BEfore the nyne reasons , is premised an answere to ( a Letter ( as is pretended ) of a gentleman in England , touching the late imprisonment of Catholiks there : the contents wherof are these . First a great sorrow conceiued in this answerer , for that pitifull description of England conteined in the gentlemans letter , wherin was written , that so many great Gentlemen of worship were prisoned , for their consciences & religion of late . What great imprisonment I pray you hath béene of late , of so great Gentlemen , as hath not béene and continued many yeares before , except some intermission granted , to assay to winne by clemency , the which was not atteined by punishment . But it is not hard to gesse , what marke you shoote at , that would haue conscience and religion , to bee the only cloake to couer whatsoeuer by secrete conspiracie against the state , hath beene of late attempted , by some of the Popish faction , whom you call Catholikes . Your treasonable practises , hauing not that successe you promised to your selues , and to your friendes in England and Irelande , you woulde nowe mooue connseration by persecution , for conscience , in them that deserue iustly to be suspected for conspiracie , yea and them also that are ma●…ifestly detected of trecherie . And howe I pray you is the state of England made miserable , that it deserueth your foolish of pitie , by imprisonment of these Gentlemen ? You answere , So many good houses broken vp , so many young Gentlemen and seruantes vnprouided , so many poore people destitute , as though al housekéeping , maintenance of young Gentlemen and seruants , & prouision of the poore people , depended vpon a fewe obstinate Recusants , who if they were all with God , yet none of these commodities should be wanting in the realme . And while they remaine in the worlde , who forbiddeth them , although they be imprisoned , to kéepe good houses , mainteine seruants , relieue the poore ? It is wel knowne , how great a gaine they make of their imprisonment , & how glad some of them are , when they may haue the colour of restraint , but euen in their own houses , that they may pretende imprisonment , for not keeping of good houses , mainteining of seruants , & relieuing of the poore . But let vs heare more of this lamentable description . So many wiues disioyned from their husbands . But how many is there , or what one is there ? or euer hath there béen in her maiesties raign , that being imprisoned for the only cause of religion , might not be suffred to haue his wife resort vnto him , yea , & to remain with him if it were both their pleasures so to liue , and the wife to beare parte of her husbandes trouble . If not one can bée named , that can bée prooued ( for Howlettes slaunder of Maister Dimmockes wyfe , hath béene openly confuted ) there is no colour in the nexte complainte , Of so many children berefte of their parentes , whose Parentes are liuing , and at libertie to prouide for them , in all honest and duetifull manner . As for the flying , running , dispersing , shutting vp &c. It is so great as hardly can bée séene in any place worth the noting , and least able to make a pitifull description of the floorishing estate of Englande , which God of his mercy long continue , that enuy of all her aduersaries , may breake her bowels , with griefe to beholde it . But who can abide that slaunderous complaint of such pitifull abiding hunger , thirst , and colde in prison described by the supposed Gentleman ? repeated by this reason maker to bee a miserie not accustomed to fall in our fathers dayes vpon that noble Realme , and all for different opinions in religion . You haue beene a great and long straunger from this noble realme , that haue not knowne in your own daies if you bee of any yeeres méete to make argumentes for all Catholikes , or in your Fathers dayes of what yeeres soeuer you be , that you haue not hearde of greater miserie , then hunger , thirste , and colde , in prison susteined , accustomed to be laid vpon Englishmen professours of the trueth , by Papists mainteiners of heresie , and all for difference of opinions in religion . But I woulde I might reason a little with the gentleman describer ( because you the reporter , haue deuised to colour a most destable s●…under , by haere say , and another mans description ) I pray you Sir , in what prison , & what gentlemen are they , that abide such pitiful hunger , thirste , & cold ? how many haue pined for hunger , fainted for thirst , & starued for cold ? Are not al these great gentlemen which you say are imprisoned for their consciences , at libertie to féed & cherish themselues with their owne goods . Or if you wil imp●…dently expounde your saying , of any poore Papists , that are imprisoned for religion , of whom you speake not any worde , are not their friends suffered to minister vnto them al things necessarie ? what one person can bée named that abideth such pitiful hunger , thirst , & cold ? Are you not ashamed , without al colour to ●…aunder so noble a state , & the godly Magistrates of the same , with such barbarus crueltie ? But to say mine opinion , I think verily , that no gentleman in England , hath so vngentlemanlike conception , without al shew of truth , to auouch so lowd a lie . But rather that this reason maker , faineth such a letter of description , whereof he himself is the authour , imagining by example of his owne faction , that the like tyrannie is practised in the Church of God , as is vsual to the crueltie of the Papists . The causes of his sorowing being thus set foorth , he commeth to comfort himselfe , by consideration of so many Gentlemen , so precise in matmatters of religion , and so respectiue of their consciences , in these wicke●… & loose ●…es , where there is no feeling or sense of ●…ertue left , but al men in wrapped in the loue of gods professed enemie the world , folowing with al ▪ force & ful sa●…le , the vanities & ambition of the same . Indéed sir , you haue followed your shameles slaunder , with full saile , & haue had winde at wil. What say you ▪ is there no sense or féeling of vertue left , but al m●…n inwrapped in the loue of gods en●…ie , except those few gentlemen , ●…he matter of your rare comfort ? In your famili●…r letters we must suppose you write as you thinke , and as to your ●…éere & worshipfull friende , wherfore whatsoeuer you do in common writings , professe of your reuerent opinion of her maiesties singuler vertues , & other of high estate that are vnder her , executers of her Christian lawes , al is but dissimulation & hypocrisie , fained glosing , & 〈◊〉 flatterie . For you acknowledge not only no vertue , but not so much as any féeling or sense ofvertue , to be left in any other , then those gentlemen recusants , al other men not allured , nor intangled , but inwrapped , in the loue euen of gods professed enimie the worlde , not seduced and drawen thereby , but folowing , and that not slowly , but with al force and full saile , the vanities and ambition of the same . If this were true , it would make a more miserable estate of England , then you before imagined , by imprisonment of a few good houss kéepers . And I woulde hartily wish , that you ●…alfly say of all , might not be verified of some , But that there is no sense or féeling of vertue , but al men inwrapped in the loue of gods professed enimie , & that in so extréeme a degrée : except a smal number of obstinate & wilfully blinded Papists ▪ that is more then euer could ●…e ●…tly saide , almost of any Heathen or Turkish state , in which the sense & féeling of vertue was neuer so wholy extinguished , but some remained euen in them that knewe not God , nor serued him aright . The king of Sodoma shewed some sense & féeling Gen. 14. of gratitude & equitie , when he was content to yéeld to Abraham his deliuerer , the whole pray and spoyle of the aduersaries , so that hée might recouer his captiu●…d people . But let that passe , and consider the grounde of this comfort . So many gen●…lemen en both for their yeeres , lyuings , and habilities , as 〈◊〉 to be as vaine as the rest ( as though all other Gentlemen were vaine , but they ) so precise ▪ in matters of religion , and respectiue of their consciences &c. To omit that which is ●…e in secrete , the manifest couetousnes , ●…ppression , and wrong dealing , in some of their liues appearing , declareth small precisenes to be in their religion , or respect of their conscience in their refusal . But admit that none of them might he touched in conuersation , as that were not sufficient to iustifie their religion , so it shoulde be small matter of comfort vnto a christian man , to sée so many Gentlemen refusing to yéelde to the trueth , and so few poore men ( to whom the Gospel properly perteineth ) Mat. 11. 〈◊〉 . that dare withstand the Lawes that are now made of religion . Whereas the true religion hath but fewe noble , in comparison of the multitude of the poore that receiue and imbrace the Gospell : It is therefore but a smal likelihood , that Papistrie shoulde be the true religion , which few or none , but Gentlemen dare professe in England . Which argueth y● the greatest number of them , being able by welth to beare out the greatest punishment that is laide vpon them , suffer of wilfulnesse , rather then of conscience : who if they were put to the same tryal , that the poore martyres were in time of popish persecution , it is hard to say , how many of these gentlemen that abide imprisonment , woulde indure to ende their liues ( as those did ) in firy ●…orments . Experience we haue in the daies of king Henry , & king Edward , when sharper punishment then now is practised , was executed vpon offendours in some cases , how few there were & those that were discouered by others , rather than by their own open profession , that indured the seueritie of those lawes . Yet were those times more likely to haue yéelded thousands of martyrs , & confessours , when men were newly drawne from their old inueterated opinions ▪ if certeiutie of truth had béen in papistrie , which might haue b●…d a constant faith to haue suffered death willingly & faithfully , for the defence & testimonie of gods religion , against heresie : which error builded vpon vncertaine or false grounds , albeit it may worke wilful per●… in a fewe , yet neuer is able to giue pa●…ience & constancie in the ●…ttermost a ●…tions vnto ma nie . The same thing the experience of these times doth confirme , in which only they suffer by their wils , to whom the suffering is no great smart . But the mener sort , although in hart they fauour popery , yet because they haue no faith , but an vncertaine opinion , they dare make no confession , to bring them selues in greater trouble , then they are able without greate paine too suffer And 〈◊〉 those of weal●…h , that care not to be imprisoned , rather then to 〈◊〉 to Church : how many of them dare make confession of that , which is the profession of all Pap●…sts , that he acknowledgeth the supreme authoritie of the Pope , & is by Bul , or other token of pardon reconciled to the Sea of Rome . And wherefore are they so dangerous in this matter rather then the onther ▪ but because the law 〈◊〉 shar●… in the point , for acknowleging the popes authoritie them for going to church . Whereas if they suffered of conscience grounded vpon a Christian faith , they would neuer be ashamed to confes him , whom they think ▪ in their erronious perswasion , to be the rock of the Church , the head & singuler shepheard of the same , without acknow legeing of whose autority they hold , that there is no church , no truth , no saluation . I omit that there is apparant & probable suspitions in some of the imprisoned , of hope of greater preferment , & worldly aduauntement in another state , then they looke to obteine in this , whereto doth tend al their diuelish & traiterous machinations , against the Prince & present state , by Gods goodnes hitherto preuented , and I hope ( if our sinnes which deserue the contrary doe not 〈◊〉 ) shal be finally and perpetually disapointed . But this their obst●… is such a thing ( saith this discourser ) as it must needes bryng comfort to all men . So that in his iudgement , they are no men , to whom the wilful contempt of Papists bringeth no confort . what more ▪ It can iustly greeue none except the common enimy the dyuel hymselfe ▪ Sée 〈◊〉 not , what 〈◊〉 he maketh of her Maiestie , & at her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 of the Nobilitie & Comminaltie ? all whom it cannot but gr●… excéedingly , that any of her born subiects , & there naturall countriemen ▪ should so obstinately refuse the hearing of Gods word , & communication with his Churche , without the which there is no hope of saluation , that they had rather bee imprisoned , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 displeasure of God & them natural Prince , then be at large with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ ; & 〈◊〉 li●… of their soueraigne . Yet further 〈◊〉 how not only in general , but also in particuler , he presumeth to ●…rine of her Maiestie . And as for the Princes herselfe ( saith he ) she cannot ▪ but becomforted therein . Behold how confidently hée ●…dereth her 〈◊〉 Mais●…ie ▪ in bearing men in hand , not only that she is 〈◊〉 by ●…he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of her subiects , but also that , it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but that ●…hée should be comforted by that , which euen common sense abhorreth , that the ruler shoulde be comforted by disobedience , and a Christian ruler by disobedience vnto Christes faith wherof she is a ●…olous defendor , What other thing therfore is ment by this supposed impossibilitie ▪ but to ●…nuat in most s●…anderous & infamous suggestion , y● her Maiestie fauoureth the contempt of her lawes , liketh well of disobedient subiectes , yea is greatly conforted at the obstinacie of th●…m , whom , by publike lawes , and open profession , she hath declared , these 22. yéeres , to be enimies of Gods truth , maintayners of superstition , and defend●…rs of heresie . But let vs yet more néerely beholde the cause , which maketh it impossible , but that shée must néedes be conforted therein , She cannot but be conforted threin ( saieth hée ) assuring her selfe , that if these men , doe sticke so firmely vnto their consciences and faith sworne vnto God , in their oth of baptisme . Then will they as firmly for the same consciences , stick vnto her maiestie , if occasion shall serue , in keeping their secundary fayth , and alleageance , sworn vnto her heighnes , as to the substitute of god . No doubt , but her maiesty must take great comfort , that she setteth forth and executeth lawes , to defende such a faith & religion as men cannot obay , but by breaking their faith , sworne vnto God in their oath of baptisme . Or els her highnesse must thinke great dis●…oyaltie ( what speake I of disloyaltie ? ) yea open and manifest contumely , in such an impudent marchant , as dare be bold to assure her subiects , the commaunding them to ioyne with her in true religion , shée commaundeth them to breake their firste fayth sworn to God in baptisme , and yet notwithstanding cannot but be conforted at their obstinate contempt , to her most iust and godly commaundement . But let the matter of the first fayth remaine in question . What assurance can her maiestie haue of the kéeping of their second fayth , and alleadgeance sworn to her heighnes , as to the substitut of god ? How many of those recusants presended for conscience and kéeping of their first faith sworn to go●… , ioined with the trayterous Earl●…s of Northumberland and Westmerland , in open and actual rebellion against her maiesties person , her crowne a●…d dignitie : Behold the bond of assurance , that her heighnes hath by their obstinate refusing , to yéeld vnto her gracious and godly procéedings . These be the linkes of loyalty , wherby papists are so chained in obedience vnto their god , that they cannot be traytors against their prince . This is the recognisance of their dutie , that they wil stick vnto her maiestie , if occasion should serue , that so soone as any occasion is offred , to shew themselues in their right collors , stick not to make open war against her maiestie , euen in her owne realme , and their natiue countrey . I hart●…ly beseech almightie God , if it bée his will , for Christes sake , to illuminate their blind eyes , that their heartes being truely conuerted vnto God , they may bée méete instrumentes to serue the Prince . Which grace if it be not his maiesties pleasure to graunt vnto them , for causes knowne to his diuine wisdome , I beséech him for his mercie , that her highnesse neuer haue néede or vse of their ayde , who are her secréete sworn ●…imies , howsoeuer they pretend an outward countenance of duetie and faythful●…esse : But to returne to this our discourser , if Papistes could bée ashamed of any thing , my thinke he should not for sh●…me , promise her maiestie assurance of their fidellitie , who hauea receiued principle , y● to infidels , and such as they accounte herhighnesse to be , no fayth or promise of obedience , it is to bée obserued . And what talketh hée of a secundarie fayth , sworne vnto her highnesse ? as though either shée or any almost in Englande , were ignorant of the blasphemous bulles of Pius quintus and Gregorius 13. giuen forth against her maiestie , procured by the traitours on that side the sea , by which al her subiects are assured to bée discharged of all oth of obedie●…ce , and loyaltie vnto their souereigne , and the Prince her selfe ( with more vile tearmes , then I in respecte of her honour , and my duetie may expresse , as méete for the basph●…mous mouth of Antichrist , as vnworthy of her most 〈◊〉 and noble personage ) discharged of the most lawful souer eigntie , which by the ordinance of G●…d & her most iust title , by all law , righ & equitie , doth appertaine vnto her . Will they stick to her Maiestie in conscience of anyoth , whose consciences the Pope hath loosed from al dutie of alleadgeance ? Haue not all the Papistes ●…ne sense of this matter ? or els where is the vnitie they brag of ? d●…th not Bristo in his 40. motiue affyrme , that al the Papistes in England be duelie discharged from subiection , and the Prince from dominion , by the souereigne autoritie of the common pastor of relygion ? Saith he not in the same motiue , that although they be discharged of their fealtie , yet they obey for common humanitie ? He might much more truly haue said , that being in their traiterous perswasion discharged of their fealty , wherinsoeuer they obey , it is for feare of penaltie . How can they that thinke themselues discharged of their fealty , kéepe their second faith and aleadgeaunce , ●…worne to her highnesse , as to the substitute of God , whome they wickedly imagine to bée discharged from dominion , by the souereigne authoritie of Gods vicar , in their tearme , but the dauilles dearling in very déede . But if the rebellion in the North , the Bulles of their two last Popes , Feltons execution , Brisues motiues , and a great many other motiues , inducing her maiestie to conceiue of them , as of most daungerous persons , to the state were all cleane forgotten , or els had neuer gone before , are the attempts of Saunder in Ireland , so obscure , or y● Pope●… standerd throwne downe so lowe , or his garyson of soldiours so wholy discomfited , or his forte so througly rased and made euen with the ground , or Campions proude and foolish chaleng , and the flocking of so many I●…suits and Seminaristes , as so many trompets and bellowes of sedition into England , concurring with the hostile inuasion of Ireland , so cléerely abolyshed , that no monumentes of popish sidelitie and alleadgeance to their souereigne , remaine to bée gathered or considered of them ? but that this new discourser , dare assure her Maiestie , that the disobedience of Papistes , is an argument of their loyaltie , their obstinacie , a proofe of their fidelitie , their cont●…mpte of God and his trueth , a conclusion of their alleageaunce and sworne seruice to their Prince ?

Yet is hée so confident in defending their wilfulnesse , that hée a●…ouceth , that their aduersaries also and persecutors , cannot in any reason mislike it , for that the contrary relygion , were to haue them as constant and faythfull in that , if it were possible to winne them to the same . In déede constancie , if the cause bée good wherein it is , deserueth great commendation , but obstinacie in an euil cause , as it hath nothing that in reason can moue wise men to like it , so hath it not a necessarie consequence , that the obstinate being once reclaymed to good religion , will al waies continue constant in the same . For beside experience in some of the recusantes , who haue reuoulted from the truth , once professed , that constancie , wherby true religion is faithfully maintained , is the gift of God , and diffreth as much from obstinacie , whereby an euill matter is borne out , as trueth differeth from falshood , and good relygion , from heresie .

The last part of the answer to this pretended letter , is spent , in promising to proue their obstin●…cie to be constancie , and their wi●…lnes to be conscience , and in 〈◊〉 his friendes desire , briefly to touche three thinges . The firste poynte shall bee , what cause 〈◊〉 reason the Catholikes haue ( sayeth hee ) to stande as they do●… , in the refusall of thinges offered them , and especially of going to church . The other two poyntes , which are altogether omitted . I will rehearse in the ende , with a briefe coniecture of the cause why the same were giuen ouer . And now to the first parte , and in déede The onely matter , and whole discourse of this treatise .

The first parte .

THat the Queenes most excellent maiestye , the honourable Lordes of her pryuy Counsell , and other the learned and wise of England , may see that the refusall of going to the Church of so many thousande Catholykes at this day in that Realme , is not vppon disloyaltie or stubberne obstinacy , as their aduersaryes giue it out , but vppon conscience and great reason , and for the auoyding of manyfest perryll of eternall damnation , which they shoulde incurre in yeeldyng to that , which is demaunded at theyr handes : I haue put downe some causes and reasons heere followyng , referring the Reader to more larger dyscourses , made by dyuerse learned men of our tyme , in sundry partes of theyr works ( this beyng shuffled vp in haste ) and namely to apeculyar Treatyse not longe agone publyshed touchyng this matter .

But first of all it is to bee noted , that my reasons ( to th end they may A necessary Supposition . conuynce ) are to bee supposed to proceede , from a catholyke mynde , ( that is ) from a man , which in his conscience is throughlye perswaded , that onelye the Catholyke Romayne Relygyon is trueth , and that all other newe doctrynes and relygions , are false relygions , as all newe Gods are false Gods . Nowe , of these Catholykes there are two Two Sortes of C●…bolikes . sortes , in Englande , th one which in theyr consciences doe iudge , that as all other relygions besides theyr owne are false , so all partycipation with them eyther in deede , or in shewe , by oath , by Sacramentes , by goyng vnto theyr prayers and seruice , or otherwyse , is naught , forbydden and vnlawefull , and yet eyther for feare , or fauour or some other worldly cause , they are content to communicate wich them in all What a Si●…e it is to doe agaynst a mans own conscience . or some of the foresayde thinges : and of those men ( albeit they bee very many in England ) I meane not to entreate , theyr case beyng apparauntly both to themselues and to all other men , wicked , and out of all doubte damnable . For as S. Austine sayth : Hee that knoweth the things August . in Psal. 54. to bee ill that he doth , and yet doth them , he goeth downe quick vnto hell . As though he would say : Albeit he be yet quicke vpon the earth , yet is he , in the prouidence of God , dead & damned in hel . And S. Paul talking of this sin , neuer laieth lesse punishment vpon it , then iudgement & damnation , although it be committed in thinges of themselues indifferent or lawfull : for albeit ( as he saith ) meates offred to idoles be of themselues lawfull to Rom. 14. 1. Cor. 8. vide expo . D. Tho. 1. 2. Q. 19. & a●… . D D. ibi . Rom. 14. Cap. 4. Rom. 14. be eaten , to him that knoweth an Idole to be nothing : Yet , If a man shoulde discerne or iudge it to be vnlawfull and yet eate of it , he is damned for it , because hee doeth not according to his conscience or knowledge . And the reason is that which S. Paule hath immediatly following , saying . All that which is done by vs not according to our knowledge or conscience , is sinne . And S. Iames confirmeth the same , saying . He that knoweth good , and doth it not , sinneth . Wherefore S. Paule crieth out a a little before , thus . Blessed is hee that iudgeth not , or condemneth not himselfe , in doing contrary to that he best allowetb . And the cause why Marke this reason . ●… Three kindes of Sinne . . this sinne against a mans owne conscience is so damnable , is this . Some doe sinne of humane frailtie , as did Peter , and this is called a sinne against the father , who is called Power . Some doe sinne of ignorance , as did Paule , Math. 26. 1. Tim. 1. Vide D. Tho. in 2. 2. Q. 14. and Creg . lib. 25. Mor. ca. 1●… . and this is called a sinne against the sonne , who is called Wisedome . Some doe sinne of meere will and malice , choosing to sinne although they know it to be sinne , and this is the sinne against the holy Ghost to whom is appropriated particularly grace and goodnesse , the which a man most wickedly contemneth and reiecteth when he sinneth wilfully against his own conscience : and therefore Christ saith , that a man shal be forgeuen a sinne agaynst the father and against the sonne , as we doe see it was in Peter and Sinne agai●…st it●… holy Ghost . Paule . But he that sinneth agaynst the holy Ghost shall neuer be forgeuen neither in this world , neyther in the worlde to come . As for example Mat. 12. Mar. 3. Luke . 12. Iohn . 15. Act. 9. the Pharisies were not : which did many thinges against Christ , malitiously , and contray to their owne knowledge & consciences . If this be true ( as it is , if God be not vntrue ) them in what a miserable case standeth many a man in England , at this day which take othes , receiue sacramentes , goe to Church , and commit many a like acte directly against theyr owne consciences , The pitifull 〈◊〉 of dissen●…bling 〈◊〉 , and against their owne knowledge : nay , what a case doe they stand in , which know such thinges to be directly agaynst other mens consciences , and yet doe compell them to doe it : As to receiue against their will , to sweare against their will , and the like : Surely , as I am nowe minded , I would not for ten thousand worldes , compel a Iewe , to sweare that there were a blessed Trinitie . For albeit the thing be neuer so true , yet should●…●…e be damned for swearing against his conscience , and I , for compelling him to commit so heynous and greeuous a sinue . But of this sorte of Catholikes , this is ynough , and too much excepte they were better . For they are to be accounted ( according to Saint Paule ) damned me●… in this lyfe , and therefore no christians , and much lesse , Catholikes .

There are another sort of Catholikes , that albeit they doe iudge all other religions besides their owne , false and erroneous , and damnable : yet doe they not thinke , but that for some worldly respecte , as for sauing their offices , dignities , liberties , credytes , or the like , they may in some of the former thinges , at the leastwise in going to church ( for as for swearing , and receiuing , I thinke no Catholike this day in Europe thinketh it lesse then damnable ) shewe them selues conformable men to the proceedinges of them of the contrarye religion : and doe also thinke others too scrupulous whiche doe stande in the refusall of the same . But to shewe that these men are in a wrong and perillous perswasion , builded onely on their owne fantasie , and therefore to be reformed : and that the other men are the onely true Catholickes , and bounde to doe so much as they doe , vppon payne of the high displeasure of God , and eternall damage of their owne soules : I haue put downe here these reasons , that followe , which may serue for the iustifying of the one parties conscience , and for the due reforming of the other

God be praysed .