auowe before God seing we are now inforced to treate of thes affaires that whatsoeuer we haue said or shal say in this our defence or remonstrance touching the former articles and demandes about the Bul A protestation before the entraÌ„ce to the treatie of the former demandes about the Bul. nether hath bene nor shal be by vs anie wise spoken meÌ„t or applied against our natural Princesse or couÌ„trie how soeuer anie suspicious malitious or guiltie mind shal peradueÌ„ture conster or apply the same Nether shal the matter be otherwise treated of by me in this place but in such general termes as the schooles vse without touching anie particular person now liuing referring the applicatioÌ„ of al to Gods Church and to the cheefe Pastors therof and to the conscience of euerie good Christian reader to whose handes this booke may chance to come As on thother side we wil not busie our selues to defend euerie priuate mans writing or actioÌ„ concerning the matter of th'Ecommunication but wil without partialitie â—nd personal quarel for a common Apologie of vs al â—eclare and prooue thes assertioÌ„s of the Popes power â—nd superioritie ouer kinges in cases of Heresie Apoâ—tacie and other like to be agreable to Gods word â—nd not treasonable nor vndutiful to anie Prince or State in the world but beneficial to al and euery common wealth vnder Heauen whos gouernment is coÌ„teined within the prescript of Iesus Christ our Redeemers law But first before we come to the declaration of Catholique doctrine concerning Churches authoritie in censuring deposing Princes for matter of ReligioÌ„ The Protestantes opinion and practise for depositioÌ„ of Princes in case of false Religion it shal not be amisse perhappes to set doune the iudgment and practize of Protestants in the same case which though it weigh litle or nothing with vs as being altogether both done and spoken of seditious and partial affection to their Heresie and against the lauful Magistrate of God yet th' aduersarie seing his owne Masters against him shal wel perceaue that the resisting of Princes and Magistrates in cause of Religion as also the subiects taking armes for their defence in such a case is no way to be accounted treason but most lauful according to their new Ghospel And first their grand-maister Io. Caluin putteth doune his oracle In Dan. cap. 6. Ver. 22.25 as a conclusion approued of their whole sect and confraternitie in thes wordes Abdicant se potestate terreni Principes dum insurgunt coÌ„tra Deum iÌ„mo indigni sunt qui censeantur in hominum numero Potius ergo conspuere oportet in illo rum capita The doctrine of Father Caluin quà m illis parere vbi sic proteruiunt vt velint spoliare Deum suo iure c. Which in English is thus Earthlie Princes doe bereaue them selues of al authoritie when they doe erect them selues against God yea they are vnworthie to be accompted in the number of men and therfore we must rather spit vpoÌ„ their heades theÌ„ obey them when they become so proude or peruerse that they wil spoile God of his right to the same place I further referre the reader for his instruction For declaration of which text and for cutting of al cauillation about th'interpretatioÌ„ of his wordes their brother Beza shal speake next who alloweth highly commendeth in writing The doctrine of brother Beza the fighting in France for religion against the lawes and lawful K. of that Countrie saying in his epistle dedicatorie of his new testament to the Q. of England her self In editione An. 1564. That the Nobilitie of France vnder the noble Prince of Condey laid the first foundation of restoring true Christian religioÌ„ in France by consecrating most happilie their blood to God in the batail of Druze Wherof also the Ministers of the reformed FreÌ„ch Churches as their phrase is doe giue their common verdict The opinion of the Congregation Art 39. in the confession of their faith thus We affirme that subiects must obey the lawes pay tribute beare al burthens imposed and susteine the yoke euen of infidel Magistrates so for al that that the supreme dominion and due of God be not violated Zvvinglius likewise a cater-cosen to the Caluinistes in religion The senteÌ„ce of Zuinglius lib. 4. Epist Zvvinglii Oecol fol. 186. writeth thus If the Empire of Rome or what other Soueraigne so euer should oppresse the sincere religion and we necligentlie suffer the same we shal be charged with contempt no lesse then the oppressors therof theÌ„ selues wherof we haue an exaÌ„ple in the fiftenth of Ieremie wher the destruction of the people is prophecied 4. Reg. 21 for that they suffred their K. Manasses being impious and vngodly to be vnpunished And more plaine in an other place When kinges saith he rule vnfaithfullie and otherwise then the rule of the Gospel prescribeth Art 42. explanat Fol. 84. they may with God be deposed as when they punish not wicked persons but speciallie when they aduaunce the vngodlie as idle Priests c. such may be depriued of their dignitie as Saul was And what our English Protestants writ or thinke of this matter you shal wel perceiue by their opinioÌ„ high approbation of Wiats rebellion in Q. Maries dayes wherof one of their cheefe Ministers called Goodman thus speaketh in his Treatise entituled Goodmans opinion Cap. 14. a pag. 204. ad pa. 212 Hovv superior magistrats ought to be obeyed VVyat did but his dutie and it vvas the dutie of al others that professe the Gospel to haue risen vvith him for maintenance of the same His cause vvas iust and they al vvere traitors that tooke not part vvith him O Noble VVyat thovv art novv vvith God thos vvorthie men that died for that happie enterprise c. What the Scottish Ministerie defineth in this question is plaine The iudgement of the Scottishe Ministrie Io. Knokes Ibidem pag. 77. by the verdict of Iohn Knokes their mightiest Prophet the argument of a treatise of this matter being set doune by him self thus Yf the people haue either rashelie promoted anie manifest vvicked person or els ignorantlie chosen such an one as after declareth him self vnvvorthie of regiment aboue the people of God and such be al Idolators and cruel persecutors most iustlie may the same men depose and punish him So Luther also the Protestants Elias being asked his opinion of the Almans coÌ„federacie The opinioÌ„ and definition of Luther Sled Hist lib. 8. made at Smalcalde against Charles the fift their lauful noble Emperour answered That in deed he vvas in doubt for a time vvhether they might take armes against their Supreme Magistrate or no but aftervvard seing the extremitie of thinges and that Religion could not othervvise be defended nor them selues he made no conscience of the matter but ether Caesar or anie vvaging vvarres in his name might be resisted Sledan also recordeth that the Duke of Saxonie
see in what sort also Hiereboam king of Israel 3. Reg. 13 14. The exāple of Ieroboā a vvicked schismatick denoūced by a Preist had a special Prophet sent to him to denounce the intended iudgements of God against him and his posteritie for his schisme and separation of his people from the old anciēt true worship of God in Hierusalem and for erectīg of a new Altar in Bethel ī which al schisme and diuisiō from the Apostolike Sea is properlie prefigured and for creating of a wicked cleargie out of Aarons order I meane new hungrie base and inordered Priestes the paterne of heretical ministers thrust vp out of the aray and orderlie succession and creation of Apostolike Priesthood a crime so highlie afterward both in him and his stocke according to Gods former denunciation reuenged that none of his house was left to pisse against a wal Yet he fondlie sought to apprehend the man of God and to kil him for bringing this newes which he accompted high treason against his regalitie Ozias also The exāple of proude Ozias that vvould take vnto him the authoritie of Priestes or Vsia king of Iuda puffed vp with intollerable pride as the Scripture sayeth and not contended with his kinglie soueraigntie but presuming to execute spiritual and Priestlie functiō was valiantlie by Azarias and fourscore Priestes with him assailed and thrust out of the Temple by force At what time for that he threatned the Priests of God and resisted them with violence he was strooken with a filthie leprosie so not onelie thrust out of the Temple but by their authoritie seuered also from al company of men a special figure of the Priests power to excommunicate for Heresie as wel Princes as others in the new law and finally the regiment of his kingdome was committed to his sonne A cleare example that Priestes may vse armes represse impietie by forceable wayes wher it may serue to the preseruation of Religion and the honor of God But the office and zeale of good Priestes is notablie 4. Reg. 11 recōmended vnto vs The exāple of depositiō and death of Queene Athalia by Ioida the highe Priest in the deposition of the wicked Q. Athalia She to obteine the croune after Ochasias killed al his children onelie one which by a certaine good womans pietie was secretlie withdrawen from the massacre saued and brought vp within the Temple for seuen years space al which time the said Q. vsurped the kingdome til at length Ioida the high Priest by opportunitie called to him forces both of the Preistes and people proclamed the right heire that was in his custodie annointed and crouned him king caused immediatlie the pretēsed Q. notwithstanding she cried Treason Treason as not onelie iust possessors but wicked vsurpers vse to doe to be slaine with her fautors at her owne court gate Thus doe Priests deale and iudge for the innocent and lauful Princes when time requireth much to their honor and agreeable to their holie calling No man can be ignorant how stoutlie Elias being sought to death by Achab and his Q. Iesabel that ouerthrew holie Altars 3. Reg. 18 19. The executiō done by Elias the Prophet vpon many vvith deposition of Princes and murthered al the true religious that could be found in their land tould them to their face that not he or other men of God whom they persecuted but they and their house were the disturbers of Israel And slew in his zeale al the said Iesabels false Prophets fostered at her table euen foure hundreth at one time and so set vp holie Altars againe How he handled the Idololatrious king Ochozias his Captaines and messingers 4. Reg. 1 wasting them and an hundreth of their traine by fire from heauen til the third Captaine was forced to humble him self vpon his knees vnto him 3. Reg. 19. 4. Reg. 9 How he had commission to annoint Hazael king of Siria Eliseus a Prophet for him self and Iehu king of Israel so to put doune the sonne and whole house of Achab which therbie lost al the title and right to the kingdome for euer This Prophet and his successor Eliseus were so famous in this seruice of God for the chastisement of irreligious Princes that in holie writ it is thus said of the former He cast doune kinges destroyed them Eccle. 48. and plucked the honorable from their seates And of the second in the same place that he neuer feared Prince nor could be ouercome by anie And in an other place 3. Reg. 19 VVho soeuer escapeth the svvord of Iehu the svvord of Eliseus shal slea him By which examples of holie Scriptures we see first Illations consequents vpō the former examples that annointed and laufullie created kinges may be deposed secondlie for what causes they were depriued thirdly that as in the creation and consecration of kinges so also in their depriuation God vsed the ministerie of Priestes and Prophets as ether ordinarie or extraordinarie Iudges or executors of his wil towardes them For though nether thes Priests nor Prophets were superiours to their owne kinges or soueraignes in their temporal states and regiments nor Lordes or maisters of their crounes and kingdomes yet for that they held their dignities and soueraigne authorities of God and were bound to occupie and vse the same with what forces so euer they had to th'aduauncement of his Religion and to the true worship and honor of their supreme Lord and Maister as also to the benefit preseruation of his people in faith and feare of him the Priestes and Prophets that then had the principal and direct charge of mens soules and religion and were in spiritual matters superiors to their owne Princes rightlie opposed them selues in al such actions as tended to the dishonor of God destruction of religion and to the notorious domage of the soules of them ouer whom they did reigne and in the behalf of God executed iustice vpon such as contrarie to their obligation and first institution abused their soueraigne power to the destruction of true religion and aduauncemet of Idolatrie Heresie or such like abhomination In which cases and al other doubtes and differences betwixt one man and an other or betwixt Prince and people that Priestes and namely the highe Priest should be the Arbiter and Iudge and the interpreter of Gods wil towards his people is most consonant both to nature reason the vse of al nations and to the expresse Scriptures Deut. 17. For in Gods sacred law thus we read Si difficile ambiguum apud te iudicium esse prospexeris inter sanguinem sanguinem The subiection of al men to the iudgemēt of Priestes causam causam lepram non lepram c. If thou forsee the iudgement to be hard and ambiguous betwixt blood and blood cause and cause leprosie or no leprosie and finde varietie of sentences among the iudges at home rise and goe vp to the place which
the Lord thy God shal chuse and thou shalt come to the Priestes of Leuies stocke and to the iudge that shal be for the time thou shalt aske of them and they wil iudge according to the truth of iudgement and thow shalt doe what so euer they say that haue the rule of the place which God shal chuse shal teach the accordīg to his lawe thow shalt not decline neither to the right hand nor left And if anie shal be so proude as not to obey the commaundement of the Priest that shal for that time minister vnto the Lord thy God by the sentence of the iudge let that man die and so thou shal remoue euil from Israel and al the people hearing shal feare and take heed that hereafter they waxe not proude Thus far in the holie text generallie without al exception subiecting in cases of such doubtes as are recited al degrees of faithful men no lesse kings then others to the Priestes resolution Yea immediatelie order is giuen how their kinges which yet were not when that was writtē but afterward by their motion to be created should be elected that none could be chosen to rule ouer them beīg the people of God that were not true beleeuers and worshippers of him according to the ceremonies of their lawe and religion which lawes they might not take make or moderate them selues but receiue of the Priestes of the Leuitical tribe and therbie learne to feare God and keepe his wordes and ceremonies expresly also appointing and warning them or as it were couenanting with them and him whom they should create or haue for their king that he should not against Gods expresse commaundement bring backe at anie time his people into Egipt that is to say from the libertie of his faith and true seruice to the bondage of Idolatrie and false Religion Which condition was afterward to be implied in the receuing of anie king ouer the people of God and true beleeuers for euer Videlicet A conditiō implied in the creatiō of al Princes that they should not reduce their people by force or otherwise from the Faith of their forefathers and the religion and holie ceremonies therof receiued at the handes of Gods Priestes and none other Insinuating that obseruing thes precepts and conditions he and his sonne after him might long reigne otherwise as by the practize of their deposition in the bookes and time of the kinges it afterward appeareth wherof we haue set doune some examples before the Prophets and Priestes that annointed them of no other condition but to keepe and mainteine the honor of God and his true worship depriued them againe when they brake with their Lord and fel to strange Gods and forced their people to doe the like And this it was in the old law The authoritie of Priesthood in the nevv testament But now in the new testament in the time of Christs spiritual kingdome in the Church Priestes haue much more soueraigne authoritie Princes far more strict charge to obey loue Esa 49.52 Esa 60. and cherish the Church of which Church it was said by prophecie Kinges shal be thy Fosterfathers and Queenes thy Nurces And againe Kinges brestes shal nourish the euerie kingdome that serueth not the shal perish In which Church without faile is the supereminent power of Christs Priesthood Psal 2. who with his yrō rodde bruseth the pride of Princes that rebel against his Spouse and kingdome in earth like a potters potsharde Ierem. 1. and hath right in his Church ouer al kingdomes to plant and plucke vp to builde and destroy afore whom al kinges shal fal doune and al nations doe him seruice Math. 16. Now Christs Priestlie prerogatiue passing his owne regal dignitie much more excelling al other humane power of the world in most ample exact termes is communicated to the cheefe Priest and pastor of our soules Mat. 18. and secondarilie to the rest of the gouernours of the Church in other maner of clauses thē anie earthlie Princes can shew for their pretenced spiritual regiment Fie on that secular pride and wilful blind heresie so repugning against Gods expresse ordinance and yet is of wicked Sectmaisters and flatterers vpholden to the eternal calamity of them selues and of millions of others Ioan. 21. Now al Christs sheepe wthout exception be they Princes be they poore if they be Christian men are put to Peters feeding and gouernment Now the keyes of heauē be deliuered to Christs Vicar in earth Mat. 16. to let in to locke out to binde to loose to punish to pardon Heb. 13. Now we be commanded euerie one be we kinges be we Caesars to obey our Prelates and Pastors and to be subiect to them as to thos that must make accompt to God for our soules 1. Cor. 5. 2. Ioan. wherin what Christian Prince may except him self Now they haue ful authoritie to forbid vs the companie of Heretiques Ad Tit. 3. Blasphemers Idolaters and such like and not so much as to salute them much more not to obey them And lest anie man should thinke this power to be so merelie spiritual that it might not in anie wise be extended to temporal or corporal domage or chastisement of the faithful in their goods liues possessions or bodies being mere secular thinges therfore not subiect to their Pastors spiritual or Priestlie function it is to be marked in the holie Apostles first execution of their commissions authoritie Spiritual Pastors haue povver to punish corporally that though their spiritual power immediatlie and directlie concerneth not our temporal affaires yet indirectlie and as by accident it doth not onelie concerne our soules but our bodies and goods so far as is requisite to our soules health expedient for the good regiment therof and the Churches vtilitie being subiect to their spiritual gouernours Therfore S Peter Act. 5. being but a mere spiritual officer and Pastor of mens soules yet for sacriledge and simulation stroke dead both man and wife Act. 13. S. Paul stroke blind Elymas the Magician 1. Cor. 4 So did he threaten to come to his contemners in rodde of discipline So did he excommunicate a principal person in Corinth 1. Cor. 5 for incest not onely by spiritual punishment but also by bodilie vexation giuing him vp to Sathans chastisement As he corporally also corrected and molested with an euil spirit Himineus and Alexander for blasphemie heresie Finallie he boldlie auoucheth 1. Timo. 1 2. Cor. 10 that his power in God is to reuenge al disobedience and to bring vnder al loftie hartes to the loialtie of Christ and of the Apostles and Saints in this life 1. Cor. 6. Nescitis quoth he quoniam Angelos iudicabimus quanto magis secularia Knowe you not that we shal iudge Angels how much more secular matters In al which ther is no difference betwixt Kinges that be faithful and other Christian men who
they knowe manie hundreth years before Gregorie the seuenth and our special Apostle pratised the point we now stand on and therfore likely to be beleeued of al reasonable men He therfore in the forme of his priuiledge graunted to S. Medards Monasterie thus decreeth An excommunication of S. Gregorie vpon Kinges and Princes In fine libri 12. Epist Si quis inquit Regum Antistitum Iudicum vel quarumcunque personarum saecularium huius Apostolicae authoritatis nostrae praeceptionis decreta violauerit cuiuscunque dignitatis vel sublimitatis sit honore suo priuetur If anie king Prelate Iudge or what other secular person so euer shal transgresse this decree of our authoritie and commandement of what preeminence or height so euer he be let him be depriued of his dignitie This was the right and power of S. Gregorie and this hath bene the faith of Christian men euer sith our countrie was conuerted and neuer subiect called in question much lesse accused of treason for it til this miserable time and lest of al made or found treason by th' old lawes in K. Edward the thirdes reigne as is pretended how so euer by their new lawes they may and doe make what they list a crime Capital And euer sith the said S. Gregories time or ther about al kinges in Christendome speciallie thos of Spaine Fraunce Pole and England take an othe vpon the holie Euangelistes at ther coronation The othe of the Kinges of England at their Coronation to keepe and defend the Catholique faith and ours of England expreslie to manteine also the priuileges and liberties of the Church and Cleargie giuen by K. Edward the Confessor and other faithful kinges their auncestors Wherof S. Thomas of Canterburie putteth his soueraigne Henrie the second in memorie both often in speech and expreslie in an epistle written to him in thes wordes In vita S. Thomae Memores sitis confessionis quam fecistis posuistis super Altare apud VVestmonasterium de seruanda Ecclesiae libertate quando consecrati fuistis vncti in Regem a praedecessore nostro Theobaldo Keepe in memorie the Confession which you made and laid vpon the Altar at Westminster touching the keepiÌ„g of holie Churches liberties when you were consecrated and annointed king by my predecessor Theobald And the Patriarches of Constantinople tooke an instrument of such as were to be crouned Emperours speciallie in the times of Heresie wherin they made the like promis and profession to keepe and defend the Faith and decrees of holie Councels So did the Patriarche Euphemius in the Coronation of Anastasius Nicephorus in the inuesting of Michael and others in the creatioÌ„ of other Emperours of the East And Zonoras writeth that the Patriarche of Constantinople plainlie told Isaac Commenus th'Emperour that as by his handes he receiued th' Empire Zonor tomo 3. Cuspinianus in Anastasio in zimiste so if he gouerned not wel by him it should be takeÌ„ from him againe Likewise when kinges that before were infidels doe enter by Baptisme into the Church they submit their scepters to Christ In vvhat cases subiectes may breake vvith their Princes and consequeÌ„tlie make them selues subiect punishable if they reuoult from their Faith and promis Vpon thes conditioÌ„s therfore and no other Kinges be receiued of the Bishop that in Gods behalf annointeth them which othe and promis being not obserued they breake with God and their people and their people may and by order of Christes Supreme minister their cheefe Pastor in earth must needes breake with them Heresie and Infidelitie in the Prince tending directlie to the perdition of the Common wealth and the soules of their subiects notoriousliâ— to the annoiance of the Church and true Religion foâ— the defence of which Kinges by God are giuen By the fal of the King from the faith the danger iâ— so euident and ineuitable that God had not sufficieÌ„tly prouided for our saluation and the preseruation of his Church and holy lawes if ther were no way to depriue or restraine Apostata Princes We see how the whole world did runne froÌ„ Christ after Iulian The exaÌ„ple of a Prince most dangerous to plaine paganisme after Valens to Arrianisme after Edvvard the sixte with vs into Zwinglianisme would doe into Turcisme if anie powerable Prince wil lead his subiects that way If our faith or perdition should on this sort passe by the pleasure of euerie secular Prince and no remedie for it in the state of the new Testament but men must hould and obey him to what infidelitie so euer he fal then we were in worse case then heatheÌ„s and al other humane commoÌ„ wealthes which both before Christ and after haue had meanes to deliuer them selues froÌ„ such Tyrants as were intollerable and euidentlie pernicious to humane societie and the good of the people for whos peace and preseruation they were created by man or ordeined by God The bond and obligation we haue entred into for the seruice of Christ and the Church Our bond to Christ more then to our Prince farre excedeth al other dutie which we owe to anie humane creature and therfore wher the obedieÌ„ce to th' inferior hindreth the seruice of th' other which is superior we must by lawe and order discharge our selues of th' inferior The wife if she cannot liue with her owne hushand being an infidel or an heretique without iniurie and dishonor to God Hovv man and vvife may depart for Christ she may depart from him or contrariwise he from her for the like cause nether oweth the innocent partie nor th' other can laufullie claime â—nie coniugal dutie or debt in this case The verie bondslaue which is in an other kind no â—esse bound to his Lord and maister Theodos. l. Manachaeos C. de haereticis then the subiect â—o his Soueraigne may also by the ancient imperial â—awes depart and refuse to obey or serue him if he become an Heretique yea ipso facto he is made free Finally the Parents that become Heretiques lose the superioritie and dominion they haue by law or nature ouer their owne children Cap. fin Extra de Haereticis Therfore let no man maruel that in case of Heresy the Soueraigne loseth his superioritie and right ouer his people and kingdome In case of Heresy the Soueraigne loseth his authority which can not be a lauful Christian state or common-wealth without due obedience to Christ and to the Churches lawes but may wel consist and not perish at al by change of their Prince or king No anie one person being simplie necessarie for the preseruation of the same as some one being an Heretique and enimie to Religion may lightlie is if he be suffred the destruction therof And thus much may as we trust suffice with al reasonable indifferent persons for defence of our brethrens answers touching the question of excommunication or deposition of Princes by the Pope wherof by occasion more
a member the Head therof in his Realme went forward vpon this title and of his owne new Papal authoritie from the Lord of Ireland made and called him self the King therof Which stile was afterward as we take it by due authoritie of the Pope confirmed to Q. Marie So desirous hath bene alwaies the holie Sea of Rome to encrease our Princes with al due honor to enlarge their dominions None of which titles prerogatiues authorities or dignities though receiued onely or principallie by the Popes fauour or gift any one of our kinges of what Religion so euer was yet so wilful to reiect or let goe or yet so nise in Faith as to make scruple of conscience to receaue or retaine as laufullie possessed what so euer they haue obteined that way though vngratful persons acknowledge no benefite therin And not onely large kingdomes so obteined Al Princes contented to receaue hold vse titles of honor and dignitie from the Pope Princes are contented to kepe without scruple but hould also al other titles of honour annexed by his Holines to their Regal dignities vpon what cause soeuer as is to be seene in sondry great and mighty Monarches of Christendome vpon whom diuers high titles haue bene bestowed by the sea Apostolique for their most Christian and Heroical endeuours for the Church and their zeale against Heretiques and Infidels as Catholique in Spaine most Christian in France and such like els wher and in our Country a stile no lesse honourable thē the former that is Defendour of the Faith The stile of Defendour of the faith which stile and title al the Protestants in the world doe knowe that it was giuen by Pope Leo the tenth to K. Henrie th' eight for his defense of the Catholique Romane faith by writing yet exstant vnder his owne hand against Martin Luther And albeit the cause for which it was giuen be now quite altered and the Popes authoritie from which it was receaued extremely impugned yet the right therof coming onely from that authoritie now accompted so vnlauful none of our kings wil leaue or wil renounce the same as indeed we wish they should not for that it notablie putteth them in mind what Church and Faith it is that they are bound to defend and against what kind of men they beare the sword which God hath put into their hand The particuler benefites receaued from this Pope We might adde to this the singular and incomparable fauors and daylie benefits done by his Holines that now is to our nation aboue al his predecessors assuredly excepting S. Gregorie the great our first Apostle Who 's diuine grace and example of Charitie he so zealouslie doth imitate towards vs not onelie for the saluation of the whole deceiued Countrie but for the particular releefe of manie hundrethes of al sortes ages and sexes that are driuen by violence of cruel persecution into diuers Catholique Prouinces and are forced to leaue their Countrie and what so euer is deare vnto them to learne that Faith in which al their forefathers so honorablie liued and died By which his rare benefits his happie name as Gregories the first must needes be in English memories immortal maugré this ingratful Heresie to which we hope he shal once be the bane The Charitie of Gregorie the first tovvardes Of the said Gregorie the great his more then common loue of our soules we haue besides other Apostolical charitie this grateful example that his Holines receiuing great sommes of monie in thos dayes out of Fraunce hauing intelligence that ther were dispersed through that prouince numbers of English children bought as bōdslaues for doing of al drudgerie for their maisters profit as the state of seruitude required and that they liued ther in thraldome both of bodie and soule vnbaptized the Blessed Father taking deepe compassion of their miserable case speciallie because they were of that Nation which was then nuelie gained by his trauaile vnto Christ he wrote letters to his receiuour in thos partes that he should not make the french money which was ther to be receiued ouer to Rome by exchange but employ it in Fraunce wher it was currant vpon Charitable vses speciallie therwith to deliuer English Children from seruitude and to bring them into Italie by troupes hauing good graue Priestes to ouersee and instruct them in the Faith and if anie dangerous sicknes should fal to anie of them in the way to baptize them So as he did not onelie procure our peoples saluation at home by sending in diuers learned men to preach and teach the Gospel vnder the conduction of holie S. Augustine our Apostle but also by education abrod of great numbers of our Nation to his great charges temporal So did this renouned Pope and Doctor for our Countrie to bring it from Paganisme to Christ and through God preuayled and deserueth for the same immortal glorie both in heauen and earth And no lesse trulie doth Gregorie the thirtenth for reconciling our countrie from Heresie deserue both bringing vp abrode great numbers of the Nation at his owne charges in Godlie discipline and the same Faith that the foresaid S. Gregorie his Patrone and predecessor first caused to be taught to our forefathers and also disposeth of manie fit persons endued with zeale and spiritual power to returne in peaceable humble and Apostolique maner to their Countrie ther to teach the dec ued to reconcile thē by spiritual power Preistlie functiō to the vnity of Gods Church againe out of which they are most sure to perish and not by raising rebellion or tumultes as this Libeller most falselie pretendeth Which holie function for that they haue done by Gods great grace and goodnes with farre more frute and encrease of the Catholique religion and notorious domage of Heresie The frute of Preestes labours in England then Protestantes feared at the beginning therfore haue they subtellie and falselie turned al thes heroical endeuors of his Holines good offices of Gods Priestes into matters of State and Treason and would make al Princes and people abrode beleeue that are not acquainted as necessitie hath driuen vs to be with the practize of the first Apostles and Fathers of the primitiue Church atchiuing the conuersion of manie cities countries in no other sort then our brethren most godlilie and dutifullie doe attempt in our nation that al our preaching perswading praying offering sacrifice hearing confessions absoluing reconciling hauing of beades crosses images and the like were seditious rebellious traiterous and plaine conspiracie against the Q. Maiesty and the Realme The great malice and ingratitude of England tovvardes this Pope Yea they would so farre if they could abuse the patience and simplicitie of Christian people both of their owne Countrie and others that they would haue them thinke our holie and highe Pastor to haue erected the two Seminaries and other commodities of learning and godlie education for our countrie-men vpon no other
doune to the world if you can anie one word writing or approued witnes that anie Iesuite Priest or Seminarie man of al thos whom you haue executed thes late yeares were ether authors persuaders or dealers therin and then you may haue some shadow of defence for your iustice Proue only that his Holines euer communicated his doings or intentions whatsoeuer they were that way to anie one of them al and we wil confesse that you haue reason in the rest If Pius quintus addressed Doctor Nicholas Morton D. Mortō sixtene yeares since about the matter of the excommunication into England shal al Priestes Iesuistes be deemed traitors therfore If Doctor Saunders D. Sāders ether vpon his owne zeale and opinion of the iustnes of the quarel or at the Popes appointmēt were in the warres of Ireland emploied for defence of the Catholique Religion against the Protestants may you by your lawes or anie other diuine or humane ordinance condemne therfore to death a number that neuer knew ether the man or the matter Some pretence you may haue to be offended with the Pope and perhaps lacke no lawes to punish the said two Doctors that neuer were ether of the Societie or Seminaries but to make al the Priestes and Catholiques at home or in banishmēt traitors therbie it is to vnreasonable and to murther so cruellie one man for an others fault is tooto foule and intollerable iniquity And as for his Holines action in Ireland The vvarres of Irland we that are neither so wise as to be worthie nor so mallepert as to chalenge to knowe his intentions councel and disposition of thos matters can nor wil nether defend nor condemne it Onelie this is euident that thos smal succours which were giuen by him to the Irish or rather suffred at their owne aduenture to goe into thos warres came vpon the importunate sute of the sore afflicted Catholiques and some of the cheefest nobilitie of that countrie Of whos continual complaints knowen calamities and intollerable distresses of conscience otherwise it may be he was moued with compassion and did that in cause of Religion against one whom he tooke in his owne iudgement rightlie by his predecessours sentence to be deposed and in a quarel in his sight most iust and godlie which both her Maiesty and other temporal Princes sticke not to doe verie often towardes their neighbours with whom otherwise they pretend good amitie and no breach of their league at al in cases which ether they esteeme lauful or at lest behoofful for their owne estate and affaires And it is a strange case that thes men should with such ful mouth cry out against the highe Preest and Pastor of Gods Church for vsing the sword or geuīg his consent therunto against a Prince not any way his superior if no way his subiect wheras the Ministers and maisters of their sects both in Flanders Scoteland and other places doe not only councel and persuade subiectes to take armes agaīst their owne lauful Princes and sacred Kinges but also doe practise and in person oppose them selues against them yea in Scoteland against a Prince of their owne Religion For tel me Sir Libeller if you please were not the Ministers of Scoteland the principal fannes and firebrandes of the last Conspiracy and open rebellion against his Maiesties person and the state of that Country Were not they in person at Starling and els wher both in feeld and councel with the Erles of Anguish Marre other rebels against his Roial person Were not al their pernicious machinations of betraing their country and their Princes blood detected by the Erle of Gory before his late behedding for that Conspiracy Are not Patrike Galovvay minister of S. Ihonson Andrevv Pollard subdeane of Glasco Iames Carmihel minister of Haddingtō Andrevv Hay person of Ranfroe Andrevv Meluin professour of diuinity in S. Andrews and diuers other cheefe ministers of that country fled into England for this traiterous fact and ther receaued cherished and protected And since that time wheras in a Parliamēt houlden in Edenburgh by his Maiesty and al the three states of Scoteland begonne the 19. of May last past certaine lawes were amongst others enacted for the restraint of thes Ministers tumultuous authority and to bring them vnder their owne Bishops iurisdiction a thing so resonable and consonant to Gods word as nothing can be more and practised not only in Englād amōg their fellow-sectaries but also thorough-out al Christendome disorderly and seditious Geneua only excepted and when thes lawes that were made by authority of the three Estates and published not only in the Councel-house called Toulbooth but also at the Crosse of Edēburgh by Heraldes at armes for the state did not Robert Pont and VValter Baquanquel two most impudent and rebellious Ministers of that toune by the consent and prouocation of Iames Lauson cheefe preacher ther as afterward appeared oppose them selues in publique against the Kinges authority therby to raise vp some commotion by their open protestation made by instrument in the handes of George VVakeson publique Notary and toune-Clarke of that Citty and did not al thes three named Ministers by night flye presently into England after their insufferable insolency and are ther receaued harboured and maintained Againe in the last Parliament before this being about two yeares agone did not thes Ministers intending therby some dangerous reuoult and seditious defection demaund of their king in most impudent wise to be admitted into the Parliament as equal or aboue their Bishops whom they deny by Gods word to haue any supereminent authority Is not this one of their articles for which their archebishop of S. Andrews doth withstand them and hath bene of late in England to cōferre with the Protestāts of that Country about the same Is it not an other of their articles that it is an Heresy for any Prince to cal him self Head of the Church within his owne Realme that he may be excommunicated and deposed by the Ministers Haue not they excommunicated and held out by violence thes two yeares and more their archebishop of Glasco elected by the King named M. Robert Montgūmery vntil now that this last Parliament of May hath absolued and restored him vnto his archebishoprike againe You exclame against the Pope being the first and cheef prelate of al Christendome euē by your owne confession for geuing his consent that any thing be done or attempted by armes and violence against any lauful or annointed Prince whatsoeuer be it for Religion or any other neuer so rightful or iust cause in his conceipt but what would thes good-fellowes of your Ghospel doe if they had his authority his power and his pretence against foraine Princes of a contrary Religion seing in quarel of faction and fauour of ranke traitors they deale thus against their owne Leege and against their owne annointed sworne King of their owne country blood educatiō and Religion who as he neuer iustly offended them
euer haue bene Which euery indifferent man that behouldeth the immortal workes of Charitie which this one blessed Pope hath done in the dayes of his high Priesthood must of necessity confesse Wherof we thought meet to make some mention in this place The seditious practise of this Libeller for that both other Protestantes are not ashamed to accuse the Holie Sea of Robberie and rapine in getting and houldīg the temporal state which now it hath so manie ages occupied to the great honour of God as also for that this Libeller oftē glaunceth at some iniuries which he pretendeth to haue bene done by the Popes tirānous excessiue power as he termeth it to the Princes of the world ī this case sometimes seditiously and subtellie suggesting to the Emperour and other the greatest and best Kinges of Christendome to abbridge his power sometimes craftelie commending them vpon a deuilish and deceiptful fiction of his owne that they onely tollerate his title and iurisdiction for a time and of pollicie so farre as they see it is not preiudicial to their owne states otherwise nether caring for his curses excommunications canons nor commaundements no more thē the protestāt Princes doe who haue withdrawen from him in their states al both temporal emolumentes and spiritual prerogatiues Of which restraint limitation or plaine contempt of the Popes power and censures the writer alleageth certaine examples of diuers Catholique Kinges and Countries that the English may seeme to haue done no new thing in this their shameful reuoult from the Sea Apostolique and contempt of the Ecclesiastical curse and excommunication Which this prophane Atheist affirmeth none but the simple people to feare or care for wise men Princes to haue no scruple or conscience at al in such matters but to resist by armes al lawes and ordinances as they list For proofe whereof he bringeth to no purpose how diuers kinges of Fraunce haue by their lawes pragmatiques restreined the Popes of diuers claimes prerogatiues and profits Touching Catholique Princes restraint of the Popes iurisdictiō How they in England in old time limited and abbridged his iurisdictiō by the law specially called Praemuniri How the noble Emperour Charles the fift feared not their curses when by his Captaines he beseiged tooke and sacked Rome imprisoned and ransomed the Pope him self How his sonne the King Catholique now raigning nothing respected excommunicatiō when his armie was led before Rome walles by the conduction of the Duke of Aluas How King Henrie the seuenth resisted the Pope in a matter of Alume and his neece Queene Marie her self as much as she was deuoted to the Romane religiō withstood him in the fauour of her cosin Cardinal Poole against doctor Peyto about a Cardinals Hat the bringer of which hat and the Buls for the said Peyto she did forbid to enter the Realme commanding thē to be staied at Calles and finally that Cardinal Poole him self hauing the Queene for him in the cause had no feare to disobey the Popes commaundementes and his threatned excommunications or curses but continued Legate and made the other poore Peyto being an obseruant frier to goe a begging stil Thus much in sense saith the Libeller in defence of their resistance of the Pope and contempt of his Censures But looke attentiuelie into the particular reasons and examples of this his discours The ansvver to the exāples alleaged and you shal find nothing but fraude and falshood First it is a most impious and godles conceipt that the Emperour and other great Kinges and Potentates of Christendome ether of old or at this present haue suffred or doe yet endure the Pope to command or haue iurisdiction in their countries onely for some respectes in policie and so farre as they list rather then vppon conscience and for religion when it is certaine that his spiritual authoritie and high Prelacie ouer al faithful Princes and people as instituted by Christ clearlie deduced out of the Scriptures approued by decrees of ancient Councels testimonies of al the old Doctors and by both imperial and national lawes of the Christian world is acknowledged in conscience of al Catholique Kinges that haue bene or yet be within the happie vnitie of holie Church And it is a most shameles slaunder of their sacred Maiesties that this Atheist would make the world beleeue that pretending conscience deuotion religion and sinceritie in their obedience to the Sea Apostolique they doe al in deed of policie As wel might this Machiuilian beare men in hand that the Christian religion is no otherwise admitted in Common-weales but so farre forth as it serueth for pollicie and the aduauncement of the Prince or temporal state And God graunt this be not the marke that our Protestantes and Politiques shoot at much it is to be feared that it is our English elne and analogie of Faith for measure of al actions And certes to no other end they vse their pretended Ministerie new cleargie of their creation occupying them to interteine and amase the people VVith the vvord of the Lord whilest they accomplish their worldly and wicked intentions as apparant it is that the good author of this Libel would not if he were a Prince as such be to neare Princes elbowes thes dayes admit ether Peter Paul or Christ him self into anie iurisdiction ether spiritual or temporal within his Realme nor would be depriued or excommunicated by anie of thē more then now by the Pope nor further deale with them then his aduantage and policie requireth And indeed by the meanes of such Lycurgians as this we haue in England new lawes against al claime of iurisdiction spiritual or temporal The Machiuilian drift of this Libeller that can be made by anie person whosoeuer borne out of the Realme Which no question might exclude Christ and his Apostles no lesse then their successours being as wel forreiners as they Wherin it seemeth singularlie to be noted that this craftie Politique putteth no difference betwixt spiritual regiment and temporal yea rather taketh away al ecclesiastical iurisdiction calling in this his pestiferous Libel which you shal not as we thinke read in anie other of the Heretiques writīges of thes dayes the Queenes spiritual power which she chalengeth against the Popes supremacie her REGALITIE The Q. REGALITIE seeking by al meanes possible wholie to extinguish the Hierarchie and Prelacie of Christes Church and concluding al in Kinglie authoritie Wherby as also by the Scriptures which they foolishlie in the sight of wise men but to the simple perswasiblie alleage That al men must obey the King as the Cheefe or precellent they exclude Peter frō his high spiritual function which he had in the time of Nero and giue vnto the said Nero as his regalitie no lesse thē now they yeeld both Papal and al other Bishoplie Ecclesiastical authoritie in England to the Queene as a peece of her Regalitie As though ther were no difference betwene a King and a Priest The
cōtention betvvē the spirit and the flesh hovv far tollerable and contrariwise the spirit the flesh eche one of them seeking after a sort to enlarge his owne limites and commodities by some hinderance of the other which combat conflict notwithstanding is ether tollerable or not damnable so long as the inferiour which is the flesh by ouer greedie appetite of her owne aduancement destroieth not the superiour which is the soule So doubtles in a Christian Common-wealth the spiritual and temporal state being ioined together as it were in one bodie must needes keepe some moderate strife and combat for maintenance of ether of their limites in external regiment which may be borne withal of eche side so long as nether part seeketh ouer obstinatelie the destruction of the other but doe agree and conioine in preseruation of the principal But where the bodie politique as it is now in our miserable Countrie by intollerable disorder doth striue not so much with the Sea Apostolique The intollerable proceeding of England and bodie mistical of Christ for thinges ether indifferent or not merlie necessarie to the spiritual regiment but by euident rape and violence against the lawes of God man bereaueth Christes Vicar of his whole soueraintie high Preisthood and Prelacie and the Catholique Church of al the rightes douries which our Master her spouse endowed her withal and tirānicallie draweth al to the Princes REGALITIE altering by the authoritie therof the whole faith and true worship of God into abhominable Apostacie Scisme and desolation ther the Libeller can find no example in anie Christian Lawes or Countries through out the world in any age to proue his purpose though vainlie and impertinentlie he alleage thes Concordates of Fraunce other Nations as also the compositions of England with the Pope or what orders and lawes soeuer besides ether lauful or vnlauful concerning restraint of any Papal or Ecclesiastical power which serue nothing at al for defence of the late English general and most impudent reuolt from the vnitie of Gods Catholique and Apostolique Church Manie things might the wordlinges of our Countrie euen in Catholique times attempt for their owne aduantage Some vncōscionable lavves might passe in a Catholique time against the commodities of the Church Our Kinges other in times of dissention with certaine Popes of their dayes might driue the weaker to vnequal conditions and serue their owne ambitious humours to the Churches disaduantage Some lawes might also passe by the powerablenes of Princes in their owne dominions the Sea Apostolique vtterlie reclaiming against them which though they were not directlie against anie point of Faith or Religion yet might be verie preiudicial to the state ecclesiastical and liberties of holie Church as the lawe of Premuniri was which is mentioned by the aduersarie Against which diuers Popes speciallie Gregorie the eleuenth and Martin the fift opposed them selues earnestlie The lavv of Premuniri and dealt with K. Edvvard the thrid and Henrie the sixt for abrogating the same which they both promised to doe but neuer did and cōsequētly it remaineth stil in his first vncōcionable force if the makers had any such meaning as their folowers haue found out for that it may by calumnious interpretation be vsed at the onlie pleasure of the Prince to the confiscation of al Church-mens goodes imprisonment of their persons destruction of the whole Cleargie wherof king Henrie the eight in the beginning of his Scisme gaue an horrible example Which iniquitie the Libeller him self is not ashamed to commend and to propound to other Princes for imitation Thes iniustices and the like may be by some Kinges committed and are as we haue said for peace and Charities sake borne by thē who are taught by their Maister and by the Apostolical Bishops of the primitiue Church to set more by one soule then by al the honours goods priuileges in the world otherwise So that God be honored whether causes at the first instance or by appeale onelie be differred to the Court of Rome or no whether the Pope Prince Cleargie or people appoint the Pastours or no a thing diuerslie vsed in diuers ages the Church can beare al and turne al to good so long as the true Faith and substance of Ecclesiastical iurisdiction be not destroied Wherin yet this may be comfortable to al obedient children of the Church Ecclesiastical restraintes haue not proued so profitable and worthie to be considered of discret persons that in al or surelie in most part of such limitations restraintes diminishinges or alteratiō of the Popes Churches authoritie thinges haue afterwardes so fallen out that wise men hartilie wish no change euer had bene made And for the euidence therof we refere al men to the pondering of this one point speciallie amongst manie concerning the nominations and elections of Bishopes Abbots and other Prelates whether the world wēt not as wel when such thinges passed by canonical election or the Popes prouision as it hath done since or hereafter euer is like to doe At the beginning of such alterations men pretended reasons for the particular Churches commodities of sondrie Nations which a few yeares experience and the euent of thinges haue in most matters controuled But were it wel or euil it can nether be example nor warrant to our present Contrie to destroy Abbeis kil the religious murder Gods Priestes imprison al the sacred persons of Bishops through out the Realme to hate blaspheme abolish al authoritie and iurisdiction Apostolical yea and to make a solemne publique prayer in the litanie That God vvould deliuer our Country from the Pope in stead of that which the whole Christian world deuoutlie singeth and saieth daylie Vt Dominum Apostolicum omnes ecclesiasticos ordines in sancta religione conseruare digneris Barbarous malice of English Heretiques against the Sea Apostolique Would anie man thinke that ether they should fal to such barbarousnes or to such impudencie as to defend so grosse impietie by the examples of other Catholique Kinges Contries and times in the cases aforesaid Or can it be possible they could imagine the difference betwene K. Henrie the vij and the Pope that then was The grosnes of the Libeller about a matter of Alume should warrant her Maiesty that now is or her Councellours to stand against the high Priest of God and to goe to lawe with him for his spiritual Prelacie What a Grossehead is this Libeller or rather what a deceiptful person for he can not be so rude as not to knowe the difference of thinges so farre distant that alleageth the warres sometimes fallen out betwixt certaine Popes and Princes about their temporal interests to proue that Catholique kinges care not for the Pope or that them selues may resist him by armes and contemne his authoritie in matters of Faith Religion Wherin his exāples also are very euil chosen when he goeth about to make vs beleeue that Charles the fift cared not for
as yow may reade in an oration Sr. Christopher Hattōs oration made by one of them vpon the accident that fel by the rashnes of a certaine seruing man discharging his peece at randone and striking one of the water-men in the Queenes barge nere her Highnes person then present In which oration he acknowlegeth nothing to be looked for after her death but confusion persecution blood vengeance warres spoile rauishmentes and al other maledictions that the world can yeeld and tenne thousand more then as he saieth can be by him foreseene Not doubting to conclude that that day we shal be the most miserable men in the world in the meane time onelie enioying al felicities heauenlie and worldlie by her life Thus much hath that honorable person of our general calamitie In the meane time The vaine felicitie of England set out by the Libeller the matters are so ruled that we must account our selues happie if our common wealth stand during the life of her Maiesty This is alas the felicitie of our countrie praised and admired by them that esteeme onelie the present vncertaine pleasure of a verie few yeares without regard of the posteritie but of wise men deemed for the highest miserie that can be nothing in a Common bodie being praisable that is not ioined with securitie and durabilitie Wherin our distresse is more markable that it is not onelie not preuented in so manie yeares of Gods patience and general foresight of the miseries by the graue Councellours and al other wise men Euil prouision for the succession but which is more pitiful and vnnatural it is by special lawes and capital penalties prouided to the contrarie that none may knowe or name the next lauful heire and successour vnder paine of highe treason nor anie make claime or chalenge anie future right therin except her Highnes natural issue Wherby vnder pretence of preseruing their present state they are contented to plonge their whole posteritie into eternal or verie long miseries Yea and which passeth al dishonour to the Realme and to her Maiesties person to insinuate that though the next in blood and lauful succession to her Highnes may not chalenge or be named yet onelie her natural may be aduaunced ther-vnto Which had bene shameful inough and to much iniurie to the next of lauful blood if it were graunted to the issue of a King gotten out of lauful matrimonie but to preferre the natural of a Queene in whos person by reason of her sexe fornication were fouler and the fruite therof nothing so capable that passed al shame and honour procured no doubt or set doune in statute by some wicked forgeries of such as sought to dishonour her Maiesty contrarie to the meaning of the whole Parliament which as we thinke did neuer deliberate of that special article though it be extant in the printed and published copies of the same How so euer it be our miserie herein is notorious and the old glorie and felicitie of our Realme the guides therof wittinglie and willinglie beholding it and consenting thervnto so fadeth and falleth to nothing in al mens sight that we can not complaine inough of our instant calamities nor attribute them to anie other cause then to Gods iudgements wherby first as the Italian saieth a mans braine is taken away when God entendeth to punishe him lest he should by prouidence auert the intended plague This our Countries scourge proceeding wholie of our notorious forsaking the Catholique Church and Sea Apostolique began first in K. Henrie the eight Kinge Henrie the eight the beginner of our Countries miserie being Radix peccati of our dayes as the scripture speaketh of * 1. Mal. 1.11 Antiochus vpō that his most iniust title and chalenge of the Headship and supreame gouernment of the Church whence al thes extremities are ensewed sithence Which king God plagued meruelouslie streight vpon his reuolt both spirituallie and temporallie For within a verie short space by his sufferance he killed his owne wife mother to her Maiesty that now is whom he loued so impotentlie a litle before that for her sake he both diuorced him self from his former wife with whom he had liued so honorablie twentie yeares together and from the vnitie of the Church which he and his predecessours had bene in nine hundreth yeares before and shed the blood of the learnedest Fisher worthiest and to him self the best beloued of al his Realme More After that he maried and remaried killed and dismissed both wiues and frendes as often King Henries great offences and as manie as he thought good in such intemperate sort as the like hath neuer bene seene He was in such torment of conscience and such perplexitie for his reuolt and other sacrileges that sometimes he went about to ioyne with protestant Princes in religion sometimes thrise at least after his fal to reconcile him self to the Pope againe which thing our Lord for his greater punishment suffred him not to bring to good effect but to die in passing anguishe of mind for the former offences and al the strange sacrileges committed by forcing into the world wel neere a hundreth thousand professed persons and by the destruction of ten thousand religious houses Churches in one yeare as one testifieth of him in this Epigramme Millia dena vnus templorum sustulit annus Quà m timeo in poenas vix satis vnus erit And he that without al feare of God brake so manie thousand holie mens wils and foundations had his owne testament broken falsified and forged before his bones were thorough cold and that Romane religion which he by force of his owne newlie chalenged supremacie and by sharpe lawes and humane deuises and punishmentes mainteined during his life and was by him speciallie recommended vnto such as he gaue the gouernment and education of his sonne was immediatlie abolished and the whole Realme altered into Zwinglianisme which of al other sectes he most abhorred And for his issue leauing behind him three goodlie and towardlie children first King Henries issue punished for his sinnes Edvvard of marueilous expectation whom God tooke away in his yong yeares euen then when he was towardes mariage after him his elder sister Marie who liuing long a virgin maried at length onelie for desire of issue and for the benefite of the Realme which our Lord did not accomplish by her but tooke her away within few yeares and lastlie the Queenes Maiesty that now is whom for her youth and great likelihood that way euerie man verelie looked streight that she would haue taken some noble Prince either stranger or subiect hauing profer of the best in Christendome and her self not seldome making semblance of good lykīg that way and of much loue to many Which yet the same Lord God for the due punishment of the said King her father would not suffer but by litle and litle causing the Realme to fal to this desolation that now we see it in and
Libeller calleth in our Queene her Maiesties Regalitie is Abominatio desolationis fortold by Daniel What would this holie Father haue said if he had seene Cromvvel Cromvvel Vicar general made the Vicar general to K. Henrie in Spiritualibus and sit among and before al the Bishops and Archbishops of the Realme in their conuocations If he had heard tel of Sigillum Reginae ad causas ecclesiasticas of her commissioners and courts of her deposing and creating Bishops and determining of Religiō at her pleasure Kinges nether Catholiques nether Heretiques euer went thus farre being much more capable then anie womā can be Of which sexe S. Chrisostome sayeth thus Lib. 2. de Sacerd. VVhen it cometh to the gouernment of the Church and charge of soules al vvomankind must needes vvholie giue place That not onelie Athanasius the great but the ancient Osius Leontius S. Hilarie and other did so sharplie reprehend it in that heretical king Constantius might haue forewarned our Countrie and her Maiesties Councellours to haue taken heed as wel of the like absurditie as of the suspition of Heresie that in mens heades might seeme to be ingendred therbie seing that such as first attēpted it were notorious Arrians But to giue the same and farre more superioritie to a womā wherof as you see by S. Chrisostome she cannot possiblie be capable that passeth al the barbarous flatterie and follie in the world and maketh our nation a verie fable to al nations and to the posteritie Which in truth is not to make her next to God in her Realme as the Libeller saith but to make her the God of her people Hovv neer the Libeller doth make the Queene God Frō which cogitation though of her self hauing so manie meanes to put her in mind of her mortalitie we doubt not but shee is verie farre yet truelie this abhominable and blasphemous adulation of some about her Highnes may breed great tentations As we see in certaine of the old heathen Emperours who neuer rested til they were adored with diuine honour The next step vnto which is doubtles to say and beleeue that a temporal King is aboue the Priest in causes ecclesiastical or that in a Christian Common-weale the next dignitie to Christ or God is not the Priest but the Prince and so arrogate the regiment of the Church to a Queene which S. Paul expreslie testifieth to be giuen to Bishops Act. 20. saying Take heed to your selues and to the vvhole flocke vvherin the Holie-Ghost hath placed you Bishops to rule the Church of God c. Touching which our English singular absurditie it is the greatest pitie in the world to see them so manie yeares after so much holie blood protesting against that iniquitie and so manie learned mens admonitions persist in the same and to alleage stil thos scriptures so impertinentlie for the Princes vsurped spiritual soueraintie by which Claudius or Nero in whos daies and of whom the Apostle spake specially might as wel chalenge to be aboue S. Peter and Paul in the gouernment of the Church and in causes ecclesiastical as anie Christian king that now liueth Marke this reason For whē S. Peter admonished the Christians to whom he wrote and al other in them To be subiect to the king as excelling or preeminent which place our aduersarie so confidentlie alleageth first 1. Pet. 2.13 can anie man be so dul or obstinatlie blind The absurdities of Protestants in founding the Q. spiritual Supremacie vpon S. Peters vvord as to thinke that he prescribeth anie other dutie towardes the king then was common both to the Pagane Princes at that time persecuting the Church to Christiā kinges afterward protecting the Church Secondlie can anie Protestant be so peeuish to pretend herebie that the heathen Emperours by reason of this subiection to them that the Apostle prescribeth and by their Emperial dignitie should be aboue S. Peter Paul or Christ him self in the Church of God or in ecclesiastical regiment for Christ behaued him self to the Emperour in his daies as the Apostle here commaundeth Christians to doe and that the Apostolical preeminence or our Sauiours owne Preesthood among the faithful should not be esteemed so highe in truth and afore God as the regalitie of Nero or any other ether faithful or heathen tēporal power Thirdlie can they be so ignorāt as not to see the king to be called the cheefe or precellīg by the Apostle not in comparison or respect of the spiritual dignitie but in regard of his Dukes Presidentes and other lieutenants vnder him as the text it self plainlie geueth Fourthlie can not our aduersaries discerne the causes in which both Christian Priestes religious and al other men as S. Chrisostome writeth doe owe obedience to lauful kinges whether they be heathen or faithful from thos matters wherin nether Pagane nor Christian Prince may commaund the Priest nor people that is in religion and affaires of the soule Fiftlie could they not espie by the wordes of S. Peter next going before that the occasion of his writing of this obedience to Princes was to teach the faithful how they should behaue them selues in companie of the heathen without offence Who amōg other thinges slaundered and charged the Christians of treason conspiracies and disobedience to their Prince euen as our Protestants doe Catholiques because they would not leaue their Christian faith and exercises at their commaundement nor obey them before God and their holie Pastours in matter of faith and conscience For stopping of al which false slaunderous tonges S. Peter The true meaning and cause of S. Peters vvordes required thē to obey their Princes in al worldlie tēporal ciuil matters to pay their tribute keepe their ciuil lawes liue peaceablie and lowlie amongst them yea to pray for them whether they tollerate the Christian religiō or persecute the same Lastlie could our Libeller and his fellowes be in truth so grosse as not to consider that though the Apostles and holie Bishops of thos first times when the Emperours were yet heathen strangers to Christ and his Church could haue no superioritie ouer them nor vse anie discipline towardes them the other acknowledging no dutie or subiection to the Apostles or spiritual gouernours of the faithful people yet now when the Princes of the world haue submitted them selues and their people to the Ghospel of Christ and to his sweet yoke and are become members and childrē of the Church as the spiritual power oweth in worldlie thinges honour and obedience to his temporal soueraine so likewise that the secular power must of reason yeeld honor and subiection to the spiritual in affaires of faith soule and religion ether of them hauing meanes in their kind of superioritie to force by lawes penaltie discipline the other to obedience and due subiection if ether should rebel agaīst the other Wherin because the spiritual power consisteth in thinges Quae sunt ad Deum and that concerne our soules and
and prayers depending vpon his soueraine determination a thing that al nations haue to take heede of by our example for the redresse of which pernicious absurditie so manie of our said brethren so willinglie haue shed ther blood The ridiculous varietie of Heretiques about the Headship of the Church In the first Parliamēt of her Maiesties reigne it was indeed in a maner thrust vpon her against her wil because otherwise ther could haue bene no colour to make new lawes for change of Religiō and this title of Cheefe gouernesse was thought to be a qualification of the former tearme of Headship But in truth it is al one with thother or rather worse for in some kinde of improper speach the King may be called the Head or cheef of the Church of his countrie for that he is soueraigne lorde and ruler of bothe persons spiritual and temporal al sortes bound to obey his lawful ciuil lawes and commandementes and so in that sense is he Head of the cleargie and of al others But when in the new forme of our statute it is expreslie and distinctlie added that she is the onelie Supreame gouernour euen in al causes as vvel Spiritual and Ecclesiastical as temporal Ciuil and furthermore enacted that al iurisdictions priuiledges superiorities and preeminences ecclesiastical as by anie power spiritual haue bene or may be exercised are taken frō the Pope to whom Christ gaue them in most ample maner and are vnited or rather as they say restored by an old decree to the crowne of England this can haue no excuse nether trew or likelie sense in the world Absurdities that in sevv vppon making the temporal prince head of the Church making indeed a King and a Priest al one no differēce betwixt the state of the Church and a temporal common wealth giuing no lesse right to heathen Princes to be gouernours of the Church in causes spiritual then to a christian king it maketh one parte of the Church in different teritoires to be independent and seueral from an other according to the distinction of realmes and kingdomes in the world And finallie it maketh euerie man that is not borne in the kingdome to be a forreiner also in respect of the Church thes and a thowsand absurdities and impossibilities more doe ensue which for breuitie we omitt onelie this which is in most mens memories we may not ouerpasse that the verie same yeare that this new preeminence was giuen by lawe to the Q. and th'othe accordinglie ministred to many some hauing remorse of the matter for to auoide daunger pretended for their refusal that it seemed to them by the wordes of th'othe and acte that the Q. might minister also the Sacramētes wherunto they wolde not sweare by anie meanes Wherupon in her next visitation of the cleargie a special iniunction was printed and published by her commaundement declaring that in truth she had no such intent Marke this circle in declaration of the title and that no suche thing was implied in her title or claime of spiritual regimēt nor no other thing nor more then was before graunted to her father by the tearme of Supreame head requiring al her louing subiectes to receiue th'othe at least in that sense and so it should suffice her highnesse By which it is now cleare by ther owne authentical declaratiō that we speake no vntrewth as this libeller sayth nor abuse not the world when we say she is called and taken for the Supreame head of the Church of England albeit the thing it self being far more absurde and of more pernicious sequele then the makers of the law which were mere laymē and most of them vnlearned could then perceiue their folowers now would disauow the same For this article therfore as the famous bishoppe of Rochester Sir Thomas More and a great number more in king Henrie the 8. his dayes so did thos twoo last named martyrs and diuers others before them most gladlie and constantlie yeld vp their lyues and so consequentlie dyed for mere matter of religion onelie And to end this point we lastlie referre the aduersarie to the late Martyrdome of Cartar a poore innocent artisan who was made away onelie for printing a catholique booke De schismate in which no worde was found against the state the quarel onelie most vniustlie being made vpon a certaine clause which by no likelie honest construction could apperteine to the Q. person viz. that the Catholike religion should once haue the vpper hand of heresie and Iudith cutt of the head of Holophernes which they in their extreame ielousie and feare of all thinges wold needes wreast against her Maiestie And the place serueth here to saye some-what of the cause also of their racking of Catholiques which they wold haue strangers beleeue neuer to be done for anie point of religion Fol. 20. As for example say they in the addition to th' end of the libel none is asked by torture vvhat he beleeueth of the Masse or Transubstantiation or suche like Questions asked of catholiques vppon torture As though forsooth ther were no question perteining to faithe and religion but touching our inward beleefe Wheras in deed it concerneth religion no lesse to demaund and presse vs by torture wher in whos houses what dayes and tymes we say or heare Masse how manie we haue reconciled what we haue hard in confession who resorteth to our preachinges who harboreth catholiques and Priestes who susteineth aideth or comforteth them who they be that haue their children or pupilles in the Societie or Seminaries beyond the seas wher such a Iesuite or suche a Preist is to be found wher catholique bookes ar printed and by whom and to whom they be vttered in England which thinges being demaunded of euil intēt and to the annoyance of the Catholique cause Godes Priestes and innocēt men no man may by the lawe of God and nature disclose though he be expreslie commaunded by anie Prince in the world for that God must be obeyed more then man Yet thes were the Interrogatories for which the famous confessor M. Briant M. Briant was tormented with needles thrust vnder his nayles racked also otherwise in cruel sorte and speciallie punished by two whole dayes and nightes famine which they attribute to obstinacie but indeed susteined in Christes quarel it was most honorable constancie The like demaundes were put to the blessed martyrs Campion Sherwin and others vpon the torture M. Shirvvine and of this later namelie was asked where F. Persons and Campion were and whether he had said Masse in M. Roscarockes chamber and what money he had giuen him M. Thomson M. Thomson a venerable and learned Priest was put to tormentes onelie to get out of him to what end he kept certaine Superaltaries and wher he entēded to bestowe them The said yong man Cartar Cartar of whos martyrdome we last treated was examined vpon the racke vpon what Gentlemen or catholique Ladies he had bestowed or
heauen as it is reported were so partiallie or rigorouslie scanned by the malice of his great and potent professed enemie that many yeares hath sought his ruine together with his zealousnes in the Catholique faith brought him to his most pittiful end to the great regret of the whole countrie But the importunitie of the aduersarie hath brought vs somewhat out of our intended cours To returne backe therfore to our famous Prelates deposed in this Queens dayes the principal wherof was Archebishop of Yorke D. Heath Archbishop of York highe Chancelour of the realme the Primate of Canterburie being deceased before which worthie man this Libeller hipocriticallie commendeth for his loyaltie though in Religion differing from them therby to make the Q. Maiesties mercie towardes him a paterne forsooth of clemencie not to be matched as he wiselie writeth in Q. MARIES time which Queene notwithstanding pardoned a number of heretiques and ranke condemned traitors both of life and landes whom we could name al the world knoweth yet aliue And further he addeth which is a notorious vntruth that the said Prelate voluntarilie left both his Chauncelorship and Archbishopricke wher al wise men wil witnes with him and for him that he was most vniustlie with the rest of his Suffraganes and brethren Bishops for refusing to take that absurd othe of the Q. Supremacie and to vse the new Caluinistical seruice in his prouince deposed by violence from his spiritual function dignitie Who 's courage and resistance for quarel of Gods religion how loial and obedient so euer the Libeller would make thos men in comparison of vs therby to insinuate that the more bloodie rigour is vsed now towardes vs then in the beginning towardes them was such in them specially in the said Archbishop that he worthelie and as became his Excellencie refused to anoint or crowne the Q. Maiestie that now is though it apperteined to his special office to doe the same the Metropolitan being dead as hath bene said before and so did al the rest of the Bishops refuse the same vntil with much a doe they obteined the Bishope of Carlisle The Bishop of Carlisle the īferior al most of al the rest to doe that function Which is here remembred by me for that the Libeller of his good discretion recordeth it for special courtesie of that man towardes his Princesse Which refusal of him specially that by office should haue done the same might in reason haue bene construed to as hainous and treasonable a purpose as most thinges that afterward haue bene done for the Catholique cause by anie of the later years if the malice of that time had bene as ripe then as now it is against Gods Church and Priestes The cause why they durst not thē nor could be adduced by anie humane feare or authoritie to inuest her was VVhy the Catholique Bishops refused to croune this Q. for that they had euident probabilities and arguments to doubt that she ment ether not to take the othe or not to keepe the same which al Christian kinges and speciallie ours in England doe make in their Coronation for maintenance of holy Churches lawes honors peace and priuileges and other duties due to euery state as in the time and graunt of K. Edward the Confessor They doubted also lest she would refuse in the verie time of her sacre the solemne diuine ceremonie of vnction accustomed in the consecration of al Christian princes through the euil aduises of certaine yōg counsellers being then in the heate prime and pride of their Heresie wherby great scandal might arise and hurt to the Realme Which they the rather doubted because they saw not lōg before her Highnes at her first entrāce to that high estate commaund a certaine Bishop euen the same of Carlisle now named stāding readie to say Masse before her a strange case in a woman towardes a Bishop not to eleuate the holy consecrated Hoste but to omit that ceremonie because she liked it not Which the said Bishop to his great honor constantlie refused to obey A thing that in one of vs poore men now perchaunce would be accompted high treason and disloialtie towardes our Soueraine And of this his courage in Gods cause it neuer repented him but for doing the other office at the Coronation when he sawe the issue of the matter and both him self and al the rest of his sacred order depriued and the Churches Holie lawes and faith against the conditions of her consecration and acceptation into that royal roome violated he sore repented him al the dayes of his life which were for that special cause both short and werisome afterward vnto him Otherwise doubtles al the Bishops and the rest of the principal of the inferior Cleargie did stoutlie and worthelie as could be wished as was possible in that sodaine assault of Heresie fearing at the same time their personal peril so litle The intention of the Clergie to Excōmunicate the Q. that they were manie of them of that mind that it should be good to vse the censure of Excommunication against her Highenes and some of her leaders into that reuolt so dangerous and shameful to the state so latelie reconciled to the sea Apostolique and by othe and promis of al estates confirmed But the wiser of the Bishops or at least the mylder sort persuaded the contrarie for manie inconueniences that might ensue and so they rather resolued the matter to be remitted to the high Pastor of Christes vniuersal Church then to be executed by them that were her subiects not without peril perhaps of some further tumult scādal and trouble to the whole Cleargie whom they would haue interpreted to haue done it of malicious and rebellions mind rather thē of loue and dutie of which al such censures indeed doe proceed how so-euer the partie affected and sicke in soule especiallie Princes except they be verie wel trained in the feare of God accept the same wel remembring that manie Kinges had killed their Pastors in like cases Al this we put doune that no man be abused by the enemie to thinke that the Reuerend Prelats at the first were lesse zealous which he calleth more loial or more obedient to the Prince in lauful thinges then we their scholars and of-spring be or we lesse loial thē they and therfore more punishable then they were though in deed their perpetual imprisonment and pining away in miserable desolation their tossing and shifting from one superintendents house to an other from one keeper to an other from one prison to an other subiect to extreme wantes and to a thowsand daylie vilanies besides wherof some of thē now haue tasted for twentie fiue years together is worse then any death in the world This then is a true Persecutiō indeed when such men for such causes against al reason and lawes be so vexed by such as owe them al reuerence dutie and obedience Such is also the miserable fortune of the Catholique Nobilitie
Gentrie The persecution of Catholique Nobilitie Gētrie whom this Libeller saith They put not to death nor losse of their inheritance though they hould opinion for the Popes supremacie and defend that the Q. Maiestie ought not to be the gouernour ouer al her subiects in her Realme being persons Ecclesiastical vvhich opiniōs saith he ar neuerthelesse in some part by the lavves of the Realme punishable in some degrees yet such is their miserie we say that notwithstanding thes faire and false speeches of the enemy they be far more iniuried then the Cleargie euen themselues more vexed spoiled dishonored with fines mulctes bondes penalties imprisonmentes arreignements amongst theeues pretence of premuniries misprisions discontentments euil affections and cōtrarie religion to the state pursued by the vilest and most abiect men by Ministers spies and promotors assailed robbed in their owne howses and chased from the same into woodes yea sometimes into waters we speake of knowledge at length into banishment Which who seeth not how miserable a thing it is when their whole families must either perish of famine at home or begge in strange landes abrode in which case both their goodes are seazed on as the world knoweth and their possessiō◠fal to the Princes handes or into the fiste of some lost companion which shal vpon fauour obteine the gif◠to make spoile of the same And yet this good writer so nicelie to colour their crueltie towardes Catholique gentlemen setteth doune the matter as though cases of Cōscience Religion or of the sea Apostolique were but in some degrees in some litle part punished and not with losse of landes nor death at any time persecuted when he and al the world knoweth that they may and doe by thos wicked lawes of theirs disherite put to perpetual prison and to death diuers of the laytie We refer them to the worshipful M. Trugeons case who liueth in prison so many yeares of almes after the spoile and rapine of so goodlie possessions We refer them to the lay men put to death of late at Winchester and And ouer to so manie fled for religion of the best Nobilitie and gentrie wholie sacked and spoiled of al they possessed so many hundreds more vexed pilled spoiled at home as they haue not wherwithal to expel famine from them selues and ther families And which is yet more we tel you that ther can neuer a Catholique noble man in the realme if by anie shew of religiō or moderatiō in life he giue th'enimie the least suspicion in the world of his good affection that way be sure of his life landes and state one day For by one false pretence and calumniation or other they wil entrap him emprison him and in sin except God maruelouslie protect him they wil ouerthrow him and his whole familie and transferre al his honors sometimes to his cheefest enimies Yea al this often against the Princesse wil being led against her owne natural inclination to such thinges by the violent domination of certaine that ouerrule her and the whole Realme so as no Catholique can be sure of his landes or life longer then th' aduersarie list God knoweth we doe not amplifie in the sight of strangers the calamities of Catholiques in our countrie whos chaines dongeons spoiles flightes disgraces deathes if al the world could see with their eyes as we doe feele al the Princes Christian would take compassion and accompt our complaintes most iust and necessary Wherin our miseries are multiplied that such Libellers as thes The craftie cozonage of this Libeller doe by false reportes and misconstruction of our sentence in religiō guilefullie goe about to diffame vs with forrenners As for example when here this fellowe sayeth that ther be diuers gentlemen Catholiques in England that hold The Q. ought not to be gouernour ouer any her subiectes in her realme being persons Ecclesiastical and yet are not persecuted to death for the same c. For their prosecution and persecution I haue made it plaine before But for their holding of any such assertion I must and doe say that it is slaunderous and most vntrue For ther is a great difference to say she is not to rule the Bishops in causes Ecclesiastical or in matter of ministring the Sacraments preaching and doctrine and to say she is not Q. or gouernour ouer the Cleargie or that Priestes or Ecclesiastical persons be not her subiects For they are also bound yea euē monkes and religious as S. Chrisostome sayeth which this Libeller in an other place alleadgeth ignorātly to proue that in al matters such ought to obey their tēporal Princes they are bound I say to order and obedience of their kinges and to obserue their temporal and ciuil lawes made for peace tranquilitie and temporal gouernment of their people to doe them al honour and seruice in that behalf as the Libeller right wel knoweth that al Catholike Bishops and Prelates of the Church euer haue done and doe at this day both in our Realme and in al other Realmes abrode to their lawful Kinges yea to heathen kinges also though in matters of religion and of their spiritual charge neither Heathen nor Christian kinges be their superiours or ought to direct them but rather to take direction from them Thus then ouer and aboue al former recompted calamities by opprobrious tongues lying lippes and pennes we be persecuted for defence of our Fathers faith the Churches truth The cause wherof putteth the difference betwene our Martyrdome and the due and worthie punishmēt of Heretiques who shedding their blood obstinatelie in testimonie of falshood against the truth of Christ and his holie spouse and out of the vnitie of the same are knowē malefactors and can be no Martyrs but damnable Murtherers of them selues One onelie thing belonging to this passage is yet behind The protestant Martyrs hovv they vvere traitors which we must answere to breeflie The aduersarie telleth vs that the Martyrs of their sect in Q. Maries time denied not their lavvful Q. nor mainteined her enimies as ours doe A strange boldnesse to auouch a lye without necessitie which al the world can disproue at the first sight For how say yow Sir was not your Archbishop named here for the principal of al your Martirs cōuicted cōdemned opēlie of highe treason Cranmer euen for waging souldiars for Duke Dudley a hateful name to England since Henrie the seuēthes tyme euer aspiring but stil infortunate to it self and followers against the Princesse that was then and her Highenes that is now Was not your next Martir Superintēdent Ridley Ridley an high traytor publiquelie preaching and proclaming at Paules Crosse in London both Q. Marie and this Q. to be bastardes and to haue no right title to the Croune Sandz Did not your famous superintēdent now of Yorke yet no Martir how so euer he hath suffred of late some heauie Crosses for other causes of homelie qualitie boldlie publish the same in
Cābridge as also your confessor Iewel of Salisburie had done the like in Oxford if he had not bene in time preuēted Were not al the packe of your Protestantes confederated or acquainted wyth Wiates conspiracie and open rebellion against their Prince and Countrie This is proued by their ovvne testimonie herafter with other wicked attemptes against the state of that time as they haue bene sithe wel neare against al the states and Prouinces Christened But of this you must needes heare more anone But it is a world to see the cunning winding of this Libeller for being ashamed as it seemeth or els in doubt of that which he had boldlie affirmed before now cometh to foist in a word to salue al as he thinketh and that is Anice shift That at their death they denied not their Q. c. And in such deceipt-ful cobling in of wordes he passeth no line lightlie without fraude But for answere herof we say that what they did at their death or the day after God knoweth but it is plaine that in their life they were notorious Rebels as most of that sect be And how manie of our men I pray you Sir of whos liues deathes so great nōbers can beare witnes denied their obedience or meeklie prayed not for the Q. at the verie place and tyme of their execution Euerie one of thē as they liued exemplarlie for dutie and loyal behauiour to al their superiours both temporal and spiritual so yeelded they their happie life and blood in al Apostolical patience peace and meeknes for the faith wherin they our countrie and al conuerted nations in the world were baptized for the verie same beleefe wherin th' olde glorious Martirs of Godes Church gaue vp their liues This Faithe this Church this Cause seuereth our true Martyrs from the notorious malefactors of the contrarie side And so giueth vs iust cause to cōplaine of persecution and th'enimie no reason at al of what number name obstinacie age or qualitie so euer they be that haue suffred for their Heresie THAT OVR PRIESTS AND CATHOLIQVE BRETHREN HAVE BEHAVED them selues discretlie and nothing seditiouslie ī their ansvvers to the questions of the Bul of Pius Quintus and that they can not laufullie be pressed nor put to death as traitors by the true meaning of th' olde lavves of the Realme for the same vvith examination of the six Articles proposed about the said Bul. CAP. IIII. IN times of heretical regiment wher Politiques haue al the gouernment though Religion be sometimes pretended as a thing wherof they make their aduauntage for th' affaires speciallie entended yet indeed the first and principal care is of their temporal state so consequentlie of the Princes and their owne wel being in this life the lote wherof The differēt gouernment of Politiques and of true Christians they often preferre with Esau before the weal of the world to come the blessing of Iacob or the kingdome of Christ which is his reigne regiment spiritual in the Church the howse of his glorie our saluation in earth Contrariwise in Christian Catholique common wealthes the cheefe respect is euer was as it ought to be of the honor of God the good of holie Church the saluation of the soules of their people and so to passe through thes secular thinges as eternal ioyes be not lost and put in hasard In which difference of thinges you shal easilie perceiue that in the dayes of disorder errour the faultes done against the Prince or so said to be done are far more odious and punishable then what so euer is directlie done against God against the Common wealth then against the Church against the bodie then against the soule more adoe about Caesars tribute then about Gods due As in the time and regiment of Hieroboam when al the care was how to manage matters so The gouernmēt of Ieroboam that the kingdome of Israel might be seuered from Iuda and so established in it self that no spiritual vnion by worship in Hierusalem might reduce the deuided tribes to their former state againe and al thīgs tendīg to that reuniō were greuouslie punished but matters of faith religion wholie contemned In our countrie when God and his kingdome had the first place the terrene state the second as in truth it ought to be wher it is otherwise whatsoeuer is pretended Christ hath no place at al then were the crimes committed against God first and principallie punished as blasphemie schisme and such like and secondlie treasons and trespasses done against the Prince countrie whereof Q. Maries dayes and regiment may be an example when without the forgerie of new or false treasons the latelie named Archbishop and other principal heretiques being conuicted of cōspiracie open traiterous actions might haue iustlie suffered for the same but yet were rather burned for Heresie as for their more heinous crime and which a Christian Prince ought to regard far more then anie thing committed against his Regalitie But now and euer when the Superioritie temporal hath the preeminence the spiritual is but accessorie dependent and wholie vpholden of thother errour in Fayth is litle accompted of what so euer their pulpit men to make them selues and their patrons sport bral of such matters and al our doings endeuours and exercises of Religion are drawen to treasons and trespasses against the Queene them selues protesting in al their doings that they medle not with vs for our doctrine what-soeuer therby ether insinuating that our religion is true and in deed by the iudgement of their owne conscience not punishable or els that they care not for it nor what we beleeue no further then toucheth their Prince temporal weal wherin yet they wipe so hard as they draw blood For finding no errors heresies A nevv deuise of our Persecutors or false opinions concerning God his worship worthie to cōdemne vs of being ashamed of their statutes of new treasons as it seemeth they haue found out a new fault and a terme for the same not vsual ether in writers of our schooles and diuinitie or in their owne lawes which they cal trayterous assertions treasonable malicious opinions against the Q. as in a former like pamphlet euil affection or euil disposition towardes her Maiestie which is now the onelie and proper point they pursue against vs both in iudgement and writing For which as of late they haue put diuers to death so by the same they trie as they say whither Papistes be traytors or no and accordinglie to vse them And for better trial therof they propose vnto al men whom they list make away or otherwise indanger certaine demandes which in effect are thes that ensue Whether the Bul of Pius Quintus against the Q. Maiesty be a lauful sentence and ought to be obeyed by the subiects of England Demandes proposed to Catholikes for their intrapping Whether the Q. Maiesty be a lauful Q. and
simplicitie by the tyrannie of such as occupie vnder them principal authoritie How this sort of men abused the years sexe and benignitie also of the noble ladie now Q. of Scotland The traitours of Scotland whos fortune therbie hath bene so hard as the world now seeth withal bow they haue abused her most high and excellent Sonnes minoritie to th'aduauncement of their sect and selues no man can be ignorant And now when that rare Prince is come to years of knowledge and therby like to espie and punish the wicked treacherie and treasons of thos that haue so abhominablie abused his infancie and Mothers sexe they barbarouslie by the counsel of wicked Ministers the raskalitie of the Realme ceazed vpon his royal person and sithence being deliuered by God from his enimies handes they sticke not to tel him to his face that he was erected by them to defend this new and barbarous Gospel of theirs and onelie vpon feare of his further years they seeke to put his noble person in dailie danger This loe is the deuotion of Protestants towards their Princes agreable to their former opinions recited before But of their diuinitie we make no further accompt then is requisite for this dispute now in hād with their fellowe Protestants and with thos speciallie of England who are the principal protectors of al thes practizes coloured by religion wherof yet they haue no further care thē cōcerneth onely their owne interest But it is sufficient for vs that with thes men if we may beleeue ether their words or deeds it is no treason to resist the Soueraigne for defence of Religion nor no treasonable assertion to hould that a lauful Prince may be deposed in case of reuolt from God And so say also on the other side al Catholique men and schooles in the Christian world concerning this point The different maner of proceeding of Catholiques and Protestants in cēsuring their Princes for Religion But yet here is the difference betwene Catholique Christians and rebellious Heretiques that thes good-fellowes folowing their owne deceiptful wils and vncertaine opinions without rule or reason doe adiudge by their priuate follie and phantasie that thing to be errour or idolatrie which indeed is true Religion and doe condemne for Gods enemies such their lauful Souerains as holy Church which herein must be our cheefe informer and iudge doth allow for most iust godly sacred and Catholique Princes The Catholiques contrariwise as men of order obedience not trusting their owne particuler imaginations or partial affections which might lead opiniatiue and restlesse braines to raise rebellion at their pleasure vnder pretense of religion wherof the Protestants haue giuē vs pitiful examples thes years past when soeuer the wicked desired chāge of gouernours and estate doe commit the direction of matters so important to the Church and to the cheefe gouernours of their soules who can iudge by the Scriptures Canons and Councels what is Heresie who is an Heretique what Prince is worthie to be excommunicated who to be depriued who is incorrigible who may be expected in hope of amendment who not in what season and sort to the lest disturbance and most benefite safetie of the kingdome or place annoyed by such vnworthie Princes the thing must be executed The Church is not partial in thes thinges The Catholique Church the best iudge of Heresie as we that be subiects may be it is not decent that inferiours should determine at their pleasures of ther superiors What way therfore can we take in Christian religion more seemelie and sure in conscience for thes affaires then to harken to the highe priest of Gods Church by whos directiō our consciences in this case cannot lightlie erre or surelie not so perniciouslie when we folowe them to whom Christ hath giuen the charge of our soules and must render accompt therof to him as to the supreme Bishop of al by whom and for whom onelie al kinges doe raigne Catholiques therfore as you see agree with th' other in the point of deposing and resisting kinges for Religion but yet doe differ in the maner as far as reason and conscience differ from furie and phrensie About which matter I wil now set doune some Catholique writers albeit but few for breuitie sake The opiniōs of Catholique vvriters about depositiō of Princes for Apostasy Heresy yet of such excellent credit as shal be able to instruct and satisfy anie reasonable consciēce in this case as also to be our brethrens defence against al thos that charge them so deadlie with thes treasonable propositions Thomas Aquin that glorious Saint and clarke whos onelie sentence weigheth more then al the Protestants wits and wordes in the world saith thus S. Thomas Postquà m Princeps est denunciatus Apostata omnes inferiores subditi absoluuntur a praestito iuramento obedientia illi debita that is to say After a Prince is one denounced to be an Apostata al his inferiors and subiects are assoyled of their othe made vnto him of their obedience due vnto him This case therfore is plainlie resolued vpō Toledos opinion of a Prince excōmunicat in 2. 2. by the greatest of al the schoole Doctors and therfore can be no treasonable assertion or opinion Vpon which wordes of S. Thomas the famous professor of our time Francis Toledo writeth further thus Nota saith he quòd eadem est ratio de Excommunicato quia cúm primùm quis est denuntiatus excommunicatus omnes subditi absoluuntur ab eius obedientia Licet enim sit notorium crimen Principis non absoluuntur vasalli a iuramento vt bene dicit Caietanus ante denuntiationem ab Ecclesia qua facta non solum sunt absoluti ab obedientia sed tenentur non obedire nisi fortè propter periculum vitae vel damnum bonorum temporalium Et sic de Henrico octauo in Anglia factum est cui etsi subditi postquà m denuntiatus esset excommunicatus tenebantu◠non obedire tamen quia is crudelis erat illos vel vita vel bonis priuasset excusati fuerunt subditi illi adhuc obediēdo Which is in English Note saieth he that albeit S. Thomas named onelie an Apostata yet the reason is al one in the Princes case that is excommunicated For as soone as one is denounced or declared an excōmunicate al his subiects be discharged of their obediēce For though the crime of a Prince be notorious yet before declaratiō therof be made by the Church the vassals are not assoyled frō obedience as Caietanus wel holdeth which declaration being made by the Church they are not onelie discharged of their loyaltie but are bound not to obey him anie more except it be for feare of their liues The case of K. Henrie the eight or losse of their temporal goods As it was in England in the time of Henrie th' eight whom though the subiects were bound not to obey after he was denounced excōmunicate
Iuda 2. Paral. Cap. 13. that fought most iustlie prosperouslie against the schismatical Israelites iustlie possessed the cities which they cōquered in thos warres 1. Paral. Cap. 21. 4. Reg. Cap. 8. As also Edom Lobua reuolted from king Ioram for religion euen because he forsoke the God of their forefathers and could neuer be recouered to the same againe Wherin also th' example and zeale of the children of Israel was verie notable that they would haue denounced warre against the tribe of Ruben and Gad onelie for erecting as they topke it a schismatical Altar out of the onelie place where our Lord appointed that sacrifice should be done vnto his honor So much more since Christs lawe and religion was established diuers great and honorable fightes haue bene made for the Faith against Princes and prouinces that vniustlie withstood and annoyed the same So in old times of the Primatiue Church the Christian Armenians laufullie defended them selues by armes against their Emperour Maximinus Euseb li. 9 Cap. 6. And the Catholique people of diuers prouinces haue often by force defended and kept their Bishops in their seates against the Infidels VVarres made for Religion but speciallie against the commaundement of heretical Emperours yea and resisted them in defence of their Churches and the sacred goods of the same As the citizens of Antioche defended their Church against the Emperour Galerius his officers S. Basile and S. Ambrose people Naziā de laud. Basi Amb. li. 5. Epist defended them agaīst the inuasions of Heretiques And not the people onelie which may doe thinges of headines without counsel or consultation of whom S. Ambros sayth being willed to asswage their furie that it lay in him not to incite them him self but had no meanes often times to represse them but the Bishops of countries so persecuted by heretical Princes haue iustlie required helpe of other Christian kinges and nations Theo. li. 2 Cap. 5. 13 The exāple of Athanasius Socra li. 1 Cap. 13. Soz. lib. 4 Cap. 7. Damas in Pontif. For so holie Athanasius who knew his dutie to his soueraigne wel inough in what case he might resist him asked aide against Constantius the Arrian and first heretical Emperour whom Pope Felix declared to be an Heretique of his owne brother Constance Catholique Emperour of the west For feare of whos armes the said Arrian restored Athanasius and other Catholique Bishops to their churches and honors againe though after this Catholique Emperours death the other more furiouslie persecuted Athanasius then before Likewise against Valens the Arrian Emperour Petrus Socr. lib. 4 Cap. 17. 30. Sozo li. 6 Cap. 19. Socr. lib. 2 Cap. 18 Nicepho lib. 14. Cap. 21. successor to Athanasius and brother to S. Basil did seeke to the Pope of Rome for succour as al other afflicted Bishops and catholiques euer did So did Atticus Bishop of Constantinople craue ayde of Theodosius the yonger against the King of the Persians that persecuted his Catholique subiects and was therbie forceblie depriued and his innocent subiects deliuered The exāple of Pope Leo the first So did holie Pope Leo the first perswade the Emperour called Leo also to take armes agaīst the Tirant of Alexandria for the deliuerie of the oppressed Catholiques from him and the heretiques Eutichians who then threw doune churches and monasteries and did other great sacrileges Whose wordes for examples sake I wil set doune Leo. Epi. 75. Euag. lib. 2. Cap. 8 O Emperour saith S. Leo if it be laudable for the to inuade the heathens hovv much more glorious shal it be to deliuer the Church of Alexandria from the heauie yoke of outragious Heretiques by the calamitie of vvhich Church al the Christians in the vvorld are iniuried Lib. 1. ep 71. In breefe so did S. Gregorie the great moue Gennadius the Exarch to make warres speciallie against heretiques as a verie glorious thing And so euer haue holie Bishops most intermedled in cases of heresie and iniuries done vnto Gods Church as a thing properlie subiect to their correction by excommunication or what other way so euer God hath giuen them commodity of which al is to be vsed and executed according to the differences of times and persons The holie Bishops might most laufullie and so sometimes they did excommunicate the Arrian Emperours VVhat Princes may be excōmunicated and vvhen and haue warrāted their Catholique subiects to defend them selues by armes against them but they alwayes did not so because they had no meanes by reason of the greater forces of the persecutors As ther is no question but the Emperours Constantius Valens Iulian and others might haue bene by the Bishops excommunicated and deposed and al their people released from their obedience if the Church or Catholiques had had competent forces to haue resisted Yea the quarel of Religion and defence of innocencie is so iust that heathen Princes See S. Thomas 2.2 quaest 10. Art 10. not at al subiect to the Churches lawes and discipline may in that case by the Christians armes be resisted and might laufullie haue bene repressed in times of the Pagans and first great persecutions when they vexed and oppressed the faithful but not otherwise as most men thinke if they would not annoy the Christians nor violentlie hinder or seeke to extirpate the true faith and cours of the Gospel Though S. Thomas seemeth also to say that anie heathen king may be laufullie depriued of his superioritie ouer Christians How so euer that be plaine it is that Kinges that haue professed the faith of Christ and the defence of his Church and Gospel may be and haue bene iustlie both excommunicated deposed for iniuries done to Gods Church and reuoult from the same as sometimes also for other great crimes tending to the pernicion of the whole people subiect vnto them But to speake speciallie of matter of Religion and the crimes thervnto belonging Princes excōmunicated depriued for defects in Religion Leo the third was excommunicated and depriued of al his temporalities in Italie by Gregorie the second For defect also in Religion and of the Churches defence were the Greeke Emperours discharged and the Empire translated to the Germans by Pope Leo the third As afterward diuers German Emperours for notable iniuries done to Gods Church for sacrilege for heresie by godlie discipline of the Church and by the diligence of sondrie Popes haue bene brought to order or in fin deposed or els wher they would not obey Christes Vicar ether in them selues or in their posteritie haue bene notoriouslie by God confounded As Frederick the first Frederick the second Otho the fift Lewes the third Lewes the fourth and whom we name last because we must say some what more of him Henrie the thirde or as some cal him the fourth by Gregorie the seuenth which example the Libeller and other Heretiques most mention for that the said Henrie so obstinatlie resisted though otherwise by the
shal be said in the next chapter and others folowing The Libellers importunate insolency inforcing vs therunto like as the Ciuil Magistrats most captious and bloody conceipts coÌ„strained some of our blessed brethern before their martirdomes to speake more therof then otherwise they desired though nothing so much as by warrant of Gods word and holy writ they might haue done THAT IT IS MVCH TO THE BENEFITE AND STABILITIE OF COMMON vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the difference betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize CAP. VI. THE Libeller once or twice in his discours seditiouslie calleth vpoâ— the Monarches and Princes of the world warning theÌ„ of the doubtful and seruile state they be in whiles the Popes may be suffred to make and vnmake kinges and Princes at their pleasure The seditious sleight of the Libeller and to licence their subiectes to resist them And the man perchance might haue his tale heard if he spake to the simple sort or to such Kinges as feared nether God nor man nor sought otherwise not anie longer to vphould their estates but by desperate force and practize and for their owne time without regard of their posterity But speaking to them whos wisdomes susteine the world whos Crounes are worne Swordes are borne for Christ his spouse whos glorious Auncestors partlie first rose partlie were established and them-selues yet safelie stand and happilie florish which our Lord God long coÌ„tinue by the benediction of the Sea Apostolique and good intelligence correspondece with the high Bishops of the same good audience hardly can they looke for Th' example of some other Princes Protestants about â—hem forsaking the felowship of the Catholique and Apostolique sea and speciallie of king HeÌ„rie th' eight â—â—rst his sonne and daughter after him in EnglaÌ„d 〈◊〉 man a child and a woman not onely seuering them â—elues from the same but annexing to their regalitie â—y strange lawes al Apostolical and Papal power spiâ—itual with infinite emolumentes made by confiscatioÌ„ of al religious mens landes and goods in the whole Realme which was the beginning of that new Ecclesiastical regiment thes thinges being of greater â—emptation then the Libellers bare wordes could â—et neuer moue th'Emperour nor either of the great Monarches nor anie other king of wise counsel in the world to breake with Gods Church and the cheefe Pastors therof Knowing by the recordes of al ages siâ—hence Christ that what Princes or PoteÌ„tates soeuer haue formallie opposed theÌ„ selues to Christes Vicar and refused to communicate with him in the faith and felowship of the Catholique Church were euer in them selues or their posteritie confounded and their kingdomes ouerthrowen or brought to miserable seruitude of Turke or other heathen Tirant It is not the good fortune of a few yeares felicitie that moueth the graue and sage gouernours of the world though the Libeller to make fooles faine The vvise considerations of Catholique Princes vrgeth their good lucke in England much since their breach with Gods Church but they wil looke farther about them and see the euents of thes strange attempts in vs and the iudgements of God for the same not onelie til th' end of K. Henrie th' eight his race who was Radix peccati but afterwarde if our Lord deferre his sentence so long to some new generations to come Ouer which as vpon the Prince and state present of our Countrie we humblie on our knees with continual teares desire God to haue mercie and to auert his indignation from them and vs that the Princes and people of the world may rather be edified by th' example of our conuersion and returne to Gods Church then be instructed by the sight of our punishment and confusion But now for the coÌ„ceipt that this good man would driue into mens heades that no state should be in safetie if the Pope might depriue the Prince at his pleasure it is a bugge fit onelie to feare babes Al wise men in the world that ether see the present times The Popes authoritie touching Princes regalities or looke backe into the ages past knowe that the Pope neither chalengeth nor vsurpeth nor vseth anie such authoritie at his pleasure to depose or exalt whom he list And al learned deuines confesse that he hath not anie direct or immediate iurisdictioÌ„ or superioritie ouer the temporalities Ciuil states or regalities of secular Princes or Magistrates and therfore can not dispose of their kingdomes nor actions alter nor abrogate their lawes as he daylie doth and may doe at his good pleasure of Prelates Bishops and Priests affaires vpon whom he hath direct power and iurisdiction but that he may onely intermedle indirectlie with temporal Princes as he is the Cheefe officer vnder Christ and hath charge of their soules and therbie hath to looke whether their regimentes tend anie way to the iniurie of the Church and true Religion or to their owne and their subiects damnation as in case of Schisme Heresie Apostasie Idolatrie Sacriledge and other intollerable defectes in gouernmeÌ„t for which he being their Bishop is bound to admonish them sondrie times with al lenitie if that serue not to excommunicate them and if they contemne that and the Churches discipline and authoritie then be they esteemed as heathens and vnworthie of superioritie ouer Gods people This is not to depose Kinges at his pleasure nor is cause sufficient why anie iust and Christian Prince should stand in doubt of the Popes censures onelie such as be Heretiques or intend to shake of the yoke of Christ and their faith in him VVhat Princes only feare the Pope haue cause in their conscience to doubt both the Churches discipline the plagues of God which wil not faile them how so euer by humane force and violence they protect them selues for a time from his Ministers sentence sweet corrections Al iust and Catholique Kinges are so far from doubting or misliking Gods ordinance and the practize of the sea Apostolique herein that they perceiue it most necessarie for the stabilitie of their kingdomes and the continuaunce of their posteritie in the glorie therof that for their regiment in faith and life they stand in some reuereÌ„d awe of their cheefe Pastors which is a necessarie and honorable bridle of Princes in their youth and al the dayes of their life to stay them from dangerous disorders and so to temper them in ther gouernmeÌ„t that they may raigne loÌ„g and happilie ouer their people wher otherwise they might fal into infinite calamities and be ether forsaken deposed or shamefullie destroyed by their owne subiects whether they be depriued by holie Churches censure or no. Nether doth anie godlie Christian Prince at this day as we thinke wishe their Empire ether
in them selues their children or posteritie to dure anie longer then they continue in the Catholique faith and the communion of the Sea and Church Apostolique nor would suffer anie of their name or blood to reigne after them that were like to be Heretiques but rather would disinherite or execute them with their owne handes then feare or expect their deposition by the Pope Therfore though with such as feele their owne fault it soundeth euil to heare of the Authoritie and vsage of Gods Church in censuring kinges yet it troubleth not anie iust and lauful Prince especiallie when by their wisdome experience they may perceiue that Princes aboue al other both good and euil be subiect to humane casualties and may fal and loose their kingdomes by an hundreth accidents of mutinies and rebellions of their subiects or by external or domestical warres of Competitours or enimyes to al which The great cōmodities vvhich grovv to al kingdomes by the Popes high authoritie the Popes highe authoritie and interest giueth great stay and moderation in deciding the controuersies of titles and causes of ciuil or forraine warres and by his manifould endeuours of Pacification and composition wherof al the kinges and states Christian haue at sondrie times of their distresses receiued singular profit as appeareth in the histories of the warres betwixt our nation Fraunce and Scotland and in our owne Ciuil tumultes which haue bene often appeased by the mediation of the Pope both parties deferring to him as to the high Priest and general Arbiter of Christian Princes and people being to al indifferent without al partialitie the decision of thos thinges which otherwise could not by lawes nor by armes without-lamentable destruction and much blood be determined Wherebie Princes of lesse power iniuried by the greater and mightier haue euer found succour and redresse and iust kinges distressed by their rebellious subiectes haue had singular assistance As we may see in the stories both of our owne Countrie wher the Popes haue sent diuers Legates to the Barons being vp against their lauful Soueraignes to admonish them to lay doune their armes and when they would not excommunicated them by which meanes manie a king with vs hath kept his Croune which otherwise had bene depriued by tumultuous and popular sedition and no lesse in th'examples of other nations and that in our owne memories hauing experience of diuers blessed Popes diligence in aiding the two great Monarches aswel by the powers temporal which God hath giuen them as by ecclesiastical Censures against their rebels and large spiritual graces benedictions bestowed vpon al that would faithfullie adioine to the repression of the seditious subiects and the preseruation of the Soueraigne The Apostolique Bishop is not an enimie to superioritie and domination The Bishoplike authoritie no enimie to Princes which he knoweth best to be of God as his owne high estate is but a spiritual and most louing Parent and common Father of al Christians and speciallie of Princes He seeketh not their depositions nor mainteineth reuoultes from them no not thē when to his infinite greefe he is forced sometimes though meruelous seldome to giue sentence for the people subiects against the Prince but vseth needful discipline towards them for their saluation Let the graue and wise men of al nations consider with vs whether Princes be in more danger of their state by the lauful Pastors of their soules that iudge by Gods spirit by counsel deliberation order and authoritie without malice hatred or partialitie or by Heretiques seditious and rebellious persons that deale by erroneous conscience phantasie and furie The Protestantes plainlie hould in al their writings and schooles and so practize in the sight of al the world that Princes may for tirannie or Religion be resisted depriued We and al Catholiques likewise affirme that for Heresie and some other great enormities they may be excommunicated and further censured But the Protestants would haue them selues the subiects to rebel and throwe doune their superiors on their owne head and wilfulnes and them selues to be iudges of their Soueraignes desertes and Religion Now we demaund of the Libeller that giueth Princes so frendlie warning of their dangerous estates A resonable demaūd to the Libeller if Popes may vse such authoritie ouer Princes whether the Kinges of Christendome whom their owne sect-maisters confesse may be deposed stand not in far greater hazard of their dominions and persons by the brutish and seditious people armed alwaies with furie and often also as at this present with Heresie then they are of Popes It was not the Pope that gaue licēce or encouragement to the subiects of Scotlād to take armes against their natural liege and Q. to emprison her and to cause her by feare of death to resigne her Croune It is not the Pope that embouldened them barbarouslie to restraine their noble yong King and so often to rebel against him though nether they for his Religion haue anie reason to depriue him nor the Popes Holines otherwise then for the iustice of his quarel against his rebels anie cause to defend him It was not the Pope that licensed the subiects of the king Catholique to fight so long and obstinatlie against their Lord and maister nor that encouraged them to depriue him of his soueraigntie and ancient inheritance It was not the Pope that hath hazarded three mightie Kinges his most Christian Maiesty that now is and his two crouned brethrē before him of their States and bereaued them of manie great partes and cities of their kingdome or that went about to depriue them euen in the time of their innocencie and yong years Popes vse to defend innocents not to destroye them in their nonage or to abuse their minoritie And such is otherwise the manifould hazard of kinges by rebellions that in our owne Countrie The danger of Princes by rebelliō the Child hath deposed his Father the Vncle his Nephew the Wife her owne Husband most commonlie the worse and more wicked the more godlie and innocent And we maruel much this Libeller that would seeme to be such a Statesman and a Counseller to forreine kinges could find no danger to them and their countries sauing of the Popes power ouer them which in verie truth by Christs special prouidence is the greatest protection guarde and stay that innocent Princes and their people can haue the awe and reuerend respect of his holie authoritie keeping thousandes from rebellion and intrusion and a number of iust Princes in their empires which els had bene in diuers countries ouerthrowen The Protestantes cannot proue by example of al nations times since Christ that anie one hath bene deposed that was not prooued to be a notorious Heretique or euil man On th' other side Rebels and namelie Heretiques by vnlauful meanes The practise of Heretikes depriue commonlie none but innocent iust and holie Princes Vnto whos barbarous crueltie this Libeller would haue their sacred Maiesties
the Popes Excommunication and Curse The sacking of Rome by the Duke of Burbon because his souldiars vnder the conduction of Burbon committed horrible violence and vilanie in the Citie of Rome against his Holines the Cardinals and al other whom they found ther as their pray Wher in deed the said noble Emperour though then verie yōg yet was nether cōsenting therunto nor had anie knowledge of the disorder til it was done purging him self therof afterward to the Pope verie humblie and the said Burbon author of that wicked enterprice by Gods mightie hand and iudgement and for a signe how highlie that impious fact displeased his diuine Maiestie was slaine sodenlie and as it is thought the first of al other vpon the wal of the suburbes Let al thos that take such examples take heed of the like endes As for the loialtie of the most Catholique King that now is of Spaine to the Sea Apostolique Touching the exāples of K. Philip and the Duke of Alua. notwith-standing what temporal differences soeuer haue fallen or may fal out betwene them it were to much idlenes to stand vpon against this fond wrangler And the Duke of Alua his Maiesties general behaued him self euen at that time when he had his armie before Rome as wel of his owne singular deuotiō as by his Kinges commaundement most religiouslie and honorablie without anie violence in the world or domage to the Citie other thē the waste of a few places of pleasure vines and orchardes about the wals for which this good felowe with whō we deale maketh much mone as it seemeth wher in deed he would rather haue wished the whole Citie bothe sacked and suncke for deuotion But thes Princes saith he cared not for the Popes Curses when they thus pursued their claimes both by armes and lawes The truth is that the Pope excommunicateth not euerie one that ether resisteth him in temporal quarels or matter of emolumentes of their peculiar Churches or Countries whether it be by lawes or armes and therfore ther is no cause why in such cases wher no censures are vsuallie published this Libeller should say Hovv the Pope and temporal Princes may contend in armes They regard no curses nor anathematizinges c. Nether thē also whē the iniurie done to holie Church or Apostolique sea seemeth so euident to the Pope that ther may appeare some reasonable cause of excommunicating the impugners the parties so censured in the contrarie side vpon perswasion of their right doe persist notwithstanding in the defence therof not then I say doe they contemne the censure as is vntruelie conceaued by the aduersarie but rather absteining from the holie Sacramentes and companie of such as to them by lawe are forbidden doe vse humble meanes towardes his Holines for his better information in the cause and doe seeke that the matter may be ended by good order of composition or arbitrament of other Princes and godly persons Or if in such causes of strife for worldlie commodities where the temporal Prince may sometimes ether haue the right on his side or seeme to him self in conscience or by the iudgemēt of godlie learned and indifferent men to haue it we graunt that he may without feare of Censures by armes or otherwise pursue his iust claime without impechement of his obedience in spiritual affaires may therfore sacrilegious persons as Heretiques Apostataes and open obstinate offendours contemne at their pleasures and violentlie resist the sentence of holie Church No ther is no match in thes matters What if the late Q. Marie of England staied the messinger of the Pope The example of Q. Marie ansvvered bringing a discharge of the late renouned Cardinal Poole from his authoritie Legantine and a Cardinals hat for a person though verie godlie yet knowen to be vnfit til his Holines might be better enformed of the man of the whole matter as immediatlie he was with al diligence and humilitie by the said most deuout Princesse should this be an example or encouragement to others of plaine disobedience and reuolt or wholie to abandone the Popes authoritie and to inuest a woman which is against nature in his Supremacie and spiritual charge ouer al her subiectes soules No surelie no more then of reason it should haue serued her Maiesties Councel sitting once in consultation together of the case to denie entrance to the Nuncio Apostolico The Nuncio Apostolico that came to summon to the General Counsel denied to enter Englād sent by Pius quartus about the third yeare of her Highnes raigne to require and beseech her in God to send some of her learned men to the general Councel of Trent then in hand as most other great Potentates of Christiantie did bringing with him a Safe-conduct for their peaceable passage audience and intertainment notwithstanding their contrarie religion and faction So did the English Counsel thē make their aduantage of that vnlike fact of the late noble Queene at once both to mainteine their vnlike seperation from the Christiā world and the felowship of other Catholique kinges as also and that perhaps especiallie to couer the ignorance feare and insufficiencie of their Superintendentes The English Superintēdentes afraid to goe to the Councel of Trent who though her Maiesty and others of the Nobilitie were wel īclined to send some of them for the honour of the Realme yet for feare of burning as they pretended but indeed for feare of the Catholiques learning and their owne shame the good-felowes made al the sute vnder-hand they could that none might be inforced thither And so at length it was agreed and moreouer that his Holines Ambassadour should not so much as be heard or suffred to come within the Realme vpon the warrant I say of the forsaid vnlike example of the former Queene Mary Which also serueth them further euer since not onelie to renounce al the old authoritie power and interest of the Sea Apostolique ouer our Countrie and to make the cheefe Bishop therof a mere stranger as other worldlie Princes of the Prouinces about vs that haue nothing to doe with our affaires whos messingers yet and Ambassadours for needful entercours and mutual intelligence by the lawe of natiōs they willinglie admit ether in peace or warres as occasion serueth but also to make him a Diuel an Antichrist and worse then the Turke him self whos messingers as the world seeth may haue audiēce with them and good correspondence wheras the Pope can haue none Wherby is discouered the miserie of wicked Heresie and the extreme hatred that rebellious children doe beare to their mother whom they vnhappilie haue forsaken obstinatelie resist to their owne perdition And this shal be sufficient to shew how wrongfully vnreasonably this Libeller hath sought to defend their English general reuoult from the Church of Rome and their contempt of his Holines Censures by the examples of some Catholique Princes differences wordlie debates with certaine Popes prelates of
with the rebellious states of Flaunders In Flāders or with the Apostata of Colen or other their correspondents wil come they partelie perceaue and may acknowledge therī as al other wise mē doe the mightie iust and prouident hand of God The secret miserie of English Protestātes When our Protestantes consider of thes thinges deeplie and attend the issue of al their extraordinarie proceedinges and as men out of al aime now and compasse of their intended cours can goe no farther without desperate ouerthrowe and hazard of al what miserie they may be in let wise men iudge how so euer thē selues couer their perplexed cogitations from the vulgar sort by telling them of faire wether and of their plentie of corne and cattle long reigne and prosperitie of her Maiesty aboue al Popes and Princes of her daies But the origine of al the former dishonorable desperate plottes and of the extreme feares and miseries The true origine of English miseries they manie wayes shew them selues to be in and indeed are notwithstanding the pretence of their prosperitie is their first fal from the God of their forefathers and the alteration of Catholique religion into this Caluinisme or Atheisme by which our Realme hath so long perished Though this Libeller and other English new writers no wiser nor better then Children or Beares that are offended with the roddes stones or staues wherwith they be beaten nether looking a◠the cause nor cheefe author of their punishment attribute their trobles or apprehended feares to the excommunication and to the godlie endeuours of Catholique Priestes instructing the people peaceablie to their saluation And how much this forsaking of holie Church Faith and communion of al Christian people displeased God and how vnwiselie it was done in respect of the temporal state and safetie of our Prince Countrie the same Lord God hath in their owne daies that were the authors therof reuealed as otherwise natural reason and experience if they were neuer so voide of conscience and religion might haue foretold thē But alas their owne particular aduauncement and infinite ambition which they thought should not haue so free cours if the old state of religion had continued ether brought them into errour of iudgemēt as it commonlie happeth or els which is no rare case nether made thē against their owne knowledge folowe that which was so pernitious both temporallie and spirituallie For who could not see though his iudgement reason Al mutations dāgerous but especially of Religion or reading were neuer so smal that al great alteratiōs in Common weales are dangerous Let but an attempt be made to change your temporal statutes and national lawes into the ciuil lawes change but your customes that now you be guided by in manie thinges change your forme of gouernment which is now a Monarchie into an other kind of regiment what infinite broiles would it bring But ther is no alteration so perilous as of Religion and of that Religiō which was planted by our first Apostles receaued from the mother Church of Christendome confirmed by miracles approued by al the lawes councels customes and tribunals of the Church for to be the only true worship of God and consonant to his sacred word wil. What counsaile could be more dangerous in the world then this They could not but thinke that the subiectes of the Realme so manie of them being Catholique so latelie reconciled to the Church and by publique Ambassie othe and promis to his Holines aduowed neuer to fal againe into Schisme could not but be much discontented They could not but see what hart-sore it would be to al thos that depended on the old honorable Cleargie to behold the depriuation and imprisonment almost of the whole order and an other fleshlie company intruded into their roomes whom no man almost liked of and sith are more and more taken and proued to be the filth of the land They were not ignorant that the Pope and Sea Apostolique now the secōd time so contemptuouslie forsaken could ether of conscience or dutie to his flocke or his owne honour The peril by excōmunication not vse one time or other the rodde of the Churches discipline which is Excōmunication against the offendors which how so euer they thought by errour of Religion they might contemne by power withstand yet they could not be so farre ouerseene that such Censures by which manie a mans conscience at home might be perced and of which anie forreine Prince abrode as time and aduantage serued him would perhaps make his profit might not seeme to them verie like to breed more trobles then were to be wished They looked not wel about them Consideratiōs against change of Religion in England if they foresawe not that their defection from the Pope who is most dearlie cōfederated with al the Catholike and mightie Kinges of Christendome might not breed a great alienation of their hartes from vs and an occasion of much inconuenience and danger to our Countrie Their wisdomes and experience of the diuers bloody conflictes foughten in our Fathers dayes for religion in Zwicherland and in our Countrie in K. Henrie the 8. and K. Edvvard the sixt late daies and the doubtful euent of such thinges might haue forewarned them of the like that might fal and sithence haue fallen as wel in England as Ireland where al the Countrie being in good wil Catholique they might easilie perceaue with what a general torment of conscience and danger of ciuil warre the new Religion were to be enforced vpon them Feare is neuer a sure nor long keeper of his maister And because no Prince ruleth his subiects so securelie by force and feare as by loue and liking how could they not conceaue that al Ireland and a great peece of England was euer to be interteined in subiection by power and plaine awe nothing by loue and sweetnes And which is of more perilous sequele in this case and ought most of al to haue bene by them foreseene is that the diuersitie of religion ioined with the censure and sentence of the Sea Apostolique may make such alteration in the opinions of manie otherwise most loial subiectes that diuers may seeme to obey onelie of feare and nothing of consciēce Which conscience of the subiectes doubtles is the onelie sure piller of the Souerains estate They should haue foreseene how manie persons of honour and qualitie for freedome of conscience and other discontentmēt grounded on religion were like to flie into forreine partes who might by zeale or miserie be so irritated against the causes of their banishment and occupiers of their liuelihoodes that their absence might proue dāgerous to their enimies state Whom they can not represse by calling them Fugitiues or such like names of vulgar reproch for that terrefied not the noble Prince Henrie the seuenth K. Henry the 7. grandfather to the Queenes Maiesty for pursuing the cruel Tirant and vsurper Richard the third whom he
honorablie notwithstanding he was an annointed king and in possessiō of the Realme deposed of the croune They should haue made their accompt before alteration of religion that ther would rise therby Dissentiō in religion deadlie implacable diuision among the subiectes and pernicious difference betwixt the dearest frendes and neerest kinsfolkes no dissention nor hatred being so capital and deadlie as that which cometh of contrarietie in Faith and worship of God And the vnitie of Christes Church being once broken that the Protestantes them selues should be combred with infinity of sectes and opiniōs pernicious to the state Wherof no doubt they should haue receaued good proofe and lamentable issue ere this had not the heades as wel of the rulers as of the Puritanes Anabaptistes Brethrē of loue and other sectes bene so fullie and fearfullie attent vpon the Catholiques and their endeuours But the aduersarie telleth vs that they haue gone through al thes perils and haue had so manie victories against what enimies soeuer at home or abrode and that therfore al was wiselie done and luckelie To which we say that if al proue wel in the end it is better for them and that it is not so properlie perteining to prudence to escape dangers when they fal which good luck fond men also sometimes haue by fortune as to preuent and prouide that no dangers fal and to flie from such thinges wherof euident perils must needes ensue But in this matter of Religion God him self also hath checked their worldlie purposes and conceiptes maruelouslie The Heretiques expectatiō deceaued about extinctiō of the Catholique religion For wher they had thought by seueritie of such strāge lawes as were neuer made in anie common wealth heathen or Christian by putting al the old Prelates into prison and wearing them away by yeelding al Churches pulpites schooles offices honours and commodities to men of their owne sect and creation and by what other extremitie policie or diligence so euer to haue in a few years extinguished the name and memorie of faith Catholique they now yearlie and daylie find the number zeale constancie patience and knowledge of the children of the Catholique Romane Church so to encrease in al orders sexes degrees of men that they may see and confesse that Digitus Dei est hic and that if they persist Exo. 8.19 Mat. 27.64 Nouissimus error ipsorum erit peior priori Once they shew them selues to be so terrified by God in the blood death of so manie Martirs which they in a kind of extreme desperate obstinacie and obduration doe dailie kil yet are so appalled by the truth and the common sense of al men that they dare not or are ashamed to execute them for religiō wherby euen now in the vaunt of their wealth peace and prosperitie they shew such extraordinarie feares as is wonder to behold Wherin their miserie is so lamentable as we conster it the perplexitie which God hath driuen them vnto The extreme feares of English Protestāts so terrible that ther is not a poore Priest can enter to say Masse but they imagine he bringeth their destruction Ther can not a ship appeare in anie coast nor anie Princes preparation for his owne affaires but it is for inuasion of the Realme Ther can be no College founded to releeue mens banishmēts abrode no intertainment giuen to anie Catholique ether in cāpe or court The speech of the Ievves Iohn 11. but al is against their state euerie man crying out Quòd venient Romani tollent locum gentem nostram So long as our Realme was in the vnitie of the Catholique Church and liued ether in iust warres or honorable peace with our neighbours was ther anie such extreme feares of present inuasion was ther such mustering such diligent watch and swearing against the Pope at euerie porte such examination of passingers such a doe generallie and such mistrust of the subiectes fidelitie such ielousie ouer al men as though the whole Realme were a Campe that feared and expected euerie houre some secret Camisado Is this the felicitie securitie that the Libeller so much glorieth of wherof he saieth other countries wishe some part Surelie a moderate fortune with securitie is without comparison much better then al the pleasures in the world with perplexitie And it seemeth by outward signes that ther is no Nation in Europe which standeth this day in so doubtful termes as ours doth Woe be to our sinnes therfore Which we say not vpon anie likelihood of anie such present dangers as seeme there now so extremlie to be feared or for that the Priestes of God or other Catholique men can possiblie be anie cause therof which is indeed no more but this Psal 52.6 Deum non inuocauerunt illic trepidauerunt timore vbi non erat timor God onelie hath driuen them vnto it to giue them some sense of their miserie and some remorse of their reuolte from him and motion of repentance But our consideration is speciallie of the dreadful and most desperate case our whole Countrie euerie order and eche particular man therof is in The dāger of the Realme by vncertaintie of the next inheritour by the vncertaintie of the next heire to the Crowne yea by the certaintie of most bloodie ciuil forreine warres among such a number of Competitours such diuersitie of religions such ambitious spirits that alredie make their packes and complots for the same al our rest peace and felicitie what so euer depending vpon a few vncertaine dayes of one sole persons life wel growen in yeares subiect to casualties and vnder the hand of the omnipotent Lord that taketh away when he listeth the spirits of Princes and is terrible vpon the Kinges of the earth It were to miserable for anie noble or gentleman or other person ether of possession wealth or issue in the whole land not to knowe or not to care to whom his liuelihood should descend after him but to prouide for his owne time onelie to let them goe by the eares and skamble for it afterward Farre more miserable vnnatural and lamentable it is to see such a noble whole Realme and publique state driuen to thes straites and incomparable distresses that almost it looketh for no longer life and being and no person subiect therunto for longer peace wealth and vse of their owne goodes then her Maiesty liueth that is to say for ten twentie moe or lesse years as it pleaseth God to allot her Which thing being an euident demonstration and palpable proofe of our greatest calamitie the deceiptful aduersaries shame not to turne the same not-with-standing to the high commendation of their gouernment telling the people how happie they be by the same and how needfullie they haue to pray and prouide for the preseruation of her Maiesties person by whos onelie life they enioy so great felicitie afterward al to be in extremes Which the Counselours them selues sticke not to confesse and publish
folowing Math. 5. And thos men in such a case are onelie wise and godlie Councellours her Maiesties true subiectes and worthie members of the Common-wealth that humblie exhort her Highnes not to be beguiled by her present fortune or to thinke obstinate and forcible resistance of the Pope or Churches sentence of Excommunication True and good councel to her Maiestie to be her most securitie but to see what Theodosius the elder did whē he was excommunicated by S. Ambrose to remember how Theodosius the yōger behaued him self in the cause of S. Chrisostome for whos vniust banishment the said Emperours father and mother were excommunicated Lib. 10. trip hist cap. 18. 26. to consider wel what the end of the controuersie was betwixt King Henrie the second and the Pope and Bishop of Canturburie in his time and afterward betwene King Iohn and the Sea of Rome and Cleargie in thos dayes That al thes in fin as mightie Princes as they were yeelded and reconciled them selues to the Sea Apostolique A thing that after a litle heat or headines of yong Princes be past was and euer shal be found in fin the onelie sure and honorable way before God and the world to keepe them selues and their Realmes from perdition Which danger her Maiesties father in whom this reuolt of our daies and Countrie beganne both afore once or twice The meaning of K. Henrie 8. for reconciling him self to the Sea of Rome and speciallie towardes his death sawe and earnestlie sought to auert from his posteritie by the like reconciling him self to the Church Which yet through Gods iudgementes he had not time to accomplish in him self but was atchiued afterward most honorablie in his eldest daughter not onelie for consciēce sake otherwise but especiallie for effectuating her said fathers great desire therin as some of her cheefe Councellours to whom he had cōmunicated his mind in that matter did publiquelie testifie to the whole Realme at Paules Crosse Would God our sinnes and the Realmes could suffer her Maiesties wise Councellours to consider of the case with such sinceritie as were requisite for them selues and vs al who by their better or worse election in this one matter are like ether to be long happie or vnhappie for euer We trust the intollerable flatterie of this Libeller or other like telling her Maiesty Hovv al temporal princes haue superiours that she hath no superiour but God none aboue her but the Almightie none that she need to feare or care for but him and therfore that she hath not to regard anie sentence of Pope or others can much moue anie of their wisdomes this being a most shameful Heresie vntruth that a King hath no superiour in matters of his soule conscience When not onelie the general Pastor of the whole Church is his superiour if he be one of Christes flocke or fould al the sheepe wherof without exception by our maisters expresse sentence were committed to Peter his successours feeding and gouernment but also other Prelates of his owne kingdome that haue charge of his soule to whom likewise he oweth al Christian obedience in spiritual affaires no lesse then the poorest man in the Realme For kinges were not excepted from S. Paules rule and admonition giuen to al the faithful in thes wordes Obedite praepositis vestris subiacete eis Heb. 13. Obey your Prelates and be subiect vnto them wherof he yeeldeth immediatelie the cause For that they vvatch as being to render accompt of your soules If Princes then haue soules they must needes be vnder the accompt and charge of Prelates if they haue Prelates they must obey them and be subiect vnto them if they be bound to obey them and be subiect vnto them they must acknowledge them for their superiours How then say thes wicked flatterers that Kings Queens haue no superiors none to be subiect vnto but God That they be the cheefe eue◠in causes ecclesiastical in matters of religion soule and conscience within their Realmes That neither Pope nor Prelate can excommunicate them or vse other discipline for correction of them when they fal from their faith If Theodosius the Emperour had had such bolsterers of his pride about him or so litle grace and wisdome as to haue giuen eare to them The exāple of Theodosius he would litle haue esteemed S. Ambrose authoritie sentence and censure against him But he was more happie and Christian then to plead his superioritie in such matters aboue his Bishop or to chalenge exemption or impunitie in this world for what so euer he did or beleeued and onelie to be reserued to God And it is a singular note of irreligiositie in our dayes that thes prophane Heretiques godles persons doe prefer humane thinges before diuine the regiment temporal before spiritual the bodie before the soule earth before heauen Regalitie before Priesthood and this life before the next and al eternitie Which is an euident demonstration that al tendeth in this Heresie to plaine Paganisme and Epicurisme esteeming and admiring none but such as be in worldlie height power dignitie that can yeeld them thes transitorie honours pleasures and preferments The sayings and doings of ancient Fathers in this case But the truth of this matter may and ought to be learned partlie of the old glorious and most excellēt Doctors and Bishops of the primitiue Church and partlie by the behauiour of the first great Emperours and Kinges that were professours and defendours of the Catholique faith VVhat is more honorable saith S. Ambrose then that the Emperour be called a child of the Church Epist 33. for a good Emperour is vvithin the Church and not aboue the Church And S. Chrisostome admonishing Priestes of their dutie in keeping from the holie altar great offendours expreslie warneth them to vse their authoritie therin euen towardes Kinges or what soeuer they be VVhether saith he he be Duke Prefect or crouned Prince that vvould vnvvorthilie approche Hom. 60. ad Popul 83. in Math. forbid him thy authoritie povver is greater thē his So S. Gregorie Naziāzene speaketh to his owne Emperour The lavve of Christ hath made you subiect to my povver and to my tribunal for vve haue our soueraintie Orat. ad Ciues Nazianz. and that more excellent and perfect vnlesse the spirit should subdue it self to the flesh and heauenlie thinges yeeld to the earthlie VVhich my libertie of speech I feare not O Emperour but thou vvilt allovve seeing thou art an holie sheepe of my sacred fold and a pupil of the great Pastor and vvel instructed by the holie-Ghost from thine infancie Also S. Athanasius plainlie auoucheth and proueth the Emperour Constantius the Arrian Epist ad Solit. vit degent to be the precursor of Antichrist in that he made him self iudge superiour in causes ecclesiastical ouer Bishops and that his arrogated preeminence and exercise of iurisdiction in such matters which our gentle
iote or circumstance though neuer so much cōmoditie might ensue therof Which matter of libertie of Conscience we moue not perchāce for our owne benefite so much as for our aduersaries weale and worldlie securitie wherof they wil seeme to haue both mistrust and sollicitude And perhaps the wisdome of God wil sound otherwise and say to vs Mat. 20.22 Nescitis quid petatis iudging it to be farre more to his honour and glorie and the breefer way to saluation of our whole Nation The vvay of persecution more sure for vs. and of moe soules in particular that we should passe through this persecution and winne our owne and our brethrens saluation by our blood And indeed if the Germane Catholiques had bene so restreined persecuted put to death as the English haue bene thes years and had not gone by halfes with the Protestantes as in some places they haue done they had had perhaps farre moe Catholiques at this day and them more zealous and their whole nation perchance reduced ere this which now for the protestants standeth not so much on their religion or conscience in Heresie as vpon their mutual peace concord and concurrence with Catholiques Wel what were best for vs in this case God onelie knoweth Ro. 6.19 Nos humanum dicimus propter infirmitatem nostram as the Apostle speaketh But sure we are that the first best for our English nation as wel Prince as people were both in respect of God and the world of them selues and other men Tvvo vvaies of composition very profitable to the realme to restore the state againe to the obedience of Gods Church and to the happy felowship of al their forefathers other faithful people Princes now liuing The next best were in respect of their owne securitie and perpetuitie if the first may not take place to desist from persecuting their Catholique subiectes and brethren and to graunt some libertie for exercise of their consciences diuine offices and holie deuotions that so they may pray for her Maiesty and Councellors as their Patrones whom now they pray for onelie as their Persecutours If to none of thes conditions they can be brought but wil haue our bodies goods life and soules The Conclusion then let our Lord God the iust Arbitrer of al thinges and Iudge of Princes as wel as poore men and the onelie comforter of the afflicted discerne our cause In whos holie name word and promis we confidentlie tel them and humblie euen in Christs blood pray them to consider of it that by no humane force or wisdome they shal euer extinguish the Catholique partie ouercome the holie Church or preuaile against God Ther can no Herode kil Christ in his cradle Math. 3. Exod. 1. Hest 7. nor anie Pharao droune our male sexe and destroy Gods people nor anie Aman extirpate the stocke of Iacob Let them seeke with al desperation to diminish bridle spoile impouerish disgrace and extinguish the whole generation of Catholiques at home and in banishment let them by artificial Libels as this against which we haue written and otherwise by most impudent lies and fictions slaunder vs charge vs with treasons and other trespasses Mentientes propter Christum belying vs for Christs sake let them confederate them selues against vs with al the Protestants Turkes Sectaries and Atheistes in the world yet the Catholiques that is the seede of God wil encrease in number power and zeale the Priestes wil not leaue of to folowe their dutiful trade with more spirite diligence deuotion patience and cōstancie then euer before remembring the aduertisement of their Maister Mat. 10.22 that he shal be saued that perseuereth to the ende as also that worthie record left in scripture of Esay the great faithful Prophet qui spiritu magno vidit vltima Eccl. 48. as the holy-Ghost saieth of him for that his corage neuer failed him in Gods seruice to the end The persecutours be now no stronger then thy were of old The Church is no weaker then she had wont to be Her assistant and defender is as neere her as euer he was We are no better thē our forefathers We lesse feare death and lesse set by our liues then euer before Our countes are cast allowed it is better to die in this Apostolical fight and cōbat Quà m videre mala gentis nostrae sanctorum 1. Mach. 3.59 assuring our selues that to be vndoubted which S. Leo writeth Nullo crudelitatis genere destrui potest Sacramento Crucis fundata religio Leo. Non minuitur persecutionibus Ecclesia sed augetur That the religion founded in the sacrament of Christs Crosse can be destroied by no kind of crueltie The Church is not diminished by persecutions but encreased And that S. Augustine saith Nemo delet de Coelo constitutionem Dei Nemo delet de terra Ecclesiam Dei Laus Deo THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKE THAT many Priests and other Catholiques in England haue bene persecuted condemned and executed for mere matter of religion and for transgression onely of nevv statutes vvhich doe make cases of Conscience to be treason vvithout al pretēce or surmise of any old treasons or statutes for the same Cap. 1. 1 That F. Campian and the rest of the Priests and Catholiques endited condemned and executed vpon pretence of treason and vpon statutes made of old against treasons vvere neuer yet guiltie of anie such crimes but vniustly made avvay Cap. 2. 18 That vve novv haue great cause to complaine of iniust persecution intollerable seuerity and cruelty tovvardes Catholiques in England and their Protestantes no reason to doe the like for the Iustice done to them in Queene MARIES and other Princes dayes and the cause of the difference Cap. 3. 34 That our Priests and Catholique brethren haue behaued them selues discretlie nothing seditiouslie in their ansvvers to the questions of the Bul of Pius Quintus and that they can not laufullie be pressed nor put to death as traitors by the true meaning of th' olde lavves of the Realme for the same vvith examination of the six Articles proposed about the said Bul. Cap. 4. 59 Of excommunication and depriuation of Princes for Heresie and falling from the Faith speciallie of vvarres for Religion and of the office and Zeale of Priests of th' old nevv lavv in such cases Cap. 5. 89 That it is much to the benefite and stability of Common-vvealthes and speciallie of Kinges scepters that the differences betvvixt them and their people for Religion or anie other cause for vvhich they may seeme to deserue depriuation may rather be decided by the supreme Pastor of the Church as Catholiques vvould haue it then by popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as Heretikes desire and practize Cap. 6. 116 Of the late vvarres in Ireland for religion hovv the Pope may vse the svvord and that the differences betvvixt temporal Princes and him or their resisting him in some cases of their vvorldlie interest can be no vvarrant to the Protestants to contemne his censures or authoritie in matter of Faith and Religion Cap. 7. 134 That the separation of the Prince and Realme from the vnitie of the Church and Sea Apostolique and fal from Catholique religion is the onely cause of al the present feares and dangers that the State seemeth to stand in And that they vniustly attribute the same to the Popes Holines or Catholiques and vntruly cal them enimies of the Realme Cap. 8. 161 The conclusion conteining a charitable motion and a ioinder vvith the Libeller touching some meanes of tolleration in Religion and ceasing or mitigating this cruel Persecution Cap. 9. 209 The faultes correct thus Pag. Lin. Read 49. 33. faith brought faith that they brought 55. 20. persecuted prosecuted 60. 17. as Blasphemy as Heresy Blasphemy Ibid. 30. spititual spiritual 64. 34. obyed obeyed 77. 1. Ecommunicatiō Excommunication 90. 15. fouerers fauorers 98. 7. Common weath Common wealth 144. 15. Bastours Pastours 182. 28. causes causers 195. 13. can much can not much