abettors and all their practises A King saith Salomon that sitteth in the throne of iudgement chaseth away all euill with his eyes But his eyes must be in his head and he must sit in the throne of iudgement and execute his lawes He must not suffer them to escape vnpunished that maliciously seeke the bringing in of strangers and the subuersion of Religion and the State A wise King saith a wise King scattereth the wicked and maketh the wheele to turne ouer them Who these plotters are I haue declared in the treatise following And that they excuse not themselues by Religion I haue discouered the deformities of their Religion as well as their wicked treasons All which I present to your Maiesties graue consideration beseeching him that is King of Kings to endue you with wisedome and all royall and heroicall vertues fit for the managing of so great kingdomes that you may both triumph ouer all your enemies and also long sit in the royall seate of these kingdomes to the honor of his diuine Maiestie and the comfort of all your louing subiects Your Maiesties most loyall and louing subiect Matthew Sutcliffe The Preface to all true Christians and loyall subiects HOw often the Spaniard and Pope and their agents haue attempted by secret practises to ruinate the Realme of England I doubt not my deare countrimen and friends but you haue heard The rebellion in the North-part of England an 1569. the pretence of the Duke of Guise an 1584. the diuers rebellions and troubles of Ireland the practises of Parrie Patrick Collein Williams and York to kil the Queen of Lopes Squire to impoyson her of Babington and Ballard and diuers other Masse-priests and Masse-louing Papists to subuert the State are yet fresh in memory And to forbeare to speake of such secret practises they haue 〈◊〉 by open warres also to preuaile against the State In the yeare 1588. they prouided against England not onely great land-forces but also a great fleete in their owne conceit inuincible yet by Gods grace easily vanquished and dispersed Likewise anno 1597 and 1598. they made two attempts or rather offers of some enterprise against the State In the first one D. Stillington and other Masse-priests English and Spanish miscaried the Spanish fleete being wracked on the rockes of their owne country so that they could not come to sing Masse in England The other was disappointed by stormes and contrary winds so that no effect came of it The noise of these preparations and menaces comming into England and being bruited abroade partly by letters and partly by a proud proclamation set forth in print by the Adelantado of Spaine wherein he plainly discouereth that he meant no lesse then to cut all our throates if he could it is no maruell if the State and diuers men well affected to their countrey did prepare themselues to make resistance Among the rest Sir Francis Hastings a man of auncient nobilitie and one that hath adorned the honour of his parentage with excellent vertues and namely with true pietie loue of his countrey fortitude and magnanimitie scorning to heare that so base a rabble of Marranes and Bisognos as were assembled first at Lisbone and then at the Groyne should either talke or thinke of the conquest of England which the Adelantado in his bragging Rodomonts stile did threaten he armeth himselfe and prepareth his friends and countrimen to make resistance Perceiuing also the securitie of some and slacknesse of others especially such as were tainted with the pestilent infection of Italian atheisme or Spanish Marranisme but commonly titled Cacolike or popish religion he publisheth a little treatise called A watch-word giuing warning to the secure and stirring 〈◊〉 such as seemed euill affected to resist manfully and to withstand the Spanish incrochments and pretences This booke crossing the desseines of Robert Parsons and his consorts who by all meanes sought to set England in combustion that they might triumph in the ashes and sing Masse in the funerals of their natiue countrey we may perceiue by the sequele that it touched his cause and faction very nearely and therefore was taken by him very tenderly For presently he taketh pen in hand and writeth a most scornefull and bitter treatise against her Maiesties proceedings against Religion and all that professe it railing against Sir Francis and the professors of the truth and commending in the best sort he could both the professed enemies and the secret vnderminers of the State Wherein if we would but note the mans singular impudencie or rather his audacious foolerie it were argument sufficient to confound all his writings For at what time the Spaniard lay with forces at the Groyne and by a Proclamation set forth in print threatned sire and sword against the Realme Robert Parsons like a viperous traitor in his Ward-word talketh of nothing but peace and would make vs beleeue that both the Pope and Spaniards are our good friends Where Iesuites and Masse-priests and malcontent Papists were brewing of sedition and preparing themselues to ioyne with forreine forces this good fellow would make vs beleeue that traitors are good friends and that there was no hurt by them meant to the Queene or State Finally this babling Warder doth addresse all his discourse to the Lords of the Councell and chiefe dealers in matters of State albeit the same tended wholly to the destruction of the State And yet when I consider the practises of the enemies of the State I must cōfesse that he had great reason to enter into this shamelesse course For albeit there was no colour of truth in his discourse yet he supposed if the same were shewed to her Maiestie that it would make her stay her preparatiues He thought also it would proue a faire pretence to those that were loth to spend their money to forbeare to make resistance against the enemy Further he saw that the same would bleare mens eyes while both forreine enemies and secret traitors sought to cut our throates And finally the same being full of railing scorning and 〈◊〉 he doubted not but the same would deterre others or at least make them slow to take vpon them the defence of the common cause For what man considering the smal encouragement that forward men did find at the hands of friends and the rude entertainment they receiue at the hands of enemies would not leaue the 〈◊〉 of the State to those that haue most interest in publike gouernement All this notwithstanding sir Francis considering the obligation that Christians haue to maintaine sincere religion that bindeth true harted subiects to defend their country hath published an Apologie both in defence of the common cause and of his owne reputation against the scurrilous and railing libell which Parsons calleth A warde-word expecting no doubt reward at the hands of God rather then mā and respecting rather his own dutie then the praise of others But before either the booke came forth or that I knew the Knights resolution
A True Relation Of ENGLANDS Happinesse Vnder the Raigne of Queene ELIZABETH And the miserable Estate of Papists vnder the Popes Tyrany By M. S. Printed 1629. TO THE MOST RELIGIOVS AND VERTVOVS PRINCE KING IAMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Jreland Defender of the true 〈◊〉 and Catholike faith AS Kings receiue their kingdomes and authoritie from God so most gracious and dread Soueraigne they prosper and flourish most when they empoloy their royall authoritie for the aduancement of the true seruice and honour of God Of Hezekiah the holy Scriptures giue testimonie That he did vprightly in the sight of the Lord according to all that Dauid his father had done and that he tooke away the high places and brake the grauen images and cut downe the groues and brake in peeces the brazen serpent that Moses had made And againe 〈◊〉 he claue to the Lord and departed not from him but kept his commandements Therefore it followeth So the Lord was with him and he prospered in all things that he took in hand The same we likewise find verified in your 〈◊〉 predecessor Queene Elizabeth of glorious memorie At her first coming to the Crowne she brake downe grauen and molten Images she tooke downe high altars and remoued away all monuments of superstition out of the Church she feared not the malignitie of men but claue to the Lord resoluing to keepe his holy commaundements and to see God worshipped according to the prescript rule of his sacred word She was all her life long a harbor to the distressed children of God a refuge to the oppressed a protector of the persecuted for the testimonie of Christ Iesus a nursing mother of Gods Church Therefore God maruellously 〈◊〉 her both against the force of foneine enemies and also against the 〈◊〉 of domesticall traitors and caused her to prosper in all her affaires She liued raigned long and happily and dying left behind her a sweet memory of many blessings by her meanes bestowed vpon her people Contrariwise such as either know not or did not remember from whence they receiued their kingly honor but either neglected the worship of God or else for Gods worship established superstition and idolatrie in the Church haue seldome long raigned or prospered in their kingdomes Ieroboam forgetting what great fauor God had done him aduancing him from low estate to the kingdome and renting it from the house of Dauid to giue it vnto him receiued a threatning message from the Lord by the hand of the Prophet Ahijah 1. King 14. The same also was shortly after accomplished For God brought euill vpon the house of Ieroboam and cut off his posteritie because he did euill in the sight of the Lord and erected idolatrie at Bethel Likewise Queene Mary who brought this land not onely vnder the commaund of Spaniards and Italians but also vnder the heauie yoke of Antichrist burdensome both to mens ciuill estates and also to their consciences erected superstition and idolatrie which before had bene banished and persecuted the Saints of God that would not bow their knees to Baal had a short troublesome and vnhappie raigne and left behind her nothing but hatred for her crueltie and infamy for her vnnaturall dealing with her subiects and misgouernement In both we find that accomplished which the Lord speaketh by the Prophet 1. Sam. 2. Them saith he that honor me I will honor and they that despise me shall be despised For neither will the Lord faile his inheritance nor hath the throne of iniquitie fellowship with God Dagon could not stand before the Arke of God nor shall the worshippers of Dagon preuaile against the seruants of God The which although both particularly in the diuers gouernement of Queene Elizabeth and Queene Mary and also generally by the examples of all that either fauoured or disfauoured true religion it appeareth most euidently yet because Robert Parsons an Apostate somtime from religion and now an vtter enemie to the state and a renegate Englishman for hatred to the truth and loue to Poperie in a large discourse doth endeuour to disgrace the proceedings of Queene Elizabeth in reformation of religion especially and to commend the State of the realme vnder Queen Mary and of all Papists vnder the Romish gouernement I haue thought good particularly to demonstrat I haue also wiped away both his malicious imputations encountred him in his railing inuectiues defending the honor of our dread soueraigne whose memorie shall neuer die in the minds of her louing subiects and answering for true religion calumniated by the slanderous tongues of the supposts and slaues of Antichrist This discourse although not of that perfection that it may seeme worthy to be presented to so great a King yet for that it containeth a defence of your Maiesties predecessor which you honour and of that religion which you professe I am bold to consecrate to your Maiestie as the first fruites of my loyall affection towards you Therin also your Maiestie may see not only a precedent to follow but also a reward proposed to those that studiously and couragiously seeke to aduance pietie and true religion The aduersarie by all meanes seeketh to suppresse truth and to aduance idolatrie and popish errors misconstruing things well done imputing crimes to innocents excusing offenders denying things manifest forging and deuising matters neuer done nor imagined But while he hath sought to bring disgrace not onely vpon true religion but also vpon the restorers and defenders thereof he hath giuen vs iust occasion to shew that the doctrine religion and practise of Papists is not only repugnant to truth but also enemie to Princes and States grieuous to Christians and profitable to none but to the slaues and adherents of Antichrist Further I haue made it apparant that the state of popish Religion is no way to be maintained but by trecherie and massacres by lying railing and forgerie being hatefull both to God and man and the cause of many miseries and calamities Vouchsafe therefore most worthy and noble King to reade this discourse ensuing It shal declare vnto your Maiestie plainely by what meanes you may establish your estate Queene Elizabeth in her latter dayes was made beleeue that remisse dealing in matters of religion would assure her life often sought for by Papists and her State that they by all meanes haue sought to ouerthrow But this her remisnesse gaue her enemies oportunitie to practise against her life and to make a strong partie against Religion and the State as your 〈◊〉 very well knoweth For the same is lately broken out to the hazard of your royall person and the indangering of the State and God knoweth whether those that haue intended mischiefe against your royall Maiestie that neuer offended them did not worke mischiefe against her whom they tooke to be the obstacle of all their plots and desseines Your Maiestie I doubt not will wisely consider of these plotters and their
there be any difference about a place of Scriptures we are then to compare the same with other places to search the resolutions of Councels of auncient and later Fathers of the Church of England and learned men Prouided alwayes that nothing be receiued as a ground of faith which is not to be deduced out of y e word of God Whether then S. Augustine or Hierome or Ambrose or Luther or Caluin or any preacher among vs bring vs the word of God it is to be receiued But if they teach without that we are not necessarily to credit them nor to beléeue them in grounds of faith Out of the Scriptures we learne that Christ hath giuen some Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some pastors and teachers albeit all particular matters are not precisely set downe So likewise we are taught that these words this is my body are most true that the sacramr̄t is Christs body in a mysterie or sacramentally albeit how the Sacrament is called Christs body there may be some differences Likewise out of Scripture we are taught that the King is the most principall man in his Realme and not to be subiect to any other in externall gouernement albeit euery one percase vnderstandeth not the seuerall points of his supreme authority These differences therefore notwithstanding our rule of faith is most certaine Fiftly he would insinuate that as vertue houskéeping true dealing is much decayed since her Maiesty came to the crowne so pride in apparel 〈◊〉 drunkennes lechery swearing and other vices are much increased But the man should shew that these vertues are decayed and vices increased in men that are truly of our Religion If he say so then let him name the men that are guiltie of these faults If the men that are guilty be Papists that for the most part are knowne to be carnall and cruel and most vitious he striketh himselfe and not vs. If they be Atheists or hypocrites then his allegation maketh not to purpose This I will speake to his teeth that if our Ministery be no more honest and vertuous then the Popes Cardinals Friers and Masse-priests and our true professors then zelous Papists it were pitie they should liue on the face of the earth Some proofes I haue brought before and more I shall alleage herafter Let Parsons do the like against vs and leaue his hypocriticall oftentation and generall declamation that maketh men rather to wonder at his impudency then to beleeue that he dealeth truly or sincerely Sixthly he very impudently imputeth all the troubles wars and calamities that haue happened in Scotland Ireland Flanders France to alteration in Religion and wold lay the blame wholy vpon vs. But if he looke into their immediate causes he shall find that the mint of this money was the Popes consistorie and that he and his agents are the onely firebrands of all mischiefe In Ireland Gregorie the thirteenth stirred vp rebellion by the traitor Saunders his legate in England Pius Quintus by his agent Ridolphi and by Morton his messenger moued the two Earles to rise in the North Anno 1569. The same Pope animated the Spanish King to make warres against the Quéene of England and against them of the Low countries The same Pope sent not onely his agents to stirre the French but ayded them both with men and mony Gregorie the thirtéenth likewise sent ayde to Irish rebels The wars of Germanie were enflamed by that butcherly Pope Paule the third To make short all massacres trecheris warres and troubles haue wholy procéeded from their malice against the truth If the Pope and his adherents therfore haue bene troubled so was Herode and all Ierusalem with him at the birth of Christ. If they blame vs for their troubles so did the Pagans impute all their troubles to Christians and their religion But the true cause was not religion but the hatred of impious Papists against religion Finally he saith that if her Maiestie 〈◊〉 not altered religion then her kingdome had bene flourishing and secure and that she would haue had issue and her succession certaine and continued in friendship with the Pope and auncient confederates and neither had wars abroad nor treason at home and insinuateth that by reason of alteration of religion al is fallen out contrarie But if Wil Sommer had written this discourse he could neuer haue spoken more foolishly nor impertinently For first I haue shewed that the state of the kingdome for diuers respects was neuer more flourishing Secondly if any danger hanged ouer our heads the same might easily be auoyded if lawes had bene executed against traitors Thirdly it is now apparant to the world that want of issue in her Maiestie hath not hurt vs God sending vs so gracious and magnanimous a king Fourthly his royall Maiestie succéeding in her throne hath declared that she wanted no succession The same act also sheweth that Parsons and all his consorts are a packe of false Prophets Parsons his booke of succession doth also declare him to be a false traitor Fiftly it is a ridiculous thing to tell vs of vnion with the Pope and his mediation of peace For there ought to be no agréement betweene Christians and Antichrist Here the Noddie will storme that his holy Father should be called Antichrist But let him answer my reasons in my fifth booke De Pont. Rom. against Bellarmine and then let him storme while his heart break Sixtly we haue so litle losse by breaking with the Spanish king that all men of knowledge pray that either he may chaunge his former courses or that the warres may still continue Finally this land hath no reason either to feare forraine warres or domesticall treasons vnlesse we will vncouple the Popes hounds that come hither to teare the kings Maiestie and State in péeces which I hope he and his Councell of state will looke vnto Whether then we looke into the Church or the State we must needes say that Quéene Elizabeths raigne was most happie And that so much the rather for that all her aduersaries wit and malice doth not affoord any one sound argument that doth any way sound to her disgrace Robert Parsons hath long barked in vaine against her procéedings But he should remember that the end of mad barking curres is beating if not hanging The second Booke shewing the miserable estate of Papists both in England vnder Q. Mary and elsewhere vnder the Popes irreligious tyrrannie weakely defended by N. D. in a leud Libel intitled the WARNE-WORD The Preface to the second Booke THE nature of man being subiect to change it is no maruell good Christian Reader if naturally all men desire change But that such as professe religion and haue experience in the world should desire to change for the worse and seeke from libertie and peace to returne to miserable captiuitie and slauerie vnder the grieuousyoke of popish gouernment it seemeth to me not onely strange but also repugnant to the rules of religion and reason
seruile and wretched 〈◊〉 of the English nation vnder the raigne of Queene Mary and generally of all people liuing vnder the Popes lawes and religion HAuing at full discoursed concerning matters Ecclesiasticall it followeth now that I speake of matters teuching the state politike beginning first with our owne nation vnder the vnhappie raigne of Quéene Marie sometime Quéene of England and then touching other Princes and States that are subiect to the thraldome of the Pope and his Babylonish religion First then it is apparent that she brought her selfe and her people into danger by reason of her match with king Philip and no question but she had brought this kingdome into subiection if not into seruile bondage if God had not crossed the deseignes of man and dealt mercifully with vs both taking away the Quéene in the strength of her age and preuenting the wicked counsels of bloudie traitours and persecutours who as Iohn Hales saith meant to haue brought this land vnder strangers and altering the State before y e Spaniards had taken any firme footing in England How great danger this land stood in those that then liued may well remember and we cannot chuse but acknowledge if we looke backe and consider the working of Quéen Marie of the popish prelates and of the Spaniards The Quéene sought by all meanes to put the kingdome into the hands of king Philip. The popish prelates sought to suppresse religion which could not be without the oppression of our libertie The Spaniards ruled insolently and went about to make themselues strong aduancing those which were of their faction and thrusting backe all that were studious of their countries libertie The bulwarkes or blocusses that were made for defence of the land against strangers they suffered to fall they brought in strangers they put the commaund of the kingdome into the hands of such as were best affectioned to themselues and least carefull of their countries libertie What would haue ensued of this it is an 〈◊〉 matter to coniecture by the deportment of Spaniards in other countries that are subiect to their gouernment In the Indiaes they rule not like men but rather like barbarous tyrants and sauage beasts Contemning all iustice saith Bartholomaeus à casas writing of the cruel vsage of the Spaniards towards the Indians they delight to see streames of mans bloud which they haue shed and seeke with infinite slaughter to depriue those great countries of the naturall inhabitants thereof In short space they killed diuers hundred thousands onely in one Iland called Hispaniola the women they abused the treasure and commodities of the countrie they spoiled The people of Naples were in the time of Charles the fift who otherwise was a good prince so vexed and oppressed by the Spaniards as an Ambassadour of the people of Siena said to Henry the French king that for release of their extreame bondage they seemed desirous to liue vnder the Turke Vt Turcarum imperia ad tantarum miseriarum refugium exoptare videantur He saith further that the Spaniards laid so many grieuous tributes vpon the people that diuers auncient townes were thereby deformed and left desolate The Dutchie of Milan also by the Spanish tyrannie as those that haue trauelled that countrie do know is brought to great pouertie The tares and customes are grieuous the oppressions wrought by the souldiers many the lawes vnsupportable Neither doth it auaile them to complaine For that remedie they haue often tried but all in vaine But no people was euer more oppressed then the Flemmings Brabansons Hollanders and other nations of the Low countries Their liberties they haue disanulled their lawes they haue litle regarded their townes they haue spoiled their countrie they haue almost wasted By the fundamentall lawes of the countrie they might neither place strange gouernours ouer them nor bring in 〈◊〉 forces among them But the Spaniards haue done both By the lawes the king of Spaine could neither impose taxes vpon the subiect without the consent of the States nor condemne any man but by the lawes of the countrie But he hath both done the one and the other The Duke of Alua without the consent of the States or order required the hundreth part of that which euery man was worth and the tenth of all things bought and sold in the countrie The noble 〈◊〉 of Egmont and Horne and diuers Noble men of the countrie that had done him great seruice he caused to be done to shameful death The prince of Oranges eldest sonne contrarie to the lawes of the Uniuersitie of Louain and countrie he caused to be caried prisoner into Spaine Finally contrarie to the lawes of the countrie he altered the ecclesiasticall State making new Bishops and erecting new offices of inquisition in diuers places of the countrie And this the king did hauing sworne to obserue the lawes and priuiledges of the countrie I will not here recount the murthers rapes robberies 〈◊〉 spoiles and wrongs which the Spanish souldiers and officers haue committed For that would require a great volume and it would be said that these are the calamities of warres and wrongs of priuate persons Yet if Spaniards bring warres and calamities with them and sée not these wrongs redressed it sheweth how much their tyrannicall gouernement is to be auoided and detested But that is made apparant by the lawes and procéedings which are publikely auowed The Portingals may be an example to all nations sufficient to make the Spanish gouernement odious For although they be neare neighbors and agrée with the Spaniards in Religion language lawes and humors yet haue they not found any more fauour at their hands then other nations Their Nobilitie is almost ouerthrowne the Merchant decayed the Commons spoyled The exactions are intolerable and yet farre more tolerable then the wrongs offered by 〈◊〉 from whom neither the husband can kéepe his wife nor the father his daughter nor the citizen or countriman any thing he hath Adde hereunto the violence that is offered to mens persons and the iniuries of words that they dayly sustaine and then you will confesse that the Portingals liue in great misery and bondage In England also the Spaniards albeit but few began to play their partes offering violence to diuers mens persons and attempting the chastitie both of matrons and virgins In the parliament which is the foundation of the libertie of our nation they attempted the ouerthrow of our libertie not onely by 〈◊〉 king Philip with the Quéene but also leauing out the Quéenes title of supreme authoritie in the summons and taking away the frée electiō of the Commons in chusing their Burgesses and thrusting out Bishop Watson Alexander Nowell and diuers Burgesses out of the parliament Nay such is the rigor of the Spanish gouernement that the Spaniards themselues cannot well like it The priuiledges of Aragon the last king abrogated vpon pretense of disorder in the fact of Antony Perez Escouedoes sonnes could neuer haue iustice for the death of their
Alberto regi subijcit He did also indeuour to put his sentence in execution and percase had done it but that Philip by the industrie of Sciarra Colonna and Nogaret preuented him and apprehended the furious Pope Ferdinand king of Spaine had no other pretence to inuade the kingdome of Nauarre but onely to execute the sentence of Iulius the second that had excommunicated him for taking part with the French No doubt therefore but one time or other the French king that is the king of Nauarre also will require satisfaction of the Pope and Spaniard that did him this wrong But in the meane while we may sée in this fact of Iulius the arrogance of the Popes that take vpon them to depose kings at their pleasure and to giue away their kingdomes This seditious course of the Pope in sentencing kings was also the sole pretence almost of the Leaguers rebellious stirres against Henry the third in France For when the Iebusites and their faction had declared that the king was iustly deposed then did the rebels take armes against him and ceassed not to pursue him to the death The Spaniards also for the same cause ayded them and concurred with them Likewise the execution of the Popes sentence against Henrie the fourth of France was the cause both of the reuolt of his subiects and of the warres made against him by the prince of Parma and the Spaniards Such a firebrand of warres do we find the Popes sentence to be No sooner was Henry the eight king of England pronounced excommunicate by Paule the third but he sent Cardinall Poole to stirre vp the French King to inuade his kingdome Afterward when he saw that the French could not be stirred to execute his pleasure he caused diuerse rebellions to be raysed against him by the seditious clamours of Masse-priests Monkes and Friars both in York-shire and Lincolne-shire and other parts of England Sanders 〈◊〉 that he commanded the Nobilitie and chiefe men of England by force and armes to oppose themselues against the king and to cast him out of his kingdome Principibus viris ac Ducibus Angliae 〈◊〉 Nobilitati praeeipit vt vi armis se Henrico opponant illumque è regni finibus eijcere nit antur The like course held Pius Quintus that wicked Pope against Quéene Elizabeth of pious memorie for he did not onely declare her depriued of her kingdome but by all meanes sought actually to depriue her of it and that first by dealing with the French and Spanish by force of arms to inuade her realmes and afterward stirring vp and comforting Malcontents and Rebels to set the realme in combustion by ciuill warres Hierome Catena in the discourse of the life of this impious Pius sheweth how he perswaded the Spaniard that he could not otherwise better secure the Low-countries then by ouerthrowing the Queene of England He declareth further how he induced the French to take part against her Likewise did Gregorie the thirtéene send forces into Ireland together with his legate Sanders Sixtus Quintus by all meanes hastened the Spanish fléete that came against England anno 1588. Neither haue they and others ceassed vpon all occasions to séeke her hurt and destruction This therefore is a most cleare case that no Christian king can be in safetie as long as he suffereth Iebusites and Masse-priests to aduance the Popes authoritie and to preach seditiously that the people hath power to put Princes out of their royall seate It is very dangerous also to foster any man within the Realme that beléeueth this seditious doctrine True it is that Papists cast many colours to hide the deformities of this doctrine but these colours are easily washed away as not being able to abide any weather First they alleage that diuerse popish Princes haue enioyed their kingdomes quietly without molestation But we are able to shew more Princes of late time troubled by the Popes practises then they are able to shew to haue liued peaceably by them Furthermore the reason why Popes do not trouble all is because it were not safe for them to fall out with too many at one time and not because their ouer large authoritie is not preiudiciall to all For 〈◊〉 the Pope may depose all kings vpon cause then all kings stand in like danger séeing no man can auoide all causes of quarrell Bellarmine lib. 5. de pontif Rom. cap. 6. saith that the Pope doth practise this power for sauing of soules But experience teacheth vs that through his excommunications and sentences of deposition pronounced against diuers kings he hath ruined kingdomes and brought infinite people to destruction both of bodie and soule Theodoric of Niem speaking of the deposing of the king of Hungarie by Boniface the 9. saith There followed of it great slaughter of innumerable people destruction of churches and houses of religion the burning of cities townes and castles and infinite other mischiefes which follow long warres because kings without the hurt of many cannot be deposed His words are these Vndè clades hominum innumerabilium Ecclesiasticorum piorum locorum Monasteriorum enormis destructio incendia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non infinita alia mala quae guerrae secum producunt diu vigentia 〈◊〉 quia non sine multorum dispendio 〈◊〉 deponuntur Emanuel Sa in his 〈◊〉 for confessaries doth signifie that this doctrine holdeth against tyrants only But what doth this reléeue the Papists when those which fall out with the Pope and yeeld not ê¯to his most vnreasonable requests are presently by Friers and priests proclaimed tyrants The very Papists themselues cannot deny but that Quéene Elizabeth was much renowned for her rare clemencie and that not without cause seeing she spared alwayes those that would not haue spared her if it had lien in their power to haue hurt her and yet they accuse her of tyrannie In the resolution of certaine cases of conscience set out by Allen and Parsons for instruction of English traytors Non gerit se vt Roginam say they sed exercet 〈◊〉 She doth not behaue her selfe as a Queene but doth exercise tyrannie The like words they gaue out against the French king now raigning albeit he hath shewed mercie to many 〈◊〉 none 〈◊〉 Ernest sending away one that vndertooke to kill the Count Maurice amazzate said he quel 〈◊〉 that is kill me that tyrant Others alleage that the Pope procéedeth onely against heretikes and notorious offendors But that is a most notorious and palpable vntruth for no man is more eagerly prosecuted then religious pious and godly Christians as the executions of France and Flanders do shew And if they will not confesse it true in Christians of our time yet can they not deny it in the times of the Emperors Henry the third fourth and fifth of Fredericke the first and second and of Lewis of Bauier who made such confessions of their faith being declared heretickes as the Popes theÌ„selues could not contradict and yet did the
therefore is like to those which dig pits for others but fall into them themselues He hath prepared weapons for vs but like a mad lot hath hurt himselfe with the same Finally Captaine Cowbucke like a noble woodcocke is caught in his owne springes CHAP. IX A catalogue of certaine principall lies vttered by Robert Parsons in his late Warne-word THe Spirit of God as the Apostle sayth speaketh euidently that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith and shall giue heed vnto spirits of errour and doctrines of diuels which speake lyes through hypocrisie and haue their 〈◊〉 burned with a hote yron Which prophecy as in other heretikes so especially in y e 〈◊〉 we may sée most plainely and euidently to be fulfilled For they departing from the auncient and Catholike faith taught by the holy Apostles and Prophets and recorded in holy Scriptures haue giuen héed to spirits of error and beléeued the trash of vnwritten traditions and lying legends and therupon haue founded their prohibitions of certaine meates and mariages and such like doctrines of diuels confirming their opinions with grosse lies vttered with seared consciences and brazen faces contrary to all shew of truth They take to themselues the name of doctors and fathers but are false teachers and vnkind traitors And as Theodoret saith of certaine heretikes Christianorum sibi appellatione imposita apertè docent contraria Calling themselues Christians or Catholikes Catholikes they openly teach contrary I could specifie it by Caesar Baronius and 〈◊〉 by Sanders Stapleton and diuers other principall authors of the popish sect But I will not match any man of note with so notorious a dolt and so base a swad as Robert Parsons is of whom we are now to speake though not much to his commendation The onely example of Parsons and y e in one of his fardles of lies which we are now to rip vp shall shew them to be notorious and bold lyers The diuellish and erronious doctrine of friars we haue touched before and shall haue often occasion to mention In the front of his booke he promiseth the issue of three former treatises and in the second page talketh of eight encounters But he falsifieth his promise and lieth grossely For of the thrée former treatises he toucheth onely two chapters and of eight encounters entreth onely vpon two Further he declineth the true issue of matters and runneth bias like a warped bowle of dudgeon into impertinent idle questions Doth he not therfore as Hierom saith of one make shipwwracke in the port In his Epistle to the Reader taking vpon him to deliuer the summe of the controuersie betwixt him and vs he wracketh himselfe like wise thinking to wreake his malice vpon vs and beginneth with á grosse lie There hapned saith he some few yeares past he noteth 1599. in the margent as often also before a certaine false alarme of a Spanish inuasion then said to be vpon the seas towards England Where I néed not to note the idiotisme of Parsons speech that talketh of a Spanish inuasion vpon the sea towards England being elsewhere noted but only I wil touch his impudencie in lying and denying that about this time the Spaniards were ready with forces at the Groyne for the inuasion of England And the rather for that this was the occasion that moued Sir Francis Hastings to giue warning to his countrey and also because the same sheweth that Parsons is very sorie that any man is acquainted with the 〈◊〉 of the Spanish King and that he could not take vs sléeping and so closely and priuiliy cut his countrimens throtes I say then it is a lie most notorious to affirme that the alarme giuen vpon occasion of the Spanish preparations anno 1598. for an inuasion of some part of England was false And proue it first by the words of the King who recouering out of a trance and comming to himself asked if the 〈◊〉 were gone for England Secondly by the prouisions of ships and men made at the Groyne and Lisbone and which coming thence shaped their course for England albeit they were by wether beaten back Thirdly by the testimony of one Leake a Masse priest that was dealt with all to come for England Fourthly by the testimonie of the Secular priests in their reply to Parsons his libell fol. 65. sequent who directly charge Parsons to be a solicitor of these pretended attempts anno 1598. Fiftly by Parsons his letters from Rome to Fitzherbert wherein he desireth to vnderstand the successe of the fleete that anno 1598. was to go for England Finally by the 〈◊〉 proclamation made at the Groyne and whereof diuers printed copies were to be dispersed in England vpon his arriuall here The which for that it discouereth the pride of the Spaniard and the malice of the English traitors I haue thought it not amisse to set downe the whole tenour of the proclamation with some animaduersions in the margent Considering saith the Adelantado the obligation which his catholike 〈◊〉 my Lord and master hath receiued of God almightie to defend and protect his holy faith and the Apostolicall Romane church he hath procured by the best meanes he could for to reduce to the auncient and true religion the kingdomes of England and Ireland as much as possibly hath bin in his power And all hath not bene sufficient to take away the offence done against God in dommage of the selfesame kingdoms with scandale of whole christianity yea rather abusing the clemency and benignity of his Catholike Maiestie the heads and chiefe of the heretikes which litle 〈◊〉 God haue taken courage to extend their euill doctrine with the oppressing of Catholikes martyring them and by diuers wayes and meanes taking from them their liues and goods forcing them by violence to follow their damnable sects and errours which they haue hardly done to the losse of many soules Which considered his Catholike Maiesty is determined to fauour and protect these Catholikes which couragiously haue defended the Catholike faith and not onely those but such also as by pusillanimity and humane respects haue consented vnto them forced thereunto through the hard and cruell dealing of the said Catholikes heretical enemies And for the execution of his holyzeale he hath commaunded me that with force by sea and land which be and shall be at my charge to procure al meanes necessary for the reduction of the said kingdomes vnto the obedience of the Catholike Romane church In complement of the which I declare and protest that these forces shall be employed for to execute this holy intent of his Catholike Maiestie directed onely to the common good of the true religion and Catholikes of those kingdomes as wel those which be already declared catholikes as others who wil declare themselues for such For all shall be receiued and admitted by me in his royall name which shall separate and apart themselues from the 〈◊〉
Encoun cap. 15. but the Catholike church is the rule of faith as he holdeth Ward-word Encontr pag. 6. He doth also obiect against vs diuers alterations of religion in England in king Henry the eight his raigne and in king Edwards dayes and then asketh by what authoritie our rule of faith was established But first he might as well haue spoken of y t alteration made in 〈◊〉 Maries dayes when the impieties of Popish religiō were established by act of Parliament Secondly the alterations in religion made in England of late time make no variation in the rule of faith that is alwayes one but in the application and vse of it Thirdly albeit by act of Parliament the articles of religion were confirmed wherein the canon of scriptures and the substance of our confession is set downe yet was that rathēr a declaration of our acceptance then a confirmation of the rule of faith that in it selfe is alwayes immoueable Our rule of faith therefore is certaine albeit not alwaies in one sort approued or receiued by men But y e rule of Popish faith neither in it self nor in y e approbatiō of Parliaments or Churches is certaine or immoueable Finally he asketh a question of Sir Francis in his Wardword p. 5. how he knoweth his religion to be true And saith he hath only two meanes to guide himselfe in this case and that is either Scriptures or the preaching of our Ministers But this question as I haue shewed toucheth himselfe that buildeth his faith vpon the Pope nearer then Sir Francis who groundeth himselfe his faith only vpon y t holy Scriptures and is assured of his faith not 〈◊〉 these two meanes onely but by diuers others For beside Scriptures he hath the help of the Sacraments of the Church of Gods spirit working within him of miracles recorded in scriptures of auncient Fathers of the practise of the Church of the consent of nations of the confession of the aduersaries of the suffering of Martyrs and testimonies of learned men and such like arguments In this question therefore Robert Parsons shewed himselfe to be a silly Frier and to haue had more malice then might In time past also we were as shéepe going astray and out of the vnion of the Catholike and Apostolike Church Diuers of our auncestors worshipped the crosse and the images of the Trinitie with diuine worship Some like bruite beasts fell downe before Idols crept to the crosse and kissed wood and stone Others worshipped Angels the blessed Uirgin and Saints praying vnto them in all their necessities trusting in them saying Masses in their honour and offering incense and prayers to their pictures and images For so they were taught or rather mistaught by popish Priests The Romish 〈◊〉 in the very foundations of religion was departed from the Apostolike and Catholike Church The schoolemen brought their proofes out of the Popes Decretals and Aristotles Metaphysickes Est Petri sedes saith Bellarmine in Praefat. ante lib. de Pont. Rom. lapis probatus angularis pretiosus in 〈◊〉 fundatus The See of Peter is an approued corner stone precious and laid in the foundation The same man lib. 2. de Pont. Rom. cap. 31. calleth the Pope the foundation of the Church Sanders calleth him the Rocke 〈◊〉 nunc à Christo saith Stapleton relect princip doctr in Praef. eorúmue doctrina praedicatio determinatio fundamenti apud me locū 〈◊〉 That is Others now beside Christ and their doctrine preaching and determination shall be esteemed of me as a foundation This he saith where he talketh of the foundation 〈◊〉 religion and the Church But the catholike Church had no foundation beside Christ Iesus and his holy word and Gospell taught by the Prophets and Apostles The Apostle Gal. 1. denounced him accursed that taught any other Gospell then that which he had preached The holy Fathers proued the faith by holy Scriptures and not by popish Decretals and philosophicall Principles Concerning Christs bodie the Romanists taught that the same is both in heauen and in the Sacrament albeit we neither could see it there nor féele it But the scriptures teach vs that his bodie is both palpable and visible and is now taken vp into heauen So likewise teach the Fathers Vigilius in his fourth booke against Eutyches speaking of Christs bodie When it was on earth saith he surely it was not in heauen and now because it is in heauen certainely it is not on earth They haue also brought in new doctrine concerning Purgatorie and indulgences and which is no more like to the auncient catholike faith then heresie and noueltie to Christian religion They teach that whosoeuer doth not satisfie in this life for the temporall punishment of mortall sinnes committed after baptisme and remitted concerning the guiltinesse must satisfie for the same in Purgatorie vnlesse it please the Pope by his indulgences to release him Of the 〈◊〉 of soules in Purgatorie and of the nature qualitie and effect of indulgences they talke idlely and vnlike to the schollers of Catholikes The Catholicke doctrine concerning the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords supper they haue quite changed in Baptisme adding salt spittle hallowed water 〈◊〉 blowings annointings light and other strange ceremonies In the Lords supper taking away the cup from the communicants and not deliuering but hanging vp or carying about the Sacrament and worshipping it as God and finally beléeuing holding transubstantiation They haue also deuised other sacraments and taught that they containe grace and 〈◊〉 They were wont to kisse the Popes toe and to receiue his dunghill decretals worshipping Antichrist and intitling him Christs Uicar All which nouelties superstitions and heresies by her Maiesties godly reformation are abolished who hath restored the auncient Catholike and Apostolike faith which the Popes of Rome for the most part had altered suppressed She hath also by her authoritie brought vs to the vnitie of the Catholike faith and by good lawes confirmed true Christian religion Before our times there was no settlement in matters of Religion Durand denieth Diuinitie to be Scientia Thomas and Richard Middleton hold that it is Writing vpon the master of Sentences the school-mē striue about the words vti and frui dissenting not only from their master but also from one another They differ also much about the distinction of diuine attributes Vtrum sit realis formalis an rationis tantùm This saith Dionysius a Charterhouse Monke is one of the chiefe difficulties of Diuines and about it betweene famous Doctors is great dissention and contention Aegidius doth lance Thomas and others runne vpon both Aegidius in lib. 1. sent dist 2. would haue the persons of the Trinitie to be distinguished by a certaine thing in one that is not in another but others condemne him for that opinion Writing vpon the 3. dist lib. 1. sent they denie their masters examples and one condemneth another Bonauenture saith that men may attaine to the knowledge of the holy Trinitie by naturall
same The bloudy inquisitors neither spared old nor yong noble nor base learned nor simple man nor womā if he were supposed to be contrary to their procéedings The records of Marian Bishops offices are so many testimonials of their extreme crueltie Neither was any free from danger if any quarrell could be picked to him for religion Those that were suspected were imprisoned and hardly handled such as recanted were put to penance those that confessed the faith constantly lost life and all they had As S. Augustine lib. 22. de ciuit Dei cap. 6. saith of the Primitiue Church so may we say of the Christian Martyrs of our time Ligabantur includebantur caedebantur torquebantur vrebantur they were bound put in prison beaten racked and burnt The brother deliuered vp his brother and a mans domesticals were his enemics Eusebius lib. 〈◊〉 de vita Constan. cap. 51. saith That without respect of age all manner of torments were inflicted vpon the bodies of Christians Quae incendij flamma fuit saith he quis cruciatus quod tormentorum genus quod non fuerit 〈◊〉 sanctorum corporibus nulla aetatis ratione habita irrogatum The like may we say of the holy Martyrs of Queene Maries dayes For neither hard dealing torment nor fire was spared to draw men from the confession of the true faith Neither did the cruell aduersarie respect the 〈◊〉 Prelates nor the tendernesse of young age nor the modestie of matrons But Queene Elizabeth coming to the crowne the fires were quenched the swords were wrested out of the cruell executioners hands and true Christians were not onely deliuered out of prison and banishment but also fréed from feare of persecution Therefore we say with the Prophet Psal. 123. Blessed be God that hath not giuen vs as a prey into their teeth Our soule is escaped as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowler The grinne is broken and we are deliuered And as Eusebius said sometimes of the benefites which y e Church enioyed by Constantine y e Great so we may also most iustly say Nos haec beneficia maiora quà m vitae nostrae conditio fert confitentes sicut 〈◊〉 Dei eorumdem authoris magnificentiam 〈◊〉 sic illum optimo iure totius animae viribus colentes summè celebramus c. We confessing these benefites to be greater then the condition of our life may beare as we wonder at the singular bountie of God the author of them so we do highly praise him deseruedly with all the might of our soule and do testifie the holy predictions of Prophets in Scriptures to be true in which it is said Come and see the workes of the Lord and what wonders he hath done vpon the earth ceassing warres vnto the end of the world He shall breake the bow and teare armes and burne the shields with fire Impijs hominibus è medio sublatis potestate 〈◊〉 deleta mundus de reliquo velut solis claritate collustratus fuit This saith Eusebius of Constantine but the same was also verified of our late 〈◊〉 raigne For wicked men being put out of place and tyrannicall power ceassing the world afterward séemed to reioyce as lightened with the brightnes of the Sunne Against this discourse Robert Parsons opposeth himselfe in his first Enconter chap. 10. num 11. and belcheth out a great deale of malice out of his distempered stomacke being sorie as it séemeth that any escaped his consorts handes But all his spite is spent in two idle questions First he asketh whether this freedome for persecution be common to al or to some onely as if because seditious Masse priests and their traiterous consorts and other malefactors are punished this were no publike benefite that all Christians may fréely professe religion Secondly he asketh whether we be free from persecution passiue or actiue meaning because murderers and traitors suborned to trouble the state passe the triall of iustice that we are persecutors But his exceptions do rather shew malice then wit For first albeit all men be not fréed from punishment yet is it a great blessing that true Christians may professe religion without feare or danger For in Constantine the Great his time murderers and rebels other notorious offendors were punished and yet doth Eusebius accompt the deliuerance of Christians from persecution a great benefite If there had bene also then any Assassins or traiterous Masse-priests 〈◊〉 to kill Princes or to raise sedition they should haue bene executed and yet could no man haue called Constantine a persecutor Let Parsons therefore if he haue any shame cease to talke of persecution considering the bloodie massacres and executions committed by his consorts vpon Christians for méere matter of religion and forbeare to tell vs either of Penrie or an hundred Priests put to death For they were not called in question for religion but for adhering to the Pope and Spaniard that went about to take the Crowne from her Maiesties head and for going about by colour of their idolatrous Priesthood to make a partie for the ayde of forraine enemies as by diuers arguments I haue declared in my challenge and Robert Parsons as a fugitiue disputer and not onely a fugitiue traitor answereth nothing CHAP. VIII Of the deliuerance of the realme of England from the Popes exactions THe Pope of Rome and his greasie crew of pol-shorne Priests although they challenge power of binding and loosing yet as experience hath taught vs do rather bind heauie burthens on mens shoulders then bind their consciences and rather séeke to loose and emptie their purses then to loose them from their sinnes A man will hardly beléeue what summes of money they haue extorted from all sorts of men But if we consider the hookes engines and diuers practises which they haue vsed to abuse the world we néed not make question but their dealings are very intolerable The Popes haue made mony of licences to marrie to eate flesh or whit-meate of dispensations concerning benefices of indulgences of releasing of Church censures of delegating of causes of collation of benefices of deuolutions of reseruations of prouisions of procurations of the intricate rules of the Popes Chancerie of granting priuiledges of licences to kéepe concubines of common whores of annates of contributions of tenths of erection of Churches of canonization of Saints of cases reserued Neither had they any law or passed any act but it was a meanes to make money Likewise Masse-priests and Friars learning of their holy Father sold Masses Absolutions and such licences and faculties as lay in their hand to grant Neither would they do any thing without money Monkes and Friars beside buying and selling had a most gainefull trade of begging And such was their shamelesse dealing that of the house of God they made a shoppe of merchandize or rather a denne of théeues In England the Popes had a contribution called Peter pence and yet not content therewith or with the ordinarie gaine of their faculties annates contributions
〈◊〉 honestie of life betwixt his consorts and vs. In the meane while he may remember what fruites come of forced single life Anselme as Huntington lib. 5. and Roger of Chester reporteth in one Synode forbad lawfull mariage to Priests but in the next he was constrained to make lawes against Sodomites and therein condemned eight Abbots beside other inferiour Priests and Friars In the Church of Rome adultery and fornication haue alwayes bene accounted smaller offences as is set downe euidently in the chapter At siclerici de iudicijs I néede not therefore stand much vpon that and the rather for because it is notorious that the Pope tolerateth common bordels Yet lest Baals priests should stand too much either 〈◊〉 their virginitie or chastitie I would haue them to remember not onely the liues of late Popes Cardinals priests Monkes and Friers but also what old histories and other records say against them when they liued better then now Let them reade Boccace nouel 2. and diuers discourses of Monkes and Friers honesties Petrarch epist. 19. and others His 106. 107. 108. sonets Theodoricke a Niem tract 6. nemoris vnionis cap. 34. where Gregory the Pope testifieth that in two and twenty Monasteries the Monks and Nunnes liued most filthily and dishonestly Pene omnis religio 〈◊〉 dicti or dinis ac Dei timor abscessit likido ac corruptio carnis inter ipsos mares moniales nec non alia multa mala excessus vitia quae pudor est effari per singula succreuerunt The Pope himselfe was ashamed to speake all Let them also peruse the treatise called Onus Ecclesiae cap. 22. who sayth that Monkes and Friers are worse then diuels Aretin lib. de hypocritis Baptist. Mantuan lib. 3. calamit Palingenius in Leone and that which I haue cited out of diuers authors lib. de Monach. cap. 8. If they desire to heare some mens reports of them let them listen to that which followeth 〈◊〉 palatium saith Luithprandus lib. 6. cap. 6. sanctorum hospitium nunc est prostibulum meretricum The pallace of Lateran saith he that was wont to be a harbor of holy men is now become a bordell for whores Petrarch in his 16. epistle speaking of the Popes court sayth thus Nulla ibi pietas nulla charitas nulla fides nulla 〈◊〉 reuerentia nullus timor There is no godlinesse no charitie no faith no reuerence or feare of God In his 〈◊〉 Epistle he calleth it a den of theeues Mantuan li. 2. fastor willeth chastitie to be packing into villages if that they did not also suffer the same diseases for that Rome was become a publike stewes I pudor in villas sinon patiuntur easdem villae vomic as vrbs est iam tota lupauar Cardinals sayth Brigit giue themselues without restraint to all pride couetousnesse and delights of the flesh And afterward Iam nunc in maiori veneratione habetur lupauar quà m 〈◊〉 Dei Ecclesia Now the stewes are in more esteeme then the true Church of God Bishops and priests should build the Church but as Brigit saith they build the diuell two cities to wit the labor of the body and trouble of the mind Catherina of Siena c. 125. sayth Religious men should resemble Angels but are worse then diuels Platina writing of Iohn the thirteenth sayth He was a man from his youth contaminated with all filthinesse and dishonestie Writing of three Popes he calleth them three foule monsters By the articles and proofes exhibited against Iohn the three and twentith in the Councell of Constance as it is called it appeareth he was wholy giuen to vices and carnall desires and was conuicted to be an incestuous person a Sodomite Vrspergensis testifieth against Clement the fifth that he was a notorious fornicator Matthew Villani hist. lib. 3. ca. 39. speaking of Clement the sixth and his continencie sayth that being Archbishop he could not keepe himselfe from women and being Pope neither could contain nor hide his fault Innocent the eight and Alexander the sixth had diuers bastards as Guicciardine and diuers others report Paul the second Iulius the second Leo the tenth Clement the seuenth Paul the third Iulius the third are all noted for their loosenesse of life and diuers of them conuinced thereof by their bastards Symony and vsury among the Romanists is so common that as Matth. Paris sayth they account the first no sin the second a smal sin Felin in c. ex parte de offic pot iudicis delegat sayth that without the rent of symonie the Popes sea would grow contemptible Priests in time past were wont to exclaime much of this abuse Heu Symon regnat per munera quaeque reguntur sayth one in hist. citiz Pauli Langij Theodoric à Niem lib. 2. de schism c. 7. Usura saith he tantum inualuit vt foenus non putaretur peccatum that is Vsurie did so preuaile that it was accounted no fault Paul the fourth and Pius the fourth set vp shops of vsury as their acts testifie and Onuphrius recordeth Neither the Popes nor their adherents obserue oath or promise as their acts do at large shew and many poore Christians brought into snare by their perfidiousnesse haue felt Theodoric à Niem lib. 3. de schism speaking of Pope Gregorie the twelfth saith that with his vowes and othes he deceiued the world Votis iuramentis suis decepit mundum Gregorie the seuenth contrary to his oath tooke vpon him the papacie as is recorded in the life of Henrie the fourth He did also absolue all the Emperors subiects frō their othes of allegiance to their soueraigne Prince The like practise did Pius the 〈◊〉 vse in discharging the subiects from their othes to the late Quéene The articles of the pacification of Gant anno 1578. were confirmed by solemne oath of the old King of Spaine and yet presently and wilfully broken Neither had the Popes faction in France any better colour to intrap poore Christians then othes For whiles the Admirall and diuers of the religion in France trusted solemne othes they were brought within danger and most cruelly and perfidiously massacred Neither need we to maruell if this sect obserueth no othes seeing in the conuenticle of Constance the same determined that faith was not to be kept with heretikes in which number they reckon all that yéeld not to the Popes will The Doctors of this sect hold that the Pope can dispence with othes and absolue men that are periured Finally those that haue trauelled France Italy and Spaine do know that the common sort of Papistes can 〈◊〉 vtter thrée words without swearing and blaspheming The Popes and their faction haue caused all the warres and troubles in Christendome as histories do recount If a man do but look in the life of Sixtus the fourth Iulius the 2. he may easily sée what seditious and turbulent spirits they cary But what néed we looke so high séeing the flames of ciuil discension in Germanie France Flanders
the Church nor being authorized to rule their Cleargie or to dispose of their liuings Secondly that they held that poore halfe of their kingdome which remained at the Popes pleasure and no further as appeared by the insolent dealing of the Pope with King Henry the second and King Iohn out of whose hands the Pope had almost wrested the scepter of their royall authoritie But her Maiestie abolishing the 〈◊〉 power of the Pope fréed her selfe and her successors from his tyrannie and restored that power and iurisdiction to the Crown that was by his craft and fraudulent dealing long vsurped She found that it belonged to godly kings to make lawes for religion to rule their subiects to dispose of the affaires and goods of the Church according to right So did Constantine the great and other godly Emperors So did Charles the great and Lewes kings of France So did Alfred and S. Edward Kings of England as the lawes of the Code and Nouell constitutions the constitutions of Charles and Lewes and of the auncient Kings of England declare Neither before Pope Heldebrand or rather that firebrand of hell did any Pope take vpon him to giue out lawes or decretals for the gouernement either of the whole Church or the Churches of other kingdoms For this matter therfore Quéene Elizabeths name deserueth to be had in perpetuall remembrance for that she fréed her selfe and her subiects from the Popes wicked lawes and vsurpations and restored the auncient priuiledges and dignities to the Crowne The which had bene much in a man but in a woman was much more glorious With her also peace which by the practises of the Spaniards had bene exiled to our losse and shame returned again into this land For finding this land at variance with France and forsaken of Spaine she 〈◊〉 meanes to compound with France and begā to settle matters at home According to the Prophets admonition she sought peace and followed it And such successe hath it pleased God to giue her that although the Pope by diuers practises hath sought to raise discord and rebellion within England yet maugre his head we haue enioyed peace this 〈◊〉 and fortie yeares to the great contentment of her subiects and the wonderment of the world For who wondreth not that France and Flanders and other our neighbor countries being in a flame and the Pope desiring nothing more then to set our country on fire that the moderation of a woman should maintaine her State in peace when great Kings could not kéepe their state from being consumed with warres 〈◊〉 great this benefite is both the commodities of peace and the miseries of warres may teach vs. Et nomen pacis dulce est saith Tully ipsa res salutaris The name of peace is sweete and the thing it selfe safe and commodious Neither doth a people more desire any thing then peace as he saith in another place and in peace not onely those to whom nature hath giuen sence but also houses and fields seeme to reioyce Quid est tam populare ac pax qua non modo ij quibus natura sensum dedit sed etiam tecta atque 〈◊〉 videntur Contrariwise warres worke destruction of men cities countries and as Tully saith haue vncertaine euents and nothing is more execrable then ciuill warres Tully 〈◊〉 him vnworthy to liue among men that delighteth in ciuill discord and warre By meanes of long peace this land is also growne to great wealth The country is better cultiuated trade is much increased all arts and occupations growne to greater 〈◊〉 then in time past Noblemen and Gentlemen haue doubled their reuenues Yeomen and Merchants aspire to the degrée of Gentlemen and diuers men of occupation do exceed men of their sort in former times Whosoeuer compareth the common people of England with men of their qualitie in Spaine Portugal and Italy must néedes confesse that in wealth and meanes our country men do farre excéed them Finally neuer was England so populous and strong in men as in our late Quéenes dayes Spaine and most places of Italy séeme desolate in comparison That these are great blessings it cannot be denied For God promiseth increase of substance and men to his people as a blessing Deut. 28. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body saith Moyses to the people of God and the fruite of thy land the fruite of thy cattell the flockes of kine and sheepe And the multiplication of Abrahams posteritie Gen. 17. and in diuers other places was accounted to him as a great blessing Wherefore as oft as we looke backe to former times we cannot choose but call to mind those graces which we haue long enioyed by Quéene Elizabeths meanes and be thankfull vnto God for them If any be either vnmindfull or vnthankfull if he be English I doubt not but he will proue a traitor to his Prince and country if a stranger then he will shew himselfe an enemie In the the first ranke I place Robert Parsons in the second certaine malicious Italian and Spanish Friers But their discourses wherein they would denigrate her glorie are so fond and 〈◊〉 that they do rather illustrate the same To shew that her Maiestie had no power in forreine countries Parsons alleageth that since Calice was lost we had not one foot of our owne beyond the seas As if none could haue power or credite in forreine parts but such as haue cities and dominions of their owne beyond the seas or as if it were not a signe of great power that her forces by sea and land haue alwayes bene able to 〈◊〉 the ambitious aspires of the Spaniard and the cruel rage of Antichrist and that her authoritie hath swayed much in forreine parts both with friends and enemies Againe that the English haue lost their footing beyond the seas and were shamefully driuen out of Calice which was reputed the key of the kingdome of France and a doore whereby the Kings of England were wont to enter into that kingdome it was not our fault but of that vnfortunate woman Quéene Mary that lost all and had no good successe in any thing and of her butcherly Clergy that were murthering of Christs lambes at home while forreine enemies oppugned the state abroad and would suffer no succor to be sent ouer in time He talketh also very idly of large Prouinces possessed by the English liuing vnder popish religion and of the losse we haue sustained by chaunge of our old mightie and honorable allies as he calleth them For the relikes of those large Prouinces were lost not by Queene Elizabeth but by that vnhappie woman Quéene Mary and her bloudy and butcherly priests Moreouer if King Philip fell at variance with vs the same was not the Quéenes fault that kept good correspondence with him albeit he betrayed her to the French at her first comming to the crowne and succored the rebels of the North anno 1569. and conspired with that louzie Frier Pius the fift to
vpon his throne 〈◊〉 him as we reade 1. King 3. Was not then this 〈◊〉 Queene iustly punished with barrennesse for inaking so many childlesse Without cause she fell at variance with the French entring into her husbands quarrell But she spent her labour and treasure in vaine left the 〈◊〉 in debt and lost all she did aduenture for At the sea she was most 〈◊〉 losing a goodly shippe called The great Harrie by 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 no successe in any thing And so it appeareth that she liued and died 〈◊〉 leauing 〈◊〉 memorie behind her but of cruell persecution of Spanish slauerie and of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and losse to our nation Neither doth any accompt otherwise of her then as of a woman vnhappie in her mariage cruell in persecuting Gods Saints vngratefull to those that were her best friends vnkind to her subiects 〈◊〉 in all her enterprises The like successe had those kings of England that were most forward in the Popes seruice Before king Henry the seconds time the Popes agents had litle to do in England He was the first that gaue them grace But see his reward The Pope maintained Becket and other his rebellious subiects against him and forced him to most disgracefull and base conditions of agréement Furthermore the Popes agents in his time found such fauour that vntill the raigne of king Henry the eight this Land could neuer be ridde of them 〈◊〉 Richard the first for the Popes pleasure crossed him selfe for the holy land and went thither with great forces of men and royall prouisions But nothing he gained beside a vaine name of a valiant man On the other side his losses and disgraces were excéeding great For first he lost most of his 〈◊〉 then he lost the best part of his men Thirdly he lost diuers good townes in France where his enemies tooke aduantage of his absence Fourthly he was taken prisoner in his returne Fiftly he impouerished himselfe and his countrie in leauying money for his ransome And lastly was vnnobly slaine before a litle castle in France by a base fellow So litle did the Popes pardons and blessings auaile him Neuer did any king of England more for the Pope then king Iohn For he resigned his Crowne into his Legates hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also as much as in him lay to make his kingdome tributarie to the Pope Let vs then 〈◊〉 what fruite he reaped of his deuotion to the Pope First he liued in continuall iarre with his 〈◊〉 Secondly he lost Normandie and 〈◊〉 townes of great moment to the French Thirdly in his 〈◊〉 the French made warre 〈◊〉 him in England and 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 at his owne doores Fourthly he suffered his kingdome to be pillaged by the Pope Finally he died of poyson ministred to him by a Monke of Swinsted Abbey as Caxtons Chronicle reporteth King Henry the third was flatly 〈◊〉 by Innocent the fourth and deluded with a promise of the kingdome of Naples for his sonne Edmond But for this vaine title he payed full deare not onely suffering the Pope to spoile his countrie but also paying himselfe great summes to the Pope King Henry the eight for the deliuerance of Clement the seuenth spent 〈◊〉 treasure vainely And that was the successe of all the kings of England that did seruice to the Pope Generally all those that liue vnder the Popes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most miserably being neither secured for their 〈◊〉 nor liues nor liberties either from their neighbour princes or from the Pope First they serue two kings wheresoeuer they liue that is their King or Duke and the Pope If they offend the Pope they are 〈◊〉 heretickes and are deemed worthie of death yea albeit the controuersie be no matter of Religion Lewis of Bauier and his followers were reputed 〈◊〉 he for taking on him the 〈◊〉 without the Popes allowance these for yeelding obedience to their lawfull prince The like censure was 〈◊〉 against all that followed the Emperour Henry the fourth and Fredericke the second If they offend their Princes either in word or 〈◊〉 the penaltie is death Poggio sheweth that a rich man being accused of treason answered that he had not offended but if his goods had offended he would not consent with them And thus by renouncing that which he 〈◊〉 he escaped The lawes are very rigorous both of Pope and popish 〈◊〉 the executions 〈◊〉 cruell and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking of the times of Alexander the sixt saith that there was neuer more outrages committed by 〈◊〉 and cut throates that the people of Rome had neuer lesse freedome that there was a great number of priuie promoters and that euery euill word was punished with death But this is common to all Italian princes Murthers and spoiles are litle regarded euery word nay euery thought against them if it be knowne is 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 The Spanish inquisitors in 〈◊〉 passe most sauage beastes Upon euery light surmise they procéed against most innocent persons and some they racke some they samish some they burne some they cut 〈◊〉 The very Papistes themselues could neuer endure it nor would suffer it but by force The Venetians will none of it The Neapolitans refusing the same yéeld this reason quia per simplicem alicuius maleuoli accusationem nullis requisitis probationibus nullisque defensionibus acceptis posset quisque in carceres detrudi vita honore facultatibus priuari Because by the single accusation of one malitious fellow neither proofes being sought nor exceptions receiued any man might be thrust into prison and depriued of his honors goods and life Are they not then miserable that liue vnder the danger of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The people of the Low countries do affirme that 〈◊〉 Inquisition was the originall ground of the troubles and tumults of the Low countries and that the Cardinal Granuelle endeuouring to bring in the same was the ruine of his countrie At the first the 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 principally against Turkes and Moores Who then doth not detest the Spaniards and Italians that practising the same against Christians do plainly declare that they hold them to be no better then Turkes and Moores The common forme also of inquisition against Christians is very cruell odious and intolerable considering first that the Romanists take all for heretikes that 〈◊〉 them for their villanies superstitions and heresies and next for that they neither obserue forme nor order of 〈◊〉 nor respect young nor old men aliue nor dead oftentimes 〈◊〉 mens bodies most cruelly and spoiling their goods most gréedily and punishing any that dissent from the synagogue of Rome in matter of the Sacraments as if they had conspired the destruction of their prince and countrie By this cruel procéeding in the raigne of Charles the 〈◊〉 the bloudie popish tormentors in the low countries put to death fiftie thousands as the Histories of the Low countries 〈◊〉 In England like sauage wolues they spoiled the flocke during the raigne of Queene Marie How many haue bene executed in Spaine Italie France and
lost halfe of that which he possessed before Purposing to make a conquest of England he was himselfe conquered and ouercome by a woman Bragging of his inuincible fleete he found himselfe and his fléete vanquished by small forces In the end he aymed at the crowne of France promised vnto him by the traiterous 〈◊〉 and their associates but his losse and scorne receiued in that countrey made an end of that old King In Hungary nothing hath succéeded of late yeares that hath bene enterprised by the Popes counsell Eugenius the fourth caused Ladislaus the King of Poland and Hungarie to breake with the Turke promising him great pardons and aides But his whole armie was defeated and himselfe slaine at the battell of Varna Francis the first that was confederate with Pope Clement the seuenth was taken prisoner at Pauia and promising to roote out religion out of France neuer prospered in any enterprise Henry his eldest sonne confederating himselfe with the Pope for the extirpation of such as forsooke the errors of poperie was slaine miserably at a tournament receiuing a wound in his eye with which he threatned to sée Anne Bourg a holy Martyr executed His sonne Francis died yong of an aposteme in his eare being iustly punished for that he refused to heare the cries of the oppressed His brother Charles the ninth the author and contriuer of the bloody massacre of France anno 1572 wherin so much innocent blood was shed died bléeding at all the conduits of his body and wallowed in his owne blood after he had shed so much of others Henry y t third was slaine by a Dominican or rather a demonicall Friar hauing bestowed great charge and labour in killing of Gods saints And so the line of Francis de Valois and his sons failed and the kingdom is translated into the house of Bourbon which they persecuted The Leaguers of France which mutined for the maintenance of poperie are now ruined and the Duke of Guise and the chiefe leaders of those rebels come all to vnhappie ends Neither had those Christians that either in the holy land or elsewhere fought vnder the Popes banners better successe for the most part Rodolphus who at the request of Gregorie the seuenth rebelled against the Emperor Henry was by him ouerthrowne and slaine in battell Neither did Mathildis the Popes paramour and her souldiers spéede much better Mathew Paris rehearseth diuers attempts by Christians set on by the Pope against the Sarracens but for the most part vnhappy Walter Sansauior that first went against thē lost his armie in Bulgaria Peter the heremit was defeated with all his forces before Nice Godescalcus a Dutch priest also would néedes leade an armie against the Turkes but he was likewise ouerthrowne with all his companie Godfray of Bullein albeit he wanne Hierusalem yet he lost diuers hundred thousands in the aduenture and his posteritie did not long hold that which they had wonne In this seruice Lewis the ninth of France was taken prisoner first and afterward lost his life In the same did the noble Fredericke Barbarossa perish and infinite other Christians The French men blasphemed against God seeing they had no better successe in the holy land as he saith De diuina conquere bant ur ingratitudine qui labores suos deuotionis sinceritatem non respiciebat sed quasi in alienum populum tradi in manus hostiū patie batur Finally al that tooke the Popes part against the Emperors Henry the third fourth and fift Fridericke the first and second and others had euill successe Considering the promises therefore it is much to be wondred that any princes should serue the Pope that is so notoriously declared to be Antichrist and that they shold take his marke in 〈◊〉 hands and foreheades especially seeing the euill successe that others haue had in his seruice and the plagues that are threatened against these that take his marke vpon them Much also it is to be lamented that Christians should continue vnder the grieuous yoke either of the Pope or popish religion Rome in time past was mistresse of y e world the Church of Christ there most famous for pietie throughout the world But now she serueth Antichrist most basely and is infamous for her impieties Baldus speaking of Italie saith that she is of all other countries the most miserable as wanting one to redresse her wrongs Olim prouinciarum domina nunc omnium 〈◊〉 Lewis the 9. in his pragmaticall sanction confesseth that the kingdome of France was miserably impouerished by the Popes exactions Molinaeus in his booke de paruis datis calleth the Popes exactions barbarous Iolian a Cardinall in an Epistle to Eugenius the fourth who deluded the Germaines demanding reformation of certaine abuses told the Pope plainely that the ruine of the Papacie was at hand if order were not taken presently to satisfie the people Finis pro certo est saith he securis ad radicem posita est The Germaines in a certaine méeting at Nuremberg told the Popes Legate that the burdens imposed by the Pope were so grieuous that they neither could nor would beare them any longer Praedicta vrgentissima atque intolerabilia penitusq non ferenda onera diutius se nec perferre velle nec tolerare posse Among these grieuances they recken prohibitions of mariages and certaine meates at certaine times and to certaine persons contrarie to Gods law pillages by pretence of pardons vnder colour of going to warre against Turkes or building of Churches and such like reseruation of absolution in certaine case 〈◊〉 of stationarie Friars or limitors the multitude of Friars drawing causes to the Popes cognition appointing of delegate Judges and defenders of mens right as they are called exemptions reseruations and prouissons of liuings Ecclesiastical priuiledges rules of the Popes chancerie commendaes immunities of Monkes Friars and priests from payments and punishments vniust excommunications and interdicts multitude of holidayes lāds coming into mortmayne encroching vpon lay mens lands and goods pensions and charges laid vpon benefices superfluities and superstitions in honoring of Saints and such like What resteth then séeing as Christians do sée the miseries of the people that liue vnder the yoke of the Popes kingdome and his adherents but that they séeke all lawfull meanes to be fréed from this tyrannie and to shake off the yoke of this Antichristian gouernment CHAP. VIII That no king liuing vnder the Pope and receiuing his doctrine can assure himselfe of his kingdome THat the yoke of Antichristian and popish gouernment is grieuous and intolerable to all Christians we haue made it apparent by diuers particulars But could any Christian indure it yet Christian Kings and Princes haue least reason to do it For as their place is higher then others so the dishonor that is offered to 〈◊〉 and the hazard which they incurre is of farre greater consideration then if y e same should be offered to priuate persons And yet no man runneth into greater
Popes excommunicate them and sought to depose them as heretikes and tyrants Likewise did they prosecute other kings and Emperours albeit consenting with them in matters of faith Henrie the third of France of late was cruelly persecuted and murdred by the popish faction and yet was he very superstitiously addicted to popish religion Suppose then that the Pope would 〈◊〉 against none but heretickes and tyrants yet it is an easie matter and very vsual for him to picke quarels and to impute heresie and tyranny and great crimes to most innocent men Finally they may say that the Pope is alwayes assisted by Gods holy spirit and cannot erre in his sentences of excommunication and deposing of Princes especially for matters of religion But this allegation is most brutish ridiculous and refuted by euident experience and most euident proofes that teach vs that he is rather led by the spirit of Sathan who was a murtherer from the beginning and is the author of rebellions and troubles then by the spirit of God that is the God of peace and author of concord among Christians Wherefore let all Princes that liue vnder the Popes obedience consider well the former reasons and examples and look into their owne danger and slippery estate For albeit now the Pope 〈◊〉 his hands full and cannot or dare not offer them wrong yet many occasions may be offered of falling out betwixt them and the Pope And in that case either they must confesse as we do that the Pope is a false prophet and Antichrist or else yéeld vp their Crowne at his pleasure or else defend their right without lawful title and that both against rebels and forreine enemies which will be a matter hard for them to do CHAP. IX That no King or Prince can secure his person against the attempts of traitors if he suffer any in his kingdome that teach or hold the Popes doctrine concerning the deposing and killing of Kings THis corollary or conclusion is necessarily deduced frō the doctrine of Papists concerning the Popes power in deposing of Kings and Princes For if it be lawfull for the Pope to depose a Prince frō his royall throne then is it lawfull for the Pope to command any assassin or cutthrote to murder him séeing it is not likely that a magnanimous King wil yéelo to so base a companion as the Pope nor giue vp his Crowne without force and compulsion The same is also proued by the general practise of Popes by the wordes of the Popes bulles by the doctrine of their principall followers and by diuers particular facts and attempts both of Popes and their wicked instruments and agents For first we find that those Popes that haue gone about to depose Kings haue also vsed all meanes to destroy thē 〈◊〉 to cut their throtes The which may be verified by the procéeding of Gregory the seuenth against Henry the Emperor of Paschalis and Vrban against his sonne of Alexander against Fridericke Barbarossa of Innocent the third against Philip and Otho of Gregory the ninth and Innocent the fourth against Fridericke the second of Clement the fift against Henry of Lucembourg whom he caused to be poysoned in the sacrament Of Iohn the 22. and Clement the sixth against Lewis of Bauier of Paul the third against Henrie the 8. King of England of Pius the fift Gregory the 13. and Sixtus Quintus against Quéene Elizabeth and finally of the Popes that fauored the rebellious leaguers of France against the French Kings Henry the third and fourth and diuers others For why did they raise rebellion moue warres and suborne secret traitors to attempt against the persons of Kings but that they meant to giue leaue to desperate cutthrotes to kill them Secondly the words of the Popes buls and the doctrine of their wicked agents doth notoriously manifest their leud and damnable purposes touching this point Gregory the 7 doth 〈◊〉 depriue Henry the Emperor of his Empire and forbiddeth his 〈◊〉 to obey him Next he commaundeth all to accept of Rodolph as their King and to obey him But neither could he be deposed without armes nor might Rodolph be suffered to raigne during the life of the Emperour Henrie Paul the third in his seditious bull against Henry the 8. king of England commaunded the Nobles and other principall men of the countrey to oppose themselues with force and armes against him and to cast him out of his kingdome But armes are taken in hand for no other purpose then to kil such as resist and a weake conceit it is to thinke that King Henry could be thrust out of his kingdome vnlesse he were also depriued of his life That impious Pope Pius the fift also that sent Nicholas Norton to moue an insurrection against Quéene Elizabeth in England and his legate Sanders to do the like in Ireland did intend no lesse then the 〈◊〉 of her person if the rebels had preuailed In his bull against her he declared that he had authoritie to pull vp and to destroy and forbiddeth her subiects to obey her which could not be executed without her destruction Sixtus the 5. in his declaration anno 1588. against the same Quéene hauing at large rayled with his foule and filthy mouth against the Lords annointed exhorteth all her people to lay hands on her to arrest her and to 〈◊〉 to her punishment That is also the end of that traitor Cardinall Allen his seditious exhortation to the Nobilitie and people of England and Ireland But because the Papists had no better successe an 1588. therefore they suppressed this discourse for very shame least their dealings for the destructiō of princes should be made manifest and least the mysteries of Romish Babylon should be reuealed Parsons that bastardly English renegate in his booke of succession part 1. cap. 3. alloweth the deposition of 〈◊〉 Iohn of King Edward the second King Richard the second King Henry the sixth and of diuers violent attempts made by 〈◊〉 against their lawfull Kings Thereby it appeareth also that he approueth warres and rebellions made to depose Kings and to destroy them Nay allowing the violent death of Caesar in the Senate he seemeth directly to perswade the murder of princes which is the rather to be 〈◊〉 leeued for that he was an agent in the printing and as his consorts the 〈◊〉 priests say in making the libell set out by Allen against Queene Elizabeth proclaiming reward to all that could lay 〈◊〉 vpon her nay that could kill her Now least any man should doubt of the doctrine of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this point Emanuel Sa in his aphorismes for confessaries doth thus instruct all Masse priests Tyrannice gubernans iustè acquisitum dominium non potest spoliari sine publico iudicio lata verò sententia potest quisque fieri executor That is he that gouerneth tyrannically his state which he hath gotten instly cannot be spoyled of it without publicke sentence of the Pope but sentence being passed euery man may execute the
their authoritie by the Popes incrochments How contrarie this is to the doctrine of the Apostles and ancient fathers we néede not here dispute S. Peter teacheth Christians to honour the King and Paule exhorteth 〈◊〉 soule to be subiect to the higher powers Now what greater dishonour can be offered to a King then to take away his authoritie And how are they subiect that pay the King nothing and claime exemption from his gouernement Our Sauiour willeth all to giue to Caesar that which is due to Caesar and Peter payed tribute to Caesar. But his false successors pay no tribute to Caesar but take tribute of Caesar and challenge it as due to them selues Nay they haue against all right vsurped his imperiall citie of Rome and released all clerkes from temporall Princes obedience Tertullian saith Christians honored the Emperour as the next man in honour to God and onely inferiour to God Colimus Imperatorem saith he sic quomodo nobis licet ipsi expedit vt hominem a Deo secundum quicquid est à Deo consequutum solo Deo minorem Chrysostome sheweth that the Apostles wordes Rom. 13. concerne clerkes and religious men as well as lay men The same is also contrarie to the practise of the Church vnder the Law and vnder the Gospell and derogatorie to the Kings authoritie For both vnder the Law and when Emperors began to professe Christian religion they made lawes for the Church and reformed Ecclesiasticall abuses as both Scriptures and the lawes of the Code and Nouelles testifie Thirdly this authoritie is plainly vsurped by the Pope and his followers For vntill Gregorie the seuenth his time who by force and armes preuailed more then by reason we find that the clergie and Church waâ— gouerned by Christian princes and their lawes Finally the same is disgracefull to Kings and burdensome to subiects and most vnreasonable Disgracefull it is to Kings to loose their royalties and to be made subiect to forreiners Burdensome it is to good subiects vpon whom the whole burden is laid and they exempted which are best able to beare The Germaines in their grieuances Grauam 28. shew that the charge of the warre against the Turke is laid wholy on lay-mens shoulders Finally it is no reason that those should liue vnder the Kings protection that neither pay him tribute nor acknowledge his authoritie But of the vnreasonablenesse of these incrochments we shall haue occasion to dispute elswhere Here it is sufficient to shew that the Popes vsurpations exactions â—â— who le authoritie is preiudiciall to Kings vntollerable to their subiectes Be wise therefore O ye Kings of the earth and serue Christ Iesus but beware that in stead of Christ ye serue not Antichrist And you that are fréed by the preaching of the Gospell from the bondage of the Popes traditions and exactions take héed that you suffer not your selues to be entangled againe in his snares brought againe into bondage The Popes agents tell you of many goodly actions of the Pope and set out the beautie of traditions with faire words But they séeke nothing but to bring you into a snare and to make merchandise of your soules and to blind you so that you shall not be able to sée the miserie of those that liue vnder him or the trash of his false doctrine and traditions God graunt you therfore the spirit of wisedome and discretion that you may stand fast in the liberty of 〈◊〉 Christians and neuer be entangled againe with the yoke of Popish bondage The third Booke of the answer to Robert Parsons his supernodical Warn-word containing a list of his lies falsities fooleries impieties and other enormous faults and abuses therein and elsewhere by him committed The Preface to the third Booke THus hauing ended our defence of Queene Elizabeths godly reformation and noted the miserable estate of Papists liuing vnder the Popes tyrannie and deformation it will be no hard matter for vs to dispatch the rest of the Warne-word being nothing else but a bundle of patcheries and fooleries patched together with a number of idle and vaine words scarce worth the reading or ruÌ„ning ouer Wherin notwithstaÌ„ding that I may proceed with more perspicuity I wil first examine the qualities of the author of this 〈◊〉 word and that so much the rather that you may forbeare to wonder at this warning peece or peeced Warne-word considering the qualitie of the warme fellow that made vs this braue peece of fire-worke Next I shall enter vpon the title and front of the booke and let you see how neither the portall corespondeth with the rest of his building nor the worke with the inscription and that the same doth well resemble a clome portall set beside a straw thatched house or 2 pig-stie set before Robert Parsons his putatiues fathers forge Thirdly his personall accusations and slaundrous imputations both against my selfe and others shall be answered The fourth place is due to his impieties which require a sharpe censure After that his ridiculous errors impudent falsifications vaine allegations grosse lies saucie rayling termes and clamorous outcries poore shifts and sottish answers lamentable begging of things in controuersie insolent brags and such like fooleries shall seuerally be scanned and reproued A man would percase wonder that a man in so idle a worke should runne into so many inconueniences and absurdities But this our aduersary is a beast and a grosse pecoran and no man How should we looke for other stuffe out of such a malicious heart Do men gather figs of thornes or grapes of briars As Hierome saith of Heluidius so I may say of Parsons Loquacitatem facundiam existimat maledicere omnibus bonae conscientiae signum arbitratur He supposeth babling to be eloquence and that railing vpon all men is a signe of a good conscience Let him therfore haue patience to haue his owne coxcombe pared and let him bark still like a helhound if he take pleasure in barking I doubt not but we shall so breake his dogs teeth that he shall hurt none by his biting But to cut off all preambles let vs now see if we can bring the iade Parsons from his gallop to his ambles CHAP. I. A legend of No saint but of Robert Parsons his life calculated in fauour of that swarme of traitors which euery yeare he sendeth out of his seditious Seminaries BEfore I enter into this discourse I do protest that I was drawne into it more then halfe against my will by the importunitie of Robert Parsons who first began this course and albeit without commission went about to make enquiry what I am what I did at Caliz what in Ireland and what in other places and to obiect whatsoeuer he thought might moue either suspicion of crime or occasion of ieast But séeing I am forced to defend my self I professe and proclaime it openly that I will spare neither Iebusite nor Masse priest nor Archpricst nor prouinciall Iebusite nor Pope nor Cardinall that shall
the Quodlibetist being a goodly martyr in the Calendar of traitors telleth him he sheweth himselfe both witlesse and shamelesse to speake against honorable mariage and such as are knowne to be descended of worshipfull parentage Furthermore he giueth vs occasion to detest the filthie masse-priests monkes and Iebusites that abiuring lawfull marriage burne in vnlawfull lustes and are knowne to be adulterers fornicators sodomites and most beastly and swinish fellowes He shameth not also to affirme that I was forced to retire out of Ireland for certaine iniurious speeches against the Earle of Ormond and the Irish nation But what if the Earle of Ormond and the Irish nation will cleare me Is not he a busie fellow to meddle with their matters without fée Againe what if I came away with the leaue and liking both of the generall and others Wil it not appeare that he lieth like a shamelesse fellow without leaue or liking of any but himself who like 〈◊〉 monky liketh best his own deformities But he may 〈◊〉 both if he list to informe himselfe either by English or Irish that knew those matters how they passed As for those whom he stileth witnesses Omni exceptione maiores they neuer receiued any greater disgrace then in medling with me and haue since declared themselues to be men rather to be lamented for their folly then credited for their dignitie But nothing is more ridiculous then that Robert Parsons should find fault with my intemperancy of spéech séeing I do but answer his intemperate and exorbitant inuectiues that in scurrility and rayling are superlatiue But if he will néeds find fault let him bring reason least his writing séeme to want both wit and reason His last charge against me in his answer to my Epistle concerneth discontentment and complaints against the State But it is like the rest that is fond false and friuolous For neither is it likely that I should be discontent with y e present state or grieued with any ordinary charge when both in most honorable actions and in my publike writings I haue to the vttermost of my power defended the State and haue willingly put my self to extraordinary charge in all seruices for my countrey This resolution also is both in my selfe and others not onely to spend our goods but our liues also in defence of our country and of the truth against all malignant 〈◊〉 of sedition and miserable slaues of Antichrist that shall dare to assayle the Realme Finally if in any thing I haue shewed discontent it is in that I haue séene such notorious trechery as is discouered in Parsons and his leud consorts to escape vnpunished and sometimes vncontrolled Not content to accuse vs the ranging fellow runneth out in diuers places and rayleth with a wide and filthy mouth against the late noble Earle of Essex whose calamity all that knew him do much lamēt and whose blood I doubt not but God will require at all the hands of some of his consorts that sought to spill it as he hath already begun to reuenge it in some principal persons that eagerly followed the matter against him Well let us sée notwithstanding what this Blackesmiths dog hath to say against that noble lord First saith he the Earle of Essex was pitifully seduced by the puritanes But euery one that is not ignorant of the true causes of his discontentment knoweth well that his pretence was not for religion but rather for other causes It is also well knowne that sir Christopher Blunt and the popish faction was the cause of his ruine For vnderstanding his discontentment they set him forward with hope and promise of assistance in priuate quarels not doubting but either to trouble the state by his means or els to bring him into a snare whom they knew to be firme for religion It may be also that his enemies by their cunning drew him into this dangerous action by practise of traiterous companions that were about him Howsoeuer it was much it is to be lamented that refusing a pension offered him by the King of Spaine he could not also discouer this traine layed for him by the Popes agents And I cannot but much disdaine that so bastardly and base a swaine as this paltry Parsons is should insult ouer so noble and magnanimous an Earle a dog ouer a Lyon a bauling curre ouer a most famous and worthy man of warre He telleth vs further that he was stout against peace with forraine princes and that he had wrought such a troubled water vnder hand that if his streame had not bene turned against him he might chance to haue inhooked the greatest fish in England But this deuise of a great fish is nothing but a vaine surmise of a great conger-headed companion For neither did he nor could he pretend any title to the crowne And as for his stoutnesse against peace with Spaine it procéeded from the loue of his country and was occasioned vpon iust grounds for that he saw no sincere dealing on the behalfe of the Spaniard but rather a surceasing of hostility that in the meane while Masse-priests and Iebusites and their adherents might worke treason It may be also that he meant to shew the weaknesse of the Spaniard the power of the English nation which the Spaniards heretofore too much despised Neither he certes nor any man else misliketh an honorable profitable safe and durable peace Fol. 8. a. he doth againe talke vainely and telleth vs of the Essexian assault and sayth it may be presumed that it would haue abbreuiated the Queenes dayes especially in the intention of the puritanes But he is an absurd fellow to obiect that which his greatest enemies sought to proue and of which he cleared himself sufficiently at the barre And most shamelesse he sheweth himself to impute that to men of our profession which like a leud Laiolian he calleth puritanes which was continually desired of Papists and much feared of all that truly professed religion Againe fol. 13. he mentioneth the Earle of Essex his attempt and golden purposes and sayth that my Lord and young king Essex plotted her Maiesties ouerthrow vnder pretence of meeting at a puritane sermon But if all plotters of her Maiesties ouerthrow had bin rewarded according to their desert then had the crowes long ere this fed on Parsons his quarters the most notorious arch-plotter of treason that this age hath affoorded Likewise he and his consorts haue made many attempts against the State and in the destruction of their Quéen and country they hoped to haue a new world and therin placed their golden time As for the good Earle his purposes howsoeuer they were drawne to his destruction and disorderly managed yet could no man proue that he 〈◊〉 harme to the Quéene Séeing therefore this Patch obiecteth to the Earle an imaginatiō of that which the traiterous consorts of Parsons haue long desired I will here bestow on him a crowne of fox tayles and make him the King of al renegate traitors and
doubt not if he come into England but to sée him crowned at Tiburne and his quarters enstalled at Newgate and Moregate Finally fol. 88. b. he doth againe inculcate the same matters and pretendeth that he was set on by certaine puritanes and hungrie protestants But if he knew any of vs guilty of such a crime I doubt not but he would haue reuealed their names vsing to kéepe nothing secret that might hurt vs. We haue rather great cause to suspect Papists who were the principall men about him and some percase suborned by the Spanish Infantaes faction that feared him and by all meanes sought his destruction And thus euery man may see that no man euer pleaded the Popes cause with worse grace then Parsons who obiecteth nothing to his aduersaries but that which falleth beside them and reboundeth backe on himselfe and his friends In the places aboue mentioned he endeuoreth also to sprinkle some suspition vpon sir Francis and me as if we had bene priuy to the Earles intentions But we were too farre off to be partakers of his counsels and too far different from sir Chr. Blunt and other Papists to consort with them and I may boldly say not so simple as to allow of such an action Parsons therefore may do well either to forbeare such foolish toyes or to take better information of matters He calleth the Earle my master but therein he is no lesse abused then in the rest For albeit I haue in diuers actions serued vnder him yet so did diuers others Knights Lords that neuer called him master Fol. 20. he giueth out foolish words as if some of our religion which he calleth Puritanes should intend to take some port or towne in England But that as it is a matter far from our doctrine and practise so it is common with the Papists as may be proued by the example of such as came with the Spaniards an 1597. 98. for Falmouth and of the 〈◊〉 leaguers the Popes blessed souldiers in France Was not then sir Robert a woodden discourser that hath no fault to obiect against vs which he can proue and yet specifieth diuers things whereof his owne consorts are most guilty Fol. 25. a. Taxing me for diuers faults this masked O. E sayth he shewing himselfe no lesse full of malice and 〈◊〉 hatred against Catholikes then furious in heresie falleth from flattering her Maiestie to bloodie sycophancie and calumniation of Catholikes as though they hated her Maiesties person Whereto that I may answer according to Parsons owne vaine I say that this masked N. D. sheweth himselfe an-egregious Noddy that chargeth men with malice poysoned hatred against Catholikes fury heresie calumniation and sycophancy and yet neither nameth who these Catholikes are nor bringeth one letter to iustifie his furious accusatioÌ„ I say further that he is neither Catholike nor honest man but a furious sycophant hired for crusts of bread to calumniate honest men and an irreligious apostate and heretike and yet not more wicked for religion then damnable for his odious conuersation And where I say that Papists as many as were linked to Parsons and his packing consorts were enemies to her Maiesties person their manifold plots and attempts against her Maiesty their continuall adhearing to her enemies do proue my saying true Parsons also hath by diuers libels and namely by Philopater which he denieth to be his and by the printing and publishing of Sanders booke de Schismate and the libell which was partly made by him and partly by Allen and by diuers practises against her life and state proued himselfe to be a dogge in barking and a poysoned enemie in conspiring against her We will onely alledge a few lines out of Allens libell printed by Parsons against the Queene She is sayth he a most vniust vsurper an open iniurer of all nations an infamous depriued accursed excommunicate hereticke the very shame of her sexe and princely name the chiefe spectacle of sinne and abhomination in this our age and the onely poyson calamity and destruction of our noble Church and countrey Now would I gladly know whether those that allow this 〈◊〉 of writing did not both hate and séeke to hurt her Maiesty Next whether such as do allow such malicious railing and libelling do not concurre with them in hatred and deserue to be hated and expulsed out of all kingdomes well gouerned as leud libellers venimous serpents and damnable traitors Let any man reade the first page of the Wardword sayth Parsons and then tell me whether this minister haue any forhead at al though his head be great inough who saith I do not so much as go about to proue any such matter that he flattered the state And this saith he forgetting his owne brazen face and forehead and the blacksmiths his mothers husbands forked head and his mothers litle honestie recorded in so many bookes of the secular priests and spoken of commonly in the country Beside that it is most apparent that he doth not once mentioÌ„ sir Francis in the first page â—f his book saue in the title much lesse proue him a flatterer And if as he saith that was the but of his discourse then like a blind archer he missed the but shot wide and far off It appeareth also that he was not in his wits when he began thus to exclaim and cry alarme Fol 35. he imputeth vnto me idle babling and calumniation whereas all his wast Warne-word is nothing but a fardle of idle words and méere babling and foolery except where he addeth some additions of knauery that not only in calumniation and lying but also in diuers kinds of villany and trechery Fol. 36. he sayth I flatter to get a bigger benefice But if a man should aske him how he knoweth my mind he wil like a restie iade be at a stop Onely he imagineth me to be like himselfe who caused a solemne supplication to be presented to the King of Spaine subscribed with the hands of diuers base knaues and whores for want of more worthy witnesses declaring that to vphold the cacolike cause it was necessary that Robert Parsons should be made forsooth no lesse then a Cardinall He made meanes also for the Kings letters to the Pope to the same effect And no doubt they had taken effect but that he had iugled too much aboue the boord and was knowne to be a bastardly base refuse ribaldicall rascall fellow Fol. â— speaking of sir Francis like Scogan he scorneth and like an impudent companion accuseth him as not abounding in good workes whereas himself aboundeth in all euil workes as for example impietie heresie trechery filchery lying cogging lechery beastly filthinesse and all knauery As for sir Francis his pietie charitable dealing the same is sufficiently knowne and greatly should I wrong him if I shold compare him with any of Parsons his consorts which was begotten on the backside of a smiths forge in that cuntry where sir Francis hath an honorable charge
Quem patrem volunt nos audire Hi qui sunt pandorae peruersissimi sophistae vtrum ne bythum quem à semetipsis finxerunt an matrem eorum Fol. 14. b. he alleageth Ciceroes booke De Legibus not knowing that Cicero wrote thrée bookes De Legibus and not one booke onely as Parsons imagineth In the margent of the 15. leafe a. he alleageth part 29. of Augustines Enarration in psal 80. Wheras that expositiō is not diuided into parts He doth also cite Augustines Commentaries vpon the 27. chapter of Iosue where neither that booke hath more then 24. chapters nor Augustine euer wrote any Commentaries vpon Iosue He saith further fol. 15. a. That heretikes are the proper idolaters of the new testament and that all other externall idolatry is abolished by Christs coming Wherein he abuseth the termes of Gods testament vttering words as if idolaters were suffered by Gods testament and sheweth grosse ignorance For not onely Zigabenus in Sarracenicis but diuers other histories do testifie that the Sarracens are idolaters The same also is testified by Benzo and other writers of the Indians And no man can deny but that many hundred yeares after Christ idolaters liued in Italie and all other countries as the volumes of Baronius if he looke them will testifie Finally the papists that worship the sacrament the crosse the crucifixe and the images of the trinitie as God must needs be idolaters But were papists no idolaters yet had Parsons no reason to shew it by mentioning idolaters and heretikes so intempestiuely and speaking of them so ignorantly Fol. 17. he saith Iohn the first bishop of Rome wrote a letter to the Emperour Iustinian whose title is this Gloriosissimo clementissimo filio Iustiniano Ioannes episcopus vrbis Romae Likewise in other places he ascribeth this letter to Iohn the first and yet Platina testifieth that Iohn the first Bishop of Rome died before the raigne of 〈◊〉 the Emperour And if he will not beleeue him let him reade the seuenth tome of Caesar Baronius his Annales others and he shall find that Iustinian did not begin his empire before the second yeare of Felix that was successour to Iohn the first Beside this I haue shewed in my last challenge that the law inter claras Cod. de sum trin fid cath is scarce authentical But were it so yet doth it rather ouerthrow the Popes authoritie then otherwise For the prerogatiue of the Romaine church is there deriued from Councels Emperors and not from Gods word and Iohn calleth himselfe Episcopum vrbis Romae Bishop of Rome and not vniuersall bishop Fol. 18. for Iustinianus he nameth Iustinus and for Eutyches Euthyches and for Circumcellions Circumcillians But these are small faults in comparison of that which followeth fol. 19. b. Where for Constantine Copronymus he writeth Constantine Capronius mindfull as it should séeme of his owne capricious trickes who as his friends say is Caper inter Capras I speake to him that knoweth the manners of Italians For this fault therefore in stead of N. D. let him haue a maske 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to couer his swynes snout for very shame and for Parsonius let him be called Capronius 〈◊〉 Fol. 32. for swéete singing Sirens he writeth sweete singing Syrienes which maketh vs much suspect that some swéete singing Syrian or Italian woman or boy hath so bereaued him of his senses as he is able to name nothing right If he procéede on this fashion it is much to be feared that he will forget his owne name if we do not put him in mind of it Fol. 30. where the Canonists are charged with flattery for saying Our Lord God the Pope he sayth the words are not to be found Afterward for very compassion he saith he will adde a coniecture how sir Francis might be deceiued and that is in supposing that D. D. noster Papa did signifie Dominus Deus And like as if a man reading this superscription To the right honorable our good Lord the Lord Admiral should suppose the second L. to signifie Lady But in talking of D. D. he sheweth himselfe a double dolt and a leud Lozel sporting himselfe with his owne foolish bable For the place alleaged is extant in the glosse inc 〈◊〉 inter nonnullos extr Ioan. 22. de verb. signif the words are these Credere Dominum Deum nostrum Papam conditorem dictae decretalis istius sic non potuisse statuere haereticum censetur That is to beleeue that our Lord God the Pope the maker of the said 〈◊〉 and this also could not so appoint it is accounted hereticall I doubt not therefore but Robert Parsons although a thicke skinned fellow when he readeth this will blush and his consorts take compassion of his ignorance Lesse certes they cannot do then call him NODE Fol. 35. he disioyneth as he sayth the harmes ensuing by change of religion from her Maiesties gouernement As if her Maiesties gouernement could be considered without religion or as if this traitor did not calumniate her gouernment that reproueth all her actions done for religion Fol. 45. he deuideth Paulus Alciatus into two Which errour he might haue corrected by Bellarmine in praefat in 2. controuers Fol. 47. he nameth Marspurge for Marpurge Fol. 71. he saith it is contrary to Sophistrie he would say Logicke for extremes to be in one subiect But this sheweth that Parsons head was neuer any subiect for Logick For els he might know that extremes that are not immediate may be in one as for example 〈◊〉 in scraping and prodigalitie in giuing presumption and hypocrisie albeit properly these are not extremes in respect one of another but of their meane vertues Fol. 90. b. alledging Cyrill he citeth his catechisme and quoteth him thus Ciril Hierosol cate chis 4. 5. mistach And so filing his mustaches he thinketh he hath spoken sprucely But his vnlearned quotation sheweth that he hath scarce euer seene that father who wrote not catechismes but catecheses and not mistachical but mystagogical The writing of Ciin Ciril with an i is but a light fault of a lout that vnderstandeth no Greeke for which for i Cardinals hat let him haue a mitre with two coxcombes Fol. 104. b. he sayth that Valentinian mentioned in the title of the law Cunctos populos was son to Gratian. A most lamentable error For histories do all testifie that Gratian and Valentinian the yonger were sons to Valentinian the elder And if he will not beleeue me let him looke Caesar Baronius tom 4. in the seuerall entrances of Gratian and Valentinian the yonger What a leud fellow then is this who not content to beget neuewes on his owne sister doth now make the brother to beget his brother Fol. 110. a. he saith when a man is chosen Pope his rudenesse is turned into wisedome his feeblenesse into fortitude his infirmitie into vertue And yet experience teacheth vs that ordinarily they are as ignorant as leud vnlearned and filthy as they were before
wholy to bloodshed But this grieuous accusation required some more proofe then he bringeth Notwithstanding let vs heare what he alleageth His first perswasion saith he is by extolling exceedingly her Maiesties extraordinary clemencie As if the praising of a Princes clemencie were a perswasion to crueltie Or as if Parsons commending Pope Clements clemencie perswaded him to rigour Who euer heard such a witlesse speake Another reason he imagineth me to haue drawne from the meanings of papists But like an vnskilful archer he neither hitteth my reason nor intentiō He is therfore to learne that my purpose was to arme her Maiesty against Parsons and his consorts treasons and rather to secure the State then to vse violence to any but such as by all means oppugned the State and sought by trechery to vndermine the State Where I shew that heretikes idolaters traitors are to be punished therfore factious papists he saith thus to reason at randō is much like to boies argumēting in sophistry And yet he with all his logick shal neuer answer this argument considering that I haue proued Robert Parsons and his consorts to be heretikes idolaters and traitors Nay W. R. in his cleere Confutation confesseth so much not answering any of my arguments But saith he shew me one example from the beginning of Christendom that euer man or woman in any age was punished as an heretike by the Christian 〈◊〉 wealth for sticking to the religion of the Pope of Rome As if I had not shewed that Angelikes Carpocratians Marcionists 〈◊〉 Prince-killing circumcellions and Assassins Pelagians Collyridians crosse-worshippers and diuers others holding the same points which now the Pope professeth haue bene condemned and punished for heretikes Fol. 15. he crieth out folly and impudency in prouing that idolaters and heretikes are by lawes to be repressed But he dissembleth cunningly whatsoeuer is otherwise brought by me to preue Papists to be idolaters and heretikes He passeth by also two Gréeke sentences taken out of Euripides and Aeschines for to him Gréeke is of hard digestion Finally whatsoeuer is said of the Papists for railing against the Quéene in the booke De schismate Anglicano set out vnder Sanders his name and in other libels Parsons doeth wholly omit and yet he maketh a shew as if he would answer all writhing his face like an old ape swallowing pilles In the same place he noteth as he sayth a contradiction betwixt Sir Francis and me But the contradiction was in his vnderstanding and not betwéen vs. For neither would I nor he haue simple Papists punished with death which is the opinion of S. Augustine concerning simple heretikes Nor doth Sir Francis denie but that factious dogmatizing and obstinate heretiks ought to be put to death which both S. Augustine and I my selfe affirme Fol. 16. b. he giueth out that the words of Paul Rom. 16. where he would haue such marked diligently as caused diuision and offences contrary to the doctrine which the Romanes had receiued make directly against vs and not against the Papists But then he must shew that we haue forsaken the doctrine preached to the Romanes and they not He must I say shew that S. Paul taught that 〈◊〉 the eight is the spouse and rock of the Church that there are seuen sacraments that Christs body is corporally vnder the accidents of bread and wine and in as many places as is the sacrament that the accidents of bread and wine subsist without their substance that a Christian may liue without sinne that latria is due to the crosse that we are to pray to saints after the fashion of the Romish church and such like points of popish doctrine Or else he shall make a direct lie where he saith these words make directly against vs. Hauing rehearsed the law Cunctos populos Cod de summ Trin. fid Cath. he crieth out and willeth vs to tell him whether the same touch not vs. But if we 〈◊〉 him true it will make little for his comfort For we neither refuse to communicate with the Church of Rome nor the Church of Alexandria that was in Damasus his time Nor do we digresse from the faith mentioned in that law which Parsons like a falsary cut out seeing it made not for his purpose But séeing true Christians do not communicate with the Church and Bishop of Alexandria that now is why should Christians communicate with the Pope and his sect séeing they haue embraced a number of nouelties and heresies and 〈◊〉 them in the Conuenticle of Trent which were vnknowne to Damasus and to the Church of Rome long after his time Fol. 20. he complaineth of iniuries offered by the Watch-word as a famous libell as well to great forreine princes and nations as to honourable worshipfull and honest subiects whereas whosoeuer readeth the book shal find that Sir Francis speaketh onely against forreine enemies and notorious traitors If then Parsons put his consorts among them it is maruell they spit not in the rascals face and defie him Againe if Sir Francis be reprehended for writing against forreine enemies and domesticall traitors what doth Parsons deserue that hath set out Sanders de schismate Allens wicked Exhortation to the Nobility and people of England and Ireland and diuers other libels to the disgrace of his liege soueraigne and nation and hath taken vpon him the defence of publike enemies and traitors Fol. 24. he would make vs beléeue that the Knight flyeth the true combat that he runneth behind the cloth of Estate But in the first he sheweth himselfe a false accuser in the second a vaine bangler For the controuersie arising about Sir Francis his discourse what was required at his hands but the defence thereof and the answer to 〈◊〉 his vaine cauillations Again seeing his purpose was to rehearse the principal blessings that God hath bestowed vpon this land through her Maiesties gouernement how could he satisfie mens expectations vnlesse he touched matters of state as well as religion If then Robert Parsons seuer the inconueniences ensuing from the change of religion from the rare good parts both in nature and gouernement 〈◊〉 Maiesty as himselfe confesseth fol. 25. then doeth he like a cowardly fellow runne out of the lists and flie the combat and not we For we haue proued and alwayes offer to proue that both Robert Parsons his trecherous consorts haue most shamefully railed against her Maiesties person and gouernment as may appeare most euidently in diuers slanderous libels published by them and namely by Cardinall Allens letters to the Nobility and people of England and Ireland made printed and published by the helpe of Parsons by Andreas Philopater and Didimus Veridicus his libels forged by the blacke smith of hel Parsons and Creswel by Sanders his book De schismaete translated into Spanish by the procurement of Parsons and diuers others If then Parsons renounce these libels and now fall to praise her Maiesties person and gouernement then he confesseth his
owne most traiterous behauiour and yeeldeth the bucklers to his aduersaries Fol. 32. he triumpheth as if Sir Francis had yeelded in the matter of controuersy concerning the blessings of this land where he confesseth that the life of religion Queene countrey is at the stake He sayth also that the example of Iosias includeth an euill abodement towards her Maiesties person But vnlesse his arguments were better he sheweth himself a vaine man to mount so high vpon so smal aduantage and to enter into his triumphant chariot For albeit Parsons and other such assassins and empoysoners haue our country and religion vpon one stake and haue diuersly attempted to destroy her Maiestie and to betray their country to the Pope and Spaniard yet are they still loosers For God doth still protect this countrey from all violence and treason as a harbour of his Church and doth not cease still to continue his fauour towards this land Againe albeit anno 1588. the Spaniards came against England thinking to murther our 〈◊〉 as the Egyptians did Iosias yet hath she ended her dayes in happinesse and left her subiects in peace Let the Spaniards therefore beware that they come not to fight against vs any more vnder the Popes banner thinking to spéed as did the Egyptians against Iosias vnder Pharo Nechao least they be turned home like wandring Gypseyes and sent backe to the Pope to complaine of their false prophet Parsons who hath often told them that they shall vndoubtedly conquer England Where I say he doth not once go about to proue flattery against sir Francis he cryeth out and sayth Reade the first page of the Wardword He sayth also That it was the but of his discourse But this sheweth that he was a bungling archer that shooting wide mist the but. For who so list to reade the place by him noted shall indéed find that he applied nothing to sir Francis but passed by in a generall cloud of words concerning flattery He crieth out also of impudency but vnlesse he bring arguments to proue that hurt hath ensued by alteration of popish religion to others then to the merchants of Babylon who howle like dogges séeing their gaine lost he shall get more by crying gréene sauce then by crying out of impudency himselfe being a patterne of impudency and foolery and a vaine crier of the Popes commodities Fol. 35. he findeth fault that I alleage no one word out of Harpsefeld Sanders Rishton ' Ribadineira and Bozius But he would therefore haue yéelded me thankes if he had not bin a thanklesse wretch For the more that is rehearsed out of these lying libellers the more hatred would haue redounded to the Papists He sheweth himself also a vaine cauiller to aske a testimonie of slaunderous dealing against the Queene when the subiect of their accusation is slander and when Parsons himself was an actor in the publication of diuers of those libels Where I say the Popes adherents in England neuer ceased vntill they had brought her Maiesties most innocent mother to her end which the King much repented afterward and shew the rage of that bougerly Pope Paul the 3. and the bastard Clement the 7. against the Queenes mother and her mariage he crieth out of temerity and indiscretion and sayth I bring in odious matters accusing both king Henry the eight and all the State But the temeritie was in those wicked Popes that dissolued lawful mariage and prosecuted men that belonged not to their charge and not in him that reproueth their vsurpation and lawlesse tyrannie Againe I accuse none but excuse Quéene Anne that was condemned vpon false informations witnesses But saith he whether matters passed so long agone with publike authoritie may be called now in 〈◊〉 c. by such a pettie companion as this is let all the world iudge As if Parsons himself like a pettie saucy scuruy companion did not cal in question the act of parliament an 28. Henr. 8. c. 7. as much as concerneth the mariage of the Lady Katherin prince Arthurs wife and her issue which he cōtrary to that statute déemeth lawfull I may say therefore to him that his owne mouth and tongue condemneth him As for my selfe I do onely cleare the innocent and lay the fault on Winchester and other wicked priests of the synagogue of Satan who for hatred to the religion which she professed layd this plot for the destruction of that innocent Quéene which is also partly insinuated in the act of the 28. of Henry the 8. where they are pardoned that sollicited and vrged the dissolution of Queene Annes mariage Fol. 37. b. he exclaimeth against cousenages knaueries and all because in the margent he found Augustin Steuch Contr. donat Constant. alleaged whereas by the fault of the Compofitour these words in Vallam de slipped out Which aduantages if he take then must he also answere why fol. 130. b. for Augustin Steuchus Eugubinus he alleageth S. Augustine Stechus Eugobinus Againe this cogging knaue must shew why he alleageth a cogging Epistle set out vnder the name of Nicholas and that sottish donation that is published vnder the name of Constantine being 〈◊〉 a counterfeit and forged thing as I haue proued by diuers arguments in my answere to the cauillations of a base masse-priest called E. O. He will also néeds haue these words Audis summum pontificem à Constantino Deum appellatum habitum pro Deo to be spoken by Constantine and not by Augustine Steuchus in his booke Contr. Vallam de donat Constant. But the words following hoc viz. factum est which no doubt are Steuchus his words prouing Constantines donation and not the words of Constantine or Nicholas do plainely testifie against him If then these be his words and be annexed to the former without diuision then both must be his Fol. 65. he cryeth out Marke the fraudulent manner of these men alleaging fathers And yet Hielome in Prol. 2. in comment in Galat. and Augustine in Psal. 99. do well proue that the people praying did in time past and ought to vnderstand the language of their publike prayers which is the thing against which he cryeth Where I argue thus that the Pope and his agents haue bene the stirrers of all the warres and troubles that of late haue happened in Europe for the most part and therefore not we that haue alwayes desired peace he cryeth out fol. 88. That the deuill hath taught me to make this malicious consequence But the deuill as I suppose oweth him a shame to denie it and he sheweth himselfe a dolt to giue me occasion so often to touch his owne and his consorts deuilish practises The consequent is most true and necessary For that which is done by these bloodthirstie wolues is not to be imputed to vs whose onely labour is to resist their malice Nay it appeareth that Pius Quintus was cause of the wars of France and the low countryes and that he stirred sedition both in England and
Ireland The diabolicall Iebusites also were the instruments to stirre the rebellious leaguers in France and haue alwayes done their best to trouble Suethland England and Ireland The angels of Satan possessing the heads of Iebusites and masse-priests wrought the massacres of France and troubles of Flanders Anno 1588. the Spaniard and Pope sent a fleete against England and not we against Spaine Finally all stories almost testifie and declare that the consistory of the Pope and his agents heads are the forges to frame mischiefe and trouble Fol. 90. and 91. he cryeth out oflyes and impudencies But for my part I say shame take him that lyeth For first it is notorious that in the Romish Church although the aduersary would deny it there is and hath bene great variety in their liturges as the missals and formularies of Toledo Seuil Sarum Paris Rome Yorke and Millan do shew Neither hath Parsons any thing to answere but that in the substance of the sacrifice they agree As if that were all or the most part of the Romish seruice or as if I had not shewed that this is most false in my bookes De Missa Secondly it is true that the Conuenticle of Trent hath abolished diuers old missals and formularies as the bull prefixed before them shew Thirdly it is true that Iustine and Dionyse describe the forme that Christians vsed in their Liturgies as Iustines second Apologie and Dionyse his bookes of 〈◊〉 hierarchie testifie Fourthly the instruction of the Armenians was no act of the Conuenticle of Florence but of some odde Masse-priest that vsed that conuenticles name It is no lie therefore notwithstanding this instructiō that the Conuenticle of Florence did not by any canon establish seuen sacraments Fifthly the Conuenticle of Lateran vnder Innocentius the third doth mention penance but giueth the name of sacrament as I sayd most truly to Baptisme and the Eucharist Finally it is most true that the popish sacrifice of the Masse was not knowne of the auncient fathers and I haue proued it in my third booke De Missa against Bellarmine Which if Robert Parsons confute I shall be content that the Pope bestow on him a Cardinals hat But if he be not able to answer and yet will néedes cry out famous falshood I will bestow on him a pointed cap with a bell and a capons feather to let all the world know that at that house dwelleth a sot Ignatius Irenaeus other fathers that he doth mention speake not of the body and bleud really offered in the Masse but of an oblation made in commemoration of that sacrifice Our writers albeit they mislike the fathers in some things yet no where do they yéeld that they speake of the popish sacrifice of the Masse offered after the damnable fashion of the synagogue of Satan Fol. 107. he calleth for two reall differences betweene papists in the points of faith And therefore I count my selfe bound to shew him not two onely but many more It may please him therefore to reade what I haue sayd before and to answere to euery point particularly and then I hope he will cease his harsh and currish bawling He must also shew that his consorts differ not in matters of moment or in any thing if he will defend their vnion Fol. 111. he crieth out and in his dogges voyce sayth If this woodcocke or any of his crew can shew any one noueltie as an article of faith in our religion c. And againe If O. E. or his mates can shew any one heresie taken for an heresie by the generall Church What then forsooth he saith He will 〈◊〉 in the rest Which I would pray him to remember For if I do not make him in this poynt a foote length of nose like a Curliew let the Pope if it be his pleasure make him king of the Canaries Nay I haue already shewed diuers both nouelties and heresies to be contained in Popish religion and no Popish woodcocke yet hath thrust out his beake to answere shewing themselues by their wits to be woodcockes and by their silence Codfish Onely one woodcocke of Rome vnder the maske of W. R. aliás Walphoole or wicked Richard flusheth forth with his long bill But his answere is such as confirmeth my challenge very much the man being not able to answere any one argument Parsons also toucheth the heresie of y e Collyridians which among many other I obiected to him and answereth that Papists differ from Collyridians manifestly But it is not inough to shew a difference vnlesse he also shew that his consorts hold no one point condemned as heresie in the Collyridians But that the congerhead cannot do For like to the Collyridians they pray to the Uirgin Mary and offer in her honour This answere therefore sheweth him to be of the lignage of woodcockes But of these matters we shall talke else where In his 2. enconter c. 2. he cryeth out ô cogging ô cousinage and all because Sir Francis reporteth that the blood of a Ducke was worshipped as the blood of Hales and that D. Bassinet confessed his ignorance and that the archbishop of Aix called the Pope God on earth and spoke foolishly But what if all this were true May not we then with more reason say O coggers O cosiners O Scogans O cods-heads But that appeareth plainly For the imposture about the duckes blood was openly detected and the rest is reported in the acts of Bassinets examination Neither is it vnlikely that vnlearned prelates should speake vnlearnedly or that schoole-doctors should be ignorant in scriptures séeing all their diuinity is grounded vpon Thomas his fardle of questions and answers But saith Parsons how 〈◊〉 a duckes blood be discerned from others blood after so many yeares As if it were not detected also by the confession of the false priests that from time to time they renewed that blood as they do other false relikes in many places Here therefore Parsons sheweth himselfe to haue a shallow capacitie and the Papists are declared to be miserably seduced by cogging and cousening priests and caried away most simply and idiotlike to the worship of idoles and false reliques Fol. 43. b. of his second encounter he cryeth out Who shall be iudge Meaning to conuey the highest authoritie in iudgement concerning matters of controuersie about the interpretation of scriptures to the Pope But that is a shamelesse and most absurd course to place a béetleheaded ignorant and impious Pope aboue al learned holy fathers and Councels Beside that the Popes sentence is alwayes vncertaine For what can one Pope do that his successor cannot 〈◊〉 Tertullian he sheweth that scriptures are to be interpreted by scriptures Si quid pars diuersa turbat c That is If the contrary part do trouble vs in any thing by pretence of figures or aenigmatical speeches those places that are more manifest ought to preuaile the certaine to prescribe against vncertaine Encontr 2. c. 8. where he should answere my obiection out
vs. If of ceremonies it is not necessary that al churches shold agrée in all points Furthermore if the aduersaries had not calmniously layed diuers imputations of heresies vpon them which they neuer held the variation wold not haue séemed so great as they pretend Wherfore if Robert Parsons séeke no better it is not like that he wil find a Cardinals hat which as his friends charge him he hath long sought This is the 〈◊〉 of that which is materiall in Robert Parsons his treatise of thrée conuersions The rest is nothing else but froth of the mans fury and foolery and containeth only certaine idle inuectiues against M. Fox that good man against M. Bale other honest Christians together with certaine fond tales of king Alphreds dreames S. Cutberts apparitions such like woodden popish stuffe drawne out of lying legends He forgot not also to raile against our noble Quéene lately deceased and to call her old persecutor and to lay an aspersion of slaunder vpon the State as if the same did persecute Papists for religion a matter of which the secular Masse-priests are ashamed and sticke not to cleare those whom this conuertible Proteus most vniustly chargeth Finally his fardle of wast papers containeth diuers corruptions and deprauations of holy Scriptures miss-allegations of Fathers weake collections grosse errors rebellious positions notorious lies and calumiations which in a large treatise herafter are to be discouered K. Kellisons Suruey if any man list to suruey and peruse a certaine slaunderous and railing companions libell entituled Caluinoturcismus and with hatred more then Turkish to christian religiō set out by Gifford of Lile wil be found to be wholy stolne out frō thence albeit he yéeldeth no thanks to those from whence he borowed or rather stole his inuention This Plagiary therefore néedeth no other answer then that which is already made to Giffords Turky worke called Caluinoturcismus It séemeth y t man is at a stand For albeit Gifford hate religion like a Turk yet he answereth no more then if by vertue of Parsons his thrée conuersions he were turned into a mute Turbot This K. also of his owne hath added a glozing and flattering Epistle to the King a certaine preface concerning inanimate and vnreasonable creatures percase like the Arcadian beasts of Doway and certaine fragments old ends of diuers stale declamations made as it seemeth at the drinking out of a pot of Kenish wine His schollers I heare gape and wonder at his horrible eloquence But yet the wisest of thē see that they haue no affinitie with his purpose and onely serue to fringe his chapters like as mustie ends of mockado serue to stitch his lacket of perpetuana All the whole amounteth to nothing saue to declare the man to be a perpetuall railer and a most sottish declaimer The idle fellow in all his scuruy collection which he like a surueyor without commission hath made to lttle purpose doth neither shew wisedome nor modestie nor learning If the fellow had bene wise he would not haue touched any matter of noueltie or absurditie For therein he giueth his aduersaries iust occasion not onely to iustifie their religion to be most ancient and consonant to holy scriptures but also to declare his popish religion refused by vs to be a packe of nouelties and a masse of grosse absurdities For who knoweth not that the Komish Church consisting of a triple-crowned and crosse-slippard Pope with his guard of Suizzers a consistory of purple Cardinals that hath neare affinitie to the purple whore of Babylon a rabble of rakehellike masse-priests filthy monkes friars and nunnes with a people worshipping idols and beléeuing the decretaliue doctrine of Popes and the decrées of Trent is new and neuer séene before vntill of late Who doeth not vnderstand that both the grounds of popery the doctrine thereon built is new For neither can R. shew that the auncient Church was founded vpon the Pope and his decretals or vpon traditions allowed by the Church of Rome or that the Church was tied to such senses of scriptures as the Romish Church alloweth or bound to follow the old Latine translation of the Bible Neither can he proue either out of fathers or ancient writers that Christs true body is both in heauen and earth and in euery pixe at one and the same time or that his body is inuisible or impalpable or that there are iust seuen sacraments and neither more nor lesse and that Christians receiue Christs flesh with their téeth and mouth or that the Pope is the head and spouse of the Church or that he hath two swords or that any images are to be worshipped with latria or that diuels torment soules in purgatory or that the Popes indulgences deliuer soules frō those torments or such like points of popery Now what I pray you is more absurd then to beléeue that a man can eate himself as the Masse-priests say Christ did at his last Supper nay that a dogge or a hogge can eate Christs body or that a spider can be drowned in his bloud which saueth all destroyeth none that can receiue it Againe what is more senselesse then to adore crosses and dumbe images which neither see nor heare nor moue and whose honor is not séene or knowne of those saints to whō they belong for ought we know Thirdly what is more inconuenient then to make a blind Pope that is ignorant of all matters of religion for the most part supreme iudge of controuersies of religion Can blind men iudge of colours or ignorant atheists of religion Fourthly what is more blasphemous then to teach that the Scriptures to vs are not authenticall vnlesse the Pope consigne them vnto vs Shall not truth be truth vnlesse it please the Pope to say it Finally seeing faith ought to be most certaine and built vpon grounds most certaine the popish religion must néedes be an absurd faith and a false religion that is built vpon traditions as well as Scriptures of which traditions the papists can yéeld no certaine proofe but are driuen to alleage either lying legends or old motheaten missals or vncertain customes It were an easie thing to alleage infinite such like absurdities of which this surueying K. hath very foolishly offered vs occasion to discourse at large He doeth also very simply talke of the sacrifice of the Masse Suruey li. 4. c. 2. For if Papists say truly that Christs body and blood is really offered in the Masse and that euery externall sacrifice requireth a reall destruction then it followeth that these masse-mongers 〈◊〉 really destroy Christs body and blood Bellarmine lib. 1. de missa c. 2. sayth that an externall sacrifice doth require a reall destruction Requirit realem destructionem Was then this fellow wise trow you to talke of this braue sacrifice Further do we thinke him wise that in a booke offered to the king doth rayle on the kings religion saying That it leadeth vnto atheisme Finally it is a note of