protestants proceedings in dissimulaâ—ion and aeqâ—â—â—ocating Was not the behauiour of Luther the Eâ—angelist so vile in this kinde that neuer any pillâ—ry-mate so behâ—ued himselfe as his owne friends Fox Sleiden and othâ—r Protestants giue demonstration and not only in Fox 2. in Luth. Sleidan lib. 1. Staphil apolog Cocl in act Luther ciuiâ—l but dâ—uine matters where bâ— all iudgement no aequiuocation may be allowed yet at his pleasure now he appealed to Pope now dâ—â—iâ—d it now recanted his errors presently defended them now sâ—bâ—â—tted him selâ—e to Cardinall Câ—â—etan now refused it now teachâ—ng one now another religion aâ— best serued his purpose all hiâ— owne wâ—itings be still witnâ—sses against him So did the Protestants of England dissemble flatter change and rechange both their faith and their fashions to please King Henry the eight the protectorâ— of Kâ—ng Edward the sixt and Queene Elizabeth as histories and statutes are testimony to thâ—ir confusion The like and worse cogging lying aequiuocating and dissembling was practised by Calum as the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Beza and Suru pret diseipl Beza â—n viâ— Caâ—u Staphil Apolog. others beare râ—cord for which he was banished Geneua for a lying and dissembling seducer and by such trades deluded the Artizans and â—itâ—zens there the second tiâ—e restord himself obtaind principallity by such meanes So also he â—oosened the Tygurines and among his Disâ—iples Iura perâ—â—ra seâ—ua fidem sciliâ—et Caluiâ—iaâ—um was made a dogmatical princâ—ple In England Cramner the pâ—otestant Archbishop oâ— Canterbury in his time and the most â—ubliâ—e man of that profession cannot be excused Fox himsâ—lfe being Iudge from câ—unterfaiting the hands of 50. conuocaâ—â—on Fox 10. â— in Câ—â—nmar men to giue a lying credit to his false cause as Doctor Weston proued against him in the publike Schooles of Oxford and in the same place Doctor Martiâ— made demonstration how hee had forsworne himseâ—â—e and beene periured in a most high degree twice at the least swearing obedience to the Sea of Rome And most certaine it is that so often he had sworne to the supremacie of King Henry the eight and King Edward the sixt and yet after all this againe in the daies of Queenâ— Mary he swore a new obedience to the Pope And Cranmer himselfe confessed hee had sworne such contrary oathes but excused it by aequiuocation so much condemned by this accuser affirming as his words doe signifie that he spake one thing and meant another which in causes of râ—ligion such as this all men condemne for greatest wickednesse For what authority soeuer men haue to examine God hath alwaies a true right vnto his honour not to be denied Such was the proceeding also of Bucer and Peter Martyr the two great Protestant professors of diuinity in Cambridge and Oxford whom the whole English Gospel could not match and yet contrary to their foâ—mer profession and doctrine they taught what the Parliament would please to appoint And I would demand whether all the Protestâ—nt Adherents to the Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke were not in this case of aequiuocation and is it not both now ordinary to Puâ—itans who in acknowledging externally his Maiesties supremacy and supprâ—ssing their Presbâ—terie an essentiall point of their faith and note of their Church doe not as they beleeue in minde And externally communicate in Churches â—eruice and sacraments with Protestants whom and whose religion they condemne to hell and the Protestants dissemble lâ—kewise in the Kings supremacy The tenth Reason confuted and returned CHAP. XI THe tenth and last Obiection being no new Reason but an Epilogus of the former that is All Romish Priests as Priests to professe some and other some All of those sedâ—ious posirions are before confuted and prooued in euery particular to be vntrue and needeth no further answer being before euident that neither all Priests nor any one Priest as a Priest doth or can maintaine any one disobedient or seditious opinion And whatsoeuer this man more malitiously than truly or wisely saith That all Priests in the Popish Seminaries vow obedience to their superiors and therefore that the superiors maintaining such Seditious positions the schollers are bound to their doâ—â—rine These assertions be most falsly obiected for first the schollers doe not vowe any obedience to their Superiors and that obedience which they promise practise is in obseruing the collegiall â—â—â—es and constitutions as in Cambridge and Oxford all Schollers when they be matriculated ingraffed to the Vniuersity do accustome there is neither vow oth nor promise to obey theÌ„ in their doctrin Secondlie this cannot be either vowed punished or performed for no Rector of any colledge is ordinarily a Reader of diuinitie in his Colledge Thirdly the Caholike Students neither of England or any other Nation are bound to defend their masters reading but in matters of faith and generallie receaued doctrine And although Bellarmine did some times read controâ—ersies in Rome And Doctor Gifford was a professor in Rhemes Doctor Stapleton at Louaine and the Cardinall at Doway which be all readers to English which he alleageth yet not all English Priests nor the tenth part of them were Auditors and Schollers to these professors and yet there is not any one sentence alleaged from any of them or any other Catholike which in true sence will bring any preiudice to our most holy and innocent cause as I haue made demonstration Thus it absolutely remaineth proued most gratious Prince that if the opinion of any Diuines concerning deposing Princes or making warre against them by subiects be treasonable and not tollerable in a Common-weale it is in the Protestant profession by many degrees exceeding any other both for opinion and practise and that the opinion of Catholikes is the least dangerous to this or any State And for this Discouerer if his late recited Arguments that schollers must agree with their Maisters in sentence shall stand good himselfe with all Ministers of his profession being the disciples of so many seditions and rebellions Pedagogues his and their Ancestors in protestancy must also with them be guilty in that kinde The Conclusion VVHerefore most mercifull Soueraigne the poore innocent and distressed Catholiques of this kingedome humbly entreat licence to propose that question to your Maiestie our earthly King which guiltlesse and holy Iob in his greatest Iob c. â— afflictions so confidently in this manner disputed with his Creaâ—or and King in heauen Answer me how great iniquities and sinnes I haue shew vnto me my wickednesse and offences why doe you hide your face and suppose mee for your enemie you shew your power against a leafe tossed with the winde and doe persecute dried stubble Non peccaâ—â— in amaritudinibus moratur oculus meus wee haue not as we hope sinned against you and yet our eyes remaine in bitternesse of teares and can behold nothing but matter of mourning and lamentation Our nature and Nation cannot turne your gracious aspect away for all of
Parliament that all Ministers in his Dominions made contrarie to the Romane vse approued in his Territories should be Traitors the pulpits of England would not be silent to reproue it of great absurdity We â—ope therefore that the rare example of one Queene wil not ouer ballance so many your holy and wise Progenitors and all Princes of the world in this point And if one against so many hundreds coulde carrie against so manie reasons equiuolent motiue of imitation yet wee trust as you doe not inheritte by Queene Elizabeth or King Edward the sixt or King Henrie the eight whose next line and life rather suspended your Title then gaue you the Diademe of these vnited dominions but by Queene Margaret and Queene Marie of Scotland Catholike pâ—inces and King Henrie the seauenth of England of the same Religion with all their and your common Auncestors so you rather will inheriâ—te the steppes of them so many and holy in this path which left you so great a Title both to heauen and earth then followe the lone example of one woman or the father and son a child from whom no such preeminens is or can be deriued It is the honor of our King in Heauen most mightie Soueraigne for which we continew in combatte that Religion which the whole Catholique world in all generall Councelles Popes Doctors and learned men hath euer professed wherein this Nation as our Protestants acknowledge one thousand yeares since Ioh. Bal. l. de Script Angl. in August monach Will. Tetrastyl was conuerted all our Christian auncestry embraced and which all Princes in the schoole of Christ of whome your Maiestie is descended maintained in themselues and subiects That which is so generall cannot be surrendred by a small number of one kingdome It is not in the power of Man to resigne the honor of God Protestants and Puritans which haue turnes and changes for all occasions which communicate in spirituall things with so many different in profession which can subscribe and sweare to Parliament articles and yet renownce them take oth of Princes supreamacy yet speake preach and print against it communicate in Churches seruice and sacraments with them which they say be infidells and that none going to their Churches can be saued submit their faith and religion to stand or be changed as pleaseth Princes which had not any Church Chappell Prince or subiect of their religion vntill the daies of Luther and now is the same no further then in one time or Country may without great losse to themselues damage to others or new dishonour to God change as the winde serueth their spirit suggesteth or appetite desireth Such men may easily and onely condiscend to change their right and relinquish their interest being such as the Apostle thus describeth Alwaies learning and neuer attaining to the knowledge 2. Timoth. 3 v. 7 of truth Yet neuerthelesse dread Liege if it will please your Maiesty to vouchsafe vs licence to request and grace to obtaine that your owne princely sentence and censure may stand that we ought not to depart further from the Roman Church our mother Church by your iudgement than she hath departed from her selfe when shee was in her best and flourishing state And that the time of Constantine was incorrupted in religion we humbly againe offer triall before your Highnesse with equall câ—nditions of Schooles agenst the most selected chosen Protestant Bishops doctors of your dominions to proue or defend any or euery substantiall article which we now professe to be agreeable vnto and not discenting the knowne publike Catholike doctrine of that mother Church in those your mentioned incorrupâ—ed daies of Christianity And seeing the disfauour and penalties against lay Catholikes are grounded vpon their Recusancy to be present at your protestant Seruice wee humbly beseech it may be called to memory how they haue protested in seuerall supplications one to your Maiesty before the end of the last Parliament and the other to Queene Elizabeth in the seuen and twenty yeare of her raigne to be builded onely vpon feare of offending God To which their so long and manilold disgraces losses imprisonments and sufferings are sufficient witnesse and for further triall thereof haue offered to repaire to your Protestant Churches and Seruice without further exception if the learned of your religion can and doe proue to the learned of their profession that it may be performed without offence to God which is so much in the opinion of all diuines as any christian subiects can offer in this cause In which minde as I doubt not but they still continue so I am assured that the Priests of England will giue like consent This if your Protestant Cleargy doe refuse or doe not satisfie so Christian a request we hope your Maiesty being wise learned iudicious and gratious will perceiue that the seuerity of the lawes against them for that cause is not to be put in practise These things in most humble manner we commend to your highest and mercifull consideration And so desiring of the Almighty to grant all happinesse and prosperity to your Maiesty and posterity we conclude in all dutifull subiection with that antient Father We will faithfully serue you in your Pallace we will accompanie other your subiects in the market wee will ioyne with them in the field against your enemies onely to you we leaue the Churches FINIS Fauls escaped In the Epâ—ste or are tam cum Chap. 1. Rogesr Rogers Chap. 2. Haereticus Haereticis manimenta munimenta not aboue foure or fine not many the Prophets and Priests of Iuda deposed vnder the Prophets and Priests of Iuda were deposed not now and are not now Chap. 4. Philopatre Philopater which which is Chap. 5. and it was and that it was if it Chap. 6. natum nutum violatore violatorem approue reproue Chap. 9. vermia Austrae vienna Austriae Canickname a nickname 100000 1000000. Inns Irons Chap. 10. vindice iuridieé mentire mentiri naturall consciences internall consciences a semiplea a semiplene statish Protestants Scottish Protestants Caluinianum caluinianam Chap. 11. punished promised
A iust and moderate Answer To a most iniurious and slaunderous Pamphlet intituled An exact Discouery of Romish doctrine in case of Conspiracie and Rebellion Wherein the innocency of Catholike religion is proued and euery obiection returned vpon the Protestant Accuser and his owne profession Psal 57. vers 1. Si veré vtique Iustitiam loquimini recta iudicate filij hominum With licence of Superior TO THE MOST EXCELLENT and mightie Prince our gratious and dread Soueraigne IAMES by the grace of God King of great Brittaine France and Ireland defender of the faith TWo thinges most Gratious Soueraigne among the rest of chiâ—fest regard in terrene and humane affaires were euer apprised at the highest value Life the present being Fame and Reputation the beautie and splendor theereof The first giuing esse aftâ—r non esse to the greatest earthlie Creature the other maintaining in some sorte a perâ—ptuall life and glorious liuing when we be dead Therefore by how much the possessors of those dignities be more popular publique and greater in number State or preeminence â—y so many degrees vnworthily and trecherouslie to be depriued of them is more iniurious guilâ—ie of wickednesse and obnoxious to Restitution Concerning the former The late intended Conspiracy against the life of your Royall Maiestie the Life Vnion Rule and Direction to these vnited Kingdomes so many Nobles and Persons of esteeme was so heinous impiety that nothing which is holy can make it Legitimate no pretence of Religion can be alleadged to excuse it God and heauen condemne it Men and earth detest it Innocents bewaile it the Nocent and vnhappie Delinquents themselues perceiuing how their Religion reproueth it in repentance haue lamented it Protestants exclaime against it and your dutifull Religious and learned Catholikes Priests and others which haue endured most for their profession hold it in greatest horror and make it a subiect of their grieuous sorrow that any of their profession should attempt so barbarous and vnnaturall cruelty or practise any disobedience at all to your Highnesse And will sweare protest promise and performe to your Maiesty whatsoeuer Loyaltie Obedience and dutie is due from a subiect to his Temporall Prince by the word of God lawe of Nature or hath beâ—ne vsed by the subiects of this Kingdome to any your Pâ—ogenitoâ—s Christian from the first to the last acknowledge and rendâ—r to your honorable Counsaile and all Magistratâ—s in ciuiâ—l causes so much Honor Reuerence and Submission and to all other Protestant subiects like amitie and neighbourlie affection as if they were of the same Religion which we prâ—fesse Concerning the second of publike reproache and defamation most worthy Prince if it only concerned the Catholikes of this Nation although it be no easie question to proue that men in such matters and at such times are masters of their fame yet they could be content to burie it in their graue of obliuion with so many miseriâ—s which they haue long susteined for their holy faith and to say with the Apostle Maledicimur et benedicimus persecutionem patimur et sustinemuâ— blasphemamur et obsecramus but when the Purgamenta huius mundi and omnium peripsema must be made the badge of all maintainers of that worshippe and all be stiled sâ—ditious and traiterous Persons quite contrarie to your Highnesse often Assertions and publique Proclamations That all Catholike subiects to all forraigne Princes your Confederates must weare that Liuerie and their Soueraignes be attended with such seruants All Catholike schooles termed Seminaries of rebellions and so directly not only the reputations of all those Vniâ—ersities Princes and Prelates of the Church of God but God himselfe whose howse it is and whose honor can neither be giuen nor taken away is thus condemned as is set forth in a late pamphlett intituled An exact Discouerie of Romish doctrine in case of Conspiracie Silence would be too suspicious of neglect in many greatest duties to God in heauen his Church on earth to your Maiestie and the whole Catholike world Therefore I poâ—e wretch and sinner an vnworthy member of that sacred bodie of Christ and one of your Highnesse obedient subiects in all submission craue pardon not only to make demonstrance of Catholikes due and expected Loyaltie to your Soueraigne Authoritie and refute the friuoulous obiections of that Author But with Dauid against Goliah in the behalfe of King Saul and the people of God to strike with his owne sword and returne all and euery of his deadlie reasons vppon himselfe and his owne Profession Which as I may lawfully obserue by common consent of all entreating of the law of conscience in this case being onely to vse our owne right of iust defence and not to offend or defame Accusers which charitable exposition I desire of all Protestant Readers So if I had trauelled no farther into that doctrine then to the last printed booke by your Maiesties Printer of the late intended conspiracy I might as easily performe it for that Protestant author giueth it out as a general Rule vndoubted Maxime to all professors of worship to take armes if their religion be in hazard and that no priuate man could thinke his life more happily bestowed than to fight pro Aris which is greater liberty than any opinion which our aduersarie can finde among Catholike Writers so by him attached of treason and rebellion But he shall receiue a more plaine and plentifull recitall both of publike positions and practises from all his neighbouring Allies in religion to proue his owne profession to be both Seminary and Granary of such prouision Which I am more inforced vnto because this discouerer by so many not vsuall Catholike Authors alleaged in his booke discloseth his inueterate malice against vs that he was now in his desired oppoâ—tunitie deliuered with ioy of that wherewith hee had trauailed so long in paine or to renew in subtile mâ—nner his old good affection to your Maiestie doth marshall you euen now otherwise all his reâ—sons be too childish in the number of câ—uell Tyrants Excommunicates Apostatâ—es and the infamous of all ages not only Princes but base persons So that eyther for disloyalty to your Highnesse or inured inflamed hatred vnto vs or both hee can sinde no centâ—r of his slaunders except your Maiestie bee mâ—de the man and marke where at the penâ—ll canons and constitutions of holy Church did point and leuell hundreds of yeares befâ—re you were borne â—r his religâ—on receiued life This is the miserable distressed state of many thousands your most loyall and louing subiects dread Liege for their faithfull dutie to God and a religion taught in this kingdome and imbraced by all your progenitors and our ancestors so many hundred yeares from their first conuersion that euery aduersary may preach and print against vs and make their challenges as though eyther for ignorance we could not or for distrust of our cause we were vnwilling to make them answer or come to triall when quite contrary wee haue
often earnestly and by all meanes wee could desired to haue it graunted with equall conditions against the most selected and best learned Doctors of that religion And at this present when your cheefest Protestant Cleargie Bishops and others is assembled wee most humbly intreat this so reasonable a Placet that although they will not as we feare easily consent to an indifferent choyce opposition and defence in questions yet at the least to auoide the wonder of the world they will be content that we may haue publike audience for those articles opinions and practise for which we are so much condemned and persecuted If wee shall not be able to defend or proue any position generally maintained in our doctrine to be conformable to those rules in diuinity which your Maiesty and the protestant lawes of England we can offer no more haue confirmed for holy the canonicall Scriptures the first generall Councells the daies of Constantine and the Primatiue Church let the penalties be imposed and executed against vs. If we performe it or this petition may not be admitted we trust that both our office to God and duty to Prince is discharged in this point Your royall Person and that honorable consistory now assembled or holdâ—n in your doctrine to be the supreame sentencer euen in spirituall businesse in this kingdome wee therefore hope you will not in a Court from whence no appeale is allowed and in matters of such consequence proceede to iudgement or determine of execution before the arraigned is sommoned to answer hath receiued or refused triall is or can be proued guilty for it is a Sages sentence Iudicem Aram esse idem euen in ordinary 〈…〉 3. Rhetor. Iudges because people iniured or distressed flie to them both for refuge And we humbly craue licence to say vnto you as Liberius Pope of Rome answered Constantius the Emperour perswading Theodor. dialog hist trip l 5. c. 17 him to subscribe to the banishement of saint Athanasius the great Gretian Patriarke O Imperator Iudicia ecclesiastica decet tam maxima proferri iustitia If we be condemned our cause be iust and religion true it is God and not man against whom you proceede in sentence if our profession be erroneous and yet for consent with so many Nations and so long continuance it is left vnpunished you onely pardon the frailty and ignorance of earthly men and fight not with the heauenly Deny not that to vs your euer true and obedient subiects in a religion so antient which your colleged Princes the King of Spaine and Arch-duke doe offer to the so many yeares disobedient Netherlanders vpon their temporall submittance in so late an imbraced doctrine That which the Arrian Emperors of the East permitted to the Catholikes Bishops Priests Churches tolleration what the barbarian Vandalls often offered and sometimes truly performed in Africke what the Turkish Emperor in Greece and Protestant Princes in Germany and other places allow to them of our religion can be no singular offence to grant vnto vs once in so many yeares though our religion were vntrue It would be acceptable to all Catholike Princes conformable to the examples of protestant Rulers not vnaunswerable to your owne princelie pietie pittie and promise no disgust to any equally minded Protestant or Puritane at home a Iubily to vs distressed and to answer all the discouerers quarrells in one sentence a warrant of security to your Maiesty in all opinions against those terrors and dangers which he conceiteth from which and all others of what kinde soeuer we most humbly beseech the infinite Maiesty of God to preserue your Highnesse and send you your Queene and posteritie all happinesse and felicity in heauen and earth Amen ⧠A generall Censure of this slanderous Pamphlet proouing that no one Argument therein can conclude the Authors Intent CHAP. I. THis Discouerer of Terrors and Daungers neuer before imagined like vnto the espiall of King Alexander which either Qu. Cuâ—â— in viâ—â— Alexand. hauing his phantasie and interior powers distempered or his externall sences out of order or both farre from frameing right apprehension and true judgement brought worde to his wise triumphant Emperor that an army of enemies was approaching to assault him when they were but a small company of silie Apes imitating souldiers with a march on the Mountaynes doubteth not to call such his deluded vision An exact Discouery of Romish Doctrine in the case of Conspiracie and Rebellion and a little after A Plaine Discouery of the Rebellious Doctrine of the Romish Church and termeth Romish Schooles to vse his owne wordes Seminaries of Rebellions and telleth vs Popish Priests as also their Adherents be worthily executed for seditious and trayterous persons Hitherto is the strange Discriall of this great Discouerer not as yet yeelding any Reason but that we may thinke his braine distempered conceiting Apes for mortall Enemies their stickes and Reeds for deadly wounding weapons Therefore supposing for his Reports of so vnprobable things he should be deluded as a man illuded and strangely mis-taken except he pretended some strange and vn-vsuall Argument for his rare Intelligence falling into a second extreamitie like a farre Trauailer giueth foorth that these wonders be collected out of the expresse Dogmaticall Principles of Popish Priests and Doctors and from their Publike Positions and Practises and accordingly entituleth euery leafe Romish Positions and Practises of Rebellion What simply meaning minde would not be amazed with such a message especially when hee professeth these things to be collected not without direction from Superiors But to ouerthrowe his last Assertion first There is neyther name of Author the Current of time streaming for him to the Pamphlet nor Licence and Priuilege of Impression as all Books published by Authoritie by English Protestants ought to haue And therefore to be accompted a Libell Touching the other of proouing his Intent by our owne Dogmaticall Principles and Publique Positions it is so impudent an vntrueth That if all his falsely applied Authorities were to be admitted for Gospel yet not one such Dogmaticall and Publike Position or Practise to the dâ—sgrace of our holy Religion and to ratifie his slaunderous accusâ—tion is registred in his whole Discouery Except this Accuser will accuse and conuict himselfe of treason both with God and man to endite his Maiesty our gratious Soueraine Rat. 1. pag. 1. 2. 3. 4 5. rat 2. 3. of highest disobedience to his King Creator in heauen engrossing him in the Catologue of censured excommunicate and denounced Hereticks Apostataes Tirants and Vsurpers which if he intendeth to doe at his first entrance he hath committed a crime Laesae Maiestatis if the lawe of Q. Elizabeth be not dead Statut. 13. Elizâ—b â—a 1. with her selfe If he will not be expounded in such sence and to place all the honorable and inferior Magistrates and Protestants also not in Authority in that order proportion of degrees obserued a paradoxe most monstrous and not to bee
others in the short regiment of that Queene may be giuen for instance Therefore let no man obiect heereafter that the Positions Protestanâ—s may not condemne their Puritane Brethren and Practises of Râ—bellion proceede onely from the Puritane Protestants for such pure Protestancie had not audience in England at that time but the defenders there of were called New vp-start arrogant spirites by Latymer and such Protestants as I Latim Serm. before King Edward the fixt haue condemned guiltie in this kinde And yet the present Protestant Writers of England which teach that the true Church can not erre in things essentiall to true Religion and necessary to saluation and communicate in Sermons Sacraments Doctrine and subscription to articles the very notes of the Church in their proceedings cannot condemne these traiterous and rebellious positions and practises in Puritanes for great and damnable offences in Religion or impediments of Saluation therefore by this disputers Argument they are to be accounted seditious Now I will recite his second proposition against us which is this But all Popish priests doe professe a double prerogatiue ouer Kings Democraticall and Monarchicall namely both people and Pope ergo To the Popes Authoritie I haue already sufficientlie answered and will demonstratiuely proue farther heereafter that as it is defended by catholike doctors it is far more fauorable and defensiue to Princes titles then either doctrine or practise of Protestants or any other professors of Religion whereof I haue also intreated beefore Concerning his conceat of Catholikes defending a democraticall prerogatiue in the people ouer all Kinges so be his wordes It fighteth with his owne assertion and present position of the Popes Monarchicall prerogatiue ouer all Kings which likewise is his sentence For where there is a Monarchie and Monarchicall power or gouernment in one there is vnpossibillitie of a Democracie and Democraticall Power and Regencie in the people otherwise these propositions be true Kinges be subiects to subiects and subiects be Kinges of Kinges seruants be masters to their masters Masters be seruants to their seruants Fathers be children of their Children and Children be fathers to their Fathers and the like relations must be inuerted by this Logicians Argument But lett vs heare what publique Positions he will bring from our Writers to proue our opinion of a democraticall power in the people ouer Princes which I haue confuted by his owne proposition He only citeth the Author de iusta abdicat Henric. 2 to say that Maiestas Regni est in populo potius quam in persona Regis That D. Stapleton affirmeth people are not ordained for the Prince but the Prince for the people and Mr. Rainolas to call a King a creature of Mans Creation the like he citeth out of Dolman All which in equall sence his Maiestie himself in open Parliament doth not so much seeme to dislike especially in vacancie of a King or the originall of kingdomes of which cases those Authors The kings speach Parli 1. doe principally entreate And in such circumstances I demaund of this Obiector whether there euer was or could be a King and Ruler ouer people where there was no people to be ruled or consent to be ruled But people both were in the begining without kings and made election of diuers kinds of regiment as they thought fittest and most secure for their defence and gouernment in peace some Monarchicall some Aristaraticall others Democraticall although none made election of a Monachy by one and Democracie by the multitude at once in one Commonwealth as this simple Disputer did argue before agâ—inst Princes titles for that is vnpossible as I haue made demonstration And his Maiesties wordes be these Although a Kingdome and The kings speach supt people be Relata yet can he be no King if he want people and Subiects but there be many people in the world that lacke a head as when Regall Lines be extinct people be yet without Kings but not e contra So where regiment passeth by election In Polonia at the death of euery King the case is such because that Kingdome and Principallitie goeth by voices So in Venice So in the Empire by the seauen Princes called Princes Electours supplying the peoples suffrages and consents And this the Discouerer Rat. 3. infr himselfe hath remembred in framing his next Reason wherin he maketh mention of Election and calleth a seditious to hinder the right thereof But slaunders and contradictions be neither wilfull wickednesse nor vnlearned ignorance in this Accuser How the Protestants both clergie and people claime Soueraignty ouer Princes is spoken before and often proued in this Treatise The third Reason confuted and returned CHAP. IIII. THe maior Proposition of his third reason is Whosoever vppon any pretended Supremacy whether of Pope or people doe deny the necessary right of Election or of Succession of Protestant Princes are to bee holden amongest all Protestants seditious his Contradiction in this against the former reason I haue spoken of in the last Argument And for this present I grant this maior and make this my minor But Protestants and English Protestants Protestants are seditious by this Argument doe deny the necessary right of Election or Succession of Protestant Princes ergo the minor is proued before in Cranmer Ridley Latimer Sandes Rogers and the Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke with their Protestant Preachers and forces against the Succession of Queene Elizabeth a Protestant and though then not borne his Maiesty a Protestant King I adde further that his Highnesse title was expresly contradicted and written against of purpose in a booke to that end by Hales a companion to Knoxe an English Protestant to which no Protestant to my knowledge did euer giue answer or deniall But many Catholikes confuted it as the Catholike Bishop of Rosse in Scotland and three Catholikes of distinct professions in England Sâ—r Anthony Browne Knight and Iudge of the common Law Doctor Morgan a Diuine and Doctor Mytch or like name a civill Lawyer Now let vs heare his second proposition against Catholikes Thus it is But all Popish Priests doe vtterly abolish the title of Succession in all Protestant Princes c. g o This he would proue against all Priests because Toâ—let and conformably to him Doctor Stapleton Maister Raynolds Symancha and the Author of Philopatre writeth Nulla est Imperatoris aut Regis Electio si cum Eligitur excommunicatus est The Election of an Emperour or King is non if he be excommunicate when he is chosen I answer First heere he contradicteth himselfe againe making election and consent of the people an essentiall thing to Princes titles Secondly let all be true which he citeth and that they so teach yet if fiue particular men could make a generall councell and their sentence be termed a publike position yet they speake onely of a Prince excommunicate before his Election which case is not now in rerumnatura much lesse in England His Maiesty was not
but conspired with the Turke himselfe both against them and the whole christian world And their successours in Hungary these last yeares no better behaued themselues these directly admitted the Turks entry the first endeuoured to performe it as their owne Caspaectalio hist Symp. ad Sabellâ—c Defens Stap. contr Illerich Sleid petr Frar oraâ— cont Sectar Sleidan l. 22. letters of conspiracy and the comming of the Bassa of Buda against Ferdinando into Pannonia were witnesses And Sleydan himselfe a German Protestant giueth testimony that this was the doctrine of their diuines of Magdenburge publikely teaching in defence of sâ—ch rebellions that such waâ—res were lawfull For Sweueland the protestants themselues giue also testimony Sweueland Chit chron an 1593 1594. that the Catholike King thereof was inforced by his rebellious gospellers to make himselfe a subiect vnto their designements and condiscend that no Catholike should beare office in that kingdome and catholike seruice for the King should be confined only to his owne Chappell And what rebellions did the Protestant Petr. Faâ— orat contr sect Nobillitie by aduise of their Cleargie raise against their Prince for this cause in former times And who is ignorant of their still continued seditions and rebellions In Denmarke the same dogmaticall opinions were both publikely defended and put in execution What insurrections and rebellions Petr. Frar sup dâ—d the Protestants of that kingdome maintaine by this title Did they not assault the King vnder yeares and in minority with open warres Did they not confederate and colleague themselues with the professed enemies of the kingdome sell the Cities to strangers challenge regall power to their rebellions and such like intollerable treasons Let vs come to Heluetia and especially Geneua the mother Church of the â—eformed Maister Caluine the supreame head of the Consistory there hath told vs before that Princes not agreeing Bez. l. iur magist in supqit Sutclif answ l. to suphl with him in religion are rather to be spitted vpon than obeyed they â—re not worthy to be numbred among men they are bereaued of all authority Beza his successour in place succceded him also both in opinion and practise arming subiects against their Prince And as Maister Doctor Sutliffe saith in effect ouerthrowing all authority of Christian Kings and Magistrates and giuing power to subiects not onely to take Armes but to depose and kill the Prince if he impugne their religion And accordingly in practise the Protestants there as Caluine himselfe Doctor Sutliffe Caluin Sutel sup kiru pret discipl and the Archbishop of Canterbury be witnesses deposed their Soueraigne from his temporall right and euer since continue in that state of rebellion And not content with rebellion to one and their owne Lord and Ruler they celebrated a Councell wherein it was concluded that King Francis the second then king Petr. Fraâ— orat contr sectar deâ—ens Reg. relig of France his wife the Queene his children Queene mother the Nobility and all good Magistrates of that kingdome should by a certaine day by treacherous deceits be put to death In Burgundy a like Assembly and Conuenticle was called kept and therein decreed at Cabillon that three wormes must be taken forth of the world these men were not content to make their opinion and practise to one or a few kingdomes first the Church of Rome secondly the noble families of antient houses and thirdly all ciuill pollicy gouernment and iurisdiction How faithfully the Protestant Netherlanders laboured by all seditions and rebellion so many yeares and still perseuer to haue the canon of this holy Councell obserued it is too lamentable to be repeated that subiects should maintaine it or any Christians should applaud it Let vs come to France Were not Caluine Beza Othomanus Spiphanius Claud. de sanct de Saccad eglif fol 58. 55. and such publike and dogmaticall Protestants the eggers and instruments of all those slaughters rebellions and oppressions in that Monarchie wherein they tooke all law authoritie and Petr. Frar sup execution thereof from the King and Magistrates They conspired in one night to rob all the Chuâ—ches in France how did they depose Magistrates fell Cities giue the spoiles to strangers c. what murthering of priests and religious men hanging cutting bowelling rending strangling fleaing drowning stabbing shooting through with gunnes and arrowes of religious Priests wearing chaines of their eares cut off about their neckes how many were buried aliue and little infants themselues cut in sunder â—nforcing men to eate their vndecent parts cut off and rosted and opening the bellies when they liued to see whether they digested them or no I cease to recount the vnspeakeable tyranny of those Protestant traytors whom no conditions peace or graunt could satisfie After the remembred conspiracy against King Francis his Genebr chron ann 1560. Mother wife children Nobles and Magistrates at Geneua in the yeare 1560. within two yeares after 1562. they raised such rebellions and ciuill warres against King Charles the ninth that as Genebrande writeth France was more endammaged by one yeares ciuill warres than in all warres past by strangers The King of Nauarre and Duke Nyuers with others were slaine the Duke of Guise treacherously murthered by Pultrotus Canickname in France for that fact suborned by Beza and the Protestant Admirall and they enforced the Kings to grant them peace and conditions but they kept neither for in the yeare 1567. they made a new rebellion and being subdued accept againe of peace but Genebr chron 1567. Geneb chroâ— in these yeâ—â—es breake it againe for in the yeare 1569. they rebell and in the next yeare 1570. and yet in the yeare 1575. breake againe into rebellion And such were the miserable murthers and calaâ—â—â—ies which they brought to that distressed kingdome that i◠〈…〉 first ciuill warres and rebellions aboue 100000. were slaine as Gaspar Coligne a principall Captaine in those rebellions witnessed in an oration before the King And when Charles the ninth forbade by Edict that no such Protestant should publikely Hâ—stor Fâ—ucase Popelim li. 27. stat Relig. in gal Sub. Carol. 9. lib. 3 pag. 347. preach thirteene thousands of them armed assembled at such a sermon in the suburbes of Paris it selfe and their rebellious malice and disobedience did not onely extend to their liuing Kings but indured against the dead as they most rebelliously persecuted King Francis when he liued so being dead they burnt his heart in rebellious deâ—pight So they dealt with King Lewis the eleuenth defaced his Image dismembring euery part thereof and burned his body Concerning this vnited Kingdome of Britaine I haue spoken before sufficientlie for the confusion of all Protestants thereof for euer I will adde something and first for Scotland Was not their Gospell there planted by force and violence to Princes and by the publique Dogmaticall decrees of Caluin and Knoxe Knox hist of the church of Scotland pag. 143. 144. Holins hist Scot. anno 1546.
Knox sup pa. 217 218. 256 258. Holinsh sup ann 1559. Knox pag. 265. 268. 269. Holinsh sup Knox sup pag. 501. 502. 503. vsque pag 531. Holinsh supr an 1566. Dang pos l. 1. c. 6. Apostles and their conspiracies and practise I referre the Reader to Knoxe himselfe to know what publique subscriptions and conspiracies to this ende what authoritatiue Sermons to the Religious and Monasteries what proâ—estations of violences against the Queenes Edict and Parliament what contempt of Authoritie they vsed in commaunding the Nobles vnder penaltie of excommunication to assist them the Bishoppes and Cleargie not to resist them writing and sending to all their Sect to ioyne in Rebellion with them no Lawe or commaundement of Prince obeyed They tooke vppon them the Regality it selfe they coyned money by their Authoritie seazed the Inns and renounced all obedience vnto their Princes terming her obedient subiects and partakers a Faction and threatned them with punishment for Treason How wickedly did they reiect hir Authority in Parliament and made themselues Supreame both in Ecclesiasticall and Temporall businesse Did they not murther the Kings and Queenes Secretarie in their sight and intended the same to the Queene her selfe then great with childe with our present Soueraigne so to haue brought all into their owne handes the Issue and Posteritie Regall taken away And when that holy last recited Queene Mother to his Maiestie was first imprisoned then expelled her Kingdome by these Rebelles and escaped murthering her Husband being slaine by their villanies How did they condemne all decrees of the State deposed the Bishops as Antichristian by their supremacie What comminatory letters did they write to his Maiestie which now Raigneth then young in yeares and the Nobles of that Land to effect their designements did not they wholy disclaime from the Kinges Authority and not that only but made him their subiect in prescribing lawes vnto him did not they surprise and imprison him as Declarat B 1. 2. 3. 4 parliament Sect. ann 1584. their Vassall what Traiterous and more than Rebellious excommunications and censures did they impose vppon him how many Declarat 1582. parlia 1584. c. 7. Conspiracies did they contriue how did they force him at Striueling besiedged him tooke the Castle imprisoned the King with violence vâ—till he had signed their high willes and pleasures For England I haue spoken alreadie more then I desired had not such wicked accusations against vs vrged me to breach of silence And now I will only say that the publique and Dogmaticall positions and practises of Rebellions by the greatest Protestant subiects of this Kingdome the Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke againe and againe so many Nobles to be pasâ—ed with obliuion all their whole Cleagie Archbishoppe Bishops and others not only against the law of God and their Queene but oaths of fidelitie to K. Henrie the eight that I am bold to affirme no Protestant obiâ—ctor can giue instaunces in any time or Nation of Catholique Regiment or Subiects where so great and manifolde outrages haue been committed And yet that which Catholikes lost by the new proceâ—dings so many thousands of Monasteries Religious howses Churches their Religion Sacraments Praiers and Sacrifice for their soules sakes and their posteritie Corrodies Pensions and Education for their children was a greater losse to them and their profâ—ssion then euer Protestants with their new Faith will bestow recompence or equiualent benefite vppon the world Now let vs reuiew this Disciferers examples of practise agenst Henrie the third of Fraunce the resistment of this present King of that countrie the Bull of Pius Quintus against Queene Elizabeth Henrie the fourth Emperour excommunicate Leo the third Fredericke the first Otho the fift and King Childericke Henry the second in like case which be these practicall obiections hee can finde woorthy of reciting against vs since the first conuersion of Kings and Countries to Christ Among all which tragedies let him single forth what kingdome country territory or towne the Pope possesseth detaineth or keepeth against any of those or any other christian Prince And compare them with the Protestants proceedings with Princes in this short time of their new Gospel and â—heir vsurped ministeriall and popular outrages rebellions excâ—mmunications deposings and violence to Princes doe farre exceede both for number and extreamest iniuries And so many Countries States Townes and territories both violently taken and still kept from the true possessors and reserued to themselues as Princes doth not onely argue the impietie of iniuries past and a continued state of rebellion but giueth demonstration of their continued opinions to practise the same generally in all times and places as occasions shall giue them power and aduantage Ergo Protestants and not Catholikes by this mans arguments be seditious tray terous rebellious intollerable The ninth Reason confuted and returned CHAP. X. THus he frameth his next Reason Whosoeuer doth perfidiously either denie or violate with men of diuerse religion an oath c. must necessarily be esteemed of them a person perfidious and treacherous This is his Maior proposition wherein he must needes make some exceptions of the lawfulnesse c. of the thing sworne or else the Protestants which swore loyalty to Queene Mary in her Fathers life might not safely take Armes against her to aduance a forged title and the Protestants which had sworne obedience to the Pope could not denie their subiection and whatsoeuer wickednesse is sworne must be performed as Saint Paul and Saint Iohn Baptist death because their death was sworne by Herod and the Iewes But if his proposition be true Protestants be perfidious and treacherous by the example of England recited and all the Countries before remembred where Protestants broke their oaths of loyalty with their Princes kept not oaths of conditions with subiects But he thus obiecteth Popish Priests are guilty of such perfidie And in his prosecuting of this assertion he disputeth against aequiuocation although the interrogatorie be vniustly proposed and chargeth vs with these words of Cardinall Tollet Cum Iudex non vindice petit Iuramentum vel contra Iustitiam licet vti Tollet li. 4. Inst Sacerd. c. 21. 22. aequiuocatione secundum mentem suam contramentem Iudicis vt puta quaerenti fecisti ne illud respondeat non feci intelligendo inter se non hoc tempore aut vt narrem tibi aut aliquid simile Let this be the case as himselfe hath alleaged it Thâ—n for Tollet sometimes a Iesuite I cite another Iesuite famous among Casuists Emanuel Sa who in his Aphorismes writeth of this matter â—n these words Quidam Sa Aphoris mendacium 4. dicunt eum qui non tenetur respondere ad intentionem Rogantis posse respondere aliquid subintelligendo vt non esse scilicet it a vt dicere es teneatur velse non habere scilicet vt ei det licet alij id non admittunt fortè potiori ratione Whereby it is manifest that all
this Dominion and your most fauoured be therein in the same case with your Suppliants that ancient faith and religion which wee defend cannot be cause to such offence for so all Catholikes in the world that be and euer were were to be censured by their Princes with such measure To professe that religion in a Protestant regiment cannot breede such variance for so all other Catholike subiects in all protestant Countries were in the same case And if one and the same religion can by any not appearing reason be feared by some subiect to suspitions at home which theiâ— politicke wisedome may suppose no forraigne protestant gouernment hath so sufficiently attended and considered we haue in the sincerity of our soules without all aequiuocation or doubtfull sence purged our selues from all jealosie of those opinions pretences or practises which our enemies could discouer worthy to bâ— obiected In answer whereof we haue both made manifest proofe that we doe not otherwise esteeme of the Protestants of this nation then our selues and those of the same faith with vs in all ciuill societies and communications that we giue the sâ—me temporall dutie loyalty and obedience to our Soueraigne honour to Nobles and loue to all that although we differ in religion yet we are so farre from making Protestants odious and vnworthy of mutuall communications in ciuill affaires that we defend their dignities magestâ—acy and rule against men of their owne profession We doe not assigne any soueraigne mere ciuill power ouer Princes as the Protestants in all places haue taught and practised neither any spirituall preeminence in any externe Prelate preiudiciall to Princes right as our opposers doe in Presbiteries and priuate Ministers we haue not denied either election or succession of Protestant Princes as our aduersaries haue done both to Catholikes and Protestants for their owne aduanâ—age our doctâ—ine denieth no obedience to you which was euer giuen to any Christian Prince of England from the first vnto the last King Henry the seuenth by whom and whose eldest Catholike Daughter your Highnesse is inthroned We doe not suggest the discouerers obiected forcible deposition of elected Princes Protestants haue depriued more in this short being of their Gospel by their popular mutenies and priuate authoritie than all Popes in all ages of christian religion with publike consent of Princes and people haue condiscended vnto Protestants haue taken Armes and raised generall rebellions more often against Princes not to be condemned than all Popes haue imposed censures by publike complaint against those which are noted in histories for extraordinary impious If any hath otherwise proceeded no Catholike may defend it wee doe not nor may not by our religion intend designe or practise iustifie or defend the murther of Princes or professe rebellions the discipline of the holy Church and generall Councells rules in our religion denie it for lawfull what priuileges protestancy claimeth what it hath taught and practised in that point Hungary Transiluania Germanie Bohemia Denmarke Heluetia Flanders Sweueland France Emâ—en your Maiesties kingdomes and your selfe haue beene witnesses for many yeares We doe not allow in opinion or may practise in act aequiuocation concealed double or secret sence in affaires of Common-weale and iuridicall interrogatories and profession of religion They be Protestants which defend and practise it in such causes not iustifiable in true diuinitie Our Priests neither vnder that reduplicatiue formalitie as Priests nor otherwise maintaine by our religion any position or pactise seditions or not obedient if any particular men for want of learning haue seemed to speake or thinke or for want of grace dealt or practised in other sence no religion made all men Saints religion did not teach it and Catholikes generally condemne it Therefore our confidence cannot but continue that the Royall promises of your highest Authority of Lenitie of no bloud for Religion shall not be recalled The demerritt of a fewe is no generall impediment The Scriptures instruct vs anima quae peccauerit ipsa moriatur one man must not be are the burthen of others sinnes All Schooles agree that no man can condignelie meritte first grace to any other though but one then the transgression of one or fewe cannot be demeritte for innocents to be afflicted great is the difference of the members in a naturall and ciuill body in this cause though the first doe suffer in some sence together by connexion in nature yet in the second the case and reason is different Remember most worthy Prince not only how grieuous but how generall the penalties against your Catholiques be enacted And yet new threatnings be made that new and more straunge as nec inter gentes shall be ordained The bodies honours reputations and riches of husbands to be punished for their wiues religion and soules to which they are neither husbands nor superiors Children to be taken from Parents Parents to be depriued of theiâ— education which Catholike Princes doe not and in conscience cannot offer to the Iewes themselues though in some opinion the slaues of Christians Children seruants kinsmen and neighbors are to be made hired Espialls to betray their parents masters kinred friends in things as vnlawfull which the whole Catholique world honoureth for holy and they venture their soules and fempitermtie that they be such commendable Artes Functions of phisicke c. which haue not connexion with Religion are to be put to silence in Catholikes The seuere penaltie for not monethlie professing the Protestant faith in Churches when in all diuinitie the precept of Profession of true and vndoubted faith in se and ex se bindeth but seldome is to be increased And others of such condition too many here to be mentioned and too grieuouâ— and vnnaturall we hope in your Princelie opinion to be concluded by a Kings consent Therefore vnder sauour for all I instance in one most heauie and generall in those of our deceased Queene All Priests though neuer so dutifull or obedient be censured for Traitors equally with the greatest offendor in sinne of Treason when many guiltlesse soules of that sacred order would not for thousands of worlds once consent to any such or a farre inferior offence A thing most straunge and beyond all example that men in respect only of their calling and function and that function so reuerenced by all our forefathers should without further cause be condemned as guilty of so a detested crime We defend holy priesthood to be a sacrament which being ordained by God cannot be changed by man Pope Prelate or humane power but remaineth in al things substance and doctrine the same which in those dayes when it was so honorably esteemed of all your christian progenitors when our mother Church kept her first integrity by your Highnesse iudgement as we are ready to make defence And if your Maiesty should decree the like law against any degree or profesâ—ion of your other subiects or the king of France or other Prince in other estate of men should enact by