Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 12 · Part 56 – Part 57
The Trayterous Practises of the Papists against Queene ELIZABETH, during her Raigne, and of Gods Preseruations towards her.
THe most iust and apparant Iudgements of God vponupon persecuting Papists, which hauehave shed the innocent bloud of poore Protestants, hath beene declared: Wherein not onelyonly in other Countries God hath manifested his indignation against them, but most especially in this Realme, you hauehave seene the Uiall of Gods wrath powred vponupon the most part of the Persecutors in Quéene Maries time; especially vponupon the Persecuting Clergie, who all fell into the pit that they had digged for others. As for Bonner, whose Iudgement is not yet declared, hee dyed in Prison, and was buried in a Dunghill: And as for Doctor Story, as great a Persecutor as Bonner, you may reade of his iust Iudgement in this Historie following; how he was drawne from the Tower to Tyburne, and there hanged and quartered for Treason. Tyburne was long time after called Stories Cappe. If wee doe but consider the vnhappinesse of Q. Maries Raigne, together with the prosperous and long Raigne of Queene Elizabeth, it is easie to see the louing countenance of God …uer the Protestants, and how God bendeth his browes against the Papists: And as sure as God hath ouerthrowne them heere in this Realme, beyond the expectation of any man, so certainely will the Almightie God …nfound the whole Pope-…ome at his time appointed; how vnlikely soeuer it seemeth vntounto the carnall-eyed Papist, that will not see the Prophesies of the Spirit of God, which most plainely fore-shew the same. But now touching the Historie of Queene Elizabeths Raigne.
In the yeare 1569, Pope Pius the fift sent Nicholas Morton Doctor of Diuinitie, an Englishman, into England, to admonish certaine Noblemen that were Papists, That Queene Elizabeth was an Heretike, and therefore by Law hath lost all Dominion and Power, and may freely be accounted as an Heathen and Publican, and that her subiects are not from henceforth bound to obey her Lawes and Commandements.
Whereupon presently the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland rebelled against the Queene in the North: but the Earle of Suffex was sent into the North, being appointed the Queenes Lieutenant generall, who proclaymed them Traytors: and he sent out to all such Gentlemen as he knew to be her Maiesties louing subiects; which came vntounto him with such a number, as he was able to make aboue 5000. horsemen and footmen: and being accompanied with the Earle of Rutland, his Lieutenant; the Lord Hunsdon, Generall of his Horsemen; William Lord Eure, leader of the Footmen; and Sir Raph Sadler, Treasurer; Sir George Bowes was made Marshall of the Armie. When the Armie was comming to Durham, the Rebels fled to Exham▪ The night before they came to Exham, the Rebels were gone to Mawarth; where they counselled with Edward Dacres concerning their owne weakenesse, being they were pursued of the Earle of Sussex, seuen thousand strong: and moreouer, the Earle of Warwicke, the Lord Clinton, Lord Admirall of England, and Lord Uicount Herford, with an Army of 12000. …ut of the South, being not farre behind them at Browne-bridge.
The next night the Garles of Northumberland and Westmerland, with sundry principall Gentlemen, fled vntounto Hatlew in Scotland: The other Rebels were shortly after taken by the Earle of Sussex, and 66. of the name of Constables, and others, executed at Durham; amongst whom was an Alderman of the Towne, and a Priest, called Parson Plomtree. Then Sir George Bowes Marshall executed many in eueryevery Market Towne and other places betwixt New-castle and Wetherby, six myles in length, and foure myles in breadth.
And Leonard Dacre hauing raysed a great number of people, the Lord Hunsdon set vponupon him, and slew manie of his people, and …orc…d them to flye into Scotland.
Symon Digby, Iohn Fulthroppe Esquire, Robert Peniman, and Thomas Bishop Gent. were drawne from the Castle of Yorke to Knaues…er…, and there hanged and quartered.
Then they went with all their power into Scotland, and burnt, ouerthrew, and spoyled all the Castles, Townes, and Uillages before them, aboue fi…tie strong Castles and Piles, and aboue three thousand Townes and Uillages, and they tooke many Prisoners, and returned sa…ely.
Also a Conspiracie was made by certaine Gentlemen and other in the Countie of Norfolke, whose purpose was vponupon Midsummer day, at Harlstone Faire, with the sound of a Trumpet to hauehave raysed a number, and then to proclayme their pretence. This matter was vttered by Thomas Kete vntounto Iohn Kensey, who sent the said Kete vntounto the next Instice, before whom he opened the whole matter; whereupon Drew Drewrie apprehended Iohn Throgmorton, and many Gentlemen of the Citi… of Norwich and the Countrey of Norfolke: at the next Sessions ten of them were indited of Treason, and Iohn Throgmorton, Thomas Brooke, and George Dedman hanged, drawne, and quartered.
Doctor Sanders de visibili Monarchia, lib. 7. pag. 730. sayth, That the purposes and endeuours of these Noblemen were to be praysed, which wanted not their certaine and happie successe; for though they were not able to draw the Soules of their Brethren out of the pit of Schisme, yet both they themselues nobly confessed the Catholike Faith, and many of them gaue their liues for their Br…thren, which is the highest degree of Charitie: the rest of them rescued themselues from the Bondage both of Schisme and Sinne vntounto the Freedome wherewith Christ hath made v… free.
And in his Booke of Motiues he calleth these Martyrs; to wit, the Earle of Northumberland, Doctor Story, Felton, the Nortons, M. Woodhouse, M. Plumtree, and so many hundreds of the Northerne men.
The said Nortons were Thomas Norton and Christopher Norton of Yorkeshire, and they were hanged, beheaded, and quartered for Treason, for the late Rebellion in the North.
The said Felton was one Iohn Felton, which this yeare was drawne from Newgate to Paules Churchyard, and hanged before the Bishops Pallace Gate, cut downe aliue, bowelled, and quartered, for hanging a Bull from the Pope for the Excommunicating of the Queene, at the Gate of the Bishop of Londons Pallace.
And the afore-mentioned Doctor Story was that cruell Story that burned so manie in Queene Maries time: who the first of Iune, this yeare 1571. was drawne from the Tower of London to Tyburne, and there hanged and quartered.
And in his seuenth Booke, page 734. he sayth, The fulnesse of the Apostolike Power hath declared the said Elizabeth an Hereticke, and a fauourer of Heretickes, and that such as adhere vntounto her, hauehave incurred the Sentence of Anathema: And that she is depriued of her Right of her Kingdome, and of all her Dominion, Dignitie, and Priuiledge, and that the Nobles, People, and Subiects of the Realme, and all others that hauehave made Oath vntounto her▪ are assoyled for euer from such Oath, and all dutie of Allegeance, Fidelitie, and Obedience, by the Authoritie of the Popes Sentence, whereby he hath depriued her of her Kingdome, and forbidden all the Nobles, People, and Subiects, and others aforesaid, that they be not so bold to obey her or her Lawes, and whosoeuer doth otherwise, hee hath bound with like Sentence of Curse.
And Bristow in his sixt Motiue, fol. 31. They miserably forget themselues, who feare not the Excommunications of Pius the fift, in whom Christ himselfe hath spoken and excommunicated, with as great power as S. Paul excommunicated: and Christ hath done Miracles by him, euen as S. Paul did Miracles.
And in his 40. Motiue he sayth: When the Pope doth duly discharge vsus from subiection, and the Prince offender from Dominion, he doth it with such griefe of heart, as if a man should cut off from his bodie, to saue the wholesome most principall, but rotten part thereof.
And Sanders, lib. 7. fol. 744. he calleth Felton an honorable Martyr; for he was led with the louelove and zeale of the Catholike Faith: when hee saw that the desperate health of his Country could not be restored but by some most bitter medicine, would not suffer the sentence of the Pope should be hidden from his Countrymen: And there he calleth Doctor Story a noble Martyr▪ saying: When he was arraigned of high Treason, for conspiring with certaine of Antwarpe against the Quéene, attempting to change the schismaticall Religion, which now raigneth in England, vntounto the Catholike Religion; being brought vntounto the Barre, he onelyonly pleaded vntounto the Iurisdiction of the Court, denying that the English Iudges had any power ouer him, being no Subiect to the English Queene, but rather to the King Catholike; and hee expounds his meaning to be, because hee very well knew, that the Queene of England, by the declaratorie Sentence of the Pope, was for manifest Heres…e depriued from all Right of Kingdome, and that therefore no Magistrate created by her, or adhering vntounto her, could be acknowledged by him, least himselfe also should be bound with the same Curse.
And further, there were many Seminarie Priests, which laboured by all persuasions that might be to iustifie the foresaid Excommunication of Pope Pius, and to withdraw the Quéenes subiects hearts from their true obedience: of whom, manie of them were taken and committed vntounto Prisons, as follow:
Edmund Campion.
EDmund Campion, was a chiefe champion for the pope: he was committed vntounto the Tower: he would neither deny nor confesse the Quéenes supremacy nor iusti…e, neither deny the power & iustice of the popes excōmunication, nor commend, nor discommend the doctrine of Sanders & B…istow, as before: but answered so cunningly, that nothing could be made thereof: He was after disputed withall touching all points of Religion, by the Deame of Paules, and the Deane of Windsor, and diuers other diuines, but because all their arguments and reason in this book before are moresuff… c…ently handled many times: I referre the Reader vntounto the booke of the report thereof.