Reproof of Howlets Untimely Shrieking, Part 1 · Section 10
17 AND nowe to leaue all these thinges to the holy prouidence of God, and to the high wisedome of your most excellent Maiestie to consider of: wee are humbly to craue at this time, and most instantly to request, that your Highnesse will not take in euill part, this our bolde recourse vntounto your Royall person, in these our afflictions, and passing great calamites. You are borne our Soueraigne Princes and mother, and wee your naturall Subiectes and children. whether then shoulde children runne in their afflictions, but Great cause of recourse to … Maiestie.vntounto the louelove and tender care of their deare mother, especially shee beeing such a mother, as her power is sufficient to releeue them in all pointes, her goodwill testified by infinite benefites, and her noble and mercifull disposition knowne and renouned through out the worlde?
18 If your Maiestie were abrod in many partes of your Realme to vnderstande the miseries, heare the cryes, see the lifting vp of hands to heauen for the present afflictions, which this persecution hath brought: I knowe your Maiestie would bee much mooued, as all men are heere by the only reporte of the same: I coulde touche certaine particulars of importance to that effect. But I will keepe the lawe of Areopagus: I will The law of ….say nothing to mooue my Iudge, whose wisedome I well know, and whose goodnesse I nothing at all mistrust.Arist. lib. 1. Rheto.
19 If your highnesse were of that disposition (from which you are most farre of) as to take pleasure in our afflictions, delite and comfort in our calamities: wee coulde bee content for to beare this, and ten times more in so good a cause as wee suffer for, And if there bee any other of such cruel appetite, whom your Maiestie shoulde thinke good to be satisfied with blood: there want no Catholikes both there and here, which would most willingly offer themselues, to purchase … vntounto the rest. Diuers are in bondes there, most ready (I am sure) to accept such an offer: and if that number wyll not suffice, let the worde bee but spoken, and many more shall most ioyfully present themselues from hence, hauing reserued our selues to none other ende, if God woulde make vsus worthie of that: and that by our deathes, wee might giuegive testimonie to the Catholike cause, and redeeme the pitifull vexation, of so many thousand afflicted people at this day in England.
20 IESVS Christe, in abundance of merciemercy blesse your The conclusion.Maiestie, to whome (as hee knoweth) I wishe as much good as to mine owne soule: persuading my selfe, that all good Catholikes in Englande doe the same. And they which goe about to insinuate the Contrary, are in mine opinion, but appointed instruments by the common enimie, to dispoyle your Maiesty of your strongest piller and best right hande, as (soone after their purpose had) it woulde appeare, and shall be more manifest before the last tribunal seat, where we al shalbe presented shortly, without difference of persons, and where the cogitations of all heartes shalbe reuealed and examined, and in iustice of iudgement, rightfully rewarded. Nowe matters are craftily clowded up, and false visards put on, vponupon eueryevery action. Then all shall appeare in sinceritie and truth, and nothing auayle but only the testimonie of a good conscience. The which Catholikes by suffering, doe seeke to retaine, and which God of his infinite goodnesse, inspire your Maiestie, graciously without enforcement, to permit vntounto them still.
Your Maiesties most humble and obedient Subiect. I. Howlet.
After all this a doe, you will seeme at length to craue pardon at her Maiesties handes, or rather because you will seeme to be in no fault, but to excuse your presumption, you request that her Highnes will not take in euill part, this your bolde attempt, Clarkely spoken, and like an Drator: where vponupon you alleadge reason, that hath induced you hereto, taken partly from the bonde and knot, whereby her Maiestie, and her subiectes are narrowly linked together, partely from necessitie, and extreame miseries, that yee pretende, you are brought into. This is the … of your long, boasting withall, howe readie you and other of your side are, to spende your bloodes in defence of your religion, and Church. This is in summe, the effect of the three next Sections, and that which remayneth for a Conclusion of your Dedicatorie Epistle. your ouer rashe boldenes, in thus dealing with her Maiestie, needeth greatly of crauing pardon: Howeuer you craftily cloude it vp, and put a false vizarde thereon, that I may turne to you, your owne phrase, not so much for hauing recourse to her highnesse, in your pretended miseries, which either are not so great, or else easily releeued, if ye so will your selues: but in respect of your double dealing, rather in pretending one thing, and doyng the cleane contrarye, not contayning your selfe within the bounds ye talke of. You might with good leaue of her Maiestie, hauehave propounded your case, and hauehave had recourse vntounto her Highnesse, if her Maiestie had been ignoraunt thereof, as I thinke none in the land knoweth it now better, such is her wisdome, and godly, and great care ower her Subiectes: wherein, you doe her highnesse the more wrong, in supposing shee liueth here among her Subiectes, as a stranger without vnderstanding, and pitiyug the harde case, of any of her Maiesties naturall, honest, and dutifull subiectes: bearing, or forbearing your vntrue perswasion. It may please her maiesty to pardon that folly: but to feed her highnes eares, wt bare words, without deeds, (nay your deedes being cleane contrary and very naught) how should her Maiestie take this in good part: for you are a Proctor for your selfe, and other that you call Catholikes, that hauehave giuen your faith to the Pope, and Sea of Rome, her Maiesties sworne enemie, and the Realines: you goe about with slaunder, to seuer and make dissention, betweene her Maiestie, her Lawes, and the Ministers thereof: beetweene her, and her faythfull people and subiectes: Ye … and reporte tales, to impeche the credite of particular persons. In summe, ye take too much vponupon you, ye woulde be credited in euerie thing with her Maiestie, as though your saying were some heauenly Oracle. Wilfully funne not headlong into moe, and greater afflictions, and calamities, then her Maiestie, and lawes will laye vppon you, and you shall hauehave little, or no cause to complaine; suche is her Maiesties plentifull wisedome, and goodnes, and the great moderation, that is vsed in making of lawes in this realme. Great, and narrowe is the knot, thankes bee to God, and harde and faste tyed betweene her Maiestie, and her good and faithfull subiectes, as your Pope, and you to your regret, hauehave tryed, in seeking manie waies to dissolue that bande, and yet hitherto neuer coulde preuaile, nor neuer I trust shall. If her Maiestie bee borne your Soueraigne Princesse, and Mother, and you bee her naturall Subiects, and Children: As in deede, shee is all true hearted Englishmens, and wee all her Maiesties more bounde, if more may bee, in respect of the Gospell among vsus, then euer to any Princes or Kinges before. If your case be common with ours, why then doe you hot Catholikes, growe more out of kinde, then the rest ofher Maiesties naturall subiects do? Why before you neede, runne you so fast, and so hastily to Rome, and to the Pope, and thence seeke to make head, to disquiet this State, and your brethren, and countrey men at home. This is not onelyonly no part of a Loyall subiect, towardes his Prince and Countrey, but hardly the part of a true hearted Englishman: so vnnaturall is the dealing.
The better her Maiesties noble disposition, and vertues are knowen, and renoumed throughout the world, the moremonstrous a great deale, is this your wicked dealing, with so gracious a Soueraigne, and most naturall, godly, and carefull a Prince. You can hauehave no greater condemnation, or testimonie against you, then your diuelishe betaking of your selues to the Stepmother, that you hauehave chosen, leauing her that God had appointed you: whither yee list to take it of conscience, or pollicie. Runne whither yee shall, seeke … and neare, you are not like to finde such a mother againe abroade: Your stepmothers affection, that you hauehave chosen, lift her vp to the skie, if you can with your prayses, is in no comparison like: shee is too harde hearted, and too bloodye, wee knowe her well enough, and but to well: Leaue her therefore, leaue her. Come out from that Babylon, &c. And like naturall and obedient children, returne home to your owne deare Mother and Countrey, whome ye hauehave so vnkindely, and so undutifully forsaken. Put your selues againe with submission into her handes, so it seemeth you will: but when you can not otherwise chose, and yet hardly then too, your fault here in is such, as I hardely finde wordes, to expresse the indignitie thereof. If all bee well considered, you hauehave very great cause of recourse, and submission to her Maiestie: and from her, to forrainers and other, no cause at all: Leaue it therefore in time, leaue it and come home. At least for your part, M. Howlet, doe so, if you bee abroade and beyond Sea, without her Maiesties leaue: But come with a single heart and a good conscience, that is, a changed man. Put your selfe in deede without all dissimulation, to her Maiesties merciemercy, and to vsus you shall bee moste welcome. If miserie presse you, with the prodigal Sonne, hearken to this aduise the rather: Better to learne by affliction, and in it; then neuer; If your State be other, by your returne let it appeare, with howe franke a heart, and well meaning minde you come home, which will bee, when God shall first touch your heartes, to returne vnfaignedly and in deede, from Poperie and superstition, to that most mercifull heauenly father, or else neuer. This is the best Counsell I can at this time giuegive you.
For her Maisties being abroade among her Subiects, in many partes of her Realme. It is, thankes bee to God, and long may it continue, much and often, to our great ioy. Shee needeth not be tolde of the State of her subiectes by you, or goe by here say onelyonly, and receiue the reporte thereof, from beyonde Sea. Besides, reportes gather, and goe much by mens affections; This that you report of such hurly burley, and disquietnesse to bee in this Realme, is as true as other reportes, that come to you of thinges done here, and all a like, you are too light of credite: Your representation of the miseries, is but wordes, yee make more a doe then yee neede a great deale: If her Maiesties most moderate lawes against Poperie and Treason, if her milde proceeding in the iust defence of her selfe, her royall estate, and the Realmes presse you: will you doe well: GiueGive ouer that dealing then, that hath procured all this, and liue quietly at home as Gods true seruauntes, in the profession of the Gospell of Christ Jesus, and in duetifull obedience to our Soueraigne: Pray for her Matestie, and the State with vsus, as wee are willed, that wee may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie, and all former quarrelles betweene you and vsus in religion, forgotten and forgiuen, wee will liue in peace and charitie with you, howe euer you thinke otherwise of vsus. You make an If, and doe well so to doe, When you talke of her Maiesties disposition, to delight in your calamities, & of others cruel appetite to desire blood: which is as far frō her maiestie, & those of yt side; as ye same is familiar vntounto your popish religion: It is happie, howe euer yee thinke of other that yee cleare her Maiestie herein, which testimonie from the enemie hath some force. But howe euer ye brag of A readines to accept the offer of suffering death for your religion: yet thanke God, if yee be wise, and her Maiestie that that offer hitherto hath not been made you, nor them that ye be assured to bee so readie to accept thereof. This I tell you for all; your troubles are not delighted in heere, much lesse bee they or your blood sought after. These … but your dreames, You might well enough hauehave spared therefore that brag either of your selfe bing beyond sea, or of your fellowes readines to suffer and to die in so euill a cause especially, how euer you call it Catholike. It is a question of … (man) and of treason, …, and rebellion, & not other, that you call the Catholike cause, Again you can at the most, but warrant for your selfe. Let other men alone hardely in this case. And yet talking of suffering death, you doe wisely (in my opinion) when yee ioyne those fewe that be here of your side in prison with your selfe, and those that are fled beyond Sea, and put them first in the forewarde, and followe your selues aloofe and a farre of, … this condition: that if yt number will not suffice, where by seeing how they speede, and will stand to their tackling as stāders by, & out of danger ye may after they be gon, consult what is best for you: whether to come home and take such parte as they, which euen now ye are not very hastie to doe, or to tarie there still, vnlesse you may come in safetie, for which ye meetely well prouide, as we hauehave seene a little before. I pray God make both you and vsus al readie to beare the crosse, and whatsoeuer afflictiō here for Christes sake & his Gospell, when it shall please him to call vsus to that trial. And let the catholike cause goe, of which you so much talke, all without booke. For the other I meane the profession of Christes gospel, our brethren in Queene maries dayes (to keepe home, and to goe no farther of) being in the hands of those of your side, hauehave to Gods glorie alreadie geuen ample and sufficient testimonie of the truth. And yet I am in doubt that the bloode then shed, would not satisfie your bloody church, if you had the sword in your handes which God keepe you from if it please him.
Heere I finde now cited the third time, the first booke of Aristotles Rhetorique, to adorne this your Epistle withall and you note, both in your text and margin the Law of Areopagus, It had beene more wisedome for you M. Howler to hauehave set that rule or lawe before your eyes in the beginning, At your entrie into your Epistle, as you found it at the beginning of the first booke of Aristotles Rhetorique, that ye might still hauehave beene put in remembrance, to hauehave kept the same better than you nowe hauehave done, or to left it quite out, when you hauehave vsed all your skil, to moue h̄er maiesties to the affections of pitie, hatred, and so foorth, and hauehave tolde a greate deale more than troth. You saye nowe out of place in the ende that you will keepe the Law of Areopagus. The learned reader in perusing the verye first leafe of Aristotles Rhetorique and comparing it with this your manner of writing, will by & by see your vanitie & what credit there is in your word, how well you kepe the rules of your profession. Youforeign. hauehave taken an euill cause in hand: Aristotle in his Rhetorique sayth, you should perswade no such matter though you could. It is an abuse of your arte, supposition deceiued you. Aristotle would hauehave you pithie, or bring matter & stuffe forforeign. proofe & not be occupied in cunningly stirring vp affections with wordes, which is the substance of your writing. For that (saith he) an argument or reason is a Rhetoricall demonstration, foreign.and the cheife in perswasion. Concerning the Law of Areopagus at Athens in Greece. There were certaine iudges of capital matters of great authority and fame called Areopagites, of ye place where they sat in iudgmēt. In this courte were there diuers good lawes and ciuil orders to keepe the court and iudgement therein from … dealing, and other corruptions as to such cases apertaineth, some concerning the iudges themselues, some concerning those that had to deale there: Among which this was one, that M. Howlet alleadgeth here out of Aristotles Rhetorique, to wit, that none that pleaded in that courte should speake any thing out of the matter, or frō the purpose, to stirforeign. vp the affection of the iudges, and thereby to seduce them and to peruert iudgement. This is commended of Aristotle in his Rhetorique, as an order to bee followed of Orators and was practised in Athens, as a good and wholesome lawe, the cryer forwarning and forbidding him that was publiquely to speake to vse any preface, or to stirre affecttiōs onelyonly to propound his matter. And I would M. Howlet, as bee heere professeth, had in time better regarded and obserued the fame, than he doeth through his epistle dedicatotorie, so shoulde we hauehave had lesse cause to hauehave plained of corrupt dealing, and her maiestie and this church also hauehave been lesse troubled. Aristotle (finding faulte with Rhetoricians before his tune, for treating in artificiall speech, but of a little portion of that arte, and that the lesser and woorse to stirre vp affections, where in they were most occupied (as M. Howlets practise is in this his Epistle to her maiestie) omitting there whilest matter, substance, and sounde proofes, whiche is eyther all or the principall) writeth thus: Argumentes or reasons to prooue withal, pertaine onelyonly to arte, other thinges are accessarie but these Rhetoritians speake nothing of argumentes which is the body of proofe and perswasion, but busie themselues most in thinges that are without the compasse of the matter for tantes or reproch, pittie, anger, and perturbation of the minde, bee not of the matter it selfe: but pertaine to the iudge so as if it were in all iudgements as it is in some Cities nowe, and in suche as hauehave good Lawes, they shoulde hauehave nothing to speake: For all men partly think that the Lawes ought so to prouide, partely vse it, and forbid anye to speake out, or from the matter; as it is also in Areopagus iudging rightly hereof: For wee may not peruerte the iudge or carie him out of the way by drawing him into anger hatred or compassion: For it were euen as if one should make the measure or rule, that he were to vse, crooked to deceiue withall. Thus farre Aristotle, enough for this matter, that the reader may see what dealing we may look for at M. Howlets handes in other thinges, when wee finde him so hollowe in his owne facultie, and so yll to keepe the Lawe that hee professeth to keepe, taken out of his maister Aristotle, Hee that list to see more let him looke in the Authour him selfe who declaimeth at large against this abuse of Rhetorique.
The rest of your Hyperbolicall, that is rauing and rouing speeches without all truth I omit, and come to toucheInterp. Hermogen. shortely your Epilogus or conclusion. One saith that in Areopagus, there was neither preface nor Epilogus, but as inforeign your preface at ye beginning likewise so here in the end you freely break the law of Areopagus, that euen a little beforeStatuimus, id est abrogamus. ye so promised to keep; so that your keeping is eueryevery where a breaking, as wee decree; is we abrogate; you know wt whō, and by whose expositiō, if not worse. Your Epilogus or conclusion is mixed with wishes, fawning, false perswasion condemnation of other and cleering of your selfe and your fellowes. Good M. Howlet, let words and deedes goe once together, doe not tel vsus (while yee serue in the rampe of Gods, her Maiesties, and the realmes enemie vnderunder the Pope of Rome) of ye affectiō you beare to her …. She beleeueth you not, neither can we beleeue you. You hauehave brokē the after othe geuē to her maiestie before time, & hauehave taken a newe othe to the Pope, the banner being now displayed on both sides and the field pitched. Ye are seene and found comming in the fight with weapon in hand from vnderunder ye enemies standerd, & to presse as hard as ye can against the religion her maiesty professeth, & the state. What would yee hauehave her maiestie or the state that lead the contrarye Campe iudge of you: ye carie a wrong cognisance, and that bewrayeth you. God in abundance of merciemercy long blesse her maiestie, with all kind of blessings spiritual and temporall to Gods glory dayly more and more, her maiesties honour, the benifite of Gods church, and the conuersion or confusion of al her enemies, and specially to the confusion of that Antichrist of Rome, that hath and still doeth, so maliciously and spightfully, seeke the subuersion of Gods holy Gospel, and her maiesty, and this state the professors therof: God againe of his goodnes long continue with increase the sincere profession of Christs holy Gospel & religion among vsus vnderunder her maiestie, and in all make vsus thankfull for so great benefites.
Amen,