Defense of the Watch-Word Against the Ward-Word, Part 3
Resistance to the third Encounter, about her Maiesties marueilous deliuerances from dangers, in Queene Maries time, and since.
IT is the Common and vsuall practise of wrangling and cauilling spirits, for the preuenting of iust accusations against themselues, first to begin and challenge others of the same crimes whereof themselues are most guiltie. So dealt Sathan the accuser of the brethren with Iob, Iob. 1.saying vntounto God, That if he were touched in all that hee had, he would blaspheme God to his face, and yet there is nothing more common with that olde Serpent, then to curse and blashpheme God. In like manner this parasite and slaunderous Encounterer, being priuie vntounto himselfe of his guiltines in flatterie, and bloud-thirsting, of both which he hath giuen sufficient proofe throughout this his whole Ward-word, would yet notwithstanding in the entrance of this his third Encounter, This bloudie mate falsely chargeth me with bloud-thirstines.perswade the readers, that I like a Parasite doe both flatter the State and Prince, and also exasperate both the one and the other against the Recusant Papistes who liue amongst vsus.
How vniustly he hath charged me with flatterie and forging, is made apparant (I trust) to eueryevery indifferent reader in my answeres before to his two first Encounters: and how farre I am from a bloudie mouth, a poysoned tongue, and an earnest desire to hauehave all his Catholikes destroyed (for so he tearmeth the Recusant Papists amongst vsus) shal by Gods grace be made plaine & euident in that which followeth.
Let the beast that hath two hornes like a Lambe, but not of the Lambe delight in his hornes, and let the whore of Rome, that is drunken with the bloud of Gods Saints delight to gorge in bloud: but the true Church of Christ, and her children, shall be alwaies found gentle, peaceable, and merciful, without either the sauage cōdition of beasts, or the barking & bloud-thirstie condition of dogs and hounds, how reprochfully, maliciously & dishonorably soeuer this Encounterer doth write of ye house of Huntingdon & my selfe.
But before I come to the particulars handled in this Encounter, what moued you (Sir Encounterer) thus hastely and fiercely to charge me in this place with a bloud-thirstie humor, & to paint your margent with Sir Francis his malignitie? doe you vncharitablie suspect my thoughts? or doe you frowardly peruert, and misconstrue my words? the secret thoughtes are knowne onelyonly to God; but if my writings doe any where bewray such a sauage disposition, why did you not frame your inditement vponupon mine owne words? what, were you moued because I did truly and thankfully acknowledge the maruellous deliuerance and preseruation of her Maiestie in the daies of her sister Queene Marie, which is the first thing in this your Encounter you find fault with all? Or were you mooued, because I hauehave faithfully related the Popish practises of bloudie Prelates, and home-borne Traitors against her Maiestie both before, and since the beginning of her Raigne? Or was it because in setting downe the iust iudgement of God, and the punishment of Iustice iustly inflicted vponupon Doctor Storie, I doe in the ende thereof desire that al they which wish to Queene Elizabeth as he did (for those be my words, pagina. 27.) may speed as he did? Other matter I am sure you can find none from the 18. page vntounto the 49. of my booke, which all in this Encounter you take vponupon you to answere. And I pray you (Sir) are these such matters as may iustlie prouoke anie to such furie, outcrying, opprobrious names, and grieuous accusations, as in this your Encounter you hauehave vsed against me? the matters are all iustifiable, as shall after more fully God willing appeare, and as well might Cushi (who bringing newes to Dauid of the ende of Absolon said,…. Sam. 18. the enemies of the Lord the King, and all that rise to doe thee hurt, be as that young man is) be charged with a bloudie mouth, the worme of heresie, woodnes; and furie, as I for desiring, as I did, against her Maiesties enemies. My heart (I thanke God) is free from thirsting after the bloud of anie, and the true conuersion, & reformation of my countriemen who are deuoted to the Bishop of Rome, and the Romish newe faith, should be more ioy and comfort to me, then anie worldlie thing; which both doe argue that I louelove their persons, though I detest their Popish Religion, and traiterous practices. I wish that Papistes may liue, and that Poperie may dye; and I ioyne with Saint Augustine concerning Papists in generall, who are not particularly tainted with actuall treason:Aug. in Psal. 37 Non oramus vt moriantur inimici, sed vt corrigantur, sie mortui erunt inimici, iam enim correcti, non amplius erunt inimici: Wee pray not for the death of our enemies, but for their correction and amendment; so our enemies shall bee dead, for being amended they shall bee no more our enemies.
But now to the seuerall parts of your Encounter as they follow in order with as much breuitie as I may:Her Maiesties marueilous deliuerance in Queene Maries time. It offendeth you greatly, that I impute her Maiesties deliuerance from great daunger in the time of Queene Mary, to bee wholly and onelyonly wrought to her from Gods goodnes, and this (out of the madnes of your idle braine) you blasphemously call a miracle of Milne-wheeles; but with all the craftie wit you hauehave (how greatly soeuer you vaunt thereof, imagining that I cannot vnderstand plaine humane reason) you shall not be able, either to make her deliuerance lesse strange and admirable then I hauehave said it was, or to cleere any of those that I hauehave accused to hunt after her life at that time.
But I pray you (Sir N.D.) why should this matter so much displease you, as to vrge you to write so many lines in seeking to disproue my saying? Is it because you would flatter her Maiestie and perswade her, that she was better beloued, then she thought she was? Or is it because you are vnwilling to heare, that God should so honour the Gospell, as to bring in the free publishing and profession thereof into this our Land, by one that was marueilously preserued to be a Prince and nourse vntounto vsus? Or is it because you would free those daies from such malice and crueltie, as her Maiestie did sensiblie perceiue? Or for that you would shew your skill in carping at my sayings? Whatsoeuer occasion you did take (for iust cause had you none) you might hauehave done better to hauehave spared your labour… and to hauehave said as we doe with the Church in Dauids time vponupon the like occasion in preseruing Dauid to be King of Israel. This is the Lords doing, and it is marueilous in our eyes.
Her Maiesties deliuerance and Dauids compared.If any Israelite then discontented with Dauids gouernment, should hauehave said, you are miracle-makers, and framers of miracles of Milne-wheeles, because in humane reason there may bee imagined diuers pregnant and potent causes, which did concur to the preseruation of Dauids life, and his admission to the kingdome; as namely that Ionathan was his friend, he was beautifull and valiant, he had married the Kings daughter, and the people did honour him; should not such a one hauehave shewed himselfe a blasphemous deprauer of Gods worke, and an enuious repiner at Dauid his safetie and honour? Yes out of question. Looke then to your selfe (Sir Encounterer) and learne to speake more reuerently of Gods marueilous workes, and in charitie reioyce with them that reioyce: Iubemur (saith Bernard) colligere fragmenta ne pereant, id est, ne minima beneficia obliuisci, We are bidden to gather vp the very fragments and crums, that is, not to forget the least benefits. How much more then should wee magnifie the power of God in his wonderfull workes? But how doth hee disproue my sayings? First hee laboureth to proue that her Maiesties life and blood was not sought after, neither was shee in such danger as I hauehave affirmed: next hee sheweth certaine humaine causes of her Maiesties preseruation. That she was subiect to suspitions; and that she was had in ielousie, and did hold the Queene and state in suspence and care, this Encounterer denieth not, alleaging cunningly some such reasons thereof, as namely her inclination to true Religion, the attempts of Wyat, Courtney, Carow, &c. and the condition of the Queene of Scots, thereby endeuouring (after his cunning manner) both to leaue her Maiestie to be suspected at the least of some disloyaltie to her Sister, as also to cleare the chiefe pillers then of Poperie from doing her wrong, and the Queene of Scots from working of treason against her since that time.
But let him write neuer so cunningly,Her Maiestie vniustly troubled in Queen Maries daies. seeking to leaue the matter doubtfull by way of presumption, as he shall neuer be able to tainte her Maiestie with the least shew of disloyaltie in those dayes, who witnessed with her Diamond the soundnes of her heart and innocent behauiour in these words, Much suspected by me, nothing proued can be: So shall he neuer bee able to free either the State then from troubling and wronging of her Maiestie vniustly, neither to cleare the Queene of Scots of such treasons as she was iustly condemned for. But how proueth he that she was in no danger of life? euen because shee was preserued.A ridiculous argument. For (saith he) there being power in them to put her to death, and no power at home or abroad to hinder them; if there had been such a seeking after her death as I hauehave affirmed; then by forme of argument iustified by Cicero in his Rhetoricke… … have been effected.
Alas poore fi…ie Encounterer, must my speech which onelyonly accuseth the Romish Cleargie then in place of credite to seeke her life, include the King and Queene? Or must it needs follow where there is a soueraigntie and outward strength (for that I …ke you meane by power) ioyned with will, there ye matter must needs be effected? If this reason were good, how was Moses preserued, there being power and will in Pharaoh to kill him? How was Dauid preserued from Saule, or the Prophets from Ierob…, or the Israelites from Ham…s malice, Peter from Herods crueltie, or our Sauiour Christ (for a time) from the conspiracie of the chiefe Iewes? For in all these there was will ioyned with outward power for a time; and yet the things desired not effected. Cicero his argument holdeth where there is nothing supposed to hinder, and where the will is fully bent to doe a thing: but in all Soueraigntie and inclination of the will it holdeth not, because there may want strength, and continuance of the partie, and the will may not be throughly setled; as that of the Iewes, they would faine hauehave put Christ to death, but they feared the people. God no doubt did strangely keepe Queene Marie from consenting to the bloodie practise of the Romish Cleargie against her Sister; and though some of the Cleargie did seeke her death, yet it might bee hindered by others, and their desires by some considerations so crossed, that though they did desire her death, yet they could not effect it, for which the Lord of Heauen onelyonly is to be praised.
But what a shameles forehead hath this Encounterer, who against so manifest a truth, so plainely, and sensiblie to bee proued, doth not blush to denie that her Maiesties life was at that day earnestlie and maliciouslie sought after? Why was sh…e so hastelie sent for when shee was sicke, to bee brought vp to the Court, either aliue, or dead, presently vponupon Wyats rising? why was she falsly accused and burdened with Wyats insurrection; yea so far that he was brought against truth and conscience to accuse her? Why was she committed to the Tower to be a close prisoner? Why did she say Tanquam ouis, when she remoued from the Tower to Woodstocke? Why was she in many feares, and so often enforced to bewaile her estate, and to pray to the mightie God to preserue her? Was there not a report that there was a warrant out for her execution, and did not M. Bridges Lieutenant of the Tower go in haste to Queene Marie, and so by certifying her preuent the bloodie execution? When the sword of iustice could not by any meanes be drawne forth against her, what extreame dealings were vsed, and what secret conspiracies plotted, for the bringing of her to an vntimely death, and the shedding of her innocent bloud? I spare to write more in so plaine a matter, that reuerent learned man Master Foxe hath at large in his Monuments of the Church set downe, the miraculous preseruation of her Maiestie at that time from extreame calamitie and danger of life, which who so readeth, shall with inward compassion and watrie eyes rather lament her pitifull estate, then with a hard heart and shameles face deny so manifest a truth as this Encounterer doth.
Causes concurring to her Maiesties preseruation.As for the causes which he alleageth did concurre to the preseruation of her Highnes, it is not denied but that some of those by him alleaged, and many others which in probable reason might be imagined, might well concurre for the working of her Maiesties securitie at that time; but that any of thofe was so potent and mightie, as of necessitie to make her safe from daunger, or that they or any other can bee certainely alleaged, to be necessarie causes and procurers of her deliuerance, with all his wit, and insight into matters of State, (of which he seemeth much to brag) he will neuer be able to shew. Certaine it is that her Maiestie when she was in that trouble and daunger, vsed these words when shee protested her innocencie at her landing at the Tower. Before thee O God I speake it, hauing none other friends but thee alone: and as certaine it is that neither wise States-man, nor any other can definitelie say of these, or any other supposed causes, in these respects, or for these causes chiefly shee was preserued: what though shee were gracious, amiable, and vertuous, and much fauoured of the Spanish King (who in policie it may be did by that meanes seeke to win the peoples hearts vntounto him,) must it needs follow hereupon, that therefore her innocent behauiour could not bee called into question, nor her bloud shed by any wicked conspiracie? The King of Spaine was farre from her in her greatest trouble, and neither you, nor any other can say that hee pleaded her cause or stoode openly for her freedome at any time. If hee sent the Duke of Feria to visite her, or secretly did speake for her to Queene Marie, as Master Foxe seemeth to confesse, he did that which was seemely and honorable in a King, and that which her place and innocencie iustly deserued.
As for the generall hope which you say most men had of her Maiesties being a Catholike: if it had been either so vniuersally conceiued as you imagine, or by such outward tokens had appeared as you hauehave set downe, how can it be true that she was presumed by many to be inclined to a different Religion from yours, as you a little before in this Encounter doe confesse? If shee had been deuoted so earnestly to Popish Religion, why needed commaundement to be giuen that shee should hauehave Masse within her house, within two daies after her committing to the Tower? and how happened it, that her men were so vnskilfull to helpe the Priest, that the first day there could be no Masse for want of a Clerke, and the next day one of her yeomen at Kyrieleson made a stop, and set the Priest being not able, or not willing to proceede any further? Her sound affection to true Religion was the cause of all her trouble and danger in her Sisters daies, and her willing and ioyfull embracing of the true Christian faith, and of God his true worship and seruice, hath so sufficiently been witnessed euer since the beginning of her Raigne, that no man of common sense or Christian charitie hath the least cause to suspect that her heart should bee vnsound in the present profession of God his true Religion and Gospell.
The last cause which you alleage to concurre to the preseruation of her Maiestie, is but a thing imagined by you seeing the matter of depriuing her Maiestie of life neuer came to any such stately consultation as you your selfe in handling this point, doe plainelie graunt; and seeing also that in such a case they could hauehave found out other meanes, for preuenting such a potent pretender: whatsoeuer you say of the Spaniards affection to the Queene of Scots at that time, I am sure all England had like to hauehave tasted by so lamentable an experience, that this Lady of Scotland was so affected by Spaine, and sundrie of our English Espagniolized traitours, as (if through Gods goodnes shee had not been cut-off in time) hardly could our Soueraigne hauehave escaped with life long, being almost daily in daunger (whilest that Scottish Queene liued) through the practise of Rome, Spaine, and our home Traytors. Thus notwithstanding all your flourishes and deuises, your potent causes are too weake to weaken my speech, the gracious worke of God in preseruing her Maiestie at that time appearing to eueryevery Christian and indifferent iudgement, no lesse miraculous and strange, then I hauehave affirmed. God is the onelyonly proper maker of miracles, I onelyonly acknowledge his worke in deliuering this my Soueraigne from daunger with thankfulnes, without either flatterie of any person, or ambitions seeking after honour, though you very maliciously and scornefullie do charge me with both; but by that time that veine of your carriage in this your rayling Pamphlet be throughly scanned and conceiued, neither your tongue nor pen will proue any great slaunder. I will shut vp this point with a speech of Master Iohn Hales vsed in his oration to her Maiestie at her first entrance to her raigne, which seemeth … fying of my sayings, his words are these. He that sitteth on high and laugheth at their madnes; M. Hales Oration.would not suffer that the malicious purposes, and most cruell deuised Iniustice should hauehave successe. He did take vponupon him the protection of you, he onelyonly hath been your Iehosheba, that preserued you from this wicked Athalia: he onelyonly was the Iehoiada that destroyed this cruell Athalia: he onelyonly hath made you Queene of this realme in stead this mischieuous Marana: No earthly creature can claime any peece of thanks therefore, no mans face, no mans counsaile, no mans aide hath been the cause thereof.
The second thing you finde fault with in this your Encounter is my affirming,The fretting of the Papists against her Maiestie now being Queene that when our Soueraigne was fullie possessed of her royall seat, then Sathan began to rage, and his ministers to fret and chafe; these my words you terme to be wicked calumniations, and tales of a tubbe, to entertaine fooles and ignorant people; but with how little truth and honestie, and with what abundance of malice and folly, that which followeth shall I doubt not make apparant to the indifferent reader.
You aske how it could be that the Papists did freat and chafe, seeing they as the greatest number, and chiefest persons did freelie, and willingly place her, crowne her, annoint her, take her oath, for preseruing the lawes of the Realme, and sweare fidelitie to her againe. To which question I returne the like for answere: how could it be that Haman commaunded to honour Mardocheus in the sight of the people, should fret and chafe at his aduancement,Hester. 6. when as he was the man that arrayed Mardocheus with royall apparrell, brought him on horsebacke through the streete, and proclaimed before him: Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King will honour. This is no tale of a tubbe, as this carping companion would perswade, but a truth out of Gods booke, whereby we may see that some do yeeld vntounto that outwardlie in shew, which in their hearts they yeeld not vntounto, and at which, afterwards they fret & chafe. And could it otherwise be, but that they must fret and chafe, when as before her raigne in her sisters time one Ferrar that was defended by Storie and Bonner, said that he hoped that she and they that hoped she should hauehave the Crowne should hop headlesse, or be fired with faggots before she should come to the Crowne: and also after her aduancement to the Crowne, the Bishops, and Clergie maisters as they shewed themselues in the conference at Westminster, and in the Parliament assembled verie disobedient, stubborne and malicious, (wherupon some of them were committed to prison,) so they had a consultation to hauehave excommunicated her, as your worshipfull Cardinall Allen affirmeth in his 52. page of his answere to English Iustice, and (as your Rishton saith) the Archbishop of Yorke, whose dutie it was to hauehave crowned her, Cardinall Poole being dead, refused to doe it, and so did all the Bishops, except one, and he almost the lowest.
But I will proceed to peruse the examination of some particulars, of the hostilitie by me alleadged, willing the Reader by the way to consider deeply of your graue aduise, which (vponupon my vsing the words Sacred and Annoynted, as honourable and rightly appertaining to her Maiestie) you offer to be aduisedly thought of, as tending to the commendation of annointing Priestes and Princes,About annointing. and concluding stronglie the great honour that her Maiestie had by Catholikes at her first entrance. What, must it needs follow that annointed must be taken for annointing with oile, or must her Maiestie needs be beholding to the Clergie for that she is called the Lords annointed? I had well hoped that your quoting in the margent diuers places of Scripture, for confirmation of the ceremony of annointing Priests and Princes, had been a better Bible-clerke then so foulie to be mistaken in the 105. Psalme,Psal. 150. which place hath been alleadged for Priuiledge of the Popish Clergie from the sword of Iustice, notwithstanding their filthie life. The Patriarches, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, are called annointed, and yet were neuer annointed with oile. In Esay. 45. Cyrus is called the Lords annointed, and yet a heathen Prince:Luke. 2. our Sauiour Iesus is called annointed, and yet it is not read, that euer he was annointed with outward oile. Princes are called the Lords annointed chieflie because God hath put them apart, and consecrated them to serue him in place of gouernment, because they are indued with wisedome, courage, strength, and feare of the Lord, and because they should be profitable to the people, gentle, and mercifull, the truth is more respected then the outward ceremonie in the word annointed. Priestes, Kings, and Prophets before Christes time were annointed with visible oile. I confesse, not for such cause as you imagine that Princes are, but to shew that they were appoynted of God, consecrated, and furnished with gifts from him, as also to be types and figures of Christ, who vnderunder the law was represented by these three offices, estates, or orders of men. The ceremonie is not now of necessitie to continue; Christ without outward annointing was called by Simeon the annointed of the Lord. So that hir Maiestie may be tearmed honorablie and deseruedlie the Lords annointed, and yet neither your superstitious, and Iewish ceremony of greazing your popish Priests commended thereby, nor her Maiestie made much beholding to your Clergie for that honour.
The first particular of hostilities which you take vponupon you to disprooue is my speech of your darling Doctor Storie, About D. Storie.whom because I call a bloudsucker, as Dauid calleth his persecutors Saul, Doeg, and others, bloudie men, you charge me to be light-witted, and foule mouthed;Psal. 5. & 59. you may take your pleasure (Sir N.D.) at me stil, as you hauehave done, but you know the reward of such as contemptuouslie reproach others with follie, or maliciouslie doe raile and speake euil of them vndeseruedly. You tell vsus there are three things in my speech of Doctor Story to be considered; the words I charge him with, my interpretation of them, and the iudgement he receiued; in all which if you can either conuince me of vntruth, or iustlie condemn me for vncharitably censuring the speech, and his person, we will beleeue you another time, in your proud boasting. The words (you say) were neuer sufficiently proued to hauehave been spoken by him, neither by sufficient witnesses,Stories words. nor by his owne confession: and because the words could not serue to any purpose, but to his owne ruine (he being known to be wise and no foole,) you would hauehave it beleeued that he spake them not at all. This is but a simple defence (Sir Encounterer) of your stout champion, seeing the words were spoken in the hearing of so many witnesses, both of your side and ours, in the Parliament house, and seeing that the speech being generally testified by them that heard him at that time, it was neuer, either by himselfe denied, or by others that were present controlled. If Doctor Storie had been so wise, as you would perswade he was, he would neuer hauehave vsed such impudent words, such shamelesse talke, such vnconscionable and cruell speeches, without anie pittie, of such as he had persecuted most cruellie, as it is certainelie reported he did also at that time. As for the interpretation which you call a bloudie commentarie,The interpretatiō of them. it was not deuised to draw bloud, nor to presse him downe, seeing he long since receiued his iust iudgement, it doth onelyonly descrie his bloudie and disloyall heart, which caused his tongue to vtter such furious and bloudie speeches. You would faine hauehave Doctor Storie not to meane the Queene by the roote, but either heresie it selfe, or the infected Nobilitie and Gentrie. But alas (Sir N.D.) your fained glosses are so farre from drawing his words to another sense, that they rather confirme the same, much like to Pilates superscription, which being set vp to shew the cause of Christs condemnation, did yet notwithstanding proclaime his innocencie, and conuince them of crueltie: for doe not you a little before confesse, that these words could serue to no other purpose, but to his owne ruine? and doe not you here acknowledge that the Nobilitie and Gentrie seasoned with true Religion (which you in the madnes of your idle braine call heresie) were but inferiour roots, both which things doe proue, that his words (which were these) They (meaning the Commssioners, and Counsellors in Queene Maries time) laboured onelyonly about the young and little sprigs and twigs while they should hauehave stricken at the roote, and cleane hauehave rooted it out) cannot be meant of any other, but of the Prince and chiefe roote, from whom by the great goodnes of God, the generall and open profession of Christian Religion, hath againe sprung vp in this our land, and with whom it doth continue yet still, notwithstanding that Bacon, Cicill, Knowles and all those that you named are dead and gone. The words must needs aime at a person, and not an heresie; at one, and not at many; at a chiefe, and not at anie inferiour; howsoeuer this glosing and cunning Encounterer would perswade vsus of our Queenes affection to Poperie, or denie that true Religion was willinglie and ioyfullie without compulsion and constraint from others established and maintained by her. Rishton one of your Masters, speaking of her before she was crowned, saith, Animum in eare suum statim patefecit, &c. 1. she presentlie shewed her mind in Religion, both by silencing Catholike preachers (as he calleth them) as also by suffering all those that had liued in exile for Religion, to returne home: and by charging a certaine Bishop readie to celebrate before her, that he should not eleuate the consecrate host. For which respects (as he confesseth) the Archbishop of Yorke and the rest refused to crowne her,
The iudgement which Doctor Storie receiued by the Iustice of our land, was most iust, not being iudged to death for these words (as you craftily, yet verie foolishlie, and falsely hauehave set downe) but for that he denied her Maiesties Supremacie in the land,Stories iudgement. and Soueraigntie ouer him, and pleaded himselfe to be no subiect to the Queene, but to the king of Spaine: And this is it that your Martyr-maker Doctor Saunders seemeth to insinuate in his title added to Doctor Storie, shewing that he suffered for the Primacie of your Bishop of Rome: Martyrium Ioan. Stor. Angl. pro ecc. Rom. primat.but obserue the blasphemie of this Pope-holy Encounterer against Christ, and his heinous accusation out of a trecherous heart against the Magistrates, and Iustice of our land, in comparing such a traitour as Storie was, with our Sauiour Christ, and our Iudges with Pilate. Leaue your blind zeale (Sir Romanist) which carrieth you so violently to such impieties, and begin at length to imbrace true Religion with vsus, in the feare of God, and in all loyaltie, and dutie, reuerence and commend the true Iustice of your Countrie.
Whatsoeuer your Catholikes doe imagine Storie to be worthie of, hauing made him a Martyr, who indeed was a traitour, howsoeuer your selfe blinded with partiality & heresy cannot find out any trespasse of moment committed by him, (though he denied our Prince to be his Soueraigne and Queene) yet to euerie Christian and in different reader his iudgement will appeare to be iust, and his offence no lesse then treason. Doctor Saunders indeed hath made him a Martyr in his booke of the visible Monarchie of the Church, and it may be you hauehave a purpose to canonize him for a Saint, if there might be found a Suriu… that by his Legions or Legend of lies would faine vntounto him a better life, & some strange miracles; but it being true that the cause, & not ye punishmēt doth make a Martyr, and that some things had in great estimatiō with mē, may be abominable in Gods sight, your traiterous Story shal be no better a Martir, then the Martirs of Montanus, Marcion, Nouatus heresies of whom Eusebius maketh mentiō. And so leauing your traiterous Doctor: let vsus come to ye second hostilitie, wherwith you find fault, & that is the Bull of Pius Quintus with the excommunication of her Maiestie:The Bull of Pius Quintus. concerning which Bul, it moueth your patiēce greatly, that eueryevery where in schooles, sermons, books & places of Iustice, this fact of your Pope should be produced, as a sound witnes and testimony, of the vnsound and disloyall hearts of such of your catholikes, as approue your Popes dealing therein, by which you would enforce that matter wanted wherwith to charge your traitors; at their arraignment for there was alwaies many and sufficient proofes, wee need not seeke farre for matter to conuict you of most grosse impieties, and cursed practises, you hauehave herein yeelded vsus too great an haruest to labour in, and our hearts desire hath euer been that we might trulie speak better things of you: We charge none to be guiltie of ye fact, but such as approue it, or shew thēselues too forward to yeeld obediēce vntounto it: & yet (sir N.D.) I think you could hardly resolue this doubt, how a papist acknowledging your Popes authoritie, and iustifying his proceeding therein, may acknowledge her Maiestie to be his true and rightful Queene. For in the title to that Bul, you know the Queene is called a pretended Queene, by the Bull she is deposed, her Subiects are absolued frō their oath of fealtie & allegeance, and those that obay her are accursed. What though all Catholiks are not priuie to your Popes reasons, & informations? may it not be concluded necessarily (notwithstāding that) that such as acknowledge the Popes supreme authoritie ouer Prices, and hold it for a maxime, that in a definitiue sentence he cannot erre, are enemies to Queene Elizabeth & the State? I know in deed some, as Master Hart, may deny that ye Pope hath any thing to doe with disposing of kingdomes, & deposing of Princes, and so the Bull may not any waie concerne them; but I doubt there be but a few that will affirme the Popes supremacy in tēporal things to be vsurped. But because you post ouer this matter to other treatises, esteeming of me in matter of dispute, as Goliah did of Dauid whō he scorned,Master Iuel. Bullenger. I wil also referre the Christiā reader to such learned treatises as are extāt for this Pandora her box, & descrying the hurtful and vnholsome euils that lye in the bowels of ye seditious Bull.
And because in this place (before you consider further of this Bull) you take exceptions against a proposition of mine which you terme ridiculous, & to proceede from deepe ignorance and a base breast, I will a little fortifie my saying, and make it apparant to the indifferent reader, either your grosse mistaking, or wilfull and malicious peruerting of my said speech: as for your Lucyfer-like pride it is more then apparant alreadie: my words are these,Whether any man may depose Kings. As though it were in the power of any one mortall childe of man, to dispose of Kingdomes, to depose Princes, or to dispense with subiects for not, onelyonly disobeying, but rebelling against their lawfull Soueraignes, &c. Is this such a ridiculous proposition (Sir Encounterer) or doe these words either make temporall Kingdomes matters of Godhead and immortalitie, or necessarily conclude that wicked Princes, such as Nero and Caligula, must bee obeyed in all things, with which flourishes, and false gloses you seeke to discredite my sayings? Your malice did master your reason, and your will did ouerrun your wit in this your lewde construction.
That which I said I may lawfullie still vphold, that Princes are not depriuable by any mortall man, neither can any man dispense with subiects for refusing to yeeld that obedience which the Lorde requireth them to yeeld. The Prophet Daniel acknowledgeth that it is God,Dan. 2. and 4. that hath this power to take away Kings, and to set vp Kings, and to giuegive the kingdome to whom hee will, and saieth that the Lord ordereth the States and Princes of the world at his pleasure: Marie the blessed Virgine reserueth this honor wholie to God.Luke 1. He putteth down the mightie from their seate, and exalteth the base: reade ouer the bookes of Kings, none euer disposed of kingdomes, but the Lorde of Lordes; neither were any throwne from their thrones, but by the Lords speciall appointment, as in the deiection of Ieroboam, Baasa, Elah, Achab and Ioram is apparant.1. King. 14. There was neuer any King of Israel or Iudah remoued from the Crowne, by any Priest or Prophet, though all the Kings of Israel were open Idolaters,1. King. 19. as also the most part of the Kings of Iudah, euen fourteene of them.
But it may be you thinke, because the Prophets denounced Gods iudgements, annointed some to be Kings, and some others by speciall commandement and authority did execute Gods iudgements, as Iehu vponupon Ioram and Achabs children, that therefore my proposition is infringed; which cannot be (Sir Encounterer) for it was done by Gods speciall appointment, as Iudge and superiour ouer Princes, and not by their owne motions, or in their owne name: No Priest, no Prophet, no Apostle, no Bishop euer had authoritie to depose Princes. Hee that saith,Prou. 8. By mee Kings raigne, doth challenge this power to himselfe, and it is plaine blasphemie to giuegive it to any other. Saint Augustine expressely resolueth that Kings neede not to feare to lose their Kingdomes, or that their Kingdome shall bee taken from them, as wretched Herod feared, and therefore out of all question,August. in Psalm. 47. there is no such authoritie giuen to any mortall child of man to depose Princes.
But although I thus confidently and vponupon good grounde doe pleade against the Popes vsurped authoritie, yet I am neither so seruily sottish, or so superstitiouslie conscienced, as either to adore earthlie Princes, or to denie that any Prince established may be touched or disobeyed in any matter: for as I hauehave learned to giuegive to Caesar that which is Caesars, and to God, that which is Gods, worshipping the Lord onlie with Religious worship: so I know vsurpers may be suppressed by rightfull inheritance, as Athalia by Iehoiada, and in our land Richard the third, by Henrie the seuenth: and to our Princes wee must yeeld such obedience as the Lorde alloweth, obeying them in the Lord, chusing rather with the Disciples to obey God then man, when man commaundeth wicked and vnlawfull things. And so leauing you (Sir Pope-Idolater) to your palpable flatterie, and to please and defend your Nero and Caligula, as a more fit fellow to flatter seriouslie, and to adore such saints then my selfe, I stand as becommeth me in loyaltie for my Christian, and religious Soueraigne, and so will doe (by Gods grace) whilest I liue to my last breath.
Your three points which you would hauehave to bee considered vponupon my speech of the Bull come next to be handled, by which you would gladlie proue, that not the malignitie of the Pope and Papists against our Prince brought forth this roring Bull, but some dealings of ours, and that the Popish Recusants are not to be accused for it, or inforced by meanes thereof to change their olde beleefe about the Popes authoritie.
1The first point to be considered, is that the Bull of Pius Quintus cam… …rth in the thirteenth yeare of her Maiesties raigne and not before, as by our owne Chronicles (you say) appeareth: Let it bee so (Sir N.D.) though the Bull was set vp in the thirteenth yeare of her Raigne, and dated 1567. 5. Calend. Martij, what conclude you hereupon? Must it therefore needes follow that the Bull proceeded not from any malignitie of the Pope, and Papists? but of some other cause, as out of mine owne words you would seeme to proue. Your argument is verie weake, your conclusion cannot bee inforced vponupon such slender premisses. The malignitie of the Papists is most apparant by their consulting to excommunicate her Maiestie, as before I shewed out of Cardinall Allyn, by Doctor Stories words, by informations giuen against her, which you confesse, whereupon the Pope in his Bull chargeth her with many things most vntruely and falselie. The hatred of the Pope is most euident, calling her a pretended Queene and an vsurper, euen in the title, and beginning of the Bull. And though the Bull was not published till the 12. yeare, being yet concluded vponupon about two yeares before, as the date sheweth, yet both the Pope and his adherents might as well fret and storme at her enioying of the Crowne, as at her Christian and Religious gouernment. Buls are not hastelie procured, your Pope must be sued vntounto, and false informations must be giuen, and it might be as they had vaine hopes for a time to feede themselues with, so (those hopes fayling) the fittest season for publishing of the Bull, was thought to be when others were prepared to raise rebellion.
The second point is a matter of as deepe consideration2 as the former, wherein hee telleth vsus by enumeration of diuers hard vsages offered by her Maiestie and the Protestants, against the Pope and Popish Catholicks, that it must needs be, that not malignitie of the Pope and his adherents against her, but diuers iniuries and cruelties offered, inforced the publication of the Bull. I will not vouchsafe to make an Apologie for defence of those things, which you (Sir Encounterer) recken vp as wrongs and iniuries offered to your Pope and Pope-worshippers; this onelyonly I say for answere, that as her Maiestie hath done nothing in the reformation of Religion, in requiring an oath of her people for acknowledgement of her authoritie, in inforcing her Subiects to the true seruice of God, in punishing offenders, and obstinate persons, and such like proceedings, but that which God commaunded her, and the godlie zealous Princes hauehave done before her: so it doth not necessarilie follow, that notwithstanding all those things hauehave been done in godlie zeale and louing care for the saluation of the soules of her people, therefore you are free from malignitie, your faultines wherein I hauehave euidentlie proued before, though in your deepe and cunning flatterie you would gladlie denie it: you fawne vponupon her Maiestie, and yet accuse her most falselie of breach of promise in altering Religion: you seeme to free her from a desire to publish Gods Gospell, and yet affirme that your Pope had great cause to proceede against her. Other Princes as Edward the first, Richard the second, Henrie the fourth, hauehave made lawes against the Bishop of Rome, his authoritie and vsurped iurisdiction, and yet hauehave not tasted so much of his malice, which sheweth the malignitie of your Pope and his adherents against her Maiestie. As for your Poperie and superstition rooted out of this land, it was not of so long continuance as you boast, for but little before William the Conqueror, Kings were Gods Vicars for gouerning his Church, Ecclesiasticall liuings were bestowed by the Princes, they made Ecclesiasticall lawes, Priests were married, and your Transubstantiation was not then knowne: You blasphemouslie scoffe at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and ye glorie in the dissention betweene vsus and the Lutherans, but as the Lord is of will and power to mocke mockers, so can hee make the infirmitie of his seruants, worke to his glorie and their good. I passe ouer many things willinglie in this your Rhetoricall flourishing, contenting my selfe to hauehave shewed the non sequitur of your allegation.
The third point which you would hauehave considered, is that it was an acte of iurisdiction from an Ecclesiasticall superiour, as also an auncient kinde of proceeding against Princes in our land, as well as in other places without any trouble to the people for the same, and therefore you would not hauehave your Catholikes to be charged with it, or troubled for it. For answere thereunto this I affirme, that as wee acknowledge not your Popes superioritie, or Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction ouer vsus, he playing the vsurping Tirant, in censuring our Prince; so we neither yeelde that this his proude and malicious cursing and excommunication of Princes hath been of long continuance; or that those his adherents, who iustifie his proceedings are to bee freed from blame. We acknowledge that Princes the annointed of the Lord,Rom. 13. are the higher powers ordained to execute Iustice, and Iudgement ouer the good and euill: We knowe no other Superiour in nations and kingdomes, next and immediatelie vnderunder God, but such as the Apostle Peter willeth vsus to be subiect vntounto, when he saith, Submit your selues vntounto all manner ordinance of man for the Lords sake, whether it be vntounto the King, as to the Superiour, &c. he speaketh of one not of many superiours, where a Monarchie is established.
The time was when your Bishop of Rome was far from hauing a superioritie euen in Rome and his dominions; for both Charles the great, and Otho the great, had right soueraigntie, and royaltie of the Countries giuen to your Popes, with acknowledgement to bee their Soueraigne Lordes, in regarde of which they yeelded tributes, and other seruices vntounto them: as also in former times, the Emperours had their Lieutenants and deputies in Rome, Valentinian Theodosius.euen to Gregorie the seuenths time; and your Popes obtained not the Soueraigntie which now they challenge, till it was almost 1200. yeares after Christ, in the daies of Alexander the third, and Innocentius the third, both Bishops of Rome. Your vsuall engine of excommunication, and depriuing of Princes of their Crownes, is likewise far short of that antiquitie, by which you would seeme to mitigate the rigour and crueltie thereof. For as there was neuer any Romane King or Emperor excommunicated and depriued of his kingdom by any Bishop of Rome before Henry the fourth Emperour of Rome, who was excommunicated & cursed by Gregory the seuenth, the brand of hel, who being a Necromancer, a periured person, and a most wicked man, confessed at his death to a Cardinall that he was set on by the Diuell to raise vp discord, and warres in Christendome: so in England from the conquest vntounto King Henrie the eight, there was no Prince of this land deposed by your pope, but onelyonly King Iohn. Sigebert. in Anno 1088.It is a noueltie (Sir N.D.) and not a matter of antiquitie (as Sigebert telleth you,) to teach that people owe no subiection to euill kings, &c. As for that you say that Subiects heretofore in our land hauehave not beene troubled, or forced to alter their beliefe concerning the Popes power, notwithstanding his cursing and depriuing of Princes is more then you know, and it maketh no great matter whether it were so or no, seeing that your vse of excommunication hath not been so frequent in our land, and your dealings were neuer so treacherous and desperate as they hauehave been of late. Our English Nation did neuer at any time since the first receiuing of the faith vntounto this day, acknowledge the vsurped power of your Pope to depose Princes, much lesse hath it been anie matter of our faith: your Pope Nicholas, and Boniface the eight, may put in transubstantiation to be an Article of our beliefe, and make your popes supremacie of the necessitie of saluation; but wee hauehave learned to ground our faith vponupon the Scriptures of God, which teacheth no such absurd and diuellish points. The lawes of our land hauehave heretofore in King Richard the seconds time, and Edward the thirds time, made it treason to bring in any excommunication from Rome, to impugne the lawes of the Realme for benefices and patronages, to compasse or imagine the death of the King, to leuie warre against the Prince, or to be adherent and fauourers of the Kings enemies, all which lawes doe verie neerly concerne such amongst you, as vouch the Popes wicked claime to depose Princes, and are perswaders, aiders, and comforters of inuasion and rebellion: Your affections wee deale not with, but with your confessions, wee punish you not, for your faith, but for your works.
What punishment did the lawes of our Realme in the first twentie yeeres of her Maiesties raigne inflict vponupon anie Recusant for his recusancie, but either imprisonment, or amercement? If your aduentures had not been most audacious, and your attempts most dangerous, being as men perplexed and enraged to see her Maiestie liue, and gouerne in so long happines, you might hauehave been stil vsed with as much merciemercy and clemencie, as it is possible for a Christian Prince to offer to vnrulie, and vndutifull subiects… Princes for their safetie, and repressing of rebellions, may temper their lawes with seuerity, and make that treason which to some seemeth a matter of Religion; as wee see in Augustines time,Aug. contraliterai Petil. lib. …. ca. 92. it was treason to say that Emperours perished for persecuting, which yet Petilian and his companie thought they might say trulie and zealously.
You desire a reconciliation betweene your Pope and our Prince, longing to see the daie when you might againe imbrue your handes in the bloud of Gods Saints; but as wee know there can be no agreement betweene light and darknes, so wee doubt not but the powerfull and mightie God will continue our Prince all her daies to be a true defender of the faith; and will preserue his poore flocke from the sauage crueltie and bloudines of woluish tirants, and Romish Prelates. Our sinnes indeed doe hasten vponupon vsus the seueritie of Gods iustice; but our hope is, that the God of heauen will for his mercies sake be fauourable vntounto his Sion, and continue his truth, and true worship amongst vsus, wherein standeth our chiefest happines:Psal 140. our praier shall be to the Lord as Dauids was. Let not the vngodly hauehave his desire ô Lord, let not his mischieuous imaginatiōs prosper, least they be too proud.
It may be the Lord himselfe will correct vsus in merciemercy,Iere. 10. as he hath done manie times alreadie, and not deliuer vsus into the handes of our enemies to be punished by them. It may be the mother of Sisera shall looke out at the window, and crie out at the casement,Iudges. 5. Why is his Chariot so long in comming? Why tarry the wheeles of his Chariot? So let thine enemies O Lord, & the enemies of thine annointed perish, but let them that louelove thee, and thy truth continue as the Sunne when he riseth in his might, & as Oliue plants in the house of God that flourish for euer. Amen.
The third and last hostilitie, against which in this Encounter you take exception,Traterous practises of some Papists. is the rebellion and traiterous practises of diuers of your Catholikes against our gracious Soueraigne, where with I charge them, which though you labour with all your skill and cunning to excuse, will appeare to be no lesse impious, and hainons in them, nor lesse daungerous to Prince and Countrie, then I hauehave affirmed. Your colours and cloakes wherewith you would gladlie couer and hide, the rebellious hearts and seditious minds of sundrie your Romish Catholikes are speciallie these: the onelyonly actuall rising of two Earles, (as you say) the great pressures wherewith you hauehave beene burdened, being the common griefe of all Common-wealthes, and cause that they are troubled with commotions, and rebellions, the admirable patience of Papistes and Catholikes, the practises of Protestants at home and abroad, and lastly, the light and small offence of such as are charged to hauehave been rebels and traitors to her Maiestie: all which being throughly considered will appeare either most false, … too slender …o coue… such treacherous hearts, and rebellious practises. And to giuegive the reader a taste thereof (although I will not long insist vponupon them) hath there been but one actuall rising of your Catholikes in fortie yeeres? and hauehave not the wicked counsels of Romish traitours burst out more then once into open hostilitie? what say you to the rebellion in Ireland vnderunder Doctor Saunders their chiefe encourager? what of the alienating & mouing of the people by your open Masses in La…kashire and else where? what of your other attempts with armes so neere the quicke, procured by your Iesuiticall Masses of reconcilement? what of the canonizing of the Northren Rebels for Martyrs, and proclaiming such warres to be godly, iust and honorable? Lastly, what is to be thought of your resoluing, directing and encouraging Babington, Parrey, Somerfield and sundrie others, that with violent hands sought to abridge our Soueraignes life? Are not these open hostilities, and open and actuall proofes that there is in you a resolution to doe anie thing that you can, for the ouerthrow of the present State, vnderunder which (through Gods merciemercy) we happily and blessedlie liue? That we had but one commotion in this Realme we may thanke our good God, and not you and your Catholikes, who hauehave done your best by procuring inuasion from abroad, and ripening rebellion at home, to multiplie that one to many; but that the mightie hand of God did alwaies disioynt your deuises, praised be his name for it.
Fond amplifications of punishments inflicted on papists.You complaine of the bloudie listes of Lawes, rigorous execution and incredible molestations, amplifying the correction which is here laid on you for your good, with words of the highest, and hotest degree; but looke backe (Sir Auditor) to your owne accounts, and view with shame enough both your cruell and bloudie persecution with fire and sword, as also the mildnes of her Maiesties Regiment, whose twentie yeeres together pressed you with no heauier burthens, then the penaltie of a shilling by the weeke, or some restraint of libertie: your Marian persecution yeelded in foure yeeres more effusion of Christian bloud, by hanging, heading burning, and prisoning, then euer was heard of in anie Princes raigne in this land before, or I hope will euer hereafter. It is no new thing with you and your adherents by outcries, tragicall exclamations, and most slaunderous vntruthes, to seeke to blemish her Maiesties milde gouernment, and the iust execution of Iustice amongest vsus: there is a God that knoweth all, and will iudge betweene vsus; how light a matter soeuer you take it to be, to rayle vponupon his annointed, and to vilifie and reuile the reuerent Iudges and wholesome lawes of the land, by the odious names of Atheists and bloudie lawes.
The third colour wherewith you would dasell our eies,A vaine colour. in beholding your traiterous practises, is no lesse vaine and foolish, then the other two before are slanderous, and false: for what though it be incident to all Common-wealthes to be troubled with commotions, shall it therefore not follow that your rebellious, and seditious practises moued onelyonly for the maintenance of the Romish primacie, and saith, doe manifest the dangerousnes of your doctrine, and treacherie of your hearts against the State of Christian Princes? you cannot defend your selues by so sleight a reason. Those troubles that were in King Henrie and King Edwards raigne proceeding chiefely not from your onelyonly suffering with groaning (as you say) but from the treacherous disloyall hearts of Papists, who were the chiefest actors therein, doe conuict you of such crimes as I hauehave charged you with. And euen these rebellions so often attempted in the latter end of King Henrie the eight, and the raigne of King Edward the sixth, doe testifie of your admirable patience and loyaltie. I maruaile with what face you can commend your Catholikes, and compare them with Protestantes for loyaltie, and willing subiection to Princes, when with your owne penne you shew your forwardnes in euerie Princes raigne to rebell, and yet cannot trulie charge vsus with any one rebellious practise in the maintenance of true Religion.
Protestants not to be compared with Papists in rebellion.As our doctrine is farre different from yours, in the honouring of Magistrates; so are our behauiours loyall, and obedient: what doctrine did euer attribute so much to publike authoritie of Magistrates as doe the Protestants? or who euer attributed lesse to Magistrates, or deposed moe Princes, then you Papistes? you may crie with Athalia, treason, treason, but wise men know who be the traitours indeed.2 King. 11. You would faine perswade your reader, that in Queene Maries time we shewed our disposition and forwardnes to rebell; and to this purpose you compare her short & bloudie raigne, with the long and peaceable gouernment of our gracious Soueraigne. But as both Wyat and the rest were carried by other perswasions, then the maintenance of true religion, to deale so rashly and vnsoundly as they did: so there is no reason that some priuate actions, and opinions generally condemned by our doctrine should preiudice all Protestants. You hauehave great cause to complaine of our rebellions, when you can recken vp, but one poore insurrection, and that vponupon other grounds then religion, and such a one as was suppressed without the spoile or hurt of anie of the Queenes side. But you that blush not to affirme that our chiefe Protestants in Queene Maries time were not troubled, when our soueraigne that now is, was then much vexed; and that none were then forced to renounce their olde Religion, when scarce anie suspected of true Religion could be suffered to liue quietlie, though they shewed publikely no dislike of Popish Idolatrie: no maruaile though you slaunderously doe charge vsus with rebellious disposition. As for your commotions and reuels you say hauehave been made in other countries by those of the Religion, I leaue both you and them to their Apologies in print, wherein you shall finde, that none of them did holde, that eyther Pope or other might depose Princes, or dispence with Subiectes for their obedience to their lawfull Soueraignes. And because it pleaseth you to disport your selfe, after your gybing manner with me Sir Francis, and your not Saint Francis, let me in earnest tell you, that Sir Francis would not for all his worth, that you could proue him to carrie so turbulent, seditious, and traiterous a mind against Queene and Countrie, as this your Ward-word sheweth you to doe; and so well instructed is he in the doctrine of the Gospell which teacheth obedience, as if his dearest friend in affection, or the neerest of kinne to him in bloud should lift vp an hand of disloyaltie against his Soueraigne, they are neither friends, nor kinsfolkes to him, and hee professeth himselfe a mortall enemie to them:Lib. conform. in initio. And for your blasphemous Saint Francis seeing it delighteth you to name him; let me call to your remembrance what you may finde in the booke of conformities of him, in which he is made another Iesus, in type and figure, and is matched with Christ from point to point, and his miracles with Christes miracles: of whom it is there also written, that he repented him for deuising of his habite, because God had reuealed to him, that out of his order Antichrist and his sect should come: and so Sir Francis leaueth you to honour your Saint Francis at your pleasure, as a fit Saint for you to adore in your Pope-holie worship.
About the two Earles insurrection.Your last colour and excuse, for defence of your Rebels, and Traitors, is as simple as the rest; you would gladlie perswade vsus, that the two Earles did but defend themselues, when there was no force they needed to feare, if they had feared God, and continued to liue like good subiects, and had not disloyallie intruded themselues, not onelyonly to controule, but to correct the godlie gouernment of the Queene and State. But they were set on by the Bull of Pius Quintus, and Doctor Mortons peswasion, seeking by force to set free the Catholikes, and to restore Catholike Religion, Doctor Saunders confesseth no lesse. They fled presently (you say) without blowes, or bloud shed, but that might be thought the badnes of their cause, and the feare that God did strike into their hearts, at the sight or hearing of the Queenes Armie, and not for want of desire to proceede further; but as I lament their fall, so I wish from my heart they had neuer been so misled.
As for the two next Traytors by you mentioned,Francis Throgmorton and Charles Paget. Francis Throgmorton, and Charles Paget, whom you labour likewise to excuse; the first receiued his iust censure by the course of Iustice, and that is a iust proofe to all honest men of his treasons; yet seeing you seeke so shameleslie, and vnhonestlie to extenuate his fault, I heartilie praie the reader to way your owne confession against him: You say he had the description of certaine Portes found in his Chamber, that hee had some intelligence with the Queene of Scots, & with Barnardin Mendoza, the King of Spaines Ambassadour. Why (Sir Encounterer) hauehave you forgotten that Mendoza in steede of performing the honorable parts of a well accepted Ambassadour, did most treacherouslie seeke to betraie both the Queene and State, by practising all that he could to set vp the Queene of Scots? and doe you not remember, that it was high time to cut off this Scottish Queene, who ceased not dailie to practise the death of our deere Soueraigne? and doe you thinke there could bee any good meaning in Throgmorton to collect Plots, and descriptions of our Portes, hauing intelligence with the Queene of Scots and Mendoza, and an Inuasion being plotted and purposed against vsus from Spaine? And if nothing else had been proued against him, can the height of your wit, and iudgement in State matters (whereof you so much glorie) cleare him from being a Traitor? But it is well known to the Honorable of our land, and those whom they employed to examine him, that his owne confession conuinceth him of more then it pleaseth you to set downe: and by this all the world may see and perceiue your disloyall, and dishonest meaning both to Queene and State, in thus colouring treasons, and defending Traitors. But you will needes free Charles Paget also another traitour, and whose fault you say was nothing, but that he went beyond the Seas, for that he could not liue with his Couscience at home: But (Sir Encounterer) you shall finde that with more conscience he might hauehave kept home, for whereas you say hee went ouer to free his Conscience, you shall well perceiue that at his being beyond the Seas, hee made shipwracke of Conscience and common honestie.
Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt.
They change the ayre that Seas doe passe,
But minde remaines the same it was.
I will not stand vponupon that hath been reported of his stealing ouer hither for little goodnes, changing his name (which is seldome the note of an honest man) and calling himselfe Mope: but bee it knowne to you (Sir N.D.) he was at the consultation when Yorke and Williams had their dispatch to goe kill her Maiestie, and againe hee and Thomas Throgmorton should hauehave furnished Michael Moodie with money to come ouer to the same wicked ende: This sheweth a worthie Conscience, and yet no man knoweth what conscience meaneth but your selfe, although you shew very little conscience or none at all in this your traiterous Apologie for them.
The other two Earles you will also defend,About the late Earle of Northumberland, and the Earle of Arundel. how iust occasion soeuer they gaue of iust proceeding against them. You seeke not onelie cunninglie to excuse them (though with slender proofe and lesse reason) but also maliciouslie and falslie to lay and leaue a suspition of crueltie vponupon the State, for the vntimelie death of the one, which sheweth to bee the practise of your Catholikes in their cruell murdering of Richard Hun, and not ours in this or any the like, and iniurie to the other for being iustlie proceeded against, for whom you blush not to affirme, that nothing could bee laide against him but flying for his conscience, and either hearing or causing a Masse to be saide in the Tower: when as hundreths can witnes that (besides diuers other dangerous conferences by letters and speeches) it was directlie proued, that he made a prayer for the prosperous successe of the King of Spaine and his forces, being raised against her Maiestie, who were thought to be vponupon the Sea, comming on to attempt an Inuasion, and to conquer our Land, and tendred the same to be said by other prisoners as well as himselfe; and therefore his fault was more then flying for Conscience, or hearing a Masse, which also hath ioyned to it a reconciliation to the Chruch of Rome: Yet this in your Romish and traiterous vaine-glorie, you recken to bee a glorious and holie treason, which is not strange in men of your sect, who often thinke you doe God good seruice, when you commit great wickednes and impietie; yet in this you might hauehave shewed your selfe more wise and honest to suspend your iudgement, when ignorance doth conceale from you the faultes for which by course of Lawe and Iustice men are condemned (if you were in deede ignorant of them) and not to be ouer hastie to iustifie the wicked. But you are so forward to be a patron for such actors, and actions, traitors and treasons, as it is not vnlike you would proue your selfe a very sound man to Queene and State, if you were in place to be throughlie sifted.
The substance of the Encounterers conclusion.For your conclusion and shutting vp of this Encounter, as you would perswade vsus that all that can be alleaged against your Catholikes, are but trifles and triuiall things, though they bee no lesse then rebellions and treasons; so (according to your ordinarie custome) you straine out Gnats, and swallow downe Camels: you call euill good, and not onelie breake the commaundements, but teach men so, that you may be the least in the Kingdome of Heauen, that is, none at all: you commend your patience as admirable and worthie to bee canonized, which is the highest honor with Papists. You say that the Realme and her Maiestie are happie to hauehave such subiects: but as you knowe emptie vessels sound loudest, and the commending of your selues is not seemelie; so the often perils that her Maiestie hath been in, and the continuall troubles which you hauehave brought vponupon the Realme, doe crie aloude that you glose and slatter most lewdly: You would gladly hauehave the leafe turned against vsus, that we might againe be persecuted with fire and sworde, and beaten with the rodde of Scorpions: but our hope is that the God of merciemercy will not performe the desire of the wicked, but rather correct vsus in merciemercy: If the State were such (as thankes be to God it is not such) that wee were pressed with griefes and afflictions, yet our doctrine and former example of obedience, doe moue a farre better expectation then you will conceiue of vsus; but with the Apostle wee affirme, We recken little to bee iudged of you, &c. You continue to impute to me to hauehave a rayling and slaunderous tongue; but as I hauehave sufficientlie cleared my selfe from wrongfull charging of any, so I had rather in your account to be so deemed for speaking sharplie against Traitours and treason, then out of a disloyall heart (as you doe) to darken and smoothe both the one and the other. And so neither feeling any of your blowes giuen (whereof you proudelie and vainely brag) nor regarding your threatned bastinadoes so long as you dare not appeare & shew your face I rest assured, that (whatsoeuer your railing tongue writeth of me, or your malicious heart iudgeth of me) the Honorable and wise of the Land will iudge mee to hauehave more truth and Charitie, then you loyaltie or common honestie: for it cannot stand with loyaltie to smooth the faultes of traitours, or with honestie to rayle at any that giueth warning to Subiects to take heede of their treasous.