solliciter were alledged against the sayd Earle After this there followeth in these mens narration Hitherto say they we might adde the notable treasons of M. Anthony BabingtoÌ„ and his complâ—ces in the yeare 1586. which were so apparant as we were greatly abashed at the shamelles boldnes of a yong Iesuite who to excuse the said traytors and qualifie their offences presumed in a kynd of supplication to her Maiestie to ascribe the plotting of all that mischeef to M. Secretary VValsingam c. Marke heere the exceeding malice of these men who to excuse the persecutors though neuer so eager enemyes and heretiks seek to lay all hurts vpon Catholiks and for that yf yow remember these particular examples are brought in to prooue not only that Catholiks are culpable guilty of their owne afflictions but also to confirme their former general proposition that all mischeefes synce her Maiesties raigne haue byn wrought principally by Iesuits And not finding in this fact of M. Babington not so much as any one Iesuite to haue byn accused or named as participant or consenting to this action they take occasion to name one at least that sought afterward to qualifie their offenses in a supplication to her Maiestie But what is that to the poynt it selfe that any Iesuite was actor counselour consenting or priuy thervnto Yf that blessed man whome they insinuate now a martyr did go about to mittigate the matter to her Maiestie they being all Catholike geÌ„tlemen that died for the same and did also signifie that M. VValsingham had entertayned for diuers monethes the knowledge and notice of that association as it is most certainly knowne that he did by the confession of diuers that dealt with him therin and therby also most probable that the poore gentlemen were drawne thervnto by his malice and craft what is this we say to proue that Iesuits were any dealers attempters or counselers therof VVas there any Iesuite so much as named in all the processe against them at the barre or otherwise VVere not D. Allen and F. Persons F. Holt and F. Creswel all at Rome or Naples at that tyme and no one English Iesuite remayning eyther in Fraunce or Flaunders to treat with any in that affayre VVere not all the consultations about that matter made in Paris with those that were of the opposite faction VVere not the three priests Ballard Gyfford and Gratley that dealt therin secular priests and deuided from the Iesuits as by their owne confessions appeareth which we haue cyted in our Apologie nay did not Tyrel the priest being made acquaynted therwith and opening the same in general tearmes to another priest in London being asked that point confessed plainly that Ballard had told him that neyther D. Allen nor F. Persons were priuy thervnto whervpoÌ„ the said priest disclaymed from it and refused to heare any further therin which act of the said priest soone after taken by the detection of Tyrel and charged with that conference was cleered for that he had refused to heare therof And this to be so appeareth by the register and examinations taken at that tyme. And so by this yow may see the vpright dealing of these our brethren yf any way they may be called brethren It followeth in their Catalogue of accusations against Catholiks their doyngs The treachery say they of S r VVilliam Stanley the yeare following 1587. in falsifying his faith to her Maiestie and in betraying the trust comytted to him by the Earle of Leicester who had giuen him thè honorable title of knighthood as it was greaty preiudicial to vs that were Catholiks at home so was the defence of that disloyalty made by a worthie man but by the persuasion as we thinke of Persons grratly misliked of many both wise and learned Heere marke good Reader first the odious manner of speech of these priests yf they be priests against so worthy a man of their nation and religion as is S r VVilliam Stanley calling his rendring of the citty of Dauentry to the King of Spaine treachery and falsifying of his faith to her Maiestie betraying the trust committed vnto him c. which is both malignant and false for that the place which S r VVilliam gaue vp was not vnder her Maiesties obedience at that tyme nor S r VVilliam or this soldiars that held the same were in her pay but in the pay of the rebelled states vnto whome those of DaueÌ„trie being free before and without any garrison the Earle of Leicester by deceipt and force made them subiect by drawing in an English garrison against their willes It is manifestly false also that S r VVilliam was made knight by the Earle of Leicester as these men heere most fondly affirme for that he had his knighthood by S r VVilliam Drury deputy of Ireland long before the Earle of Leicester had charge in Holland neyther can he be said to haue falsified his faith to her Maiestie as these caluÌ„niators obiect for so much as he was not sworne to her Maiestie in that gouernment as hath byn shewed holding not the towne for her but for the States whome knowing in his conscience to be rebels and most wrongfully to detayne from ther true Lord and lawful king that and other townes the good religious knight thought himselfe bound vnder paine of greuous sinne as indeed he was by all true diuinity to make restitution therof to the true owner when it lay in his hand no lesse then when a theefe hauing robbed or spoyled any honest man and put the booty in pawne or deposition in another mans hand he is bound knowing the truth not to keep it for the theefe nor to restore it to him againe but to the true owner and this we thinke our brethren in their diuinity wil not dare to deny as nether this case following suppose any Spaniard Italian or other subiect of the King of Spayne should hold any towne at this day in Ireland of the Earle of Tyron and vnder his pay and becoming a Protestant should therwith thinke it iust and reason and himself bound in conscience to yeld the same freely and frankely without reward or couenant to her Maiestie as to the true owner would our men trow you cry out heere of treachery and breach of faith against the King of Spaine And yet yf they be Catholiks as they pretend they must needs confesse the case to be no lesse fauorable on S r VVilliams side yf not much more both in respect of his great zeale in Catholike religion and rare piety of lyfe shewed euer synce wherin would God the wryters of these books being priests as they say had any resemblance or would follow him as also for that as we are certainly enformed besides the former warrant of conscience and iustice he had also for safegard of his honour a particular Patent from his General the Earle of Leicester when he returned into England with expresse licence
a parte or for that in iudgement and affection they concurre heerin with Protestants and hate them euen for religions sake that is for their eminent zeale in Catholike religion And what credit this may be to them throughout the world with all good Catholiks themselues may easily consider as also what wisdome it is to exasperate without cause so great a multitude of men dispersed ouer all Christendome who haue done them euery where much good and may do and both they and theirs haue need of them in diuers places of our banishment abroad and persecution here at home being subiect to so many necessityes both spiritual and temporal wherin these mens help vnto vs hath and may be very beneficial And in this kynd also is the inconsideration of our said brethren notorious that hauing receaued for so many yeares and receyuing daylie in forraine contreys most principal releefe from the kinges of Spaine both the father now dead and the sonne raigning and our Cathol English mens affayres beyond the Seas and namely our Seminaryes depending in such sort of their good likings and liberalityes as yf they should faile vs the greatest part of all our stay must fal therwith these men not-withstanding as though they had byn hired by the common enemy to ouerthrow our owne cause seeke occasion in these books to alienate them both and the whole nation together by contumelious iniuryes layd vpon them with so intemperate a tongue as no mouth of heretike or other enemy could vtter worse Let vs heare yf yow please some of their speches touching both the one and the other king The K. of Spaine say they ayming at the crowne of England with the death of her Ma. and subuersion of the whole state togeather with the vtter ruyne desolasion and destruction of the whole Isle and the ancient inhabitants therof neuer once shewed any care or respect he or his had to the restoring of the Catholike Râ—mish faith amongst the English nay his direct course was taken quite contrary scilicet to extirpate the name of all Catholiks that were English out from the face of the earth Thus they wryte of his Cath. Ma. And further they are not ashamed in the same place to assure the reader out of the Duke of Medina his owne confession that he had order rather to spare protestaÌ„ts yf he had peruayled in warre then Catholiks And what heretike was yet euer so impudent as to affirme this seeing that both the kings owne Edict published in Spayne concerning that enterprise as also the declaration of the late Cardinal from his Hol. do testifie and protest the quite contrary namely that the old good kinges intention was principally for the aduancemeÌ„t of Catholike religion and relief of poore afflicted Catholikes himself often protesting as most certaynly wee are informed that he neuer ment or pretented in his life any temporal interest for himself to the crowne of England and that if he might haue had any reasonable hope or satisfaction in the other two poynts by any competent moderation or toleration he was desyrous to haue helde peace and good frendship with her Maiestie and the crowne of England aboue all other princes and kingdomes in Europe and the self same disposition wee persuade ourselues by many and great argumentes to be in his sonne the king catholike present of whome notwithstanding our men that spare none do ad also diuers contumelious speches saying that it is not religion which the king present doth care for more then his Father did before him but maketh that only a pretence to seduce all Catholiks c. Making them and yow all deare Catholiks to cut one anothers throat c. thus they say of him And as for his nation and people the Spaniards they raile at them most impudently calling them base villaynes swaggering mishapen swads and knowne to be the cruellest tyrants that liue vpon the earth c. which intollerable spiteful insolency comming to their eares as it cannot choose but do let vs imagine what that bountiful king and his people that haue so many of our brethren and children in their hands and dominions and do cherish them most tenderly may or wil thinke of this barbarous ingratitude not only in heretiks which were more tolerable but also in Catholiks yea priests and most of them maintayned and brought to that they are eyther in Doway Rhemes or Spaine by the said king and nations liberality And this is the deep wound indeed which these inconsiderate and passionate people not to vse more greeuous tearmes haue giuen do giue vnto their nation and to the publike cause of religion which they wil neuer be able to cure wholy nor scarse perhaps any other for them But passing forward from the kings of Spaine they go to the Popes themselues according to that saying in the psalme superbia corum ascendit semper their pride mounteth higher and higher and truly a man would not easily beleeue that priests professing themselues Catholiks and to haue byn brought vp in the Seminaryes and that they would haue no other iudge of their cause but his Hol. himselfe wold presume to be so audatious as to cal in question and condemne the actions of so many Popes togeather noe lesse contemptiously then those of the K. of Spaine before mentioned whome comonly they do conioyne with the Popes and Sea Apostolike affirming that both Pius 5. Gregory the xiij and Sixtus 5. did conspire with him yea thrust him into the inuasion of England Did not Pius 5. say they by way of a fayned obiection practise her Ma. subuersion she good lady neuer dreaming of any such mischeefe c. Did not Pius 5. mooue the K. of Spaine to ioyne in this exployte c. Had not the Pope and K. of Spayne designed the duke of Norfolke to be the head of this rebellion Did not k. Philip at the Popes instance determyne to send the duke of Alua into England with all his forces c. Thus and much more they complayne of that holy Pope and the like of his successor in these words Now whilst these practises were in band in Ireland Gregory the xiij reneweth the saidâ— Bull of Pius 5. denounceth her Ma. to be excoÌ„municated with intimation of all other particulars in the former Bull mentioned And of the same Pope Gregory they ad further thus The attempts both of the Popes and Spaniard fayling in England his Hol as a temporal prince displayed his banner in Ireland c. Of Sixtus 5. also his successor they complayne in like manner speaking of the armada in the yeare 1588. VVe doubt not but that the Pope as a temporal prince did ioyne and contribute towards this intended inuasion c. And marke that alwayes they ad as a temporal Prince for that as a spiritual and Ecclesiastical Magistrate they hold throughout the whole book that he hath no power at all to concurre or appoynt
benefices but ample commission rather for all parts with a sufficient stipend to liue vpon vntil things be better setled Lo heere that which is spoken to great good purpose for some few preachers only to be free from any particular charge and this for a while to the end they may attend to all places is turned odiously by these men to all priests in general VVhat wil yow say of this malitious kynd of dealing but the narrownesse of this place suffereth vs not to passe herein any further There remayneth then the third part of this book concerning the laytie conteyning the Prince with his counsel the nobility communalty and hath this title in the first chapter therof Of the laity temporalty in general of their agreement and concurrance with the Cleargie most needful for both their good the difference also of both their states And then the Chapter beginneth thus By that which I haue spoken in the first Chapter and second part of this memorial about Cleargymen the difference and distinction may appeare that is betwixt these two principal braunches of a Christian and Catholike comon-wealth to wit the Cleargie and layty which is a distinction obserued from the very beginning of Christian religion and the primatiue Church as may appeare by the first second third eight seauenty and diuers other cannons of the first general Counsel of Nice where often mention is made of this distinction And before that againe Tertullian a most learned and auncient wryter not only setteth downe the same distinction of cleargy and lay-men as receaued generally in his tyme but sheweth also and reprehendeth earnestly the emulation and enuy that euen then begonne by art of the diuel to be in diuers of the laity against the Cleargie c. VVe cannot prosecute the rest at large but only giue yow a gesse what manner of matter it is which ensueth by the first entrance and so the next chapter being of the Prince and the counsel begynneth thus As the Prince in euery common-wealth is the head and hart from whence all lyfe and vigour principally cometh vnto the same so aboue all other things is it of importance that he be wel affected and disposed and so much the more in England aboue other countreys by how much greater and eminent his authority is and power with the people more then in diuers other places by which meanes it hath coÌ„men to passe that England hauing had more store of holy kings in ancient tymes then many other contreys togeather came to haue also religion and piety more aboundaÌ„tly setled by their meanes then diuers realmes about them c. Thus there The 3. Chapter is of the nobility and gentry beginning in these words By the nobility of England we do vnderstand according to the fashion of other countreys not only noble men of title but gentlemen esquyres knights and other degrees that be aboue yeomen husband men and the communalty in which inferior sort of nobility beneath Barons I meane of knights esquyres and gentlemen there is not that distinction obserued betwixt their degrees in forraine countreys as in ours and I take ours farre the better and more laudable order This nobility then and gentry being the cheef members of our Realme are carefully to be preserued by our Catholike Prince in their ancient honors dignityes and priuiledges and whatsoeuer iniury or disestimation hath byn layd vpon them these later yeares by occasion of heresy it is to be remooued and particular inquiry is to be made by commissioners appointed by the parlament For this purpose wherin and in what points the nobility of England hath byn iniured dishonored or oppressed to the end that supplication may be made to the Catholike Prince for remedy therof And as the ancient nobility of England in tymes past came to that dignity in the common-wealth and to their credit estimation both with Prince and people first for their piety and zeale in Christian religion and secondly for their fidelity and valour in seruice of their prince and countrey so their heyres and posterity must conserue the same by the self same meanes c. And so he followeth on with many other considerations which wee pretermit The 4. Chapter of this part is intituled Of the Innes of Court and study of the common lawes with diuers considerations also about the lawes themselues c. About which subiect diuers important points are suggested for making that study to florish with more honour and profit of the weale-publike and the students good The 5. Chapter is Of the common people of England and how greatly they are to be cherished and made of which Chapter beginneth thus The communalty being the body and bulk of the Realme and those that sustayne the poyse and labour of the same they are greatly to be cherished nowrished esteemed conserued and next after the planting of true religion and knowledge of God greate care is to be had of their enâ—itching for that as Constantius the Emperour was wont to say the princes true treasure are the coffers of his subiects and especially of the communalty who if they be poore and needy can neyther pay their landlords nortil or mannure their ground nor help the Prince in his necessityes And by the communalty in this place I vnderstand labouring nun seruingmen husbandmen yeomen aertificers citizens and marchants all which labour and â—oyle to the end that others may liue in rest And in England their condition as before I haue touched was wont to be more prosperous and happy then in any countrey els of the world besides and may be againe by the grace of God with the restoring of true religion the losse wherof brought not only spiritual but also temporal misery vpon vs all and our Realme c. Thus wryteth he there laying downe many excellent meanes for comfort of this communalty which we wil not prosecute in this place for breuityes sake nor say any more at all of this whole book or Treatese but only remit our selues to the iudgment of the indifferent Reader to gesse by this litle he hath seene what manner of matter and with what piety moderation and tender loue of our countrey the whole is wrytten which these men so spitefully do maligne and cauil at And this shal be sufficient for a tast of this fourth book Touching the third intituled A conference about the next succession to the Crowne of England had in the yeare 1593. for that it is in printe and in the hands of many and the contents therof sufficiently knowen we shal need to say lesse but only to note vnto the Reader the like great passion and intemperate folly of these our brethren in exclaming now so eagerly against it which not long ago when they were in good tune they liked wel and highly commended and wheras it is knowen that it came forth with the consent liking and approbation at least of our
to beate vs with all and therby to increase our affliction yet rods coÌ„monly are cast away or burnt afterward when the turne is serued or the occasioÌ„ past And this we say in case the Prince and state should meane to punish vs more by their incitation or assistance offered which yet we hope they do not but rather as noble mynds are wont to do wil conceaue the more compassion of our greeuous sufferings by that they see vs betrayed also and iniuriously vexed by our owne and if God almighty should at length mooue their harts for which we pray dayly to harken vnto that most honorable and holsome motion so often propounded by the best Catholiks for some toleration in religion wherof these men also do whisper and brag much in corners as they passe through forrayne countreys as though they were designed Embassadors for the same and that at their demaund the matter were in consultatioÌ„ yet do we most certainely assure our selues knowing the grauity honor and wisdome of our Counsel as We do that this is but a vayne vaunt and that when God shal inspire them to harken to this proposition they wil deale with other manner of men of the Cathol party then these who being deuided from the rest that is from the body head and principal of that cause can haue litle credit to treat or set forward any such weighty affayre in the name of the rest being like sâ—ayles that beare each one their castle on their owne backes that is hauing no further reputation then themselues beare about with them in their owne heads and immaginations or giue it out by their owne tongues to such as wil beleeue them And so much of this There remayneth to say a word or two of forraine Princes whose fauour they seek to gayne by this their dissenting from their fellowes as namely with the king of Scotland to whome they sent first to offer themselues as diuers wayes we vnderstand and after that to the K. of France by their knowne Agents in Paris promising to be at his disposition and to oppose themselues against all pretences for Spayne c. but these are deuises so ordinary in court and with so great Monarches as these are we meane to offer mountaynes and to curry fauour by accusing others that it cannot worke any great impression in them especially considering how litle these men caÌ„ do eyther pro or coÌ„tra in the weighty affaire which they pretend about the succession of England and this whether we consider eyther the protestant party or the Catholike of our realme for that with the former they haue but very poore credit hitherto except they go forward and with the second perhaps much lesse except they turne backevvard and so for the tyme they rest betweene both which the wisdome of princes and their counselors wil soone espy and discerne especially his Maiestie of Scotland being very wise as he is reported wil easily heare and come to know that since they dealt with him by their late messengers to offer their seruices they haue dealt againe another way in England and haue deuised a new discourse about the successioÌ„ as we are credibly informed more to the taste of some great personages of our State whose present fauour they most desyre He wil ponder furthermore that if they be truly Catholike as they pretend then can they not with a good conscieÌ„ce to God and to their owne religion desire sincerely and from their harts whatsoeuer they say or pretend his Maiesties gouernment ouer Catholiks except he be of the same religion which if it were then is the desire of his preferment not only theirs but common to all Catholiks and if it be not then are they in the case of those flatterers of Constantius wherof we spake before and not vnlike to be so esteemed by him as those were by the other though not so roughly handled And finally his Maiestie of Scotland wil weigh and remember that whatsoeuer these men do say or doe they being of so smal consideration and credit as they are and so mutable as we haue shewed and their motiues so weake and passionate as by their owne wrytings and doings appeareth no great account is to be made therof And the like may be said of his Maiestie of France who being so great and potent a monarch as he is must needs euery day haue store of such poore sawning people running vnto him for their owne interests but yet with pretence of offering seruices against Spayne whome though in wisdome and law of princely royalty he caÌ„not presently reiect yet considering with maturity of former points and circumstances to wit what they are why they come from whome and against whome what grouÌ„ds they haue to worke vpon to what end they tend what they can performe and other the like he wil quickely both discouer and discard them for seing by his wisdome that to deale much with these men can neyther be honorable not profitable as tending rather to alienate then oblige or gayne the Catholike party in England And this wil prooue the true euent of this action if we be not deceaued and when they shal haue spent in Paris the good sommes of money which they carryed out of England with them and shal want the supplyes which now perhaps they hope and expect and shal heare from all places as already they do and wil daylie more and more the general bad opinion that is of them among all good Catholikes both English and other they wil then begin if we be not deceyued to see the folly of this bad and mad course taken in hand which we beseech God they may so do before it be to late to amend it And this is all we shal say of this matter for the present OF FIVE OTHER BOOKES or rather absurd and sclanderous libels come forth since the answering of the former two and tenne more promised CAP. VII MOST pittiful it is to consider how the frailty and infirmity of man once beginning to slyde commeth soone after to rush on with violence and precipitation if stay be not made in tyme lik as when a violent riuer stopped or bayed vp beginneth to breake forth at a chinke or two and the breaches not remedied at the first it ouerfloweth all making a deluge irremediable euen so falleth it out in this disorder of our transported brethren who beginning to exceed the limits of modesty and truth vpon anger emulation and other such passionate motyues as before haue byn mentioned and not staying themselues with the consideratioÌ„ eyther of reason conscience or religion haue now made such an open breach to all licentious liberty of vnshameful rayling and being as the prophet saith deâ—rita fronte haue so inured both tongues pennes with a certaine veyne of opprobrious and contumelious scolding as euery day there come forth and appeare new books from them the later euer worse and more intollerable then the former In which kynd
A MANIFESTATION OF THE GREAT FOLLY AND BAD SPIRIT OF certayne in England calling themselues secular priestes VVho set forth dayly most infamous and contumelious libels against worthy men of their owne religion and diuers of them their lawful Superiors of which libels sundry are heer examined and refuted By priestes lyuing in obedience 2. Tim. 3. Their folly shal be manifest to all men Luc â—â— The vncleane spirit went foorth and took seauen other spirits more wicked then himself and all entring dwelt there and the ending of those men was worse then the beginning Superiorum Permissu 1602. ¶ Of the contradiction of fond men PRoficit semper contradictio stultorum ad stultitiae demonstrationem quia quae ingenio insipientis aut peruersae intelligentiae aduersus veritatem coaptantur dum in concussa immobilis est necesse est vt quae è diuerso sunt falsâ— intelligantur stulta Hilar. lib. 8. de Trinit THe more that vnwise men do contend and contradict others the more they make manifest their owne indiscretion and folly for that such arguments as are framed eyther by their owne fond inuentions or peruerse misconstructions against truth that remayneth euer immoueable and not to be shaken must needs be found to be false and foolish THE PREFACE to the Catholike Reader MVCH against our wils were we forced these dayes past deare Catholike reader to interrupt the course of our peaceable priestly labors and to enter into a certayne contention and warre of wryting not so much against the comon enemy of our religion for that had byn comfortable as against our owne tumultuous brethren in defence of order iustice and innocency and of the lawful authority of our Superiors intemperatly impugned by them which defence we called an Apologie of the English Catholike Ecclesiastical Hierarchy c. endeauoring therin so to temper the style of our wryting as mighâ— be somewhat answerable to the grauity of the subiect yet exasperate no further the impugnerâ— then the necessary opening of the truth of matters should meerly force vs vnto and this we hope that euery indifferent Reader wil haue considered and be ready to beare vs witnesse And this office being once performed for the true information of those that desyre to knowe how matters had passed our meaning was to go no further in this contention but to returne to our reposed lyfe againe and so our hope was that we might but alas weâ— prooue the contrary and that as a graue author saith facilior est ortus quam exitus rixâ—rum the beginning of braulings is easyer then the ending especially when the passions wheron they are grounded be inward and permanent as in our case it seemeth to stand the ground of al these contentions appearing euidently to be enuy and emulation fostered by ambition anger reuenge and other such Assistants which how perilous and pernicious counselors they be to continue debate rancor and malice and to bring all to perdition that harken vnto them were ouerlong to recyte out of holy mens wrytings yet can I not omit the saying of an old Saint Piâ—mmoâ— the Anachorite recounted by 〈◊〉 Cassiaâ—us almost twelue hundred yeares pasâ— his speech is this Sciendum sanè est iâ—â—idiae morbuâ— difficilius ad medelâ—m quâ—m â—â—tera vitia perduci nam eum quem semel veneni sui peste corruperit penè dixerim carere remedio ipsa namque est lues de qua figuraliter dicitur per prophetam Ecce ego mittam vobis serpentes regulos quibus non est incantatio mordebâ—nt vos c. Yow must know that the sicknesse of enuy is cured more hardly then other vices in so much that when any man is infected with this venome I may almost say that he is irremediable seing this infectioÌ„ is that wherof God speaketh of by Hieromie the prophet figuratiuely Behould I vvil send vpon yovv deadly serpents against vvhome no inchauntment shal preuayle they shal byte yovv c. Thus beginneth he his treatese of this matter wherin for that diuers things are most excellently spoken by him fit to our purpose and easy to be applyed to the present state of our affayers we think it not amisse to recyte some part therof more at large heare then his discourse Rightly saith he is the byting of enuy compared by the prophet to the venemous stinging of a deadly basiliske serpent wherby the first poysoned serpent of all others yea the author and inuentor of all poyson the diuel was both slayne and slue For first by enuy he slue himself afterward him whome he enuyed to wit our first parent according to the saying of the scripture By enuy of the diuel death entred into the vvorld c. And as he being once deadly infected with this poyson of enuy could neuer after be cured eyther by the holsome medicine of pennance or otherwise but perished eternally so men that suffer themselues to be corrupted with the same poyson and bytings of enuy do become incurable excluding all helpes of holsome inchauntements of the holy Ghost against the same The reason wherof is for that the enuious are not styrred vp to hate others for any true fault which they see in them but rather for their good parts vertues and gifts of God and so being ashamed to vtter the true causes in deed of their auersion they pretend other idle superfluous external reasons which being no true causes indeed but only fayned it is but tyme lost to go about to remoue them the true causes indeed lying hidden in the bottome of their entralles c. Nay further this pestilence of enuy when it once entreth maÌ„s hart it becometh so incurable as it is exasperated by faire speech puffed vp by humble offices and styrred to wrath by gyfts good turnes in so much as Salomon saith nihil sustinet zelus nothing can content or satisfie emulation for by how much the party enuyed is eminent eyther in humility patience munificence or other vertues the more potent prickes of enuy hath the enuyer to be styrred vp against him nor is he satisfied with any thing but with his death or ruine c. Wherfore so much the more pernicious and incureable is enuy aboue all other vices by how much more it is encreased nourished by those very remedyes wherby other synnes are cured and extinguished as for example he that is angry with yow for some hurt receaued if yow recompence him liberally he is content and satisfied He that complayneth of an iniury receaued if yow giue him humble satisfaction he is pleased againe But what wil yow do to him who the more humble and benigne he seeth yow the more is he offended to see those vertues in yow And what seruant of God to satisfie an enuious man wil leaue of vertue and other good things wherwith God hath endewed him c. Thus wryteth that blessed man and how fully this falleth out in
to their betters and superiors And this shal be sufficient by way of Preface The rest yow shal discerne by that which is treated in the Chapters following THE CONTENTES OF THIS BOOK THe Preface to the Catholike Reader The manifest folly and apparant bad spirit of the wryters of these libels in choosing the subiect argument of such late books as they haue set forth CAP. I. Their folly and passionate spirit declared in the manner of handling â—he said Argumentes CAP. II. Their folly and presumptuous spirit in making to theâ—selues such aduersaryes as they do CAP. III. Their folly vnshâ—mfast spirit in vttering so open and manifest vntruthes and contradictions to their owne discredit CAP. IIII. Their folly and malignant spirit in obiecting certayne books to F. Persons which if they be his cannot but giue him much credit and commendatioÌ„ with a brief confutation of a fond paniphlet set forth in answere to the book of succession CAP. V. Their folly and deceaued spirit in persuading themselues to get credit or recouer that which is lost with any â—â—â—t of men be they frends or enemyes by this manner of proceeding with clamors and libels CAP. VI. Of fiue other books or rather absurd and scandalous libels come forth since the Answering of the former two and of ten more promised CAP. VII Certayne directions vnto Catholikes hâ—w to discerne the truth and how to beare theÌ„selues in this tyme of contention with an examination of diuers notorious and infamous lyes of VV. VV. in his book of Quodâ—â—bets CAP. VIII THERE MANIFEST FOLLY AND APPARANT BAD SPIRIT IN CHOOSING the argument and subiect of these their bookes CAP. I. FIRST then to beginne with the argument and subiect of these our discontented priests late books it shal not be needful for prouing our purpose to runne them ouer all which hitherto are six that haue come to our hands the first in latyn intituled Declaratio moâ—uum turbationum c. A declaration of styrres and troubles c. which coÌ„teyning nothing els indeed but a certayne intemperate inuectyue against many good and worthy men wel deseruing both of them of our countrey and replenished with innumerable slanders most manifestly false and prooued by no other reasons authorityes or restimonies but the words of the passionate wryters hath made all strangers that haue read the same to haue a straÌ„ge opinion of english mens humors when they are in passion about which poynt see the table of deceits falshoods and slanders set before our Apologie and the Apologie it selfe Cap. II. The second booke is intituled The Copies of discourses c. wherof the first part being contrary to the second doth easily both answere and confound it selfe â— For that in the formost discourses all these mennes oppositioÌ„s impugnations of the Archpriest do stand vpon the want of the Popes owne letters to coÌ„firme those of the Card. Protector wherby the Archpriest was appoynted assuring vs that whensoeuer any such confirmation should come from his Hol. there would be no more controuersy and yet the very next ensuyng discourses in the same booke his Hol. Breue of Approbation being now published do shew that they were much farther of from obaying the Archpriest then before And this was the first childbirth after their long and troublesome trayuayling thrust out to the world very vnexpectedly to mooue new troubles at that tyme when they made profession to haue appealed to his Hol. and would attend his auswere and resolution therin which resolution as synce we have seene came forth soone after against them though his Hol. at that tyme knewe nothing of these seditious bookes the iniquity wherof was and is such as yf they had byn seene it seemeth impossible that his Hol. would haue answered so myldly as he doth though we know his nature and disposition wholy bent to myldnes and according to the same disposition we haue also endeauored in our Apology or answere to these two libels to lay open the iniurious proceeding of our tempted BrethreÌ„ in those books and to mitigate their distempered humors the best we could And for that this Apologie is now in the hands of the Readers to peruse we will say no more therof but remyt it and our selues to their discreet iudgments After this came out two other twynnes at one tyme the one in English the other in latyn the first is intituled the hope of peace by laying open the Archpriests vntruthes c. The second conteyneth the copies as well of the Card. Protectors letters for the institution of the Archpriest by his Hol. authority as also the Popes owne Breue for confirmation therof The letter also of Card Burghesiâ—s Viceprotector in repreheÌ„sion of M. Charnockâ— for disobaying of the senteÌ„ce giuen by the two Cardâ— in Rome against them and other such like wrytings VVhich two bookes comming to our haÌ„ds after our foresaid Apology was ended inducedâ— vs to make a certayne Appendix for vnfolding their contents the one hauing nothing but some few handfuls of vanity and scurrility layd to geather vnfit to be further treated by modest men and the second representing nothing els but the reproofe and condemnation of their owne contentious proceedings And thus much concerning the foure former books whose arguments being as we haue rehearsed we remit our selues how great a manifestation it hath byn of their owne folly passion and imprudence to take this course of clamorous libelling and defaming their owne frends and therby also obliging them for defence of their innocency to returne auswere which they were most loath and vnwilling to doe But yf there were but an inch of folly in wryting and publishing the former 4 books there is an ell in these last two that now are come forth the one bringing vs a new relation of the sedition and contention passed in VVisbich the other Important considerations to mooue all vniesuited Catholikes as their phrase is to acknowledge the myld and mercifull procedings of the State of England towards them for matters of religion synce the beginning of her Maiesties raygne c. These two books we say and the subiect therof togeather with the maner of handling and other circumstances before mencioned are sufficient yf nothing els were to ouerthrow the whole credit of our discontented brethren with all sorts of discreet and modest men not only Catholikes but also ProtestaÌ„ts as by ripping vp some parts therof shal easily appeare For first concerning the relation of matters fallen out in VVisbich he that shal haue read the sixt chapter of our Apologie about these affaires where matters are set downe playnly and sincerely with order and perspicuity without eyther amplifications or exaggerations as heere is vsed in this new Rhetorical narration authentically also vnder mens hands and letters and not in words alone scoffes and iests as these men doe whosoeuer we say shall read that and conferre it with this consider the different
with F. Persons whome to disgrace they affirme to haue led our late Card. Allen at his pleasure made his bookes for him induced him to this and to that as he listed and the like authority they attribute vnto him with the late K. of Spaine and this that now is saying that he did and doth with them what he pleaseth sending men into Ireland making armadas and the like The same authority also they affirme him to haue with this Pope with the Card. Protectors getting forth Breues other orders at his appointmeÌ„t coÌ„playning moreouer that he hath byn able to make so many new Seminaryes in Spaine and Flanders and to send so many priests into England and to haue so many vnder him at his comandement all which things and other the like which they aleadge against him tending rather to his credit if they be true then any wayes to his discomendation do argue great folly and simplicity and great blyndnes of passion in our brethren that bring them in against him seing they do plainly demonstrate that ether F. Persons is a man of more wisdome religioÌ„ and better parts then they would haue him seeme to be or that the Popes and princes which esteeme him so much are very silly and simple people both they and their counselors to be euery where so much ouerruled by him To this kynd also of folly and passion not to see what helpeth or hurteth their owne cause appartayneth that which they aleadge in their Relation of VVisbich of the contentions betweene the bigger and lesser part of the Catholike prisoners about certaine disorders and enormous crymes in lyfe and conuersation obiected by the maior part to haue byn comytted by the fewer and was the cause of their seperation and making rules wherof we haue treated somwhat in the former chapter of this book but much more largely in our Apologie which crymes and accusations say these men being gathered togeather in wryting contayned three whole sheets of paper so simple and passionate they are as to put this in print the arbitrement wherof was comytted the first tyme to the forsaid M. D. Bauyn and M. Dolman who meeting to geather to heare that matter the bigger part which stood with F. VVeston gaue vp for better decision of the matter seauen Articles to be considered by the arbitrators which were these as these men themselues relate them First whether say they to the arbitrators wil yow stay the tyme to examine these articles which any may be accused of VVhether yow think it secure for vs that liue and meet togeather many tymes in the day not haunig the meanes to auoyd each other to haue those things proposed and examined and whether yow can compasse our quiet That whosoeuer doth come to declare any matter shal submit themselues to yow as to their ordinary to declare without all equivocation or lying any thing which yow think necessary to the manifestation of the veritie That yow do take the promise of euery one that is called before yow to behaue themselues with modestie and good tearmes This supposed we are all for our parts contented that they obiect what they can against vs. VVe require also that they shal giue their consent that they are all contented to heare what may be layd out against them Euery thing being heard that yow pronounce sentence against those that yow shal find culpable By these articles it is euident what the quiet part meant to wit to haue the matter decyded priuately and secretly and the defects and disorders that had byn cause of separation betwene them to be vttered modestly by common consent but yet so as both parties should be contented therwith and no mans â—ame publikely hurt And truly we do not see neyther can wel imagine what better aduertisments might haue byn giuen to the arbitrators and iudges for vpright indifferent secret and quiet decyding of al matters then these yet shal yow heare what censure our wrangling brethren do giue of them and what quarrels they pick against them and let the prudent reader be iudge betwene both partyes VVe shal relate their owne words as themselues haue set them downe VVhen our said arbitrators say they had perused these interrogatoryes no maruayle though they troubled them heing so coutrary to their expectation and deuised of purpose to break of all hope of reconciliation by their meanes and such likewise as by Iesuitical shifts might haue byn prolonged if they had list for we know not how many yeares c. This is their comentary vpon the former articles but why the Arbitrators should be so troubled with them as these men affirme or how they might seeme so contrary to their expectation and deuised of purpose to break of all hope of reconciliation by prolonging matters for many yeares no man we thinke but these can gather out of the Articles themselues seing they all tend directly both to clearnes breuity peaceable and modest treating of all things among themselues secresy indifferency and final frendly and brotherly determination of all matters in stryfe And the reader that seeth our brethren to cauil and calumniate so manifestly in this poynt wil discerne their humor also if he be wise in all the rest which yet wil be more euidently discouered in the opposite articles which themselues gaue vp to contradict these and to ouerthrow in deed all hope of true syncere and brotherly trial in the crymes obiected They are but 4. in number but yet of much substance to shift their necks out of the collar we shal set them downe in their owne words as heere they haue printed them VVith these 7. Articles say they we were no soner acquaynted but presently we set downe these soure in some sort to answere them VVe require that sufficient satisfaction may be made for the slander and defamation of vs by their breach and letter if sufficient causes cannot be proued for their so doyng VVe require that euery accusation be set downe in wryting vnder the accusers hands sub poena talionis yf it be not proued VVe wil answere in all things according to the order in the cannon law supposing these men to be our lawful iudges VVe wil sustayne any censure with this condition that being censured by these men we may be secured therby from all other censures concerning the matter These are their articles which as you see are no answers but playne exceptions cautions and cauillations to auoid iudgement and to procure a worse breach then before seeing in the first they require peremptorily satisfaction for things already past and in the second the name of him that shal vtter their defects with obligation to be punished with the same punishment which the syn in it selfe by law deserueth if he should not be able to proue it Canonicially which Canonical proof required by them in the third article is a thing of such length and
vrged or exaggerated more then against the rest neyther doth this flattering malignant discouerer so much as obiect any such thing done or attempted by the author of this conference nor can he with any shew of truth so do And if the said author any where doth shew lesse desyre of the aduancement of the King of Scots his title towards England which yet in words we find not expressed while he is of different religion from him and no Catholike his Maiestie is wise inough to consider that he could not do otherwise according to the cheef and mayne principle set downe throughout that book about the necessity of true religion that is to say Catholike required in all pretenders that must or may be admitted by Catholike subiects VVhich principle being granted as in the Conference it is prooued and demonstrated by all arguments both humayne and deuine to be a most true Christian religioâ—s and necessary principle it followeth we say that the author being a Catholike could not possibly according to the sincerity of that religion though otherwise he louing and reuerencing the K. of Scotland neuer so much wish or desyre his preferment ouer Catholiks whilst he remayneth of the opposite Religion Nether can this flattering discouerer or his mutinous parteners how desyrous soeuer of gayning fauour say or do the contrary yf they be Catholikes as they professe and haue Catholike consciences and wil conforme their actions therunto for that all true Catholike doctrine and piety is against them in this behalf And finally whatsoeuer this maleuolous calumniator doth prattle in this place of the Authors euil affection towards the king of Scotland to grace himselfe by another mans iniury yet yf he be the man that he is taken for and that the author of the Conference be the party whome the other and his consorts 〈◊〉 giue out it is easily seene and discryed by their former doyngs who do beare most true good wil to that king the one being constant in desyring his conuersion to Catholique religion and therby all true aduauncement both in this life and the next the other variable vp and downe heere and there and after many windings and turnings and castings about as offering their seruices now to one and now to another do now at length fawne vpon him for priuate interest whome before they most impugned and this vpon bare need being broken of where once they hanged on And this is sufficient for the present argument in hand and for confutation of so fond an answere to the book of Succession THEIR FOLLY AND DEceaued spirit in persuading themselues to get credit or recouer that which is lost with any sorte of men be they frendes or enemyes by this their maner of proceeding with clamors and libels CAP. VI. IT is said by a certayne spiritual wise man of some others that in their owne sight seemed farre more learned and wise then he obscuratum est insipiens cor eorum their foolish hart was blynded not to see and consider though they were learned philosophers that which euery simple man of meane vnderstanding being lightened with Gods grace may see and behold to wit that they ran to their owne perdition which folly also and blyndnes we feare hath so possessed the deceaued spirits of these our passionate if not possessed brethren as we may say thesame words of them Obscuratum est insipiens cor eorum for that hauing suffered their harts to be obscured and ouerwhelmed with the perturbation of enuy emulation malice reuenge anger and other like inchauntments and sorceryes of their soules yea rather â—uryes as we may say of spiritual madnesse do rage and runne a desperate course of rayling and rauing against all that stand in their way without any respect of persons state degree or merit or of their owne condition calling or function or credit therof and haue not so much inward light of vnderstanding or consideration as once to ponder or weigh with themselues as it seemeth what other men wil think of them or wether it wil turne to their credit or discredit help or hurt releef or ruyne thus to proceed wherfore to assist them somwhat in this consideration and to the end that we may lay before their eyes some few pointes of that which is most probable to ensue in this behalf and therby to styrre vp their memory and help their iudgment in this contemplation VVe shal runne ouer breefly the cheef partyes or persons with whome they may persuade themselues by this their manner of outeryes and printing libels to gaine or loose credit and to repayre or vtterly ouerthrow their owne reputation And first of all we may consider of forrayne Catholiks in all countreys Christian what they wil think of them when hearing as they haue and do of the tumults raysed by them heere in England and before in Rome and other places which are now renewed againe and more published then euer in other nations sending abroad lately their cheef Captaynes to diuulge the same by their iorney through Flanders France and other kingdomes and prouinces towards Rome as they pretend and giue out but as we persuade our selues they meane not to go thither hauing done said and wrytten as they haue no more then they went or sent thither for prosecuting of their Appeale when lawfully they might and should haue done before his Hol. determination made theron but they as now for certaine we vnderstand neuer so much as caused the same to be exhibited in Rome from them or in their names and much lesse prosecuted or prooued according to law notwithstanding all their clamors and vaunts in the meane space made heere in England as though they had made the same appeale lawfully and with true intention to follow it which was not meant in deed but only to gaine tyme and liberty and to persuade simple men that they were out of all obligation of obedience to their Superiors whilest that controuersy lasted to make a playne delusion of themselues and others VVel then this is their manner of proceeding hitherto which is of all mutinous and seditious people to make outcryes and great noyses that they haue receaued great iniuryes and intolerable oppressions and other like greuances that they wil both say do and proue and yet do meane nothing lesse but onely as curst childreÌ„ to vex their mother and trouble the whole house where they are by crying without cause only of stomack and stubbernesse and the more they are sought to be quieted and appeased by reason the more they cry and skrich VVe haue hard of their late iorney from Douer to Calis from Calis to Newport in Flanders where the Popes Nuntio was sending first a messenger or two before like great men that dout of their owne estate to aske a pasport or safe conduct consider how confident these men are in Cath. Countreys that they need such protections of his Hol. ministers which being graunted they went thither And it
is to be noted that one of their precursors sent before and falling into the company of a certayne Irishman in the way that went to the Camp he told him and by him others that he was a Iesuite therby to get the greater fauour at Cath. mennes haÌ„dsâ— so as yow see that when they are among good Catholiks they say they are Iesuits and when they are among heretiks other of that humour they say they are enemyes to Iesuits But now to their dealing at Newport First they shewed there diuers pasports the first as of banished men and this yow must think was to serue for deceauing some good Catholiks and to mooue them to compassion of their state but after being vrged they plucked out another much more general and ample ful of fauour and priuiledge to passe how when and where and with what they would and this was aswel for their safty and protection at the ports as also to grace themselues with all sorts of protestants or other aduersaryes of Iesuits or catholike religion beyond the seas seing that in Genena also this pasport would make them very grateful Hauing shewed their pasports they began to deale with the Nuntio of their affayres telling him first a notoriousâ—ly to wit that the cause why they durst not come vnto himâ— without a pasport nor had dealt with him before was for that they had heard him paynted our vnto them by some of the otherside yow must imagine for a seuere inhumane bitter and tetrical nature for these are the words of the Nuntio reporting them afterwards and that now finding the contrary by experience they would deale confidently with him and then conforme to this principle of flattery and false preoccupation they related vnto him many other vntruthes in like manner no lesse grosse and odious as this as for example that many priests in England being of their side and faction durst not wryte their mynds freely vnto him for feare and terror of the Archpriest and Iesuits in which kind of false detraction against those men they â—o enlarged themselues as though they were the greatest tyrants in the world and themselues ful innocent myld and meck creatures not offering but receauing wrongs and iniuryes and that for their owne parts they were most ready to conforme themselues to his Hol. wil and his L. in all points which when we saw wrytten these dayes we remember the lowly answers giuen by Luther and his frends at Augusta to Card. Caeâ—an the Popes legate registred both by Coclaeus Surius and others in the yeare 1520. and what insued after we wil not forbode in matter of religion God forbid but in sedition we see it already and God graunt the other do not follow also in some of them at length But let vs returne to their dealing with the Nuntio at Newport After many complaints the Nuntio at length as a wise man passing ouer their clamors and pressing neere the point it self he vrged them to vtter the principal causes of this their so scandalous tumultuation they resolued all vpon two principally The first that the Archpriest had taken away some of their facultyes for smal and light causes the other that he had not giuen them and theirs part of certayne almes sent vnto him to distribute The Nuntio maruayled to heare no greater causes of so great motions and offerred yf this were all he would take vpon him himself to end the matter wryting back first to the Archpriest to require his answere which they accepted of offering moreouer that two of theirs should go back into England to carry the said letters whilst the rest to wit M. Bagshaw and Bluet passed further to Paris to conferre with certaine of their companions there about this matter and so the Nuntio accepted all for that tyme not being acquaynted with their deceytful manner of speaking and dealing nor hauing vnderstood of their malitious books printed against Catholiks and the Popes Hol. himselfe wherof soone after their departure he had notice and consequently he wrote into England in another stile concerning their being with him then he would haue done as after he said yf he had byn so farre priuy to their doings and meanings before He shewed them also an authentical copy of his Hol. Breue of the 17. of Aâ—gust last past wherin their whole cause of Appellation is reiected and decided against them and they commaunded most seuerely to obey and to be quiet And the like also did shew to them or their fellowes the Nuntio in Paris but all was not sufficient to quiet them or bring them into order againe hauing promised as is likely to their true patrons in England to passe further in this stryf VVherfore they departing from Newport towards Paris they past by Lisle and Doway and as in the former place they receaued yow must imagine no smal good cheere and incoragement from one of their cheefe Captaynes residing there whose hand and hart is knowne to be deeply in these broyles for many years so in the second to wit in the Colledge of Doway though for treaty they receaued all competent curtesy and were conuited twise or thrise by the President Doctors and other graue men of that house yet were they dealt withall notwithstanding plainly touching their negotiation and told the truth and the greeuousnes of that scandalous and sinful action was layd open vnto them but in vayne as it semeth for they vttered by words no lesse folly and fury in diuers points then in their shameful libels is contayned which being testified by the witnesse of them that heard them proueth the said libels to be theirs or at least to be writteÌ„ and set forth by their consents From which notwith-standing some of their crew haue seemed of late to disclayme but these men shewing to disauouch nothing we shal attend to heare what they wil do in Rome And thus now haue we brought our Appellants so farre as Paris for thither they went from Doway where they are further to demurre vpon that they haue to do or how to proceed in their interprise being cryed out of in the meane space by all principal English Catholikes beyond the Seaâ— as we are certainely informed for this so horrible a scandal giuen by them And if Englishmen do so then much more would we haue yow consider what Catholike men of other nations abroad in the world â—â—â—ve began to say wil think and speak of these men that haue set such a fire and made such a diuision in our owne litle afflicted Church at home such a one and with so great and daungerous dammage of the publike cause of religion as neuer they wil be able to recompence or satisfie And truly it is strange to heare what is already wrytten vp and downe through other contreys about this their affayre and manner of proceeding For we haue seene letters both from Germany Flanders Venice Rome Paris other places euery one telling diuers particulars of
Colledge This they demaunded then being two cheef points as yow see in one demaund though they moderated the second by naming only the Roman Colledg where they resided but our tumultuous now not contented with that go further and do demaund to haue them remoued from all the Seminaryes yea from those also that were erected by them and their peculiar labors But what answere doth the said Card. Visitour set downe of the Fathers made to this demaund yow shal heere it in his owne words and we shal recite them first in latyn to the end the Reader may see the pure and elegant stile also of that learned man besides his wisdome piety experience Thus then he putteth downe the fathers answere Ad hanc petitionem nihil aliud respondent Patris quà m vt sua S. prosua prudentia ac voluntate statuat quod maximè ad Deigloriam expedire iudicauerit Societatem enim non sponte sua sed nonnulla etiam reluctatione iubente sede Apostolica vtramque hanc prouinciam ab â—nitio suscepisse maximisque deindè laboribus molestijs periculis sanguinis etiam profusione per viginti ferè annos administrasse cofructâ—â— quem omnes vident non deesse alia quoque alibi loca vbi suam operam Sâ—c homines vtiliter etiam ad â—andem diuinam gloriam eodem Domino cooperante impendant se nullam difficuliatem in vtraque Prouincia diâ—â—â—â—enda habere imâ— Collegij dimissionem R. Patrem Generalem aliquoties iam precibus apud S. S. instanter vâ—sisse ne tantis molestijs ab ingratissimis his tumultuantibus perpetuò afflictetâ—r These are the very words of that good Cardinal as they ly in the book of his Visitation and for more perspicuity to the vulgar reader we haue thought good to put them downe also in English thus To this petition saith he the Fathers of the Society answered no other thing but that his Hol. might determine according to his wisdome and wil what he should think most expedient for the glory of God seing that the Society had not taken vpon them from the beginning any of these two chardges or burdens to wit the gouernment of the colledge and mission of England of their owne choice or election but by comandement of the Sea Apostolike with some difficulty or resistance of their parts and that since that tyme they haue borne and prosecuted the same with great labors molestatioÌ„s daungers and with effusion of some of their bloods for the space of almost xx yeares togeather wherof haue ensued these fruits which all men see by increase of Catholike religion in that realme and that there want not other places also in the world where the men of this Society may imploy their labors profitably to the same glory of almighty God by the help of his holy grace and that they for their parts haue no difficulty at all in leauing both these charges if his Holines wil that the reuerend F. General of their order had already diuers tymes most instantly beseeched his Holines that they might giue ouer the gouernment of the Roman Colledge therby once to be deliuered from so great molestations as he was continually afflicted with by these most in grateful tumultuous people Thus he wrote in this Chapter and then in foure other that do ensue he setteth downe first what the speech and reasons of the quiet schollers were against these tumuâ—â—ous and then in the next what their petitions were for restoring of discipline and good order to the Colledge ouerthrowne by these men To which end also followeth another Chapter conteyning The petitions of the Fathers to the same effect And after that againe a distinct Chapter intituled A catalogue of abuses brought in by these tumults and seditions to the manners and conuersation of the schollers against both study and piety which of necessity are to be reformed Al which Chapter discourses being ended he setteth downe in the 30. Chapter this title Quid de tota remihi videatur what is my iudgement of all this affaire And then beginneth he the Chapter thus Iam ex ijs quae ab vtraque parte prolata hic exhibui noÌ„ solum videt Sanctitas vestra in quo statu res huius Collegij sint sed etiam pro sua singulari sapientia intelligit quid de tota re statuendum sic vt me de eadem pluribus disserere iam non magnoperè necessarium videatur praesertim cum adsit Illustriss Card. Caëtanus Anglicanae nationis Protector cuius consilio atque prudentea facilius commodius quaecunque huc pertinent transigi explicarique possint Vetunt amen vt vel aliquam villicationis meae rationem reddam cum bona S. vostrae venia meam de praecipuis huius negotij capitibus sententiam hoc loco paucis aperiam Now saith he your Hol. doth see by those things which I haue heer layd forth from both partyes not only in what state the affayres of this Colledge doe stand but moreouer by your singular wisdome yow wil easily consider what is to be resolued of all so as it shal not be much necessary that I should vse many words more about this matter especially seing that the most honorable Card. Caëtan Protector of the English nation is present by whose counsel and wisdome all things belonging to English affayres may better and more commodiously be determined and declared But yet to the end I may yeild some accompt of my labors in this visitation I shal with the good leaue of your Hol. lay open also myne opinion about the principal poynts of this busynes Thus wryteth he then to the next Chapter he maketh this title for the beginning of his resolution Patris Societatis ex Anglia nullo modo esse reuocandes vt tumultuantes censent That the Fathers of the Society are no wayes to be recalled out of England as the tumultuous do think expedient And this point he proueth by many reasons and prudent considerations which we for breuityes sake caÌ„not alleadge at length as they ly in his book but in effect these are the principal to wit that the said Fathers being of a spiritual body which besides the ordinary helpes of secular priests for spirit discipline and mortificatioÌ„ haue diuers other special helpes also to the same effect by the institute of their order and are more practised therin by the excercise both of their nouitiate and the rest of their lyfe and more bound therunto by their seueral vowes cannot but haue more force skil and vse in spiritual mannaging of soules then euery other priest that lacketh those particular helpes And consequently to remooue them out of the English Cleargy or mission now were as it were to let forth the best and most digested blood out of a mans body thinking therby to cure and preserue â—im Moreouer he addeth that the said Fathers being men of direction and hauing correspondence both
to ioyne with heretiks in defaming of Iesuits but needful and necessary also for that the contrary say they should quite cut of the order of iustice stop the course of fraternal correption hinder the effects of Christian Charity violate the lawes of God and manâ— c. The second part of the obiection and answere to it was forgotten or left out in the text and therfore hauing considered better of the matter they haue put it in afterward in a long marginal note or commentary in these words The obiection of many that are of the spanish faction is very friuâ—lons if 〈◊〉 malitious when they say why do the priests lay the faults vpon Iesuits 〈◊〉 cause of the cath persecution seing it is welknowne that the aduer saryes to both priests and Iesuits and all Catholiks are cause therof c. VVbich admitte it were true yet the Iesuits being equally guilty with them it belongeth to priests to cleare the innocent Catholiks and leaue the Iesuits iu the suddes and our aduersaryes to those that haue to do with them c. Lo heere the answere or resolution of this obiection that though it were true that as wel protestants as Iesuits were the cause of persecution in England which point notwithstanding it seemeth they would haue held for doubtful and only Iesuites to be the cause yet do they think it reason to leaue of the protestants and to attend only to accuse Iesuits and to leaue them in the suddes And is not this plaine malice and passion confessed by themselues what wit what spirit is there in this handling of their affayres who wil beleeue them what they say or do heerafter hauing allready so farr discouered their meanings actions and indeauours VVherfore heere also we must conclude as in the former and all the rest of the Chapters that ensue Inâ—ipientia eorum manifesta fit omnibus there folly is euident to all men and their passionate spirit is hidden to none THERE FOLLY AND presumptious spirit in making to them selues such aduersaries as they do CAP. III. AS wisdome doth consist in considering wel first before a man make breaches or enter into warre what manner of aduersaryes they are with whome he hath to fight so is there no point of folly greater then not to forethinke of this as it seemeth these our angry men haue not done but only for satisfying of their present passion haue lauished out and bid bataile to as many as euer stood in their way among which though there be many personages of great consideration and respect yet none in our opinion ought to haue byn of so great in this affayre as the man most contemned iniured and impugned by them as in the former Chapter hath byn seene we meaue their prelate and lawful imediate Superior M Blackwel not so much in respect of his owne person and gifts of God annexed therunto which are knowne to be both many and great but of his place and authority giuen him by Christ and his substitute ouer the whole body of English Catholiks both priests and laymen which make at this day our true Cath. Church of England For albeit some others here iniured also may for other considerations and ought to be more regarded by them yet he in that he is Gods substitute among them ordayned confirmed and reconfirmed by the Sea Apostolike and consequently in the place of Christ to guide and gouerne them of which kynd of men Christ himselfe expressely saith qui vâ—s spernit me spernit qui spernit me spernit eum qui misit me He that contemneth yow coÌ„temneth me and he that contemneth me contemneth him that sent me and S. Paul said qui potestati resistit damnationem sibi acquirit he that resisteth power appointed ouer him doth draw damnation vpon himselfe for these causes we say all holy Fathers and spiritual wryters do agree that our spiritual superiors are most of all other men to be respected by vs yea before angels themselues yf they should conuerse with vs vpon the earth for that these mens authority is knowne euidently to be from God which in angels is not except by reuelation and consequently that the greatest synne of all other yea the highest point of spiritual synne pride and presumption is to molest make warre against them but much more to despise and abuse them And albeit our discontented people may haue this conceyte for their refuge and seeke also to persuade others the same as they do that hauing appealed from him and his iurisdiction they are free and not bound to any obedience or respectiue behauiour toward him yet to all men of any capacity and learning this is knowne to be otherwise both in reason conscience and constitution of Ecclesiastical canons For albeit a man may appeale from one Superior to another in certaine cases yet that doth not take away the said Superiors authoritie but restrayneth him only when the Appeale is lawful and vpon good grounds not to proced in that particular case vntil the higher Superior haue giuen his decision And if he admit not the Appeale but do remit the Appellantes backe againe to obey the said immediate superior as his Hol. hath done in this our case by his breue of the 17. of August last past then is their case as it was before and they more obliged to obey then before But howsoeuer any Appeale succedeth most cleare it is that the parties appealing are bound to obey and shew themselues dutiful in all other things while the Appeale dependeth before the higher iudge no lesse then yf any such Appeale had neuer byn made and much more after the controuersy ended and decyded as ours now is and the Authority of our Archpriest both established and reestablished and therfore for our disordinate brethren to vse him contumeliously togeaher with all those of their owne coate or others lawfully ioyned with him in due subordination as they do in these their books cannot but be a most presumptious haynous synne in the sight of God and infinite discredit vnto them in the eyes and iudgements of all good and godly men to haue such a one and so many dependent of him for their open aduersaryes as they are not ashamed to confesse and professe in these their books This then in our opinion cannot be but a great poynt of folly as was also that to take so vniuersally and generally against the whole order of Iesuits vsing so opprobrious names against the whole body as in the former Chapters yow haue heard for by so doing they can gaine no credit but with the heretiks that hate the whole order for religions sake and euery Catholike wil easily see and consider that a whole body or society cannot haue offended our brethren in any particular matters and consequently seing that they concurre with Protestants in deprauing the whole order it must needs be eyther of great passion and folly in hating the whole for