of Heads or cheefe Gouernors yea made so plaine that p Parsons in his Catholike letter against our Kings Apology Iobn Hart also acknowledged the same to Doctor Reinolds Conference cap. 10. in the end Parsons himselfe acknowledgeth that as our o Our King in his Apology Soueraign doth declare and explane his Title of headship and Supremacy it is sound and in some sort allowable they haue left that saying but yet thereby it is cleare that Antichrist in their owne estimation when he shall come shall be a kind of tyrannicall and vsurping Churchman The prouerbiall prophecy of of Saint Hildegard spoken of by many hath the same meaning vnum vos monco Cauete Antichristum c. One thing I admonish you beware of Antichrist you are ill carryed away with the loue of walls naughtily doe you worship the Church as if it were within couers and edifices badly vnder these doe you offer the name of peace what can it be doubted that Antichrist shall sit in these Mountaines Woods Lakes Prisons Whirlepooles shall bee more secure to me for Prophets either staying in these or thrown into these haue prophecied with the spirit of God thus she who hath not heard of the Prophecy of Ioakim Abbot which ought to bee of credit with the Pontificians considering how eager Stapleton q Stapleton in promptu is against the very haire to make him prophecie of the Order of the Ignatians as of a speciall Order to be raised vp by God for defence and propagation of the Romane Church But for prophecies the like might bee produced out of r Lib. reuelat 4. Ciril lib. reuelat related by Aytmger in Method Briget and Ciril and others these may suffice But heare a more forcible testimony out of our English Pontificians the Å¿ Annotat. in 2. ad thessalo 2. annot 5. Rhemists themselues who graunt that both Saint Austin and Saint Hierome doe interpret the sitting of Antichrist in the Temple of God for his sitting in Christs Church but not say they as though hee should be cheefe member of the Church of Christ or a speciall part of his mysticall body if they meane that in truth and verity Antichrist should not so be they neuer wrote truer Doctrine but if they meane that in the sense of the Fathers he should not as a pretended ruler and cheefe of the Church or as a pretended mysticall head of his body sit in the same it is most vaine and against the very haire for what doe they or can they else vnderstand by sitting in the Church but to rule and gouerne in the Church and therefore he alone is said to sitte in the Temple because he alone challengeth independently monarchically and Soueraignely according to the doctrin of Bellarmine t Bellar. lib. 1. de conci cap. 17. Baron in Annal. sepissime Allen. his defeÌ„ce of english Catholicks cap. 5. Baron Sanders Allen and all other who make the Church-Gouernment a Monarchy to Gouerne the whole Temple All other Bishops and prelates whatsoeuer being but his substitutes according u Bellar. lib. 1. de Romano pontific cap. 9. paragr proinde Turrecremat in sama lib. 3. cap. 44. to Bellarmines Doctrine as Viceroyes are substitutes vnder absolute Monarchs Yea these Rhemists forgetfull of what they said some few lines before by force of truth constrained thus they adde that Antichrist if hee euer were of or in the Church hee should bee an Apostata and a runnagate out of the Church and shall vsurpe vppon it by tyranny and by challenging worship religion and gouernement thereof so that himselfe shall bee adored in all Churches of the World which he list to leaue standing for his honour and this is to sit in the Temple or * Obserue Christian reader these gramarians they would make the prepositioÌ„ in with an ablatiue case to stand for against against the Temple of God as some what some are these interpret if any Pope did euer this or shall doe then let the aduersaries call him Antichrist Thus they Obserue ChristiaÌ„ Reader by their owne confession they acknowledge that the Bishop of Rome may be iustly called Antichrist if these things can be proued of him These Doctours neuer wrote truer line That hee is adored in all the Churches and congregations which he would haue to stand or hath reared vpon the ruines of such Churches as hee hath destroyed who can deny it it is as manifest as the sunne he is not named in the Masse or Letanies but with reuerence and as for the outward externall adoration and worship which is giuen him wheresoeuer hee personally sitteth it doth not onely surpasse all adoration and Honour giuen to any earthly Prince or Potentate but it farre passeth that which is giuen to their Sacrament it selfe which to them is not onely called as God or worshipped as a God but is beleeued to be very Christ himselfe yea and that the most blessed Trinity is to be worshipped as specially present in that Sacrament for to this Sacrament and God in it one adoration and genuflexion will serue when you come to pray but come to sue or supplicate to him that sitteth in the Temple one wil not serue but you must haue two or three adorations and genuflexions and as many at your departing whether you obteine your suite or not and almost prostrate also you must kisse his feete before you depart if you may be admitted to that Fauour For I assure you in Rome it is esteemed a fauour to kisse the Popes foote greater then in Aethiopia to see the great Presbyters great toe for which Purpose he hath caused the signe of our redemption to be drawne vpon his slippers where doubtlesse sometimes it hath homely droppes fall vpon it but it little mattereth for Christians mouthes saue the Popes groomes of their labour which adoration sweete licking if you please to beleeue the Cretian x Eudaemon paralell cap. 8. pag. 403. Ignatian Eudaemon was prophecied by King Dauid Pii Principes c. Let Godly Princes knowing what they owe to God in his Members and in his Ministers adore them with demisse countenance and lick the dust of their feet thus that lying parazite pardon me Christian reader for calling him so y He that shall reade his caluÌ„nious booke written aga nst the temperate and iudlcious book of the L. Bishop of Elye will easily perceiue how desperate that cause of the Pope is which hath such desperate Raylers set a worke to maintaine it what haue the Ignatians no better EudaemoÌ„ then this Cacodaemon Pardon me courteous Reader the foule mourhed Daemon who in euery page almost giueth either the lye or exprobrateth auaâ—ice to that worthy learned Prelate deserueth no lesse he is doubtlesse the most impudent lyer and most shamelesse calumniator and vainest parazite that euer put pen to paper and for his comfort some may tell him hee is so esteemed by almost all indifferent and iudicious Pontifician
the diuine and publique seruice throughout all Churches of the West what else do they intend but that the Pope may reigne throughout all those Churches which more or lesse through his excommunications interdicts promotions presentations and through the imbecility of Princes and the blinde ignorance of Christian people he hath conquered to his tiranny Baptizing them after the name of his See of Rome Romane Catholikes not after the name of Christ Christian Catholikes for Christian is a name now out of vse vnlesse it bee in the reformed Churches of Christ where Christ is truly and only honoured and glorified but howsoeuer the Popes tiranny bee applauded in seruice of vnknowne tongues doubtlesse the u 1. Petr. 5. Roaring Lion laugheth thereat to see by his institution warres to bee proclaimed against Gods Scriptures and all Antiquity God to bee depriued of his Honour which consisteth in the vnderstanding seruice and religion of the heart for he being a spirit x Iohn 4. in spirit and truth hee must bee adored the Christian flocke to bee dispoiled of their spirituall deuotion and comfort which is not possibly to bee had without the conceiuing and vnderstanding of such things by which the spiritual comfort is to be brought and ingendred in their soules They pretend forsooth that the misteries of their Masse will bee had in greater admiration if they be not in a tongue vnderstood by the common people Alas how wisely for I hope their people must vnderstand the mysteries of the Masse and therein be instructed as their Tridentine Catechisme commaundeth and as the Rhemists glory in their preface to the new Testament and if they must bee instructed to vnderstand the Diuine rites and Ceremonies Why may they not bee permitted to haue the seruice in a tongue that they doe vnderstand Their goodly argument that some of the auncient Fathers carried the mysteries of the Church closely in the primitiue daies falleth of it selfe for was not that done in respect of the Infidels and Catechumens but as for the faithfull they all well knew that phrase norunt fideles the faithfull haue knowen and they vnderstood all the mysteries for the most part The primitiue Church practised faithfully that of Christ y Mat. 8. Luc. 12 quod in aure c that which you heare in the eare preach vpon the tops of houses but although you were iustly afraid to haue your Masse mysteries celebrated in known tongues in respect of infinite impertinencies and contradictions that are in it why should you not suffer so much as is read of holy Scriptures in your Liturgies to bee read and song in tongues known to the Church And what may bee thought that Christs Apostles would write their Gospels and Epistles in the Greeke tongue Saint Mathew in his Gospell and Saint Paul in his Epistle to his Countrimen writing in the Hebrew tongue onely excepted but for that the Greeke tongue was most common throughout the East part of the world where Christian Religion was first planted And in the Primitiue Church al * I desire the learned Pontificians to tell me whether the Apoâ—riphall Liturgies of Iames Basil Chrisostom Ambrose yea of S. Peter also which they falsly pretend were not written by them in the most vulgar tongues vsed then in their churches confesse your tiranny O yee Romans and abuse Gods Church no longer Church-seruice was in this part of the World of Europe and that of Asia for most part in the Hebrew Greeke or Latine tongues because the same were more or lesse common where Christianity was first planted as for other countries where the Gospell was preached as first in AEthiopia who is ignorant but that the Churches Liturgie was from the time of the Eunuch vntill this day in the AEthiopian tongue Sclauonians had the like Armenians the like Egiptians the like Grecians the like Latines the like Hebrews the like and what doubt can bee made but that the Indian Conuerts by Saint Thomas had the like And wheresoeuer the Apostles planted any Churches what question can be made but that they did obserue the rule and z 1. Corin. 14. commaundement of the Lord to his Apostles that euery thing should bee done to edification and that glorious prophecie should bee fulfilled euery a Philip. 2. tongue shall confesse to his name yea the very Formes of all Church-seruices doe clearely shew that the People and Clergie were answerablye to conioyne their prayers together and to answere each other as it is deliuered in the b Constitut Apostol Clementis Cirill in Catech. mistagog Iustin Apolog. 2. ad Antoâ—mum liturgiae Iacobi Chrisosto Ambro. Basil saepe constitutions of the Apostles the olde Liturgies and other Auncient Fathers and what else did the comming downe of the Holy Ghost in the formes of so many fiery tongues at Whitsontide else portend and signifie but that euery tongue should confesse the name of our Lorde IESVS and where this more meetely then in their publique assemblies where they were to honour GOD and yeelde to each other all spirituall Comforte and consolation which could not nor cannot bee performed in dumbe and barbarous shewes I cannot heere omit to set downe a point of simplicity of their great Doctor Doctor Harding who answering an obiection made by D. Iewel out of Saint c Basil Hexamer hom 4. Basil affirming that the people together men women and children made a sound in their answers in the Churches in the publike seruice to God like to the sound of a waue striking vpon the Seabanks This profound d Harding answere to Bishop Iewels challenge page 8. Doctor would haue Saint Basil vnderstood onely of the peoples sounding the word Amen wisely insooth Doubtlesse the Doctor was in a dreame or else forgot what Countryman Saint Basil was or of what countrey people that Father speaketh e August in Psal 16. expos 2 Harding supra if he had remembred Greece or euer read any of the Greeke Lyturgies or seene the Greeke publike seruice which vpon the day of Saint Athanasius the Grecians are permitted to celebrate in their owne tongue in Rome he would haue well vnderstood that the Grecian Christians make longer answers and responses in the publike Church seruice then Amen But his answere to an authoritie produced by that learned Bishop out of Saint Austen perhaps is wiser no insooth more fond heare it Quid hoc sit c. what this is saith Saint Austen after we haue prayed to God to make vs cleane from our priuate sinnes we must vnderstand that we ought to sing as with humane reason not with voice as birds doe for Owsels Popiniayes Rauens and Pyes and such like birds oftentimes be taught of men to sound they know not what thus Saint Austen Now it is manifest that these words are to be taken of vnderstanding what is sung but what answereth Doctor Harding to them marry thus These words are to be taken of the vnderstanding of the sense saith
Anall Platin. in Adrian Irene caused the same by a Synod of Bishops to bee decreed in Nice And I pray you doe you thinke worse of your Iubilies because y Platina in Bonif 8. Walsing in Edward 1. Polychron lib. 7. cap. 40. Boniface the 8. who entred most ambiciously like a Foxe liued like a Lion and died like a Dogge brought them in beware of such mislikes it will not be for the profit of Romes purse Againe the Church of England is calumniated euery day by all the Ignatians as though she had no true orders or iurisdiction I dare affirme that in it there is as certaine and as assured a succession of orders spirituall iurisdiction as in the Church of Rome it selfe which hath so often tottered with so many schismes and hath bin pestered with so many Apostatical Popes as both Baronius and Genebrard deliuer I my selfe very lately searched for my own satisfaction the Records and I find clearly that Archbishop Parker was sufficiently truly and canonically ordered and consecrated by such Bishops as had receiued orders and consecration according to the Romane Church he swore not thou wilt perhaps obiect obedience to the Bishop of Rome a toy Where in all antiquity finde you the vse ofswearing subiection to the Bishop of Rome Romane Tyranny brought it in to the Church and Christian liberty hath exploded it It is indeede the soule of your Religion that subiection to the Bishop of Rome is a meane necessary to saluauation as necessary as Baptisme it selfe O prodigious Doctrin it is not enough say these men to saluation to be vnited with Christ and subiected to our immediate Pastors who are in vnion with the whole Catholike Church touching the Catholike faith vnlesse we be also vnited by immediate subiectiō vnto the Pope of Rome who may both be an Heretike and also contaminate the Church with his pernicious Lawes So that if a Pope Nerolike as Boniface the 8. would by pernicious Lawes draw you from Christ and like as a Heliogabalus as Iohn the 12. would draw you to all impurities and teach you to diuide the Church by opposing against the true Pope after his iust deposition by the whole Romane Clergy most Bishops of Italy assembled in a Synod or Ottomanlike as Paul the 5. will teach you against Christs institution not to yeelde temporall obedience to your lawfull Soueraigne if hee out of his throne take vpon him to dethrone him vnlesse forsooth you be subiect to such Vicars of Christ you cannot haue saluation in Christ O prodigious and vaine Doctrine of these times the holy Prophets O ye Britaine 's haue forewarned vs let vs beware of them What vile calumniation is that by which the reformed Churches of England are charged to deny the seeing of Gods face and glory vnto the Saints departed vntill the day of Iudgement What a slander that she respects no Holy daies of Christ or his Apostles I dare say that the memories of the Apostles are in many places of this Kingdome as religiously obserued as the Sundaies are with them but in the obseruation of the Sabbath our Lords day the Church of England doth so farre surpasse all Papistical Churches yea of Rome it selfe that it were a sinne to make any comparison therein betwixt them a Caluino Turcismo William Rainolds calumniateth Caluin that hee teacheth that Christ by his corporall death redeemed not mankinde A meere Calumnious imputation his doctrine is that Christ by his meere Corporal death had he not subiected himself to haue vndergone his fathers displeasure against mankinde and to haue clothed himselfe as it were with the deserts punishment and guilt of man he had not fully made that satisfactiō for mankind of which the Scripture so often speake of which doctrin who can be ignorant who is acquainted with holy writ Great is their spight against that man but notwithstanding all their malice against him he liued peaceably laboured faithfully and died Christianly leauing such a posterity of books behinde him which checketh the daily continual innouations of Rome Grieuous is the imputation to the English Church for condemning and contemning the ancient Fathers whereas the most it striueth for is to support that of b Tertull. lib. de prescriptio Tertullian Quod antiquissimum verissimum that which is most Ancient euen in the Fathers is most true At first when counterfeit Martials Abdias Clements Markes Dionises were produced the Prelats of the reformed Churches were more afrighted then hurt and to such Fathers they might iustly giue the Anatheme because such fathers had impugned and contradicted that Gospell of Christ the which whosoeuer though an Angell from heauen shall doe we are warranted by the c ad Galat. 1. Apostle to giue him the Anatheme But in and for true Fathers the Church of England reuerently and constantly auoucheth that of d Vincent Lirin contra Heres cap. 4. Tertull. de praescript Vincentius Lirinensis to take place Quicquid non unus aut duo c. Whatsoeuer not one or two but al together with one and the same consent openly frequently and constantly shall bee knowne to haue held written and taught that she also without any doubt knoweth must by her bee beleeued and this most iustly the English Church admitteth it being as cleare as the verie no one daies that all Fathers of the Ancient Church neuer taught helde nor wrot any thing in this sort which is not clearely agreeing to Gods word which is the onely Rule of Christian faith But iustly to retort vpon them who knoweth not that for most of their Roman nouel positions the Aduersaries haue no Ancient Fathers and therefore to defend themselues being vrged they do not produce Fathers but stand to their imagined Traditions written no where in Antiquity but only reserued in the Romane Bishops and Churches brests as they pretende this is their City of refuge as for example When a world of Fathers concurring with sacred Scripture is produced to shew that the Virgin Mary whose name bee euer blessed amongst and aboue all women was conceiued in Originall sinne yea some of them with S. Anselme auouching that shee was borne in sinne which I can hardly beleeue doe they heere sticke to the Fathers nothing lesse their imagined traditions must take place Againe when whole centuries of Fathers and those assembled in Synods bee produced to affirme that Popes haue beene and may bee Heretikes will they heare admit of the Fathers nothing lesse all records must be coūterfeit their own best Authors deceiued rather then the Fathers authorities admitted against their Popes infallibilies When irrefragable authorities of most ancient Fathers are produced to shew that the holy Scriptures are the onely inerrable rule of Christian Catholike faith and the square by which the writings and faith of all men and all Churches must be examined and tried will they heere allow the Fathers No alas they flye the field and seeke after some maimed sentences
us free by your behests From all the sinnes that vs restraine To whose commaunding subiect are Infirmittes and healthes of all Our ill disposed customes cure And vnto vertue vs recall Whose eyes are not shut if here he doe not plainlie obserue how they haue taken the glory of onelie Redeemershippe and Aduocacy from Christ and haue transferred it vpon his Creature how plaine is it that they beg those things from the Apostles which Christ onely doth giue and from whose onely hands we are to expect them to wit peace and saluation Vouchsafe O Christ to open their eyes that seeing they may see and be conuerted and thou O God heale them thou O God restore them to all vertues I should here declare somewhat how the Romane Church trauaileth to make her Religion to seeme and appeare magnificent pompous glorious by deuised shewes a fitte deuise indeed to draw the simple but wiser trauailers and indicious persons obseruing such artificiall and stagelike representations * Diuerse both noble and very worthy Gentlemen haue taken great offence at the Spanish Fopperies in their processions and haue been greatly confirmed to continue still in the single and sincere integrity of the reformed Churches gather another conclusion thereout to wit that their Religion is humane not diuine not agreeing to the true ancient Christian simplicity of Christs Church Do they think that their sumptuous carrying their God vp and downe streetes their publike incensing and adoring of it their deuising of many rich representations to set forth their solemnities will draw the wiser people of such couÌ„tries as are auerted from the Romance Church no God wot there is nothing more auerteth them then such open and heathenish-like kind of worshippes which were neuer dreamed of in ancient Churches nor commended by any ancient institution of any Gouernours of the same The Conclusion But I will make haste towardes the Conclusion of these my motiues yet before I end I am constrained for the satisfaction of others to shew with what conscience and reason I dare aduenture to leaue communion with that Church which is so famous and so conspicuous and which hath beene euer visible for so much as concerneth externall succession an outward kind of profession of many pointes of Christian Doctrme since Christs time as like continuing of succession can be shewed in the Churches of Hierusalem Alexandria c. It cannot be denied but that the Romane Church in the Apostles time was a pure and sound part of the Christian Catholike Church although in her very infancy shee was sliding if you beleeue Onuphrius which moued S. Peter to hasten and returne vnto her and although Onuphrius in annotatan Platmam in vitam Petri. a Euseb lib. 3. hist cap. 31. Eusebius relateth Egesippus to affirme that whilest the Apostles liued the Church was an immaculate Virgine and pure from errour but they being dead there did presently arise those who did impugne the Apostolicall truth notwithstanding these things I doubt not to say that the Romane Church continued long time found in all substantiall matters of Christian doctrine vntill humane Traditions beganne to entermixe themselues with religion instituted by diuine authority which then most apparantlie began when the Church came to enioy temporall peace and prosperity presently after the dayes of Constantine the Emperour in whose time and by whose donation poyson was powred into the Church as the b Vita Silaestri approbata life of Siluester Pope deliuereth of a certain Angelical voice pronouncing as much the operation of which poison shewed it self partly in effect in the time of Damasus when by reason of the competency and contention which was betwixt him and c Ammian Marcellia lib 27. cap. 2 Ra on in Annal. Vrsisine for the Romane See so much bloud was shed that I hope if d I Cortil 2. Marcellin ibid. Sâ—crates l. 2. ca. 11 affirmeth how the Bishop of Rome exalting themselus aboue the limits of Priesthood into temporall dominion contended for the Primcay ouer all other Churches Saint Pauls argument bee true the Romane Church was then very carnall oppressed with such grieuous contentions and not being in vnity of spirite thinking the same thing but hauing such horrible schismes amongst them and I doubt not to affirme but that Damasus more or lesse as hee was delighted according to the fashion of Romane Bishops with sumptuous attendance in his person so also more or lesse brought in sumptuous seruice and pompous ceremonies into the Church and this the Pontificians cannot deny if diuers thinges that bee in Damasus his Pontificall bee truly attributed to that Popes institution and collection which in sundry thinges I beleeue not but this Bishoppe is made a Saint in the Romane calender the Lord knowes for what vertue or when he was first fainted perhappes for his tumultuous entrance or pompuous conuersation in the chaire of Rome in which respect hee may be reputed in some degree the Protoparent of many his Successors These beginnings and entrances of corruption vanity into the Church of Rome obserued which in succeeding times and in ages after ages grew into most horrible grieuous prophanations by the subtlety of Satan whilest the Gouernours of the Churches g Math. 13. were a sleepe that is were lulled with temporall peace and prosperity I seriously first consider those Propheticall wordes of our h Luc. 13. Sauiour in which hee hath foretold that when hee should come he should hardly find faith vpon earth which defection from faith as it was to bee and generally to ouerwhelme the whole world before Christs second comming so who coulde long agoe precisely say when it was to beginne onely after-experience hath demonstrated it and doth tell vs that according to another Propheticall prediction of the most blessed 2 ad Thes 2. Apostle who hath expresly deliuered that this defection and Apostacy should bee when that man should sitte in the temple that is the Church at whose comming the Romane Empire should be taken out of the way and who should extoll himselfe sitting in the Temple aboue all that is called or worshipped as God vpon earth who should also in himselfe and by his followers worke wonders and miraculous prodigies bosting and bragging therein who should also Apostatat from the charity of truth that is from the iustifying faith in Christ Iesus onely that iustifying faith in Christ Iesus onely which is so much and so often commended in sacred Scripture who also should Apostatate from most Articles of Christian doctrine For vaine is that exposition of the Remists who would faine interprete this Apostasie of which the Apostle speaketh to bee from the Pope and from his Primacie and particular Romane Church vaine I say for who will say that a man might not iustly haue departed from the communion of such Popes as k Genehrard lib. 4 Chronol sâ—â—ulo 10. Baron ad aun 900. anno 908. Plaim in vita sapissime in Bonifa
authoritie command and Breefes notwithstanding some of them doe practise I could not but resolue to leaue off conference with them remembring that of the f Isai 6. Act. 28. Prophet Esay vnto the Iewes and vsed also by the Apostle S. Paul in like case Incrassatum est cor populihuius c. The heart of this people is become grosse and with their eares they haue heard heauily and they haue closed their eies lest perchance they should see with their eies and heare with their eares and vnderstand with their hearts and bee conuerted and I heale them This their estate as I did and do from the very bottome of my heart lament so it did greatly increase my doubts mustring themselues to my Conscience against the nouell traditions and vncatholike doctrines of the Church of Rome whereof Christian Reader with thy patience and good acceptance I will communicate part to thy courteous view not because I esteeme my selfe so learned as though I were able to produce any new learning neuer thought on before for in very deed I doe ranke my selfe amongst the meanest of Gods seruants and Priests nor because I doe seeke in matters of Religion to bee applauded by the worlds iudgement or to please humaine censures but alonely that thou maist consider vpon how waightie inducements I haue relinquished the intollerable and pernicious burthen of humaine traditions reared vp against Gods institution that if thou bee wauering from the Firmament of Truth of Gods word and holy ancient Church thou maist with mee bee staied if thou art alreadie seduâ—ed as I haue been thou maist be reclaimed to the sweet yoke of Iesus Christ My heart bleeds to thinke how many in this Kingdome and some of them my speciall acquaintance vertuously and zealously disposed are caried away with most dangerous errors obtruded vnto them only vpon the Roman Bishops prerogatiue of not erring and yet heauen and earth proclaimes that Popes may erre and be Heretikes God of his infinite mercy vouchsafe to open their eies that they may receiue the charity of Truth that they may see that defection and apostasie accomplished in them and their defendants which the g 2 ad Thess 2 vessell of election so long agoe forâ—told and whereof the Prophet and h Apoc. 17. Apostle in his Reuelation so clearelie discourseth shewing that Kings and Nations should be drunke and be bewitched with the Cup of Romes Fornications Fornications hee saith thereby most clearely demonstrating that some Romane Church or Congregation for most cleare it is and best Pontificians deny it not that of Rome hee prophecieth earst a Spouse but after a Strmpet in respect of her spirituall aduoutries first pure but after most impure first Christian but after Antichristian for her doctrines and practises against the most pure doctrine and humble conuersation of Christ first with a cup of Christian simplicity in her hands deuoid of humane dregs but after with a i Ibidem cup full of abominations and corruptions with which shee should delude all Nations and Kingdomes of the earth making merchandize negotiating with the souls of men the which if it should not be already fulfilled in the Roman Church it must bee heereafter at least if the Prophet truly haue forespoken The later of which especiallie touching the merchandizing of soules in auarice how clearlie it is already compleated in the Roman Church diuers earnest professors agreeing in all points of faith with the Romane Church in their times will plainely b In ementitam Constantini donationem testifie a Saepissime as Baptista Mantuanus c In Henr. 3. Valla Robertus Lincolriensis in c Matthew of Paris d In Epist 1. ad Titum Claudius Espencaeus S. e â—ab Cons ad Eugenium Bernard f Constitut Imperial pag. 39 Frederike the Emperour in his Epistle to all Prelates g Baronius 992. Arnulphus in a Synod at Rhemes in Baronius and read Baronius also in the yeere 912. where you shall find him affirming how at the lust of whores diuers Popes most wicked luxurious and auaricious were thrust into Peters chaire and how that custome lasted not for a short while only * Claudius Espencaeus as hee is now set forth is vvholly corrupted you must read his first Edition All these with infinite others do demonstrate the corruptions of the Roman Church would God effectually for the conuersion of seduced soules Wherein I can conceiue no great hope first of all such popish seruants as reape profitte or liuing by that profession nor of such children as are vnder the command of some obstinate recusants nor of any such bankrupts and malecontents as expect alterations and long for troubled waters to fish in nor of such scrupulous good soules as will not dare to peruse or read any part of holy Scripture though of the Rhemists Testament it selfe falsified with their Annotations lest they should proue Heretikes as some of them haue told me or else remaine perplexed in their Consciences nor of some of their Priests who are resolued for the maintenance of their credit conseruing of their meanes and some such other respects with their fauoritesses I meane such like fauours as will mooue men to trauell vp to Rome to procure dispensations for mariages and yet in their absences and long pilgrimages such painfull pilgrimes notwithstanding stripped of their fauouritesses by some of their own brotherhood which haue come betwixt them and home are ready without examination of Scriptures or Fathers to receiue whatsoeuer the Roman Church shal obtrude vnto them Neither may I conceiue hope of any such yonger persons who expect preferment by h One of the most speciall practises of the Pontificians in England to enlarge their religion is to procure matches in mariages doe thou make the inferences Christian Reader There is a mysterie in it if the natures of young spirits be considered who commonly at such seasons are rather full of the heate of carnall loue then of that fire which Christ came to send into this world Luk. 12. matching into some stocke and family the which as it abhorreth the reading of the Scriptures so also is inueterated in Papistrie My chiefest hope may be of those who as they are iudicious so embrace that faith meerely out of conscience and are nothing dependant of others who either through the peremptory auaricious factious and vnchast liues of their Priests or generally for the hatefull opposings and vncharitablenesse amongst them all by which they demonstrate themselues to be no disciples of Christ whose proper badge and stemme is i Ioh. 13. dilection and loue of each other or else through the vaine multiplicity of deuised fables and miracles out of their old Legends and withall through the inexcusable ignorance of their Priests in Gods sacred Scriptures which I dare boldly affirme is so great that there are scarse a hundred amongst diuers hundreths of them in this Kingdome who can tell either how many
consider their goodly inferences thereupon once conuerted should after that for euer confirme establish or vphold the rest in their faith which is to say Peter is that man whom he would make Superiour ouer them and the whole Church whereby we may learne that it was fit in the prouidence of God that he who should be the head of the Church should haue a speciall priuiledge by Christs prayer and promise neuer to faile in faith that none other eyther Apostle Bishop or Priest may challenge any such singular and speciall prerogatiue eyther of his office or person otherwise then in ioyning in faith with Peter and by holding of him Thus they with much more to like purpose wherein the Christian Reader cannot but obserue how eagerly for the Popes sake they pursue Peters priuiledge and would most perniciously against the verie foundation of our Christian religion shew that Christ prayed onely for Peter and that neither the Apostles nor Euangelists by vertue of their Apostleship Offices or any other meanes had infallibility of not erring in faith but by ioyning with Peter and holding of Peter So that Saint Paul writing his fourteene Epistles whereof one was to the Romanes the onely infallible Sea the onely Catholike Apostolike one and holy Church if you beleeue the Pontificians espccially o Valentia in aualis lib. 6. in titulis cap. 9. 10 11. 12. 13. 14. Valentia Saint Iames Saint Iohn and Iude their Epistles Saint Iohn his Reuelation Saint Mathew Marke Luke and Iohn their Gospels had therein instruction from Peter and holding from him thereby they had infallibility that they could not erre otherwise they might haue erred in faith had not Peter to vse their owne phrases confirmed established and vpheld them in their faith If this be not pernicious doctrine subuerting the very bulwarks of Christian Religion what can be such for tell me I pray you all yee the Dowists their successors in often reprinting those corrupt annotations where did eyther the Apostles or Euangelists confesse this dependancie from Peter what record of Scripture or other authenticall Author doth deliuer vnto vs that Peter assisted the Euangelists when they wrote their Gospels Doth not Saint Paul p Galat. 2. expresly protest that he neither receiued the Gospell which he preached neque per hominem neque ab hominibus neither by man nor from men but from Iesus Christ his immediate reuelations doth not the same Apostle expresly say of Peter nihil mihi contulit he gaue me he furthered me nothing meaning of the Gospell of Christ nay rather did not the same Apostle giue somwhat to Peter q Ibidem Quia non ambulante sequndum veritatem Euangelij epist ad Galat. 2. Peter walked not according to the truth of the Gospell and after he was conuerted was heere once strengthened by his brother Paul when indewed with the holy Ghost he reprehended his humane spirit with which moued and misled he walked p not according to the truth of the Gospell What Christian did not euer as reueuerently and religiously embrace any part of Saint Lukes Actes of the Apostles because it was Saint Lukes as the whole Epistle of Saint Peter because it was Saint Peters But these men regard not how they weaken the very foundations of Christian religion so r Ad Ephcs cap. 2. Apocal cap. 21. termed in holy Scripture so that they may enhanse the Popes monarchicall supremacie which is the very life and soule of their religion whom they pretend to be Saint Peters successor in place and Sea and we grant it as the Bishops of Alexandria Antioch Hierusalem Ephesus at this day succeed S. Marke S. Peter S. Iames and Saint Iohn but heauen and earth will proclaime that in conuersation they doe nothing at all succeed Peter and as for doctrine and faith the sacred Scriptures and ancientest Churches prescribe against them Would God imitating Saint Peter they would Å¿ 1. Pet. 5. Pascere gregem verbo Feed their flocke with preaching of the word and holy example of life but alas by temporall possessions giuen by Constantine as it is writteÌ„ in the life of ancient Siluester Pope an Angell pronounced that poyson was cast into the church which more or lesse euer since hath Sanctitatem in pontificibus c. Sanctitie in Popes no man requireth in these times they are reputed best if they be but a little good or not so euill as other mortall men vse to be Papirius Masson in his booke of the Bishops of the Citie in â—ulius the third which booke he writeth notwithstanding to set forth the worthy actes of Popes infected the Bishops of Rome hauing put on for Peters pouertic tiphum seculi wordly pride and pompe not keeping themselues within their owne precincts and limites but thrusting their Sythes into the haruests of other dominering but not ruling the Cleargie and dominering ouer the Princes of the earth to whom they were first subiect both in fact and of right * Bellar. li. 2. de Rom. Pont. c. 29 as Bellarmine himselfe once confessed before his red hat and into what proud auaritious ambitious secular and worldly conuersation and vsurpations the Bishops of Rome haue degenerated the t Contaren Sadolet Poole alij Concil delect Cardin. alior Praelat tomo vltimo Conc. Cornelius Mus or at in Conc. Triden Espen in TituÌ„ Bernard li. 1. de considerat best of their Prelates and learned cannot denie and what maruaile then if they be found to degenerate in faith for the shipwracke of faith either sooner or later euer followeth the shipwracke of good consciences and life The See of the Popes to wit the Romane Particular Church was a branch inserted into the tree of the Iewes Iewish Church for so he is described by the Apostle in his u C. 11. ad Rom. Epistle to the Romanes and therefore she was carefully to looke to her selfe that she fell not for if she should grow proud she should saith the Apostle be shaked off as well as the tree it selfe was reiected and that her onely way to remaine stedfast and firme was to be x Ibidem permanent in goodnesse I wish with my whole heart that the Popes were so good and so religious that they might still deserue to haue the honour due vnto the chiefe Partriark of the West according as his most excellent Maiestie z In his kingly premonition to ChristiaÌ„ Princes professeth he would be willing to acknowledge them if they would returne to that faith and Apostolike beleefe of the Christian Church from which they are horribly degenerated Hauing thus traced the Rhemists with thy patience courteous Reader let me giue thee a taste of Bellarmines dealing for the same proiect to enhance the Popes supremacie In his Dictates at Rome not in his printed worke for they doe not alwaies print what they dictate he most egregiously depraued the sense of that sentence of the holy Ghost a Isai 28. Ecce
I should make the moderate Pontificians admire to thinke what manner of seditious ministers the Pope hath vseth to set vp his indirect monarchy but I protest that such doctrine is in him which I dare not for my duty to Prince and Country once mention otherwise then by way of detestation yet this Coquaeus is a great man and a holy confessor in Florence and his vnlearned though most seditious booke must for sooth be both printed and published for the producing God auert it of new Catsbyes and Piercies God inspire into the hearts of the Magistrates of this kingdome that as they be vigilant so they may euer continue against such bookes which tend only to the subuersion of this state and all other of like condition Alasse the Ignatians and Ignatianed will haue them though vtter ruines of whole families should insue thereupon There was one Philopater Robert Parsons by name who if in that booke which he so named had loued his Country as wel as the Pope his holy Father or else the fathers of his order would haue * Titulo libri called himselfe by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or such like name a louer of his Country not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a louer of his Father or Fathers for Philopater signifieth so much but pardon the good old man he was no Grecian but only desned a Greeke and a strange name as hauing abandoned the natiue affection of his Country This man in his t Philopater Sect. 2. Philopater deliuereth not welnye as strange doctrine as Coquaeus but in some respect far worse because he maketh his Doctrine an article of faith and by consequence al the Pontificians of England that beleeue him ipso facto are traitors and such as beleeue not heretikes Hinc etiam infert vniuersa theologorum c. Heereupon saith hee the whole schoole of Diuines and Ecclesiasticall lawyers to wit Canonists inferre and it is certaine and of Faith any Christian Prince whatsoeuer if he shall manifestly decline Posscuine in his biblioth wold faine cast this booke from Parsons and lay it vpon D. Stapleton doubtles t is the brood of a paire of Fathers from the Catholike that is in his sense the Romane religion and shall draw and call others from the same presently thereupon by the very force of law both diuine and humane to loose all power and dignity and this before any sentence of the supreme pastour and Iudge giuen or pronounced against him and all subiects whatsoeuer to be free from all obligation of oath which they had made to him of obedience as to their lawfull Prince and that they may and ought if they haue strength to cast out such a manner of man as an Apostata and Heretike and a forsaker of Christ our Lord and as an Enemy of the Common-wealth out from all rule of Christian men Thus farre that Pseudophilopater in his Ignatian saith What true English heart is not awaked with such a seditious sound and doe you thinke O yee loyall Britaines and faithfull of Iesus that his brethren the Ignatians haue not the same Doctrine they haue it they haue it beleeue me and they teach it also where they sind ground conuenient and fit for such seditious seede In Rome it was taught in effect as very probable aboue 16. yeeres since when I my selfe refused in open schoole to receiue write any such doctrine But I leaue to stirre this filthy sinke any longer I humbly beseech Iesus Christ to vouchsafe to illustrate the eies of such who haue often told me that if they thought the Ignatians did teach such Doctrine as I haue heere expresly and truly deliuered out of Pbilopater they would little regard them in other things So it is Christian Reader that these most egregious Equiuocaters doe not deliuer § This doctrin is not the milk but the solid meate of the Ignatians easily swallowed by those as are inclining to the impious doctrine of the damned crew of which was Catsby c. Another Priest was in like sort denyed absolution for the same cause of the Oath by an Ignatianed Priest who not withstanding easily absolued and admitted to the dredfull Sacramēt one who often fell into the sin of Bestiality and to deny absolution for allowing or taking the Oath of Allegiance is the ordinary practise of all Ignatiā Priests in this land almost of all oher ' excepting some few honest loyall lerned Priests who are therefore extreamly hated and auoided as Spyes by the Ignatians this doctrine but to their Priuates and old acquaintance which maketh many moderate recusants to suspect that they are vniustly charged with such seditious hereticall doctrine as this is but such as my selfe who haue conuersed too long with them know assuredly that they teach both this doctrine yea some of them as badde as the very worst of Coquaeus which I onely glanced at aboue in this Motiue And that they are in this matter egregiously equiuocaters vnderstād by this within these 3. yeers lesse * A principall Ignatian amongst them denied me absolution and to take my confession I protest before the heauens I lye not neither do Iagrauate against them because forsooth I onely held this generall position that the Pope could not cause authorize subiects to depose their lawfull Princes and yet this man who dealt thus with me and who as I know taught this doctrine both at his residence and in other places that the Pope might depose princes and depriue them of their kingdomes yet in some other places and before some persons would speake very coldly therof yea and he seemed to deny it in that very house where he so dealt with me where also hee refused not to admit a notorious cōcubiner to both the sacramēts The fifth Motiue THe fifth motiue is theire most pernicious impious doctrine concerning the adoration and worshipping of Images with the same worship and adoration wherewith the Persons themselues wherof they are Images are adored saue only that the persons are adored and worshipped without any extrinsecall respect and onely for the intrinsecall dignitie which is in them but the Images are adored and worshipped for the dignitie and excellency of the persons which they represent This doctrine is deliuered by the English Priests and Ignatians very * Bell. l. 2. de imag 22. fearefully nicely and mincingly and therefore I finde that many deuout people of this kingdome haue not yet perfectly drunke of the impuritie of this cup but it is the most expresse selfe doctrine taught by the most Pontificians and learnedest Ignatians in their schooles and bookes they are onely wary in respect of scandal how they preach it in their pulpits taught t 3. q. 25. art 3. Councell of Trent as it is expounded by Vasq lib. de adorat 2. Suares Tom. 1. disput 54 Nauar. in manual cap. 31. Num. 32. yea Vasq apud Eudaem in parralel pag. 292. teacheth that a man may worship God
sinfull desires rather according to the Generall Vniuersall Doctrine of all their owne Diuines in all other Vowes or Oathes to be dispensed with his inconsideratâ—e Vow or else to haue it interpreted and declared vnlawfull rather then through impotency impossibility or imminent danger of not keeping of his vowe to commit any other sinnes of impurity or to giue any scandall to any other person And so heere I conclude this matter with a saying of Pope Pius the second as g Platina in vita Pij 2. Platina reports him that as there were many reasons to forbid Priests marriage so there were more to allow them mariage how many there are hee that will reade h Pelagius de planctu Aluarus Pelagius and i Clemangis de corrupto statu ecclesiae Nicholas Clemangis will easily acknowledge and the Verdict of that Pope to haue beene most iust and necessary To Conclude this matter it is as cleere as the Heauens that the Pontificians are fauourers of al impudicity in their Clergy by forbidding them marriage and yet permitting them to eate drinke and conuerse as indifferently as the married doe So are they also in many other cases Authors and Abetters of much Impurity and heer I obserue by the way I know not by what secret spirit it comes to passe that our English Ghostly Fathers are for most part easie interpreters and absoluers in case of most impure sinnes but if a man disobey a Popes breefe none or else very difficult is their absolution A crooked deformed Priest would not a Priest forsooth allowing the oath of Allegeance and that Ignatian who denied me absolution for that I held the Pope had not authority to depose Princes yet could he absolue the Master of the house who was more then thought to haunt common queanes himselfe also not vnacquainted with the notoriousnesse thereof Hee was iust another Peere Cotton God vouchsafe to open the eies of the seduced to leaue the society of that Congregation which hath so shamefully Apostated from Iesus Christ his sacred doctrines and most holy institutions and hath thus repleated her congregations with all nefarious impurities Sundry other Lawes there are which might iustly bee called in question and whosoeuer will with indifferent eye consider all such lawes and customes wherein the Romanists doe most differ from the reformed Churches hee shall find that they al haue expresse respect to set vp the Romane Monarchy either in Temporals or Spiritualls as for example the Law and Custome wherewith they endeuor to exempt from all correction of Ciuill Magistrates all Clergie men though their offences bee enormious and such as cry for vengeance from Heauen Like is their Law of reseruing certaine Papall Cases which causeth many sacrilegious confessions like is their Law and Custome for their Penitents to confesse an intire number of all their sinnes with the Circumstances therof changing the nature of sin which causeth inexpressible conflicts and scruples especially in consciences of their Women Recusants But I omit to write any more of these and so passe to my other Motiues The Third Generall Heade out of the obseruation of English Pontificians Spirits THus hauing set downe some of my chiefest motiues out of the pernicious doctrines and most wicked Lawes of the Pontifician Church I am to prosecute the other two General heads out of some obseruations of the Spirits of the Chiefetaines of that profession in the propagation of their Gospell and of their liues and conuersation But for some respects I will at this present pretermit the latter being not willing to descend into particulars of that kind for the other my discourse shall * It were bootles to descipher the liues and spirits of latter Popes they are far worse theÌ„ those of whoÌ„ Masson a famous Pontifician writeth so liberally in Iulius the 3. at whose boldnes I maruell when I consider what the famous D. Iohn of Paris lib. de potest Reg. papal writeth Euery fact saith hee of the holy Father must be interpreted in good part and if it be theft or any thing that is ill in it selfe wee must interpret it to be done by Diuine instinct thus he So Sixt his pride drunkennes cruelty Alexander the sixth his impurity Gregory the 14. hypocrisie and anarice c. al was by Diuine instinct c. only omitting their Popes touch the Spirits of such as haue bin Ringleaders against the present state and Church of England in prosecution whereof if I seeme sharpe and bitter and to touch to the very quicke not the skinne onely but the very soule of the Ignatious Spirits I desire the Readers fauourable construction and to interpret that I doe nothing out of malice or for reuenge but onely that Britany may see what serpents shee nourisheth within her bowels would God not too neere c how extreame dangerous it is for the publik weale of this State that Pontifician English are permitted to haue such free conuersation with them in Flanders France Spaine c. and to demonstrate that if Britanie haue iust cause to feare Rome and the Popes Dominions the last and least Cause is not because the Ignatians are there powerfull fauourers of al hot and malecontented Spirits prouiding Sanctuaries and Cities of Refuge for Tesmonds Owens Gerards c. which men also in Flanders England c. change not their Spirits but the ayre being euery where the same in their vndermining and indirect courses for setting vp the Papall Monarchy First therefore whereas they pretende to be Apostolicall men in the manner of their amplifying and their planting of the Roman Religion in which action if in any man necessarily must be guided by Gods Spirit it is not possible that their pretence should be sound vnlesse they therefore hold themselues Apostolicall because they doe in the worst sort imitate those two Apostles who desired of Christ that fire might come downe from heauen and consume those who would not receiue him a Luc. 9. to whom the good and meeke Shepheard answered Nescitis c. you know not of what spirit yee are by which answer hee vtterly condemned the spirits of all such who seeke to bring in Christ and Christs Doctrine by subuersion of States and Kingdomes And what are the Pontificians tainted with this spirit O yee heauens speake for me nay the very stones will speake that the b Of Gregory the 7. Paschall Victor Alexander Innocent Boniface c Fathers of the Roman Church described by them that sate vpon the red blacke and pale horses haue often vnder pretence of religion taken peace out of the Christian world causing such dreadfull Commotions as the very memory thereof cannot but affright a tender and Christian minde It is needlesse to recount the thundring sentences of Popes against Emperours fresh in memory are the impious sentences of Pius the 5. Sixtus the 5. against our late Soueraigne of famous memory tending to the whole subuersion of this Kingdome who
for Traditions of which Traditions when it is also shewed out of the Fathers that they must also be tried by holy Scriptures will they heerein receiue the Fathers euen as before renounce all and runne to the present voice of their Church which Church is with them the Pope alone or Pope and his Cardinals Againe when all the Fathers that euer commented vpon the 14. of the first to the Corinthians with the authorities of many others bee produced to shew that the publike Church Liturgy ought to be in such a tongue as may be vnderstood by the assembly and for their edification will they heere accept of the Fathers Good God they fleet vp and downe like men in mases to finde some probable reasons for their barbarous seruices Againe when innumerable authorities of ancient Fathers are clearely produced for iustification by onely faith e Ad Gal. 5. which worketh by charity and against their Laterane Transubstantiation will they admit the Fathers Good God their subterfugies are innumerable either they will skippe ouer them and runne onely to the text of Scripture This is my body 〈◊〉 else they will expound all their sayings that 〈◊〉 still remaineth the natures of the creatures are not changed Christs flesh which was crucified is not in the Sacrament Christs flesh is present as in a Mystery as in a Sacrament as in a figure c. with infinite such like most expresse sentences They will I say so figuratiuely expound them all to shew that as they detest any figuratiue exposisition of the words of Scripture in this Sacrament so they themselues delight in nothing more then in figuratiue expounding most plaine sentences of the Fathers discoursing of this mysterie Againe when authorities of all the ancient Fathers that euer had occasion to entreat of the obedience of Subiects towards their naturall Princes and lawfull Soueraignes bee produced to shew that Christians ought to obey them g Ad Rom. 13. euen for conscience sake although they be persecutors of the Christian Religion and that they neuer vnderstood of the Imperiall Papall power ouer Kings and kingdomes which the Romane Bishoppes now assume to themselues will they heere strike saile and doe homage to the Fathers No God wot they flie out of the field and for the most part either they passe ouer the question with silence or else if they bee English and Ignatians or Ignatianed they fall to libelling and with namelesle Pamphlets labour continually to traduce Magistrates Gouernment Maiesty onely striuing by such a nouell Gospell to the Apologies of which they are ashamed to put their names to set vp the maiesty of the Romane Papall monarchy after destroying of the Romane Empire to ruinate such Kingdomes as were according to the predictions of holy Prophets to rise out of the Romane Empire vntill the times of malice bee 〈…〉 I iustly touch them heere for writing of 〈…〉 in defence of this Gospell to which bookes they are ashamed or else afraide to put their names wherein they shew themselues to bee right Parsonians and Ignatians or else deepely ignatianed Those infamous libels of stinking and prophane Pruritanus and the most blasphemous masked Polonian Exetasis against the maiesties glories and gouernments of these Kingdomes and expressely the most disloiall quipping in the Polonian Exetasis of Englands title P. W. The Corrector W. Pater Gib to France Who composed them Ignatians who diuulged them Ignatians and Ignatianed The vnsauory Pruritanus worthy to bee retorted into the Popes bosome but that the Maiesty of Gods Scripture may not bee abused who caused them to bee reprinted againe after that most of them were taken at the Venetian Embassadors Ignatians Who brought new store of them againe ouer into England Ignatians Who were so well pursed as to giue eight shillings apcece yea an angell for such a prophane Pamphlet comprised in a sheet or two of paper The Ignatianed and Brethren of the societie Who composed the late idle Pamphlet of the Puritan and Protestant Sister communing against the Oth of Allegiance A simple and silly Ignatian creature God wot Who was the Authour of the late bragging recapitulation in the title of which the namelesse Composer who as it is reputed resting in S. Iohns Mount should haue put P. W. to the end of the Pamphlet rather then H. I. promiseth a recapitulation together with a declaration but faileth in the latter for he declareth nothing only he recapitulateth a certaine learned booke as it is thought of Leonard Lessius the demonstrating Diuine which booke as yet appeareth not Some say the cause is that the Sorbone Doctours of Paris hearing of it haue written to Rome against the publishing of it to the Popes Holinesse for that say they France is not in a fit temper for such doctrines Others say the French Ignatians haue written vnto their Generall Aquauiua to haue the worke stopped because in this time when their credits are so shaken euery where for like pernicious doctrine it would greatly * That doctrine must not be allowed in France which poore English Recusants must maintaine with all vtter extremity manifest perdition of their soules hurt their cause This is done to saue the Ignatians skinnes whole and yet the poore English Recusants termed both in Italy and France the Popes Asses must beare the brunt of the Popes quarrell though it be to their vtter ruines I rather thinke the booke is kept in out of diffidence of their cause and that the Louanian societie of Ignatians will not permit their Diuine to enter into such an vnsound quarrell leauing it as they say for the English to defend and vndertake Alasse the good English like Asses must vndertake all and vndergoe all yet there was neuer people vpon earth who haue had worse successe with traiterous doctrines and conspiracies then they Againe who was the composer of the late Libel against me the which I neuer read to make my selfe merry therewith But I heartily also reioiced that I was found worthy to suffer contumely and disgracefull slanders for truths sake and for my Countries and Princes sake Some silly Saint-Omeristian boy for his Fathers the Ignatians who as it is reported made themselues oftentimes merie with the same at their recreations after their full meales whom I here leaue to the making of Libels stil if they hold that a fit course to support their desperate cause only giue me leaue Curteous Reader here with two or three particulars to shew how the young Ignatians like Crabs learne of the old like as to write namelesse bookes for their gospell so also to blaspheme maiesty and soueraigntie and to commend and engender disloyall spirits and to discommend and checke the naturall and loyall Some yeere agoe and as much as since Iuly last my selfe with diuers other Priests arriuing at S. Omers we heard there a certaine Ignatian preach vpon that j Matt. 7. text Beware of false Prophets c. In which his Sermon before the