then the godly zealous of our faith desire Besides the labourers of this Societie without hauing Colledges prepared for theÌ„ for the conseruation of Christians conuersion of the heathen frequent the countries of Mount Libanus of Aegypt of Africa of China When I read this passage with a friend of mine I told him that this Iesuit without name played in the dark and the verie lyer As of old Apollonius Tianneus the coozner did alleaging to the Greekes for witnesse of his miracles the Gymnosophists that were in India Whereupon Aeneas Goseus in his Theophrast saith that it was not without reason that this impudent coozner tooke for warrant of his cooznages them that were a farre of and dwelt as it were in an other world I said that our Iesuits Theatins did the like at this day who to feed vs with toyes send vs to the same Indies and other countries whereof we scarse know the names But at this word my friend smiling said that there was some Picrochole in their doing What Picrochole quoth I I think it is the name of a diuel as Macrobe is I perceiue quoth he again that ye haue not studied our Rabelais who discoursing of a great warre that king Picrochole made vpon Grandgosier after that his foolish noule had reckned vpoÌ„ the whole couÌ„try of France which he took to be already conquered his gallants that followed him added therto And moreouer you shall assault the kingdomes of Tunis of Hippo Argier of Bone of Corode valiantly all Barbarie Passing further you shall take into your hands Maiorca Minorca Sardinia Corfu and the other Islands of the Ligustick and Balearick Sea and in coasting on the left hand you shall beare rule ouer all Gallia Narbonensis Prouence the Allobroges Sionna Florence Luca you shall take Italy euen Naples Calabria Apulia and Sicill and sacke them all Malta to Afterward we will take Candy Cyprus Rhodes and the Cyclades we will set vpon Moria It seemes that this wise foole Rabelais meant then in the person of Picrochole to paint out the imaginarie victories of our Iesuits with their wallets though they were not then hatcht You are a merrie man quoth I but let vs leaue these trickes for the Iesuit De la Fon For I see nothing in this matter but to laugh at If the Iesuit had taken Munsters Cosmography he might haue added many other sauage countries and it had beene hard for vs to haue proued him a lier I remember that the wise Tulenus seeing vpon a time the lawyer Balduin walking with Andrew Theuet the trauailer said that they took no care to disproue one with another because the one had been alwaies in his chamber wedded to his booke and the other had employed his whole time in trauaile without looking vpon a booke That the one might quote many false authorities without being reproued the other name many countryes where he had neuer beene without being contrould The very same you shall find in this case of the Iesuits we haue in hand It is aboue 40. yeere since they bragd that they had made these great conquests in the most part of those countreyes Their Statutes ordaine that when their General is dead all the fathers of our prouinces that are in any estate or dignitie must come to Rome to proceed to the election of a new successor After the decease of Ignace in the yeere 1556. many came thither where Iames Lainez was chosen he dead in the yeere 1565. Fraunces Borgia was chosen in neither of these elections though there was a great care had that the titles of all the fathers Prouincials might be sent thither yet I find not any one of those farre countries and yet the names and titles of all the fathers that were brought thither were verie carefully set downe They are bound to send letters to their Generall euery yeere from euerie Colledge to certifie him how their matters stand I haue runne ouer all that were sent to their Generall Aquauiua in the yeere 1583. yet find no mention among them of any of these Colledges It should seeme their winning of soules hath beene meruailous great since that time Let vs leaue things as they be let vs not speak vpon idle imaginatioÌ„s but agreeable to common sense If they be scattred in so many barbarous countries haue there conueried so many soules to our Christian faith they must needs haue had the gift of tongues to conuert theÌ„ It is in the power of our holy Father to send them into these vnknown countries but not to bestow vpon them the gift of tongues That was a grace of the holy Ghost particularly reserued for the Apostles for the spreading of our Christian faith Consider I pray you whether there be not likelihood of reason in that I say Besides where are the sauage Kings Princes Lords which after their conuersion haue come to kisse the feet of the holy father to receiue his blessing I vnderstand that once in 60. yers they haue had a Maske in Rome of 3. beggers disguisd like kings this is all I place therfore their vow of Mission in the chapter of money counted but not receiued It is a very coozeâ—age by which these honest felowes dally with vs. And yet this cooznage is nothing in comparison of that whereby they abuse our holy father It must be granted by euery man that he only and none but he hath authority to send into heathen countries for their conuersion so that no man in this case may be ioyned in commission with him But for all this there is nothing wherein the Iesuits despise his authority more then in this the least part of this Mission depends vpon the holy Sea and the residue is in their Generall Bull of Paule the 3. the yeere 1549. Possit tamen ipsemet Praepositus pro tempore existens suos quocumque locorum etiam inter Infideles cùm expedire in Domino iudicabit mittere ac reuocare per nos ac successores nostros ad locuÌ„ aliquem missos sine temporis certi limitatione cùm id expedire ad Dei gloriam animarum auxilium visum fuerit super quo conscientiam dicti Praepositi oneramus ad alia loca transmittere liberè licite valeat Yet let their Generall saith the Bul for the time being whensoeuer he shall thinke it expedient send them of his order into any heathen country whatsoeuer and when he list call them home againe and if we or our successors shal send any of them to any place without limitation of time let him whensoeuer he shal see it expedient for Gods glory the good of soules wherin we charge the said General vpon his conscience remoue them from thence whither he shall think meet From hence you may gather that the Generall not only may send them as well as the Pope but which is more may alter clippe curtall the Popes letters Patents as please him Besides there
may beleeue that the commaundement is verie iuâ—â— seeing that is was giuen vnto him And who seeth not that this may well be resembled to a dead bodie or to staffe that receiueth no motion but by an other mans hand yea to be short that this commaundement or law is wâ—â—hout eies And that therefore to commit this absoâ—â—â—â— comaundement to an Vsher or vnder officâ—â— and that vnder the maske of Gods supposed presence is properly to put a sword into a madde mans hand And when I consider this vow me thinkes I see the Anabaptists who said that they were sent from God to reforme all things from good to better and so to reestablish them And as men that hammer such matters in their heads they caused a booke of reformation to be published and dispersed And they had for their king Iohn Luydon and vnder him certaine false Prophets who were their Superiours who made the people beleeue that they â—â—lked and conferred with God sometimes by dreames sâ—metimes by lies and forgeries and that they vndertooke nothing but by Reuelation from him Afterwards they breathed their holy Ghost into the mouthes of those whom they found best fitted for their furious opinions distributing and diuiding thâ—â— thorow their Prouinces as their Apostles to draw and bring vnto them the most simple and easie to beleeue By meanes whereof they brought to their lure and whistle almost all Germanie especially within the tâ—â—â— of Munster where they had established and set vp their monstrous gouernment one while commaunding murthers and massacrings and an other while executing them with their owne hands in which they pretended nothing but inspiration from God And going about to make as a pray vnto themselues all the Kings Princes and Potentates of thâ—â— part of the world they published that they were expresly sent from GOD to driue them away Whâ—â—â—upon they made account to murther them if men had not preuented their purposes and practises Now then tell 〈◊〉 prâ—y you what doth the great vowe of the Iesuites towardâ— their Superiours else import but the obedience of the Anabaptists For further proofe whereof let vs set before vs a General of their Order who eyther thoroâ—â—â— certaine vnruly passion or particular ignoraunce went but verie ill fauouredly to make himselfe a Reformer as well of our religion as of all politique states who also being in the middle of his companions spake vnto them after this manner My little children you know that I being here present with you to commaund you our Lord Iesus Christ is in my mouth and therefore that you ought thorowly and in euerie respect to yeeld obedience God powred out his holy Spirie vpon out good Father Ignace the better therby to sustaine c vpholde his Church which was readie to fall by reason of the errours of the Lutherans errors I say which are spred thorow al Europe to the great griefe of al good Catholicks Now then â—ith iâ— hath pleased God to make vs the Successors of that holy-man so it behâ—â—â—â—â—th vs that aâ— he himselfe so we also should be the first workemen vneâ—ly to root out the same Wee see heresies raigne in many Realmes where also the subiect armeth himselfe against his King In some other places we behold Princes tyrannizing ouer their Subiects Here a Queene â—â—â—ogither hereticall not farre from her A King professing the same thing and other some feeding vs with farre shewes allurements the more deeply to deceiue vs. It belongeth to vs yea to vs I say to defend the cause of God and of poore subiects not in some small sâ—â—â—blance as our forefathers haue done but in good earnest They that in former time occupied themselues therein haue drawen a false skinne ouer the wound and by consequent haue marred all But we shall doe a meritorious work to vnburthen countries kingdomes therof We must needs become executione of the soueraigne iustice of Almightie God which will neuer be grieued or offended with any thing that we as Arbitrers and Executors of his good will and pleasure shall doe to the preiudice of such Kings as rule wickedly and suffer their kingdomes to fall vnto them whom in our consciences we shal know to be worâ—me thereof How be it you thinke not your selues strong inough in your selues to execute my commaundements yet at least let this be a lesson vnto you that you may teach in the midst of Gods Church Wherein also you must imploy all the best meanes you haue least the danger disease and Gangrene get so deepe a roote that it will not easily be remooued Wee shall at the length finde good store of workemen and Surgions to helpe vs forward herein But aboue al things apply refer to this all holy and necessarie prouision of ConfessioÌ„ of Masse of CoÌ„municating to the end that we may with greater assurance of their consciences proceed on in this holy worke and busmes The necessitie of the affaires of Christendome commaundeth it and the dutie of oâ—â— charge bindeth vs thereto These are the aduices and councels that I haue receiued from our Sauiour and Redeemer Iesus Christ who suffered his death and passion for vs and for whose sake as it were in counterchaunge we ought rather to die then not to ridde our selues of these wicked Princes And these euen these I say are the aduises which I haue from God whose Vicegerencie I exercise and execute ouer you though I be vnworthie I leaue heere to your owne considerations the places examples and authorities of holy Scripture which are mistaken and this Monsiure might alleage For of this assure your selues these Atheologians or maimed Diuines will no more faile therein then the Negromancers do in the inuocation of their spirits and diuels or in their healing of diseases And yet all these matters tend but to Anabaptistrie or else to the commaundements of that old dotard of the Mountaine mentioned in our Chroniclers and called the Prince of the Assasines who charmed and charged his subiects to kill handsmooth our Princes that went into the East to recouer the holy Land Whereupon also there hath remayned amongst vs and that euen to this day the word Assasine as proper against all murthering Traitors But is not all this found in our Iesuits And is not this doctrine scattered in the midst of that holy Order Haue we not seene the splintors shiuers of it When the last Prince of Orange was not at the first time slaine in Antwerpe was not this by the instigation of the Iesuits And when at the second time he was slaine in the yeere 1584. by Balthazar Girrard borne in the countie of Burgundie And where also Peter Pan a Cooper dwelling at Ipres vvas sent to kill Maurice Prince of Orange and Earle of Nassaw the other princes sâ—â—â—ue of whom I pray you did they take counsell As 〈◊〉 Girrard before hee was examined he confessed that he went to a Iesuit whose name hee knew not but that he was of a
read of Balaams Asse and this Ignatius his Mule without the which he had most furiously executed his disseignment Therefore I finde no whit strange the resignation he hath made of the same furie vnto his successors with whom I list not dispute whether it be fit or no but send them after his example vnto a Mule for resolution At this word the Iesuit woulde needes lay himselfe open Excuse me I pray you quoth he me thinks you deliuer not the vvhole matter For Ribadinere one of them of whom you borrowed this historie sayth that Ignatius at that time was surprised with a remembrance of his old Adam Homo quippe militaris fallaci veri honoris irâ—itatione olim elusus he was falne into this foolish opinion of reuenge but that afterwards arriuing at our Ladies Church of Mountserrat hee hung before her alter all his weapons after hee had confessed himselfe by writing of all his sinnes three dayes together Ibi optimo confessario totius vitae suae crimina per triduum ex scripto confessus est illique homini omnium primo animi sui propositum aperuit iumentum reliquit gladium pugionemque quibus Mundo meruerat ante aram beatissimae Matris Dei apendi iussit which was in the yeere 1522. Truly replyed the Aduocate I heeded not those 4. or 5. lines when I perused Ribadinere and I thank you hartilie for putting mee in minde of them for I will vse but this one poynt to shewe your Sect to be most wicked and most vnhappy that hauing this faire goodlie mirror of your Father and Author before your eyes your heads haue entertaind no other obiects but the disquiet of the Realmes you liue in especially of our countrey of Fraunce as I will proue immediatly CHAP. 11. ¶ Of the holy League brought by the Iesuits the yere 1585. into Fraunce and that they are the cause of the Hugonots new-footing among vs. HEtherto I haue discoursed vnto you of the murders paricids and massacres of Kings princes now I will shewe you the ruine and desolation of kingdoms procured by them and beginne first with our owne It is not for a King of Fraunce saith the Iesuit in his Most humble Request to reuenge the quarrell of a King of Nauarre nor fits it the Churches eldest sonne to be sencible of what was done against an opinion contrarie to the Church Goodly words which I remember often so wel they please mee as though the Iesuits had onely warred against the King now liuing and no way touched the last Henry the third not onely adorned with the title of Most Christian a title long agoe bestowed on our kings but who among the most Christian was in particuler the most Catholick We saw him in the beginning of his raigne follow the Iesuits beeing charmed by them and holding them the soundest Catholicks afterwards the Priers Minims of Nigeon hard by Paris where hee had his chamber for his priuate prayers by night on festiuall dayes and for his deuotion at theyr Mattins at certaine other seasons then haunted hee the Capuchins and Feuillants and with a like zeale instituted the brotherhood of the Penitentiaries Whippers and after all this the congregation of the Hieronimits at our Ladies of Vincennes where hee and his companions changed theyr habits as Munks on those dayes and feasts whereon they were confined thether I know well that his enemies imputed all this to hypocrisie for his ill hap or to say more truly their vnhappie shifts would haue led men to turne all his actions to the worst If you say that the greatest part of such as ioyned with him did it for hypocrisie onely to please him I belieue you say most truly but as for him I doubt not but he did it onely to please God It were a want of common sence to auerre that a King nourished in the midst of delights and fulnes of all pleasures would haue chosen this painfull course had hee not beene drawne vnto it by true zeale and deuotion hee who otherwise had tenne thousand means to credit him selfe by such leud hypocrisies may fall into the harts of meane companions who by religions maske striue to seaze on new greatnes but not into theirs whose auncient right assures it them alreadie Then must the Iesuite the hypocrite raze this clause out of his paper that the warre whereof I will hereafter speake was vndertaken against a King of any other opinion then the coÌ„mon it resteth to know by whom the warre was vndertaken Some charge Princes and great Lords with it therein altogether are deceiued I will deliuer it at large vnto you After the decree of the yeere 1564. had passed we liued in some rest throughout all Fraunce vntil the yere 1567. about which time the enteruiew had at Bayon betweene vs and the Spanyard vndid vs. For it put iealousies perhaps not without cause into the hart of such as were not thorowly setled Ielousies that bred in Fraunce tenne thousand mischiefes which to remember makes my haire to stare Nowe let vs examine the Iesuits carriage during this loose generall corruption A surceasing from Armes being appointed in councel the yeere 64 they thought also to haue had leysure enough for the venting their ambition WheÌ„ their cause was pleaded that irregular profession of theirs was onelie dealt against the wiser sort foresaw as in a clowde that this Impostume could not chuse in time but yeelde a malignant and lothsome matter though to poynt at it in particuler none either could or durst because that outward simplicitie wherewith they shadowed their inward thoughts surprised euen such as wished theÌ„ most euill for they imagined the Iesuits would haue forwarded our Religion by good examples zealous prayers wholesome manners holy exhortations and not by Armes But stayed they in these termes nothing lesse they brought into their houses the knowledge of State matters they made themselues Iudges of Princes actions disposing them at their owne pleasure they contriued warres thereby to compasse their dessignes and the Pulpits out of which they preached were to no other vse but as Drums Fifes and Trumpets to incense our Princes in theyr combats one against another And especially we are not to doubt of their beeing the Authors solicitors and cherishers of our last troubles a thing which not onely they denie not but make theyr boast of in their bookes as you may find in that of the Iesuit La Fon. I vndertake not in this place to recite at large the storie of these troubles this only I wil tel you that before the yere 1576 wee neuer had put the word League in vse it was onely familiar in Italie the chiefe harbor of Iesuits VVhen the Parliament was held at Blois a Lord of some note in Paris whom I will not name whose hart was wholly Iesuited and who on festiuall dayes left his own Parish-church to be present at their Masses sent to the Deputies of Paris these instructions following In this
after they haue raised tumults in all Countries that theyr designements sort to effect CHAP. 17. ¶ That the Pope hath not power to translate the Crowne of Fraunce from one to another against the dangerous position of the Iesuits and some other discourse tending to the same effect THe Iesuits not content to haue offered violence to our King in time of the troubles doe at this day in the time of peace by theyr pennes offer violence to the Royaltie it selfe Hee that maintaines in Rome that the Pope may transfer Empires and Kingdomes from hand to hand at his pleasure deserueth a Cardinals hat as Father Robert Bellarmine the Iesuite he that maintaines the same position in Fraunce is worthie of a hat of that colour but not of that kinde as the Cardinals Kings die whē it pleaseth God to call them the Roialtie neuer dies Which is the cause that the Parliament Court of Paris when they accompanie the funerall obsequies of our Kinges are not in mourning weedes but in Scarlet the true marke and ensigne of the neuer dying maiestie of the Crowne or Royaltie One of the chiefe flowers of our Crowne is that our Kings cannot incurre the censures of the Church of Rome nor their realme be interdicted nor consequently transposed It is a law not made but bred with vs which we haue not learned receiued or by long instruction imprinted but a law which is drawne inspired and deriued into vs out of the very breasts of our Mother Fraunce wherein we are not nurtured but nursed that if any thunderbolts fortuned to be sent from Rome against the maiestie of our Kings so as in consequence thereof the realme might fall vnder the sentence of Interditement we are not bound to yeeld obedience thereunto Neither yet for all this did our kings euer loose the title of Most Christian nor wee of the Eldest sonnes of the Church The Iesuit hath beene condemned by a decree of the Court he drawes his chaine after him still yet will hee not cease to be a Iesuit that is a Seminarie of diuisions factions and dissentions within our country Let vs then heare what he saith who vnder the name of Montaignes hath publisht the booke of the Truth as hee intitles it but of the forged and lying Truth After hee had discoursed that the Temporall state onely appertained to the King and the Spirituall to the holy Father who claimed no interest in their souerainties hee affirmes that if the king happē at any time to transgresse God hath put a rod into the Popes hand to chastise him and depriue him of his kingdome And this is for the behoofe Mont. cap. 15. of the Truth defended for the good of Princes saith he who most commonlie are reclaimed and brought to their duties rather for feare of their Temporall estate which they euer-more hold deer though otherwise ill giuen then of their Spirituall which they set not by vnlesse their conscience be the better which is not generall to all of them But the Pope is no God no more was Samuell who executed that sentence against Saul So as God had annointed Saul King by the Prophet so doth he send the sentence of his deposition by him and by him translate the kingdome annoint Dauid king In the time of Osias king of Iuda the high priest no more a GOD then Samuell gaue the kingdome from the father to the sonne he being strooken with leprosie for his presumption This transposition of the Crowne was doone by the appointment of the high Priest according as by the Law was ordained and consequently the deposition of the Father Iehoiada was no God but a priest and Gods Lieutenaunt when after he had caused Athalia the Queene to be put to death for her tyrannous gouernment hee put the scepter into the handes of Ioas a prince of the blood and lawfull successor to the Crowne All those were but Gods ministers to execute his decrees as the Pope likewise is And seeing God hath infinite meanes to translate a kingdome by the force and weapons of Pagans as of Moores Turks and other strange Nations making the Assyrians conquerours ouer the Greekes the Greekes ouer the Assyrians both of the Iewes and the Romans of both what milder course could he haue ordained among Christians what way more reasonable or more secure then by the mediation and authoritie of the head of the Church and the common Father of all Christians who beeing specially assisted by God and by men both learned and religious will in likelihood doe nothing preiudiciall to the right of the lawfull successors and will proceede without passion and withall moderation and mildnes in a case of that importance hauing an eye euermore to the honour of God and vnto the publique and priuate good In conclusion by this learned position which our pernitious Iesuit maintaines the Pope hath authoritie to transferre kingdoms frō one hand to another when he seeth cause so to doe and dooing it hee is subiect to no mans controule inasmuch as if God himselfe may doe it then is it lawfull for his Vicar to doe the like the Pope hauing no lesse preheminence ouer Kings in these times of Christianity then the Prophets had in the time of Moses law This fond opinion of thine brings mee to a meruailous straite forcing mee to combate against the authoritie of the holie Sea First if you will argue this position morallie where shall you finde that a King constituting his Lieuetenants generall in Prouinces giueth them in all poynts as ample authoritie as himselfe hath ouer his subiects And to say that God hath transferred his omnipotent power into any man whatsoeuer is a poynt of blaspemie against the Maiestie of GOD. Besides tell mee Sophister where finde you that you ought to beg such examples out of the old Testament to transplant them into the new But with such illusions doe you and your associats surprise the consciences of the weake ignorant multitude For if that reason of yours were of any value or consequence we should by the same bring Circumcision into vse againe at this day because it was vsed vnder the Law of Moses And by the same pretext it shall be lawfull for the subiect to lay violent handes vppon his Soueraigne Iudges 3. because Ehud murthered Eglon King of Moab vnpunished Seeing you terme your selfe a Iesuit let vs follow the footesteps of Iesus Christ for to this marke ought all our cogitations to leuell whereunto restraining our discourse I will make it appeare that I am a true Cathotholicke liegeman to the Pope and thou a true Catholique Impostor VVee consider the power of our Sauiour Christ in two different times one was vvhen for our Redemption hee descended from heauen into the earth the other vvhen after his death and passion hee ascended from earth into heauen The first was the time of his humilitie in respect whereof hee professed that his comming was not to be an vmpire of their
proculdubio occupassent promissionis terram had long since out of doubt possessed this Realme of England nisi quorundam inobedientia atque ingratissimum obstitisset murmur had not the disobedience of some and theyr most displeasing murmuring hindred it It is the manner of our English Iesuits and of such as are Iesuited neuer to mention Frier Parsons trecheries but they ioyne that good Cardinall with him to mittigate the odiousnes of his proceedings But howe coulde they haue gotten this land of Promise into their fingers Meane they by their attempt 1588 or had they before this time layd violent hands vpon her Maiestie or what had they else doone if some such impediment as they speake of had not hapned Blessed was that disobedience and happy was that murmuring that deliuered this kingdome from such vncatholick and most trayterous designements Rather content your selues deere Catholicks to goe dwell in Babilon then euer seeke to obtaine the Land of Canaan by such cruell barbarous and Turkish stratagems Are not such Iesuits or persons whatsoeuer Iesuited worthy to be detested that dare publish their dislike of such disobedience and murmure as hath preuented such a Chaos of all mischiefes as the conquering of our little land of promise would haue brought with it Or if we haue been too sharpe in our encountering of the Gyants as they falsly terme vs are we not to be excused And as wee woulde haue you to iudge of vs and the rest of our brethren that whatsoeuer they haue written it proceeded of theyr loue and zeale both to our Church and Countrie so our hartie desire is that you would thinke and iudge the like of those right zealous Catholicks of other Countries that haue written against the Iesuits in the like respect much more sharply then any of our brethren hetherto haue done For howe highlie soeuer the Iesuits are yet in our bookes because you know them not throughlie yet are they alreadie become an odious generation in manie places In the kingdome of Swecia their verie names are detested The Cleargie of Spayne is in great dislike of them The religious men generallie in all countries doe hate them At this instant there is a great most dangerous contention in particuler betwixt them and the Dominicans about a speciall point of grace At their first attempt to come into Fraunce it was fore-seen by the graue Sorbonists of Paris what mischiefe they would work if they were admitted there Afterwards they crept into that countrie like Foxes by little and little and so in processe of time behaued thēselues as not long since they haue been banished thence as men of most pernitious wicked and dangerous conuersation You haue heard in a word or two out of Osorius the Spaniard what the Iesuits thinke of themselues it woulde make a large volume to recount the praises which they haue else-where heaped vppon their founder their societie their fellowes according as the saying is Claw me and I will claw thee You also vnderstand as well by the premises as by our bretherens seuerall treatises what estimation we haue of them and some haue beene offended vvith them for their plainenes therein But now wee humbly intreate you to obserue howe roundly they haue beene taken vp in Fraunce for halting by men of no small credite in that State for theyr yeres verie auncient for their experience verie wise and for their soundnes in the Catholicke Romane religion neuer impeached by any but Iesuits who condemne all men eyther for Newters or schismaticks or hereticks or at the least for cold and luke-warme Catholicks that disclose their impieties Maister Anthony Arnold counsellour in parliament and heeretofore counsellor and Atturney generall to the late deceased Queene mother a man throughlie acquainted with the proceedings of the Iesuits in Fraunce writeth as followeth both of them By this the Iesuits are discouered to be not onely the fore-runners but also the chiefe captaines of Antechrist out of whose societie or sect it is very probable homo peccati that man of sin shall rise ere all be ended betwixt the secular priests them the saide sectarie Iesuits though for the present they remaine catholicke and somwhat of their Founder Ignatius saith he through the help of the deuill hatched this cursed conspiracie of the Iesuits who haue beene the causes of such ruine as Fraunce hath receiued They are a vvicked race borne to the ruine desolation of mankinde In their fourth vowe to their Generall they goe thus farre that in him they must acknowledge Christ present as it were If Iesus Christ should commaund to goe and kill they must doe so The Generall of the Iesuits is alwayes a Spanyard and chosen by the King of Spayne Loyola their first Generall was a Spanyard Laynes the second a Spanyard also The third Euerardus was a Fleming a subiect of the King of Spayne Borgia the fourth was a Spanyard Aquauiua the fift now liuing is a Neopolitane subiect to the King of Spayne If their Spanish Generall commaund them to murther or cause the King of Fraunce to be murthered they must of necessity do it They shoote at no other matter but to establish the tyrannie of Spaine in all places All the Iesuits in the world are bound to pray for the King of Spayne and that once a day as his affayres doe require They haue stirring fellowes to be placed in all quarters to execute whatsoeuer may tend to the good and aduauncement of Spayne They had no other marke during the warres in Fraunce but to make the King of Spaine Monarch ouer all Christendome The common prouerbe of these hypocrits is one God one Pope and one king of Spaine the great King catholick and vniuersall All their thoughts all their purposes all their Sermons all their cōfessions haue no other white they ayme at but to bring all Europe vnder the subiection of Spanish gouernment The Ambassadour of Fraunce when hee was in Spayne and Italie neuer found matter of weight wherein they had not an oare There was neuer Letter intercepted during the warres wherein there was anie pernicious point but a Iesuits singer was in it In their confessions and without witnesses they paint not the faces but the harts of their schollers with the tincture of Rebellion against their princes and naturall Soueraignes Mathew a Iesuit was the principal instrument of the League 1585. And from that yeere 1585. they would giue no absolution to the Gentry of Fraunce vnlesse they would vow promise to band themselues against their Soueraigne Henry the third being a most catholick King Barnard and Commolet the yere before the sayde League called the King Holofornes Moab and Nero maintaining that the kingdome of Fraunce was electiue and that it belonged to the people to establish kings alledging this text of the old Testament Thou shalt chuse thy brother for King Thy brother say they that is to say not of the same linage or of the selfe same Nation but of
rebellions and sundry schismes Fol. 10. There was neuer any sect more dangerous to Christian Religion then this of the Iesuits The diuell vnder the habit of the Iesuits doth goe about to circumuent all the world The Sect of the Iesuits is Fol. 48. a bastard religion and a verie hoch-poch of all religious orders Fol. 55. without any thing pure in it or any point of the auncient Church The diuine seruice of their Church is diuided from ours Fol. 13. their priuiledges make a diuision betweene the Bishops and them the Monasteries and them the Vniuersities and them the diuines of Paris and them Their propositions make a diuision betweene the holy Sea and Princes Their Colledges are trappes to catch youth there confessions subornations their Sermons Mountebanks Markets Fol. 106. Their whole profession is nothing else but a particular coozning of our priuate families and a generall villany in all the countries where they inhabit To receiue Iesuits into a kingdome is to receiue in a vermine which at length will gnaw out the heart of the State both spirituall and temporall Fol 62. They worke vnder-hand the ruines of the countreyes where they dwell Fol. 59. and the murther of whatsoeuer Kings and Princes it pleaseth them The name of the Iesuits Fol. 20.12 ought to be odious amongst all Christians and they blaspheme against the honour of God when they so intitle themselues Without wrong to the authoritie of the holy Sea Fol. 56. you may call the Iesuits Papelards and their Sect Pape-lardy that is hypocrites and their order hypocrisie The Iesuits are Fox-like Fol 76. Lion-like Al their worthy works are but cooznages In all their negotiations in France Fol. 79. an Asle a Fox haue been tied together Fol. 17. Iesuits when they lie doe say it is to bee borne with because it is to a good end Fol 41. All things saith the Iesuit are to be taken for good Fol. 82. that are done to a good end It is a Iesuiticall priuiledge to vnderset their slanders with the time Fol. 19. by new cogs In euery matter be it neuer so smal the Iesuit cannot go by without lying disguising The Iesuits neuer lacke new lying inuentions to aduance their owne credit Fol. 21. One Iustinian a Iesuit being found in Rome to be a counterfait it marred the Iesuits cookery there for when they did speak of a facer out of matters and an impostor they were wont to call him a second Iustinian the Iesuit Much more might be here added of the particular heresies wherwith he chargeth the Iesuits also his freenes of speech in tearming the first ten Iesuits Ignatius his nine fellowes to haue bin in their times verie cheaters Fol. 39. and likewise how he proueth that in the first allowance of their whole order and the getting since of their priuiledges they euer vsed cooznage Fol. 38. obreption and surreption But this may suffice to be inserted in a Letter dedicatorie Fol. 103. aswell to giue you a glympse what the demerits of the Iesuits are in France how they are esteemed of amongst the Catholiques there that draw not with the line of Spaine against their Soueraigne as also in a sort to stop their clamorous mouthes and pens that crie out and write so eagerly against the tartnes of all the bookes which haue beene lately set out by some of our brethren and especially the Quodlibets as though neuer learned men being good Catholiques had vsed the like sharpenes of stile before them or euer would vse after them Which immoderate clamors both of the Iesuits and of their adherents together with the consident iustification of all the proceedings which hane beene plotted and executed against vs and our brethren by Frier Parsons Frier Garnet our R. Arch-Priest and other their Iesuited clawbacks as though they were indeed Apostolical men sent lately from God that could not erre in a manner in their course by reason of a certaine subordination and sundrie illuminations that are talked of among them caused vs when we met with this discourse and with a translation of it after that we had perused the translation and amended it in diuers parts not onely to put it to the presse but to commend it also vnto you that without new fanglenes are truly Catholiques with this our Preface or Epistle dedicatorie The author of this Iesuiticall Catechisme is for his vertue grauitie experience wisedome Catholique zeale and great learning in these causes so imminent where he is best knowne and this his discourse is so sutable to such his vertues so substantiall for the matter so eloquent for the phrase so artificially compiled for the method as neyther of them both haue any need eyther of ours or any other mens commendation If the translation doe content you if the publishing of it may benefit you if this our Apologeticall preface or the booke it selfe or both may be a sufficient warning eyther to you or to the state or to her Maiesties subiects generally or to all or to any good men in particular that loue their Queene and countrey to take heed in time of the Iesuits to beleeue them by descretion to trust them no further then they see them to detest their statizing to loath their detractions and to beware of their Forges that are euer occupied in hammering out stratageme after stratageme the second still more pestilent then the first it is all wee looke for besides your Catholique supportation due to the Catholique Priests in times of necessitie your daily and Christian prayers whereunto we commend our selues and you all by our daily supplications to Gods mercifull gouernment for your protection and to all his heauenly graces for your direction progression and happie consummation through our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Your friends alwaies readie to doe you seruice Faults escaped in printing Fol. 11. b. lin 10. for nona read noua fo 27. b. lin 2. for perrec dauncer read daunsing dizard fol. 57. b. the last line for instructed read disdisproued fol. 117. for one with another read one another fol. 142. for cuffe read ruffe fol. 165. b. lin 17. for griefe rage read the chiefe rage fol. 166. a. lin 4. for some were to be read some to be fol. 171. b. lin 9. for his poore read this poore fol. 174. a. lin 5. for thich read which Other small faults haue escaped which the iudicial readers eye will easily discouer and amend THE FIRST BOOKE of the Iesuites Catechisme CHAP. 1. ABout two yeeres agoe departing from Paris wee met by chuance vpon the fieldes with sixe in a company that traueld our way some of them had been at Rome some at Venice When we had iournied eyght daies together our horses wearie one of our consorts told vs there dwelt a Gentleman not farre of an olde acquaintance of his who doubtlesse would esteeme of it as a great honour done vnto
of him in these words Well let him liue yet ioyfully and write and raue if he will against the Iesuits hee shall doate at last in his old age vntil some one of this Societie or if they disdain it some other for the publique good take agenerall suruey of that which he hath printed and a collection of his follies rauings asscheadnes spightfulnes haresies and Machiauelismes to erect a Tombe of baâ—â—full memorie wherein he shall be coffind aliue whither the Rauens and Vultures may come a hundred leagues by the sent and to which no man may dare to approch by a hundred paces without stopping his nose by reason of the stinck where brambles bâ—yers may grow where Vipers and Cockatrices may nestle where the Skriech-howle and Bitter may sing that by such a Monument they that now liue and they that shall liue hereafter may know that the Iesuits had for their accuser and slaunderer a notorious lyer a capitall enemie to all vertue and all that are vertuous and that al slaunderers may learne by the losse of one proude ignorant fellow to bethinke theÌ„selues better of that which they write against religious Orders not impudently to slaunder the holy church of God by their infamous blasphemous writings Doe you aske mee quoth I to the Iesuit what Pasquier saide of it I will tell you Hee said to mee in fewe words that this Pasport did well beseeme a Iesuits soule and he was desirous it might be engrauen ouer the gates of all theyr Colledges as a true portraict of theyr charitie that euery man might know that they did not name themselues the Societie of Iesus without great reason who vppon the Crosse prayed to God his Father for them that crucified him I and the Iesuit past the afternoone in these such like discourses by which I perceiued that this honest man had many good parts in him not coÌ„mon to other Iesuits Also I found that there is great difference betwixt him that being shut vp in his chamber hath all his wisedome from his bookes and him that besides his bookes pertakes of wise mens discourses by word of mouth The studie of the former hath his times of breathing but the latter that studies without studying hath great aduantage ouer the other For my part I was willing to be in his company and I think I had spent the rest of the day with him but that ill hap enuious of my content depriued me of it by the comming of two or three foolish fellowes who began to iest at mee saying they saw well my intent was to become a Iesuit You may be sure of that quoth I if all Iesuits were of thys mans temper So wee walkt and talkt one thing or an other till supper time during which there was nothing but iesting and merry talke all carnest matters beeing layd aside till next morning when all of vs beeing met together in the Hall euery one cast his eyes vppon the Aduocate whom the Gentleman requested to make an end of his carriere which hee did in such sort as you shal presently vnderstand The end of the second Booke The third Booke of the Iesuits Catechisme CHAP. 1. ¶ Touching the Anabaptistrie which is found in the vowe that the Iesuits make concerning their blinde obedience to theyr Superiors also that by the meanes thereof there is not any King or Prince that can defend himselfe from theyr stings I Haue saith the Aduocate discoursed vnto you touching the Iesuits doctrine and theyr coggings as also how that obtayning theyr priuiledges they haue maliciously circumuented the holy Sea Apostolick But I haue reserued this morning time to treat of the affaires of the state which they haue adioyned to theyr doctrine within which by meanes of their abounding pietie that raigneth amongst them they haue also intermingled that lesson which we learne out of Machiauell in his Treatise touching a Prince in the Chapter of wickednes For the murthers and killings of Kings Princes are as common among them in their consultations as amongst the most vvicked murtherers that are in the world Besides they haue giuen themselues libertie to trouble those Realmes and Kingdoms wherein they haue once had anie footing It may be euery one amongst vs will much meruaile at it but if you will examine and that without passion that blinde obedience which they vowe vnto this Superiors it shall be an easie matter for you cleerely to see the truth thereof And marke I pray you that I doe expresly say vnto theyr Superiors because though they likewise vow the same vnto the Pope yet it is not with so precise a declaration And that it is so you may well perceiue by this that in the Article which yesterday I read vnto you they speake but once of the Pope and many times of their Superiours So great a desire had Ignatius Loyola their first founder and Law-maker to teach how much this obedience ought to be esteemed of in regard of themselues and their owne respects Concerning which poynt I wil freely say thus much that though in Fraunce wee admit not this particular obedience of the Iesuits towards the Pope yet is it without comparison much more tollerable then the other For in respect of my selfe I will easily belieue this that the opinions of these great Prelats are so well ruled and grounded that though one should vow vnto them â—he most exact obedience that can be yet they would not abuse it Those Prelats are the men the greatest number whereof comming from meane place which were for their vertues merrits and sufficiencies at the first made Bishops afterwards Cardinalls and at the last aduanced to that high throne of the supreme Pastor In so much that theyr faithfulnes holines great experiences and auncientie haue as it should seeme drayned and dryed vp in them all those foolish passions which commonly transport and carry vs away But to speake the truth I cannot I dare not I will not giue the like iudgement touching the Superiors of the Iesuits â—â—â—leâ— because the honour reuerence and respect that I beare to the holy Sea forbid me so to doe Yet notwithstanding in their Chapter of obedience as I haue alreadie said after that they haue once mentioned the Pope they speake of nothing but theyr Superiours that is to say of their Generall their Prouincials their Rectors for these are they who euerie one of them in regard of their Order beare the name of Superiours ouer others And you haue alreadie heard that by the obedience that the inferiour oweth them they are enioyned to beleeue that by their meanes the commaundement floweth from Iesus Christ himselfe and that therefore they ought euen at the twinkling of an eye not onely to obey in such things of their Order as binde them but in all others yea that without loâ—â—ing or bidding as wee say they should obey and tie the will to the execution and the iudgement to the will to the end that the inferiour
not discourage or turne him there-from but greatly confirmed him and prouoked thereto affirming that there was nothing in that buisines that could hinder him vnlesse it were protracting and delay After this hee tooke againe the way to Lions where discouering himselfe to the Iesuits he was greatly praysed and honoured of them A little while after he returned to Paris where certaine English Gentlemen that were fugitiues out of their countrie vnderstanding of his purpose and practise began to embrace him and by name Thomas Morgan who assured him that so soone as he should be in England and should haue executed his â—â—teprise hee would take order that a puissant armie should passe out of Scotland to assure the kingdome to the Queene of Scotland Now though that Parrie seemed altogither resolute yet was he in some sort hindred by sundrie remorses of his conscience And indeed â—he communicated the same to certaine Englishmen that were Ecclesiasticall persons who all labouned to remoue him from it and particularly a learned Priest named Watell who wisely declared shewed vnto him that all the rules of God and the world were directly contratie to his deliberation and purpose In this his irresolution and want of sâ—â—â—ednes he purposed to conferre with the Iesuits of Paris amongst whom he addressed himselfe to father Hanniball Coldretto to whom also in confession he discouered his first aduice and councell and the vncertainty into which Watell had brought him But the Iesuits that lacked not perswasiue reasons maintained vnto him that Watell and all the other that put these scruples into his minde were heretiques And hauing againe set him in his former course caused him according to their ordinarie custome in such cases â—oâ—eciue the Sacrament with diuers other Lords and Gentlemen The English man being thus perswaded tooke his leaue of them and returned into England fully purposed to bring his treason to effect and issue whereunto the better to attaine he sought all the meanes he might to kisse the Queenes Maiesties hand saying that he had certaine things of verie great importance to acquaint her withall And this was about the moneth of Februatie in the yeere 1585. At the last being brought before her Maistie he largely discoursed vnto her the historie of his trauaile and how that counterfaiting the fugitiue he had discouered all the practises and plots that the English Catholiques had brewed or deuised against her Maiestie yea that he had promised them that he would be the first that should attempt her death which had purchased him verie great credit amongst them And yet notwithstanding that he would rather choose a hundred deaths then to defile his soule with so damnable at thought He was a well spoken man of a good countenaunce such a one as had prepared himselfe to play his part not vpon the sodaine but wel prouided The Queene who wanteth not her spies knew that one part of that which he had spoken was verie true which also caused her to credit the rest and graciously accepting of that honest libertie and freedome which he pretended charged him not to depart farre from the Court and that in the meane season he should by letters sound the affections of her enemies which thing he promised and vndertooke to do and vpon this promise feeding the Princesse with goodly shewes he did many times talke verie priuately with her And amongst other she going one day to hunt the fallow Deere he followed her neuer suffering her out of his eye At last being a good way from her owne people and dismounted from her horse to refresh her selfe at the foote of a tree in the wood Parry being nigh vnto her twise had a desire to kill her but he was with-hold there-from by that gracious familiaritie which her Maiestie vsed towards him At another time he walking after Supper with her in the garden of her Pallace called white Hall which standeth vpon the Thames side where also be had a boate readie with the greater speed to saue him and to carrie him away when he had giuen the blow as also he sought opportunitie for it the Queene escaped from him to this manner He supposed to draw her some-what farre from the the house and that then he would kill her at the gardens end But she returned towards her Pallace and said vnto him that it was time to betake her to her chamber being troubled with heat and the rather because she was the next day to take a bath by the appointment of her Phisitions And thereupon laughing she withall added that they should not drawe so much bloud from her as many people desired And with this speeth she with drew her selfe leaning Parrie much arnazed at this namely that hee had fayled in that his so worthie an enterprise Now as he behaued himselfe after this manner about the Q. he supposed that he wanted a trusty friend to second him in his attempt therupon he addressed himselfe to his friend Edmond Neuill an English Gentleman who for his Religion and conscience sake had his part amongst the afflictions troubles of England whom also he diuers times visited and after that he had sworne him vpon the Euangelistes not to reueale or discouer that which he should tell him did particularly and by peace-meale discourse to him his whole intention prouoked him to take part with him therein as one that had great reason liuely to feele the iniuries that had bin câ—â—miâ—â—ed against him And that this was the time and outly â—â—â—ane to reestablish the Catholique Religion in England and to set vp there the Queene of Scotland and that in doing this both of them should haue a good portion in the bootie that should be deuided But Nenill could at no hand well fauour or like of this new counsell Whereupon Parrie demaunded of him whether he had Father Allens booke which would stand him in steed of a continuall spurre to prouoke him to this enterprise though that of himselfe he were not well disposed and prepared thereto that by that booke iâ— was permitted to excommunicate Kings to depose them yea and to constraine and enforce them and that ciuill warres for the cause of Religion were honourable and lawfull I haue verie good and readie accesse to the Queene said he as you also may haue after that you are once knowne in Court After that we haue giuen the blow and done the deed we will get into a boate which shal be readie for vs to go downe the Riuer withall and from thence we will be imbarked vnto the Sea which you and I may easily doe vpon my crediâ— without trouble or hindrance Neuill entertaining him with goodly words faire promises yet neuer giuing him an absolute yea or nay at the last resolued with himselfe no longer to delay the matter but to aduertise the Queene thereof vnto whom vpon the eight of Februarie 1584. he related all that had passed betweene him and Parries who that night supped with
assembly some laboured harde to make immortall mercilesse war against the Hugonots yet demaunded an abatement of Subsidies a proposition ill sorting with the former those Subsidies hauing heen introduced of purpose to further the warres By means whereof the man of whom I speake taking first aduise of the Iesuits propounded a third course to league thēselues against the Hugonots and that such as willing lie enroled themselues vnder the League should be bound to contribute vnto the charge of this new warre These instructions receiued and published the Deputies did nominate a certaine Prince to be their head The last King knowing of what consequence this practise was and that succeeding it would make 3. parties in France his owne which was not one properly that of the League another of the Hugonots to breake this blow discreetly affirmed that he approued well this League but that be would be chiefe thereof which was to the end the League should flie no further then he was pleased to giue it wings The first stone of our ruine beeing cast in this manner the Prouosts of the Merchants and the Sheriffes of Paris returning home and loath that thys opinion of a League which they held most holy should miscarie sent theyr Commissions throughout all the Wards to to the end that such as would contribute should subscribe their names The Constables bare them vnto euerie house some hardier then the rest opposed themselues the greater number fearing worse subscribed The Commission was brought to Christopher le Tou chiefe Iustice whose memorie vvee cannot honour too much this good Lord refused not onely to subscribe but detayned the Commission it selfe and the next day in open Court detested this vnhappy innouation as an assured desolation to our state His authoritie his honestie his reasons wrought so great effect that euery one allowed and followed his aduise From thence-foorth this opinion of the League did weare away or rather vvas remitted to another season that better might befit the purposes of such as broached it Suddainly after the Parliament was ended Father Aimon Auger a Iesuit got the King to giue eare vnto him through his plausible hypocrisies And after him Father Claudius Matthew of Lorraine both the which had so great part in his good fauour that as Montaignes testifieth hee some-times caused them to ride along with him in his owne Coach At length this good King founde that these coozeners were desirous to incroach vppon the managing of State-matters about him Auger especially whom for that cause hee gaue order to his Embassadour at Rome to get him remooued out of Fraunce by Letters of obedience from his Generall The King departing from the Parliament pacified his subiects by an Edict of the yeere 1577. the which hee sayd was vvholly his owne and yet had by his wisedome cleane dashed the reformed Religion without bloodshed if the Iesuits would haue vouchsafed him the leisure to finish what he had begun Wageing in the midst of peace a gentle warre against the Hugonots gentle but more forcible in great mens oppinions then any weapons could haue made it For although that the Edict of 77. gaue some libertie vnto them yet the king neither called them to places of iudgement nor vnto offices in his Exchequer nor to the gouernments of Prouinces and Townes Hee had moreouer deuised the order of the holie Ghost reserued wholly for Catholicke Princes and Lords as also that of the Hieronimitans of our Lady of Vincennes where none were to appeare but Apostolicall Romane Catholiques and with whom laying aside his most high authoritie he fraternized in all kind of deuotion Nowe the presence of these causing the others absence belieue it was no small meanes to force them into the right way For there is nothing which the French Nobilitie affect so much as to be neere theyr King nor any thing that afflicts the common people more then to be kept from Offices this is a disease of minde that spoyles the Frenchman As soone as a Lawyer or Marchant haue by theyr endeuours stuffed theyr Closets and Storehouses with siluer the thing they chiefely ayme at is to bestowe it on places of Iudgement or roomes in the Exchequer for theyr Children so that the newe Religion beganne alreadie to dissolute and it grieued not the Auncients thereof vvho for shame and to auoyde the imputation of lightnes stucke vnto it to suffer their chyldren to be instructed in our Schooles and consequently to learne there the principles of our Religion All matters in this sort proceeded from ill to well from well to better the Countriman plyed harde his plough the Artificer his trade the Merchant his traffique the Lawyer his practise the Cittizen enioyed his reuenew the Magistrate his stipend the Catholick his owne religion throughout all Fraunce without impeachment The remainder of those Hugonots that liued being sequestred into a backe corner of the kingdome when our Iesuits seeing themselues remoued frō theyr Princes fauour beganne to lay this snare to intrap him Euen as the Societie of Iesuits is composed of all sorts of people some for the pen others for practise so had they amongst them one Father Henry Sammier of Luxembourge a man disposed for all assayes and resolued vnto any hazard This fellow was sent by them in the yeere 1581 towards diuers Catholicke Princes to sounde the Foorde And to say truly they could not haue chosen one more fit for he disguised himselfe into as many formes as obiects one while attired like a soldiour another while like a Priest by and by like a country Swaine Dice cardes and women were as ordinarie with him as his prefixed houres of prayer saying he did not thinke he sinned in this because it was done to the furtherance of a good worke to the exaltation of Gods glorie and that hee might not be discouered changing his name together with his habite according to the Countries wherein he purposed to negotiate He parted from Lorraine and thence went into Germany Italie and Spaine The summe of his instructions were that foreseeing the eminent danger of our Catholick religion the seeming conniuence which the King gaue to it and secret fauour hee yeelded on the other side to the Hugonots whereof the Duke his brother had made himselfe an open Protector in the Lowe-Countries their holie societie had resolued to vndertake this quarrell vnder the leading of a great Prince making sure account of Gods assistance seeing that it was directed to the aduauncement of his holy Name and good of his Church Thus Sammier got intelligence from each part and tooke assurance on all hands but presently to manifest their proiects the season fitted not because the Duke was aliue and the two brothers forces once vnited were sufficient to swallow all such as had made head against them And this was but the preamble vnto our Troubles In the yeere 83. he died That let remoued the Iesuits imbarqued in their quarrell such Lords as they thought good and