vāts seing lay mē are little skilled in tōgs stānd prohibited to reade them in vulgar tongs with out licēce furthermore these felowes art not so far trauelled as to know what is cōteined in scriptures fathers coūcels aūcient writers concerning matters in cōtrouersy if they resolue thēselues by relatiō of the massepreests friars thēar they most simple ideots to beleeue matters vpon heresay and to found themselues vpon the reports of such lying compagnions Lastly they seeme to haue theire braynes distempred that are made to beleeue that the popish sacrifice of the masse for quick and deade their carnall eating of Christs flesh with the mouths of men nay with the mouth of bruit beasts their transubstantiation halfe communions and idolatrous worship of the sacrament the popes vniuersall and plenary power conteined in decretales their 7. sacraments and doctrine of iustification by orders mariage and extreame vnction theyr worship of saints reliques and images and all the rest of their abhominable doctrine may be proued by authority of scriptures fathers saints doctors councels Parliamentes and that the same is confirmed dy vnitie vniuersality succession and. antiquity beside the testimony of virgins and Martyrs This we may affirme of the Apostles creed and the Catholike fayth taught and published in auncient Councels but by no meanes of the fayth of the moderne sinagogue of Rome Nay in our abridgemente or suruey of Poperie we haue plainely demonstrated that the same is contrary to scriptures fathers councels auncient writers and is deuoyde of the testimonies of martyres virgins and decrees of Parliaments and all other authenticall proofes Secondly they alledge that neuer any vniversall innouation in matters of religion hath been made but that the commission and vocation of the messengers hath beene authorised by signes and wonders But this allegation as it concearneth vs nothing so it vtterly ouerthroweth the petitioners cause For we haue made no vniuersal innonatiō Nay we do not alter or abrogate-any one article of the Christian faith but as in Spaine true teachers in former tymes caused Arianisme to cease and true religion to bee receiued and as the Christians in the land of Palestine some 400. yeares sence for a time caused the impieties of Mahomet to be suppressed Christian religion to be taught and practised so do we onely abolish the corruptions false doctrines heresies and impieties of popery and reteine euery article of the Auncient christian fayth But the massepreests friars and monkes adhering to the Pope haue made an vniuersall alteration in the worship of God bringing in the idolatrous worship of saints of images of the sacrament and receiuing many old condemned heresies and new deuised schoole doctrines and decretaline deuises and yet neither shew signes nor wonders vnlesse a man list to beleeue the wondrous lyes of their legends and breuiaries Thirdly they take it as a matter most euident and that cānot be denied that the first apostles and conuerters of Englād Scotland Ireland France and Germany were sent from the Church of Rome and deliuered vs the same fayth which the Papists now professe But they take boldly and affirme impudently that which no man either giueth them or yeeldeth to bee true Parsons hath spent much idle talke in this argument and proueth nothing Coleton is as mute as if hee were turned into a Codfish and replieth nothing to that which is answered to the petition of Masseprecstes the last session of parliament and their discourse touching this poynt As for these petitioners they shewe themselues ignorant of learning that beleeue that the doctrine of Romish traditions of the Popes authority of the masse of the 7. sacramentes of Purgatory and indulgences and such like matters was known to the anciēt Bishops of Rome but suppose old Rome had sent true preachers abroade to conuert nations to the Christian fayth what is that to new Rome that sendeth out false apostles to corrupt the true fayth and assassins Cut-throates to murder such as fauour the truth this false doctrine and cut throate practise certes was neuer confirmed with true signes and wonders Fourthlie they require vs to shew a Commission from God if we meane to conuince the papists that they haue not true scriptures or interpret them not right or that they are idolaters or hereticks a deuise likely to proceed from such idle heades For neither did those fathers that conuinced the Marcionists Arrians Manichees Angelicks and other hereticks either of corrupting or misconstruing the scriptures or any other poynt of false doctrine shew a commission immediatly from god neither doe the masse preests that dispute nowe against Turks Arrians and Anabaptists shewe forth any such commission All Christians and not onelie publike teachers haue commission sufficient to descry to take heed of false Prophets that come vnto them in sheeps clothing but inwardly are rauening wolues What needeth then this extraordinary authority Fiftly they tellvs that we had our scriptures from Rome and had been scripturelesse if we had not receiued them from thence He sayth also that the same bible which Angustine brought into England is yet reserued by gods especiall prouidence But firste it is not materiall from whence Christians receiue holy scriptures The Romaines receiued them from the Iewes and yet I trow Parsons and Coletou as they are turned Romanists will not turne Iewes Secondly that the Britous receiued the scriptures from the Romanes it is not likely they being as the common report goeth conuerted by Ioseph of Arimathaea Neither doe these petitioners shew where the Bible is to be foud that was brought in by Austen the Monk nor doe they make proofe that this which they shew is the the same Bible which Austen brought in Jf it bee the old vulgar translation it is not likely that Gregory sent it For he doth not alwayes follow that translation Heere also they tell vs that we haue reiected and discanonized diuers bookes of scripture because they be expresse testimonyes againste our religion which it pleaseth them to cal new and negatiue But neither doe we reiect any booke of canonicall scripture nor can any argument be drawne from the bookes apocryphall added in the vulgarlatin translation to the old testamēt that doeth hurt vs. Furthermore if we do onely deny the heresies of the papists then doe we not frame any new religion vnto ourselues and if the papists affirme matters not known to fathers then is theire religion new positiue if not wicked in the superlatiue For the sence of scripture they tell vs that we haue onely the warrant of our priuate spirit and they the assistance of gods holy spirit promised to his Church But absurdly they talke of the interpretation of scriptures following therein the priuate sence of a sencelesse pope and neither the interpretation consonant to the meaning of gods holy spirit speaking in scriptures nor to the iudgement of fathers vpon whome they bragge most fondly Lastly they tell vs againe of parliaments and
in Augustine de haeres c. 39. Epiphanius haeres 38. doth condēn the Casās for inuocating both good and bad angels Tertullian also in his book de prascript aduers haeret condemneth them that serue angelt doe the papists then think it catholike religion to worship and serue Angels and to call vpon them 19 As the papists doe proue their religion by forged miracles and lyes so did the Seuerians which therfore were ranged among heretickes by Saiut Augustine de haeresib c. 24. 20 The Papists c. proposuists dist 82. call mariage fleshlie pollutions and say that maried folkes liue in the flesh and and cannot please god But for the like doctrine the Tatians and Encratites were adiudged hereticks 21 As the Manicheys cōdēned mariage in their priests caled electi absteined frō the cup in the Eucharist gaue to christ a body extended to diuers places and not solide so do papists 22 Montanus first broughte in lawes of fasting and extolled vnwritten traditions and was author of oblations for the dead The firste is prooued by the testimony of Apollonius in Eusebius his history The last two poynts are made euident by Tertullian following Montanus his heresy and deriuing them from his Paracletus in his booke de corona militis Why then shoulde not papists offending in the same poynts be reputed Montanists 23 Further I haue shewed in my late suruey of Popery chap. 8. that as the pepuzians honored Pepuza so the Papists honor Rome that with the Catharists they hold that a man may performe the law perfectly and bragge of their purity perfection that with the I acobites and Armeniās they make the images of God the father and the holy ghost that with the Staurolatrians Chazinzarians they worship the crosse that with the Collyridians they worship the virgin Mary and offer consecrated hostes in her honor that with the Circumcellions they murder such as are opposite to their faction that which the Priscillianists they periure themselues and teach aequiuocating periurie that with the Eutychianistes they giue Christ a body without iust dimensions or circumscription that with the Pelagians they extol the force of free will and diminish the praise of gods grace that with the here ticks mentioned by Jrenaeus they accuse scriptures and to make short that they haue embraced many other old condemned herefies As for the master of Sētences Innocent the third Thomas Aquinas Scotus Albert Durand Steuchus Harding Stapleton Allē Bellarmine Baronius and other particuler agents of the Romish Church we are able to charge them with infinite hereticall opinions But because our's duersaries doe not take themselues bounde to defend euery priuate mans doctrines and opinions J will reserue the proofe hereof to some other place Finally if all doctrins brought into the church since the Apostles tymes sauor of heresies as Tertullian affirmeth thē we need not to doubt but that al those popish doctrins cōcerning vnwritten traditions apocryphall scriptures the reading of scriptures in tongus not vnderstood the being of Christs body within the accidents of bread and wine in the Eucharist trāsubstantiatiō the sacrifice of the masse half cōmunions the adoration of the sacrament the popes vniuersall monarchy the popish worship of saintes reliques and images the 7. sacramentes the merits of workes and such like nouelties as are broughte into the Church by the pope and his complices are mere heresyes Chapter 9. That popish religion is new and not as the Papists call it the old religion ANtiquity in matter of religion cartieth no small weight with it in the reputation of Christiās Saint Iohn 1. epist 1. saith he declareth vnto vs that which was from the beginning and Ephes 2. we reade that the church is founded vpon the prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ being the chiefe corner stone Jf then popish religion was not frō the beginning nor can be iustified to haue proceeded from christ or his apostles or the holy prophets then is it for the noueltie thereof to bee reiected But that is so apparant as hee that will deny it muste needes speake againste his owne conscience and knowledge if he haue either conscience or learning 1. The masse is a principall matter which papists contend for Yet is the same a playne corruption of Christs institution of the Eucharist and wholy repugnant to the apostles doctrine Christ taking bread said this is my body but the masse priests deny that any breade remaineth in the sacrament after the words of the institution spoken He said take and eat The Massepriests say to the people gape and gaze and in the mean while eat and drinke all themselues He said do this in remembrance of me they offer vp Christ in honour of saints He commanded all to drinke that receiued the other kind They exclude all but the Priest from the cup. He ordeined the sacrament to be receiued of the communicātes they receiue it not but oftentimes hang it vp cary it about and adore it The Apostle 1. Cor. 11. sheweth that the sacrament was instituted to declare the Lords death but these celebrate the masse in tongues not vnderstood insomuch that few papists vnderstand what is doon in the celebration of the masse 2. Christ certes neuer instituted the Popes monarchie Nay where the Apostle Ephes 4. speaketh of the ministers of the church this great monarch is not once named True it is that Christ said to Peter feede mysheepe and promised that to him he would giue the keys But what is that to the Pope that is no Apostle nor in any thing like to Peter further Peter had no monarchicall power giuen by these words For equally were the Apostles called and authorized Much lesse therefore are we to imagin that any bishop had this vniuersal monarchy bestowed on him 3. Further it is mere madnesse to affirme that either Christ or his Apostles taught the worship of the Crosse or of images or of Saints or their reliques or that they deliuered to their disciples and folowers the popish doctrine of the 7. sacramentes or of Purgatory and indulgences or of the merites of congruitie or of the foundations and other pointes of Popishe Religion 4. In our suruey of Popery we haue shewed that those poynts of popery which the Church of England refuseth are repugnant both to auncient councells and the auncient fathers of the Church The auncient fathers of the Church and Bishoppes of Rome neuer thought that any one bishop had authority aboue a generall councell The sift canon of Nice forbiddeth to receiue any that were excommunicated by other Bishops The 6. Canon of that councel equalleth other Bishops to the bishop of Rome in that councell it was decreed that Priests should not be separated from their wiues The councell of Eliberis condemneth the superstitious lighting of candles in churchyards and pictures in churches The councell of Gangra taxeth such as disprayse mariage or despise the oblation of maried priests or refuse to eate flesh or condemn such as weare common
merciful mē piller from prison to exile so desiring God to enspire your lordships vpon whose resolutions depends the repose of the Realm and the 11 You saue none destroy al that receiue not the beasts mark your pestilēt doctrin saluatiō or perdition of many thousand soules with his holy grace and assistāce in all your most graue waighty determinatiōs in most humble dutiful maner we take our leaue frō 12 Many of your felovvs an 1588. that came a gainst their coūtry ly in the botō of the sea from vvhence they send no libelling letters your hap is better your cause equal the Seaside this 24. of Sept. 1604. His Maiesties true 13 As true as the Irish rebells or as Watson Clerk Brook Percy Catesby Faux Digby the rest of that crevv that vvere as true papists as the rest of these massepriests and loy all subiects and your honors most humble seruants The late banished Priests The censure THE Lords no doubte looked for thanks for their gentle and milde course taken with these massepreests if they looked for none yet his maiesty deserued at their hands both thanks and praises that gaue them life who had so well deserued death and though he sent them out of England yet did send them into no place but whether they had fled before voluntarily of themselues But see the malicious disposition I pray you of this viperous generation For thankes to the Lords they send reprofes and expostulations direct their letters to the lords as thinking the king to be no king nor worthy to be written vnto by such glorious creatures of antichrist as they take themselues to be They suppose that they haue written wisely pithily But of that mē may the better esteem by these particulers First they say they haue suffred for christ his sake and the profession of the true catholike religion which he plāted with his precious bloud But this is a grosse slander to the state and to his maiesty principally who is here charged with persequuting Christ the true catholike religion Further the same is a most impudent and vntrue assertion For neither did Christ plant nor water the masse nor the worship of saints and images nor the popes triple crown with his blood nor is popery Catholike religion nor did these fellows suffer for their superstitious false opinion vnlesse the same drew them into practise of treason and made them to fetch their greasy ordination from forreign enemies and to depend vpon them and to ioyn with them in seeking to blow vp the state Secondly they pretend to haue been depriued of all worldly comforts commodityes But the author of the quodlibers saith no and the world knoweth how they haue domineered in the places of their resiance and liued with all plenty ease and contentment in prison Gerrard and Garnet are fat and well liking and neuer did men enioy more worldly delightes 3 They cal the sentence of exile hard and heauy But in Spayn and Italy our brethren would thank god for such a fauoure so woulde they also considering they haue deserued death but that they are gracelesse and vnthankfull 4. They blush not to affirm that they haue the honor and safety of their prince in recommendation when their doctrine maketh theire prince and country subiect to the pope and his censures and their practises tend to bring in strangers and to dishonor and ouerthrow both prince and state as before is declared and as appeared by Percies treason 5. They say theire banishment is an vndeserued penalty But the lawes of England say they deserued death and their treasons prooue it are not then fauors well bestowed on these treacherous and murmuring fellowes 6. They alledge the words of saynt Peter Nemo vestrum patiatur vt fur vt latro aut maledicus aut alienorum appetitor si autē vt Christianus c. But they are no followers of S. Peter or of his doctrine suffering for trecherous combinations with forreine enemies and domesticall Gunpowder men and hauing long railed againste the state and sought the spoile thereof diuers of thē deuiding bishopricks and benefices in England in conceipte and being inducted into them at Tiburn or Wisbich and none of them suffering for any poynte of Christian faith 7. They tell vs of the diuers qualityes of the Massepreestes banished But what is that to the purpose seeing none wold reuounce intelligences with forreigne enemyes nor acknowledge the kings supreme authority Further they cannot prooue that they haue any good qualities being so farre ingaged in Percyes conspiracy and other practises 8. They signify that they purpose agayn to return into their country But how agreeth this with their former protestation of suffering with patience and humility agayn why shold they intrude themselues where no man sendeth for thē why shold they thrust thēselues in amōg true pastors being ordeined by Antichrist to sacrifice for quick dead why shold wolues be suffered to entre within Christs fold hereticks among Christians trecherous compagnions among the kings loyall subiects 9. They pray their honors to conceiue of them as of men that haue the fear and grace of god before their eies and the sincere loue of their prince and country in their harts But their doctrines actions and practises doe vtterly remooue this conceit both out of the minds of the councell of others Som particulers of their dooings we haue touched before the treason of Catesby and Percy toucheth them at the very hart Finally they call them selues his maiesties true and loyall subiects But how true it appeared first in the practises of Clerke and Watson hanged at Winchester not lōg sence and next in the attempt of Percy and his complices diuers of thē being absolued and resolued by massepreests in their wicked purposes and generally in the doctrine of massepreests against the authority of Kings before mentioned and in their combinations and intelligences with the pope other traytors and forreine enemies as Parsons and the popish cardinals and such like What then remayneth but that such as finde them selues agreeued with the sentence of banishmēt should haue the sentēce of the law and that such as loue the Pope and Jtaly better then the King and their owne country should be forced to liue with theyr holy father in their Italian Babylon god grant that neither Prince nor country receiue harme by their return or by any of their associates or companions Amen FINIS The contentes of euery chapter of the Book precedent Chap. 1. THE resolution of the petition apologeticall of the lay papists together with a som of the answer made vnto it Chap. 2. That the toleration of any false hereticall or idolatrous religion is repugnant to reasons of religion and holy scripture Chap. 3. That conuinence and toleration of false religion and heresie and of the professors thereof is reproued by the authority both of ancient fathers of the church and of auncient christian Princes Chap. 4. That to admit the exercise of false religions formerly forbidden is contrary both to christian policy and reason Chap. 5. That toleration of diuers religions is contrary to the doctrine and practise of papists Chap. 6. That popery is a false and erroneous religion Chap. 7. That popish religion is heathenish and idolatrous Chap. 8. That popery is a religion composed of old and new heresies Chap. 9. That popish religion is new and not as the papists call it the old religion Chap. 10. That popery is a religion impious and blasphemous Chap. 11. That toleration of popery is contrarye to reasons of state Chap. 12. That popish religion is enemy to kings Chap. 13. That the same is burthensome to christians Chap. 14. That the petition of such as desire a toleration of popery is voide of reason Chap. 15. That the same is repugnant to grounds of religion and policy practised by papists themselues Chap. 16. An answer to the title of the petition of lay papists and the preface of John Lecey Chap. 17. An answer to the two first chapters of the petition conteining causes both of the petitioners long silence and of their breache of silence Chap. 18. Of the quality number and forces of English papists and of their assurance and resolution which they praetend in their religion Chap. 19. The examination of lay papists fidelity of which they endeuour to make proofe in the fift chapter of their petition Chap. 20. An answere to the petitioners calumniations agaynst the professors of the Gospell set downe in the 6. chapter of their popish apologeticall petition Chap. 21. The insufficiency and foolery of the submission promised by lay papists for themselues and their priests is examined Chap. 22. A censure vpon certain letters of the banished massepreests sent backe to the Lords of his Maiesties councell anno 1604. and annexed to the former petition Escapes correct thus Pag. 8. line 18. reade the apostle 2. corinth 6. p. 14. l. vl vlli magistratui p. 26. lin 28. Hierem. 2. p. 31. l 23. Basilidians l. 25. exorcizations p. 34. l. 5. with the priscillianists p. 48. l. 7. and ignorant people p. ead l. antepenul three principal p. 60 l. 9. whereas I doe not suppose p. 62. l. 6. if the parliament-house p. 73. lin 26 are matters p. ead l. or so mutinously p. 74. l. 26. but rather seek p. 76. l. 12. daungerous deseins p. 91. l. 22. numbres of papists p. 94. l. 15. fourthly they mention p. 95. l. 31. for their resolution p. 99. l. 33. Helas pore soules Literall faults and transpositions of titles pardon
coūsel accusing them of iniustice hard dealing which some confesse in part to bee true for if they had been iustlye dealt with all then had they been exequuted for their trecherous practises and felonies for which diuers of them stood by lawe condemned and not sent awaye to rayle vpon such as shewed mercie and fauoure to them And this is the corps the deuāt derrier al the cōtēts of this lame petitiō apologetical framed as is sayd by lay Papists or rather in theire names by certein masse-Priests For answer wherof although no further answere needeth then that which alreadye hath beene made to their good masters vrging the same things in diuers of theire libels discourses and petitions wee purpose by Gods grace to hold this course First it shall be declared that toleration of false religions is repugnant to rules of religion and holy scripture and next that it is contrary to al Christian policie and reason Thirdly that the Papistes themselues in places where they commaund deny all toleration of other Religions then that which they professe themselues Furthermore leaste the Papists mighte excepte that these allegations doe nothing concerne theire cause it shall be further proued that poperie is a false idolatrous hereticall new and blasphemous religion and not onelie enemie to kings and princes but also greeuous to all Christians Finally least any of these petitioners shoulde swell with pride and thinke that with his greate eloquence he were able either to iustify the cause of popish Religion or to make good his reasons for toleration therof we haue thought good not onelie to glosse the text but also to examine the prologues reasons epilogues defenses accusations and whole pleadings of our aduersaries throughout their whole apologeticall petitiō Tu leno haeresis Arrianae saith Lucifer in his apology for Athanasius cunctos fieri cupis consacrilegos tuos So wee may say of these petitioners that while like bawdes they set forth the whore of Babylon her whorish religion they seek to make vs partakers with them of theire sacriledge and impietye Jt may bee they will complaine that this is no frendly dealing But as Sainte Ambrose epist 27 saide of one non ille tuus hostis sed tu illius so wee may say of papistes we are not their enemies but they are ours Noli accusare saith Hierome to Ruffinus apolog 2. ego cessabo defendere So say I to these petitioners forbeare to charge vs and we shall willingly forbeare to make our defenses Againe let them cease to tell vs of their Resolution in their profession and loyalty towards his maiesty and we shall haue lesse cause to detect either their grosse ignorance and foule impieties abhominations and abuses of their religion or their vndermining treasons and rebellions In the meane while let them attend and haue patience while wee briefly discouer vnto them the mysteries of their wicked religion which so obstinately they will needs professe and the holownesse and defects of their loyaltye which so boldelie they pretend Chapter 2. That the toleration of any false heretical or idolatrous religion is repugnante to reasons of religion and holy scriptures THE Church and city of God beeing built vpon the foundations of the Apostles and Prophets and their doctrine it is matter sufficient for Christians that are members of Gods church and citisens of the citie of god to refuse and reiect any Religion if the same be not founded vpon holy scriptures nor taught by the Apostles and Prophets inspired by gods spirit But if the same proue not onely diuers and strange but also contrary to apostolical and propheticall doctrine and conteine not only false and hereticall opinions but also positions and fancies tending to idolatrie and plaine impietie then oughte all Christians to abhor and flie from such a wicked religion and by no meanes to tolerate those that either teach it or professe it or fauor it The law of god Deuteronom 13. is very direct and peremptory against false teachers and seducers that endeauour to drawe men to idolatry or any false religion whatsoeuer That prophet saith Moyses or that dreamer of dreames shall bee slaine because he hath spoken to turne you away from the Lord your god In this case hee doth not permit either the brother to fauour his brother or the father his sonne or daughter or the husband his wife or one friend another And Deuteron 29. there shall not bee amongst you saith hee man nor woman nor familye nor tribe which shall turne his hart this day from the lorde our god to goe and serue the gods of these nations So it appeareth that both the idolatrous seducers and such as adhere vnto them and are seduced by them are to bee expelled out of the land if we meane to insist in the waies of gods commandements and to auoide his heauie wrath and iudgements Elias 1. Kings 18. condemneth such as stood indifferent betwixt two religions How long saith he doo you halt betwixt two if god be god followe him if Baalbe god folow him Now what els do they that are content to winke at the idolatrous masse and worshipp of angells Saints and dumb images but ioyne god and Baal together The Prophet Dauid Psal 16. sheweth what detestation all the children of god ought to haue not onely of idolatrie but also of all idolaters and false worshippers Their offerings of blood saith he wil I not offer neither make mention of their names with my lips Zephanie 1. the Lord threatneth to punish such as together with gods worship tolerate an other religion I will stretche out mine hand saith he vpon them that worship and sweare by the lord and sweare by Malcham Our Sauiour Christ Matth. 18 cōmandeth such to be reputed and holden as Heathen men and Publicanes that stubbernlye refuse to heare the church and shall wee harbor them and repute them good christians that shall professe a religion vnhearde of in the apostolike and auncient Church likewise Matthew 7. He exhorteth his disciples to beware of false prophets that come vnto them in sheps cloathing and Matth 16 to take heede and beware of the leuen of the pharises Sadduces Do they not then plainelie neglect the exhortations and commaundementes of our Lorde and sauiour Christe that without punishmente suffer such as bring in the leuen of Poperye or tolerate the exercise of any false religion Sainte Paule Galat 5 doth wish them cut of which did disquiet the church and Apocalyps 2. the bishop of Ephesus is commended For that he could not beare with them that were euil and because he hated the works of the Nicolaitans Cōtrariwise the Bishops of Pergamus Thyatyra are reprehēded the first for suffering them which taught the doctrine of Balaam the second for suffering the woman Iesabel to peaehe and to deceine gods seruantes Do we then think that god will hold them guiltlesse that suffer his church to be disquieted with false teachers and winke at the Priests of Baal
lib. 2. c. 92. testifieth that he disabled heretiks tomake any testaments Eusebius de vita Constantini lib. 3. c. 62. 63. declareth that he prohibited the exercise of all hereticall religions and held heretikes and sectaries to be no better then traitors to himselfe and enemies to truth The Emperors Gratian Valentinian and Theodosius l. 1. Cod de sum trinit fid Cath. commaund all their people to embrace one religion the somme whereof they do set downe in forme of a law and in the law omnēs C. de haereticis they commaund all heresies to keep silence omnes vetitae legibus diuinis imperialibus constitutionibus haereses say they perpetuò quiescant Arcadius and Honorius as appeareth by the law Cuncti C. de haeret Manich. tooke away all churches from heretiks least they shold teach or doo the exercises of their false religion in them Theodosius the yonger and Valentinian his consort made diuers lawes against heretikes as we may read in Codice Theodosiano The like course was held by Martianus and Iustinian as is euidentlye declared by their lawes yet extante in the Code and nouells Finally if at any time Christian Emperors grew cold eyther in setting forth the true faith or in punishing or suppressing errors then we find that the auncient fathers fayled not both to admonish them of their duty and to reprehend them for their slacknesse Chapter 4. That to admitte the exercise of false religions formerlie forbidden is contrary both to christian policie and reason THE gentils by the light of reason perceiued that religion was not lightly to be changed and god dooth therein taxe his people by his prophet that they were more easily induced to change the euerliuing god then the Heathen nations were to chāge their gods They cōsidered that ther was but one truth cōstantly beleeued that their religion was true This was the reason why the Romanes did so violētly persecute the primitiue christians and refused the superstitious rites of Bacchanalia which priuilie began to creepe in among the people But Christians proceede vpon better groundes of policie in prohibiting the exercise of all false religions For firste they consider that the wrath of god is reueiled from heauen against such as with-holde the truth in vnrighteousnes But who doe herein offend more greeuously then they which either grant liberty to false teachers or winke at the exercises of a wicked and false Religion doe not they manifestly giue way to errors and stop the course of truth Secondly they know well that god despiseth those which despise him as we reade 1. Samuel 2. and that hee casteth such out of his fauour as are neither hote nor colde Jf then such as regard not to see god rightly serued rest despised and luke-warme professors are reiected how will it goe with such as are colde in setting forth true Religion and care not what false doctrines are stirring abroade in the world Thirdly they vnderstand the greeuous threatnings of the law against all idolatrous false worship of god I am a iealous god saith the Lord and will visit the sinne of the Fathers vpon the Children to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me Fourthly as there is but one god so they know that there is but one true religion Christian policie therefore may teach them to admit no religion but that which is founded vpon the writings of the Apostles and Prophets and which they are resolued is most true Fiftly diuersities of religions breed distractions of mens minds and diuers seditious stirres and tumultes as the leagues of France and practises of the popes agentes in France Flanders England Scotland Germany and other countries doe declare of late the Papists seeking to replant their superstition in Englād went about to set the land on a flame and to drown true religion in blood But wise politicks are by all means to roote out these seedes of Ciuil dissension Sixtly all changes in matters of state are dangerous But admitte a false and erroneous religion where nothing but the true faith hath been professed then no doubt but the chāge will be great Finally nothing is more absurd then to change lawes with out cause and to admitte a religion condemned by lawes and to restore such as are condemned by the state For that is rather a subuersion then an alteration both of lawes and state If then we respected nothing but the danger of state in the mutation of religion yet woulde all pollitick and wise men bee well aduised howe they admitted a newe and false religion contrary to that which hath formerly beene receiued by the state Chap. 5. That toleration of diners religions is contrary to the doctrine and practise of Papists BVT where the Pope and his adherents may fit as iudges little reasoning may serue to perswade thē to dislike of toleration of diuers religions For not onelie their doctrine but also their long continued practise condemneth it in the Chapter ad abolendam de haereticis They adiudge them Hereticks that dissent frō the Romish church in the doctrine of the sacramentes and such both by ecclesiasticall and by ciuill lawes they persecute to the death Nay oftētimes without forme colour of law they massacre them empoysō thē by all means seek to root out the race memory of them out of the earth Their goods they confiscat their liuings they take away their bodyes they burne and although malice doth oftentymes end with death yet such as are of a cōtrary religion all those that fauour them they persecute both aliue and deade killing those whom they can ouercome and cursing whome they cannot kill In France they massacred many thousāds without forme of law and gladly wold they haue massacred vs in England if theire treasons had not beene discouered Bellarmine lib. de laicis C. 18. determineth that it is not lawful for any magistrate or prince to grant libertie of conscience or toleration of religion to his subiectes He saith further that hee oughte to defend one onely religion with all his force Non licet vlli magistratū vel principi saith he consciētiae libertatem seu pacē religionis subditis suis concedere sed vnam tantum religionē sum ma vi defendere tenetur Posseuin his consort lib. 1 select biblioth 2.6 doth not onely deliuer the fame doctrine but also sheweth reasons why two religions may not in one state be tolerated Firste hee saith it is a diuelish inuention 2. that it is contrary to gods ordinance 3 that it repugneth against the law of nature 4. it is contrary to the substance and property of the christian faith 5. that it taketh away the truth and certainty of christian religion 6. that it taketh away the certaintie of gods deuire worship and of the Church 7 that it taketh away christian discipline 8. that it cutteth asunder the vnit ye of the church 9. that it is contrary to the worde of god 10.
toleration of popery is conformable to reason But little doth he seem to vnderstād what is reason that requireth things so cōtrary to truth law reasō For first what reasō can he pretēd to desire the practise of a religiō rebellious seditious fals erroneous foolish absurd new strāge idolatrous blasphemous and full of diuers other moste grosse abuses either therfore the papists must clear their religiō from these crimes or else confesse they haue small reason to demand a toleration for it We haue iustified our charge in diuers treatises both in latin and English and yet they answere nothing particulerly Secondly litle shew of reason haue they to desire his maiesty to admitte a religion which depriueth him of halfe his authority halfe his subiects halfe his reuenewes and maketh him subiect to the pope Thirdly they doe without all reason demand the free exercise of a religion that bringeth mens consciences into thraldome their persons into danger and their landes and goods into the hands of tyrantes Fourthly the pope and massepriestes make merchandise of mens soules and make little conscience to buy and sell churches altars dignityes heauen grace and all spirituall thinges They spoyle the poore the widdowe and fatherlesse and for maynteinaunce of their owne estates make hauocke of Christian mens estates Haue they then reason to sue for such a bargayning and spoyling religion 5. They shew thēselues deuoid of reasō that admit masse priests into theire houses that like owles fly the light and sight of the magistrate that intertaine intelligence with forreign enemies that deuoure theire substance that like impure lechours abuse the wiues daughters and maides of such as giue them intertainement and pretending to make them Catholike doe indeed make them Cuckoldlike Sixtly we finde by proofe that Masse-preests and Jebusites haue combined thēselues with foreign enemies haue sought the destruction of the ire souereigne princes the thraldome of their natiue country to strangers Jf any man doubted of this before the horrible treason and rebellion of Percy Catesby their followers and their wicked deseignements may resolue him And therfore if reason may rule them none of the kings true subiects can seek the aduancement of this treache rous religion Finally papists haue no reason to aske that of vs in England which themselues deny to vs and our brethren in Spaine and Italie There they will not cease their butcherly proceedings nor put downe their houses of Inquisition Neither will they be induced to suspend their penall lawes made against true Christians What face and forehead then haue papists to aske that in England of vs which they will not yeeld to vs and our brethren in other countries is it not reason that they should doo to others as they would haue others to do to themselues and doth not the law quod quisque ff quod quisque iuris contain great reason determining that euery man should be iudged according to the law which himselfe vseth But if papists wil needs vrge things vnreasonable then must they vnderstand that true Christians haue reason to reiect their treacherous false erroneous new absurd ido latrous and blasphemous religion And next that his Maiesty hath iust cause to abhor the practise of that religion that as hath bin foreshewed maketh him the Popes vassall and taketh away halfe his authority halfe his subiects halfe his reuenues and bringeth the rest into question Now his Maiesty is in no daunger by the grace of God if he can suppresse the growing faction of Antichrist Sixtus Quintus in his declaratory Bull anno D. 1588. against our late gratious Queen confesseth that hee had no meanes to proceede against her as he had in countries professing popery to deale with other princes But let Massepriests gather their bands of seditious persons together and then both prince and state shal incur great hazard Thirdly the preachers of the Catholike faith haue good occasion to oppose themselues against these wolues that seeke to enter vpon Christs flock They seek to alter both religion and state and will not rest before they haue depriued al true pastors both of their liuings and life will not then true pnstors awake and vigorously resist them Fourthly Wise politikes may not admit a religion that will cause dinision and trouble the peace of the state Neither may they tolerate such as depend on strangers and concurre with forain enimies 5. The disciples of Christ may haue no felowshipp eyther with the priests of Baal or the caniball Massepriests that say they eat Christs flesh with their mouths and teeth swallow his blud into their bellies or with the disciples of Antichrist that seeke to suppresse the true catholike faith 6. No true louer of his country can endure rinegued Iebusites and Massepriests that are combined with forreign enemies and seeke to bring their countrimen vnder the commaund of straungers and to murder all that are studious of the peace and honor of their nation as Walleyes and others Iesuites actions of late haue plainly declared 7. Charitable Christians may not tolerate either a race of sturdy begging friars or a packe of lazy Monkes or a swarme of caniball Massepriestes which say they eat vp Christs body really and corporally but indeed and really deuour the poor the widow and the fatherlesse 8. Men of honest minds and disposition are enemies to all lecherous and fodomiticall Friars Monks and Massepriests neither will they salute them heare them or conuerse with them least they be partakers of their sinns and consequently of theyr plagues 9. Christians maintain their Christian liberty and haue reason to detest the doctrine of Antichrist that enthralleth both theyr persons and consciences Further as it pilleth theyr goods so it destroyeth vtterly the soules of them and theyrs Finally seeing they cut our brethrens throates abroade no Christian man hath reason to suffer them to harbour here purposing to cut our throats at home Faux Percie and Catesbie haue left a race of cutthrotes and gunpowder fellowes behind them shold then reasonable men so far forget reason as to harken to a petition so vnreasonable Chap. 15. That popish religion may not be tolerated if we respect the groundes of christian religion and policy confessed by the papists themselues THat diuers religions are not to be suffered in a christian common wealth we haue before demonstrated by the confession of papists themselues It resteth therefore now that we proue by generall pofitions holden and confessed by the papists that popish religion may not bee tolerated by princes and states eyther professing true religion or els holding the true rules of policie 1. First it is confessed by our aduersaries themselues that no idolatrous religion is to be tolerated in any state But it is clearly demonstrated heretofore Chap. 7. that popish religion in diuers pointes is idolatrous 2. Neither will they yeeld to permit any sects or heresies but it is apperant that monks friars and Massepriests are diuided into sects and manifestly
that we haue not so many books of Scriptures 6 We discanonise no book of canonicall scriptures but papists place apocriphall scriptures among the canonicall books discanonised and reiected because they be expresse Testimonies against their new and negatiue Religion If they stand vpon the sence and true interpretation we stand on that point more confidently then they they hauing no further warrant then their 7 The papists properly stand vpon the priuat iudgment of the pope vve folovv no mans priuat spirit priuate spirit and we relying on the assistance of the holy Ghost therein promised to his 8 But not to the Pope or his adhaerents Church for the instruction of all truth which is Columna firmamentum veritatis the piller and foundation of truth If they fly to the Fathers for one place euill vnderstood and somtime falsified somtime mutilated somtime wholy corrupted we produce a thousand not by patches nor mammocks as they do but whole pages whole chapters whole books the vniforme consent of all the ancient fathers and Catholike Church If they presse vs with their passed Parliaments and Princes for one of theirs we haue an hundred and for a Childe King and a 1 Better a vvoman Queen then a vvoman Pope Woman Queene wee haue for vs so many so Wise so learned so religious so Victorious Princes as our Histories without theÌ„ would be very barren our Names obscure our clergy miserable our Bishops beggarly our Parliaments confused our Lawes intricated our Vniuersities without Colledges our Colledges without Schollers our Schollers without maintenance Reason then the life of the law requireth to our vnderstanding more ample and 2 These suppose the Popes decretalls more authenticall then scriptures authenticall euidence before wee bee cendemned by lawe as superstitious or irreligious The faith we professe is that 3 It is no more like it then false doctrine to faith fayth religion which Saint Paul to the Romanes so highly commendeth The 6 reason Rom. chap. 1. which therefore is called Catholike and Romane because (a) The church of Rome euer was and is the Mother Church all the Churches in the world either did in their beginnings or doe for the present agree vniformely with the sea of Rome in vnion and communion of faith doctrine and fellowship hauing recourse thereto as to the 4 The old church of Rome vvas the Mother Church But vvhat is this to nevv Rome Mother Church From the Pastors and Prelates of this Church to witte from (b) S. Gregory the Pope S. Auhustine the Monke S. 5 That vvill hardly be proued further vvhat maketh this for such as subuert the state peruert Christians conuert none Gregory the Pope and S. Augustin the Monke we receiued the benefit of our conuersion and regeneration from them we receiued the 6 This selfe same vntruth vve haue refuted at large in our ansvver to Parsons his treatise concerning 3. supposed conuersions of England selfe same Doctrine Discipline Seruice Sacraments Feasts and laudable Ceremonies which are by vs held practised professed and defended with the 7 Note hovv they say they defend holidays greasings holivvater and such ceremonies vvith their bloud effusion of our bloudes at this very day and this we finde 8 You corrupt histories as much as you can and yet they shevv hovv much you are degenerated from true Christians verified by the Histories of (c) S. Bead Cambden Stowe Hollenshed and Sauell S. Bead Cambden Hollenshed Stovve and that Tripartite History set out by Master Sauell From this Curch of Rome we receiued our Bible our Gospell our Creed our Canons The 7 reason which are the same through the whole Christian worlde among Catholikes both for the translation sence and interpretation This Church is by your Maiesty and by the learned sorte of the Protestants 10 Not this later Rome that is figured by the vvhore of Babylon but the ancient Church of Rome that vvas praysed by S. Paul The 8. reason acknowledged to be the Mother Church we hope then we are excuseable 9 So the Gospell of Papists dependeth on the pope that reuerence and loue our dearest Mother from whose breast our forefathers and we haue receiued the sweet milk of our soules There was ueuer yet since the Incarnation of christ anie heresie that crept into the Church of God The 9. reason but we find the names of the 1 Name the authors of the Angelicks Nudipedals Colâ—yridians Messelians authors of such heresies we find by the Church of Rome Councells called to condemne them and Doctors imploied to confute them there is not the least Ceremonie or circumstance that hath been added for the greater 2 For meere scorn foolery Further you haue deuised nevv doctrines and nevv vvorships of god not only nevv ceremonies Maiesty and solemnity in Gods deuine seruice but the yeare is knowne when and the Pope by whome it was ordained If matters then of so small moment passe not without recording reason would that the lawes that must condemne our Mother church of Idolatrie and superstitions should tell vs the authors that first corrupted her integritie but if the first inuentors and institutors of the Masse of Purgatory of prayer to Saints and the like supposed errors cannot be produced doubtlesse we must attribute them as we doe indeed to Christ and his Apostles and as deriued from such infallible authoritie we are bound in all equitie to follow them But if by the fruits your Maiestie will giue iudgement of the tree The 10. reasoÌ„ the fruits of our 3 Or rather seditioÌ„ vvars massacres empoysoÌ„ments stevvs ribaldry heresy Religion at Loue Vnitie Concord Pietie acts of Charitie and Deuotion as Fasting Praier Almes building of Monasteries erecting of vniuersities founding of Hospitals coÌ„uerting of NatioÌ„s calling of Councels confuting of Heresies obedience to our Princes though they be Pagans and Infidells and that for conscience sake (a) Calu. lib. 4. Inst cap. 4. lib. 4. cap. 10.6.5 Whereas both practisers and professors of the Religion which we are so pressed to embrace do far differ from vs in those points 4 These fellovvs teache their tongues to speak vntruth teaching vnder colour of the libertie of the Gospell (b) Knox in his exhortation to EnglaÌ„d printed at Geneua 1559. contempt of power and authoritie (c) Luther in his book de potestate seculari in his comment vppon the 1. of S. Peter cap. 2 neglect of lawes (d) GoodmaÌ„ in his book of obedience all which teache contempt of authority neglect of lawes in the places cited and obedience The examples are to late and lamentable in your Maiesties Realme of Scotland and in the persons of your gratious Mother and Grand-Mother Father and Grandfather to passe with silence the tragedies by such like plaied in sundry other 5 Can these meÌ„ iustly blame our brethren that
chsignatis tabulis and we must needs tell you that it was a 2 A goodly denise all the professors of religiō must ansvver for a student in Lyons Inne Student of Lyons Inne a Lawyer by profession and a Protestant in Religion that in a booke printed Anno 1584. intituled A discouery of treasons against the Queens Maiesty by Frances Throgmorton amongst other his treasons he reckoneth this for one in these words There vvere also sound among other his papers 12. petegrees of the descent of the Crovvne of England printed and published by the Bishop of 1 He oppugned Queen Elizabeths right Rosse in the defence of the pretended Title of the Scotish Queen his Mistrisse What could be more vniust and iniurious to that blessed Lady and all her posteritie then in a booke printed in defence of an execution of iustice to call her Title false pretended and vniust and account the cuidences and recordes thereof as treason in the highest degree If inquiry be made who they were that in prejudice of your 2 But first of Queen Maries and Queen Elizabeths right Maiesties right to this Crowne did set vp the vsurping Queen Ianc descended from the yonger sister of your Maiesties great Grandmother that was the eldest daughter to King Henry the vij Our histories tell vs that they were (a) The Duke of Northumb. the Dukes of Somerset Suffolk other Protestants al the Protest Bishops Clergie Councell of K. Edvvard principallie the clergie enemies 3 Then it appeareth that papists vvere enemies to the catholike faith For they vvere principall actors therein to the Catholike faith which we professe and the first aduancers of the new Religion in this Country If we call to mind the complotters and compassers of the murther committed on the Person of your Highnes (b) His Maiesties Father Grandfather slaine Father and Grandfather and the barbarous butchering of your Mothers Secretary in her Royall presence and the miraculous escape of your Graces person by Gods singular protection when a (c) His Maiestie pursued in his Mothers womb and miraculously preserued charged pistoll put to your Mothers womb by one of the traytorous race of the Govvries to haue destroied you both at one blow could not giue fire we find by the printed monumentes of Scotish Annales that the actors authors and inuentors of those tragedies were not of the Catholike religion If we demand who they were that tooke (d) The Ministers and Presbitery authors of these tumults armes against your Maiesties gratious Mother that ouerthrew her in the field that laide violent hands vpon her sacred Person and imprisoned her in Lavvgbleuen that depriued her of her Crowne and expelled her out of her Kingdome and procured afterwardes her captiuitie in this Realme no man is ignoraunte that the (e) The Earle or Moray Knox the catalin of Scotlād Bastard of Scotland with the Presbitery that runnegate Fryer Iohn Knox mortall enemies to all order rule authoritie were the Architects of these detestable actions How zealous (f) Bothvvel Govvry two pillars of the Presbiterie Bothvvell and Govvry were against pore Catholikes and what pillars and patrons they were of the Presbiterie the world knoweth but your Maiesty by experience can best restifie what perilous turbulent and seditious members they were of the common wealth and how often your sacred Person was indangered by them others of their profession Moreouer we hope that we may without offence to any confidently affirme that they were not Catholikes that caused your Mothers vntimely death the memorie of which times for many respects wee had forborne to touche but onlie to remoue the odious and vniust imputations diuulged in the time of this present session of Parliament against vs in a certaine libell or rather a clamorous calumnious inuectiue published in this present session of Parliament against a most modest learned and submissiue supplication dedicated to your Maiestie in March last where the Libeller calleth Catholikes to the Barre and would haue them indighted and pasle their triall for that matter * But iustified by proofe and testimony of a man of more credit then Colebranded Coleton or any of these libellers * Sutcliffes own words in the 8. chapter of his said libel VVhich doone saith he his maiesty may easily perceiue that they are to be hated and abhorred as causers and contriuers of all his mothers troubles and calamities his proofes are the author of the Iesuites Catechisme (a) The author of that catechisme an inueterate enemy of that order therfore more credulous thē conuenient in matter of their dishonour written in disgrace of that order which book is of as great credit with 1 But these tendre consciences make no scruple to rebell against princes excommunicated by the Pope and to say that he hath povver to depose kings and to translate kingdoms men of tender consciences and vpright cariage in matter of trueth and equity as Lucians Dialogues 2 VVill you deny the testimony of a popish martyr and a conspirator against the king VVatsons Quodlibets or Esopes fables and what this Catechiste wrote of priuate passion without any authenticall warrant this Libeller doeth vrge with the like perturbation And here Dread Soueraigne we might as readily as liuely produce a world of inuinceable proofes in reproofe of this 3 You that are libellers in print haue no reasō to charge others vvith your ovvn falts and yet to ansvver nothing Libeller by prouing the actors of that complotment and tragicall proceeding not to haue been any one of them Catholikes or their welwillers but we carefully shunning to charge any with bloudy imbrumems in that lamentable fact of Englands agony and onely to free our selues from that most odious impudent and false calumniation we soly resort to matter of highest record dayly extant to be seen of all men in publike printed statutes beeing the forerunners of that straunge execution of your blessed and most glorious Mother Whereby it is most euident and well known 4 Are papists blear eyed pollers of crovvns true Christians certes knovv no such maters etiam lippis tonsoribus to blind men and barbers that they were not 5 How proue you they vvere not papists Catholikes that made and enacted those statutes of the thirteenth of Queen Elizabeths Raign for the (b) 13. Elizabeth Limitation of the right of the Crowne limitation of the right of the Crown to the disposition of the Lords and Parliament from the free right and course of blud and descent That made it treason in the same Parliament to (c) Treason to say that the persons Titles possibilities of all pretenders to the Crown be not subiect to the acts made in Parliament hould or say that the common lawes of England and statures to be made in Parliament are not of sufficient validity to gouerne the persons to bind and limit
the Titles of any that hath any possibilitye to the Crowne They were not Catholikes that made it treason in the same Parliament (a) Reconciliation treason to absolue from sinne and reconcile or to be so absolued or reconciled (b) Agnus Dei Beades or Crosses premunire A premunire to bring in any tokens called Agnus Dei or Crosses Pictures or halowed Beads or to haue or receiue them They were not Catholikes that the 23. of Queen Elizibeths Raigne made it treason (c) 23. Elizabeth treason to perswade men to the 1 Catholike religion to perswade men to the 1 Popery maketh many of her professors rather cuckold-like then Catholike Catholike religion and the losse of 200. markes to heare (d) 200 marks for saing 100 marks for hearing a maasse Masse or to pay xx pounde monethly so (e) xx pound a moneth for recusancy refusing to goe to the Protestantes seruice or the forfeites of x. pound monethly for such as should keepe any (f) x. pound a moneth for keeping a schoolmaster Schoolmaster not allowed by the Bishop of the Dioces and refusing to go to Church They were not Catholikes who made an act 27. of the sayd Queene by vertue whereof your gratious (g) 27. Eliz. the act was made which caused the death of his Maiesties Mother Mother lost her life and in the same Parliament it was made treason for all (h) In thesame year it was made treason to be a Priest and com in or remain in the land felony to receiue or relieue them Priestes or Religious men that had taken orders by any 2 These orders taken from the Pope and his adherents marking priests in the crovvn vvere the marks of Antichrist foraigne authority to remaine or come into this Kingdom and felony to relieue or entertain them It was made treason to be brought vppe in the Seminaries premunire to send thither anye reliefe In the 28. of the said Queene it was enacted that the two partes of the lands and leases of such recusants as shoulde faile to pay the xx pound a moneth in the Exchequor at the tearms prefixed shold be seazed into the Queens hands In the 35. it was enacted that euery (i) 25. Elizab. certaine recusants were by an act then made to abjure the Realme recusant aboue the age of sixteene yeares being not woorth twentie Markes exceeding his confined limittes should abjure the Realme and if hee refused to abjure or retourned after abjuration to be accounted a fellon Item that the partie shoulde pay ten pound a moneth that (a) Tenne pound a moneth for keeping a recusant in the house keeps any recusant in his house after warning In the same Parliament recusants are (b) The same yeare was the statute of confinements enacted restrayned to their certaine vsuall and common places of abode and are not to remoue aboue fiue miles thence without licence of the Bishop and two Iustices vpon paine of forfaiting of all their goods and all their free and coppyhold lands and annuities during life and all such recusants that had not lands of twenty marks value by yeere or goods of fourty pound if they conformed not themselues or repaired not to their places of limitation shall abjure the Realme By the course and contriuing of such capitall and cruel laws at the same time and in the same sessions aswell against Catholikes as against your gratious Mother it seemeth by all probability to persons esteemed of iudgement and great experience in the insighte of worldly drifts both in this Realme and in forraigne Regions that the principall marke which was aymed at in those times was at the selfe same season by seuerity and shadow of the same lawes an instance to ruinate and ouerthrow the (c) The person of his Maiesties Mother her right and Title and the Catholikes cause all shot at by the same lawes and at the same time person of your gratious Mother and her right and the professors of the Catholike religion supposing that those three must either stand or fall togither of necessity but non est consilium contra Dominum there is no councel against God her right and posterity hath God be thanked preuailed and the poore Catholikes from that time to this the more they haue bin oppressed the more they haue increased which cannot fall out otherwise vnlesse it proue false which God hath sayde by the mouth of his Saints and seruants Preciosa in conspectu Domini mors Sanctorum eius pretious in the sight of our Lord is the death of his Saints Et sanguis 1 These fellovves knovv not vvhat belongeth to martyrs that vvrite martirum and put Traytors in the catalogue of martyrs Martirum semen Ecclesiae the bloud of Martyrs the seed of the Church We accuse no man in particular in this case and could haue been content vlcus hoc intactum leuiter pertransire to haue sleightly past ouer this boch vntouched but that this respondent would needs deale with vs as Putifars (d) The libeller like Ioseph his Mistrisse and Susannaes iudges wife did with holy Ioseph or the carnall judges with the chast Susanna viz. put vs to our plunges and purgations for such crimes as were proper and peculiar vnto themselues Neuer was it heard of that in England or Scotland any Minister or Ministers euer suffered any thing for that gratious Lady or your maiesties Title but infinite are the (a) In Scotland Setons Gordens Simples Maxuelles families of the catholikes that haue suffered for them both As the Seatons the Gordens the Simples the Maxuells in Scotland the (b) In Englād Hawards Persies Pagets Treshams Throgmortons Salisburies Abington Winsor Havvards Persies Vauxes Pagets Treshams Throgmortons VVinsors Sclisburie Abington and diuers other worthy Gentlemen in this Land the shipwracks of whose opulent abundant states and fortunes are inuincible testimonies of the Libellers falshood and follie in this his obiection and of the constant fidelity of Catholikes to your Maiesty and al your race and predecessors in al their fortunes whatsoeuer And thus your Maiesty doth see the comparison of our former times and our precedent behauiours with our present affection and future assurance If then we be not rewarded and respected as all others are of other professions that haue done their duties as we did in aduancing your Maiesties affaires and acknowledging your rightfull Authority yet at the least we hope that it wil not be thought reasonable that we shold be left in the same 1 As long as you beleeue in the masse that is a masse of superstition idolatry and foolery you must needs be subiect to a masse of misery masse of misery which your maiesty found vs in at your entrance Make vs then Sweet Soueraign as able as we are willing to serue you not by new dignities and authorities but by restoring vs to our 2 In Spain and Italy our brethren that proses true christian
religion neither inioy honours nor goods nor lands nor liberty nor life pristine honours and honest reputations and to our birthright freedome and liberty by your onely Peerles justice clemency and benignity permitting vs to liue in peace come dere buccellam nostram sine dolore to put a bit of meate into our mouthes without sorrowe without flights without flights and without circumuentions of our Aduersaries our woundes are so deepe and daungerous in matters of our honours states and liberties that no Phisitian can cure vs but your selfe with the soueraigne balme of your renowned clemencye What pleasure or profit can redownd to your Maiesties person or estate if we your approued and assured seruantes and subiects 3 Many hane been satted in prison fevv haue rotted in prison though committed for treason and not religion lot in prison die in banishment and liue in penury and disgrace for no other crime or offence but for the constante profession of that Religion which in conscience we are perswaded to be the only true worship of God and saluation of our soules Of which our faith and beleefe we haue rendred so 4 You haue only told false reports and fabulous conccits of your ovvn braines dennyd of reason sufficient reason that wee hope it will fully satisfie and content so wise learned politique and discreete a Prince as your Maiesty hath shewed your self to be in all occasions presented to make trial thereof which maketh vs the more confident in our iust and reasonable defence because we sue to a most wise iust and learned Monarch And albeit more then this can hardly be required of men whose fidelities are so sufficiently tried and testified as appeareth by the whole substance and tenor of this our Apology yet pro abundantiore cautela we humbly lay down at your Maiesties feete in forme of submission and security following in behalfe of our Precsts and pastors The answere to the 6. Chapter THJS is the somme of this quarrelsome accusation flender in comparison of the matters obiected and witlesse in respect of the handling of it as the sequele will declare First they accuse a student of Lyons Inne a lawyer by profession as they call him But what is this to vs Nay what is that to the Ministers they speake of Further they sould know that there is some difference betwixt students of Lyons Inne and lawyers betwixt the Innes of court and chancery but that they lack law and experience This lawyer by profession as they say in a discourse of treasons against the Queenes Maiesty by Francis Throckmorton telleth how there were founde among other his papers 12 pedegrees of the discent of the Crowne of England printed and published by the Bishop of Rosse in the defence of the pretended title of the Scottish Queene his Mistris But whether they say true or no god knoweth Neither neede we to examine it the matter concerning vs nothing And yet if these men in those tymes shold haue discredited Queen Elizabeths title and preferred another before her they woulde hardly haue answered the matter if they had been called to Tiburne for it Neither if this students offence be so great which only telleth matter of fact will they be able to cleare Parsons and many recusants in England that haue heertofore allowed that traytorous booke of titles which infringeth the kings title that nowe reigneth in despite of all his oppugners Next they mention the attempt of the duke of Northumberland for setting vp the Lady Jane agaynst Queen Mary and thereto adde a commemoration of the execrable murther of the Kings father grādfather with thē also they conioyn Dauid the Queenes Secretary as they cal him Lastly they run out into a large discourse of Iames the base brother of the late Queen of Scottes of Bothwel Gowry others that in time past made some attemptes against the King and his mother But what maketh all this J pray you to the ministers of England against whom they pretend to frame theire odious accusation did not the duke of Northumberland as they say dye a papist and was he not assisted and folowed by more papists then true Christians Furthermore did not the Erle Gowry bring with him the seedes of popery witchcraft cōiuration yea of Atheism out of Jtaly and was not Bothwell an hypocrite at least in religion aswell as a traytor in his rebellion but had they doone wickedly we are not to iustify their particuler actions neither can these accusers iustifie their absurd discourse ioyning to gether matters so vnlike and so farre from the purpose and in some poyntes making against them selues Dauid was no man fit to be ioyned with kings James the Queenes brother was wickedly murthred by a practise of papists that the Kings grandfather was murthred we cannot learne they were none of our religion certes that laide hands either vpon his maiesties father or grādfather-likewise his maiesties mother was brought into trouble by the practise of Sāmier a wicked Iebusite as is testified by him that wrote the Iebusites Catechisme a papist a mā of more credit learning thē these libelling lay papists therfore not so easily to be shaken of But if they will not beleeue him nor Watson a Martyre of their Church yet I hope they will beleeue pius Qnintus his letters extant in his life written by Hierome Catena and shewing that she was animated in those courses by the pope and his faction of which any man may gather what were the causes of her calamity the same also may be proued by histories and all the proceedings in that cause which J forbeare to relate leaste I should offend as these libellers doe without all respecte of persons refreshing the kings greefe and speaking of matters which he most graciously hath forgotten Lastly they mention certaine statutes made partly for the settling of the title of the Crowne and partly to meete with the seditions and conning practises of papistes which with reconciling men to the pope and by diuers notes of faction as agnus deies beads graynes and such like sought to vnite their consorts to stirre vp tumults and to make a side to depose Queen Elizabeth But all this rehersall of lawes as it sheweth the greate or rather necessary occasions giuen to the state to make lawes against factions preests and their adherents so it maketh nothing for the cause in hand seeing the peace of the land was thereby confirmed and the Kinges right no way preiudiced But if the Masseprestes and the Popes agents had beene left at liberty to found the popes kingdome within England then if the King had not founde geate trouble at his entrance yet should he haue felt halfe his authority and kingdome shared by the pope This discourse therefore proceeding from men aduerse to the state and fauorable to forrein enemies and dealers for the Jnfantaes title as is recorded in diuers books and proued by diuers witnesses known by good experience