Answer to a Supplicatory Epistle for the Pretended Catholics, Text (1 of 5)

Answer to a Supplicatory Epistle for the Pretended Catholics · Text (1 of 5)

¶ An Anſwere to a Popiſh Treatiſe, touching the perſecution of Catholikes in England, written to the R. H. LL. of her Maieſties priuie Councell, The Preface to the R. H. LL. of the Counſell.

WHeras (Right Honorable) the reformation of thoſe which refuſe to ſerue God with vsus in ſuch holy exerciſes of religion as for this purpoſe are eſtabliſhed amongeſt vsus, hath bene carefully ſought by ſome puniſhment of their obſtinacie according to the good lawes prouided in this behalfe: there are which complaine of this moderate ſeueritie, and both vnfitly & vnduetifully terme it by the hatefull and odious name of perſecution. Of which ſort one hath written a whole treatiſe of this matter by way of an Epiſtle to his friende which he intitleth of the perſecution of Catholiques in England. In which diſcourſe the Authour is not afraide to offer moſt ſhamefull wrong to many faithfull officers of her Maieſties iuſtice, charging them with rigorous and cruell dealing p. 2who hauehave ſoberly and temperatly caried themſelues, in the execution of ſuch lawes vponupon them, as their ill merit had worthily made them ſubiect vntounto. By which bold ſlaunders, he giueth himſelfe occaſion, ſo to complaine and cry out of the perſecution of Catholiques in England: as if God had not ſet ouer vsus and them, a gratious Ladie, of famous renoume for mildenes and clemencie, who ſeeketh onelyonly by a reaſonable correction to winne them to obedience: firſt to almightie God, and then to her lawfull authoritie: but rather ſome cruell Nero or perſecuting Diocletian that deſired nothing but their deſtruction and their bloud. Which notwithſtanding it can not be vnknowne to any that liue in this ſtate to be a complaint moſt vniuſt, and vntrue: yet hath there ſtept vp an other (as he would ſeeme to be) an abetter & a voucher of that moſt ſlaunderous libel: yea a tranſlator a printer & a publiſher of it vntounto others: who herein hath worſe prouided for the credit of their vntruth then his authour had done before him. For he firſt had cunningly put his large ſpeach into the boſome of his fellow, as ready, as it ſéemeth to be abuſed as he was willing to deceiue him, hauing y^e credulity of his friend & p. 3the ſecrecy of his writing to conceale ſome part of his offence. But this tranſlator by printing and publiſhing of it, and namely in our Engliſh tongue hath laide them both open to the iuſt reproofe and condemnation of all the lande: For what Engliſh man will not now condemne them both for falſe witneſſes againſt the church of God and their own countrie, when they ſhall reade or heare them in ſo many things to be ſo fowly defamed contrary to the knowledge of all the lande: but eſpecially I maruell with what face hee coulde once offer to preſent it, to y^e reuerend ſenate of your moſt honourable chamber. For howſoeuer he might flatter himſelfe to bee able to make ſome of the people affected to his cauſe, and dwelling farre from theſe parts, to beleue ſome peece of his ſlanders: yet coulde hee neuer be in anye hope, ſo to abuſe your H. who of your owne knoledge & vnderſtanding are able to conuict him of ſo many vntruthes. Which notwithſtanding this Author fearing no rebuke nor ſhame for it (as ſpeking out of a vaut or frō vnderunder a maſke by concealing of his name) hath imboldned him ſelfe to offer it euen vntounto your Honors, with an other diſcourſe of his owne, which he entituleth an Epiſtle p. 4to the Councell. The ſubſtance of which his treatiſe is, that the cauſe of our pretended Catholiques is ſuch, as it deſerueth not the extremities which (vponupon the credit by like of his Author) hee complaineth to be vſed againſt thē, but rather is worthy to be well intreated, if for the tyme it may not hauehave all the honour hee eſteemeth to belong vntounto it. Of which two epiſtles, the one being written in latine to a friend, concerning this pretended perſecution of Catholiques in Englande, hath beene alreadie ſufficiently anſwered by that reuerend Father Maiſter Doctor Humfrey in his late booke of Ieſuitiſme, or of the practiſes of the church of Roome. The other remaining yet vnanſwered, I was moued by ſome of my Friendes to the cauſe to take paines to make anſwere to it. Which at the firſt I confeſſe I was loath to take vponupon me, notwithſtanding I ſawe the great aduantage I ſhould hauehave of mine aduerſary in the maintenance of a moſt holy and honourable quarrell. For conſidering ſo many excellent wittes, and ſo well able to deale in theſe cauſes, to ſit quyetly at their bookes, or peaceably to edifie the Church by preaching of the goſpel, whether it be that they feare the diuers euents p. 5of writing, by reaſon of the exquiſite iudgements of the learned, and the bitter malice of the enimy: or that they eſteeme it vnprofitable for the Church to leaue or ſlack their other worthy labours, to ſtriue with a contentious aduerſary that will neuer be ſatiſfied: me thought their exāple was a good preſident for him to follow, that commeth ſo farre behinde ſo many of them in al ſufficiency for this purpoſe. But eſpecially I was willing to hauehave w^tdrawen my ſelfe, for the reuerence I moſt worthily hauehave of the graue ſentences of your H. which I ſaw I could not eſcape, dealing in a matter wherewith your H. table is ſeazed alreadie. For knowing mine owne weakenes, I iuſtly feared to beginne my ſimple practiſe of this kinde of pleadinge in ſo high and honourable a Court, and before ſuch Iudges, whoſe wiſedomes can ſo eaſily diſcouer any want of thoſe which come before them. But when on the other ſide I ſet before me the price of the cauſe which we ſtriue for, the qualitie of my vocation & calling, the moſt vnworthy ſlaunders wherew^t the enimy chargeth y^e ſacred truth of God, and the lawful authoritie of this land: I could not ſee y^t any of y^e former p. 6reaſons ought ſo farre to preuaile with me as to withdrawe me from a ſeruice ſo holy, ſo duetifull, and ſo neceſſarie as I iudged this to be. For, as for the examples of ſuch as like not to deale in theſe publike cauſes, I ſawe there were alſo many contrarye preſidents, and that of many worthy men, who in like times had ſtoode in the gap and in the breach againſt the enemie. Moreouer,Neh. 4.16.17Neh 4:16Neh 4:17 I conſidered this our time to be like that, wherof we read in the booke of Neemie, wherein becauſe of the often and hot charges of theſe Samaritanes, enuying the rayſing vp againe of the new Ieruſalem, out of the ruines wherin they had ioy to ſee it, we are conſtrayned ſo to buylde it as we may ſtand alſo redy armed to make head againſt the enemie, and to beate him backe when he ſhal aſſayle vsus. Which becauſe the learned will ſee to be no matter of game and ſtriuing for the golden pen, but a neceſſarye ſeruice of God and his church, I hope they will be ſatiſfied better with that which may bee ſure for defence then faire for ſhewe. But chieflye this is my hope of all your H. both for the graue wiſdome God hath endued you with, and for the accuſtomed fauour you are wont to ſhewe to all ſuch as to their power doe endeuour p. 7faithfully to ſerue the Lord. As for the enemie, I know in deede his malice is bitter, and his pen foule and ſhameful. For ſo both others of them, and eſpecially the defendant of the late cenſure hath notoriouſly teſtified in his wicked ſlaunders of as worthie men as the ſunne hath ſeene anye in this age of their profeſſion. But ſeing it lieth not in vsus to make them modeſt and that we are called in good and il report: yea in life and death to ſerue God & his church: I willingly commit any iniurie that may be done me by them for his cauſe, to him to whome the puniſhment thereof appertaineth,Iude Epiſt. and who (as Enoch prophecied long agoe) commeth with thouſands of his Saintes to doe iuſtice vponupon them all, and to reprooue thoſe which are wicked amongſt them, of all the deedes which they hauehave wickedly committed, and all the hard ſpeaches which wicked ſinners hauehave ſpoken againſt him. Wherefore being ſatiſfied for theſe doubtes, and knowing no other ſufficient cauſe to the contrary, I hauehave thought this defence to be my moſt bounden duetie to almightie God, to her moſt excellent M. to your H. and to this whole ſtate and church. Therefore I hauehave reſolued by your LL. good fauour (ſeeing no p. 8man els ſo long time had vndertaken to deale with this Plaintife) to maintaine againſt him to my ſmall power, the glory of God in the iuſt defence of his trueth, & the honor of y^e authority I hauehave named, in their moſt lawfull proceedings againſt ſuch as vntruely are called Catholiques. Thus hauing before your H. moſt humbly rendred ſome reſon of this my doing, I come now to ioyne with mine aduerſarie.

The effecte of this Authours purpoſe, is (as he himſelfe declareth in the beginning of his booke,The anſwere. and hath béene touched before) in preſenting your LL. with the Epiſtle intituled of the perſecution in Englande: & with this treatiſe of his own, is to complaine of intollerable extremities vſed agaynſt the pretended Catholiques, for their only conſcience ſake as he affirmeth: and alſo to become ſuter to your Honors in behalfe of their cauſe, that if for the time it may not be receyued as he thinketh it worthy: yet at the leaſt it may not be ſo hardly intreated, as hee woulde make the world beleue it hath beene hetherto. Which their cauſe being not of the thinges of this life wherin reaſon and diſcourſe may trie and diſcerne, but of religion: he ought to hauehave taken his reaſons to perſwade the p. 9religion he would maintaine to bee good, out of the holy and ſacred bookes of the canonicall ſcriptures.2. Tim. 3.17.2 Tim 3:17 For of theſe we reade that they are able to make vsus wiſe vntounto ſaluation thorow the faith that is in Chriſt Ieſus: & as the Apoſtle addeth in the ſame place they are giuen by inſpiration from God to furniſh vsus, and to make vsus fully able, to inſtruct in that which is truth, and to conuict whatſoeuer agreeth not with it. Therefore as in queſtion of mettall the touch ſtone is called, for to ſhew the good, and to diſcouer the badde: ſo ſhould he hauehave touched with this true & onelyonly touch, both our mettall and his, that that which is baſe or fine in eyther religion, might hauehave bene diſcerned. In doubtful controuerſies in the law, they were commanded to repaire vntounto the hie prieſt, into whoſe breſt the Lorde had put Vrim and Thummim, Exod. 28.30.Exod 28:30whereby he was able to giuegive aunſwere in all cauſes. Chriſt is our hie Prieſt, and the holy ſcriptures as being that wiſedome of God to be reuealed to vsus, the Ʋrim and Thummim whereby we are anſwered as by Oracle from God in al our controuerſies. Therefore in this moſt weightie cauſe, counſell ought to hauehave bene ſought for there, where the breſt of Chriſt is open vntounto vsus, and where a perfecter light then that of Vrim & p. 10Thummim ſhineth to our moſt ſafe direction.Eſay. 8.9.10.Isa 8:9Isa 8:10 But this Author that we may know by the teſtimony of the Prophet Eſay, that there is no ſparke of true light in him, leaueth the lawe & the teſtimony, and ſeeketh to humane reaſon, as to a cunning enchantres: and as Saul to ſeeke anſwere, hee goeth from the liuing vntounto the deade:Heb. 4.12. Ephe. 2.1.Heb 4:12Eph 2:1 for the worde of God is liuing, and the ſonnes of men are borne deade in their ſins. But let vsus ſee his reaſons ſuch as they are, and howſoeuer he would flie y^e ſaymaſters furnace & the ſubtile weight, yet bycauſe we know there is no other certain way to try what goodnes it may be of that hee bringeth, we muſt make a ſay of it by the fire of the Lords altar, and weigh eueryevery thing by the weightes of his ſanctuarie.

The reaſons he bringeth are principally two,Reaſons vſed to perſwade fauor towardes the Romane catholiques whereof the one is of the puniſhment laide vponupon them, and the other of the cauſe wherin they ſtand. He toucheth briefly two other reaſons which are of leſſe moment & rather of complemēt & circumſtance, thē of any great weighte or ſubſtance in this queſtion, which are of the perſon & of the ende. For if it fall out (as by Gods grace I vndertake to ſhow) that the puniſhment and the cauſe is ſuch as that theſe falſly named p. 11Catholiques are dealt with in iuſtice, and that mitigated with great moderation and clemencie: then do theſe with all receaue their anſwere. Yet ſomething I will anſwere perticularly to theſe reaſons, and firſt to that which is taken of the perſons of thoſe who are puniſhed. In this he alleadgeth that they are of our owne bloude and Nation, The firſt reaſon anſwered.and borne ſubiects of the lande. Wherein what doth hee pleade for them that may not be with as good reaſon brought for all malefactors which the lawe doth puniſh. And to whom els doth the lawe extende but to the borne ſubiectes of this lande, and ſuch as are naturalized and enfranchiſed amongſt vsus. Therefore if this proofe were good why they ought not to be dealt with according to law, thē may al the pryſons be diſcharged, and eueryevery malefactor hath by his birth a ſealed pardon for all crimes that he may commit. But he addeth they are not only Subiectes but alſo duetifull and honeſt. This dependeth vponupon the tryall of their cauſe, which the law according to all righteous iuſtice hauing condemned as worthie ſuch puniſhment as it layeth vponupon them: His priuate and vniuſt clearinge of them for good and obedient, p. 12yea (readie to die at her Maieſties feete, and for your H.) can not be ſufficient. Which teſtimonie, would to God it might be truely geuen to them all. Then ſurely there would be more hope to reclaim them to obedience vntounto God, and to her Highneſſe. But notwithſtanding it be true, that there are a number of thoſe which are mis led in their ignorance to the lyking of ſuperſtition, otherwiſe duetifull, at the leaſt in outward ſhew hetherto: yet the vnſound and trayterous hearts of a number alſo, hauehave bene diſcouered in the rebellions in the North and in Ireland: yea further alſo by manifold practiſes both againſt the whole ſtate, and the Royall perſon of her M. and of ſundry of your H. Whereof certaine profe hath bene made both heretofore and of late, aſwell in the K. Bench, by the iuſt conuiction and condemnation of the traytors there arraigned, al pretended Catholickes, Ieſuites and Prieſtes: as alſo at Chenſforde in Eſſex by like ſentence againſt y^e prieſt. Who ſhould hauehave bene (as Iudas was to the Romane bandes) a Captaine & a leader to a Company of Romanes altogether both in ſuperſtitious Faith and Infidel like diſloyalty, to ſo horrible an acte as any true Subiects hart cannot but abhorre p. 13euen to remember. Whereunto adding the doubtful anſweres and obſtinate ſilence that commonly are made and vſed by ſuch as hauehave had this interrogatory miniſtred vntounto them: Whether in caſe of the Popes commandement, and the threatning of his excommunication to the contrary, they woulde take armes with him, or any ſent by him againſt hir M. or with her H. agaynſt the Pope: we may worthely feare what affection of loyal duetie & obedience may be in many of the reſt which hauehave not yet beene demaunded that queſtion. And in deeede it can not be that ſuch of them as hauehave the Roman faith not in ignorance but in ſome knowledge of the treaſonnable grounds it reſteth vponupon, without denial of the Pope to be Gods vicar, and of all their holies, ſhould be faithful Subiectes to her H. and this ſtate, abyding as it doth by the grace of God, in the true profeſſion of the Goſpel. Therfore it is not inough to ſay, it is onelyonly their cō ſcience in religion they ſtand in, to prooue them good and loyall ſubiects. For though eueryevery profeſſion of religion doe not ouerthrowe the ſtate they are vnderunder, maintayning another Religion, yet there are alſo ſome profeſſions which can in no ſort bee p. 14permitted by authoritie, without the certaine ouerthrowe and ruine of the ſtate where it is allowed. The profeſſion of the goſpell may be tollerated by any prince or ſtate in the world without any daunger to them. For our doctrine holdeth nothing that may impugne their lawfull right and authoritie, but contrariwiſe teacheth all due honour and obedience to be giuen to them, and that for conſcience ſake. Wherfore both they maye ſuffer the excercyſe of it without daunger, yea to the greate eſtabliſhing of their ſtates and thrones in aſſurance, and conſequently alſo ſuch profeſſors maye be faythfull and loyall ſubiectes, yea euen to heathen princes: as the Apoſtles and the fathers of the Primitiue Church were. But an Anabaptiſt that holdeth there ought to bee no magiſtrate, though he allege a thouſād times he ſtandeth but for his conſcience & religion: yet bycauſe his conſcience and religion is ſuch, as the principles and grounds of it are contrarie to all States and authority, the magiſtrate cannot endure ſuch a conſcience and religion without the certaine daunger of hauing the mace and ſcepter wroong out of his hands. Much like to this is the cauſe of our pretended catholickes. p. 15For notwitſtanding they allowe of Magiſtrates & of authoritie in generall, yet I ſay they hold a faith and doctrine the maximaes and rules whereof are as oppoſite to the preſent ſtate of this lande in particuler, as are the principles of the Anabaptiſts againſt all eſtate and dignitie. The proofe whereof is manifeſt in theſe two pointes. The firſt is that the ſtate nowe eſtabliſhed within this realme, profeſſeth by the gracious goodnes of almighty God the ſeruice of him according to the truth of the goſpell, and agreeably hereunto, that the lawfull heyres of the crowne of this noble land are ſouerayne in their eſtate and dignitie, to ſee all cauſes and perſons within their kingdome and dominion both eccleſiaſticall and ciuil ordred and gouerned according to the commandementes of God without ſubiection to any forren power of prince or prieſt whatſoeuer. The ſecond is that euerie one of the pretended catholique and Romaine faith vponupon paine of damnation is to beleeue the B. of Roome (who is a forreyne prince and Prelate to vsus) to hauehave ſupreame authoritie ouer all the church of Chriſt as his generall vicar vponupon earth, and conſequentlie to beleeue, that the K. and Q. of this noble land are to bee p. 16ſubiect vntounto him, to receiue that religion which he wil deliuer them, to obey his cenſures & y^t ſo far as that in caſe of his excommunicating & depriuing of them, they are to leaue their crowne to an other. Yea further, that (as abſolued from their othe and allegeance) at his commaundement the naturall and ſworne ſubiects ought to put ſuch his ſentence of depriuation in execution againſt their liege and naturall prince. Which two points being ſo contrarie the one to the other, how is it poſſible that any of theſe Romaine Catholickes knowing and beleeuing particularlye this point of their doctrine, can be a true and a faithfull Subiect to our Soueraigne Ladye ELIZABETH, againſt whom ſuch moſt vnlawfull and wicked ſentence hath bene already by two of their Popes pronounced and ſought by all meanes to be put in execution. Which things well conſidered, I doubt not but your LL. ſee it to be great wiſedome not to proue their fidelitie in a kingdome, and ſo rare a iewell as hir maieſties perſon is, for all their flattering ſpeches of being ready to ſpend their life and their goods in hir quarrell: but rather to keepe a vigilant and ielous eye open ouer them night and day, that they may not bee p. 17able (how willing ſoeuer they would be) to do any thing to the annoyance of her royal perſon, and of this noble ſtate & kingdome. Wherfore as touching their perſōs though they be the naturall ſubiectes of this ſtate, yet if they offend the godlie lawes thereof in refuſing to ſerue God with vsus, & ſo much more if they ſhall alſo declare themſelues vnnaturall & Romaine both in allegeance and religion, there is no cauſe by the word of God why in reſpect thereof they ſhould not be dealt with by the lawfull Magiſtrat ordained of God for the puniſhment of all offenders, according to the lawe prouided in this behalfe. And thus much for the perſons.

Now for the end. He denyeth your LL. ſhall euer attaine to that you pretende, 2 Reaſons anſwered.by this puniſhment, (that is to bring ſuch Catholiques to conformitie in matters of religion) but rather be further off. The reaſon whereof he addeth, that ſuch conſtrainte to do againſt their conſcience and iudgement (whereby he ſaith they muſt be tryed at the latter day) is the loſſe of their ſoules, the memorie of which iniurie can not but breede a deepe greefe and deteſtation of the thing they may hauehave beene ſo forced vntounto. But his p. 18reaſon ſhall be after conſidered. Firſt let vsus weigh, that he determineth no good will to be done vponupon them by any puniſhment. Experience in deed hath declared it to bee too true in ſome, yet no man can iuſtly ſay therefore, that there is no vſe of puniſhmēt. For both many others hereby are kept in duety, that they do not in like ſorte fall away, and who can tell what it may pleaſe God to worke euen in them hereafter by this meanes, which hauehave not yet profited by it. Sure I am it hath done good to many in times paſt, who by this meanes hauehave beene recouered from their vnduetiful diſobedience, vntounto a godly reformation. And the authoritie amongſt vsus, doing like duety vponupon the ſame commandement of God, to puniſh the obſtinat Heritike and Idolater: what reaſon is there, why we ſhould not hope of like effect and fruit of it now, that hath come of it at other times. To let former times paſſe vnderunder the K. of Iuda and Iſraell, Auſten acknowledgeth often and plainely, that the Diſcipline of the Magiſtrate, had bene profitable to many of y^e Donatiſtes. And if ſaith he, it hauehave not profited ſome, Ep. 48.is the medicine to be neglected, bicauſe the peſtilent contagion of certaine is incurable? So likewiſe ſome p. 19amongſt vsus, thorow the goodnes of God, hauehave receyued profit by this meanes. But if other ſome for the obſtinat hardnes of their heart that can not repent, will neuer be reclaimed, is the meanes therefore to be neglected which may be profitable to many? As for the reaſon he addeth, that to be conſtrayned to doe againſt their conſcience, doth make them further off, and more deteſt that which they hauehave ſo cō mitted, can not hold in ſuch as receaue profit by the correction of their offence. For they will thinke themſelues moſt bounde to your H. all the dayes of their life, whoſe meanes herein God hath vſed, to bring thē out of the horrible darkenes and ſhadowe of death, wherein they ſate before, into the Goſpels moſt glorious and marueylous light. To the reſt if it be not profitable, yet hauehave your H. done the worthie duetie of Chriſtian Magiſtrates, wherein you may quyetly reſt, and with great comfort. For the Lord requireth nothing but obedience of vsus, and reſerueth the bleſſing of all good meanes to him ſelfe, to beſtow in ſuch meaſure as ſeemeth beſt to his heauenly will. Thus I would leaue this reaſon, but that there is a worde yet to be added to a ſpeach of conſcience, which this Authour p. 20hath boldly ſet down here, that is, that at the latter day a man ſhall be tryed by his conſcience and iudgement, which he referreth to this end, to obſtinat ſuch as hauehave apprehended a liking of y^e pretēded catholike faith, and a diſlike of ours, as if they offended not by this recuſance, hauing their conſciēce ſo perſwaded (the verie grounde of all libertiniſme) & that authority ſhould not compell them to do y^t which is againſt their conſcience, for feare of condēning their ſoules, abuſing to this end the places of the Apoſt. in the 2. & 14. to the Rom. for the 2. the Apoſtle there doth not affirme y^t a man ſhall be iudged in y^e daye by an erroneous conſcience & iudgement, but by a conſcience witneſſing either to clearing or condēning agréeably to the law of God. Which appeareth both by his word in y^t he calleth it the law of God written in their hart, & by the whole purpoſe of y^t place, which is, to ſhew al both Iewes & Gentiles to ſtand condemned by the Lawe of God, the Iewes by the law written in tables of ſtone: the Gentiles euen w^tout that, by y^e ſame law written in their harts. Wherfore it is vtterly vntrue to affirme y^t any man ſhal be iudged by his conſcience or iudgement whatſoeuer it be True it is that whatſoeuer a man doth, he ought to do it of an vndoubted faith grounded p. 21vponupon the word of God, that ſuch his doing is pleaſing and acceptable to God in Chriſt: and whatſoeuer he doth otherwiſe is ſinne, becauſe it is not of faith, nor this true perſwaſion of doing wel, which is the plaine meaning of the other place in the 14. But hereof followeth not, that he that is mis-led by an erroneous conſcience ſhal be iudged and cleared according to it: or that the Chriſtian Magiſtrate ought not to require any lawfull duetie of the ſubiect what conſcience ſoeuer he hauehave of it, that the doing of ſuch a thing is good or euill. For it is not the erroneous or good conſcience whereby we ſhall be iudged otherwiſe then by all our deedes both good and euill, but it is the lawe of God, againſt which if any man tranſgres, either ignorantly or wilfully, he is made guilty of ſin and ſubiect to the ſentence of condemnatiō by the lawe. Which lawe our recuſantes are conuicted gréeuouſly to offend, becauſe they breake it, in not giuing to God the honour which belongeth vntounto him, in refuſing his holy worde and Sacramentes, and with them Chriſt Ieſus and his redemption offred thereby vntounto them, not keeping the Lordes Sabaothes, and diſobeyinge the good commaundement of authoritie, requyring the performance p. 22of ſo many holy dueties of thē. Which ſins though they ignorantly commit, as not knowing that they ſinne in ſuch recuſance, but rather being perſwaded that their ſo doing, is a high ſeruice of God & acceptable vntounto him, yet ſhall not their ignorance excuſe them. for the Lord wil ſurely beat eueryevery ſeruant that doth not his Maſters will,Luk. 12.18.Luke 12:18 yea though he know it not: becauſe his ignorance is not of the creation of God, but of his owne corruption originally drawne from Adam. Neyther ſhall this good entent excuſe them any more then the Iewe, which ignorantly crucifying Chriſt, and perſecuting the Apoſtles, were perſwaded they did God great ſeruice. For it is obedience that the Lord requireth, which who ſoeuer yealdeth not, vponupon what cauſe or pretence ſoeuer, is giltie by the Law. On the other parte, if retayninge ſtill that wicked perſwaſion, that to ioyne with vsus in y^e ſeruice of God (as it is now eſtabliſhed amongſt vsus) is a wicked & a ſinful act, yet notwithſtanding for feare of puniſhment, they conforme themſelues, they offend, and are guilty (though not of ſin againſt y^e holy ghoſt,Howlet. as ſome late Puritan Seminariſt doth affirme) yet of ſinne great and grieuous, not in doing the thing which is lawfull and p. 23good, but becauſe they do it not well and Chriſtianly, that is in faith and true perſwaſion, that ſuch their doing is pleaſing to God, but contrariwiſe condemning it in their heart as vnlawfull, & them ſelues of hipocriſie: ſo that while they dwell in that perſwaſion, they can do nothing that may be acceptable vntounto God. Therefore ſuch as are deſirous to pleaſe him, are with prayer to examine this their perſwaſion by the holy ſcriptures: whereby finding (as vndoubtedly they ſhall in due time, whom the Lord will ſaue) that it is not according to god, they ought to chaunge their mindes by true repentance, and then doing the dueties requyred of them in faith, and certaine knowledge of pleaſing God in them, their doings ſhalbe godly and acceptable in Chriſt Ieſus. But if they cōtinew obſtinat ſtill, yet is not authority to be blamed for compelling them, as y^e noble Kings Aſa and Ioſia did commaund and compel the people by ſeueritie of their lawes and puniſhments to ſerue the Lord: what ignorant and vngodly perſwaſion ſo euer they hauehave to the contrary. For this duety God requireth at y^e Magiſtrates hand to whom hee hath not committed his ſword in vaine and in it ſelfe it is ſo neceſſarie, that if this p. 24pretence were ſufficient cauſe why men ſhould be reſpected: not onelyonly the Magiſtrate, ſhould become gilty of not doing the duetie which God requireth of them: but alſo no Chriſtian eſtate or pollicie coulde ſtand. For this would ſoone bee eueryevery mans anſwere in caſe of being enioyned any thing concerning God or men, howe holy or iuſt ſo euer it were that did diſlike him, that his cōſcience is againſt it. Therefore it can be no cauſe by the word of God, after y^e procuring of ſuch meanes for their inſtruction by y^e Goſpell ſincerely & duely preached vntounto thē, as our Sauiour Chriſt hath appointed for the calling of men from their errors to the knowledge of the truth, why your H. ſhould forbeare eyther to require ſo godly a duety of them, or to puniſh the diſobediēt as their offence may deſerue. At their own peril be it if thorow ignorāce or wilfulnes they take darkenes for light, and light for darkenes. Such commandement, & puniſhment for diſobedience is not of it ſelfe hurtfull vntounto them, but rather greatly profitable: both by telling them what they ought to do, and by threatning and puniſhing the obſtinat: whereby ſome may be wakened more ſeriouſly to examine their conſcience, & ſo come to yeald p. 25obedience vntounto God and to the law. And thus far hauehave I dealt w^t his circumſtances. Now remayn his two other reaſōs, which are of ſubſtance and weight in deede in this matter, if he were able to make them good. For the one is a iuſtification of their cauſe, the other a chalenge of the puniſhment layd vponupon them. But firſt hee blameth her M. iuſtice as extreeme, and keeping no proportiō with the offence, wherewith they are charged, and ſecondarily, mayntayneth their cauſe not onelyonly to deſerue no ſuch puniſhment, but to be worthy of all fauor. Firſt therefore, I am to examine what he ſayeth agaynſt her M. iuſtice: You perſecute heauely (ſaith hee vntounto your H.) and that in ſuch meaſure, as the like hath ſcarce been mentioned in Chriſtianitie before, albeit in ſome poynts more couertly then ſome other did. This perſecution he ſetteth out after by comparyſon of the diſcipline (as hee wryteth) of the Catholicke church, & namely in the time of Queene Mary, affirming this perſecutiō in all reſpects, far to ſurmount & ouerreach that, & to be both greater & incōparably more greeuous. To the ſame effect he addeth many other like ſpeeches in the end of his epiſtle which p. 26there ſhal receiue their anſwere. By which complaint a man would thinke that might worthely be thought ſo, if it exceede ſo far as he affyrmeth that moſt cruell and bloudie perſecution of the true Catholicks, and conſtant Martirs of God in Queen Maries time. But of this he geueth occaſion to ſpeake more fully hereafter. Now to anſwere his moſt vniuſt and ſlaunderous accuſatiō of the iuſtice done vponupon them, I deny this to be tru, wherw^t he would charge the preſent State. which I deny, not only becauſe they are no Catholiques, and therfore no puniſhment of them can be properly called perſecution, but a iuſt execution of obſtinate heretickes: but alſo, becauſe y^t for meere conſcience, and matter of Religion, no ſuch thing is done, or hath been done to any man ſince her M. moſt peaceable and happy Raigne. Hee complayneth of the rackinges, and ſtretching of their ioyntes, the renting and diſperſing of their bowels, the diſmembring of the partes of their bodies, and maketh many ſuch like greeuous complaints. What may be done to ſuch of them as are wilfull and obſtinate ſeducers I leaue to your wiſdomes to conſider. This being true that ſuch are Heretickes. ſeducing and deceiuing in as dangerous p. 27matters for men to be abuſed in, as euer did any Heretickes before them: which both hath beene often heretofore, and may at any time b… ſufficient argumentes, and vnanſwerable of their part, be prooued againſt thē. But yet I ſay further, that notwithſtanding that it is ſo far of that theſe tragicall complaints ſhould be true, that no one of all their Catholickes, for cauſe of his conſcience and religion onelyonly, being no otherwiſe an offēder againſt the lawes hath loſt either life or limme, ſince the happie day of her M. coronation, vntill this time. All which gracious time there hath not beene for recuſance, nor for being at maſſe, nor yet for ſaying maſſe, how often ſoeuer they ſo offend, neither by former Statutes nor thoſe of the laſt Parliamēt, which they moſt complaine off, any further puniſhment appointed, then of los of libertie and goods. True it is, that her Maieſtye by the Sage aduiſe of youre Honours, and of her whole Nobility and Commons, hath prouyded by lawe for the puniſhmēt of ſuch pretended Catholiques as ſhalbe found gilty of any treaſonnable practiſe againſt her H. eſtate, and perſon: being forced by moſt vrgent cauſes, and many dangerous attempts of theirs, dayly p. 28preſſing her thereunto. For conſidering firſt the bloudy reſolution of the Councell of Trent & the dayly attempts to put it in execution: there was great and moſt worthy cauſe why your H. ſhould ſeeke by all godly prouiſion to preuent their intended miſchiefe. The ſecret and deteſtable decrée of that Tridentine conſpiracy againſt God, and againſt his annointed, was to make a League amongſt all the Princes whom they had made drunck with the golden cup of their fornicatiō,Buch. rerum Scot. lib. 17. to confer their meanes and ioyne all their forces together, to roote out the true profeſſion of the Goſpell, if it were poſſible, out of the earth. The execution whereof hath not beene forgotten from time to time in all places profeſſing the trueth, nor is not neglected euen to this day, as meanes and occaſions may ſerue them to bring their moſt vngodly & bloudy purpoſe to paſſe. To which their ende they hauehave hetherto run with ſo vyolent a courſe, as it appeareth neither the feare of God, nor any reſpect of men, which worthely holdeth others from ſuch extremities, could reſtrayne them from moſt deſperate actes, and full of all tragicall immanitie. Chriſtian and Catholique Kinges and States in Stile and Title hauehave byn p. 29ſtirred vp againſt their naturall Subiectes, to perſecute them with fire and ſworde, to the hazarde of their owne Eſtates. Such hath beene the furye and vyolence wherewith this cauſe hath been carryed. Ciuill warres hauehave beene kindled in all partes where the Goſpell hath beene by any number profeſſed, thorowe their falſe accuſations of moſt duetifull Subiectes, as enemies to the State of their Rulers, to alienate their fauor from them: ſo as there is none of theſe parts of Europe, which are next about vsus, which hath not beene afire, and ſome are yet waſting and conſuming in this flame. By meanes wherof hauehave been infinite confuſions, and moſte barbarous crueltyes committed: the Brother not ſparinge his naturall Brother, nor the Father the bloud of his owne Sonne. Calamitie and deſtruction hauehave beene in their wayes, as it is in the Prophet,Eſay. 59.7.Isa 59:7 and the way of peace they hauehave not knowen. The baſe by their occaſion hath deſpyſed the Noble: and the vyle him that was honorable: yea the refuſe and ſwéep of the worlde, hauehave been ſet vp by their practyſes to procure in moſt trayterous manner p. 30the death of the worthies of the earth. Many a noble Prince by theſe Catholique practiſers, & Executioners of the Counſell of Trent, hauehave beene ſhot with dagges, piſtoles, and other ſhot, and moſt cruelly ſlaine. Thus they dealt with the religious and courteous Earle of Morray, Buch. rerum Scot. lib. 19.Regent of Scotland, whoſe death was perſwaded and counſelled by the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorrayne, and who after was trayterouſly ſlayne by the Archbiſhop of S. Andrewes Neuew, by whom he was ſhot out of a windowe as he tooke his horſe, ouer againſt the place where he lodged. Thus alſo dealt they with the godly & wiſe Admyrall of Fraunce, who in like manner ryding in the ſtreete, was ſhot out of a windowe, and after in tyme of peace, nay of a Royall mariage of a K. moſt cruelly ſlaine, and ſo ſhamefully outraged: after hee was murthered, as ſeldome or neuer was any enemy in time of moſt deadly warre. I might adde here the deſtroying of a noble Prince of great hope, by conſent of his own father, & poyſoning of the vertuous Q. of Nauarra with many practiſes againſt the K. her ſon, & other Princes. Here alſo I might worthely mention the moſt horrible and barbarous p. 31ſlaughters which they hauehave committed in the purſuing of their wicked and diueliſh reſolution againſt the goſpel. But to leaue at this time the tragedies which they hauehave played in other partes by the treaſonnable aſſaultes, and deathes of many famous Princes, and the cruell maſſacrees and butcheries of many thouſandes of the people: I will remember the reader chiefly of ſuch things as hauehave beene done by them here at home, and are beſt knowen vntounto vsus. Wherin, to let paſſe the impriſonment and hard vſage which ſometime they vſed her moſt excellent M. with in the time of her ſiſter, (and now repent them of nothing more then that it was no worſe) and the fires they made in thoſe dayes with the fleſh and bones of their owne Countreymen for the truethes ſake, (whereof I ſhall ſpeake by occaſion more fully hereafter) and ſundry other matters not ſo commonly knowen, of plats and attempts againſt the Royall perſon of her M. and alſo of ſome of your H: I will onelyonly mention certaine euydent and notorious actes, whereby, the depoſition of her H. from her eſtate and dignitie (which from God by her iuſt right and title, and to the great ioy of al her good Subiects, her Grace doth moſt p. 32lawfully enioy, hath beene attempted to be put in execution againſt her. Whereof was a ſolemne inſtrumēt & writing called the Popes Bul, which was firſt certified by his meſſenger, being an Engliſh prieſt, and after ſet vp here in London by an Engliſh Catholick traytor. By which Bull her M. is declared excommunicated,Sand. l. 7. de riſ. Mo. & depoſed by him from her Royall ſtate, Crowne and dignitie: her Subiectes are abſolued from their oth and allegiance vntounto her: the land interdited and left to him that could put this ſentence in execution, and ſeaze vponupon it. Which whē the neighbour Princes either occupyed at home, or cōſidering y^e conſequence of making war with ſo mighty a Princes, hauehave not aduaunced thēſelues to put in execution, the Pope hath from time to time laboured to ſtir vp ſome of her M. own Subiects againſt her, to execute this wicked ſentence vponupon her. Hereof aroſe the rebellion in the North, which by the grace of God, and by the meanes of your H. wiſdome was diſappoynted, and iuſt execution done vponupon ſome of the Rebels. After this another Pope ſuccéeding in impiety his predeceſſor, rayſed of late a new rebellion in Ireland, bearing name of his falſly named Holynes, hauing leaders and p. 33companies at the Popes wages, and Peters keyes for their enſigne and vponupon their forte, againſt which alſo the ſword of the Lord and of Gedeon preuailed. For a third to be raiſed euen in the bowels and hart of this noble land ſundry Engliſh fugitues hauehave bene entertained of the pope: Wherof ſome hauehave iuſtified theſe inſurections,Sand. L. 7. de v. ſib. Monar. Briſtow. and accounted all the Rebels executed for Martires in their printed bookes, yea themſelues as it is ſaide, hauehave beene in Campe againſt her Maieſtie with them as trumpets of ſedition. Others are beſtowed in Seminaries, ſome to teach and ſome to learne to ſerue the Pope againſt God, againſt our Souerraigne, and againſt their owne Countrie. For which purpoſe, ſo ſoone as they are readie, they are ſent ouer hither to withdraw her Maieſties ſubiectes from the duety they owe to their naturall Prince, and to confeſſe and reconcile them as they terme it, to the obedience of a forraine power. Which practiſe of confeſſing and reconciling to the Pope in ſecret, your HH. for the excellent wiſedome God hath endued you with, for the preſeruation of her highnes & our whole Church from the mouth of the Lyon that would deuour vsus, do euidently ſee to be as dangerous a p. 34practiſe for the laying of a newe plat of rebellion as may be deuyſed. Therefore lately vponupon theſe and ſuch like greate and neceſſarie cauſes enforcing, it was enacted that ſuch Prieſtes and Catholikes or any other, pretending whatſoeuer they may pretend, as ſhall be conuicted ſo to withdraw y^e ſubiectes from our natural Prince, to any forren ſubiection, ſhould be held giltie of hye treaſon againſt her Ma. ſtate and dignitie, & executed accordingly. Whereupon you HH. keeping a vigilant and a carefull eye ouer thoſe men, and finding ſome of them giltie of treaſon, both by that and other auncient lawes of this lande, hauehave in deede cauſed iuſtice notwithſtanding their pretence, of holy conſcience and religion, according to all law and equitie to be done vponupon them. For as other malefactors eſcape not the ſeueritie of the lawe, whatſoeuer they may be, or pretended to be, whether Catholikes or of our owne profeſſion, if they be iuſtly conuicted to bee fellons or murderers: ſo likewiſe who ſoeuer by due tryall of the law, hath beene found to be guiltie of treaſon, notwithſtā ding they hauehave bene pretended Catholikes, and ſome of them annoynted Prieſtes, and father Ieſuites which they hauehave boaſted p. 35could not be touched, yet hauehave they béene condemned and executed according to their demerites. This then being the eſtate of the pretended Catholikes this day amongſt vsus, what hoat perſecution is this that he complaineth of, & what numbers are theſe that are perſecuted except all the Catholike Rebels and Traytors, (as Saunders doth make his reakoning) and other malefactors be comprehended in this number? And ſo in deede I graunt, ſome of theſe Catholikes after the qualitie and condition of their offence hauehave beene dealt with, according to the auncient lawes and cuſtomes of this lande. But this is an accounte voyde of all reaſon, to eſteeme that which is the puniſhment of treaſon, of murder, of felony, and other ſuch like offences to bée laide vponupon them, for their religion and conſcience only. Which hath béene hetherto ſo ſpared, as ſome of them being founde guiltie of treaſon and condemned for it, vpō declaring thē ſelues to ſtande ſo affected towardes her highnes touching their obeeience, as they would neyther with the Pope, nor any other take armes againſt her, notwithſtanding they remaine ſtil ſuch as they were for their p. 36conſcience and religion, yet thorow her Maieſties exceeding clemency hauehave obtayned pardon after their conuiction of high treaſon. Wherefore ſeing for conſcience of popery onelyonly, no man hath beene touched in life nor member, but onelyonly puniſhed by fine and impriſonment, and that the iuſt execution of Traytors, Rebels, Murderers, Fellons, be they pretended Catholiques or whatſoeuer they be, can in no reaſon be termed perſecution: I worthily conclude that the complaint of this accuſer is without all cauſe and reaſon, and his charge and accuſation of the ſtate moſt vndutifull, ſlaunderous, and vniuſt.

Now becauſe hee will needes call to the remembrance of God and men the bloudy ſinnes of their fathers, ſinnes as redde as crimſin and ſcarlet, that is the fearefull and horrible perſecution of the profeſſors of the Goſpell, and compare the proceeding of their Catholiques againſt vsus, with ours againſt them, both generally in other places, and at other times, and perticularly in England, in Q. Maries daies and taketh vponupon him to iuſtifie that our dealinges againſt them doe farre ſurmount their perſecuting of vsus, and is incomperable more grieuous: I muſt p. 37needes here ſtand a litle to compare them, though it bee in deede a thing in it ſelfe as ſhall appeare, voyde of all reaſon once to enter into the compariſon of them togither. What hath bene done in England againſt them ſince the time of her Maieſties raigne, I hauehave already declared, namely that no one hath yet beene touched in his body for matter of his conſcience onelyonly, being neyther Rebell nor Traytor nor Murderer, nor otherwiſe giltie of crymes capitall and worthie of death by all good Lawes. The ſame is iuſtly to be affirmed of the dayes of that moſt noble Prince of famous memory, for his rare pietie in ſo tender yeares King Edwarde the ſixt: her Maieſties worthie Brother, that in the fewe yeares of his happie raigne there was not one of theſe Romaine Catholiques for onelyonly matter of religion, put to death or any torment of body. Nor before him in the dayes of their renoumed Father, King Henry the eight, were any of their Catholiques put to death, except a fewe, which were executed for the ſupremacie, being a matter of State and not of religion, as hauing no maner of grounde for it, in the worde of God, and giuing a dangerous intereſt p. 38for the Kinges & Quéenes of this Land, to a forreine power. As for other Kingdomes and States profeſſing the Goſpell, this Authour him ſelfe doth acknowledge their proceedinges againſt them, not to hauehave béene vntounto bloude. Now then let vsus in the other part conſider the generall and perticuler proceeding of theſe pretended Catholikes againſt our brethren, not for any crime of iuſt deſert of death, but onelyonly for their moſt holy faith. Which though I can not here lay out at large, being the argument of ſo many great bookes and volumes as are written of them, yet I may giuegive the gentle Reader a generall viewe of their bloudy actes, of perpetuall infamie to their pretended Catholike profeſſion. The townes of Merindall and Cabrieres with 22. other Townes and Villages, were moſt tiranouſly deſtroyed, without reſpect of men, women, or children. In Cabrieres, a thouſand perſons were ſlaine, whereby ſome eſtimat may be made of the number which might be murdered in the reſt. Of which ſo horrible waſte, and ſo much innocent bloud moſt cruelly ſhedde, there was vtterly no other cauſe, but that the godly people of that Countrie had ſeperated p. 39themſelues from the abhominations of the Church of Roome, and ſought to ſerue the Lorde according to his worde. Likewiſe y^e people of y^e valleyes of Lucerne Angrogne, S. Mart. Perous & others, were purſued with hoat perſecution and cruell warres by the inſtigation of the Pope, for many yeares. Both theſe being faithfull and duetifull to their Princes, onelyonly for the godly faith which they profeſſed, were in moſt ſauage and vnnaturall manner perſecuted, and deſtroyed by them. Beſides thoſe who were ſlaine in the bloudie warres which they made for the maintenance of theire Romane ſuperſtitions in Germanie and in Scotland, the Stories of thoſe countries report ſundrie cruell executions, to hauehave beene done vponupon many faithfull ſeruantes of God, onelyonly for the teſtimonie of the truth. In our owne countrie, ſince the beginning of y^e reſtoring of the knowledg of y^e Goſpel amongſt vsus, & eſpecially in Q. M. daies: what hath bene the ſtate of our Church, & what hath y^e enimy laid to our charge? ſurely we were neuer charged with any treaſon, but y^e only cauſe of our perſecutiō was y^e refuſing al cō fidēce in our ſelues, or any other creature, we belieued to be ſaued only by y^e pretious p. 40death of our Sauiour Chriſt and that we refuſed to bowe downe before their Idols and to worſhip them. Theſe and ſuch like matters merely concerning religion, and the true faith of the Goſpell were the thinges which were laide to our charge, and no other. And for theſe cauſes how cruelly they hauehave vſed vsus, all the world can teſtify. For what part of the world hath not hard of our Sufferings, and the furious and fiery wrath wherewith the enimie perſecuted vsus for no other cauſe then for the Goſpels ſake. Some in deed fled as Iacob from the wrath of his brother Eſau, and thorow the goodnes of God eſcaped their bloudy handes. But they which remayned were ſlaine for Gods ſake, as ſaith the Prophet, all the day long, and counted as ſheepe appointed for the ſlaughter.Pſal. 44.22.Ps 44:22 In Spaine and Italie the chéefe ſeates of y^e bloudy inquiſition, beſides many which were openly murdered: poyſons, ſtrangling in priſons, drowning in riuers, and ſondrie other ſecret executions which came not to ſo open knowledge of the world (according to the depth & moſt ſuttle practiſes of Satan), are reaſonably thought to hauehave deſtroyed many more then hauehave beene conſumed by the light p. 41fires of England. Fraunce, and Flaunders, hauehave had alſo as hot a Furnace amongſt them, as that of Nebucad-nezers was, whereinto they hauehave caſt a great multitude of thoſe which would not fall downe before their golden Image. But beſides thoſe which they hauehave burned, who can number the thouſands and ten thouſands which their bloudy ſword, in their ſo long and cruell warres, hauehave deuoured. The ſlaughters of Fraunce eſpecially & their cruell maſacrees, (for of whome we hauehave ſo ſtrang a thing, we muſt hauehave alſo the name wherby they terme it) hauehave beene ſo barbarous & ſo many, that I know not how to expreſſe the ſauage cruelties, and tragicall immanities committed in them: except I ſhould here leaue my paper all in bloud, as the Paynters & workers of tapeſtry do their table and their Tapiſtry, when they come to paynte and worke ſo ſtrange and horrible cruelties as no arte nor Inſtrumēt, no pencill nor néedle is able to expres. Thus being prouoked by mine aduerſary, I hauehave briefly touched and in generall, the tyrannous and bloudy actes of this cruell generation. For the more full declaration whereof, I muſt referre the gentle Reader to the ſtories of the ſeuerall Countreys, p. 42where theſe horrible perſecutions hauehave beene exerciſed, and eſpecially to the worthy worke of the Actes and Monumentes of Martyrs, written by the reuerend and learned M. Fox, in our own language for the purpoſe I hauehave now in hand, it may ſuffice thus generally to hauehave poynted, as it were to the opening of the fift Seale, and to hauehave ſhewed ſome view of the infinite number of the ſoules which lye behind the Altar, and cry night and day vntounto God, with the voice of the bloud of Abel, that the Lorde woulde require all this bloud which they hauehave ſo cruelly and vnnaturally ſhed at the handes of this poſterity of Cain. Wherby ſeeing it appeareth that for the onelyonly cauſe of Religion they hauehave murthered ſo many, that they hauehave made all Europe to runne with the bloud of the Prophets, as Manaſſes did the ſtreetes of Ieruſalem: and that of the other part, there hath beene hetherto no proceeding againſt them for like cauſe, to the ſhedding of one drop of their bloud, all indifferent Iudges may ſee the bold vanity of this Plaintife in affirming our dealings towards them to ouerreach any their perſecution of vsus, and to be incomparably more grieuous. And yet this notwithſtanding, p. 43the aduerſary hauing receaued all good for all euill done to vsus, cannot be ignorant off: yet their Aduocate is bold to make compariſon not only generally, but alſo perticulerly concerning the perſons, in the number and quallitie of ſuch as hauehave ſuffered, and the maner of their vſage both in their impriſonment and in the execution. Wherein firſt he alledgeth that manye were tollerated by them. This was not any charitie in them, but it was the gracious goodnes of God our moſt merciful father who would not ſuffer thē ſo to ſhake our Oliue tree but that there ſhoulde remaine ſome ſtill vponupon the tree: nor ſo to vintage and gather the grapes of his vineyeard, but that there ſhould ſtill be hidden here a cluſter and there an other, ſome few grapes vnderunder the leaues that ſhoulde not be gathered. But what tolleration vponupon hope of their repentance hath bene extended and is dayly towards them, I report me to the conſcience of euerie one who vnderſtandeth how many there are that need this fauour, and hath compared the number of thē with the number of ſuch as hauehave bene called to queſtion for theſe matters. The ſecond point of his comparyſon of the perſons, is of men with men, whereby he p. 44meaneth the condition and eſtate of ſuch as hauehave ſuffered: wherin he may remember the impriſonment of her Ma. vnderunder whoſe ſhadowe thorowe the goodneſſe of God, we are now refreſhed from the burning heates wherw^t they conſumed vsus. In which eſtate her highnes had ſo many lyōs mouthes opened againſt her, as except the Lord had ſhut them in time, we had neuer ſeene theſe happy dayes. He may remember alſo the departure out of the land, both of ſome other of the Nobilitie, and of the Duches Grace of Suffolke. Likewiſe, the right reuerend Cranmer, and his companions, which were not ſo vſed in pryſon, that they coulde boaſt as ſome of theirs hauehave done, that they neuer fared better, nor liued more at their eaſe: but after a hard impryſonment, were burned in the fire for the teſtimony of the Goſpell. We boaſt not of any but of the Lord,…. Cor. 1. as knowing what our calling is, yet doe we reioyce & glorifie God with ſpeciall thankeſgeuing, when he geueth ſo rare a bleſſing to thoſe which are of great power and authority, that they not onelyonly do beleeue, but alſo ſuffer for his names ſake. In which reſpect I hauehave thought good to anſwere thus much to this ſecond point of his comparyſon.

p. 45Further, touching the vſage of ſuch as came in troble for religiō in their time, he affirmeth it to hauehave beene ciuil, for the priſons they were committed vntounto, the conferēces vſed with thē, the relieuing and not tormenting of them in tyme of their impriſonment, and laſt of all in their execution, with all fauor. But if ſuch vſage as we hauehave had at their handes, in all theſe reſpects be their ciuilitie, how great neede had we to pray, and to prouyde that we hauehave not experience of their cruelty. The pryſons whereinto they caſt thoſe whom they had bond as Paul with chaines for the Goſpell,Lollordes Tower, Colehouſe, &c. were the cō mon Gaoyles, and pryſons of all malefactors: nay ſome of them, ſuch as for the horror and annoyance of them, they were not wont to ſende the moſt guilty offenders into. But now they (I ſpeake of ſuch as are called to queſtion for religion) hauehave conuenient & holeſome roomes, yea large houſes and faire gardens for their pleaſure, & as they vſe it, for their paſtyme. Their conferences were either threatenings, or ſnares of death: whereby they ſought to extort a denyall of the trueth by terror, or by deceitfull wordes to drawe p. 46out ſome free ſpeach againſt ſome of their abhominations, for which after they might condemne them to the fire. But we confer w^t them, as deſirous to delyuer their ſoules from the wrath to come, and their preſent eſtate from ſuch puniſhment as the law doth lay vponupon them. Releeuing of the priſoners of Chriſt was thorowe their extreme dealing an occaſion to ſundrie of great troubles. But who hath heard of any,Act. and Mo. who for this onelyonly cauſe hath fallen into any trouble amongſt vsus. They killed fiue priſoners for the Goſpell at Canterbury with famine, and miſerably relieued the reſt for any torment. As in time of impryſonment, not one of theirs hath bene offered any for religions ſake. In deed, if vnderunder color of conſcience, they hauehave intermedled ſo far in matters of State, as y^t they hauehave bene to be tainted of treaſon, it may be ſuch hauehave beene examined vponupon the Rack, according to the auncient order, both of this and other States in like caſes: that therby they might be conſtrayned to confeſſe that to the ſafety of many, which otherwiſe they would obſtinately conceale to the ouerthrowe of their Countrey. Whereof not hauing vsus in ſuſpicion at any time, but perſecuting vsus only for the Goſpels ſake, p. 47yet ſome with Ioſeph, hauehave had the yron enter into their ſoule, and other with Paul and Silas, hauehave beene layd in the dungeons and there alſo had their feete put into the ſtockes,Act. 16.25.Acts 16:25 ſinging to God as if they had byn in heauen.Act. 5.Acts 5 I might name alſo a great nū ber, who with Peter and Iohn, were whipped and ſcourged, and reioyced that they were vouchſafed to ſuffer for the word of the Lord Ieſu: whereof as there were many, ſo a young child amongſt the reſt, was ſo ſore beaten, that he dyed of it, who before his death was ſent to his father, whom they had put in the ſtockes in Lollards Tower,Actes and Mo. ſetting a diſh of water by him with a ſtone in it (not much vnlike that of the Iewes, which as they read) ſaid of Ieremie, let vsus put wood into his bread) to torment the poore man with the pittiful ſight of his child ſo ſhamefully beaten: and many other ſuch foule extremities I could remember them off. How they dealt with Hun, & as it is like with ſome other which dyed in pryſon, is partly vnderſtoode to their iuſt reproch, and will be plainly diſcouered in the day when all ſecretes ſhalbe reuealed. It were to long to examine their like dealings in other countreys: therfore I referre the Reader to their ſtories, and p. 48namely to the 6. and 9. Chapters of the Spaniſh Inquiſition, where he ſhall ſee what cloſe pryſons, what ſpare and lothſome dyet, what ſtrange and barbarous extremities are vſed by them. The laſt poynt of the comparyſon of vſage, is in the execution of death, which hee ſayth hath beene done of their part in all fauor: for iuſt reproofe wherof, let the gentle Reader looke ouer the Storie of D. Tayler, who being cruelly vſed all the way he went to execution, there being ready for it, was ſtroken a great ſtroke vponupon the head with a waſter, and hurt againe with a fagot caſt at him, which light vponupon his head, & brake his face that the bloud ran downe, after ſtricken vponupon the lips, and laſt of all ſo ſmitten with a Halbard, that hys braynes fell out.

But of all other, horrible was the execution of the Garneſey woman Perotine, both in her own perſon, in y^t ſhe was executed being great w^t child, & alſo in her child which being taken vp out of y^e fire, & viewed by the offycers, was to the perpetual reproach of their moſt barbarous cruelty, caſt againe to his mother into y^e fire, In elder time alſo terible was y^e executiō & death of Sir Iohn Oldcaſtle y^e worthie L. Cobham, p. 49is a witneſſe to all ages, of their barbarous executions. It were to long to rehearſe the ſtories of their moſt cruell executions in other Countries, in all ages. Therefore I referre the reader to the bookes themſelues, namely to the 12. chap. of the Spaniſh Inquiſition. Only two examples I will ſet down for a ſhewe, one of more auncient time and the other of verie late. In the low Countries at Tourney, Bertram a zealous profeſſor of the Goſpell, found ſuch fauour, as this man ſpeaketh in his execution: that after many rackings and tormentes before, he had his right hande and foot preſſed and miſhapen with hot irons, his tongue cut of, his mouth ſtopt with a ball of iron, his body let vp and downe to the fire till it was burned to aſhes, which were caſt into the riuer. Of late in the yeare 1581. at Roome, Atkines an Engliſh man, a zealous profeſſor of the Goſpell for a like matter as Bertrames was before, (which was the taking of their maſſe Idol from their altar and throwing it vponupon the ground) had this fauour ſhewed him in his execution, that al the way he went to it (as it is reported by ſuch as ſaw it) there were foure did nothing but thruſt at his naked body with burning Torches, and by a p. 50deuiſe for the purpoſe was burned, ſo as his legges were burned firſt that the Tyrantes might feede their eyes with a horrible ſpectacle of ſo ſtrange tormentes of the conſtant Martyr & witneſſe of Chriſt, this hath bene their execution w^t al fauour. Thus we ſee the chaſtiſement layd vponupon them, is the rod of a tender & moſt louing mother, correcting her obſtinate ſonnes to bring thē to her obediēce & duety: but they hauehave beaten the true church of God with Scorpions, & as the Sirians did to y^e Iſraelites in Galaad, they hauehave threſhed it with flayles of yron. Their greateſt reſtraint is ſuch (I ſpeak of thoſe which are reſtrained for matter of religiō) y^t they hauehave cōuenient roomes & houſes w^t gardēs to walke in, but they thruſt our poore brethren into their darkeſt dungeōs, into y^e caues & holes of the earth, as into the dens of Dragons. Their dyet is liberall and ſuch as pleaſeth them ſelues to hauehave, but they ſo fedde the true Church of God in their time, and yet doe where their authoritie may ſerue that ſhe might, and yet may, in ſuch places renewe the complaint of the olde church of Iſraell, and of her cheefe heade and captaine Chriſt Ieſus. I hauehave eaten aſhes as breade, and mingled my drinke with weeping. p. 51They gaue me gall and wormewoode to eate, Pſal. 22.Ps 22and vineger for to drinke, they opened their mouthes vponupon me as roaring Lyons, they made me ſo ſpare that I might tell my bones, my heart melted in me like waxe, my tongue did cleaue to the roofe of my mouth for drought, and I ſate me downe vponupon the earth, Pſal. 2….Ps 2and in the duſt. But the Lorde whoſe right hand worketh ſuch changes and alterations hath had compaſſion of our eſtate in this land, his name be prayſed for it, and hath opened the priſon doores, he hath deliuered thoſe which were vowed to death, when his appoynted time was come hee hath ſhewed mercy to his Sion, he hath raiſed her out of the duſt, he hath anoynted her with oyle, and furniſhed her table, euen in the fight of all her enimies. And nowe that the Lorde hath giuen her enimies into her power, to require at their hand, al y^e bloud of her deare children which they hauehave ſhed ſo many yeares, and to recompence them double for all that ſhe hath receyued of them, yet hetherto ſhe hath patiently wayted if the Lord may giuegive them repentance, and forborne to vſe any like extremitie towardes them. Therefore all theſe former poynts well conſidered, whether he compare y^e perſons or vſage, it will p. 52be founde in deede there is no compariſon but for this reaſon, becauſe the numbers of ſuch of ours as hauehave ſuffered, hauehave bene a thouſand to one of theirs, the perſons of greater ſtate both for birth and calling, the vſage, ſo farre diuers, both in the time of impriſonment, and in the execution, that we in our moſt iuſt & lawful puniſhmēt of thē, hauehave contayned our ſelues within the bondes of Chriſtian lenitie and mekenes, nay I may truly ſay, that in ſome obſtinate and buyſie ſeducers wee hauehave beene ſhort of duty. But they in their moſt wrōg ful and tyrannical perſecution of vsus, hauehave matched if not exceeded the moſt ſauage cruelties, that euer were heard off amōgſt the Barbarians and the Heathen. And thus much for anſwere to the compariſon, wherein I doubt not but it eaſily appeareth to all indifferent readers, howe farre vnlike their doings are to ours.

It followeth now to examine whether of vsus can render better reaſon of ſuch our proceedinge. This Aduocate iuſtifieth theirs by two ſpeciall arguments, wherof the firſt is the authoritie whereby they proceeded againſt vsus, which he ſaith, was an ancient generall law, meaning thereby the lawe of putting Heretikes to death, p. 35wheras we hauehave only new nationall ſtatuts as hee ſaith, to puniſh them by. For the lawe of putting heretikes to death, I graunt it to hauehave beene a generall and ancient law amongſt Gods people, when the Magiſtrates hauehave béene of the faith of the Church. And as it is auncient and generall, ſo hath it good warrant of the word of God. For the Magiſtrate beareth not the ſworde in vaine, but is the Miniſter of Gods iuſtice and vengeance vponupon all offendors according to the qualitie of their offence. Further alſo heretikes aboue all other offenders, moſt grieuouſly tranſgreſſe, both againſt God, whoſe holy ſeruice and honour they prophane, and alſo againſt men, whom they by poyſoning of the heauenly doctrine doe deſtroy with death euerlaſting. Both which being ſo cleare as they need no further proofe: it muſt needes followe that the Magiſtrate ought to put an Heritike to death. And thus was it expreſly commaunded in the lawe of Moſes, Deut. 13.5. 2. reg. 23.20. 2. Chro. 15.13Deut 13:5Deut 13:22 Chr 15:13and executed by Aſa & Ioſia the noble and zealous Kings of Iuda. Againſt which iudgmēnt in vaine do ſome alledge the parable of Tares to be ſuffered to growe till the latter day. For the tares there, are not onelyonly Heretikes, but as our Sauiour there doth expound it, all the wicked p. 54who are called children of the deuil, the ſeruantes not Magiſtrates but Angels: the pulling vp, not the execution of perticuler euill doers by temporall death, but the deſtruction of all the wicked children of the deuil vntounto death euerlaſting. Which points are ſo plaine to any y^t will conſider the parable w^t iudgment, as they can not be denied. No ſtronger are y^e reſt of the proofes y^t are by the fauorers of this cauſe brought in out of Celſus a principall writer for the maintenance of it,Mat. 13.40.4…Matt 13:40Matt 13:4 nor which this new aduocate for heretickes would inſinuate for this purpoſe, though for the authority of the cannon law to y^e cōtrary he dare not plainly diſcouer this to be his opinion, ſaying faith is the gift of god. For this cōcludeth not that no man by compulſion & correctiō may ſo profite, that he maye be occaſioned to vſe ſuch meanes whereby after he may beleeue. Nor that ſuch as are obſtinate heretickes ought not to be executed by death. For by like reaſō no malefactors ſhould dy for feare of deſtroying them euerlaſtingly: repentance being the gifte of God aſwell as faith. Of this therefore wee are agreed, but who is to be iudged an hereticke is all the queſtion betweene vsus. They by their Cannon law iudge al heretickes that hold p. 55not the faith which at this day is profeſſed in the church of Roome. But we deny their Cannon lawe to be any competent iudge of hereſie, a great part of which law is the ſinke of all error and abhomination, or any other cannons, decrees, and authorities of men whatſoeuer: and affirme the onelyonly worde of God left written in the bookes of the holy and canonicall ſcriptures, to bee able to iudge of theſe matters, as partly was declared in the beginning of this anſwere. Further we affirme and that agréeably to the ſame holy ſcripture (whereunto we referre our ſelues for tryall) that the faith now taught & receyued by y^e Church of Roome in ſuch poynts as it differeth from vsus, to be nothing but a new and late ſuperſtition and hereſie. The cauſe then falling out thus betwen vsus, that their doctrine differing from ours, is error & hereſie, & ours wherin it differeth frō them, as in al y^e other parts therof, is the pure word of god,Pſal. 1…Ps 1 ſwéet as the ſwéet bread of the Paſſouer without any leauen, & fine as the ſiluer tryed & refyned ſeauen times in the furnace: we are certainelie aſſured by the ſame worde, (whereby wee ſhall bee iudged in that day when the truth ſhall ſhine as the Sunne, and they ſhall ſee it, which doe not repent of this their contradiction of Core,) p. 56to their euerlaſting confuſion) that y^e auncient generall lawe whereof he ſpeaketh, can make nothing at all with them, or againſt vsus. Of the other parte whereas he would ſhew vsus to hauehave ſmall or no authoritie to proceede againſt them as wee doe, as hauing in his opinion onelyonly, certaine national ſtatuts wherby our proceedings are warranted, hee is to vnderſtand that vponupon ſuch reaſons as hath bene ſhewed of their doctrine and ours, the ſame auncient and generall lawe, which chargeth Magiſtrates with the keeping of al things written in the law, and with the ciuill puniſhment of al offenders,Deut. 17.19. Rom. 13.Deut 17:19Rom 13 is a moſt ſufficiēt warrant for the authority which God hath now ſet ouer vsus, to compel all the ſubiectes within this Dominion to ſerue the Lorde our God, according to that right order of his ſeruice which he himſelfe hath appoynted, and to correct their errours and obſtinacie which ſhall be diſobedient, as the qualitie of their offence ſhall deſerue. VponUpon the warrant of this auncient lawe, Ioſia in his time conſtrayned all Iſraell to ſerue the Lord their God, which can not otherwiſe be vnderſtood then of compelling them thereunto by new national ſtatutes, the ſeueritie whereof enforced an obedience p. 57to God and to the King.Deut. 13.…. &c Deut. 17.5.Deut 13Deut 17:5 Likewiſe the authoritie of the lawe of Moſes commaunding to put to death the falſe Prophet and the Idolater, Aſa made a ſtatute in his time, that whoſoeuer did not ſeeke the Lord (vnderſtanding therby a renouncing of Idolatrie, and a worſhipping of the only true God according to his lawe) ſhould dy the death. Which as it was lawfull then and in them, yea duetifull and neceſſarie, euen ſo vponupon like ground, is it as lawful & duetifull for all Chriſtian Princes now to make like ſtatuts vpō y^e ſame warrant, for the gouernement of the Nation and people committed to them. There is no cauſe then why hee ſhould make ſo light of our nationall ſtatuts, being the true and liuely vſe of the lawe of God, by this meanes renewed, and recouering his force againe by ſuch proceedinges. It appeareth therefore by theſe reaſons, that the authoritie is ſufficient and ſtrong whereby they are puniſhed, yea and ſuch as may well warrant a further proceeding againſt ſo many of thē as may be iuſtly condemned for heretikes, that part of the Cannon lawe, ſtanding now as well in force, as it did in the time of their tirannie and giuing vsus that power againſt them which they neuer could hauehave p. 58of it lawfully againſt vsus, whom they could neuer conuict of any error. And thus much for anſwere to the authoritie whereupon both our proceedings are grounded being y^e firſt of the two reaſons he alledgeth. Now come we to the other argumēt, which is of the difference of the cauſe betwene them & vsus, the principall poynt of all this treatiſe.

Foure Reaſons of the aduerſary for their cauſe.The difference hee noteth is in foure poyntes, whereof two, which are the antiquitie and vniuerſallitie of their faith, he doth but lightly touch by the way, the other two of vnitie and pollicie, he diſcourſeth off more at larg. Whoſe ſteps becauſe I hauehave bound my ſelfe to follow, ſomewhat I muſt anſwere to the former, before I proceede to the other two wherein hee ſeemeth to hauehave more confidence. Our faith (ſaith he) is the only Religion of our forefathers, Anſwere to the 1. which is Antiquityin England. To this I anſwere: Firſt it is not true, and then if it were, yet it can be no ſuffycient reaſon for thē, nor againſt our cauſe. For the firſt, it appeareth by the reſiſtāce which the auncyent Britons made to Auſten the Monke, the Pope of Romes Meſſenger or Nuntio hither, and the whole diſcourſe of that Story. Which ſheweth y^t they which were before the Conqueſt, receaued neither p. 59his Supremacy nor his faith: that frō the beginning of Chriſtianity in the lande, to that time the religion had bene free from moſt of their corruptions. Their trā ſubſtantiatiō y^e Saxons which after preuailed belieued not, as appeareth by a ſermon found written in the Saxon tongue, appointed in their time to be vttred vntounto the people at Eaſter before the Communion: and publiſhed now in print by authority to all the world for proofe thereof. But I put the caſe our Forefathers had neuer had other Religion in England, were this a ſuffycient reaſon to prooue it good? If it be, then many ſuperſticious abhominations of the Heathen may be iuſtified and acknowledged good Religion. The curſed falſe worſhip of Mahomet in Aſia, hath contynued as long as the Idolatrous ſuperſtition of the Church of Roome: yet were it vtterly impertinent for the poſteritie liuing this day in thoſe partes to alleadge this reaſon, that it is the onelyonly religion of their forefathers in Aſia. When the Apoſtles came preaching the Goſpel to the Gentiles, they had bene a people in the ages & generations before that time in reſpect of y^e true knowledge of religiō neglected & not regarded of God,Act. 17.30.Acts 17:30 hauing in a maner frō y^e p. 60beginning of the world, which was 4000. yeares continued in their Idolatrie. Yet was this no ſufficient cauſe to continue in it ſtill, and deſpiſe the Goſpell as a newe faith. Which though it had not beene vouchſafed thē before, yet was more auncient then their wicked ſuperſtitions. Contrariwiſe it was fit for them, the longer they had lyen in darkeneſſe and in the vale of the ſhadowe of death, with ſo much more ioy to ſee and beholde the Sunne, when it beganne to riſe in their countries. Euen ſo notwithſtanding it were true that darkenes had couered this lande in all the time of our forefathers, yet now that we their children hauehave the fauour to ſee this glorious Sunne to riſe in our horizon, and to ſee his comming forth like the comming forth of a Bridegrome out of his chamber,Pſa. 19.5.Ps 19:5 or of ſome worthy knight and Champion ſetting out to runne his courſe. Should we louelove darkenes more thē light, & refuſe the riches of gods mercy moſt fréely & bountifully beſtowed vpō vsus. Nay we ought rather to celebrate y^e goodnes of god towardes vsus with euerlaſting prayſes, for that he hath reuealed to vsus the miſterie hidden from ſo many ages, and vnknowne ſo long to the world, as it is nowe reuealed: p. 61and our owne happineſſe, whoſe eyes doe ſee the light of the Gentiles, the glory of Iſraell, & whoſe eares do heare the wiſedome y^t is greater then Salamons. Thinges which in deede many of our forefathers eſpecially in ſome late hundred yeares, hauehave not ſene nor heard, and wee nowe by the grace of God, doe ſee and heare them.

The ſame may be ſaide of their generallitie, namely that firſt it is not true,Anſwere to the 2. generallitie. that this their faith was left vsus by the generall conſent of all Chriſtendome, and then that generality in it ſelfe ſufficeth not to proue religion good. For the firſt it is manifeſt by the holy ſcriptures, that the Apoſtles who as it appeareth by their writinges, preached the doctrine which wee profeſſe, neuer taught their ſuperſtition, hauing left vsus no one poynt of all that which is properly their faith, and wherein they differ from vsus. The auncient fathers teſtify (I ſpeake of the moſt auncient of them) ſuch partes of Chriſtendome as they liued and taught in, to hauehave belieued no ſuch faith. The Stories of the Church make mention of Chriſtian Churches in Aſia, and in Afrike, and ſome partes of Europe alſo, which neuer receyued the faith of the Church of Roome that is, that which is p. 62properly the Romiſh faith and wherein it diſſenteth from vsus: as neyther their ſupremacie nor Idolatrie, nor ſundrie ſuch other poyntes which are the beautie and crowne of popery. Therefore it is vntrue that they hauehave it left them by a general cō ſent. Further all generalitie in it ſelfe, is not ſufficient to iuſtify a matter of faith. What hath bene, and yet is more generall in the world, then Mahometiſme and Paganiſme which yet Chriſtian men for all y^e generalitie of it, do worthily according to Gods worde deteſt and abhorre. The general conſent of y^e whole Church, I meane of all the holy aſſemblies which at the ſame time in all the worlde profeſſe by publike miniſterie Chriſtian religion, as a moſt graue & reuerent teſtimony, ought worthily to be regarded by all her modeſt and humble children: Yet becauſe it may bee ſubiect to error in ſome poynt, yea moſt ſubſtantiall and materiall poyntes (as the experience of the apoſtaſie which the Apoſtle prophecied off doth ſufficiētly declare) euen y^t can be no ſufficient warrant of the truth. Only y^e written word of God, is ſufficient, which alone hath this prerogatiue aboue all creatures, to certifie & aſſure our conſciences in matters of religiō. Whereby p. 63we being taught the faith which wee hauehave belieued (as wee are readie thorowe the grace of God to make good at all times before all men,) our faith can not be any newe or perticuler opinion, as he wrongfully chargeth it, but is the auncient and generall faith of the Church, which hath teſtimony giuen vntounto it by the lawe, and by al the Prophets which ſpake from Moſes to Samuell, Rom. 3.22. Act. 3.24.Rom 3:22Acts 3:24and thoſe which folowed after. Theſe are auncient Fathers in deede, whoſe heades are all white as woll. In compariſon of whom the fathers they boaſt off hauehave neuer a one of them a graye haire vponupon his heade, they may ſeeme to hauehave beene borne but yeſterdaye. In which reſpect according to the Lawe,Leuit. 19.32Lev 19:32 they are to riſe vp and giuegive place and doe their duetie to theſe who are aged Fathers in deede. For where as ſimply there is nothing auncient but that which is euerlaſting, and all other thinges are auncient in reſpect and in compariſon of that which is yonger: Wee moſt truly affirme our faith to be ſo farre more auncient then theirs, as that for eueryevery hundreth yeares their doctrine is olde, which at this day the p. 64Church of Roome teacheth, that which our Churches profeſſe is auncient, 1000. as being the faith of the righteouſnes of God witneſſed vntounto by the lawe and by the Prophetes. Therefore if it had neuer bene heard of in England before, and though it hauehave beene condemned by that vngodly Pius Quintus and his ſucceſſor of like impietie,Rom. 3.21Rom 3:21 and their folowers, as Chriſt was by Caiphas, and the Apoſtles by Annas and his whole conſiſtory, yet remaineth it ſtill, and ſhall remaine for euer, no newe nor perticuler opinion, but the auncient and generall faith of the Church, the Apoſtolicall and propheticall doctrine whereby in all partes of the world hauehave beene and ſhall be ſaued whoſoeuer were appoynted to euerlaſting life. For which cauſe godly hath it beene procured by your HH. and eſtabliſhed by her highneſſe authoritie amongſt vsus, as was the obedience of the lawe by Ioſias, when it was founde after that it had beene loſt by negligence of the prieſtes for certaine yeares. In like ſort the true Goſpell being found againe which had beene loſt by the negligence of their Prieſtes, (if not alſo by their malice and for the furtherance of their pompe p. 65and riches which it ſerued not for) hath beene in deed aduiſed by the right Reuerend Synod of the miniſterie of this our whole Nation, and reſtored to his former & auncient authoritie, by the high Court of Parliament, enacting & ordeyning by ſtatute the approbation and allowance of it. Which if it hauehave bene done as here he cō playneth without tryall or diſputation, and confuting of the aduerſary openly, the blame is to be laide vponupon none but themſelues. For who can make a coward to fight: he may be challenged, hee may hauehave his day appoynted, and by ſome meanes be brought into the fielde: but if his heart ſhall faile him when he ſeeth his enimie in the face, and that the euill quarrell he commeth in, doth take away his courage, ſo that he yeeld himſelfe to the pleaſure of his aduerſary without ſtriking of any ſtroke: hath he after any reaſon to complayne that he was not fought withall? Euen ſo it is not vnknowne to your HH. and to this whole ſtate, that our aduerſaries were called to diſputation, and the day appoynted, at which alſo they came, as if they would hauehave diſputed: but belike conſidering there is no wiſedome againſt the Lord, nor power that can preuaile againſt his truth, p. 66they began to picke quarrels to auoyde the brunt of the battell and forſooke the fielde refuſing to diſpute. Our reuerend Fathers of worthie memory Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer &c. dealt not ſo with them in Q. Maries dayes, but encountred with them, both in y^e conuocation houſe, & alſo at Oxford to their ſhamefull foyle, and iuſt reproch, howſoeuer after they hauing the lawe in their owne handes, did moſt vniuſt and cruell execution vponupon them, by burning them in the fire. An argument voyde of all reaſon and full of vyolence and wrong, which yet by the grace of God, they fully anſwered, receyuing vertue from aboue, and being fortified with an heroicall magnanimitie and a moſt chriſtian and noble ſpirit, whereby they endured the cruell torment of the flaming fire with great patience and comfort reioycing, they were vouchſafed not onelyonly to belieue, but alſo to ſuffer and that vntounto death, and ſo cruel a death for the teſtimony of the Lord Ieſu, and the witneſſe of his truth. And yet theſe men (according to the Prouerbe that he y^t flyeth may fight againe) not being aſhamed that men ſhould remember the foyle of y^t day, when they were not able to ſtand with thoſe who were appoynted to diſpute p. 67with them: now as if they had gotten new hart of grace & ſome good armor of proofe, which euen the verie word of God, the ſpiritual ſword, wherby we fight againſt theſe men, were not able to pearce; hauehave nothing in their mouthes nor in their pennes, but diſputation, whereof if they came to it againe as their late chāplan did, I doubt not but they would hauehave ſoone inough. But of this I hauehave ocaſion to ſpeak more herafter. Now let vsus proceede to his other reaſons.

The other two reaſons which are debated by him more at large, are of vnity and pollicie, both which he affirmeth to bee in their religion, & denyeth to be in ours. For vnitie I ſay, as in the other, that neyther if they had y^t vnitie & agreement amongſt themſelues, wherof they boaſt, y^t they were thereby ſufficiently warranted, and then y^t they hauehave it not. Of the other part, that in ours, is the true vnitie which is in veritie. For the firſt, y^t al agreemēt is no ſufficient proofe, of the goodneſſe of y^e matter wherein they agree, it may eaſily appeare, for that al malefactors hauehave a kinde of agréement. So likewiſe hauehave the enimies of the Goſpel of Chriſt, as the Apoſtles out of the 2. Pſal. declare y^t the Iewes & the Romaines y^e auncient enimies of Chriſt, that y^e Gentiles & the p. 68people of Iſrael y^e ſtate ciuil & eccleſiaſticall did al agrée & cōſpire together againſt God & againſt his annointed. Therfore except he can proue that faith wherein they agree, to be y^e true & ancient faith of Gods Church, his vnity is nothing but a conſpiracie, and their hye conſiſtory as y^e cōſiſtory of the hie prieſts, cōfederat together againſt Chriſt, and againſt his Apoſtles, or as y^e agreemēt betwene Core, Dathan & Abiram with their rebellious companies, againſt Moſes and Aaron. Further I ſay, their Church is ſo farre off from that vnitie and agreement which he boaſteth off, that contrarywiſe it hath beene, and is full of contentions and controuerſies. Which if we conſider, in the publike ſtate of their Church, is moſt manifeſt in the infinit varietie & difference of Saintes, & meanes of ſaluation choſen to worſhip and to truſt vntounto, by ſundry Nations, Townes, companies, and perſons, as it liked them beſt. Likewiſe by the diuers Miſſales, Breuiaries, and Ceremonies vſed amongſt them. Further alſo by their ſundry ſectes of Monkes & Nunnes, which they hauehave ſo multiplied of late, whereas not many hundred yeares agoe, they had onelyonly the order of Bennet. But eſpecially in the Popes counſels, vniuerſities, p. 69and brotherhoodes of Monkes and Freers, it appeareth that the Lorde burſt their Church as a veſſell of claye, and an earthen pot ſtricken with a barre of yron into ſo many peeces and fitters, that there ſcarſe remayneth whole any one potſheard ſo big as might ſerue to fetch fire withall. The agreement of the Popes was ſuch about Formoſus, y^t for ſome yeares eueryevery Pope diſanulled his predeceſſors actes: they condemned one another, yea they followed their cauſe with ſuch bitter mallice (Platina their owne writer reporting it) that Formoſus was takē vp after his death, and burned, and his aſhes caſt into the riuer. The ſciſme of two or three Popes at once, which continued ſo many yeares and occupyed all Chriſtian Princes, to the perpetuall infamie of their malitious diſcordes, doth witneſſe to all poſteritie, how farre their Church is from this vnitie they would boaſt off. Further their booke of decrees though Gratiā would force them to agree, declareth what contrarie and repugnant ſentences hauehave beene pronounced by them in ſundry cauſes and poynts of great importance. And this hath beene the vnitie of the Popes amongſt themſelues: with others they hauehave agreed thus. p. 70They hauehave moued and mainteyned wars both with Kinges and Keſars, and thoſe both Greeke, French, and Germans. Many counſels hauehave beene excomunicated by them, and they againe by the counſels. Moſt famous and noble Churches hauehave likewiſe had experience, what bitter ſpirit of contention and diſcorde hath poſſeſſed them. They hauehave alienated and cleane cut off, the renoumed Churches of Aſia, whereof a great manie were planted, with the Apoſtles owne handes. In like manner hauehave they contended and ſtriuen with the Churches of Africa. And in Europe the ſeate of their impietie, neyther the Churches of Germanye, Fraunce, England, Denmarke, nor ſondrie other, but hauehave beene deuided and rent a ſunder with their quarrels, and in a manner brought to waſte, by meanes of the controuerſies they hauehave had with them, and others rayſed and nouriſhed by them. But eſpecially their owne Italy, as other monumentes, and the pertialities and factions of the Guelphes, and Gibellines and their preſent eſtate doth witneſſe.

Moreouer Clement the fift maintayned a great contention with the famous vniuerſitie p. 71of Paris about his indulgences. And other of them had a great quarrell with the begging Fryers concerning the order of Monkery. And this hath beene the vnitie which the Popes hauehave had amongſt themſelues, and with others. Their Councels alſo, as being the vnquiet bodie, of ſo reſtleſſe and contentious a head, hauehave beene at variance one with annother: as thoſe of Baſile and Conſtance, and ſondrie others. Their Monkes and Fryers hauehave had greate warres, both amongſt themſelues and with others, both with the Popes themſelues, with the vniuerſities, and with their cheefe Prelates, as that which they had with Gad, with Clement the fift, with the vniuerſitie of Paris, and the Archb. of Arnach: with whome they agreed litle better then the Popes Nuntie at Paris this laſt yeare agreed with the Dominicans, to the moſt ſhamefull reproch of their whole Church.

The Canoniſtes and the Scholemen, byte one another, according to the Apoſtle, till they be conſumed one of another. The Scholemen, they are alſo diuided amongſt themſelues into Reales and Nominals and p. 72acording to their captaines, vnderunder whoſe auncient & bāner they fight: ſome are Thomiſts, ſome Scotiſts, ſome hold of Occam. This is not according to him y^t ſaid,Ioh. 14.27John 14:27 My peace I leaue w^t you, my peace I giuegive vntounto you. Is Chriſt diuided. According to theſe publike examples,1. Cor. 1.13.1 Cor 1:13 their priuat Doctors & writers hauehave behaued thēſelues euē of late yeares in writing one againſt another, as Catharinus an Archb. and one of the Popes Minions, Dominicus de Soto, confeſſor to Charles the fift: Caietanus, Tapperus, Pighius, with ſundrie other, and the Fathers of the Councell of Trent, all which ſo agreed, that according as it is ſaide of Iſmaell, their handes were eueryevery one againſt all others, and all others againſt them. Their agreement was like y^t which was amongſt the Babilonians after the Lorde had ſtriken them with the confuſion of their tongues, that one vnderſtoode not another: and like the diſcorde of the Madianites, who thruſt eueryevery man his ſworde into the ſide of his owne Countryman. Which their contentions and debates were of no ſmall matters, but of originall ſinne, of iuſtification by faith, of the certayntie of hope, of the vertue of y^e death of Chriſt, of the vertue of Baptiſme, of the ſupremacie, p. 73of the higher authoritie, of the Pope, or of the Counſels, of the Church, or of the Scripture, of the reſidence of Biſhoppes, and ſuch like. I might here alſo ſhewe howe their doctrine diſagreeth with it ſelfe, one poynt ouerthrowing another, but this may ſuffice to rebuke the vanitie of the boaſt of their agreement, and to laye out ſome part of the euidences which I am to ſhew againſt them, to proue that their Church is not that friend, that Doue, that Spouſe of Chriſt, which is but one, whereof they ſo often vaunt: but a contentious and quarrellous company at continuall warres with others and amonſt themſelues, as the poſteritie of Iſmael, and as the hoſt and tents of Madian. Nowe let vsus ſee with what diſſention hee can charge our Church in Englād. Wherin if he would hauehave proceeded ſoundly to the iuſt charging of vsus, he ought if he had bene able, to hauehave brought out the publike confeſſion and articles of faith agreed vntounto in King Edwardes time, and hauehave ſhewed any in England that profeſſing the Goſpell diſſenteth from them. Or if he would hauehave vsus to anſwere for all that profeſſe our faith in all the p. 74world, yet ought he to hauehave ſought out the ancient recordes and authentike confeſſions of faith, which the profeſſors in the ſeuerall Countries where they are, hauehave exhibited by common conſent and agreement vntounto their Princes: But being not able ſo to doe, as ſhall appeare after in the particulers that hee alleadgeth, he ſeeketh ſome fewe places out of the infinite works and bookes, written by ſome of our profeſſion, which may ſeeme to hauehave a ſhew of repugnance betwene themſelues.

If a man ſhould deale thus, not onelyonly with their wrangling writers, which are full of quarrels & controuerſies: but euen with the ancient and learned fathers, it were an eaſie matter to note, a multitude of differences and contrarieties in them, in matters of greater importance, then any hee chargeth vsus withall. He hath made choyſe eſpecially of three, in whoſe workes hee will ſhew a difference in ſome poynts. Theſe three are the famous and worthie Clarkes of bleſſed memorie in the Church of God, M. Luther, P. Melancthon, …. Sam. 23.8.9.10.11.and Iohn Caluin. Three ſuch worthies in the Campe and Tentes of the Lorde God of Hoſtes, as Ioſhab, p. 75Eleazer, and Shammah, are reported to hauehave beene in the Hoaſt of Dauid. For though many hauehave done worthily, and therefore may iuſtly bee accounted in the honorable places of the thirtie of Dauids worthie Soldiers, and ſome of them of y^e ſecond thrée, yet hardly hauehave they attayned to theſe three. Of which three Luther and Melancton, were the burning Lampes and the ſhining lights of Germany. Luther cleare as the light, ſhined firſt as in a darke place, and as the appearing of the day, to thoſe which ſate in y^e ſhadow of death. He was endued of God with a ſpirit of power, as Elias: ſo as he ſtoode not onelyonly againſt 400. falſe Prophets of Baal: but againſt almoſt 400000. The Lorde had made him as he had done Ieremy, a defenſed Citie, and as a piller of yron, and wall of braſſe to al the Kings, Princes, Prieſts, and people of Europe. He was a choſen inſtrument in the Lordes hande, an elect veſſell, euen a veſſell of gold, made of God, to beare his name before Princes and rulers, and to preſent the truth of the Goſpell to Kinges and Keſars, as he did at Wormes in the imperiall aſſemblie, to Charles the fift, to the Princes Electors, and other the great States p. 76and Princes of Germanie. If hee were rude in ſpeach as he truly wrote to Eraſmus, yet was hee not ſo in knowledge. Nay both his ſkill in diuinitie was profound, and his tongue was eloquent to vtter it. Notwithſtanding as the elect veſſell ſo firſt called,… Cor. 12.7. and the Doctor of the Gentiles, leaſt hee ſhould bee lifted vp with the Reuelations which had beene ſhewed vntounto him in Paradiſe, being rapt into the third heauens, receyued ſome blowes and buffets of the Aungell of Sathan: ſo no maruell if the Lorde ſuffered Luther likewiſe ſome other way to take a blowe of Sathan, and in ſome reſpect to be foiled, that he might humble him, and teach vsus to truſt in God and not in men. Iacob hauing ſeene the face of God in Peniell, Gen. 32.24.Gen 32:24and wraſtled with him all the night, yea preuayled againſt him (by which victorie he got that new and honorable name of Iſraell, whereby to this day he is more renoumed in the Church, then all the Affricani & Germanici which had their praiſe of men) yet caried not away ſuch a victory and ſo great glory without ſuch a blowe that he halted of after all the dayes of his life. In like maner this worthie Iſraelite ſo ſawe God, and ſo wraſtled to his euerlaſting p. 77prayſe before God and man, as yet he halted and was blemiſhed in ſome part al the dayes of his life. Which was for the humbling of him, that the ſight which hee had ſeene, as in Peniel, that the Reuelations which he had, as if he had beene taken to the third Heauen and Paradiſe of God, ſhould not lift him vp aboue meaſure: and that the Church hereby ſhuld be inſtructed, to depend vponupon no mortall creature, but onelyonly vponupon the Lorde. Therefore if hee fayled in a poynt or two, this is not ſo much to be obiected againſt him, much leſſe againſt vsus: as his name is to be eſteemed, for the fauour he was vouchſafed of God, to be his choſen inſtrument vntounto vsus, to diſcouer ſo farre as he did, the truth which our aduerſaries had drowned in the bottom of the ſea. His ſpirit indéed was vehement and hote as fire, his ſtyle and pen as a ſharpe two edged ſworde in his hand, and cut like a Raſor, which was giuen him of God to cut in ſunder the Troupes and companies of the enimies of the Goſpell. Which if he were not alwaies able ſo to wealde and handle, but that ſometime alſo the ſworde fell vponupon thoſe, whome hee ought not onelyonly not to hauehave hurt, but to hauehave defended, it was his p. 78weakeneſſe and infirmitie: yet ſuch as ought not to preiudice his other honorable ſeruice, done to God and to his Church, againſt their enimies. And ſo much the leſſe ought it to bee preiudiciall, becauſe ſometimes hee founde his vehemency that waye, not very wel beſtowed, and ſought to heale againe the woundes, which he had made. Which hee did both at other times, ſubſcribing to the ſame poynts he had oppugned: as appeareth by ſundrie letters of diuers men, and by the ſollemne agréement, made with the Churches of Helu…tia and Suenia, and by his owne confeſſion to Melancton, as it is ſufficiently teſtifyed at his laſt farewell from him before his death.