acknowledge that they who are thus punished â—or their mad tricks may not be accompted Martyrs but yet they will say that these things ought not to belong to the Emperour to punish Iust as the Papists say the punishment of their Clergie belongeth not to the Magistrate I demand then sayth Augustin Whether they thinke that the superior powers ought not to haue care of Religion of punishing false religion The Apostle saith The works of the flesh are manifest which are adaltery fornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witch-craft hatred debate emulation wrath contentions seditions heresies envie murthers drunkennesse gluttony and such like What reason can these men render why it should be justice for the Empeperours to punish Idolaters Murtherers and such and not by the same reason to be like justice in them to punish heretiques When as they are accompted in the same fruits of iniquitie Someruill was found strangled in the prison For feare belike that he might haue discovered moe Ardern being condemned was hanged the next day This is the common end that Priests bring such Gentlemen vnto who are willing to heare them and be perswaded by them The next yeare after for seldome did any yeare passe without some treason some English Gentlemen began to practise the deliverance of the Queene of Scots Francis Throgmorton fell first into suspition by certaine Letters intercepted written to the Queene of Scots As soone as he was committed to prison and beganne to confesse something presently Thomas Lord Paget and Charles Arundell a Courtier secretly fled the land and went into France These men meeting with other devoted to the Roman Religion did much complaine recounting their sorrowes among themselues that the Queene was estranged from them without their fault by the cunning of Leicester and Walsingham that them selues were exposed to vnworthy contumelies ignominies that singular tricks were found out and secret snares laid so cunningly that improvident men will they nill they must needs be intangled in such snares that to remaine at home there could be no safety for them It was thought at this time that some cunning was practised to feele mens affections and that counterfeit Letters were written vnder the name of the Scots Queene and of some fugitiues knowne traytors to the State which Letters might be left in the houses of Recusans and that spies were sent abroad to gather rumors and to catch suspitions Diverse were drawne into snares Among others Henry Earle of Northumberland and his sonne Philip Earle of Arundell was commanded to keepe his house his wife was committed to Sr Thomas Shirly to be kept and Henry Howard the Dukes brother was often examined of Letters sent from the Scots Queene from Charles Paget and from one Mope then vnknowne Some blamed the narrow searching of things and the manner of drawing men into danger Others thought that all the means that might be vsed to prevent the Queenes danger and to saue her life was but necessary And indeed the outragious maliciousnes of the Papists against the Queene brake out daily for by Bookes imprinted they exhorted the Queenes maides and Ladies of honor to doe the same against the Queene which Iudith did against Holofernes The Author of that Booke was not found Gregory Martin was suspected a man learned in the Greeke and Latin tongues and chosen by the Duke to be the bringer vp of his children Carter the Stationer that caused the Books to be Printed was punished for it The Queene that was much traduced for crueltie knowing her owne mildnes and desirous to leaue a good remembrance of her name behinde her was much offended with the Iudges of the Papists apprehended if they passed any cruell sentences against them which might be iniurious to her honor Insomuch that they were forced to excuse themselues by publike writings wherein they protested that the Priests were much more mildly vsed then they deserved that no question of Religion was moued to them but onely of such pernicious machinations against their Country against their Prince whereof they were either found guiltie or by the discovery of others suspected That Campian was never so racked but that presently he was able to walke or to subscribe to his confessions But for Briant who stubbornly denied to vtter by speech or by writing who was the man that wrote these secret things which were found about him to this man meat was denied vntill by writing he would aske it For all this the Queene was not satisfied and therefore she commanded the Examiners to abstaine from tormenting men and the Iudges from punishing And short after she commanded seventie Priests to be sent out of England whereof some were condemned to die all of them were intangled within the danger of the lawes The chiefe of these were Gasper Haywod the sonne of Haywod the Epigrammatist who of all the Iesuites first entred England Iames Bosgraue which was also a Iesuit Iohn Hart the most learned among them with whom Doct Reinolds had conference and Edward Rishton a wicked and vngrateful man who wrote a Booke presently after shewing forth the poyson of a cankred heart against the Queene to whom he owed his life The Lord Paget and Arundell who went into France were narrowly observed there by Edward Stafford the Ambassadour Leiger there for Queene Elizabeth but he could not find out what they practised yet he dealt with the French King that they Morgan and some other English fugitiues who were knowne to be practisers against their Prince and their Country might be thrust out of France But it was answered that if they practised any thing in France the King would by law punish them but if they had practised any thing in England that of such things the King could take no notice nor by law punish them that all Kingdomes were free for fugitiues that it behooued Kings to maintaine their owne liberties That Elizabeth not long before had admitted into her Kingdome Montgomery the Prince of Condie and others of the French Nation and that Segneres Ambassadour of the King of Navarre was in England practising of some things that concerned the French state In the meane time Bernardinus Mendoza the King of Spaine his Ambassadour for England stole fecretly into France fretting and fuming that he was thrust out of England by a violation of the right of an Ambassadour When as indeed he was a man of a troublesome spirit and had abused the reuerend right of Ambassadours by the practises of treason against this State wherein he was He was commanded to depart out of the realme whereas many thought fit that he should haue beene with some severity censured for violating the office of an Ambassadour For he had practised with Throgmorton and others to bring in strangers into England to invade the land and to remoue the Queene And being gently reprooued for these things he was so far from offering to excuse these things with a modest answer that he began to accuse the
A. THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCIE by G. C. London Printed for Robert M. Robinson A THANKFVLL REMEMBRANCE OF GODS MERCY In an Historicall Collection of the great and mercifull Deliverances of the Church and State of England since the Gospell began here to flourish from the beginning of Queene ELIZABETH Collected by GEO CARLETON Doctor of Divinitie and Bishop of CHICHESTER PSALM III. 2. The workes of the Lord are great and ought to be sought out of all them that loue Him LONDON Printed by I. D. for Robert Mylbourne and Humphrey Robinson and are to be sold at the great South doore of PAVLS 1624. TO THE HIGH NOBLE AND MOST VERTVOVS CHARLES PRINCE OF GREAT Britain Duke of Cornwall and of YORKE c. the spirit of wisedome with increase of honour SIR AS the great Workes of God ought to be had in remembrance of all men so this dutie is more required of Princes then of other men Because their charge is greater then the charge of other men for they must answer both for the government of themselues and of others vnder them Wherefore having observed the Workes of God in delivering this Church and State from the cruell plots of the Adversaries from the beginning of Queene Elizabeth to this time I found my selfe most obliged to present this to your Highness both because my service next to his Maiestie is most due to your Highness and because the remembrance of the great Workes of God is a Glasse fit for a Prince to looke on For your Highness may be assured that the Adversaries will not change their disposition vnlesse either we were reduced to their blindness or they drawne to imbrace the truth with vs. I haue made this Collection that by examples of things past We may better iudge of things to come My labour herein is nothing For I make not the Story but take it of others And when I light vpon the best Narration as that of the Gun-powder treason I haue set it downe as I find it without alteration Because as that cannot be mended so to set a worse Narration in the place thereof were no lesse then to abuse the Reader I leaue the honor entire to them that haue made the Story I take no part thereof to mee Onely my care hath beene to obserue vpon those great deliverances the Workes of God that God may be glorified and the cause iustified which God hath maintained from Heaven SIR I suppose it is hard to finde a Narration containing more miraculous Protection of Gods Church since that time wherein God shewed his Miracles in protecting the people of Israel Which consideration may serue to fasten your Highness to the loue and service of that great God that doth so strongly maintain his servants That as hitherto you haue had a gracious experience of his grace and goodnesse towards you so your noble heart may grow every day more and more in the loue and obedience of the truth We are all charged by Gods Word to pray for Kings and Princes That charge which God hath layd vpon vs all no man can put off But when your Highness hath effectually made knowne your singular care and loue to the common good to the rejoycing of all faithfull men this must needs draw the hearts of all faithfull men nearer to your Highness And this is a part of your happiness for the feare of God and loue of Subiects is able to make Kings and Princes strong against all their enemies God giue his iudgements to the King and his righteousness to the Kings sonne and therewith all blessings grace and honour here and glory hereafter Your HIGHNES ancient Chaplain and most humble Servant GEO CICESTRIENSIS ΑÎΑΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΩΣΙS OR RECAPITVLATION of the chiefe Passages in this Booke CHAPTER I. THE weake estate of this Kingdome at Queene Elizabeths entrance Her government blessed with might and money beyond expectation all on a suddaine to the terrour of the enemies of the Gospell and comfort of the Professors thereof The ancient government of the Low-Countries what it was The treason of Arthur Pool discovered and defeated The Popes Excommunication and curse against Queene Elizabeth turned by Christ whose Gospell shee maintained into a blessing CHAP. II. The rebellion of the Earles of Westmerland and Northumberland related distinctly by Hieronym Catâ—â—a so strongly plotted so secretly carried by the hand of God disappointed and broken into pieces Leon Dacres his over throw by it This is the fruit of Popery and the first effect of the Popes Bull. CHAP. III. A Commotion in Ireland inflamed by Io Mendoza extinguished by the Earle of Ormond The King of Spaine pretends the enlargement of the Scots Queene but intends the enlargement of his owne Dominion Don Iohn of Austria goeth about to deliver and marry the Scots Queene He sends out a perpetuall edict of peace and presently breaketh out into warre He dieth on a sudden and so his purpose disappointed CHAP. IV. Stucley his attempt and practise with the Pope and Spanyard for the subduing of Ireland and England with Italian souldiers by Gods providence annulled CHAP. V. Nich Sanders setteth on the rebells in Ireland animateth them in their bloudy practises getteth â— consecrated Banner from the Pope for them San-Ioâ—ephus with 700 Italians and Spanyards sent from the Pope and King of Spaine over into Ireland to helpe the rebells yeeldeth the Fort. The Earle Desmond a great maintainer of this rebellion killed by a common souldier in his wandring Sanders the firebrand of the rebellion falleth mad and dieth miserably of famine Observations herevpon The explication of that place 2 Thes. 2. 10. appliable to the Papists in respect both of their doctrines and doings CHAP. VI. The Institution of the Colledges of seminary Priests to be the incendiaries of England different from the foundation of ancient Colleâ—ges The feates of Father Parsons and Edm Campian and others to draw the alleagiance of the English from their Queene This drew vpon them sevetitie of Lawes established in Parliament against Papists and approved by the paralell example of the Lawes made against the Donatists in S. Augustines time CHAP. VII The Priests seditious Bookes against the Queene brings on Somervills furious attempt to kill her They moue with the Ladies of honour to doe it The Queenes mildnesse and wonderfull mercy towardes this vermine Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour for practising against the Queene is thrust out of England Throgmortons confeâ—ion and condemnation for treason CHAP. VIII New practises of our enemies discovered not without a miracle by Creightons torne papers The mischievous but vnsuccesfull conclusions of Alan Inglefield and Ross against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames. Parries treason opened his confession and execution Lawes in Parliament enacted against Priests and Recusants Philip Howards intention to leaue the Land discovered before it could be effected CHAP. IX The lamentable end of Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland in the Tower A pretended title of the King of Spaine to the Crowne of England
vnrighteousnesse at the commandement of the Pope or any superior These I am sure are the practises of vnrighteousnesse would to God these men would once looke backe vpon themselues and their owne actions and consider what a difference is betweene ancient Bishops of Rome and these of late betweene godly Divines and the Popes Clergie The ancient Bishops did never draw the sword to propagate the faith the Apostles left no such example to them but by their labours in Preaching and their patience in suffring they gathered a Church and established the faith but behold how vnrighteousnes and villany is now come in place An vngracious bloudy wretch kills a man in his bed a man that was his friend such a thing chancing in the Warres may be borne with but in bed to murther his friend is an extraordinary signe of barbarous crueltie And yet that Sanders the Popes Legat should pronounce this thing to be a sweet sacrifice to God this passeth all imagination Can any either practise these things or commend these practises but onely such men as the Apostle describeth that are given vp to beleeue lyes and to worke vnrighteousnesse If any man shall answer me here with that old worn Cuckow long that these things are not vnderstood by them to be vnrighteoâ—s which the Pope commandeth that they doe these things in obedience to Christ his Vicar I answer they that would make such an answer are either such as are men of conscience or altogether without conscience If they be men without conscience I haue nothing to say to such but wish them better then they doe to themselues that they had some fecling of conscience If these men haue any sparke of conscience then would I intrâ—at them seriously to consider what is that which the Apostle in the place before cited calleth the deceivablenes of vnrighteousnes For this word sheweth that there is some plaine and down-right vnrighteousnesse and also some deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse What is that deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse Surely there is something herein for them to study that are so ready at the Popes command to doe vnrighteous things and make not Gods Word but the Popes word to be the rule to know what is righteous what vnrighteous When the law of God the law of nature the law of nations the law of our Land when I say all lawes forbid a thing and onely the Pope commands it and commands it against all lawes then if a man obey the Pope in such things he is deceived and he doth vnrighteously Here is the deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse But you must vnderstand that these men are thus deceived by him whose coÌ„ming is by the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and in all deceivablenesse of vnrighteousnesse in them that perish because they receiue not the loue of the truth Let men that haue any care to saue their soules learne to loue the truth the truth will deliver them And let them obserue that maintaining of false doctrines and of vnrighteous actions are things ioyned together one followeth the other Now because we see false doctrines or lyes maintained by Papists and vnrighteous and vngracious actions by them ordinarily attempted therefore we hold them vndoubtedly to be the servants of Antichrist who are given vp to beleeue lyes because they louâ— not the truth But for our selues we know that the Scriptures are the Word of God We beleeue the Scriptures We trust in God We worship him as himselfe hath revealed and commanded If our enemies wrong vs we haue recourse to God by prayer we haue found by continuall experience that God taketh the protection of them that thus trust in him We haue trusted in him we haue found his protectioÌ„ We rest in patience and commit the vengeance to God Is there any man in the world that knoweth any thing of religion that can denie that we are in a good state and our enemies in a desperate state we haue comfort but they can haue none Consider this you that forget God least he plucke you vp and there be none to deliver you Now which is our chiefe end in these collections for our deliverance we blesse the name of God and we doe acknowledge with all humilitie and thankesgiving that all our deliverances come from the vndeserved loue and favour of our most gracious God and Father And we finde our selues most sirictly oâ—liged vnto this dutie because we see God hath made our enemies his enemies they cannot fight against vs but they must fight against God how much then are we bound to honor serue this great God of heaven and â—arth that hath shewed such favour to his Church in England CHAPTER VI. AT this time An 1580. the seminary Priests and â—esuites increasing in England necessary lawes were provided against them These in truth were maintained by the adversaries of England as a seminary of rebellion for so still they proued Their first foundation was at Doway in the Low-Countries where by the procuring of William Alan an Oxford-man afterward Cardinall there was a Colledge provided for them in the yeare 1568. Where fugitiue Priests were brought vp not so much in Religion as in new and strange practises of treason The Pope assigned them a yearely stipend Thus they stood for some yeares But when the Low-Countries began to be troubled with Warres Requesenius who was governour there vnder the Spanish King did thrust out all English fugitiues out of the Low-Countries Wherevpon they that were willing to make vse of such instruments to trouble England thought good to giue entertainment to them And therefore two Colledges were set vp for the English sugitiues the one at Rhemes by the Guises another at Rome by Pope Gregory 13. From these Colledges they were sent into England vnder pretence of Religion but indeed to withdraw subiects from obedience to their Prince and to draw the Land vnto the subiection of strangers they called themselues Seminaries because they were to sowe the seed of the Roman Religion in England And what is that seed of Roman religion but the seed of Rebellion Certainly so it hath euer proued These men to shew their zeale to their new founders and their hatred to their Country disputed and defined the Popes authoritie by Gods law to haue the plenitude of power ouer the whole world in all things Ecclesiasticall and Politicall out of which plenitude he might excommunicate Kings and after excommunication depose them from their thrones and absolue their subiects from all oaths of alleagance Thus was the Bull of Pius V. published An 1569. From whence rose the rebellion in the north of England and those rebellions of Ireland of which we haue spoken Hanse Nelson Main Sherwod Prieâ—ts then taught that Queene Elizabeth was a schismatike and an heretike and therefore worthily to be deposed for which they suffred deservedly but still others were sent into their places and though they came in vpon desperate points as souldiers vpon
a breach yet others followed lowed as desperate as the first And would not vnderstand that they ventured both soule and body in the cause of the Pope against Christ for such is the cause of treason being commanded by the Pope and forbidden by Christ. The Priests and Iesuites at this time spent all their learning and skill to stirre vp rebellion in England giving out in corners and in publique Printing Bookes to declare that the Pope and King of Spain had conspired that England should be overthrowne left as a prey This was done of purpose to confirme their owne side and to deterre others from their obedience to their Prince Wherevpon the Queene set out a Proclamation signifying that she had never made attempt vpon any Prince onely defended her own not invading the Provinces of other Princes though she had beene provoked with wrongs and invited by opportunitie If any Princes should oppugne her she doubted not but by Gods favour she should defend her owne and had therefore Mustered her Forces by Land and Sea and was readie against any hostile incursion She exhorteth her faithfull subiects to hold their faith alleagance firme to God their Prince Gods Minister For others that had shaken off the loue of their Countrey and obedience to their Prince She commandeth them to carry themselues modestly and not to provoke the severitie of iustice for she would no longer indure sparing of evill men least so she might be cruell against the good Among the Iesuites that came then into England Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian were chiefe they had procured a temper or qualification of the Bull of Pius V. obtained of Greg. 13. in these words Let petition be made to our holy Father that the Bull declaratory of Pius V. against Elizabeth and her adherents be interpreted which the Catholikes desire to be vnderstood so that it binde her and heretiques alwayes but not Catholiques things standing as they doe But onely then when the publike execution of the Bull may be had These foresaid favours the Pope granted to Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian now ready to goe into England the 13. day of Aprill 1580. in the presence of Oliver Manarcus assisting This was procured to giue some content to the Recusants that were offended at the publication of the Bull and found that it did them more harme then good Parsons and Campian came secretly into England and changed their exterior habit and apparel that they might the better passe vnknowne Somtimes they went like ruffians somtimes like ministers somtimes like noble men somtimes like souldiers somtimes like apparitours they walked secretly from Recusants houses to Recusants houses and did in words and writings roundly set forward the businesse for which they came Parsons was the superior a man of a seditious and turbulent spirit armed with audaciousnesse he brake out so farre among the Papists against the Queene as to propose the proâ—ect of deposing of her In so much that some Papists themselues as they themselues hauâ— said did thinke to haue delivered him into the hands of the Magistrate Campian was somewhat more modest yet by a Booke which he had much laboured and brought with him which as himselfe sayth might be taken with him if he were apprehended did provoke the Ministers of the Church of England to disputation the Booke was Intituled A Booke of ten Reasons or Arguments written politely in Latin to confirme the doctrines of the Church of Rome Parsons wrote more virulently against Mr Charke who had written soberly against Campians prouocation but Campians ten reasons were throughly and solidly answered by Dr Whittaker Campian was taken and brought to disputation where it was found that in learning and knowledge he came farre short of that expectation which himselfe had raised of himselfe the whole disputation was afterward set forth in Print In the meane time many threatnings were published against the Church and State of England and much speech was of the Pope and the Spanyards preparations to subdue England By which manner of proceedings it may appeare that the end why these other such were sent into England was not to draw men to God but to betray the Land to strangers for these men cared not what became of England so the Church of England might be displanted and Popery set vp againe For which purpose we may obserue the Colledges for Seminaries set vp at Rhemes and Rome These Colledges did strangely swarue from the end and foundation of the ancient Colledges The ancient Colledges were founded for learning and Religion these for meere faction the ancient Colledges were for the furtherance of godlinesse and piâ—tie these for the practises of â—ngodlinessâ— and vngracious treasons Let no man tell me that the ancient Colledges were founded by Papists so were these Seminaries and therefore for the maintenance of the same Religion for this is nothing but colouring and daubing of their new practises from the sight of the ignorant for all their hope is in the ignorance of men hoping that they shall haue the greatest part because the greatest part are ignorant But now God in his mercy hath so plentifully revealed the truth the ignorance of men is not so great as the Papâ—sts would haue it for men are taught to know that in the Councell of Trent there hath beene hatched a new birth of Popery Where they haue changed the rule of faith which was ever maintained in the Church of Rome before that time Wherevpon there followeth a change of the Church a change of Religion They that founded the ancient colledges knew not this new Church this new Religion which is newly hatched in the Trent Councell Therefore these late Colledges of Seminaries are founded vpon a new Religion This new Râ—ligion of Rome is nothing but the practâ—se of Treasons against States Surely it must be a sâ—rangâ— Religion that must be maintained by vngodly practises There was never any Religion that allowed such practises And herein the Papists exceed the Heathen who being guided onely by the light of nature yet haue disallowed such vngodly and vngracious practises which the Papists vse Let all men consider whence this new Religion of Rome proceedeth that in vngodly practises is founded and maintained that all such practises proceed from the devill no man can doubt that God hath preserved this Church of England from all these practises this is that which causeth vs to trust in God and to giue all the glory of our deliverance to his holy name Edmond Campian Ralfe Sherwin Luke Kirby Alexander Briant were taken in the yeare 1581. and being brought to iudgement were accused of treason against the Queene and State that they were directed by the Pope came into England to stirre vp sedition and to make a strong partie and herevpon they were condemned as offending against the lawes Campian was demanded whether he tooke Queene Elizabeth to be Queene of England by right and law to that he refused to answer
Then he was demanded if the Pope should send an Armie into England against the Queene whether he would take the Popes part or the Queenes To this he protested openly that he would take the Popes part and confirmed it by his hand-writing he was put to death and some others for the same cause When as yet from the time of the rebellion there was but fiue put to death in this cause The Queene thinking that mens consciences should not be forced did often complaâ—ne that she was necessarily driven to these courses vnlâ—s she would suffer a mischiefe to fall vpon her selfe and her subiects by them that sought to colour their treasons vnder a pretence of consciencâ— and Catholike Religion And yet she thought that some of the poore Priests that were sent were not acquainted with the secret plots of treason but found that their superiors vsed these as instruments of their wicked intentions and they yeelded the whole disposing of themselues to the iudgement of their superiors for they that were then and afterward apprehended being demanded whether by the authoritie of the Bull of Pius V. the subiects were so absolved from their oath and alleagance that they might take Armes against the Prince Whether they held her for a lawfull Queene Whether they yeelded their coÌ„sent to the opinioÌ„s of Sanders Bristow concerning the authoritie of that Bull Whether if the Pope should warre against the Queene they would take his part or hers To these things they answered some so ambiguously some so fiercely some by preuarication or by silence shifting that diverse other Papists who were not acquainted with the secrets of their villanies began to suspect that surely they nourished some secret mischiefe and Iohn Bishop otherwise much addicted to their Religion wrote and soundly proued that the constitution obâ—ruded in the name of the Councell of Lateran from which they founded all their authoritie to absolue subiects from their alleagance and to depose Princes was indeed nothing but a decree of Innocentius III. nor was ever admitted in England Yea that Councell was no Councell and that nothing was decreed there by the Fathers Suspitions were still increased by reason of the number of Priests daily comming into England and creeping in corners who secretly sought out the minds of men and taught that Princes excommunicated were to be throwne out of their Kingdomes that Princes that professed not the Roman Religion were fallen from the title and Kingly authoritie that they who had taken orders were by the libertie of the Church freed from all iurisdiction of Princes neither were bound to their lawes or bound to reverence their Maiestie that the Magistrates of England were not lawfull and therefore not to be accounted as Magistrates Yea and moreover that what things soever had bin established by the Queenes authoritie after the publishing of the Bull of Pius V. were voyd altogether by Gods law and mans law and to be respected as things of no account Neither did they dissemble their purpose that they were come into England for this end that this Bull might be effected and that they might in private confessions reconcile men and so absolue them from all faith and alleagance toward the Queene This thing seemed to be more easily effected when men were absolved from all mortall sinne as the Priests perswaded them and this way was the safest because the most secret and vnder the seale of Confession These practiâ—es extorted of the Parliament held then â—n â—anuary An 1582 new lawes and more severe against these Popish practises By which lawes it was made treason to disswade any subiect from their alleagance to their Prince and from the Religion which was then established in England or to reconcile any to the Romish Church the same punishment was to be inflicted vpon them which were so perswaded or reconciled To say Masse was punished with two hundreth markes and a yeares imprisonment and to be farther punished vntill they had payed To be present at Masse willingly was punished with an hundreth marke fine and a yeares imprisonment They that refused to come to their Parish Churches were to pay twentie pound a moneth This manner of punishing refractary men that in matters touching the Church were troublesome and seditious was taken from an ancient manner of punishing such men in the time of St Augusâ—in for he speaketh diverse times of the Pecuniary mulct of the Emperours which was inflicted vpon the Donaâ—ists And because the seminary Priests and Iesuites who haue bin punished not for Religion but for Treasons in the execution of civill Iustice for offending against the lawes of the Land haue given out that they haue bin perfecuted for Religion and some of them haue beene made Martyrs these be a new kinde of Martyrs not for Christs cause but for the Popes cause against Christ and against his Word and Commandement It shall not be amisse to obserue the State of the Church in S. Augustines time and the iudgement of the Church then which in diverse resemblances doth answer to our times for then the Emperour had that power and authoritie which we now giue to our Kings The Pope had no more authoritie then then we would yeeld him now if he would maintaine the doctrine that the Popes then did The Pope was then vnder the Emperour the Emperour punished both Pope and others if they offended his lawes Parmenianus a Donatist complained they were punished by the Emperour and persecuted and called their persecution Martyrdome as did the Papists that were punished S. Augustin answering the Donatists saith Si quis quis ab Imperatore c. If every man that is punished by the Emperour or by the Iudges which he sendeth must presently be accompted a Martyr then shall we haue all Prisons full of Martâ—rs c. And after he sayth Therefore not every one that in some question of Religion is punished by the Emperour must presently be accompted a Martyr for he is iustly punished for superstition which he thought to be religion No man verily that in any respect is a Christian dare avouch this for such men proceeding like blind men see not that they who thus thinke proceed so farre as to proue that the very devils may thus chalenge to themselues the glory of Martyrs because they suffer this persecution by the Christian Emperours for as much as their temples are destroyed over all the world in a manner their ldols are broken in peeces their sacrifices are forbidden they who honor them are punished if they be found Which if it be madnesse to mâ—intaine then it followeth that righteousnesse is not proued by suffering but by righteousnesse suffering is made glorious therefore the Lord said not blessea are they that suffer persecution but he addeth that which maketh the difference betweene pietie and sacriledge blessed are they which suffer persecution for righâ—â—ousnesse c. And after he sayth If these men being convicted of their wicked practises shall
to Neuil whom I entertained at my table and this was done full six moneths before he accused me After this he came to me And let vs dare said he to doe something seeing of the Queene we can obtaine nothing And he proposed some things of the delivery of the Scots Queene I did here interpose O but I haue a greater matter in my head and more profitable for the Catholike Church The next day he came and swearing vpon the Bible that he would keepe my counsell and constantly prosecute whatsoever was vsefull for the Catholike Religion And I sware in like sort Our determination was to set vpon the Queene with ten horsemen as she was riding in the fields and so to kill her Which thing Neuil concealed all this while But when the newes came that the Earle of Westmerland was dead whose inheritance he hoped to haue presently not respecting his oath he opened these things against me These things Parry confessed in the presence of the Lord Hunsdon Sir Christopher Harton and Sir Francis Walsingham privie Councellers and farther by his Letters to the Queene to Burghley Lord Treasurer and to the Earle of Leicester he acknowledged his fault and craued pardon Some few dayes after he was brought to VVestminster hall to iudgement Where the heads of his accusation being read he confessed himselfe guiltie Sir Christohper Hatton to satisfie the multâ—â—de present thought it fit that the crime should punctually be opened out of his own confession Which Parry himselfe acknowledged to be free not extorted and the Iudges intreated that he would reade them But the Clarke of the Crowne read them and the Letters of the Cardinall of Come Parry his Letters to the Queene to the Lord Burghley and the Earle of Leicester all which he granted to be true Yet he denied that he was at any time resolved to kill the Queene He was therefore commanded to speake if he had any thing to say why iudgement should not passe Here he answered with perturbation as one troubled with the conscience of the crime I see I must die because I was not resolved And being desired to speake more plainly if he would say any thing My bloud said he be among you When sentence of death was pronounced against him he ragingly cited the Queene to the tribunall seat of God Being brought to the gallowes he bragged much that he had beene a faithfull keeper of the Queene because he had not killed her Thus like a glorious Roman Catholike never once in one word coÌ„mending himselfe to God he died like a traytor in the court before VVestminster Hall where the Lords and Commons were then assembled in Parliament In this Parliament some lawes were enacted for the Queenes safety against the Iesuites and Priests who attempted daily horrible treasons from the Bull of Pius V. It was therefore enacted that within forty daies they should all depart the Land If any came in againe after that and stayed here they should be guilty of treason that if any received them wittingly and willingly or interteined them nourished or helped them such should be guiltie of fellony that they who are brought vp in the seminaries if they returne not within sixe monethes after warning given and should not submit themselues to the Queene before a Bishop or two Iustices of peace they should be guiltie of treason And they who had submitted if they should within ten yeares come to the Court or nearer then ten miles of the Court that then their submission should be voyd They who sent any money by any means to the Students of the seminaries should be guiltie of Praemunire If any of the Peeres of the Realme that is Dukes Marquesses Earles Vicounts Barons of the Parliament should offend against these lawes he should be tryed by his Peeres They who know any Iesuites and Priests to lye lurking in the Realme and within twelue dayes doe not detect them shall be fined at the Queenes pleasure and put in prison If any be suspected to be one of those Iesuites or Priests and shall not submit himselfe to examination for his contempt he shall be imprisoned vntill he submit He that shall send any Christian or any other to the Seminaries and Colledges of the Popish profession shall be fined an hundreth pounds They that are so sent shall not succeed in inheritance nor inioy any goods what way soever they may chance And so shall it be to them that within a yeare returne not from those seminaries vnlesse they conforme themselues to the Church of England If the keepers of havens permit any to passe the seas without the Queenes licence or the licence of six Councellers except Mariners and Merchants they shall be remoued from their places the Ship-master that carries them shall loose the Shipp and all the goods in her and be imprisoned a whole yeare The severitie of these lawes which were no lesse then necessary for such times and such mischiefes made the Papists in England afeard and among others Philip Howard Earle of Arundell in so much as fearing least he might offend against those lawes he purposed to leaue his countrey He had his bloud restored by the Queenes favour three yeares before And after that being dis-favoured by reason of some secret suggestions of certaine great personages against him he secretly gaue himselfe to the Popish Religion and made choice of an austere life Surely if good instructours might haue beene admitted to him he might haue beene easily and happily confirmed in the truth He was once or twice called before the Councell table and refuted the things obiâ—cted to him Yet was he commanded to keepe his house Six moneths after he was set at libertie and came to the Parliament but the first day whilst the Sermon was preached he withdrew himselfe out of the company The Parliament being ended being as then resolved to depart he wrote to the Queene a long and a mournfull complaint which Letters he commanded should be delivered after his departure he complained of the envie of his potent adversaries wherevnto he was forced to yeeld seeing they triumphed over his innocency He recounted the vnfortunate destinies of his ancestors of his great grandfather condemned his cause not being heard of his grand-father who for matters of small moment was beheaded and of his father whom he affirmed to be circumvented by his adversaries who yet never had an evill minde against his Prince nor Countrey As for himselfe least he should succeed the heire of his fathers infelicitie said he to the end that he might serue God and provide for the health of his soule he had forsaken his Countrey but not his alleagance to his Prince After these Letters were delivered he went into Sussex and having provided a shippe in an obscure corner and now being ready to take ship he was apprehended by the meanâ—s of those whom he trusted and by the master of the ship discovered and was sent into the Tower as a prisoner CHAPTER
like it Which sheweth that wicked inuentions are growne to a greater ripenesse in the Romish generation And when they are come to their full ripenesseâ— they themselues may vnderstand what they are to looke for In the meane time let all men vnderstand the difference betweene the Church of God and that which in the Scripture is called ecclesia malignantium That Church of the malignant may sufficiently appeare by all the former practises but especially by this of the Gunpowder treason This treason was first thought on in the last yeare of Queene Elizabeth when Henry Garnet the Superiour of the malignants here Catesby and others sent Thomas Winter into Spaine to negotiate with the Spanish King in the name of the English Catholikes First to send an army to them who were now in readinesse to ioyne their forces with his secondly to grantsome pensions to sundry persons deuoted to his seruice in England And thirdly Winter was to giue aduertisement of the discontents that the young Gentlemen and Soldiers had conceiued vpon the death of Essex whereby a fit occasion was offered to forward the popish cause To prosecute this businesse hee made for his meanes Father Creswell the leiger Iesuite in Spaine Don Petro Francesa second secretary to the State and the Duke of Lerma all which assured Winter that the office of his imploiment would be very gratefull to his Master The place of landding concluded vpon by them was Kent or Essex if the Kings Army were great if otherwise then Milford hauen in Wales was held fittest With these and other like proâ—ects Winter all this summer followed the King in his progresse And lastly had answer by the Count Miranda that the King would bestow an hundreth thousand crownes towards the expedition halfe thereof to be payed that yeare and the rest the next Spring when at the farthest hee meant to set foot in England On whose behalfe hee willed the English Catholikes to maintaine their promise whom hee respected as was said as his owne proper Castilians and further desired their continuall aduertisemonts if in the meane time it chanced the old Queene to die Winter thus laden with hopes returned from Spaine and acquainted Garnet Catesby and Tresham with what had passed which they related to others All were glad to heare the newes and rested satisfied expecting the day But before the next Spring Queene Elizabeth died To giue notice of her death Christopher Wright was from Catesby and others sent into Spaine Guy Fawkes was likewise sent from Bruxells by Sir William Stanly into Spaine both of them to prosecute the former negotiation assuring the Spanish King that King Iames would runne the same course and proceed as rigorously against the Catholikes as the late Queene had done for whose defence they desired instantly that some Spaniards might bee transported vnto Milford hauen Where the English Papists would bee forward to assist them hauing in a readinesse two thousand horse furnished for the enterprise But the Spaâ—iard would not now hearken to their motions or proceed any further to any forcible enterprise In the meane while the Iesuites had beene tampering to disswade the acceptance of King Iames into England vrging it that death was rather to be indured then to admit an heretike And those that gaue him consent they held liable to excommunication by the censure of Pope Clement 〈◊〉 The Papists seeing their great ankerhold to faile them from Spaine began to enter into more desperate courses Catesby tooke his ground from the doctrine of Father Parsons That the whole Schooles both of Diuines and Lawyers take this position vnâ—oubtedly to bee beleeued That if any Christian Prince shall manifestly turne from the Catholike Religion and desire of seeke to reclaime others from the same he presently falleth from all princely power and dignity and that also by vertue and power of the law it selfe both diuine and humane euen before any sentence pronounced against him by the supreame Pastor and Iudge And that his Subiects of what estate or condition soeuer are freed from all bond of oath of alleageance which at any time they had made vnto him as to their lawfull Prince Nay that they both may and ought prouided they haue competent strength and force cast out such a man from bearing rule among Christians as an Apostata an Heretike a Back-slider a Reuolter from our Lord Christ and an enemy to his owne State and common-wealth least perhaps hee might infect others or by his example or command turne them from the faith yea they affirme further that if a Prince shall but fauour or shew countenance to an Heretike he presently looseth his Kingdome By this fiery diuinity of their owne making or receiuing it from the spirits of error and doctrines of diuels for those things that are taught for doctrines not being found in the word of God are doctrines of diuels much more they that are contrary to the doctrines of Gods word by these doctrines the Gunpowder-treason tooke strength The Parliament dissolued the seauenth of Iuly and was prorogued vntill the seauenth of February following Catesby being then at Lambeth sent for Thomas Winter who had beene imployed into Spaine and brake with him vpon the blowing vp of the Parliament house who answered that indeed strooke at the root but if it should not take effect said hee as most of this nature miscarrie the scandall would be so great which Catholike religion might hereby sustaine as not only our enemies but our friends also would with good reason condemne vs. Catesby answered the nature of the disease required so sharpe a remedy and asked him if hee would gâ—ue his consent Yes said he in this or what else soeuer he would venture his life But he proposed difficulties as want of an house and of one to carry the mine noise in the working and such like Catesby answered let vs giue the attempt and where it â—aileth passe no further but first quoth he because wee will leaue no peaceable and quiet way vntried you shall goe ouer and informe the Constable of the state of the Catholikes here in England intreating him to sollicite his Maiâ—stie that the penall lawes may bee recalled and we admitted into the raâ—ke of his other subiects Withall you may bring ouer some confident Gentlemen such as you shall vnderstand best able for this businesse and named vnto him Master Fawkes Shortly after Winter passed the seas and found the Constable at Bergen neare Dunkirk where by helpe of Master Owen hee deliuered his message Whose answere was that he had strict command from his Master to doe all good offices for the Catholikes and for his owne part hee thought himselfe bound in conscience so to doe and that no good occasion should bee omitted but hee spake to him nothing of this matter Returning to Dunkirk with Master Owen they had speech whether the Constable would faithfully helpe them or no Owen said he beleeued nothing lesse and that they sought onely