A Defense of the Catholic Faith, Book 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The occaſion that moued IAMES the first, King of great Britaine to write his booke, with the iudgement on COEFFETEAV his booke.
IT happeneth often, that the Lightning falling vponupon a man without hurting the fleſh, breaketh the bones, becauſe they onelyonly in the body do make reſiſtance to it; and herein the lightning, which GOD ſends from aboue imitates the nature of him that ſendeth it, who bruſeth the proude, and ſuch as withſtand him; but taketh mercy on the humble, which bow vnderunder his iudgments, and tremble at his word. But the fulminations of the Biſhop of Rome, are of a contrary nature, for they hurt none but ſuch as feare them, nor breake none but ſuch as bow vnderunder them; but he that ſets them light, is neyther endamaged by them, nor breaketh his ſleep for them, but they fall like the Thunder-bolt into the Sea; nay they rather drawe from God a bleſsing vponupon the heads of thoſe, that are thus threatned, according to that of Dauid: Pſal. 109.28.Though they curſe, yet wilt thou bleſſe.
The happy raigne of the late Queene ELIZABETH will furniſh vsus, with a faire example thereof, who notwithſtanding the excommuniations of Pope Pius the fift, by whom England was interdicted, ſhe long time enioyed a Peace without any diſturbance or interruption; and a proſperity almoſt beyond example. And finally, when it pleaſed God to take her to peace, and to gather her to his reſt: many ſuppoſed, that the end of her life, would be a beginning of troubles, and confuſions in England; and thereupon the opinions and feares were diuers, according to the diuerſitie of mens deſires. For the Engliſh that were of the Romane Church attentiue and heedy to all occaſions, had conceiued hope of ſome great chaunge, whether it were that they were led into their hope vponupon falſe grounds, or that after the death of a ſoueraine Prince better things are euer expected from the ſucceffor; or whether that ſuch as are diſcontented are euer deſirous of a change; ſo it was that in this Criſis of humours, the ſpirits of the Engliſh waued and floated betwixt hope and feare, till by the happy arriuall of IAMES the firſt, the lawfull Succeſſor; all things were appeaſed and cleared; euen as by the riſing of the Sunne miſts and fogges are diſperſed and ſcattered.
He in the ſweetneſſe and faireneſſe of his owne nature, enclined to giuegive content vntounto all his ſubiects with free liberty of conſcience: But this his in clination was ouer-ruled by neceſſity, when his wiſedome entred into conſideration, that the matter now in queſtion was not onelyonly Religion, but the peace of his eſtate, and the ſecurity of his crowne, for that it was a thing dangerous to permit publike Aſſemblies of ſuch perſons, as had taken Oath to others then himſelfe; who hold that the Pope may pull downe Kings from their Thrones, and diſpenſe with ſubiects for the oath of their alleageāce. Moreouer he called to his remembrance the kings his predeceſſors, whom the Popes had reduced to extream ſeruitude, ſo farre as to make England parte of the Popes Demaines; and in Fee to the Church of Rome; and further to make it pay impoſt, and to cauſe the King to goe beneath his Legats, and to giuegive vp the Crowne into their handes. Theſe are conſiderations that one cannot ſquare or apply to thoſe of the Reformed Religion, which liue vnderunder a Soueraigne of a contrary profeſsion; for they take oath to no other, but to their Soueraigne Prince. They caſt their eyes vponupon no Forrainer, they maintaine that it belongs not to the ſubiect out of the Religion of the Prince, to frame occaſions of diſobedience, making piety the match and kindler of rebellion. We are ready to expoſe our liues for the defence of our King againſt whomſoeuer, though he be of our owne Religion; and whoſoeuer ſhould doe otherwiſe ſhould not defend Religion, but giuegive way to his owne ambitions, and ſhould draw a great ſcandall vponupon the truth of the Goſpell.
Notwithſtanding his Maieſtie hath vſed his ſubiects of the Romane Church in ſuch ſorte, that excepting the liberty of publique exerciſe, he deſired to hauehave them in like and equall condition with others, being vnwilling to hauehave them diſturbed for matter of conſcience, knowing well, that Religion is not by force but by perſwaſion to take impreſsion; and that in this caſe men will rather follow then be drawne, and that perſecutions begin when Arguments are at an end.
Notwithſtanding this gentle proceeding, thoſe of the Church of Rome now fallen from great hopes, which they had imagined, turned their deſpaire into choller and indignation; and thereupon plotted an enterpriſe, that ſhould hauehave enfoulded the King, the Queene, their children, his Maieſties Councell and the Parliament, in one and the ſame deſtruction; the plot was to make a Mine vnderunder the houſe of Parliament, and ſo to ſend the King and his royal family, with the chiefe of his Countrey to heauen by a new found way.
Hatred is an ingenious Miſtris of inuention, for neyther ancient nor moderne Hiſtories can parallel this with any example: The Prince of the world reſerued to our times, which are the very ſinke of former ages, ſomething more exquiſitely cruell and horrible, then euer before hath beene mentioned. In the meane time, through all their houſes, there was a certaine forme of prayer preſcribed by the Prieſts and Ieſuites, for the happy ſucceſſe of this enterpriſe; to whom the complices did mutually binde themſelues by oath, ſworne vponupon the holy Sacrament, both for ſecrecie and perſeuerance in the deſigne. The Mine was already finiſhed, and the Gun-powder laid ready, and nothing wanting but the execution; when God, who (as he is himſelfe a King) ſo conſequently he is the protector of Kings, whom he hath eſtabliſhed; miraculouſly diſcouered this treaſon; the conſpiratours being taken, ſuffered according vntounto law, and amongſt others two Ieſuites Garnet and Ouldcorne; who are now inſerted into a catalogue of*It is a table printed at Rome, Anno 1608. apud Paulum Mauperinum & Matheum Gruterum, dedicated to R. Farneſius Prince of Parma; in which are the pictures of ſuch Ieſuits as hauehave beene killed and executed ſinc… the yeare 1549. Martyrs, imprinted at Rome, which is the Spring-head and Forge of all ſuch enterpriſes.
Leſſe cauſe would hauehave ſufficed an impatient King to hauehave exterminated all their complices, and to hauehave let looſe the raines of his iuſt anger, but hee with a rare example of clemency, ſuffered puniſhment to paſſe no further, then to the principall delinquents, inuenting and framing to himſelfe Cauſes and Reaſons how he might pardon: he conſidered that Superſtition might alter, and ſtirre vp the mildeſt ſpirits, and was deſirous by pardoning the wicked, to make them become good; and though he could not find cauſe in them why to pardon, he foūd it in himſelfe; for though they no way deſerued mercy, yet he ſhewed himſelf worthy of his greatneſſe, in doing good to thoſe of ſo euill demerite.
He conſidered that God, whom hee repreſents; ſendeth raine vponupon the Bryers and Thiſtles, as well as on fruit Trees, and makes the Sunne to riſe alike to the good and to the euill; or elſe it may be that his clemency was accompanied and aſsiſted with a neglect of his enemies; eſteeming many of them not worthy of his wrath.
But for the better preuenting of ſuch conſpiracies in future times, the Parliament, together with the King, framed a forme of Oath, to be adminiſtred to all his Maieſties ſubiects, which is to this effect: That they acknowledge IAMES the firſt, King of great Britaine for their lawfull King, and that the Pope cannot by any right whatſoeuer depoſe him from his Kingdomes, nor diſcharge his ſubiects of their obedience to him, nor giuegive them licence to beare Armes againſt him: Alſo that notwithſtanding any Declaration or Sentence of Excōmunication made or granted, or to be made or granted against the ſaid King & his Succeſſors, they wil beare faith and true alleageance to him, his heyrs & Succeſſors, & him and thē wil defend to the vttermoſt of their power againſt all attempts & conſpiracies whatſoeuer: And that they wil reueale al treaſons and trayterous Conſpiracies, which they ſhall know or heare of, againſt him or any of them. And that they do abhor, deteſt, and abiure this damnable poſition, that Princes which be excommunicated by the Pope, may be depoſed or murdered by their ſubiects: And that they beleeue, and in conſcience are reſclued, that the Pope hath no power to abſolue them of this Oath, or any part thereof. And renounce all pardons and diſpenſations to the contrary. And that without any Equiuocation, mentall Euaſion, or ſecret Reſeruation whatſoeuer, they doe ſincerely acknowledge and ſweare all theſe things, and doe make this acknowledgement heartely, willingly, and truely. So helpe them God.
This Oath being offered to thoſe of the Romiſh Church, diuers of them tooke it without difficulty; and amongſt the reſt Blackwell the Arch-Prieſt, who then was, and ſtill remaines in England.
Theſe things, being come to the knowledge of the Biſhop of Rome, Paul the fift, that raignes at this preſent, he diſpatches preſently for England, a breue, or as they terme it, letters Apoſtolique bearing date the two & twentieth of September 1606. by which he declares. That this Oath cannot be taken with good conſcience, exhorting them rather to vndergoe all cruell torments whatſoeuer, yea Death it ſelfe, rather then to offend the Maieſtie of God by ſuch an Oath; and to imitate the conſtancy and fortitude of the other Engliſh Martyrs, willing them to hauehave their loynes girt about with verity, and to hauehave the Breſt-plate of righteouſnes and to take the ſhield of faith: That God that hath begunne this good worke, might finiſh it in them, who wil not leaue them Orphants, &c. And finally willeth them exactly to put in practiſe, that which is commaunded in the Letters of Clement the eight his Predeceſſor, written to Mr. George Black well the Arch-prieſt of England: by which Letters all Princes of any Religion contrary to their owne, are excluded from the kingdome of England.
Theſe Letters being come into England, were not receiued by thoſe of the Romiſh Church, with ſuch reſpect as the Pope expected; for many iudged them ridiculous, as exhorting them to ſuffer Martyrdome for ill doing, ſince none can be a Martyr, but for hauing done well: As alſo for that they declare, that this Oath is contrary to the Catholique faith, without telling why or wherefore; as likewiſe for that the exhortations of holy Scripture to ſhun vice, and to perſeuere in the profeſsion of the Goſpell, and to reſiſt the Diuell, are in this Papall breue drawne to a contrary ſenſe, to kindle ſedition, and to incite ſubiects to diſobedience. And aboue all, for that theſe Letters, ingaging the ſubiects to reuolt, doe neceſſarily plucke vponupon them perſecution and the iuſt anger of their natural Prince, who being vnwilling to require any caution of them in any thing contrary to their beliefe, demaundeth no more of them but fidelity and ciuill obedience.
For theſe conſiderations ſome part of the Prieſts and Friers of England ſaid, that theſe Letters of the Pope were ſhufled in by their Aduerſaries, and forged by the Heretiques (for ſo they of their goodnes are pleaſed to tearme vsus) to kindle the anger of the King againſt them, which was already prouoked by the plot of the Powder-mine, which onelyonly fell out to ruine the vndertakers. By reaſon whereof, the ſame Pope being aduertiſed, that through theſe doubts, whether they were true or fained, the Authority of his Letters were infringed; hee writ others more expreſly, bearing date the three and twentieth of Auguſt, 1607. In which he ſeemeth to wonder that they any way ſuſpect the truth of the Apoſtolique letters,Non ſolum motu proprio & exce…a noſtra ſcientia, verum etiam poſt longam & grauem deliberationem. that vnderunder that pretence they might exempt themſelues from his commaunds; and therefore declareth vntounto them that thoſe letters were written not onelyonly vponupon his proper motion, and of his certaine knowledge, but alſo after long and weighty deliberation, and therfore again inioyneth them fully to obſerue them, for ſuch is his will and pleaſure.
To theſe letters (giuing the Alarums to rebellion) for their greater confirmation, were added the letters of Cardinall Bellarmine to George Blackewell the Arch-Prieſt. In which after he had put him in minde of their auncient acquaintance, hee greatly blameth him for taking the Oath, the which vnderunder colour of modifications hath no other aime or drift, but to transferre the authority of the Pope, the head of the Church, to a Succeſſor of HENRY the eight, & by the examples of his Predeceſſors he exhorreth him conſtantly to defend the primacy of the Pope, whom he calleth the head of the faith.
But he ſheweth neyther what wordes or clauſes in this Oath are contrary to the faith of the Romiſh Church, nor wherefore this Arch-Prieſt ſhould rather chuſe to die, then to obliege himſelfe by Oath, to be loyall to his King in things meerly ciuill, and which no way meddle with the Primacy of the Pope: and yet this is the onelyonly thing, whereof queſtion is made, and whereof prooſe is expected. Theſe letters, both of the Pope and Cardinall, being fallen into the handes of his Maieſtie might wel hauehave kindled the anger of a very patient Prince and hauehave armed and ſtirred him vp againſt thoſe with whom theſe Papall letters were of more power, then eyther their faith to their King, or their obedience to God. For what Prince can permit in his Kingdome ſubiects that acknowledge him not, or that to retaine their fidelity to the Pope, thinke themſelues bound to diſloyalty towards their King.
And yet notwithſtanding his Maieſtie herein contained himſelfe, and would not; that his mercy ſhold be ſurpaſſed, by their wickednes, ſo far that he hath rather chuſe to take in hand the pen, then the ſword, and hath ſtudied to inſtruct thoſe, whom he might iuſtly hauehave deſtroyed, deſiring more to conuince them by reaſon, then to ouercome them by force Maluit ſanguinem ſuffundere, quam effundere.
What would not hee doe for his faithfull ſubiects, that lets himſelfe downe ſo low to his enemies? that laies aſide the quality of a Iudge, to become an Aduocate: but he whom God hath lifted vp to a Soueraigne greatneſſe, neuer exalteth himſelfe higher then by humility.
This King then to refute theſe Papal Letters, and to iuſtifie what he had done, made a booke, entituled, An Apologie for the Oath of Alleageance, but not ſetting his name thereunto, for it was nothing to him vnderunder what title the truth appeared; ſo that his enemies might come to the knowledge of their fault. This was no combat of the ability of wit, but a meere manifeſtation of his innocency: But the ſtile of a King is hardly diſguiſed, for Kings being in more eleuated places, receiue nearer at hand the inſpirations from heauen. Their conceptions are as much aboue the vulgar, as their conditions, this onelyonly thought, that they are GODS Lieutenants, and that they exerciſe his iudgements, quickens their ſpirits with an extraordinary life and vigour: beſides if it ſo happen that their youth hath beene dreſſed and ordered by ſtudy, and their iudgments poliſhed by experience, as it hath happened to the King of great BRITAINE, why ſhould any body wonder, if their their ſpirits flye a pitch aboue ordinary?
This Royall Apologie hauing then bin knowne (as a Lyon by his clawes) ſtirred vp certaine Engliſh-men, and Italians to write againſt it, who (as this King elegantly ſaide) hauehave caſt lots vponupon his booke, for that they could not part it, for the reaſons thereof are vnſeparably weaued together, but they not being able to bite his worke, barke at his perſon with an incredible impudence, ſo far ſome of them, as to equall themſelues with ſo great a Prince; and to compare him to Iulian the Apoſtate. Such are the flowers of their diuelliſh Rhethorique; wherewith their writings are adorned, on whom the Apoſtle S. Peter in his ſecond Epiſtle,Cap. 2.10, 11, 12 giueth this iudgement, calling them brute beaſts, led with ſenſuality; that deſpiſe gouernment, which are preſumptuous, and ſtand in their owne conceit, and feare not to ſpeake euil of them which are in dignity; whereas the Angels which are greater both in power and might, gaue not rayling iudgement againſt them before the Lord. Then if it be ill done to ſpeake ill of a Pagan Prince, ſuch as in thoſe times all Monarches were; how much more of a Chriſtian King; and if Angels forbore ill ſpeaking of Princes, how much more would it beſeeme men, and moſt of all their owne ſubiects?
But no more then the Moone is turned out of her courſe by the barking of Dogges, that looke vp to her; no more was the tranquility of his Maieſties ſpirit, by theſe outragious iniuries diſturbed, nor his reſolution diuerted from doing good to thoſe which bore him hatred. It is a poore and meane thing to tread vponupon wormes. There is no glory in ouercomming ſuch people, of whom he is ſufficiently reuenged, by the griefe, and diſpleaſure which they ſuſtain in ſeeing that God hath bleſſed him, and highly exalted him. He would therefore hauehave contemned their ſleighting of him, & would hauehave abſtained from refuting their calumnies by a ſecond writing, had it not beene in regard, not of them but of his people, and of his neighbours, and aboue all of the glory of God; for God hauing honoured him with the true knowledge of him, his Maieſtie would not permit that the enemies, as well of the Goſpel, as of his Crowne, ſhould find in his perſō any ſubiect or colour to defame the true religion: He is then by an admirable example conſtituted the aduocate of Gods cauſe, & by a ſecond booke, made in forme of a Preface to his former, hath fully and throughly iuſtified himſelfe. In which booke he diſcouereth the flights and backeturnings of his enemies, repreſenting the vniuſtnes of their proceedings. He likewiſe maketh confeſsion of his Religion conformable to the holy Scriptures, and with a happy boldnes figures, and depaints the Biſhoppe of Rome and his Sea with liuely colours, borrowed from the Apocalips, and the Apoſtle S. Paul.
Neuer was Table drawne with a more exact hand, or in liuelyer colours. Such is the Torrent of his eloquence, ſuch is the weight of his reaſons, ſuch is the linking together of his diſcourſe, ſuch the variety of his learning, and ſuch his Maieſty in all thinges, as hee may beſt iudge of it, who ſhall compare them with that puft-vp weakeneſſe of the Popes letters, and with the writing of his Aduerſaries. Oh happy eloquence, which being armed with power, is become the hand-maide of Gods word; the ſourſe and ſpring whereof, falling from high, are like to the waters of Silo, which water the City of our God. Hee doth truely exalt his Scepter, which layeth it downe at the foote of the Croſſe, and that placeth his height and greatneſſe beneath the reproch of the Sonne of God, he ſanctifieth his houſe, making his Cabinet a Temple for Diuinity, and a retrayt for holy Meditations. Then as in ancient times, the earth was more fruitfull, when it was laboured by Kings, as though ſhe had taken pride to beare a crowned Plough, and to be tilled with a Triumphall Coulter. So it is to be hoped that Religion and Piety will abundantly encreaſe, ſince Kings are become labourers in the Harueſt.
This latter booke then being come to ſuccour and helpe the firſt, did diuerſly ſtirre mens ſpirits, ſome with ioy, ſome with feare, ſome with hate, but all generally with admiration. The booke being little, it was giuen out we ſhould hauehave it anſwered within three dayes, and ſure their good will was not wanting, but they found it a harder matter then ſo, and that they were faine to take more time. For it was eight moneths after it was publiſhed, before the firſt Anſweres came forth; and what kinde of Anſweres they were, God he knoweth.
One Coeffeteau was the firſt that like an Infant perdu of the Romiſh army, aduanced himſelfe. This Seraphicall Doctor, of the order of the Iacobins, or preaching Fryers, one of the moſt remarkeable amongſt the Sorboniſts, is of late through his companions negligence become the defender of the cauſe. And he now after eight moneths being in labour, hath brought forth a booke, which is not like to liue, becauſe of the vntimely birth; and indeede it had beene already extinct and dead, had not the greatneſſe of him againſt whom he writes kept it aliue; wherein he ſhewed a point of skill to addreſſe himſelfe againſt a perſon ſo illuſtrious, that he might receiue ſome luſtre from his reflection. But thoſe that deſire to make themſelues knowne by the greatneſſe of their Aduerſaries, are alwaies ſuch as hauehave little in themſelues, why the world ſhould take note of them. This Doctor in his booke, handleth the King of great Britaine, as a Nurce doth her nurce-childe, who after ſhee hath dandled it, beates it, mingling curſtneſſe and flattery: For in humble termes hee wrongeth him, and giueth him reſpectfull lyes, flatters him with iniuries, accuſeth him to ſpeake vponupon truſt, and that he buſieth himſelfe with quirkes and ſubtleties, and ſayes that he makes S. Paul an Interpreter of the Apocalips.
This is the forme of his writing: as for the matter and ſubſtance of his booke, I finde, that he hath ill meaſured his owne ſtrength, and that with the weakeneſſe and meaneneſſe of his skill, he hath made the ſtrength of his Maieſties reaſons more manifeſt. Gyants are not to be ouerthrown with a breath, neyther is a Lion to be fought againſt with a Feſtue. Other kind of forces are neceſſary to make reſiſtance to ſo exquiſite a doctrine, that is euer abundantly ſuſtained by the truth. And indeede he clearely confeſſeth his weakeneſſe in this, that hee neuer cyteth the Text of the Kings booke, but only reporteth the ſenſe thereof diſguiſed and weakened, that he may giuegive himſelfe greater ſcope and liberty, forming to himſelf Chimera's, which he impugneth with other Chimera's of his owne, as will ſufficiently appeare, by the examination of his booke, to which we now will enter. God herein enlighten vsus, ſince that which wee ſay is for his truth, which is the light of our ſoules.