and that in as honourable and publike a forme of triall as euer was vsed in this kingdome and although as his Maiesty himselfe hath well obserued the onely reason they gaue for plotting so hainous an attempt was the zeale they caried to the Romish Religion yet were neuer any other of that profession the worse vsed for that cause as by his Maiesties gracious Proclamation immediately after the discouery of the said fact doth plainely appeare onely at the next sitting down againe of the Parliament were there Lawes made enacting some such orders as were thought fit for the preuenting the like mischiefe in time to come amongst which a forme of oath was framed to bee taken by his subiects whereby they should make a cleare profession of their resolution faithfully to persist in their obedience according to their naturall allegeance to the end a separation might bee made betweene so many of his Maiesties Subiects who although they were otherwise Popishly affected yet retained in their hearts the print of their naturall Allegeance to their Soueraigne and those who being caried away with the like fanaticall zeale that the Powder-traitours were could not containe themselues within the bounds of their naturall Allegeance but thought diuersitie of Religion a safe pretext for all kinde of Treasons and Rebellions against their Soueraigne Which godly and wise intent God blessed with successe accordingly for very many Subiects that were Popishly affected aswell Priests as Laickes did freely take the same oath whereby they both gaue his Maiestie occasion to thinke the better of their fidelitie and likewise freed themselues of that heauie slaunder that although they were Fellow-professours of one Religion with the Powder-traitors yet were they not ioyned with them in treasonaâ—le courses against their Soueraigne whereby all quietly minded Papists were put out of despaire and his Maiestie gaue good proofe that hee intended no persecution against them for conscience sake but onely desired to be secured of them for ciuill obedience which for conscience sake they were bound to performe I vse his Maiesties very words because he is best able to expresse himselfe and I know not how to expresse my selfe better nor by many degrees so well These were the greatest effects of his Maiesties anger vpon occasion of the Powder-treason which notwithstanding to shew your Rhetorike you compare to a storme vpon the Sea raising vp the billowes to the height making him inexorable impatient of any equall hearing chiding and punishing vntill he were weary wheras if his Maiâ—stie had but giuen way to the fury of the multitude the chiefe offenders no doubt had beene torne in pieces before they could haue come to the place of execution or of triall and if the like monstrous and neuer heard of offence had beene committed by Protestants for their Religions sake in other countries the body of that profession had suffered for it Indeed his Maiestie had sufficient occasion giuen that his wrath should haue beene as the roaring of a Lyon which is the Herauld of death but bearing the Image of God and being the Vicegerent of God on earth nay stiled God by God himselfe his mercy so triâ—mphed against his iustice that he seemed not to be mooued as the hainousnes of so horrible a fact required vntill his Holinesse by his two Breues and Cardinall Bellarmine by his Letter to the Arch-priest throughly awakened him they thereby disswading his Subiects from taking that most reasonable Oath of Allegeance and checking the Arch-priest for taking it to these his Maiestie in his booke Intituled Triplici nodo triplex cuneus or an Apologie for the oth of Allegeance vouchsafed with his owne Penne to frame a full and quicke answere aswell for the satisfaction of scrupulous consciences as for the iustifying of his owne proceedings to which the Cardinal vnder the name of Tortus makes his reply and hauing on his visarde dealt with his Maiestie at his pleasure in such termes as neither became a Churchman to giue nor a Prince to take whereupon his Maiestie being nowe somewhat warmed once againe tooke his quill in hand and wrote that excellent Premonition to the Monarchs and free States of Christendome as the Prince of Aurange did his Apologie to the States of the Netherlands hauing his head proscribed by Phillip the second King of Spaine for the summe of 25000. Crownes wherein hee not onely refutes Bellarmines reply but by a large Confession of his Faith cleareth himselfe from all imputation of Heresie and with all most iudiciously setteth downe the reasons of his opinion why he cannot but conceaue the Bishop of Rome to be Antichrist To this the Cardinall againe reioyneth somewhat more manerly in shew but indeed no whit lesse saucily then in his former discourse and how many Hell-hounds haue followed vpon the same sent the world to well knoweth besides it is not vnknowen how some of the plotters or at leastwise abettors in that intended Tragedy haue their Apologies published from Rome and others their protection in Rome nay the doctrine which gaue life to that and giues way to the like attempt is as violently maintained by the Romish Doctors as euer beside infinite other writers witnes Beaumanoirs expostulatory defence of Suarez against Seruius expository coÌ„plaint as also Cardinal Perrons and his fellow Prelates late proceedings in France together with his Holinesse benedictioÌ„ for that speciall peece of seruice both the Cardinal in his oration the Pope in his Letter labouring to disgace our Church State with what assurance then can this Maiesty ioyne hands with Rome since though the Powder be remoued froÌ„ vnder the Parliament house yet they still prepare new matter for the like Blow and no doubt but Paulus V. would be as ready to make his Oration in Conclaue in commendation of it being once acted as Sixtus Quintus was in commending that mortall blow giuen Henry the thirde of France by a Friar Iacobin which that it may the rather appeare I will hereunto annexe the Translation of his Letter to Cardinall Perron and the other French Prelates assembled in Parliament the Originall it selfe is but a barbarous Papall stile and therefore it cannot be expected but the Translation should be sutable the Letter was written vpon occasion of a Bill passed in the Lower-house crossing the Popes pretended Power in Deposing and Murthering Princes and crossed by the Clergie Pope Paul the fifth VEnerable Brother our beloued Son and likewise Venerable Brethren and beloued Sonnes greeting and Apostolicall benediction The excesse of boldnesse wherby some as we haue heard in the generall assembly there held in the 2. of Ian. haue endeuoured to violate the sacred authority of the Apostolike See hath so troubled our minde that were we not comforted by the firme confidence wee haue in the singular pietie and prudence of our dearest children King Lewis and Queene Mary his mother whom we vnderstand to haue been carefull to represse so vnaduised an attempt and in the admirable zeale
and more then must be granted by vs it reaching to the deposition of Princes from their thrones and the disposition of their Crownes when his Holinesse shall iudge it fit for the vnity of the Church as well appeared in his Buls both against King Henry the father and Queene Elizabeth the daughter And thus farre Cardinall Perron that peaceable man and your great Patron expressed himselfe in the last assemblie of the three estates of France for which the Pope gaue him and the rest of the Clergy who stucke to him in that businesse as great thankes as if they had saued Saint Peters shippe from sinking both the Cardinall and the Pope supposing as it seemes that those sparkes flew into France from the fire of England howsoeuer sure it is they were quenched by the water of Tyber B. C. 15. So that whereas my hope was that by finding out the corruptions of the Church of Rome I should grow further in loue with the Church of England and ioyfully returne home and by inueighing against the Papists both enioy my present preferments and obtaine more and more I saw the matteâ— was like to fall out cleane contrary It is true indeed that there are many corruptionsâ— in all States God hath not his wheat field in this world wherein the deuill hath no tares growing and there are not tares more ranke then those that grow among the wheat for optimi corruptio pessima and where grace aboundeth if it be contemned there sinne aboundeth much more But seeing my reading and experience hath now taught me that the trueth of Christian Religion taught and practised at this day in the Church of Rome and all the obedient members thereof is the very same in substance which was preâ—igured and prophesied from the beginning of the world perfected by CHRIST himselfe deliuered to his Apostles and by them and their Successours perpetually and vniuersally practised vntill this day without any W substantiall alteration and that the new religion in X England wherein it doth differ hath no ground but either the pleasure of the Prince and Parliament or the common crie and voyce of the people nor no constancie or agreement with it selfe what should I now doe It is not in my power not to know that which I doe know nor to doubt of that which I haue spent so much time and taken so much paines and bestowed so much cost and made so many trials to find And I know if I should yeeld to be reconciled to the Church I should be in this world in all likelihood vtterly vndone and which grieued me more I should bee reiected of your Maiestie my most redoubted Lord and Master and despised by all my deare friends and louers in England G. H. 15. W The Church of Rome holds indeed the substance of Christian Religion in profession but yet by consequence shakes the foundation of it as it holds the death of Christ to be satisfactory for sinne and yet adding thereunto her owne meritorious satisfaction consequently by the latter she ouerthrowes the former for If righteousnesse be by the Law then Christ died without a cause and in reason impossible it is if traditions be held of equall valew with the Scriptures for the constituting of substantiall points but that in short time there should ensue a substantiall alteration and he that knowes not that the Church of Rome holds many things now as parts of the Catholike faith which it helds not in former ages knowes little what hath bene anciently held or now is X If by the religion of England you vnderstand that which is by Law established as in coÌ„mon construction you cannot otherwise be vnderstood you coÌ„demne your selfe out of your owne mouth in as much as you acknowledge before that the religion established by law in England was the same saue onely it was somewhat defectiue which now is and euer had beene held in the Catholike Church and yet here you say it hath no ground but the pleasure of the Prince and Parliament wheras in trueth we build vpon the Rocke of the Scriptures but you vpon the sand of traditions and which of vs hath the sounder foundation I appeale no farther then reason it selfe to iudge You as though you were not yet dead from the ordinances of the world burden your selues with traditions as touch not taste not handle not which all perish with the vsing and are after the commandements and doctrines of men but we haue a most sure word of the Prophets taking heede thereto according to S. Peters counsell as to a light that shineth in a darke place and as our ground is sure so is our agreement constant and vniforme in all points materiall and necessary to saluation whereas in the building of your tower of Babel such diuersitie of languages is heard that there is hardly any exposition of Scripture or point in controuersie which hath not bene or is called into question either directly or by consequent by some that liued and died in that Church which you call Catholike as will easily appeare to him who shall turne ouer the volumes of of Cardinall Bellarmine which is the true reason as I suppose that his workes are not allowed to bee read of all but of publike professours and such others as haue speciall permission from their Superiours B. C. 16. These were my thoughts at the Spaw which did so vexe and afflict my soule as that the waters could doe my body no good at all but rather much hurt neuerthelesse I auoided the company of Catholikes abstained from the Church and did both dispute and write against the Church of Rome as occasion was offered I still hoped that time would giue better counsell and therefore resolued to goe from the Spaw to Heidelberge to doe my duetie there in the meane time I thought with my selfe it may be God hath mooued his Maiesties heart to peace and reconciliation I knowe his disposition was so in the beginning and I remember M. Casaubon told me when I brought him out of France that his errand was nothing else but to mediate peace betweene the Church of Rome and the church of England Therefore I thought before I would submit my selfe to the Church of Rome I would write vnto M. Casaubon such a letter as he might shew vnto your Maiestie containing such conditions as I thought might satisfie your Maiestie if they were performed by the Church of Rome The copie of which letter is too long here to set down But when M. Casaubon answered me that he knew your Maiestie was resolued to haue no societie with the Church of Rome vpon any condition what soeuer and that it would be my vndoing if those my letters should come to your Maiesties hands or of those that bare the sway I began to despaire of my returne into England vnlesse I would ouerthrow both the health of my bodie and the quiet of my
fruit of that doctrine did continue Thus his owne testimonies like the false witnesses which deposed against our Sauiour agree not together but is it likely that shee caried her selfe all her life long with such indifferencie considering shee sent helpe both by men and money to the Protestants in Germanie in Scotland in France in the Netherlands Shee harboured and succoured such Italians French and Dutch as forsaking their owne Countreys for conscience sake fled for refuge into her Dominions as to a common Sanctuary of piety and Religion affording them conuenient places for the exercise of their deuotions in the Isles of Iersey and Garnsey in Hampton in Norwich in Sandwich in Maidston in Canterbury in Colchester and in London it selfe Moreouer shee that would not so much as admit Pius Quartus his Nuntio in the yeere 1561. to enter her Kingdome though hee brought with him very friendly Letters from the Pope Shee that would not bee intreated by the Emperour and other Princes sollicitations to send her Bishops or Ambassadours to the Councill of Trent nor to yeelde any toleration of the Roâ—ish Religion within her Dominions alleaging that it would bee dishonourable to her selfe repugnant to the decrees of her Parliament preiudiciall to her Realme pernicious to her Subiects vnlawfull in it selfe offensiue to God scandalous to her neighbours and vnsafe for the Romane Catholikes themselues Shee that was sought vnto for mariage from Scotland from Denmarke from Sweden in regard of her Religion and in treatise with the Emperour Ferdinand for his sonne Charles and with the French King and Queene mother first for the Duke of Aniou afterwards King of Poland and France by the name of Henry the third and secondly for the Duke of Alençon his yonger brother commonly knowen by the name of Monsieur afterwards Duke of Aniou alwayes interposed this condition That they should innouate nothing in Religion onely hauing the exercise of their owne in some priuate place to themselues Shee that in the yeere 1579 entertained with all honourable respect Iohn Casimere sonne to Frederike the third Count Palatine and great Vncle to Frederike the fift who now gouernes himselfe a Protestant and hauing led an armie of Germanes in defence of the Protestants aswell into France as into the Netherlands bestowing on him the noble Order of the Garter which with her own hands shee put on together with many rich presents and an yeerely pension during his life bestowed on him Shee that was voyced by the Papists to conclude all her Parliaments with Axes and Taxes because of her exactions vpon Recusants and rigorous Lawes as they pretended against Seminary Priests Iesuites in regard whereof they compared her to Nero and Dioclesian the most bloody Emperours and cruell persecutors of the Christians Lastly Shee that could not be won to yeelde one iote either by the flatteries and faire promises of Paulus Quartus nor to shew any token of being dismayed or dishartened by the threats and thundering Bull of Pius Quintus is it possible I say that she who notwithstanding all the difficulties dangers that might from then cearise was from her cradle to her graue thus zealous and constant in her Religion sutable to that Motto which she had chosen to her selfe Semper eadem should now be said or thought to haue carried her selfe all her life long so coldly indifferently as to haue giuen hope to both contrary factions But being you say the daughter of the Breach-maker hauing both hâ— Crowne and her life from the Schisme it was both dishonorable and dangerous for her to hearken to Reconcilement whereas in trueth she had her life and held her Crowne from the Author of life and grand Commander of Crownes to which shee had farre better right then hee that would haue deposed her to his triple Crowne the one being helde of her by lawfull succession which had beene so acknowledged by the Bishop of Rome himselfe would shee haue submitted herselfe to the power of that See but the other of him by vnlawfull vsurpation And if in regarde shee was the daughter of the Breach-maker it was both dishonourable and dangerous for her to hearken to Reconcilement it must consequently follow that likewise dangerous and dishonourable it would haue beene to keepe the Pontifician partie in hope and though she were iustly prouoked by the biting Excommunication of Pius Quintus being stricken by him before she was Legally cited or warned in so much as some of the Romish Catholikes themselues thought it a peece of rashnesse in that Pope so to deale with her yet before this Bull was extant shee gaue so little hope to those whom you call Catholikes that the Pope therein labours to paint her foorth as a barbarous and bloody Persecutour and wee may well imagine that had shee giuen such hope as you pretend she did to the Romanists the world had neuer heard the bellowing of that Bull But thankes be vnto God The raine fell the floods came the windes blewe and beat sore vpon her house but it fell not for it was founded vpon a Rocke and that Rocke was CHRIST During her happie and glorious raigne somewhat aboue the space of 44. yeeres shee saw the change of no lesse then 8. Popes Paulus the 4th sitting in that See at her entrance and Clement the eight at her death betweene which two came these seuen Pius 4. Pius 5. Cregorie 13. Sextus 5. Vrban 7. Gregorie 14. and Innocent the 9th all which wrought more or lesse both against her Person and State so that she might deseruedly take vp that of the Psalmist Many Bulles haue compassed me strong Bulles of Bashan haue beset me round they gaped vpon mee with their mouthes as a rauening and roaring Lyon But being by his Gracious prouidence who set the Crowne vpon her head deliuered from all their snares shee might well stampe that of the same Psalmist vpon her coyne as shee did and with all no doubt vpon her heart Posui Deum adiutorem meum and sing with Deborah after her victory vpon Sisera O my soule thou hast marched valiantly or as some read it thou hast troden downe strength Now that which sharpened her against Pius Quintus was not onely his Bull though that were in it selfe cause sufficient to inrage her but the setting aworke of one Ridolphus a Florentine who vnder the colour of Marchandizing became the Popes agent for blowing the coales and stirring vp the minds aswell of her owne Subiects as of forraine Princes against her by whom the olde Foxe promised if need were to goe in person himselfe against her and to lay to pawne if occasion so required all the goods of the See Apostolike euen to the Chalices the Crosiers the Reliques and the Holy Vestments Besides all this he conferred an yeerely pension and titles of honour vpon Tho Stanley a discontented fugitiue only for raâ—ling vpon her and vainely bragging that he would set on
afford as many sufficient and learned Preachers and that in a more substantiall and conscionable fashion then the Popes Hierarchie and that London alone affords more then Rome it selfe and their readinesse to supply Sermons is not so much out of any good will they beare that exercise as out of ill will they beare vs. Iohn Aduenâ— lib. 30. Anal. Boio 1 So that in Mr. Doctors Logick an honest Protestant may thus be defined One that can endure the State of England as it is and could be content it were as it was that he might receiue more benefit 2 You tel vs before that all false religions in the world are but humane policies and we as truely returne it vpon you that this humane policie fauours of a false religion 3 Many of them though they professed themselues dead to the world yet were they aliue to the flesh Renulfus Câ—str lib. 7. 1 Indeede by the forme of words yet extant in the masse booke and vsed by the Priest it is supposed that a number should Communicate daily with him but it seldome is so 2 If wee had no vse of confessours yet might and ought inferiors be kept in awe of hell fire by their Preachers and superiours be tolde of their errours in state by their Counsellers but you seeme to assure his Maiestie that if hee will not be told of his errours in confession he shall in rebellion * 2. Cor. 5. 18. 1 Bell de peâ—â—t lib. 3. Cap. 2. 2 Epist ad Front pag. 129. 3 Premon 125 4 See nouell doct in the ende of the Premon the 3. 5 Epist. ad Front pâ—g 140. 6 Pag. 326. 7 That is they doe not binde him to present the party confessing as appeares both in the body and title of the Canon * Gal. 5. 1. 1 If in those middle times when all things ranne in a current course there were not so many Statutes made in Church matters it must be imputed rather to the want of occasion then of power the plantation or reformation of the Church chiefly giuing occasion to the making of lawes in Church matters 2 When the name of a Parliament began in England is vncertaine See my L. Coke in his Preface to the ninth part of his reports 3 I take the raising of new houses to be no hinderance to the Common-weâ—lth the Lawyers themselues being a part of the Commons 4 As 〈◊〉 the Ciuill Law came not from the Roman Infidels â—hich notwithstandâ—ng stand well enough with the authoritie of the Ecclesiasticall Courts 5 What you call Catholike I know not but sure I am that since King Eth. time many Statutes haue been made for the restraâ—ning of the Bâ—shop of Romes vniuâ—t vsurpation neither doâ— finde that hee â—â—â—tered any thing in the lawes of the kingdome saue onely by commaâ—ding them to be turned into his mother tongue 6 Iâ— by better times you meane the restitution of the Romish Religion or the recoÌ„ciliation of our Church to Rome you had certainly very little reason to expect them from the learning wisedome and moderation of those that are now the chiefest in that profession the chiefest of all hauing both fâ—equently and fullâ— declared himselfe to the contrary and suffred for it by the slanderous tongues and pennes of malicious Romanists and namely Eudaemon and Parsons 1 Bod in lib. 1. de â—epub cap. 8. 2 See Monsâ—ir Seruius the Kings Attourney generals speach in the end of the reformation of the Vniueâ—sitie of Paris 3 Spâ—culum Iust. anno 712. 4 Statut. 21. Râ—â— 2. cap. 11. 5 Comment cap. 49. 6 A God containes the Sea within his owne bounds and marches so is it my office to make euery Court containe it selfe within its owne limits see his Maâ—â—sties Speech in Parliament 1609. 7 Cap. 17. 1 What thoâ—â— Clergie men are wee desire to know and who in your sense are Caluinists 2 What those points of doctrine are wee shall see in the next Section 3 That his Maiesties fauour to the Clergie is such as not to giue way to their ouerthrow and in stead of them to set vp a few stipendary Preachers we haue had good triall and are bound to blesse God for it but sore against the will of all Romane Catholikes it is that his Maiestie should fauour them so much 1 How Caluin himselfe though he were a stipendary Minister pleased Master Maior and his brethren let his banishment more then once for his free preaching testifie 2 We are assured that both his Maiesty and his heire apparent are so well resolued in this point as they wil neuer put it to the question 3 Our Sermons are not so cheape as your Masses which notwithstanding are in a manner the very life and soule of your Priesthood 4 The vntrueth of this assertion appeares in mine answere 5 As if all those who are called Lords and goe in Rochets were not by their place conformable to the discipline had often before they come to that place subscribed to the doctrine established by Law 6 They may more easily turne Lay with you where Lay men are admitted to the administration of the Sacrament 7 These kinde of Clergie men desire no satisfaction from you but wish you had bin as carefull to maintaine that trueth which once you professed as to confute their pretended errours which confutation notwithstanding you speake much of but no where performe nor so much as vndertake 8 You may rather call them temporizing then temperate 9 It were well that others knew them too if any such there bee who in iudgmeÌ„t approoue the trueth of that religion which you call Cath. and yet proâ—â—sse themselues not onely members but Ministers of our Church but our hope is that their number is not such as you vaunt of it being vnpossible that honest men and good Schollers should take the oath of Supremacie and subscribe to our articles of religion and yet in iudgement approue the authority of the B. of Rome which is in a maner the substance of that religion 10 Had ours had the like temperate course held with them or the like liberty afforded in Queene Maries dayes they would haue thought themselues happy 11 Their wiues and children are bound to pray for you in regard of your fatherly care of them 12 It is well that you account your selfe one of the honest men and good Schollers but they are so farre I hope from accounting you one of them as they vtterly condemne and mislike your courses 13 But it pleased God you should die among strangers and not liue to see that toleration you desired neither shall any of them we hope that yet liue and desire to see it 14 As if the whole fortune of Greece depended vpon your submission to that Church 15 What assurance can there bee on our parts from them who hold yâ— faith is not to be held with heretikes but you forgot your promise made to my Lords Grace of
minde and either vtterly damne mine owne soule and greatly indanger not onely my liuing and credit but my life it selfe also by reason of your Maiesties displeasure and the seueritie of the Statutes made and in force against Catholikes and Catholike Religion G. H. 16. The better counsell which you expected and held you in suspense was in all likelihood soâ—â—â—â—ewes of a Bishopricke or a Deanry for the quieting of your perplexed thoughts and therefore it may be thought you resolued to goe to Heidelberge to doe your duetie there that so you might procure letters of recommendation for otherwise I cannot imagine what errand you should haue thither being scarcely knowen for any thing I can learne to the Prince Palatine or the Princesse except it were out of the like gadding humor as you had of going into Scotland as being publikely imployed though it had been vpon your owne priuate charge What his Maiesties disposition in the affaires of religion might well bee presumed to bee at his first entrance if we should iudge by reason not by affection I haue already touched in the 9. Section of this chapter so far as I presumed it might suffice to content any reasonable man yet for further satisfaction because you harpe still vpoÌ„ the same string and presse the same point afresh I will relate his Maiesties own words touching that businesse as hee vttered them in Parliament the first day of the first ParliameÌ„t of his Maiesties reigne â—As for mine owne profession saith he you haue me your head now amongst you of the same Religion that the bodie is of as I am no stranger to you in Blood no more am I a stranger to you in Faith or in the matters concerning the house of God and although this my profession bee according to my education wherein I thanke God I sucked the milke of Gods trueth with the milke of my nurse yet doe I here protest vnto you that I would neuer for such a conceite of constancie or other preiudicate opinion haue so firmely kept my first profession if I had not found it agreeable to all reason and to the rule of my conscience and againe in the next leafe for the part of the Clerickes I must directly say and affirme that as long as they maintaine one speciall point of their doctrine and another point of their practise they are no way sufferable to remaine in this Kingdome Their point of Doctrine is that arrogant and ambitious Supremacie of their heâ—â— the Pope wherby he not only claimes to be spirituall head of all Christians but also to haue an Imperiall ciuill power ouer all Kings and Emperours dethroning and decrowning Princes with his foot as pleaseth him and dispensing and disposing of all Kingdomes and Empires at his appetite The other point which they obserue in continuall practise is the Assassinates and Murders of Kings thinking it no sinne but rather a matter of saluation to doe all actions of rebellion and hostilitie against their Soueraigne Lord if he be once our sed his Subiects discharged of their fidelitie and his Kingdome giuen a prey by that three Crowned Monarch or rather Monster their head and a litle after hauing wished it would please God to make him one of the instruments for effecting a generall Christian Vnion in Religion if they would leaue and be ashamed of such new and grosse corruptions of theirs as themselues cannot maintaine nor denie to be worthy of reformation he turneth his speach againe to the Papists vnder his dominions willing them to bee admonished that they presume not too farre vpon his lenitie because saith hee I would be lothe to bee thought a Persecutor as thereupon to thinke it lawfull for them daily to increase their number and strength in this Kingdome whereby if not in my time at least in time of my posteritie they might bee in hope to erect their Religion againe No let them assure themselues that as I am a friend to their persons if they bee good Subiects so am I a vowed enemie and doe denounce moâ—tall warres to their errours and that as I would bee sorie to bee driuen by their ill behauiour from the protection and conseruation of their bodies and liues so I will neuer cease as farre as I can to tread downe their errours and wrong opinions for I could not permit the increase and growing of their Religion without first betraying of my selfe and mine owne Conscience secondly this whole Isle aswell the part I am come from as the part I remaine in in betraying their liberties and reducing them to the former slauish yoke which both had casten off before I came amongst them and thirdly the libertie of the Crowne in my posteritie which I should leaue againe vnder a new slauerie hauing found it left free to mee by my Predecessours and therefore would I wish all good Subiects that are deceiued with that corruption First if they find any beginning of instinction in themselues of knowledge and loue to the Trueth to foster the same by all lawfull meanes and to beware of quenching the spirit that worketh within them and if they can find as yet no motion tending that way to bee studious to reade and conferre with learned men and to vse al such meanes as may further their resolution assuring themselues which by the way is worth our obseruation that as long as they are disconformable in Religion from vs they cannot be but halfe my Subiects nor be able to do but halfe seruice and I to want the best halfe of them which is their soules And here I haue occasion to speake to you my Lords the Bishops for as you my Lord of Durham said very learnedly to day in your Sermon Correction without instruction is but a tyrannie so ought you and all the Clergie vnder you to be more carefull vigilant and diligent then you haue beene to winne soules to God aswell by your exemplarie life as doctrine And since you see how carefull they are sparing neither labour paines nor extreme perill of their persons to diuert the deuill is so busie a Bishop you should be the more carefull and wakefull in your charges Follow the rule prescribed by Saint Paul Bee carefull to instruct and to exhort in season and out of season and where you haue beene any way sluggish before now waken your selues vp with a new diligence in this point remitting the successe to God who calling them at the second third tenth or twelfth houre as they are alike welcome to him so shall they be to me his lieutenant here â— Hitherto his Maiestie Now would any man of common vnderstanding Mr. Dr. excepted from hence gather or thinke it gatherable that his Maiestie had a disposition at his entrance to become a Papist or to tolerate the exercise of Poperie or to be reconciled to Rome or to submit himselfe and his Realmes to the yoke of the Bishop thereof if these or the like inferences may from so many and plaine
my Kingdomes was grounded vpon the plaine words of the Scripture without the which all points of Religion are superfluous as any thing contray to the same is abomination I had neuer outwardly auowed it for pleasure or awe of any flesh I take his meaning to be either for loue or feare of any mortall man or rather for any worldly and fleshly consideration whether it were to gaine and make aduantage by entertaining and embracing it or to loose and suffer disaduantage by reiecting and opposing the contrary I speake not this as if by Gods grace as much and more both honour and securitie did not waite vpon our Religion as vpon the Romish but onely to shew that these are no sufficient inducements to draw so much as a priuate man much lesse to mooue the diuine and noble spirit of a Christian prince specially such a prince as hath often shewed himselfe able to iudge of reasons of a higher straine to the accepting of a new beliefe and another forme in the seruice of God but only the plaine demonstration and cleare euidence of the truth of that beliefe and necessitie of that forme B. C. 3. The first reason of my hope is the promise of God himselfe to blesse and honour those that blesse his Church and honour him and to curse and confound those that curse his Church and dishonor him which hee hath made good in all ages There was neuer any man or Citie or State or Empire so preserued and aduanced as they that haue preserued the vnitie and aduanced the prosperitie of the Church of Christ nor any been made more miserable and inglorious then they that haue dishonoured Christ and make hauocke of his Church by Schisme and heresie G. H. 3. To grant that which you assume that the Church of Rome is the onely true Church this argument drawen from temporall blessings is sometimes false vncertaine alwayes and your assertion that neuer any man or Citie or State was preserued aduanced as they that haue presâ—rued the vnitie and aduanced the prosperitie of the Church of Christ is very broad and too large considering it extends euen to Solomon himselfe who though hee aduanced the Church yet can it not properly bee said that hee aduanced the Church of Christ nay out of the Church who were euer more prosperous succesfull in their affaires then Augustus and Traian Of the former of whom it is said that he found Rome of Bricke and left it of Marble of the later that hee raised the Romane Empire to the highest pitch of glory and spread the power of their Command vnto the farthest borders and largest circuit that euer before or since hath by them been possessed for the kingdome of Dacia hee subdued Armenia Parthia and Mesopotamia made subiect Assyria Persia and Babylon conquered passed Tygris and stretched the confines of the Romane Empire vnto the remotest dominions of the Indies which neuer before that time had seene the Romane Banners or so much as heard of their name besides his morall vertues were such that in the choyce of a new Emperour they euer wished for one more happie then Augustus better then Traian and yet this man with whom for outward prosperitie no Christian Emperour can bee balanced was not only out of the Church but an enemie to it raised against it the third and one of the hotest persecutions of the tenne For further proofe hereof I referre the reader for this point to S. Augustines first 10. bookes of the Citie of God and surely he that shal duely consider the flourishing greatnesse of the Assy rian and Grecian but especially the Romane Monarchy will easily discouer the lightnesse of this reason and the vanitie of the assertion I speake not to detract from the Christian and truely Catholike religion euen in regard of outward blessings but onely to proue that God bestowes them sometimes vpon the good thereby to shew that absolutely and in themselues they are not bad sometimes againe vpon the bad to shew that in themselues they are not good and takes them sometimes from both to shew that in their owne nature they are indifferent B. C. 4. If I had leasure and bookes it were easie for mee to enlarge this point with a long enumeration of particulars but I thinke it needlesse because I cannot call to mind any example to the contrarie except it be the State of Queene Elizabeth or some one or two others lately fallen from the vnitie of the Catholike Church or the State of the great Turke that doth still persecute the Church of Christ and yet continues in great glory in this world but when I consider of Queene Elizabeth I find in her many singularities she was a woman and a mayden Queene which gaue her many aduantages of admiration she was the last of her Race and needed not care what became of the world after her dayes were ended she came vpon the remainders of deuotion and Catholike religion which like a Bowle in his course or an Arrow in his flight would goe on for a while by the force of the first moouer and shee had a practise of maintaining warres among her neighbours which became a woman well that she might be quiet at home and whatsoeuer prosperitie or honour there was in her dayes or is yet remaining in England I can not but ascribe it to the Church of Rome and to Catholike religion which was for many hundred yeeres together the first mouer of that gouernment and it is still in euery setled kingdome and hath left the steppes and shadow thereof behinde it which in all likelihood cannot continue many yeeres without a new supplie from the fountaine G. H. 4. Why you should ioyne Queene Elizabeth with the great Turke I see no reason but onely for the iustifying of Rainolds his booke of Caluino Turcisme Otherwise a marueile it is that you would instance in her happinesse whom the Pope in his Briefe declared amiserable woman and yet her gouernement was not more happie then her sisters who notwithstanding shee submitted her necke to the Romane yoke was vnfortunate howbeit in her owne disposition she is reported to haue been a gracious and vertuous Lady instance may bee brought in the bringing in of a forreiner the frustrating of the great hope of her conception her short and bloody reigne extraordinary dearths and hurts by thunder and fire and lastly the losse of Calis the last footing wee had in France being held by her predecessors the space of about 250 yeeres whereas Queene Elizabeth oppugned and accursed from her very Cradle by the Church of Rome their thunderbolts returned vpon their owne heads and her selfe like a tender plant after a thunder shower prospered the more and being no lesse full of honour then dayes she was gathered to her fathers as a ripe sheafe of corne that is carried into the barne in so much that her Successour our most renowned SOVERAIGNE in admiration of
Kings and Princes wheresoeuer they can preuaile in which passage can none other bee intended but the Netherlanders of whom touching this point I will say no more that they are now after the wasting of so much treasure and the shedding of so much Christian blood declared a free estate by him whose Regall right you pretend they ouerthrow Lastly those whom you call Caluinists either denie or call into question as few principles of Religion or Articles of Faith as any Romish Catholike nay I will be bold to say it and readie to make it good that the former maintaine some of them strongly which the latter ouerthrow if not in plaine termes and directly yet at least indirectly and by consequence by establishing their owne Articles Vnknowne to the Apostles and the Primitiue Church they make the Articles of our Christian Creede of none effect and for exposition which concernes not points in difference betweene vs and the Church of Rome if I can iudge any thing your Writers differ more among themselues and assume to themselues a greater libertie in expounding then ours and if they be restrained of their Allegoricall Tropologicall and Anagogicall interpretations as impertinent many times to the point in hand as wide from the scope of the Text they will presently cry out that wee despise the authoritie of the Church when it may be they haue wrested the meaning of one or two latter Fathers against the streame of Antiquitie and what bond of obedience can there be to God or to Kings for Gods sake in such Religion B. C. 14. It is commonly obiected by States-men that it is no matter what opinions men hold in matters of Religion so that they be kept in awe by Iustice and by the sword Indeed for this world it were no matter at all for Religion if it were possible to doe Iustice and to keepe men in awe by the Sword In Militarie estates while the Sword is in the hand there is the lesse need of Religion and the greatest and most martiall estates that euer were haue beene willing to vse the Conscience and reuerence of some Religion or other to prepare their Subiects to obedience but in a peaceable gouernment such as all Christian kingdomes doe professe to be if the reines of Religion bee let loose the sword commonly is too weake and comes to late and is like enough to giue the day to the Rebell And seeing the last and strongest bond of iustice is an Oath which is a principall act of Religion and were but a mockerie if it were not for the punishment of Hell and the reward of Heauen it is vnpossible to execute iustice without the helpe of Religion and therefore the neglect and contempt of Religion hath euer beene and euer shal be the forerunner of destruction in all setled States whatsoeuer G. H. 14. Hauing now spent your powder and shot in discharging your three substantiall reasons and the Apologizing of the Powder-treason for the filling vp of your paper but to the abusing of his Maiesties leisure and patience you here begin a fresh with a solemne discourse of the necessitie of Religion for a well ordered Common-wealth vnder colour of meeting with an obiection of States-men that it matters not what opinions men hold in matters of Religion so they bee kept in awe by iustice and by the sword But these Statesmen I take to be of Machiauels sect who of what nation he was by birth and of what religion by profession wee are not ignorant The ancient Romans indeed being themselues Lords of the world became vassals to the Idoles of all nations by admitting the free vse of their diuerse Religions of them all holding that as it seemeth the most perfect Religion which refused none as false neither is the Turke much different from that opinion howbeit hee preferre his owne Religion before all others but all other States-men who are so conuersant in affaires of State as they neglect not Christanitie can not but hold the Christian religion alone admittable in Christian Common-wealthes Now as we grant in all States some Religion necessary and in Christian States onely the Christian admittable So with all we confesse an Oath to bee a principall acte of that Religion But how it is abused by Romish Catholikes for seruing their owne turnes by Dispensations by aequiuocations and Mentall Reseruations both Histories witnesse and wee haue had too great experience By which meanes that which indeede should be the surest and strongest band of truth iustice and as the Apostle speakes an end of all strife is become the matter of quarrell and a meere visard for iniustice and falshood to maske vnder and by the same meanes as the Romish Religion is growen odious to vs so for their sakes both ours and theirs going both vnder the common name of Christians is in that respect growen odious to the very Turkes who obserue an oath made by the name of their Mahomet more inuiolably then wee by the Name of CHRIST one to another as well appeared by our King Henry the third who being a great exactor vpon the poore Commons as euer was any king before him or since and thinking thereby to winne the people sooner to his deuotion most faithfully promised them once or twice and thereunto bound himselfe with a solemne oath both before the Clergie and Laitie to graunt vnto them the old liberties and Customes of Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta perpetually to bee obserued whereupon a Quindecim was granted to the King but after the payment was sure the King trusting the Popes dispensation for a little money to be discharged of his oath and couenant went from that he had promised and solemnely sworne before In like manner the sayd King at another time being in neede of money signed himselfe with the crosse pretending and swearing deepely in the face of the whole Parliament that hee himselfe would goe in person against the Saracens but as soone as the money was fingred small care was taken for the performance of the oath being so put in head by certaine about him that hee needed not to passe of that periurie for so much as the Pope for an hundred pounds or two would quickly discharge him thereof as Matthew Parris reports it who liued at the same time and was often in Court with him this was then the account which by reason of the Popes easie dispensations Kings made of their oathes to their Subiects The like account by the same meanes did Charles the 9th of France and the Queene his mother make of their oath taken to the King of Nauarre the Prince of Condie the Admirall and the rest of the Protestant profession at what time his sisters marriage was made more red with their blood then his wine but this blood crying for vengeance himself at his death issued blood at all the passages of his bodie Neither did Subiects make any other reckoning of their oathes taken to their Kings
they bee not silenced they must say nothing but what they are able to prooue by sufficient authority before those that are able to iudge as if our Bishops were ignorant that it belonged to their charge to take notice of the preaching of vnsound doctrine within their Diocesse and accordingly to censure it or knowing what is their duety in that behalfe they were more vnwilling or vnable to performe it then Doctor Carier and his Colledge of Critickes and in the meane time a conference must be had of learned and moderate men on either side such belike as your selfe like Metius Suffetius luke-warme halting betwixt two opinions rowing to the shore and looking to the Sea holding with the hare and running with the hound who publikely pray for the King and priuately worke for the Pope true learning we reuerence and Christian moderation we highly esteeme but Science falsely so called bent to the patronage of falsehood and neutralitie vnder the vizard of moderation to the reconciling of error to trueth is but the abusing of faire and honourable Titles to base and malicious ends which imputation you labour to fasten vpoÌ„ vs as if by the light of the Gospel we held the people in extreme ignorance wheras the Prophet Dauid tels vs that the word of the Lord was a lanterne to his feete and a light vnto his pathes and S. Peter You haue a most sure word of the Prophet to which you doe well that you take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place but you beare vs in hand that the light of the Gospel holds men in extreame ignorance Zachary prophesied of his â—onne the Baptist that he was ordained to giue light to them that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death to guide their feete into the way of peace and the Baptist himselfe of CHRIST that he was that true Light which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world But you tell vs that it serues to dazell mens eyes and rob their purses And no doubt had you liued among the Pharisees in the time of CHRIST or Iohn the Baptist you would haue called their doctrine a counterfeit light in a theeues lanterne aswel as ours being in substance the same with theirs And for ignorance I may bee bolde to say it with a thankefull acknowledgement to God for it that a good part of our people are more expert in the Scriptures and are better able to yeeld an account of that faith which is in them then many of your Prelates and Priests whereof some beare the name of the brotherhood of ignorance and all at least by your practise acknowledge her the mother of deuotion in as much as you withhold the trueth in vnrighteousnesse like Esopes dog you neither eate hay your selues nor suffer others to eate it You pretend the key of Knowledge but you neither enter in your selues nor suffer others to enter you neither reade nor esteem the Scriptures your selues as you ought nor suffer the people to reade them but seale them vp in an vnknown language to the vse of a few with whoÌ„ you please to dispense B. C. 21. For matter of doctrine there is no reason that your Maiestie or the Kingdome should be molested or burthened for the mainetenance of Caluinisme which is as much against the Religion of England as it is against the Religion of Rome and will by necessarie consequence ouerthrow not onely the Catholike Church the Communion of Saints and the forgiuenesse of sinnes but also all the Articles of the Creede saue onely so much as the Turke himselfe will be content to beleeue which will be easie to proue vpon better leasure The doctrine of England which is contained in the Common prayer booke and Church Catechisme confirmed by act of Parliament and by your Maiesties Edict wherein all Englishmen are baptized and ought to be confirmed and therefore there is some reason that this should be stood vpon But this doctrine in most of the maine points therof as hath bene touched before and requireth a iust Treatise to set downe in particular doth much differ from the current opinions and Catechismes of Caluinisme doth very neere agree with or at least not contradict the Church of Rome if wee list with patience to heare one another and those points of doctrine wherein wee are made to be at warres with the Church of Rome whether we will or not doe rather arguethe corruptions of the State from whence they come then are argued by the grounds of that Religion wherevpon they stand and the contradiction of doctrine hath followed the alteration of State and not the alteration of State beene grounded vpon any trueth of doctrine G. H. 21. We are now come to one of the maine points you driue at howbeit you seeme onely to glance at it in passage and to draw it on vpon the bye which is to put vs off from all fellowship and communion with those Churches who acknowledge Caluin to haue beene an excellent instrument of God in the abolishing and suppressing of Poperie and the clearing and spreading of his trueth that so being separated from them we may either stand single and be encountred alone or returne againe to our old bias and relaps vpon Rome and so through Caluins sides you strike at the throat and heart of our Religion For our parts we all wish with the Reuerend learned Prelate of our owne Church that you were no more Papists then wee Caluinists no more pind on the Popes sleeue then we on Caluins whoÌ„ we esteeme as a worthy man but a man and consequently subiect to humane error and frailtie We maintaine nothing with him because he affirmes it but because from infallible grounds he proues it whereas the Popes bare assertion with you is proofe sufficient You are so sworne to his words that they are of equal or higher authoritie with you then Pythagoras his precepts with his Schollers ipse dixit is enough for your warrant but for vs we imbrace Caluin as himselfe doth authors not diuine vsque ad aras so farre foorth as with diuine hee accordeth and no farther This is our iudgement of Caluin but to say that the doctrine which he maintaines is as much against the Religion of England as it is against that of Rome is a desperate assertion and such as can neuer be made good did all our fugitiues lay their heads together and were all their wits turned into one And I much meruaile what you meant pretending so much tendernesse of conscience and diligence in search of the trueth to suffer your malice so farre to preuaile vpon your iudgment as to let so foule a blot so manifest a falshood to drop from your pen and not only so but to present it to the scanning of so learned a Prince and to publish it to the view and censure of the world For if Caluins
treason had been a most honourable and meritorious acte 2 It was the deuil indeed that wrought it it being beyond all humane inuention yet you canot denie though you are vnwilling to grant it that hee vsed none but pretended Catholikes for his instruments in that businesse 3 The latter we easily beleeue but leaue you to proue the former 4 It may be by God you vnderstand him who exalts himselfe aboue all that is called God and by lawfull obedience as much and as farre as he shall thinke fit 5 Whether our religion or yours bind subiects more to the performance of their duty let my answere to your 12. section make proofe 6 Indeed the fresh examples of the death of the 2. last Henr. of France and the infinite trâ—â—â—sons against Q. Elizabeth and our present Soueraigne cannot be but odious to all good Christians 7 Perpetuity of kingdomes is onely from God but yet may his Maiesty more iustly expect perpetuity froÌ„ his subiects who acknowledge none other Soueraigne then those Princes from theirs who acknowledge them deposeable by a forreine power 8 Their religion being grounded onely vpon the liuely oracles of God cannot but tye them more effectually to it selfe then your humane traditions 9 We assume no liberty of expounding articles of faith at our pleasure as his Maiesty hath declared it in his booke against Vorst but a freedome by Christ from the rigour of the Law from the guilt and punishment of sinne and from obseruing humane traditions as religiously as diuine ordinances 1 Garnet by Eudaemon 2 Greenwell and Gerrard 1 It was the speech of Christopherus Thuaâ—â—â—s reported by Iacobus Aug. his sonne * Eccles. 49. 1. 1 You seeme to meane the ancient Romanes who made more conscience of an Oath in which particular act of Religion you afterward insist then the Romish Catholikes at this day * Ebr. 6. 16. * Iere. 4. 2. * Gen. 21. * Gen. 31. 1 Is not this Romish opinion which holds it sufficient to beleeue as yâ— Church beleeues so that they liue morally well but for our selues we haue had experience yâ— where our religion most preuaileth and men are brought to the knowledge of the trueth there barbarisme inciuility are the more banished 2 The words of the Poet are nemo repente fuit turpissimus 3 In stead of the arseâ—all you should haue said the Capitole Seâ—â—c frag * 1. Cor. 13. 12. 1 By this it appeares you intended the publishing of your letter at the writing of it 2 M. Doctour himselfe in the 8. Section of his 1. Chapter confesseth that hee knoweth diuers very honest men of these Preachers 3 Hauing made them before the Seeds-men of Sedition and Authours of all errour in doctrine and corruption in manners it is then good time of day to tell vs you will not accuse them 4 Sir Francis Bacon is more beholding to you for quoting his Essayes then S. Matth for alledging his Gospel or S. Paul for his Epistles but I am sure he is too noble a Gentleman to hold it any commendation to be quoted or commended by such as your selfe 5 If they vtterly faile in the Precepts of the first Table they may well be called Heretikes rather then Schismatikes 6 Since the first reformation aboue a generation hath passed and yet by your owne acknowledgement there remaine diuers very honest men euen among those whome you labour most to disgrace 7 In your construction a Puritan and a Caluinist are reciprocall and you make all the reformed Netherlanders the Heluetians the French and the greatest part of the English to be Caluinists so that the greatest part of all their sonnes must proue Papists or Atheists or else your obseruation failes 8 Reformers you tell â—s before commonly degenerate in the next generation and here you shew vs how by turning Papists or Atheists as if Papiâ—me and Atheisme were so neere of kinne or â—o resembling in condition that the one might easily be mistaken for the other or thâ— one prepared away to the other * 1. Cor. 14. 1 The same conceit hath Charron in his booke de trois vâ—râ—te lib. 3. c. 12. 2 I haue since found words to that purpose in his Meditationâ—s sacrae but not as M. Doctor quoteth them 1 You tell vs before of sure rules in policie and mutinous Souldiers and here you shewe your skill in Cowhâ—rdship that wee may know you are aliquid in quolibet though nihil in toto 2 Notwithstanding those charmes your Romish Catholiks cannot be kept within their bounds charme the charmer neuer so wisely 3 Mutato nomine de tuis â—abula narratur 1 D. Hall in his Roma irreconciliâ—â—ilâ—â— 1 If others might be good Subiects your selfe could not be so in as much as in the last Sect. of the 1. cha you confesse that liuing in England you could not choose but bee guilty of the breach of many of our Statutes Lib. 5 de Iustiâ— cap. 7. 1 Of this ranke was M. Doctour as appeareth in the 19. Sect. of his first Chap. where he promiseth to iustifie all the present doctrine of the Church of Rome from point to point 1 Here your rules of policy failed you in as much as violence of affection is rather by time to be qualified then withstood by force 2 Who they are that blow the coales for the burning of others and warming of themselues if I were silent the stones of the ParliameÌ„t house would speake 3 You might haue done well to haue perswaded the Pope or the King of Spaine to haue held such a conference in their dominions 4 How simply and euidently your Postillers and Friers vse to deliuer the trueth in their Sermons we are not ignorant but whom you should mean by your honest men but your selfe and your companions we know not 5 Who they are that dazell mens eyes and robbe their purses your glorious outside in Gods worship and your infinite trickes to get money sufficiently testifie 6 How reconciliable the differences betweene vs are I haue declared in mine answere to the 18. Sect. of this chap. 1 Lib. 4. de mili Eccles. cap. 5. 2 De salute Indorum lib. 2. c. 18. 3 Lib. 4. epist. 1. 4 Lib. 5. epist. 30. See Lipsius in the conclusion of his booke de Mag. Rom. * 1. Tim. 6. 20. * Psal. 119. 105. * 2 Pet. 1. 19. * Luke 1. 79. * Iohn 1. 9. * Rom. 1. 18. 1 A most notorious vntruth if by Caluinismâ— you vnderstand Caluins doctrine 2 How Caluins doctrine ouerthrowes al these or any of these let his bookes testifie 3 Will the Turke beleeue Christ to haue beene the Sonne of God by eternall generation or to haue beene conceiued by the holy Ghost or to haue risen from the graue by his owne power the third day after his buriall or visibly to haue ascended into heauen or that from thence hee shall returne againe to iudge the quicke and the dead