordships wisdomes which though by the same wisdome you wil better consider of then I yet for that it may be I desire it more then you and consequently haue more thought thereon albeit more for your good also and the publique then for any particuler interest of myn owne I shal with your good leaue represent some before you in this place And first of all the time it self doth seeme to inuite greatly to som such cogitation when great princes and monarchies round about vs that had greater differences and difficulties then these are haue not only treated but concluded also a most honorable peace and frendship and the great most Christian King of France shewing himself worthie of that name hath remedied the very roote of al calamities springing to his noble realme before by returning to the vnion of the Apostolique sea of Rome which sea as commonly it falleth out hath byn the principal meanes of this so great and general a good to all those nations that are included within that peace and league which are many and great as by the articles thereof doth appeer And no lesse curteously and honorably is her Maiestie inuited also to the same and all that desire the true good both of her person state and crowne do wish and hope that it may take effect And truly neuer could this weightie afaire be treated as it seemeth with