very marrow of Poperie continued and the whole bodie of the Romane doctrine the opinion of the supremacie excepted And ye had beside a breathing time in Queene Maries raigne such as that of Saul who breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. Act. 10.1 such a breathing as I trust ye shall neuer haue againe in England I hope this was no time of your captiuitie And againe you are somewhat too forward to looke for the reuiuing of the papall kingdome so soone after 70. years stay till you be equal to the captiuitie of protestants that 7. times 70. yeares endured the tyrannie of your terrene god the Pope as long as Israel soiourned in Canaan and AEgypt 430. yeares Exod. 12.40 and much longer and then after that time expired lift vp your heads if you can But because you plead prescription of 70. years you shall haue your mind yet they shall not be the seuenty yeares determined for Iudaes deliuerance but the 65. years which want not many of seuentie which were limited for Ephraims destruction Within fiue and threescore yeares Ephraim shall be destroyed from being a people Isa. 7.8 And we trust in God that the proud idolatrous Ephramites of Rome according to this time taking beginning from the first reformation in England shall haue Ephraims portion and their kingdome come to desolation Concerning your Popes Iubile enioy you the benefite thereof get you packing to Rome and solace your selues there England careth not for Iubile pardons nor for such paltrie pardoners as ye are Protestants haue enioyed through Gods mercie a full Iubile vnder the Gospell in King Edward and Queene Elizabeths happie raignes and now we trust beginneth another ioyfull Iubile vnder our noble King and so our hope is that the Church of God vnder his M. his royall posteritie shall enioy the profession of the truth frō Iubile to Iubile till we all come to celebrate an euerlasting Iubile in heauen The Pope hath lately solemnized his Iubile like as the Iewes kept their Iubile when Christ was put to death who brought deliuerance to his Church but destruction to the Iewes before the next Iubile came So this Popes Iubile wherein they haue confederate to persecute Christ and his members is like to be ominous to that blodie generatiō prosperous we hope to the church of God This Romish Iubile lately celebrated in new Babylon may fall out to be like Balthasars feast which he made in old Babylon the destruction of the citie followed the same night to whō fitly agreeth that verse of the Poet Namque vt supremam falsa inter gaudia noctem Egerimus nosti It was our last and onely night That we thus spent in false delight So may this happily be the last popish Iubile and this great solemnitie may end with a Sardonian laughter according to the saying of the wise man Pride goeth before destruction and an high mind before the fall Prou. 16.18 2. If religion be the bond of peace then can there be no sound peace betweene the Church of God and the synagogue of Rome which is declined and fallen away from the true religion and seruice of God The Popes peace we desire not as we feare not his curse if he loue quietnesse protestants will not offend him if he seeke trouble they can requite him But if Scotland be comprehended in this league and amitie as among other nations this Popes muster-maister hath numbred it I hope England shall haue a share that is now one with Scotland It is vntrue that England can agree with none in religiō it accordeth with Scotland Geneua Heluetia Belgia with the protestants of Fraunce some diuersitie in external right maketh no difference in religion And as vntrue it is that no two protestant Princes can haue this peace together seeing it is most manifest that for 45. yeares there was a firme peace betweene England and Scotland being vnited in religion such as for so long a time was not knowne for fiue hundred yeares while both these kingdomes professed poperie And indeed it is a rare thing to see one protestant Prince offend another with warre but it is very cōmon for Princes and States addicted to the popish profession to wage battel one with another France Spain Naples Millaine the Venetians Geanes Florentines Romaines haue often one with fierce war assaulted another As we shall reade among the Paganes how in Graecia the Spartans Athenians Corinthians Thebanes Argiues Megarensians with other cities did with cruell warre one afflict another so that as the Scripture saith In that time there was no peace to him that did go out and go in but great troubles were to all the inhabitants of the earth Such is the peace among the Romanists neither sound and in truth nor of any long continuance but like vnto Iudas kisse so is the Popes peace and amitie as Ambrose saith Amoris pignore scelus implet pacis instrumento odia serit By a token of loue he worketh mischiefe and by an instrument of peace soweth hatred So his vnholy Fatherhood faineth peace if it be for his aduantage and breaketh it at his pleasure if it may serue his turne better as Eugenius the fourth caused Ladislaus to breake the truce made with Amurathes the great Turke to the great losse and disaduantage of all Christendome Wherein the Pope very well resembleth Cleomenes the Spartane King who hauing made truce with the Argiues for certaine dayes set vpon them the third night after and slue them alleadging for himselfe that he had made truce for dayes not for nights 3. Popish religion can neither make vs at peace with God whom it robbeth of his due honour making other Mediators inuocating Saints worshipping idols nor with Angels who refuse to be worshipped Reu. 22.8 nor with Saints who while they liued refused that adoration which is now ascribed vnto them in poperie as Peter wold not suffer Cornelius to worship him Act. 10.26 To the soules imagined to be in purgatorie it offereth wrong keeping them in torment that by the Scriptures are to rest from their labours Reu. 14.13 Neither can popish professors haue peace in themselues seeing they deny iustification onely by faith by which we are at peace with God Rom. 5.1 That religion agreeth with none but diuels for it maintaineth lying wonders which are by the working of Sathan 2. Thess. 2.9 It forbiddeth to marie and to abstaine from meates which are the doctrine of diuels 1. Tim. 4.1.3 It persecuteth casteth into prison the seruants of Christ which is the worke of Sathan Reu. 2.10 Poperie therefore which derogateth so much from God cannot reconcile vs or make vs agree with God superstition doth not draw vs nearer to God but maketh vs further off Hierome well saith hoc nobis praestat Dei timor vt omnes alios contemnamus timores The feare of God doth make vs to cōtemne all other
of iustification sacraments originall sinne predestination of faith of the law of the Gospell of the nature of Christ his descending to hell c. p. 7. Ans. First these dissensions giuen in instance are betweene those which are called Lutheranes and vs who wherein they differ and dissent from vs come neerer to the Papists then Protestants as in the opinions of the corporall presence in the Eucharist of the vbiquitie or omnipresence of Christes bodie of free will vniuersall grace hypotheticall election faith of infants and such like but among the Protestants that purely professe the Gospell of Christ and especially in England there is no difference or dissent in any of these points or those before obiected or in any other substantiall point of faith If it shall be obiected that among vs some question there is concerning the descent into hell it is not of the truth and substance of the article which no Protestant denieth but of the manner onely wherein there is as great a difference in the popish Church for Durand a principall Doctor of that side maintaineth contrarie to the opinion of the rest that Christ did not descend into hell secundum substantiam suam sed per effectus quosdam not in the substance of his soule but onely by certaine effects whom Bellarmine of purpose confuteth Secondly neither needeth the aduersarie to obiect against Protestants this diuision betweene them and the Lutheranes seeing there is as great a rent in the Papall Church for the whole Church of France dissenteth from the common opinion of the Romanists in very principall points they to this day do not acknowledge the Pope to be aboue generall Councels and for this cause they do not submit themselues to the decrees of the late Tridentiâ—e Synode neither take it for a generall Councell They refuse also the sixt booke of the Decretals and of late by a publike Edict they haue expelled the whole order of Iesuites out of the kingdome of France who are in other places of the Popes dominion of greatest credite and estimation Thirdly though the intemperate heate of some Lutheran writers can not be excused against the Ministers of the reformed Churches as fayling both in the cause which they handle and in the manner of handling for among our selues such bitter inuectiues are not vsed yet of all other the rayling of popish sectaries one against another most exceedeth as may plentifullie appeare in the late writings and bookes of the Popish Priests and Iesuites set forth against themselues The Priests call their Iesuited Arch-priest traiterous a vassall parasite idoll of the Iesuites a puppie dauncing after the Iesuites pipe Manifestat p. 25. a. The Iesuites they call knaues conspiring companions Man p. 32. b. They charge them with traiterous blasphemous words Mans. p. 35 a. with coggerie blasphemie Manifes 53. b. with erroneous and hereticall doctrine Manif p. 106. a. damned for heretikes p. 105. a. progenie of vipers blasphemous wretches proud pharisees Man 108. a. traiterous positions hatched in hell Replie p. 67. a. Against Frier Robert Parsons in particular the Priests thus bestirre them they compare him to Robin Goodfellow Rep. p. 79. b. they call him the foxed father Rep. 67. a. a diabolicall vnnaturall wicked fellow Man p. 107. a. cursed be the houre wherein he was borne this child of sinne of sacriledge of iniquitie of the deuill ib. b. he hath shaped the declaration of the spirit of Sathan Rep. p. 102. a. And of all the Iesuites in generall they thus speake and write the Iesuiticall ghosts and such wicked spirits as traÌ„sforming theÌ„selues into angels of light do leade more soules to hell then the feends of most vglie shape appearing in their owne proper colours Man p. 81. b. Now on the other side let vs see how Frier Parsons requiteth their kindnes he chargeth them with follie phrenzie Maâ— fol. 11. with erroneous hereticall positions f. 13. perfidious sycophants f. â—7 with lyes false calumniations little conscience f. 41. He further saith they lye notoriouslie against their conscience f. 46. egregious foolerie Man f. 65. wicked companions consciencelesse rayling people f. 90. franticke possessed mad insolent f. 94. Apostata in heart traiterous and Iudas like natures f. 98. vsed of the deuill f. 83. diuelish detraction f. 94. diuelish hatred f. 98. assault of Sathan vnder Priests coates c. f. 99. So I trust that the saying of Christ will shortly be verified vpon this Sathanicall broode as it beginneth thanks be to God to be in part fulfilled in England alreadie that because Sathan maketh insurrection against Sathan his kingdome is at an end Mark 3.26 Now I hope by this it is euident who they are that condemne each other to hell not Protestants but Papists for thus as we see they hew one at another and one whet an other as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one yron sharpneth an other as Salomon sayth Prou. 27.17 and though their toongs be also whet against the truth yet shall they not preuaile the more they hewe at it the more shall it flourish like as the plant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being cut doth sprout and contendeth with yron But because they brag in their talke and swords are in their lips Psal. 59.7 this reward they shall haue which we see now come to passe their owne toong shall fall vpon them Psal. 64.8 And as Origen saith surget gens contra gentem i. haeresis contra haeresin one nation shall rise against another that is one heresie against another as the heresie of the Iesuites against the Priests The fift probation is from a particular induction of diuers sects among the Germanes to the number of 37. and affirmed by the computation of Caspar Vlenbergius to be 260. knowne sects by Oecolampadius 77. diuisions are confessed and Luther is produced a witnesse affirming as many religions to be among them as men p. 7. Ans. 1. If all this were admitted without contradiction that so many diuisions were among the Protestants it were no sufficient argument to condemne our religion for then by the same rule the Idolatrous Paganes might haue disproued the Christians faith because they were diuided into so many sundrie sects Simonians Menandrians Basilidians Nicolaites Gnostickes Carpocratians Corinthians Nazarites Ebionites Valentinians and diuers others to the number of fourescore and tenne rehearsed by Augustine 2. These sects by him noted hauing their beginning in Germanie disgrace not the Protestancie of England that is not so distracted And whereas the freedome of that countrey and of many chiefe cities there forcing no mans conscience but tolerating diuers religions might seeme to giue way to this diuersitie therein the fault is rather to be imputed to the politike state then to the Religion professed 3. It is vntrue that Vlenbergius Caus. 22. numbreth 260. diuisions among Protestants for in that place he treateth of no such thing And Caus. 9. where he professedly setteth
The Priests also thus write That there is no competitor vnto the Crowne of England that is a Catholike in whom any probabilitie in the world of enioying the Crowne can be imagined as al men know Thus the Masse-priests were bold to write not long since but simplie and suspiciouslie as though England would afford any competitor to stand vp against the lawfull title of his Maiestie who onely by his royall descent had enterest to succeede in the Crowne which God be thanked we see to all our comforts without any contradiction or opposition to be peaceablie deriued vnto his Maiestie which long may he possesse with honor to Gods glorie We trust then that God which in his mercie hath sanctified this land to professe his Gospell will consecrate it as his Temple to be the piller of truth and candlesticke to hold out the light of his word to the worlds end and that he wil put into the heart of our gratious Soueraigne and honorable Counsellers so to prouide that true Religion may be transmitted vnto posteritie and so blesse the Kings royall posteritie and especiallie his Maiesties dearest sonne and heire apparant Prince Henry that Religion may be so planted in his princely youth that it may grow vp and increase with him It ioyeth me here to remember that couragious farewell which that renowned King Henry the 8. gaue to the Pope England hath taken her leaue of popish crafts for euer neuer to be deluded with them hereafter Romane Bishops haue nothing to do with English people the one doth not traffike with the other at the least though they will haue to do with vs we will none of their merchandice none of their stuffe we will receiue them of our councell no more This Prophesie rather then Proclamation of that magnanimous King we gladlie accept and with all ioyfull acclamation say Amen vnto it Adde vnto this the propheticall exclamation of Roger Clearke Martyr at his condemnation an 1546. at Ipswich fight for your God for he hath not long to continue But most of all are we secured by the prophesie of the Reuelation that Babylon is fallen which we see in part alreadie fulfilled for the tenth part of the citie is fallen alreadie that is the tenth part of that politike bodie of Antichrist which consisted of Monks Friers Nunnes with their Abbeyes Priories Celles Chauntries is ouerthrowne as by a mightie earthquake in the kingdomes of England Scotland Ireland And we further are most sure that after Babylon beginneth to fall it shall not rise againe nor be found no more And howsoeuer God may in iustice deale with some nation in particular for their vnthankfull receiuing of the Gospell to suffer them to be misled againe yet we make no doubt but the generall bodie of Antichrist is decaying and hath receiued a wound irrecouerable Wherefore be it knowne vnto you ye Papists that your kingdome is withering and decaying and ye are they that wax worse and worse deceiuing and being deceiued 1. Tim. 3.12 but the Gospell of Christ shall flourish and they that loue him shall be as the sunne that riseth in his strength Only let vs that professe the Gospell be of good courage let vs keepe the profession of our hope without wauering let vs lift vp our hands that hung downe and our weake knees Let vs not be like as Hierome sayth to those that slacke their rowing Quomodo qui aduerso flumine lembum trahit si remiserit manus retro labitur fluentib aquis quo non vult ducitur Like as he which haleth a boate against the streame if he let go his hands falleth backe and is caried whither he would not so he that is remisse in religion is in danger to fall backe to superstition but the worst I hope is past the beginning of reformation is harder then the perfection as Lampis said of the getting of riches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he got great wealth easily and small hardlie So we hope in God that true religion may more easily be continued then it was at the first founded 3 This Iesuited or rather Iudasited Frier for of that rebellious and exorbitant order he is supposed to be proceedeth on in his frierlie vaine of lying he bringeth in Iohn Riuius to say that they meaning all Protestants be Atheists Epicures deniers of the soules immortalitie p. 11. l. 21. Whereas neither he speaketh of all Protestants but only of certaine dissolute liuers among them neither yet affirmeth them to be deniers c. but that they do runne headlong into sinne as though they did thinke c. that the foule perisheth with the bodie There is great difference betweene him that openlie denieth the immortalitie of the soule and him that by his licentious life may be thought not to beleeue the soule to be immortall Indeede we reade that in the Councell of Constance it was obiected to one of your Popes whom ye hold can not erre namely Iohn 23. Quinimo dixit pertinaciter credidit animam hominis cum corpore humano mori c. Moreouer he said and obstinately beleeued that the soule of man dieth together with the bodie and is extinguished as the soule of brute beasts But from among the Protestants you shall not be able to shew one that euer so affirmed or beleeued 4 Where he saith their owne generall and approued doctrine especiallie in England that true faith and good works are inseparable conâ—oc Londâ—n 1562. art 12. condemneth such men for infidels and misbeleeuers p. 12. l. 7. First it is vntrue that those words are found in that article though we admit and receiue the doctrine that article faith indeede that good works spring out necessarily of a true and liuely faith but it condemneth them not straight for infidels that haue not this working and liuely faith for there is great difference betweene him that hath the right knowledge of God though not effectual or working and him that hath no knowledge or the same erroneous And if it be admitted that some infidels or misbeleeuers might be found among Protestants and where the Gospell is professed is that any derogation maister Frier to the Church of God or profession of the Gospell which condemneth such Did the Church of Corinth cease to be a Church because some among them had not the knowledge of God and denied the resurrection Or is the popish Church free from infidels and misbeleeuers I would Atheisme and prophanenes had not inuaded the Popes chaire I thinke that Pope was little better then an infidell and misbeleeuer that said to one of his Cardinals quantum nobis profuit fabula ista dâ— Christo how much hath this fable of Christ aduantaged vs 5 Of the like credit and truth are these words that follow that the Protestants haue beene the onely cause of so many Infidelities Atheismes Epicurismes Iudaismes p. 12. l. 20. that euery man among vs is left
edifie the Church and to labour in the Ministerie then are these Popish degrees vnnecessarie and not giuen of Christ neither belonging to the ministerie of the Gospell And if they will needes bring in Doorekeepers to bee an order of the Clergie why not Sextins also Belringers graue-makers Church-sweepers Waxe-chandlers water-bearers whip-dogs and what you will for all these there is vse of in the Church and so for seuen orders wee shall haue twice so many This is the goodly Hierarchie which this Ignatian Nouice boasteth of 6. I doubt not but the meanest office of the Gospell is more honorable before God then the greatest Antichristian dignity which are plants not of the Lords planting and therefore shall be rooted out The indeleble character which they say is by their Popish orders imprinted in the soule of the receiuer whereby they are made partakers of Christs priestly power and really distinguished from others is indeede nothing but an Idol of the minde and an imaginarie phantasie for spiritually in the soule and before God there is no difference betweene the Priest and the people Christ hath made vs Kings and Priests vnto God his father and all Christians are a chosen generation a royall Pristhood And as for your ens rationis it is the very opinion of some Papists that the character of Priesthood is no reall qualitie of the minde but onely rationalis respectus a relation or rationall respect Durand Scotus holdeth that it cannot be prooued by any manifest testimonie of Scripture Gabriel doubteth whether the Church haue defined it They are your owne Church-seruitors Sextins Doore-keepers Church-sweepers that are made no otherwise then Purseuants Apparitors c. The Ministers of the Gospell though they are not really distinguished from the people by any inherent qualitie of greater holines and more merit yet are diuers in the ecclesiasticall Oeconomie and dispensation of the Church in their different functions and offices whereunto they are set apart first by the probation and examination of their gifts Secondly by the imposition of hands with prayer of the Elders and pastors Thirdly by their endowment and abilitie of gifts for the execution of their Ministrie all which the Popish priesthood wanteth 7 A manifest vntruth it is that the Pope hath had more ample iurisdiction then any Prince Christian or Infidell for the halfe of those countries neuer submitted themselues to the Popes deuotion which were vnder the Emperours obedience Constantine the great had commaund ouer all Europe Africa all Asia minor Arabia Armenia Phrygia as it may appeare by the assemblie of Bishops called by the Emperours authoritie out of all these countries to the generall Nicen Councel And at this time both the great Turke in Europe and Asia and Prester Iohn in Africa haue larger dominions and greater authoritie then euer the Romane Bishops haue had That iurisdiction which now the Pope hath is thankes to God brought into a narrower compasse though it bee too much and I trust shall euery day bee more confined And whatsoeuer power hee hath or euer had ouer other Churches is but vsurped for Peter from whom he claimeth was but the Apostle of the Circumcision S. Pauls lot was ouer the vncircumcision 8. This last article containeth nothing but vntruth For neither haue these Ignatian fathers which cal themselues proudly of the societie of Iesus conuerted by their preachings many kingdomes to the regiment of Christ but rather subuerted and corrupted them in faith The Spaniards tyrannie hath subdued the poore Indians not the Iebusites hypocrisie though they tell vs of many fabulous and lying miracles wrought by Xauiere and other of that order in those coasts as hath been shewed before Indeed it is well knowne how they haue attempted to reduce diuers kingdomes to the temporall gouernment of the Pope-catholike King of Spaine by their treacherous conspiracies and wicked deuices to take away the liues of Princes Such were the accursed attempts of Commolet a seditious Iebusite in France and Varade another false brother of that order cōfederate with Barriere to take away the life of the now King of France and of Guignard and Guerret Iebusite Priests conuicted of treason and Iohn Chastel brought vp in that societie who was worthily executed for attempting the Kings death In England such haue been the practises of Saunders Allen Campion Parsons Walpoole with diuers other of that ranke who by their traiterous plots haue practised against the life of our late Soueraigne to bring this famous Countrie into slauish seruitude to Spaine which I assuredly trust shall neuer be And these are the fruites of the preaching and paines of this irreuerent order Vntrue also it is that they are honoured of the greatest and richest princes in the world for the renowmed King of France who in riches puissance and greatnes is not inferiour to any Christian Prince neither honoureth or fauoureth them but the whole order for working against the peace of that state was by decree of the Parliament of Paris anno 1594. exiled and expelled that nation Let it also be noted by the way that this Ignatian and Iebusited brother much like the rest of his order counted the Queene of England his then Soueraigne none of the great puissant rich or Catholike Princes for I thinke he is not so blinded to imagine that either her Highnes then or his Maiestie now and the state fauoureth them or hath any cause so to doe That Iesuites are so familiar with some Princes that haue giuen their power to the beast I do not maruell seeing this hath bene prophecied of before for they are the frogs that come out of the Dragons mouth that goe vnto the kings of the earth Reuel 16.13.14 But if such Princes were not blinded or had but like experience of their cloaked holines and mysticall impietie as their neighbour Princes haue they would soone find thē to be vnfit Courtiers but more vnwholesome Counsellors And me thinks these Polypragmon friers ietting in Princes Courts and intermedling in State-affaires are much-what like to limping Vulcane in Homere that taking vpon him to be a skinker to the Gods a great laughter sodainely was taken vp among them But it were happie that such Princes would take counsell of thēselues and not endure to be caried away with these seditious frierlie humors Hieromes counsell were good to such Verba ei de alieno stomacho non fluant faciat quod vult non quod velle compellitur Let not their words and sentence depend of anothers will but let them do as their owne mind moueth them not as an others humor forceth them As for the noble kingdomes of England Scotland Fraunce they haue sufficient experience of this kind of vermin no more to be bitten by them But as Pythagoras gaue this precept to his schollers not to tast of such things as had blacke tayles that is not to conuerse with men of
many therefore of the renowned Kings and Queenes of this land are Saints in heauen is not by any Protestants denyed as he sayth by some it is confessed for they might be caryed away with some errors of the time then not reuealed yet holding the foundation thorough Gods mercie they might be saued It is a diuers case when a man sinneth of infirmitie or simplicitie and when he offendeth willinglie of obstinacie to stumble in the darke craueth pitie to grope at noone dayes is great follie I say therefore in this case as our Sauiour to the Pharisees If ye were blind ye should not haue sinne but now ye say we see therefore your sinne remayneth And as S. Paule sayth The time of ignorance God regarded not Act. 17.30 God therefore might shew mercie to them that erred of simplicitie which is no warrant for them that should now be seduced willinglie Cypriane to this purpose thus sayth as he is rehearsed by Augustine Ignosci potest simpliciter erranti c. He that erreth simplie may be pardoned as the Apostle Paule sayth of himselfe I was a blasphemer and a persecutor but I was receiued to mercie because I did it ignorantlie Then it followeth Post inspirationem verò reuelationem factam qui in eo quod errauerat perseuerat prudens sciens sine venia ignorantiae peccat But he which after the inspiration and reuelation of the truth should perseuere in error doth sinne wittinglie not ignorantlie and therefore must looke for no pardon or pitie This is then the different case betweene the parents erring in time of darknes and the sonnes stumbling in the day light Their saluation doth magnifie Gods mercie in pardoning their imperfections it doth not iustifie their religion in commending their superstitions Our parents errings are our learnings their wants are not our warrants We must not imitate and follow them as Plato his schollers his crookednes Aristoteles his stammering Alexanders courtiers his stouping The Apologie 1 THe 2. proofe Because all states that liue in England are indebted to those Princes Clergie men for learning the Noble for nobilitie men of armes for heroicall acts c. her Maiestie hath receiued life being Crowne Kingdome and Diademe won and conuerted c. augmented and enlarged by so many Henries Edwards c. They builded Churches Monasteries common Schooles c. What donations and free gifts were graunted to the English Clergie c. 2 For the defence of this religion all those princely prerogatiues were graunted by the free subiects of England to their Kings her Catholike predecessors which she still enioyeth by that title as alienations aduousions citations corporations escheates fooles forfeitures franchises deodands c. 3 The nobilitie possesse their lands castles c. titles of honor by their ordinance And that miserable people of England that vntrulie challengeth the name of the Clergie among Protestants Bishoprickes Deaneries degrees and titles of Schooles Vniuersities Colledges c. was deriued from our Catholike Kings c. The Antilogie 1 IS not here now great adoe about nothing and is not this a goodlie argument The auncient Kings and Princes haue been great benefactors to all degrees and states in England Ergo we are bound to receiue their faith and religion Who denieth but that all sorts of men and degrees of callings amongst vs are to giue great thanks vnto God for such worthie instruments of our outward peace and prosperitie and yet who taketh himselfe in religion to be tied by this bond to the same conformitie thankfulnes for benefites temporall ought not to abridge vs of things spirituall neither ought our dutie to men make vs forget our seruice to God If this perswasion were sound Constantine and other Christian Emperors must not haue forsaken the idolatrie of their predecessors by whom the Empire had been much enlarged and the Citie of Rome with many costlie Temples and buildings other goodlie foundations beautified many excellent lawes also for administration of iustice published and to whom for the outward state of the common-wealth the Empire was as much bound as any Christian Kingdome at this day to their auncient Catholike Kings and founders That saying of Pericles that wheÌ„ his friend would haue had him take a false oath for him said he was a friend only so farre as the altare might easily haue dissolued this doubt our worthie founders haue an interest in vs for our houses Colledges lands c. but not for Gods altare or matters of religion 2 First all those priuiledges and immunities were granted to the King as belonging to his princely prerogatiue not for the defence of the Popish religion as it may appeare by those seuerall statutes which the Apologist citeth in the margin which shal be examined in their order 1 Forfeyture 4.5 ann Edward 2.17 c. 16. the escheates of felons lands are giuen to the King 2 Franchise 20. The auncient prerogatiues and authorities of iustice which had been seuered by the gifts of sundrie Kings are restored as the pardoning of treasons murders man-slaughters making and appointing of Iustices c. ann Henr. 8.27 c. 24. 3 Intrusion 1. The heire of him that holdeth of the King in chiefe if he enter before he haue receiued seisin of the King shall gaine no freehold thereby Edward 2. ann 17. c. 13. here is no mention made of any such regard for maintenance of Poperie 4 Mortdauncester 1. The King shall haue the seisin of their lands that hold of him in chiefe ann 52. Hen. 3. c. 16. 5 Partition 1. If lands holden of the King in chiefe descend to many partners all the heires shall do homage to the King Prerogatiu regis 5 Ed. 2. 6 Patents 1. Aduowsions of Churches and dowers do not passe in the Kings graunts vnlesse expresse mention be made Ed. 2. ann 17. prerogatiu regis c. 15. 7 Primer seyson 1. The King shall haue primer seisin after the death of them that held of him in chiefe Ed. 2. an 17. prerogatiu reg c. 3. here as in all the rest there is no consideration pretended for defence of religion 8 Prouision 21. All the Statutes made against prouisions purchased from Rome in the time of Ed. 3. Ric. 2. are confirmed And it is further enacted that elections of Archbishops Bishops Priors Deanes be not in any wise interrupted by the Pope Hen. 4. an 9. c. 8. This acte ouerthroweth the iurisdiction of the Pope so farre is it from graunting any thing to the King for the defence thereof Thus like an vnskilfull Apothecarie taking quid pro quo he hath tempered a contrarie drugge which as a dramme of collâ—quintida marreth the whole potion though it had bene otherwise medecinable 9 Tenure 2. They that hold of lands escheated to the King shall do the same seruice to the King which they did before Mag. chart c. 31. 10 Ward 3. The King
to many moneths yea not to many dayes Leo 2. Benedict 2. did not pope it aboue tenne moneths Benedict 10. nine moneths as many Benedict 11. Alexander 5. eight moneths Christophor 1. Lando 1. seauen moneths Leo 6. as many Celestinus 2. sixe moneths Ioannes 19. fiue moneths Romanus 1. three moneths Benedict 5. Gregor 8.2 moneths Some of their Popedomes are reckoned by dayes as Siluester 3 was Pope but 49. dayes Adrianus 5. fortie dayes Pius 3.27 dayes Bonifacius 6.25 dayes Damasus 2.23 dayes likewise Marcellus 2. Sosimus 2. twentie dayes Celestinus 4. eighteene dayes Stephanus the successor of Zacharias three daies And is not now this bragger ashamed to obiect the breuitie of the Imperiall dominion Concerning the number of Popes since the declining time of that Sea from Gregory 1. you shall finde for one Emperour two or three Popes There haue beene vnder Queene Elizabeths raigne not fewer then 8. or 9. Popes And because it may be answered that Princes do raigne by succession and so many come very young to the Crowne Popes enter by election and are aged when they are chosen let comparison be made betweene the Papacie and other Episcopal seas to the which also men of grauitie and yeares are elected you shall finde three Popes to one Bishop As to giue one instance for many in the Archiepiscopall Sea of Canterburie There haue been since Augustines time who was sent into England by Gregory 1. about ann 600. and odd onely 73. Archbishops But Popes since Gregory 1. there are numbred almost 200. for he was the 64. Bishop of Rome and there haue beene in the whole number 240 Bishops of that Sea or thereabout Wherefore as Ambrose well answered Symmachus who thus obiected Vnde rectius quam documentis rerum secundarum cognitio venit numinis Whence better may the presence of the Gods be knowne then by prosperitie saith Ambrose Odi bimestres Imperatores terminos regum cum exordijs coniunctos I like not two-moneth Emperours and raignes ending and beginning together Many such two-moneth Popes may be produced and popping aside as soone as they are pooping Such infelicitie of the head doth giue no great cause to those Popes-creatures to brag of their prosperitie So that as Leosthenes said of Alexanders armie their Captaine being dead that it was like to blind Cyclops that groped with his hands hauing lost his ere so may the papall Hierarchie be resembled so often changing their head and as one said to Dionysius that a tyrannie was a faire sepulcher such is the Popedome as a pompous and garnished sepulcher wherein the Popes take their ease tyrannizing ouer the Church for their owne aduantage but in respect of any profitable worke in Christs Church they are as mued and closed vp in a sepulcher The third Demonstration THis Popes Chronicler goeth forward and telleth vs of diuers Kings and Emperours that haue been punished and some of them deposed from their Kingdomes for resisting the Sea of Rome as the two Frecards of Scotland Sanetius King of Portugall Bolislaus King of Polonia King Phillip of Fraunce the Empire translated for disobedience from the French to Otho the 3. Henry the 4. Frederike the 2. Otho the 4. Lodouike the 4. deposed The East Empire taken of the Turke Alibrettus King of Nauarre the two Henries of Burbon deposed and depriued pag. 69.70 I will examine these examples in order The Remonstration 1 FRequard the younger was striken of God with a painefull disease whereof he dyed not for his disobedience to the Pope but for his wicked life for he killed his wife and defloured his daughters and was therefore excluded from the communion of Christians his nobles were purposed to haue taken punishment of him but were stayed by Colmannus who told them that Gods vengeance was at hand and not long after he was wounded by a Wolfe in hunting and thereby fell into a strange disease and so died Thus Bucanane reporteth who is falsified to say that all this fell vpon him for his disobedience to Rome which beside that there is no such mention in the historie was not like seeing Colman himselfe dissented from the Church of Rome about the celebration of Easter as hath been before shewed and so might be touched himselfe for his disobedience to that Sea 2 Frequard the fiâ—st was indeede disgraded of his Lords and cast into prison and for sorrow slew himselfe yet this hapned not for any attempts against the Pope but as Bucanane sayth because he maintained factions amongst the nobilitie and the Pelagian heresie and the contempt of baptisme were obiected against him and as others write this iudgement befell him for his crueltie and negligence in the affaires of the common-wealth 3 If it be Sanctius the first whom he meaneth for diuers Kings of Portugall were of that name he was with the consent of Honorius the third deposed and the gouernment committed to one Alphonsus not for disobedience to the Pope sed propter ignauiam for his slothfulnes in the administration of the kingdome 4 Bolislaus being rebuked for adulterie of Stanislaus Bishop of Graccouia slue him and was depriued therefore of the Crowne by the Pope and fell into madnes Munster sheweth this to be the cause not his resisting of the Pope He might as well say that Pompilius a King also of Polonia who was deuoured of Mice with his wife and children which came from the bodies of those whom he had commaunded vniustlie to be slaine was iudged thus of God for his resistance to the Pope 5 Whatsoeuer befell Phillip of France is not to be imputed to any offence committed against the Pope but to his adulterous life who repudiating his first wife Bertha by whom he had children coupled to him Bertradam the wife of Iulio but howsoeuer it fared with him in the meane time Vrbane for his disloyaltie to Princes escaped not vnpunished who for feare of his enemies hid himselfe two yeares in the house of Peter Leo and so dyed But why omitted he to make mention of an other Phillip of France in the time of Boniface the 8. who more resisted the Popes authoritie then euer any King of France did he defeated the Pope of bestowing ecclesiastical dignities forbad any gold or siluer to be exported out of the land to the Pope who also thus wrote vnto the Pope To Boniface bearing himselfe for chiefe pastor little health or none Let thy foolishnes know that in no temporall things we are subiect to no man Was Phillip punished for being thus bold with the Pope No but Boniface himselfe smarted for his contempt of Kings for he was taken prisoner by King Phillips souldiers robbed of all his treasure forced to ride vpon an vnbroken colt with his face to the horse taile almost famished for meate if he had not been relieued by the almes of the towne of Anragum where he was and returning
and caue in that extremitie This victorious Prince greatly repented with teares at his death of all his outragious deedes commaunding all his treasure to be distributed vnto Churches poore folks and Ministers of God and made a large confession of his sinnes before his death with an eloquent exhortation to his sonnes and Nobles forgiuing all men and opening all prison doores to them which were there detained what reason then had this Popish pickthanke so ill to requite this Prince so great a benefactor to the Papall professors Concerning the punishments noted to haue befallen this Prince as the great famine in his daies and of the breaking of his entrailes and the deniall of buriall the first was a iudgement rather vpon the whole land being by conquest made desolate then vpon him that did conquer it the second is no rare thing for a man by the leaping of his horse ouer a ditch to breake the rimme of his bellie as this Prince did for the third true it is that a gentleman forbad his buriall because it was taken by violence from his father where the Duke had founded the house of S. Stephen This wrong was done not for any priuate gaine but for the erection of that Church which the Papists count a meritorious work and yet the gentleman was compounded with and the bodie peaceably interred These were neither such extraordinarie iudgements and whatsoeuer they were might be laid vpon him for his transgressions not for his disobedience to the Sea of Rome But hath not this Popes hireling shewed great thankfulnes to such a liberall benefactor and principall founder who augmented enlarged nine Abbeys of Monks and one of Nunnes in Normandie and in whose time 17. Monasteries and 6. Nunries were builded as he himselfe confessed vpon his death-bed whom the Bishop of Ebroike commended in his funerall sermon for his magnificence valour peace and iustice Among many other this brabler had least cause to take exception against this valiant Duke 2. Concerning William Rufus 1. his resisting against the Pope was iust and vpon good ground because of his vnsatiable exactions alleaging this reason Quod Petri non inhaerent vestigijs praemijs inhiantes c. That the Popes follow not Peters steps gaping for bribes neither haue they his authoritie not imitating his sanctitie 2. Whereas he would not suffer Anselme without his licence to goe or appeale to Rome but for his stubborne behauiour banished him the King therein alleageth the custome of the land from his fathers time and all the Bishops tooke part with the King against Anselme 3. The death of William Rufus being slaine by the glaunsing of an arrow shot by one Tyrell as the King was hunting in the new forrest is noted by historians as a iudgement of God vpon him for his oppression As Richard an other sonne of William the father was slaine in the same forrest which he had made plucking downe Churches and dis-peopling towneships 30. miles about It was not then the Kings restrayning of the Popes vsurping but his own vsurping vpon other mens possessions that might be thought to incense the diuine wrath against him 3. It is also vntrue as this dreamer surmiseth that Henry the first could not be quiet in conscience till he had restored the Ecclesiasticall he meaneth Papall libertie for he reformed the too great libertie and licentiousnes of the Clergie and seemed little to fauour the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome neither would suffer any Legate to come from the Pope vnlesse by himselfe required Beside he obtained of Calixtus the 2. that he might vse all the customes vsed before of his forefathers in England 4. Whereas this fabler affirmeth That neuer any Gouernor before King Henry the 8. challenged any such prerogatiue of supremacie except in the inuestiture of Bishops pag. 74. lin 20. This is a notable fiction as may appeare by the words of William Rufus to Anselme The custome sayth he from my fathers time hath been in England that no person should appeale to the Pope without the Kings licence He that breaketh the customes of the realme violateth the Crowne and power of the Kingdome 5. Neither is it true that such troubles befell Henry the 2. for his disobedience to the Bishop of Rome as forreine warres and busines abroad and the rebellion of his owne children at home But these troubles are by the best historians imputed to other causes as some make the originall thereof to be his refusall to take the protection of Hierusalem against the infidels being humblie sued vnto by Heraclius the Patriarke who in his Oration to the King foretold of the plagues like to ensue Others affirme that the King was punished for his licentious life for he was a great wedlocke breaker keeping a famous concubine called Rosamond after whose death he deteyned the daughter of Lewes King of France married to his sonne Richard and kept Ellanor the Queene in prison twelue yeares Neither is it true that after 〈…〉 reconciled to the Church of Rome that 〈…〉 but they rather then began for the 〈…〉 vpon his oath of the death of Thomas 〈…〉 certaine conditions from the Pope 〈…〉 of his raigne and immediately after followed 〈…〉 with his sonne Henry ann 1173. and with the Flemings and Scots ann 1174. of his raigne ann 20. or after others ann 22. It is therefore vntrue that the same day of his reconciliation the Earle of Fâ—anders retyred and the next day after the King of Scots was taken prisoner Neither immediatly vpon this reconciliation of the King were his sonnes reconciled and he himselfe restored to his pristine tranquillitie of mind and bodie for his sonnes Henry and Geffrey raised warre against their father againe ann 30. of his raigne and shot at him pearcing his vppermost armour though some semblance there had been before of their submission to the King And afterward in the 35. yeare of Henries raigne his sonnes Richard and Iohn leuied an armie against their father who for sorrow thereof dyed whose dead corps at the comming of Richard bled abundantlie at the nose thereby strangely accusing his vnnaturall proceedings against his father 6. Neither was King Iohn punished because he had controuersie with the Sea of Rome as is pretended for after he was released of his excommunication and absolued which was in the 15. yeare of his raigne and the land released of the interdiction which had continued 6. yeares then began his cruell warres with the Barons and Lewes the French kings sonne ann 17. 18. notwithstanding that the Pope tooke part with the King and excommunicated the Nobles and last of all he was poisoned by a Monke of Swinsted The cause of this strife betweene the King and the Barons is alleadged for that he would not vse the lawes of S. Edward And some part of his trouble may well be imputed to his stubborne
factious crue and adulterous seede of that strumpet may in good time also bee dispatched thither to sucke their owne mothers breasts that both the bondwoman and her sonnes may be cast foorth and not be heires with Isaac And if they will with Iudas depart from the Ministers of Christ to the Pharisies we may wish vnto them Iudas end as one saith Iudas iuit ad Pharisaeos non iuit ad Apostolos iuit ad diâ—isoâ— diuisus perijt Iudas went to the Pharisies not to the Apostles he went to those which were diuided and being diuided in the midst perished And happie were it with the Church of England if it were honestly rid of such make bate companions that wee might dwell by none but good neighbours as it is said of Themistocles when hee offered his ground to sell caused it to be proclaimed that he had a good neighbour Now this aduersarie breaking off here his vncharitable accusations returneth to his former defence which how sillie and weake it is shall in the discouerie thereof appeare The fift Defence 1. WHat disloyaltie of behauiour to Commonwealths can be noted in Catholike religion doe wee not teach all dutie vnto Princes and superiours pag. 94. 2. What is there in that sacred function of Priesthood now treason by the proceedings of England that can be guiltie of so great a crime in the statute of treason in Edward 3. nothing is remembred but that which tendeth either to the betraying of King or countrie pag. 95. 3. What is in Priesthood now that was not in former times which euer in Parliament hath been reputed the most honourable calling c. the same Priesthood which was giuen to S. Peter and his Apostles the same which S. Augustine and his associates had that conuerted England pag. 96. 4. There is in that sacrament of Priesthood no renouncing or deniall of any authoritie in England no conspiracie to Prince no betraying of kingdome c. pag. 96. 5. That Priests do absolue from sinnes c. the cause is no temporall thing and yet it cannot be the cause of this treason for Deacons which haue no such authoritie are traytors by the same statute pag. 96. 6. That our Priests are consecrated in forraine countries is not the cause for in former times it hath been the greatest honour to our Clergie to be consecrated in those forraine countries and to be ordered in France to which we be friends and in England is equally treason pag. 97. 7. The Grecians and Germanes diuers in doctrine to the Church of Rome haue their Seminaries of Priests maintained by the Pope and yet they condemne not their Priests for traytors and it is as improbable that the Pope hath an intent to bring England vnder his temporall gouernment as it is vnprobable in those countries 8. How can those religious Schooles be such aduersaries c. where there is no Reader no professor no Lecture no doctrine against our English gouernment where prayer is continually made for her Maiestie The rules and gouernment there consent with the ancient foundations of Cambridge and Oxford pag. 98. 9. What disobedience can it be to denie to any temporall Prince supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall a preeminence distinct c. which our Kings themselues euer approued in the Roman See which neuer any Turke or Goth or Vandale or Infidell challenged c. nor any temporall Prince vnlesse it be in England pag. 98. 10. The enemies to this See do not condemne it as a disobedience to appeale to Rome in spirituall cases to goe on pilgrimage to Rome to fetch any Crucifixe or picture from thence all Catholikes and Christians of the world without prohibition of their Princes haue accesse thither pag. 99. 11. Our most triumphant Kings haue performed those offices in visiting of Rome in their owne persons pag. 99. The Answere 1. DOe ye aske what disloyaltie there is in your Cacolike religion when by Popish doctrine Princes are not chiefe in their owne kingdoms ouer Ecclesiasticall causes and persons and the Pope hath authoritie by the same to excommunicate and depose Princes and absolue subiects from their oth of obedience And doe ye teach all dutie to Princes when the pestilent vipers the Iudasites doe hold that subiects ought to assist the Pope inuading a countrie by force for religion against their Prince and that they are bound to keepe secret the Popes designements to that end that they were no rebels which aided the Popes Cacolikes in Ireland against the Queene I would not so often alleage these matters but that this brablers confused tautologies can not otherwise be answered 2. There be other points in that statute beside betraying of King or countrie that are made treason as to violate the Kings wife or his eldest daughter or the wife of his eldest sonne but these matters are impertinent they serue only to shew the vntruth of his speech And euen by this statute popish Priests and Iudasites that maintaine a forren Potentate a knowne enemie to Prince and countrie are found to be traytors for they which are adherent to the Kings enemies in his realme giuing them ayde and comfort within the realme or elsewhere are by that statute iudged traytors 3. In popish Priesthood there are many things now which were not in former times as to haue power to make Christs bodie that it is a sacrament and hath an indeleble character their shauing greazing to haue dependance vpon the Bishop of Rome the vow of single life annexed to orders these things in the honorable calling of the Ministers of the Church the auncient and pure age of the Church did not acknowledge And though the popish priesthood for some hundred yeares past hath beene in great credite yet was it another manner of Ministerie which was honoured of the auncient Christian Emperors As the Bishops of the Nicene Councell whom Constantine so reuerenced that he would not sit downe till they had beckoned to him Meletius whose eyes lips and breast Theodosius kissed embraced Chrysostome whom Goinas the Goth did reuerence and caused his children to fall downe at his knees all these were Bishops of another order then the Popes creatures now are It is also a vaine boast that S. Peter had the same priesthood S. Peters presbyters were not Lords ouer Christs flocke as the Popes Clergie is 1. Pet. 5.3 Peter doth make himselfe a sympresbyter with the rest not lord ouer theÌ„ nor they to depend of him and confesseth Christ to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chiefe shepheard 1. Pet. 5.4 he dare not arrogate that title to himselfe as the Pope doth In some respects they may haue the same priesthoode which Augustine the Monke had though as yet the sacrifice of Christs bodie was not annexed to the priesthood nor many yeares after for he came from Rome and sought the preeminence of that See
but before his comming there were in England other Bishops who depended not vpon the Romane Bishops neither did acknowledge Augustines authoritie and refused to yeeld obedience vnto him 4. In the very receiuing of popish priesthood the Masse-priests bind themselues to be subiects to the Romane Bishop in spirituall things and so denie the lawfull authoritie of the Prince in causes Ecclesiasticall The Iudasites beside do enter into a vow of obedience to execute whatsoeuer their superior shall command them to do by vertue of which vow many treacherous conspiracies haue been contriued yea they haue a speciall vow of mission whereby they bind themselues to go whither soeuer the Pope shall send them Who seeth not how fit an engine this is to draw them on to practise against both King and Countrie as hath been seene in England but to their owne cost hitherto thanks be to God and I trust shall be so still 5. Popish priests and Deacons are not deemed traytors for their absolutions or any other priestly function but because they do receiue priesthood by authoritie of a forrain Potentate claiming iurisdiction in England and who as a temporall aduersarie hath displayed his banner in the field against the Prince the maintenance of whose authoritie is iudged trayterous 6. To receiue orders in forraine countries simplie is not made treason for the Church of England receiueth such Ministers as were ordained in other countries professing the same religion as at Basile Geneua in Germany But eyther in the realme or without the realme to be ordained by any authoritie deriued or pretended from the See of Rome is by the law decreed to be treason because therein they which are so ordered acknowledge and receiue the Popes vsurped power and authoritie in England who is an enemie both to Prince and countrie wherein they are guiltie of treason 7. Though in some free cities in Germany in Greece vnder the Turke Seminarie Priests be tolerated that is no president for England neither can it stand with the policie of this kingdome to admit any such mixture And in that they are not there taken for traytors the case is not like for if they had practised there against the life of the Prince and state of the countrie as in England there is no question but they would haue taken the like order with them Neither in England for more then twentie yeares was it made treasonable to be made a Popish Priest till such time as the state perceiued that their entring into the land seducing of subiects conspiring together tended to the subuersion and ouerthrow both of Prince and countrie And it can not be but that the Pope should haue an intent to bring England vnder his temporall gouernment whatsoeuer he intendeth in other countries seeing both the Iudasites and Priests acknowledge that the Pope hath indirectam potestatem in temporalib hath an indirect power euen in temporals by force of armes to restraine Princes and to reforme them and to dispose of Kingdomes 8. This article is wholie vntrue for neither are the Lecturâ—s read in the Iesuites Colledges very commendable when one Maldonat a Iudasite in one publike Lecture proued there was a God by naturall reason and in another that there was none And Parsons would haue had his traiterous booke of titles publikely read in the Colledge at Rome to the Students as his fellow priests report What the professors of the Iesuites Colledge are and how affected to the Ciuill gouernment may appeare by their treacherous attempts Varade a Iudasite in France approoued the wicked treason of Barriere against the King so did Commolet who openly in his Sermons sayd they wanted but an Ehud Walpoole a Iesuite deliuered a poisonfull confection to Squire ann 1597. to destroy the Queene Parsons before that with other of the Spanish faction practised with Lopez to the same deede As is their practise so is their doctrine Parsons maintaineth as a principle that necessitie of true he meaneth his Cacolike religion is required in all pretenders to the Crowne whereby he meaneth that no title should be admitted though neerest by bloud and lawfull succession vnlesse the profession of the Romane faith were coincident to it Guignard made a booke wherein he maintained that to kill offenders he meaneth Princes that stood not for them was meritorious Chastell one of their schollers that was executed for attempting the Kings death maintained before the Iudge that in some cases it was lawfull to kill his King At Salamanca in Spaine these conclusions were resolued vpon by the Diuines of the Iesuites Colledge that all Catholikes did sinne mortally that tooke part with the English against Tyrone in Ireland that they which did fight against the Queene were by no coÌ„struction rebels c. These and such other positions were subscribed by Iohn de Sequenza Emmanuel de Royas Iasper de Mena professors of Diuinitie in the Colledge of Iesuites there and by Peter Osorio preacher there What a brasen face now hath this fellow that sayth there is no professor lecture doctrine in their Colledges contrarie to the English gouernment and what manner of prayers they vsed to make for Queene Elizabeth we may iudge by these their practises and opinions And if it were not so that these Schooles and Seminaries are corrupters of youth the Court of Parliament of Paris vpon the apprehension of Iohn Chastel who stroke the King with a knife in the face who was a student of the Iesuites Colledge of Clairemont would not haue decreed the whole companie of priests students there as corrupters of youth disturbers of the common quiet enemies of the King and state to auoid within three dayes out of Paris and within 15. dayes out of the Realme 9. We grant that when the Pope was in his ruffe many Kings made slaues vnto the beast yeelded vnto his vsurped iurisdiction in affaires ecclesiasticall but of auncient time it was not so for the good Kings of Iuda Dauid Iehosophat Hezekiah Iosias had the chiefe stroke in religious causes So had the Christian Emperours Gratianus Valentinianus Theodosius Martianus that made lawes concerning the faith Likewise the Christian Kings of the Gothes in Spaine decreed ratified and confirmed ecclesiasticall lawes as Reccaredus Guntranus Sisenandus Reccesinuthus Eryngius as is extant in these Synodes Prouinciall heere alleaged 10. To haue free accesse to Rome only to see the Citie and the behauiour of the people may by Princes in their discretion to their subiects be permitted though I thinke it be hard for any with a good conscience in regard of the publike offences there occurrent so to do but to bring from thence a crucifixe or a picture as a marke of the beast can not be but dangerous which although it be not treason in England though a disobedience yet Adam Damlip for a lesse matter by Winchesters procurement was condemned of treason for receiuing a French crowne of Cardinall
Poole in Rome only for his reliefe But to make appeales to Rome as to a higher Court and to the Pope as to a superior Iudge is a great derogation to the imperiall dignitie and no well reformed common-wealth can endure it Neyther is England here alone as he vntruely saith but other reformed Churches of Scotland Geneua the Heluetians haue cut off such vnnecessarie and vnnaturall appeales 11. What Kings and Princes haue done in times past in visiting Rome and going in Pilgrimage in their owne persons when they were led with blind deuotion it maketh nothing to vs Of auncient time Princes were wiser and I trust God will open their eyes at the last to acknowledge their error and shake off the yoake of Antichrist according to the prophesie of the Reuelation that they shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked c. Reuel 18.16 Thus with all his subtilties and shifts of descant this Masse-priests proctor hath endeuoured to free that order from suspicion of treason But as the Prophet Ezechiel sayth He hath daubed vp a wall with vntempered morter Ezech. 13.10 with like workemanship hath he made a bulwarke for his order But as it is in the lawe Particeps criminis non idoneus testis He that is partner in the crime is no sufficient witnes So is he an vnfit aduocate for the Ignatian order being himselfe of that treacherous brotherhoode I could aduise them if they had grace to receiue good counsell that they would not suffer themselues to be any longer abused by their vnholie father to runne vpon the pikes at his pleasure and hazard both their bodilie life and the saluation of their soules not to be so desperate as Scipio his souldiers of whom he boasted that at his bidding they would cast themselues headlong into the Sea What though you would reduce your countrie to your opinion and the obedience of the Pope your purpose is not good your counsels prosper not you are deceiued in the disease which you would cure at the least with perill of bodie and soule you vse too costlie a remedie as Marius to the Phisician that came to cut him of a certaine disease made this answere that the remedie was not worthie of so much griefe The sixt defense 1. FIrst he standeth vpon the glorie of the popish kingdome Consider sayth he the glorie of King Henry the 8. and this kingdome before his fall and their infamie after the short or turbulent season of King Edward and for this present what it is and what like to be c. I leaue to the lamentable consideration of all men now and the pitifull experience of those which shall proue it afterward France Spaine Italy may be named the floures of the world the power and iurisdiction of the Pope more glorious then was euer any Regiment of any spiritual superior the kingdome riches reuenues of the K. Catholike are the greatest of any Monarch p. 100.101 2. Their religion consisteth of all affirmatiue positions teaching dutie to God honor to Magistrates equalitie to all oppression to none c. pag. 101. 3. Quarels and contentions betweene King and subiects Nobles and Nobles as in the time of Henry the 2. haue beene comprimitted by the spirituall Romane authoritie c. rigorous onerations imposed by Princes eased vnappeasable wars with France and other nations brought to an end pag. 101. 4. The Protestants deniall of restitution and confession what wrongs and abuses hath it wrought c. who can now keepe subiects from deuising against Soueraignes c. for want whereof so many suites and actions of law such a multitude of Lawyers what dilatorie pleas non suites c. practised and vncontrolled by Protestants doctrine c. pag. 102.103 5. The Religious Clergie enioyed the third part of the substance of our nation c. which was employed toward the necessaries of their poore chast and single life they did furnish armies more then all the Ministers and Abbey gentlemen the poore were relieued c. were they not better bestowed then in hunting hawking carding courting c. pag. 103.104 6. Catholike Religion left and kept England in amitie and league with the Popedome Empire Spaine c. whereas no historie maketh relation of so chargeable and prolonged wars of this kingdome with other nations as our late and now present Spanish Irish Flemish pag. 104. 7. Lastly he sheweth that by separation from the Roman religion Noblemen and Gentlemen haue lost much learning and knowledge in seeing other Princes Courts and countries Souldiers the skill and honor in armes Schollers the benefite of studie in other Vniuersities Merchants their trade and traffique c. and so he concludeth to this effect that these things considered it were better to be in such condition as England was in in the 22. yeare of Henry the 8. when this reformation began then euer it was by Protestancie since now is or by probabilitie will grow to be in time to come pag. 106. The Answere 1. KIng Henrie his gouernment was as glorious his battailes as victorious his successe as prosperous after the reformation of religion as before if not much more As in appeasing the commotions in Yorkshire and Lincolneshire anno 28. Againe another in Yorkshire suppressed anno 3â— Notable victories obtained against the Scots anno 34. And againe anno 36. And in the same yeere he preuailed against the French when Boloigne was yeelded to him King Edwards raigne was neither so short nor troublesome as Queene Maries was which both at home was plagued with mortalitie and famine and abroad dishonoured with the losse of Calice that had been English well neere 300. yeeres This is too vnshamefast dealing to obiect the one and conceale the other Queene Elizabeths raigne hath been most flourishing with loue of subiects at home and honour of other nations abroad and as his Maiestie truly witnesseth She did so long with such wisedome and felicitie gouerne her kingdomes as I must in true sinceritie confesse the like hath not been read nor heard of either in our time or since the daies of the Romane Emperour Augustus As for your lamentable consideration and pitifull experience what England is like to be you shew your selfe herein but one of Baals false Prophets that prophecied good successe to Ahab as you promised to your selues at the next chaunge of the kingdome a glorious day in England and an vtter subuersion of the Gospell As his brother Frier or father Parsons vttereth with the like boldnes God will most certainly at his time appointed restore the realme of England to the Catholike faith againe But the Lord be blessed that hath disappointed their vaine hope and frustrate their wicked desires I trust thorough Gods mercie that England still vnder the Gospell shall see as flourishing daies as euer before As for those flowers of the world c. some of those haue brought foorth but simple flowers
as may witnesse that bloodie massacre of France and the continuall ciuill warres for many yeeres together wherein not so few Christian people as 100. thousand haue perished England thankes be to God hath no such flowers growing in her garden neither I trust euer shall Neither doe wee desire nay wee would not for all the kingdomes of the world chaunge our state with any of those flower countries Italie France Spaine which in deede are flowers and leaues without true fruite Though the Popes iurisdiction hath been large yet can hee not compare with the pontifices maximi among the Romans which was an office of such high authoritie and great commaund that the title was afterward annexed to the Empire and the Emperours tooke vpon them to be called the high Priests The other Patriarchall Seas also did equalize Rome in largenes of iurisdiction especially Alexandria to the which was subiect al Egypt Libya Pentapolis with all the Christian Churches of Africa The Pope hath no great cause to brag of his greatnes for his wings are well clipped and I doubt not but to see yet more of this proud birds feathers pulled Neither is largenes of dominion a good argument for religion for then Pagane idolatrie which was more vniuersally receiued at once in the 〈◊〉 then Christianitie should thrust out the Gospell of 〈◊〉 And as for the King of Spaine◠〈◊〉 he may thanke the poore Indians for it whose throates the Spaniards haue cut for their gold neither is it such but that hee knoweth how to spend it and for all his great treasure his coffers are often emptie enough But let it be remembred how these popelings measure religion by riches and outward glorie which if it were a good rule the rich Chaldeans Assyrians Persians should rather haue bin the people of God thē the poore Israelites the rich Scribes and Pharisies should be preferred before the Apostles 2. Popish religion denieth dutie to God making other Mediatours beside Christ teaching inuocation of Saints adoration of images which are peculiar to God neither doth it giue honour to Magistrates abridging them of their lawfull authoritie in matters ecclesiasticall and giuing the Pope authoritie to excommunicate and depose Princes and to absolue their subiects of their oath Concerning the particulars of Popish profession what little comfort is in them how derogatorie to God contrarie to Scriptures I haue shewed before in the answere to the 5. section 3. The Pope so well appeased the quarrels betweene Henry the 2. and his Nobles that after the King had reconciled himselfe to the Pope for the death of Thomas Becket and yeelded to doe penance his troubles began afresh betweene him and his sonnes Richard and Iohn that he died for griefe And the Pope by his Legates and factors in England and other countries hath been a mouer not a compounder of strife a raiser rather then layer of warre Did not Gregorie the 7. set vp Rodolphus against Henry the 4. the Emperour betweene whom many bloodie battels were fought Did not Pope Paschalis incite Henrie the sonne against the Emperor Henrie the father and dispossessed him of the Empire Vrban the 2. did put downe Hugo Earle of Italie discharging his subiects of their oth and obedience Gregorie the 9. did excommunicate Fredericke the 2. and raised vp the Venetians against him And in England Pope Innocent the 3. commaunded vnder paine of his great curse that no man should obey King Iohn he gaue definitiue sentence in his consistorie that he should be deposed from his Crowne and appointed Philip King of France to execute this sentence promising him full remission of his sins to kill or expell King Iohn Vrban the 4. set Henrie the 3. and his Nobles together by the eares absoluing the king of his oth made to performe certaine articles agreed vpon at Oxford whereupon the Barons warres were renewed Pope Boniface set variance betweene England and Scotland in the raigne of Edward the 1. challenging Scotland as proper to the Sea of Rome But in steed of easing the people of rigorous exactions imposed by Princes the Pope himself hath vsed vnreasonable extortions Rigandus de Asteri◠the Popes Legate in England in Edward the 2. his raigne demaunded of the Clergie 8. pence in the marke toward the Legates charges but they graunted only 4. pence in the marke He also laboured to bring in a new manner of collection of Peter pence but was resisted by the King The like did Henricus the 3. Repressit impetum Legati propter violentiam denariorum He restrained the attempts of the Popes Legate touching his violent exactions of money The Bishops of England after great and forcible intreatie agreed to pay to the Pope 11000. markes The King of England saith the same author made payment to Pope Alexander the 4. vpon a very friuolous and fond matter 950000. markes Bonner himselfe witnesseth that the Popes pray in England came almost to as much as the reuenewes of the Crowne The Pope had the first fruites of all the Bishopricks in England which came to a great summe Canterburie paied 10000. Florences and 5000. for his pall Yorke as much Winchester 12000. Elie 7000. The whole summe of all the first fruites in Europe which came to the Popes coffers amounted to 2460843. Florences which maketh well nie 6. hundred 15. thousand two hundred and ten pound starling Iudge by this now Christian Reader what an impudent man this is to make the Pope a mitigator of great exactions whereas he hath been the most cruell extortor and exactor in the world As is his credit in this so let him be beleeued in the rest 4. Popish confession is so farre from keeping subiects from deuising against their Prince as that it hath been the speciall engine and instrument to contriue treacherie against the state Simon the Monke was confessed and absolued of his Abbot when he enterprised to poyson King Iohn Frier Forrest in secret confession declared to diuers subiects that King Henry the 8. was not supreame head of the Church and so abused confession to sedition Peter Barriere was confessed in the Colledge of the Iesuites in Paris and tooke the Sacrament whē he intended to murder the french King that now is Iohn Chaestell also that conspired the like had been often schooled in the Iesuites chamber of meditations These are the fruites of popish confession deuising of treasons reuealing of secrets seeking occasion to do euill for by this opportunitie diuers lewd Priests sollicited the parties that came to be confessed vnto euill As mention is made in the papall rescripts of one qui cum alterius coniuge frequenter in ecclesia dormiuit which oftentimes in the Church slept with another mans wife And this should seeme to be so vsuall a practise that for restraint thereof they decreed against it non debet episcopus vel presbyter commisceri
Christs naked crosse my selfe naked the worlds gaine must not be sought in Christs seruice It is memorable which is reported of Agesilaus who when the Thasians as he passed by with his armie brought him meale fat geese fine cakes with other iunkets he refused them all the meale onely excepted giuing this answere That those things which delighted seruile minds free men abhorred So these things whereby Papists measured religion as riches prosperitie externall glorie Protestants whom the Gospell of Christ hath freed frō popish superstition do hold them too light waights to waigh against the truth THE ANSWERE TO THE ELEVENTH Section of his defence to the Ministerie of England The first Inuectiue 1 LAstly to come to the Protestant Ministrie of England whose displeasure as I esteeme it least so I name them last pag. 113. 2 I defend the doctrine of all godlie and learned professors of Diuinitie of all Popes Fathers Doctors Councels Vniuersities Colledges c. since the time of Christ to Martin Luther where so many millions of miraculouslie approued Saints haue liued and died pag. 113. 3 I impugne a new poore lewd licentious and vnlearned companie of Ministers c. ignorant wicked deceitfull hereticall heretikes seducers reprobate persons that learned their religion of the Deuill c. those that died without repentance condemned in hell 4 I impugne a priuate religion of one nation in one onely time c. pag. 114. The Defensatiue 1 THis Iudasite Frier is now become the Popes Martiall to place euery man in his ranke and order But his authoritie reacheth onely to martiall his fellow friers And if the worst are alwayes in the last place how commeth it to passe that the Ignatian friers if they haue their right haue the last place in publike processions as being the yongest order of the rest I thinke this frierlie companion would hold great scorne that his order should be thought therefore to be worst as it is in deede but not for that cause Well it hath pleased his Mastship to talke with Ministers in the last place that is no disgrace to them but to him that gaue them not their due place And here Agesilaus answere may serue who being yet a child in the beholding of certaine playes being set in the meanest place sayd It is well I must shew that the place doth not commend the man but the man the place 2 Most of the auncient professors of Diuinitie Doctors Councels generall particular Vniuersities Colledges which were liued and florished in the purer ages of the Church do condemne popish religion as it is now professed and practised as hath been declared before These are but facing words and bragging speeches As though Bish. Iewell that reuerent father hath not long since made this challenge that he will proue the principall articles of the Protestants faith by the testimonies of the auncient Fathers and Doctors of the Church that liued within 500. yeare after Christ. Bish. Cranmer also auoucheth that the real presence as the Church of Rome holdeth cannot be proued by any Doctor aboue 1000. yeares after Christ. If this benchwhistler be ignorant of these challenges let him vnderstand it now and put vp his pipes if he knew it before it is great impudencie in him to make these brags till they be answered But as for your millions of Saints I haue told you often that those Saints whom you challenge if they be right Saints they were not yours as being ignorant of the grossest points of poperie If they were wholie yours they were no Saints for I am sure that heretikes and Idolaters make but course Saints vnlesse you will haue the Deuill to beare the crosse And seeing Saints do abound in the popish Church and it is so easie a thing to be Sainted there their Saintships may be worthilier doubted of that grow to so many millions whereas Christs flock is but a litle flocke Luk. 12.32 and fewe there are which finde the narrow way that leadeth vnto life Math. 7.14 That saying therefore of Agesilaus may fit them who when as the confederates murmured that they supplied more souldiers then the Lacedemonians commanded the crier to bid all the artificers as potters brasiers smiths carpenters to depart and there were few left but the Lacedemonians who are not permitted by their law to follow any base handicraft then he smiling said see how many more souldiers we haue sent out then you As there is great difference betweene coblers tinkers potters and other base artisanes and right souldiers so popish Saints differ from true Saints and though they haue more in muster and number yet the Protestants I doubt not haue more in right account and true value 3. But who are the licentious vnlearned company wicked ignorant deceitfull hereticall their fellow Priests shal testifie who thus witnesse of the Iudasites whō they cal proud Nemrods boystrous hunters Iesuiticall humorists Macheuillian practisers furious spirits men without conscience cousining and conspiring companions ambitious hypocrites the more knaue the better lucke and one of them they terme an Italianated companion a Diuell incarnate an other a diuellish polititian the whole order they name the society of the Diuell the schoole of Macheuilisme an other they call a most diabolicall vnnaturall and wicked fellow the rest they affirme to be led with the spirite of Sathan damned for heretikes Bathamans blasphemous wretches proud Pharises the infernall Consistorie They obiect vnto them their night lectures and their auditours of women and those faire ones for the most part whiles their husbands missing their wiues scratched their heads Now sir take your Popish liuerie of deceiptfull hereticall taught of the Diuell and such like to your selfe which your fellow Masse priests haue shaped you being best acquainted with your manners As for vs the Ministers of the Gospell we esteeme of these blasphemous words as of Rabsakeh his railing who though he vttered many shamefull words against the city of God yet they were not able to cast one stone against it to hurt it no more shall this railing Rabsakeh notwithstanding his wicked termes fasten one true word vpon Christs Ministers 4. Our Religion the faith of the Protestants the Gospell of Christ neither is in England onely professed but in Scotland the Low countries Heluetia Geneua in many cities and kingdomes beside in some peaceably in some with trouble and persecution Neither hath the Gospell onely flourished in these times but euery age hath had some witnesses of it as learned Illyricus hath sufficiently proued in a large Treatise of that argument Therefore we cannot iudge this pratler otherwise then a vaine fellow that till he be answered is bold vntruly to affirme that the Religion of Protestants should be in one onely nation and in one onely time Indeed they which die among Protestants without repentance toward God for their sinnes cannot be saued but their faith and calling are not to be