among many others are his owne words Quid. n. facilius quā diliges proximum tuum for what is more easie thē thou shalt loue thy neighbour Yea a thousād histories as S. Chrisost. saith are contained in the Scriptures which the meanest simplest cannot but vnderstand Which thing our Iesuite Bellarmine did truly obserue when he affirmeth the same S. Chrisostome where hee saith the Scriptures are easy to be vnderstood to speak only of the historie such like things So then our sottish doltish Iesuite may go sighing and sobbing to his brethren and tel thē in sad earnest that it is better for him to sit stil then to rise vp fal as he hath already done CHAP. V. Of the condigne merit of workes THE Libeller hath so long pleased himself in his coozening tricks and in his bewitching of the simple ignorant Papists that he bosteth therof and presumeth to preuaile vnto the end but by the power of God I shal proue him such a noddy before I leaue him that all the world wil deeme him worthy to weare in his forhead a cox-combe for his foolishnes and on his back a fox-tayle for his badge Disputing saith our shameles Libeller against the condigne merits of works he citeth this sentēce of a Catholike writer Iosephus Angles Eodem etiam modo c. as other holy Doctors also considering after the same maner the natural value only of good works and perceiuing that it is exceeding far distant from the value and iust estimation of eternall life said wisely That our works are not meritorious nor worthy of eternall life yet for the couenāt and promise made vnto vs the good works of man with the helpe of grace are worthy of eternall life and equall with it which for all that that promise of God which is frequent in Scripture set aside were altogether vnworthy of so great a reward Thus doth the shamelesse Libeller recite my words and that done hee proceedeth in this maner in these words Although nothing be contained hurtfull to Catholike doctrine yet Bell by his Alchymisticall arte of changing truth into falshood can gather out matter sufficiently against vs. Now mark the answer and both his knauery and folly will appeare The Answere I answere first that Robert Parsons that trayterous Iesuite whome I challenge to bee the penner of the shamelesse Libel is a most notorious lyar and malicious corrupter of my Authors I proue it because in the very beginning of that only Doctors words of whome Parsons made choyce before all the rest hee hath changed the first word which hee perceiued to strike him dead to giue the Pope a mortall woūd for where the Popish Fryer and Bishop Iosephus Angles hath these words All other holy Doctors the Libeller hath these words As other holy Doctors placing the word as for the word all What a trechery is this Parsons committeth the murder and chargeth an other man with the fact Hee telleth me of changing truth into falshood which hee neither is nor euer shall be able to proue and yet doeth himselfe change so much trueth into falshood vse so many coozening tricks as I am very weary in relating a small part therof All other holy Doctors sayth Iosephus Angles As other holy Doctors sayth Parsons Diabolus mendax est pater eius Parsons our shamelesse lyar impudent Libeller not able to indure the sound of their holy Friar and reuerend Bishop when hee affirmeth all holy Doctors to be against their holy Pope his late Romish religiō deemed it his best course to change the word all into the word as that so the Reader might bee bewitched with his legierdemaine and not able to behold the truth But Iosephus Angles telleth vs plainly that all other holy Doctors teach the very same doctrine Marke well gentle Reader for Christs sake for the sauing of thine own soule for my life my soule I dare gage in this quarrell the Iesuite is at his non plus condemned in his owne conscience and neuer able to defend the cause which he hath takē in hand The Papists are so impudent that they affirme their late Romish religion to be the old Religion and Catholike doctrine And with this most shamelesse and impudent asseueratiō they haue a long time seduced and bewitched a great part of the Christian world But this very questiō of condigne merits of works which the Libeller snatched at but durst not for his lugges answere directly to it will make their coozening tricks their legierdemaine so manifest and so vnfold their iuggling and so lay open the nakednesse of late Popery that all the world may perceiue the doctrine which I deliuer which is also the doctrine of the Church of England to be not the new Religion as many silly soules do think but the old Roman Religion from which the late Bishops of Rome by little little haue swarued and the true ancient Catholike faith The doctrine which the Church of England maintayneth and my selfe defends is not a new Religion as the Papists falsely beare the world in hand but the olde ancient Christian Catholike Romane Religiō reformed refined and purged from superstitions errors and heresies which by peece-meale haue crept into the Church Would God the Papists durst once answer my books directly that so the combat for the triall of this controuersy might be foughten valiantly But they are cowards they dare not do it Secondly that when the Libeller saith Nothing brought is hurtfull to Catholike doctrine by which words he euer vnderstandeth late Romish Religion he sheweth himself to be an impudent lyar with a shamelesse brazen face For Iosephus Angles doth not only tel the Pope and in him all his popish vassals that the best works of all considered in their owne nature and natural value are vnworthy of eternall life but also marke well my words that the best works of all euen with the helpe of Gods grace and the assistance of the holy Ghost are altogether vnworthy of eternall life if Gods promise free acceptation be set apart Where I wish the reader to marke seriously these words prorsus indigna altogether vnworthie which are not mine but the Fryers and are most emphaticall against the late Romish Religion I proued this point of doctrine both by the Scriptures fathers best approued Popish writers yea euen by the verdict of Cardinall Bellarmine himselfe But the Libeller durst not aduenture to encounter me and to grapple with my doctrine I wil now adde some few sentences out of Bellarmine which afore I did not once touch The first sentence At vt bono operi debeatur merces ex iustitio conuentio vel promissio necessaria est non n. tenetur vnus alterius obsequium acceptare nisi cōuentio interuenerit Deus autem non promisit mercedem vita aeternae nisi per Christi gratiā regeneratis et adoptatis But
THE POPES Funerall Containing a plaine succinct and pithy reply to a pretensed answere of a shamelesse and foolish Libell intituled The Forerunner of Bels downfall VVhich is nothing else indeede as the indifferent Reader shall perceiue by the due peruse thereof but an euident manifestation of his owne folly ith the vtter confusion of Poperie and all popish vassals throughout the Christian world 2. Reg. 9. V. 34. Visit yonder cursed woman and burie her for she is a Kings daughter Psal. 58.10 The righteous shall reioyce when he seeth the vengeance of the wicked he shall wash his feete in the blood of the vngodly LONDON Printed by T. C. For William Welby and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Grayhound 1605. ⧠To the most puissant wise vertuous learned iudicious and religious Monarch Iames by Gods holy prouidēce and eternal purpose King of great Britain France and Ireland most constant defendor of the auncient Christian Catholike Apostolique Faith and supreme gouernour within his said Realmes Kingdomes territories and Dominions next and immediately vnder the King of heauen ouer all persons and ouer all causes aswell Ecclesiasticall as ciuill GReat is the deepenesse most gracious Soueraigne of the wisedome and knowledge of the euerliuing God vnsearchable are his iudgements his waies past finding out Hee bindeth the waters in his Clouds and the cloud is not broken vnder them He so limiteth the floods that they neither doe nor can ouerflowe He shut vp the Sea with doores when it issued forth as out of the wombe His decree staied her proud waues appointed her bounds whether she should come but no farther He doth great vnsearchable and maruellous things without number Yea his mercies and fauours towards my sillie selfe a most wretched creature and vnworthie for any desert in my selfe to tread vppon the ground are so many so great and so wonderfull that I stand amazed at the remembrance thereof being farre vnable with Penne and Inke to expresse the same The rehearsall of one may suffice for the present Being student at Rome in the English Colledge not long afore my arriuall in this Kingdome and on a time walking abroad to take the ayre with many other of the same Colledge when we came without one of the Posterne gates of the Citie we espied certaine Bufloes with their Keeper at the Riuer-side Which spectacle as vnpleasant to the eye so also most terrible to the heart my fellowes and countrey-men no sooner behelde but they betooke themselues to their best speede My selfe more bolde therein then wise would not amend my pace and so remained bird alone Sodainly the furious raging and cruell Bufloes brake from their keeper and with great violence rage and furie came vpon me My fellowes standing a farre off vpon the toppe of an high mountaine durst not for their liues approach to afford me any comfort helpe aide or succour They neither did nor could expect any other thing saue onely present and moste cruell death Howbeit most gratious Soueraigne the wilde cruell raging and furious Bufloes a thing very strange rare and wonderfull if a miracle let the Reader iudge did no hurt vnto me at all but sported with mee as one childe playeth with another After a while the furious Bufloes left mee and departed in peace from mee At the last my fellowes beholding the departure of the Bufloes and perswading themselues that I was most cruellie slaine came with conuenient speede to visite my corpes But finding me aliue and as liue-like as I was afore we al returned to the Colledge with great ioy and speede The rector of the Colledge could no way be perswaded but that I was very grieuously wounded albeit neither my selfe felt any neither could their eyes or wits discerne any hurt at all saue onely that my face was something bloody by reason of the sodaine fall I gotte while I made hast to haue escaped from the imminent daunger For it had neuer bin knowne or heard among them that euer any man woman or childe escaped with life being once in that kind of daunger to witte in the curtesie of the furious Bufloes Many gaue their censures concerning the fact and euent The generall resolution was this viz. That I might fight with Bufloes in England and haue the vpper hand My selfe did deeme it probable this day me thinketh the same is brought to passe though Gods name be blessed for it in a farre different sense and meaning from that which either they or my selfe did then imagine I thought then to fight against the true professors of Christs Gospell whō I deemed heretiques spiritual Bufloes but God whose wisedome reacheth from end to ende mightily and disposeth all things sweetely ordained me in his eternall purpose to a farre more honourable and sacred Warfare viz. to encounter the trayterous Iesuits and Iesuited popelings and valiantly to fight the battell of Christs Church against those most furious brainlesse cruell Bufloes of mens soules When Saul breathing out slaughter against the Saints of God desired of the high Priests letters by vertue whereof he might bring all to Hierusalem that professed the name of Christ Iesus then our Lord himselfe appeared to him opened his eyes enlightened him with the knowledge of the truth Semblably when my selfe was drowned in the depth of superstitious and erronious Poperie and therein so blinded that I could not discerne trueth from falshood it pleased the same God so to opē the eies of mine heart and soule that I foorthwith beheld as cleerely as the Sunne-shining at noone day late vpstart Poperie farre dissonant from the olde Romane Religion to be battered ouerthrowne and cleane turned vp-side downe and that euen by the cleere euidence plaine verdict and constant doctrine of the best learned Doctors and most renowned writers in the Church of Rome Which metamorphosis and right Christian alteration being wrought in my soule I foorthwith bewayled my former dayes of ignorance very ioyfully embraced the truth in my heart publiquely acknowledged Gods wonderfull operation in mee and most humbly yeelded and submitted my selfe to the mercie of most noble Queene Elizabeth This was the Lords doing and it is wonderfull in our eyes I protest vpon my saluation that I haue at this houre a good testimonie of a well setled conscience and vnspeakable comfort in my soule God make me euer thankfull for this and all other his manifold mercies as I haue also euer had since I first renounced frō my heart the late vpstart Romish Religion For this nowe professed Romish Religion is not as the sillie seduced Papists imagine the old Romane Religion but a new no Religion patched like Mahomets Alcoran and by little and little crept into the Church as I haue prooued elsewhere at large But the Papists being condemned in their own consciences dare not for their liues publish any direct and full answere either to my Motiues
lyeth that the field may be fought valiantly Viua voce for the due vpright triall of the controuersie with all conuenient speed CHAP. IIII. Of the Romish Hotch-potch Religion and the reason of the name THe Libeller can not endure to heare that their Religiō should be called a Hotch-potch of Omnigitherum but after the due explication of the name the original therof and the reason of the same he will no question wish in his heart that he had neuer vrged me thereunto The secular seminarie-priestes giue this commendation to the religion of the Iesuits VVe desire you say they by the mercies of God to take heede of novelties and Iesuitisme for it is nothing but treacherie dissimulation ambition a very vizard of most deepe hypocrisie These words are set downe in the important considerations The Iesuits haue prouided that all who come out of Spaine must sweare vowe professe or at least acknowledge an obedience to M. Black well in all things yea euen to become rancke traitors against their prince and country for that is principally intended These words are in the sparing discourse toward the ende of the Epistle Now then the actions of the Iesuits tending so euidently as they doe and haue done to the ruine subuersion and ouerthrow of our prince and countrie both by secret practises and open incursions of Spanish invasions as is manifest both by their owne bookes letters other dealings aswell in Ireland as England what good subiect or true hearted English man can doe lesse then disclaime with his mouth resist with his blood open with his tongue all such vnnaturall and treacherous attempts we are too much acquainted therwith and therefore bound to reueale what we know therein when it shal be necessarie for the preseruation of our Prince coūtry Al Catholiques must hereafter depend vpō Blackwell Blackwell vpon Garnet Garnet vpon Parsons Parsons vpon the deuil These words are set downe in the discouerie Page 70. By Parsons platformes secular priests must depend vpon Blackwell and Blackwell vpon Garnet Garnet vpon Parsons Parsons the priests bastard vpon the deuil and therefore doe the Secular Priests pray thus when they say the Letanie A machinationibus Parsoni libera nos Domine From Parsons diuellish purposes O Lord deliuer vs. These wordes are set downe in the discouerie The Iesuits are to bee marked out for the most malicious traiterous and irreligious calumniators that euer liued on earth vnworthy that euer the earth should beare them and it is an intolerable indignitie to the whole Church of GOD that euer such wicked members should liue vnpunished in her as they doe These words are set downe Quodlib 4. Art 2. Pag. 99. The Iesuits haue made Religion but an art of such as liue by their wits a very Hotch-potch of Omnium githerum Quodlib 2. Art 8. Pa. 43. Thus write the Popes owne deere vassals the Seminary Priests In whose wordes the Reader may plainely behold euen as cleerely as the Sunne shining at noon-day that the Religion which the Iesuits professe to be termed a very hotch-potch of Omniumgitherum Now our Iesuits must either pardon me for this name or else denie the Romish Religion to be that which they beleeue and professe Which if they wil say and send their affirmance to me I shal God willing shape thē an answere speedily which I suppose wil not please their grauitie But let vs proceed a little further I haue proued by good authoritie euē by the testimonie of best approued popish Writers how that the late Romish Religion crept into the Church by little and little That Popish Primacie began in the yeare 607. That Priests mariage was neuer prohibited till the yeare 385. That Popes pardons were neuer heard of till the yeare 1300. That popish Purgatorie tooke no roote in the Romish Church till the yeare 250. That Popish inuocation and adoration was not knowne till the year 370. And so of the other parts of late popish religion I say of late popish or Romish Religion because I onely impugne the late romish Faith and Doctrine which the Pope and his Romish schoolmen haue brought into the Church For I willingly grant with Saint Paul that the olde Romane Religion was Catholique sound and pure with it doe not I contend And hence it is apparant to all the world that the late romish Religion is a patched Hotch-potch of Omnigitherum because the Papists dare not answere my proofes grounds foundations and reasons in that behalfe I am perswaded in my conscience and I thinke many others are of mine opinion that the Papists sigh sobbe grone and pant at the verie heart so often as they remember what I haue written against them CHAP. V Of Bels Apostasie THe holy Apostle telleth vs that if we denie our sinnes and our selues to bee sinners then wee deceiue our selues make God a liar haue not the truth in vs. But on the contrarie part if wee acknowledge our sinnes then God is faithfull and iust and will forgiue vs our sinnes and clense vs from all vnrighteousnesse Which being true as it is most true indeede for the spirite of God can not lie I doe most willingly confesse my selfe to bee a grieuous sinner with Dauid Matthew Peter Paul and others and in a godly sense and meaning to haue committed two kindes of Apostasie Which as I am worthy to heare it so is the Libeller vnworthy to vpbraid me with it In one place hee hath these wordes Bell pretendeth great sinceritie like a true Apostle and yet like a false Apostara vseth it not In another place hee hath these wordes who hath as shamefully apostated from his vocation and waged warre against his mother the church as euer did that gracelesse Impe reuolt from his naturall alleageance and tooke Armes a gainst his father the King Hee speaketh of Absolon and my selfe My answere standeth thus First that this Libeller and his brethren the English Iesuits are most notorious traytours and consequently Apostataes I haue proued it at large in my Anatomie of Popish tyrannie Which booke whosoeuer shall reade attentiuely cannot but abhorre and detest in his heart all Iesuits and Iesuited villanie Secondly that as their Angelicall Doctor and Saint Aquinas telleth them Apostasie chaunceth three wayes by breaking of Gods precepts by departing from Religion which he professed or the order which hee receiued And by departure from the true Christian Faith and this last onelie is simply properly and absolutely called Apostasie Whose doctrine in this behalfe I willingly admit confessing my selfe to be an Apostata euery day by breaking Gods holy lawes and Commandements leauing the Papists to boast of their holy liues and condigne merits I likewise confesse that I haue in a godly sort revolted from that Religion which I once did embrace yet not aplos wholy but cata ti that is from the corruptions superstition lately crept into
the price of thirtie pounds O braue Iesuites O poore begging Fryers Where is that pouertie which you professe the Iesuite Holt and his companions gathered of the Papists in this Realme the full summe of fiftie thousand pounds for English dispensations which as the secular Priests their brethren doe reckon it make two hundred millions of Italian scuts Al this which I here affirme of the gallantrie of our poore begging Fryers the Iesuites is to be seene in my anatomie of popish tyrannie euen verbatim as it came from the Pennes of the Popish Seminary-Priest Which I haue for this end here inserted that the Reader may the better vnderstand that in equalitie of time whereof the Libeller complaineth in the preface of his second Fore-runner FINIS Rom. 11. Vers. 33. Iob. 26. V. 8. Iob. 27. V. 11 Iob. 38. V. 8. Iob. 38. Vers. 11. Iob. 5.9 I might here recount many other rare extraordinary fauours of God towards me The Bufloes are as terrible beasts as the Lyons Many yet liuing knowe â—his to be most true A thing neuer heard or knowne before Sap. 8.1 Ephes. 1. Vers. 4.11 Rom. 9. Vers. 11.15.16 c. Ephes. 6. Vers. 12. Act. 9. Vers. 1.2.3 c. Let mee die a most cruell death if I shall not confound Popery by best approued Popish Doctors against any English Papist that shall haue courage to defend the same Psal. 118. verse 23. In the Survey of Poperie The Papists cannot abide to heare their religion thus tearmed But they must voleÌ„tes noleÌ„tes endure it till they answere all my bookes Forerunner pag. 15. Nascctur ridiculus mus O noble King for Christs sake graunt my request The victory is already gotten none of them dare vndertake the quarrell Let me be hanged bowelled and quartred yea and and my corpes cast to the fowles of the ayre if the victorie fall not on my side All this and much more is verified of our Iesuites as is proued at large in my Anatomie of Popish tyranny They haue bene now more then ten yeares buzzing about the answere of my bookes but none can be had See Act. 19. V. 24. c. All the Iesuits haue laid their heads and wits together for the pretensed answere to my booke albeit they labour to father on it a namelesse Libeller This is a point of great importance let it be well marked for Christs sake it is able to perswade any man Chap. 5. Pag. 32. Pag. 34. Loe my Bookes gall the Papists euen by their owne confession Marke this well It cannot be denied The Iesuits and all other Iesuited Papists are here goared to death The Iesuits Cap of consideration In my counterblast In his detection Prouer. 26. Vers 5. If my selfe were this day a Papist this their maner of dealing would cause me to forsake them renounce their Religion And me thinketh it should be able to worke the same effect in others Chap. 4. Pag. 23. Prou. 25. Vers. 2. Rom. 10. Veâ—seâ— â—0 13 1. Ioh. 2. Vers. 1.2 Mat. 18.22 Luk. 17.4 Chap. 1. Pag. 1.2.3 Chap. 3. Pag. 45.1 The libeller Robert Parsons is made of lying as it will soone appeare Iac. 3.2 Iam. 3. V. 10.11.12 Rom. 5. V. 12 Gen 6.5 Psal. 143.2 Psal. 130.3 Iob. 15 15. Mat. 23. Vers. 2.3 Mat. 26. V. 69 70.71.72.74 Act. 9.1 1. Tim. 1. v. 13 14.15 1. Ioh. 2. V. 1.2 Rom. 4. V. 2.3.4 Rom. 5.1 Rom. 6. Vers. 23. Tit. 3. V. 5. These Bishops sounded alarum against the Pope Page 11. The Iesuite is a most notorious lyer Prou. 14.5 Psal. 5.5 Pag. 15. It is an answere answereles Pag. 18. Loe their answere may not behold the light Libr. 2. cap. 17. The Franke discourse Pag. 98. Libr. 2. Cap. 17. Behold here the holy fraternitie of our Iesuits not I but the Papists affirme it to be so In his detection published Anno 1602. A most notorious lye it is against the late Romish Church not against the Catholique Church God forbid The lying Iesuit Parsons was the penner of both If this point be once well marked it will bring both the Pope and his popelings to their death An. 1602. Ah poore papists what a silly religion is yours An. 1599. Iudg. 15.4 An answere answerelesse In the dolefull cry of Rome A shame of all shames in the world Pag. 15. Loe how they are netled goared and whipped with my bookes His letter is to be scene if need require Loe a great number euen of the best haue consulted to answer me Marke this wonderment the answer to my bookes was 5. yeares a preparing 5. other years kept close in a pipkin from sun burning and it must come forth ad caleÌ„das graecas liue in tenebris Cimmeriis till their woman Pope Ioan be with child againe Pag. 15. Behold here fit counsellors for the popes holines Viz ad Calendas Graecas Pag. 20. Pag 21. He is a very cozening companion as his owne deare brethen haue truely termed him If no Iesuit or Iesuited papist dare this doe then fie vpon them all both great and small I haue hunted the Pope euen to death that with his owne doctors and yet no Papist is of courage once to encounter me therein Pag. 18.19 20. The dog is aâ— London with the lye Pag. 33. What a shamelesse dealing is this their consiences condemne them their hearts faile them Pag. 19. Pag. 9 Amost palpable contradiction in the Iesuite Parsons wordes What will not malice doe Pag. 14. soft and faire a while your cooler is at hand A vaine and insolent brag as shall soone appeare God willing Pag. 9. 10. Beholde a coward in graine Neither this Libeller Robert ParsoÌ„s nor any of his crewe durst now for ten yeares answere or accept my challenge And yet is he bold to call me coward being himself the coward indeede The Libeller is the coward in very deed Pag. 11. What a shamelesse Iesuite as this Libeller his owne wordes do condemne him O impudent Iesuits more impudent then impudencie is selfe The Iesuits are cowards not daring to defend their poperie vpon their owne soule Better learned Multis parasangis A new larum to the Iesuits and to all Iesuited Popelings The Libellers answering is nothing else but a fond kind of fidling Make hast O Iesuits and let me haue an answere with speede Prepare thy selfe O Iesuit to fight the combate valiantly Pag. 2. Import consid Pag. 39. George Blackwell the new vpstart archpriest O bloodie and trayterous Iesuits Reply to Parsons Libell Fol. 28. Diseou Pag. 70. Loe the Seminarie Priests gaue the name Which turneth to your eternal shame In my booke of Suruey else where See my booke the downfal Pag. 83. Rom. 1.8 1. Iohn 1. Vers. 8.9.10 Page 30. Vpon my saluation I deale truely Pag. 59. Tho. Aquinas 2.2 q. 12 Art 1. corp I dare not bost of works but I appeale to Gods free mercy for the merites of Christ Iesus Whatsoeuer the Romish Church hath consonant to the holy Scriptures our English
or to my Survey or to any other of my bookes written against them and their pâ—tâ—â—ed Hotch-potch Religion Yet this last moneth of Februarie one shamelesse and namelesse Iesuite hath published not a direct and full answere but a Fore-runner forsooth against mee In which Pamphlet hee turneth himselfe this way that way and euery way saue onely to the marke at which hee neuer aymeth He perceiueth right well that many of the Popelings beginne to stagger at their doctrine and Romish faith because they haue beene so long silent and dare not answere my Bookes For the procuring of which mortall wound he telleth them of a most rare and soueraigne medicine which the Iesuits haue brought out of the new found worlde viz. That my Bookes were answered fiue yeare agoe and that the answere is suppressed hitherto for speciall vnknowne causes but must shortly come abroad Hereof more at large in the proper place Now so it is most excellent King that the Fore-runner would seeme desirous though indeed he desireth nothing lesse to haue a publique dispute and so to fight the combate with me Viua voce and therefore doth hee challenge me daring and redaring me to the same Who if he knew how willingly gladly I am ready to cast him my Gauntlet would doubtlesse vse his words more sparingly in this behalfe In regard hereof most gracious and dread Soueraigne I now prostrate vpon my knees doe most humblie beseech your most excellent Maiestie that it will please your Highnes of your most Princely fauour to graunt your Royall licence and safe conduct for any English Iesuite or Iesuited Papist in the whole worlde that shall haue courage to appeare for the true performance of the challenge in such manner as is in this replie expressed Oh most gratious Soueraigne I am joyfull when I remember this future combat I wish in my heart that it may bee effected with all expedition for I confidentlie perswade my selfe in our Lorde Iesus that his Name shall thereby bee glorified your Maiestie highlie honoured the Papists stricken dead and all true hearted English subiects receiue vnvnspeakeable endlesse comfort If it shall fall out otherwise and that I shall not be found euen in your Maiesties iudgement to haue the victorie and vpper hand I will be content to loose my life for my iust reward as one that hath dishonoured your Maiestie and the cause The Almightie blesse your Maiestie with a long and most happie raigne vpon earth and with eternall glorie in the world to come Amen From my studie this eighteenth of March 1605. Your Maiesties most humble subiect Tho. Bels. How faults escaped in the first Booke may be corrected by the Reader THe Booke for expedition sake was committed to three seuerall Printers by reason whereof the Pages could not bee distinguished with numbers Hence it commeth that the Reader can not so easily find out the faults corrected as he may in some other Bookes Howbeit if hee shall marke the Booke and the Chapters and reckon the Pages from the Chapter vntil he come to that page line in which the fault is named he can not but haue his desire in that behalfe How faults of the first Booke escaped in the Printing are to be corrected In the first Chapter seuenth page and first line the word but must be added before the word here Chap. 1. page 9. line 1. the word worlde must be added before the word well Chap. 2. P. 4. l. 23. the word and must be taken away Chap. 2. P. 4. l. 6. the word were must followe the word and. Chap. 2. P. 5. l. 24 the word they must be added before the word shew Chap. 2. P. 6. l. 14. the word two must be added for the word three Chap. 2. p. 10. l. 20. the word one must goe before the word onely Chap. 2. p 11. l. 5. the word them must be made the chap. 2. p. 11. l. 15. the word doltlesse must be made doltish Chap. 2. p. 13. l. 19. many words are superfluous Chap. 3. p. 2. l. 20. for nor reade not Chap. 3. p. 4. l. 8. for soule in the margent reade soyle chap. 4 p. 2. l. 10. for discourse read discouerie In the Caveat p. 1. l. 16. for OperaepertiuÌ„ reade Operaepretium Ibid. p. 7. l. 20. How faults escaped in the second Booke are to be corrected Chap. 2. p. 2. l. 12. for obiection reade contradiction Chap. 3. page foure l. three and thirtie for so reade Saint Chap. 3. p. 2.23 for his reade the. chap. 7. in the 4. reason for dialogue reade decalogue Some other faults there are but the Reader may very easily discerne them A Table containing the principall contents of all the Chapters Chapters of the first booke Chap. 1. Of the Methode of the discourse with the reason of the same Chap. 2. Of the Libellers notorious vntruthes lyes and slaunders Chap. 3. Of the libellers foolish arrogaÌ„t challenge of the name Chap. 4. Of the Romish hotch-potch Religion with the reason Chapters of the second booke Chap. 1. Of dissention among Papists Chap. 2. Of the marriage of Priests Chap. 3. Of a terrible monster without both head and foote Chap. 4. Of Card. Bellermines opinion and doctrine Chap. 5. Of the condigne merite of workes Chap. 6. Of S. Austens opinion touching involuntarie motions Chap. 7. Of Pope Martins dispensation THE POPES Funerall The first Booke of certaine ridiculous scandalous slaunderous godlesse shamelesse and senselesse extravagants vttered and made salable for a Souse by a most impudent brasen-faced brainelesse and namelesse Libeller in the behalfe of the whole rabble and most cursed crewe of English traiterous Iesuites and others their Iesuited and deuoted vassals CHAP. I. Of the Methode obserued in this discourse together with the reason of the same THe abiect and forlorne cursed crew of Iesuites who by the verdict iudgement and testimonie of the popish Secular Seminarie-priests are notorious lyars coozeners theeues traitours and most wicked men vpon earth feeling them selues pricked galled and deepely goared with the strong reasons euident proofes irrefragable testimonies and invincible demonstrations laid open before the eyes of my readers throughout all my bookes as most strong forts towers stony rockes harder then any flint enuironed on euery side with well fortified bulwarkes rampiers especially seeing and with inward sighs and sobs perceiuing their Pope and Poperie to be turned vpside downe and with deadly woundes to lye a bleeding and all this to be verified by the constant verdict doome of their most famous best learned best approued popish writers thereupon bestirring themselues this way that way euery way like mad-men hopping and skipping in the Alpes and as vagarant persons vpon the stonie Rockes of mount Synai seeking passages but finding none haue at the length called to mind and bethought themselues how they might cunningly though shamefully falsly most damnably dazel the eyes and steale away the hearts of my readers
viz. to propine vnto them a cup of dangerous Letharge which pittifully annoyeth the power sensitiue almost vtterly quencheth right reasō that so they shuld neither be able to discerne truth from falshood nor to behold the bright light shining cleerly before their faces On the one side it grieued them aboue measure vexed them at their very hearts to heare continuall out-cryes against them for the non-answering of my bookes On the other side it wounded galled and deepely goared their cōsciences that they were not able to withstād or gainsay my strong reasons euident proofes inuincible demonstrations Being thus perplexed and at their wits end what to say or do they resolued to publish a counterfeit and pretensed answere rather then none at all so to stay in some sort at the least the outcryes exclamations of the people against them And to the ende their couzonage and legierdemaine should not be espyed if that were a thing possible to bee done and effected their scurrilous Libell which containeth onely fiue Chapters in all is fraught with nothing else for the foure first but with notorious lyes antichristian speeches vain bragges railing words couzoning trickes ridiculous asseverations most slaunderous and false accusations Yea of fiue partes one only is reserued for their pretensed answere to my booke I say of their pretensed answere because all the Iesuits or at the least the best of them aswell beyond the seas as in this kingdome gaue their best aduise for the effecting thereof Now if any man demaund the cause why they bestir themselues so much waste so much pretious time spend so many Chapters in things meerely impertinent and plaine by-matters mee thinketh I can not answere that question more fitly then by relating their owne words in their scurrilous and shamelesse Libell albeit by them intended to an other purpose These are their expresse words If he be such a sincere writer as he protesteth so consideratiue and respectiue in the penning of his bookes that no suspition of misreporting or corruptiō can be iustly fastned vpon him then doth it euidently followe that we haue great dissentions in matters of Faith and that our Doctors bee the bane of Catholique doctrine and then no maruell if hee make challenge vppon challenge and remaine vnanswered when as not onely our enemies but also those that we take for our friends and rely vpon stand in open field against vs and haue as it were sworne our destruction Thus writeth the Libeller vnder which name I euer vnderstand the Iesuites and all Iesuited persons whose heads wits concurred in deuising the same Againe a little after he hath these words the matter as he handleth it seemeth so odious that some no question condemne vs highly vpon his report and my selfe was since the comming forth of his booke assaulted with this very question so markeable it is in euery mans eye Thus prateth the godlesse Libeller euen to his owne shame and confusiō though vnwittingly Out of whose words I note sundry very necessarie memorable points for the true comfort of the Christian Reader First that of force and meere necessitie it must be graunted that the Papists haue great dissentions among them euen in matters of Faith Secondly that their very best doctors be the bane of the Pope and the Popes religion Thirdly that it is no maruaile that I make challenge vpon challenge and stil remaine vnanswered Fourthly that those doctors whom they take for their friends and doe relie vpon stand in open field against them as if they were their sworne enemies Fiftly that many Papists begin to stagger and to stand in doubt of the popish Religion and that by reading of my bookes as by an Instrument vnder God in that behalfe Sixthly that the libeller himselfe hath bene assaulted with that which hath beene gathered out of my bookes Seuenthly that the doctrine deliuered in my books is verie markable in euery mans eye Blessed be our Lord God for all his mercies and fauours to this our Church of England Wee see here gentle Reader that the Papists generally euen the Iesuits and Seminarie-Priests begin to feare the ruine and downe-fall of Poperie One thing the Reader must heere remember that the first foure notes or obseruations are respectiue must be vnderstood conditionally viz. that if the Papists doe not confute my bookes effectually then must they all and euery of them perforce and of necessitie be truly verified of the papists of their popish religiō It therfore standeth the Papists vpon to answere me both directly and soundly for else destruction of necessitie must come vpon them and breake the necke of their Poperie This confession God be praised I haue by insoluble reasons and euident demonstrations extorted from their owne pennes But gentle Reader they will neuer answere my bookes till the worlds end because they cannot and consequently euen by their owne free confession which is to be admired Poperie must haue a downefal the sooner the better Amen the case is cleere and evident euen to euery child For they that haue bene buzzing about the answering of my bookes these many yeares and confesse freely withall that the life of their Poperie depends vppon the confutation of my bookes and thereupon haue assaid all meanes they could deuise haue no doubt made choyse of those small parcels with which they thought themselues most able to deale VVherein for al that they haue done nothing else indeede but onely laid open to the viewe of the world their great malice and extreame folly VVhich if I bee not deceiued euery indifferent Reader will affirme with mee so soone as hee hath perused this my briefe plaine discourse so briefe and succinct as none I thinke will deeme it tedious so sound and sincere as none can iustly and truly reproue it and so plaine facile and perspicuous as euery childe may vnderstand the same For if I doe not soundly pithily and effectually confute the Libeller yea euen turne him out of his skin I will be content and well pleased to lose my life for my paines And let the Reader thus perswade himselfe bcause euident reason conuinceth it to be so that if the Iesuits and Iesuited Papists are not able to make good against mee those sillie snatches and pieces of my bookes whereof themselues haue made the choyse that much lesse are they able to confute my whole workes No no they doe in effect confesse so much while they dare neither answere any one booke of all nor yet any one Chapter wholy heere and there an odde piece or sentence I protest vnto the gentle Reader that I partly blush on their behalfe Garnet the prouinciall of the Iesuits in England some yeares agoe was cōsulted with his aduise required that some course might be taken for the answering of my bookes because their silence in that behalfe brought no smal detriment to their Religion The good father hauing on
most detestable drabbe so as from her no lawfull authoritie no true orders no publique Doctrine no true sacrament could be had For by S. Paules constant Doctrine which must needes be of credite against our mistresse Pope no woman can haue publique regiment in the Church And consequently it being true which so many Papists of great note in the romish church affirme for truth Poperie must needs thereby receiue a markeable and most deadly wound yea be ouerthrowne and turned vpside downe And the truth of the storie may yet be more strongely confirmed if neede shall so require For Onuphrius Panuinius in his Commentaries vpon Bap. Platina when he hath sayd all that possibly hee could say for the good pleasure and contentation of the Pope to whose Holynesse he dedicated his holy labours confesseth freely because the truth it selfe enforced the Friar to speake the truth that not onely the common people but men also of high esteeme and many in number did receiue the Storie of our holy mistresse woman-pope as true and authenticall And the silly euasion which he like a flattering Fryar vseth is not worth the hearing I adde hereunto as a memorable post-past that this storie of Iohn their woman Pope is publiquely painted and this day to bee seene in the Cathedrall Church of Scyenna or Sena Which painting did so goare and gall our newly hatched Iesuites whose sect was not known in the world for the space of fifteene hundred and fourtie yeeres after Christ that they laboured with might and maine as I heard by credible report to haue had that storie defaced in the late repairing of that Church but the Cardinal being the chefe there would not suffer them to haue their hearts desire in that behalfe And doubtlesse the Reader cannot but perswade himselfe that seauen famous popish Historiographers who liued a long time one after another would neuer haue published one and the selfe same storie to the view of the whole world especially such a storie as brought vtter shame confusion and ruine to their Popes themselues and their popish religion if any one of them cold in his life-time haue learned the contrarie to bee the truth Nay the popes who most cruelly and tyrannically burne both the Bookes and their authors when they make against them and their poperie would neuer haue suffered such Bookes to remaine vnburnt to these our daies for a constant and euident testimonie against them and their patched religion if the vnsearchable wisedome of God had not so ordained for the vtter shame confusion and desolation of late vpstart romish Doctrine The Corollarie FIrst therefore seeing three famous popish Writers viz. Syluester Prieras Bartholomaeus Fumus and Angelus de Clauasio doe all constantly and with vniforme assent affirme auouch and publish in print to the view of the whole world that Pope Martin graunted license to the brother to marrie his owne naturall sister Secondly seeing the selfe-same popish Doctors doe constantly hold and affirme that the popish Archbishop Antoninus did relate the same before them Thirdly seeing the Libeller himselfe confesseth that if the word sua had beene in Antoninus for that the word eius then the sence had beene as I affirme Fourthly seeing all the aforenamed writers Syluester Fumus and Angelus doe constantly and vniformely vse the same word sua for the word eius in Antoninus Fiftly seeing the reasons which the Libeller bringeth for his grounds are verie silly ones and of no force at all Sixtly seeing their renowned Cardinall Caietanus and their famous Canonist Nauarrus doe resolutely hold and affirme that the pope hath power to dispence with all manner of persons in the contract of matrimonie the father with his daughter and the mother with her sonne onely excepted Seauenthly seeing Antoninus Syluester Fumus and Angelus dare not counsell the pope to giue such dispensations because they deeme it to be a thing vnlawfull yet are they so fearefull to censure the Popes dealing therein because it is holden as sacriledge to dispute of his power that after the fact be committed they affirme the Popes doing to be lawfull and of force albeit they haue neither ground nor reason for the same I cannot but conclude and affirme it for an vndoubted truth that the Pope taketh vpon him that power which is proper to God alone And consequently that our Libeller Robert Parsons that shamelesse and impudent Iesuite is a most notorious lyar and in regard of his manifold slaunders corruptions lyes and cozening trickes well worthy to gaine the pillotie for his iust reward A FRESH LARVM OR NEW CHALLENGE to all English Iesuites and Iesuited Papists in the vniuersall World tagge and ragge none at all excepted whosoeuer shall appeare in the shape of man I Here make a new and fresh Challenge to all English Iesuites and Iesuited papists whosoeuer and wheresoeuer they bee not to cassiere retract denie or call backe any of the former Challenges as who most hartily and earnestly desire the true perfourmance of them all and will for mine owne part omit nothing that can be wished in that behalfe but that all the world may know the euident truth to be on my side and that I am innocent and free from those notorious slaunders with which the shamelesse Libeller chargeth me as also that it may be knowne to al languages people and nations that the Iesuits and Iesuited popelings are condemned in their owne consciences haue now no other shift or means in the world but to face out the matter with flat lyes notorious slaunders and deepe cozenage albeit this be the meanest and the silliest shift of all others I therefore challenge all English Iesuites and Iesuited papists ioyntly and seuerally to laye their heades and wittes together and to choose out some one among them all whome they shall thinke the fittest for learning and courage to take the quarrell in hand and that done to put down his name and addition in print so to make it knowne vnto the world that he is willing and readie to answere the Challenge viz. either to iustifie all the assertions contayned in the Fore-runner or at the least two of the same that is to say that more bold than wise assertion which chargeth me to haue belyed Iosephus Angles touching the condigne merite of workes And that other audacious and plaine Antichristian speech which diabolically chargeth me to haue slaundered Pope Martin concerning his license for marriage between the brother and his owne naturall sister And if any one Iesuite or Iesuited papist whosoeuer either in England or elsewhere shall haue courage to vndertake the Challenge and so valiantly to encounter me viua voce for the due sinceere and sound tryall of the Fore-runners answere to Bels Downefall as hee tearmeth it I promise as I will answere God and intend to bee saued vpon the receit of notice giuen thereof in print in manner aforesayd to doe so much as in
his Cappe of consideration answered right grauely though neither honestly nor yet Clarkely that they should either not meddle at all with that matter or else deale rather against my person then against my Doctrine This aduise as it seemeth hath now taken place For this Libeller fighteth with might and maine against my person but dealeth too too niggardly with my Doctrine I haue else-where made mention of this Garnets Letter where I made full rehearsall thereof Ad verbum and framed a direct answere to the same The great maister Iesuite Robert Parsons affirmed about three yeares agoe that the confutation of my worthy workes as he scornfully termeth them was vndertaken and to bee published if it should seeme necessarie Now Sir this most necessarie confutation which they haue been so many yeares buzzing about is published to the worlde Yet so sillie and so simple a thing as I cannot tell what to make of it or how to name it The foure first Chapters of this Libell I would let passe without answere if two causes did not vrge me thereunto because they containe nothing but meere by-matters and impertinent stuffe First for that the well affected Reader may make good vse thereof especially by helpe of my censure annexed to the same Secondly because wise Salomon aduiseth me to answere a foole according to his foolishnesse least he seeme wise in his own conceit I therefore purpose in God to reduce to certaine distinct heads and chapters the notorious lies vaine brags vnchristian slaunders and false accusations which the Libeller hath abruptly without all Eutaxia dispersed in euery page of the aforesaid Chapters so I thinke to enlarge his most filthy and most scurrilous Libell which else for the quantitie might be an Almanack But by the power of God I will handle the last Chapter cathauton ad amussim duly examining euery sentence period thereof to the very bottome so as no starting hole shall be left him to be a sanctuarie or refuge to hide his face The Libeller would seeme desirous to grapple with me but it appeareth farre otherwise by his dealing For what man in the world taking vpon him to answere my booke the downefal of Poperie would flye from the whole booke from euery article nay from euery main point ground and period thereof as one afraid once to touch the same and onely to snatch here and there a sentence of the least force to his witting none doubtlesse It is apparant to all the well all this notwithstanding I haue so mangled and maymed him with my dartes and so wounded him with my bullets that the scarres and markes will bee seene vpon him so long as he liueth in this world In his fift and last Chapter though he hath dealt very sparingly in answering those fewe sentences whereof he made his choyse I wil God willing so bicker skirmish and grapple with him as I shal neither leaue him one whole bone in his skin nor one tooth in his head nor yet one haire on his beard That done I will send him to his good maisters as a cur-dogge that barketh apace but cannot bite and as a beardlesse boy without haire on his face voide of all learning wit sense and reason that so hee may bring them newes of his good fortune VVhat I doe here promise I hope in God to performe the same in due season CHAP. II. Of the Libellers notorious vntruthes or to speake plaine English of his flat lyes THe first word of the title of his Libell the forerūner of Bels downfal implyeth a flat lye So forsooth to insinuate to his Readers that a filthy and huge fardell of lyes but small or no truth at all can be expected from his Penne. But how is this proued Thus. Forerunner must perforce be vnderstood either in respect of my person or else in respect of my booke If in respect of my person it is both impertinent to the matter in hand and is also a manifest and flat lye in his way of proceeding I proue it because in his iudgement I had my downefall when I renounced their late Romish Religion which I thanke God for it was many yeares agoe Againe this Libeller of his great charitie auoucheth desperately that long since a foule downefall brake the necke of my soule God forgiue mee my sinnes and saue the necke of his soule if it bee his holy will I feare no such causelesse curses but haue a firme and stedfast hope of my saluation in CHRIST IESVS If in respect of my booke it is also a flat lye because it is so farre from being a forerunner that it is a plaine aftercreeping and doth aunswere my booke with as much speede as one may driue a Snaile to Rome Thus much for his first lye Let vs proceede 2 The Libeller pleaseth himselfe aboue measure in calling mee a turne-coate and a patched minister This hee repeateth againe and againe in foure seuerall Pages My aunswere standeth thus First I most willingly confesse my selfe to bee a turne-coate in a godly sense and Christian meaning that is to say to haue turned from falshod to truth from vice to vertue from iniquitie to pietie and from sinne to a Godly Christian life Hee that disdaineth or shameth to bee a turne-coate in this sense shall neuer see Gods face in his Kingdome For as holy writte teacheth vs euerie where they that are the holiest of all sinne manie a time and therefore must they either repent and turne their coate of conuersation or else perish euerlastingly And as for mine owne turning my selfe freely confessed it in the first booke which I published and to reproach one for his sinnes and errors which he humbly acknowledgeth is not only against sincere christianitie but also against all modest humanitie Neither is it to the purpose or question in controuersie betweene vs. For it skilleth not what I am my selfe so the Doctrine bee sound which I deliuer But the want of an honest cause lacke of good grounds and reasons to defend your Poperie draweth you violētly to these foolish impertinent by matters Secondly as Peter denied Christ three times of infirmitie and as Paul persecuted Christs Church of ignorance and they both for all that found mercie and fauour with God for Christs sake so my selfe I trust and constantly beleeue who erred ignorantly in my yonger yeares at which time I carefully sought the truth but found it not haue attained remission of my sins according to mercie through faith in Christ Iesus S. Austin was a Manichee after that being a Catholick Bishop hee slipped into sundrie errors Petrus Martyr Martinus Bucerus reuerend Cranmer graue Latimer learned Ridley and many others were sometime Popish Priests and yet after that most singular Preachers ' and notable Champions of Christs holy Gospell But of these yee Papists make no reckoning albeit sundrie of them sealed their Doctrine with their blood and by the Papists burnt with