by your Highnesse in your admirable wisedome to be in Religion most sacrilegious and detestable in politike state most pernitious and intollerable in euery actor most banefull to the soule of man it may please your excellent Maiestie to prouide in this behalfe for your faithfull and religious Subiects that they neuer be so intoxicated with this Antichristian spirit as either to deceiue or be deceiued thereby First not to be deceiued but seeing that the authors of AequiuocatioÌ„ are by it as by a Gyges ring made in a sort inuisible vnto Protestants to plot and practise against them what when they wil and Vlysses-like make a verie Polyphemus of your most noble State that whensoeuer they be asked who is the Traitor licence themselues during life to answer till they be coÌ„uicted by that aequiuocating 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that therfore against such as cannot hurt vs but by our credulitie there may be enacted the onely refuge of Tullie Lex non credendi a law of not beleeuing them CoÌ„cerning deceiuing by the same policie more subtle then anie Machiauellisme I would be a most humble suppliant to your gracious Highnesse not to permit anie of what condition soeuer in the cure of the diseased bodie politike as it were driuing out poyson with poyson in winding out these aequiuocators to aequinocate For this purpose the counsell of S. Augustine is most soueraigne Non minùs pernitiosè mentitur Catholicus vt haereticos capiat quà m mentitur haeretiens vt Catholicos lateat nec cuiquam persuaderi potest hominem non mentiri nè capiat qui mentitur vt capiat For it is certaine We to speake in the Apostles tenor haue not so learned Christ as the truth in Iesus by whom we are taught that the new man must crucisie the old man and therefore not to seeke by such diuellish exorcisme to driue out Satan by Satan but to mortifie ambition by humilitie intemperance by sobrietie in briefe to conquer all euill by goodnesse and therefore onely truth must catch and kill a lye Let not your Maiestie be offended with my boldnesse in exceeding the measure of an Epistle against my accustomed breuitie in all my labors it is Credidi that begetteth Ergolocutus sum Therfore speaking from the truth I could not but speake for truth and now in high detestation both of idolatrous superstition and hellish aequiuocation beseech the God of truth to make your name glorious in Christendome in the zealous defence both of the true faith of Christ and Christian faithfulnes establishing your Maiesties kingdome in peace your person in safetie your soule in grace your Queene in mutuall ioy your royall Succession in happie successe as long as the world endureth and in the end of mortalitie to crowne you all with endlesse blessednes The vnworthie Minister of Christ and your Maiesties most dutifull subiect Thomas Morton TO THE SEDVCED Brethren Grace and peace in Christ Iesus AFter that I had discouered vnto you my Brethren the hainous positions of your Priests there arose some one I thinke of that priesthood entituling himselfe A moderate answerer and me A slanderous and lying libeller And why Because the testimonies alledged saith he are falsly applied For proofe of this scarce examining one of twentie he commonly returneth this answer If this saith he be the opinion of these Authors or if these Authors write thus c. wilfully seating himselfe in the chaire of those Doctors whom the Apostle hath described They will be Doctors and yet vnderstand not what they say nor whereof they affirme To the manifold and manifest proofes I may now adde the Arguments of the same Priests for the defence of their discouered rebellious conclusions By what reason then can my Moderate Answerer charge me as slanderously misreporting that to be the doctrine of those Priests which the Priests themselues by Reasons labour to confirme Wherfore I perswade my self his intent in answering was not to answer that is to satisfie the iudicious but onely to be thought to haue answered that is to delude the too credulous like the answer which the priests of the Synagogue did prescribe for repressing the discouerie of the resurrection of Christ out of the sepulcher saying Whilest we slept his Disciples came and stole him away Common sense might haue replied How could you tell what was done when you were all asleepe But minds enthralled in the opinion of a neuer câ—â—ing Priesthood which confirmed that Answer could not possibly but erre with their Priests Such alas is the case of all them whom because they will not seeke or see the truth God in his iustce Deliueteth vp to beleeue lies as idle and fabulous as fancies and dreames of men asleepe Of which kind be many of your lying Reuelations as that of the Deliuerance of the soule of Traian out of the lowest hell Many lying priuiledges as that temporall Donation of Constantine and the other Ecclesiasticall forged Canon for Appeales to Rome Many lying Traditions as that Bodily assumption of the blessed Virgin into heauen Many lying Saints as that of Saint Christopher except in a picture neuer seene Many lying Sanctities as that of S. Francis in harboring of alouse Many lying Histories as the GoldeÌ„ Legend an abstract of a leaden braine Many lying reports as of the now Miracles among the Indians to omit many lying prophecies and reports with infinite such other which they call Piae fraudes that is godly cosinages inuented to keepe the people in deuotion and their priesthood in estimation But that which excelleth all the rest in falshood is their Aequiuocation as being not onely alying Art but also an Art of lying This is now practised as will be proued in most detestable periuries for couert of the horrible treasons of their priesthood teaching you to imitate the wisedome of the Ostrich which bird if she can but couer her head thinketh all her bodie safe Notwithstanding that Romish See like to the raging sea when none sought to discouer it fomed out her owne shame especially in these two mischiefes which are noted as indiuiduall companions in holy writ Speaker of lies and the bloud-thirstie man Lying tongues and hands that shedde bloud Hands defiled with bloud and tongues that speake lies Such are their hands of Treason and tongues of Aequiuocation But hearken a little In the last dayes saith the Apostle shall come perillous times when men shall be voide of naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers Traitors All which we proue to be the expresse characters of your Priests O but it may be thought that the Apostle doth not describe any that do such things with any religious intent but onely desperate and profane miscreants who make no conscience of sinne not so for in the next words the Apostle describeth the colour of their cloake Hauing saith he a shew of godlinesse but denie the power thereof A prophesie plainely verified by your Priests in their godlesse practises and godly pretences Wherefore you are exhorted
Fundamentorum Caluinianae sectae cum veteribus Arianis Nestorianis communium detectio The Reply That which they did in the spirit of opposition and contention is not much to be regarded especially seeing as it may seeme by their obiections their iudgement hath beene depraued by your malignant Doctors For first concerning Arianisme Caluine saith your Iesuites doth plainely teach Arianisme saying that the Father is by a kinde of excellencie God Whereas both the speach and sence is most orthodoxall and agreeing with the tenor of holy writ and iudgement of all ancient Fathers as your owne learned Iesuits confesse For the words of our Sauiour are plaine Ioh. 14. My Father is greater then I in the true sence Is say your Iesuits and truly The Father is greater not in substance and being but by reason of Birth begetting For their Authority they produce an inquest of Fathers of free Caluine in this point who was so far from Arianisme that your own Bellarmine doth acknowledge that Caluine did impugne the doctrine of the Arians Your Iesuites likewise impute Nestorianisme whereof Caluine doth free himselfe saying We must therefore abandon the heresie of Nestorious who rather distracted then distinguished the nature of Christ against the doctrine of the holy Ghost in Scripture It would therefore become your modestie to haue omitted these imputations but we shall find your moderation immoderate in this kind The moderate Answerer I will next bring in Master Hugh Broughton a man greatly commended by Master Willet who telleth the Bishops of England that their translation of the Scripture is corrupt and that Christianitie is denyed here in England The Reply Master Broughton which I am able truly to witnes was as greatly commended and reuerenced for his learning among your greatest Iesuits at Mentz and the Bishop elector there yet he neuer allowed your Translation but debaseth it more then any other neither did he euer go to Italy or Spaine to learne Christianitie there How you ought to esteeme of our Translation I haue made it elsewhere euident from your owne Romish censures who haue giuen the translation of Tremelius as good an approbation as any Protestant would require Where also may appeare by confession of your most learned Iesuites and others the manifold deprauations of your vulgar falsely intituled S. Hieromes Translation But what modestie can this be in you to obiect vnto vs a man whom you know to be sequestred from vs rather by impotencie of passion then any difference of Religion liuing now among them who maintaine both the same profession and the same Latine Translation so immoderate in speech to confesse that which all that know him can witnesse that the least error he heareth he nameth heresie and the least opposition to his opinion infidelitie This is but the language of passion which no moderate Answerer may mention to preiudice the moderate The very moderate Answerer The Admonition to the Parliament written with no small consent vseth these words That no man in whom there is any sparke of grace or conscience can liue in the Church of England whose inhabitants be all Infidels going to the Churches of Bishops and Arch-bishops whose gouernement is Antichristian and diuelish The Reply This writer and you may both ioyne fellowship You dedicate your booke to the King he to the Parliament He pretendeth the consent of a thousand you No Catholike will say Protestants are Heretikes implie a thousand thousand He with all his consent is not many and you for ought you well pretend but one both inuisible and namelesse neither of both able to make vp any great consent except you multiplie the name of forenamed Aliâs A aliâs B. c. You see what is themaladie of this Admonitor namely to condemne our Religion only because of Bishops as in his illiterate braine an order Popish and therefore Antichristian Say now do you thinke his Admonition tollerable then must you who do defend that Bishop of Rome conclude your selfe an Infidell and an Antichristian hireling Do you thinke it immoderate then are you no moderate Answerer to condemne vs by that Admonition which your selfe doth condemne Let vs heare something else which may proue Protestants guilty of the imputation of Turcismes and Atheismes The very moderate Answerer The deniall of Christ to be God which Master Willet and Doctor Fulke do denying Christ to haue receiued the substance of his Father or that he is Deus de Deo God of God as the first generall Councels defined The Reply Deny Christ to be God God forbid but to be God of God only in a particular sence this indeed they do but can you finde no more Protestants of this opinion Your lesuite reckneth vp Caluin and Beza and I thinke he saith truly I would either he or you did as truly vnderstand them But yet we wish to heare what your Doctors thinke of this Protestants opinion your Campion calleth it monstrous your Genebrard Lindan Canisius name it Heresie your Stapleton and Feuardentius do aggrauate it by an epithet Heinous heresie your Possiuinus noteth it of Atheisme and your Colledge at Rhemes of Blasphemie And now belike this is that doctrine which deserueth your generall clamors which being examined with the eye not ouercast with the web of preiudice Doth in the iudgement of your famous Bellarmine seeme Catholicall because they denie not the Sonne to be from the Father but they denie the essence of the godhead to haue any generation This likewise is not the part of common modestie to blind-fold your selfe and strike you know not whom To the former inuectiues I must adde another of the same die euen deepe black mallice Looke vpon England saith your french Rabsacah and you shal find it to be an I le of men who cate mens flesh and who haue not among them yet they professe Iesus Christ and the Apostles creed the least footstep to Catholike Religion This we see written which giueth vs cause to beleeue that which is reported by our Trauellers who affirming that in our last Embassage into Spaine the people there gazed vpon our English Nobles and Gentlemen with that eye which Pope Gregory a thousand yeares since beheld them when they were Pagans and admiring the comely feature of their personages and the fairenes of their complexions asked Who they were and hearing they were named English they may well be called Anglish quoth he as it were Angels But alas what faire faces doth the vgly feend and Prince of darknesse now possesse Thus the vulgar in Spaine are said in their Christian charitie to haue bewailed the miserie of the English Alas that these men haue not the knowledge of Christ Being perswaded by their Monkes that we worship the diuels which is more probable by their writings as Caluinists are Heretikes detesting our Lord Christ Caluinish heresie is more detestable then
the booke entituled The Execution of English iustice that many Catholike Priests and Byshops also in this Kingdome which although they were depriued of their dignities and also imprisoned by Queene Elizabeth yet are they dignified by that wise Councellor with these titles of faithfull and quiet subiects inclined to dutifulnesse to the Queenes Maiestie Reply Nay that honorable Treasurer was not second to any in his time so worthie a Counsellor both for policie and sound Religion that you may be thought vnworthie to commend him whose wisedome as it was most excellent so euen in this question will proue as sufficient to display your fellie For his most commendable Treatise of the Execution of English iustice did defend the proceedings of the Queenes Maiestie whom for the same iustice your Pope did if our Lord Treasurer in his singular wisedome knew iustice vniustlie excommunicate Yet he then commended many graue and learned Bishops and Clarkes on your side for their faithfull subiection What though they then in the Orient of her Maiesties dayes were faithfull peraduenture because they then wanted force yet after toward the Sunne-set of her years were otherwise affected This the Reason of that honorable and sage Counsellor doth shew bringing the examples of the former more moderate Romish Clarks by comparison to condemne the insolencie of the later brood This you modestly conceale But father Creswell will deale plainely who speaking to the Lord Burleigh whom for honor sake I often mention hath these words If you by sedition saith the Iesuite vnderstand that whereof Christ spake saying an holie text wickedly peruerted I came not to send peace into the world but the sword which you indeed do so vnderstand I confesse that we Priests both are and alwayes will be seditious Now then the question will be whether your moderate or his impudent answere be more dangerous The moderate Answerer The sentencer discursseth as though armes had no other meaning but blood But against Catholikes who knowe both offensiue and 〈◊〉 fensiue warre this mans bloodie iudgement can giue no deadly wound The Reply Neither was your Sentencer ignorant of that distinction which he learned long since from the very Heathen who were illuminated with this truth saying that Against Kings we may vse a shield but not a sword But it was spoken according to the meaning of your Authors applying it to them who both by position and practises haue giuen sufficient tokens that their armes were most cruelly and cursedly offensiue which agreeth with your positions as the discourse following will demonstrate Yet againe you insist The moderate Answerer The Discouerer bringeth the Author de Iusta Abdicat to say of Henry the third that it is an act honest to kill a Tyrant Well then King Iames by his iudgement is a Tyrant otherwise both he and the Author be iudges against himselfe for that Writer expresly nameth a Tyrant The Reply And the next Author doth interpret the meaning of the first That euery King who defendeth heresie is properly a Tyrant This said your Reinolds intreating of Protestant Princes defining them to be properly Heretikes whereunto your Iesuite Gregory de Valentia did assent Whence I according to the true and infallible lawe of Schooles conclude that Romish Priests would haue all Protestant Kings as Tyrants censured with death Where is now your iudgement to make me guilty of that inference which I noted to be most detestable in your sect King Iames or our late Queene Tyrants No but they that say so be Traytors who cannot discerne betwixt a most gratious Prince and a barbarous Tyrant but by their monstrous mischiefes haue turned extreme clemencie into iust extremitie CHAP. XXI Discouerie in the Practise LEt vs trauell but in our thoughts into India where as your Arnoldus in his publike Oration in the Vniuersitie of Paris did contest the generall clamor of the poore people waÌ„s that Iesuits were the causes of all tyrannie which was exercised amongst them Passe homeward through Germanie there we see Duke Rodolph persecuting the Emperour his King by force of armes thorough instigation of the Pope From thence we come to France where Clemens the Monke as a bloudie patricide did murther Henrie his King Lastly to arriue at home where after the Bull of Pius Quintus few yeares passed without desperate attempts against their Soueraigne that Bull bellowing thus We will and commaund Subiects to take armes against their Queene Which breath possessed all those late conspirators Arden Someruile Parrie Cullen Squire Lopez with others all by instigation of Priests sought the death of our and their Soueraigne And now at this present behold and be astonished A soâ—…ace prouided to consume at once not onely the King but also because an absolute state assembled the whole kingdome Duâ—st these Enginers do anie such thing without direction from their priests First they conspire by oath vnder the seale of the Sacrament here is probably a Priest Secondly he that was to put fire to it runneth once againe to the Seminarie at Doway doubtlesse to consult with that Priestly Oracle Thirdly he will not bewray his complices except he may be warranted by a Priest And that this is their Priestly function will appeare in the subsequents The moderate Answerer For practise in this point he onely alledgeth three authorities besides this vnhappie Stratageme The Reply Your selfe knowes that I might haue brought in threescore of that kind if I had bene bent to haue bene as tedious in Allegations as you are in repetitions yet besides your late Stratageme I gaue you examples of diuers Conspirators English for whom your modestie durst not or your wisedome would not yeeld any other answer then dumbe silence The moderate Answerer It is knowne that Arnoldus was an enemie to the Societie confuted by Montanus and Gallo-Belgicus is not without his hyperbolicall locutions The Reply You know that Arnold was the choice Orator and mouth of the Vniuersitie of Paris elected to pleade against the Iesuites Society whose iudgement the State and Parliament of France did iustifie by their publike act of expulsing the whole Societie of Loyalists out of the Kingdome Gallobelgicus indeed was more then hyperbolical but it was in magnifying the Romish faction But what say you generally for Priests The most moderate Answerer I answer concerning Priests most maligned in this matter that the Canon lawe it selfe is to the contrarie that neither Bishops nor any Clearkes may take armes either by their owne authoritie or by the authoritie of the Pope of Rome and reasons be added there authorized by Gregorie the 13. alledged against vs in this Treatise And therefore all of that Order are absolutely freed from that iealousie and may answer with Saint Ambrose against Auxentius saying for his defence My teares are mine armour for such are the defence of Priests otherwise I neither ought nor can resist The Reply The force of your Answer
such proceedings If you yet insist and vrge to know the causes why Popes did so insult vpon Emperors moderate your appetite a while till we come to the confutation where I doubt not but you will at least satisfie your selfe if not surfet For the interim it will content the Reader to vnderstand that which your Barckley proueth namely That in true historie it cannot be found that euer heresie was a cause of abrogating the authoritie of Emperors The moderate Answerer He accuseth Cardinall Allane for approuing of the rendring vp of Douentore vnto the hands of the King of Spaine the true owner by which he condemneth himselfe to be within the compasse of his owne conclusion of Rebellion for all the world can witnesse that towne truly to belong to that King The Reply Was the King of Spaine the true owner Who are you I pray you that can thus define if you will be a true Diuine then learne from our Sauiour Who made me a Iudge ouer you to diuide inheritances among you If you will be according to your State-style a Statesman to iustifie that the King of Spaine was then the true owner of Doâ—entore and for confirmation call all the world to witnesse we shall not greatly maruell at this in you being of the Order of them who would make that King the Monarch of all the world How the case might stand I may be lawfully ignorant excepting onely that howsoeuer Sir William Stanley being no subiect to either parties but onely a substitute to the States and subiect to his Queene from whose command he had receiued that charge he is therin intolerably perfidious for if the right were doubtfull then it is a conclusion which your Iesuite cannot denie but that When the souldiers shall doubt whether the warre and so the possession he holdeth which his Prince maketh be lawfull in all such doubts he ought to obey his Prince for euen to obey doth remoue the doubt Secondly if the case were plaine yet many things are lawfull to be done which are not lawfull for this man or that man to do for our Lawe saith A man as he that shall go to his neighbours house and take twenty pound he lent his neighbour may be hanged for taking his owne and is there no iustice against him who will render vp that which is not his owne But what his intent was he hath discouered to all the world who as he then in violating his Princes repose fled from her subiection so in the inuasion in 88. was bent to returne not as a good subiect but as a mortall enemie against his Soueraigne Lastly for the States in this point suppose their getting of Deuentore were vniust yet another Iesuite though I should condemne it would defend their possession who in like case thus resolueth Admit saith he that it was a great sinne for the Spaniards to vsurpe the Kingdomes and possessions of the Indian people yet can they not O Confessors now be restored for to whom and how can this be performed nay though it could yet will not the danger of decay of O Religion Religion permit restitution Yet there remaineth another example to be satisfied of you which is this CHAP. XXIII The Discouerie An example of a notable Patron of high Treason XIstus Quintus maketh a publike OratioÌ„ in his Consistorie of Cardinals the subiect matter he sheweth is this The King of France is slaine by the hand of a Monke And what of this This saith he is a notable rare and memorable act But why Because he slue not saith he a King painted in paper or grauen in stone but the King of Fraunce in the middest of his hoast Is it a wonder any should wonder that a Monke could murther a mortall King seeing Popish histories do record that Pope Hadrian being guiltie of the like seditious practise against the Emperor Henry the second was choaked with a Flie Nay but if the Monke had killed a painted Image that had bene an act farremore memorable and lesse intolerable notwithstanding no fact is good because great but therefore great because good Say then what is to be thought of the worthinesse of the fact It was a fact done by the admirable prouidence will and succour of Almightie God How by Gods will counselling and approuing it Holy Iudith is famous saith he for the slaying of Holophernes which she did not without the suggestion of Gods Spirit But this religious man hath done a farre more maruellous worke O maruellous Relgioâ— Yet so it is in this sinne of parricide where A Monke doth murther a King The best word the Pope affoordeth the murdred is An vnhappie King and one perishing in his sinne The worst he doth bestow vpon the murtherer is Religious man And thus in not condemning but rather commending one Traitor he hath made vp two Lastly this Henry a note very materiall was a Papist onely he fauoured the Protestants and especially Prince Nauarre because a Protestant excommunicate By this Pope this was his crime vpon which ensued This fact to paraphrase truly of the Popes words rare for the attempt not able for the wickednesse memorable for the shame of the Sect. The moderate And most modest Answerer The Reply What nothing not one word in behalfe of Pope Sixtus Sixtus who First did confirme the league in France for the vtter destruction of Protestants Sixtus who Did excommunicate in that name the King Nauarre and Prince of Condie Neither onely them but expresly All Lutherans and Caluinists proclaiming a Iubilie and indulgence for all in Fraunce who should pray for the successe of the Leaguers against the Protestants One to whom you ascribe power of absoluing you from all your sinnes and yet not one syllable to free him from the suspition of but one sinne patronizing a most brutish parricide Could you not answer that his speech was onely an admiration and no approbation or that he did declaime onely and not determine taking vpon him the person of an Orator and not of a Pastor or that he spake as a priuate Doctor and not as a Pope Nay all such answers you know had bene friuolous for he vseth examples of commendation arguments of asseueration and the Oration was not pronounced in his priuate closet but in the publike Consistorie and Conuent of his Cardinals And therefore herein onely you haue giuen vs a token of your extraordinarie modestie who not finding one ragge to couer your Fathers shamefull nakednesse you shut your eyes as loth to behold it God grant you grace truly to detest it But we find as in all Societies in your Synagogue men of diuers foreheads For the Pope and his Acolythus do extoll the Monke for an Excellent instrument of God whom your Lawyer doth decipher to be a Wicked faithlesse Monke â—nd a most hateful monster He depresseth that King as One
most impious and sacrilegious whome your Lawyers vpon better intelligence do commend if this be a commendation As one that was too deuout and religious But you as it becometh a moderate Answerer answer nothing and thus in saying nothing bewray what you would or rather what you would not say CHAP. XXIIII The discouerie in the eight Reason THose Snakes that do naturally sting as soone as they get warmth may not be harboured in the bosome of the CoÌ„monwealth but all Popish Priests professe rebellions as soone as they can presume of their strength Ergo c. The Minor proued by Their Positions The Discouerie Bannes maintaineth this as a necessarie Parenthesis Subiects before sentence of Excommunication if they haue sufficient force may then depose their King This Father Creswell addeth as a warâ—e caution Let subiects take heed saith he that they haue competent strength in such a case otherwise it may preiudice the Catholike cause And lest any taking an Antidote against their poyson should obiect the condition of the Church of Christ primitiue and of the glorious Christians of those times who intended not killing of Kings the enemies of the Gospel but to be willingly killed for the profession of the holy faith marke with what vntemperate morter those men daube vp the consciences of Christians Then saith the French Defence the Christians did onely suffer because the Church was not yet perfect and because their enemies were more in number Againe It is commendable to suffer when thou canst not resist Which is the last miserable refuge of their desperate cause Whereunto notwithstanding their grand-Cardinall is glad to betake himselfe I answer saith he that Christians in auncient times did not beare armes and seeke to depose Emperors and Kings enemies to the Catholike faith because they wanted power Wherby the now Romish faith doth seeke to make wicked men excusable By this second conclusion saith Bannes the English Catholikes who now do not take armes against the Protestants are excused because they want sufficient power Hence we may perceiue that as long as Protestants liue safe they must acknowledge themselues beholden to the Popish faction because they haue no power to hurt them otherwise they may heare of them before they can see them peraduenture in such a manner as to Receiue a terrible blow and yet not know who did them the hurt Yea they must perish for Christian people saith Creswell are bound in conscience and hazard of their soules to resist whensoeuer they can make resistance The moderate Answerer To the first Proposition I say Concedo The Reply Concedo that is in English I grant it wo then and thrice woe to all your Priests who fall violently vpon it thereby to be conuinced rebellious Is it not so The moderate Answerer To the second Proposition I answer that if this be the opinion of Bannes he speaketh ignorantly in this case The Reply Bannes an Author easily to be had of all men I deliuer his name I cite the place I expresse his words apparantly signifying that this was Bannes opinion and yet your Answer is to speake moderately too moderate If this be say you the opinion of Bannes I alledge for the same opinion your English Iesuite Creswell your French Iesuite De iusta Abdicatione your Romish Iesuite Bellarmine al of the opinion of Bannes teaching Then and not before to take armes as soone as they haue strength And you answer to one onely saying If this be the opinion of Bannes Is this modestie This opinion say you is false this is honestie but then are your greatest Clearkes Blind and leaders of the blind as namely Creswell Felinus Caietan Tolet Sà Alane Bellarmine Saire and the present currant of Romish Schooles as hath bene proued This doctrine therefore being false which the supposed lights of your Religion do auerre I may well take vp the complaint of our Sauiour against your Church If the light that is in thee be darknes ô how great is that darknes In the last place you name Gregorie the 13. for the contrarie but all you could do only name him opposing names to expresse writings shadowes to things O moderatorem These are but Positions Now followeth CHAP. XXV Their Practise The Discouerie IN the yeare 1580. when Campion and Parsons came into England they procured a dispensation from the Pope that al Papists in England notwithstaÌ„ding the ExcoÌ„munication of the Queen might professe a large obedience in al teÌ„poral causes but with this addition Rebus sic stantibus i. the case thus standing that is as the sequele did interpret till you waxe stronger For in the yeare 1588. when the Spanish Armado was a sloate when by doubling their strength they might presume the better then our Countriman Alane doth write an Admonition to the Nobilitie of England making his booke the Popes Nuncio to expound his former Parenthesis Though the Pope saith he hath tolerated obedience vnto the Queene in temporall conditions yet now our holy Father Xistus Quintus doth discharge all men of their faith and loyaltie vnto her This is the Popes common guise when he doubteth his faction shall be ouermatched then to inioyne obedience but it is onely in policie to gaine his souldiers a breathing as Clement the late Pope dispensed with the Irish for their fidelity to the Queene till that he had some confidence of Tyrones successe For then in the 20. of Ianuarie the yeare 1601. he writ a letter for incouragement Fili dilecte nobilis vir salutem c. My deare sonne all health c. After he calleth the Rebellion Sacrum foedus an holy league promising in the way of blessing an happy successe Deus pugnabit provobis conteret inimicos suos ante faciem vestram i. God will fight for you and tread his enemies vnder your feet But he God be thanked proued a false Prophet The moderate Answerer I answer that Cardinall Alane better acquainted with these affaires then any Protestant Writer relateth the Popes declaration for Catholike obedience to Queene Elizabeth without any restraint or limitation neither doth this man discouer where he findeth any such restricting clause The Reply It seemeth you are not acquainted with Cardinall Alane shall he be brought to auerre a Commission of subiection without restraint of Rebus sic stantibus the case so standing who Rebus sic non stantibus Anno 1588 raised English Recusants against the Queene prouoking them to fight I did not indeed discouer where I find any such restraining clause Here is one onely little clause Rebus sic stantibus that wanteth the Author and I must be suspected for a coyner you in all your Answers scarce alledge the expresse sentence of any one and yet challenge credit Such are the times which are fallen vpon vs and the oddes which by mens wilfull infatuation you haue obtained But I must produce my Author
for your pleasure whoÌ„ though I perswade you yet a grieuous case will you not be perswaded Notwithstanding hearken to your Father Creswel who telleth you that That moderation concerning obedience vnto the Queene was comprised within these lists For the present state and condition of things Here your clause and your expectation is satisfied I pray you satisfie me in the next example The very moderate and modest Answerer The case of the Earle of Tyrone whatsoeuer it was is not now imputed against him as his libertie and fauour in England since then be witnesses therfore it might be better suppressed then vrged by this Discouerer The Reply That is The Earle of Tyrone his offence hath bene pardoned by the King Ergo it might better be suppressed then that the Pope the patron of his Rebellión should be discouered None can find fault with the modestie of this Answer wherin you seeme to be ashamed of the Popes blessing and there is hope in the end you will be ashamed of your owne answer To the next Reason CHAP. XXVI The Discouerie in the ninth Reason WHosoeuer doth perfidiously either denie or violate with men of diuers Religion an oath the most sacred bond that God hath allotted vnto men as the most secure Confirmation of all fidelitie with men and * End of all contention must necessarily be esteemed of them as a person perfidious and trecherous But Popish Priests are guiltie of such perfidie Ergo c. The Minor will appeare in these three 1. in the manner of disallowing 2. of deluding 3. of dissoluing of a necessarie oath The moderate Answerer In his Maior Proposition the Discouerer must needs make some exceptions or else c. The Reply Let vs descend to the seuerall Propositions and after shew your instances The Discouerie From the manner of denying a requisite oath we reason Whatsoeuer seruant being demanded of his maister to say or sweare whether if he saw his master assalted by his professed enemies he would defend or betray him would either dislike the article or deferre the answer he should euidently bewray a trecherous disposition But all Popish Priests in like articles concerning loy all subiection to Protestant Kings are in like manner affected Ergo all their other kind of Haile Maister is but to kisse and betray The Minor proued by Their Positions and Practises When as it is demanded of Priests a necessarie Article in ciuill States what if the Pope should autorize the Queenes subiects to rebell or other forraine Princes to inuade her Realme whether they would take part with the Queene or her enemies First they dislike this Interrogatorie Alane calleth it An vnlawfull vnnaturall intolerable search of mens consciences This kind of examination which Princes make for preseruation of the liues of themselues and subiects Creswell tearmeth Vniust and bloudie demaunds And these questions Stapleton nameth Captious questions wicked and full of all impious subtiltie As though Samson were bound to put his head in Dalilahs lappe Nay but their answer sheweth that this Interrogatorie was as necessarily inuented as it is wickedly impugned for this being an inbred law of Nature to studie for a selfe-preseruation these men call vniust and vnnaturall but how senslesly let the very heathen iudge Theeues watch to murther doest thou not awake to saue thy selfe Now secondly their delaying When the question is vrged whether if the Pope or any of his appointment should inuade the land which part they would take then they shift footing and some as our Gouernors haue obserued haue answered I will then take counsell when the case shall happen others I will answer then and not before others I am not yet resolued lastly I shal then do as God shall put in my mind As though these masks were large enough to shadow their faces which their Creswell hath alreadie discouered saying that If by the Popes command the warre should be vndertaken to the end of restoring Religion then to answer that he is bound in Conscience to hold with the Romish This man speaketh without Parables make then but a pretence of Religion and farewell subiection The moderate Answerer There is none bound generally to euery oath for as the lawe of nature and his Maiestie with Bishops and Nobles in the last Conference taught if the Article either touched the parties life libertie or scandall he may refuse to sweare The Reply This Answer and my Question differ as much as yesterday and to morrow for my argument à simili concludeth of an oath concerning a matter to be done and not of that which is past yet not so as to enforce any to the oath de futuris but from the denying or delay thereof to euince a politicall demonstration of a disloyall heart You haue another answer no whit more true though somewhat more pertinent The very moderate Answerer As coÌ„cerning Interrogatories de futuris contingentibus things which are to come no creature man nor Angell naturally can perceiue them therefore the examen of such things may be left to God The Reply You haue reason to refuse the examination of men lest they vnderstanding your trechery might preuent their owne danger I dare say there is no malefactor in the world bent to any mischiefe but he is of your mind But you are deceiued the question is not absolutely de futuris that is of things to come as if your debtor promiseth to repay you this debt may he not answer he will pay it The act of payment hath respect to the time to come but the will to pay it it is an internall and present act and a resolution of the mind which no perfect man can be ignorant of in himselfe Nemo nescit se velle quod vult No man can be ignorant of his owne will And this is that present will which by his outward messenger the tongue he doth thorow a corporal oath manifest to man what it doth resolue Else why are leagues betwixt Princes contracts betweene man and man consent of wedlocke holy vow in Baptisme to God are not all these visible acts symbols and signes of inward will Acts I say de futuris of things to come as namely of fidelitie loyaltie sanctitie hereafter to be performed Otherwise how is it that you dare contest For all Catholikes not to refuse an oath of allegeance according to the iust proceeding of law promising in your selfe that other shall take an oath of allegeance and obedience to his Maiestie A thing except you meane they will not take the oath hereafter to be done Wherfore when you are about to make an answer take foorth this lâ—slon of true moderation It is better to hold your peace then say nothing CHAP XXVII The Discouerie THe second point is their deluding of an oath by a new tricke of Equiuocation as they vnproperly terme it Others call it ReseruatioÌ„ but most fitly we may cal it Collusion
pittie and would also seâ—me after a sort to satisfie the lawe The truth then of this exposition as al Orthodoxal Comentaries shew is grounded vpon the direct Scripture the Oracle of truth for in the law Deut. 13. 6. 9. If thy brother c. the summe whereof is repeated in the Text in question vers 13. Whosoeuer will not seeke the Lord God of Israel shall be slaine whether he were small or great man or woman What shall we say then is the Soueraignty of Kings disabled God forbid but it is rather established hereby for the King is made the Deposer yea euen of whosoeuer Now that Commentarie doth not defend deposing a King neither possibly can it be defended by any ordinarie commaund of God in all Scripture which is proued Wherefore supposing that the Relation of the Conference be direct yet may you not thinke that his Maiestie whose iudgement is so diuinely illuminated by the light of the word of God that he neuer refused Conference with the greatest Iesuite or Doctor Romish could take exception to the note as from an offence thereby giuen but onely in suspition an offence taken by weake ones prepossessed with your Romish maladie whereof you haue giuen vs experience in your many controuersies For wheresoeuer in all Scripture almost you feele but any sent of fire O behold this doth Proue Purgatorie fire after death Whereas indeed the context is plaine there is onely signified * Afflictions of this life Where you reade promised Reward for goodworkes there you presently conclude Amerit of Condignitie when as all is the onely iustice of Gods promise and the consequent of the onely grace and mercie of God who giueth to will to worke to perfect and crowneth his gift of grace with the grace of the gift of glorie I may not digresse Here doubtlesse his Maiestie doubted lest some impotent Reader not ignorant of your suggestions vnderstanding a Prince deposed by the King might iustifie your proceedings where so many popishly inspired haue assumed the office of Kings to depose a Prince But know you there is not in any part of our Commentarie vpon the Bible any one sparke whereat any Guido may light his match to giue fire to his powder The last instance for England The moderate Answerer If I had trauelled no further into that doctrine then to the late printed booke by your Maiesties Printer of the late intended Conspiracie I might easily performe a iust defence for the Protestant Author giueth it out as a generall rule and vndoubted Maxime to all Professors of worship to take armes if their Religion be in hazard and that no priuate man should thinke his life more happie then to fight pro Aris. Which is greater libertie then our Aduersarie can find in Catholike Writers so of him attached of Treason and Rebellion The Reply This shoot is but twelue score wide of the marke you ayme at your bent is to defend them who professe it lawfull for Catholikes in the maintenance of Religion to murther Kings and harrow Kingdomes in their opinion hereticall This Author teacheth vs to Fight his owne words pro Aris pro focis pro Patre patriae his Reason Because the indangering of one of these would at once stirre the whole bodie of a Commonwealth not any more as diuided members but as a solid and indiuiduall lumpe What is then the difference he in the whole Treatise teacheth euery priuate man to arme himselfe by all possible meanes but first armed with authoritie of the King and State You teach to fight for Religion violating the obedience of God against your King and kingdome to destroy them The difference may be illustrated by the like A priuate man if without authoritie temporall he kill a murtherer he is a murtherer but authorized by the publike lawe he is now no more priuate but an Officer but the lawles homicide doth best pattern your lawlesse parricide So that there is no more oddes betweene our and your Authors opinion then cum Rege contra Regem to fight with and against the King You can find no more exception in England whither will you now it is but a step to Scotland what see you there CHAP. IIII. The Obiection of the moderate Answerer against the Church of Scotland KNox and Buchanan defended the power of people ouer their King The Reply You might haue added that there was in Scotland an Act of Parliament to call in that Chronicle of Buchanan censuring all such contempts and innouations but it stood your modestie in hand to conceale this lest we might reply vpon your moderation thus That is not to be called the doctrine of Scotland which the general currant of that Church and State in publike Parliament doth condemne such is this seditious doctrine of resisting and deposing Kings a learning substantially popish your Popes being Authors thereof your other Priests of Rome suggestors publikely authorized herein and your traiterous Actors canonized for Saints in the conceit of all Romish And now you may bid great Britaine adiew you may make a short cut into France CHAP V. The Obiections of the moderate Answerer against the Protestants in France both in their Positions and Practises LEt vs come into France The Reply But vpon condition that you will not returne Yet what of Fraunce The moderate Answerer Caluin and Beza and the rest of that holy Synode say that the Kings and Queenes their children posteritie and all Magistrates must be put to death and so euery Protestant must be more then a Pope The Reply Nay God forbid that any should be so great a man in Rebellion as your Popes who haue bene the heads of the greatest tumults in Christendome Caluin and Beza whom you traduce if your moderation will suffer that which iustice doth exact must answer for themselues Caluins iudgement in this case In his booke of Institutions which he framed for instruction of all the Church of Christ touching the case now controuerted he beginneth to consult with God saying The word of God teacheth vs to obey all Princes who are established in their thrones be it by what meanes soeuer yea and though they shall do nothing lesse then the Offices of Kings yet must they be obayed though the King be neuer so wicked and indeed vnworthie of the name of a King yet must subiects acknowledge the image of diuine power in his publike authoritie and therefore must in all temporall duties reuerence and obey him as well as if he were the godliest King in the world To contract his other sentences into a briefe We are instructed saith Caluin by many documents of holy writ neuer to suffer these seditioâ—s coÌ„ceits to possesse our minds as to thinke an euill King must be so dealt withall as he deserueth but we are directly charged to obey the King though he be a sauage Tyrant and neuer so wicked which I therefore often vrge that in such a case it
may content vs to know that euen such Kiâ—gs beare in their office the image of God in whom God hath stamped andingrauen an inuiolable Maiestie not to be contemned Thus farre Master Caluin neither doth he euer restrain the outward power of any King except in those States where there is customably ordained for that purpose the Magistracie of those who are called Ephori and Tribuni plebis But when when they shall commaund any thing against the lawe of God then Caluin embraceth the doctrine of Saint Peter Act. 15. 29. We rather obey God then man but how not to obey man as actiuely to resist that is to rebell against him God forbid but onely passiuely which is not to do that which shall be wickedly commaunded Perpeti potiùs quà m à veritate discedere auâ— Ã pietate deslectere Rather suffer saith he then to betray the truth of God or to accord to iniquitie But reade and examine all the lines which euer Caluin penned and you shall not find one syllable that can preiudice his loyaltie Wherof more hereafter The moderate Answerer Beza also and the rest of that holy Synod defend the same The Reply Belike then this rebellious doctrine will be proued a Synodicall Decree among Protestants but if you should vow faithfully not to eate till you proue this I could easily prognosticate what death you should die But Beza as he succeeded Caluine a Doctor so in doctrine likewise Heare Bezas owne confession and it will proue him innocent you a slaunderer and your Popes the capitall delinquents in this kind 1 His innocencie Priuate men among whom I account inferior Magistrates in respect of their King haue no other remedie against Tyrants to whom they be subiect then amendment of their liues prayers and teares which God in his good time will not despise They alwaies prouided not to do but onely to suffer euil as Christ by his owne example hath taught vs. And if it shall so happen that we cannot obey the commaund of the King but that we must offend God the King of Kings then must we rather obey God then man But how so as likewise to remember that it is one thing not to obey another thing to resist and betake our selues to armes This kind of violent disobedience we may not vse Can any moderate spirit call this doctrine rebellious Secondly Your slaunder What our opinion is concerning subiection vnto Magistrates saith Beza a man may better be instructed by our writings then by the slaunders of such as number vs among the companie of intoxicate Anabaptists who renounce the authoritie of Magistrates which doctrine how much we abhorre none can be ignorant which doth not obstinately refuse to see the light Of which kind you must needes be seeing you had rather beleeue any libels against Beza then see his owne writings Thirdly your Popes capitall Offendors The impudencie of our Accusers saith Beza herein is most notorious that they who contrarie to the word of God haue openly subiected Kings and Kingdomes to their authoritie being themselues the most rebellious Sect vnder heauen in contemning Magistrates dare notwithstanding obiect the guilt of that crime vnto vs which they thinke to be a vertue in themselues and wherein they glorie and vaunt Which is most true as we haue proued out of your Bellarmine and others glorying in the acts of such Popes who haue deposed Emperors CHAP. VI. The Practises of Caluin and other Protestants of France obiected by this Accuser in diuers particular instances The first instance The moderate Answerer THese were instruments of all Rebellions and oppressions in the Monarchie of France wherein they tooke all authoritie from the King and Magistrate against King Francis whom they rebelliously persecuted The Reply For your proofes against Protestants in this your Answer you produce Genebrard Claudius de Sanct. Petrus Frar Coclaeus and such like all professed Aduersaries to the Religion of Protestants How moderate dealing this may be accounted will appeare when I shall oppose your owne Historians to condemne you and acquit the Protestants Two witnesses shall suffice who how farre they were from fauouring the Protestants you may iudge by their complexions for the first greedily relateth a Discourse wherein he calleth our Religion new and a plaine imposture The second is dedicated to Charles the then French King and to the Queene mother in which Historie he calleth the doctrine of M. Luther A multitude of absurd heresies Therefore you may not think these men partiall in our behalfe Both prouing 1. The pronenesse of Papists to slaunder the Religion of Protestants 2. That this accusation is a slaunder which is now obiected For the 1. I will alledge of many but one story published by them both False witnesses were brought against Protestants them of the Religion affirming that in a place at Maubert at a Councellors house great numbers of them had eaten a pigge instead of a pascall Lambe before Easter and after the candles being put out euery man tooke his woman and had his pleasure of her The Cardinall vpon these informations moued the Court the Queene mother tooke occasion hereby to reuile some of her Gentlewomen who were of the Religion but they desired and obtained means that the principall witnesses might be examined it was done two young boyes come foorth and affirme that then and many other times they had had the vse of your Councellors daughters but in the end the witnesses began to stagger and couertly to denie it The Councellor sought after for his Religion vnderstanding this shameful slander went with his wife and his two daughters yeelding himselfe prisoner for his Religion desiring that the cause of his daughters might be examined They were diligently searched by Physitions and women and found to be virgins and the young men did thus iustifie themselues that they did it in deuotion being perswaded that such an accusation against such Heretikes was good whether it were true or false But the virgins were cleared and yet their father remained in prison and the witnesses were not punished The second Concerning the present Accusation thus it standeth The Guizes who were no naturall Frenchmen not able to accuse the Prince of Condie of Treason Daniels case called him in question to be condemned of heresie for his Religion But what was the right cause of tumults There was deliuered an exact declaration to proue that those of the Guizes had decreed to put all the Princes of the bloud Royall to death as soone as they had cut off them of the Religion and they were euidently proued to be guiltie of his treason And the King could not otherwise iudge but that great wrong was offered to his bloud Then not the Protestants but the Spanish faction of the Guizes were guiltie of those broyles in the daies of King Francis Notwithstanding Though the Prince of Condie did acquit himselfe of Treason and boldly stood
to his Religion yet not long after they pronounced iudgment of death vpon him But King Francis fell extremely sicke and in his sicknesse made a solemne vow to all Saints in Pieardie that if it pleased them to help him he wold wholy purge his Realme of meaning Protestants all those heretikes And thus all Protestants were freed then from this designe the Saints of Piccardie belike were of your mind Protestants are no heretikes The second Instance of The moderate Answerer They raised such rebellions and civill warres against Charles the ninth wherein the King of Nauarre and Duke Nyuers with others were slaine The Reply I reade the storie in our foresaid Historicall collection of memorable accidents in France and others and I can find onely this thing memorable concerning this point that The King was then in his minoritie and the Queene Mother was regent who yeelded too much vnto the Guizes faction who persecuted the Prince of Condie and sought the destruction of all the bloud royall at length Duke Nyuers with King Nauarre in the warre against his brother at the siege of Roane are wounded and slaine See the cause of the Prince of Condie his defence In lan 1â— anno 1562 was made an Edict whereby permission was granted to them of the Religion to assemble without the townes and order was taken that either part Protestants and Catholikes might liue in quietnesse and peace with each other But a while after the Constable did deface all places of their assemblies and those of the Religion were cruelly handled This was the first beginning of the horrible troubles in France But were Protestants after this rebellious In those of Languidoch the King did pardon whatsoeuer they had done in their iust defence holding them for good subiects What was then the cause why the Prince of Condie and the Admirall did beare armes They vnderstanding that 6000. Switzers were now entred into France with intent to execute violence vpon them of the Religion they betake themselues vnto the King from whom they receiued no fauourable answer therefore they did flie for defence against those Switzers not suffering their throates to be cut by theeues After this was there concluded a peace the Prince of Condie doth lay downe his armes his aduersaries were contented onely to promise to do the like alledging that there is no faith to be held with heretikes Shewing themselues herein false and not onely faithlesse for you know Protestants are no heretikes The third Instance of The moderate Answerer The Duke of Guize was trecherously murdered by Pultrotus for that fact suborned by Beza and the Protestant Admirall The Reply The storie is that The Duke of Guize had appointed a day to take Orleance wherein he would not spare any man woman or child whomsoeuer and after he had kept his Shrouetide there he would spoile and destroy the towne Pultrot riding vpon a Spanish Ginnet shot the Duke with a Pistoll and slue him after was taken and tormented with hot tongs to make him confesse and then torne in peeces by force of horses Let vs leaue him if you will iustly executed by them come to the other vniustly slaundered by you for It was euidently knowne at his execution that Pultrot did it of his owne motion and particular intent thereby to free France and especially Orleance froÌ„ the violence of the Duke of Guize To this first Historian agreeth the second The King after he had examined the Admiral to â—ether with his Councel did acquit him of suspision and imposed perpetuall silence to all not to speake of it You therefore though no subiect might haue bene taught silence especially seeing that the confederates of the Religion among whom was Theodore Beza did condemne this fact of Pulirot as rash and directly contrary to the commaundement of God who will herein condemning all such desperate examples inspired onely with a diuellish motion that euery crime and offence shal receiue punishment according to the institution politike and forme of gouernment established in euery state at the discretion of the Magistrate The moderate Answerer Such were the miserable murders and calamities which they brought to that distressed kingdome that in the two first ciâ—… wars and rebellions aboue an hundred thousand were slaine as Gaspar Collen witnesseth The Reply It is not vnlikely but an hundred thousand were slaine but it is as probable that a thousand for an hundred of them were Protestants persecuted for their Religion who alwayes lay open to Popish trecheries as is plaine by the barbarous massacre wherein as testifieth your owne author there was slaine twentie thousand Protestants in lesse then one moneth by the furie of the Catholikes What could there be in the Protestant was it rebellion No but only constancy in Religion then persecuted by the malignant But what kind of motion might this be in those Catholikes which egged them on to this butcherie whether was it zeale or fury Christian iustice or Antichristian malice The Catholikes not content saith your Author to liue alwayes assured hauing the autoritie of the State for them aspired with a burning desire to bring to passe that which they had a long time plotted against their enemies But let vs leaue this Gâ—lgotha for so you made France by your monstrous massacres as then a place of dead mens sculs Whither shal your next voyage be CHAP. VII The Instances of the moderate Answerer in Heluetia The first The moderate Answerer LEt vs come to Heluetia and especially Geneua the Mother-Church of the Reformed M. Caluine the supreme head of thereformed there hath told vs before that Princes not agreeing with vs in Religion are to be spitted vpon rather then obeyed they are not to be numbred among men they are to be bereaued of all authoritie The Reply What absolutely depriued of all authoritie Proue this and I will as absolutely denie all his doctrinall authoritie whom by reading of your most learned Iesuites as Maldonate Ribera Pererius Salmeron Tollet and such others and conferring their expositions with Caluins I dare boldly affirme him to be of that excelleÌ„t iudgment that these your greatest Rabbies for their best expositions light their candles at Caluins to arch But to the point Caluin doth consider in the person of a wicked King two situations one as he sitteth vnder God the other when he exalteth himselfe to sit aboue God when he commandeth as a substitute and subordinate God hath commanded vs to obey man but when he commandeth contra Deum against God saith * Caluine he vsurpeth Gods throne and herein he looseth his royaltie which is to be obeyed A matter so reasonable that in the behalf of God the A postles in like case are content to appeale herein to the iudgement of his aduersary man Whether it be better to obey God or man iudge you To explane this by example If a Iustice of peace shall command
scorned the Emperor and wrote directly against his Edicts He taught that Protestants hands must be imbrued with bloud teaching that he had warrant from God to battell against Princes The Reply His literall censure of words will be partly confessed but the other of swords which draweth bloud neuer can any proue But to him that looketh through red spectacles whatsoeuer he be holdeth seemeth red No maruell therefore though your fantasie preoccupated with the reflection of your last bloudie stratageme cannot see your aduersarie but with suspitioÌ„ of bloud It may be you wil alledge Wicelius as though your owne Romish might suffice in this case or professed malice could euer speake a truth A man whome Luther thought so vnworthie the naming that He doth maruell that any will answer the booke of Wicell which doth sufficiently answer it selfe The former censure of sharpe speech let vs see how Luther can excuse He writing to the Duke of Saxonie doth thus reconcile himselfe As God doth seuerely chasten those whom he purposeth afterward louingly and fatherly to embrace killing that he may reuiue I likewise most excelent and gracious Soueraigne had no other intent in my bitter speech wherein I might happily offend your Highnesse or any other Wherfore my humble prayer to God hath bene that I might recouer your Highnesse fauor especially seeing that a tart reprehension for good is a 〈…〉 simple and syncere heart more precious then all â—…ses of painted flatterie He writeth almost the like Apologie vnto King Henry the eight wholly to the same end granting that He had offended his Maiestie with his writings yet not with intent to offend him but by instigation of such as did not so greatly fauour his dignitie and did not therefore doubt but his Princely clemencie knowing himselfe mortall would not harbor any immortall displeasure against him He craued pardon onely for words O that your case would suffer such an Apologie Concerning his allegeance to the Emperor the Emperor himselfe did acquithim who neuer charged him with seditious doctrine against his State but onely religious profession against the sacrilegious superstitions of that time Which his doctrine he iustified in the presence of the Emperor at Auspurge whereof Luther writeth thus Our cause was heard at Auspurge before the Emperor and before the whole world manifested to be improuable I haue published our Apologie answering therein to all Popish lying slaunders which are infinite but I may not enuie in those men that facultie because they haue no other excellent vertue wherly to ennoble themselues A certaine argument of your ruinous house whose best supporter is the priuiledge of lying by vertue whereof to your other more then a good many euill slaunders you adde these two next following The third instance in Luther by The moderate Answerer By Luthers doctrine that Christians must not fight against the Turke in short time Belgrade and Rhodes were taken Hungary was entred King Lodowike slaine Buda conquered c. Witnesses Munster in Chron. Pantaleon Chron. 121. The Reply I haue perused the follies you quote and perceiue that your wisedome in deluding your Reader is excellent for Munster and Pantaleon both writing of Belgrade Hungarie Rhodes c. neuer attribute the least scruple or suspition of occasion thereof vnto Luther Can you be contented to vnderstand the true causes of those mischiefes Hearken then vnto your owne Historian Because it was publikely knowne that Leo the Pope had not employed the great summes of money which he raised from Pardons against the Turk there followed the ruins of Hungary Bohemia was assaulted Rhodes surprised and a thousand other euils fell vpon Christendome This is certaine from the truth of all Storie concerning the Turkes that Popes and Popish Clergy by their insatiable riot and couetousnes haue bene the bane to all Christendome alwaies since their temporall Hierarchy by kindling firebrands of seditions among Christians haue giuen the greatest aduantage to the Turke CHAP. XI The last instance against Munster and other Anapabtists The moderate Answerer MVnster was of the same opinion and practise and called Rebellion for his Religion the warre of God affirming that he had receiued some speciall commandement from God to war against Kings and had promise of victorie from heauen and hereupon such Rebellions ensued that of his owne adherents and Traitors were slaine within the space of three moneths one hundred and thirtie thousand The Reply You being in your selfe Magnus opinator told vs of the opinion of Luther and now descended to Munster say Munster was of the same opinion viz. with Luther and called c. But your Peter Frarer whom you brought to accuse Caluin is herein readie to iustifie Luther saying that Luther wrote against these rebellious ones prouing that it belonged to all Christians to persecute them to death Caluin also wrote a booke intituled * Aduersus Libertinos against fantasticall and Anabaptisticall Libertines and Beza as we haue heard saith That it is impious wickednesse for any to obiect vnto Protestants the opinion of those rebellious Anabaptists and spirits of giddinesse But what thinke you were Anabaptists Protestants or were Protestants whom you haue named of this opinion of Anabaptists Thus would you perswade your English Reader but your Cardinal Reader at Rome doth confute you For this opinioÌ„ of the hereticall Anabaptists saith he not only we Catholikes but Melancthon also Caluine and Luther do abhorre Recount now your words Munster was of opinion that it was the commandement of God he shold war True and that he saâ—… he had a special reuelation from heauen promising him victory True And that thereupon ensued rebellions to the death of many thousands All these yet true but now there is wanting this one word same Munster say you was of the same meaning Luthers opinion It is written One dead â—…e in the ointment of the Apothecarie doth poison the whole box And so in one little word same your great lie hath disabled your whole accusation For as well may you call the Bandites namely those grand theeues and out-lawes in Italy of the same incorporation with the citizens of Rome as name Anabaptists who depend vpon extraordinary and fantasticall reuelations of the same opinion with Protestants who are wholy directed by the expresse written law and Gospell of Christ I perceiue you are now growne weary with long trauell I could haue wished you would haue visited Polonia and after that Bohemia in some particular obseruations for in both those kingdomes there hath bin long time manifold vexations executed vpon Protestants and yet neuer any of them or others can be named who deposed Princes inuaded Crownes or by any treason did practise the deaths of their Soueraignes Now therefore let your moderation be admonished to returne home into England and seeing you cannot find Protestants for your fellowship in your kind of rebellion now let Protestants I pray you haue