you would haue laid freely at them Dare you strangers and captiues and boyes and vpstart companions set your selfe against a million of wise men Princes and Counselours They should haue had your voice to haue gone to the fiery Furnace Doe you not pity your selfe when you reason in this fashion Among them that be wise pendenda sunt suffragiapetius quà m numeraÌ„da voices are to be weighed rather then to be numbred I can say no more vnto you but that when this is your best Divinity Lorde haue mercy vpon you Saint Austen would haue tolde you for o Epist. 19. all these and aboue all these we haue the Apostle Paule T. HILL NEither may the Protestants now at length glory in their great number as some of them haue done for that their Religion is there in England and in Scotland and some thereof in â—…aland and in the Lowe Countries and in some partes of Germany and a few of them in Fraunce Apol. Eccl. Anglic. for they never yet passed into Asia nor into Africa nor into Greece nor into many places of Europe much lesse into the Indies But indeede if you rightly scanne their doctrine you shall finde that your Religion ProtestaÌ„tine of England is no where in the world else and that English service contained in your booke of Common praier is vnknowne and condemned of all other Nations and people vnder the cope of Heaven So that in very deed the doctrine of your Protestantes is taught or received no vvhere but in England and the Puritant Doctrine of Scotlande the contrariety therof duely considered is no where but in Scotlande the Lutherane Doctrine taught in Denmarke is no where but in Denmarke and in a few places of Germany the Libertine doctrine taught in the Low Countries is no â—…here but in the Low Countries and the like may be said of other sectes G. ABBOT 26 YOV are mis enformed that the Protestants doe glorie in their great number they know that truth is truth be iâ—… in more or few As for M. Iewell whose Apologie you quote in your margent hee hath no such matter Onely where as it is obiected that our Religion overturneth kingdoms and governmentes hee answereth there vnto that there p Apol. Eccl. Anglican doe remaiue in their place and ancient dignitie the Kings of England Denmarke Sweden the Dukes of Saâ—…cony the Cunties Palatine c. This is to answere to an obiection by giving many instances to the contrary and not to glory of any multitude And if any other of our Church do note in breefe that the Gospell hath taken roote in some large nations that is to stop the mouth of the clamorous adversary and to satisfie the weake as also not least of all to praise God who so spreadeth the beames of his compassion but it is not to boast vainely as you ignorantly imagine Yet who doubteth but a good Christian may ioy in his hart exceedingly and thankfully expresse it in his tongue that many who sate in darkenesse may now behold the light and the sheepefold of Christ is more and more filled But if we would be too forward you will plucke vs backe againe Although it be say you in some places of Europe yet in some other it is not As who should say your Popery is generall in all Where I pray you in Greece is your Papistry It is not in Asia and Africa and much lesse in the Indies The East Indies are part of Asia if you could think vpon it By what means your Idolatry came into those Countries I haue shewed before and how plentifully there it is If we would talke idly as you for the most part doe we might say that in every place where the Marchants of Holland trade and haue people residing our religion is accepted But since the English Merchants haue companies houses in Russia in Constantinople in Aleppo in Alexandria sometimes in Barbary in Zacynthus in Venice and Legorne we might say after the fashion of your boasting that our religion is in those parts But we desire to make no more of things then indeede they are Yet we tell you for those remote provinces that as now one hundred and twenty yeeres agone they knewe not one whit of your faith so it may please God before one hundred and twenty yeeres more bee passed if it so seeme good to his most sacred wisedome to plant the truth which we reach in the East Westerne world especially if a passage by the North ende of America or that by Asia beyond Ob may bee opened vvherein our q M. Hacluiâ—… vnges Nation hath much adventured and speng good summes of treasure vvhich also the Hollanders haue done But the issue of this whole matter must bee leste to the divine providence which is to bee magnified therefore if hee adde this blessing to his Church And if he deny it either there or in any other place we must not be caried too farre with griefe or pitty since it doth not please him who is the father of mercie to condescend vnto it Nowe vvhereas you avouch that our doctrine is onelye in England I knovve not vvhither I shoulde put that in your ignoraunces or rather in your malicious cavils Truth it is our common prayer booke is vsed onelye by those who are of Englishe allegeaunce but is there anie pointe of doctrine in it vvherevnto other Churches reformed in Europe doe not condescend The Catechisme of the Councell of Trent doth differ in words from the Catechisme of Canisius and both of them from that of M. Vaux yet you would thinke it a wronge if anye man should tell you that they disagree in pointes of doctrine So the service of the reformed Congregations in Europe as in England Scotland Fraunce Switzerland in the dominion of the Palsgraue in the Regiments and free cities of Germany which are of the Pallsgraues confession as also in a good parte of the low Countries is the same in all pointes of moment not differing one intâ—… their Professions are the same There is no question among these in anie one pointe of religion The Ecclesiasticall policy being different as in some places by Bishops in some other wâ—…thout them doth not alter ought of faith The Apostles in that they were Apostles had a kinde of governement vvhich the Church had not afterward in the very same particular In the auncient Church some cities and Countreyes vvere immediately ruled by a Patriarke Grande Metropolitane some other by an inferiour Bishoppe vvho was subiected to the greater yet they all might agree in the faith The cheefe at Rome immediately is the Pope at Millaine for spirituall thinges the Arch-bishoppe in some places bee but Suffragaines in some other Iurisdictions a Deane or Priour by Privilege hath almost Papall auctoritie vvhich also in times past vvas in the Chauncellours or Vice-chauncellours of our English Vniversities some fewe thinges beeing excepted and reserved Yet will you say that these doe differ in
do that is put vp your pipes make no more noise Yet I cannot so leave you but put you in mind coÌ„cerning Protestants Puritanes that it is probable that the Controversies which then were by your slie secret coÌ„veiances were the more forwarded at the least you Romanistes did your best by hypocrites and other your naughty instruments to coÌ„tinue them For the practise of your religion being of late nothing else but mischievous policie your Emissaries were instructed at their comming into England to sooth both sides and to commend them that so they might persist in their opinions And heere I shall open to the vvorlde some thing of your cunning vvhich is not knowne to every body There g At Rhemes Anno 1579. are certaine instructions vvhich Doctour Allen in a longe continuated speech vvhich hee dictated to his auditours and they in vvriting tooke it from his mouth did bestovve on such Priests as vvere then to bee sent from the Seminarie in Fraunce into England And these vvere to informe them hovve they should deale vvith all sortes of people to pervert them from their faith Thus therefore hee advertiseth them If you chaunce to deale vvith a Puritane you must say vnto him Truely brother for you there is more hope then of these that be Protestants because they for feare of the Prince and the lawe are ready to say and beleeve any thing and therfore me thinketh they be Atheistes but for you there is more hope being either hote or colde If you deale vvith a Protestant tell him there is more hope of him then of such rash brained Puritanes because they with Religion have put of all humanitie and civilitie vvith all other good maÌ„ners Who would not thinke that for mischievous devises this head of Allens was soone after worthy to be covered with a Cardinals hat But by the leave of our Seculars who strive to magnifie him he did not learne this of Saint Peter but rather of Sir Nicholas Machiavel a man of their good acquaintance Heere with our Seminarie Preests both Protestants and Puritanes were for a purpose honest men I would that we had cause so to repute of thâ—…se Romanists 9 Now whereas you call the faith which we professe our Parliamentary Religion you are for that tearme behoulding to diverse of your good maisters For yoâ—… chiefe schoole-master Bristow longe since bestowed that phrase on vs intituling one of his Chapters h Brist Motiv 42. The Parliament Church and Parsons vvho coulde ever readilie enlarge an vntruth i Wardword ca. 4. saith that Peter Martyr and Maister Bucer at their comming into England in King Edvvardes daies vvere conditioned vvith to teach that Religion vvhich should bee established by the Parliament approaching It is vvell confessed by him that our Realme in that Kinges enteraunce was not so weake in the knowledge of Divinity that they needed to be guided by any from beyond the seas but they themselves could search the k Ioh. 5. 3. 9 Scriptures to sifte out what vvas the truth It vvas not so happie vvith that Conventicle at Trente whereas it seemeth all the learned men were so simple that they did nothing but almost verbis concepâ—…is from Rome which gave occasion to that meriment that the holie Ghost who should have bin President of the Councel was brought from Rome in a boxe But the Religion which was then and is now established in England is drawne out of the fountaines of the word of God from the purest orders of the Primitive church which for the ordinarie exercise therof wheÌ„ it had bin collected into the booke of common Praier by the paines and labour of many learned men and of mature iudgment it was afterward confirmed by the vpper and lower house yet not so but that the most materiall points were disputed and debated in the Convocation house by men of both parties and might farther have bin discussed so long as any Popish Divine had ought reasonably to say l Holinshed An. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But there in the beginning of Q. Elizabeths raigne the Antichristian Bishops to their everlasting infamie to the perpetuall preiudice of their cause refused the disputation or conference and crying creake for sooke their cause in the plaine field knowing right well that when Popery must bee brought to the touch-stone of Gods word it will proove base and counterfeite And then it being intended to adde to Ecclesiasticall decision the corroboration of secular governemeÌ„t according to the auncient custome of this kingdome as appeareth by m An 20. 25 38. Râ—…gis Edvard 3 Record froÌ„ the time of K. Edward the 3. the Parliament which is the most honorable Court of Christendome did ratify the same That so all of all orders and degrees might be bound to serve the Lord of heaven not after their owne fancies but as himselfe had prescribed And that this heretofore hath bin the custome of good Princes to cal their Nobles and their people to ioyne with them for the establishing of Gods service every man may know who will but looke into the stories of the Bible For there it will appeere that n Iosuah 〈◊〉 2. Iojuah being olde minding as farre as in him lay to perpetuate the sincere service of the Lord to all succeeding generatioÌ„s did assemble all Israel their Elders their Heads their Iudges their Officers to give consent therto So did o 〈◊〉 Chron. 28. 1. David not onely minding to commend to all his subiects the succeeding of Salomon in the crowne after him but aboue all things pure Religion And was not this the course which Asa did take for the reforming p 2. Chron. 15 9. of those errours wherwith Gods service was intaÌ„gled when assembling all Iudah and Beniamin to Ierusalem hee did cause them by an othe of association and as in way of a stronge covenant to binde themselves to God yea and that vnder the paine of death to flie Idolatrie and to embrace true piety and devotioÌ„ The like might be saide of other Princes who were god ly And these meetings no doubt being such assemblies as our Parliament is or rather being some more generall matter hee who should have termed their conclusions a Parliamentary Religion might have bin reputed no better theÌ„ a scoffing enimy And so may you Doctor Hill be accounted and Bristow in like sorte but Persons over and aboue that may have the name of a slaunderer who can glose and invent any thing which may serve for his purpose as that is that P. Martyr and M. Bucer were indented with all to teach as the Parliament should decree implying that whatsoever it had bin they must have condescended vnto it This lying Iesuite can shew no letter no Acte of Record no testimony of semblaunce of truth to averre this his calumniation But the matter indeed was that the reformers of Religion heere intending to level all by the line of Gods word knew that those two
acceptable to the Almighty and yet indeede they were most displeasing in his sight most exorbitant from the rule of his commaundements God iudgeth not by the imaginations and conceipts of men but according to those prescriptions which he hath laide downe in his word so is his determination And whether your opinions doe agree with that his sacred Scripture vvee shall sift in time and place In one Periode you tell your friends that they loue you amore concupiscentiâ—… rather then amore amicitia seeking their owne good thereby yet you adde in the very next sentence that whatsoever they write or say you knowe it proceedeth from loue and affection and froâ—… true amâ—… but yet savouring meerely of flesh and blood Here wee woulde gladly knowe howe true amity should be in any and not amor amicitia You had neede explane this Paradoxe If you were borne and baptised in Popery it may seeme that your birth was in Q. Maries daies but how you should receiue confirmation in the same errors vnlesse it were after your flying beyond the seas we cannot tell It is one thing to be generated another to be regenerated one thing to haue a birth another a new birth And as touching your Baptisme you should remember that you were baptised into the faith of Christ not into the beleefe of the Bishop of Rome who for his owne part shall stand or fall to God but shall not so answere as to cleere the soules of other i Epiphanius in Ancorato Origen shall not stand by vs in the day of iudgement neither shall any other so assist vs as by his protection to savegard vs. Neither is it sufficient to say that after this or this sort I was baptised and therefore I will continue in the same in as much as the Iewe may say so farre touching his CircuÌ„cision in Iudaisme and the Mahumetane concerning his Circumcision in Mahumetisme yea the Arrians were baptised in Arrianisme and other Heretikes receaved that Sacrament after the obliquities of their Heresies It is ill to begin amisse but it is worse to persevere in the by-waies of vncertaine errour Tullie could recount it for a faulte that k Academicar Quâ—…st 4. men in the weakest time of their age either listning to some friend or being inveigled by one oration of some body which they have first heard they iudge of thinges vvhich they knovve not and looke vnto whatsoever discipline they bee caried as vvith a tempest vnto it they doe cleave as to a rocke and never examine vvhether it be right or vvronge Yet such as these in their elder yeeres might have saide for themselves In this have vvee beene conversant even from our youth therein have vvee had our education and therefore novve vvee are not to varie from it This determination had not beene good in Philosophie neither is the like to it commendable in Divinitie Your magnisike bravado of embracing that which is so auncient and vniversall is but a blaze to dazle the eies of your credulous disciples If in defence of your superstition you bee able to shevve ought of more antiquitie then the vvord of God is we will soone yeelde vnto you but verily in comparison hereof all for which you striue is but plaine novelty Neither doth the wide spreading of errour alter the nature of it into truth or giue any priviledge for the warrant of the same for then should the service and obedience of Sathan bee of higher worth then the verity of Christ in as much as the feare of God hath ever beene contained within more narrow listes then the devotions and ceremonies performed to the Devill Truth is not to be esteemed by the multitude of the followers but by the reality of it selfe But in the processe of this worke there will be occasion more then once to speake of this argument That ioy of yours that you follow not any new opinions as of Puritanisme Brownisme Martinisme or of the familie of loue is but slenderly supported for among men of vnderstanding it is no better to holde a long continued vntruth then a late-sprung-vp falshood The one is to defende an inveterate errour and the other to mainetaine a later mis-conceite And probably against the former it may be obiected that as l Aâ—…ist Top 3. l. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bonum quò antiquius eò melius so on the contrary side Malum quò antiquius eò peius In those matters which deflect from the rule of right the heavier sentence doth ever light according to the measure or quantity of of the variation from the rule not according to the age or youth of the opinion That is but a circumstance the other is the maine consideration Great carefulnesse you pretende to satisfie your friendes that it is not on any heady or braine-sicke fantasticalitie that you are so addicted to the Romish profession But while you ioine there-vnto that you haue no purpose to perswade other to your superstition as beeing daungerous because prohibited by the lawes of the lande vvherein vvee live vvee dare not entertaine that on your Popish credit For we are not so simple but to see that this m Mat. â—…3 15. compassing of sea and land this labouring to disgrace our Religion and the professours of it this forging and faining so many vntruthes this magnifying of the Papacy the members thereof the publishing of al these that in the vulgar tongue is to no other ende but to make proselytes if it may be to enlarge the kingdome of Antichrist to extende the territories of the Pope to stay and intricate the passage of the stronge to intangle the weake to perverte the simple to abuse those who are light of beliefe to feede the humour of the male-contented and to minister more poyson to those who are already intoxicated vvith the cuppe of n Apoc. 17. 〈◊〉 fornication reached out by the whore of Babylon And in respect of this your proiect we marveile not at all at your braving and facing that you are able to afford vs infinite moe Reasons vvhy your profession is true Religion VVe are now well acquainted vvith such bragges as these are and our youngest Divines who looke into your workes which come from beyonde the seas doe despise it and contemne it in you al that vvhen you haue spent many yeares in compiling your pamphlets or greater bookes yet it must be said to be done in a few weekes or monthes or as Campians Reasons were o Conclusio decem Rationum munusculum contextam operis in itinere subcisivis And when you haue raked togither all that you can say yea stolne it also from the works one of another yet you coulde make large volumes more and fill the vvorld vvith the ever-flowing streames of your continuall running rivers Of this wee shall neede no better instance theÌ„ your selfe whose huge boasts wil be displayed to be but base and poore shiftes and your Quartron will be manifested to
your inculcating of Al d Fol. 2. Nations having afterwards subioyned vnto it ever continue without interruption e Fol. 3. all Kinges people should acknowledge this Church againe all people which sate in darkenes in the shadow of death should be lightened delivered and set in the right way to Heaven If you take it thus you are pitifully out for our Saviour hath fore-told that into the f Math. 7. 13 wide gate broad way that leadeth to destruction many there be which enter but the straight gate and narrow way that leadeth vnto life few there be that finde And it was reveiled vnto Iohn that with the whore of Babylon the g Apoc. 17. 2. Kings of the earth committed fornication the inhabitours of the earth are drunken with the wine of her fornication And experience hath confirmed that not only the Saracene doctrin hath for almost these thousād yeeres possessed the shew face of many great countries but time out of mind very Gentilisme Heathenisme have raigned in the East West Indies in the Ilands neere adioyning in diverse parts of Africa in Lappia and many other countries the name of Iesus our Redeemer for ought that of certainty can be found till of late yeeres being scant ever heard of among them Or doe you rather vnderstand those speeches of all Nations cōming vnto him of all being drawne vnto Christ to carry this sence that the Gentiles nowe as well as formerly the Iewes should bee admitted and moreover that the word should bee spreade to the East and to the VVest and to the North and to the Southe so that before the day of iudgment God should have some faithfull in everie quarter and sometimes when his Church did flourish many thousands in diverse places and alwaies some servants some-where In this meaning if you take it we willingly ioyne with you the rather induced thervnto by the nature of the word All in the Scriptures and by the manner of the fulfilling of those Prophecies in the Church in such a sort as with reason cannot be gaine-saide For as All in holy writte doth evermore at least signifie many so it doth not cōtinually importe a generality without any sort of exception When it is saide that to Iohn the Baptist h Math. 3. 5. vvent out Hierusalem and all Iewry and all the region round about Iordan it is not meant that no individuall person did stay at home but many of all sortes rich and poore young and olde men and women such a company as if almost all the country had come in were partakers of his Baptisme So i T it 2. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the grace of God hath appeared which bringeth salvation to all men saith Saint Paule to Titus Like to which is that to Timothy k 1. Tim. 2. 4. God our Saviour who will that all men shall be saved where All intendeth many or diverse of diverse sorts not vniversally every one He will have all to be saved saith Gregory l In 1. Reg. 14. because out of every sort of men hee chooseth those whome hee draweth to the ioye of everlasting salvation And Aquinas himselfe among other interpretations of that later place hath this m Part 1. q. 19. a. 6. It may bee vnderstood that the distribution must be made pro generibus singulorum and not pro singulis generum according to this sence God vvill have of every state of men to be saved males and females Iewes and Gentiles smal and great but not all of every severall state And who will say that in every particular countrie of Asia or the continent toward the South pole or many other quarters of the world the Church of Christ hath alwaies apparantly bin The Romanists of al other must not say so if they will have the cōgregation of Gods faithful to extēd it selfe no further thē their doctrine the Popes vsurpatiō doth goe For they cannot prove that ever those regions heard of the name of the Romane Bishop vntill this last age if now they doe or have lately done This thē we grant vnto you that Christ Iesus hath evermore a Church that variously dispersed vnder the cope of heavē not boūded within narrow precincts as that of the Iewes was The goodly titles also which in the word are givē vnto it are ever true in respect of the purity of religiō but especially for the fundamental points which finally cōcerne salvation And they are also as true for the visible glory of the church in time of peace the free course of the Gospel but are not perpetually without interruption to be vnderstood for the patent extent of the same that gloriously apparātly to be in any one countrey of the world as the defenders of the Romane Hierarchy would chalenge to themselves T. HILL FOR before the comming of the Messias the people of the Iewes many others also in other Lands which were of the Iewish Religion vvere in some sorte farre from the bondage of the Devill but since his comming both Iewes and Gentiles and almost all Nations Tribes and Kingdomes have bin ever in Lucifers thraldome vntill this our age in which Luther came to expell Lucifer and to ridde all the world out of his captivity And so the passion of our Redeemer availed little or nothing at all for the space of these fifteene hundred yeeres for a thousand yeeres together hee was so farre from drawing all vnto him as hee said hee would do that he drew not so much as one person that any mā can name And in Ioh. 12. our Country there of England it is most manifest that all were Papistes without exception from the first Christening thereof vntill this age of King Henry the eight G. ABBOT 9 YOV labour to proove that if you bee not the Church the Devils dominion since Christes time hath bin larger then ever it was before And your reason is that before the comming of Christ the Iewes and other of the Iewish profession in other lands were in some sort free from the bondage of the Devil which is true in all those who by the eies of faith did foresee the birth life death of the Messias did beleeve on him reputing him their Redeemer as 〈◊〉 Iob did call him but since his manifestation say you Iewes Gentiles almost all Nations Tribes Kingdomes 〈◊〉 Iob. 19. 25. have bin ever in Lucifers thraldome vntill this our age in which Luther came to expell Lucifer c. I wōder that you can suffer the name of Luther to passe so quietly without some egregious contumely but keeping it for him you only stay it a while anon he shall have it But being heere in the heigth of that argument which above all other pleaseth your side and the very rehearsing whereof as you woulde make your doating followers beleeve doth make vs all o Campian Ration
〈◊〉 and we cannot tell how many kinds and theâ—… 〈◊〉 will bâ—… 〈◊〉 and pretend 〈◊〉 draâ—… their doâ—… from you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thâ—… Apostâ—… Sâ—… 〈◊〉 hearing thâ—… would not have bin aâ—…shed at al but would have signified that there was 〈◊〉 â—…ght way which was chalked out in the writings of the old 〈◊〉 Testâ—… 〈◊〉 bâ—…ing walked in woâ—…d bâ—…ng men vnto life thâ—…â—…st 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 byâ—… 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 had opeâ—… 〈◊〉 being 〈◊〉 to draw some thither vnto their owne 〈◊〉 But if you will looke lower to the fourth age after Christ 〈◊〉 shall finde that youâ—… obiection might moâ—…â—…ly have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Geâ—…es in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 you many strifes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I know not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I should choose what I should preferre Everyone such I say the truth 〈◊〉 I should beleeve I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 since I am 〈◊〉 of the Scriptures and they on both sides doe pretend the same Yet his Conclusion is that 〈◊〉 of the Scripture and such necessary consequences as are drawne from thence the iudgement what is truth is to 〈◊〉 had But what small vnity was there among the Christians when he wrote this Or when Saint Austen mencioned more then b De haeresib ad quod vult Deum fourescore heresyes which had arisen in the Church all whom but for tediousnesse I would retire from him as also one of Epiphanius and Theodoret that the Reader might see that we need not to be frighted with the pretended shew of your 55. Now might not such a one as that Symmachus was who vnder the Emperour Valentinian in the time of S t Ambrose made so earnest effectualla c Ambros. Epist speech that Ethnicisiue might be restored in Rome and altars might be permitted to their Paimme Gods Iupiter Mercury Apollo Iâ—…o and the rest have disputed in the same manner against the Christian faith as you now do reason VVhile vvee retained the service of our formerly knowne Maiores minores Dij vvee agreed vpon that vvorship which every God should have wee knew their Temples their altars their sacrifices their Priests their feasts times and seasons vvee had vnity in our heartes and sweete harmony in our speeches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which you have â—…hed among vs we see nothing 〈◊〉 to which we may cleave for howe should we be resolved what is to be embraced when you cannot agree among yourselves what is the 〈◊〉 and right way And the difâ—… is not that some go to the 〈◊〉 hand 〈◊〉 the other 〈◊〉 a maÌ„ had 〈◊〉 many hands 〈◊〉 d Plutarch de multitud aâ—…corum Brâ—… 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dâ—…ed hands was imagined to have there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some be wanting who with 〈◊〉 dis-ioined 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 would 〈◊〉 to every one of them If Symmachus had spoke thus as heâ—… 〈◊〉 not behinde hand to vtter other 〈◊〉 sheâ—… available 〈◊〉 his purpose St. Ambrose who answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obiections â—…d 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 â—…Lineâ—… and the same individed truth should be hemmed about with many different doctrines of Heresie T. HILL AND what divisions you have there in England you may in some sort know who doe as I thinke now and then heare Preachers of different doctrine What combats your Bishops Councellours and moderate sort of Protestants have to defend their Parlimentary Religion and the Queenes Proceedings as they terme it against Puritans Brownists other such like good fellowes that by shew of Scriptures impugne it you cannot but knowe and see with your eyes Neither can it bee answered that the Sects heere rehearsed differ one from another onely in matters of small moment for they differ and disagree in waighty points of our salvation as might heere easily be declared but that it would not benefite this mine intended brevity so to doe G. ABBOT 8 WHen you have put on your spectacles to see have picked your eares to heare you and all your confederates can neither iustly see nor heare Gods name be blessed therfore that either at this time or at the divulging of this your treatise there be or were any differences of opinion in England concerning the faith Our Preachers do not differ or teach diverse doctrines in any of their Sermons VVe have for our rule the olde and new Testament the e Articul Relig. in Synodo 1562. Confession of our Church in the Articles of Religion set out by the warraÌ„t of the Scripture alone and to these as to the Analogy of faith we do cleave and there is no graduate in our Vniversities and much lesse Preachers and Pastours in our churches but subscribe thervnto And if heeretofore there have bin some fewe Brownists mis-ledde by a man who afterward was sory for his own over-sight the name of them now as I thinke is not to bee heard of among vs. And such as you cal Puritans did never differ froÌ„ the rest in any point of substance but about circumstances and ceremonies as cappe surplesse and such like and about the manner of Ecclesiasticall regiment even as your secular Priests lately did not thinke fitte to bee ruled by your Arch-priest and his Assistants and yet Garnet your Provincial and Persons the Rectour of your English Seminary at Rome and the Pope himselfe whether by any surreptitious Breve or no doe you looke did thinke fitte to have them so ordered But never were the CouÌ„sellours of Estate nor the Bishops of this kingdome so disquieted with those dis agreements as the Court of Rome the Cardinals there have beene with your gaâ—…les in England in as much as the bruit of these differences heere went but to the Bishop of the Dioces or the High CoÌ„mission at LoÌ„don but your broiles brabbles have passed the Sea crossed Fraunce traversed the Alpes have never ceased ruÌ„ning till they have rapped at the gate of f Appellaâ—… 〈◊〉 Clement 8. Clemens Octavâ—… What the issue of theÌ„ farther wil be time must discover but of this we are assured that to your great discontentment and to the end that we might all the better observe you in our late Soveraignes daies of most happy memorie the fatherly wisedome of our châ—…stest Church governours and the moderate temper of other men being not so farre of from seemely conformity as heeretofore did to the ioy of all good men reasonablie well cure that wound and salve that sore and so the shame was taken away from Israel And had not this beene yet if your brevity which is but a shuffling colour to make shewe of some things which are not had beene turned into one yeeres or seaven yeeres longity you could not have shewed that in substantiall points of faith there was variaÌ„ce among vs. And therfore for that matter you do wel to do as you
bringe a Spanish Princesse the Infanta into that throne vvhich by all righte divine and humane belonged to his Maiestie as the indubitate heire to the Imperiall Crownes of these kingdomes of England and Ireland This intendment of theirs is as cleere as the noone day by h Doleman Persons his booke of Succession by the vrging of the Studentes in the Seminaries to subscribe to the Spanishe title if it were but in blankes by the frequent charging of the Iesuites therewith in the late books of the Secular Priests their Assistants vnto all which the Authour of the Apologie and Manifestation doth not so much as faintly for a fashion giue the least denial We doubt not therefore but his most illustrious Maiesty will be circumspect against such vipers and that his Highnesse considereth the fruits of them and their doctrine in Fraunce the murther of King Henry the third the animating of Paris and so many great citties to rebellion against the puissant King nowe regnant the attempts of i sasuit cat lib. 3. 6. Peter Barrier and k Cap. 8. Iohn Chastell by the lesuites meanes to commit murther and parricide vpon his royal person besides all the doctrine which they haue of the want of Eâ—…ds to slay Kings whome they holde tyrauntes of the Popes ' power to excommunicate Princes and to absolve subiectes from the oath of their alleageance of all Cleargie men in a kingdome exempt from the chastisement and governement of the temporall or Civill Monarke and onely subiect to the Bishop of Rome the verity of which points hee may at large see who will reade that little but excellent treatise Le Fraâ—…c Disâ—…rs Their vow of blinde obedience to their Superiours their position of ordine ad Deum their rule of propter bonum societatis will inferre any varletry traiterousnesse vilainy or impiety in the worlde bee it whatsoever Lastly the experience which is had of them doth manifest that they are like the olde Pharises of whom l Antiquit. lib. 17. 3. Iosephus could say that they were aprowde generation and dangerous vnto Kings for they entred Polony and m Quodlib 3. 7. straight there followed vpon it a rebellion against their Soveraigne they haue beene the meanes that n Ies. Catec lib. 3. 16. Stephen Batori novve king of Poleland is thrust from his ancient kingdome of Sweden the whole life of the activer sort of them being nothing but a o Quodlib in praefat tampering in state causes and Princes affaires their felicity is to set the Realmes where they come into a combustion If then for these and the like reasons the King of Fraunce professing for the Romish faith hath by soleÌ„ne Edict banished these Iebusites out of his kingdome and that on paine of death and they are not harboured in his Realme but only in Burdeaux and Tholouse which is to be hoped will also shortly bee redressed is it to be wondered that our kingdome professing the reformed religion being England which of old could endure no wolues should abandon this lewde Society It might rather be reputed a singular weakedesse in so wise and vigilant a State as God bee praysed this is if there should not be provision made to keepe out such Caterpillers or rather Foxes and Beares who come to destroy the flocke and insteed of converting of countries wherof you speake intende the perverting of consciences and turning them from that due obedience which they owe to the Almighty God of heaven and to his Vice-gerent here amonge vs. It hath pleased the Lord long agone to open the eies of our Governours to see the drifts of these men and wee are to pray that their heartes may ever bee inspired to see the execution of such wholesome lawes that some may take the p Cant. 2. 15 Foxes the little Foxes which destroy the Uines that is to say such body-killing soule-murthering spiritual enemies who destroy many a weake womaÌ„ and vnadvised rash young man T. HILL I will not here speake of the infinite number of Miracles wrought by Catholickes in conversion of Countreys and namely of those which are now done in both the Indies by the holy Fathers aforesaide for that I reserve that matter for his proper place but I would advise you here diligently to weigh the sequele of the Assertion of the Protestantes howe that if Papistes be not true Christians and of the right religion then doth it necessarily followe that neither Spanyards nor Portingales nor Sardinians nor Sicilians nor Italians nor Germaines nor Transylvanians nor Hungarians nor Polouians nor Danes nor Flemmings nor Scots nor Irish nor English no nor any Nation vnder heaven had ever true Religion before Frier Luther maried Moune Bore before Iohn Calvin run away to Geneva before Peter Martyr with his Fustolugges came to teach at Oxford and before a number of such like good companions ledde only by sensualitie and carnall zeale dishodded themselues and became such spectacles to the world as every maÌ„ knoweth Which thing to affirme is flatly to denie Christ and all Christianity as I shewed in my first Reason G. ABBOT YOur mounstrous Miracles you put over to another Chapter and thither God willing I will follow you so that in good time you shal heare of mee The foolishnesse and ridiculousnesse of this your other assertion I have q Answere to the 1. Reason already manifested but heere you are disposed to commemorate the nations of Christendome although to small purpose well I wote vnlesse you would haue vs note that you put the Spaniards first and the English last For if you have named the French also the Bohemians Muscovits Graecians we must answere you that among these or so many of these as it seemed good to the divine Providence there was true Religion and yet the grosser sort of your Papistes had none of it albeit some touched with some smal staines of Popery did belong to Gods kingdome And these were not only before the birth of these excellent men whoÌ„ you name but in all ages since Christ his time VVherefore your bold talking heere is no better then idle trifling That Doctour Luther was a Frier and his wife a Nonne wil be easily granted vnto you but in a Christian mans vnderstanding what more preiudice is therin then that r Exod. 2. 10 Moses for a time was brought vp as the sonne of Pharaâ—…s daughter or that s Act. 23. 6. S t. Paule was a Pharisee or that s Luk 82. 3. Mary Magdalone was agrievous sinner or t Luk. 19. 1. Zacheus the maister of the custome It was no fault for u Gen. 19 12 Let to come out of Sodome neither is it to be blamed that any hasteÌ„ out of u Apoc 18 4 Babylon But the greese is that he a Votary did mary her a Votary which Campians malice so expresseth x Ration 3 dâ—…ec incesto 〈◊〉 votam Deo virginem fâ—…sset
if matters be wel sifted Now if it be so that Priests do go to such countries as you intimat what should they otherwise do for to their own natiue soile many of theÌ„ dare not returne as being fled thence perhaps for slâ—…gitious crimes other haue there no maintenaÌ„ce nor friends so besids the dà ger of the laws they should be to al meÌ„ ridiculous conteÌ„ptible who haue traveiled so farre brought home with theÌ„ I say not liuelyhood ability but no learning or good quality And in the Seminaries they may no longer stay but if they should refuse g Apolâ—… 12 Priest-hood or offer to stay being coÌ„maÌ„ded away they would be held periured persons with coÌ„tumely be turned out therfore I cannot blame theÌ„ if they rather adventure any where vpon vncertaine hope theÌ„ run vpoÌ„ certaine daÌ„ger If needs they must beg they think it the more their credit to do it in far couÌ„tries then where they are known And this if they should grumble as whither they do or no theÌ„selues can best tell to whom may they complaine or who shall amende ought since their penurious or hard harted superiors ingeminate vnto them the vow of obedience that is their amends 12 But how some of these Priests Iesuits haue mortified their affections lusts coÌ„posed theÌ„selues to their graues may bee iudged by their gallaÌ„tnes in apparel their gaming their striving for place superiority their tos-potâ—…ing other such behavior as hereafter I shal touch Now let me rather see whither they haue renouÌ„ced al riches hâ—…nors or no That our Seminarians come into EnglaÌ„d most poore it is not to be doubted Yet that some of theÌ„ here haue purles ful of gold as h Dec'arat of popish Impostâ—…es exam of Sar will Dibdale other that some speÌ„d many i Sparing Discor of Iesuites huÌ„dred pounds by the yeare that some ride in their k Ibidem Coches vp downe the country is a matter confessed not to be doubted vpon How many are the cousening cunny-catching tricks wherby they haue drawn out l Quod 3 10. thousands of pounds out of their ghostly childrens purses Is it not avowed that m Sparing Discovery 2200 pouÌ„ds at one time was by theÌ„ sent over seas out of EnglaÌ„d Nay are not the riches of the Iesuits so great that warning hath bin given by one of their own religioÌ„ that all christendoÌ„e had need to look to theÌ„ lest they aspire to a n Quodli 9. vbique Monarchy here in Europe as they haue done to the governmeÌ„t of sapona And lest this speech may seem to be vttered without all ground conceiue the infinite wealth of that society It is too wel known to those who haue lately travailed that the possessions of the Iesuits in some parts of Germany but especially in Italy Polonia are incomparably great some thousaÌ„ds of manours townes villages being theirs What their wealth was in France may be iudged by this that the credible report is that at their last o Quod. 9. 7. expulsioÌ„ froÌ„ thence they lost three millions at the least In Spaine they haue what they wil almost But their greatest benefit is that vnder the king they haue free trafficke to the Indies to their inestimable gaine How this may bee you shall heare one of their English-Romanists briefly reporte p The 2. letter of A. C. fol. 20. The Iesuits in India do more theÌ„ coÌ„petent respect their teÌ„poral boâ—…te in that spiritual trafficke And with golde pearle spice such like Indian wares they every yeare froÌ„ theÌ„ce inrich copiously their society in Europe If this yet do not satisfie you desire to heare more of Iapona that froÌ„ the mouth of another witnes haue it then from a low Country-man reporting the travaile of some who went rounde the world q Additam None parâ—…s Americae In Iaponia of the Portingale no man hath any authority or power besids the Iesuits who do there exercise marâ—…haÌ„dising of al matters most ample And these almost al are Portingales who while they were in Iaponia did informe the greatest part of the nobles people coÌ„cerning the popish religioÌ„ when they had perswaded theÌ„ with divers dreames they did so draw theÌ„ vnto their side that by these they are now esteemed reverenced as in the place of litle Gods These Iesuits also do diligently take heed that no moÌ„k of any other order be receiued into those laÌ„ds So making theÌ„selues Lords of all matters men they do there exercise most rich most frequeÌ„ted traffickings Here theÌ„ is now the first credible relatioÌ„ that they haue won some to their popery but whither these were wise people or no to be thus circuÌ„vented other men may iudge In the meane time it is manifest that these Machiavilian most earthly minded Friers haue not renouÌ„ced al riches honors and as men mortified haue composed themselues to their graues Which being true of these who pretend the highest state of perfection what may we imagine of Secular Priests the shevve of whose sanctity is contemptible in the eies of these Mounsieurs This is a taste to you D. Hill of the truth of your asseverations although I must acquaint you also that if your Priests should do those externall things which you name that is endaunger themselues and leaue earthly commodities yet this doth not warrant that their labouring is to winne men to Christs faith No more then theirs was who r Mat 23. 15 compassed sea and lande to make a Proselyte and when hee was so made hee was two-folde more the childe of hell then they themselues s Iob. 〈◊〉 Sathan himselfe doth compasse the world but it is not to good purposes As a s 1. Pet. 5. 8. roaring Lyon he walketh aboute seeking whom he may devour The Foxe goeth farre from his denne and adventureth his life also if he should be caught and yet his going is to destroy The t Aug. lib. 〈◊〉 conâ—… Câ—…escon Gram. Circumcellian heretikes not for truth but for their fancy ' parted with al things that this world might yeeld them yea with life it selfe u 1 King 1â—… 2â—… 〈◊〉 Baals Prophets did to the vttermost hazard themselues for Baall The u Eus. Eccl. Hustor 8. 20 Marcionites had their Martyrs and so also had the x Socr. 4. 27 Arrians who lost their liues But it is not what a man suffereth but the cause wherefore he suffereth that maketh him acceptable to God T. HILL ANd I see also on the other side that no Protestant ever had so great zeale of his religion as that hee woulde for spreading abroade the same forgâ—… any vvorâ—…ly commoditie either by founding Seminaries or Colledges in Countreys or by going or sending where any difficulty or danger was but as one wholely respecting this vvorlde hee vvaâ—…ovveth in vvealth and pleasures at home or if by any
give scope when doe what you can with all your bloudy torments you cannot roote religion out of those places Yea it seemeth that some where in Italie it beareth a prety shew when your Cardinall Bellarmine to the cold comfort of his olde hart could complaine that Lutheranisme for so he calleth it had k In praefat Generali at last passedover the Alpes and pearced even vnto very Italie But is your Pope come to that poverty that now of all the firme lande of Europe you can single out but two countries which stande wholy for him Yea and one of those also liable to so evident an exception This is a good steppe within one hundred of yeeres In the next age God Almighty may plucke many of these from him also But his will must be done In other Realmes there bee Catholikes as in Fraunce It is not so farre from vs but we know how the world goeth there It is possible within that Kingdome to finde more then seaven l 1. Reg. 19. 18. thousand who never bowed their knees to Baal And be they such Papists in the most partes of Germany I am sure you have heard of one Luther whose scholers and himselfe haue not lost much time there I know you have great ioy to remember him For Polonia Bohemia I beleve that you heard some body say that there be both Nobles and of other sorts who have a religion besides Popery Those who love Hus and Luther are not all deade in the one And in the other somewhat there is in it that in the open assemblie of the States or m Prefat Apâ—…log Iâ—… In â—…ui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parliament it hath bin dared to be proposed that the Iesuites their Colleges shold be extirpated theÌ„ce That in EnglaÌ„d there be some whoÌ„ we pity pray for we cannot deny that is especially the weake beguiled ones As also that there be some more obstinate ones left to be like the Canaanits n Numer 33. 55. prickes in our eies and thornes in our sides but surely you can make no great boast of the Popes tyrannizing heere Nay it is to be hoped that his number is likely day by day to be diminished since many indifferently affected returning to their owne iudgmeÌ„t wil see that they have beene abused by the Priests who never ceased to inculeate into their eares that if once the ere of her late most Christian Maiestie were out England would be nothing but as a feelde of bloude to the Professours of our Religion and what by the strength of the vnited Romanistes within the lande and of the assistance of some Popish Princes from beyonde the Seas Papistrie would heere flourish in maine magnificence VVhich vaine tales many of them in their weakenesse beleeving thought is was best to betake themselues to their congregation betimes least such multitudes comming in afterward there would no notice be takeÌ„ of theÌ„ or perhaps no roome be left for theÌ„ That in HuÌ„gary true religioÌ„ is not vnknown may bâ—… gessed by those o 〈◊〉 Sleidan lib. 14 26. manifold petitioÌ„s almost of the whol Realme to have the Gospell countenaÌ„ced by law even so long agone as in the time of Ferdinandus afterward Emperour But for the state of diverse of these countries I had leifer you should heare Bellamine theÌ„ me Thus the he choaketh your assertioÌ„ p In presat Generali Who is ignorant that the Lutherane pestilence which a little before did begin in Saxony did presetly possesse almost all Germanye then that it went to the North to the East that it wasted Denmarke Norway Sueden Gotheland Pannonia Hungary then that with the like spead being caried to the West South it did in short time destroy FrauÌ„ce EnglaÌ„d Scotland vvhich ere-whiles were most flourishing kingdomes at last passed the Alpes pearced eveÌ„ into very Italy For the rest which you doe name you are in worse case then pitifull P. What many Catholikes have you in Greece Some fewe Venetian marchants which trade to CoÌ„stantinople or some other of like quality For the professed Religion through Greece is Turcisme the Christians there inhabiting as being of the Greekish Church doe decline your Pope as the Cockatrice of the world And is it not thus in Siria where the people are also Turks only you have a few Friers lying at Ierusalem to shew some couÌ„terfeit Reliques either forged or suspect places to pilgrims To furnish vp this little baÌ„d I pray you put to your marchaÌ„ts lying at Aleppo for Aegypts sake foget not those also at Câ—…iro or AlexaÌ„dria for if you should take these away you wil not leaue your selves a maÌ„ there So that while you meÌ„tioÌ„ such stuffe do you any thing els theÌ„ dally with your Reader And what have you in Aethiopia vnder Prester Iohns dominioÌ„ In religion he differeth far froÌ„ you as q Lib 9 de gest is â—…manuel Osorius t Damianus a Goes shew he never heard of your Pope til of late he wil hold nothing froÌ„ him Perhaps you have some one or two Friers there who are seÌ„t to learne the laÌ„guage or may serve to do r Demoribus Aethio pum some turnes for your Portingale MerchaÌ„ts dwelling on some maritime places of the farther side of Africa Or some of those traffiquers do go with their wares to some townes of Aethiopia This is a worthy matter to be cited for the honor of your holy mother 10 I do woÌ„der that being heere in this sweete enumeratioÌ„ you tell vs not out of s Contr Machiavel Lib. 3. 4. Bozius that of purpose to acknowledge the Popes prerogative to sweare obedieÌ„ce to him there came out of Africa to ClemeÌ„t the 7. the Legates of David the King of the AethiopiaÌ„s of the Princes of Mexico from the most remote KingdoÌ„es of the Western Indres to Iulius the 2. Embasladors out of Africa froÌ„ the king of MantcoÌ„go lately to Gregory the 13. froÌ„ lapona in the East Indies froÌ„ the mighty kings of the Tartars in Asia Such cuÌ„ny-catching tricks have bin practised a great while to magnify the Bishop of Rome Sometimes there hath bin no body at all some other times some huÌ„gry cuÌ„ning slave put into a straunge coate and two or three beggers after him who like rogues have wandred vp downe or ruÌ„ne away froÌ„ their countrey or come froÌ„ some great ones as spies hath bin the Legate or Patriarke without penny of maintenaÌ„ce or ship to bring them or ought to grace theÌ„ s Gentillet in examin Concil Tridentin Self 1. Engenius the 4. to give credite to his CoÌ„venticle at FloreÌ„ce against the Synode held at Basile giveth out that Iosippus the Patriarke of CoÌ„stantinople came to submitte himselfe his couÌ„try vnto him when Iosippus was deade an Epistle was published which he was said to writ in his death bed signifyiÌ„g to al those that were within his Patriarchate that he
many though not vniversall of all And whē he saith in many lands it is received of the greatest part of the inhabitāts he meaneth not that the naturals do accept of it but the Spanyards Portingals have killed the greatest part of them and now they themselves do make the maior part This advantage you have for your words D. Hill but yet notwithstanding all your fraud and facing we conclude that your Poperie is not predominant as you make it for put it altogither if I should say nothing of that which we teach but leave it wholy to God and his good blessing Gentilisme is yet by many degrees more then all the Papisme in the world and Mahometisme in Barbary in Turky in Persia and in the dominions of all those who hold for that false Prophet doth exceede it And yet the great propagatiō of Ethnicisme or Saracenisme doth not make them to bee in the right neither doth the same evince in behalfe of your Romane fancies but that only must go for truth which hath warrant out of the Scriptures T. HILL AND vvorthy it is to bee noted that in no land or countrey vnder heaven ever was or is any persecution of any moment against Papists as you terme them or against the Priestes of that Religion in regard that they be Papists or Priests made by authority from the Sea of Rome but onely in England And in very deede the vvhole vvorld doth wonder that little England dare and is not ashamed to doe that which never vvas seene in the vvorld before for let a Seminary Priest as they call him keepe him out of England and he is safe inough in any region vnder heaven This I say by the way for that it grieveth mee at the very hart to beare that my deare countrey doth persecute that religion which all the vvorld hath ioyfully embraced or at the least doth vvillingly tollerate as though shee were wiser then all the world beside is or ever hath beene or then al her Elders Or as though English Protestants knew and saw more then all the vvhole learned men of Christendome have done for so manie ages together G. ABBOT 17 IT should seeme that by this time in the shewing of your mē you have spēt al your powder for frō hēce to the end of this presēt Reasō you talke like a good fellow in more familiar sort leaning on the nose of your peece somewhat angry but will not fight Howe your Pseudo-Catholikes in England live afflicted and persecuted not onely our bookes h Execution of Iustice. A Letter to Mendoza declaring a truth but the matter it selfe sensiblie doth speake They lye well and they farewel and many of them do purchase and encrease their lively-hood yea some by your leave finde meanes to extraordinary lasciviousnes The bigger sort of them are by the monethly mulct vpon them so punished that besides that they have for much idle expence they can by bribes keepe spies about great personages they can give large giftes to winne their private purposes they cā haue their cursetors al the Realme over to give and take intelligence they can releive Prisoners they can maintaine diverse Iesuites like such gallants and swaggerers as requireth for each some hundred pounds by the yeare And yet in searches sometimes more ready mony and good golde is founde in their custody then ordinary men of their quality can be maisters of To these thinges they attaine by keeping no house or very little vnder a shew that for their conscience they pay all away I thinke that you your selfe wil confesse that in Queene Maries daies men of our Religion could not live so quietly although they had nothing to obiect against them but that they beleeved not the article of Transubstantiation Now for Priests that they have bin more looked vnto the reasō is sppatant The examples of i 1. Reg. 18. 40. Elias ill intreating Baals Priests of k 2. Reg. 23. 20. Iosias so serving other of like disposition as also of l Cap. 10. 25 Iehu proceeding in the same course shewe that wolves and destroying foxes if they will not keepe from the flocke must be woorried that is must be cut off by the sword of the magistrate Otherwise shall the perishing soules of the flocke bee required at the civill shepe-heards hande as well as they are exacted of the spirituall pastour for negligence But howe rough the state generally hath bin to such may be coniectured by their hasting hither fiftye in a m D. Elyes notes on the Apology fol. 211. yeare out of Rhemes alone Also by the sending away of Harte Pilcher and many other where of some were already condēned other by law were to suffer yet their lives were granted vnto the they only were banished their coūtry frō whēce they had volūtarily exiled thēselues for divers years before thirdly by the keeping of so many of thē at Wishbich Framingl◅ā some for 10. years some for 20 wher al was so to their wil that they had leysure to fall out who shold be n Relation of stirres at Wisbich greatest amōg thē sit highest at table yea to o Apolog cap. 6. feast to bowze to game to fight yea as since it is expressed in plainer wordes to fall top dicing drunkennes yea and whoredome fit exercises for men who would be taken to be designed martyrs And if some few of them have suffered let all sober men iudge whither the state had not cause to proceede so with them whose minds were discovered so plainly beyond the seas The excōmunication of Pius the 5. was procured at Rome by the instigation of some of our own countri-men thervpō a rebelliō was raised q Sander lib. 7. de visib Monar Concertat li◅cle Cathol in Angl Part 1. Felton is cōmended for fastēing vp the Bul at the Bishop of Londons gate And it is held as his praise that hee called the Queene no otherwise but by the name of the pretended Queene Sanders also ordinarily vseth that phrase against her And it is held as a glory in Doctor Story that writing to his wife he bestowed no other title on her Such as suffered for the rebellion in the Noth are tearmed r Ibidem Martyrs so is s Brist Motiv 1◅ Felton also These matters are compiled togither in the booke called s Edit Anguste ◅reviror 1588. Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholica in Anglia out of which I will gather two or three flowers more It is saide as a praise of Everard Hanse that being asked of the Bull of Pope Pius he answered I hope hee did not erre in his sentence Hee saide I hope because that declaration was not doctrinal and therefore there might be an errour Speaking of Iames Laborne executed at Lancaster it is related as a Catholike acte in him that t E. Sander de Schism Lib 3. he tooke two exceptions why Lady Elizabeth was not Queene one by
wages due for their worke Ex malis moribus bonae nascuntur leges Ill manners breede good lawes And if England alone have received such bad measure from vnnatural bredde English who can blame the Magistrates and law-makers of England if by speciall ordinances they provide for the safety of that charge which is committed to them which cannot be but by cutting off such malefactours When other kingdomes have beene so much burnte they wil dreade the fire when other nations have beene so bitten they will beware of dogges teeth What other countries would doe if there were cause you may gesse by Fraunce which standing yet on termes of Popery have removed the Iesuites so that if they wil come there it is on hazard of their life I will sette downe the wordes as they bee in the Decree of the Parliament of Paris against theÌ„ that no man may doubt in that case n Iesuits Ca â—…h lib 3. cap. 18. The Court doth ordains that the Priests and Students of the College of Claiâ—…mont and all other calling themselues of that Society of Iesus as corrupters of youth and disturbers of the common quiet enemies of the King and State shall avoide within three daies after the publication of this present sentence out of Paris and other Cities and places where their Colleges are fifteen dates after out of the Realme vpon paine wheresoever they shall be found the said terme expired to be punished at guilty and culpable of the crime of high Treason And afterward It forbiddeth all the Kinges subiects to send any scholers to the Colleges of the said Society being out of the Realme there to bee instructed vpon the like paine to incurre the crime of high o This decree was made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…mb 〈◊〉 treason Thus the Papists of Fraunce deale with the Iesuits who are the bringers vp brethren and cousin germaines of our Seminarians If they keepe them out of FrauÌ„ce they are not touched or reached after and so heere it is with the Idolatrous massing Priestes sent from the Pope of Rome who loueth vs vnmeasurablie and from the dominions of the Kinge of Spaine or those who depend vpon him We neede them not we send not for them and therefore if they come it is vpon their owne perill 20 Yet because this proceeding seemeth to you to be so hard in your bookes in England elsewhere published you so exclaime of the rigorousnes of our kingdome in this behalfe I will a little remeÌ„ber you what milder meÌ„ of your own Seminaries have published in this matter acknowledging that iustly by bookes enterprises the State hath bin exasperated against you I confesse that they lay al the blame on the Iesuits Iesuited but those we caÌ„ hardly distinguish froÌ„ meÌ„ otherwise minded And if we could it were to smal purpose since the followers of the Arch-priest are al Iesuited as M. Persons saith they are p Apolog. cap 8 300. to 10. of the other Since theÌ„ the sway sweepe goeth the other way for the adverse part we have no warrant but that they may leave their best goodnes wheÌ„ theÌ„selves wil which Watson Clerke have lately ex emplified it is best to let the lawe stand against all leaving the forbearance of stricte execution to the wisedome of those in authority who incline to mercy vvhere it is fit to bee extended One q A C in his 2 letter pag. 42 who although he be not a Priest yet was brought vp in the Seminary saith thus At the Queenes comming in many of vs were too soone turned so Iesuitish and Spanish to the attempting of disloyall plots against her State person that shee was driven to trust wholy to her Protestants holding vs all suspect And r Ibid. p 29 againe The Iesuites outrage Princes as murthering the last FreÌ„ch King had done our deare Soveraigne sundry times if Gods hand had not beene the stronger Another s Reply to the Apology cap 17 telleth vs that in the Colledges erected by the meanes of Parsons Priests other have bin induced to subscribe to forreine titles yea to come in person against their own couÌ„try He who answereth the manifestatioÌ„ supposed to be the writing of PersoÌ„s acknowledgeth that D. s Fol. 35. SauÌ„ders his works De visibili Monarchia De schismate Anglic coÌ„tain so many errevereÌ„t speeches the divulging of such odius matters against her M r. her noble â—…genitours as the vntruths of some the incertainty of others coÌ„siderd could not but irritat the most ChristiaÌ„ Catholik patieÌ„t Prince in the world A t Fol 3â—… litle before he telleth vs Neither for ought I se doth the State wake shew of persecutioÌ„ quoad vitaÌ„ et neceÌ„ for matter meerely of religion and conscience but vpon pretence of treason or atteÌ„pts against her Maiesties person or state or at the least vpoÌ„ the feare therof But yet more directly he proceedeth u Fol. 31. 32 I would but aske Fa. Persons because I know him to be a great Statist this one question whither in his conscience he did thinke there be anie Prince in the world be he never so Catholike that should haue within his dominions a kinde of people amongst whom divers times he should discover matters of treason and practises against his person and state whither he would permit those kinde of people to liue within his dominions if he could be otherwise rid of them whither he would not make straight lawes and execute them severely against such offendours yea and all of that companie and qualitie rather then he would remaine in anie danger of such secret practises and plots I thinke Fa. Persons will not for shame denie this Then the fault is not in the Prince and State for being cautious but in the Romanists for being pragmaticall in dangerous atteÌ„pts I will ioine to these the testimony of M. Watson who is copious in this point He saith that the u In the pre face to the Quodlibers Seminaries at first made the Iesuits cause attempts intentes practises and proceedings their owne in every thing their plots and practises they seemed at first to defende or at least to winke at Hence they were intangled by penall laws iustly made against them equally as against the Iesuits In another x Quod. 8. 9 place thus At the affliction of Catholikes in England hath beene in very deede extraordinary and many an innocente man lost his life so also hath the cause thereof beene extraordinary and so farre beyonde the accustomed occasions of persecutioÌ„ giveÌ„ to any Prince in ChristeÌ„dome or monarchy that is or ever was in the world to this hower as rather it is to be wondered at all things duely considered that any one Catholike is left on liue in Englande then that our persecution hath beene so great for name one nation I know none can vnder heaven where the subiects especially if they were
Catholikes ever sought the death of their Soveraigne though of a different religion from thē the conquest of their natiue land the subversion of the state the depopulation of the weale publike the alteration and change of all lawes customes and orders and in few the vtter devastation desolation and destruction of all the ancient inhabitants of their land c. Now if this may be saide of the laity of the English Papists what censure may bee given of the Priests the vrgers and instigatours of all these things He speaketh elsewhere more particularly of the Seminary Priests y Quod. 9. 4 Howe can they expect any favor when they are taken none can deny that their comming over is to increase the number of Catholikes and that Fa. Persons raigneth and hath the whole direction at this day for all the missions that are for England How then alas how may her Maiestie and the state conclude against them What lawes can bee too extreame to keepe them out of the land Or if they will needes come in what severity for the execution of lawes against them can bee more then sufficient Into what gulfe are we plunged Nay into what an obloquy are we plunged Nay into what an obliquie must the Catholike Church of Rome grow in that the execution of Priesthood and treason are now so linked together by the Iesuits in England as we cannot exhort any to the Catholike faith but dogmatizando in so doing we draw him in effect to rebellion You see that this writer doth not sumble nor doubly budgen but delivereth his opiniō roundly And if any one should except that these be the assertions of private and single men hee may see a treatise put out by ioint consent of divers Seculars and written of purpose to cleere the proceedings of the State in England from bloudy cruelty or vn-advised rigorousnes in cutting of such rotten members You may iudge the contentes thereof by the Title which is this z Edit An. 1601. Important considerations which ought to mooue all true and sounde Catholikes who are not wholy Iesuited to acknowledge without all equivocations ambiguities or shiftings that the proceedings of her Maiestie and of the State with them since the beginning of her Highnesse raigne haue beene both milde and mercifull By this time if there bee any wit or sence left in you you may put vp your pipes for complaining of the hard vsage of Priests sent hither from the Seminaries I haue beene the more large in this argument partly to stop your clamorous mouth and partelye to satisfie weake persons either on our or your side and not least of all to free the honorable Parliamentes and Magistrates taking order against such venimous vermine from the forged imputations and scandalous defamations in this particular laid against them by name of him a Supposed to bee D. Worthington who falsly reporteth the suffering of sixteene pretended martyrs in one yeere that is the yeere of Iubily 1600. Now I follow your steps againe where I left 21. When you fall to daring you shewe your selfe but a simple man There is one by whose helpe David did dare leape b Psa. 18. 29 34. over a wall and to attempt with his armes to breake a bow of brasse by whose protection in a righteous cause that England which by a diminution you call litle doth dare to stand against the strongest enemy that it hath What should hinder it good Sir to cut of lewde persons wherewithall God is well pleased when the late Queene thereof at her entrance to the Crowne did not feare all the Potentates in the world nor the backwardnesse of many of her owne subiectes nor the combining almost of all her owne Cleargy but that in the name of God and in the vndanted confidence of his maintaining of his owne truth shee did spread the banner of the Gospell and without discouragement did persist in that resolution till the day of her death the English fugitiues and the Irish Male-contents yea the Pope and Spaniard contriving to the vttermost to impeach it Why shoulde not this our country dare to doe well when by the singular favour of God blessing his true religion in it it hath beene able to repel that invincible Navy to sacke many of the kings townes in the West Indies to batter his Groine in Galitia to march with ensigne displayed almost an hundred miles in the heart of his countrey to knocke at his gates of Lisbone to sinke his fleete at Cales and to burne that towne at pleasure the Spanyards looking on scant offering to strike one blow The time hath beene that this England which is such a little more in your eie hath sent c Holinshed in Rich. 1 Edw. 3. Hen. 5. 6. a mightie army as farre as to Palestina hath had two kings prisoners in it at once and two of her owne Kinges crowned in Paris And hee is blind who seeth not that at this time it hath decayed no part of her ancient valure or worth Then do you never feare but it may dare to execute such companions of yours as will heere disturbe the peace of the Church Common-wealth Now that it grieveth your pretty heart that you haue not your will among vs I doe verily beleeue and do not you thinke that wolues beares doe much grieue that they cannot come at the sheep-folds but the shepheards will meets with them As our d Luk. 23. 28 Saviour somtime said to the women of Hierusalem that they should not weep for him but for themselues and their children so wee may bid you not to grieue for the evil case of England but to be sory weep for your sinnes and most malicious blindnesse that God without his more future mercy should giue you over to a reprobate sence so as to fly truth and to hate it to barke against the light to cary vndutifull thoughts to your Superiours and vn-natural to your countrey where the Lord be praised for it there is nothing vnhappy vnlesse it bee that it hath hatched into the world such vipers such monsters who care not what become of her so that Sathā may be king Antichrist may be general How your brethrē are persecuted with plenty ease aboūdance not lōg since I told you The wiser sort of thē cannot but acknowledge as evē now you heard that no Prince vnder the heavē being so zealous in Gods cause having sustained such indignities at the hands of many of that factiō as our late most Christiā Queen had done would haue proceeded with that mildnes For the māner of your speech you are now returned to your old custome again Here is nothing but all'all How al the world hath embraced your profession I haue shewed you before The ancienter part of the Primitiue Church knew almost nothing of it the latter part of the first 600. years had some weeds cōming vp in it but the good corn over-topped