A Catholicon, Preface
THE PREFACE to the Christian Reader, seruing as a preparative to the Treatise following.
SKilfull Physitians, to worke safely and cure soundly, doe vse preparatiues before they minister to their patients, and prescribe a dyet to be obserued after: the same course will I take: that whereas I hauehave out of S. Iudes Catholike epistle, confected a Catholicon, that is, a generall preseruatiue against popish infection, I will first briefly prepare the minde of the discreete Reader, in shewing the danger of this ouerspreading and contagious disease. Seneca Nihilmagis aegris prodest quā curari ab eo, á quo volunt. lib, 4. declamat.saith, that nothing doth more profit the sicke, then to be cured of him, whome they desire to be cured by. I trust then that this enterprise of mine, shall not be fruitlesse to any, proceeding from him which wisheth well to the cause of religion, and to all those that vnfainedly louelove the Lord Iesus, that they which stand, may continue, they which wauer may be setled, which doubt, may be confirmed. Such a physitian therefore, as is a friend, and such physicke as is wholesome, is that, I trust, which eueryevery man desireth, that either would hauehave his sicknes cured, or his health preserued.
Now to know how dangerous & hurtfull the contagion of Poperie, and popish religion is, no better rule can be giuen, then that prescribed by our Sauiour, Math. 7. 16. Exfructibus eorum. &c. By their fruits ye shall know them. And the wise man describeth the harlot by these properties. Her crueltie: Her house tendeth to death, Prov. 2. 18. Her treacherie and vnfaithfulnes: Shee forsaketh the guide of her youth, vers. 17. Her flatterie: vers. 16. Shee flattereth with her words. As a dishonest and vnchast woman is thus discerned, so is a corrupt religion. And these are the very badges and ensignes of the whore of Babylon, Crueltie, Treacherie, Flatterie. Where they get the sword, they shew all crueltie: where their power faileth, they worke by treacherie: where this speedeth not, they will deceiue by flatterie and hypocrisie.
Their rage and crueltie against the mē bers Of Romanists.of Christ, hauehave beene most brutish and vnnaturall; what tortures can be deuised, which they hauehave not applied? what grieuous death which they hauehave not executed vponupon the poore members of Christ? Some they hauehave hanged, as a good minister in Germanie in his owne house. Fox p. 880. Some drowned; as Peter Spengler at Ensishem. Some beheaded. Nicholas Paul at Gaunt. Fox p. 896. Some buried quicke, as two women at Lovaine. Ann. 1543. ex Francis Encen. Some pulled asunder by peecemeale: Iohn Clarke at Melden. An. 1524. ex Crispino. Some had their eyes put out, as a priest in Germanie. Fox. p. 891. Some put into the pinchbacke, hanging by the hands and …russed vp behinde, with a great waight at their feete. p. 882. Some poisoned, as a priest at E…ford. p. 896. Some burned with oyle. Steuen Browne at Poitiers. Ann. 1540▪ Some burned by peecemeale: Peter Gavart at Paris. Ann. 1558 Some burned beeing smeared with fat and brimstone, as Martius Alba, Petrus Scriba at Lyons. ex Pātaleon. Some burned with brimstone and gunpowder, as Iulianus Leville at Sanserre. Ann. 1554. ex Iohanne Crispino. Some burned with pitch and tarre dropping vponupon them. Of Romanists.George Marsh. p. 1567. Some broyled. Iohn Whiteman at Ostend Fox. p. 2113. Some pressed with hot yron, hands and feete; Bertrande. Fox. p. 896. Some drawn Here is the patience and faith of Saints. Rev. 13. 10.and torne vponupon the racke; Bennet Romane. Fox. p. 926. Some had their tongues cut out; Peter Roscan at Bloys. An. 1556. Crispin. And Peter Serre at Tholosse. An. 1553. William Hasson at Roane. Ann. 1544. ex Crispino. And it was generally decreed at Paris, that the Martyrs should hauehave their tongues cut out. Ann. 1546. Crispin. Some had their tongues boared through; Henrie Conboron. ex Crispin. Some had their throats cut, as 88. in Calabria. p. 942. Some women slain with child, and their infants tumbling out, troaden vnderunder feete, and trampled vponupon: as the women of Merindoll. Fox. p. 952. Vnspeakable are the torments which thousands of Gods Saints hauehave endured and suffered vnderunder the tyrannie of Antichrist. 1500. were apprehended at once in Calabria. Fox. p. 942. Ten thousand were slaine in Paris in three daies, in the bloodie massacre. Within lesse then fiue yeares, three hundreth faithfull seruants of Christ, were burned to ashes in England. God be blessed for the happie change, and the Lord in Of Romanists.merciemercy deliuer his Church from such Marian times.
Thus, as the Apostle spake of the seruants of Christ in former times, they were tried with mockings and scourgings: moreouer by bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, hewen asunder, tempted, they were slain with the sword: whom the world was not worthie of, Hebr. 11. 37. so hauehave the true worshippers of God beene handled in these latter times. And whereas they could not ouercome by subtiltie and sophistrie, they hauehave tried them by force and cruelty, as Hierome saith in the Tallbu▪ institutus es disciplinis, vt cui respō dere non po…eris, caput auferas, & linguam quae tacere non potest, seces? Apolog. 3. ad Ruff.like case; Are you sowell taught, that, whome you can not answer, you will take off his head, and cut out his tongue that will not hold his peace? So did Fulvia to Cicero, and Herod to Iohn. And thus did the Papists deale with the learned Martyrs: whome they could not conquer by Scripture, they thought to subdue by torture: they persecuted them with fire and sword, whome they could not conquer by the word. Much like are these Romanists to their forefathers the olde bloodie Romanes, whose measure they fulfill.
Seneca reporteth, that L. Scylla commanded M. Marius legges to be broken, Of Romanists.his eyes to be pulled out, his hands to be cut off, and so tormented him by peecemeale, as some of the Martyrs were handled. Lib. 3. de Ira.Caius Caesar vsed this torment, to stop their mouthes with sponges, and pieces cut off from their garments, whome he cruelly put to death: euen as the popish Romanists boared through the tongues of the Martyrs, and thrust balls of y…on into their mouthes, and of some they cut out their tongues, that they should not complaine of their crueltie. Volesus the proconsull of Asia, vnderunder Augustus Caesar, hauing in one day beheaded 300. walked …en l. 2. de Ira.among the dead bodies, vaunting himselfe with these words, Rem verè regiam, O kingly act! The like cruell part, if not worse, was shewed by the Romanists in Calabria Ann. 1560. when 88. Martyrs in one day had their throats cut. The manner whereof Fox. p. 942.was this. They beeing all shut vp in one house togither as in a fold, the hangman tooke them out one by one, & so dispatched them: going from one to an other with the bloodie knife in his mouth, and a bloodie muffler in his hand, with his hands vp to the ellboes in goare blood. Did not this cruell wretch thinke also in his minde, that he had done a princely act? Of Romanists.Such hauehave beene, and yet is, the crueltie of the popish Romane Church, whereby we may certenly discerne that they are not guided by the spirit of God: for, the fruits of the spirit are meekenesse, gentlenesse, peace, Gal. 5. 22. These beastly cruell bloodsuckers shew themselues to be the right members of Antichrist, and the brood of Romulus that laid the foundation of Rome in the blood of Remus his brother. Neither are we to looke for better entertainment, or other measure at their hands. For one of their own cuntrey men that best knew the bloodie disposition of the Romanists, Hoc inter caetera pessimum habet crudelitas, perseverandum est: nec ad meliora patet regressus: scelera sceleribus tuenda sunt. Sen. l. 1. de clem…n.hath thus described their nature: This bad qualitie hath crueltie among the rest, they must hold out: and hardly returne they to a better minde: for wickednes must be defended with wickednes.
God graunt his faithfull seruants patience, that suffer vnderunder their cruell hand, and to his Church in England continue this fauour, that as we hauehave shaken off their tyrannicall yoke, so we may neuer be brought vnderunder the same againe. Amen. So be it. Lord Iesus.
But, because the Romanists doe falsly obiect against the Protestants, their extreame crueltie executed vponupon the Popes Feverdentius re…elled.Catholikes, for stopping of their slaunderous mouth, I will briefly set downe the truth herein.
A certaine brawling fryer of Paris, namely Feverdentius, hath stepped forth of late, opening his lying mouth wide, against the proceeding of the Protestants in France especially and England. Concerning France he saith, that the whole nation did abound with blood, their Churches made stables, or burned to ashes, their fields wasted, their riuers ran with blood: atque hi, novi evangelij, fructus: and these are Dial. 1. p. 7.the fruits, saith he, of the new gospel. And, of troubles in England mooued against Catholikes, he is not ashamed thus impudently to write: that they are drawne to come to heare sermons; if they refuse to come, they are imprisonned, whipped, hanged, racked, bowelled, their members quartered and boyled, and cast forth to be Dial. 1. p. 15.eaten of foules, beasts, and dogges, because they desire to obserue the religion receiued from their fathers.
Would any man thinke, that they were so shamelesse, as to publish such wicked slaunders and impudent lies, to the view of the world?
This lying fryer hath most slaunderously Feverdentius refuted.charged the protestants, with the ciuill warres and troubles of France, with defiling of the temples, shedding of blood, laying wast the countrie: whereas it is most notoriously knowne, that the Papists were the onelyonly causes of all these mischeifes. Did not Miniers that cruell tyrant, when he had taken the towne of Cabrieis by trecherie, Fox p. 932 ex histor. Gallica.enter into the Church, and cause men, women, and children, that were fled thither for succour, to be cruelly slaine? Did not the Duke of Guise at Vassiacum doe the like, causing his souldiers to enter ex Insti. Go… ler.the Church, and with a great slaughter put them all to the sword?
Againe, is it not notoriously knowne, that in that treacherous massacre in Frāce, An. 1572. there were in Paris, Lyons, Orleance, Rhoane, and other cities, within one monethmonth, aboue thirtie thousand Protestants slaine, in so much that the channels in the streetes ranne with blood? howe then are they not past all shame to obiect these things, and lay them to the charge of the Protestants? And what other cause is there of the treacherous practises of some french papists against their nowe most worthie king, both afore time, and now of late, (but that God in his merciemercy hath preuented Feverdentius …futed.their mischeifes) but, for that his maiestie pitying the desolation and spoile of so famous a kingdome, hath in his wisdome appeased the ciuill warres and troubles there, to the great reioycing of all that louelove their countrie. Who then were the first authors of those domesticall tumults, but they who secretly worke to hauehave them renewed, and the honourable edict of pacification to be dissolued? Wherefore, I may say here, to this lying fryer, as S. Augustine Non invenirē quo modo te refellerem, nisi vt, aut iocantem riderem, aut insanientē dolerem: sed quia te iocari non credo, vides quid restac. l. 2. c. 38.said to Petilian the Donatist: If thou shouldest say vntounto me, that I am Petilian, howe could I tell to refute thee, but either to deride thy scoffing, or bewaile thy madnesse? but because I thinke you iest not, you know what followes. See this shamelesse fryer in charging the protestants with the persecution in France, hath coyned as impudent a lie, as if he should face me downe that write this, to be lying Feuerdentius; which if he should doe, he might be truely iudged to be out of his wits: and so, I thinke he was possessed with a spirit of frenzie and madnesse, when he set his mouth and penne to vtter this slaunder.
Nowe concerning the affaires of the state in England, this franticke Franciscan hath couched many lies and vntrueths togither. Feverdentius refuted.1. that Catholikes are drawn and forced to come to Church. 2. that they Protrahunt ad conciones.are put to death, for refusing to come to Church; for simple recusancie is fined onelyonly with a pecuniarie monethly mulct, they are not otherwise violently drawne to the exercises of religion, much lesse suffer death for it. 3. that the bodie of any are cast out to beasts and dogs, is a great vntrueth. But, it is most true that once a popish bishop in Hungarie, did cause a Ex tomo 2. convival. …erm. Iohan. Gast.godly minister, hanged round with hares, geese, hennes, to be torne in peeces, and woorried of dogs. 4. As vntrue it is that inaudira supplicia▪ &c. that punishments neuer heard of are inflicted vponupon Catholiks. For it hath beene the auncient and most deserued punishment for traitours, by the law of this land, to be hanged, drawne, and quartered. 5. That any pope-catholiks are put to death, for keeping the auncient religion of their Fathers, is a great blasphemie of our state, as now shall be shewed for the satisfaction of all.
The Romanists suffer not death for religion, but for rebellion, not for their profession, but for their practising against the state, not for poperie but for treacherie, it may diuersly appeare. 1. Because there Feuerdentius refuted.are so many thousand knowne papists in the land, and yet fewe of them but such as are seditious and treacherous, are capitally punished. 2. Hereticks that doe swarue from the faith, are by the lawe adiudged to the fire: but, no papists hauehave yet felt that heate, as protestants did, who were consumed with the flames of fire, aboue 300. in lesse then fiue yeares space. 3. None of these traiterous papists that hauehave suffered for their demerits, were indited, arraigned, examined, or condemned for any article of faith, as it may appeare in the seuerall proceedings against them. 4. There is no law in England, to put any papist to death for his conscience: and without lawe our state punisheth none.
It will be obiected, that the act which maketh the comming in of the Iesuits and Seminarie priests, treason, doth for their profession condemne them. I answere: that this is altogither vntrue: 1. because that this act was but lately made in comparison of the whole time of Her Maiesties raigne hitherto, about Anno regni 27. when it was found by experience, that the end of their comming ouer into England, was to peruert the obedience of the subiect, and to contriue most vnnaturall For religion in England.conspiracies against our most gratious Soueraigne. Then was it high time to restraine them by law. 2. If it be obiected that though some of them hauehave conspired against the prince, yet all of them doe not so: I answer, that they beeing birds all of a feather, and receiuing their direction from the Romish chaire of pestilence, are all to be feared, though perhaps not all alike imploied, yet they are all dangerous, beeing deuoted to execute the Popes will, who is a professed enemy to our state. 3. Their very purpose to alienate the subiects from due obedience, and to reconcile them to a forraine potentate, is, and hath alwaies bin adiudged by the lawes of this land, a treasonable act: as to be adhęrent or ayding to the kings enemies, such as the pope is, was made treason, An. Edwardi. 3. 25. c. 2. But, it cannot be denied that all Iesuits and Seminaries are adhaerent and aiding to the Popes proceeding, who is the cheife aduersarie to our state. 4. All lawes … ciuill and canon hauehave condemned all practises and conspiracies against the state. Arcadius made this lawe, that a conspiracy against the counsellers of the prince (much more against the prince himselfe) though it take not effect, is to be punished with For religion in England.the sword: which lawe is rehearsed in the bpar. 2. c. 6. q. 1. can. 22.decrees. cpar. 2. c. 11. q. 1. can. 31.Fabian decreed, that he which did lie in waite against the Bishop, should be committed to prison. By the councel of dTolet. 12. c. 1.Toletane, he is anathematized which did seeke any occasion to hurt the prince. He is by the eConstant. concil. sest. 15.Canons adiudged an heretick that did seeke priuily to take away the life, though of a tyrant. This point then, I trust is sufficiently cleared, that not the protestants, but the papists are the cruell persecutors of these daies, and the spillers of the blood of the Saints, so that by their barbarous crueltie, and vnsatiable blood thirstinesse, it is no hard matter to iudge of their religion, what it is, and of themselues, by what spirit they are ledde.
Nowe I proceede to the second cognisance and Antichristian badge, which is treacherie: for, where by open violence, they cannot make a way, they doe attempt by wicked conspiracie to effect their cruel desires: wherein they followe the counsell and sentence of Lysander, whose saying this was, Ubi Leonina pellis non sufficit, assuenda Vulpina: That where a Lyons skinne Plutar.will not serue, a Foxes skinne must eeke it out. To passe ouer the olde treacherous practises of Popes and popelings against The treacheri… ▪kings and Emperours; qCaxton. l. 7.as how king Iohn was poysoned by a monke of Swinstead; Gregorie the seauenth hired a russian to murther bPenno. card.Henrie the fourth. Many treasons and practises attempted by Gregory the ninth against the Emperour Fredericke the second. Henrie the sixt Emperour poysoned in receiuing the sacrament Fox. p. 30….by one fryer Bernard procured by Clemens Avent in annal. lib. 7.the fift. To let passe these and many other such wicked conspiracies contriued in times past, I will descend to the memorable accidents of these daies.
Was not the death of the prince of Auringe procured by the treacherie of papists? and the late king of France, Henrie the third, by a dominican fryer most treacherously murthered? But no country hath had greater experience of popish seditious practises, then this nation of ours, nor yet any people bound more to thank God, for the deliuerance of their prince from so many dangers, as we are. What shal I speake of Mortons conspiracie who was Pope Pius the fifths agent to raise the rebellion of the North? of Saunders attempts in Ireland, of Parry suborned by Gregorie the thirteenth, of Arden, Soomerfield, Lopeze, Babington, Yorke, Williams, Their treachery.Stanly, Squire? all which, with others, set a worke by that beast of Rome with his accomplices, hauehave conspired the death of our Soueraigne prince, as is extāt in our Chronicles. Yet God in his merciemercy hath preserued his annointed, and beene a wal of fire vntounto her against al her enemies, & I trust shall still be her protectiō, to be a comfort to his Church for his owne glorious name sake.
Are these then the Catholiks of these daies, and is this that holy father of Rome, out of whose head such monstrous & hydeous practises are forged? and call ye this (ye papists) the holy Catholike Romane faith, that bringeth foorth such vngodly fruits? Euen old heathenish Rome would hauehave beene ashamed of such dealings. They might hauehave remembred, howe C. Fabricius, when Pyrrhus phisition sent him word by a letter, that he would, if he thought good, poysō the said Pyrrhus that noble captaine discouered the treason to Pyrrhus, who caused his phisitian to be hanged. This Fabricius had before refused great summes of gold sent him from Pyrrhus, of whome Sen…ca thus writeth, Eiusdem animi fuit, auro non vinci, veneno non Epist. 120.vincere: He shewed the same minde, both not Their treacherie.to be ouercome with gold, nor yet to ouercome with poison. So vnlike our Romanists now, are to these ancient Romanes. Fabricius would not accept of the physitians offered seruice to poison his master: the popelings corrupted Lopeze physitian to the Queenes houshold, with great summes to poyson her Maiestie. He reuealed a conspiracie against an enemie: the other doe not onelyonly conceale, but contriue conspiracies against the prince. And he did this to a violent & professed aduersarie, that with all hostilitie had inuaded the confines of Rome, and made a great slaughter of the Romanes before; but, they hauehave offered this hard measure to a peaceable prince, that till shee was most iustly prouoked by their wrongs, offended none, but onelyonly defended her selfe and her people. And, as this new generation of pretended Catholikes and Christian Romanists, hath degenerated from the auncient Romes, yet beeing idolatrous heathen; so herein they doe farre exceede the barbarous Mahumetans the Turkes. For it is a rare thing amongst them to heare of insurrections, mutins, or rebellions, much lesse of any confederacie of cōiuration against the h… of the prince.
These that hold of Peter and Paul, who, Their treacherie.they say, were founders of the Romish Church, how vnlike are they vntounto them in their profession and practise? Paul excused himselfe, because he had vnwittingly called the high priest, painted wall, Act. 27. but Papists doe iustifie, not their reuilings onelyonly, but rebellions against the highest powers on earth. Peter saith, Submit your selues to all manner of ordinance of man, for the Lords sake, as to Kings, to superiours, and vntounto other gouernours, 1. Pet. 3. 13, 14. but these Petrians follow not Peters steppes, but in stead of submitting, seeke to subdue Princes. Much vnlike be they to Dauid, whose heart smote him, because he had cut off the lappe of Sauls garment: but their heart is not touched, for seeking to cut off the life of Princes. So that as Agis made answer to an euill man, asking, Quis Spartanorum, optimus, Who was the best of the Plutar. Apoth.Spartans? answered, Qui tui dissimillimus: he that is vnlikest thee: euen so it may be answered concerning the Romanists, that he is the best Catholike that is most vnlike them.
But now whereas the Popes champions doe faile in these disloyall and trayterous enterprises, there is a third engine which they put in vre, and that is Flatterie The flatterie … faire shewes of Romanists.and hypocrisie, when vnderunder the pretence of friendship and profession of obedience, they worke mischiefe. Like as Ioab making shew of friendship to Abner, taking him aside, as if he would speake with him peaceably, smote him that he died. 2. Sam. 3. 27. And as Ismael serued Gedaliah, who eating bread with him as his friend, rose vp and slue him. Ier. 41. 1. As Iudas betrayed our Sauiour with a kisse; so, this is a new popish tricke, that where neither open violence and tyrannie preuaileth, nor secret practising and vnfaithfull treacherie taketh place, there by deceitfull subtiltie they thinke to make a way. Thus was that great slaughter of Protestāts in Frāce, contriued Ann. 1572. vnderunder pretence of solemnizing the marriage betweene the king of Navarre, and the king of France his sister. Thus the Admiral with a great sort of most worthie men beside, whome they could not ouercome by force, were ouerthrowne by faire promises, & a vaine hope and expectation of peace: that, like as Absalōs sheep shearing feast was made a snare, to intrappe his brother Amnon, 2. Sam. 13. 29. so this mariage feast and princely solemnitic, was but a stale to draw the Protestants into their nets. And as Annibal is reported to hauehave saide thus of the Romane captaines Fabius and Marcellus, whereof the one wrought by policie, the other by force: Magis se à non pugnante Fabio, quam à pugnante Marcello, sibi metuere: Plutar. apoth.that he was more afraid of Fabius not fighting, then of Marcellus fighting: So the sequele of this enterprize shewed, that the Papists are more to be feared feasting then fighting in the field. The like deuice hath beene set afoote in England, when as, to the intent to make her Maiestie and the Counsel secure in that behalfe, they set forth a booke, declaring it to be Fulk. in epist. Iude, v. 8.vnlawfull to conspire her Highnes death, which yet notwithstanding since the comming forth of that booke, hath beene often attempted, as all the world knoweth, but to their shame and confusion, thankes be giuen to God. And now of late there is broken forth a fire of dissention kindled betweene the Seminarie priests and Iesuits (or Iebusites, if you please, as our learned countriman calleth them, some other Esauits, D. Sutliff….some Suits, all fitter names then that they would be called by: if you will Iudasites, for they imitate Iudas, and not Iesus) wherein the priest doth deepely charge the other sect, as principall or accessarie in the conspiracies attempted formerly against her Maiestie, and doe cleare themselues as good and faithfull subiects. The scope of which their inuention is this, that they may obtaine greater libertie, and so may corrupt and peruert the subiect more surely; in that they protest they are good subiects, and seeme to wish well to the State, and condemne the others as turbulent practisers against it. We mislike not the words, but we feare their deeds, as Augustine well saith, Non accuso verba, tanquam vasa preciosa, sed vinum quod illis propinatur ab ebriosis doctoribus. I accuse not the words, as pretious vessells, but the wine that in them is offered to vsus, by these drunken teachers. Now seeing I am fallen into mention of this matter, I wil briefly lay open the deceit, that is like to maske and lie hidde vnderunder the vizzard of this dissention. True it is, that these popish sectaries, priests and Iebusites, the Pharisies and Sadduces of these daies, are bitterly fallen out among themselues; neither is it a formall or deuised contention, as some hauehave imagined, but a very materiall and reall diuision among them: kindled secretly a long time afore it brake forth vntounto these opē flames.
Which beeing espied by the vigilant eye of some worthie persons, was suffered to flame forth, as it doth, that other men seeing the same might keepe it from their owne houses, though it burne a while where it began. And here, by the way, I can not passe ouer with silence some forward affections, that take vponupon them to censure the proceedings of the State herein: as though it were not safe that such dangerous stuffe as the Quodlibets and other bookes containe, should not be published. Wherein (as to me it seemeth) they take a preposterous course. For the Magistrate is not to giuegive a reason of his doings The secrets of Magistrates not curiously to be searched.to eueryevery one: neither should we rashly enter into their secrets. The wise man saith, The heauen in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart, can no man search out. Prou. 25. 3. So that the counsell of the magistrate is as a great depth, that is not by eueryevery one to be sounded. It is saide, that while Alexander was reading a letter of secrets, he suffered his friend Ephestion Plutar. apoth.to looke on, but when he had done, with his ring he sealed his lippes, by that ceremonie enioyning him silence And Ecclesiasticus saith, If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee, it will not burst thee. ch. 19. v. 10. So should we neither be inquisitiue to know, nor knowing, discouer the secrets of State: but, as the Apostle biddeth, we should pray for Kings and magistrats, that God would direct their counsells; not praie or talke our pleasure of them, to preiudice their proceedings. Wherefore, till such time as it shall seeme good to the State, to hauehave those popish bookes more fully answered, I will set downe some aduertisments for the satisfaction of the reader concerning the foresaid dissentions.
1. Whereas the Priests doe lay all the blame vponupon their fellow Iesuits as authors Dissention betweene priests and Iesuits.and contriuers of all the treacherous plots against her Maiestie and the state, they can not iustifie themselues. For it is certen that priests as well as Iesuits, hauehave had their hand in many of the saide conspiracies. Morton, Allin, Hall, Ballard, Gifford, were priests and not Iesuits. The first, the instrument of the commotion in the North: the second, a continuall practiser against the State: the third, incited Arden and Somerfield: the fourth, Babington & his fellowes: the last, yet aliue, prouoked Savadge, Williams, Yorke, to take in hand their wretched enterprise. It may be that all priests are not treacherously bent, but yet we see, they can not cleare eueryevery one of their profession. They hauehave beene both very dangerous and are so to be held still. Me thinke then, their fellowes may very well say vntounto them, as Ierome saide to Ruffinus, though the case be not alike, Quid vulneribus tuis prodest, si ego fuero vulneratus? an solacium percussi est atnicum socium videre morientem? What doth it helpe thy wounds, if I be wounded? Is it a comfort to him that is smitten to see his friend die with him? Secondly, they affirme and maintaine this position, that notwithstanding they doe depend vponupon the pope for their faith, yet they may be and are good subiects to the Queenes highnesse: which is a very false ground. 1. Because they gaue the pope preheminencie before the prince, and authoritie to excommunicate. 2. They allowe appeales to be made to Rome, which is contrarie to the lawes of this land. 3. They make the pope cheife in all spirituall causes; and so doe maime the office of a prince. 4. They count all these martyrs, which hauehave beene executed for treason, which is a great slander to the state. 5. They commend Cardinall Allē, D. Gifford with others, which were known to be sworne enemies to the state. 6. They giuegive ayde and maintenance to the Seminaries, and societie of Iudasites, Iesuites I would say, which is no good subiects part to foster enemies to their countrie. Wherefore I conclude vponupon these reasons, that a professed and absolute papist, priest, Iesuite, pope catholike, lay, regular or secular, can be no good subiect, though he may be no traytour. And if the Queene had no better subiects then such, her maiestie were ill bestead. And if the common wealth had no better sheild to defend it selfe, it might deceiue them, as Brasidas the Lacedemonian beeing wounded through his sheild said, Prodente me clypeo vulneratus: I was wounded, Plutarch.my sheild betraying me.
Thirdly, whereas a question is mooued by the popish priestes, which of them, or the other faction are likest to the puritans, and it is resolued, that the sect of the Iesuits commeth neerer vntounto them, though not so absurd in doctrine, nor yet so malitious against either Church or common wealth: neither yet are they such grosse heads, but much finer witts then the puritans: for these are their owne words. Let it here be considered, that if by the name of puritans, they did vnderstand such buisie factious heads, as beeing malecontents, of a couetous and greedie minde, seeke the hauocke and spoile of the Church, not indeed, nor in trueth, touched with any conscience of religion, such as Martin Mareprelate might seeme to be, we would not greatly stand with them for this comparison. For such a puritan may proue a good stocke to graffe a papist in, as that vile Hacket that iustly suffred for his villanies, and did leape, as it is reported, out of such a puritans skinne into a papists hide. But whereas vnderunder this scandalous name of puritans, they doe gall and wound the credit Puritans better subiects then papists.of many worthy ministers of the Gospell as Caluin, Beza, and the preachers of Scotland, and diuers amongst vsus, who otherwise, setting aside their opinion of some externall vsages of the Church, are very profitable labourers, and most loyall subiects: betweene these and the best learned of the papists, for true religion and sound diuinitie, and faithfull obedience, & louelove to their prince, there is no comparison at all. First, these whome they vpbraid with the name of puritans, do hold soundly all points of religion, and articles of the protestants faith, throughout, excepting onelyonly concerning externall matters of discipline and ceremonies, which belong rather to the pollicie of the Church, then to faith and doctrine. And therefore, they admitting of no absurd point of poperie, are by many degrees to be preferred, and I doubt not, but are better liked of the state, 2. Those preachers and ministers of the Gospell, neuer yet attempted any thing against the life of their prince, as priests and Iesuits hauehave done; neither (doe I trust) shall it euer be seene. They neuer conspired the death of Queene Marie, as these hauehave done of Queene Elizabeth. Wherefore it is a great slāder of thē to say, they seeke to pull downe kings & princes. 3. These admitte of no forraine potentate to hauehave power in matters ecclesiastical as the popish priests doe, wherein they curbe the authoritie of princes. 4. They perswade to obedience to their prince, and thankefulnesse to God, for the puritie of religion professed among them. The other creepe in corners to seduce and peruert the subiects from the faith, and so cō sequently from due obedience to their prince. 5. They communicate with the assemblies of the Church, in the worde, praiers, and Sacraments: the Romanists refuse so to doe, and disswade whome they may from our Church assemblies. 6. They both in their publike and priuate praiers, doe lift vp their hands for the life of our Soueraigne, and the continuance of her state; of popish priests it is to be doubted. For, whome the pope their head curseth, how dare they blesse? & whome he would hauehave cutte off, is it like they desire to continue? 7. They hauehave beene meanes to detect the conspiracie of the common aduersarie, and are readie with all their power to do it: popish priests vse not to reueale but to conceale them. 8. They are bound by oath to acknoweledge the princes supreame authoritie in all causes, and to renounce all forraine iurisdiction: popish priests will take no such oath. 9. They acknowledge a Church here in England, and themselues to be members of it; the popes priestes count vsus no Church, but Gifford praefa. 2, impudently & traiterously saith, that in England, haerefis est regio diademat… ornat….hold all protestants heretickes, and consequently, her Maiestie (vnderunder whose authoritie, we professe the Gospell, which they call heresie) in that number, and out of the Church. 10. Those whome they call puritan ministers, hauehave both by preaching and writing, impugned the common aduersarie, as much as any, and therin hauehave done God good seruice in his Church. And this is the cause, if the trueth were knowne, why popish priests hauehave such a spite at them, because they stand so much in their waie, staying the spreading of their infection, by the contrarie exposition of sound doctrine. And as for grossum caput and his fellowe, let them seeke him among themselues. I doubt not, but they, whome they most scorne of the protestants, are able to set foorth from them those, which either by writing or conference shall encounter the proudest priest or Iebusite. But in truth we disdaine this comparison, that the best popish priest should match with the worst protestant preacher, either for doctrine or obedience to his prince. Let them, the priestes and the Iebusites measure themselues with themselues, and compare themselues with themselues, as the Apostle saith of the false teachers of Corinth; 2. Cor. 10. 12. We dare not make our selues of the number, nor compare our selues with them. But, as Ierome saith of the dialogue of Origen and Valentinian, so we of this contention betweene these Apolog 2. ad. vers. Ruffin.popelings, In quo duos Andabatas inter se digladiātes spectasse mihi videor: Me thought I see two blinde sword-plaiers play togither. The fourth & last consideration is the scope & end of these popish books, which is to insinuate themselues to the State, and to perswade a toleration of religion, which A toleration of popery dangerous.I trust, they shall neuer obtaine, neither is it conuenient they should vponupon these reasons.
1. It were not for her maiesties safetie; for if they hauehave practised so against her Highnesse person, in the time of their restraint, what will they doe hauing further libertie?
2. It were not for her Maiesties honour, that hauing held a constant course in religion these 44. yeares, should in her sacred old age, listen to any such motion.
3. It would be an offence to all other protestant princes, that the famous church and common wealth of England should giuegive such an example.
4. It would breed a confusion and disquietnes in the land, and tend to the ouerthrowe and abrogation of diuers profitable lawes alreadie made against popish practises and the masse.
5. It would be an offence to God, that a Christian prince should suffer idolaters, such as Romanists are, to exercise their idolatrous worship freely. Iaacob would not suffer it to be done in his house, but buried all the images vnderunder an oake, Gen. 35. 5. much lesse is it to be permitted in a kingdome. And Eliah well said, 1. Kings, 18. 21. How long will ye hàlt betweene two opinions? if the Lord be God follow him: but if Baal be, then goe after him. So to admit two contrarie religions, were to halt betweene two opinions.
6. The pope in none of his territories nor where he hath absolute iurisdiction, doeth graunt any libertie to protestants, but tolerateth rather Iewes and Turkes: neither is it reason that his popelings should receiue any such toleration.
7. It would be a meanes to obdurate and harden papists in their superstition, whereas I trust, there may be hope of thē, so many as God shall call to returne to the Gospell.
8. Her Maiestie hath the example of the good kings of Iudah, for her warrant: they are commended which did expell all contrarie worshipps; as Asa because he brake downe the altars and images of strange Gods, 2. Chro. 14. 3. Iehosaphat for remoouing the high places and groues, 2. Chro. 17. 6. Iosias for putting downe the Chemarims that were idolatrous priests, 2. King. 23. 5. Whereas the scripture noteth such kings as did not take away the high places, as Iehoash, 2. King. 12. 3. and Azariah, 2. Kings. 15. 4.
9. Her Highnes hath a president from vertuous and blessed prince Edward 6. her Maiesties brother, who notwithstanding the request of Charles the Emperour, and the instance of Bishop Cranmer, and B. Ridley, would not consent to graunt to his sister the ladie Marie, to hauehave masse in her house. Fox. p. 1295. edition 1583.
10. Lastly, I will propound the most worthie example of the Emperour Valentinian, that when the citie of Rome sent Ambros. in obi… Valentin.vntounto him to restore the rytes of the temples of the idolls, and all the consistorie being Christians perswaded therunto: the Emperour alone, being a yong man, gainsaid them, alleadging the example of his brother Gratian; Quod pius frater eripuit, quo modo à me putatis esse reddendum, cum in co relligio laedatur, & frater: à quo se nollet pietate superari? How can I restore that which my brother tooke away? for both religion should receiue hurt, and my brother, of whome he would not be ouercome in religion. Postulet parens Roma alia quaecunque desideret: Let my mother, saith he, aske any thing else that she please: but, in this request he would not yeelde. The like constancie and firme resolution, thankes be to God, hath well appeared in her Maiestie. And so I conclude with that saying of Ambrose to Valentinian, with whome certaine dealt to hauehave their altars restored: Sed hac siiam sublata non essent, auferenda tuo imperio comprobarem. Epist. 30. ad Valentinian.But, if they were not alreadie taken away, I would prooue that they ought to be remooued by your authoritie: much lesse being now abolished, is it fit to hauehave them restored.
And to these Romanists, sacrificing priests, and others, I wish that either they would returne home againe to vsus, and that God would giuegive them repentance, that they may know the truth, and that they come to amendment out of the snare of the deuil, of whom they are takē at his wil, … S. Paul saith, 2. Tim. 2. 26. or, if they be setled and frozen in their dregs, that they would keepe them where they are, or returne to the Pope from whēce they come, and trouble no more the peace of our Church. And as Flaminius said to the Achiui, which inuaded their neighbours, Ne Plutar. Ròm. apotheg.instar testudinum, prolato extra testam capite, se periculo exponerent: least like the torteyse, they thrusting their head beyond the shell, should offer themselues to daunger.