some of theÌ„ being to be presupposed to be ordinarily intelligent in EnglaÌ„d where a ielousy is iustly had of their impostures to play acte exploit so lewde fraudulent and wicked a Pageant and thinke that they may not only go currant away with it heere but that the fame of this busines bruted els-where should serve theÌ„ beyond the Seas for Catholike purposes and bee a meanes to holde vp the reputation of the Antichristian Papacy If our seduced Romanistes vvoulde not close their eyes they might see vppon what trashe their religion is builte and that their leaders care not howe they bee abused and ledde by the nose so that their owne proiectes and intâ—…ndments be affected 18 To draw then toward an end of this point Popish wonders for the most part we precisely hould to be lies others of theÌ„ if they be done to be no better in respect of their end but delusions and meanes to deceive men by bringing them into errour And coÌ„cerning those that are really done first we maintain that they do not prove that the doers of theÌ„ are Gods servaÌ„ts For eveÌ„ in Bede himselfe who was such a magnifier of miracles I do find that one s Eccle. hisâ—… lib. 3. 25. Vilfridus could say thus CoÌ„cerning your father ColuÌ„ba his followers whose sanctity you say you imitate follow his rule precepts even confirmed by signes from heaveÌ„ I can answere that at the day of iudgment many saying to the Lord that in his name they have prophecied and cast out Devils done many wonders the Lord shall aunswere I knovve you not vvhich aunswere of Vilfridus beeing grounded on the vvordes of CHRIST is of infallible verity Secondlie we saye that miracles done doe not confirme that the doctrine of those vvho doe them is verity since that for the convincing of the Devill God hath suffered heretikes to do wonders not to ratifie their errours but to confirme other of his truth VVhich may aptly be applyed to the reports of miracles shewed by the Iesuits in the Indies if so be that any of them be true For s Con. ca. 2 Costerus one of their own companions most appositely informeth vs thus They doe saie that some of the Novatians in times past did miracles but it vvas in testimonte of the Catholike faith amonge the Gentiles not in vvitnesse of their errour as hee vvho did cast out Divels in Christes name in the ninth of Luke Then the doctrine of wonder-doers may be false as the persons of miracle-workers may be reprobates To Prophecie saith Saint t De simpli praelatoruÌ„ Cyprian and to cast out Devils and to doe greate wonders on the earth is a high and admirable matter Yet he doth not attaine the kingdome of heaven vvhosoever is founde in all these vnlesse hee doe goe in the observation of a tust and right vvay Thirdely vve teach that it is no argument of falsehoode in faith not to bee able to doe vvonders since the time of them is ceased and vvhen they were at the best they had in them no enforcement to make men beleeue the trueth For as 〈◊〉 Chrysostome saith Amonge the Iewes also miracles were shewed 〈◊〉 Inpsa 45. neither by them vvas there any profite brought to their salvation For as the beames of the Sunne are not sufficient vnlesse the 〈◊〉 also bee pure and sounde so neither heere also doe onelie miracles suffice And so Saint u â—…e duplici martyrio Cyprian Hâ—…vve manie incureable diseases deathe Lorde heale with a word to how many blinde men did hee giue sight c. And yet few beleevedon him hee heard In Beelzebub hee casteth out Devils Afterward it was so even with the same Iewes they in the time of x Soct li. 3. 17. Iulian the Apostata going about to reedifie the temple at Hierusalem and God shewing three straunge vvonders against it but yet they woulde not come to Christianitye Not long after that y Lib 7 4 a Iew comming to be a Christian was miraculously healed of a disease and yet the rest of his nation would not receiue Christ. Then the ende of them novve is to little purpose the execution of them common to the wicked vvith the godlie the practise permitted to Antichrist and his followers no such perpetuall marke-set on those that bee Orthodoxe and therefore wee striue not for them but knovve that God hath lefte a surer vvaye to vvinne men from errour and to try who are in the trueth and that is his worde and the operation of his sacred spirite But yet vvee are not so blinde but to see nor so vnthankfull but to acknovvledge that the Lorde hath for the advauncement of the Gospell vvhich vve preache done marveilous thinges In vvhich sorte vvee accounte the large spreading of the trueth by the meanes of Luther his vvonderfull preservation all his dayes notwithstanding his enemies so many so mighty so malicious his dying quietly z Sleid. l. 16 in his bed in such peace of body and minde and in that honourable accompte as that even then vvhen hee dyed hee vvas chosen an arbitratour to decide controversies betweene the noble Countyes of Mansfeld VVee thinke that it vvas marveilous that vvhen such a 〈◊〉 massacre was made of the Protestantes in Fraunce in the yeere 1572 there shoulde remaine 〈◊〉 CommeÌ„t relig reiptn Gal. lib 10. so many still as haue propagated so renoumed a Church as they haue at this day That such plenty of b Lib 12 fish should bee cast vp dayly by the sea at the seege of Rochel vvhereby as by Manna from heaven the people vvere for so many months releeved and the very day that the enemies campe brake vp the comming of the fish ceased VVhat may vvee think that so small and maligned a Citty as Geneva is shoulde be so long helde against the invasions and infinite plots of the Duke of Savoy and other vvho desire the ruine desolation of it What of the Netherlanders that after so many thousande Spanyardes and Italians buryed in their coastes so many millions of Indian gold silver spent in their country such frawd such force they should stand rich and glorious at land and at sea in better case of themselues then ever they vvere Lastlye vvhat may bee imagined of the life and raigne of our late blessed Soveraigne who after so many daungers comming to the Crowne and that in so many difficulties of subiectes at home and forraine Princes abroade yea and of the Divell every where did professe to maintaine the truth of God to deface superstitioÌ„ And in this beginning she with vniformity coÌ„tinued yeelding her land as a Sanctuary to al in the world groning for liberty of true religion florishing in wealth honor estimation every way admired by al the Monarkes whither the same of her did come and leaving matter for such a story as no Prince hath lefte the like This Queene after the defeating of the
manifest that all 〈◊〉 which ever beleeved in Christ were first converted to his 〈◊〉 by such 〈◊〉 either 〈◊〉 precisely sent or 〈◊〉 the least wise had their authority from the 〈◊〉 which lived in the time in which they were conâ—…rted 〈◊〉 thing is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set dowâ—… in the History of the first convâ—…rsion of every countrey as no Protestâ—… vvere 〈◊〉 â—…ver so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 G. ABBOT 1 TO deale favourably with you and not to answere you as in this place you deserue is there any man of tolerable learning or any whit seene in the Ecclesiasticall story who doeth not heere thinke that you want some body who may not only exagitate you but excoâ—…te you also when as if you were become some Aquaviva or General of the Iesuits you so and aciously giue downe such generall propositions not onely farre from truth but much estraunged from the very shewe and semblance thereof I do lesse pity you because the farther I goe the more I perceiue you to be a sworne servant to Antichrist therfore there is nothing which may advance your masters credit but you aâ—… devoted to him must say it do it But in my very bowels I pity take compassioÌ„ of divers my bewitched couÌ„treymen sily women and young fondlings who receiving from you such stuffe so boldly asse verantly averred haue not the skill to discover you nor the grace to repaire vnto such as may lay open the Ambuscadoes and snares which you haue prepared for them Where there needeth no other proofe to descry this your dealing then to obserue that in this your so potent and puissant challenge you cite not one author you name not one particular you single not out the Pope you point not out the countrey you assigne not the preachers by whom it is done you mention not the time nor yeeld vs any reason wherefore you do say it but only this that you doe say it Wherein you over-lash beyond the most that ever wrote on your side for other assumed somewhat but you throw at all and losing haue nothing to pay The Iesuites whom afterward you commende in this Chapter doe not vse to extenuate their holy Fathers commendation but to set it as high as may be and a Controv. cap. 2. 〈◊〉 Wats Quodl 8. 4. Costerus among theÌ„ being one who had a 〈◊〉 deale more reading and learning and iudgment theÌ„ you seeme to haue pretermitting as he telleth vs the Churches of the East and of the South saith it is certaine that Germany and Fraunce were first converted by such as Peter sent And afterward he would bring in the kingdoms of England Scotland as brought to the faith by the successours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peter in the see of Rome and to those he addeth Africa meaning as 〈◊〉 should seeme some paâ—… thereof lying neere to Italy for hee himselfe alloâ—…h Aethiopia to Saint Matthew and Aegypt Libia the Africanes there about to Simon and Saint Marke the Evangelist But the conversion of Spaine he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S t. Iames of Thracia and Scythia Europâ—…â—…o Saint 〈◊〉 oâ—… Scythia Asiatica to Philip of Armenia and the hither part of India to Bartholomew of Parthia Media Persia 〈◊〉 the Brachâ—…ane Bactrians vnto Thomas as also the farther part of India which is yet beleeved in that couÌ„trey as b Osor. degest Eman. lib. 3. Maff Hist. Iudic. lib 2. appeareth by such as haue written the navigations of the Portingales into those partes And at these things are witnessed by some of the old writers so c Eccl Hist. lib. 3. 1. Eusebius hath this farther that Asia fel to Iohn the Evangelist meaning Asia the lesser or Natolis but that Peter as it seemeth did preach the word to the Iewes who were d 1. Pet. 1. 1. dispersed in Pontus Galâ—…tia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Asia 2 Thus in the time of the Apostles the greatest parte of the known world had heard of the faith of Christ in some good measure embraced it that being verified that e Rom. 10. 1â—… their sound that is the Apostles went out through all the earth and their wordes into the ends of the world and Christs Prophecie being fulfilled that f Mat. 24. 14 the Gospell of the kingdome should be preached through alâ—… 〈◊〉 world for a â—…nes vnto all nations and then should the end come which was done before the destruction of Hierusalem that g Vers 34. generatâ—… beeing not yet passed which lived in Christs time And this is so vndoubted a truth that Costerus saith The h Controv. cap 2. Catholike Church as first was propagated by the Apostles themselues almost through all knowne countreyes Now all this while there was no Pope and if it should bee obiected as no other shift there is in the world and that is but a simple one that Peter as Pope sent the rest of the Apostles some to this place some to that I require one text oâ—… scripture to bee shewed or one monument of antiquity to be produced which maye confirme so much It is not vnlikelye but that the Apostles in some assembly at Hierusalem did consent what regions each of them should betake themselues vnto but that any one did appoint to the rest their charges we no where find Nay plaine it is that Peter himselfe had his portion assigned him to preach to the i Gal. 2. 7. Iewes as Paule had to preach to the Gentiles which was the greater charge And whither this were appropriated to him by God as the text seemeth well to encline or whither by the consent also of the Apostles Paule had his Commission in the same manner which he so little thinketh inferiour to the others that he k Ibidem nameth it before Peters and standeth vpon l ver 8. 9. tearmes of equality in power and fellowship in action But that I may force the authour of this libell to say Penne thou writest vntruth Samaria received Christ by the preaching of m Act. 8. 5. 14. Philip before that Peter knew of it and the n 27. Eunuch of Aethiopia on the way was in like sort brought to religion by the same Philip and he went home immediately and planted the faith in his Countrey as o Eccl Hist. Lib. 2. 1. Eusebius sheweth which was done without Peters privity for a good space after that hee made doubt whither the Gentiles might haue the worde opened to them vntill that by a vision q Act. 10. 10. from heaven that scruple was removed And I pray you was there nothing done by Saint Paul whose authority was immediate from r Galat. 〈◊〉 1 God not froÌ„ man he beeing not set on worke from other but receiving his commission from Iesus Christ himselfe The history of whose labours in turning men to Christ although Saint Luke doth particularly relate in the Actes of the Apostles yet for brevity sake we will looke to one place only of his owne
and little learning put forth a booke which he called his Motives vnto the Catholike saith VVhich as then for satisfying of the simple repressing of the craking insolency of the adversary it was answered by a worthy man p D. Fulkes Retentives who now resleth with the Lord yet since that time howsoever by some Romanists Banke-rupts of better matter it hath ever now then slightly beene talked of almost generally it hath lien contemned of all scant worthy the naming or serious recounting Yet of late because Master Parsons was busie about State-causes or the supporting of his weake and languishing Arch-priest and they have not manie other which may keep the mint going in the yeare 1599. some body thought good to revise their olde tâ—…inkets and for lacke of richer stuffe out were put these Motives againe printed at Antwerpe as in the first Page is prefixed And albeit this were a Crambê whereof most stomakes which received it had surfeted before yet this honest friend D. Hill thought he would not leave it so but the verie next yeare q 1600. after and from the same forged place printed with the same letters for any difference that may bee seene betweene them sendeth this script vnto vs as if it were some new excellent booke wheras indeede much of the forme manner and almost all the matter for the ground thereof is taken out of Bristow 5 Yet of his olde Rectour M r. Parsons hee borroweth some fevve Memorandums and heere and there a touch from Campian and a finger he hath in Staphilus translated by Stapleton on al which he bestoweth ever now and then a little viperous aspersion of his own if among so much taken vpon trust we may iudge that to be his owne which perhaps might bee found to belong to some other if we had vse of all their bookes dictates which they retaine among them Had it not bin better for one of that learning which this title doth entend to have translated a peece of Bellarmine or Gregory de Ualencia out of Latine into English If the worke had bin but meane yet this had bin gained by the bargaine that every English Papist Protestant almost had not bin acquainted with the matter before hand But to take an olde English booke and to make a new English booke of it is but to take an olde garment and to turne it and newe dresse it where when all is done because it is not onely turned but rotten stuffe also it deserveth no better then to be turned out of dore that it may finde no place in the conscience of any Christian man or woman Where by the way it may be observed that reasons for Popery grow fewer fewer for M r. Bristow being of likely hood desirous to have made them vp fiftie did stretch his witte so farre as that tales quales he brought thâ—… to eight and forty But D. Hill hath reduced his number to five twenty And though he would have his frieÌ„ds beleeve r In his second letter that he can adde many more yet the Reader shall finde that in these he hath involved almost all the remainder of Mr. Bristowes matter as in the processe hereof shall be declared And if heereafter he bring more by Gods assistaÌ„ce he shal have theÌ„ examined In the meane while I will be dealing with these whoÌ„ after the French fashion he vttereth by the Quartron and calling them A Quartron of Reasons doth intimate vnto vs that being wayed in the ballance of the Sanctuary they are as much worth as a quarterne of raysings Let vs see now what proofe is made of his first stout proposition T. HILL BEfore the comming of the Messiat there was not any People or NatioÌ„ which did serve the true and living God but only the Iewes al other whatsoever being overwhelmed in a Sea of blindnes wor sâ—…ipping false Gods which indeede were Devills and therevpon the Maister Devill Lucifer was tearmed Princeps huius muÌ„di that is Prince Ioan. 12. of this world for that he was 〈◊〉 and worshipped in all Landes Kingdomes Iewry and that in part onely excepted which miserable state and condition God of his infinite mercy greatly pittying promised in time to send a Saviour which should redeeme all Nations People free them from that pittifull servitude and blindnesse and bring them to the knowledge of true and right Religion by suffering death and consequently by planting a Church to the which all Nations should repaire Thus he did fore-tell by diver se sundry Prophets as by Esay who saide the Church should be as a mountaine to the which All nations should slowe And manie people shall goe and say Come and let vs ascend to the Cap. 2. mountaine of our Lord and after Idols shall vtterly bee bruised and to be briefe all this Chapter yea all the rest in a manner fore-shevv the same matter declaring most plainely the conversion of all Nations to the Church of the Messias and â—…vv Kinges and Queenes should come Cap. 49. 60. Dan 2 7. Psal 47. Mich. 4. Luc. 1. Psal. 71. and 〈◊〉 homage vnto it and that it should ever continue vvithout interruption and that it should be most ample and large the Prophet David most manifestly fore-telleth saying that it should extend froÌ„ Sea to Sea and from the river to the endes of the world and how the Aethiopians should fall downe Before the Messias with the Kinges of Tharsis Arabia and Saba and to be short all Kings People should acknowledge this Church as innumerable Prophecies of the olde Testament doe plainely foreshew Heerevpon it was that good men thirsted and longed so greatly for the comming of the Messias knovving that by him all people which sate in darkenes and in the shadow of death should be lightened delivered and set in the right way to Heaven And so our Saviour bâ—…selfe being now in the way to Ierusalem to suffer saide Now the Prince of this world shall be cast out and If I shall bee exalted from the Ioh. 12. earth I will draw all to my selfe meaning by his Passion to dravv all people from Heathenish Idolatrie to serve him G. ABBOT 6 I will not dispute with you whether the maister Devil whom the Iewes termed s Luc. 11. 15. Beelzebub bee called Lucifer or no and whence that opinion had both his beginning and progresse neither will I handle any other thing of like nature which properly belongeth not to that which is in difference betweene you and mee But I will condescend vnto you that some Iob or Iethro or some fewe such excepted the Church for the ordinarie compasse of it vvas after the entrance into Canaan vvithin the boundes of Israel that is the twelve Tribes at the first and afterward in Iewry accounting that to comprehend the men of Iuda and Beniamin with the Levites And on these tearmes it stood till the comming of our most blessed Saviour
m In AppeÌ„d ad lib. de Romano Poutif c. 20 Ballarmine labour to make the worlde beleeve otherwise beeing desirous to haue vs thinkeâ—… that Petrarch spake not against the Pope but some abuses in the Courte of Rome And to make it plaine that it vvas not a slight conceipt or onely in a fewe that the Pope vvas 〈◊〉 and Rome vvas Babylon Apocal 17. God stirred vp yet more in that age vvho proclaimed the same in 〈◊〉 As n Genebr Chronogr l. 4. An 13â—…7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bâ—… or â—…sis vvho vvas a Minoâ—… and for teaching so vvas digged vp after that hee vvas deed and his body by the sentence of Pope Clement the siâ—… vvas burnt A fevv yeares after him did o Catal. teâ—… verit lib. 18 〈◊〉 â—…es de Râ—…ssa a Monke teach the same doctrine vvhich as every man may gesse doth 〈◊〉 the Papacy in every respect p Academ 〈◊〉 Christ. Clas 15. Iohannes Gâ—… came not so fat but saw in his age many horrible abuses of the Church of Rome and in his writings spake liberally of it And it did bite deepe when q De auferibilitate Papae ab Ecclesia hee disputed that the Pope mighte bee taken safely away from the Church and yet â—…o daunger follovve of it But let vs novve goe a little higher 29. I mentioned before how Cochleus saith that Iohn Hus did take his doctrine from the Wiclevists and the Dulcinists Heare I pray you what he saith r Hist. lib. 2. Hâ—… did commit spirituall fornication with many aliens with the Wiclevists the Dulcinists with the Leonists the Walâ—…ses the Alâ—…ingenses and other of that sorte enimies of the Church of Rome These Leonists or poore men of Lyons and VValdenses and Albingenses vvere the same men but diversly vpon diverse occasions tearmed by the Romane Synagoge which hated them Their opinions then did Hus mainetaine Aeneas Sylvius doth also directly witnesse the same affirming that the s Hist Bohem ca. 35. Hussites did embrace the opinions of the VValdenses There you may see that their doctrine vvas against the Primacy of the Pope Purgatorie and such like matters s Chron. lib. 4. Genebrarde vvho sayeth that these VValdenses beganne Anno 1170 or as some other vvill 1218. rehearseth out of Sylvius these opinions of theirs that praiers for the deade and Purgatorie-fire are an invention of the Priestes covetousnesse that holy Images are to be defaced that Confirmation and extreame Vnction are no Sacramentes that auricular Confession is a trifling thing Hee vvho list may see a greate many more of their t Catal. test verit li. 〈◊〉 positions agreeing with the doctrine which vve teach vvhich may vvell also bee gathered from the Iesuites themselues For that is the cause that u In prefat generall CoÌ„trovers Bellarmine ioineth these togither as heretikes the Berâ—…garians the Petrobrusiant the VValdenses the Albingenses the UUiclevistes the Hussites the Lutherans c. And u Lib. 1. c. 19. Lewes Richeome another of that Society in his defence of the Masse against the Lorde Plessis saieth that the Ministers for the confirming of their figuratiue sence in This is my bodie haue none for their Doctours for their Auncients for their Fathers but Berengarius â—…uinglius Calvin 〈◊〉 VViclef the Albingenses the UUaldenses These Waldenses then and Albingenses are ours by the confession of our Adversaries And of these long agone there were no smal company For as Du x Hist. li. 12. Haillan in the life of Philip the 3. King of Fraunce speaketh being driven from Lyons in Fraunce they withdrew themselues into Lombardy where they so multiplied that their doctrine began to spread through Italy and came as farre as Sicely As the same Authour y Lib. 9. writeth Philippus Augustus came to his kingdome Anno 1180. which is nowe more then foure hundred yeares since And in his time it was that the Albingenses did so increase in Fraunce that the Pope and Princes adioyning were afraide of their number He who readeth the story of them shall see that they are reported to haue held many grosse wicked and absurde opinions mingled with their true doctrine But Du. Haillan the best and most iudicious Chronicler of Fraunce and no partiall witnesse in our behalfe since his profession touching religion was such that he was imployed to write that story by K. Henrie the thirde had not so little wit but that he perceived those imputations to be laid on them in odium and of purpose to procure their defamation See how wisely he speaketh truth and his conscience and yet so coucheth it that his felows might not iustly be offended at his words z Lib. 10. Although saith he these Albingenses had evill opinions yet so it is that these did not stir vp the 〈◊〉 of the Pope and of great Princes against them so much as their libertie of speech did vvherewith they vsed to blame the vices 〈◊〉 dissolutenesse of the said Princes and of the Cleargy yea to taxe the vices and actions of the Popes This was the principall point which brought them into vniversall hatred and which charged them with more evill opinions then they had Now first that they were not men infamous either for their vile opinions or filthy conversation and secondly that they were not onely base and poore people it is evident by this that so many noble and worthy men tooke parte with them yea to the adventuring of their liues in their company and for then behalfe as the a Ibidem Counties or Earles of Tholouse of Cominges of Bigerre of Carâ—… yea the King of Arragon And when Raimund this Earle of Tholouse was for his beleefe excommunicated by the Pope and a Croisado was proclaimed against him and the Albingenses as if they had beene Saracens or Infidels not onely the Counties of Foix Cominges came with all their strength to assist Raimund but Alphonsus the king of Arragon came in his owne person to his succour as beeing his kins-man and his friend And when all these were mett togither the report is saith Du Haillan that the armie of these heretikes did consist of about one hundred thousand fighting men These things being thus discovered by men of your owne part be ashamed you Papistes and blush to spread among your simple and credulous followers that never men did as we do nor beleeved as we beleeue before Luthers time and al Christendome formerly liked of the Papistical doctrine and proceedings But because you shall yet heare one testimony farther touching these Albingenses and Waldenses how honest and truely religious they were I will cite what one Reinerius a man who did hate them and was as it is supposed an Inquisit or against them did report concerning them now three hundred yeares agone or there about Thus then among much other matter he saith of them b Catal test verit lib. 15. There were many sects of heretikes long agone among all which sects that are or
do that is put vp your pipes make no more noise Yet I cannot so leave you but put you in mind coÌ„cerning Protestants Puritanes that it is probable that the Controversies which then were by your slie secret coÌ„veiances were the more forwarded at the least you Romanistes did your best by hypocrites and other your naughty instruments to coÌ„tinue them For the practise of your religion being of late nothing else but mischievous policie your Emissaries were instructed at their comming into England to sooth both sides and to commend them that so they might persist in their opinions And heere I shall open to the vvorlde some thing of your cunning vvhich is not knowne to every body There g At Rhemes Anno 1579. are certaine instructions vvhich Doctour Allen in a longe continuated speech vvhich hee dictated to his auditours and they in vvriting tooke it from his mouth did bestovve on such Priests as vvere then to bee sent from the Seminarie in Fraunce into England And these vvere to informe them hovve they should deale vvith all sortes of people to pervert them from their faith Thus therefore hee advertiseth them If you chaunce to deale vvith a Puritane you must say vnto him Truely brother for you there is more hope then of these that be Protestants because they for feare of the Prince and the lawe are ready to say and beleeve any thing and therfore me thinketh they be Atheistes but for you there is more hope being either hote or colde If you deale vvith a Protestant tell him there is more hope of him then of such rash brained Puritanes because they with Religion have put of all humanitie and civilitie vvith all other good maÌ„ners Who would not thinke that for mischievous devises this head of Allens was soone after worthy to be covered with a Cardinals hat But by the leave of our Seculars who strive to magnifie him he did not learne this of Saint Peter but rather of Sir Nicholas Machiavel a man of their good acquaintance Heere with our Seminarie Preests both Protestants and Puritanes were for a purpose honest men I would that we had cause so to repute of thâ—…se Romanists 9 Now whereas you call the faith which we professe our Parliamentary Religion you are for that tearme behoulding to diverse of your good maisters For yoâ—… chiefe schoole-master Bristow longe since bestowed that phrase on vs intituling one of his Chapters h Brist Motiv 42. The Parliament Church and Parsons vvho coulde ever readilie enlarge an vntruth i Wardword ca. 4. saith that Peter Martyr and Maister Bucer at their comming into England in King Edvvardes daies vvere conditioned vvith to teach that Religion vvhich should bee established by the Parliament approaching It is vvell confessed by him that our Realme in that Kinges enteraunce was not so weake in the knowledge of Divinity that they needed to be guided by any from beyond the seas but they themselves could search the k Ioh. 5. 3. 9 Scriptures to sifte out what vvas the truth It vvas not so happie vvith that Conventicle at Trente whereas it seemeth all the learned men were so simple that they did nothing but almost verbis concepâ—…is from Rome which gave occasion to that meriment that the holie Ghost who should have bin President of the Councel was brought from Rome in a boxe But the Religion which was then and is now established in England is drawne out of the fountaines of the word of God from the purest orders of the Primitive church which for the ordinarie exercise therof wheÌ„ it had bin collected into the booke of common Praier by the paines and labour of many learned men and of mature iudgment it was afterward confirmed by the vpper and lower house yet not so but that the most materiall points were disputed and debated in the Convocation house by men of both parties and might farther have bin discussed so long as any Popish Divine had ought reasonably to say l Holinshed An. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But there in the beginning of Q. Elizabeths raigne the Antichristian Bishops to their everlasting infamie to the perpetuall preiudice of their cause refused the disputation or conference and crying creake for sooke their cause in the plaine field knowing right well that when Popery must bee brought to the touch-stone of Gods word it will proove base and counterfeite And then it being intended to adde to Ecclesiasticall decision the corroboration of secular governemeÌ„t according to the auncient custome of this kingdome as appeareth by m An 20. 25 38. Râ—…gis Edvard 3 Record froÌ„ the time of K. Edward the 3. the Parliament which is the most honorable Court of Christendome did ratify the same That so all of all orders and degrees might be bound to serve the Lord of heaven not after their owne fancies but as himselfe had prescribed And that this heretofore hath bin the custome of good Princes to cal their Nobles and their people to ioyne with them for the establishing of Gods service every man may know who will but looke into the stories of the Bible For there it will appeere that n Iosuah 〈◊〉 2. Iojuah being olde minding as farre as in him lay to perpetuate the sincere service of the Lord to all succeeding generatioÌ„s did assemble all Israel their Elders their Heads their Iudges their Officers to give consent therto So did o 〈◊〉 Chron. 28. 1. David not onely minding to commend to all his subiects the succeeding of Salomon in the crowne after him but aboue all things pure Religion And was not this the course which Asa did take for the reforming p 2. Chron. 15 9. of those errours wherwith Gods service was intaÌ„gled when assembling all Iudah and Beniamin to Ierusalem hee did cause them by an othe of association and as in way of a stronge covenant to binde themselves to God yea and that vnder the paine of death to flie Idolatrie and to embrace true piety and devotioÌ„ The like might be saide of other Princes who were god ly And these meetings no doubt being such assemblies as our Parliament is or rather being some more generall matter hee who should have termed their conclusions a Parliamentary Religion might have bin reputed no better theÌ„ a scoffing enimy And so may you Doctor Hill be accounted and Bristow in like sorte but Persons over and aboue that may have the name of a slaunderer who can glose and invent any thing which may serve for his purpose as that is that P. Martyr and M. Bucer were indented with all to teach as the Parliament should decree implying that whatsoever it had bin they must have condescended vnto it This lying Iesuite can shew no letter no Acte of Record no testimony of semblaunce of truth to averre this his calumniation But the matter indeed was that the reformers of Religion heere intending to level all by the line of Gods word knew that those two
testimony and he saith that s Rom. 15. 19 from Hierusalem rounde about vnto Illyricum he caused the Gospell of Christ to abound And to take away all pretence of obiection he addeth that he preached the Gospell where s vers 20. Christ was not named least hee shoulde haue built on another mans foundation If these things be so plaine as no Christian can doubt of them blush and blush againe at such desperate audaciousnesse as maketh no conscience egregiously to faine T. HILL TRue it is that Heretikes have corrupted such as were Catholikes before but that they ever converted any Heathen Nation to Christianity can never bee shewed I know very well that Iohn Calvine to get glorie sent certaine of his Ministers into nevve-founde landes but I never coulde heare that any of them converted so much as one sily vvoman to their Gospell in those partes The trueth is their agreement in doctrine vvas so greate that one destroying anothers buildings they became laughing flockes to the Heathens and so vvere glad to depart with shame G. ABBOT 3 THAT Heretikes haue corrupted such as were weaklings or discontented persons is true and may well bee exemplified in your broode perverting diverse credulous and indiscreete folkes from their obedience to God and their Princes but they are not sounde Catholikes or vvell setled and grounded in the faith who will listen to you or any seducer And if there bee any heathen nation vvhich hath hearde of the name Christ by you and your polluted Christianity it is most certaine that it hath bin by Heretikes the servauntes and attendantes of the whore of Babylon beeing a hundred waies infected with heresie and the vvhole body of Popery where it differeth from vs being nothing else but a masse of abhominable heresie But vvhere-as you say that Calvine sent some of his Ministers into the nevve-founde lande if you vnderstoode your selfe in this which like a Parret you speake from other men and know not what it meaneth the t Io. Leriuâ—… in navigat in Brasil ca. 1 2 6. viage into Brasile in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred fifty fiue was the original worke of Villagagno a Knight of Malta who pretending himselfe to be religious seeing the persecution which at that time was vsed in France against Gods children vnder K. Henry the second gaue out in words that hee would search out a place in the newe-found VVesterne vvorld whither persecuted Christians might flie out of Fraunce Spaine and other countries And for this purpose hee had ayde of Chaâ—…llion that worthy Admirall of Fraunce who was afterward slâ—…ine at the u An. 1572. Massacre in Paris And whereas by his letter Uillagagno had made request to the Church of Geneva to send with him or vnto him diverse Ministers of the Gospell they at his entreary condescended therevnto and some went who as especially they desired to prepare a place for their afflicted country-men whereof at that time many were burnt for Religion so their next intendment was to vse their best meanes to convert the Barbarians vnto the faith of CHRIST And when diverse of the Ministerie leaving their countrie kinred and that estate which they had in Fraunce were come thither with those resolutions they never dissented in the least pointe of theâ—… doctrine But Uillagagno like a notable Hypocrite togither with a Popish Priest of his one Cointas who had before abiured Popery there as also the Generall voluntarilie had done relapsed to their vomite evill entreated their Ministers by all meanes that they could devise set the companie vpon a mutinie and forced such as lost not their lives there to returne to their country when they had scant spente one yeare in those partes and that full of vexation by reason of their Conductours perfidious falshood This was the reason wherefore that viage sorted to small purpose and not the discorde of the Ministers And this wicked practise did arise from the Cardinall of Lorraine who either in secret before the departure of Uillagagno or afterward by letters drewe him to Apostate from his faith â—…s Lerius who was there in presence and reporteth the specials of all that viage and their Generals vsage there doth amply remember And that this was the true cause of their returne wee neede not appeale to any of our men fince Costerus the Iesuite will tell it thus u The Calvinistes not many yeares agone Controver cap 2. did attempt to bring in their errours to the people of India and Peru but by the â—…ide of CHRIST and by the industrie of the Catholikes they were excluded Indeede the Cardinall of Lorraine be stirred himselfe in that businesse being so bitter an enimy to the Gospell of CHRIST that hee could not endure that the Frenchmen should have it at home or abroade least belike multitudes of them should have left their countrie and built Colonies elsewhere So he cared not what losse or dishonour the kingdome of Fraunce had so there might be no Sanctuary or refuge for those whome hee reputed heretikes dealing as honestly and faithfully therein as Steven Gardiner while hee lived and afterwardes other of the Cleargie did with Caleis in Queene Maries time which towne they vnderstanding to be the receptacle of many good Christians fled out of England for their conscience were so averse from regarding repayring and supplying it that the French discrying the weakenesse thereof by attempting it both sodeinely and subtilely afterward pursuing their enterprise fearcely did get it from the English Such was the blessed minde of that Machiavellian Cardinall whome GOD x Commentar Relig. Reip. in Gal. Lib. 13. remembred at the last suffering him by a colde which he had taken by going barefoote and whipping himselfe for his lascivious sinnes to grow first into a fever and then into a madnesse which sent him raving and foolishly speaking to receive his iudgement The Queene mother as ashamed that Ahitophel shoulde proove Nabal caused it to bee reported about the Courte that the man went to GOD in most sweete meditations but the other was so evident that every bodye laughed at the simplicitie of their devise who would have that covered which the Lorde had shewed of purpose that every ones y 1. Sam 3. 11. eares who heard of it might tingle T. HILL BVT who knoweth not that the Catholikes as they have converted all to Christianity that ever were Christians so in this age they have brought infinite numbers to the Christian faith in the East VVest Indies by the meanes and labours of the most happy and holy fathers of the holie Order of S t. Frauncis of S. Dominicke and of the blessed Society of Iesus which blessed Religious men in our owne Country there of England onely in regard of their sacred function are executed as Traitors And have not these I pray you their authority from Rome G. ABBOT 4 THE vanitie and vnwisenesse of this asseveration I haue plentifully shewed before
bringe a Spanish Princesse the Infanta into that throne vvhich by all righte divine and humane belonged to his Maiestie as the indubitate heire to the Imperiall Crownes of these kingdomes of England and Ireland This intendment of theirs is as cleere as the noone day by h Doleman Persons his booke of Succession by the vrging of the Studentes in the Seminaries to subscribe to the Spanishe title if it were but in blankes by the frequent charging of the Iesuites therewith in the late books of the Secular Priests their Assistants vnto all which the Authour of the Apologie and Manifestation doth not so much as faintly for a fashion giue the least denial We doubt not therefore but his most illustrious Maiesty will be circumspect against such vipers and that his Highnesse considereth the fruits of them and their doctrine in Fraunce the murther of King Henry the third the animating of Paris and so many great citties to rebellion against the puissant King nowe regnant the attempts of i sasuit cat lib. 3. 6. Peter Barrier and k Cap. 8. Iohn Chastell by the lesuites meanes to commit murther and parricide vpon his royal person besides all the doctrine which they haue of the want of Eâ—…ds to slay Kings whome they holde tyrauntes of the Popes ' power to excommunicate Princes and to absolve subiectes from the oath of their alleageance of all Cleargie men in a kingdome exempt from the chastisement and governement of the temporall or Civill Monarke and onely subiect to the Bishop of Rome the verity of which points hee may at large see who will reade that little but excellent treatise Le Fraâ—…c Disâ—…rs Their vow of blinde obedience to their Superiours their position of ordine ad Deum their rule of propter bonum societatis will inferre any varletry traiterousnesse vilainy or impiety in the worlde bee it whatsoever Lastly the experience which is had of them doth manifest that they are like the olde Pharises of whom l Antiquit. lib. 17. 3. Iosephus could say that they were aprowde generation and dangerous vnto Kings for they entred Polony and m Quodlib 3. 7. straight there followed vpon it a rebellion against their Soveraigne they haue beene the meanes that n Ies. Catec lib. 3. 16. Stephen Batori novve king of Poleland is thrust from his ancient kingdome of Sweden the whole life of the activer sort of them being nothing but a o Quodlib in praefat tampering in state causes and Princes affaires their felicity is to set the Realmes where they come into a combustion If then for these and the like reasons the King of Fraunce professing for the Romish faith hath by soleÌ„ne Edict banished these Iebusites out of his kingdome and that on paine of death and they are not harboured in his Realme but only in Burdeaux and Tholouse which is to be hoped will also shortly bee redressed is it to be wondered that our kingdome professing the reformed religion being England which of old could endure no wolues should abandon this lewde Society It might rather be reputed a singular weakedesse in so wise and vigilant a State as God bee praysed this is if there should not be provision made to keepe out such Caterpillers or rather Foxes and Beares who come to destroy the flocke and insteed of converting of countries wherof you speake intende the perverting of consciences and turning them from that due obedience which they owe to the Almighty God of heaven and to his Vice-gerent here amonge vs. It hath pleased the Lord long agone to open the eies of our Governours to see the drifts of these men and wee are to pray that their heartes may ever bee inspired to see the execution of such wholesome lawes that some may take the p Cant. 2. 15 Foxes the little Foxes which destroy the Uines that is to say such body-killing soule-murthering spiritual enemies who destroy many a weake womaÌ„ and vnadvised rash young man T. HILL I will not here speake of the infinite number of Miracles wrought by Catholickes in conversion of Countreys and namely of those which are now done in both the Indies by the holy Fathers aforesaide for that I reserve that matter for his proper place but I would advise you here diligently to weigh the sequele of the Assertion of the Protestantes howe that if Papistes be not true Christians and of the right religion then doth it necessarily followe that neither Spanyards nor Portingales nor Sardinians nor Sicilians nor Italians nor Germaines nor Transylvanians nor Hungarians nor Polouians nor Danes nor Flemmings nor Scots nor Irish nor English no nor any Nation vnder heaven had ever true Religion before Frier Luther maried Moune Bore before Iohn Calvin run away to Geneva before Peter Martyr with his Fustolugges came to teach at Oxford and before a number of such like good companions ledde only by sensualitie and carnall zeale dishodded themselues and became such spectacles to the world as every maÌ„ knoweth Which thing to affirme is flatly to denie Christ and all Christianity as I shewed in my first Reason G. ABBOT YOur mounstrous Miracles you put over to another Chapter and thither God willing I will follow you so that in good time you shal heare of mee The foolishnesse and ridiculousnesse of this your other assertion I have q Answere to the 1. Reason already manifested but heere you are disposed to commemorate the nations of Christendome although to small purpose well I wote vnlesse you would haue vs note that you put the Spaniards first and the English last For if you have named the French also the Bohemians Muscovits Graecians we must answere you that among these or so many of these as it seemed good to the divine Providence there was true Religion and yet the grosser sort of your Papistes had none of it albeit some touched with some smal staines of Popery did belong to Gods kingdome And these were not only before the birth of these excellent men whoÌ„ you name but in all ages since Christ his time VVherefore your bold talking heere is no better then idle trifling That Doctour Luther was a Frier and his wife a Nonne wil be easily granted vnto you but in a Christian mans vnderstanding what more preiudice is therin then that r Exod. 2. 10 Moses for a time was brought vp as the sonne of Pharaâ—…s daughter or that s Act. 23. 6. S t. Paule was a Pharisee or that s Luk 82. 3. Mary Magdalone was agrievous sinner or t Luk. 19. 1. Zacheus the maister of the custome It was no fault for u Gen. 19 12 Let to come out of Sodome neither is it to be blamed that any hasteÌ„ out of u Apoc 18 4 Babylon But the greese is that he a Votary did mary her a Votary which Campians malice so expresseth x Ration 3 dâ—…ec incesto 〈◊〉 votam Deo virginem fâ—…sset
he who first meÌ„tioned the match is the 〈◊〉 father of lies so coÌ„sequently may promise that which is not in him to Iohan. 8. 44. perform you gladly would chaleÌ„ge the coÌ„pleting of the bargain that your master vnder SathaÌ„ may have so large a kingdome And that you may the better prove it as that cuÌ„ning deceiver alleaged mis-alleaged the c Luk. 4 10 Scripture it selfe so you doe to your Auditours yea so strictly you do follow him that wheras he cited what he had to say out of a Psal. of David you also begin in that sorte labouring to evict a false CoÌ„clusioÌ„ froÌ„ a right true PropositioÌ„ That the Church of the Messias must be throughout al Nations David you say foretelleth you cite vs for that purpose a verse of the 18. Psal. as you reade it after the Septuagint of the 19. as we more truly account it out of the Hebrew d Psal 19. 4 Thâ—… 〈◊〉 is gone forth through all the earth their words into the â—…ds of the world which seÌ„teÌ„ce whosoever coÌ„sulteth that text shal se properly originally to meane the course of the heaveÌ„s which being in coÌ„tinuall motion being whirled about the CeÌ„teâ—… the earth do testify to all nations that there is a supreme power guiding governing the whole world And this doctrine to wit that from the ordering of the Creatures the being of a God may be collected S. Paule doth also teach But that saying of David the same e Cap 10. 18 Apostle as f Rom 1. 20. you suppose extendeth farther to the doctrine of the Apostles Preachers Verily the words also cited by S. Paule do caâ—… the same sence for the Creatures no otherwise if you naturally literally do take theÌ„ then I may truly say that you caÌ„not g Bellar de verb. Dei lib 3. cap 3 invincibly demonstratively inferre that out of them which you desire NotwithstaÌ„ding because S. Paule per spiritum Apostolicum by the Apostolike spirit which was in him which is not to bee fouÌ„d but in the compilers of the New Testament might adde alter explicate apply places of the olde Testament to that which the words did not literally cary at the first because our Saviour Christ himself did so being ful of that spirit which spake by the Prophets because also some of the olde 〈◊〉 fathers alluding heerevnto have not properly but by allusion referred this Chrysost in Mat 24â—… August Epist 80. Scripture to the preaching of the Apostles wee will not stande with you but accept it for the generality as you here wold haue it as it is to some such purpose formerly alleaged by mee It is therefore condescended vnto that immediately almost after Christs asceÌ„sion the Gospel was divulged East West North South in very many countries but whither in every particular Nation vnder heaven we dare not say since all is in the Scripture taken for a great part as h Math 3 5 then went out to Iohn Hierusalem alludâ—… all the region round about Iordon which is to say very many inhabitants of those places and they persons of all qualities And else-where i Luk. 2 1 all the world being a most general speech yet is so restrained that it must imply no more then so much therof as was subiect to the Romanes Which was much at that time but farre from the whole earth It is also truth that in another Psalme the Roial Prophet vnder SalomoÌ„s person who was a figure of Christ doth foretell that the k Psam 72 10 11 Kings of Thâ—… fit of the Heâ—… shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba Seba shall bring gifts â—…ea all Kings shall worship him all nations shall serve him inteÌ„ding the Messias But will any man so take this according to the letter that there should never be King not Agrippa not Domitian not Sapores but should be ChristiaÌ„s al natioÌ„s at al times should entertaine the faith This extent must be so coÌ„sidered that at one time or another before the day of iudgement Christ Iesus should bee preached in some part of all â—…uine regions here and there Kings and Queenes whcÌ„ God should be pleased to call theÌ„ should submit their scepters vnto the Lord of heaven But you might well perceive that these thinges are spoken by an Anâ—… he sit betweene the lewish Church which was restrained within the compasse of one lande and so coÌ„tinued for many ages and the Church vnder the New TestameÌ„t which should at one time or another be variously diffused through all general places of the world And what else do those two texts out of the Revelation insinuate vnto vs but that Christians should be picked from many nations people farre otherwise theÌ„ while the lewish Synagogue did flourish but you will not I trust inferre that all nations at all times or all people of all Nations should belong to the true sheepe-folde but there may be ebbes and flowes the Church in the l Apoc. 12. 6. wildernesse at the time appointed m 2. Thes. 〈◊〉 3. Apostasy revolting n Luk. 18 8 faith cant to be found among men since there is nothing fore-tolde by the Spirite of God but must have his accomplishment And therefore since we are warned of both there must be an age of paucity as well as of plenty a waning of the Moone as well as a full or waxing But what vrge you heere-vpon T. HILL THese thinges with many such like on Holy write are no wise verified in â—…y Relegion vnder Heaven but onely to the Romane Catholike Church for that 〈◊〉 but it as every man knoweth hath had any large sâ—…pe to account vpon in any age And it hath bin for these thousand yeeres at the â—…east throughout both the Hemispheres in such forte that the Sâ—…nne stretcheth not his bâ—…s further then it doth and hath done yea there is 〈◊〉 nor people nor climate in the world which hath not heard of and 〈◊〉 some measure received the Catholicke Romane Religion G. ABBOT 2. IF you take Religion heere for the true service of God we deny Popery to be Religion If you take it for devotion in what sence soever then vvhat say you to the Saracâ—…nsfaith which for many hundreds of yeere while it possessed so much of Asia as Persia with Media Arabia with the countrie adioyning besides what is added within these 300. yeares by the raigns of the OttomaÌ„â— in Africa al the Northren part froÌ„ Aegypt to Marocco alonge the Mediterrane Sea and in Europe some thing as the kingdome of Granado in Spaine and diverse times more then that there was nothing inferiour for circuite of land to the boundes of the whole Westerne Church wherin only the Pope dominered And shal Mahumetisme herevpoÌ„ be coÌ„cluded to be that faith which must save mens solus But good Sir when the Primitiue Church did
give scope when doe what you can with all your bloudy torments you cannot roote religion out of those places Yea it seemeth that some where in Italie it beareth a prety shew when your Cardinall Bellarmine to the cold comfort of his olde hart could complaine that Lutheranisme for so he calleth it had k In praefat Generali at last passedover the Alpes and pearced even vnto very Italie But is your Pope come to that poverty that now of all the firme lande of Europe you can single out but two countries which stande wholy for him Yea and one of those also liable to so evident an exception This is a good steppe within one hundred of yeeres In the next age God Almighty may plucke many of these from him also But his will must be done In other Realmes there bee Catholikes as in Fraunce It is not so farre from vs but we know how the world goeth there It is possible within that Kingdome to finde more then seaven l 1. Reg. 19. 18. thousand who never bowed their knees to Baal And be they such Papists in the most partes of Germany I am sure you have heard of one Luther whose scholers and himselfe haue not lost much time there I know you have great ioy to remember him For Polonia Bohemia I beleve that you heard some body say that there be both Nobles and of other sorts who have a religion besides Popery Those who love Hus and Luther are not all deade in the one And in the other somewhat there is in it that in the open assemblie of the States or m Prefat Apâ—…log Iâ—… In â—…ui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parliament it hath bin dared to be proposed that the Iesuites their Colleges shold be extirpated theÌ„ce That in EnglaÌ„d there be some whoÌ„ we pity pray for we cannot deny that is especially the weake beguiled ones As also that there be some more obstinate ones left to be like the Canaanits n Numer 33. 55. prickes in our eies and thornes in our sides but surely you can make no great boast of the Popes tyrannizing heere Nay it is to be hoped that his number is likely day by day to be diminished since many indifferently affected returning to their owne iudgmeÌ„t wil see that they have beene abused by the Priests who never ceased to inculeate into their eares that if once the ere of her late most Christian Maiestie were out England would be nothing but as a feelde of bloude to the Professours of our Religion and what by the strength of the vnited Romanistes within the lande and of the assistance of some Popish Princes from beyonde the Seas Papistrie would heere flourish in maine magnificence VVhich vaine tales many of them in their weakenesse beleeving thought is was best to betake themselues to their congregation betimes least such multitudes comming in afterward there would no notice be takeÌ„ of theÌ„ or perhaps no roome be left for theÌ„ That in HuÌ„gary true religioÌ„ is not vnknown may bâ—… gessed by those o 〈◊〉 Sleidan lib. 14 26. manifold petitioÌ„s almost of the whol Realme to have the Gospell countenaÌ„ced by law even so long agone as in the time of Ferdinandus afterward Emperour But for the state of diverse of these countries I had leifer you should heare Bellamine theÌ„ me Thus the he choaketh your assertioÌ„ p In presat Generali Who is ignorant that the Lutherane pestilence which a little before did begin in Saxony did presetly possesse almost all Germanye then that it went to the North to the East that it wasted Denmarke Norway Sueden Gotheland Pannonia Hungary then that with the like spead being caried to the West South it did in short time destroy FrauÌ„ce EnglaÌ„d Scotland vvhich ere-whiles were most flourishing kingdomes at last passed the Alpes pearced eveÌ„ into very Italy For the rest which you doe name you are in worse case then pitifull P. What many Catholikes have you in Greece Some fewe Venetian marchants which trade to CoÌ„stantinople or some other of like quality For the professed Religion through Greece is Turcisme the Christians there inhabiting as being of the Greekish Church doe decline your Pope as the Cockatrice of the world And is it not thus in Siria where the people are also Turks only you have a few Friers lying at Ierusalem to shew some couÌ„terfeit Reliques either forged or suspect places to pilgrims To furnish vp this little baÌ„d I pray you put to your marchaÌ„ts lying at Aleppo for Aegypts sake foget not those also at Câ—…iro or AlexaÌ„dria for if you should take these away you wil not leaue your selves a maÌ„ there So that while you meÌ„tioÌ„ such stuffe do you any thing els theÌ„ dally with your Reader And what have you in Aethiopia vnder Prester Iohns dominioÌ„ In religion he differeth far froÌ„ you as q Lib 9 de gest is â—…manuel Osorius t Damianus a Goes shew he never heard of your Pope til of late he wil hold nothing froÌ„ him Perhaps you have some one or two Friers there who are seÌ„t to learne the laÌ„guage or may serve to do r Demoribus Aethio pum some turnes for your Portingale MerchaÌ„ts dwelling on some maritime places of the farther side of Africa Or some of those traffiquers do go with their wares to some townes of Aethiopia This is a worthy matter to be cited for the honor of your holy mother 10 I do woÌ„der that being heere in this sweete enumeratioÌ„ you tell vs not out of s Contr Machiavel Lib. 3. 4. Bozius that of purpose to acknowledge the Popes prerogative to sweare obedieÌ„ce to him there came out of Africa to ClemeÌ„t the 7. the Legates of David the King of the AethiopiaÌ„s of the Princes of Mexico from the most remote KingdoÌ„es of the Western Indres to Iulius the 2. Embasladors out of Africa froÌ„ the king of MantcoÌ„go lately to Gregory the 13. froÌ„ lapona in the East Indies froÌ„ the mighty kings of the Tartars in Asia Such cuÌ„ny-catching tricks have bin practised a great while to magnify the Bishop of Rome Sometimes there hath bin no body at all some other times some huÌ„gry cuÌ„ning slave put into a straunge coate and two or three beggers after him who like rogues have wandred vp downe or ruÌ„ne away froÌ„ their countrey or come froÌ„ some great ones as spies hath bin the Legate or Patriarke without penny of maintenaÌ„ce or ship to bring them or ought to grace theÌ„ s Gentillet in examin Concil Tridentin Self 1. Engenius the 4. to give credite to his CoÌ„venticle at FloreÌ„ce against the Synode held at Basile giveth out that Iosippus the Patriarke of CoÌ„stantinople came to submitte himselfe his couÌ„try vnto him when Iosippus was deade an Epistle was published which he was said to writ in his death bed signifyiÌ„g to al those that were within his Patriarchate that he
way whom therefore will you beleeve our Saviour woulde in this case haue bidden men looke to the Originall o Math 19. 8 from the beginning it was not so VVhen the Saracens possessed p Câ—…l Aug. eurio Sarrac Histor. lib 1. Granado and that parte of Spaine which is about it for seaven hundred yeeres 〈◊〉 if a Christian should haue come to haue pleaded the title of that Kingdome they might haue produced Lavvyers who should have advouched that for so many descents that time out of minde their Auncestors had enioyed it But Kinge Ferdinand who expelled them thence might better replye that the Christians had a more auncient righte vnto it that the Saracent were but encroacher and vsurpers and there were bookes of authenticall record vvhich vvoulde vvithout partialitie assigne everie man his ovvne Thinges goe much by opinion till truth bee displayed Hovve many learned men did erre in that conceite thâ—… a q Bodin Method cap 4 Svvâ—…nne before his death did singe most svveetelye The r Petr Martyr Dâ—…ad 〈◊〉 3 Castilians vvhen they came first into the VVest Indies thought it had beene poyson to have eaten of rosted serpentes and yet aftervvard they found it to bee most daintie meate VVhen matters for a longe space have beene mistaken and at last they be discovered it is no commendation to dwell in olde oversightes but it is best vvith advise to reforme them s Ad Pompâ—…ium Custome vvithout truth is aâ—…nesse of errour â—…aith Saint Cyprian Touching your Lawyers then vvee saye that if they take truth to bee treason they are more afraide then hurte And as for your Physitians they are but like the s 〈◊〉 Chron 16. 1â—… Physitians of Asa for while more trust is reposed in them then in GOD many a good patient dyeth vnder their handes That vvhich they reporte to be poyson would saue and restore the sicke oâ—…ll affected person 23 VVhen you haue a little raunged among Lawyers and Physitians because wee shoulde thinke that you haue heard of all the three faculties you returne to your owne profession and and there as a man who say all but indeede knowe little of auncient Doctours and Divines and smally acquainted with the monumentes of the Church you professe that for a thousand yeeres nothing hath beene â—…aught but the vn-Catholike Romane Religion till Luther and Calvines time vvhich is as true a speech as you are a truth-speaking man and that is never a vvhit all the Popes Prentice beeing bounde but to a lying occupation Your slaunders against these holy men are so well knovvne vnto vs that in respect of you wee thinke them rather to bee laughed at then to bee refured albeit in regard of other simple soules vvhome you vvoulde abuse vvee are otherwise minded VVhen our Saviour had longe before lived and dyed and ascended into heaven Iulian Libanius and Porphiâ—…y had inventions mough against him and hee coulde not escape vvithout that slaunder that hee was a t Augustin in Iohan. Tract 3â—… Magitian VVhen Narcissus a godly vertuous person lived hee was by three false witnesses speaking against him and vsing u Euseb Eccle Hâ—…stor 6. 8. grievous imprecations toward themselves if they spake not truth accused of a hainous crime It was constantly given out of u Socrat 〈◊〉 â—…0 lib. 2 1â—… Theodor 1 26 28 30 Soom 2 2â—… 22 2â—… Athansâ—… Apologâ—… Athanasius that hee was an adulterer a Necromancer a murtheâ—…r this was so assevered by the Aâ—…ians that although many did see Arsenius whoÌ„ hee was reported to haue slaine or caused him to bee made away yet they woulde scant beleeue their owne eles but it was not once to bee doubted but that by the meanes of Athanasius vvho intended to vse it in Coniuâ—…tion one of the hands of the saide Arsenius was cut off although he himselfe stood before them and had both his handes whole and vntouched Yea a harlot was brought face to face which chardged him to haue coÌ„mitted fornication with her yet shee was so farre froÌ„ knowing him that when another tooke on him to be Athanasius shee not being therein mistresse of her crafte chardged him to haue done that which shee purposed to lay on Atanasius Since these the like matters haue bin in times past it is no marveile that the Devill of late shoulde stirre vp Cochleus or Bâ—…lsec or Staphilus against two such lampes of the ChristiaÌ„ world as Luther Calvine were who made such breaches into his strongest fortresses and freede so many prisoners from him Hee whome you tearme an Apostata was no otherwise such a one for leaving your Babylon then Saint Paule might have beene saide to be for relinquishing the x Phil. 3 5 Pharisees whom a long time he had followed And whereas you call him loose his behaviour all his time was strict and severe industrious and studious in penning and preaching much The heathen y Orat pro M. Caelio Tully could haue toulde you that he who would be an Oratour must cut of all licentiousnesse yea his needefull recreations with his most entier friendes Iudge if Luther did not so who hath lefte remaining after him such volumes of bookes as few men in any age haue lefte more But hee rubbed the Pope to the quicke and a horse which is gawled will wince And it was another of his faultes that hee touched the Monkes bellies as z Carion Chrâ—…ucts a Melan. l. 5. Erasâ—… said and therefore blame not them their friends if they doe their best to lash him One while with a Lib 4. Chronograph Genebrardâ—… hee shall bee the grand Antichrist or the nexte member to him because Luther as hee saith in Hebrew maketh 666. yet by by afterward the b In Apoe 13. 1â—… Rhemists of their gracious bounty and singular integrity professe to discharge him and quitte him of that honour VVhile hee was a Frier at Witemberge hee was a man without exception passing towardly and learned yea fit to take the highest degree in that Vniversity that is to say a Doctourshippe in Divinity but since he came out of Sodome it is now writen of him that c Persons censure on M Charâ—…e before he was a Frier he was striken in a medowe with a thunderbolt and being so frighted hee put himselfe into a Monasterie And there aftervvard reading in the Church the Gospell of the thirde Sundaie in Lente of the deafe and dumme Devill throvvne out by CHRIST he sodainely fell downe vppon the pavement and the Devill cryed horriblie out of his mouth saying I am not I am not dumme I will speake yet vnto the vvorlde So shamelesse are men in their improbable detamations vvhen they once make it their summum bonum to drawe people after them they care not in what manner There is no measure of lying there are no boundes for vntruth whereof Luther hath vvell tasted if ever any experimented it for doing GOD good service