The Romish Fisher Caught and Held in his Own Net, Title page – Dedication
THE ROMISH FISHER CAVGHT AND HELD IN HIS OWNE NET.
OR, A True Relation of the Protestant Conference and Popish Difference.
A Iustification of the one, and Refutation of the other.
In matter of
FACT.
FAITH.
By DANIEL FEATLY, Doctor in Diuinity.
Theodoret. Dial. 2. Cap. 24. foreign. Orthodox. Thou art caught in thine owne Net.
LONDON, Printed by H. L. for Robert Milbourne, and are to bee sold at the great South-dore of Pauls. 1624.
TO THE MOST Reuerend Father in God, the Lrd Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his Grace, Primate and Metrapolitane of all England, &c. my very good Lord.
May it please your Grace:
I HaueHave euer, as much as lay in mee, declined, and earnestly contended against all contentions, and publick Conferences in poynt of Religion, with Romish Priests, and Iesuites. For, Poperie (as I hauehave oft learned from your Grace) is a doctrine of lyes; and as it maintaineth lyes, so it can be maintained by no better support, then of lyes. In all conflicts with men of that faction, though their redoubted wrastlers, in grappling with our Diuines, are put to the worst, yet (like Pericles in the Theatre) bee they indeed neuer so much foyled, they will go about, by their eloquence, to perswade the Spectators, that they receiued not, but gaue the foyle. And as Lysimachus, when he receiued a sore wound from Alexander in his fore-head, had it presently bound vp, and couered with a glorious Diademe: so when any of their side are wounded sorely in any skirmish with vsus, their fellowes presently binde it vp, and couer it with a Crowne of a surmised victorie. I well knew, and foretold the Pitcher of the field, that whatsoeuer the issue of the combate were, Master Deane of Carlile and my selfe, should be notwithstanding conquered in effigie, and led in triumph in many a Pageant at Doway, Bruxels, Rhemes, and Rome, as since we hauehave seene in Letters, and gazettaes from beyond the Seas. Omnia praecepi, atque animo mecum antè peregi. Yet knowing that truth is strong in her weakest, and falshood is weake in her strongest Champions; and being vrgently desired by the friends, and personally challenged by the enemies of our most holy Faith, to appeare as a Second in her sacred & iust quarrel, malui in illo praesertim legum et iustitiae publicae iustitio Iesuitas fractos, quàm despectos dimittere: I chose in that high floate of the Iesuites pride and hopes, rather by an encounter to represse their insolencie, then by a refusall increase their arrogancie. Neither was the diuine Assistance and benediction wanting at the Conference, nor since: for by it the old Gentleman (whose intended satisfaction drew on this meeting) was settled (as himselfe vnderunder his hand twice professed) and resolued in that point, which before left a scruple in his conscience. And by occasion of this Dispute, the Chronicles of the Reformed Churches hauehave beene better searched into, and some most vsefull Relations and Treatises touching the Visibility of the Church, brought to light, and more publick view then before. And, albeit his Maiesty, vponupon the first noise and mis-report of this disputation, seemed to distast it, yet when the whole truth of that which passed that day, together with the occasion and issue thereof, appeared to his Maiesty in its natiue hiew; the former cloud, which threatned a bitter showre, was by your Graces fauourable breath, suddenly blowne ouer: and then the true Relation of that Conference, finding the skie cleere, stole wings to, and from the presse, and flew freely abroad, eueryevery where checking and controuling the Iesuits false Relations, and plucking from their heads those Lawrell garlands, wherewith they had crowned their temples, for their owne noble exployts that day. It could not bee expected, that this printed Relation should hauehave beene otherwise entertained by Master Fisher and Master Sweet (the Popish Combatants), then it was; who, after a month or two, set vponupon it in print, and dealt with it, as the wife of Anthony did with Tullies *Because it truly wounded her husband.tongue, after his death: they thrust it thorow and thorow with needles, and stabbed it againe and againe with their poysoned pens; the one writing an answer to it; the other, a censure of it. To both these Pamphlets, this Reply is addressed. In the former part, Master Fishers Answer to the Fisher catched in his owne Net, is censured: in the latter, Master Sweet's Censure is answered. And because opposita iuxta se posita, magis elucescunt, I hauehave printed Master Fisher's Text with my Reply thereunto, vt dum haeretici hominis venena lector cognoscit, libentiùs orthodoxi bibat antidotum. If any thing be omitted, the occasion and reason of the omission is not omitted. Had I set down all the Iesuites battologies, Idem delicti fierem reprehensor et author.
Whatsoeuer I hauehave done heerein, I submit to your Graces censure and fauourable construction thereof. I acknowledge, it is not a worthy present for your Grace: yet because it is*foreign. my first fruits in this kinde, it of right belongeth to the high Priest; the rather, because the growth of it was vponupon your sacred gleabe. The Stork, which alwaies leaues one of her young ones in the house where shee breeds, for the Owner thereof, teacheth mee this poynt of gratitude, to offer that to your Grace, which was bred vnderunder your Graces roofe; Siue legas, quo dabo siue tegas.
Did not these, and many other priuate respects, challenge this dedication to your Grace: yet the sweet influence which your Graces gouernment continually distilleth vponupon Gods Inheritance, among vsus, would cause from any heart and pen not barren, the returne of some sweet spiration of praises to God, and thanksgiuing to your Grace for your incessant trauels in Gods cause. The costly oyntment, which on Palme-Sunday last flowed abundantly from your lips, so cheered vp and reuiued that numberlesse Auditory, that your Graces Name is as a most fragrant oyntment, sending foorth a most sweet sauour through the whole Kingdome. What should I speake of the most happie and ioyfull newes of our thrice-noble Prince's returne out of Spaine: whereof your Grace was the first siluer Trumpet to the City? And (God bee blessed for it) the Trumpet gaue not an vncertaine sound. Those glorious night-Tapours which were set so thick together in the streets, that they made a kinde of Galaxia in the City, were all kindled early in the morning at your Graces sacred Lamp. Sicut Marcelli praelio ad Nolam, saith the Orator, populus Romanus primò se erexit, posteà multaeres prosperae consequutae sunt. As the Roman State, after many disasters, first began to cheere vp againe at Marcellus his victory at Nola, and afterwards much good fortune followed: so, after much sorrow and more feare, the happy Returne of our Prince first cheered vp our drooping spirits; and, after that, many happie things hauehave followed: whereof, vnderunder his Maiestie, your Grace hauehave been, and are, together with your noble Associates in this high Court of Parliament, the principall Instruments. Ride on, in the Lords march prosperously, with your honour, because of truth and righteousnesse, and your right hands shall teach your terrible things; terrible things to the Whore of Babylon, but comfortable to Christs afflicted Spouse. The good will of him who dwelt in the bush, make your Aarons Rod to flourish more and more, to the glory of his Name, aduancement of the Truth, honour of the Priest-hood, and your owne endlesse ioy and comfort. This we all of the Tribe of Leui are bound to pray for in generall, and I my selfe more specially, as beeing
Your Graces most humbly-deuoted Chaplaine in house, and seruant, DANIEL FEATLY.