to institute three seminaries on his Maiesties costes and charges that graines and indulgences must be published in England on the Spanish behalfe for all that take his part that all who come out of Spayne must sweare vow professe or at least acknowledge an obedieÌ„ce to master Blackwell in all things Yea euen to become ranke traytors against their prince and country for that is principally intended These words are set downe in the end of the preface which is annexed to the sparing discouerie Parsons caused diuers by fayre meanes and threats to subscribe that in all conferences they should when they came into England aduance the Infantaes title not intending therby to expect her Maiesties death but by all means to remoue her from the present possession of her royall estate These words are set downe in the discouerie Pag. 57. as also in the important considerations Page 34. By these testimonies gentle reader two things are cleared the one that Parsons the Iesuite aliâs bastard Cowbucke taketh vpon him as roundly as traiterously to place and displace to put on and take of royall Diademes at his good will and pleasure The other that the three English hispanized semiminaries erected in Saint Lucars Siuill and Valledolid are and must be mainteyned to further ayde and assist the Spanish bloodie intendments against their vndoubted soueraigne and natiue countrey CHAP. VIII Of the Popes authoritie I Haue discoursed at large of this theame in my booke of motiues I meane heere to speake thereof onely as the printed bookes published by the secular priests haue ministred â—t occasion to me Where I wish the indifferent reader to marke well what I shall by Gods helpe deliuer in this behalfe In which my dispute I will for perspicuitie sake proceede by way of sections Sect. I. Of the Popes fact in assoyling her Maiesties subiects from their homage to her TOuching the Bull of Pious Quintus and the same since confirmed by Gregorie 13. against her Maiestie as neither the Spaniard nor any other forraine power is eyther by expresse or implied termes thereof incited to dominion ouer this land as little are English hearts therby disallegeanced so from her Maiestie as to concurre with any forraine inuadour For though the said Buls vpon her Maiesties excommunication therein promulged doe de facto assoyle the subiects of this Realme from their homage to her it therfore followes not that they must and ought to be parties against her Maiestie and their country to a forraine power howsoeuer pretending euen Religion or the ciuill good thereunto For that were to conster the Popes act so ouermuch in religion and grace as to the destruction of nature which were against the marime aforesaid These words are taken out of the answere to the Iesuited gentleman Page 39. Sect. II. Of power granted to Saint Peter A Man to goe against his owne countrey is and euer was holden in the ciuill part of the world an act contraius gentum also vnnaturall yea against all grace Besides that Christ neuer did delegate any such power to S. Peter as tradere gentem in gentem that being a meere temporall reuenge and he but his vicar spirituall Sect. III. Of the confirmation of the power named in the former Section SAint Peters commission against transgressing kings and kingdomes is no more then onely to denounce by excommunication and other the like ecclesiasticall censures Gods displeasure against them for their transgression and not to exercise the secular sword at all These words conteyned in the third and second sections are set downe in the answere to the Iesuiticall gentleman Page 40. Sect. IIII. Of the explication of the former confirmation I Say againe I doe not see howe that chaire and those keyes to be imbrued in blood and to atchieue conquests especially such a tradition as of England to Spaine by the sword can any wayes stand eyther with Christs or his said vicars honour These words are set downe in the answere to the Iesuited gentleman Page 42. Sect. V. Of the obeysance to the Popes comamundement WE all of the secular cleargie doe with one assent vtterly renounce both Archpriest and Iesuites as arrant traytors to their prince and countrey whom to death we will neuer obey no if the Popes holinesse should charge vs to obey in this sense to aduance an enemie to the English crowne we would neuer yeeld to it as by no law of nature of nations or of man to be compelled thervnto These words are set downe in the preface to the important considerations Fol. 9. pag. 2. Sect. VI. Of the Popes stat commaundement in matters of treason THe secular priests hauâ—ng told vs that the Pope denounced his â—ul against her Maiesty purposely to suffer the intended rebellion that he gaue order to Ridolphi the Florentine to take 150000. crownes to set forward the said attempt and much other matter to the like effect wherof I haue spoken at large in the sixt chapter doe adde thervnto these expresse words when we first heard these particulars â—e did not beleeue them but would haue laid our liues they had beene false but when we saw the booke and found them there God is our witnesse we were much amazed and can say no more but that his holines was misinformed and directly drawn to these courses These words are set downe in the important considerations Page 10. Now out of these waightie and important points conteyned in these Sections certaine conclusions are necessarily inferred for which I haue reserued the next chapter wishing the reader seriously to obserue the same CHAP. IX Of certaine memorable conclusions worthie to be kept in perpetuall remembrance The first conclusion THe bishop of Rome hath no authoritie deriued from Christ or S. Peter by which he may lawfully depriue and dispossesse her Maiestie that now most happily raigneth ouer vs from her royall Diademe and regalitie and giue the same to the king of Spayne to Isabella his sister or to any other forraine potentate whosoeuer This conclusion is effectually proued by all the sections of the former chapter For in the first section this authoritie is said to tend to the destruction of nature which power is denied to the Pope In the second section it is flatly affirmed that Christ neuer gaue any such power to Saint Peter whom all papists will grant to haue had as great power as their Pope hath I am sure In the third section it is said plainly that Saint Peters commission was onely to denounce by excommunication Gods displeasure against trangressors of his lawes In the fourth section it is auouched that this kinde of proceeding doth neither stand with Christs honour nor with his vicars In the fift section it is affirmed in plaine termes that subiects can not be charged to obey such a commaundement and the reason is yeelded to be this because it is against the law of nature of nations and of man In the sixt section the priests
behoues for their aduantages do dayly sollicite a conquest thereof from Spaine and withall they labor to perswade vs that it is both vtill and honorable These words are put downe in the answeare to the Iesuited gentleman page 93. Note here gentle reader that nothing can please these bloud-thirstie traytors the Iesuites saue onely the conquest of this their natiue countrie Preamble VII Of going to the Church in time of common prayer THe wise Iesuits preuented all daungers they freely permitted Catholikes to goe to Church with protestants and made no sinne nor scruple thereof Yea the Iesuites father Bosgraue and father Langdale went to the Church themselues These words are in the Dialogue Page 97. 98. Note heere gentle Reader that by Iesuiticall both grant and practise the Papists may freely goe to the Church with the Protestants and thereby not sinne at all This is a poynte worthie to be remembred Preamble VIII Of eating of flesh in time of Lent A Famous Iesuite now in England made offer to a Gentleman that if he would become Catholike hée should haue licence to eate flesh in Lent and on all fasting daies among Lollards and Protestants that by so doing he might liue without suspition and escape daunger of the lawes Thus it is written in their Dialogue Page 99. Note heere gentle Reader these important points with me First that the Iesuites are right Machiuels and make Religion a nose of waxe which they vse as a seruile instrument to bring to passe all their bloudie tragicall and traiterous attempts Secondly that those trayterous persons in high authoritie vnder her Maiestie whereof I haue spoken in the third booke in the second reason of the 12. aduise who haue entered closely into league with the Spaniard do as it may seeme enioy these kinds of popish dispensation Thirdly that Iesuits and Seminaries are both most dangerous to the state and vnfit persons to liue in this land vnlesse they will ioyne in Sacraments and common prayer with the rest of her Maiesties faithfull subiects For to no other symbole or signe can credit bee safely giuen Preamble IX Of winning and redeeming of time THe Iesuites haue an axiome of winning of redeeming of time which is in effect to runne with the time in altering their positions so as they may best serue to win their desires The practise of which ground is in no one of their affaires so manifest as in labouring to set vp now this man now that man to attempt the Crowne furnishing euerie one with sufficient authoritie that of right it belongeth vnto him And true it is that rather then they faile they care not who he is or of what rase nor of what nation that will step in for the kingdome so he bee a Catholike These words are set downe in the discouery Page 64. quodl 2. art 8. pag. 43. quodl 9. art 3. pag. 293. Note heere with me that the Iesuites are most errant traitours as who desire so vehemently the conquest of this land that they care not who haue it so he bee a papist Preamble X. Of the fasting and penance which the Iesuites vse THe Iesuites haue a merrie life in not being tyed to rising vp to the quire at midnight but to lie in bed after the sunne to faire well to be well clad and all this exprofesso not to fast so much as the Frydaies to be a lyar when they will and yet be beleeued a detractor a cheater a courtier a souldier a kil-prince and what not And all without controll nay with allowance and commendation Briefe it is a merrie life for a Iesuite to trowle vp and downe the countrey from house to house from good cheare to good cheare in a gallant coach accompanied with fayre gentlewomen attended with neat seruing men his chamber to be deckt and perfumed against his comming yea a gentlewoman to plucke of his bootes by his iniunction forsooth for mortification sake Oh monstrous irreligion so to forget good manners and so to make the lay religious and themselues lay These words are let downe in the answere to the Iesuited gentleman Page 93. 94. See the second booke and third Chapter Now I beseech thee gentle reader are not those men and women voide of all sense and reason that doe so admire these Iesuites and so depend vpon them that rather then they doe not all their dissignements they will be at defiance with their soueraigne and natiue countrey Let wise men iudge and giue their indifferent censure herein Not I but their fellow-laborers the Secular priests who with tooth and nayle labour to defend the Pope and popish religion doe bitterly exclaime against them as you see I put downe their owne wordes I adde nothing I substract nothing alter nothing Let the reader therefore remember wel what I write and ponder deepely the whole discourse Preamble XI Of the dependance of the Iesuites and Iesuited persons vpon the foule fiend the diuell BY Parsons platformes Secular priests must depend vpon Blackwell and Blackwell vpon Garnet and Garnet vpon Parsons and Parsons the priests bastard vpon the Diuell and therfore doe the Secular priests pray thus when they say the Letanie a machinationibus Parsoni libera not domine These words are set downe in the Discouerie Pag. 70. quodl 5. art 8. pag. 151. Sée the second booke and fourth Chapter Note heere gentle reader that to depend vpon the Iesuites is to depend vpon the diuell and consequently that to follow the Iesuites and their bloodie tragicall and traiterous designments is nothing else indeed but to forsake God to abandon his true feare and worship to be traitours to your prince to be enemies to your natiue countrey and to make shipwracke of your owne soules I say not so If I should haue said so none would haue beleeued me But the Seminarie priests the Popes owne darlings say so and therefore it must needes be so the truth cannot but preuaile Preamble XII Of the Cardinalship of the traitorous Iesuite Robert Parsons THe Iesuite Hole Doctor Worthington drewe aformal letter supplicatiue in the names of all the English souldiers labourers artizans pensioners aswell men as women yea very seruing maids and laundresses were not omiâ—ted the same to be presented to the king of Spaine most humbly beseeching his Maiesty in regard of his great affection and care of England and the afflicted English that he would deale earnestly with the Pope to preferre the worthie Father and Prelate Father Parsons to the dignitie of a Cardinall affirming it to be the onely way to bind and vnite the English to his Maiestie These words are set downe in the discouerie Page 61. quodlib 4. art 6. pag. 121. Note heere gentle Reader that this arrogant Iesuite hath quite forgotten his vow of pouertie and obedience and must needs be a Cardinall For we may be assured that this motion was neuer made to the King without his knowledge Behold heere the final end scope and intendment of all his trauel
lying cogging slaundering of all his treasons cruell tragedies and most bloodie designements He must forsooth be a Cardinall then the Popes Legate in England and so rule the king and all God saue my Lord Cardinall bastard Cowbucke of Stockgersee for so is his right name as shall be seene hereafter Yea he is termed King Cardinall quodl 5. art 8. hee is said to haue a vile bloodie and bastardly minde quodl 5. art 8. and to be the bastardly vicar of hell quodl 5. art 9. pag. 157. Preamble XIII Of the pompe and pride of our traiterous Iesuites THe Iesuite Heywood kept many men horses and coaches as the Iesuite Garnet doth at this present By meanes whereof the vsuall contributions to the Secular priests were and are greatly diminished These words are set downe in the Discouerie Page 48. Note heere gentle Reader that by this and many other the like proceedings it appeareth eudiently that the Iesuites seeke for nothing else but honour preserment case delicate faire sumptuous apparrell horses coaches and their owne sensuall pleasures To which may be added that both they and the Seminaries haue money and worldly wealth at their pleasures vnlesse the foure score and ten Seculars which of late are bent against the Iesuites be lately by that meanes bereaued of their former golden banks But questionlesse their hauing as yet is farre aboue their deseâ—ts See the tenth Preamble Preamble XIIII Of the dissention amongst the Iesuites THe Iesuite Heywood was against the Iesuite Parsons neither would Parsons be vnder Heywood nor Heywood vnder Parsons Parsons alledged that their generall had appointed him to be the prouinciall all ouer all the Iesuite in England consequently ouer Heywood But Heywood replied that his mission was immediately from the Pope and that he thereby was exempted from all submission to him This quarrel grâ—w to be hote and had many partakers on eyther side In the end the said Heywood loathing and abhorring many enormities amongst the Iesuites wrote sundrie letters to the Pope instantly desiring his hâ—linâ—s that the Iesuites might be reformed affirming that otherwise he should see their ruine he feared in his owne dates These words are to be found in the discouery Pagâ— 48. 46. Behold heere gentle Reader the sweete vnitie betweene these Iesuites marke the arrogancie of them both call to minde their vowes of pouâ—rty and obedience forget not how the priests were deuided touching this Iesuiticall quarrell and putting all together thou shalt easely perceiue and behold as in a glasse of Christall that God who is the author of peace and not of dissention 1. Cor. 14. vers 33. did neuer send them into this land but is highly displeased with their disloyall and treâ—cherous dealing God graunt that all simply seduced papists may in due time consider the same Preamble XV. Of the Duke of Medina IT is knowen right well both from the Duke of Medina his owne mouth and by other certaine intelligence that all the Catholicks in England as well as others and perhaps rather were designed to the slaughter For the said duke beeing told that there were 〈◊〉 Catholikes in England made answere that he cared not I will make quoth hée the best Protestants in England as good Catholickes as they if I haue them once vnder my sword I respect neither the one nor the other I meane to make roome there for my mâ—ster This he hath spoken diuerse times and the Iesuites themselues haue so reported yea the Iesuite Southwell did confesse no lesse at 〈◊〉 in the hearing of diuers priests their prisoners These words are set downe quodl 6. art 10. pag. 177. and the same is affirmed in the important considerations Pag. 25 vers 18. as also in the reply to Parsons libell sol 65. a. vers 24. fol. 29. a. Note heere gentle Reader this important point with me Viz. That if the Spaniards should make a conquest of this land as the Papistes doe disloyally expect whose expectation God of his mercie hath hitherto confounded and will I trust still confound the same then doubtlesse they would make a most tragicall and bloody massacre of all promiscuè neither respecting one nor other for their intendment is to aduance and entich themselues to haue a kingdom not to reforme religion No no neither they nor yet the Iesuites haue any such meaning Preamble XVI Of the title of Isabella the Spanish Ladie THe Iesuite Parsons caused the students in Spaine to subscribe to the Ladie Infantaes title to the Crowne of England and to what else he would hauing gotten their names to three seuerall blanks These words are set down in the hope of peace Page 22. See the next Preamble and note it well Note heere gentle Reader that euerie allegation one after another iumpeth vpon this setled and constant position Viz. that the scope and whole intendment of the Iesuites is flat auowed rebellion and doth nothing at all concerne religion See the fourth Chapter in the sixt Paragraph Preamble XVII Of most notorious and intolerable treason intended against her Maiesties sacred person and the royall Crowne of England THe Iesuites are so desirous to set the Diademe of England vpon the head of the princesse Isabella the Insanta of Spaine that they haue set forth a booke to this purpose and in that booke they giue her such an interest as they make the kings of this land for many yeares to haue beene vsurpers they haue also procured men by indirect means to subscribe to this Ladies soueraigntie ouer vs. Yea offers haue béene made to one of the secular priests that if hee could haue eaten gold and would but haue giuen his countenance and assistance that way he should haue had it In briefe some of the Iesuites haue conspired among themselues and with sundrie other most wicked persons at diuers times to haue laid violent hands vpon the quéene and to haue bereued her of her life It cannot be denied but that they haue done so the circumstances haue shewed it the parties themselues with whom they practised haue confessed it yea sundrie Catholicks beyond the seas doe verie well know it and haue charged in their writings some of them with it These words are set downe in the Discouerie Page 9. see the 16. Preamble Note here gentle reader these important points with me First that the Iesuites labour with tooth and nayle with gold and money with threats and faire promises to cause others both domesticall forraine to ioyne with them in setting the royall diadem of England vpon the Spanish Infantaes head Secondly that they affirme in a most traytorous and execrable booke published for that end that the kinges of England haue beene vsurpers and not lawfull princes for manie yeares together Where I must needes put them in minde of this one thinge that their Cardinall Bellarmine telleth them with their Popes good liking that if the Popes had somtimes beene vsurpers yet prescription would iustifie the Popes title in these dayes So then by
when occasion serueth forget These words are set down in the discouerie Pag. 42. pag. 29. quodlibet 7. art 10. pag. 217. quodl 4. art 2. in fine Concerning father Parsons illegitimation I haue oft wished it had not beene vrged being not much to the purpose But sith it haue béene vrged that he denieth it I will but aske him why he was expelled Balioll Colledge in Oxford and whether the chiefest matter obiected was not periurie in taking the oath of the house to the statutes amongst the which this was one Volumus vt omnes huius collegij alumni sint legitimo thoro nati which was vrged against him and offered to be proued openly For the auoyding of which publike infamie he made his owne resignation writing it with his owne hand as is yet to be séene This is more then I ment to haue said in this matter being a personall touch had no father Parsons ouer much vrged the obiection not onely as an vntruth but also inuented and framed by vs. Heereby you may see that the matter was not coyned by any of vs nor so void of verity as he affirmeth These words are let downe in the reply to Parsons libell Fol. 91. b. 6. Now then for our credits with father Parsons for his rising by practises or factious disposition I will say no more but what is iustiâ—able à parte rei viz. that the most stirring medling and practising heads amongst all of our English nation to goe no further haue alwaies come to credite and preheminence amongst them Witnes this per inductionem father Parsons whose factious dispesition hath béene euerie where sufficiently displayed with proofes sufâ—cient Witnes father Heywood and his busie inclination at his comming into England of which father Parsons can beare witnes being at variance with him and many other priests yet liuing in England some of them hauing beene present at his synodes where he made himselfe president in the Popes name Witnes father Holt of whose disposition you may read in master Charles Pagets answere to the Apologie Witnes father Creswell as you may see in Doctor Elies answere to the Apologie Witnes father Garnet the onely chiefe actor in all our stirres héere in England I might adde father Crichton the Scot with therest and father Holt if he were aliue would take my part These then are pretie inducements to thinke father Parsons rose in his order by his factious disposition But for the other point concerning master Blackwell let him be examined vpon his oath whether he came not to master Bluet then prisoner in the Marshalsies vsing these or the like words what meant Doctor Allen to send this man ouer he will vndoe vs all And being asked why he answered that his expulsioÌ„â—ut of Oxford was so infamous that it would be obiected by the protestants to the disgrace of the cause Let master Blackwell I say be vrged with this and I adiure him as he will answere it before almightie God at the latter day to say the truth then father Parsons shall see we haue won our credits euen in both these points besides an hundred more alreadie proued These words are put downe in the reply to Parsons libell Fol. 93. a. 30. Out of this spirit it is that father Cowbucke alias Parsons for all the disparage of his birth which not his baptisme could wash away and other his scandalous carriages aswell since his Iesuitisme as formerly when he was an heretike in Oxford ambitioneth the Cardinalate forgetting how that to be a bare priest though no such peere he being a known bastard is against the canons of yâ— Church although to be a Iesuite being such well and good he may These words are put downe in master A. C. his second letter page 23. and more at large pag. 38. What name of his he speaketh of the Iesuite Robert Parsons or but two letters of his name find ye to this his manifestation of folly and bad spirit whereby he not to deserue to be burned in the hand for a vagabond not any No nor any durst he shew manifesting so badde spirit and so much folly in that censure of his as he hath done He is discouered for such as he is viz. a man who being the misbegotten of a ploughman and he a cuckwold too vpon the bodie of a plough-man hath accordingly demeaned himselfe first in begetting two bastards male and female vpon the bodie of his owne sister betweene his age of seuenteene and three and twentie which was the cause he ranne away as fearing the sheet c. And so became a Iesuite secondly or rather formerly and continually by being a common alehouse-squire and the drunkennest spunge in all the parish where he liued thirdly for being an heretike of the family of loue all his life till he became a Iesuite These words are set downe in master A.C. his third letter pag. 50. and more at large pag. 78. O Parsons monster of mankind fitter for hell then middle earth Thou giuest occasion to thinke that thou art not a meere man but some fairies brat begotten of some Incubus or aerish spirit vpon the bodie of a base woman These words are set downe expressely by the author of the quodlibets quodl 8. art 5. pag. 238. and quodl 4. art 5. he is termed a sacrilegious bastard borne of a base queane Not heere gentle Reader two things of great moment First that when the Pope abandoned lawfull and honest wedlocke to priests which was euer deemed lawfull vntill Syricius was aduanced to the Popedome in the yeare 385. as I haue prooued in my booke of Surucy then the priests had good store of bastards one of which as the priests heere confesse was expelled from Balioll Colledge for his bastardie seditious dealing is this day euen by the free confession of the secular priests an arrant traitor to his prince and natiue countrey Secondly that this holy father who must forsooth reforme the Church of England and manage euerie thing in that high and heauenly function was to be sent from heauen with heauenly and extraordinarie gifts viz. he must first be a priests sacrilegious bastard Then hee must be a common drunkard Thirdly he must be polluted with the execrable sinne of incest and beget male and female vpon the bodie of his owne sister Fourthly he must be giuen to sedition and libelling Fiftly he must be a ranke traytor to his naturall soueraigne At the length being thus qualified with supernaturall gifts and extraordinarie graces proceeding from Beelzâ—bub that notable Machiuell he must depriue noble Queene Elizabeth of her royall and princely Diademe and set the same vpon the Spaniards head he must make a bloodie massacre of all the nobles and other her louing subiects he must abolish abandon and make hauocke of all the ancient lawes of this Church and Realme and so forsooth si dijs placet set vp his newly deuised Monarchie his holy so falsely named reformation Sect. II.
the reply to Parsons libell fol. 68. b. where it is affirmed to be a matter verie notorious and euident as also that there are diuers priests yet liuing aswell of them that were enforced to subscribe against their willes as others that openly refused the same who will confirme this by oath To come to Parsons booke of succession what title is there which he doth not inualidate one way or other with bastardie or the like the Infanta her title onely excepted doth he not bring the marriage of the Earle of Harford in question to debarre that line doth he not exclude the Scot by the assotiation and so in the rest onely he leaueth the Infanta sole heire without spot or staine Againe hath he not raked vp a title for the Infanta from John of Gaunt and before neuer dreamed of in the world till his time to bring in her as a competitor I am sure he might bring in 300. at the least within our owne countrey aswell and with as good right and interest to the Crowne These words are set downe in the replie to Parsons Libell Fol. 77. a. Sect. III. Of Parsons impudencie and other his bad qualities manifold I will say he is impudent and hath a face of brasse and is as shamelesse as father Pâ—rsons who will affirme or denie any thing For my selfe haue hard the foresaid irreuerent speeches from some of their owne mouthes these words are set downe in the reply to Parsons libell fol. 21. a. 22. Againe in an other place viz. fol. 10. a. 16. Thus they are so apparantly and inuincibly confuted as that I admire much at the mans brasen forehead that he durst so palpablie laye open his follies if not his malice But this is but an ordinarie tricke with Parsons and his complices that euerie man be he neuer so honest if he once speake against a Iesuite must bee esteemed a bad man and a suspected companion marrie if hee runne a longe with them in their courses let him be neuer so lewde a varlet he shall be reputed for most honest Witnesse this Tomson Coulfon Tunsteed and many others of that rable which I could name These words are set downe in the reply to Parsons libell fol. 11. a 19. Beleeue me when I read this I was amazed with wondering at this mans brasen visage he speaketh of Parsons that holy Iesuite Neuer did I in my life I protest reade or heare so notorious wickednesse and iniustice so impudently recounted for iust Iesu whither will this man goe or what will he not iustifie and commend Doth not all our little world know that the erecting of the Arch. priest was the cause of all our dissentions How then was he procured at our owne petition did not M. Standish most falsely by his meanes suggest vnto the Pope in our names a desire of such a thing we neuer dreaming thereof did any one priest in England send his hand or consent with Maister Standish to sollicite any such matter Were not the Iesuites constrained cunningly to extort ratihabitions from the priestes themselues by subscriptions vnto a congratulatorie letter after that they had by forgerie erected him and saw him impugned Diabolus est mendax pater eius God send father Parsons more shame more honestie and more truth I wonder not now at any thing he saith for I well see he hath wholy giuen himselfe ouer to the trade of fittening with which it séemeth he hath made sale of his conscience These words are set downe in the reply to Parsons libell fol 57. a. And in an other place viz. fol. 53. b. Thus but father Parsons will neuer leaue his old trickes of iugling In an other place viz. fol. 75. b. Thus neither were their wits so weake as not able to sée father Parsons cunning ayme therein Though like a Gipsey he play at fast and loose yet men that are acquainted with his olde trickes can gesse at his newe fetches The complement of this chapter As for Don Bernardino Mendoza it is knowne that he was wholy affectionate to the Iesuites and it is but an ordinarie course with the Iesuites to bind both noble men noble women others also vnto them by vow and yet leauing them in the world to be their instruments of which kind in both sexes I could name some in our owne country and therefore it is no strange thing to charge the Iesuites to haue men in the world abroad that are theirs and bound to them in vow and therefore may be termed Iesuites for what doth incorporate into a religious bodie but the vowes thereof amongst which obedience is the chiefest These words are set downe in the reply to Parsons libell fol. 47. a. 23. Note here gentle reader what a cursed crewe of disloyall caterpillers these Iesuites be they are not onely ranke traytors as you haue hard at large but so full of cozonage and hypocriticall dealing in their pestilent sect that no man can tell when he talketh or conueâ—seth with a Iesuite for they are both Friars and Nunnes both men and women and liue in the world to set forward Iesuiticall plots and treasonable practises as if they were lay-people The like was neuer heard of in the world it is a new no religion it is a folly of all follies Friers are become Nunnes Nunnes are Friers all are iumbled vp together They may dilate and inlarge their hypocriticall sect by a most execrable and sacrilegious propagâ—tion For Friers may begette Friers and Iesuiticall Nunnes may be their mothers Well it is expedient to know these holy secular Friers as also the religious contemplatiue Nunnes For secret traytors are most daungerous and not to be tolerated in a well managed common weale Now these gallants these Friers and these Nunnes are knowne to the secular priests as heere you see againe they are arrant traytors as the said priests confesse Thirdly the said priests as themselues haue voluntarily graunted are bound in conscience to discouer them Let wise magistrates remember these points and thinke vpon the execution Let them not forget that both secret friers and secret Nunnes are in this Realme and that not base Friers and base Nunnes but nobles of the best families noble men and noble women if this geare and this treacherous dealing be permitted a while welladay and welladay may be Englands song night and day for the Priests themselues heere tell vs that these noble Friers and these noble Nunnes are permitted by the Iesuites to liue as lay-persons in the worlde that so they may the better bee able to effecte their treacherous and bloudie practises euerie where Chap. VI. Of the Pope and his English hispanized seminaries Paragraph I. Of Parsons the Popes instrument in state-affaires Parsons was the speciall instigator of the Duke of Guise an 1583. Or there abouts for his sodaine surprizing the Citie of London and her maiesties person with 5000. men assuring him that the Catholikes would assist him if néede
in manie thinges they doe often vnwares appeach themselues of high treason I say vnles they ioyne themselues with vs in sacrament and common prayer because many disloyally affected subiects will present themselues in the church with vs as also eat flesh on frydays and temporize with all companies as is proued in the seuenth and eight preambles But if they will receiue the holy Communion with vs reade or singe Psalmes publikelye in the Church with vs that were a signe most probable though not euer infallible This is a grate aduiso it may not bee forgotten Aduiso IIII. Concerning the appeale of the seculars to the Pope THe instituton of the Arch-priest was procured from the Pope sea and court at Rome and that by a bull and in such meaner as not only a Premunire was incurred thereby by auncient lawes of this land but also and much more by recent statute lawes there being treason vpon treason committed in the action quodlibet 6. art 3. 4. 5. This aduiso conteineth matter most important in regard whereof I purpose in God to examine it ad amussm for the better satisfaction of the indifferent reader The secular priests impute notorious treason to the Iesuites as appeareth by their owne words vttered in the defence of their appeale because the Iesuites procured the arch-priests authoritie from the Pope but this notwithstanding they affirme peremptorily that they themselues are cleare and free from all offence For these are their words the seculars are so cleare and farre from all danger of any offence committed by appealing from the arch-priest to the sea of Rome as most daungerous vniust vnnaturall indiscret irreligious and preiudiciall to all both Pope Prince Church common-wealth and all estates if they had not appealed These wordes are set downe quodl 6. art 5. q. 171. Note here gentle reader that these seculars are great wisemen in their owne conceits and so they may rightly be esteemed if they can make good indeed that which they take vpon them in externall shewe of words viz. that they may acknowledge and performe their professed obedience to her maiesties knowen enemie the bishop of Rome that they may submit themselues to his resolution in all thinges and concurre with his bloudie designments against the honour state crowne regalitie and life of their naturall soueraigne and all this notwithstanding still be cleare and free from all offence I will truely lay downe their owne reasons in their owne words and frame my sincere answeare to the same Which when the indifferent reader shall haue pervsed dulie all partialitie set a part I wish that he giue his censure accordingly The first reason of the Seculars TO whome the iniurie is done to him the right of reuenge doth accurne but the popes holinesse was iniured by the Iesuits their suggestion in obeying the bull ergo Thus doe they reason The Aunswere I say first that the right of reuenge belongeth to God alone for so saith holy writte Vengance is mine I will repay And for this cause when lawfull magistrates doe take reuengement vpon this or that malefactor for his irregular and bad dealing all such penall mulcte is hereby iustified for that they are Gods vicegerents on earth and what they doe is done in his name and by authoritie giuen them from aboue So saith God himselfe I say yee are Gods and ye all are children of the most high Againe thou couldest haue no power at all against me except it were giuen thee from aboue Againe there is noe power but of God Secondly that iniurie was done to the secular Priests themselues farre rather then to the Pope and yet doth it not follow by any necessarie consequution that they being priuate persons either ought or could take reuenge either vpon the Iesuites or vpon their Iesuited Blackwell that Romiâ—h traytorus arch-priest for of priuat persons is this text verified all that take the sword shal perish with the sword Thirdly that the greatest iniury of all was done to our gratious Soueraigne most noble Queene Elizabeth For first the Iesuits that procured the authority and the Arch-priest excepting it were all her maiesties naturally borne subiects and so thereby committed execrable villany and intollerable iniurie against her most sacred person Secondly the seculars being also her maiesties subiects did in like manner offend most disloyally against their most gratious and mercifull soueraigne in submitting themselues to the Romish tyrannizing Bishop the professed enemy of her honour her state her crowne her life her regalitie Thirdly the seculars promised their homage and obedience to the Pope so that he would make his good pleasure knowne vnto them and to signifie their alacrity herein they designed two priests Bishope and Charnocke by name to take along painfull dangerous and chargeable iourney euen to the gates of Rome but they were so farre from yeelding any obedience herein to her maiestie that they would not once intimate the matter to her or to her most honourable counsell Nay it is confessed plainly that the Romish faith is defended outwardly on both sides alike quodl 4. art 10. pag. 135. The Second Reason The Iesuites in procuring the Popes Bull and authoritie made it a matter of state in preiudice of regall Maiestie But the sculars in appealing made it a matter of conscience thereby to refell infring and abrogate all such premunireall treacherie The answere I say first that the seculars make it a matter of state as well as did the Iesuites For they professed solemnely to the Pope that they would dutifully obey the authoritie of the arch-prieste if his holinesse would so command them Secondly that albeit the seculars did indeuoure indéede to stay and hinder the arch-prists authoritie yet was not that done for any loyall part in them or seruiceable dutie to her maiestie but for their owne fréedome and to defends themselues from Iesuiticall bondage The disloyall act it selfe was really and intrinsecally the selfe same in them both and not but accidentally and meere respectiuely different in the one and in the other The popes authoritie and power was acknowledged on both sides the Iesuites vrged his authoritie the seculars yelded to his authoritie this only was the difference The Iesuites affirmed that the Pope had authorized the arch-priest the seculars stood only vpoÌ„ this point that so much was not yet knowen to them So then they differed not in the thing but in the modification of the thing Thirdly that the seculars made in deede a matter of conscience because it troubled their dissoyall conscience to disobey the Pope Conscience they had I graunt but in repect of their bloud thirstie Pope not in regard of our most clement and mercifull soueraigne Gods faithfull seruant Queene Elizabeth The Third reason The pretence was made outwardly by the Iesuites to be wholy for matters pertaining to the catholike Church religion and order in workes of charitie pierie deuotion c. Ergo the seculars approuing the contraire
of Constance and one of the best account in the same councell Out of whose words I gather many verie excellent documents well worthie to be written in golden letters First that no Christian is bound to beléeue the decrée definition determination or resolution of the Pope as he is barely and precisely Pope or Bishoppe of Rome without the assistance of a generall councell Secondly that the Pope may erre both priuately and publikely in resolutions of faith aswell as other bishops and ministers of the Church Thirdly that the Pope is subiect to a generall councell and may be controlled by the same Fourthly that the contrarie opinion is a flat heresie condemned in the councell of Constance Fiftly that an inordinate affection to the bishoppe of Rome withdraweth many men from the truth of Christs Gospell Sixtly that a generall councell is so aboue the Pope that it hath power and lawful authoritie to depose the Pope for any notorious crime whatsoeuer Which authoritie saith this great papist was practised and de facto put in execution both in Pope Iohn the 12. and in Pope Iohn the 23. of that name Seuenthly that a generall councell hath full power to compell a Pope lawfully elected to the place to renounce and forsake the popedome and to giue place to him whom the councell shall appoint Eightly that if the pope shall withstand the councell and refuse to obey the decrées and constitutions thereof he must be excommunicated and reputed as an Ethnicke and publican Ninthly that a generall councell may be summoned and kept without consent of the pope that is both lawfully elected and then liuing Tenthly that the Church or a generall councell is a rule set downe by the holy Ghost and giuen vs by Christ to which all people aswell the pope as others must yeeld obedience or else be as the ethnicks and publicans Eleuenthly that neither the pope nor any one man vpon earth is or can be an infallible iudge in matters of faith Twelftly that the iudgement which we must rest vpon in all controuersies of faith and religion is eyther the vniuersall Church or a lawful generall councell This is sound and most Catholike doctrine though procéeding from the penne of a great papist Which doctrine as the councell of Constance did approue so do I embrace the same with all my heart humbly thanking God that by the mightie power of his truth our aduersaries are enforced to deliuer vs the truth against themselues This doctrine is proued more at large in my my booke of Motiues and in my Suruey in many places also of this present volume euen by the confession of the priests vnawares and shall be confirmed God willing in my Golden ballance of triall now readie to the presse Aduiso XII Of the tolleration expected by the Seculars TOuching the toleration which the secular priests ayme at I will only put downe the reasons which perswade me that it cannot stand with the peaceable gouerment of this land referring the decision thereof as appertayneth to the graue consideration of higher powers The same toleration is no lesse daungerous in the kingdomes of Scotland and Ireland a poynt that would not be forgotten The first reason In the booke which Cardinall Allen published in his owne name when the inuasion of England was chiefely intended with the cruell massacre of her Maiesties sacred person in the yeare 1588. which booke the Iesuites partly framed to his hands they first make their entrance into their discourse with a most odious and shamefull declaration against her Maiestie thereby to stirre vp her subiects hearts to contempt of her highnes and to make her beholden euerie where for odious both to God to the world and to all good men Secondly in that booke the Cardinall and the Iesuites threaten the nobilitie genâ—rie and all the rest of the inhabitants of this kingdome with losse of all their goods their lands their liues and with damnation besides except that presently vpon the landing of the Spaniards they ioyned themselues and all their forces men munition victuals and whatsoeuer else they could make with that Catholike armie The words of that booke be these if you will auoid say they the popes the kings and other princes high indignation let no man of what degree soeuer obey abet aide defend or acknowledge her c. adding that otherwise they should incurre the Angels curse malediction be as déeply excoÌ„municated as any because yâ— in taking her maiesties part they should fight against God against their lawful king against their country Ergo the Iesuites are vnfit men to enioy any toleration in a well managed commonweale And whatsoeuer I say of Iesuites coÌ„cerning this toleratioÌ„ I vnderstand yâ— same indifferently of the secular priests My reasons mouing me therunto are manifold First because Cardinal Allen with whose opinioÌ„ all the seculars did euer iumpe put his owne hand to this shamelesse abhominable libell Secondly because many of the secular priests were in the campe as is said in the same article which is quoted in the margent Thirdly Because Ballard the secular priest did at his comming ouer about the yeare 1586. deliuer a like message to al reconciled persons buzzing into their eares to acknowledge the quéen of Scotland for their soueraigne Fourthly because all the seculars professe their obedience to the Pope and are still deuoted to him euen as they were before Fiftly because the seculars iumpe with the Iesuites in all things concerning the Popes authoritie as is alreadie proued The second reason Many nobles and others in high esteeme and authoritie vnder her maiesties are secretly entered into league on the behalfe of the Spaniard and that by procurement of the Iesuites as I haue proued in the eight aduiso Ergo the Iesuits and seculars are vnfit men to enioy and toleration in a well managed common weale The third Reason All papists must imploy their persons and forces by the Popes direction how farre when and where either at home or abroade as men bound in conscience to further all warres for religion and to breake with their temporall soueraigne at the Popes appointmeÌ„t This is proued preamble 18. Ergo Iesuites and Seculars c. The fourth Reason The King of Spaine plotteth and by Iesuiticall faction resolueth to proceede where his father left against England And for this ende sundry persons are sent into England to be agents in that behalfe This is proued preamb. 19. Ergo. The fift Reason The seculars confesse in plaine termes that the penall statutes are iustly made against them this is proued in the seuenth aduiso Ergo vnfit men to haue a toleration The sixt Reason The seculars commend the pope for taking the English diademe from the king and highly approue the dissoyal fact of Cardinall Pandulphus in kéeping the said English crowne three dayes vpon his heade in the Popes right Ergo. c. This is proued in the first aduiso in the second reason The seuenth
priests and their receiuers Parsons answeareth that this is a calumniation which hath diuerse euident falshoods reproueable by the witnesse of all that liued at that time in England both catholikes and heretikes But I reply yâ— this aunsweare of Parsons containeth a lye so palpable and so notorious as I wonder how he could vtter it without blushing For first diuers of the seculars in England at that time refuse to witnes this false narration Secondly many good christians whome it pleased this good fellowe to terme heretikes will witnes against him Thirdly if all must witnes with him then doubtles none will witnes against him which is most absurd to say or hold Fourthly his owne disputation will confute it selfe For after hee hath told vs of his great paines in preaching teaching and writing and namely in setting forth the reasons of refusall of going to the protestants Churches hee forthwith addeth these words vpon which preaching and writing when many chiefe men refused to goe to hereticall seruice there was called a parliament in the end of the same yeere and the law of twentie pound a moneth for recusancie was ordained but no capitall law made against priests or their receiuers vntill diuers yeeres after father Parsons was gone forth of England This is that goodly narratioÌ„ which father Wiseman maketh for his honest purgation if it may stand good either in law or with right reason let vs examin it to know the truth therof First he granteth fréely that by reason of his godly preaching and writing the penall statutes of 20. pound the month was imposed for recusancie Secondly he granteth fréely yâ— by his traytorous preaching and writing many chiefe men refused to goe to hereticall seruice Thirdly he granteth fréely that he wrote against going to the protestant Churches Fourthly he granteth likewise that he termed the godly prayers vsed in the churches of England hereticall seruice and consequenly hee termed her maiestie an heretike like an arrant traytour as he is And yet forsooth we must beléeue him yâ— he did not exasperate he Maiestie and her magistrates to make capital lawes against Iesuites and seminaries who can thinke that this fellow hath any witte Who is so blind as hee seeth not his contradictions Who seeth not how the deuill hath bewitched him For what was the cause of capitall lawes against Iesuites and seminaries Doubtles the deniall in English subjects of their due allegeance to their naturall soueraigne the profession of that same to the Pope her mortall enemie And yet is this consequent necessarilie inferred of the premisses which this fellow fréely hath admitted I cannot but admire the folly of the man that doth not see it for euery recusant is reconciled to the Pope and must perforce take parte with the Pope against the Queene as is already proued And to this recusancie must be ascribed as to the principall cause the enacting of all capitall lawes and other penall mulcts whatsoeuer I say to this recusancie that is to that recusancie to which treason is annexed as an inseperable accident therof For vntill recusancie was so linked with popish treason that disloyaltie was thereby set a broach in euery corner recusants did iâ—ioy all curtesie libertie freedome Wherof this is a sufficient argument because all the capitall and other sharpe penall statutes did nothing at all touch the old popish recusants Albeit we sée this day which is to be imputed to the traytorous Iesuites that other priests together with the lay-people are as deepely drowned in treasonable practises as the seminarie-priests But what Can Parsons say nothing for him selfe Yes forsooth he telleth vs first that he was gon forth of England before capitall lawes were made against priests or their receiuers Alas alas what a poore shift is this Nay what a foolish man is this Parsons committed treason vpon treason and then ran away for feare of the halter Ergo the capitall lawes ensuing were not made to preuent his and the like future treasons Euery child I weene will sée the absurdity of this consequution He telleth vs secondly that in CaÌ„pions arraignment which was after Parsons his departure there was no one action of Parsons objected in particular against the state though he were known to haue béene the superiour in that mission To this I reply that the silence of Parsons in Campions arraignment cannot discharge Parsons of the same or like treasons Besides it may be that the state was aduertised how dastardly Parsons ran away and that they thought that their conniuence and silence in the matter would be an occasion of his returne and then they would talke with the good fellow He telleth vs thirdly that Parsons was the chiefe in the Iesuiticall mission which assertion doubtlesse doth vtterly confound the man For séeing all the capitall lawes were enacted onely and solely against the Iesuites and their fauorites it must needes bée granted it cannot be denied that they were principally intended against the principall Iesuite that is to say against Parsons who will needes be the chiefe I therefore conclude that the Iesuite Parsons is a notorious lyar and that the lye which he would bestowe vpon others is iustly and fitly retorted against himselfe See the fift chapter in the second section Paragraph V. Of Haddockes life and conuersacion Richard Haddocke now doctor as Parsons termeth him is charged by the secular priests to haue béene of no edification in England in his life and conuersation But Parsons because he resisted the messengers sent to Rome and was readie at a becke to doe his designements desperatly affâ—rmeth with a brasen face the contrary in these words as for his libertie of life as they call it while he was in England it is false that it was of any euill edification and some of vs knew him better then these libellers these are the words of our graue Apologians To which I aunswere breifely that these wordes of the Prophet are truely verified of Parsons who was the author of this Apologie indeede There is no faithfulnes in his mouth there inward parts are verie wickednesse their throats an open sepulchre they flatter with their tongues For my selfe knew the man and his life right well and I will onely say that in few words of him which I thinke himselfe will not deny If he doe it shall God willing be proued heareafter by a multitude of honest witnesses and by such particular knowne circumstances of times places and parsons as no possible deniall can be made thereof for it shall neuer be proued God willing that I write any vntruth of any man liuing God is my witnesse that is farre from my meanining But I wonder that the earth doth not open her mouth to swallow vp quicke the Author of this Apologie for his manifolde notorious slanders impudent leasings and most excerable caluminations And Parsons is the man as I haue proued in the first chapter The phrase stile and methode