honorablie notwithstanding he was an annointed king and in possessiō of the Realme deposed of the croune They should haue made their accompt before alteration of religion that ther would rise therby Dissentiō in religion deadlie implacable diuision among the subiectes and pernicious difference betwixt the dearest frendes and neerest kinsfolkes no dissention nor hatred being so capital and deadlie as that which cometh of contrarietie in Faith and worship of God And the vnitie of Christes Church being once broken that the Protestantes them selues should be combred with infinity of sectes and opiniōs pernicious to the state Wherof no doubt they should haue receaued good proofe and lamentable issue ere this had not the heades as wel of the rulers as of the Puritanes Anabaptistes Brethrē of loue and other sectes bene so fullie and fearfullie attent vpon the Catholiques and their endeuours But the aduersarie telleth vs that they haue gone through al thes perils and haue had so manie victories against what enimies soeuer at home or abrode and that therfore al was wiselie done and luckelie To which we say that if al proue wel in the end it is better for them and that it is not so properlie perteining to prudence to escape dangers when they fal which good luck fond men also sometimes haue by fortune as to preuent and prouide that no dangers fal and to flie from such thinges wherof euident perils must needes ensue But in this matter of Religion God him self also hath checked their worldlie purposes and conceiptes maruelouslie The Heretiques expectatiō deceaued about extinctiō of the Catholique religion For wher they had thought by seueritie of such strāge lawes as were neuer made in anie common wealth heathen or Christian by putting al the old Prelates into prison and wearing them away by yeelding al Churches pulpites schooles offices honours and commodities to men of their owne sect and creation and by what other extremitie policie or diligence so euer to haue in a few years extinguished the name and memorie of faith Catholique they now yearlie and daylie find the number zeale constancie patience and knowledge of the children of the Catholique Romane Church so to encrease in al orders sexes degrees of men that they may see and confesse that Digitus Dei est hic and that if they persist Exo. 8.19 Mat. 27.64 Nouissimus error ipsorum erit peior priori Once they shew them selues to be so terrified by God in the blood death of so manie Martirs which they in a kind of extreme desperate obstinacie and obduration doe dailie kil yet are so appalled by the truth and the common sense of al men that they dare not or are ashamed to execute them for religiō wherby euen now in the vaunt of their wealth peace and prosperitie they shew such extraordinarie feares as is wonder to behold Wherin their miserie is so lamentable as we conster it the perplexitie which God hath driuen them vnto The extreme feares of English Protestāts so terrible that ther is not a poore Priest can enter to say Masse but they imagine he bringeth their destruction Ther can not a ship appeare in anie coast nor anie Princes preparation for his owne affaires but it is for inuasion of the Realme Ther can be no College founded to releeue mens banishmēts abrode no intertainment giuen to anie Catholique ether in cāpe or court The speech of the Ievves Iohn 11. but al is against their state euerie man crying out Quòd venient Romani tollent locum gentem nostram So long as our Realme was in the vnitie of the Catholique Church and liued ether in iust warres or honorable peace with our neighbours was ther anie such extreme feares of present inuasion was ther such mustering such diligent watch and swearing against the Pope at euerie porte such examination of passingers such a doe generallie and such mistrust of the subiectes fidelitie such ielousie ouer al men as though the whole Realme were a Campe that feared and expected euerie houre some secret Camisado Is this the felicitie securitie that the Libeller so much glorieth of wherof he saieth other countries wishe some part Surelie a moderate fortune with securitie is without comparison much better then al the pleasures in the world with perplexitie And it seemeth by outward signes that ther is no Nation in Europe which standeth this day in so doubtful termes as ours doth Woe be to our sinnes therfore Which we say not vpon anie likelihood of anie such present dangers as seeme there now so extremlie to be feared or for that the Priestes of God or other Catholique men can possiblie be anie cause therof which is indeed no more but this Psal 52.6 Deum non inuocauerunt illic trepidauerunt timore vbi non erat timor God onelie hath driuen them vnto it to giue them some sense of their miserie and some remorse of their reuolte from him and motion of repentance But our consideration is speciallie of the dreadful and most desperate case our whole Countrie euerie order and eche particular man therof is in The dāger of the Realme by vncertaintie of the next inheritour by the vncertaintie of the next heire to the Crowne yea by the certaintie of most bloodie ciuil forreine warres among such a number of Competitours such diuersitie of religions such ambitious spirits that alredie make their packes and complots for the same al our rest peace and felicitie what so euer depending vpon a few vncertaine dayes of one sole persons life wel growen in yeares subiect to casualties and vnder the hand of the omnipotent Lord that taketh away when he listeth the spirits of Princes and is terrible vpon the Kinges of the earth It were to miserable for anie noble or gentleman or other person ether of possession wealth or issue in the whole land not to knowe or not to care to whom his liuelihood should descend after him but to prouide for his owne time onelie to let them goe by the eares and skamble for it afterward Farre more miserable vnnatural and lamentable it is to see such a noble whole Realme and publique state driuen to thes straites and incomparable distresses that almost it looketh for no longer life and being and no person subiect therunto for longer peace wealth and vse of their owne goodes then her Maiesty liueth that is to say for ten twentie moe or lesse years as it pleaseth God to allot her Which thing being an euident demonstration and palpable proofe of our greatest calamitie the deceiptful aduersaries shame not to turne the same not-with-standing to the high commendation of their gouernment telling the people how happie they be by the same and how needfullie they haue to pray and prouide for the preseruation of her Maiesties person by whos onelie life they enioy so great felicitie afterward al to be in extremes Which the Counselours them selues sticke not to confesse and publish
Gentrie The persecution of Catholique Nobilitie Gētrie whom this Libeller saith They put not to death nor losse of their inheritance though they hould opinion for the Popes supremacie and defend that the Q. Maiestie ought not to be the gouernour ouer al her subiects in her Realme being persons Ecclesiastical vvhich opiniōs saith he ar neuerthelesse in some part by the lavves of the Realme punishable in some degrees yet such is their miserie we say that notwithstanding thes faire and false speeches of the enemy they be far more iniuried then the Cleargie euen themselues more vexed spoiled dishonored with fines mulctes bondes penalties imprisonmentes arreignements amongst theeues pretence of premuniries misprisions discontentments euil affections and cōtrarie religion to the state pursued by the vilest and most abiect men by Ministers spies and promotors assailed robbed in their owne howses and chased from the same into woodes yea sometimes into waters we speake of knowledge at length into banishment Which who seeth not how miserable a thing it is when their whole families must either perish of famine at home or begge in strange landes abrode in which case both their goodes are seazed on as the world knoweth and their possessiō◠fal to the Princes handes or into the fiste of some lost companion which shal vpon fauour obteine the gif◠to make spoile of the same And yet this good writer so nicelie to colour their crueltie towardes Catholique gentlemen setteth doune the matter as though cases of Cōscience Religion or of the sea Apostolique were but in some degrees in some litle part punished and not with losse of landes nor death at any time persecuted when he and al the world knoweth that they may and doe by thos wicked lawes of theirs disherite put to perpetual prison and to death diuers of the laytie We refer them to the worshipful M. Trugeons case who liueth in prison so many yeares of almes after the spoile and rapine of so goodlie possessions We refer them to the lay men put to death of late at Winchester and And ouer to so manie fled for religion of the best Nobilitie and gentrie wholie sacked and spoiled of al they possessed so many hundreds more vexed pilled spoiled at home as they haue not wherwithal to expel famine from them selues and ther families And which is yet more we tel you that ther can neuer a Catholique noble man in the realme if by anie shew of religiō or moderatiō in life he giue th'enimie the least suspicion in the world of his good affection that way be sure of his life landes and state one day For by one false pretence and calumniation or other they wil entrap him emprison him and in sin except God maruelouslie protect him they wil ouerthrow him and his whole familie and transferre al his honors sometimes to his cheefest enimies Yea al this often against the Princesse wil being led against her owne natural inclination to such thinges by the violent domination of certaine that ouerrule her and the whole Realme so as no Catholique can be sure of his landes or life longer then th' aduersarie list God knoweth we doe not amplifie in the sight of strangers the calamities of Catholiques in our countrie whos chaines dongeons spoiles flightes disgraces deathes if al the world could see with their eyes as we doe feele al the Princes Christian would take compassion and accompt our complaintes most iust and necessary Wherin our miseries are multiplied that such Libellers as thes The craftie cozonage of this Libeller doe by false reportes and misconstruction of our sentence in religiō guilefullie goe about to diffame vs with forrenners As for example when here this fellowe sayeth that ther be diuers gentlemen Catholiques in England that hold The Q. ought not to be gouernour ouer any her subiectes in her realme being persons Ecclesiastical and yet are not persecuted to death for the same c. For their prosecution and persecution I haue made it plaine before But for their holding of any such assertion I must and doe say that it is slaunderous and most vntrue For ther is a great difference to say she is not to rule the Bishops in causes Ecclesiastical or in matter of ministring the Sacraments preaching and doctrine and to say she is not Q. or gouernour ouer the Cleargie or that Priestes or Ecclesiastical persons be not her subiects For they are also bound yea euē monkes and religious as S. Chrisostome sayeth which this Libeller in an other place alleadgeth ignorātly to proue that in al matters such ought to obey their tēporal Princes they are bound I say to order and obedience of their kinges and to obserue their temporal and ciuil lawes made for peace tranquilitie and temporal gouernment of their people to doe them al honour and seruice in that behalf as the Libeller right wel knoweth that al Catholike Bishops and Prelates of the Church euer haue done and doe at this day both in our Realme and in al other Realmes abrode to their lawful Kinges yea to heathen kinges also though in matters of religion and of their spiritual charge neither Heathen nor Christian kinges be their superiours or ought to direct them but rather to take direction from them Thus then ouer and aboue al former recompted calamities by opprobrious tongues lying lippes and pennes we be persecuted for defence of our Fathers faith the Churches truth The cause wherof putteth the difference betwene our Martyrdome and the due and worthie punishmēt of Heretiques who shedding their blood obstinatelie in testimonie of falshood against the truth of Christ and his holie spouse and out of the vnitie of the same are knowē malefactors and can be no Martyrs but damnable Murtherers of them selues One onelie thing belonging to this passage is yet behind The protestant Martyrs hovv they vvere traitors which we must answere to breeflie The aduersarie telleth vs that the Martyrs of their sect in Q. Maries time denied not their lavvful Q. nor mainteined her enimies as ours doe A strange boldnesse to auouch a lye without necessitie which al the world can disproue at the first sight For how say yow Sir was not your Archbishop named here for the principal of al your Martirs cōuicted cōdemned opēlie of highe treason Cranmer euen for waging souldiars for Duke Dudley a hateful name to England since Henrie the seuēthes tyme euer aspiring but stil infortunate to it self and followers against the Princesse that was then and her Highenes that is now Was not your next Martir Superintēdent Ridley Ridley an high traytor publiquelie preaching and proclaming at Paules Crosse in London both Q. Marie and this Q. to be bastardes and to haue no right title to the Croune Sandz Did not your famous superintēdent now of Yorke yet no Martir how so euer he hath suffred of late some heauie Crosses for other causes of homelie qualitie boldlie publish the same in
ought to be obeyed by the subiects of England notwithstanding the Bul of Pius Quintus or anie other Bul or sentence that the Pope hath pronounced or may pronounce against her Maiesty Whether the Pope haue or had power to authorize her subiects to rebel or take armes against her or to inuade her dominions and whether such subiects so doing doe laufullie therin Whether the Pope haue power to discharge anie of her Maiesties subiects or the subiects of anie Christian Prince from their alleageance or othe of obedieÌ„ce to her Maiesty or to their Prince for anie cause Whether D. Sanders in his booke of the visible Monarchie of the Church and D. Bristow in his booke of Motiues writing in allowance commendation and confirmation of the said Bul of Pius Quintus haue therin taught testified or mainteined a truth or a falsehood Yf the Pope doe by his Bul or sentence pronounce her Maiesty to be depriued and no lauful Q. and her subiects to be discharged of their allegeance and obedience vnto her and after the Pope or anie other by his appointment and authoritie doe inuade this Realme which part would you take or which part ought a good subiect of England to take Wherin if you say nothing or refuse to answere somewhat in contempt or derogation of the sea Apostolique then are you iudged no good subiect but a traytor wherby let al Princes and People Christian beare witnes of our miseries and iniust afflictions who are inforced to suffer death for our onelie cogitations and inward opinions vnduelie sought owt by force and feare yet not condemned by anie Christian schoole in the world nor vttered by vs but vpon forcing interrogatories we hauing committed nothing by word or deed against our Prince or lawes but doing al actes of honour and homage vnto her suffering meekelie what punishement so euer she would lay vpon vs for our Religion The behaueour of English Catholikes since the Bul of Pius Quintus for so most part of al sortes of Catholiques haue done both in EnglaÌ„d and Ireland for this twentie fiue years space onelie a verie few Nobles of both countries taking once armes for their defence in al this long time of intollerable affliction the like patience you shal hardlie find in ProtestaÌ„tes as their furious rebellions against their Soueraignes in France Flandres and Scotland doe testifie our Nobles gentlemen hauing borne al thos anguishes of bodie and mind with losse of honours countrie landes libertie for so long time haue both at home and abrod obeyed her with such loialtie as subiects ought to doe their Soueraine neuer tooke armes in al EnglaÌ„d vpoÌ„ the Bul of Pius Quintus nor anie time since the publication therof contrarie to the deceiptful diuisioÌ„ of thos times things actions set doune by the Libeller placing that after which was done before the Bul was published but haue shewed them selues in al cases as seruiceable as before The Clergie men also whether religious Priestes The proceeding of Cleargie-men concerning the Bul. or students of the two colledges in Rome and Rhemes whether they were in the seruice of their countrie at home or in the schooles absent did al in maner notwithstaÌ„ding the said CeÌ„sure of his Holines vse al due reuereÌ„ce respect vtteriÌ„g in no preachiÌ„g speech or booke no nor at the houre of their death Martirdome nor euer before in anie their confessions to the Magistrate anie disloyal worde against her Maiesty No which we further auouch not anie one Priest of the Societie or Seminaries can be prooued by the aduersarie to haue absolued in secret Confession anie one man liuing from his allegeance or to haue euer ether in publique or priuate disswaded anie one person in the Realme from his obedience in Ciuil causes to the Q. Furthermore it is certaine that neuer Priest had anie such Commission giuen hitherto by ether the Popes Holines Priests Commissions or such other superiours in Religion or college to deale in anie such matters touching the Q. nether is ther anie such thing implyed in ether the authoritie or act of reconcilement how so euer the ielous enimie hath found knots in thos rushes that of theÌ„ selues are smooth As the contrarie is doubtles most true the Gouernours of the students alwayes of purpose prohibiting and as much as in such numbers of al sortes not al euer hauing discretion to season their zeale could be prouiding that in the cours of our schoole questions and controuersies concerning the Popes preeminence no matter of depriuing or excommunicating Princes should be disputed no not so much as in generalities and much lesse the particularizing of anie point in our Q. case Which matter notwithstanding it be determinable by Diuinitie and doe come in cours to be handled in schooles as other questioÌ„s doe yet because it is incident to matter of state as now our countrie most vnfortunatly standeth and consequently might be interpreted by the suspitious to be ment of her whos case men liked lest to deale in it was thought best to passe ouer al with silence The particuler doinges of D. Sanders of D. Bristoe Which moderation was kept in al places and persons of our Nation two onelie learned men of great zeale excellencie indeed D. Saunders and D. Bristowe excepted who had their special reasâ—ns to doe as they did which we wil neither defend nor reproue but manie Catholiques were sorie therfore and wished the matter so offensiue had neuer bene touched but committed onelie to higher powers and especiallie to Gods iudgement that he might ether in this world or the next wher both Popes Princes must come to their accomptes discerne of the coÌ„trouersie betwixt our two superiours th' one being our spiritual Head and Soueraigne who is the higher and in matter of Religion rather to be obyed th' other our temporal Prince to whom likewise in such sort and matter as the Holie Scriptures appoint vs we owe al dutie and obeisance WherupoÌ„ afterwardes not onely D. Bristow omitted in his second edition or abridgement of his booke that odious point not fit at that time to be handled but D. Saunders also though his former treatise was not of anie stranger Catholique and learned in anie nation misliked being more free therin because they be not entangled by authoritie and sway of lawes as we are yet called he in and suppressed to his liues end a verie learned booke made in defence of Pius Quintus his sentence and printed aboue fortene years since no copie therof that is knowen being now extant Which cours of moderation al Catholiques of al sortes both spiritual and temporal haue followed euer since restraining as much as in them lay the rigour of that sentence And the blessed Martyr F. Campian him self as is recited in the storie of his arraignemeÌ„t The speech of Father CampiaÌ„ at Rome falling in talke with a certaine principal Cardinal in Rome at his first arriual ther
see in what sort also Hiereboam king of Israel 3. Reg. 13 14. The exāple of Ieroboā a vvicked schismatick denoūced by a Preist had a special Prophet sent to him to denounce the intended iudgements of God against him and his posteritie for his schisme and separation of his people from the old anciēt true worship of God in Hierusalem and for erectīg of a new Altar in Bethel ī which al schisme and diuisiō from the Apostolike Sea is properlie prefigured and for creating of a wicked cleargie out of Aarons order I meane new hungrie base and inordered Priestes the paterne of heretical ministers thrust vp out of the aray and orderlie succession and creation of Apostolike Priesthood a crime so highlie afterward both in him and his stocke according to Gods former denunciation reuenged that none of his house was left to pisse against a wal Yet he fondlie sought to apprehend the man of God and to kil him for bringing this newes which he accompted high treason against his regalitie Ozias also The exāple of proude Ozias that vvould take vnto him the authoritie of Priestes or Vsia king of Iuda puffed vp with intollerable pride as the Scripture sayeth and not contended with his kinglie soueraigntie but presuming to execute spiritual and Priestlie functiō was valiantlie by Azarias and fourscore Priestes with him assailed and thrust out of the Temple by force At what time for that he threatned the Priests of God and resisted them with violence he was strooken with a filthie leprosie so not onelie thrust out of the Temple but by their authoritie seuered also from al company of men a special figure of the Priests power to excommunicate for Heresie as wel Princes as others in the new law and finally the regiment of his kingdome was committed to his sonne A cleare example that Priestes may vse armes represse impietie by forceable wayes wher it may serue to the preseruation of Religion and the honor of God But the office and zeale of good Priestes is notablie 4. Reg. 11 recōmended vnto vs The exāple of depositiō and death of Queene Athalia by Ioida the highe Priest in the deposition of the wicked Q. Athalia She to obteine the croune after Ochasias killed al his children onelie one which by a certaine good womans pietie was secretlie withdrawen from the massacre saued and brought vp within the Temple for seuen years space al which time the said Q. vsurped the kingdome til at length Ioida the high Priest by opportunitie called to him forces both of the Preistes and people proclamed the right heire that was in his custodie annointed and crouned him king caused immediatlie the pretēsed Q. notwithstanding she cried Treason Treason as not onelie iust possessors but wicked vsurpers vse to doe to be slaine with her fautors at her owne court gate Thus doe Priests deale and iudge for the innocent and lauful Princes when time requireth much to their honor and agreeable to their holie calling No man can be ignorant how stoutlie Elias being sought to death by Achab and his Q. Iesabel that ouerthrew holie Altars 3. Reg. 18 19. The executiō done by Elias the Prophet vpon many vvith deposition of Princes and murthered al the true religious that could be found in their land tould them to their face that not he or other men of God whom they persecuted but they and their house were the disturbers of Israel And slew in his zeale al the said Iesabels false Prophets fostered at her table euen foure hundreth at one time and so set vp holie Altars againe How he handled the Idololatrious king Ochozias his Captaines and messingers 4. Reg. 1 wasting them and an hundreth of their traine by fire from heauen til the third Captaine was forced to humble him self vpon his knees vnto him 3. Reg. 19. 4. Reg. 9 How he had commission to annoint Hazael king of Siria Eliseus a Prophet for him self and Iehu king of Israel so to put doune the sonne and whole house of Achab which therbie lost al the title and right to the kingdome for euer This Prophet and his successor Eliseus were so famous in this seruice of God for the chastisement of irreligious Princes that in holie writ it is thus said of the former He cast doune kinges destroyed them Eccle. 48. and plucked the honorable from their seates And of the second in the same place that he neuer feared Prince nor could be ouercome by anie And in an other place 3. Reg. 19 VVho soeuer escapeth the svvord of Iehu the svvord of Eliseus shal slea him By which examples of holie Scriptures we see first Illations consequents vpō the former examples that annointed and laufullie created kinges may be deposed secondlie for what causes they were depriued thirdly that as in the creation and consecration of kinges so also in their depriuation God vsed the ministerie of Priestes and Prophets as ether ordinarie or extraordinarie Iudges or executors of his wil towardes them For though nether thes Priests nor Prophets were superiours to their owne kinges or soueraignes in their temporal states and regiments nor Lordes or maisters of their crounes and kingdomes yet for that they held their dignities and soueraigne authorities of God and were bound to occupie and vse the same with what forces so euer they had to th'aduauncement of his Religion and to the true worship and honor of their supreme Lord and Maister as also to the benefit preseruation of his people in faith and feare of him the Priestes and Prophets that then had the principal and direct charge of mens soules and religion and were in spiritual matters superiors to their owne Princes rightlie opposed them selues in al such actions as tended to the dishonor of God destruction of religion and to the notorious domage of the soules of them ouer whom they did reigne and in the behalf of God executed iustice vpon such as contrarie to their obligation and first institution abused their soueraigne power to the destruction of true religion and aduauncemet of Idolatrie Heresie or such like abhomination In which cases and al other doubtes and differences betwixt one man and an other or betwixt Prince and people that Priestes and namely the highe Priest should be the Arbiter and Iudge and the interpreter of Gods wil towards his people is most consonant both to nature reason the vse of al nations and to the expresse Scriptures Deut. 17. For in Gods sacred law thus we read Si difficile ambiguum apud te iudicium esse prospexeris inter sanguinem sanguinem The subiection of al men to the iudgemēt of Priestes causam causam lepram non lepram c. If thou forsee the iudgement to be hard and ambiguous betwixt blood and blood cause and cause leprosie or no leprosie and finde varietie of sentences among the iudges at home rise and goe vp to the place which
inuincible courage constancie of the Pope often brought to penance and extremitie that in fin by armes he droue the said Pope out of his sea and placed an Antipape An Antipape that is to say one so opposite to Christs vicar as Antichrist shal be against Christ which by armes and patronage of this wicked Emperour vsurped and occupied the Apostolical throne against the true Pope Gregorie the seuenth whom the Libeller after the vulgar vaine of Rebellious Heretiques voutsafeth not the name of Gregorie the seuenth but calleth him commonlie Hildebrand as the Heretiques when they were in armes in Germanie against their Emperour Heretical malice would not name him Charles the fifte nor Emperour but Charles of Gaunt And now because this good and notable Pope The coÌ„tentioÌ„ betvvene Pope Gregorie the seuenth and Henrie the third Emperor was â—ot able in fin to resist th'emperours forces the which Emperour as al the histories of that time record was a most wicked sacrilegious simoniacal and heretical person th' aduersaries of Gods Church doe triumphe as the Libeller here doth ouer the blessed man as Herode might haue done ouer Iohn Baptist whos admonition was taken in so euil gré that it cost him his life as also th'executing of the Churches sentence which is Gods hath done to manie a Prophet and Bishop in the world By which euent of thinges who so euer measureth the right of causes wil make a good religion and a good defence of th' execution of iustice For so most Tirants might be iustified for a time against al the Saints of God This Gregorie say they was in sin banished by the Emperour and so was S. Chrisostom by Archadius and Eudoxia and dyed in banishment as Gregorie the seuenth did yet they were but homelie Christians that would iustifie the Emperours and condemne S. Chrisostome And indeed this Pope whom they speciallie hate because as it may be thought he was the first man that authenticallie condemned the Berengarians heresie in open disputation refuted it though certaine of the said Emperours flatterers enimies of the sea Apostolique as the fashion of our Heretiques is at this day wrote slaunderous Libels against him Pope Hildebrand a good man yet was he a very notable good man and learned and did suffer what so euer he did suffer for mere iustice in that he did godlie honorablie and by the dutie of his Pastorship what so euer he did against the said Emperour wherof we could alleadge al the best writers of thos dayes or near that time but that we should be tedious Of whom yet this one graue testimonie of Baptista Fulgosius a noble and learned man that was Duke of Genua aboue an hundred years past we shal not let to set doune as we finde it in latine Constantissimus habitus est Gregorius septimus Pontifex Lib. 3 Cap. vlt. factoruÌ„ memorabilium qui quòd Henricum tertium Imperatorem propter aperta nimis Symoniae crimina pro pastorali officio reprehendebat grauibus ab eo iniurijs affectus est itaque iniuriarum magnitudine compulsus Henricum Gregorius vt haereticum Imperij honore priuauit Cum autem Henricus solui ecclesiastica censura non emendatione vitae sed armis quaereret alium creare Pontificem enixus capta Vrbe obsidere Gregorium coepit Quae mala cum Gregorius pateretur nunquam tamen a iusto proposito dimoueri potuit That is Gregorie the seueÌ„th was notable for his constancie who for that according to his pastoral charge he had admonished Henrie the third The testimonie of the Duke of Genua for Pope Hildebrand Emperour to leaue his knowen impietie of Simonie was by manifold intollerable iniuries vexed by the said Emperour and by the greatnes of his wickednes was compelled to depriue him as an heretique of his Imperial dignitie But Henrie seeking not by amendment of his life but by armes to be absolued from the censure he went about to set vp a new Pope and beseiged the citie of Rome and brought the Pope into great distres In al which miseries Gregorie could neuer be remoued from his iust purpose So he writeth of the parties both See Vspergen lib. 5. Annal. And of the horrible crimes for which the Emperour was most iustlie iÌ„ the sight of al good meÌ„ deposed Thus Trithemius reporteth iÌ„ breef of the wickednes of this Emperour Episcopacus CoÌ„staÌ„tiensem c. He sould the Bishoprikes of Constance Bamburgh Mentz diuers other for money thos of Ausbourg Straisburgh for a sword that of Munster for Sodomie and the abbacie of Fulde for aduoultrie Trithem in Chron. heauen and earth witnesse and crie out of thes and for the same abhominations he standeth excommunicated depriued and therfore hath no power nor iust title to reigne ouer vs Catholiques But to goe forward this same Gregorie the seuenth did the like commendable iustice vpon the king of Pole Bolislaus the second Chrom lib. hist PoloÌ„ li. 4. aswel excommunicating as depriuing him for murthering of his Bishop S. Stanislay at the verie Altar Against which sentence though he stoode by force and contempt for a time Kinges of later times excoÌ„municated yet at length he was forsaken and resisted wholie by his subiects fled and in fin slew him self For Heresie also was George K. of Boemland excommunicated and thervpon by the forces of the king of Hungarie at length actuallie depriued As also Iohn Albert had half his kingdome of Nauarre taken from him by Ferdinandus surnamed Catholicus of Aragon for that he gaue aide to Levves the twelueth beiÌ„g excommunicated by Iulius the second For great iniuries also done to holie Church for persecution of Bishops and religious was Iohn one of our kinges of England Kinges of England with his whole land interdicted and brought after long strugling against God and the Sea Apostolique to yeeld his Croune to the courtesie of the Popes Legate and to make both his Realmes of England and Ireland tributaries Lib. 1. de Repub. Cap. 9. The authentical instrument wherof Iohn Bodin saith he hath seene For like causes and namelie for that he was vehemeÌ„tlie suspected of the murther of the blessed Bishop S. Thomas of Canterburie was Henrie the second driuen by Alexander the third to order and penance A number of the like examples moe we might recite of our countrie and of the christian world wherby not onelie the practize of the Church in al ages may be seene but also Catholique men warranted that they be no traitors nor hould assertions treasonable false or vndutiful in answering or beleeuing that for Heresie or such like notorious wickednes a Prince otherwise lauful and annointed may be excommunicated deposed forsaken or resisted by the warrant of holie Churches iudgement and Censure Whervnto we wil adde onelie the sentence of Gregorie the great and first of that name whom the aduersaries confesse to haue bene both learned and holie who being as
with the rebellious states of Flaunders In Flāders or with the Apostata of Colen or other their correspondents wil come they partelie perceaue and may acknowledge therī as al other wise mē doe the mightie iust and prouident hand of God The secret miserie of English Protestātes When our Protestantes consider of thes thinges deeplie and attend the issue of al their extraordinarie proceedinges and as men out of al aime now and compasse of their intended cours can goe no farther without desperate ouerthrowe and hazard of al what miserie they may be in let wise men iudge how so euer thē selues couer their perplexed cogitations from the vulgar sort by telling them of faire wether and of their plentie of corne and cattle long reigne and prosperitie of her Maiesty aboue al Popes and Princes of her daies But the origine of al the former dishonorable desperate plottes and of the extreme feares and miseries The true origine of English miseries they manie wayes shew them selues to be in and indeed are notwithstanding the pretence of their prosperitie is their first fal from the God of their forefathers and the alteration of Catholique religion into this Caluinisme or Atheisme by which our Realme hath so long perished Though this Libeller and other English new writers no wiser nor better then Children or Beares that are offended with the roddes stones or staues wherwith they be beaten nether looking a◠the cause nor cheefe author of their punishment attribute their trobles or apprehended feares to the excommunication and to the godlie endeuours of Catholique Priestes instructing the people peaceablie to their saluation And how much this forsaking of holie Church Faith and communion of al Christian people displeased God and how vnwiselie it was done in respect of the temporal state and safetie of our Prince Countrie the same Lord God hath in their owne daies that were the authors therof reuealed as otherwise natural reason and experience if they were neuer so voide of conscience and religion might haue foretold thē But alas their owne particular aduauncement and infinite ambition which they thought should not haue so free cours if the old state of religion had continued ether brought them into errour of iudgemēt as it commonlie happeth or els which is no rare case nether made thē against their owne knowledge folowe that which was so pernitious both temporallie and spirituallie For who could not see though his iudgement reason Al mutations dāgerous but especially of Religion or reading were neuer so smal that al great alteratiōs in Common weales are dangerous Let but an attempt be made to change your temporal statutes and national lawes into the ciuil lawes change but your customes that now you be guided by in manie thinges change your forme of gouernment which is now a Monarchie into an other kind of regiment what infinite broiles would it bring But ther is no alteration so perilous as of Religion and of that Religiō which was planted by our first Apostles receaued from the mother Church of Christendome confirmed by miracles approued by al the lawes councels customes and tribunals of the Church for to be the only true worship of God and consonant to his sacred word wil. What counsaile could be more dangerous in the world then this They could not but thinke that the subiectes of the Realme so manie of them being Catholique so latelie reconciled to the Church and by publique Ambassie othe and promis to his Holines aduowed neuer to fal againe into Schisme could not but be much discontented They could not but see what hart-sore it would be to al thos that depended on the old honorable Cleargie to behold the depriuation and imprisonment almost of the whole order and an other fleshlie company intruded into their roomes whom no man almost liked of and sith are more and more taken and proued to be the filth of the land They were not ignorant that the Pope and Sea Apostolique now the secōd time so contemptuouslie forsaken could ether of conscience or dutie to his flocke or his owne honour The peril by excōmunication not vse one time or other the rodde of the Churches discipline which is Excōmunication against the offendors which how so euer they thought by errour of Religion they might contemne by power withstand yet they could not be so farre ouerseene that such Censures by which manie a mans conscience at home might be perced and of which anie forreine Prince abrode as time and aduantage serued him would perhaps make his profit might not seeme to them verie like to breed more trobles then were to be wished They looked not wel about them Consideratiōs against change of Religion in England if they foresawe not that their defection from the Pope who is most dearlie cōfederated with al the Catholike and mightie Kinges of Christendome might not breed a great alienation of their hartes from vs and an occasion of much inconuenience and danger to our Countrie Their wisdomes and experience of the diuers bloody conflictes foughten in our Fathers dayes for religion in Zwicherland and in our Countrie in K. Henrie the 8. and K. Edvvard the sixt late daies and the doubtful euent of such thinges might haue forewarned them of the like that might fal and sithence haue fallen as wel in England as Ireland where al the Countrie being in good wil Catholique they might easilie perceaue with what a general torment of conscience and danger of ciuil warre the new Religion were to be enforced vpon them Feare is neuer a sure nor long keeper of his maister And because no Prince ruleth his subiects so securelie by force and feare as by loue and liking how could they not conceaue that al Ireland and a great peece of England was euer to be interteined in subiection by power and plaine awe nothing by loue and sweetnes And which is of more perilous sequele in this case and ought most of al to haue bene by them foreseene is that the diuersitie of religion ioined with the censure and sentence of the Sea Apostolique may make such alteration in the opinions of manie otherwise most loial subiectes that diuers may seeme to obey onelie of feare and nothing of consciēce Which conscience of the subiectes doubtles is the onelie sure piller of the Souerains estate They should haue foreseene how manie persons of honour and qualitie for freedome of conscience and other discontentmēt grounded on religion were like to flie into forreine partes who might by zeale or miserie be so irritated against the causes of their banishment and occupiers of their liuelihoodes that their absence might proue dāgerous to their enimies state Whom they can not represse by calling them Fugitiues or such like names of vulgar reproch for that terrefied not the noble Prince Henrie the seuenth K. Henry the 7. grandfather to the Queenes Maiesty for pursuing the cruel Tirant and vsurper Richard the third whom he