might be a Reconciliation made betweene them without any great difficultie II. Reconciliation that we dissent but onely in sophisticall captions of words and tearmes and that but for the humors of the Diuines of both side all things might be composed very easilie But these drones and dreamers because they thinke there may be an agreement betweene Christ and Antichrist light and darkenesse truth and falshood God and the Diuell I will remit vntill some other day of hearing as being vnworthy in this place where breuity is intended and other more necessarie points to be handled to receaue their answer III. Toleration A third sort there are who to take away all contrarie profession to extirpate heresies to represse schismes to restraine sects and to procure vnitie in Religion iudge this the onely meanes to wit to permit the promiscuous vse of all Religions to tolerate all Sects to abandon no Heretique or profession whatsoeuer Which wicked deuise how contrarie it is vnto the Word of GOD and the rule of reason how abhorrent from all examples of former ages and states and how pernicious vnto the Common-wealth I will God willing declare in as few wordes and with as much perspicuitie as may be CHAP. II. Reasons against Toleration and Permission of diuers Religions out of the Old Testament Toleration wicked and vnlawfull prooued out of the Old Test Moses 1 IN the Old Testament all communion and societie with Idolaters heretiques and schismatiques is vtterlie forbidden and prohibited Hence it is that Moses spake vnto the Congregation Depart from the tents of these wicked men Korah Dathan and Abiram and touch nothing of theirs least you perish in all their sinnes Numb 16.26 2 It is commanded in the Law that the false Prophet and the seducing Idolater whether he be our brother or sonne or daughter or wife or friend should be taken away from amongst vs and slaine that all Israël may heare and see and feare and not dare to commit the like Thou shalt not consent vnto him saith the Text nor heare him neither shall thine eye pittie him nor shew mercie nor keepe him secrete But thou shalt euen kill him thine hand shall be first vpon him to put him to death and then the handes of all the people c. Deut. 13.1 seqq 3 Againe There shall not be amongst you man nor woman nor familie nor tribe which shall turne his hart away this day from the Lord our God to go and serue the gods of these Nations there shall not be amongst you any roote that bringeth forth Gall and Wormewood Deut. 29.18 4 Hitherto appertaineth that for the fact of Achan who tooke of the excommunicate things being sacrificed vnto Idols the Children of Israël could not stand before the face of their enemies Iosh 7.1.5 And God threatned he would be no more with them except they would destroy the peccant and guiltie person from amongst them Iosh 7.12 5 This anger of God the Israëlites feared in so much as when the Reubenites the Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasses whose lot fell beyond the riuer built themselues an Altar vpon the borders of Iordan they came to warre against them with this exprobration Haue we too little wickednesse of Peor whereof we are not cleansed vnto this day though a Plague came vpon the congregation of the Lord Yee also are turned away this day from the Lord and seeing yee rebell this day against the Lord euen to morrow he will be wroth with all the Congregation of Israël Notwithstanding if the land of your possession be vncleane come yee ouer vnto the Land of the possession of the Lord wherein the Lords Tabernacle dwelleth and take possession among vs but rebell not against the Lord nor rebell against vs in building you an Altar besides the Altar of the Lord our God Iosh 22.17.18.19 But when the other excused themselues that they built the Altar not for sacrifices and offerings but only for a witnesse then were the Israëlites contented and their anger appeased 6 Neither doe the Scriptures forbid vs onely the companie and societie of our Bretheren which were Idolaters and Heretiques but also of any Stranger dwelling among vs and of our Neighbours about vs. Take good heed vnto your selues that you loue the Lord you God Else if you goe backe and cleaue vnto the rest of these Nations that is of them which remaine with you and shall make marriages with them and goe to them and they to you Know you for certaine that the Lord your God will cast out no moe of these Nations from before you but they shall be a snare and destruction vnto you and a whip on your sides and thornes in your eyes vntill you perishout of this good Land which the Lord your God hath giuen you Iosh 23.11.12.13 7 Hereupon after the death of Ioshua The Booke of Iudges when the Israëlites had made a league with the Cananites an Angell of the Lord came vp from Gilgal to Bochim saying in the person of God I promised that I would neuer breake my couenant with you so that you made no couenant with the Inhabitants of this Land but breake downe their Altars But you haue not obeyed my voice Why haue you done this Wherefore I will not cast them out before you but they shal be as thornes vnto your sides and their gods shall be your destruction Iudg. 2.2.3 By the example of Kings 8 Diuerse was the estate of the Kings of Israël and Iudah according as they walked with God prospering when they trusted in God and worshipped him purely and sincerely and decaying when they forsooke him and corrupted the sinceritie of Gods worship and Religion The Kingly Prophet Dauid exhorteth Kings to be wise Dauid and Iudges to be well aduised that they worship GOD and his Annoynted denouncing to the Aduersaries the Almightie power of Christ to the confusion of all that set themselues against him Psal 2.10.11.12 9 And for himselfe speaking of Idolaters he protesteth saying Their offerings of blood will I not offer neither make mention of their names with my lips Psal 16.4 Wherefore this godly King had a very prosperous raigne and good successe in all things as himselfe often acknowledgeth 1. Sam. 15. Psal 18.2 Sam. 22. 10 King Salomon Salomon his Sonne because he fully established the seruice of God according to all that had beene commanded by the Prophets the Lord also established his seate and encreased his glory aboue all the Kings of the earth till he began to decline from the Lord his God and brought the abhominable Idols of the Strange women whom he loued into his Kingdome and houses 1. King 10. Then the Lord raysed vp his Seruant against him who also in the daies of his Sonne so rent away the ten tribes of Israël from the house of Dauid that they neuer returned vnto it againe 11 Rehoboam Salomons Sonne Rehoboam because he permitted Iudah to corrupt true Religion
to make them high places and Images and groues on euery high hill and vnder euery greene tree therefore Shishak King of Egypt came vp against Ierusalem and tooke the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the Kings house and tooke away all c. 1. King 14.23.25 12 Abiiah the Sonne of Rehoboam because he walked in his Fathers sinnes Abiiah and was polluted with Idols had continuall warre with Ieroboam King of Israël 1. King 15.3.7 13 But this Abiiah obiected against Ieroboam that he could not prosper because he had erected Idols in his kingdome and had made him Priestes contrarie to the Law and assured himselfe of Gods assistance against him for this reason because they had the Lord for their God who was their Captaine and his lawfull Priestes the Sonnes of Aaron sounding the Lords trumpets in the fielde before them Therefore saith he O yee children of Israël fight not against the Lord God of your Fathers for ye shall not prosper And accordingly it is added that the Israëlites were ouercome hauing fiue hundred thousand men of warre slaine and the Iewes were strengthened because they rested vpon the Lord God of their Fathers 2. Chron. 13. throughout 14 Asa Asa his Sonne one while prospered when he put away all the Idols that his Father had made and then decayed when he followed the vaine discourse of flesh and blood and sought vnto the Assyrians for helpe 1. King 15.10 2. Chron. 14.1 c. 15 Iehoshaphat the Sonne of Asa prospered and grew vp on high Ichoshaphat because he lifted vp his hart vnto the waies of the Lord and tooke away the high mountaines and groues out of Iudah 2. Chron. 17.6.12 Notwithstanding he is reprooued for his affinitie and societie with wicked Achab King of Israël 2. Chron. 19.2 16 Amasiah Amasiah because he obeyed not the Prophet but defiled himselfe with Idolatrie heard this saying I know that the Lord hath determined to destroy thee because thou hast done this 2. Chron. 35.16 17 The same thing also caused Azariah or Vzziah first to fall into sinne Azariah and then to become a leper 2. King 15.4.5 2. Chron. 26. 18 It was an obiection against Iotham the sonne of Azariah Iotham and a great fault laid to his charge 2. King 15.35 Ahaz as also vnto Ahaz his sonne 2. King 16.4 and to Manasses after his repentance 2 Chron. 33.17 that they tooke not away the high places 19 Ezechiah Ezechiah because he tooke away the high places and brake the images and cut downe the groues and brake in pieces the brasen Serpent and trusted in the Lord God of Israël deserued this commendation that after him there was none like him among all the Kings of Iudah neither were there any such before him 2. King 18.4.5 20 Manasses Manasses his Sonne falling into Idolatrie was carried away prisoner into Babylon but humbling himselfe and praying vnto GOD he was restored againe to his kingdome which he purged from Idolatrous worship 2. Chron. 23.11.12.15 Albeit it was a blemish vnto him that he tooke not away the high places as we haue noted before 21 Notable is the historie of King Iosiah Iosiah who did vprightly in the sight of the Lord walked in all the waies of Dauid and bowed neither to the right hand nor to the left who read the law before the people put downe the Idols killed their Priests destroied the Coniurers and at last was mercifullie taken away that his eies should not see all the euill which the Lord was to bring vpon Ierusalem 2. King 22. and 23. throughout also 2. Chron. 34. and 35. 22 Nebuchadnezzar when he had seene the power of God in the deliuerie of Shadrach Nebuchadnezzar Meshach and Abednago made this decree saying I make a decree that euery nation people and language which speake any blasphemie against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednago shal be drawen in pieces and their houses shal be made a iakes Dan. 3.29 23 King Darius seeing Daniel strangely deliuered from the Lions denne Darius made this decree that all people nations and languages in the world should reuerence and feare the God of Daniel Dan. 6.25.26 24 The King of Niniueh compelled the whole Citie to humble themselues before God King of Niniuth to turne from their euill way and from the wickednesse that was in their handes Ionah 3.6 seqq 25 Ieroboam King of Israël Ieroboam knowing that vnity in Religion would turne the hearts of the people to the obedience of Rehoboam brought in new worship and caused them to commit Idolatrie And Ieroboam thought in his heart saith the text Now shall the kingdome returne to the house of Dauid If this people go vp and do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Ierusalem then shall the heart of this people turne againe vnto their Lord euen to Rehoboam King of Iudah so shall they kill me and goe againe to Rehoboam King of Iudah Whereupon the king tooke counsell and made two calues of gold and said vnto them It is too much for you to goe vp to Ierusalem Behold ô Israël thy gods which brought thee vp out of the land of Aegypt and he set the one in Bethel and the other in Dan. 1. King 12.26.27.28.29 Whereupon the Children of Iudah were interdicted their company 26 And of the Prophets A man of God And when a Prophet sent from Iudah did but goe in vnto another Prophet sent from Iudah did but goe in vnto another Prophet in Bethel to eate bread he was slaine by a Lion as he returned homeward 1. King 13.24 27 The Prophet Elias could not endure mixture of Religion but exhorted the people to one Religion saying How long halt you between two opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal be he then go after him 1. King 18.21 28 The Lord saith by the Prophet Zephaniah Zephaniah I will stretch out mine hand vpon them that worship and sweare by the Lord and sweare by Malcham Zephan 1.5 Hosea Amos Micah 29 Hoseah Amos and Micah directed their Prophecies against the tribe of Ephraim or Samaria with whom Iudah had made a league 30 I will adde this one out of the Apocrypha that Iudas Macchabeus being alwaies a Conquerour as soone as he had made a league with the Romans was presently ouercome and perished and his Brethren when they had renewed their friendship with them and with the Spartanes neuer prospered in batraile 1. Macch. cap. 1. and 9. and 12. and 14. and 16. These and infinite such like auctorities and examples declare that puritie of Religion and true pietie are the foundation of all true wisedome and policie and the cause of all happie successe and prosperitie and that impietie idolatrie heresie corruption and mixture of diuers Religions what shew so euer it hath of outward commoditie and profit for a season yet indeed
Pogonatus 17 Constantinus Pogonatus confirming the Decrees of the sixt Synode added grieuous penalties against the refractarie Heteroclites Synod 6. sess 18. 18 Alexius the Emperour Alexius is said to cause one Basilius either a Physitian or a Monke to be burned for Heresie at Constantinople King Edward the sixt 19 Vnto these I will adde one memorable example of the worthy and famous Prince King Edward the Sixt of whom it is noted to his great commendation that fewe or no Sermons were preached at his Court but he would be at them and againe that he was neuer present at any commonly but he would excerp or note them with his owne hand This godly King being dealt with by his Counsellours that the Lady Mary his owne Sister which succeeded in the Kingdome might be tolerated to vse her conscience in Religion his Answere and resolution was negatiue So doth Master Foxe report in the Acts and Monuments in these words In the daies of King EDVVARD the VI. Carolus the Emperour made request to the said King and his Counsell to permit Lady Mary to haue Masse in her house without preiudice of the Law And the Counsell on a time sitting vpon matters of policie hauing that in question sent Cranmer then Archbishop of Canterburie and Ridley then Bishop of London to entreate the King for the same Who comming to his Grace alleadged their reasons and perswasions for the accomplishing thereof So the King hearing what they could say replied his answere againe out of the Scriptures so groundedly grauely and fully that they were enforced to giue place to his replication and grant the same to be true Then they after long debating in this manner with his Maiestie laboured politiquely in an other sort and alleadged what danger the denying thereof might bring to his Grace what breach of amitie of the Emperours part what troubles what vnkindnesse and what occasions sundry waies it would enforce c. Vnto whom the King answered willing them to content themselues for he would he said spend his life and all he had rather then to agree and grant to that he knew certainely to be against the truth The which when the Bishops heard notwithstanding they vrged him still to grant and would by no meanes haue his nay Then the good King seeing their importunate suite that needes they would haue his Maiestie grant thereto in the end his tender hart bursting out in bitter weeping and sobbing desired them to be content Whereat the Bishops themselues seeing his zeale and constancie wept as fast as he and tooke their leaue of his Grace and comming from him the Archbishop tooke Master Cheke his Schoolemaster by the hand and said Ah Master Cheke you may be glad all the daies of your life that you haue such a Schooler for he hath more Diuinitie in his little finger then all we haue in all our bodies Thus farre Master Foxe Acts and Mon. Tom. 2. pag. 1295. Col. 2. edit Anni 1583. CHAP. VII That most of these Lawes against Toleration and mixture of diuers Religions were promulgated at the instance and request of the Auncient Fathers And that when the Emperours began to slacke the execution of Iustice to be indulgent and to collude with Heretiques they were either greatlie blamed or at least admonished by them Also the Cause wherefore some Emperours were more conniuent and indulgent towards Heretiques The Fathers procured Lawes to be enacted against Toleration THESE Lawes and Edicts against Heretiques were not onely approued by the Auncient Fathers but for the most part enacted and decreed at their suite and entreatie as may be manifestly gathered for that after euery Generall Synode new Lawes were published by the Emperours against the new Heretiques no doubt at the request of the said holy Fathers 1 Aurelianus a heathen Emperour made a decree against Paulus Samosatenus at the request of the Fathers of the Synode at Antioch Euseb Hist Eccles lib. 7. cap. 24. Niceph. lib. 6. cap. 29. 2 Constantine the Great seeing he executed the sentence of the Nicene Synod concerning the burning of Arius his bookes at the instance of Alexander Bishop of Alexandria as Socrates Zozomenus and Nicephorus doe testifie Who doubteth but that by the instinct of the Fathers of the same Synode he published that Constitution against Arius which he sent to all Bishops throughout the world Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 6. Zozom lib. 1. cap. 20. Niceph. lib. 8. cap. 18. 25. 3 Theodosius Maior after that the Arian and Macedonian Heresies were condemned in the second Oecumenicall Synode and in the first at Constantinople made a Constitution that the Arians should be expelled out of the Churches and whosoeuer did not acknowledge Christ to be equal with God his Father and that the Catholiques should be substituted in their places at the entreatie of the Fathers of those assemblies Niceph. lib. 12. cap. 13. 15. 4 The same Emperour at the request of the Ephesine Synode published many Edicts against Nestorius whereby he banished him caused his followers to be termed Eunomian Heretiques decreed that his bookes should be burned as is manifest by the Councels Epistle vnto the Emperours Theodosius and Valentinianus Ex actis Concil Ephesini ab Ant. Contio editis 5 The 7. Councell of Chalcedon in their very Acts exclaimed Let Dioscorus the Egyptian Heretique be banished and wrote letters vnto the Emperours Valentinianus and Martianus saying This verily we teach your godly Empirie that you might consider both his Dioscorus malice and the sinceritie of the iust sentence we take God to record pronounced against him For our parts we haue done our duetie and we beleeue that you are most godly and most Christian Emperours knowing the horrour of your venerable auctoritie against euill men and what care you haue of Ecclesiasticall peace Vpon the receipt of which letters those seuere lawes were decreed against the Heretiques which are registred among the acts of the said Councell Act. 2. Concil Chalced Tom. 2. Concil Act. 3. 16. 6 But if at any time the holy Fathers saw the Emperours mindes changed or any thing inclined to remissenesse towards Heretiques or any way to collude or fauour them they presently disswaded them sometimes by milde admonitions and sometimes by seuerer increpations and censures The Emperours admonished by the Fathers So at the counsell of Ascholius Bishop of Thessalonica who affirmed that the East swarmed with Heresies partly through the lenitie of Constantius and partly through the improbitie of Valens Theodosius sent his edict against Heretiques from Thessalonica to Constantinople whereby Demophilus was expelled and Gregorie Nazianzen surrogated into his office Zozom lib. 7. cap. 4. Niceph. lib. 12. cap. 6. 7. 8. 7 When the Arians by diuerse deceipts laboured to alienate the Emperour Theodosius his mind from fauouring the Catholiques to thinke better of their faction and had preuailed so farre that vnlesse the Empresse Placilla as we haue noted before had disswaded her husband he had
He beareth not the sword in vaine I would they were cut off that trouble you Being ready to take vengeance on all disobedience He that heareth not the Church let him be vnto thee as an heathen and publicane c. Otherwise neither murderers nor witches nor traytours nor thiefes c. ought to be punished before the end of the world for they also are tares as is manifest But the words of Christ are directed vnto the Seruants of the House-holder that is vnto priuate men endued with peculiar zeale who being not able patiently to beare the iniuries and outrages committed against God would presently take reuenge such as Iames and Iohn were who would haue the Samaritans that refused to receiue Christ presently burned Lord shall we command that fire come from heauen and consume them Luk. 9. Vnto these Christ saith No least you also plucke vp the wheate with the tares but suffer ye both to grow together vntill the haruest The weedes I confesse doe hinder the growth of the good corne and are there with no lesse damage then was the fruitlesse figtree in the vineyard of the Lord. and yet the Lord of the vineyard was easily intreated to deale not by threatnings to cut it downe but rather to digge about it and to dung it in hope of 1 Yea but when it would beare no fruit being digged dunged it was to be cut downe and throwne into the fire fruite thereafter Luc. 13. Haue we not seene many such trees changed with 2 I know it is the common errour of many to thinke that there is no place left to repentance where the punishment is capitall as if the thiefe on the crosse found no remedie of saluation time patience What a a losse had it beene then to haue cut them off in their vnfruitfull season Fol. 7 We should rather in the spirit of meekenesse hartely pray for their conuersion and intreate delay of their confusion were they as sinnfull as 3 So should no malefactor be punished Sodome that so doing we might be knowen to be the true seede of faithfull 4 Abraham would not haue the good perish with the bad no more would we Abraham If you say the trees in question are not onely fruitelesse but hurtfull in the vineyard and in his Maiesties Dominions most dangerous I answere that all weedes are hurtfull in the corne yet not in all 5 God be thāked his Maiesties kingdomes are not in the extremitie of some cases cases to be rooted out Were not the Iebusites hurtfull when they annoyed the people of the Lord with their continuall warres and scandalous idolatrie yet for 6 God permitted the Iebusites for a plague and punishment of the Israēlites other respects the Lord would haue them remaine in the Land of promise with the Iewes Yea the Iewes although they crucified the Sonne of God are 7 But by what right suffered to liue in Christian countries according to their Law We reade that the Samaritans were so vnkind to our Sauiour that they would neither receaue him in their townes nor yet giue him bread for his money Whereat Iames and Iohn as they thought of a good zeale could haue b found in their harts to haue seene them consumed with fire from heauen But the Lord rebuked 8 This case is not alike with that in question them saying You know not of what maner spirit you are The Sonne of man came not to destroy mens liues but to saue thē Luc. 9. This meeke spirit of the Lord I wish were followed of all in hart word and deede and not the ouerthrowe of our aduersaries in faith sought by the arme of flesh For they being with vs all 9 Vaine shewes not sound proofes members of one body and subiect to one Soueraigne we must accompt them as brethren loue them as our friends but much more because we are all children of one heauenly father who indifferently letteth fall vpon vs from day to day the fruitfull showres of his blessing and suffereth his Sonne to shine vpon them also whilest they liue in this world and may by this his fauour in time be wonne and conuerted God permitteth the Diuell to draw from thence some good and therein shineth more his wisedome and goodnesse then if he suffered no bad at all in the world The spouse of God is Lilium inter spinas and the lily is more gratefull among the brambles and who would cut off the a pricking thorne to destroy and loose the pleasant and sweete-smelling Rose Fol. 8 Sith then there must be heresies and errours in the world as Paul foretelleth vs and that God is glorified by drawing much good from them for the purifying of his elect though it were to be wished that no errours were at all let vs in destroying them vse such sweete meanes as approach neerest to his diuine wisedome and prouidence Heere are many reasons hudled vp togither but I will answer distinctly vnto euery one The parable of the Fig-tree 1 The fruitlesse figge-tree hauing beene barren three yeares the Landlord would haue cut downe and throwne into the fire but that at the Gardiners intreatie he was contented to suffer it to be digged and dongued and to expect yet one yeare longer But the Papistes haue beene fruitelesse and barren not onely three but threescore yeares they haue stopped their eares at the voice of the charmer and wilfully refused the grace of the Gospell And his Highnesse hath alreadie borne with them more then a yeare and a yeare longer and yet loe they bring forth but the fruits of heresie and giddinesse to wit insolencie disloyaltie and sedition for they are growne to that height of boldnesse and presumption that they are almost readie to breake forth into actuall rebellion What remaineth therefore but that as wilde thistles and tares they be gathered tied in a bundle c. The good are not be destroied with the bad 2 It is not the manner of true Christians to destroy whole cities the good with the bad as the Papists haue done in their generall Massacres and Butcheries at Merindoll and Cabriers Lucerne Angrogne S. Mart. Perous Paris Lions c. but only to destroy the Sodomites out of the land as Iosiah did and to cull out the handfull of thieues from among honest Subiects 3 As for the Iebusites Because the Israëlites did not according vnto Gods commaundement The Iebusites wherefore tolerated among the Israëlites vtterly destroy them Deut. 20.17 the Lord for a curse and punishment vnto his people suffered them and other prophane nations to be as whips on their sides and thornes in their eies Iosh 23.13 Iud. 2.2 So questionlesse for our great and hainous sinnes of vnthankefulnesse and securitie the Lord suffereth insolent and blood-thirstie Papists to be as whips and thornes vnto vs But I hope GOD will giue vs grace to repent The Pope tolerateth Iewes no Christian Princes and speedily
Parma with Spanish forces taking the Rebells part against their lawfull king with Cyclopicall immanitie set vpon them of the Religion whom they could not subdue by any force of armes because it was but vaine for them to fight against GOD. And the Duke of Parma his disgraces and shame in those attempts are commonlie knowne How curteously the Pope entreated Henry 4. K. of France But for the Pope his curteous entreating of the now king of France besides that thereby he prouided for his owne commodity and profites in that kingdome What curteous dealing was it to lash such a mightie king in the person of his Embassadour at Rome after the singing of euery verse of Miserere vntill the whole Psalme was sung out The king of Great Brittaine will neuer enuie or grudge this humanitie and curtesie vnto any Of the queen Mothers dealing towards Protestants The Queene Mother desirous to retaine the Regency in her owne hands during the minoritie of her Sonnes vsed those of the house of Guise as a counterpoyse vnto the Princes of the bloud but neuer granted any thing vnto the Protestants but what had beene granted and ratified before by many publique Edicts Yea from the yeere of our Lord 1562. vntill the yeere 1588. Ian. 5. which was the time of her death she omitted no sleight deuise cunning policie nor diuellish practise that she could possiblie inuent vtterly to extirpate and roote out the Religion out of the kingdome of France As for the Duke Mommorancy the Duke Buillon the Lord of Diguieres and such other they do but as they are bound to doe by publique Edicts Now then let vs see what successe thay had that tooke the contrary course of violence Truxes in these our daies B. of Colen became a Lutheran and desirous to bring the Countrey of his Electorship and so in time the whole Empire to Lutheranisme vsed no violence against his subiects that were Papistes 1 Trucces neuer vsed violence a-against any man first nor last vntill Cassimere gaue him contrarie councell by which he cleane ouerthrew himselfe liued in banishment died in beggerie and left the Countrey without 2 False all hope of euer enioying the Gospell againe The zeale of the Archduke of Stiria was highly commended by the Papistes for his religious minde but not for his vndiscreete attempts in banishing them that were of a contrary Religion out of all his dominions except they would become Papist like himselfe and now it is euident that the moderate gouernment of his Father was much better who considering how dangerous a neighbour he had and the number of those who otherwise would haue liued discontented in his Countrey permitted them their Religion and intreated them no worse then a his other subiects whereby he ended his daies in peace Fol. 18 whereas his Sonne following a more heady course of gouernment was the occasion that some of his subiects 3 Being banished thence vpon pain of Death departed their Countrey and had 4 Most false entercourse with the Turke others stayed and dissembled their Religion while Canisia the key and stay of that countrey was deliuered vp 5 Because they could not choose the Turke winning the same by the dint of his sword by them to the Turke who the more freely spoiled all the Land because the Archduke hauing lost the harts of his subiects wanted men and meanes to resist him A worthy but lamentable mirror for all Princes to looke in and behold how perillous a thing it is to vse violence against 6 Against true Religion whatsoeuer Religion but especially for England that so neere at hand hath such mightie Kings who perhaps would be glad of the like occasions We haue sometimes supported their 7 A lying Libeller subiects against them for zeale of Religion and therefore we haue iust cause to feare the like measure If Charles 5. in Germany had not abated the flame of ciuill warres 8 by forbearing to persecute true Religion by his conniuence and toleration the French King had made as easie an entrance into other parts of the Empire as he did into b those three Imperiall townes Metz Towle and Verdun but by the losse of these Citties his successours haue learned to take a more milde course with their subiects of whatsoeuer Religion least they should open a more dangerous gap for the Turke the professed enemie of the Empire and all Christendome The like toleration as in the Empire is all so permitted in the kingdome of 9 We liue not by examples but by Lawes and rule of Reason Poland by reason of the Moscouit bordering vpon them and in Dantzik as you know there is publique profession of both Religions In Zuitzerland at the first heate many a bloody battaile was fought for Religion but in time they learned to ioyne wisedome with zeale for conseruation of the state and now they liue in peace with all securitie tolerating within their Cantons the one and the other Religion If the King of Spaine had at first permitted libertie of Religion in the lowe Countries he had spared many a million both of men and money and enioyed with peace that which he is neuer like to recouer In that glasse likewise may we see how ready 10 Great in the Libellers malice against the late Queene but God be thanked her Maiestie had neede neither to feare nor to enuie any King or Prince whatsoeuer Princes are vpon such occasions to weaken the forces of other a Princes their neighbours whose puissance they feare or enuie their glory Fol. 19 But now let vs looke home and we shall 11 The infatuated Libeller can see nothing but Papists see Ireland ouergrowen with Papistes who haue not dissembled themselues as by the late warres appeared but especially at the Queenes death when not onely in the Countrey 12 The Libellers generall and vniuersall Lie generally but also in the chiefe townes where they were most restrained made their publike processions after the Papisticall fashion where the Right honourable the now Earle of Deuenshire most sage and wise in his gouernment not by force but 13 True when he had fairely hanged vp the principall Agents in that vile attempt faire meanes suppressing their feruour conserued the Countrey in peace and obedience to his Maiestie and we see that the King doth not dislike that course by his singular fauour to 14 His Maiestie did but gratiously ratifie the pardon which the Queene had granted before Tyrone and his complices Scotland for the face of the Church is generally of our reformed Religion yet hath the Papist part 15 Popish sclanders of the Liberller so great a sway in the Countrey and so mightie a support of the Nobilitie that not many yeares since they encountred the Earle of Arguile in the fielde and gaue him the ouerthrowe Howbeit they 16 Loyall Subiects needed ot to haue fled fled before the face of the
King when he came in person leauing b their houses and Countrey at his Maiesties deuotion England is much more diuided into sects especially into three the Protestants only allowed by authoritie in the Realme the Papists who pretend antiquitie and thirdly our selues who no lesse desire to reforme the Protestant abuses then they haue done the Papists The state of his Maiesties Dominions standing thus then as you see what 17 The Libeller thinkes none wise but himselfe wise man can wish him to sturre much against any For what man may iustly repine if he but onely abstaine from violence We may very well content our selues that our King is of our faith and will not suffer vs and our doctrine to be either disgrace or defaced and a temperate course with the Papistes may winne them to be as ready as others to withstande all forreine inuasions or 18 Who are likely to make insurrections at home but Papistes home insurrections if either of both vnder what pretext soeuer should happen And in like case as was our Portugall voyage or vpon any reuolt of the Indians or tumult in Fraunce ten thousand Papistes would doe mere seruice in winning to them the inhabitantes of those parts being as they are affected in Religion then 19 Who euer knew a more impudent lying Libeller thrice tolde so many of a vs. Fol. 20 Thus may you see what wildnesse will doe and how lately Repentance may follow the 20 Hence may be gathered that the Libeller is well striken in yeeres greene and vnripe heads of Roboams young vnaduised and violent councellors The Libellers instance in the Elector Trucces Archbishop of Colen The Elector Trucces Archbishop of Colen neuer attempted any thing by armes or violence within his iurisdiction But as soone as the Pope vnderstood that he fauoured Religion he vniustly depriued him of his honour and dignitie and consecrated the ambicious Bishop of Leodium in his place In the Archduke of Stiria In Stiria the Archduke by the instigation of the Spanish Queene his Sister and the pernicious Councels of the Iesuites expelled true Religion from his dominions where it had taken deepe roote before to the iust hazard of his Dukedome which now lieth sore bleeding So also is all Hungarie at this instant like to be rent from the Empire and vtterly lost vpon the same reason and iudgement Oh Lord What meane these men to plucke vp the sweete flowers and leaue the stincking weedes To cut off the fruitfull branches and let those that be rotten and withered alone to burne the corne and spare the stubble Why put they Noah into the Arke and drowne themselues whose being amongst them kept them from the deluge Wherefore do they thrust Lot out of Sodom that kept the citie from burning and oppresse Moses who should wrestle with Gods anger and keepe it from them Charles the 5. As for Charles the 5. his granting of toleration why should not the Germanes submitting themselues vnto the Emperour at his Election but vpon condition enioy the same liberties and securities of their publique State as their Fathers did before them Poland and Dantzike The same thing also may be said of Poland c. But the case is otherwise in Great Britaine which is an absolute Monarchie Touching Zuitzerland Heluetia it is no newes to see many lawes vnder many Lordes the Cantons or Cities of Heluetia haue regall iurisdiction within their seuerall precincts and liberties not one of them admit mixture of Religion Some of them as Zurich Basil Bearne Schaffouse Glaris and Appensel haue embraced the doctrine of the Gospell the rest Fribourge Lucerne Vri Swits Zug Vnderuard and Soullerre persisting still in ignorance retaine the Popish Heresie in the same fashion as they were wont And for the Low-Countreies Flaunders What reason is there that the King of Spaine should alter their State euert their ancient Lawes disanull their liberties and priuiledges his style declaring him to be not King but Earle of Flanders His purpose was to haue established a martiall Gouernement amongst them as being very commodious vnto him that in time he might easily as occasion should be offered haue made himselfe Commander of England of France and at length absolute Monarch of all Europe But the Netherlanders being very wealthy and inhabiting townes strong and defensible by fortification both of nature and industrious art could not endure his tyrannie And indeed the Spaniard being admitted a Protectour if he will needes become an oppressour wherefore should not they defend the freedome of their Countrey especially their priuiledges being of such nature as they do iustly esteeme themselues but Conditionall-Subiects to the King of Spaine and their Countrie being neuer an absolute Monarchie Queene Elizabeth supporting of the Hollanders Now because the Libeller maliciously glanceth at the late Queene for supporting and protecting the Netherlanders I answer That her Maiesties proceedings in that action were so iust so Christian and mingled with so many honourable reguardes as nothing doth so much acquite her Maiestie not onely from passion but also from all dishonourable policie For first at the beginning of those troubles she imparted vnto the King of Spaine sincere aduise not to hold a heauie hand ouer that people which he reiected and contemned Her Maiestie neuerthelesse gaue not ouer her honourable resolution which was if it were possible to reduce and reconcile those countreies vnto the obedience of the King of Spaine if not yet to preserue them from alienating themselues to a forraine Lord and so continued to mediate vnto the King for some iust and honourable Capitulations of grace and accord Which course she held vntill the death of the Duke of Aniowe at which time the enemie pressing them the vnited Prouinces were receiued into her Maiesties protection which was after the king of Spaine had discouered himselfe an vnplacable Lord to them and also a professed enemie vnto her Maiestie hauing alreadie actually inuaded Ireland and designed also the inuasion and conquest of England Her Maiestie notwithstanding still retained an euident proofe to the world of her iustice and moderation in that she refused the inheritance and soueraigntie of those Prouinces which by the States with much instance was pressed vpon her I will adde yet an example in the Monarchie of the 1 A fit President for Papistes to follow but not for Christian Princes professing the Gospell Turke who gouerning himselfe only by the light of naturall reason as we may doe when it is without preiudice to the gospell set doune as a Maxime in policie to clime the better to that greatnes whereto he aspired not to force the conscience of his subiects nor euer to change with violence the Religion in such kingdomes as he might happily subdue Whereupon some haue more easily yeelded vnto his conquest and 2 Who be they that we may know them others oppressed by theire owne Princes and perturbed with ciuill warres
haue called the Turke vnto them and made him Lord of the wholle land which they would neuer haue donne if it had beene his custome to force any against his conscience in matters of Religion Luther himselfe being pressed by the warres of Charles 5. dealt earnestly with the Germans 3 A malicious lie to call in the Turke hoping that vnder his guuernement he might more freely preach the gospell and 4 Non causa pro causa for the b greater glory of their nation and theire Prince his aduancement the French doe best like the same course of toleration in Religion and haue found by practise that they liue in peace with the exercise of both religions 5 Vpon exception the Libeller meanes to defend himselfe by this word allmost in all their townes not without greate hope that in reuolution of tymes their King may haue thereby a more easie accesse vnto the empire or to other states as occasion falles The States of the vnited Prouinces haue offered him such an entry into theire countrey as he should neuer haue obtained if there had beene the least suspicion of forcing their consciences and in vaine should he 6 Is the Libeller of Counsell to the French King that he knoweth his secret intent ayme at the kingdomes of Nauarre and Naples or the Dutchy of Millaine were he an enemy to their Religion Why then might not our King take the like course for 7 This whole Paragraph with some few following doe argue that the Libeller is an Atheist occasions or pretensions abroade and his safety at home it being the readiest way to keepe all his forces vnited and all his subiects in most dutifull affection towardes him and his royall issue For whosoeuer considereth the multitude of his people and their valor how easily they are leauied how speedily imbarked for any a countrey Fol. 21 shall finde that our King may with greater reason aspire to the election of the Empire in case he did affect it then any other or some of his noble issue be chosen Kinges of Poland or be readie to imbrace any occasion offered for the encrease of this Monarchie The French King was 8 How proueth the Libeller these things or haue we any reason to beleeue him on his bare word glad to see our late Queene embarked in the warres of the low Countreies at what time perchaunce by reason of his trobles she might haue recouered the Dutchy of Normandy and perhaps the better parte of Fraunce as she was once resolued to haue donne by the aduise of Duke Cassimer and she had gonne forwarde had it not beene laied cleerely before her eyes how 9 An odious lie odious she had made herselfe vnto that nation by persecuting her subiectes at home with taxations and torture and to this purpose they published in print the seuere lawes which she had made against the Masse and the Papists They that called in the Spaniard would haue yeelded more willingly to their ancient Dukes of Normandy had they not beene withdrawne with feare of loosing the exercise of their Religion And if Fraunce should fall againe as it may b into the like daunger vpon some new occasion were it not to be wished that such partes theirof as would seeke to be vnder the gouernment of a stranger might fall rather into our hands then any other By this you may perceiue that the Marquis Rosne his conceipt was not to our disaduantage For they of the Religion in Fraunce in time of ciuill warres may giue vs an entry and the other the rather for our alliance with many of their Princes will giue vs aplancke to passe ouer for theire reliefe I dwell not in these examples as desirous of warre for I wish his Maiesty for his more assurance at home to strengthen himselfe abroade in ciuill amity with all with Fraunce with Spaine yea with the 10 No doubt the Libeller hath a Pope in his bellie Pope himselfe for it is no wisedome to make light of any mans frendship I wish his Maiestie likewise to entertaine as he doth all his subiests with sweete behauiour to cut of all occasions from foreine Princes to support his subiects or disunite his Kingdomes which they neuer wisht to see so vnited in one His Maiesty therefore hath greate reason to cherish all indifferently a and to put none out of his English Arke Fol. 22 no more then Noah did out of his where as you knowe there were beastes of all kindes Ireland was a greate temptation to the Spainiard and the French take little pleasure at this mariadge with Scotland whence they were allwayes wont to haue reliefe when our armies were in Fraunce All things are best preserued by such meanes as they are begotten God hath made him our king without bloodshed and with such peace he may raigne more assuredly then by any force or violence The Turke as I haue said got many kingdomes by tolerating their Religions but when there arose a newe secte in his owne lawâ— passion and presumption made him forget the Principle by which he grewe to be so greate and so he lost by one reuolte the halfe of his Empire which nowe the Persian enioyeth whilest by warre and force he striued to gaine them The Libellers instance in the Turke To passe ouer the loosenesse of the Libellers allegation what meaneth the lewdnesse of his instance and example Is his cunning so small or malice so vile that he will bring in the Turke to countenance his intention What madnesse is it for him to thinke that a Christian King furnished with so rare gifts of wisedome learning and vertue would swarue from the steps of the famous and godly Kings of Iudah would repeale the lawes of Religious and auncient Emperours to be sorted with Saracins or take part with the chiefest vpholders of mahometisme The Libellers grosse lies The residue of this parcell is nothing but notorious and palpable lies interlaced with Machauellian occasions and pretensions I know not what His grosse and palpable lies are I That some Protestants haue easily yeelded vnto the Turks conquest II That others being oppressed by their owne Prince haue called the Turke vnto them and made him Lord of the whole land III That the Turkes do not vse to force any mans conscience IV That the Turkes not forcing the conscience made the Protestants to yeeld vnto him V That Luther dealt with the Germanes to call in the Turke VI That vnder the Turkes gouernment he hoped freely to preach the Gospell VII That the French King granteth toleration for the greater glorie of his nation IIX That the French liue in peace with the exercise of both Religions IX That the French King hath great hope to haue easie accesse to the Empire X That the States of the vnited Prouinces haue offered the French King an entery into his countrey XI That the French King aimeth at the Kingdomes of Nauarre and Naples and the Duchie of