A BRIEFE EXAMINATION OF A CERTAINE PEREMPTORIE MENACING AND DISLEAL PETITION PRESENTED AS IS PRETENDED TO THE Kings most excellent Maiestie By certaine Laye Papistes calling themselues The Lay Catholikes of England and now lately Printed and diuulged by a busie compagnion called JOHN LECEY Epist Iude verse 16. These are murmurers complainers walking after their owne lusts whose mouthes speak proude things hauing mens persons in admiration because of aduantage AT LONDON Printed for William Cotton and are to be sold at his shoppe adioyning to Ludgate 1606. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD TOBIE BY GODS GRACE Bishop of Duresme his speciall good Lord. THE last Session of the Parliament my good Lorde I answered a certain petition then diuulged and printed by the Masters and teachers of Popish religion and this I had well hoped would haue satisfied their disciples and folowers seeing their learned leaders so silent and vnable to replie But I perceiue that the common saying now prooueth true That many schollers a Cicer. Epist famil lib. 9. ad varronem passe their Masters For if they had not excelled their teachers in immodesty they woulde not haue rubbed ouer that rustie stuffe which their betters are ashamed to bring againe vpon the stage and if they had not passed them in boldnesse and importunitie they would haue forborne to importune his Maiestie and the state further in matters formerlie for such graue and important considerations most worthilie reiected And yet I speake not this to the intent to clear their masters For beside that this seemeth a deuise of their Masters the Massepriestes and Iebusites that make others to solicite their forelorne cause Chrysostom homil 43. op imperf in Math. telleth vs that the impiety of the schollers is to be imputed to the masters The argument of both petitions is one in effecte and therefore much more needeth not to be said now then that which is formerly aunswered to the Masse-priests Yet because all haue not seene the former petition and answer nor vnderstood their gunpowder and rebellious practises and these Lay or rather lame Romane Catholikes seeme to stand more vpon their loyaltie then the other I thought it not amisse after this late discouery of their most horrible treasons particulerly to examine this discourse also and with marginall Glosses to poynt to the fooleries of their text which notwithstanding I would not haue all simple papists take as spoken to thēselues for my meaning was to touch only these Petitioners and such as subscribe this factious Petition Much adoe we haue about toleration of popish religion but we may say as Saluianus lib. 7. de prouidentia said sometime in another case vtinam hoc remedium malorum non diuturna toleratio I would this toleration which they desire were a remedie of their pretended euills and not rather a long continued toleration of mischiefes and that both in the Church and state For why I beseech you may we not so say seeing nothing can be granted that is either more derogatorie to Gods honor or more preiudiciall to the Kings maiesty and state as hath in part appeared by this late attempt and as God willing it shall at large with moste inuincible arguments be demonstrated This my discourse most reuerend Father I present to your Honor as a pledg of my loue and an acknowledgment of your Lordships fauours towards me and the rather that both your Lordship and al true Christians truelie zealous for the cause of true pietie and studious of the safety of their countrie may thereby vnderstand how much it importeth them all to concur in repressing such notorious insolency factious courses These men they are like the heretiks of whom Irenaeus lib. 5. aduers haeres speaketh which being blind in matters of truth did contradict their own saluation Caecutientes circa veritatem saith he suae contradicunt saluti But pious governours will neither neglect the safety of religion the state nor of these contētious gainesayers of truth if they doo not wilfully shut their eares to the truth and their eies to the light and carelesly neglecte the restraint of the vnderminers both of the Parliament house and whole State Wherefore referring these matters next to Gods prouidēce to the zealous care of our superiors I commend this worke and my selfe to your Lordship and your Lordships prosperous estate to the fauour of the almighty London this first of Ianuarie Anno. 1605. Your Lordshippes in all pious affection MATTH SVTCLIFFE To the Christian Reader I DOE not beleeue gentle reader that many lay papists will subscribe this petition albeit pretended to bee framed and exhibited by all of them to the King It were a matter too sawcy for wise and ciuill men to challenge the king of breach of promise as they do pag. 8 and too presumptuous to rayle on religion publiquelie professed and the professors thereof to the Kings face as they do in diuers places Neither do I think that all are so foolish as to make themselues pledges and hostages for their Masse-priests suffering such slippery cōpaniōs to dominere in their houses to confer with their wiues daughters to wast their estate while they haue no Counterbond from them either for the others good behauiour or theire owne securitie This I am well assured that what soeuer is pretended this petition neuer came Originally from the heades of lay papistes For neyther may such men withoute licence reade Caluines Institutions nor Luthers bookes nor other discourses written by men of our side nor may they take vpon them to discourse of Religion as the Authors of this petition doe I wold therfore pray the simpler sort of plain meaning Papists not to take what soeuer is sharpely spoken against the Masse Priestes masked vnder the name of lay papists and the sole deuisers of this petition and their abherents the Authors of many treasons and mischiefes as spoken or meant against themselues and all seduced simple soules And against such as so violently run a course against truth and seek to blow vp the King and State I doubte not but all indifferent men will esteeme my speech moderate and this kinde of dealing most fitting and conuenient What shall vncircumcized Philistims raile at the people of God and seeke our destruction and shall not true Christians be permitted liberty to represse theire insolency to countermine their vndermining treasons and freely to defend the truth When themselues do publish their petitions they may not refuse to haue them publiquelie examined and no reason haue they to complaine of wrong seeing themselues thus handled when notwithstanding their wicked intentions they put forth their Apologyes requests and discourses into other mens handes as if they were most loyall and honest men Hitherto they haue abused the worlde with a false pretence of antiquitie and falselie chalenged to themselues the name and title of Catholiques They doe also before such as are ignorant of matters of state stand vpon termes of loyalty and loue
to theyr factioÌ„ or that shal be ready to exequute any mischieuous enterprise against the state the papistes wil deny themselues to be in this case But what should any man trust denials that remembreth Percies and Catesbyes and Garnets late treasons 12. If we beleeue not rules of state yet let vs consider in what daunger states stand that haue in theyr bowels many Iebusites Massepriests and their complices ready to execute the popes will by examples and precedents of former times And first let vs remember how many enterprises were made by them in the late Queenes dayes of famous and blessed memory to bring their country vnder the commaund of strangers Next what attemptes they made against that innocent princes life Thirdly what libells they set out to the disgrace of the principall gouernors of the state Fourthly let vs consider what stirrs and rebellions they raysed in the dayes of King Henry the 8. King Edward and Queene Elizabeth Fiftly it may not be forgotten how they made a league in France against the king and cruelly murdered King Henry the third and empoysoned diuers that stood in their way Sixtly the massacres of Fraunce and cruell executions in Flanders shew what they wil do here if once they thinke themselues strong enough Seuenthly if we forget all the rest yet may we not forget Percies late treason who in the ruines of the Parliament house meant to bury both King and state and to massacre all Christians opposite to the popish faction Lastly if of nature papists were quiet yet will the Pope neuer suffer them to rest vntill he haue his will Our last reason of state against Popery is for that the same is both enemy to princes and most grecuous to christian subiects which remayneth now in particular chapters to bee handled Chap. 12. That popish religion is enemy to kings THat popish religion is enemy to all kings professing a contrary religion J think the papistes themselues will not deny For experience sheweth that they persecute such both with armes and laws and censures Neither do they only make opeÌ„ wars vpon them but also by priuy murdrers empoysoners seek to destroy them as may be proued by many particulars And now if any maÌ„ reply say that neither Clement the 8. nor this pope now raiguing tooke this course against his Maiesty and other christian kings professing true religion we aunswer first that it is vncertain how far the pope was engaged in Percies late treason and what secret practises popes both haue and do continually set forward And secondly that want of occasion and meanes hath rather hindered their violent and furious courses then any change or alteration of their former resolution in oppugning their opposites But suppose his maiesty and the state were not of a contrary religion to the pope yet it shall be prooued that popery is aduerse to Kings that like well inough of that religion For first all kings liuing vnder the popes obedience are the popes subiects Boniface the 8. declareth it in the chapter vnam sanctam ext de maior obed where he saith it is necessary to salnation for all men to be subiect to the Pope Now what greater indignitie then to make kings the popes vassalls and subiects Secondly Bellarmine lib. 5. de pontif Rom. c. 6. sayth that the pope hath power to take away kingdomes from some and to bestow them on others The same doctrine is also maintained by Robert Parsons in his seditious book of titles He doth also traiterously affirme that the people may sometime lawfully proceede against princes VVilliam Rosse in his book de iustareip supra reges impios haereticos authorit c. 2. affirmeth impudently that the right of all the kings and kingdomes of Europe is layde vpon this foundation that the state or people may depose their kinges But grant this and then are kings tenants at the popes and peoples will For what is more easy then to impute grieuous crimes to princes if the pope or seditious mutins lift to quartell with them Thirdly Bellarmine lib. 5. de pontif Rom. c. 6. determineth that it is not lawfull for Christians to tolerate a king that is an infidell or an heretike if he go about to draw his subiects to his religion The papists therefore as we see are taught to make it a matter of conscieÌ„ce to depose their kings and the massepriests set them on to rebellion Pius the fift excommunicated all such as would not take armes against Queen Elizabeth and Clerke and VVatson first and lately Percie and Catesbie and theyr complices attempted the Kings destruction albeit they say he is not declared excommunicated Nay admit a Prince were not aduerse to the pope in religion yet if the Pope pretend any matter of quarrell vnto him his subiects are stirred against him and hee is excommunicated as may appeare in the Duke of Ferraraes case excommunicated by Clement the 8. because he wold not deliuer vp into the popes hands his dukedome of Ferrara Fourthly suppose a king keepe good correspondence with the Pope yet he is not within his kingdome as papists teache to make ecclesiasticall lawes nor may refuse to obey the popes ecclesiasticall lawes But he is no soueraign king that eyther receiueth lawes of other or hath no power to make lawes for his subiects in matters of externall Church gouernement Fiftly where popish religion reigneth there the clergie is exempt from the kings courts and gouernment Bellarmiue in his treatise de exempt Cleric setteth down these propositions first that Clerkes in ecclesiasticall causes are freed from the commaund of secular princes by the law of god Next that Clerkes are not to bee iudged of secular iudges though they transgresse temporall lawes and lastly that princes in respect of Clerkes are not souesaigne princes Eâ—eanuel Sae in his first edition of Aphorismes for confessaries saith that the rebellion of a Clerke against his King is not treason because hee is not the kinges subiecte His words are these Clerici rebellio in regem non est crimen laesaema iestatis quia non est subditus regis So wee see that the doctrine of popery maketh kings but half kings and depriueth them of a great part of their subiects Sixtly the Pope in c. quia nonnulli de immunitate ecclesiae exempteth the goods and possessions of Clergy men from tolle and custome Doth it not appeare then that Popish religion depriuing the King of halfe his reuenewes doth also weaken his estate and make him oftentimes vnable to defray his ordinary charges 7. In all states where popery is professed a greate part of the kings reuenewes is taken from him and bestowed vpon the pope and his kingdome is thereby much impouerished Finally did the King neither respect his Royall authority nor his enemies yet if he meane to secure himselfe from the hads of Cuttorotes and priuy empoisoners he may not endure the king-killing Iebusites nor the popes proctors that stirre vp warres against princes
haue we prooued Chap. 8. that popish religion is a masse of old and new heresies 3. Further they confesse that all impious and blasphemous opinions are to be seuerely punished and neither by publike graunt to be authorized nor by conniuence to be passed ouer But hardly shall the papists be able to cleare themselues of the impieties and blasphemies wherewith formerly they stand charged 4. Fourthly that cannot be true religion that containeth either falshood or foolery or error Nor do papists deny that such false religions are to be repressed and by lawes exterminated out of the commonwealth But in our suruey of Popery we haue shewed that diuers positions of popery are not onely erroneous and false but also foolish and ridiculous 5. Kings that are subiect to the Pope will not suffer any religion if they can chuse that is either preiudiciall to their dignity or dangerous in respect of their safety But many arguments examples do shew that popish religion is of that nature as formerly hath bin declared 6. The Popes themselues albeit vsurpers will not suffer any of their subiects to bind themselues by oath to forreine princes in enmity with them or to entertaine intelligence with them Why then should such as are sworn to the enimies of the state and entertain intelligence with them and practise against the state be suffred in England 7. In Italy no man is permitted to harbour any priest or friar that denieth the Popes vsurped supremacy Why then should the Massepriests and their adhaerents be tolerated among vs that deny his Maiesties supreme authority in the gouernmēt of the church of England that is due to him both hy the lawes of god and man 8. Finally the papists asmuch as they dare resist the popes pillages and cry out vpon his exactions Shold true Christians then that are now released and freed from these burthens admit a religion which teacheth and vrgeth these manifold exactions and oppressions Chapter 16. An answere to the title of the petition of lay lapists and the preface of Iohn Lecey NOw least any ignorant papists shold be abused by glozing reportes of their consortes as if they were able either to cleare these doubts or to alledge iust causes of theire boulde request for a toleration of popish religion wee haue thought it not amisse to examine the seuerall chapters and partes of this apologeticall petition adding our answers to their titles prefaces demandes accusations letters and idle discourses The title front of theire petition foloweth to gether with Iohn Leceys preface A PETITION APOLOGETICAL a It is not credible that papists vvold either present or signe and allovv such baggage stuffe PRESENTED TO the Kings most excellent Maiesty by the Lay b Hereticks and idolaters deserue not the name of Catholikes Catholikes of England in Iulie last In eo quod detractant de vobis tanquam de malefactoribus ex bonis operibus vos considerantes glorificent Deum in die visitationis In that c Here vvanteth the beginning of the sentence viz. haue your conuersation-honest can vve then repute them honest that cut of honest conuersation wherein they misreport of you as of malefactors by the good workes considering you they may glorifie God in the day of visitation 1. Pet. 2. v. 12. Printed at DOVVAY by JOHN MOGAR at the figne of the d To shevv that they saile not alvvay vvithout cōpas Compas 1604. THE PREFACE REuerend Sir 1 adde Iohn and then it vvill stand thus reuerend Sir Iohn There came to my hands by the way of 2 That is by the nearest vvay about Bruxels on the xxviij day of this moneth a certaine Petition or Apologie of the lay Catholikes of England as I stand 3 His best ground you see is false information informed presented to his Highnesse about the later end of the Parliament which semeeth so 4 Or rather confrontable to reason conformable to reason so 5 Hovv absolute vvhen it is made vvith conditions and limitations as appeareth aftervvard absolute in forme of their submission and so 6 True For euery politike Christian may vvoonder at their presumption and foly that suppose that a king or state vvill rest assured vpon the othes or promises of massepriests and their namelesse consorts admirable for the assurance by them offered for their 7 Priests of Baal ordered by Antichrist to sacrifice for quicke and dead and not true priests or pastors Priests and Pastors that the publishing thereof cannot but giue contentmente in mine 8 Not vvorth an onyon opinion to al sorts of men that desire both to be clearelye informed of the true state of things and that iustice and equity shold take place according to mens comportments and deserts and not according to the preiudicate opinions of such This had been truly spoken if it had heen applied to the inquisitors of Spain Italy And vvith the great auda ciousnesse and soly of these petitioners whome nothing but the bloud and vtter beggering of Catholikes can satisfie And therefore I thought good in more publike manner then it was before to make the world acquainted therewith Reasons of publishing this treatise THE publishing of this Apology cannot but tend much to his 1 Js it honorable for the king to submit himself to enemies and to receiue conditions of levvd subiects as these petitioners vvould persvvade him Maiesties honour His Maiesties honour and seruice and more to his satisfaction and 2 A goodly security vvhen a kings life and state shall depend vpon a single threed of popish fellovves promises And a most simple satisfaction vvhere nothing is performed but only promised security for so much as the Catholikes affectionate 3 Seruices supposed and obligations broken seruices and obligations therein contayned must needs be arguments of some supereminent vertue and goodnes in his sacred personage that could draw from them at all times such extraordinary effects of 4 Such as appeared in the tumultuous stirres of papists in Scotland against the king and in the practises of Brook Watson and Clerk executed at Winchester for conspiring the destruction of his Maiesty And lastly in Percie and Garnet loue and deuotion and the more manifest the 5 VVhat vvil resusats novv turn protestants it shold seem so But vve are to vnderstād it no further thē a laxatiue purgatiō retcheth protestations of their purgations shall appeare to the world the more manifold shall be their bondes and obligations of performance and perseuerance therein The Protestant 6 They haue no reasō to like either their murmuring petitiōs or their bald pleadings Prelates cannot with reason disalow thereof The Protestant Prelates because herein is nothing required 7 A goodly proceeding vvhen fugitiues and malcontents call foorth true subiects to ansvver at their hands but a reasonable conference and satisfaction in points of their mission and vocation And when they shall make
spirits vvhich sought to alter the state her course and to enter into bloud but all was 7 Onely the malcontent faction of papists vvas so filled filled with feares and suspitions at home with 8 Shame come to the Pope and his adherents that occafinned them The losse hath lighted vppon them already wars and diuisions abroad and with continuall frights and allarmes of strange attempts either against 9 Looke vvho these attempters vvere and you shall finde them to haue been either papists or Atheists set on by papists her person or state and in fine when her treasure was 10 This may be truly of firmed of her Maiesties enemies and their states But not of England as I hope his Maiesty vvill vvitnesse But vvere vve hurt by the vvars yet should not this cause vs to loue papists that mingled heauen and earth and stirred the vvorld against vs to vvin their purpose exhausted her subiects and kingdomes extreamely impouerished and all the kingdomes almost about vs disgusted and in open tearmes of iealousie and 11 Much to their ovvne losse and paine as the sequell had declared if the king had not giuen them peace hostilitie with her she began againe to thinke of her former fortunate dayes and to incline to a 12 It is rather madnesse then mildnesse to spare either professed enimies or secret traitors milder course as the onely meanes to setle her and her Realme in peace security and former prosperity which times compared together do demonstrate that the seuerity of lawes made against Catholikes were the 1 Lavves made against papists are the onely bands that hold the flate together and the best meanes vve can vse to contrecarre the mischiefs in â—eded by them forerunners of infinite mischiefes and miseries And least your Maiestie beholding such bloudy and strange lawes made against vs with their 2 They vvere alvvaies most slovvly executed rigorous execution by the space of so many yeares in so long a Raigne as was that of our late Queen might thereby coniecture that such new and neuer hearde of decrees could not without vrgent or notorious occasions haue beene inuented constituted and so seuerely executed least this apprehension of these former proceedings might make the like impression in your mind and auersion from vs we humbly craue your Maiesties gratious eares and attention And when you shall reuiew and consider deeply the lawes made against vs compare them with the objected crimes that then some ouerture may be proposed to the present Parliament for clearing the lawes by reason which is the soule of the law to them that distinction may be made by iustice betweene the innocent and guilty persoÌ„s for howsoeuer the late (a) The reason that might moue the late Queen to make lawes against Catholikes Queen might haue pretention to make them both by reason of her 3 A shamelesse slander It was only a deuise of the popish faction illegitimation by her own Father in publique Parliament notoriously diuulged and the jealousie she euer stood in of the Queen your gratious Mother both for the back and alliance she had with Fraunce and the right she semed to haue by the 4 The Pope is the Church to these men and by the same reason his close stoole may be their chappell But if they giue the Pope power to excommunicate princes and to depose them these popes churchmen are but mean subiects sentence of the Church pronounced against the diuorce of her Father and the diuers censures and 5 Very vvickedly and saucily and treacherously aliovved by papists excommunications promulgated against her Yet your Maiesty of whose rightfull succession and most lawfull and legitimate possession of this Crowne 6 Then is Parsons and his follovvers more diabolically disposed tovvards the king then Satan himself For they haue long impugned and denyed the kings title to the crovvn of England Satan himselfe being put to his shifts can make no doubt or difficulty against whom no 7 VVe report vs for disproofe of this to certain discourses set out by Parsons and Coluil CoÌ„petitor either hath or had purpose or power to contend (b) Vide D. Giffords coÌ„mission and MoÌ„sieur de Be thunes letters whom the 8 This Sea of Rome is a sea of abhominations and mischiefes And therefore it is not much materiall vvhat is regorged out of such a guise of impieties But that the Pope hath not excommunicated the King it hath proceeded rather from fear then loue or any indeauor of Gifford or Bethune His predecessorr got nothing by excommunicating Queen Elizabeth and lesse vvold the Pope novv vvin by censuring his Maiesty Sea of Rome is so far from censuring that she hath 9 VVhat thè vvhore of Babilon doth his Maiesty hath no cause to like This is certain the Pope nener censured Clerk nor WatsoÌ„ nor Percy nor Digby nor Garnet and the rest that sought the subuersion of the state already censured all those that shal any way seek to giue you any disturbance or molestation and with whome all the Princes in Christendom are in perfect peace and amity and whom Catholikes haue as yet no way 1 Hath the king no reason to be offended vvith the tumults practises of papists in Scotland England vvhy then vvas WatsoÌ„ hanged and order taken to persecute the Scottish rebells vvhy vvas the lavv executed against Faux and Digby other traitorous papists offended but by all meanes endeauoured to serue satisfie and content (a) His Maiesty hath no such reason to continue the lawes against Catholikes as the late Queen had to inact them Your Maiesty we say for these respects hath no such apparant cause to continue those lawes as the late Queen had to inact them the reasons and foundations of those lawes being by this happy mutation of state time and persons vtterly 2 Neuer as long as the king professeth true religion or refuseth to become the popes vassall remoued If then Dread Soueraign we haue been are and will be as we haue and will demonstrate as loyall 3 As the leaguers vver to Henry the 3. of France vvhose throat they cut Or as Percy and Catesby of late vvere to our King faithfull and affectionate to your Maiesty your predecessors and posterity and euen to those Princes that dealt most hardly with vs and to the good and peaceable estate of our Country as any sort of your Maiesties subiects within the Realme of our Ranke whatsoeuer we see not how by authority we can be driuen to forsake our Catholike 4 Your faith is proued neither to be Catholik nor your fathers faith Fathers faith and beleefe vnlesse authority can by reason 5 Authority is one thing reason another These iumble both together conuince vs that our faith is infidelity our Religion superstitron and the seruice we vse Idolatry or the 6 This is proued and all your brabling obiections ansvvered
euer since our countries conuersion from paganisme and Lastly that no suffering recusant euer lifted vp a finger to the leaste dammage or detriment of his prinee or country But theire sayings are conuinced to bee most vntrue both by publike records and common experience for if wee respecte matter of religion we find that they hold diuers poynts of doctrine confirmed in the late conuenticles of Lateran Constance Florence Trent which were not known nor heard of when this land was conuerted from paganisme nor long after Likewise both their missals and breuiarics their masses and formes of gods seruice are new and not known of the ancient Britons and English If we consider matters of state we finde that popish recusants and papists haue been principall actors in moste of those rebellions and treasons that haue beene practised and intended against king Henry the 8. king Edward the sixth Queen Elizabeth and his maiesty And J hope they will not deny that Brooke Markham Watson and theire complices were popish recusants or that the attempt of the Spaniards anno 1588 was againste theire country and set forward by papists Lastly it is notorious that Percy Catesby Digby and all theire consortes were desperate recusants and that they lifted vp not onely theire fingars but also theire whole armes and bodies against the king yet should a man bee very strangely conceited if hee thought they ment no harme to their prince and country Thirdly they runne out into a large discourse of theire hard vsage in the late Queenes time as they call it and of the Queens proceeding against them and of the effectes thereof ensuing pray the king to follow her rather in her dispositiō to mildnesse then in her other hard and sharp courses But first al this discourse is from the purpose and the intent propounded in the 3. chapter for therein they shoulde declare vnto vs the estate and qualities of Papists and not the proceedings of our late Queene of blessed memory Secondly the sameis most slanderous charging that moste gratious and clement Queen with hard sharp and bloody courses But this is all that Christian princes are to looke for at these mens hands or penns Let them vse all mildnes and remissenesse in proceeding againste papists yet vnles they suffer rebells and traytors to practise the ouerthrowe of the state and saucily attempt against their persons they shall be charged with sharpenesse and cruelty she indeede distinguished betweene religion and treason and so do others also But the papists did not so cunningly distinguish but that seeking to set vp theire wicked religion and to bring into the country the popes tyranny they fel also in to diuers practises and cases of treason Thirdly they falsly cōmēd her mild courses shew that troubles ensued of the exe quution of laws against papists whereas in truth her resolute course a gaynste thē secured her her slow exequutiō or rather suspēfiō of penal lawes against papists caused troubles rebeliōs trecherous practises heaped sorrows both vpō her her true friends I feare brought her to her end Finally they cōfes their own lewd disposition that being not troubled the first 12 yeares of the Queenes raygne did not withstanding procure the Popes Bulle against her rebelled in the north anno 1569. sought to deposeher murder her now rail against her beingded let al christiā princes therfor bewar what fauors they shewto such vipers how they heap benefits on such vngratful persons Fournhly theym ention diuers excommunications censures of popes passed againste queen Elizabeth and talke of Giffords commission and Bethunes letters in fauoure of the king as it seemeth and of the pope that hath not censured the king as yet But all these matters are also from the purpose-futher they bewraye the disloyall humors of papistes that make kinges the popes vassals and blush not to signifie that the pope might in iustice censure the king if he woulde Lastly they doe therein bewray the weakenes of the pope and the fading force of antichristes kingdome For now the pope doth not hold his hands from excommunicating the king at the request of Bethune or Gifford or any such base fellowe but because he feareth his rayling and cursing wold eyther take no effect againste the king or else ouerthrowe the credit of Antichrists thunderbolts Finally they conclude if they haue been ar and will be loyal to his Maiesty that they may not by authority be driuento forsake their fathers Catholike faith vnles their faith beproued infidelity their religiō superstitiō thire seruice idolatrie their doctrin here sy they do pretend also that the faitq professed by them is cōfirmed by iudgement passed on thir side in many generall councels abroade and in connocations and parliamens at home This they conclude But theire conclusion is grounded vpon false premisses theire exceptions are disproued theire assertions notoriously false and rediculous For what theire carriage hath beene it appeareth by the practises firste of VVatson Clerke Brooke nexte of Percy and his mates thirdlye of the Lorde of Fentry and their complices againste the king the same is also made euident by there bellions treasons of papists against Henry the 8. King Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth of pious memory How loyall they are and will be we may imagine seeing their dependance on the pope and foreine enemies and treacherous doctrines concerning deposing of kings by the pope and the assoyling of subiects from theire obedience to princes their religion and seruice hath been shall alwais be declared to superstitions idolatrous wicked and hereticall Neither are they or theire teachers able to mainteine it or to answer our obiections against it We haue also proued that both auncient fathers councels make against popish doctrine and that the doctrine of Trent was neuer receiued either by auncient fathers or by the parliaments or conuocations in England or known to papists before the yeare 1564. themselues must needes confesse vnlesse they bee both blindly foolish desperately obstinate Wee may therfore cōclude vpon their own confession against thē that if papists neither haue been nor can be loyal to princes or louing to their coūtry desiring to bring both vnder the pope if their seruice be idolatrous their doctrine hereticall and their practise superstitiōs as is formerly demō strated howso euer idleheads prate of toleratiō of popery that neither their religiō nor their audacious boldnes sawcines is any lōger to betolerated we may also conclude that the reasons alledged by this resolution in religion are either false or not coneludent First they say they haue their vnderstanding captiuated in obsequium fidei scilicet papisticae by most euident testimony of holy writ of vnity vniuersality succession antiquity and authority of fathers saints doctors coūcels Parliamēts virgins martyrs these they say cōcurre in popish religiō in no other But of holy writ these lay papists haue little resō to make
of theire Prince and country But now that we are so farre vrged we shall God willing make it appeare that their Popish deuises are nothing but a pack of nouelties latelie brought into the Romish church that their Religion is full of heresies impieties and blasphemies and lastly that diuers of their practises are full of Salt peter and most dangerous to the state and that their importunate desires are repugnāt both to reasons of religion state and also to modest and ciuill cariage My sole request to thee shall be that thou woldest be please to compare our answer with the lay papists petition and to iudge according to proofes We seeke for trueth we defend the Kings prerogatiue and state Let no man therfore shut his eies against that light by which we may see truth nor bee carelesse in matters so nerelye touching the safety of the King and state neither let any papist bee offended with vs while we seeke his saluation Non ideo vobis displiceamus saith Saint Augustine to certein Donatists epist 204. ad Donatum quia reuocamus errātes quaerimus perditos and so wee say also to the simple and abused papists Let vs not displease you because we seek to call you from your errors and to gaine that which is lost We doe not hate you as our Countrimen but we detest your errors being humorously affected to forraine superstition In speaking also for common peace and safety we seek your peace The petitioners say they are resolued and pretend reason of their resolution But nothing is more fantastical or foolish then to resolue vpon false suppositions and to build without firme foundation neither is any thing more sottish then to seek that which being granted would turne to theire dishonoure and hurt if not destruction To confirme the weake and to recall those which goe astray wee haue done our best endeuour wee haue also defended the honor of religion his maiestie and the state as became vs. The rest wee referre to gods grace beseeching him so to enlighten all christian mens heartes with the knowledg of his eternall truth that not onelie the professors of religion may stand firm against the glozing perswasions of seducing and seditions Iebusites and Masse-Priests but also such as encline too much to error and superstition and nowe seeme malcontented maye be gathered into the true Church and shew themselues true subiects embracing truth and perseuering therein to their liues end A BRIEFE EXAMINATION OF The Lay Papistes late petition directed to his royall Maiestie Anno. 1604. Chapter 1. The resolution of the petition apologeticall of the Lay papists together with a somme of the answer made vnto it COmmonly we see by experience that excuses going before accusations doo argue a secret confession of the faultes of guiltie consciences Jf nothing els did shew it yet this and diuers other petitions and Apologies directed by diuers Masse priests and Papists vnto his royall maiestie who neither chargeth them nor proceedeth againste them for those matters which they goe about to couer and excuse do prooue it sufficiently For what reason haue they to make so many defenses and excuses if they did not knowe in their consciences that there are certaine matters wherewith they deserue to bee charged doo the defendants vse to make their answers before the accusers exhibit their bills or articles But suppose their consciences were cleare yet their wordes do argue plainly that neither for their faith towards god nor for their fidelity to his maiestie they stand vpright in the common reputation of their countrimen For if they did what should they need to publish such Apologies wherein they pretend to giue his Maiestie an accompt of their beleefe and religion and a full and ample securitie and satisfaction of their fidelities and submission againe if their cause were so cleere why doo not Massepriests come foorth and shew themselues and why should the lay Papists be so sparing in giuing the King his prerogatiue and so lauish in ascribing his right to the Pope Lastly what meant Percie and his companions to attempt so bloodie an execution and all papites to pray for the good successe of matters designed To forbeare to speake of the quality of their cause which we shall haue more occasion to do hereafter first we are to vnderstand what their intention is in this their Apologeticall Epistle and next what forme they keepe in their proceedings Their request is first that penall lawes made heretofore against Massepriestes recusantes and their abettors may be either reuersed or suspended And next that Popish religion and the teachers thereof may be tolerated vpon a certaine forme of submission And lastly that his maiesty wold be pleased to accompt Papists for his good subiects and to suspect the rest Matters all of verye hard disgestion and verie difficult to be proued or granted Yet what dare they not attempt to obtaine a toleration of their wicked abuses first they threaten the King Chapter 3 with an intimation of their numbers forces and intelligences bothe at home and abroade not forgetting to bragge of their qualities and merites Next they alleadge certaine reasons of their resolution in popishe religion Thirdly which to vs seemeth very admirable considering their manifold rebellions and treasons against their princes coūtries both in England and elsewhere and the late horrible treason then in brewing they stand vpon high termes of theire loyall carriage and fidelity Fourthly albeit the same be without the cōpasse of their apologeticall petition yet they run out into a long accusation of the professors of true religion therein inuoluing his maiesty the gouernors of the state as it were ridiculously making them to answer that must be their iudges Lastly they offer a form of submissiō pretēd to giue vs sufficient security for the Kings life for the preseruation of the state of which the first declareth their obedience to be very bare onelie voluntarie the second argueth theire pride to bee insupportable which vndertake to capitulate with the King and thinke their worde and bonde sufficiente for the securitie of such a king and state But wee must vnderstand that nowe they were conceiting theire horrible treasons and that they ment to burne their bonds and the parties to whom they stood obliged This is the substance of their pleading For the better garnishing whereof they propose reasons firste of their former silence next of the breach of their silence in this petitiō apologeticall albeit we haue iust cause to wonder how they can well speak of silence when so many of their consorts haue neuer ceased their babling and scribling about this obiect how they dare pretēd reasons of this petitiō that is so deuoid of weight reason wisedom Beside these reasōs Iohn Lecey commeth in with a prologue in commendation of the actours in this Pageant and certaine banished Masse-Prestes stād in the rereward with an epilogue to the Lords of his maiesties
coūsel accusing them of iniustice hard dealing which some confesse in part to bee true for if they had been iustlye dealt with all then had they been exequuted for their trecherous practises and felonies for which diuers of them stood by lawe condemned and not sent awaye to rayle vpon such as shewed mercie and fauoure to them And this is the corps the deuāt derrier al the cōtēts of this lame petitiō apologetical framed as is sayd by lay Papists or rather in theire names by certein masse-Priests For answer wherof although no further answere needeth then that which alreadye hath beene made to their good masters vrging the same things in diuers of theire libels discourses and petitions wee purpose by Gods grace to hold this course First it shall be declared that toleration of false religions is repugnant to rules of religion and holy scripture and next that it is contrary to al Christian policie and reason Thirdly that the Papistes themselues in places where they commaund deny all toleration of other Religions then that which they professe themselues Furthermore leaste the Papists mighte excepte that these allegations doe nothing concerne theire cause it shall be further proued that poperie is a false idolatrous hereticall new and blasphemous religion and not onelie enemie to kings and princes but also greeuous to all Christians Finally least any of these petitioners shoulde swell with pride and thinke that with his greate eloquence he were able either to iustify the cause of popish Religion or to make good his reasons for toleration therof we haue thought good not onelie to glosse the text but also to examine the prologues reasons epilogues defenses accusations and whole pleadings of our aduersaries throughout their whole apologeticall petitiō Tu leno haeresis Arrianae saith Lucifer in his apology for Athanasius cunctos fieri cupis consacrilegos tuos So wee may say of these petitioners that while like bawdes they set forth the whore of Babylon her whorish religion they seek to make vs partakers with them of theire sacriledge and impietye Jt may bee they will complaine that this is no frendly dealing But as Sainte Ambrose epist 27 saide of one non ille tuus hostis sed tu illius so wee may say of papistes we are not their enemies but they are ours Noli accusare saith Hierome to Ruffinus apolog 2. ego cessabo defendere So say I to these petitioners forbeare to charge vs and we shall willingly forbeare to make our defenses Againe let them cease to tell vs of their Resolution in their profession and loyalty towards his maiesty and we shall haue lesse cause to detect either their grosse ignorance and foule impieties abhominations and abuses of their religion or their vndermining treasons and rebellions In the meane while let them attend and haue patience while wee briefly discouer vnto them the mysteries of their wicked religion which so obstinately they will needs professe and the holownesse and defects of their loyaltye which so boldelie they pretend Chapter 2. That the toleration of any false heretical or idolatrous religion is repugnante to reasons of religion and holy scriptures THE Church and city of God beeing built vpon the foundations of the Apostles and Prophets and their doctrine it is matter sufficient for Christians that are members of Gods church and citisens of the citie of god to refuse and reiect any Religion if the same be not founded vpon holy scriptures nor taught by the Apostles and Prophets inspired by gods spirit But if the same proue not onely diuers and strange but also contrary to apostolical and propheticall doctrine and conteine not only false and hereticall opinions but also positions and fancies tending to idolatrie and plaine impietie then oughte all Christians to abhor and flie from such a wicked religion and by no meanes to tolerate those that either teach it or professe it or fauor it The law of god Deuteronom 13. is very direct and peremptory against false teachers and seducers that endeauour to drawe men to idolatry or any false religion whatsoeuer That prophet saith Moyses or that dreamer of dreames shall bee slaine because he hath spoken to turne you away from the Lord your god In this case hee doth not permit either the brother to fauour his brother or the father his sonne or daughter or the husband his wife or one friend another And Deuteron 29. there shall not bee amongst you saith hee man nor woman nor familye nor tribe which shall turne his hart this day from the lorde our god to goe and serue the gods of these nations So it appeareth that both the idolatrous seducers and such as adhere vnto them and are seduced by them are to bee expelled out of the land if we meane to insist in the waies of gods commandements and to auoide his heauie wrath and iudgements Elias 1. Kings 18. condemneth such as stood indifferent betwixt two religions How long saith he doo you halt betwixt two if god be god followe him if Baalbe god folow him Now what els do they that are content to winke at the idolatrous masse and worshipp of angells Saints and dumb images but ioyne god and Baal together The Prophet Dauid Psal 16. sheweth what detestation all the children of god ought to haue not onely of idolatrie but also of all idolaters and false worshippers Their offerings of blood saith he wil I not offer neither make mention of their names with my lips Zephanie 1. the Lord threatneth to punish such as together with gods worship tolerate an other religion I will stretche out mine hand saith he vpon them that worship and sweare by the lord and sweare by Malcham Our Sauiour Christ Matth. 18 cōmandeth such to be reputed and holden as Heathen men and Publicanes that stubbernlye refuse to heare the church and shall wee harbor them and repute them good christians that shall professe a religion vnhearde of in the apostolike and auncient Church likewise Matthew 7. He exhorteth his disciples to beware of false prophets that come vnto them in sheps cloathing and Matth 16 to take heede and beware of the leuen of the pharises Sadduces Do they not then plainelie neglect the exhortations and commaundementes of our Lorde and sauiour Christe that without punishmente suffer such as bring in the leuen of Poperye or tolerate the exercise of any false religion Sainte Paule Galat 5 doth wish them cut of which did disquiet the church and Apocalyps 2. the bishop of Ephesus is commended For that he could not beare with them that were euil and because he hated the works of the Nicolaitans Cōtrariwise the Bishops of Pergamus Thyatyra are reprehēded the first for suffering them which taught the doctrine of Balaam the second for suffering the woman Iesabel to peaehe and to deceine gods seruantes Do we then think that god will hold them guiltlesse that suffer his church to be disquieted with false teachers and winke at the Priests of Baal
that it is repugnāt to the practise of the Primitiue church the authority of fathers and lawes of christian Emperours and finally that it prouoketh the wrath of God againste the Authors of it Neither neede we to make any question of the practise of Papistes in this behalfe if wee looke anto the actions of the pope and his bloody Jnquisitories In Italy they tolerate no religion contrary to Popery in Spaine they persecute such christians with fire and sword as are contrary to theire faction Jn the Low countries the cause of troubles proceeded principally from hence for that the people would not admitte the bloody inquisition of Spaine that was thoughte to be the fittest meanes to rooote out all religions but one Although then papists now think it no inconuenience in England to tolerate diuers Religions and to admit another religion then that which is alreadie receiued and stick not in plain termes to saye so yet it is apparant that they speake againste their conscience and that they contradicte their owne docttrine and practise Chapter 6. That Poperie is a false and erroneous religion I Might if J list enlarge the former discourse with diuers other reasons against toleration of diuers religions but what should further demonstrations neede to proue that which no papist will as I thinke deny let vs therefore shewe because these apologeticall petitioners stand much vpon the trueth and honesty of their religion that beside the former generall reasons there are diuers other particular matters to be obiected against popish religion euery one sufficient to crosse their desires For first it is a false and erroneous religion Next the same is superstitious and idolatrous Thirdly it is composed of diuers hereticall positions Fourthly it is a pack of nouelties Fiftlie it conteyneth diuers doctrines full of Blasphemies Sixtly it is enemie to kings and greeuous to their subiects Lastly it cōteyneth many pointes of doctrine condemned by the aduersaryes themselues and alloweth diuers practises disliked by all nations That Popery is a religion false and erroneous we prooue firste by the falshood of the groundes thereof and next by the erroneous positions and doctrines whereof it is composed Stapleton in his book entitled principia doctrinalia doth deliuer vnto vs. 7. grounds or principles of popish religion The first is the church of Rome the second is The Pope the third the meanes vsed by the Pope in iudgement the 4. the Popes infallible indgement in causes of controuersy the fist his power in taxing or consiguing the canon of holy scriptures the sixt his certain interpretation when he expoundeth scriptures the seauenth the churches or popes power in deliuering doctrine not written The which grounds as they are defectiue not mētioning the canō of scripturs as a ground of fayth nor reputing the decrees of councels and writings of Fathers to be any matter of momēt deseruing to be placed among the principles of our aduersaries fayth so they are most absurde and false For first howe can the church of Rome be a principle or foundation to it self and againe why shoulde the Church of Rome where Peter taught be more a foundation or principle then the Churche of Hierusalem where our sauiour Christ himselfe taughte and suffered the apostle Rom. 11. doth threaten the Romanes and signifie that the Roman church was a branch that mighte bee cut of And Saint John Appocalyps 17. sheweth that the whore of Babilon which was a figure of Antichrist should haue her seate in Rome Secondly the Popes doctrine is notoriously declared to be erroneous and that in many materiall pointes as for example in the questions aboute the lawe the sacramentes transubstantiation the gouernement of the Church and diuers other important points But were it not a matter already knowne and resolued that the Pope cannot be supreme iudge in matters of religion yet the papists haue no reason to thinke that a blind man can iudge of colors or an ignorant man of Artes. Furthermore the pope hath no greater priuiledge then the high priest of the law Yet he erred in condemning Christ and his doctrine Lastly both the fathers shew that diuers bishops of Rome haue bene Herreticks as Liberius and Honorius and Adrian the. 6. in his booke de sacrament c. de confirmat cōfesseth that the pope may determine falselie by his decretall Thirdly it is ridiculous to trust to the popes meanes in iudgement when he vnderstandeth neither councels nor vseth any good meanes to know the truth Nay wee knowe whatsoeuer means are pretended that the pope either rūneth vpon his own head or followeth a few carnall cardinals or contentious friars Fourthly it is a blockish thing to distinguish the Pope from his iudgement For so the pope should be found to be without iudgement iudgmēt without the pope That this iudgmente is not infallible we gather infallibly out of his manifold erroneous doctrine iudgmēt The same appeareth also by his false decretalls and the variation of the popes iudgement Fiftly the scriptures being consigned by god and deliuered to the church by the prophets and Apostles need no new consignation nor taxation of the pope Nay very absurd it were if lawes receiuing their strength from the gouernors the scriptures shold not be authenticall without the approbation of the pope who for the moste part vnderstandeth no scriptures nor hath skill to reade them in theire originall tongs Sixtly the Pope is for the moste parte ignorante both of the sence of scriptures of the principal poynts of religiō hauing studied neither And very ridiculous it is after plain words of scriptures and exposition of counsels and fathers to runne to the pope for resolution Finally the resolution of matters of fayth dependeth not vpon the determination of the pope or his adherentes who are departed from the fayth but vpon the word of god that in matters of saluation is plaine and better expounded by the learned and by auncient fathers then by partiall Popes and their adherentes Stapletones groundes therfore are false and erroneous Neither are the principles deliuered by others more certaine The conuenticle of Trent sess 4. dooth seeme to found the faith of the Church partly vpon scriptures and partly vpon vnwritten traditions But first the same alloweth no scriptures authenticall but such as are found in the old latine of the bible which in many pointes digresseth from the originall bookes and is much inferiour vnto them Secondly they allow no interpretations of scriptures but such as are consonante to the doctrine of the church of Rome which in matters of controuersy are most peruerse erroneous and absurd as may appeare by diuers particulers in the suruey of popery Thirdly they make the bookes of Tobiah Iudith Ecclesiastieus Wisedome and Machabies together with certaine fragments not found in the original books of the old testamēt equal to other scriptures alwaies reputed canonicall the which is reproued by the common consent of auncient fathers and seemeth repugnant to reason Fourthly vnder
cultu sanctorum c. 23. aloweth these speches of friars speaking to a woodē crucifix thou hast redeemed vs thou hast recōciled vs to thy father he confesseth also in his 1. booke de iudulgentijs that saints may be called redeemers Thomas Waldensis in his prologue ad Martinum quintum applieth these wordes of the Apostle Lord saue vs wee perish to the pope 14. Bonauenture or rather some falsary vnder his name applieth those diuine prayses which the prophet in the Psalmes giueth to god to the virgin Mary 15. Of the scriptures most commonly they speak most blasphemously sometime calling them a nose of waxe sometime a deade letter sometime a killing letter sometime comparing them to Aesops fables Kellison in his suruey p. 158. saith the deuill doth wrap himselfe from top to toe in scriptures as if the word of god were the habit of the diuell He that list to see diuers other blasphemous doctrines sayinges of the pope and his complices let him reade the two bookes de antichristo et eius ecclesia latelie set out by Master Powel a young man learned zealous and paineful that hath at large handled this argument in the meane while we may see that such as professe christian religion and true piety haue noe reason to like that religion in which Christ is notoriously blasphemed and so many impieties conteined Chap. 11. That toleration of popery is contrary to reasons of state FVrthermore with small labor it may be shewed that popery is a religion full of contradictions absurdities and fooleries and so contrary to holy scriptures and the catholike faith of christians as darknesse to lighte falsehood to truth and black to white But this short answere will not admitte any such large discourse beside that all these poyntes are at large prooued in the suruey of popery published in answere to Kellisons inuectiue Suruey Now therefore it shall bee sufficient to shew that as popery is contrary to the rules of Christian religion so it si no lesse repugnant to reasons of state and derogatory both to the Authority of Kinges and to the libertie of Christians That popish religion is contrary to reasons of state and politicke gouerne ment it apeareth firste for that the same is idolatrous wicked false and contrary to gods true seruice nowe what state can long continue that either receiueth such a wicked religion or else is carelesse for the establishment of gods seruice Them that honoure me saith the Lord. 1. Samuel 2. I will honor and they that despise me shall bee despised The Apostle also Rom. 1. sheweth that the wrath of god is reueiled frō heauen against all vngodlines and vnrighteousnesse of men which withold the truth in vnrighteousnesse Secondly it is alwaies dangerous to change lawes and to reuerse matters heretofore orderly passed But if popish religion were tolerated then shoulde all those lawes cease that concerne the articles of religion the book of common prayer the forme of administration of sacramentes the kinges royall authority in ecclesiasticall causes the ministers of gods worde and sacramentes and the postessions of the church Finally many things now well ordered would then bee called in question if then lawes be the bands that conteine the common welth in order who seeth not that a greate dislolution of state woulde followe if Popish religion were tolerated Thirdly the pope claimeth power to dispose of kingdomes and to depose kings and all his true disciples doe maintain his Claime Js it then possible that any state should ether liue vnder such a tyranny or tolerate such professed enemies of state Fourthly the same man pretendeth right to giue lawes to the state especially in ecclesiasticall causes and to dispose of the liuings of the church But I thinke noe state will giue this power to straungers and enemies that hath liberty to refuse it Fiftly we reade that pope Paule the third in his bulle of excommunication against King Henry the eighte King of Englānd commanded his subiects to take armes againste him gaue away his true subiects as slaues to those that coulde take them dissolued all bondes wherein any stood bound to him or his subiects as is euidently aparent in the words of his bulle recorded in Sanders de schismate the collector of his Bulles and this authority all pops claime and al papists must defend But it is strange that any state should endure such indignities offered to princes and theire subiects Sixtly no man can serue the pope and his prince and countrye especially beeing in opposition with the pope howe then can the state admit such as depend vpon the pope and are ready to exequute his commandementes and take them selues bound to do it vpon paiue of damnation Nay Percie and other papists of late without his commaundement as they say were in a fayre way to ouerthrow the state 7. To restore banished men to acquite condemned persons to let prisoners loose that are in custody by order of law is the moste extreme condition that lost common wealths may be drawn vnto as Tully saith lib. 5. in Verrem perditae ciuitates saith he desperatis omnibus rebus hos solent exitus exitiales habere vt damnati in integrum restituantur vinctisoluantur exules redusātur But toleration of popery doth bring all these incommodities with it shold we then basely subiect our selues to enemies and traitoures take that course which no state euer yeelded vnto vnlessethe same were brought to extreme and desperate termes 8. No state can admitte such as depend vpon forreine enemyes and intertaine intelligence with them For that were to imbrace within our bosomes the enemies of state But that is the case of the archpreest of the Iebusites Massepreests gunpouder traytors and all their adherents 9. No state can be well gouerned by two gouernors and two diuers lawes For as there is but one principall gouernemente In a state so ought there to be but one authority and one law but if papists bee tolerated then the pope must aswell be obeyed as the king and the popes laws be ioyned with the kings lawes furthermore the common wealthe will prooue a monster not onelie with two heades but also with two soules and two diuers kindes of proceedings 10. The bonds of state are lawes the bonds that tye subiects to their princes are othes of allegeance and loyall affection towardes them But papists being dispensed with all by the pope respect neither lawes of state nor othes of allegeance nor loue due to princes Howe then can any state tolerate such fellowes as respect nether bonds of state nor duty nor obligation toward their lawfull princes 11. Lawes punish such as contriue the murther of priuate persons and much more such as are ready vpon euery occasion to stirre sedition should then then the state tolerate such as vpon the Popes commandement and warrant nay vpon the word of a seditious Massepriest shall thinke it lawfull meritorious to murther empoyson any that shal be opposite
toleration of popery is conformable to reason But little doth he seem to vnderstād what is reason that requireth things so cōtrary to truth law reasō For first what reasō can he pretēd to desire the practise of a religiō rebellious seditious fals erroneous foolish absurd new strāge idolatrous blasphemous and full of diuers other moste grosse abuses either therfore the papists must clear their religiō from these crimes or else confesse they haue small reason to demand a toleration for it We haue iustified our charge in diuers treatises both in latin and English and yet they answere nothing particulerly Secondly litle shew of reason haue they to desire his maiesty to admitte a religion which depriueth him of halfe his authority halfe his subiects halfe his reuenewes and maketh him subiect to the pope Thirdly they doe without all reason demand the free exercise of a religion that bringeth mens consciences into thraldome their persons into danger and their landes and goods into the hands of tyrantes Fourthly the pope and massepriestes make merchandise of mens soules and make little conscience to buy and sell churches altars dignityes heauen grace and all spirituall thinges They spoyle the poore the widdowe and fatherlesse and for maynteinaunce of their owne estates make hauocke of Christian mens estates Haue they then reason to sue for such a bargayning and spoyling religion 5. They shew thēselues deuoid of reasō that admit masse priests into theire houses that like owles fly the light and sight of the magistrate that intertaine intelligence with forreign enemies that deuoure theire substance that like impure lechours abuse the wiues daughters and maides of such as giue them intertainement and pretending to make them Catholike doe indeed make them Cuckoldlike Sixtly we finde by proofe that Masse-preests and Jebusites haue combined thēselues with foreign enemies haue sought the destruction of the ire souereigne princes the thraldome of their natiue country to strangers Jf any man doubted of this before the horrible treason and rebellion of Percy Catesby their followers and their wicked deseignements may resolue him And therfore if reason may rule them none of the kings true subiects can seek the aduancement of this treache rous religion Finally papists haue no reason to aske that of vs in England which themselues deny to vs and our brethren in Spaine and Italie There they will not cease their butcherly proceedings nor put downe their houses of Inquisition Neither will they be induced to suspend their penall lawes made against true Christians What face and forehead then haue papists to aske that in England of vs which they will not yeeld to vs and our brethren in other countries is it not reason that they should doo to others as they would haue others to do to themselues and doth not the law quod quisque ff quod quisque iuris contain great reason determining that euery man should be iudged according to the law which himselfe vseth But if papists wil needs vrge things vnreasonable then must they vnderstand that true Christians haue reason to reiect their treacherous false erroneous new absurd ido latrous and blasphemous religion And next that his Maiesty hath iust cause to abhor the practise of that religion that as hath bin foreshewed maketh him the Popes vassall and taketh away halfe his authority halfe his subiects halfe his reuenues and bringeth the rest into question Now his Maiesty is in no daunger by the grace of God if he can suppresse the growing faction of Antichrist Sixtus Quintus in his declaratory Bull anno D. 1588. against our late gratious Queen confesseth that hee had no meanes to proceede against her as he had in countries professing popery to deale with other princes But let Massepriests gather their bands of seditious persons together and then both prince and state shal incur great hazard Thirdly the preachers of the Catholike faith haue good occasion to oppose themselues against these wolues that seeke to enter vpon Christs flock They seek to alter both religion and state and will not rest before they haue depriued al true pastors both of their liuings and life will not then true pnstors awake and vigorously resist them Fourthly Wise politikes may not admit a religion that will cause dinision and trouble the peace of the state Neither may they tolerate such as depend on strangers and concurre with forain enimies 5. The disciples of Christ may haue no felowshipp eyther with the priests of Baal or the caniball Massepriests that say they eat Christs flesh with their mouths and teeth swallow his blud into their bellies or with the disciples of Antichrist that seeke to suppresse the true catholike faith 6. No true louer of his country can endure rinegued Iebusites and Massepriests that are combined with forreign enemies and seeke to bring their countrimen vnder the commaund of straungers and to murder all that are studious of the peace and honor of their nation as Walleyes and others Iesuites actions of late haue plainly declared 7. Charitable Christians may not tolerate either a race of sturdy begging friars or a packe of lazy Monkes or a swarme of caniball Massepriestes which say they eat vp Christs body really and corporally but indeed and really deuour the poor the widow and the fatherlesse 8. Men of honest minds and disposition are enemies to all lecherous and fodomiticall Friars Monks and Massepriests neither will they salute them heare them or conuerse with them least they be partakers of their sinns and consequently of theyr plagues 9. Christians maintain their Christian liberty and haue reason to detest the doctrine of Antichrist that enthralleth both theyr persons and consciences Further as it pilleth theyr goods so it destroyeth vtterly the soules of them and theyrs Finally seeing they cut our brethrens throates abroade no Christian man hath reason to suffer them to harbour here purposing to cut our throats at home Faux Percie and Catesbie haue left a race of cutthrotes and gunpowder fellowes behind them shold then reasonable men so far forget reason as to harken to a petition so vnreasonable Chap. 15. That popish religion may not be tolerated if we respect the groundes of christian religion and policy confessed by the papists themselues THat diuers religions are not to be suffered in a christian common wealth we haue before demonstrated by the confession of papists themselues It resteth therefore now that we proue by generall pofitions holden and confessed by the papists that popish religion may not bee tolerated by princes and states eyther professing true religion or els holding the true rules of policie 1. First it is confessed by our aduersaries themselues that no idolatrous religion is to be tolerated in any state But it is clearly demonstrated heretofore Chap. 7. that popish religion in diuers pointes is idolatrous 2. Neither will they yeeld to permit any sects or heresies but it is apperant that monks friars and Massepriests are diuided into sects and manifestly
it euident out of the written word that they are the true Sheepheards and Pastors sent from God to haue charge of soules they make profer without delay to folow them and with all conformity to obey them and heare their voices which when they shall proue the controuersie is charitably composed and though they faile of their proofs yet they remaine as they do with their wealth their 8 These tvvo vvords are euil placed together But if talking of massepriests he had ioyned their whores pleasures he had spoken properly wiues their pleasures and pallaces the poore Catholikes desiring onely a secret and silent permission of such 9 Of vvolues rather for vvho made them pastors or is so simple as to commit Christs sheep to them Pastors as shall shew to them the whole world sufficient 10 Can they proue the Popes authority and the function of priestes offering and deuouring Christs body and bloud vvith their mouth they shall then vvorke vvonders euidence and approbation for the charge of soules they vndertake The 1 They laugh at this pild prologue that vvould threape kindnesse vpon them Puritans herewith cannot be offended if they peaceably The Puritans and precisely seek after contentment and not contention because they shall find diuers of their maximes zealously or rather odiously conceiued by them against Catholikes ouerthrown 2 Soon may Iohn Lazy euacuate hu brain but the principles of popish practises he shall neither euacuate nor ansvver euacuated by most euident demonstration and instances in matters of fact practise and experience especially in that point of conditionall subiects which is so much vrged by the Ministerie The 3 They shall soon trusse your schoolboy masse priests flourishing and learned Academiks of Oxford and Camoridge may perceiue hereby that Catholikes know their Priests 4 And to requite their kindnesse the massepriests knovv their follovvers and their vvines daughters intus ad cutem intus in cute Academikes of Oxford Cambridge take them neither for ignorant in diuinity nor 5 Their pitifull ignorance both in diuinity and humanity is too too apparēt dunces in humanity neither for Catalines towards their Senate nor for Absolons towards their Dauid that dare aduenture life liuing for their vertues and loyalties And I imagine that if your Ministers were put to the like plunges they would hardly find the like pledges wherefore I could wish that your Ministers would endeuor rather to excell and surpasse them in their Godly qualities then in their pamphlets and pulpits to vrge the State to suppresse them with seuere exilements and edicts which are nothing but argumentes of their feare and 6 VVhetstones for lying they deserue Their faces also are as hard as vvhetstones whetstones of the others fortitude The godly and zelous 7 They are sory they attend not on the masse-priests to Tiburn as they vvere vvont Artizans and Prentises of London and other places The Artisans and Prentises may learne hereby to moderate themselues a little in their outragious alarms of Stop the Traitor when they see an innocent Priest passe the streets for by reading hereof they may be rightly and truely informed and instructed how far the poore Innocent men are from treasons and all treasonable purposes The Catholikes at home must needs hereby be comforted and animated in well doing and faithfull seruing The Catholikes of England obeying their 8 Viz. The Pope for to papists the king is not soueraign Soueraign in pace gaudio if they may be permitted and if not that yet in suffering with alacrity what shall be imposed vpon them for their religion when by his Apologie they shal be disburdned of those former clogs imputations of disloialty and treason The Catholikes not only here in Flanders but in the whole Christian world besides must needs be hereby much edified and excited to the sincere practise The Catholikes abroade and profession of zeale and piety towards 9 That is tovvards their god on the earth God of fidelity and obedience towards their 10 VVere the leaguers of France and ebells that rose against king Henry the 8. and his children obedient to princes Princes and of a reuerent respect and regard towards their Priests and Pastors when they find in this present Apology so rare and remarkeable an example of English Catholikes constancy in the one and conformity in the other and such confidence for the third that sithence the Apostles time the dayes of the primitiue Church of England neuer the like President either in the time of peace or persecution hath been heard or read of that the sheep should engage themselues for their shepheards and make voluntary profer to be bound body for 1 They are not so mad I trovv body life for life for their fidelity except that famous 2 He died for Christ and not for the cause of Antichrist as the Popes martyrs do Protomartir of England S. Albane who was to them herein a patrone and president the end of whose blessed conuersation our English Catholikes beholding do imitate his faith and fortitude and do succeed him in a reuerentiall loue and deuotion towards their Pastors Which heroicall mind and resolution of our said English Catholikes must needs be as famous to posterity a it is repugnant to all worldly wisedome and policie and must also needes be accompanied with asmuch honour and merit in the sight of God and all good men as it cannot but be incombred with dangers and difficulties in the sight of flesh and bloud and of all those quorum Deus venter est whose 3 This is properly said of the Popes cardinalls their adherents God is only their belly profite and pleasure in this world Of this Apologie two copies were sent ouer the one to France and the other to Flanders all one in sence and substance but it seemeth that the copie sent to Flanders was taken verbatim out of the first fountaine and originall And that the other which came to Paris was not altogether so 4 Quod dissonat verum non est saith Hierome ample and compleate Therefore I haue thoughte good to aduertise you that I haue followed and set foorth that copie which I found or at least presumed to be most consonant to the good minds and affections of them whom it most concerned And thus willing you to make your profit spirituall of these my endeuors and of the sequent Apologie desiring God that it may serue to mollifie the hearts of our heauy 5 No vvay so heauy as the spanish inquisitors aduersaries and fortifie and corroborate the Saints and seruants of God in well doing and patiently suffering and carrying the Crosse of christ and crown of thorns which prick to the quick on euery side I wish you the two most pretious iewels that can happen to a christian sovle Gratiam 6
the whole parliament to omit to speake of their secret combinations and practises it is no good signe that they seeke to satisfie the King and to serue him deuoutly when they seek to set vp a religion displeasing to God disgracefull hurtfull to the King and most praeiudiciall to his subiects Secondly He supposeth the Prelates of the Church of England cannot with reason disallowe this petition seeing nothing is required at theire hands but a reasonable conference and satisfaction in poynts of their mission and vocation But it seemeth he meaneth to giue them but little satisfaction that refuseth to giue them theire due titles and telleth them of I know not what wealth pleasures and pallaces pretēded to be enioyed by them Hee is also very ignorant that imagineth that the teachers of the truecatholike faith can abide a false wicked idolatrous hereticall blasphemous religiō or true subiects treason and rebellion and very impudent to call true Bishops in question for theire vocation and mission hauing no colour of defence eyther for the mission and vocation of Masse Priestes to sacrifice for quicke and deade as for the Pope to rule the whole Church or for the Cardinalls to practise the troubles of Christendome Further he was not wise to talke of Bishops winess being allowed by sainte Paule seeing the periured Romish preistes forswearing mariage and swearing continency doe notwithstanding keep concubines whoors and Bardassaes As for the calling of our prelates and ministers it hath been often and sufficiently iustified already and shal be againe when the intrusion of the pope and his poleshorne crewe of sacrificing preeests into the Church shal not by any means be mainteined or coloured Thirdly he seemeth very carefull not to offend the Puritanes as he calleth them But it is offence inough to giue the names of faction to true Christians Furthermore if the papists be no better able to pleade for themselues and theire religion then these petitioners haue done not only such as they call Puritanes but also all other good Christians will condemne them to be neither half subiects nor condicionall subiects nor subiects at all As for their religion it groweth euery day more odious and execrable then other Fourthly the schollers of Cambridge and Oxford of all men rest worst satisfied with this petition being voyd both of learning and reason as for the conceipt which ignorant creatures haue of masse preests they regard it not knowing thē to be but shallowe fellowes in diuine matters though very profound in rebellions and treacherous practises miserable are they that followe such guides and trust such false fugitiue compagnions Fiftly the Artizans and prentizes of London would make a wiser speake then this petition so seely defences are therin made for the popish preests that how so euer they thought on them before they cannot chuse now but both cry out againste them and stoppe them as false fugitiues seditious traitours and professed enemies to their prince and country In the meane while the masse preests haue litle cause to thāk Iohn Lazy that maketh them pleade theire cause before artizans and prentises who generally detest them and theire abhominable doctrine and practises and hope to see thē shortly hold vp their hands at the barre for treason Finally the papists at home and abroad will be very sory to see theire cause so nakedly handled and so weakely defended and if they be wise will curse him that published so bare a discourse giuing vs occasion to discouer theire treacherous hereticall and wicked doctrines and other mysteries of the popish faction As for the example of Saint Albā and of his teacher it fitteth the papists in no sorte Those two knew no one poynte of that wicked doctrine of papists which the Church of England condemneth neither was Albane martyred for the popes quarrell or the doctrin now cōteined in the decretales but for the faith and doctrine of Christ and his Apostles being as loyall to his gouernors as the Jebusites and their complices are peruerse and disloyall And therfore at vnawares where the prologue wold vse the example of the primitiue church of England he printeth priuatiue church shewing himselfe to be a member rather of the popes priuatiue church of England that is depriued woulde depriue Christians of all true faith in veritie of religion and sincerity in conuersation then of the true primitiue Church founded by Christe and gouerned by the Apostels and their true successors But what shold J need to stand longer about the examinatiō of this poor speak of this rude Lazy prologue who so far forgot himself in his dates of his discourse that he publisheth in print the 16. of octobre this apology that as hee saith in the beginning of the prologue came to his handes the 28. of that month which if he be able to make good then he hath sent vs rather a prophesy then a preface telling vs what the lay papistes pleaded some 12 daies before their pleading came to his handes Chap. 17. An answere to the two first chapters of the petition conteining causes both of the petitioners long silence and of their breach of silence IF the two first Chapters of these laye mens petition had beene spared it mighte percase haue beene imputed for wisdome vnto them For then neither theire ingratitude in not acknowledging his maiesties rare fauors towardes them gratiously pardoning their offences nor their presumption in accusing him for breach of promise nor their vntrueth in charging his maiesty the parliamente and state with rigorous and cruell dealing against them nor their vaine brags in pretending that they were so forward in maintening the Kings title and the principall meane that placed him in his royall throne woulde so clearely haue appeared But seeing they woulde needes acquaint vs with the reason of their present speech and former silence let vs heare them what they can say A PETITION APOLOGETICAL PRESENTED TO the Kings most excellent Maiesty by the Lay Catholikes of England in Iulie last Chapter 1. The cause of our silence MOST 1 His grace you abuse his souerainty you deny his might you hinder Mighty and gratious Soueraign Many are the reasons that haue caused vs to expect with perpetual patience and profound silence your Maiesties most gracious resolution for some benigne remedy and redresse of our moste greeuous 2 You vvrong his Maiesty charging him to be a persecutor and your cause shevving your selues vnthankefull for his fauour calamities and afflictions as the confidence of a good cause the testimony of an incorrrupte conscience the memory of our constant and continuall affection to the vndoubted right and Title in remaynder of your renowned Catholike Mother to the Crowne of England the imputations Crosses and afflictions we suffered many 3 If your plots had taken you had marred all yeares therefore the publique and gratefull acknowledgment that your saide glorious Mother made thereof at the time of her Arrainement and execution in
the presence of the Lords there assembled for her conuiction vttering these words [a] Her bludis shed yet remaineth peace authority to work them redemptiō of her so desired VVo is me for the poore Catholikes and the miseries I foresee they are like to endure for their irremoueable affection to me and miue If I vvere as free as mine estate and innocency requireth I vvould gladly redeeme their vexations vvith my dearest bloud The same zeale and promptitude after her decease we shewed in your Maiesties right and 1 His Maiesties right is but pretention to these lay papist pretention to the Crowne of England the oppositions were 2 Parsons did indeed oppose against the Kings right in his booke of titles so did al his folovvers made by vs and our Catholike brethren and friendes abroade and at home leauing nothing in our power vndone that might lawfull aduance your Maiesties rightful Title as Heir apparent to the Crown of England against all practises or proiects to the contrary (b) The L. Monteagle M. Fran. Treshā Sir Lewis Tresham in the Towre of London Our 3 VVhen there vvas no remedy forewardnes in proclayming your Maiesty without any further warrant then the right and iustice of your Title and the loyalty and affection of our harts (c) Sir Thomas Tresham at North-hampton The 5 Was it dangerous to proclame the king dangers and difficulties that some amongst vs passed in performing thereof in times so green and doubtfull (d) The Vicount Montague largely casting mony among the people The generall 6 Rather greef sorovv and anger ioy and applause shewed by vs with remarkable signes of infinite contentemente at your Highnes entrance into the Realme with dutiful offices of ioy and readines to proclaime and receiue your Maiesty were performed by Catholikes with such alacrity in most places of the Realme and those in such 4 None of these I hope vvill either subscribe this petition or confes the Pope to be supreme head of the church (e) The Lord Winsor the L. Mordent distance one from the other that they cold haue no intelligence one with another how they should behaue themselues in that occasion which maketh it euident that so generall a consent in so suddaine and important an affaire of persons so by places deuided could not proceede from any other fountaine but from an vniuersall and setled deuotion to your Maiesties vndoubted Title All which offices of our loue and loyalty we assure our selues are aswell knowne to your Maiesty as your Maiesties Cādor Clemency is knowne vnto vs by vs blazed throughout the Christian worlde And not by our tongues and pens onely are these your heroicall vertues made so notorious as they are by the often publique and 7 Will you say the King hath broken promise gracious promises also protestations which your Maiesty out of the infinite bounty and magnanimity of your minde hath made aswell to Princes abroade as to priuate Men at home as well before as after the Queenes death as well before as after your entrance to the Realm both in priuate and in publique both in Palace and Parliament that you vvoulde haue no bloud for Religiō that you vvold hane no sale mony for conscience cōtrary to the vvord of God that you vvold review the lavves made against Catholikes and giue order for clearing of them by reason in case they baue beene in times past farther or more rigorously executed by the iudges then the meaning of the lavv vvas The intended performance of which your most gracious promises receiued a memorable commencement in Iuly last past some fewe dayes before your Royall coronation when by speciall order of your Highnes without any suite or motion of Catholikes certain Recusāts of the best quality and ability out of diuers parts of the Realme were sent for to Hampton Court by the Lords of your Maiesties priuy Councel and were by them very respectiuely and curteously vsed also assured by the saide Lords that your Maiesties Royal pleasure and Clemency vvas to exonerate the Catholikes of this realme from henceforth of that pecuniarie mulcte of xx pound a moneth for recusancy The xx pound a Moneth for Recusancy released by the Kings voluntary promise in Iuly 1603. which your Maiesties grace and relaxation the saide Lords signified that they shold so long enioy as they kept themselues vprighte in all ciuill and true cariage to vvardes your Maiesty and the State vvithout contempt whereunto reply was made that recusancy might be held for an act of contempt It was auswered by the Lords of the Councell that your Maiesty vvoulde not accompt 1 Can men refuse to concur in gods vvorship and yet be guiltlesse recusancie for a contempt And this your Maiesties gratious order and pleasure the sayde gentlemen recusants were willed to signifie to all other Catholikes Which grace proceeding from your Maiesties meere clemency voluntary good will in that moste dangerous time of the discouery of the conspiracy of the Lord 2 But contriued by Watson Clerke tvvo Romish traiterous martyrs Gray and Cobham semed to vs so inuiolable and so little subiect to chaunge or alteration that comparing these bountifull effects with the repose trust which your Maiesty in your Printed booke to your Peerles son seemeth to put in them that were faithfull and resolutely affected to your Mother and with the speech your Highnes made the first day of the Parliament tending to some more 3 Bevvare least your presumptuous challenges treasons alter not the kings course temperate course in matter of Religion then was of late vsed we had great reason to abstaine from farther importuning 4 VVhat then meant you by your importune petitions your Maiesty either by friends or petition but to exspect with silence patience and all humble submission how your Maiesty should please to dispose of vs without any diffidence or distrust either in our own 5 If merits vvere respected vvhat can you claime merites or your mercy Chapter 2. The reasons that haue driuen vs to * Better it is to be silent then to speak foolishly breaech of silence and to a necessary and iust defence BVT Alas Dreade 1 The Popes vassalls dread him not nor count him supreme Soueraigne we see our filence modesty and simplicity so abused by some 2 They should be indeed very indiscreet if they cold not discerne your false religion from catholike doctrine indiscreet Ministers who in their Bokes and Sermons make it euident they think no abuse or indignitie offred vs sufficient to satisfie theire 3 Remember your bloudy persecution rigour in queen Maries cruell raign you massacrers of Christians rigorous mindes or supresse our righteous cause that wee are driuen thereby to breake our determinate course of filence vrged and inforced thereto by these sequent occasions Firste The firste
Clerk Brooke Percy Garnet and their confederates hearty affection we beare to your Maiestie and the commonwealth of your Potent Monarchie deserueth It is not our meaning most mightie Monarch being meerly lay men that make no profession of lettres to examine 4 They thinke to slubber matter ouer vvith out examination curiously and contentiously all that our aduersaries haue thundred of late against vs or to dispute with them in mood figure which combate we leaue to the diuines of both parts when your Maiesty shall thinke good thereof but with due respect to giue your Grace an accounte and reason of our beleefe and religion and a full and ample securitie and satisfaction of our fidelities and submission The answere to the first and second Chapter THus we see the causes of their silence and of theire speakeinge but wee cannot see that they are either true or sufficient the first reasons pretended for their silence are these as they tel vs. the coÌ„fidence of a good cause the testimony of an incorrupt conscience the memory of their coÌ„staÌ„t continuall affection to the vndoubted righte and title in remainder of the king to the crowne of England their zeale and promptitude shewed in his maiesties righte and pretention as they call it to the crown of EnglaÌ„d theyr forwardnesse in proclaiming his maiesty King of England and their generall ioy and applause at his maiesties enterance into the realme and for these reasons they say they haue in profound silence expected for some benigne remedy and redresse of their most greeuous calamities and afflictions But first what absurde fellows are these to talke of silence hauing of late time published so manye discourses libells rimes and pamphlets both in defence of themselues and in disgrace of others and presented so many petitions both to his maiesty and to all that could helpe them or were likely to fauour them Secondly if the Massepreestes and theire associates had a conscience so incorrupte as they pretend and such confidence in their cause as they boast why doe they fly the light and hide themselues in corners againe why doe they not make the goodnes of theire cause appeare and particulerly clear themselues of those hereticall and treacherous doctrins wherewith they stand charged they shew themselues most shamelesse when they defend the popes clayme in deposing kings and translating kingdomes and adhere vnto him as his sclaues and maynteine grosse idolatries and absurd nouel tyes to talke either of a good cause or of a good conscience Thirdly if they indeede had fauoured the kings vndoubted righte then woulde they not haue called it pretention nor put him in remainder as heere they doe Nor would so many of them haue fauoured Parsons and Coluill that haue oppugned the kings title in bookes published to the worlde nor haue receiued pensions and interteined intelligeÌ„ce with other clay mers and pretenders Fourthly those which fauored the Iebusites and spaniardes and pope did not then much applaude when either his maiesty was proclaimed king of England or firste entred into the realme But when they sawe the states forwardnes then whatsoeuer heauinesse lay at their hartes they were forced to set on the best face they cold and to do as others did though with smal alacrity as the deiected countenances heauy sighes and sobre cheare of diuers of them did declare Knowing the king to be of a religioÌ„ aduerse to the Pope by the rules of the Popes decretales which they regard as much as the holy scriptures they might not fauoure him nor consort with him if they had beene able to resist Lastly most vniustly they charge the state as oppressing the papists with greâ—uous calamities and afflictions whereas their consorts in Spaine and Italy with all cruelty spoyle and murder our brethren and the state doth only punish recusancy with pecuniary mulctes and very rarely and of few and of late tyme hath begun to exact them But had these fellowes so good a cause and conscience as they pretend yet should the same rather mooue theÌ„ to speak then to keepe silence For who is not bolld to speake in a good cause to mention the kings mother or the conspiracy of Gray and Cob ham they shold say of Clerk and Watson the principall contriuers of that plot they had no reason being the causes of her destruction drawing her indirectly into theire intricate practises most dangerous to her person and that conspiracy proceeding onely from the inuention practise of Papists The next causes of their silence were as they say the promises made by his maiestie both in publique and priuate the courteous vsage of certain recusants at Hampton courte and his maiesties speech the firste day of the parliament But these are matter that rather mighte moue them to open theire mouths and to giue thankes to his Maiesty for his vndeserued fauors then either to suppresse his prayses in silence or to mutinously to mutter and to vtter wordes of discontentment as if they had bene dealt withall hardlie and vniustly Furthermore they do bewray their vngracious and crooked nature that seeme to charge the king with breach of promise and alteration of his courses who promised more then they deserued and performed all that hee promised and altered not his course of Clemency though forced thereto necessarily by alteration of theyr lewde course and their agents importunity For his promises at Hampton courte which are principally vrged this I answere that in that place neither was any toleration of religion demanded nor any such matter promised nay the cause of the repaire of diuers recusants thither was the suspition conceiued of them as if they were guilty of the preests treason and not any new motion for toleration Thereuppon they prayed his maiesty to haue a good opinion of them being guilty of no other crime as they sayd theÌ„ recusaÌ„cy And he like a most gracious king father of his people answered that the same shoulde be no conuiction if other wise they d emeaned themselues loyally Had they beene as dutifull as his maiesty was benigne and gracious they woulde not haue entred into those plots and rebellions which some did afterward That his maiesty did neuer promise any toleration of popery at any other time a noble Counsellor did assure all that were present when Digby vpon occasion did mention and vrge the same at his arreignement His Maiesty saide hee as well before his comming to the crowne as at the very tyme and alwayes sence was so farre from making a promise or giuing hope of toleration that he professed he shoulde not endure the very motion there of by any whatsoeuer For his clement courses against recusaÌ„ts euil deseruing papists I need not say much the same being notorious to the world only J wish that this generatioÌ„ wold not abuse his clemeÌ„ cy but seeke to bee thaÌ„kful for his former fauors theÌ„ prouoke his iustice by their coÌ„tinued il carriage misdemenors secret plottings The
resisted and vvold not suffer the popes agēts to cut their throtes Countries Reason then the life of the law will acquite vs if we prefer a Faith that hath taken so deep roote whose goodlie fruits we daylie see and tast before 6 Not so slēder sleight as the papists are slēder sleight green Christiās a slender sleight green and far lesse fruitfull plant About twenty four years now past when a certaine conference was held in the Tower betweene Master Campion and Master Shervvin Catholike 7 Or rather the seditious priests of Baal that came to stir rebelliō in Englād as appeared by Parsōs Cāpiōs faculties Priestes and some of the selected learned Protestant diuines there were then in prison in the Fleet diuers Catholikes both of honourable and worshipfull degree for Testimony of their conscience only as the Lord Vaux Master Thomas Somerset brother to the Earl of VVorcester Sir Thomas Thresham Sir William Catesby others who offered the warden of the Fleet to procure them licence of the priuy Councell to be present at the conference and to haue that question of repairing to the Protestant Church discussed and decided one hundred 1 They tell lyes by hundreds Frenche Crownes for euery day that this question should remaine thus vnder examination but their request could not then be 2 Diuers yet liuing can testify the contrary admitted albeit the said warden did vndertake the suite and confidently promised to effect it and seriously laboured it aswell by his honourable friendes in Court as by all other meanes he could possibly The same offer of conformity and desire to be satisfied in this point which we made then we in humble wise make now and that with so much the more greater efficacy as your Maiesty hath a most full and ample possession of our 3 Hovv can the hart be deuided betvvixt the king and the Pope harts and affections for manifold important respects both for the loue your gratious Mother did beare vs and the cause for which we suffer as also for the often to vs most comfortable protestations your Maiesty hath made and that in publique and in priuate that you haue a mind free from persecution or thravvling your subiects in matters of conscience that you vvold not increase our burdens vvith 4 The King is here compared to an insolent and vvicked yong man Roboam to which adding your Clemency of which wee haue tasted and your gratious promises wherewith wee liue in hope and your daily discourses springing from your natiue bounty and beniguity make vs 5 Jf you straine your selfe through a colendar yet nothing commeth from you but vain promises strayne our selues to the vttermost to giue your Grace satisfaction And therefore if we may obtayne this fauour at your Graces hands to be assured in conscience by the decision of the learned 6 Let your Diuines or rather sophisticall priests prooue vvhat they can in vvriting and they shall be ansvvered Deuines of both sides that the act of going to the Protestants sermons and seruice is not a damnable sinne then if after such (a) A most hāble and reasonable request A Councell conference or disputation dispute decision and information we shall refuse to conforme our selues to your Maiesties vvill example we thinke then there is reason to giue life and reestablishment to the lawes made against vs. And this may suffice we hope for discharge of the dutiful respect we beare to your Maiesty and desire we haue to giue your Grace all 7 All the vvorkers of iniquity vaunt themselues as the Prophet saith Psal 94. and so do these also But their cracks are vaine proud and foolish possible satisfaction in mater our beleefe and Religion The answere to the 3 and 4. chapter of the petition HItherto these petttioners haue well dissembled theire violent humors pretending only humilitie submission and offring in termes to giue satisfaction and cōtentment to his maiesty But now before they come to the cause of their religion they tell his maiesty of their nūbres both in England and Jreland secretly intimating that if they may not haue their petition by faire means they haue power to take other courses they doe also signify that some of theire consorts haue holden the popes handes from censuring the king and intreated him to censure those that should offer the king any disturbance in the firste plainly threatning the state in the second aduācing the pope making the King beholding to him for his crowne Many other particulers there are in these two chapters worthy to bee censured First they go aboute to perswade his maiesty that as many of his subiects in England and Jreland are papistes as professors of true religion they woulde percase say the same of Scotland but that theire consciience told them contrary But first they must shew that Papists houlding with the pope are true subiects before they place them in the nūber of the Kings true subiects next they must bring forth the rolls of the ministers of papists and name them or else no man wil beleue them For in Ireland howsoeuer the commō fort reteineth some popish ceremonies the number of that znuerstand the principall grounds and doctrines of popery is very slander In England except certaine stage plaiers old women adicted to superstition sely husbands ouerruled by theire wiues and certaine Mal-contentes and frequenters of ordinaries that despaire to obteiue preferment in this state and and only hope for honour and dignity in a newe worlde there are but fewe papists and all theire numbers forces if we respect the multitude of true Christians amounteth to nothing Secondly they talke very idlely of the dignity of English papists But they name no one man of that sort that either for his greate seruice in warres or peace deserueth any singuler commendation Therefore they runne out into a long rehersall of matters forepast and talke of theire auncestors saying that they haue deserued wel of this cōmonwealth But as well might the Moderne Romanes alledge the greate seruices and noble actes of Scipio Paulus Aemilius Sylla Marius Catulus Caesar Cicero Cato and others or of the auncient Troyans from whom they pretend to be descended they commend their auncesters also for theire loue fidelitie vnto theire princes But what is that to iustifie the Practises of late papistes both againste his maiestyes predecessors king Edward and Queene Elizabeth and also againste himselfe both in Scotland and sence his comming in England Beside that if they claym to be descended from those rebels that oppugned king Iohn and king Henry the 8 and sought to bring them vnder the Popes most greeuous yoke and to depriue them of their crownes it shall not procure them any greate honour with the people or grace from the king They say they are not degenerated in any poynt from their ancesters and that they haue endcuoured to serue god as theire forefathers haue done
into an accusation of others sayling as it were without compasse albeit they pretend that theire petition was printed at the signe of the compasse If then the papists vpon pretence of these absurd allegations desire conference or disputation then is their case desperate and their hopes frutelesse For as casily shall we answere by word as we answer now by writing of the disputatioÌ„s in the tower betwixt some of ourlerned men Campion his mates they haue no reason to make any vants neither had either the Lord Vaux or Tresham or Catesbie any greate iudgement to offer mony to be praesent at the conference for that poysoÌ„ did they tast there that hath ruined both Treshams and Catesbyes progeny Campion was put down with a word of Greek and found vnable to mayntein his own pamphlet and much more to vphold the ruinous cause of papists This certes we hardly beleeue that either they offred such great soÌ„mes of mony to be present at the conference or that their sute was denyed For we are not hardly entreated to dispute nor loth to be heard and now if these suppliantes or theire teachers think they can do any masteryes let them propose their argumentes to the view of the world in writing that all men may know the cause and wee assure them they shalnot want answere by tongue penne and if that will not serue then let them procure vs the like security and liberty in Spaine and Italy that they desire in England and then they shall not be refused In the mean while I would pray these suppliants either by theselues or their teachers to iustifie this petition and to take away this our answere and that they woulde bee pleased to answere al the particuler poyntes either of our challenge which are passed ouerby Walpoole or of our suruey of popery where for one reason they bring for popery they shall haue a hundred of more strength agaynst it Chap. 19. The examen of lay papists fidelity of which they endeuour to make proofe chap. 5. of theire petition THE question is not heere onely concerning the faithfull and loyall carriage of the lay forte of Papists of which I doe think better then of the rest but principally of the fidelity of the massepreestes their teachers for whome especially the lay papists make request and very large offers Who then doth not perceiue that these petitioners do fail in a necessary grouÌ„d of their defence in their conscieÌ„ces confesse that their teachers are guilty of trecherous dealing the scribe also in the proofs of the lay papists fidelity doth rather make proofe of his owne impudency in affirming matters notoriously false denying matters euidently true and of his singuler folly in ripping open the woundes of his owne broken cause then of any matter in question betwixt vs and intended to be proued by him as may better appeare the whole discourse being reported as they conceiued it and as wee thus finde it in the petition Chapter 5. The proofes of the lay papists fidelity ANd now we come to the matter of our loyalty and obedience Gracious Soueraigne in the defence whereof we ar driuen by the necessitie of our affayrs 1 If in this nuÌ„ber you include all that make lavves against Papists you haue the king and Parliament for party im portunity of our oppugners to insist more particulerly Reasons of loyalty then otherwise were conuenient in respect of our owne modestie or your Highnes bounty and magnanimity who neuer yet omitted to recompence and pay suo loco tempore loue with loue 2 Hovv can you deserue the Kings protection that yeeld to his enemies subiection subiection with protection and vertue with honor For the full and finall clearing therefore of that point of disobe dience and disloyalty wherewith we are so often charged rather in hatred of Religion then of any ground or substance that euer cold 1 VVer Brook Clark WarsoÌ„ Persy Catesby and their complices charged vniustly iustly be shewed may it please your highnes to consider that there be (a) Thre ways of triall three waies for a prudent and circumspect Master to trie out the honesty and fidelitie of his seruant accused of treacherie 2 And all insufficient and foolish The first Former behauiour by making inquisition of his former life and behauiour what 3 You serue the Pope as your Master can you then serue the king too Master he serued before in what estate and for how long time and with what successe and trustines The second Present carriage to looke narrowly into his present quality and 4 For your euill qnalified dispute if you vvere caried in a clokebag you might lie the drier cariage and to be assured how he is and hath been affected to him his forefathers friends and dependers The last to compare his actions and comportments aswell past as present with those that traduce him and to see what caution he can giue to stop his enimies suggestions for his future fidelity (b) Comparison betweene the Catholikes and new Clergies comportments To this forme or triall Dread Soneraigne we submit our selues our liues and actions and will endeauour to giue you full satisfaction in all the a foresayd points of our cariage Vt obstruatur os loquentium iniqua to the end that the mouth of him that speaketh wicked things may be stopt that you may notwithstanding what exclamations soeuer to the contrary serue your selfe of our poore 5 Pore forces and pore seruices is the king to expect at the hands of the popes vassalls forces liues and habilities in all your fortunes and emploiments against all your foes and enimies whosoeuer To begin then where we left when your MaÃesty made your happy entrance into this Realme and to put you in mind by what degrees and for what deserts we were brought into that miserable estate your Highnes found vs in It is well knowne that before our imprisonment and restraint vpon the statute of recusancy for the only Testimony of our consciences some of vs did beare offices in the common wealth and were 6 The more vvere you to blame that did dishonor and seek to destroy her that did dignifie you dignified by the late Queen in which charges and negotiations without vaunt be it said our 7 For vvant of good neighbors you are driuen to praise your selues cariages were (c) Catholike behauiors before their restraint disgrace for recusancy ciuill laudable and loyall and some of vs liued without charge yet not without credit and estimation of worshipfull and honest men and were aswell 8 By none but malcontents enemies of the state accepted reputed in the Countries and Prouinces where we dwelt and had commandement in as were any other of our neighbours of the like calling and degrees After our restraint our (a) Their demeanure after their restraint behauionr was such as became
sent to Eely to the Catholike recusants there imprisoned from the Lords of Queene Elizabeths priuie Councell with (c) A forme of submission sent down to the Catholiks from the Councell a forme of protestation of their duty and alleageance penned by the sayd Queens learned Councell with direction and commission to take the saide recusants subscriptions thereunto being altogether vnexpected of them they being close prisoners and hauing no intelligence at all of any Commissioners repairing to them So soone as these Commissioners had read some part of their commission to the Catholikes there they foorth with were seuerally deuided and in close prison restrained And notwithstanding the sayd formall originall sent purposely for them to subscribe vnto yet the Commissioners as it seemed for a more triall or for a more aduantage taking against the Catholikes there taxed euery of them to set downe immediately the protestation of their alleageance and dutie to like purpose as was set foorth in the originall seat to them from the Lordes of the Councell which the Catholike Gentlemen were permitted to haue but one onely time read vnto them This seuerall forme of submission in such strict order exacted by the Commissioners was in that (d) The catholikes exhibite a form of submission-far more complete theÌ„ that which was sent them ample 2 They had some dispensation to do vvhat they did and yet they did no great matter manner performed by the said recusants that the sayd Commissioners singularly extolling greatly preferring the same before the said originall accepted thereof and required not at all the Catholikes to subscribe to the said originall so penned by the said Queens learned Counccil and addresled by the Lords of the priuie Councell to whom the said prorestations being sent and by them perused they receiued such a full approbation that after that time neuer any odious imputation or calumniations against the fidelity of the Catholikes preuailed The like was the valour (a) The fidelity of Irish Catholikes fidelity and laudable seruice of the Irish Catholike recusants at Kinsale in Ireland anno 1600. who joyning their forces with the late Quens against the Spanish power and against then owne Countrimen and Kinsmen expelled with their assistance the Spaniard and were 1 These bastardly English do rob their ovvn countrimen of their honor in the battell by Kinsalo an 1600. and giue all to the Irish Gods glory like rebells to God they suppresse speciall meanes to keep Ireland in obedience to the Crowne of England which otherwise in the opinions of the commanders of the English forces then there had been vtterly lost And none of iudgement there doubted but that it was in the power of those Irish 2 Of these goodly Catholikes there vvere 4. rebells at the least for one true subiect in the Queens army Catholike Earles Barons Knights Gentlemen and their followers to haue betrayed then that Realme of Ireland to the hands of the Spaniards if either zeale of extirping the Protestant religion thence and firme establishing of the Catholike religion could haue preuayled with them or dread of (b) Excommunication hindred not the Irish Catholikes to do the duties of good subiects excommnnication or threatning of the powerfull inuader proclayming by sound of Trumpet and deuulging proclamations that his sword should no more spare a Catholike recussâ—t disobeying that excommunication then it should doe a protestant resisting in armes And this singular act of loyalty so shortly after seconding and confirming the like of the English catholikes in Eighty eight without all gain-saying conuinceth that the English and Irish Catholike recusantes are not (c) English Itish Catholikes no conditionall subiects conditionall subiects but most true loyall and 3 To the Pope rather then to the king faithull subiects to their Prince and to the Crowne of England therein giuing place to no subiectes of those two Realmes whosoeuer or of what degree soeuer and whose proofe and triall herein farre excelleth all other the subiects of those Realmes if preheminence should in that behalfe be attributed to any profession of Religion in the sayd Kingdomes This argument of our sormer behauiour and of our obedience vnder the 4 Shame you not to charge so mercifull a Princesse vvith seuerity vvhen your selues both by color of lavv by lavvlesse massacres most or uelly murder quiet Christians seuerity of the late Queen may in all reason assure your maiesty that in matter of our loyalâ—e we are like pure Gold fined and refined in the fire of many years probation and therin not to be any way stained The second triall of our fidelities consisteth in matter likewise of fact (d) Catholiks behauiour towards his Maiesties Pre towards your Maiesties Predecessors your Title in them and in your selfe and the effect of our loue and affection performed in all occasions that might giue contentment to your Maiesty both before and since your entrance into this your Kingdome of Ergland which we will endeauour to touch as briefly as we can It cannot be denied then in the first ranke of these our comportements but that we our selues in our times and our Catholike Parents before vs at all times of opportunity offered haue declared our deuouted affectioÌ„s to your 1 As may appear by ParsoÌ„s his book of Titles by Coluils libells and by the subscriptions and allovvances of them by diuers papists said Highnes (a) Catholiks alwaies affected to the Kings Title to England right to this crowne the testemonies whereof are in printed books and publike facts so manifest to the world that we need not long dwel on that point vouchsafe therefore patience we beseech you Deare Soueraigne to heare som instances of the (b) Blessings benefits his Maiesty hath receiued by catholikes blessings and the benefits your Maiesty hath receiued by 2 But not by papists beleeuing the doctrin of Trent and the kingkilling positions maintained by the popish faction catholikes and by our seruices and fidelities King Henry the 7. and his eldest Daughter from whome your Maiesty hath receiued lineally and directly your birth right and naturall succession to this crowne were most zealous and religious Catholikes and for that singular affection he did beare to the (c) Henry the 7 preferreth the Scotish King before the French Scotish nation principally for their great zeale at all times to the catholike religion preferred the same before France bestowing his sayd eldest Daughter on your Highnes great Grandfather and the yonger vpon the 3 King Henry the 7. vvas dead before the mach made vvith his daughter French King by which happy mariage came that lineall and rightfull descent of bloud that made your Maiesties renowned Mother Heyr apparant to this crowne of England who also was the vndoubted (d) His Maiesties Mother lineall heir to K. Edward the Confessor lineall Heire to King Edvvard the Confessor by his sister Margaret Queene and Saint and
declaration of Sixtus Quintus against our vertuous and religious Queene Elizabeth in the feditious libell of Parsons and Allen to the nobility and people of England and Ireland in Sanders his factious booke de schismate and proued by diuers letters and NegotiatioÌ„s of Englefield Norton Parsons and others Fourthly some of this sort came with the Spanish armada an D. 1588. and others were to folow Likewise did they follow the Adelantado in the enterprise by sea an 1598. and of D. Iuan d' Aquila into Jreland 1600. and much did the forrein enemy depend vpon the intelligence and forces of recusants as is made euident by the Adelantadoes proclamation Fifily I hope the recusaÌ„ts will not deny but that they haue depended in tyme past and purpose still to depend vpon the pope and must be forward in exequuting his bulles 6. no small numbre of Papists haue serued forrein enemyes receiued pensions froÌ„ theÌ„ which is no good argument of loyall cariage 7. the archpreests factioÌ„ hath loÌ„g stood for the infaÌ„taes title against his maiesty no doubt reteine the same humor stil but that the kings streÌ„gth doth keepe them in tempre 8 SaÌ„mier the Iebusite coÌ„ming disguised into England about the yeare of our Lord 1585. did plot so with diuers principall recusants in England as is testisied by the Iesuites catechisme that he brought his maiesties Mother and diuers others to theire destruction 9. we find that the principal men that in King Edward the 6. his dayes hindred the vnioÌ„ of England and Scotland and the aduancement of the state of late tyme were papists and that the quarrel about religion hath beene the cheefe stay thereof 10. euery man knoweth that the principall contriuers of that treason for which Watson Clerk and Brooke were exequuted were preests and reculants So likewise were Pearcy Catesbie Digby Tresham and their consorts that by fire and gunpowderment to make an end of the King and his Royal progeny They were I say most refolute and principall popish recusants and thought by fire and gunpowder to make good theire Romish fayth And shall any man so farre exceed all duty and modesty to make such felowes loyall Finally seeing al papists professe to serue the Pope deuoutly they cannot serue the king faithfully that is so contrary to him in religion For no man can serue two contrary masters To let former practises passe euery papist now is so combined with the Pope that he is bound to follow him and to exequute his censures Neither if they were asked the question would they either condemne former rebellions for popish religion being warraÌ„ted by the Pope or resist the popes forces inuading vs or stand with the king being excommunicated But howsoeuer they woulde promise their doctrine is such as no loyal subiect can hold it For their masters teach that the king is subiect to the pope that the Pope hath power to depose kings and to assoyle subiects from their obedience vnto them that the king is not to make Ecclesiasticall lawes nor to meddle with the gouernment of the church but as an exequutioner of the popes laws that Ecclesiasticall persons and their goods are exempt from the kings gouernment diuers others such disâ—oy all poynts Lastly if we compare popish recusants eyther with auncient or moderne true Christians we shall easily perceiue a mayn difference betwixt them For neither doe we read that ancient or later Christians did murther their kings that were Heathen nor that they thoughte it lawfull to doe such an act as the leaguers of France did nor that they allowed either the breach of oathes or the rebellions of subiects against their kings nor that they beleeued those trecherous poynts of doctrine which papists of late both beleeue and teach Now then let vs proceed on with our discourse and consider whether these lay papists haue either answered these obiections or broughte any matter sufficient to cleare them selues and their consorts from the iust imputations of infidelity and disloyalty toward their princes Both which poynts may be resolued by examination of the particuler poyntes of this fift chapter wherein they tell first that before their restrainte for recusancy some of them bare offices in the common wealth and were dignified by the Queen and that others had there putation of worshipfull and honest men But if they meÌ„t to haue iustified their former cariage as they pretended promised then should they haue told vs of their loyal affection to their prince and of theire good seruices performed for their country They should also aswell haue mentioned the cause of populer recusants as of the gentlemen But herein they altogether fayled For neither do they clear themselues nor their coÌ„sorts of those trecherous practises doctrines formerly noted nor are they able to bring proofe of either good affection or good action seruice performed for their prince country But where they talk of the diguifiing of many recusants by the Queene insteed of discharging themselues they charge theÌ„selues with great vnthankfulnesse and disloyalty that alwaies hated and persequuted her which ceased not to dignify and honor them Secondly they say their behanior after theire restraint was such as became Catholike Christians towards christian magistrates with all humility respect modesty and subiection But this would rather haue beseemed some others to speak then the laye papistes who for want of good neighbors ruune out into an high commendation of themselues Further more neither are prisoners much to be commended for carrying themselues modestly and respectiuely seing prisons at no places for men to exceed and grow proud rebellious nor did the papists here falsely called Catholikes keepe themselues in so good temper and ordre but that they were to be charged with diuers intelligences correspondences practises with the enemies of the state as appeareth in the recordes concerning Throckmorton Arden Someruille Babington Abington Parry Brooke and others And although for want of meanes and occasions they broke not forth alwaies into open action yet their modesty subiectioÌ„ did neuer so far restrein theÌ„ but they thought it lawful to kil and murder depose princes excoÌ„municated by the pope vnlawful to obey such without dispeÌ„satioÌ„ especialiy in ecclesiastical causes that therfor which they talk of obeying princes not for anger but for conscience sake and of their carriage without shadowe of disloyalty and of theire integrity and vnimpeachable demeanor is nothing else but a vaine brag without colour or shadowe of modesty For their conscience is ruled by the popes will and their practises treasons and rebellions are recorded both in story and in the Crown office Furthermore their treacherous doctrine agaynste the authoritye of Kings is published in their owne bookes and cannot be denyed by themselues Thirdly they tell his maiesty what offers were made by certaine recusantes in the I le of of Ely and by the lord Vaux anno 1588. when the Spanish and the popes forces came againste
theire country but many things are often offered that are slenderly performed and such no doubt would the seruice haue been that is or was offered by them who seared more the Popes thunderboltes then the princes double cannons and onely desired to free themselues out of prison that they mighte after take part with the stronger to desire to bee placed in the forefront of the battel in theire shirts they had no reason vnlesse they had meante after they hadde put of their armes and clothes to runne awaye more ligtly My Lord Vaux was so good a man of warre that I woulde wish no greater benefit to England then that all our enemyes were such But suppose some few recusants did offer to serue the Queen yet neither had she reason to trust them nor we to beleeue that all the rest of the recusants meant to serue her faithfully being sworn vassals to the pope her sworn enemy Vnhappy had this land beene if theire prayers and vowes had been performed Foralbeit some papists then did acknowledge the Queenes authority notwithstanding the popes excommunications yet that was for that the excommunication did not bind them vntill such tyme as the Popes bulle might be put in exequntion as appeareth by the faculties granted to Parsons and Campian Fourthly out of England they runne into Ireland to tell vs of the fidelity of Irish papists But it appeareth those men neuer came there to trye it they shew so greate ignorance of the Irish and of the affaires of Ireland For in the battaile at Kiusale they cannot name 10. Jrish that did any greate seruice At other times the most part alwayes abandoned and betrayed those that relied vpon them and euer for one Irish man that truly serued the Quene there might bee reckened 10. that willingly serued the rebells And this should the king finde at theire hands J feare if he had occasion to trie them If then these petitioners haue no better argumentes to proue the fidelity of recusants then such as these they will not proue refined gold nor good copper but rather Corke guilt ouer like gold or some such other light and slight stuffe good for nothing Fiftly they tell his maiesty of the affection and behauiour of papists toward his predecessors himselfe and his title neither forgetting King Henry the 7. nor King Edward the confessor But all the question being concerning the moderne papists and theire loyalty to princes of contrary religion who seeth not how farre theire discourse runneth out and is transcendent aboue theire purpose the welshmen of our tyme may with better reasō alledge the noble acts of Hector and Aeneas of Troy or of king Brute King Arthur or some auncient famous man of Britayne How much they fauored the King it appeareth by diuers attempts against him in Scotland and by the treason of Clerk VVatson Copley Brooke Markham and now lately of Percy Catesby and others sence his comming into England Parsons and Coluill directly oppugned the Kings title in books in print and to that boke which Parsons set out as is saide in diuers languages the Iebusitical faction yeelded a greate applause Many of them also as the seculer preestes charged them subscribed vnto it Jf then nowe they pretend to fauour the kinges title it is because it were bootelesse and dangerous now to oppugne it likewise the papistes that heeretofore wrote and spake in defence of his Maiesties Mother and of the Kinges title respected nothing else but theire owne particuler thinking by theire glosing wordes either to bring in Popery or to aduaunce theire owne priuate pretences Finally they shew they haue great Confidence in his Maiesties clemency that they haue refused to pay the twenty pound a month due for recusancy albeit the penalty be greate But here they shoulde rather alledge cause to moue the King to trust them then to shew that they may assuredlie trust the Kings mercy whose Clemency is so exceeding and word so assured Further this rather argueth their disobediente and repugning humor then iustifieth theire sober disposition and desire to be loyal Lastly they shewe a great differēce betwixt the gentle proceeding of true christians that with light penaltyes seeke to winne men and are slow in exacting them and the rigor and cruelty of papistes that confiscate all the Lands and goods of true Christians most barbarously torment and massacre their persons without pitty or mercy Jf then our lay papistes haue no better defences nor pretēces for their fidelity then they haue formerly alledged theire owne words will rather conuince them then cleare them and such as had no euill opinion of recusants before will take occasion to suspect that this stubble of theirs is nothing but a couer for the seed of much hartburning discontentment and disloyalty as their billetts and fagots of late were laid to couer their barrels of gunpowder couched vnder the higher house of Parliament Chap. 20. An answere to the petitioners calumniations agayust the professors of the Gospel set downe in the 6. chapter of their popish apologetical petition IT were a most simple defence for a prisoner standing at the Barre of iustice and answering for his life before his iudges to alledge for his defence that his behauiour is as honest and loyall as that of his accusers Yet this is the best defence which these Massepriests vnder the maske of lay papists make in this place supposing very absurdly the accusation of their aduersaries to be a iustification and defence of their own actions Nay where they pretend to deale against their accusers they mistake the matter vtterly and speake against such as are long since departed this life and neuer either accused them or knewe them and inueigh against the ministers of the Church of England which are not parties against them leauing the kings sergeants and atturney to speak what they list and aunswering nothing to their informations accusations and enditements which principally touch them But will you heare their wooden weak accusation against vs as it followeth Chapter 6. The cariage and behauiour of our Accusers IT resteth now lastly to consider what hath been the behauiour of some of our 1 Your accusers are your ovvne consciences the kings Atturney and other officers The Ministers accuse you not but ansvver your sooleries accusers the Ministers we meane The cariage of our Antagonists and some hot spirits of their adherents and followers from time to time in your maiesties affaires that hath so cherished dignified and aduanced them and to other their lawfull Princes that haue not so fully concurred with them in matter of religion as your Maiesty doth vt contraria iuxta se posita magis elucescant that contraries compared together may the more cleerly appeare If you demand what they were that accounted it a matter treasonable to retain any book or paper in fauour of your Maiesties Title and that in publique books called your Mothers right to this Crowne a pretended Title Agendum est
religion neither inioy honours nor goods nor lands nor liberty nor life pristine honours and honest reputations and to our birthright freedome and liberty by your onely Peerles justice clemency and benignity permitting vs to liue in peace come dere buccellam nostram sine dolore to put a bit of meate into our mouthes without sorrowe without flights without flights and without circumuentions of our Aduersaries our woundes are so deepe and daungerous in matters of our honours states and liberties that no Phisitian can cure vs but your selfe with the soueraigne balme of your renowned clemencye What pleasure or profit can redownd to your Maiesties person or estate if we your approued and assured seruantes and subiects 3 Many hane been satted in prison fevv haue rotted in prison though committed for treason and not religion lot in prison die in banishment and liue in penury and disgrace for no other crime or offence but for the constante profession of that Religion which in conscience we are perswaded to be the only true worship of God and saluation of our soules Of which our faith and beleefe we haue rendred so 4 You haue only told false reports and fabulous conccits of your ovvn braines dennyd of reason sufficient reason that wee hope it will fully satisfie and content so wise learned politique and discreete a Prince as your Maiesty hath shewed your self to be in all occasions presented to make trial thereof which maketh vs the more confident in our iust and reasonable defence because we sue to a most wise iust and learned Monarch And albeit more then this can hardly be required of men whose fidelities are so sufficiently tried and testified as appeareth by the whole substance and tenor of this our Apology yet pro abundantiore cautela we humbly lay down at your Maiesties feete in forme of submission and security following in behalfe of our Precsts and pastors The answere to the 6. Chapter THJS is the somme of this quarrelsome accusation flender in comparison of the matters obiected and witlesse in respect of the handling of it as the sequele will declare First they accuse a student of Lyons Inne a lawyer by profession as they call him But what is this to vs Nay what is that to the Ministers they speake of Further they sould know that there is some difference betwixt students of Lyons Inne and lawyers betwixt the Innes of court and chancery but that they lack law and experience This lawyer by profession as they say in a discourse of treasons against the Queenes Maiesty by Francis Throckmorton telleth how there were founde among other his papers 12 pedegrees of the discent of the Crowne of England printed and published by the Bishop of Rosse in the defence of the pretended title of the Scottish Queene his Mistris But whether they say true or no god knoweth Neither neede we to examine it the matter concerning vs nothing And yet if these men in those tymes shold haue discredited Queen Elizabeths title and preferred another before her they woulde hardly haue answered the matter if they had been called to Tiburne for it Neither if this students offence be so great which only telleth matter of fact will they be able to cleare Parsons and many recusants in England that haue heertofore allowed that traytorous booke of titles which infringeth the kings title that nowe reigneth in despite of all his oppugners Next they mention the attempt of the duke of Northumberland for setting vp the Lady Jane agaynst Queen Mary and thereto adde a commemoration of the execrable murther of the Kings father grādfather with thē also they conioyn Dauid the Queenes Secretary as they cal him Lastly they run out into a large discourse of Iames the base brother of the late Queen of Scottes of Bothwel Gowry others that in time past made some attemptes against the King and his mother But what maketh all this J pray you to the ministers of England against whom they pretend to frame theire odious accusation did not the duke of Northumberland as they say dye a papist and was he not assisted and folowed by more papists then true Christians Furthermore did not the Erle Gowry bring with him the seedes of popery witchcraft cōiuration yea of Atheism out of Jtaly and was not Bothwell an hypocrite at least in religion aswell as a traytor in his rebellion but had they doone wickedly we are not to iustify their particuler actions neither can these accusers iustifie their absurd discourse ioyning to gether matters so vnlike and so farre from the purpose and in some poyntes making against them selues Dauid was no man fit to be ioyned with kings James the Queenes brother was wickedly murthred by a practise of papists that the Kings grandfather was murthred we cannot learne they were none of our religion certes that laide hands either vpon his maiesties father or grādfather-likewise his maiesties mother was brought into trouble by the practise of Sāmier a wicked Iebusite as is testified by him that wrote the Iebusites Catechisme a papist a mā of more credit learning thē these libelling lay papists therfore not so easily to be shaken of But if they will not beleeue him nor Watson a Martyre of their Church yet I hope they will beleeue pius Qnintus his letters extant in his life written by Hierome Catena and shewing that she was animated in those courses by the pope and his faction of which any man may gather what were the causes of her calamity the same also may be proued by histories and all the proceedings in that cause which J forbeare to relate leaste I should offend as these libellers doe without all respecte of persons refreshing the kings greefe and speaking of matters which he most graciously hath forgotten Lastly they mention certaine statutes made partly for the settling of the title of the Crowne and partly to meete with the seditions and conning practises of papistes which with reconciling men to the pope and by diuers notes of faction as agnus deies beads graynes and such like sought to vnite their consorts to stirre vp tumults and to make a side to depose Queen Elizabeth But all this rehersall of lawes as it sheweth the greate or rather necessary occasions giuen to the state to make lawes against factions preests and their adherents so it maketh nothing for the cause in hand seeing the peace of the land was thereby confirmed and the Kinges right no way preiudiced But if the Masseprestes and the Popes agents had beene left at liberty to found the popes kingdome within England then if the King had not founde geate trouble at his entrance yet should he haue felt halfe his authority and kingdome shared by the pope This discourse therefore proceeding from men aduerse to the state and fauorable to forrein enemies and dealers for the Jnfantaes title as is recorded in diuers books and proued by diuers witnesses known by good experience
asmuch grace now as they 1 The case is vnlike they neuer turned Italienated diuels nor held intelligence vvith forrain enemies did then without any such assurance as our Priestes shall put in And to make the case yet more cleare and vncontrouleable we adde further that since (d) No religion can consist without Priests and Pastors no Religion euer did or could consiste without 2 Your Priests are no Pastors neither had the ancient christian Church any such sacrificing shauen and greasie Masse-priests Priests Pastors and men to whom the disposition of diuine misteries did belong we hope that our desire to haue the benefite of such Clergie men as may stand with the safety of our Prince and country is conformable to reason as commaunded by the rules of conscience charity and Christianity And that it may be more apparent to the world that this our lowly Christian desire and humble demaund shall not any wayes be preiudiciall to your Maiesties Royall person or estate we 1 None but plain ideotes vvill make this offer offer to answer person for person and life for life for euery such Priest (a) The Catholikes offer for their Priests as we shall make election of and be permitted to haue in our seuerall houses for their fidelity to your Maiesty and to the state by which meanes your Maiesty may be assured both of our number and cariage of all such Priestes as shall remaine within the Realme for whome it is not credible that we would so deeply ingage our selues without full knowledge of their dispositions their being here by this meanes shall be publike the places of their abode certain their conuersation and cariage subiect to the eyes of the Bishoppes Ministers and Iustices of peace in euery prouince and place where they shall liue by which occasion there may probably arise a kind of vertuous and not altogether vnprofitable emulation between our Priests and your Ministers who shall exceede and excell the other in vertuous liuing and exemplarity of life and other acts and exercises of piety and deuotion which must needs turne to the edification of the people and extirpation of vice and we shall be so much the more circumspect and carefull of the comportments of our said Priests as our estate and security doth more directly depend vpon their honesties fidelities To conclude we do and euer will Redoubted Prince acknowledge your Maiesty our lawfull King and Soueraign Lord and will (b) Catholikes opposition against all pretenders defend and maintain your Maiestis Heirs and your Successors possession right and Title with life and liuely hoode against all 2 But such as are inuested by the Pope in the right of any crovvne are not taken for pretenders pretendants to the contrary Furthermore we will 3 As you haue done hitherto declaring the kings secrets to forrain enimies and as the Masse-priests did in Percies treasō (c) Their profer to reueale withstād all treasonable attempts reueale and to our powers withstand and preuent any conspiracy or intended treason against the person of your Maiesty your Heyrs and Successors and we will to our power defend your Realmes and Dominions against all inuasions or forraigne enemies vppon what pretence soeuer We do and will acknowledge due vnto your Maiesty from vs whatsoeuer is due for a subject vnto his Prince and Soueraigne either by the law of nature or by the word of God or hath beene vsed by any Catholike subiect towardes your Highnes Catholike Progenitors and this we will perform by protestation 4 The Pope can dispense vvith both as they beleeue (d) The catho likes oath and protestation oath or in such other manner as shall seem best to your Maiesty And this same oath and protestation our Priests so permitted 1 But vvhat if they break their othes then are they periured and the state vvithout remedy What goodly satisfaction is this shall take before they be admitted into our houses otherwise they shall not haue reliefe of vs. In this sort we doubt not but that your Maiesty may both in honour and security take protection of our persons mitigate our former afflictions and be assured of our future loyalties loues and affections if you but please to rake the view which your maiesty may do in this our Apologie of the rules of our 2 These rules declare you to be the Popes slaues and the kings enimies Doctrine and Religion in those cases of the experience of our former actions and of the 3 Or rather absurd and full of foolish complements absolute complete forme of this our submission and alleageance which Bands as they are most voluntary on our parts so are they far (a) Voluntary submission far to be preferred before counterfet conformity more honorable profitable and durable for your Highnes security then all the lawes and rigours in the world And to say the trueth what greater glory or triumph can so magnanimious a Monarch as your Maiesty is haue in this world then to see and behould so many 4 I hope many douzins vvill not subscribe this absurd and disleall petition thousands of your faithfull Citizens and subiects manumitted from seruitude resuscitated as it were from theyr sepulchers recalled from banishment deliuered from prisons rendred to their wiues and children and restored to their pristine honours and honest reputations by your Maiesties onely peerles Clemencie and benignity and to march before your 5 A pore triumph he is like to receiue by these mens seruices Persie meant to send him vvith fire gunpovvder to heauen triumphall chariot with all insignes of liberty loue freedom joy and estimation of whose affections your Maiesty can be no lesse assured then a mercifull Father of dutifull children Quos genuit in visceribus charitatis pietatis suae whom he hath begotten in the bowels of his charity and piety And if that renowned Roman was woont to say that he had rather (b) More glory in sauing one Citizen then in vāquishing a camp of enimies saue the life of one Citizen then ouercome a whole campe of his enemies what now shall your Maiesty gain in giuing life and liberty to so many thousands who are sicke of the late Queens euill whom no phisick can cure but the sacred hands of our anoynted King and are like to the (c) Cicero the pretor and patron of Sicily Sicilians whom none but Cicero or the (d) Flaminius restored the Grecians to their ancient liberties Grecians 6 Graeci semper mendaces so are these fellovvs in the tales of greeks and Sicilians and of their legends whom none but Flaminius could deliuer from the heauy yoke and insupportable seruitude which the Pretors and Princes their predecessors had imposed vpon them We are but halfe men if men at all whom in these later dayes and times no man durst defend countenance conuetse with or imploy and as your Maiesty
they seek for true pastors indeede why do they forsake the bishops and preests of the Church of England which indeed haue both the calling and exequute the function of true Bishops and pastors and runne after these wolues murdrers and deuourers of Christ's sheepe Fiftly they offer to answere person for person and life for life for the fidelity of theire preests to his maiesty and the state But what if the preests absolue traitors and perswade them to rebellion where shall the state seecke either for the parties or sureties And what shall it auaile to sue the bonds Agayne what a ridiculous conceite is this to thinke that the bonds of euery two or three base compagnions will be sufficient to secure either the life of so greate a king or the peace and state of so greate a kingdome against men already found perfidious Thirdly it will be a question whether if such a matter were to be performed euery pild crowned preest could procure such hostages and bondes as are offered it may be some good old Ladyes and recusant Cuckowes would offer any bond for their darlinges But the wiser sort J thinke woulde neuer put their liues in hazard vpon the massepreests promises who if the pope command them to doe an exployt for their holy mother the mother of fornications regard neither promise nor oath Finally it may be a question whether any such bonds are good in lawe and percase these good fellowes knowing them to be nought are the bolder to offer them thinking to gull the worlde with theire greate offers Fiftly comming to the poynt of their pretended submission they playnely refuse to submitte themselues offring rather articles of a capitulation betwixt the King and them then any forme of true subiection or submission for firste they say they will acknowledge his maiesty to bee their lawfull King and souerein Lord and will defend his maiesties heires and successors righte And for this his maiesty is much beholding to them But we must vnderstand howe this offer is made vpon condition if they may haue theire masse and theire Masse preests if they may not haue theire requests then they neither submit themselues nor offer any thing Further they acknowledge more then by the doctrine of popery they can make good For by the chapter v. nam sanctam extr de maior obed all kings are declared to be subiect to the pope They do also deny the kings authority in Ecclesiasticall causes and offer many preiudices to the Kings righte both ouer the Clergy and others and acknowledge him no further to be their lawfull king then it shall please the Pope who hath power to excommunicate him and depose him as they say Lastly where they speake of the Kings successors right they forget to mention the kings righte But what should wee stand vpon future coniectures when the treasons of Watson Clerk Garnet Hamond and the rest haue plainely declared them to bee the kinges enemyes Secondly they promise to reueale and to theire powers to withstand and preuent any conspiracy or treason agaynst the King and his heires and to defend the realm against forrein inuasions But miserable were the King and state if they shold depend vpon their reuelations and withstandings of treasonable attempts and invasions that are sworne to the pope depend vpon forrein enemies Former practises and experience sheweth that their words and promises are but snares to catch such as trust them of late they smothered the treason of Percy and Catesby as much as they could soughte by all meanes to haue their country set on a flame They acknowledge to his maiesty what is due by the word of god or hath been vsed by any of their sect but of the word of god they make the Pope supreme iudge and vse to deny obedience to Kings excommunicate by him nay to Kings not excommunicate in ecclesiasticall causes what they meane to performe it appeareth by Watsons and Percies treasons Lastly they say they will performe this by protestation or oath and offer the like for their preestes But what are oathes and promises when they say the pope can dispense with oathes and teach that faith is not to bee performed to hereticks in which rank these superstitious ministers of antichriste place all true Christians Furthermore it may bee doubted whether these felllowes can bring the stiffe necked massepreests to take these oaths if they cā yet shal they neuer make them to keepe them doth it not then appeare that these conning fellowes goe about to ensnare playne dealing men with their false othes and feigned protestations the examples of Iohn Husse of the professors of religion in Frāce and Flanders that haue bene often massacred when they relyed vpon the othes and promises of the Popes adherents doe assure vs of it and Garnets treasons may bee a caueat for vs. Wherefor seeing these proud suppliants confesse themselues but halfe subiects and are much lesse then halfe when the pope commandeth them whose they are body and soule seeing they always cut away halfe the kings authority and sometymes all and endeuoure to bring vpon his maiestye and his subiects not only a false idolatrous hereticall and impious religion but also a most greeuous yoke of the popes tyrannicall gouernement from which this land hath by the grace of god and prowesse of his maiestyes noble ancesters been most happily freed and deliuered and seeing they haue alledged nothing which might eyther iustify their abusiue false religion or cleare themselues from the common imputations of the disloyalty of the popes adherents or assure the king and state against the trecherous plots and practises of rinegued English sacrificers Iebusites and other theire associates euer suspected now lately plainely detected in Percies treasō to be sworn slaues of Antichrist professed enemyes to the king I doubt not but his maiesty the state wil take a cours with these bold importune petitioners assure the church and realme both against their corruptions in doctrine and attempts in the affaires of Policy and that in the meane while as all Christians abhorre theire antichristian doctrine and dangerous practises so they will concurre in repressing and extinguishing the causes of them This al christians ought to performe and these especially that haue eminent places both in church and common wealth VVhat then should I need to exhort them to performe that which belongeth to their duty as they doe well knowe and which both god requireth and all true christians expect at theire handes Chap. 22. A censure vpon certain letters of the banished masse preests sent back to the lords of his maiesties councell anno 1604 and annexed to the former petition IT is an old saying all is lost that is bestowed on men vngratefull and may well bee verified by the fact of certein massepreests who hauing well deserued death if the lawes of the land had been exequuted against them were graeiously pardoned by his maiesty only
exiled for that the state cold not otherwise be well secured against their plots and practises and yet are so farre from rendring thankes for any fauour that they expostulate with his maiestyes councell as doing them wrong and in effect protest they will not submitte themselues to his maiestyes order Nay it is apparent that they resolued to return to continue their former treasons as may be collected by the examinations of the actors in Percyes treason and rebellion THE COPIE OF THE BANISHED Priestes Letter to the Lords of his Maiesties most honorable priuie Councell To the right a VVhy is this petitio directed to the Lords is the king no body with these mē Honourable our very good Lordes the Lords of his Maiesties most honorable priuie Councell RIGHT Honourable As we haue suffered for 1 Not so but for Antichrist and his damned practises and pretences Christ his sake and the profession of the true Catholike religion which he 2 Men plant vvith hands not vvith bloud but these priests of Baal tread vpon Christs blud root vp the Church by him planted planted with his pretious bloud many years imprisonment and 3 Those that liued at Wisbich in prison fared like Lords and fatted thēselues like proks other massepriests abroad vvere either chāberlaines to their hostesses or Maggiordōs to their hostes wāting nothing that they could vvish And this against the Iebusitical faction may be proued out of Watsōs quodlibets depriuation of all worldly comforts and commodities so do we with the like patience and humilitie endure this hard heauy 4 For those that by lavvs deserue death this is extraordinary fauor sentence of exile which is a certaine kind of ciuill death or rather a languishing and continuall dying especially to them that haue the honour and safety of their prince and Country in that recommendation as we 5 Thē neuer haue they had their prince and country in recōmendation seeking to make both subiect to the pope his abhominable heresie nay to destroy both as appeared by the late gunpovvder treason euer both haue had and haue Notwithstanding least it might be imputed vnto vs here after that this banishment was rather an extraordinary fauour and grace then an vndeserued 6 This thanks the Lords ar to look for at the hāds of the priests of Baal punishment or penalty we thought it our dutie to let your Honors vnderstand that as we are 7 VVhy then do ye murmure content with patience and humility to suffer and support whatsoeuer you should impose vpon vs for our 8 For your trecherous practises and combinations Religion so are we bound with all to make protestation of our innocencie according to that of S. Peter 9 But you suffer contrary to these vvords of Peter for railing libelling practifing against the state Nemo vestrum patiatur vt sur ant latro an t maledicus aut alienorum appetitor si autem vt Christianus non erubescat glorificet autem Deum in isto nomine May it please your Lordships therfore to vnderstand that the quality and condition of those that are comprehended vnder the selfe same sentence of banishment is very different and considerable both in honour and 10 What do these base conscienceles svvads talk of honor conscience that hane no other foundation of their actions but the popes vvil conscience among the which some there are that came voluntarily into prison vpon a proclamation set out by your Lordships in the late Queens daies and name with assurance of fauor vpon such their submission som came neither voluntarily into the prison nor into the Realme and therefore not subiect to any censure and all of them haue bin euer most 1 Such faithfull seruants and vvelvvillers vvere Clerke Watson and Brook executed not lōgsince at Winchester and Digbie Grant Faux and others executed in Pauls Churchyard at Westminster but nether for their faithfull seruice nor their affectiō to his Maiesly faithfull seruants affectionate well-willers of his Maiesty and haue to shew vnder the great Seale of England his Maiesties gratious generall pardon by which they are restored vnto the peace of his Maiesty place of 2 This shevveth that their conscience accused them of trechery disloially before true subiects since which time they haue committed nothing against his Maiesties quiet Crown and dignity as being euer since in 3 As if prisoners might not be disleall and trecherous captiuity and therfore in the rigor extremities of those lawes which in their best sence nature were euer held both 4 Most gentle if they be cōpared vvith the lavves of the Spanish inquisition or the popes bloudy decretales extreame and rigorous cannot be punished by any form or course of law with so seuere a correction as aqua igne interdici to be depriued of the benefit of the common Ayr and elements of our most naturall and dear 5 VVhen you sold it to forrein enimies you made it deare both to them and your selues country Yet sithence it is your Lordships pleasure we should be transported we are 6 This is the patience of Lombards not of saints content in signe of obedience cōformity to that we see is your order for this time to forbear the Realm for a while to absent our selues reputing our selues notwithstanding as men free from all danger or penalty of lawes and neither by this fact of banishment nor by any other act of our necessarie retourne into 7 If this be your country vvhy did you abandon it take your self to the seruice of Italians Spaniards our country hereafter in worse estate then your Lordships found vs in the prison when your Lordships warrant cam for the carying vs out of the Realme And so hoping your Honours will conceiue of vs as of men that haue the feare grace of God before our eies and the sincere loue of our 8 For pure loue they their consorts an 1588. sought to cut their countrimens throats and to bring their prince and country into the hāds of strāgers for like causes sought Percy to blovv vp the parliament house Prince and country in our harts and dutifull reuerence and respect to your Lordshippes in all actions we humbly beseech your honors that if we happen for want of health or other helpes necessarie for our reliefe to 9 Hauing bin in Italy they shold know the penally of banishedmē returning vvith out pardō or licēce retourne hereafter into the Realme this banishment may not any waie aggrauate our case or make vs les capable of fauor grace then we were the xxj of September when your Lordships order came to remoue vs frō post to 10 You shold haue bin left at Tiburn post neuer haue bin suffered to return to the pope Cardinals vvhich you count pillers but that you haue encoūtred vvith
merciful mē piller from prison to exile so desiring God to enspire your lordships vpon whose resolutions depends the repose of the Realm and the 11 You saue none destroy al that receiue not the beasts mark your pestilēt doctrin saluatiō or perdition of many thousand soules with his holy grace and assistāce in all your most graue waighty determinatiōs in most humble dutiful maner we take our leaue frō 12 Many of your felovvs an 1588. that came a gainst their coūtry ly in the botō of the sea from vvhence they send no libelling letters your hap is better your cause equal the Seaside this 24. of Sept. 1604. His Maiesties true 13 As true as the Irish rebells or as Watson Clerk Brook Percy Catesby Faux Digby the rest of that crevv that vvere as true papists as the rest of these massepriests and loy all subiects and your honors most humble seruants The late banished Priests The censure THE Lords no doubte looked for thanks for their gentle and milde course taken with these massepreests if they looked for none yet his maiesty deserued at their hands both thanks and praises that gaue them life who had so well deserued death and though he sent them out of England yet did send them into no place but whether they had fled before voluntarily of themselues But see the malicious disposition I pray you of this viperous generation For thankes to the Lords they send reprofes and expostulations direct their letters to the lords as thinking the king to be no king nor worthy to be written vnto by such glorious creatures of antichrist as they take themselues to be They suppose that they haue written wisely pithily But of that mē may the better esteem by these particulers First they say they haue suffred for christ his sake and the profession of the true catholike religion which he plāted with his precious bloud But this is a grosse slander to the state and to his maiesty principally who is here charged with persequuting Christ the true catholike religion Further the same is a most impudent and vntrue assertion For neither did Christ plant nor water the masse nor the worship of saints and images nor the popes triple crown with his blood nor is popery Catholike religion nor did these fellows suffer for their superstitious false opinion vnlesse the same drew them into practise of treason and made them to fetch their greasy ordination from forreign enemies and to depend vpon them and to ioyn with them in seeking to blow vp the state Secondly they pretend to haue been depriued of all worldly comforts commodityes But the author of the quodlibers saith no and the world knoweth how they haue domineered in the places of their resiance and liued with all plenty ease and contentment in prison Gerrard and Garnet are fat and well liking and neuer did men enioy more worldly delightes 3 They cal the sentence of exile hard and heauy But in Spayn and Italy our brethren would thank god for such a fauoure so woulde they also considering they haue deserued death but that they are gracelesse and vnthankfull 4. They blush not to affirm that they haue the honor and safety of their prince in recommendation when their doctrine maketh theire prince and country subiect to the pope and his censures and their practises tend to bring in strangers and to dishonor and ouerthrow both prince and state as before is declared and as appeared by Percies treason 5. They say theire banishment is an vndeserued penalty But the lawes of England say they deserued death and their treasons prooue it are not then fauors well bestowed on these treacherous and murmuring fellowes 6. They alledge the words of saynt Peter Nemo vestrum patiatur vt fur vt latro aut maledicus aut alienorum appetitor si autē vt Christianus c. But they are no followers of S. Peter or of his doctrine suffering for trecherous combinations with forreine enemies and domesticall Gunpowder men and hauing long railed againste the state and sought the spoile thereof diuers of thē deuiding bishopricks and benefices in England in conceipte and being inducted into them at Tiburn or Wisbich and none of them suffering for any poynte of Christian faith 7. They tell vs of the diuers qualityes of the Massepreestes banished But what is that to the purpose seeing none wold reuounce intelligences with forreigne enemyes nor acknowledge the kings supreme authority Further they cannot prooue that they haue any good qualities being so farre ingaged in Percyes conspiracy and other practises 8. They signify that they purpose agayn to return into their country But how agreeth this with their former protestation of suffering with patience and humility agayn why shold they intrude themselues where no man sendeth for thē why shold they thrust thēselues in amōg true pastors being ordeined by Antichrist to sacrifice for quick dead why shold wolues be suffered to entre within Christs fold hereticks among Christians trecherous compagnions among the kings loyall subiects 9. They pray their honors to conceiue of them as of men that haue the fear and grace of god before their eies and the sincere loue of their prince and country in their harts But their doctrines actions and practises doe vtterly remooue this conceit both out of the minds of the councell of others Som particulers of their dooings we haue touched before the treason of Catesby and Percy toucheth them at the very hart Finally they call them selues his maiesties true and loyall subiects But how true it appeared first in the practises of Clerke and Watson hanged at Winchester not lōg sence and next in the attempt of Percy and his complices diuers of thē being absolued and resolued by massepreests in their wicked purposes and generally in the doctrine of massepreests against the authority of Kings before mentioned and in their combinations and intelligences with the pope other traytors and forreine enemies as Parsons and the popish cardinals and such like What then remayneth but that such as finde them selues agreeued with the sentence of banishmēt should haue the sentēce of the law and that such as loue the Pope and Jtaly better then the King and their owne country should be forced to liue with theyr holy father in their Italian Babylon god grant that neither Prince nor country receiue harme by their return or by any of their associates or companions Amen FINIS The contentes of euery chapter of the Book precedent Chap. 1. THE resolution of the petition apologeticall of the lay papists together with a som of the answer made vnto it Chap. 2. That the toleration of any false hereticall or idolatrous religion is repugnant to reasons of religion and holy scripture Chap. 3. That conuinence and toleration of false religion and heresie and of the professors thereof is reproued by the authority both of ancient fathers of the church and of auncient christian Princes Chap. 4. That to admit the exercise of false religions formerly forbidden is contrary both to christian policy and reason Chap. 5. That toleration of diuers religions is contrary to the doctrine and practise of papists Chap. 6. That popery is a false and erroneous religion Chap. 7. That popish religion is heathenish and idolatrous Chap. 8. That popery is a religion composed of old and new heresies Chap. 9. That popish religion is new and not as the papists call it the old religion Chap. 10. That popery is a religion impious and blasphemous Chap. 11. That toleration of popery is contrarye to reasons of state Chap. 12. That popish religion is enemy to kings Chap. 13. That the same is burthensome to christians Chap. 14. That the petition of such as desire a toleration of popery is voide of reason Chap. 15. That the same is repugnant to grounds of religion and policy practised by papists themselues Chap. 16. An answer to the title of the petition of lay papists and the preface of John Lecey Chap. 17. An answer to the two first chapters of the petition conteining causes both of the petitioners long silence and of their breache of silence Chap. 18. Of the quality number and forces of English papists and of their assurance and resolution which they praetend in their religion Chap. 19. The examination of lay papists fidelity of which they endeuour to make proofe in the fift chapter of their petition Chap. 20. An answere to the petitioners calumniations agaynst the professors of the Gospell set downe in the 6. chapter of their popish apologeticall petition Chap. 21. The insufficiency and foolery of the submission promised by lay papists for themselues and their priests is examined Chap. 22. A censure vpon certain letters of the banished massepreests sent backe to the Lords of his Maiesties councell anno 1604. and annexed to the former petition Escapes correct thus Pag. 8. line 18. reade the apostle 2. corinth 6. p. 14. l. vl vlli magistratui p. 26. lin 28. Hierem. 2. p. 31. l 23. Basilidians l. 25. exorcizations p. 34. l. 5. with the priscillianists p. 48. l. 7. and ignorant people p. ead l. antepenul three principal p. 60 l. 9. whereas I doe not suppose p. 62. l. 6. if the parliament-house p. 73. lin 26 are matters p. ead l. or so mutinously p. 74. l. 26. but rather seek p. 76. l. 12. daungerous deseins p. 91. l. 22. numbres of papists p. 94. l. 15. fourthly they mention p. 95. l. 31. for their resolution p. 99. l. 33. Helas pore soules Literall faults and transpositions of titles pardon
Papists study as much for the Popes grace as for gods grace in hac vita gloriam in futura From my study in Dovvay this 7 That is 12. dayes before the receit of the book which vvas the 28. of this moneth 16. of October 1604. Your very louing Sonne and seruant in Christo Dommo IO. LECEY The answer to both HOw little our aduersaries respécte true and sincere dealing wee may in part coniecture by the vntruths of thè title and preface praefixed before this petitiō For firste they giue the title of Catholikes to papists whose religion is prooued seditious false erroneous hereticall idolatrous and blasphemous and in no sorte catholike or professed of true catholikes and secondly they pretend that it was made by the lay papists of Englād whereof J doe no suppose them to be so vnwise as that they will auowe what soeuer is sayde in this petition or so presumptuous as to charge the King with disgraceful breach of promise or to defame him with suspition of heresy as these men do Further the authors hereof page 19. do cite Caluine Knoxe Luther and Goodman whose books lay papistes may not reade and whose testimonyes they haue no reason to alledge vnlesse théy haue read them Leceys praeface concerning the conformity and perfection of this petition the contentement to be receiued of all sortes of men thereby is nothing but a pack of foolish and vntrue surmises as we shall declare heereafter alledging the wordes of Saint Peter 1 Epist 2. they leaue out the beginning of the sentence vpon which the words by them cited do depend Haue your conuersation honest among the gentils saith saint Peter that wherin they detract from you as malefactors considering good works they may glorify god in the day of visitatiō those words haue your conuersation honest being guilty in their consciences of dishonesty they leaue out and translate by the good workes considering you for considering your good works Further their title and testimony is not more destitute of truth thē of reason For neither is a petition an apology nor an apology a Petition that they should call their discouse a petition apologeticall Nor had they reason to alleadge saint Peters wordes concerning the good workes of Chrstians who notwithstanding were reputed malefactors For little doe they fit the cause of papists whose good works are gheason and whose practises of treason and rebellion in so many recordes doe conuince them to be truly malefactors The secular preestes also confesse that the exequutions done vpon Masse-priestes and theire adherentes were iust and necessary The preface of John Lecey or rather lazy Iohn is nothing else but an idle declamation in prayse of this pseudaposticall petition and the authors thereof wherein this scraping fellowe endeuoureth to tickel the galled backs of his owne compagnions with his forged commendations But let them beware they trust him not to farre least he draw them within the compasse of his own disloyalty and bring them where Percy and Catesby left them The Lazy fellowe directeth his speech to some odde namelesse sacrificer for hee calleth him reuerend Sirre but if the Masselouers were not blinded with affection they might thereby see howsoeuer this geare is thrust forth vnder the name of lay papists that all the aduantage proceeding therof commeth to the polshorne preests of Baal In the entrance of his matter he maketh greate bragges telling his frend that this petition or apology he knoweth not whether to call it is so conformable to reason so absolute in forme of the petitioners submission and so admirable for the assurance by them offered for theire preestes and pastorus that the publishing thereof cannot but giue contentment in his opinion to all sorts of men But his performance is nothing correspondent to his greate countenance For firste we haue already shewed that this request for a toleration of popery is not only contrary to reason but also to religion all Christian policy Secondly the submission that they make is very defectiue cōsidering theire denyall of the Kings authority in Ecclesiast icall causes and their de pendance vpon the Pope that claimeth a superiority ouer the king But did they submit themselues wholy to his maiesty yet shoulde they doe nothing but that which is required of all good subiects Thirdly theire admirable assurance is most admirably ridiculous For who doth not wonder and laugh to heare assurāce offred for the life of so great a King and so potent a state by a few thridbare fellowes we know not who they are the parliament house had beene blowne vp who shoulde haue sued their bonds who should haue brought them into the Starchamber for periurye Againe when the Pope so easily dispenseth with oathes and dissolueth contracts what reason hath any Christian to depend either vpon him or his adherents for either oth promise or bond Besides all this our prologue where hee thinketh himselfe horribly eloquent speaketh playne contradictions fooleries For firste if the petitioners had such reason as he pretendeth what should they neede to make a submission as hauing committed some greate crime againe what submission can a subiect make to his souereine that it is not required of him by duty thirdly such as make such absolute submissions as he talketh of neede nor to put in bonds or pledges Finally it is foolery to thinke either that papists are true catholikes or that such as ar truly informed of the continual practises of the fierye Iebusites and massepriestes agaynste the state will like of their vnreasonable requestes and no man can take them to bee wise that charge their iudges with praeiudice before hearing but to say or signify that nothing can satisfie the state but the blood and vtter beggary of Catholikes or rather papists is plaine villany and not to be proued againste any gouernor of this state No they desire their reformation and not their destruction or hinderance and much it were to be wished that Percy and other papists had been no more malitiously affected to vs thē we to them Alledging reasons for the publishing of this treatise he disputeth like a wilde man running far beyond his witte reason firste hee saieth that the publishing of this Apology cannot but tend much to his maiesties honor and more to his satisfaction and security as if those did honoure him that charge him with breach of promise note him with the stain of heresy hatred to catholike religiō as the petitioners do Further what security and satisfaction can those yeelde his maiesty that esteeme neither othes nor bonds when the pope contremandeth them but did they meane to keepe both yet prinate mens bonds are no security for such a king kingdom They talke J confesse of loue and deuotion to the king But it appeared but little by the practise of Brooke Clerke and VVatson first les lately by the treason of Percy Catesbie and Faux who of meer loue sought to blow vp the king