ther libertie Speciallie for religion for at that he aymed most the propagation of his doctrine and he knevv vvell that in popular estates he might preuayle stronglier and vvith bette hope of success for all his religion is popularitie and pleasing and as Swinglius fovvnd he could not induce FraÌ„ces the first to applaude hym So by the exampl of Henry the second Caluin ded perceaue that kings and Deigratia vvear blocks in his vvaye And therfor to remooue them that they might not empeach the course and current of his preachings and proceading C. 6. v. 22. he speaks in a tune full of sharpes and menaces Abdicant se potestate terreni principes dum insurgunt contra Deum imo indigni sunt qui consâ—anturâ—â— hominum numero Potius ergo conspuere oportet in illorum capita quam ilâ—is parere vbi sic proteruiunt vt velâ—nt spâ—liare Deum â—uo â—â—re What a learned homelie is this to teach subiects obedienc Ioyne all these good instructions together and so shall yovv best interpret and explain one by an other D. Bilson in his book of Christian subiection taketh paynes to expovvnd and vvrest Caluins vvords and to saue his credit sets the berst coolors on them he could I. Caluin saith he in this place Speaks not a vvord of depriuing princes or resisting them vvith armes but onelie shovveth that Daniel ded rightlie defeÌ„d hym self for not obeying the kings vvicked edict ioyned vvith the dishonor of god Secondly by Abdicant se he meanes not they loos ther crovvnes but that they loose ther povver to command in thes things but in lavvfull things they retain ther povver 3. For the phrase conspuerè it seams something hard yet the comparison so standing as he maiks it whether it wear better to contemn ther impious edicts or to obey them Caluin vrgeth it in vehement wordes And this is farr from Rebellion An other excuseth it that it was spoken comparatiue not rebelliouslie that is yf the king should contradict Gods lavv A poor shift but he sets not dovvn vvho should be iudg of that betwean God and the king And so it is nihil ad rem I answer to the first it is idle and impertinent what yf he vse not these words of depriuation and resistanc for then had he erred too palpablie ar therfor the other words he vseth excusable For Daniels right full defenc it is not pertinent to the quaestion D. Allen mayd Besides what was Daniels defenc what arms took he All with owt contemps of the king humilitie prayer and patienc Not after the Geneua fashion so brauelie as to spitt in Nabugodonosors face nor alledging that he was not worthie to liue emong men And for the second by abdicantse what meanes he that kings doe loose not ther Crownes but onely povver to command let vs speak plaine English withowt halting Yow confess the king looseth his authoritie and soouerain power to command and yow add obscurlie in thes things Yovv mean in matters of religion for so it is to be vnderstood tho yow cast a cloke over the words and cover the matter Then I desyre to know what is a kings crown withowt power to coÌ„mand He that teacheth they loose ther royall power dothe he not mean they forfeit it and yf they doe forfeit it who is tho challeng and taik the forfeiture of a crown but by such lectures doth not Caluin stirr vp and arme against the king his trayterous subiects yf they reuolt from ther obedienc for religion Is not that the grownd of all the combustion and ciuill warrs in France Yea but in other things lavvful yow say kings retaine ther power First these ar maister Bilsons words not Caluins for they contradict Caluin whose proposition is indefinite abdicant se potestate they loose and forfeit all ther authoritie and power absolutelie not after a sort and in all things not in some particuler and for altogether not for a tyme for when kings ar dispossessed they seldome recouer ther hold againe Besides what court or what magistrates ar fitt to heare and determin whear in kings may loose ther power and whearin not and to decide and iudg the difference betwean these vnlawful matters yow speak of and the lawfull tho Caluins words import no restriction at all The vvhich doth playnlie appear by his harsh phrase as yow tearm it of spitting in ther faces that is as yovv interpret to defye them to ther faces to contemn them and ther acts But this yow say is farr from rebellion trew and yet nothing to the purpose For rebellion is but one species of Treason and therfor tho he teach not rebellion he may teach treason And so yovv help hym litl Labor to extenuate the vvords as much as yovv can and yet vvill they be reallie heynous and seditious For he that houldâ—th a king is not vvorthie to be or liue in hominuâ— numero dothe he not as it vvear eiect and excommunicate hym from all goverment and confyne and censure hym to liue vvith beasts as Nabugodonosor ded Yf yovv teach that insurgunt contra Deum doe yovv not maik hym hatefull for his impietie But to conclude this yovv grand in effect to be his meaning That yf the king threaten Daniel except he vvorship the Idolle or yf the king of France seake to compell his subiects to obey his lavve and communicate at the alter of the church then abdicat se potestate the king ought to loose obedienc subiects ar not bovvnd to obey hym but rather to spit in his face vvhich is a conteÌ„pt in the highest degree and that vvas the cavvse vvhy Doctor Allen ded obiect that against Caluin as seditious doctrine Besides he mayd his ovvn quarrel Gods quarrel the defenc of Caluinism as the defenc of religion and so embroyled the king and the kingdome in perpetual quarrell for his doctrine But D. Bilson ded knowe or might haue knovven that seditious doctrines wear not so daintie at Geneua For in hatred of the thre Q. Maries of England and Scotland he set abroach and defended that poyson and factious doctrin of Gunocratia and by his inspiration knox and Goodman ded publish ther books against ther lawfull princes Besides look vpon the storie of Scotland printed by Wautroller p. 213. and yow shall fynd that knox for an Apologie of his practises alledged Caluins authoritie That it is lavvful for subiects to reform religion vvhen princes vvil not But Caluins opinion of that poynt may be more manifestlie prooued by the practise of his darling maister Beza who sowndlie ded vnderstand his doctrin and ded brauelie second hym in all his platts In the preface to the nevv testament dedicated to Quene Elizabeth 1564. he vsed these vvords Quo die scilicet 19 december ante biennium Galiica nobilitas illustrimo Principe Condaeo Duce tuis illustrissimorum quorundam Germantae principum subsidijs freta non procul vrbe Druidum fortissime praeliata prima restunendae in Gallijs
and testifie From king Edvvard the Confessor Down to king Henry the VIII ther is no man so blind that will affirme ther was anie other religion professed and priuiledged in England but that which was planted heare by Gregorius Magnus who as D. whitacher noteth l. 5. contrae Duraeum pag. 394. ded vs a great benefit and vvhich vve ar euer most grate fullie to remember In all which tyme though the Cleargie mayd Canons by ther own authoritie for ther ovn particuler gouernment yet the kings of this realme ded euer fynt them obedient and readie hymblie and dewtifullie to obey them and to affoord ther best assistance to support the estate Royal euen oft vvhen they weare much troden vpon and heauilie burdened and albeyt sometymes they weare forced to whote contentions for external matters of iurisdiction and ther immunities as the commons and Barons weare yet they neuer passed the rules of order and obedienc nor stirred vp sedition or commotions And who soeuer shall obiect and call in quaestion the opposition of some prelates vnder Henrie the II. King Iohn and Henrie the III. shall neither doe great honor to the kings nor dishonor to the Church-men for ther zealous defenc of ther immunities and perhaps he may reuiue such matters as wear more conuenient to be buried in the records But the first king thar euer gaue effectuallie cawse in this kingdome to trie in the face of the vvorld the admirable patienc Order and loyaltie of the Catholiques was King Henrie the VIII flagelium Dei to the Church of England and yet of ther own religion First by aceusing the Cleargie to be fallen into the danger of a premunire for mantaining Caridnal VVolsies legantine power Secondlie by the statut of Supremacie Thirdlie by the Suppression of Abbeis Which vvear the thre first breaches wherby he threw Dovvn the foundation strenth and glorie of the Church of England The first leuelled the waye for the second and the second enabled hym with power and authoritie to compasse the third The first was a burden the second a bridle and the third a terror By the first he fownd ther weakenes by the second they perceaued his greatnes and by the third he mayd them dispayre of anie recouerie or reparation of ther estate by the first onelie the Cleargie smarted the second laye heauie both vpon the spirituall and temporall by the third the whole realme was again in a sort conquered And all this was doon to be reuenged against the Pope touching his marriage to abandon his iurisdiction and to aduance his ovvn greatenes and royall power that so no man might afterward controll his action or restrain his appetites vvhich lawleslie rainged in hym and prooued verrie inordinate And ther for he bard owt of the realme all forrein power and at home he subdewed them and mayd them of no power Such is the imperious nature of domination in irregular mynds which hauing once broken owt of his circle can not indure limitation and bownds but must and will rainge at libertie in the wide and wild feald of his humors and not being able to geue law to his appetites vvill maik lawes as champions to authorise them and reason as a parasite to glorifie them Now to examin all these thre The first 1. The premunite was a quarrell he ded pick onlie against Cardinal VVoltie and yet afterwards sett vpon the tentors and extended against the vvhole cleargie Which being summoned into the kings bench the kings learned counsell vrged and exaggerated the matter so vehamentlie that in the Conuocation howse they concluded to submit them selfs to his pleasure and to obtain ther pardon and recouer his fauor they wear content to offer and present vnto hym a hundret thowsand pownds wherevpon ther Pardon was signed by the king and confirmed by parliement and by a deuise there they wear also Drawen to acknowledg hym supreme head This vvas a course at that tyme thought neither agreable to Iustice nor honor for Cardinal Wolsie had the kings licens vnder his hand and the great seale of England sor his warrant to vse the legantine power and aftervvard by reason thereof the king hym self employed hym to exercise the same and sit vvith Campegius and examin the matter And yf the diuorce had bean allowed ther should neuer haue bean quaestion mayd of the legantine povvre Touching the Supremacie All the hings 2. The supremacie subiects euer acknovvledged that the crovvn of England quoad temporalia is independant of anie other povver but that great and Transcendent Maiestie vvho proclamed to the vvorld Per me reges regnant that kings knovving vvho vvill taik ther audit may be more carefull to rule vvith Iustice and keape ther accoumpts streight and subiects knovving there tye and vvho layd vpon ther necks this suaue iugum and withowt encroachment may obeye vvith more loyaltie and affection The Question vvhich king Harrie mayd first of all kings in his parliement concerneth his povver and iurisdiction quoad spiritualia And whether that new and highe praerogatiue vvear euer properlie and essentiallie inuested in the crovvn of his realme heartofore or whether it wear the creation of a nevv right by parliement iure Coronae or the establishment of an old And hearupon grovveth an other quaestion novv both in England and other kingdomes so much debated vvhether the Controuersie for Supremacie in spiritualibus be a quaestion onelie proper to Religion and so subiect to the sentenc and censure of the Church onelie as emong the Romans it vvas to the Collegium Augurum and Pontifex Max. or proper to Pollicie and the state onelie and so subiect to the iudgment of lawe or Mixt and a participle vvhear of either of them may hold plea. Of both these I shall haue fitter both Occasion for the matter and Opportunitie for the tyme to declare my poore opinion in my discourses vpon the Ecclesiastical Historie And for the suppression of the Abbies 3. The Supression of Abbies the Cleargie by that fact and the supremacie stood as in captiuitie and at the kings pleasure and mercie ther possessions wear seazed ther goods forfeited ther Churches prophaned and sacked And the augmentation court was erected vpon the spoyles of the Churche and the sale of ther mooueables vestiments challices bells and all for when the king fownd that the Cleargie thorough the humilitie of ther zeale yealded so much vnto hym he never thought he had power sufficient till he had more then enoughe and vpon that aduantage his conscienc being inlarged broke owt of those ancient bownds which the lawes of the Church had prescribed to hym Therfor anno 27. he appointed Cromwel and Doctor Leigh to visite the Abbies and by vertue of the kings commission which had then a chymical powre to maik sacriledge vertue they took owt of the Monasteries ther cheafest Iewels plate and Reliques to the kings vse and dismissed all such religious persons vnder the age of 24. yeares as
foundation both of faith and hope that ther vvas opposition betvvean them and the Pharisees it is euident by cap. 5. Acts exsurgens Pontifex omnes sadducei qui cum eo errant c. and c. 23. Sciens Paulus quod vna pars esset sadduceorum altera phariseorum exclamauit c. yovv may then conclude they vvear opposites and ded contradict one an other The Sadduces mantained the templ of Garisim and agreed vvith the Samaritans and sacrifised there contrarie to the lavv and to the preiudice of the templ at Hierusalem The people fellovved the Pharises the scribes and Elders applauded the Sadducees and both vvear heresies as Sigonius de repub Hebrea p 538. and Epiphanius l. 5. c. 11. doe testifie and all the cittie vvas deuided into these two sects in the tyme of Herodes Antipas as Iosephus saith lib. 18. antiquit and yet ded they liue quietlie vvithowt discord riots or tumults 8. To come home to these tymes in Swizzerland tho Swinglius was violent owtragious seditious and by armes sought to compell the fiue pages to the religion of Barn and Zurich yet by agreement all is pacified they hould ther priuate Churches in ther particular tovvnes and yet mantain the liberties the Common-welth of the Cantons all contributions confaederations traffick and societie To pass ouer Svvecia that famous kingdom of Poland and the Empyre of Mosko haue thought it neadfull to suffer the Religions Vried in ther dominions both to taik away all domestical quarrels and by a general vnitie as a brasen vvall to fortifie them selfs against the Turk and shall England degenerate so farr from ther ancient glorie and vertue as to show more barbarism then Mosko or more vnnaturalnes then Poland vvho reserue the blood of ther neighborts to be shed vvith honor in the feald against the common enemie rather then by tyrannie to weaken the bodie Germanie also may be an exampl that toleration is expedient and that it is both possible and faisibl that two different religious may liue together in peace call to mynd hovv quietlie the Catolicks haue suffred and conuersed with Lutherans these 100. yeares and withowt anie tumults And surelie Charles the V. and Ferdinand as they wear great and wise Princes so wear they prouident and merciefull ther grownd was the same the kings Maiestie stands vpon Salus populi suprema lex esto And therfor they ordered that caueret vtraque pars ne in suis dominijs quenquam ad suae religionis professionem cogat aut reuocet aut depellat contra ipsius conscâ—entiam à religione quam profitetur So saith Dresserus and afterward confidentlie against those that ar so preciselie scrupulous nec hic metuo eorum reprehensionem qui putant non nisi vnam religionem tolerandam For conscienc can not be compelled it may be perswaded 9. How oft and hovv merciefullie ded the french kings grant ther edicts of pacification And to vvhat conditions vvear they content to discend onelie to preserue lyfe and avoyd bloodshed of ther people Look vpon the ould articles of peace graÌ„ted for the libertie of coÌ„scienc set down by Laual l. 3. fol. 141. and by Pig l. 6. c. 7. Poplonnier l. 18. a general freedom to preach in all parts of Franc to reuoke the condemnation of the admiral to licens them to hold ther forts as pledges for ther assuranc and that the king should pay the Germans ther wages who cam to ayd the protestants c. The present king Levves in Oct. last 1622. vvas content to let Maiestie discend to article with his subiects onelie for pax publica and bonum publicum He granted 1. that the edict of Nantes should continevv as yt ded in his fathers tyme 2. that the exercise of Catholick religion should be reestablished in all places vvhear it had bean interrupted and the like was agreed for these of the reformed religion except onelie Nerac 3. the Caluinists to be discharged of all iudgments against them for matters of religion no iudges nor the kings counsel to proceade or pursew them but to grant them an vlterius non vult prosequi 4. all prisoners to be set at libertie Rochel and Montauban to stand as townes of suretie with manie other articles vvheareof the Catholicks of England vvould be glad yf they ded but participat a share of such grace to ther is some differene for in E. they pray for it in France they vvrested it princes intercede for vs arms for them 10. Now to conclude all seing the Turk permitteth Christians to liue freelie in his dominions seing the President and exampl of the greatest Princes in Europe doth set yt forvvard the Preasts and recusants hope they shall not fare worse bycause of ther patienc and obedienc vvhich deserueth more Ther ambition is to be accoumpted good subiects to the king and seruants to God all ther platts and vvarrs ar against sinn and the vvorld and ther onely suite is hanc animam concede mihi â—ua caetera sunto And to vvhome shall his maiestie doe this grace to men that grone vnder the cross of Christ to men that euer prayed as by his great grandfather he vvas right heyre to the roses vnited so he might liue to inherite the kingdomes vnited to which title no man better knoweth then hym self vvho haue bean the greatest hinderers and vvho the most assured frends not onelie in his vertuous moothers tyme but euer sinc He knovveth vvho employed Beal in forrein vniuersities to aduanc the howse of Sussolk how Hales ded sweat by lavv and litl art to set forward that title what a volum S. N. B. ded write to maik a royal nest for the Phaenix he knoweth likewise who vvear the trevv Champions of his clayme Sr A. Brown the wise and nobl author of the book against the E. of Leicester and that Aiax whome no man euer durst encounter therin maister Ploydon all Catholicks all welwillers Who now hope that ther ancient and tryed fidelitie shall so mooue the king that he will refresh and eas them as he may with his breath that they may fynd the vvarmenes and comfort of the sonn shyne at last in England and that he will grant ther humbl supplication subscribed with the seruices of so manie worthie man presented by men of Pietie religion and obedienc and signed with the blood of his royal moother So as he cam to the crown with peace and applause he shall end the catastrophe of his dayes with the general plaudite of the whole world and this vvil follovv as the fruit end effect peace vvithin and honor vvithovvt loue at home respect abroad and so maik a concord of discords an vnion of diuisions and a religious contention an both sydes for deuotion and good lyfe for peacable conuersation obedience to magistrates excellencie of learning vvho shall doe most good in the state and deserue the prize And such an Vtropia onelie can he make England who shall deserue the Oliue brainches for
performed yf the Admiral for his own particular had not layd a block in his vvays But aboue all others it is memorable and worthie to be remembred vvhat a bloodie quarrel it vvas mayd that king Edvvard the sixt the first protestant king in England might not marrie Quene marie of Scotland vvho was euer honored and esteamed a Catholik and yet the protector vvould haue mayd no scruple of Conscienc in that Caluinisme and Lutheranisme ar as opposite as Antipodes and yet they haue matched oft together and ther Issews ar the records thereof And was it then tollerable in the reformed churches and is it intollerable vvith Spayne what then is the cawse of this great scrupulositie and feare Is it for the state of the kingdome or feare of alterations The husband is head of the vvyfe and tho the Infanta vvear born in familia Imperatrice yet ther is no soverainetie invested in her she can maik no mutation of State without the censent of the state And yovv haue the les cavvse to distrust that hauing a president before of king Philip vvho being king of England yet neither could nor vvould attempt anie alteration And yf the protestants ar sure to hould ther religion it is inhumanitie to repyne that she shall be suffred to enioye hers No man of honor vvil offend a ladie of such honor for a quarrel to her sovvle to her faithe and her vvorship of god What then is the reason vvhy this match is so distaist full Is it for the hate and odiousnes of the name and qualities of a Spanyard surelie ab initio non fuit sic that is neither an anciēt quarrel nor a naturall impression in the English For in the tyme of king Edvvard the 3. Ther vvas a firm and fixed amitie betvvean England and Portingal and of Lancaster ther king ar discended And for Castil they matched Constance the Daughter and heyr of king Peter to Iohn of Gaunt by vvhose right the crovvn appertained to hym And his daughter Catharin married vvith Henry the third king of Castil and therby the vvhich remaineth in the Sauoye records resignation of that crovvn vvas mayd by Iohn of Gannt and so all the controuersie vvas ended betwean them and the kings of Spaȳne as floorishing brainches of the tree and stock of Lancaster haue peacablie possessed that kidgdome So as Prince Charles shal by this match vvarme his bedd with his own blood I may add further that king Henry the seuenth married his sonn̄ to king Ferdinando his daughter to continew the succession of amitie I might remember the treaties of 1505. betvvean k. Henry the 7. and king Philip for the preseruation and noorishment of that league and frend ship And hovv much and hovv tenderly Charles the 5. embraced and esteamed yt vvell appeareth by the Treatie arctioris amicitiae 1543. And by the renoumed treatie of Callice the greatest honor that was evver doon to the crovvn of England and by the treatie 1507. bevvean Maximilian the Emperor Charles king of Spayne and king Henry the 8. by the treaties for entercourse 1515. and 1520. by the treatie of Cambray 1529. and by that famous treatie 1542. Thus the tvvo kings and kingdomes still renewed and noorished mutuallie and vvarmelie a perfect frendship and kind correspondencie till the schisme of Henry the 8. the diuorce disgrace and dishonor of Quene Katharin and the cōfederation therupon with France cooled the zealle of this seruent affection So as ther vvas at that tyme no such cavvse of hatred disfauor or vnkindnes bevvean these tvvo kingdomes nor anie national dislike or contention vvhich first brake out end appeared in England in Quene Maries tyme principallie for the quarrel of a new religion then fiuee yarres old For ther vvas no pretenc but onelie that to maik the breach which Wyat desired Yet this is not the trevv and sole motiue of the grudg ther is and impostume vvhich can not be cured till it be lanched The hatred and remembranc of 1588. Manet alta mente repostum It is trew Hinc illae lachrimae But let vs be indifferent look vpon the wrongs doone to them aswel as ther attemps for reueng And vnpartially consider who gaue the cawse and forced them to taik armes The Moonie intercepted which the king had sent to the Duke of Alua the Assistanc of the princ of Oreng by Gilbert Morgan and others ther seconds the first voiage of Syr Frances Drake the inuasion and sacking of S. Domingo the protection of Holland by the Earl of Leicester the infinite depredations and letters of mart to the wnspeakable dammage of Speyne the Philippicae and inuectiues in euerie pulpit ballets and libels in euerie press against king Philip wear such prouocations as flesh and blood nay crovvnes and scepters could hardlie disgest I speak nothing of the Portingal vorage of the surprize of Cales nor of the Iland viage and can anie vvise man imagin that the king of Spayn vvas not sensible of such indignities vvas it not probable that he vvould send a futie to Kinsale to reuenge that Yet for all this hostilitie vvhen his maiestie cam to the crovvne how frendly and quicklie ded the king of Spayne alter his course and send the high Constable of Castil as the doue owt of the Ark to see yf the flood of mallice vvear fallen and vvith an Oliue brainch in his hand to seak for peace to maik an Amnestia and perpetual obliuion of all vnkyndnes past to couer all offences to burie all quarrels and to reconcile the two crovvnes and the subiects thereofs And surelie Cursed vvil he be vvho shal seak to violate that peace and vnder the coolor of religion to banish peace and Charitie the badges of religiō a malicions Cayn he is that maiks all contentions perpetuall and searsehe can he be holden loyal that remēbreth onelie the sudes and quarrels vvith Scotland and not what and how dear wnto vs it is now and so should be euer embraced and esteamed Furthermore the Crovvn of England shal hearby be thus more beautified and magnified But staye My pen shall intrude no further into the secret Cabbienet of counsel wthowrt warrant Bycause I kow not whether it be agreable to the kings pleasure or whether it be sit to be discoursed and speciallie bycause I hold it impossible forme to satisfie so profovvnd a Iudg vvithovvthis ovvn instructions and directions For I consider vvel hovv vnsearchable the secrets of princes art vvhich lie oft in abisso and ar too deape to be sovvnded by euerie shallow discourser And I remember also both what praying and preaching vvas vsed against the match of Quene Elizabeth vvith Monsieur in the like case and for feare of alteration and afterclaps and yet some vvho ded then most impugn it vnder pretenc of religion ded in dead least of all other counsellors regard religion Syr Philip Sydnie like a noble and vvourthie courtier laboured by a short treatise to present to her Maiesties iudgment the
Streatchlie took Skarborow castle a fort then of some strenth in yorkskyre to hould against the Spanyards and in recompenc of so great a seruice they worthilie lost ther heads Henrie Duke of Suffolk to vvhome Quene Marie had once before giuen his lyfe being father to Ladie Iane a priuie counsellor to the treasons of Northumberland and her prisoner in the towre he flijng into Leicestershyre vvith the Lord Gray in his iournie he likewise mayd proclamations against the Quenes marriage vvith Spayn for that vvas then the greatest obiect of the Protestants mallice and finding his disabilitie to leuie a commanding armie he fled and lurked in corners till the Earl of Huntingron discouered his hole apprehended and brought hym vp to the towre his old lodging whear he mayd an vnfortunate end I might vrge the practises of Syr Nicholas Throgmorton a man of great witt and pollicie who was endited of high treason and arraigned at Westminster vvith Arnold Warner and Others And though the case vvas playne the Iurie acquited hym but to ther constand trowble Albeyt he had cawse to thank God that it vvas not in a tyme vvhen the Aduocates vvear so skilfull to triumph at the barr vpon calamities and vvilling rather that the prisonner should loose his head then they vvould loose ther Oration and the glorie of the daye Thus vvas Quene Marie tossed in a sea of trovvbles tantae molis erat Romanam Condere gentem But some haue obiected that no Ministers had a hand in these tumults nor vvear the trompettors of sedition at that tyme. yes surelie both ther heads and ther hands ded cooperate Doe yovv taik Goodman and Gilbie to haue bean no ministers Ievvel preached at Gloucester against the Quens proceadings D. Sands vvalked vvith the ragged staff and being vicechanlor of Cambredg assisted the proclaymers of ladie Iane. Hooper Rogers and Crowlie vvear enrolled as frends of these actions and diuers others vvho in Quene Maries tyme after vvyats fall ded forsake the realme And what think yow of the tvvo Apostles of that tyme Cranmor and Ridlie wear not they instruments of the Quenes trovvbles A great Doctor vvith great subtilitie laboureth to excuse Cranmor and Ridlie that they committed no trespass against Q. Marie nor in her tyme. Syr though the tyme doth not excuse ther offence yf it had bean fullie committed in kings Edwards dayes being actions of iniustice and against the rules of common reason and conscienc Yet y may say uon bene diuisa sunt haec temporibus D. for it is euident that Ridlies sermon was after king Edwards death and so could haue no shelter vnder his authoritie bycause all men of vnder-standing know that the raign of a Prince commenceth not at the tyme of his coronation but actuallie vpon the death of his predecessor Now it is certan that the Sondaye after king Edward dyed D. Ridlie being Bushop of London sayling vvith the vvynd in his sermon at Powles crosse like an Other infamous Shavve magnifiet and defended the title of the ladie lane to the crowne of this realme perswaded the people to accept and obeye her as Quene and so impugned the inuincible right of both king Henries Daughters against his ovvn conscienc and knovvledg and directlie against king Henties will and ther for he vvas iustlie convicted and attainted of treason As for Cranmor he was a counsellor and oracle in the busienes and therfor was arraigned and condemned with the Ladie Iane and Guildeford Dudlie as a contriuer and principall assistant of that treasonnable practise to disherit bothe the Quenes and to graft the princelie roses vpon a crabtree stock as appeareth by the records in the kings bench and I may trevvlie affirm of that Proteus that in all his actions he showed hym self ever seruilie plyable to anie humor of the kings First a principall instrument of the diuorce whearby the court gates vvear set open to welcome Ann Boodein then afterward to serue the kings appetite he and Cromwel wear the cheafactors employed for her condemnation and deathe as appeareth by the statut 28. H. 8. c. 7. whear Cranmors sentenc is recorded iudiciallie as of his own knowledg convincing her of that fowle fact So as Quene Elizabeths frends had no cawse to fauour hym either for dew respect of her or of her father or for kyndnes to her moother and all vnpartiall men vvill condemn hym of inexcusable iniquitie that being a counsellor of strate primate and Metropolitan and pretending to be a reformer of religion he would betray his maister whose creature he was vvould frustrate and voyd his will wheareof he was cheaf executor would subscribe to extinguish and root owt his issevv his tvvo daughters two Quenes to set vp Ladie Iane in there places And all this baselie and against his ovvn conscienc and all to pleas a subiect all for feare of affliction against which he was never vvell armed as appeared by his so manie chainges relapses and periuries offences which I leaue to God as faults of frayltie and batges of humain vveakenes But to come to the matter All these aforesayd being overt acts and treasons in se and simpliciter and by the common lawes of the realme and by the statut of 25. Edw. 3. I think I may vvell conclude that Caluinism and the nevv religion ar most daingerous to princes and haue bean the greatest cavvse of all the vvarrs seditions and depopulation in Europeever since Luther a man of vnhappie me morie And yet I can not but commend that religion Mâ—tonimia bycause it is semper eadem yovv may allwaies know it by the coonisance by the operation and fruits of it It is the same that induced them of Geneua to expell ther Bushop and Lord the same that mooued them of Sweueland to depriue ther lawfull king the same that procured Holland to depose ther soouerain the same that sollicited subiects to deposeth ' Emperor king of Bohemie the same that emprisoned the vertuous martyr and Quene of Scotland and cast her into that calamitie vvhich haunted her euen tho deathe the same that authorized Rochel and Montauban to stand at defianc against ther king the same that begot so manie monstruous conspiracies against Quene Marie of England as yow haue hard So as in 60. yeares mo Princes haue bean deposed by the Protestants for ther religion then had bean by the Popes excommunication or the attempt and meanes of Catholicks in 600. And yet foall this I perceaue all these action haue some Champions at least some men of note seak to excuse them as vvhen vve obiect Svvedia maister T. M. defends it and geues reason that it vvas the demand of the vvhole state for defenc of ther priuiledges and liberties and fruition of religion A writ is brought de eiectione firmae against Sigismond king of Svvecia by hys ovvn subiects the king is eiected therupon and T. M. allovves it bycause it vvas the demand of the vvhole state c. Consider better
the price of all things raised and the Yeomanrie decayed infinitelie vvhich heartofore vvas the honor and strenth of the kingdome and so consequentlie it vvas the trevv reason vvhy all things haue continued so dear in this land vvhearin maister Stubs ded err nota litl TITVLVS SECVNDVS HItherto Schisme raigned but the second plague was the ruine and wrach K. Evv. 6. of the Church for the authoritie and name of king Edward was vsed to break down and forciblie subuert the vvhole Church of England but see how craftie a statesman the Deuel is though the way to Anarchie and confusion was layd leuel by king Henrie who was onelie fitt for such a work in regard of his greatenes and crewell imperiousnes yet he lett religion stand a while longer knowing well that all could not be effected at once but as he seduceth Sowles so states by degrees and being also confident that the forts of pietie and religion being razed and the Church being brought vnder a laye supreme head he might by a second hand easilie ouerthrow religion it self King Henrie at his Deathe appointed by his will sixtean Executors who during the minoritie of his sonne should be his aydors and counsellors for the better gouerning the realme Emong whome One and who mayd hym self the Principal was the lord Edvvard Seamor Earl of Hartford who took vpon hym being the kings vncle to be protector and that was as good as a dispensation as he took it for his executor ship and lifted hym too manie degrees higher then his fellowes which king Henrie neuer intended that he might ouer-rule the rest by his title and supereminencie One of the first things of importance he contriued and compassed vvas innouation and the establishing of a new religion not so much for deuotion as bycaus he knew that nothing could quench his thirst so vvel as a chainge and bring the game he hunted after into the toyles and hearof Cranmor was a principal worker tho he was but a few moneths before of king Henries religion and a patrone of the six articles The better both to perswade the people and geue harting and strenth to ther sect Peter Martyr and Bucer vvear sent for ovvt of Germanie vpon whose fame and learning as vpon tvvo great Arches they might build and raise ther Churche tho bothe wear Apostates By Cranmor Ridlie Lattimor and these two Rabbins was the new Liturgie framed and the old banished these wear the authors of the first Alteration of religion which so manie hundred yeares had bean heare professed and continued vvith all dew reuerence So povvrefull was the Protector by vsing the king name a child then but of 9. years old but he was well seconded by the Duke of Northumberland the Admirall and the Marques of Nortampton all affected or seaming affected to the chaing of religion who over-ruled all that mayd anie show of opposition or dislike of ther proceadings Which was verrie strainge considering there wear so manie vvise and eminent men who had aequal authoritie with them both as Counsellors and executors and vvear most different in religion from them as the lord Priuie seale the lord Saint Iohn of Basing Bushop Tonstal Syr Antonie Brovvn and thewise sectetarie Syr W. Paget and speciallie that noble Chancelour the lord Writheoslie a man of experienc knowledg and prudenc and a director and pattern to his posteritie to be preferred before anie new guides but to content and please hym he vvas created Earl of Sowth-Hampton yet neither wonn so nor contented nor safe All things afterward grew to confusion ther remained no face and skarse the name of Catholick Church in England and tho ther wear great multitudes of men well affected to the ould religion and discontented that the Church was driuen into the wildernes and forced to lurk in corners yet ded they show loyaltie humilitie and peace and ded not taik armes and disobey that shadow of the king But what mooued the realme how wear men inchanted to embrace this religion and applawd the authors of it Noueltie euer pleaseth daintie stomachs and auarice is no small temptation at Syracusa Dyonisius the tyrant comming into the temple of Apollo full of sumptuous and goodlie ornaments and seing Aesculapius appareled with clothe of hould and full of Iewels hauing a long whyte siluer beard and Apollo the father carued with a floorishing yowthful gould beard and a playne cote of siluer he gaue order to shaue both Apollo and Aesculapius for it was indecorum that the sonn should haue a graye and his father a read beard and also vndecent that a Phisicion should wear so rich a cote so he ded not like that Apollo should be drawen so gawdilie and like a Barbarossa and a grauer gown he sayd would become a God better for gould and Iewels wear fitter for Princes then gods fitter for pomp then perfection The Duke of Sommerset ded rightlie imitate Dionisius for seing the Church rich remembring the exampl of his old maister and hauinng taisted at Aumesburie hovv svveat a Morsell a Priorie is he thought it not decorum to see the Cleargie so rich there wealth was not suitable to ther calling ther lands vvear giuen to noorish deuotion not to choke it to stirr men vp to prayer not to ease and luxurie and therfor he would shaue and share with them Tvvo Bushops hovvses he took in the Strand which serued hym vvel to build Sommerset hovvse for Quene Ann. He procured an act whearby all Colledges Chantries free Chappels Hospitals and fraternities wear suppressed and giuen to the king and how greadilie he intruded into the Bushop of bathe and wells his hovvses and mannors that Churche can never forget and yet Bushop Bourn by his industrie recouered some again but nothing to the Spoyles a poor releaf rather to fead then to fatt a Bushop Yet was he not satisfied for shortlie af ther contrarie to all law against king Henries vvill and against his own couenants when he was mayd protector he committed to the tovvr the Lord Chancelor he deposed Busbop Tonstal both from the Counsel and his bushoprick as too statelie a Seigniorie for a man of religion and too daintie a bitt to be swallowed by the Churche therfor he dissolued yt and brought it within the survey of the excheckor and he never prospered after It was directlie against the law 1. Edvv. 3. cap. 2. that the lands of Bushops should be seazed into the kings hands and that his father by the aduise of euel counsellors commanded them to be seazed withowt cawse but hearafter it should not be so Yet hear he set not downe his staff he committed Gardiner the Bushop of Winchester and after depriued hym He dissolued Stoke Colledg fleaced all Cathedrall Churches and committed infinite sacriledge vvherto the Nonage of the king gaue opportunitie Neither ded he hunt after his praye onelie emong the Churche liuing for yf yovv look in the Parliamant rolls of that tyme yovv shall fynd that with a
vntfitnes disproportion and inconuenience of that match bothe to her self and the realme but he ded it priuatelie and with discreat circum spection Stubs like a professor of an vnseasoned zeal took the question in hand and as a punishment of his presumption for feited his hand for that being rather published to incense and corrupt the people then to aduise and inform the Quene And tho some of the greatest and vvisest consellors ded earnestlie sollicit and seake to further the match bycause it vvas like both to vnithe the kingdome of france to England and was sure that the possession of the Netherlands wold also be offred vnto theÌ„ by the prince of Oreng and the states whearby England was like to be a most potent Monarchie yet was the whole bodie of the kingdom cast into much distemper onelie which bare conceapts and iealosies Some vpon partialitie and faction some for distrust of the practises of France some for ther own or ther frends sinister ends and ambition as Iam perswaded euen in this case ther ar men posseded with the same diseases and humors And yf I ded not wel know the nature of the multitude a beast of manie heads and mad braynes I should wonder how they durst oppose the desseins of a king of that experienc and iudgment who haith managed this busienes with so great warienes caution and prudence that this great Coniunction can portend no other effect then honor confort and prosperitie He is the sittest to iudg of his own cawse and his own cavvse being the Commonwelths cawse yf anie priuate Man should arrogate to hym self either more vvisedome to controll his proceding or an opinion of more affection to the state or more prouidenc to foresee and preuent daingers therby I see not which waye he can avoyde not to fall into the custodia of the court of wards till he come to hym self again But to leaue this matter as a deliberatiue which requireth a Crassus or Antonius I will come to that which gaue the occasion of this treatise Ther met at a merchants howse in London The occasion of this â—â—ea I se wheare merchants for ther table and hospitalitie beare worthilie the bell aboue all merchants in Europe diuers persons of excellent qualitie met there in a garden before dinner T. Aldreds letter the pamphlet aforesayd and some strainge rumors and seditious practises from Amsterdam being perused examined and discussed A fyne Chaplain to a great person and one of the merchants acquanitance cam into the companie and hearing but a litl of this discourse which at that tyme vvas the subiect of all tabletalk with much The ministers or ation vehemencie he ded affirm this match to be like to bread great incombrance and mischeafe to the kindome bothe ni regard of the encrease 1. Of Catholiques in the Realme and in respect of Spayne which he ignorantlie called an ancient enemie 2. Whearupon he took occasion to rage and raile bitterlie against the church of Roome as the Seminarie of all commotions in Europe and the Contriuer and plotter of all treason in England 3. And bycause he vvould shovv his Rhetorick in the ruff and omit nothing which might exasperate the companie against the Catholicks he alledged in thunder and vehemencie the death of king Edvvard and that sillielie the manie conspiracies against Quene Elizabeth and speciallie that horrible proiect of the Gunpovvder treason by a fevv priuate hotespurres vvhich in iustice is rather to be buried vvith the offendors then obiected and imputed to innocent men vvho generallie vvith great sorrow abhorr the memorie of it 4. Besides he vrged that princes be bothe disquieted and endaingered by the excommunicats ans and bulls of popes by the Catechismes and doctrine of the Iesuits And that the subiects of England ar withdrawen by them from ther obedienc to ther prince and ar so full of treacheries and disloyalte as no nation can be paralleled with them 5. Yow may think also that he forget not to arm hym self vvith the authoritie of D. Murtons censure for vvhich I think he ded not studie much VVe may novv asvvel expect a vvhyte Aethiopian as a loyal subiect of that religion He produced a book entituled A discouerie of Romish doctrine in the case of conspiracie and Treason Whearin the Author playeth his maister prize against the professors of the Catholick religion vvith an Hyperbole of criminal accusations and scandalous imputations able to driue men into dispayre of the kings grace vnto them and to bread in his maiesties Royal hart a diffidenc of them 6. He vrged parson vvhytes vndiscreat vntruth and vncharitabl sentenc that all ther religion is full of doctrine whence procead monsters of Conspiracies against the state and that they teach men to murther the king and blovv vp the parliement And that since Bells tyme ther was never such a raue nous Idol as the preasts and seminaries 7. He ded not omit the like allegation owt of Ormerode the picturemaker who vpon erroneous misconceauing condemned that singuler and renoumed Doctor Allen for affirming that princes might be slayne by ther subiects by the 25. Numeri 8. And so he concluded all with that Rhetoritall sentenc of monsieur Lewes baylie in his book of the practise of Pietie pag. 783. vvhich he produced with such ostentation as if it wear able to cast all the learned societie of the fathers into a fitt of a quartane Iesuits and preasts saith he ar sent to vvithdravv subiects from ther allegiance to mooue inuasion and to kill kingâ— yf they be Saints vvho be Scithians VVho ar Canibals yf they be Catholicks Which conclusion for the art and the witt worthilie deserueth both a praemium and a Plaudue sâ—c pueri crepundia gestant After this delicate oration they went to dinner and presentlie after dinner the minister departed in great haist Therupon all the companie vehementlie desyred one gentlman of ther companie who ded well vnderstand the world and was a freeman not obliged to anie religious orders but as films Ecclesiae to deliuer his opinion of the ministers Inuectiue Which he was at last contented at ther importunitie and for the satisfaction of ther Conscienc to vndertaike and which with his license and information I taik vpon me as his Amanuâ—nâ—â—s and secretarie to set downe and deliuer the same to yow After a long pavvse quoth he lodius The trevv state of the Quâ—stion accusat Machos Catalma Cethegum Is not this ridiculus who can endure to heare a Grace hus complain against sedicion I perceaue by the premisses that the protestants set this down as a Decree against Catholiks and labor to imprint that in the harts of the people as a perpetual scandal and stayne That the Catholik religion and doctrine is daingerous and preiudicial to the safetie of kingdomes and an enemie to Sooueraintie and so they censure it as neither allovvable not tollerable in a vvel gouerned monarchie Now this being a matter of
aspyred to the Crowne yf the king and his issew fayle is to be pittied rather then answered a fable taken owt of the legend of Lorrain and the other libells of that tyme. Weigh and examin it and see the leuitie of follie The king was young his brothers yonger ther moother liuing the king of Nauar ther trustie and noble freÌ„d and a brasen gate betweaÌ„ Guise and the crowne and the nobilitie of France as he saithe mayd an association against the howse of Guise Then was it not likelie Now it being apparentlie fals that the kings was in the hands and power of the Guises I com to the proposition that the king had neither age to discern it nor fredome to denie it nor lawes to decree it it resteth to examin that proposition that the kings consent authorising that armie at Dreux was nothing worth bycause he was not of age nor at libertie What yf the king had not age to discern it was it therfor withowt warrant or law A king haith two bodies his bodie Politick as it never dyeth so is it never defectiue of authoritie and direction The acts of the bodie politick be not abated by the naturall bodies accesse the bodie politick is not disabled to rule and govern by the nonage of the naturall see 26. lib. assis placit 24. whear by iustice Thorps iudgment the gift of a king is not defeated by his nonage nor shall not embleamish the bodie In the book of ass see the case tit droyt plac 24. anno 6. E. 3. f. 91. for a writt of right brought by E. III. of a mannor as heyre to R. I. The exception of nonage against the king was not admitted For yf the bodie natural die yet the bodie politick which magnisieth the natural bodie is not sayd to die So 4. Eliz. for leases of the Duchy mayd by E. 6. all the Iudges resolued they vvear good tho the king vvas in his minoritie For the bodie politick extolleth the naturall and altereth the qualitie of it And so though the kings bodie natural in his minoritie can not discern and iudg yet that disableth not a king that the acts of his minoritie ordered by his counsell and by the Regent should be of no validitie Nay your own Hottoman in his Francogallia will teach yow an other lesson tho he was Bezaes trustie Achates Resolume would anie counsellor like it well yf a Catholick in England should affirme as he might more trewlie that the chainge and alteration of religion by king Edward VI. was not warrantable hauing not age to discern it nor freedome to denie it being in the haÌ„ds of the protector and Northumberland nor lavves to decree it till by his vncls authoritie and greatnes new lawes wear enacted for it Yf yow approoue not this why doe yow disprooue the same in k. Charles IX of France was the age of the one a barr in law and not the others or was the one an absolute king and not the other or vvas k. Edvvards coÌ„sent sufficient to authorise his vncls doeings in spiritual matters and was k. Charles his consent nothing worth to authorise the Constable and his armie to pursew his rebells Now concerning the last poynt touching Beza his opinion I must turn that Canon against hym self for yf Beza sayd trewlie iniuriam pati nostrum est nobis vim viarcere non licet yf it be certan nullum remedium proponitur priuatis hominibus tyranno subiectes praeter vitae â—mendationem c. then surelie maister Bilson is betrayed by hym he seaks to defend and Beza betrayed the Admiral and Prince of Condie to draw them into the playnes of Dreux against the king to fight for ther religion when vim viarcere non licet I will not stand to refell that opinion and error of D. Bilson that the Prince of Condie ded not ovve simple subiection to the king of France but respectiue homage and so was not mearly a subiect bycause it shovveth a palpabl ignoranc of the lavves and customes of France and besides that could not excuse the Admiral vvho at all could not plead anie such protection or alledg anie such prerogatiue For yf H. 2. might committ hym to prison lavvfully Charles the 9. as lawfully might cut of his head But forasmuch as Bezaes sentenc is coninglie vsed and cast as a mist to blyâ—d the eyes of the reader I will disperse the mist and let yow see what kind a man he vvas in his proper humor and in puris naturalibus Read his positions and Catechism of sedition the practise of his pietie the book called Vindicie contra tyrannos whear he acts the part of Iunius Brutus a noble Roman but the suppressor and enemie of kings First pag. 15. he propownds this question yf subiects be bownd to obey ther kings when they command against Gods lavve and then pag. 22. he resolueth vve must obey kings for Gods cawse when they obey God And pag. 24. as the wassel looseth his fief his lordship yf he committ fellonie so the king looseth his right and his realm also And aboue all other this is notable pag. 65. a conspiracie is good or ill as the end is at which it aymeth which is a most wicked Maxime fitt to mantain Rauillac or Poltrot or to be a buckler for the conspirators of Amboys Yet this pag. 66. goeth a degree further The Magistrates and one part of the realm maye resist the king being an Idolater as Lobna reuolted from Ioram for forsaking God Doth not this stronglie patronise the battel of Dreux doth it not teach subiects to rebell and to plead sic dicit Dominus for ther defence but note well how fynelie he fortifieth this axiome pag. 132. The government of the kingdome is not giuen to the king alone but also to the officers of the Realme And again pag. 103. France Spayn and England ar customarily consecrated and as it wear put in possession of ther charge by the states peares and Lords which present the people And p. 199. ther is a stipulation in kingdomes haereditarie As in France vvhen the king is Crovvned The Bushops of Beauuois and Laon ask the people yf they desyre and command this man shall be king And vvhat then surely it is no argument that the people choose hym It is an acceptation no election and a declaration onely of ther submission obedienc and fidelitie as yow may euidentlie perceaue by Frances Rosselet anno 1610. the ceremonies at the coronation When was ther euer an assemblie of the states to elect or consecrate a king of France the kings never count the tyme of ther raign from the day of ther consecration but of ther entrance and Charles the. 7. Gaguin and Giles can witnes was nether crowned nor sacred in eight yeares after he begonn his raigne And for the Peares what think yow that they ar as Ephori No they ar pares inter se not coÌ„panions to the king They ar not states as in Holland to rule and
direct all affayres for in France and England all authoritie depeÌ„ds vpon the kings and yf they wear his consorts they wear not his inferiors What is the state but the authoritie of the Prince who onelie by his letters patents createth the pears disposeth all Offices giveth all honors receaueth all homages as the sole fountain from whenc springeth nobilitie and authoritie and he that either would restraine that sooveraintie or communicate it with others maketh no differenc of the Crovvn of a kinst and the la Beretta of the Duke of Venice Manie such like rules and positions haith he published fitt introduction for Anarchie and mutinies most of them false and all wicked vayles onelie to cover the face and name of treason that it might not appear in his proper and vglie shape I might heare trauel and wearye yow with as Good stuff owt of the book de iure Magistratus a bird of the same nest for if it wear not Bezas as manie think It vvas Ottomans his Camerado But I will leaue them bothe for they touch the string of sooveraintie with too rough a hand nay rather they straine to breack it when they teach so grosse treasons that the states ar aboue the king that the bodie is aboue the head a monstrous doctrine as yf anie man could with iudgment maik a quaestion whether the people should be directed and commanded by the maister or the man by the subiect or the soouerain by the Princ of Condie and the Admiral or by king Charles and king Philip had reason to cut of the head of the iustice of AragoÌ„ and to teach the people what was the trew meaning of nos qui podemos tanto come vos c. All which paradoxes it wear easie to refell but that I haue vndertaken onelie to discouer not to combate and encounter them and bycause they ar learnedlie and religiouslie confuted all readie by Barklaâ—e Bauricau and Blackwood Onelie by the waye I must informe yow that they deal politicklie and conninglie and professe not openlie and bluntlie to haue anie liking to chainge the state and depose or ouerrule kings But artificiallie they manage all First to bread a dislike of Monarchs then to show the inconvenienc to depend vpon the edicts of one man then may they much the better magnifie the authoritie of magistrates by whome they might reforme idolatrie and why the Creatures of a king suppresse the creator of ther power And yet be sure the Consistories and elders muh rule all and be iudges bothe of the cleargie lavves counsell and king They be the Rabbins that owt of ther Sanhedrim must govern both church and kingdome by the Oracles of Geneua I may not forget how vureuerentlie Eusebius Philadelphus Sc. Mr. T. Beza vsed king Charles in his book of Reueille matmattin whear vsuallie he calls the king Tyrant and maiks his Anagramme Chasscur desâ—oyal Read his rymes and scandalous reproches against the Q. moother-Peruse the 40. Articles recorded in that book for the better aduancing of seditious gouernment As art 25. that all cheafs and Generalls must obserue ther ecclesiastical discipline ordayned by the Synodes And art 40. they ar bownd neuer to disarme so long as religion is pursewed persecuted by the king he meaneth So much patienc haue these Saints that seaking to reforme all others can not reforme ther own affections But yf yow peruse the 14. and 15. art yow shall discern the brauerie of ther irregular passions intending therby onelie to ouerthrow the king and the familie of Valoys These wear the holie articles of Bearn 1574. coyned with his stampe and communicated at Millun to all ther Moschees that they might he more stroÌ„glie maik warr as they Sayd against ther enemies till it pleased God to turn the hart of the French tyrant Thus ad gustum populi principatus exigitur At the same tyme was framed and dispersed abroad the lyfe of Katharine de Medicis Francogallia the Toxsan of Massacreurs and the Legent of Lorraine For that honor the howse of Guise haith long had that no man professed hym self an enemie to the church but he was likewise at deadly seud with them Heare I might taik vp and stay yow no longer with the description of ther vertues and loyaltie but that I desyre to present vnto yovv vvhat opinion the graue and learned men of the church of England and others also of gread iudgment haue dad had of these Euangelists of Geneua 1. Doctor Sutclif in his ansvver to a libel supplicatorie p. 194. confesseth that the protestants of the french church taught for 30. yeares violent reformation of religion by the nobilitie people and priuate persoÌ„s 2. And in an other place Beza saith he in his book de iure Magistratus dothe arme the subiects against the Prince and he saith that book overthroweth in effect all the authoritie of Christian kings and Magistrates and for the book of Vindinciae contra tyrannos vvhich manie affirm to be Bezas or Ottomans It geues povver saith he to subiects not onelie to resist but to kill the Prince yf he impugn gods religion 3. The same is also averred by the late Archbush D. Bancroft in his book of the Suruay of discipline a man vvho exactlie had learned examined and obserued ther courses and positions and the great dainger grovving to the state by the ministers either Scotising or Geneuating for so he tearms them And the book of daingerous positions pag. 192. dothe demonstrate also the same To these I may add the iudgment of that famous Lawyer Frances Baldwin vvho had familiarlie conuersed vvith Caluin at Geneua in his book called Responsio altera ad Iohannem Calumum Paris 1562. pag. 74. Mirabar quorsum euaderet inflammatus tuus quidam apostolus Sc. m. Theodore qui cum hic concionaretur suis auditoribus commendabat vehementer extraordinarium illud exemplum Leuitarum sirictis gladijs per casira discurrentium obuios quosque idololatras trucidantium Sed nunc audio te vix contentum esse â—alibus Leuâ—is And pag. 128. I euiora saith he sunt illa cum statuis sepulchris ossibus principum ac martyrum barbarum bellum indictum videmus cum ciuitates occupari fana spoliari audimus c. But what nead I labour to prooue that Beza and his followers haue caused all these vproars and commotions in France when he hym serf Epistola 40. Christophero Thretio confesseth that they must fight it owt Ego quidem pacem nullam nisi debellatis hostibus ausim sperare Yf yow ask who wear these enemies he answers Cacolycorum castra traÌ„s Ligerim sunt Therby he means the Catholiks and the kings armie And a litl before ab eo tempore nostri copiss foelicisâ—ime instauratis Toloâ—anum agrum infestarum Inde ad Rhodanum vsque progresâ—i occupatis aliquot passim oppidis arcibus in quibus praesidium reliquerunt So they spoyled the contrie disturbed the peace surprised the kings townes fortified and oppugned
at first they mayd that a cavvse of ther rebellion that the king vvould force ther consciences and yet they will not novv permitt the same freedome to those that liue vnder their command But novv to come to the Mayne poynt they Challeng by the vnion to be absolute Lords of these prouinces and haue renounced all title and obedienc to the king of Sayn as Earl of Holland and Zelland I ask quo titulo ingressi sunt they alledg in ther letters to the Emperor 1608. this grovvnd vvork Post tractatum pacis Coloniae qua Hispani potius ad opprimendam quam subleuandam Belgium vsi sunt Hispani Mercurius Gallob libro 32. tanta tyrannide in prouincias vrbes ac ciues omnes Belgij proculâ—atis omnibus priuilegijs grassabantur vt ad conseruandam quod ei imminebat ab extremo exitio patriam pleraeque Belgicae prouinciae quae in vnione perstiterant regem eiurarunt certam quandam ac liberam reipublicae formam constituerunt It a pro liberis à multis regibus accepti per 32. annos Hear is the fowndation of ther free state and the reason is tyrannie and the tyme is sayd to be after the treatie of Coolen tho in dead this vnion was mayd before Besides in the same place they vse an other argument that the king of Spayn and the Archduke acknowledg them as free prouinces in quas ipsi nihil iuris praetendant cum omnibus generalibus particularibus renunciationibus At the making of that vnion they alledged that the king had forfeited his estate by oppressing them vvith tyrannie by infringing ther liberties and his ovvn oath and for suppressing religion And at Coolen the states deputies added that they took armes not onelie for religion but to 1. auoyd exactions intollerable 2. and to cast of the yoke of too seuere gouernors So then 1. religion 2. tyrannie 3. exaction 4. abrogation of ther priuiledges and the kings own renunciation of his title arr the pillers of this vnion It remaineth therfor after hauing mayd a breach with this long battrie to geue the assault vpon ther title and discouer how seditious the positions and principles of that religion ar which imprinted in them such disloyaltie to vsurp that title If it could be prooued by them which is necessarie first to be that the king ded oppress the contrie by tyrannie and abrorating ther priuiledges then is it yet a question of importance whether therby he haith lost his authoritie ouer his subiects and yf he had lost it by what law haue they fownd it by what ciuil order or president ded they abiure ther obedience Surelie it vvas certam quandam ac liberam reipublicae formam constituere That vvas ther end and ther presumption but it vvas neither order nor cawse Neither is the kings tyrannie a sufficient vvarrant for ther tyrannie and vsurpation for a soouerain can not loose his soouerainetie it doth all waies carrie vvith it a nonobstante to difpenc with errors and irregularities And for ther priuiledges vvhich the king never intended to maik voyd and so they build vpon a false grovvnd vvhich vvill fayle them yf it had bean so great an offenc for the king to abrogate theirs is it not a greater offenc for subiects to vsurp his and so to maik them self parties and iudges and by ther own authoritie to punish ther prince Which is an insolencie and indignitie incredible to all posteritie and such as neither the Svvizzes nor the Amphictiones the confederate cantons of Grecia ded ever match nor come neare for so they maik regna occupantium ius qui potest capere capiat A pretenc opposite to all lavves a portall to let in confusion but yf the king ded loose and forfeit all his authoritie and iurisdiction yet I see not vvhy or hovv they could also challeng his lands and priuate inheritance for that must neads discend by law Besides yf the king could for feit his sooueraintie how can he forfeit it to his subiects but say they wear now no subiects we haue waued and renounced the same and is that inough It is trew a subiect may maik hym self ciuis alienae reipulicae but yf he stay in his own contrie he can not of a subiect maik hym self no subiect for tho he doe rebell as the Hollanders ded yet he is a subiect but it is admirable how of a subiect he should become a sooueraine that is scientia scientiarum a supernatural skill aboue my capacitie Yet yf the kings should for feit his earldome of Holland it is not to them but to the cheaf Lord of the fee that is to the Emperor for it can escheat to no other either by the Imperial or municipal lawes Yf yow ask me the reason I saye it is manifest that Holland vvas erected into an Earldome by the Emperour Carlous Caluus qui cum audiuit Hollandiam terram Imperatoriam a Danis spoliari rogatu Iohannis Papae principatum eius contulit Theodorico Berland Meyer Anno 863. So yf it be not in the king of Spayn to whome it is lineallie discended from Theodoric then may the Emperor geue a nevv inuestitur thereof as a fief Imperial to whome he pleaseth as he ded to Theodoric for it is a phantastical imagination that it is fallen by lapse to them of Holland the Emperor taketh no notice of ther Stateships being a priuate order for ther better government But yf it be fallen in laps it is rather fallen to Oreng and the nobilitie who can Better govern then to tradesmen and mariners And yet vndowbtedlie to none of them except they plead that as conquerors they wonn yt by the sword and so they will hold it which is a Tenure neither knowen to Litlton nor summe Rurall not Ius feudale a tenure fitter for forosciuti or the Hoords of Tartarians then a commonwelth of ChristiaÌ„s A certan Hollander in his third defenc of the vnited prouinces calleth the king of Spayn Raptorem haereticum notorium rudelie and vnciuillie and therupon inferreth An non potius regem Hispaniae quia haereticus notorius est ex suo regno omnibus omnium Euangelicorum viribus expellere oporteret either this man was much distempered or his religion infected hym and mayd hym a Catelin and so seditions These Ar fearefull paradoxes and such as all princes haue interest in and had nead to haue ther swords drawen to confute yf for pretenc of religion for errors in gouernment for restraining ther priuiledges for punishing sedition and ryots subiects may thus sit in iudgment vpon ther princes and taike armes and expell them owt of ther territories Thus ded ket and Iack Straw in England rise for bonum publicum the Bowres in Germanie and Ziska in Bohemia mayd ther insurrections for religion and so euerie Gracchus may taik vpon hym the reformation of the church and the state Now yf they obiect ther case is ill fitted with a comparison bycause
the 8. nor in Cromwel or the protectors eares and surelie yf a man should ask whether Murrie and Murton in Scotland vvhether Oreng and Horn in the Netherlands vvhether the Admirall and the Princ of Conde in France whether the Protector and the Duke of Northumberland in England had anie politique respects anie odd ends of ambition and auarice other then religion yow will fynd them guiltie and subiect to this censure An other cawse he assigneth for deposition of Princes quando grauant conscientias subditorum And after ward in an other place to show his constancie in that opinion and to expownd his own meaning saith he subditi aduersus superiorem magistratum se veram religionem possunt etiam armis iure defendere si aliter in conscientijs incolumes esse nequeunt with which I think ther is no Counsellor or vvise man but vvould be iustlie angrie yf it should be thus translated the Catholik subiects in England Scotland Denmark or the Palatinate may with armes by law defend them selfs against ther superiors for defenc of ther religion yf they can not other wise quietlie enioy the freedome of ther conscienc For it is not enough and a sufficient replie to say ther religion is irreligious bycause that is the question And in his commentaries in Iudices Magistratus minor potest occidere maiorem and expresseth his meaning in that Case quod tyranni domestici magis sunt reprimends As yf a man should saye baylifs sherifs and Constables for religion may kill kings and counsellors bycause tyrants vvith in our doores ar most to be feared and cut of vpon the former conditions before alledged But was Parreus the onelie protector of these paradoxes and the onelie Doctor that poysoned the Palatinate vvith this infectious doctrine no in dead Gracerus his pewfellow taught that coercenda gladio est Antichristi malitia and in cap. 13. of the Apocal. Benedictus Aretius laboureth to stirr vp the people to hate the name and authoritie both of the empyre and Emperor with this lecture Draconem ait dedisse imperio potestatem suam the deuel errected and authorised the Empyre why In Imperio habitare plenitudinem diabolismi for in the Empyre dwelleth the fullnes of the Deuels Impietie But these opinions I nead not to condemn and aggrauate the dainger thereof yf it be trevv that I haue hard that in Powles Churchyard the fyre confuted them and that worthilie And yet be not so gross as to imagin that onely Parreus Gracer and Aretius taught this doctrine for it is the practise of ther churche Doe not look so stearnlie vpon me for saying so bycause I will iustifie it with euident proof Ther own neighbors and ther elder brothers they haue vsed with this vnciuil and turbulent inhumanitie ask Giesekenius a man of learning and accoumpt emong the Lutherans how they behaued them selfs at Emden a Lutheran state he showeth first ther act 1. Emdenses illustrem Dominum suum mota seditione fere tota ditione pepulissent The subiects of Emden had almost driuen ther Lord owt of his dominions 2. Then ther force and violeÌ„c Pactietiam sunt ne illustrissimus Comes habeat potestateÌ„ vllius religionis nisi Caluinisticae exercitium subditis suis concedere Emdae They articled with hym that his excellecie should not haue powre to grant to his subiects at Emden the exercise of anie religion but Caluinisme 3. Lastlie ther grace They hate and persequute the Lutherans and kyndnes to ther soouerain Et tamen liceat ei in aula habere concionatorem qui sit Augustanae cenfessionis They will notwith-standing tolerate that he shall be suffred to haue a preacherin his court of the confession of Auspurgh A great fauor subiects will tolerate ther Princes religion and frame it for them selfs after ther own cutt they will direct ther gouernor and he must obey Some curious man will suppose this was a tumult and that the church of the Palatinate ded not warrant anie such proceading against Lutherans ther brethren then mark and consider this Anno 1602. ther wear 20. poynts established in the church of the Palatinate And the first articl was totus Lutheranismus omnes libri eorume â—edio tollentur They decreed that all Lutheranism and ther books and writings should be prohibited and abolished and in the same Synod diuers opinions of the Lutherans ar recited and condemned as yow may see by Schulting in Hierarchica Anacrisi libro 15. pag. 98. whearof certanlie ther is great reason for ther is an impossibilitie that Lutherans and the ministers of the Palatinate should quietlie liue tother in one Ecclesiasticall government they ar incompatible in respect of ther discipline ther consistories ther elders to say nothing of ther doctrine For these ar the barr that hold owt all ciuil societie and concurrenc betvvean them these ar the cawse why they eiected the Lutherans ovvt of the Palatinate ovvt of Brandenburgh and owt of Emden these ar the cawse why the Lutherans wiselie prouide that they shall haue no footing in Saxonie Hamburgh and the Hans townes And these vvear the cavvs why that great Synode of Torgaw convented by the meanes and procurement of the protestant Princes ded testifie that Caluiniani Christianas Ecclefias omnes academias regna turbauerunt ac vastauerunt And yet neither ar Caluinists comprehended vnder the peace and protection of the Empyre and the religions vried is no vvaye permitted to them As appeareth by the edict of Charles the 5. de compositione pacis cum protestantibus anno 1532. not in his sentenc de confessione Sueuica 1530. nor in the interim 1548. nor in the constitution de pace publica And touching the acts mayd by the Emperor Ferdinand at Passau 1552. the verrie words exclude them from all benefit of the pacification as a thing not intended vnto them viz. Intereatemporis nec nos Electores Principes c. quempiam ex Augustanae confessionis statibus propter religionem vicogere bello c. volumus sedsuae religioni fideique quietè stare cadereque sinentes And he declareth and explaneth hym self 1555. at Auspurgh Propter Augustanae religionem confessionis nullam violentiam Ecclesiastici inferant sed liberum eius exercitium permittant vsque ad controuersae religionis compositionem I may hear fitlie alledg the conclusion and agreement of the states of the confession of Auspurg the thre Electors and the rest of the Princes and Citties Postquam Deo it a permittente praeter nostram Christianam religionem confessionem haereses sacramentariorum Anabaptistarum Osiandrinorum c. irrepserunt quae omnes à pace religionis exclusae sunt volumus vt contra illas in communi mandata edantur vt eiusinodi haereses eradicentur and this was enacted 1557. so it is most playne that Caluinism is ther iudged an heresie by the protestant Princes them selfs and banished the Empyre and anno 1566. Caesar and the Princes in the Dyet decreto publico scripserunt ad Fredericum Palatinum vt
the government to serue ther turn And surelie ther cases ar matches yf the one might by law the other maye and yf yow condemn the one yow must vnpartiallie condemn the other But nothing maiks this action more offensiue 5. Reason more scandalous and more infamous then that Anhalt and Onoltzback in scâ—s electoribus ded confederate them selfs vvith straingers and dispose of the succession of the Empyre vvithovvt the warrant of the Empyre and this fawlt is dovvbled by combining vvith Bethlem Gabor Christians vvith the Turks vassal a reprobate a monster This is that B. Gabor vvho to hold hym self in the Turks grace deliuered vnto hym the town and fort of Lipp and the townes of Solimos Tornadg Margat and Arad vvel fortified in Hungaria This is he vvho treated vvith the Hungars 1607. to deliuer vp Vaccia a town Episcopall into the Turks hands to the great preiudice of religion and oppression of Christians This is he that svvore alleagianc to Gabriel Batthori his soouerain Lord and Princ of Transilâ—ania and afterward trayterouslie murdered hym and vsurped his state This is he who mayd a league vvith the Emperor Matthias 1615. not to attempt anie thing against the liberties and peace of Hongrie and afterward practised with the rebells of that state invaded the kingdome took vpon hym the crown 1620. led Andrew Dockzy the kings Liuetennant catched in his nett by frawd prisonner into Transiluania and banished all the state Ecclesiasticall that he might fead his soldiers vvith the spoyles of the church And this is he who hauing entered Poson prophaned the Cathedral church of S. Martin placed there his nevv Chaplains and aftervvard vvith his own hand certified the Turk that at last he had vndertaken that worthie exployt to the vvhich the Turk had oft incooraged hym and that most of the nobles of Hongarie wear his and had submitted them selfs to hym and that now he was determined for the cleargie seing they gloried to shaue ther crownes he would glorie to cutt of ther heads whearupon in Iun afther the Turk mayd peace vvith Tartaria and promised to assist Gabor at his nead vvith 40. thovvsand Tartars What tare vertues can be expected from such a man whose anatomie yf it vvear to be mayd vvould shovv such a leaprousie such a corruption of blood and so loath some a bodie as Europe haith not oft knowen I nead no other reason against this league but to subscribe his name as a principall in the coÌ„tract whome the world must neads iudg vnlike to be a fitt instrument to aduanc the Crosse of Christ and to reforme religion Yet this vvas the man vpon vvhose head the vnion ded agree to set the crovvn of Hongarie and to carrie the practise vvith more secrecie they intertaind his nearest kinsman at Heydelbergh vnder the govvn of a scholler to hyde all ther intelligences and conduct ther busienes Novv doe I vvish that a partiall reader 6. Reason would look vpon Germanie and see the picture of Troye on fyre see the image and horror of vvarr and hovv vvell it vvould please them to see the face of London and Midlsex so disfigured with wounds and desolation And that puritan vvho novv is most forvvard to blovv the coals of discord and sedition and inflame a state vvith furie and quicksiluer may quake and trembl vvhen he shall consider in vvhat devastation all that contrie of the Empyrelyeth mourning and groning The Prouinces abovvt the Rhine ar waisted disturbed and empouerished by the soldiers on both sydes specially vvorms tillageâ—s suspended traffick is decayed trades ar ceased taxes ar imposed new fortifications charge the contrie men ar not maisters of ther own goods and aboue 100. thowsand men ar accoÌ„ppted to be slayne thes ar the fruits of ciuil warres which ar bitter and lovre to them that taist them as I pray gâ—d England may neuer And there ar the fruit of Caluinisme which though it was directlie prohibited by the lavv and tolerated onelie by the mercie of the state seaketh novv to suppresse both the Emperor and the states withowt anie toleration of there religions an vncharitable requital ans vvithovvt the feal of anie religion for your iustifiâ—ng sole faith can never iustlie vvithovvt yt bring charitie in her bosome and the trew marks of Charitie being patienc humilitie and zeal conioyned stronglie in a link your litl patienc and humilitie convinc your zeal to be counterfeit and your faith to be fruitles for charitie would not direct yow to inuade the Duke of Bauier his territories yf he refused to stand Neuther charitie ded not counsel Anhalt in his letters to Donau 1619. to haue an auaricious eye to surprise a cittie which would be vvorth vnto them 32. millions Charitie doth not vse to direct Christians to sollicit the Turks assistance as pag. 80. Cancellariae nor to set down such plots as they intended p. 42. and 32. and 66. Now touching the lawes of the Empyre 7 Reasons I referr yow to that I haue deliuered before against the commotions of the Lutherans which ther is iustlie condemned Onely I will add this touching Bohemia Carolus 4. in act de confirmatione regis Bohemoâ—um setteth dovvn this clause as an essential part of that kings authoritie and approbation Volentes vt quicunquè in regem Bohemorum electus fuerit ad nos successores nostros Romanorum reges Imperatores accedat sua à nobis debito modo solito regalia accepturus non obstantibus iuribus legibus municipalibus quibuscunque c. And in the Aurea bulla cap. 4. Curia Nurenberg act 7. Iubemus volumus vt omnes Principes Electores c. art 8. Si quis autem Princeps Elector aliusue feudum à sacro tenens impeno supra infra scriptas Imperiales constitutiones adimplerenoluerit aut eis contrare presumpserit ex tunc caeteri Coelectores à suo ipsum deinceps excludaÌ„t consortio ipseque voce Electoris dignitate careat iure Wherby it is mayd manifest what the law requireth to be doone and what order and manner it prescribeth for the doeing thereof and what paenaltie and forfeitur is sett doone against offendors and transgressors of that lawe And good reason for take away or neglect Iustice pretend what yow will your great glorious attempts your inuasions your intrusions be but magna latrocinia and violent oppressions as appeared vvell by the supplication of Leopold king of the Romans to his father Otho I. who bycause he had broken the peace of the Empyre and called forreiners and yet not Turks to his assistanc saith he membrum Imperij appellari non debeo quigentes extâ—rnas barbaras in mediam Germaniam immisi sorrowing for his fault and acknowledging his error But these Minyeons of Geneua bring 8. Reason Religion to plead for the defenc of ther vnion and that they endeauored onelie to punish Ochosias for consulting vvith the Idol of Accharon and to root ovvt superstition
Hear in dead is the voyce of Iacob but the roughnes of Esau vvords of pietie but action of Babel can yovv shovv as good a vvarrant as Elias ded ded God call yovv ded God authoritie yovv to depriue your Princes per me Reges regnant vvas Gods proposition and S. Peter 1. Epist c. 2. v. 13. be subiect to euerie humane creature for God vvhether to a king as excelling or to rulers His counsell and yours varie much for he willed them to fear God and honor the king but yow direct your auditors to degrade and depose the king S. Paul Rom. 13. v. 1. Let euerie sowl be subiect to higher powers for ther is no power but of God and he who resisteth that povver resisteth Gods ordinanc and purchaseth damnation and v. 5 not of necessitie but for conscienc sake But this matter neads no disputation grace and pietie can best decyde it TITVLVS SEXTVS AT last by a long trauel we ar retourned Touching Q. Marie and the practises against her home to England vvheare no such paradoxes ar novv holden by the Cleargie and prelates and it is no maruel for now they haue the wynd with them and liue in a calme so as ther patienc and obedienc of late dayes neuer cam to probation and no tryal could be mayd of ther spirits having no crosses nor other combate then with sinn and Martin Marprelate and in so great peace and prosperitie he wear not compos mentis that vvould not preache against disloyaltie and tumults But yf yow look back to the tymes past and call to mynd what spirit raigned in them during anie storme or tempests yow will fynd them much differing from them selfs and that they wear not allwaies so peacable and regular as now they ar since they appeared first in the world as Antagonists to the church of Roome and with that singularitie and title of Reformers For yf maister Fox ded trewlie register his martyrs and yf the Wiclefists and Waldenses wear rightlie inserted in Catalogo testium veritatis then may yow fynd cawse enough to dovvbt of ther humors and quiet disposition and yf yow ask my reason Bycaus they ded hold as the knoxians yet doe in Scotland That the people might correct Princes yf they offend contrarie to all the Theoremes of Catholicks schooles And therfor Philip Melancton in his comment vpon Aristotels politicks saith Miras tragedias excitauit Wiclefus qui contendit eos qui non habent Spiritum sanctum amittere dominium And in his book de iure magistratus Insanijt VViclefus qui sensit impios nullum dominium habere As yf Princes should forfeit ther crownes yf they lost grace and Gods fauor And Osiander witnesseth the same Centuria 9. And yet maister Fox calleth hym stellam matutinam in me lio nebulae lunam plenam in die us illis A morning starr in the midst of a fogg and yet the full moone of that tyme. How plausible he was in those dayes no man will maik a Quere that can Remember how Syr Iohn Oldcastel Lord Cobham and Syr Roger Acton wiclefs disciples leuied 25. thowsand men intending to destroye the monasteries of westminster Powles and sainct Albons and all the howses of friars in London whearof that actiue king Henrie the fifth being aduertised in good tyme by the confession of some of ther partakers with great diligence he preuented them at S. Gyles fealds appointed to be ther Rendeuous and incountring those straglers who weare there attending the generals comming apprehended condemned and executed 37. of the principalls for exampl and terror to the rest And he aftherward hunted ovvt and fownd Oldcastel and Acton and put them to death being attainted of Treason and Haeresie as by the records appeareth All vvhich maister Fox laboureth to extenuate and falsifie and disprooueth them as calumniations and slaunders but with no success as yow may learn by Iohn Stow pag. 550. and by Doctor Hapsfealds Ecclesiasticall storie latelie published by a worthie man of our nation For it is euident that 1. Henry 5. the Wiclefists sett schedulles on powles Church door publishing that ther vvas a hundred thowsand men readie to ryse against such as wear ennemies to ther sect And in a synod holden at London for diuers poynts of doctrine touching the Sacraments Oldcastle was committed to the towre from whence he broke owt and afterward one Bennet was executed partlie for harbouring Oldcastle partlie for seditious libells against the king whearupon as also for some practises at kenelworth against the king Oldcastl was endited in the Parliement before the Duke of Bedford as an enemie to the stathe he answered them with contempt accompting it as a trifle to be iudged by them belike bycause they wear sinners and bycause he sayd he had no iudg emong them so long as king Richard liued And at his deathe he spake like a man frantick to Syr Thomas Erpingham that yf he sawe hym rise the third daye he wold procure quietnes and fauor to those of his sect And surelie yf yovv look into VViclefs ovvn lyfe tyme yovv shall fynd it no maruel yf his doctrine ded so far seduce Old-cast hauing procured therby so great patrons and frends in the court at his first rising and such applause in the vniuersitie of Oxford the place best able to iudg of his learning and illumination Iohn of Gand Duke of Lancaster ded much fauor and patronize this martyr Wiclef in so much that he being summoned to appeare before the Bushop of London the Duke ded hym so much greace to go with hym thither for his better protection assisted with Syr Henrie Petcie the Marshall of England to discountenanc the Bushop to encoorage Wiclef and to animate and encrease his fectaries and folloaeers in ther course And it was worthie the noting that Religion was euen then vsed as a fayre vestement to couer manie fowle practises for the Duke and Wiclef had seueral ends the Duke graced hym bycause he was so generallie plausible the better to ouerthrovv both the liberties of the Church and the Charters of London bot which laye as blocks in his waye to hinder the course of his aspiring desseins And this appeared playnelie by Ihon Lattimor an Irish friar who accused the Duke of manie practises speciallie of his intention to vsurp the crown which mayd hym so popular But Latimor being committed by the Dukes meanes to the custodie of Syr Iohn Holland in the night before he should come to his ansvver the poor man vvas strangled by Holland and Grean But to come nearer to the present age In Quene Maries tyme examin how obedient these Reformers wear to that magnanimous Quene and the Crown and it is worthie to be noted that in fiue yeares the too short tyme of her raigne she had defacto more open and violent opposition and rebellion by her own sudiects then Quene Elizabeth had in 45. yeares for the treasons of Preasts and religious men weare but skar crowes in dead
fictions mayd faults by law deuised by pollicie and mayd offences rather then being so of them selfs How playne was her gouernement and how farr from triks a litl seuear to which â—he was oft forced for thoughe she was a great Iusticer yet withall how merciefull she was appeared manifestlie by her gracious compassion to the Dutches of Sommerset to Syr Iohn Cheak to Syr Edward Mountagevv the cheaf Iustice to Syr Roger Cholmlie to the Marques of Northampton Syr Henrie Dudlie Syr Henrie gates the Lord Robert Dudlie who stood attainted and to the Duke of Suffolk whome all she knew and had before fownd to be enemies of her religion and no frends to her title and yet she released them all ovvt of the tovvre whear they weare prisonners Notwithstanding all this the Protestants wear never quiet nor suffred her to be quiet Some ded libell against the regiment of voemen some picked quarrels to her marriage some published discourses and invectiues against her religion and some conspired her depriuation to aduance her successor by vvhose aduancement euerie Caluinist expected a golden fleace The grovvnd of all these seditious actions vvas the religion they professed then nor fullie six yeares old a religion of more libertie more pleasing to the gallants of a court and voyd of these austerities and mortifications which the ancient Catholiques obserued with reuerence But emong manie others that book of obedienc prepared most the vulgar to insurrections and mutinies for pag. 94. he affirmeth that Quene Marie deserued to be put to Death as a tyrant and monster Ded euer anie Catholich write so or ded the pen of anie seminarie man blot the paper with so barbarous a sentenc Yet knox libro appellat ad nobilitatem popul Scot. ioyneth hands with a Goodman and backeth his opinion Illud inquit audacler affirmauerim debuisse nobiles rectores iudices populumque Anglâ—anum non modo refistere repuguare Mariae illi Iesabeli quam vocant reginam suam verum etiam de ea Sacerdotibus eius supplicium sumere and these yet vvear not all Procead Syr Thomas VVyat is worthielie chronicled for his rebellion vvho marched as a Cyrus ouer Shooters hill with his armie threatning both court and cittie Prince and people Yet this holie Goodman cap. 14 in his Obedienc commends hym and saith he ded but his dewtie and that it was the dewtie of all that professed the gospell to haue risen with hym and pag. 43. He affirmeth that it is lawfull to resist the superior powers and vrgeth all states to taik armes against her But whear ded Goodman and knoâ— suck this sweat doctrine at Geneua the school of Monarchomachia whear Buchanan ded learn the same and all for one end and maister VVhitingham in his preface to that book confesseth that it was approoued to be a good and godlie treatise by the principal of that cittie that is Caluin and Beza And albeyt in Qurne Elizabeths tyme Goodman is said to haue recalled that opinion yet it was neuer publicklie recalled by hym and disalowed and besides it showeth in Quene Maries tyme vnder the cross and affliction of what spirit he end his faction weare of Yf yow dowbt vpon what pretenc wyat ded rise bycause some maik quaestion thereof surelie it was partlie for religion partlie for bonum publicum to hinder the Quenes marriage for both ioyntlie concurred as Stow and Hollinshead agree He that shall presume to defend that it was not for religion Quene Marie in her oration at the Guildhall in London doth refell hym for she declared that she had sent diuers of her counsell to wyat to demand the pretences of his insurrection and she sayd it appeared to her counsell that it vvas a Spanish Cloke to Couer religion It is trew that wyat vrged to haue the Towr deliuered to hym and to haue powr to nominate and choose new counsellors and that he would not trust but be trusted Wear these in different demands af a subject Or regalities fitt to be offred to his mercie was this to preseru the Quene Surelie Violenc and the Svvord be vnfitt keapers of a Prince person And touching Religion Fox hym self saith that for religion they coÌ„spired emong them selfs and mayd vvyat ther Cheafe the reason was that by forren marriage the Quene vvould bring a seruitude vpon the realme and establish popish religion ther in Vovv vpon these premisses mark vvhat ensevved VVilliam Thomas conspired to kill the Quene and at his execution he gloried that he dyed for the good of his contrie Doctor Pendlton preaching at Povvles Crosse one discharged a peace against hym and at the same place an other daye one threw a Dagger at maister Bourn being in the pulpit wheare the lord Maier could skarselie appease the tumult so as the lords of the counsell the next sonday after together vvith the Garde vvent thither to preuent or to punish such disorders yf anie should there happen againe And at vvestminster vpon an Easter daye a desperare fellovv wounded a preasts as he was saying Masse in saint Margerets Church So great vvas the distemperature of these inflamed puritans vvho complayne so much against the persecution of that tyme and yet they prouoked it and hauing no powre to command yet had they no humilitie to obeye and when they might haue liued quiet them selfs yet vvould not suffer others to liue quiet in whose authoritie it laye to disquiet them But I will mount to offences a degree higher William Fetherston a counterfet king Edward was brought vpon the stage as a Parkin Warbeck to disturb both the Quene and the state What strains of inuention and pollicie wear these against a Prince for her religion but hear they stay not for One Clebar sometymes a Paedante remaining at yakeslie in Northfolk vvas put to death for a conspiracie against the Quene Vdal Stanton Peckam and Daniel wear committed both for conspiracie and haeresie and for attempting to robb her threasure and the Exchecquor for which they had there dew punishment To let passe the treason of Dudlie and Ashton who wear sett on and stirred vp by the French Syr Peter and Gawin Carse great protestants together with Syr Thomas Dennie took armes in Deuonshyre to hinder and empeach the king of Spayne his arriual in England possessed them selfs or Excetor Castl and afterward perceauing ther own weaknes and less assistance then they expected they fled into France which was then the harbour for the malcoÌ„tents of his nation Thomas Stafford comming vvell instructed from Geneua mayd proclamations publicklie in seueral places that Quene Marie was not lawfull Quene and vnworthie to be Quene and so abuse the people he gaue owt boldlie and falselie that twelf of the strongest houlds in England and best fortified wear committed to the custodie and command of the Spanyards to maik them the more odious whome they hated onelie for ther religion and povver and no other particuler quarrel and therfor he Bradford Procter and
wolfs stomach he ded seak to deuowre that most ancient and honorable Earldome of Oxford In all this glorie he was cut of for his sinnes and arraigned and executed for acting so grosslie the part of a Protector And though he was badd enoug an other succeaded much worse For novv begon the tree of Dudlie to spread owt his brainches vvith glorie vvho could not be except he vvear great novv vvas the tyme for his common vvelth to floorish and bycause he vvould not seam to doe anie thing but by Iustice he begonn 1549. to vvrastl with Sommerset till he gaue hym a fall First he proclamed hym to be a man that subuerted all lavves and that he broke the orders of H. 8. appointed for his sonns good that he keapt a Cabbienet counsell and litl esteamed the aduise of his fellowes that he took vpon hym to be protector expresslie vpon conditions to doe nothing in the kings affayres withovvt consent of the executors And vpon these and such like accusations God stirred one of these reformers to vvrack an other Novv as that shovved his iustice so to seame religious he cavvsed the book of common prayer 1552. to be first published for that religion he knew vvould best serue his turn vvho vvas all readie novv farr engaged in the plat to aduanc his ovvn hovvse by the ruine of his maisters and by that coolor he discerned that he might best vvinn the Duke of suff to hym And bycaus he supposed the Lord Threasorer vvas not vnlike to cross hym he took order at the counsel table vvhear he vsed to leaue his spectacles yf he vvear soodainlie cald for vp to the king to maik the same before his return be so svveatlie anoynted and perfumed that therby he lost his nose and skaped nearlie vvith his lyfe and yet he liued to requite hym and for his better strenth vvhile king Edvvard vvas sick as yf all had bean fixed in a sphear to mooue vvith hym he cavvsed at Durham hovvse his sonn to be married to ladie Iane the Earle of Pembrocks sonn to the ladie Katharin and the Earl of Huntingtons sonn to his ovvn daughter and all vpon one daye all to serue for one end and to maik it impossible for anie to bayt the beare hearafter Then vvas king Edward mayd away by his means and that potticarie who poysond hym for the horror of the offenc and disquietnes of his conscienc drowned hym self and the landres that washed his shirt lost the skinn of her fingers ther be some yet liuing in the court that haue sean weaping eyes for it Yet was all so ouer shadowed with the name of religion that not manie could discern the impietie yf yow would see the oration he mayd to the Lords when he was to depart from the towr to go towards Cambredg and proplayme his daugther in law Quene yow shall see how Raignard had gotten on a minister cloke and mayd that is cawse which he was furthest from Now consider thre things 1. for the men vvear not they both fitt instruments to encrease pietie and vertue and to reforme a Church vvear not rhey like men to haue bean chosen by the spirit of God for so godlie ends and like to be labourers in the haruest of Christ wear ther pietie zeale and charitie such as became them vvell and vvear suitable to reformers to Iosias and Ezechias No nisi hominus edificauerit ciuitatem they labor in vayne he will geue them a fall whear they purposed to taike ther rising 2. For ther ends both of them concurred in chainging religion both of them lost ther heads one of them vvas a butcher to an other and both vnded ther ovvn famililies and hazarded ther frends but for Dudlie as he ded ruine the king so he endaingered the whole realme and yet his end was a demonstration to the world that all his ayme vvas ambition and not religion for either he dyed a Catholick or certanly an Atheist And as his ambition so Sommersets auarice was not withowt his plagues for his weakenes was ouer maistered by a wyfe his eldest sonn was disinherited he executed his own brother he liued to see the loss of bullen the crown and the realm ingaged in debts and vvants confusion and commotions vvithin the realme by ther ill government and contempt withovvt 3. Novv consider te patienc of the Preasts and Prelates vnder these Cormorants they suffred all withowt resisting or rebelling and neuer prouoked the nobilitie to taik armes hauing bean bredd in the school of vertue to bear ther crosses with patienc and to affect rather the glorie of a Martyr then the svvord and fortune of a conqueror And so I leaue them till hearafter TITVLVS TERTIVS THe last and greatest tempest vvhich shaked the verrie fovvndations of the The Q. Elizabeth Church of England and threatned the vtter ruine and subuersion thereof vvas raysed by Quene Elizabeth vvho reuiued the Protectors new religion and reestablished it The vvhich was effected quicklie and quietlie sine sanguine sudore and as M. Camden noteth well Christiano orbe mir ante And surelie it vvas a strainge alteration bycause the Quene during her sisters lyfe daylie hard Masse ad Romanae religionis Camden annales normam saepius confiteretur Which is consonant to the report of Syr Frances Englefeald that the ladie Elizabeth being examined at Hatfeald by Q. Maries commissioners sayd to one of them it is not possible that the Quene vvill be persvvaded Iam a Catholick and therupon she ded sweare and protest that she was a Catholick And it aggreeth well with the Duke of Feria his letter to king Philip yet extant to be seane vvhearin he certified the king that Q. Elizabeth ded profess and assure hym that she beleaued the real presenc and that she vvas not like to maik anie great alteration for the principall poynts of religion I nead not relate the like speaches vsed by her to Monsieur Lansack seing manie honorable persons haue affirmed the same and seing her external profession in publick and her priuate chappell ded testifie that either she was then sincearlie in dead or would be taken then to be a Catholick And that was the cawse which mayd the world maruell more at her great and soodain chainge of religion And the rather bycause at her coronation she vvas orderlie consecrated and anointed at a Masse by the Bushop of Carlisle and she took the oath then to mantain the Church and vphold the liberties thereof as her predecessors had doone Which vvithovvt aequiuocation must neads be intended of that Church then being in esse and whearin she was consecrated and took that oathe and not of the Idea of a new Church a castle in the Ayre to be hearafter erected and fownded by lier authoritie and the Parliement But how euer she was before perswaded she was now altered and became too soodainlie Retrograde and so as in the opinion of manie prudent and great
persons it a bated much the glorie of her wisedome and heroicall spirit and gaue the world occasion to suspect that all her former actions wear counterfeit and camposed for her securitie to temporize and to misdowbt that she was not innocent and cleare of these great not capitall crymes layd to her charge for vvhich she had stood in no smal dainger Ant to speak frelie and trewlie my opinion she was a Prince of great Maiestie and magnificens but fitter for governement then deuotion and of more pollicie then religion and not as her sister vvas the same in a storme and a calme a Quene and a subiect nor semper eadem But how and by what means ded she Hovv religion vvas chainged contriue and work this admirable mutation of state I vvill breaflie declare for tho it be not proper to my quaestion it is not impertinent and may be of some vse 1. First the long sicknes of Q. Marie gaue her great aduantage and tyme both to deliberate and draw her plattformes prepare her instruments in readienes maik choyce of her means and resolue of the fittest counsellors to aduance her ends 2. Secondlie she layd her honor to pawne and mayd protestation in open parliament that she would never trovvble the Roman Catholiques for anie differenc in religion vvhich ded geue the Cleargie great hope of some more indifferencie and tolerable fauors the which is related by How 's in prefat of Q. Elizabeth for knowing well that a king can not create a new religion as D. Bilson sayd trewlie meaning that it must be the act and work of a parliement therfor to winn the Bushops either to silenc or patienc she wiselie vsed that peace of art The which thing vvas vvell noted by Monsieur de Mauuissier vvho was long french Embassador in England and a curious searcher and obseruer of matters of that nature saith he lib. 2. pag. 61. in Les memoires de Monsieur Mich Castelnau Quene Elizabeth purposing to chainge religion that she might the better vvinn the Bushops she promised to follow ther aduises in all things and therby preuayled not a litle And though manie fyne sleights wear vsed frownes and fauors promises and threats yet notwithstanding by that parliement both the statuts for the supremacie and the abrogation of the old religion wear enacted 3. Add also that when the act vvas mayd for supremacie vvhich must ever be as the first great vvheale of motion bycause by king Henries lavv Bushops and Barons stood in dainger for Syr Thomas Moor and Bushop Fisher had giuen them vvarning to look to ther heads therfor novv in this nevv edition of the supremacie first the vvords of supreme head vvear chainged into supreme gouernor vvhich qualification of the vvords being aequiualent vvas vsed but as a mask and shadovve to bleare the eyes of the people and secondlie the Barons and Lords vvear exempted from the rigour of the Oath to vvinn them the rather to consent to the act and so to leaue the Bushops in the briars to beare the brunt of the storme ensewing 4. I knovv yow will admire and yow maye how this chainge could be vvrought in the vpper howse by most voyces considering so manie Bushops and so manie Lords vvell affected to religion had ther suffrages there Remember first that king Henrie pulling dovvne the Abbies vveakened the strenth of the Cleargie taking avvay by that meanes twentie fiue voyces of Abbots who satt there as Barons of Parliement and besides Sinon who managed that busienes showed all his conning therin and as a maister of his art For the noble Earl of Arōdel abused and fed with a vayne hope by the ayd of the Duke Northfolk engrossed into his hands the proxies and voyces of so manie Lords to be disposed at his pleasure and to serue and further the Quenes desyre and ends that the Catholicks wear overswayed and born downe by the pluralitie of six voyces onelie And how God rewarded these tvvo great Princes the instruments of that seruice the world may iudg by ther afflictions as spirits that haunted them tho to expiat that fault the religious and noble Earl Philip suffred the martyrdome of a languishing sowl A strainge and memorable mattet it was to haue a new religion introduced and no Bushop nor religion man to consecrate and aduance it with one voyce for the vehement oration of Abbot Fecknam aginst it is fresh yet in memorie and how all the Bushops obstinate refragati sunt Camden doth witnes and that noble Lord Montagew sensible of the scandall thereof opposed it vvithall his force vvho together vvith D. Thurlebie Bushop of Elie had so latelie bean employed at Roome abowt it and vrged that the vvorld would disgrace fullie censure such a soodain chainge and innouation proposing also the daingers which weare like to ensew and so ded by excommunication But for ther better assurance to preuayle in the vpperhowse and more stronglie to ouer-rule the Bushops and the Abbots the Quene created diuers nevv lords VVilliam lord Parr Marquis of Northampton a good speaker and a wise man the Earle of Hartford the Vicount Bindon the lord Saint Iohn of Bletso and the lord Hunsdon all Protestants and men fitt to build a new Churche And to be better armed the Catholick partie was weakened by discharging from the counsell table manie of the old counsellors the lord Chancelor the lord Priuie seale Secretarie Boxall and Syr Frances Englefeald and in ther roomes wear placed Syr Nicholas Bacon the Marques of Northampton the Earl of Bedford Sr A. Caue Syr Frances Knolls Rogers Parrie and secretarie Cicil all fitt men to beare parts in that Pageant And further she deposed manie of the old Iudges and mayd also new Iustices of peace and gaue order to vse all vvarienes in the election of knights and burgesses that they might likewise maik ther partie good in the lovver hovvse which yow would wnder to heare how politicklie it was performed Furthermore to taik all scrupule owt of the heads and harts of the people and that they might conceaue that the seruice and religion still continued the same the ould was but transtated into Englishe onelie for ther better edification and vnder standing they directed that the alteration should be framed as near to the old as they might well doe And so it was in dead verrie politiclie handled For they bothe admitted and continued the title and iurisdiction of Bushops vvith some litl grace and authoritie and they permitted the vse of surplises caeremonies anthems Organs and manie prayers in the forme of the old Whearby the Quene vvas the better able to excuse her fact to forrein princes for this great chainge as she ded vse the same for her reason to Secretarie d' Assonuile who was sent by king Philip to congratulate her aduancement 7. And touching the communion book it vvas composed by certan commissioners appointed for that purpose Parker Grindal Horn VVhytehead May Bill and Syr Thomas
Smith and it vvas mayd according to the liturgie of the straingers of Frankfort 1544. all of them of Bucers stamp and not much varijng from that in king Edvvards tyme. The which Parr Russel Grey of Pytgo and Cicil approoued but all those of Geneua vtterlie disliked not knowing the Quenes reasons nor regarding them 8. Lastlie the instrumentall cawses and cheafe artificers for building this new work wear choyce men all bothe for experience and pollicie Syr William Cicill mayd second Secretarie in king Eduuards dayes in an age whearin a man might learne more conning them vertue a wise man for practise and one that knevv well how much this alteration would serue his turn and raise his fortune and at that tyme he vvas hongrie hauing onelie the personage of VVimblton and certan lands abowt Stamford as appeared by his letter to the lord Marques 1560. vvhen Syr Robert Cicil vvas borne desiring the lord Threasorers furtherano that the Quene would grant hym some means and maintenanc for these two C. C. solike to be famous in England herafter Syr Nicholas Bacon was an others his brother in lawe a man of Deap iudgment of more knowledg in the lawes and a more plausible Orator I may not forget the Lord Robert who solelie to posses the Quenes fauor by a trick discarded Syr Williā Pickering then a fauorite and a courtlie gentlman neither can I omitt Seigneur Nicholas Throgmorton S. Tho. Smith and manie others who wear now in hope to fynd that which they had long gaped for such offices and preferments as they wear like to loose who held them in Quene Maries tyme. Better Enginers and fitter men could neither haue bean wished nor fuwnd then all these wear to vndermine and cast downe the Cleargie and the old Church governement vvho possessing vvholie the eare and grace of the Quene satt vvith command at the stearne and as pylots of great estimation guided the course both of the Church and commonwelth at ther pleasure thoughe manie men vvondered how maister secretarie could so soone forget his beads and his breuiarie whearwith he counterfeited a Catholick and vvonn Cardinal Pool to stand firmelie his frend Notwithstanding all this choyce of men and preparation of meanes ther courses and cownsells gaue occasion of more trowbles continual feares and greater hazards and daingers to the Quene the realme in all her tyme then ever anie architects of innouation committed And no maruel for ludit in humanis diuina potentia God doth skorn and frustrate the pollicies and shifts of men that haue nothing els to trust to but shifts and he vvill euer teach the wisest to see ther follies and a litl to humble them those that ar most prouident shall by ther errors learn that plus est in arte quam in artifice For now the Quene by this act of Innouation left destitute of all her allies and confaederates vvas driuen to stand vpon her own gard and lie open to all stormes hauing France an enemie and Spayne a frend skarse contented and so was driuen euen at first to ronne vpon a rock forced to assist the rebells in Scotland against ther Soouerain and to send them ayd to expell the french employed ther for ther Quenes seruice It may de yow think this a trifle mark the rest To succor the Admirall and rebells in France she Inuaded Normandie and took possession of Nevvhauen and Deape deliuered to her by the Vidame of Chartres was this a glorie the disgrace in loosing and ill defending Newhauen was a greater bleamish to them then it was honor to haue them yealded and offred to the Quenes disposing and speciallie seing they might therby either haue brought Callice home againe or haue locked vp the gates of Roan and Paris And they ded neither but bring home the great plague as a scourge to the realme for that offence furthermore for the securitie of the realme and to diuert all warres from home they wear driuen not withowt touch of the Quenes honor to kindl the fyre in all other adiacent nations and then to publish a declaration and reason of ther actions as yf the world could not read the trew cavvses of actions vvithovvt the spectacles of those ancient Senators Whearupon they ded ayd the Princes of Orenge against king Philip vnder pretenc of amitie and league vvith the howse of Burgondie and the kings of England which was a litl to grosse for so excellent vvitts considering that the amitie vvas contracted with no subiects nor states but betwean the kings of E. and the Dukes of Burgondie wheareof the states had the benefit and wear partakers but not authors comprehended in the treaties but not treators fayre coolors for fovvle errors And why for so she gaue a president against her self that forrein Princes might be vvarranted by her example to inuade her ovvn kingdomes to releaue her subiects yf they should rise for religion and to learn the waye to Ireland and requite her And the showe of Religion serued them fitlie for there purpose But surelie I haue hard verrie wise men much condemn the course Bor though England ded assist there neighbors on all sides vpon the reason of state which Polibius prescribed Vicininimium crescentis potentia maturè quacunque ex causa deprimenda which is an axiome that is oft inconuenient and ofter iniurious and sometymes pernicious Yet the counsell of Thucidides vvas more proper and safer Nullus princeps à suis subditis iuste puniendis arcendus est qui id facit parem in se legem statuit ne suos ipse puniat delinquentes And heare I must commend hym to haue said this vviselie who saith all things wittielie The vvisidome of the latter tymes in princes fayres is rather in fine deliueries and shifting of damgers vvhen they ar near then solid and grovvnded courses to keap them aloaf The grownd of all these trowbles vvas the pretenc of Sinon Viz. Actum esse de ea si pontificiam authoritatem in quacumque re agnosceret as Camden saith the Quene vvear vndoone yf she acknowledged the Popes authoritie Mark his reason duos namque pontifices matrem illegitimè nuptam pronunciasse and by that argument he suggested that it was best to alter religion inuest her self in the sooueraintie and banish the Popes bulls from grasing in this kingdome and all obedienc to that sea This was a course neither at home nor abroad to keap daingers aloofe and vndowbtedlie yf Henrie the 2. or Frances the 2. of France had liued that error was like to haue wrapped the realme into ineuitable perills and might by all probabilitie haue serued as a bridg to haue let the Quene of Scots passe over into England vnder her own title and the banner of the Church solliciting for her better warrant the renewing of the bulls of Clement the 7. and Paulus 4. against her moothers marriage and her own illegitimation and the rather this might haue bean doon by the error of them that
left open the port of aduantage hauing not repealed in England the act of her illigitimation as Quene Maries counsell wiselie had doone before But now at lenth to returne to the matters proper and pertinent to the quaestion Iam to handle The Quene before her coronation put all the bushops to silence and commanded they should not preache and after the parliement all those that refused the oath being called before the Quenes commissioners wear depriued from all honors liuings or employmeÌ„t either in the church or common welth and wear also committed to prison and so both lost ther liberties and liuing together Dignities they could not loose as appeared by B. Bonners case whome they could not degrade from the Dignitie of a Bushop though he ded loose London There vvear in all 14. Bushops most vertuous and learned prelates of England and 10. of Ireland deposed 12. Deanes 15. maisters of Colledges 6. Abbots 12. Archdeacons 160. preasts together with maister Shellie Prior of S. Iohns of Hierusalem Now touching ther Demeanor and the course of ther proceading before ther Depriuation These Bâ—shops sitting in Parliement at Quene Maries Deathe acknowledged by diuers proclamations Quene Elizabeths title and right to the Crowne And the Archbushop of york D. Heath then Chancellor of England calling together the nobilitie and commons assembled in both howses by a graue oration exhorted them to accept and obey Quene Elizabeth and by the best course he could endeauoured to dispose and setl the harts of subiects to loue and serue her And all the Bushops ioyntlie ded ther homage and fealtie to her Maiestie in dewtifull manner And although they vvear not ignoranc of her determination to alter the course of religion yet ded they neuer practise neither Scotising nor Geneuating nor neuer incensed the people and Catholiks against her nor attempted anie violent resistance nor sought the support of forrein Princes whome they knew at that tyme readie vpon so fayre pretence to haue ayded them but they ded so respect fullie tender both the Quenes safetie and the peace of the realme more then ther own liues liberties or liuings that though diuers emong them mayd a quaestion yf it wear not most conuenient for the good of the Churche to procead to excommunication against her to vvhich her case laye verrie open and subiect yet the most voyces disswaded that course least yf they should vse the sentenc and censures of the church against her the people might be induced to taik armes for the protection of religion and therfor they ded aduise rather to referr it to the popes determination and pleasure then to talk vpon them to doe yt them selfs though they thought they might lavvfullie doe yt as the case then ded stand Ther was also an other secret frend that ded much fortifie the state of the Quene King Philip knowing all the platts of France and ther secret intentions and vvat motions they mayd at Roome and vpon what tearmes they ded stand to offend England albeyt he had buried all offences at the treatie of Cambray yet loath to see France growe so great as to haue footing in England and as loath that Religion should loose her howld and honor there though he ded wish the end he ded not like the meanes and therfor he employed his ministers in England to doe good offices betwean the Quene and the Cleargie But Alas what became of all these graue prelates Trewlie nothwithstanding all ther publick disgraces and priuate sufferings they ded rather choose a Durate then an Armate and euer professed and well performed Preces Lachrimae arm a nostra Obserue how long and how heauilie ther burden lay vpon them D. Scott Bushop of Chester dyed at Loouain in exile Goldvvel of Asaph at Roome Pate of vvorcester subscribed at the counsell of Trent for the Cleargie of England and never returned D. Oglethorp of Carlile dyed soodainlie and shortlie after his depriuation and so ded learned and famous Tonstal die a personner at Lambeth Bourn of wells was prisonner to Carie deane of the Chappel Thirlebie of Elie first vvas committed to the towre and afterward he and secretarie Boxal vvear sent to Lambeth vvhear they ended there dayes Abbot Fecnam Bushop Watson Bushop Bonner dyed prisoners and Prior she l lie in exile This was the Catastrophe of the worthie Prelates of England a tragedie of the Downefall of the whole Cleargie a thing incredible to posteritie and never hard of in former ages that the third and most reuerend state of the realm the Cedars of Libanus who ever sinc king Etheldred floorished as the Oaches of a realme should be all at once cut downe cast into disgrace and prisons or exile and liue withowt releaf or comfort as men forlorne and abiects yet neither taynted for vice nor convinced for trespas nor accused for anie treason but that which they would never subscribe to aknowledg treason the refusing the oath of supremacie a poynd of religion to them and vvhich touched ther sovvles to the quick And wear they depriued for that then surelie had the ministers of Geneua great luck to escape the high Commission for yow shall hear ther opinions and see the differenc of ther spirits 1. Gilbee in admonitione ad Anglos calls king Henry the 8. libidinosum monstrum monstrosum aprum qui Christi locum inuasit Ecclesiae Anglicanae caput dicivoluit cum tamen omnis religionis expers esset This monstruons bore must neads be called Head of the Church vnder payn of Treason displacing Christ our onelie head who alone onght to haue the title why ded he call hym bore Partlie for his qualities partlie for Ann Boolens sake who was that Helena cuius causa peribat Ilium as both Melancthon in his Chron. and G. Bellay in his Comment declare 2. And that yovv may knovv vvhat an haeresie and flatterie of kings the school of Geneua censureth the Oath of supremacie to be I pray yovv heare the Oracle in cap. 1. Osee in cap. 9. Amos Et hodie in quit quam multi sunt in papatu qui regibus accumulant quicquid possunt iuris potestatis of this poynt I dare avowe Geneua is not guiltie ita vt ne qua fiat disputatio sed potestas haec sit penes regem vnum vt statuat pro suo arbitrio quicquid voluerit sine controuersia hoc firmum maneat Qui initio tantopere extulerunt Henricum regem Angliae certe fuerunt inconsiderati homines dederunt illi summam rerum omnium potestatem hoc me semper grauiter vulner auit erant enim blasphemi cum vocaruÌ„t illum summum caput Ecclesiae sub Christo Ded Syr Thomas Moor or Bushop Fisher say more nay not so much against the matter nor in so rude and violent manner such vvas the violenc of king HeÌ„rie that he pressed them to speact and yf they ded speak they wear in dainger of law yf they ded not speak
patients that suffer and beare there crosses either within or vvithowt the realme withowt the realme wear and arr the Seminaries of Preasts religious men and students within the realme ar the Recusants vvho daylie taist of affliction and haue not a light or small burden to beare vvho all suffer for ther conscienc and secundum magis vel minus participate of the miseries incident hear to Catholicks Touching the Seminaries when the ould Cleargie and preasts wear some Languishing The Seminaries in prison some in exile manie dead and all in disfauor the Secretarie and some politcik protestants both hoped and promised that preasts and preasthood would be shortilie worne ovvt and extinguished and in dead abovvt the yeare 1576. there wear not aboue 30. of the old preasts remaining in the realme whearupon D. Allen a man born to doe God seruice and others of the Cleargie owt of ther prouidence and Charitie begonn the Seminaries at Douay 1569. and why To preuent the decaye of religious professors to setl a continuanc and encrease of preasts for the better propagation of religion to preserue a visible and Catholick Church in England and for the instruction and trayning vp of yong schollers in a setled course of studie conference and exercise and so to bread in that nurcerie yong plants continuallie fitt to be drawen owt for employments in England to vvinn sowles to instruct them in cases of conscienc and so spreade abroad ther knowledg and vertues into all ports of the land And that Seminarie vvas not erected against lawe for the statute was mayd long after when they had taken deap roote and then was it too late either to transplant them home or by threats and terror to prohibit ther proceadings But these ar sayd to be schooles and harbours to noorish such men as ar 1. base and fugitiues 2. such as corrupt the land with false doctrine 3. and such as ar ministers of practises to disturb the kingdome to stirr vp rebellion and to with draw the subiects from ther obedienc And ther for the proclamation 1580. and other statutes wear iustlie mayd against them But how doe they answer it In dead it is trew that great Pronotharie and clark of the execution of Iustice obiected so For ther basenes at Douay and S. Omers much against them but for ther basenes I haue obserued well and am assured that at Douay ther be gentleman both in the Colledg and monasterie of as good families as well bred and as learned schollers as I haue knowen in the vniuersities of England whearin I was no strainger I will not compare them for so I might maik them odious nor yet will I detract from the milk of my own nurces but I may trewlie ovowe that they ar so orderlie gouerned as maikes ther demeanor ciuil and supra aetatem religious and deuowt and how can it be otherwise for they spend there tyme most in studie in exercises of learning and in matters of deuotion Neither ar they in such dainger of Debauchment or the infections of disorder for they be strictlie keapt to ther task and rather vvonn then forced to yt and tho they be brideled with a hard bitt it is carried with a gentl hand and greater care is had bycause manie of them ar of eminent families and noble parentage who though they can not dravv ther pettigrees from Lewlin Prince of Wales as the Pronotarie doth yet can they show a discent both ancient and honorable neither yeomen of the wardrobe nor yeomen of the gard And touching ther being fugitiues they answer well for them selfs that they deserue not properlie such a title for they liue not ther as owt lawes but for conscienc sake and to auoyd the rigour of the new lawes opposite to the doctrine of the Churche Secondlie they liue not there for faction 2. Fugitiues or vndewtiefull affection to his maiestie but compelled by extreme necessitie the Catholiks hauing in England no Churches no Catholick seruice no dew administration of the sacraments nor vse of the sacrafice of the alter and so they saye they should liue in England as bodies withowt sowles or sowles withowt food and so either be starued for want thereof or become Apostates from ther religion or liue as Atheists withowt religion Thirdlie yf yovv put vpon them the disgrace full name of fugitiues onelie bycause they doe not accommodate them selfs to your Canons and the iniunctions of the present tyme and therfor depart owt of the realme To let pass Bartie Knolls Hales and others yow must not forget that your great Doctors Iewel Horn Cox Pilkinton Poynet and manie others ded taik the like cours in Quene Maries tyme. And yf these men wear not fugitiues and deserued in your iudgment no disgrace for remaining at Frankfort Strasburgh and speciallie Geneua noted for the Seminarie of all Conspiracies in France how comes it to pass that those at Douay and S. Omers being in the same case ar so hatefullie censured to be fugitiues And yf they wear fugitiues as the lawe also then ded iudg them yow ded so welcome them home with the titles of Lords and Bushops that I perceaue to be a fugitiue of your making is but a verball obiection and not a reall scandall Besides they answer trewlie and reasonablie As they can not remain in England withowt dainger and offenc of lawe so when they come over hither they committ treason and yf they returne a promoter or a purseuant vvill shovv them the waye to Nevvgate except they renounc ther religion vvhich yovv esteame peraduenture but a Peccadilio and that is euident by the statut 25. Elizab. c. 2. wherby yong men that returne not from the Seminaries and abiure not ther religion ar mayd guiltie of treason and they vvho send them releaf and exhibition fall into the dainger of a Premunire what remedie can yow teache vs against this Dilemma Yf they might fynd grace and haue the happienes to be freed from the dainger of these Lawes and vvhich they humblie craue toleration of ther consciences and religion neither Doway nor S. Omers could hould them they would quicklie show ther dewtiefull affection to ther Prince ther naturall loue to ther contrie and for ther parents and kindred from whome they ar separated to ther great discomfort they should playnlie fynd that kyndenes would not creape when it may safelie go 3. They corrupt noâ— the Land Now touching the next poynt whear with they ar charged for corrupting the land with false doctrine First in this accusation as yovv presuppose Caluinism and your religion to be an infallible veritie so the preasts and religious heare ar as confident that it is impietie On both sydes ther ar learned and vertuous men and one will not vayle bonnet to the other how then should the quarrel be decided or shall it remain perpetuall and a skourge to the world The Bushops in the first parliement of the Quene ded vrge and offer
to defend the principles of ther religion by disputation vvhich the protestants would not accept * Camden nisi Baconus in theologicis parum versatus tanquam iudex praesideret and he being a professor of the common lawes vvhy he should be chosen moderator of such a Diuinitie disputation Cambredg can neither geue reason nor president nay rather yf yow ask ther opinion they will answer Spectatum admisi c. for it is a tidiculous Solaecism Since Father Parsons and diuers others haue mayd the same challeng desirous to bring I ruthe to the Tryal and touchstone in solemn and publick manner And let no man obiect the colloquies at Poissy Ratisbon Wormes Altenburg Murbrun c. which wear fruitles bycause formeles they ded not produce the effects expected bycause they erred in ther course of proceading and I confess I vnder stand not the misterie vvhy the protestants in England now draw bach seing Ievvel in the beginning was so forward and mayd so liberal offerts which yf anie would now defend it would quicklie appear which religion weare counterfeit and which currant whether doctrine wear solide and vvhether not speciallie hauing a moderator who could discouer evasions guid the disputers and iudiciouslie determin to whome the prize should be giuen And yf perhaps some would except and alledg the conferenc betwean M. Hart and D. Reignolds betwean Gode and Campion which wear honored and diuulged as triumphes and that these ought to stand as sufficient proofes co convinc the Catholicks yf the truthe so well sifted by disputation may satisfie them and preuayle I answer it is iniquissima conditio for a man armed to sett vpon a prisoner to insult vpon a man weakned with fetters and destitute of books withowt preparation and vvarning and which is worst in the face of a rack and torments whear Campion had bean posed with crewel quaestions before and in a place of no indifferencie whear they may sett down what they list and frame a combate at ther pleasure as Roynolds ded And whear as perhaps for politick cavvses the king and the Lords may dislike anie publick disputation vpon the grownds of religion yet this may well be granted and the french kings president may induce it The preasts and fathers offer to prooue that Iewel the mainster Carpenter of that Apologie of the Churche of England that Luther Caluin Melancthon and the later Doctors Colonells of the new plantation haue overcrowed and born down the Catholicks for opinion of truthe sinceritie and learning onely by false quotations corruptions falsifications misrecitalls and that both of scriptures and fathers both of the text and the gloss And this they humblie pray and hope that his Maiestie in his own tyme vvould be pleased to grant bycause these be heynous offences and the temple of veritie can not be builded vpon error and false grownds and bycause illusions and forgeries be stratagemata satanae that at least he would permitt the triall of that iust accusation and so afthervvard esteam of ther integritie as they shall acquite them selfs Concerning the third poynt that the 3. Preasts ar no practisers Seminaries bread such preasts as ar ministers of practises and stirr the people to rebellion as they ar charged both by the book of execution of iustice and by the proclamation 1580. whearin particularly they ar accused to haue bean priuie and accessarie to the counsells and proiects of the king of Spayne the Pope and others who intended and combined at that tyme to invade England to depose the Quene and subdevv the realme I must freelie answer that iealousie is trewlie described to be full of eyes and yet all pur-blind fearefull of her own shadowe euer in motu trepidationis and contrarie to the motions of other starres And tho they vvear great statesmen ye with all ther Opticks they could not foresee the great daingers like to fall vpon them till they wear at ther doors And hauing by error drawen and prouoked them yet took they the course rather to continew the flame then quench the fyre to encreas the mallice then preuent the mischeaf For first yf anie such confaederation had bean which never yet could be discouered nor was recorded in anie historie was it probable that so great and so wise Princes would acquaint the poor speculatiue preasts at Reams or Douay or the fathers of the societie with ther plats and intentions is it credible that they would manage matters of state so vveakelie yea but these Princes purposed by the meanes of the preasts and religious to prepare a partie assistant in England how by reconciling the people to the Pope that they might ioyne vvith hym and the king of Spaynes armie One error begets an other for preast doe not reconcile men to the Pope but to God and his Churche 1. And yet surelie it was a miracle that emong so manie preasts and in so long tyme and when Spies and intelligencers wear employed and rewarded neither anie such preast could be nominated who was then or after so corrupted or induced by these great Princes nor anie was afterward apprehended or discouered for anie such trespasse and which is most to be marked not anie subiect was called in quaestion or accused for entertaining anie preasts to that end then how phantastical was this feare what an imagination of Chimeraes and terrors most iniurious to touch the reputation of all the English preasts in generall and by statuts and proclamations to call ther names and ther liues in quaestion and to haue no su sufficient vvitnesses to accuse them no euidenc against them nothing but presumptions and probabilities to attaint them of treason the lyfe and honor of subiects wear wont to be esteamed more pretious and the function of preasts more reuerenced 2. I may also add this that when the king of Spaynes armado was vnder sayle towards England not a preast nor Seminarie man was fownd in it And though in the proclamation they wear traduced to be men suborned for preparation and making the way leuel for ther better landing yet hovv vvell they prepared it appeareth by this that neither preast nor Catholick vvear apprehended and attainted for anie such offenc as is afore sayd 3. Besides hovv litl affianc the king of Spayn had in the English preasts and Catholicks of that tyme was demonstrated by this that all the religious English at Valladolid and Burgos 1589. wear fettered and committed close prisoners when the armie of England assaulted Lisbone and invaded Portingal Furthermore in all the actuall treasons and conspiracies supposed to be mayd against Q. Elizabeth ther was never preast or monk or friar touched or taynted for anie of them For certanlie the holie altars of God will not suffer nor indure so vngodlie machinations and cloysters bread better humors eleuate ther sowles from the world they think not of Princes but in ther prayers and venite ad iudiciū sownding ever in ther eares requires a continual preparate in
haue encooraged Squire to the like attempt and surelie vpon examination it vvill haue the like success This Squire and one Rolls 1596. wear taken prisoners in a pinnace of Syr Franc. Drakes by Don Pedro Tellio and brought to Siuil whear Fa. Parsons procured for them both libertie and apparrel though they professed them selfs to be protestants and so they wear sent away when they cam to S. Lucars by indiscreation they fell into the inquisition an argument sufficient to vvitnes ther religion and so they wear brought back to Siuil whear Fa. Walpool ded them much fauor set them at libertie engaged his credit for ther foorth comming and placed Rolls in the Iesuits Coll. and Squire in a monasterie 1597. til they both secretlie fled avvay and left father VValpool in the briars to answer for them And afterward they sent letters to excuse there soodain departure to Fa. Walpol which letter he ded showe for his discharg Now then weigh well all circumstances and examin the enditement Squire is accused that Fa. Walpool prouoked and instructed hym to poyson the Quene and preached to hym at his departur to perswade and confirme hym Is not this probable 1. they fled secretlie awaye withowt his knowledg and that was generallie knowen to be trew Squire was a man who ever professed hym self a protestant and so dyed 3. a man that at his arrainment and death denied it And tho being vpon the rack 5. tymes the torture compelled hym to accuse hym self yet an argument from the rack is not a sufficient euidenc being after denied 4. a man that had wyfe and children in England and not like withowt some great and present temptation to be dravven into suca a plat and Fa. VValpool was as vnlike and vnfitt either to promise or perform anie recompenc of valevv 5. then what should be the motiue his religion would not perswade hym for he regarded no merite Rewards hear weare none and vvithovvt some end he vvould not cast avvay hym self 6. Besides Fa. VValpool as he was not like to trust a protestant with a matter of that weight and secrecie so neither was he of that credit nor authoritie that he durst doe it withowt the licenc of his superiors Fa. Parsons and Fa. Creswel being his ancients 6. Besides examin how it was proued by his ovvn confession it was extorted and by the same breath denied by Stallenge his testimonie he had it but by hearsay a vveak proof and how was this to be performed by poison deliuered to hym in Spayne a straing secret which his fellow Rolls never knevv of vvho returned vvith hym and how was it to be doon the sadl vpon the hors back vvas to be poisond Hear was art how could the Quene be poisoned with it so and he scape that is sayd to hauesqueased it vpon the sadl or yf it wear squeazed as they tearmed it how could part be reserued to poison the Earl of Essex and speciallie hovv could it be doone that the groomes of the stable and the querries vvho ordinarily attend the horse for the Quene could not discern it but to conclude was euer anie man hard of that took hurt by that poyson or was sick of it no no then surelie seing he denied it seing ther was no probabilitie and speciallie seing ther was no witnesses to prooue it I can not esteame it as a stayn to be iustly imputed to the Iesuits But all these and such like deuises passed as currant in England vpon a false supposition that Mariana a Iesuite and the fathers ded mantain that vngodlie position of murdering and deposing Princes for religion 1. Touching Mariana it was a personall 5. The Iesuits fault Marianas proper opinion yet was he not resolut in that opinion but handled it problematice he inclineth to the worst part but absolutelie affirms it not his words ar falli possum vt humanus siquis meliora attulerit gratias agam 2. Secondlie his quaestion was not for killing of kings but for killing tyrants which is to be noted as a great differenc 3. Againe his whole order disauows his position and categorice determin the contrarie Card. Tolet in his summa l. 5. cap. 6. decreeth that it is not lavvfull to attempt against the lyfe of a Prince tho he abuse his povver and that it is haeresie to mantain the contrarie So also holdeth Greg. de Valentia part 2. q. 64. and of the same opinion is Card. Bellarmin cap. 13. of his Apologie and Salmeron tom expovvnding the 13. C. Rom. vvheare he referreth the fact of Aod against king Aeglon to Gods expresse commandement I may alledg the authoritie of learned Lessius de iustitia iure l. 2. c. 9. dub 4. Serrarius in c. 13. Iud. Azor in his Institut Becanus in his ansvver to the 9. Aphorism Gretser in his Vespertilio Haeretico politicus vvho confuteth Marianaes grounds and so doth L. Richeome in his Apologie 4. What nead I say more yet to put all ovvt of dowbt this opinion of Martiana was condemned both by a prouincial congregation of the same societie holden at Paris 1606. and the condemnation vvas ratified by Claudius Aquauiua general of the order 5. And bycause no man shall dovvbt vvhether it be a droctrin so generall receaued in the Church anno 1413. by the declaration of the Doctors of Sorbonna the same is averred as also renevved 1606 that it is an vnlawfull and vngodlie position 6. And lastlie the doctrine of Mariana was iustlie condemned by the court Parliament of Paris the seame year And that yow may not stumble at Simancas words yow must know he was a lawyer no deuine and yf yow read Heisius ad Aphorismos yovv shall perceaue that both he and Becanus ar not guiltie of this error see pag. 85. and 91. And all this standeth and concordeth with the agreement of Gods ancient Church for Ireneus l. 5. c. 14. setteth it down emong heresies to think that kings ar giuen to men casuallie and not by prouidenc and appointement of God quia omnis petestas a Deo And S. Ambrose contra Auxentium ait lachrymae meae arma mea aliter nec debeo nec possum resistere Nauar Cunerus and all that I haue sean and I haue curiouslie searched for it agree in one sentenc and the reason I am so curious in this was not onelie to satisfie my own conscience but diuers good and vertuous protestants in England my frends who wear much offended that a Thesis so scandolous should be protected by the learned fathers of the societie as was giuen owt Ther remaineth yet certan staines in the 6. C. Mayne Cote of Preasts and fathers which ar honestlie to be taken owt I haue hard it much vrged that the greatest argument for the rigour against preasts vvas necessitie to free the state from dainger bycause they vvear the likest men to bread it and that vvas speciallie discerned as they sayd by the comming in of C. Mayne who corrupted maister Tregion
and diuers others and with drew them from ther obedienc Bycause it is a matter which concerneth all preasts it is necessarie to examin it with deliberation Cuthbert Mayn was indited at Launston 1577. that he had and obtained from Roome a bull and instrument for absolution and that maister Tregion knowing hym to haue obtained the same 20. April after ded ayd and mantaine hym and was reconciled These wear the accusations and iudg of them 1. First for his reconciling Mayn answered that they wear deceaued preasts ded vse to reconcile men onelie to God neither by reconciliation was euer anie man withdrawen from his remporal obedienc by anie consequenc but rather had a greater obligation 2. And touching his being at Room and procuring this bull of the Pope he sayd he vvas never at Room nor sought to obtain from thenc anie Bull at all for absoluing anie man 3. Moreover that it was copie of a bull printed which he bought at Douay onelie to peâ—ule and see the manner of it 4. But that which is most to be noted is that it was printed at Douay and by the enditement he was accused that 1. Octob. 1597. he ded obtain from Room the afore sayd instrument for the law intended that the trespassor should obtain immediatlie from the Pope not a copie but the instrument it self and that it should contain some matter preiudiciall to the Quenes person or the quiet and good of the state or to seduce and corrupt the subiects for it is not to be imagined that the parliement would maik that treason by which no hurt nor dainger can ensew to the state 5. But what bull was this that maketh the matter cleare it was a bull concerning the Iubilie which by the Pope is granted of course and not at the suit of anie priuate person and for all contries not for anie one and once in 25. yeares and that bull ded continue in force butone yeare which yeare was ended 1575. and so the date of the instrument was expyred before he bought it much more 1. Octob. 1597. when he was endited so yow see parâ—uâ— iunt montes Yet bycause he had the bull tefused to come to the Church and obey the Quenes proceadings iudg Manhood tould the iurie whear manifest proofs can not be had persumptions must be allowed and therupon the iurie fovvnd hym guiltie though the enditement contained altogether matter insufficient and impossible and neither answearable to the words nor senc of the statut For in this bull ther wear neither words nor matter to withdraw or seduce anie subiect from dew obedienc neither vvas ther anie thing preiudicial to the Q. to be executed Notwithstanding maister Tregion lay long in prison emong fellons in a dongeon noysom for smells toads c. fed with bread and water and was afterward condemned in the premunire and his lands seazed by writ from the excheckor and the date of the vvrit vhas before the iudgment giuen as yf they knew it should be so he was prisoner 16. yeares an ancient gentlmen and honorablie allied and his lands 1000. pownds of old rent and tho it was entayled yet the knight marshall fownd means to avoyd it who had begged his lands of the Quene And all this vvas but for religion and vpon false accusation of one Twigs a parish Clack who affirmed that he had speach with Mayn at Christenmas 1575. and at that tyme was Mayn at Douay But to go forward ex pede Herculem by this iudg of the rest which is so much obiected Touching the rising in the North and 7. The Bull of Pius V. the attempts of Babington and his complices they wear mixt actions not for religion onelie or state onelie but for bothe and not procured by the suite and sollicitation of religious men but owt of ther ownzeal and compassion of the Quene of Scotland whome the Earles accoumpted nearest allied to the crovvne And such actions ar not comprehended vvithin the compass of the Question I am to cleare and discusse 1. But concerning the bull of PIVS V. Preasts vvear not to ask the reason of the Popes doeings yet yovv may fynd some of the reasons specified in the bull diuers haue ascribed it partlie to the soodain reuolt of England from the Church partlie to the prouocations mayd by the ministers there who in euerie pulpit vvhotelie and slanderouslie proclaymed the Pope Antichrist and the man of perdition and some haue attributed it to minsinformation of the Quenes case and the Catholicks But I am sure manie graue men vvear sorie that it vvas either procured or defended 2. And C. Allen vvitnesseth multos illud factum agre tulisse as before yovv see Bushop Watson and the rest ded and he wished that it had bean Dei iudicio reseruatum 3. And Fa. Parsons and Campion sollicited the mitigation thereof as appeared at his arrainment that it might not bynd the consciences of subiects to disobey the Quene Whearupon Gregorie the 13. declared withowt anie limitation or restraint that subiects ought to performe all dewties to Quene Elizabeth notvvithstanding the censure 4. Lastlie yow may probablie coniecture that the Popes ar not lightlie induced to vse so extream courses seing they neither sought by such censures to disturb the peace of k. Ed. 6. of the kings of Scotland Denmark Svveden the Duke of Saxonie or Marques of Brandenburg Neither doth it at all touch the Catholicks nor the present state for actio moritur cum persona which is the thing most concerning vs. The greatest blott is that ther vvear 8. The preasts more treasons by the preasts committed in Q. Eliz. tyme then euer wear in anie age by protestants and that is no quaestion disputable bycaus it is manifestè verum near 200. preasts and religious haue bean executed for that offenc In dead Norton D. HammoÌ„ and Topclif affirm that it is trew but bycaus Catholicks denieit let vs examin whether it be a trew Thesis no preasts wear executed for religion but for Treason 1. And to determin that the better enquire what be the acts for which they ar condemned to be a preast to come ouer into England to refuse the vath to say mass 10 absolue and â—econcile to preach and minister Sacraments and to bebred vp in the Seminaries Ar these matters of State and not of conscience temporall and not spiritual crimes of treason and not religion Ther must then be a new lexicon de verborum significationibus for els in forrein contries they will exclayme bycause it toucheth them all by participation both in conscienc and câ—edit who ar preasts and fynd ther function and profession so tainted 2. Thâ—n consider and defyne what is treason The best definition thereof is the statut 25. Ed 3. which was mayd according to the common lawes of England how know yow that maister Ploydons opinion directeth me In that act the Question vvas what was treason by the common law now saith he it is a principle in
the exposition of a statut that yf the preambl showeth anie dowbt to be before either in common law or some statut and afterward doth enact that thus it shall be in that case it must be taken that the lavve doubted of vvas so before For ab expositors of dowbts they would not ordaine it otherwise then the law was Now it appeareth by that statute scilicet by the common lawes of England and by I. Stanford in the pleas of the crown 1. that Treason must ever be an action not an opinion nor a profession for a man can not properlie be called Traytor till he committ an act that geues hym iusthe that denomination For Oldcastel vvas condemned a Traytor for his act in one court an heretick for his opinion in an other court and so wear Cranmor and Ridlie for ther actions 2. yt must be the act of a subiect against his soouerain Now what hurt had euer king H. 7. or his progenitors by anie subiect who was a preast sayd mass c. or can yovv show that anie real treason by preasts was committed or intended against the late Quene ded they euer procure sedition or stirr rebellion actuallie 3. and that was neadful to be prooued for Treason must be for offences in the highest degree bycause the punishment extends it self to all his posteritie that offends so to the ruine of his familie and to terrifie others 3. So then by the common lawes it is not treason But D. H. elench was quatenus he is a preast he is not a traytor but quatenus he doth the office of a preast in England Subtilissima subtilitas and yet bycaus false it preuails not For the function it self is mayd treason and therfor the act looketh back to 1. Eliz. to maik all preasts traytors that had ther orders sinc that tyme. 4. Besides by the prouiso of the act 25. and 27. Eliz. yf anie preasts committed shall submitt them selfs to the Quenes lawes and taik the oath they shall be freed from the penaltie of this act and so they shall not be iudged traytors yf they renounc ther religion as Bell Io. Nicholls and others ded wherby it is playn they ar not traytors simpliciter but secundum quid not for fact but opinion and to be enlarged vpon condition and seing it is in ther powre to maik them self in instanti no traytors It appeareth ther offenc is not properlie treason for yf it vvear so by 25. E. 3. ther acknowledgment onelie and conformitie and repentanc neither could not would haue discharged them from the Iustice of the law 5. Exampls wil maik the case playner Wilm Anderson a Seminarie Preast vvas executed 45. Eliz. for being in England contrarie to the statut so was M. Barckvvorth anno 1600. that vvas ther treason Tho. Pormort 35. Eliz. was attainded for being a preast residing in England and reconciling and Barvvis vvas executed for being reconciled that vvas ther treason both spiritual matters yovv may as vvell call Mithridate poyson black whyte vertue vice as to call religion treason but the lavv haith so called it A nevv name alters not the operation of an old vertue the cavvs of the death maiks the martyrdome not the name And surelie this act of generall diffidenc encreased more discontent But vvhat ded force the state to vse such violent and extraordinarie remedies vvhat ded bread such intricate trovvbles the extraordinary chaing of religion ded cast them into this laborinth bred these discontents procured all these enemies and forced the counsellors so to punish preasts 2. as Camden noteth the opinion of the Quenes illegitimation abroad 3. the iealouslie had of the Quene of Scots whome they dowbted most for her religion allianc in France fauor of the Pope and her proximitie and near kynred to the crown 4. the bull of PIVS V. And 5. the dowbt of the howse of Guise in the behalf of ther neace and 6. lastlie the offenc of the k. of Spayn for ayding Oreng and intercepting his moonie these wear the cawses that induced the State to prepare arme and vse means to preuent all mallice and mischeafe And knowing how strong a wall England haith for her protection and yet vvith in them selfs what a partie religion had both in E. and Ireland and no men wear so like as preasts to stirr vp all the humors in the bodie of the realmes therfor to keap then owt to expell them and to curb them yf they came in tey wear driuen to vse this pollicie to maik yt treason to be a preast or to mantain a preast And as this was mayd law by that glorious Prince who neaded such a deuise so it may be abrogated by hym that neadeth it not It remaineth that I shovv yovv vvhat Recusants men these Recusants arr vvho suffer in England and hovv they haue bean put to the triall of ther vertue The Recusants ar such as by the nevv lawes ar men marked owt that refuse for ther conscience to frequent the ordinarie prayers sermons and communion appointed by the Church of England this is all ther offenc and the sole trevv cawse they the lavv doth take notice of them and that fault bycause it showeth onelie that they ar not conformable to the Quenes iniunctions and the Canons of that Church and doth not conuinc them of anie disloyall affection to the Quene and the state ther for they ar subiect to a pecuniarie mulct vvhich the Scots men name verrie properlie and significantlie Saule moonie They haue allvvaies bean and yet arr persons of good qualitie manie of noble parentage most of vnder standing fevv of the meaner sort and all men of vertue and pietie vvho haue learned vvhat accoumpt is to be mayd of conscience And of this sort of subiects diuers haue bean euer since the first alteration It vvas an information of more mallice then truth by that profownd Casuist and Reporter of the lavves that from 1º Elizab. No person ded refuse to come to the Church to publick and vsuall prayers till the bull of Pius 5. vvas published As yf that bull had bean the sole meane to induce recusants to disobey the Quenes lavves and so to maik disloyaltie and disobedience the Original of recusancie I knovv he could not be ignorant that all puritans refused to come to Church or to communicate and wear best content to walk in the Church till sermon begonn so much they ded dislike the liturgie of England Besides he forgot hovv manie Bushops and preasts wear then knowen and professed recusants and how manie noble men and gentlmen of accoumpt ded forbeare to show them selfs members of that Church I maruel hovv he could conceaue that onelie Leuites and Prelates wear left to pray and serue God for a people who showed no religion nor constancie to wards Gods worship in tenn yeares No Sr England had manie worthie men at that tyme vvho never bowed ther knee to Nabugodonosors statua as Lanhearn Grafton Dinglie
most Yf yow look back to former ages yow shall fynd that from the Saxons to king E. 6. To be a Catholick vvas never taken as a barr to loyaltie neither vvas ther euer anie opposition fovvnd in the essenc and nature of loyaltie and the grownds of the Catholick faithe And good reason for that religion which most aymeth at mortification of the bodie and best armeth hym to combate vvith sinn and disposeth best the consciences of men to peace and devv obedienc and is aprooued by experienc of all ages least to embroyle and endainger a state vvith practises and treasons must neads of all indifferent men be esteamed more consonant and agreable to allegianc and fidelitie then that vvild and popular doctrine of the consistorians vvhich owt of presumption and licensiousnes vvill be confined into no circle of order but euer contemning lavve will dominer and rule as transcendents and taik vpon them the iurisdiction both of preasts and kings in a kingdome 2. Secondlie no man can denie but that Spayne Italie France he Empyre and Poland accoÌ„pt hym the best affected subiect and least daingerous to the state who is most deuoted to Catholick religion And then yf to be a Catholick ded bread and ingender anie ill blood in the bodie or secret infection of disloyaltie and so vvear in regard of the state malum in se and naturallie then vpon the generall tryall of nations in so manie ages it vvould haue bean discouered and detected for that imperfection vvhich it never haith bean charged withall neither in all these forren contries nor heartofore at anie tyme in England Therfor seing it is not malum in se and simpliciter as T. M. and parson Whyte haue in ther books scandalouslie slandered that religion and the Preasts and professors thereof seing it can not be verified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neither genarallie of the profession as Calyinism may iustlie yf the Lutherans say trewlie nor particularlie of the persons professing it nor originallie and ordinarilie in precedent ages neither for doctrin or exampl they can be taxed I may iustlie infer they ar acquited And surelie it was an error both vnciuil and vndiscreat to maik ther proposition so general and therby to maik the whole Churche so odious to the people and so much suspected to the king for we acknowledg that there ar of ther sect verrie manie calm and moral men boni viri boni ciues of sociable nature and not apt to blow the coles of sedition of persecution And so also the autho of the execution of Iustice ded geue a good testimonie of the loue and loyaltie of diuers worthie and noble Catholicks to Q Elizab. euen when they had greatest cawse to the contrarie when oppressions and contempt might haue prouoked flesh and blood to mutinies and though each man wisheth the propagation and aduancement of his own religion yet in the means to procure it and in the course to seak and in the manner and order of proceading to fynd it this treatise heith prooued that ther is great oddes and differenc betwean them as the confession and supplication of the preasts the patienc and obedienc of recusants the pietie and doctrine of the Seminaries haue sufficientlie prooued 3. Now let vs compare and parallel them to maik it more playne The Catholicks generallie both in France Germanie and England ar the patients the Protestants ar the agents 1. The one stand as defendors the other as inuadors 2. Preasts songht to keap that de iure they had Ministers to get that they had not for haeresie being a separation from the bodie could not enioye the liberties or benefit of the Church til it vvas mayd no heresie 3. The Preasts vvear possessors the ministers disseisors and iniurious 4. The Catholicks obey ex conscientia and absolute the protestants conditionaliter and with a quatenus and onelie for pollicie and gouernement 5. Preasts ar punished not for anie iniustice inhaerent but by imputation onelie and not for trespasses but for opinions not for that which is defacto but to preuent fiendum yf Priscian vvill pardon me But Caluinists ar guiltie both of action vsurpation and treasons reallie as this last year Lescun president of the assemblies at Rochel Haute-Fontain Chaumier preacher of Saumur suffred in France and P. Gombault all for real treasons And Bischarcy in Polland for attempting to kill the king whome he wounted greauouslie as he went to the Church 6. And there practises and ther spirites differ as much foras 7. They obiect the positions of some priuate and disauowed persons and words onelie the Catholicks obiect ther rebellions in dead ther battels ther real conspiracies at Amboys and in the wayle of Charmentras near Meaux to surprize the king 8 They reforme per populum and tumults the Catholicks by order law and superiors 9. They charg the Catholiks with treasons newlie enacted strayned and vpon suspicion contrarilie they ar condemned by ancient lawes currant in all Ghristendom by consent and by all ciuil and municipal lawes 10. The Catholicks seak not to hinder succession of kings that ar protestants as knox holdeth null is Paâ—ista in regno utherano aut Calumiano in regis principis aut aliam quam cunque dignitatem euehi potest 11. The Catholicks prefer a Monarchie Caluin Wolfius Swinglius an Aristocracie 12. Yet the Catholicks and our English protestants agree in this as in manie other weightie matters that princes ar not to be deposed but the Caluinists hold the contrarie and therfor maister T. M. by â— sovvnd propositions condemneth both the practise of the Hollanders Bohemians Sweuelanders Parraeus c. and that iudiciously 1. in his 6. reason they vvho suggest a doctrine of forcible deposing Princes ar manifestly rebellious 2. in cap. 4. they that vpon anie pretenc denie the right of election or succession of Princes ar seditious for tho he saith is of protestant princes I taik it he meaneth aâ—l and generallie or els hâ—s gap it to vvyde and partiall 3. when the king is established in his throne who seduceth the harts of subiects and withdrawes ther obedienc ar traytors applie these well and commend maister T. M. for his playne dealing with Holland and ther fellowes But I perceaue they will obiect that the state of England euer since 13. Eliz. vpon iealousie and distrust had of Catholicks armed ther magistrates with seuear lavves against them as the most capitall enemies of the crown and therfor haue branded the Preasts with the bleamish of treason as a character inseparable and a stayn never to be taken owt From whenc proceadeth it that to be a preast should be reputed as a poyson to corrupt obedienc surelie vpon certan new lawes mayd in the tyme of Q. Elizabeth whearby that is made malum prohibitum which before was neuer iudged in England to be malum in sâ— and that vocation vvas mayd Treason which was wont to sit in the chayre of gouernement and by whose oracles and
decrees the people was directed bothe in Chancerie Rolls and all Ecclesiasticall courts I haue before reuealed ther reasons and puld of all visards which hyde the face of truth After the supremacie was enacted and the Oath commanded the next care was to compell men to the exercise of the religion then established but the seminaries being erected the societie of Iesus encreasing and preasts being often sent ouer into England then begonn fyre and sword to rage the acts of 13. of 25. of 27. the proclamations of 1580. and 1591. wear published against the preasts and fathers and no man is so blynd but may discern the occasion of this rigour was for religion being for hearing mass and confessions which ar the foundation and pillers of religion and yet I confess the iealousies fears and suspicious of the tyme set for ward these seuear courses for thes prouident Counsellors ded think it necessarie by the horror of lawes to maik the seminaries of no vse by barring owt of the realme the Seadsmen for tho they ded obserue hovv far the zeal of the Church had transported the preasts that they preferred the Triumph of Truth before ther liues yet by all wordlie coniectures they probablie conceaued that the name of Treason as a Medusaes head would haue amazed and terrified them 1. bycause it stayned them all with a most reproachfull blott 2. and speciallie bycause they tought it depriued and robbed them of the crown and glorie of martyrdome the trophees of religion 3. besides they supposed that the loss of ther liues in so infamous manner the bleamish and hazard of ther frends and the punishment of ther partakers and abettors would haue vtterlie discooraged them from resorting anie more to England But this deuise ded not prosper it prooued quite contrarie ex cineribus Phoenix religion encreased by persecution owt of the ashes of martyrs so these politick lawes wrought not the effect they wear enacted for and yet wear verrie offensiue to all forrein princes as leges Draconis and phalarismus for these ar euer held to be most godlie lawes that ar least sanguinarie and yet mantain Now forasmuch as vpon worldlie respects A petition and reasons for mitigation manie acts haue of passedin parliement to trie what operation and cure they would works in the state and yf they prooued fruitles medecins or as empirical purgations too violent fitter to kill then to cure then to be repealed and bycause these prouisions and lawes against religious persons ar prooued to be such so they likewise ex gratia speciali and ovvt of his maiesties gracious compassion may be wel abrogated for as they wear mayd for the fears and suspicions of that tyme so by the grace and mercie of this tyme when they ar both neadles and causeles they may with honor be cancelled yf his maiestie shall please and the execution therof suspended to vvhose royall consideration I most humblie offer these few lines as petitions rather then reasons not for iustice but mercie 1. It was euer held against the wisedome and pollicie of this realme to fetter them selfs with too manie shacles of treason and dainger and therfor as 25. Edw. 3. at the petitions of the subiects the king ded declare and determin what should be taken and iudged for a case of treason by the common lawes of the realme so 1. Henry the 4. c. 10. it was confirmed and established that nothing hearafter should be deamed treason otherwise then was expressed by E. 3. And albeyt diuers actions wear strayned vp to be treason for a tyme vvhich vvear not within the list of 25. E. 3. as H. 6. the taking and surprising of persons and goods in Wales so to stand for the space of 7. yeares onelie and 8. H. 6. burning of howses and 22. H. 8. poysoning c. which of ther own nature and simplie wear not treason and therfor had a limitation of tyme annexed to them yet prudently all such former acts vvear repealed and mayd voyd 1. E. 6. for a more indifferent and merciefull proceading vvith subiects that the remedie might not be more daingerous then the disease and that the Lillies and roses of the crown might not be dyed with innocent blood For both in the tyme of Ciuil vvarrs and now while this great controuersie of religion dependeth in England vndecided such statutes open the gate to let in ruine desolation and confiscation bothe into the prisons of preasts and into the castles of the nobilitie and gentrie as appeared by the exampls and daingers of Arondel Northumberland Arden Sommerfeld and diuers others ane what ded happen to them maye endainger all 2. It vvill be a thing incredible to posteritie that so vvise a nation vvould maik that to be treason by parliement vvhich so generallie so perpetuallie ane so ancientlie haith bean honoured end approoued by all lavves vvas not preasthood vsed and exercised by the patriachs vnder the lavv of nature established by Moyses and the lavv of God continued yet in Christ and his Churches and never repealed by anie nevv decree vnder grace and the gospel and yf vvhich is impossible the Church erreth in that poynt of preasthood all ages all fathers all counsels all nations haue liued as blindmen in darknes and a chaos till Luther dispersed the mist is it not likelie Religion and preasthood wear like Hippocrates twins born and bred laughing and weaping beginning and ending together for in Moyses law the preast wear the inquisitors inspectores omnium iudices controuersiarum punitores damnatorum as Iosephus l. 2. contra Appion sets Down yf anie difficultie arise venies ad Socerdotes 17. Deuter and in c. 44. Ezech. Sacerdotes populum meum docebunt quid intersit inter Sanctum prophanum and so Philo. l. 3. de vita Moysis Iosaphat 2. paral and the Sanhedrim it self doth witnes it the reason of these remaineth yet in the tyme of the gospel and ther for by the lawes of England such reuerenc vvas euer showed to religious men that yf a bond man ded enter into a cloyster the law held it more reasonable that the king should loose his interest in the bodie then to be taken ovvt of his order the like vvas iudged yf the kings wards should enter into religion besides an alien can hold no lands in E. yet yf he be a preast he may be a bushop hear and enioy his temporalties as Lanfranc and Anselm wear vvho wear never dennisons Besides the state reposed so great trust in them that they wear maisters of the Rolls Six Clarks nay oft Chancellors and Threasorers of the realm And therfor it was a course of Summum ius by new lawes to punish men for an ancient vocation and so generallie receaued speciallie vvhen the storme is overblowen 3. Besides in Germanie Charles V. punished Luther by Exile and in Scotland by Baratre banishment they punish haeresie so they ded vviselie distinguish Haeresie and Treason as seuerall offences by seuerall