The hope of peace By laying open such doubts and manifest vntruthes as are divulged by the Arch-priest in his letter or answere to the bookes which were published by the priestes.

IN these Letters of the Archpriest are so many , and daungerous rockes against which not altogether sencelesse people waste themselues , as it cannot be deemed a labor blame-worthie so to discouer them , as such as will may perceiue them before their case become desperate . Let his fatherlie loue , and care of his deare brethren ( as he termeth vs ) be measured by his carriage toward vs . For our maintaining of our selues not to be schismatikes ( a matter of opinion not worthie ( as here in his answere to the fourth point he confesseth ) to make a matter of contention which part soeuer was true ) , how many hath he suspended , bereaued of their faculties , yea and interdicted , for which he hath no colour to shew anie authoritie but those words in the Cardinals first Letters Post debitas admonitiones ac reprehensiones fraterna charitate praemissas liceat etiam paenis coercere Ecclesiasticis , It shall be lawfull for you after due admonition & warning in brotherly charitie to punish with Ecclesiasticall penalties . Which sentence is presently limited by the words immediatly following , Oblatione nimirum facultatum vel suspensione , By taking away faculties or suspending ? How many haue herevpon bene disturbed out of their places of residence ? how many cleane abandoned of their friends ? how many haue bene laid open to most wicked detractious tongues ? how many in daunger to perish by famine hauing no other meanes to liue than by the charitie of such as to whom they do minister the Sacraments ? and for what ? for maintaining an opinion which were it true or false were no matter worthie to make contention as M. Blackwell here confesseth . Quis ex vobis patrem petit panem numquid lapidem dabit illi , Luk. 11. &c. If any of you ( saith our Sauiour ) asketh bread of his father , will he giue him a stone ? Or if he aske him for fish , in place of a fish will he giue him a serpent ? Or if he shall aske for an egge , will he reach him a scorpion ? If no father would doo this , how dooth M. Blackwell say that hee hath sought by all fatherly meanes to win and reduce vs to vnitie , hauing sought by the aforesaid meanes to driue vs to say against our owne soules that we were schismatikes , and to suffer others without any contradiction to lay it euery day in our teeth , for defending that which ( as himselfe here confesseth ) was not worthy to make a matter of contention , which part soeuer was true ?

But to come to that which he thinketh great reason , that is , that a thing propounded to the Pope his holinesse , should not first haue bin divulged to all sorts of people , before it could possibly come to his sight , and censure . What if this were so litle against reason , as the contrary had bene great folly ? for who knoweth not , that the Iesuites do lie so in waight to intercept what passeth too and fro , that a small Letter can hardly and that very seldome escape them ? how then should this booke by any secret conueyance soeuer haue gone without danger of being at their deuotions , before it could come to the Pope his viewe and censure ? It might therefore with great reason haue bene at the first propounded to all sorts of people , that thereby some one Copie or other might come to his holinesse his view ; and if this course had beene taken in the divulging of these bookes , what reason hath M. Blackwell to say that perhaps it was neuer meant to be shewed to his holinesse ? Could the Priests be so foolish in M. Blackwells conceit , that they would make a discourse of their miseries with petition to be relieued by his holinesse , dedicate the booke vnto him , and publish it in that maner , and neuer meane that it should bee presented vnto him ? how could M. Blackwell frame his imagination to this , who could not but knowe long since , that of the 10. which were sent ouer for Rome , some of his friendes tooke the tythe where it was not due ? What if that booke which M. Blackwell or his friend seised on were the booke that was meant to haue bene presented to the Pope , who were they then that perhaps neuer meant the booke should be presented to him ? But the other 9. being safely deliuered , as long since we vnderstood from Paris whether they were sent , perhaps his holinesse hath had the view of one ; and if M. Blackwel do know any thing to the contrary , we will yeeld him most heartie thankes to make the meanes to haue it come to his holinesse his reading , for we doo assure him and all other who haue made doubt thereof , that it is our speeciall desire , as in time it will wel be seene , and the more griefe his holinesse shall take thereat , the lesse thankes will they haue who haue so long a time deluded him with false informations , and no doubt will prouide in some better sort for a true and vnfeined peace to continue among vs . And therefore feare we the lesse that hereby wee may bee charged to giue any scandall to our friends , or ioy to our aduersaries , no man beeing to be accounted a friend which should take offence where no cause is giuen , or esteemed our aduersarie who would ioy at our good , or the furtherance of any honest cause , how contrary soeuer he may bee to truth in some other kinde . Praeceptor vidimus quendam in nomine tuo eijcientem daemonia , &c. Maister ( saith Saint Iohn to our Sauiour , Luk. 9. ) we sawe one cast out diuels in thy name and we forbid him it because he is not of our company , and Iesus said vnto him , doo not forbid him , for he who is not against you is with you . Shall we then call them aduersaries , who shall reioyce at their reliefe , who are vniustly oppressed , and not rather pray vt iustificentur adhuc and thinke our selues much bound vnto them , whosoeuer they be who shall fauour or further vs in our iust cause ? It cannot be liked of ( saith M. Blackwell ) that we should write one against an other . How shall wee conster this ? was not and vnto this day is not the Iesuits libell against the Priests liked , wherein the Priests are called Rebells , Schismatikes , fallen from the Church and spouse of Christ , excommunicated , irregular , infamous , disobedient to Christ and his Vicar , factious , nothing better then southsayers , and Idollaters , as Ethnicks and Publicans ? Dooth not M. Blackwell in his answere to the fourth point heere write abroad that he retaineth his opinion still that we were schismatikes , and commendeth this rayling Libell of the Iesuits for a learned discourse , and censure ? And can the purging of vs Catholique Priests from these wicked defamations ( being bound therevnto both for the defence of our good names , which vnlesse we will be accounted cruell to our ●e●●●● , we cannot let lie bleeding to the death , & for their comfort whose soules haue a long time bin vnder our charge ) be disliked by any honest man ? Is it to be thought that Gods cause can suffer dishonour in any course , which is necessarie for the recouery of his Priests their honour , and doth he not well deserue to be robbed of all that he hath , yea and basted vntill all his bones do rattell in his skinne who vpon enuie that an aduersary should ioy , would omit a necessarie defence for his own reliefe ? would there not be as many houters as hearers of one perswading an other rather to let a third take away all his landes and goods then bring it to a publike triall vnder colour of a thing not to be liked that one should plead openly against an other ? would theeues desire to meete with better copesmates when they would enrich themselues , or refuse a triall where such Iudges should sit vpon the bench ? It falleth out many times that with lesse daunger a man may take a Beare by the tooth then awake a sleeping dogge . Had not other meanes bene before in vaine attempted for the remedie of what we haue felt , or were not the present extremities ouer great into whiche wee are brought by the trump of euerie loose tongue where before they were possessed with this spirite butter would not haue melted , we might haue bin blamed for our publishing in this sort & laying open thereby to the whole worlde who they are that disturbe the peace , which ought to haue bene mainteined among vs . And if any doubt hereof shal grow in any , our desire is , as also M. Blackwell desireth , that all do thinke well of their superiors , and suspend their iudgements vntil they heare the ful deciding of the cause , which , howsoeuer the desire of some be therein satisfied , is not to withdrawe their charitie from the reliefe of Priests who want , for this is not to suspend their iudgment , but their charitie , and not only to iudge but to punish also , much lesse do they suspend their iudgements who turne Priests out of their housen , or exclaime day and night against them , shut them from the seruice of God , and diuide themselues from them and their Catholike friends in praier and communication of Sacraments vpon an opinion which was not worthie to make a matter of contention , which part were true as M. Blackwel affirmeth in his answere here to the fourth point . I wish the ignorance were such as it might excuse , but I feare it is too much affected , where vnder pretence of obedience it must not be seen where superiors haue not done so well as they might haue done , and how those who are condemned generally as disobedient & factious against their superiours haue behaued themselues in all dutifull manner to all superiors , which they knew , and how farre they were bounde to shewe obedience . And if the Priests haue bene compelled to this hard choyce as either they must sustaine infinite iniuries , and obloquies , or redeeme themselues in this sort from so vndeserued an oppression , no superiour in the world can iustly finde himselfe touched in credit , but such whom the Apostle calleth Principes & potestates mundi rectores tenebrarum harum . Ephes. 6.

M. Archpriest gathereth sixe principall points which he saith are touched , and maketh answere to euery one in order as he putteth them downe .

The first is the diuision at Wisbich , to which hee saith that it was long since ended with great aedification , and by the meanes principally of those , which are most condemned . But he doth neither name the parties , nor giue to vnderstand who they are which condemne them . He vsed silence perchaunce in this , because he must haue named either those whom he would not , or those whom he should not ; for it is so well knowne as none without great want of modestie can deny that M. Iohn Mush and M. Richard Dudly two Priests now condemned by the Archpriest Iesuites and their adherents came out of the North to their great paines , and charge to Wisbich , and from thence to London , where after that they had bene often mocked by the head of the Iesuites , at the last with maruellous importunitie wroong from him certaine Letters to his fellow Iesuites at Wisbich , vpon the sight whereof there was a peace made , such as it was , it might haue bene much better , and speedier ( as by this it seemeth ) if it had before so pleased the head of the Iesuites to haue enterposed himselfe as charitie would he should haue done , the head of the Faction at Wisbich being at his commaund , and one who rather then so great a scandall should haue risen for his cause should haue suffered himselfe to haue bin cast ouer the Castle wall , which in those tumults hee affirmed some would doo rather then the matter of his preferment ouer all the secular Priests there and fellow prisoners should not goe forward . At an other time M. Alb. Dolman should haue made peace , but the Iesuite who should haue bene the Superiour there vnder the tytle of an Agent vnderstanding of some conditions , which he liked not , a litle before that all should haue bene concluded found the meanes to rid him away . And I do verily thinke that there are fewe who thinke , and none who know that the diuision is as yet ended , which is no great aedification , God pardon them who are the cause thereof . And most vnworthily are those scandalous proceedings at Wisbich compared with the sodalitie which was to be procured abroad . For the first foundation of them were detractious , & infamous speeches against such as in all times among Christians haue bene had in great reuerence , & their faults ( if they had any ) were concealed , not published abroad to the world , much lesse was it liked that any should be falsly obiected against them , for no such course was iudged in those dayes to stand with the glory of God . The drift of those proceedings was to make a Iesuite Superiour ouer the secular Priests , or to maintaine that scandalous diuision which hath euen to this day followed theron , vpon some other ground doubtlesse than that which their fauourites doo most seriously vrge , to wit that some of that societie haue bene the maisters or trainers vp of some of the secular Priests beyond the seas , for by this argument euery one whosoeuer is no Schoolemaister or trayner vp of youth , yea all Princes must yeeld themselues to be vnder the gouernment not only of those who were sometime their Schoolemaisters , but of euery pettie Schoolemaister because once they haue bene trained vp by some of that profession ; and such as haue much greater knowledge , & facility in teaching or training must humble themselues to euery Punie because they themselues had once maisters of that profession of which this Punie is : & perchance no lesse absurditie than this was that in Wisbich , when many graue , wise , and learned men were to become subiect to a Iesuite , because forsooth ( as these fauourites of the Iesuits alledge ) the Iesuits haue the bringing vp of some Priests beyond the seas . The sodalitie which was to be procured abroad was for such as voluntarily would ioyne themselues to liue vnder rules , and superiors to be chosen by themselues with the priuitie of his holinesse , and without any schisme or faction against those who would not be of the Sodalitie . So that the difference was very great betweene the humour of the Iesuites in that diuision at Wisbich , and the peaceable endeuours of the Priests abroad , to which the Iesuites hauing no very good liking , laboured to effect what before they had missed with a peece of more cunning , and by sinister meanes procured a superiour ouer the Priests , who vpon peril of being euery day to be put downe , must like whatsoeuer they should lay before him , and in the mean while they must be of his priuy councell in matters of greatest waight , and allow of none but such as are devoted vnto them for his ordinarie assistants .

The second poynt concerneth the superiours there , whose authoritie ( he saith ) is most grieuously , and most dangerously contemned : hee might iustly be accounted wise who should diuine a right that which is meant hereby . There haue beene as many visitations on the behalfe of the Students , as of the Iesuites ; and as for the superiours , I haue seene a Letter of Fa. Parsons own penning , dated the 5. of April 1599. wherein he saith that perhaps some one mans actions in the gouernment of the Colledge at Rome , in some certaine points were not so much to Cardinal Allane his liking , and without perhaps the orders , which were misliked , were by F. Par. contrary to his owne promise brought into the Seminary of Rome ; where indeed there are new buildings but they were not at the charge of the Iesuites , but of the Colledge , and if it be richer in chambers , it is poorer in vineyards , and in this new building there are very few more than halfe so manie students as were before the new buildings were erected , and these fewe are so straungely diuided , and debarred each others comfort , as howsoeuer the Iesuites gaine therby , or ioy therat themselues , the students may iustly say vnto them for all this great boast of buildings , Nec multiplicastis gentem nec magnificastis laetitiam . That Colledge was first an Hospitall founded by our Princes for the reliefe of such as went on pilgrimage to those holie places , afterward it was endewed with an Abbacie by Pope Gregorie of happie memorie the 13. of that name , and Doctor Lewis Bishop of Cassana bore the name to be the erector of it as a Colledge , as Cardinal Allane did of the Colledge at Rhemes now translated to Doway : and no dispraise to anie , those two Seminaries and their founders were those who brought England to that passe , that as wel the Laitie as the Cleargie therof were admired throughout all Christendome for their fortitude in Gods cause and faithfulnesse in all their temporall affaires . And it is well knowne that these two were of those who complained . The one at the verie first beginning as one well acquainted with the Iesuites courses , and had serued that mirror of pietie and wisedome Cardinall Boromeo Archbishop of Millane , who discharged them of the gouernment of his Seminaries . The other somewhat with the latest , but yet in such sort as Doctor Haddock who pretendeth that he was the Cardinals Nephew moued in spirit after the Cardinalls death writ vnto a worshipfull Knight in Spaine these words to my remembrance , Profecto bene mortuus est si enim vixisset & sibi & patriae suae maximum dedecus peperisset . He is dead in a good time , for if he had liued he had most greatly dishonoured himselfe and his Country . And why mast . Doctor ? forsooth he was carried away against the Iesuites by his Nephew M. Hesket , M. Throckmorton , M. Fitzherbert , & all the Gentlemen of our nation who were then at Rome , but especially by my Lord of Cassana through whose meanes M. Doctor Haddock was discarded , as one that was factious against the students in the behalfe of the Iesuites , and lost thereby as he said himselfe a Nephewes part , which he had bene promised often by the Cardinall and he most certainly expected . The Seminaries in Spaine haue bene builded by the Iesuites meanes with no small summes of mony , which perchance would haue bene much better and with far more merit imployed in the reliefe of poore afflicted Catholikes as well of the Laitie , as the Clergie , who liued in exile , either in Colledges , which for want were many times in ieopardie to haue bene dissolued , or elsewhere abroad and famished , but the yce was broken , and the way made by secular Priests before any Iesuites attempted it , as in all honest matters it fareth , & F. Parsons entered into their worke , and brought it indeed to this passe at which now it is by making the students do that of which since they repent themselues and he hath no great cause to glorie in , as the subscribing to the title of the Infant , and what else hee would , hauing gotten their names to three seuerall blankes . But these Priests , who were in this sort the founders of the Seminaries in Spaine , although not the storers for lyme and stone , were knowen very well to haue bene of those who did complaine when they liued , and the suruiuer is to this day one of them who do complaine . Neither is this to discouer more then needeth ( although no doubt it be more then the Iesuites and their fauourites would haue talked abroad the matter is so honest ) for what Letters are written , and published by them in all places wherein themselues and their associates to winne English Catholickes insert not their building of Seminaries , which the Catholickes might haue built with more ease & lesse charge , if they consider what they are put to by reason of those plots , by which the Seminaries haue bene built , and the often attempts made against our Countrey vpon the foolish hopes , which some haue had vpon those plots ? some likewise take exceptions that these matters are touched somewhat in the censure vpon F. Parsons Letter , but they consider not that F. Parsons draue vs to it by laying to our charge , that we were not so much hated of the Councell of England as the Iesuites , and Archpriest . His guiltie conscience gaue him what he and his associates had deserued , although he thought it pollicie to conceale the cause thereof , and to leaue such an obloquie ( as it could not be taken for other ) to euery man to scan theron , and to seeke some cause for that , which if they would they might see daily was voyd of all truth , the greatest part without comparison of those who suffered hauing beene such as were not of the faction of the Iesuites , and shall we be blamed if we solue those aenigmes which F. Parsons , and his fellowes needlesly propose against vs , and leaue to the worst sence which may be made of them ?

The third point he saith is cleare by his holinesse Breue . Who calleth this in question ? or how doth this prooue that no lesse could be done than to accept the authoritie , and to accept it when it came at the first , which was a whole year before the Breue came , and without not only a confirmation from his holinesse , but also without sufficient testimony to binde vs to accept thereof being to so great a preiudice to many , in which case a Cardinals testimony doth not binde any to beleeue that which is affirmed by him , much lesse if it euidently containe falshood , and suppose nothing else but falshood for the foundation ? But neither was it so cleare perchance as he thinketh , for a Breue may come from diuers places , and be called an Apostolicall Breue , and his holinesse no w●●t acquainted therewith , and there was no small cause to suspect so much of this , not only for that it was a confirmation of a thing done vpon so false a suggestion ( to wit a diuision betweene the Seminary Priests in England and the Catholickes ) as the contrary might very easily haue bene knowne if any but vnhonest men had bene asked the question , but also for that it is a confirmation of certaine Letters Patents which we neuer sawe , although the Archpriest hath shewed two seuerall Letters ( if our memories faile vs not ) of the institution of his authoritie . For this Breue is a confirmation of certaine Letters Patents by which M. George Blackwell is deputed by the Cardinall Caietane an Archpriest of English Catholikes , for the better gouernment and vnion of the Catholiques of the kingdomes of England and Scotland : and those Letters which M. Blackwell did obey so readily did onely depute him Arch-priest of the Seminary Priests which are or shall be in England and Scotland , for remedy of a dissention suggested to be between the Seminary Priests & Catholikes in England , wherein who will may perceiue a very great difference . But to returne to M. Blackwell his acknowledging himself how vnfit he was to haue so great a charge , or his readinesse to depose it for the loue of God , no man is to enter into his inward motions , but doubtlesse he did not long after taunt those Priestes , who were about the procuring of the sodallitie , of which wee spake before , and in a triumphing maner writ abroad that theyr endeuours were by this his authoritie brought to ruine . We could also prooue that those Letters of the Cardinals were not warme in his hands before hee thought vpon the vse of his authoritie against some in particular : yea & other who were appointed to be of his priuie councell letted not to vtter at that time that there were such courses to be taken against some , that they doubted whether they would continue Catholique . M. Blackwell addeth here also that his authoritie was not published at any time with vntruths . In the Bookes printed , and sent abroad , it is said that he did not only publish his authoritie with vntruthes , but being taken in the maner confessed as much , and that M. Collington and M. Charnocke are readie to iustifie it before God , and the world vpon their oaths . And if they were both dead his owne Letters of the 2. of March following will proue it euidently enough , in which he hath these words .

Lastly you quarrell against the Archpresbyter , and gladly you would bruse his credit vpon the roaring noyse of an angrie man , clouded in his vnderstanding , if not cloyed about his hart with two many fumes of ambition . Vpon his detractiue information you publish that the Archpresbyter should report that he had authoritie to excommunicate & to commaund to the Court of Rome , which now vpon better scanning his authoritie he goes from . Againe shewing his instructions said they were made at Rome , and by the contents being conuinced they were made in England , could not denie it . Sir , the Archpresbyter hath to doo about excommunications , and the sending to the court of Rome : for by his Commission he is charged to specifie all suche rebellions and contumacies as are too familiar with you , if they cannot be suppressed with his authoritie at home , and to intimate the same to the Lord Protector his grace , and so by his meanes to procure excommunication or the sending for to Rome for the redresse of such licentiousnesse . And for the particular instructions he neuer said they were all made at Rome , but that his instructions made at Rome gaue him authoritie to set downe rules about all particular matters , and cases of such qualitie . And so those instructions which troubled the eares of your surly , and froward Father , may be saide in respect of their authoritie to haue proceeded from Rome . And thus the Archpresbyter whose name you put downe in plaine Letters , that euery bodie might view how you haue graced him , Ipse liberatus est a laqueo venantium & a verbo aspero , he hath auoyded your snare , and the sharpnesse of your slaunderous spéech . The iniquitie of proud persons hath bene multiplied ouer him , but he hoping in our Lord hath not bene weakened . Thus farre M. Blackwell .

How many orders hath M. Blackwell taken at Rome , when he hath taken seuen by authoritie from Rome ? Some instructions are confessed to haue bene shewed which were not made at Rome any otherwise then M. Blackwell may be said to haue bene made Priest at Rome , or else what were those which troubled the eares of the surly , and froward Father , and were then absolutely proposed among others as instructions annexed to his Commission , but so palpably inserted , as he confessed that they were of his owne , notwithstanding he pretended to shew such as the Commission spake of to be annexed vnto it ? at that time this shift was not deuised , that he had authoritie from Rome to make rules , and therefore might propose what he would , and say it was made at Rome . But the plaudite in the end with a Psalme might haue bene vsed vpon some greater victorie then this poore shift was , that instructions might be said to haue bin made at Rome , because they might be said to haue bin made by authoritie which came from Rome , and that the Archpriest could excommunicate , because he could write to those who could . But to say the truth what but vntruth is to be expected in the maintenance of that , which was begotten , bred , brought forth and nursed with vntruth ? M. Iames Standish a secular Priest in shewe , a Iesuit by promise , went as a secular Priest in the name of the secular Priests who neuer sent him , and dealt with his holines in this matter , fayning the consent of the secular Priests thereto , which after his returne in the hearing of diuers Priestes , he said was but an interpretatiue consent , and that he presumed that they would giue their consent . The matter being thus broached , as false a suggestion was made for the furtherance thereof , to wit , a dangerous and scandalous diuision in Englande among the Seminarie Priests and Catholickes ( as it is euidently to be seene in the Cardinall Caietanes Letters to M. Blackwell ) . The maner how it was proposed , is in some part shewed before , and the poore shifts which were afterward made to salue the vntruthes then vsed . What false aduisoes were sent into England by Fa. Parsons and M. Mar. Array about the handling thereof at Rome are discouered in the English booke ; to which one more may bee added to shewe how in all places the surest Anker of these proceedings hath beene falshood . Fa. William Baldwin among other aduisoes which hee sent from Flaunders to Paris , 25. Februa . 1599. writ to his friend that the two Priests first requested that there might bee no subordination . A pretie conceit when all their Letters which they carried with them to his holinesse demaunded a subordination . Secondly , that if needs there must bee a subordination , then some one which fauoured them might be created Bishop ; for which they named D. Gifford , Bagshaw , Collington , or Bishop . Is it likely that M. Bishop would name himselfe to bee made a Bishop ? Fa. Parsons laboured M. Charnock to name some of these or some other which might haue fitted such a turne , but bicause he could not obtaine of him to name any of these before he should see the names of M. D. Barret and M. Doctor Ely , he caused M. D. Barrets name to be blotted out againe which was written in hope , and would not suffer M. D. Ely his name to be written , nor any thing else concerning that interrogatorie : which manner of carriage conferred with F. Baldwins Letter discouereth a good wil that F. Baldwin should haue written the truth in this point . Thirdly he affirmeth in the same Letters that the two Priestes should say that experience would teach if they had not their request Quod indignabitur libertas si prematur these were their wordes saieth F. Baldwin . Can any man thinke that they would so forget themselues as to threaten the Pope to his teeth , if hee would not graunt them what they would haue ? but if F. Bald. writ doubtlesse as he was enformed by Fa. Parsons , the greater is the confirmation of that which here we intend to shewe , that is how it hath from time to time bene lulled a sleepe with falshood , and therefore that the lesse this wonder is now that it is auouched by M. Blackwell neuer to haue bene proposed with vntruthes .

The 4. point is touching the matter of schisme which he saith was according to his opinion , which euen now he doth retaine . The head of the Iesuites sendeth abroad his Letters , by which hee signifieth that he would not be ashamed to humble himselfe to worke a peace , can it be thought that he was not priuie to these Letters of the Archpriest , whose counsell the Arch-priest in his instructions is willed to vse in matters of weight ? or can M. Blackwell forget that such an assertion of F. Robert Iones the Iesuite ( being maintained by him ) made a breach of the generall attonement which was made at the comming of the Breue ? and must he needs euen while he exhorteth to peace declare now that such is his opinion , as void of all learning as it hath bene & is farre from all charitie , and publish his want of both in the same moment ? Is schisme so small a sinne , as it is not worthie to make a matter of contention whether there were schisme or no ? or were schisme so small a matter as here it is made , is it charitie for M. Blackwell to publish his opinion in this sort , knowing that the speech of such an opinion hath diuided men and their wiues , father and children , brothers and sisters , and the dearest friendes , and hath bene the cause of the diuision among Priestes , and infinite sinnes ( if detraction haue not lost the nature of a sinne ) in all sorts of people , to the perpetuall infamy as much as lyeth in them of Catholike Priestes , who perchance haue deserued much better of Gods Church then they who haue maintained so long the opinion of schisme against them ? Can M. Blackwell expect any other thing of the Priests against whom hee still declareth his opinion concerning this supposed schisme , then to write , speake , and exact satisfaction , hauing receiued so many iniuries by the like , and daily expect more ? But now hee salueth all in saying , It was but an Arbitrarie matter discussed among the learned , which bringeth no losse of credit to ether part . I gaue them all expresse libertie to thinke what they would herein , for it is but a matter of opinion , and therefore not worthy to make a matter of contention which part soeuer was true . Is it possible that M. Blackwell can say that he gaue all expresse libertie to thinke what they would as in an indifferent matter , Aprill . 1599. who in some of his Letters calleth it a soare , for the which F. Listers Treatise of schisme was such a remedie , 14. March . 1600. as it must not be called in , vntill this sore were healed ; In other Letters , that our condemned deserts drew these names vpon vs , Factious , Schismatikes , excommunicated persons , Irregular , as Ethnikes and Publicanes , and nothing better then Southsayers and Idollaters . Why did he publish that he had receiued a resolution from the mother Cittie , that the refusers of the appointed authoritie were schismatikes , and that hee would not giue absolution to any who should make no conscience thereof , and gaue direction that they should make account thereof , and before they receiued the benefit of absolution make satisfaction , the manner whereof hee left to the discretion of a ghostly Fa. not touched with the note of schisme ? Is this to giue expresse libertie to all to thinke what they would herein ? 21. Feb. 1600. Did he not also sufficiently expresse his minde in other his Letters , where he declared his determination that hereafter whosoeuer had faculties of him should first be content to recall his peeuish opinion ? did he not practise such authoritie vpon M. Benson when he would not giue him any faculties vnlesse hee would renounce the schismaticall conuenticle ? he declared also that M. Tho. Moore had written in preiudice of the Faith , when he writ in our behalfe concerning this matter of Schisme , wherevpon neither his ordinary ghostly father would administer the Sacraments vnto him , nor his ghostly children receiue any of him , or be present when hee celebrated . 29. May . 1600. Are not all Ecclesiasticall persons commaunded vnder paine of suspension , and losse of faculties presently to be incurred , and the Laitie vnder paine of being in the same sort interdicted , that neither directly nor indirectly by word or writing they maintaine the censure of Paris , although it were giuen vpon true information , because it cleared vs from schisme and sinne ? and can it now be iustified , that hee gaue expresse libertie to all to thinke what they would , as of a matter which was not worthie to make a matter of contention which part soeuer was true ?

How often heretofore hath he commended that discourse of F. Lister the Iesuite , and euen now calleth it a learned discourse & censure , as if the dearth of learned discourses continued still ? and for what is it so highly commended ? for that it prooueth a matter which were it true were it otherwise , was not worthy to make any contention , and proueth it very simply God wot , in that only hee heapeth infamous names out of his charitie vpon those against whom it is intended . Yet leaast that the discourse should be called learned without cause a principall reason is here touched , that the authoritie was confirmed with three Letters of a Cardinall , and not only a Cardinall but a Protector , and not only a Protector of a Colledge , but a Protector of England . Let vs graunt that we saw three Letters of such a Cardinall , although in verie deed there were but two shewed vnto vs ( vnlesse the altering of the first be accounted for one ) & the one of those two was to this ende that the Arch-priest should informe of the manners & behauiours of the troublesome ( so it pleased his grace to terme those who did not take his Letters for an Oracle , and yeeld themselues before they had sent to his holinesse to vnderstand his pleasure in a matter thrust vpon them vpon most wicked & false suggestions , and with more authoritie in some sort then euer any creature had , as vnder a colour of the greater glory of God , to dcbarre or throw a Priest out of his place , where in time of persecution hee had some morall securitie for his safetie , as well in respect of a conuenient shelter , as for necessary maintenance , hauing no liuings of the Church to supply his wants ) Let vs I say graunt that we saw three , let vs say 30 , and stand to the iudgment of learned men , Gloss. in cap. sicut de sent. excom. Felinus in ca. ad eminentiam ibidem . the cause is ours , that is to say , we were not bound to giue credit to so exorbitant a matter , and so preiudiciall to many well deseruing of Gods Church , vpon the testimony of a Cardinall , who also saying no otherwise than that he had a commaundement from his holinesse to imploy himselfe to make a peace betweene the Seminary Priests and the Catholickes ( most iniuriously belyed at Rome to haue bene at variance ) Pan. in cap. quod super fide instr . & in cap. cum a nobis de testibus & attest . Zecchius de statu Ill. D. Car. num. 9. Sil. verb. degatus § 15. & verb. Testis § 5. and that it was the Popes will that there should be a subornation for certaine reasons giuen him by the Priests of England ( which were neuer as yet knowne what they were ) made all the rest , either of himselfe , ignorant of English matters , or by the suggestion of the Iesuites , betweene whom and the Priests were all the controuersies which were in England . Neither doth it make any thing to the purpose , to alledge here that the Cardinall was Protector of England , for this act of his was a subdelegaon , as appeareth by the words of his Letter , Angel . verb. Testis § 14. Armill . ibid. § 7. Te deligimus cui vices nostras pro tempore delegemus . We make choyce of you whom for the time we subdeligate in that charge which was committed to vs , which was to make a peace betweene the Seminary Priests and the Catholickes who were said to be fallen out , and not an act of Protectorship : so that if it had bene knowne heere in England that he was Protector of England , yet it is as impertinently vrged in this place as the place out of Nauarre for the credite of a Protectors Letters , wherein no mention is made either of any Protector or any Letters , he speaketh there of a farre different Officer which is called Conseruator , whose office is otherwise set downe , Cap. fin . de officio & pot . Iudi. deleg . in sexto , then M. Blackwell vseth his , and if Iacob Strozz . make no more to this purpose then Nauarre , these cotations might haue bene kept for some other places : very probable it is that this Iacob Strozz . doth handle somewhat of a Conseruator as other Canonists do , and perchance nothing more of Protectors than they do . The office of a Protector stretcheth not it self farther then the Court of Rome , as may be gathered out of those words of the Breue , Nationis Anglicanae apud nos & Apostolicam sedem Protector , Protector of the Englishe Nation heere with vs , Clement . si summus pontifer . de sent excom. susp . &c. and with the Sea Apostolicke , and this phrase in the Breue doth not make him Protector of the English Nation , if before hee were not . But put the case in the best manner , and with the most aduantage . We did no otherwise then we might haue done if the Letters had come from his holinesse , Cap. si quando . de rescrip . glosi ibid. cap. Cum teneamur de praebend. glos . ibidem . for we made no demur but with minde to giue a reasonable cause thereof , which is lawfull for any man to do .

The fift point concerneth the vsage of the two Agents at Rome , which if it hath bene shewed to be not as of Agents but as of patients , as being cast into prison before they were suffered to doo the parts of Agenrs , examined , afterward accused , not heard when they desired the copie of their accusation to make answere therevnto , at which time only they were together to shewe their readinesse to doo their duties , and after 14. weekes close imprisonment bidden to consult of their matters for which they came to Rome , ( three dayes after that the Breue was gotten in confirmation of the authoritie ) and notwithstanding they put off their Caps to this Breue , and sent it into England that all might doo the like , they were banished out of their Countrey , and confined without any allowance for their necessary maintenance , being men who had spent all their life for and in the seruice of Gods Church . If this I say haue bene shewed without any blame laid upon the Pope Cardinalls or Fiscall of reformation , M. Blackwell should not now to saue the credit of his particular Patrons , with scandal insinuate that the Pope deserued blame , for it hath alwaies bene vndoubted that the Pope was misinformed , and therevpon did what he did , the Cardinall Caietane led altogether by the Iesuites , the other not to contradict Caietane , the Fiscall at Caietans deuotion , and no part of any discourse made heereof , can warrant M. Blackwell to say that either Pope , Cardinardinals or Fiscall were priuy to all , for the Pope neuer heard them ; the Cardinalls but in answere for themselues when they were brought before them to be accused by a couple of Proctors appointed for the Arch-priest , who after they sawe the two Priests resolute vpon the point to answere their Libell or Bill of accusations , obtained of the Cardinals that it might not be deliuered vnto them , so that heereby it is euident also that the Cardinals were not priuie to all , the Fiscall might heare or see their examinations or part thereof , which are not to be taken as relations of all which they could say , the Interrogatories beeing made at the discretion of F. Parsons , and their answers cut off sometime as being too long , sometime as more fit for other Interrogatories pretended to be made afterward . Who then with any reason can say that these were priuie to all ? and if furthermore the Cardinalls were nothing but Interpreters of the Popes will , may not the truth be knowne without the scandall of all Christendom , it being a thing very possible that the Pope may be misinformed , & do that which afterward he may wish vndone ?

The sixt point is concerning his decrees , which as he saith were necessarie , for they containe nothing but prohibition of things , otherwise vnlawfull , and partly also forbidden by Cardinall Caietane . We are not heere to examine what the Cardinall did partly forbid , being dead and buried long before some of them were made or could be thought upon , and was not liuing when any one of them was made . M. Blackwell proueth the necessitie of them by the contents as is shewed , but if it be proued that they were vnlawful prohibitions of things that were and are lawfull ( although he had power to make such decrees ) the grounde of the necessitie of these which he hath made wil proue but a myer . The first Edict ( made 17. Ianu. 1599. as we account ) forbiddeth euery man vnder greeuous penalties ipso facto to bee incurred to divuldge any Bookes set out within two yeares before , or after to be set out , by which his lawfull estate should be disturbed , or the fame of any Ecclesiasticall person of the English Nation by name be harmed . The cause of this decree was ( as is therein specified ) that nothing should be attempted , intermedled , or published among vs , that may be offensiue to our state , or to the encrease of our troubles , or else to the detraction of our Bretheren . What if any man were so publikely iniured as he could not repaire his credite but by publishing ? doth not the lawe of nature , and Nations , allow him that defence ? how then did this decree containe a thing otherwise vnlawfull ? but to come a litle nearer , was there not a Booke published and sent into all parts of England , yea and beyond the seas by the Iesuites , or their fauourites , Intituled in generall termes , Against the factious in the Church , but applied particularly to vs by the Archpriest ( as heere he confesseth in his answere to the fourth point ) and can it be said to be vnlawfull ( if we had bene so idle ) to publish in our owne defence against that sencelesse , and sinfull Libell ? Sencelesse in running vpon disobedience to the Sea Apostolike , from which no Letter came to commaund any thing , nor to testifie that any other had authoritie giuen to commaund . Sinfull in that vpon so weake a ground no wickednesse was left vnlaid to our charge , nor any name of infamie omitted , and as now M. Blackwell better aduised confesseth in his answere to the fourth point in a matter of opinion , and therefore not worthie to make a matter of contention which part soeuer was true . This Edict then forbad not any thing otherwise vnlawfull , but only ( as it should seeme ) gaue libertie to any our aduersaries to spread abroad any thing to the encrease of troubles , and detraction of the bretheren , and debarred vs only to publish against the detractious Libelling of others , howe iust soeuer our cause might bee .

The second Edict or Decree made the 29. of May , 1600. forbiddeth vnder penalties ipso facto to be incurred , that no man directly or indirectly maintaine or defend in word or in writing the censure of the Vniuersitie of Paris , ( which had cleared vs from schisme and sinne , in our forbearing for a time to accept him in that authoritie vpon causes there set downe ) whether it were truly giuen or forged , whether vpon true information or otherwise . Can it be iudged by any of reason to be a thing vnlawful in it selfe to defend a censure of the most famous Vniuersitie in the world , being giuen vpon true information as heare he supposeth it might be ? the presumption is so great in this prohibition , and the decree so euidently conuinced to bee of a thing not vnlawfull , as wee need not heere to stay any longer vpon it .

The third Decree , dated the 18. of Octob. 1600. conteineth many prohibitions , but that which M. Blackwell seemeth here most to vrge , is the prohibition that no man should ask an other or giue his owne name to any thing , with which he or two of his assistants were not first made acquainted . And I incline to thinke that hee meaneth this rather then the rest , for that conformably to his assertion in this place , he said ( a litle after this Edict was made ) that the Cardinall Caietane did meane heereby that they who would giue their names to any thing , should not only acquaint the Archpriest therewith , but also get his consent therevnto : so that if the Priests would by common suffrage haue any thing amended in him , or any of those , whom he thinketh to be his friends , or should attempt any thing necessary to be done in such place , where a bedroll of names ouerpease ( as they haue found by experience ) be the cause neuer so iust , they cannot giue their names vnto it without his consent . Now do I appeale to any honest man , whether it be a thing in it selfe vnlawfull for any to giue their names , or demaund others to any thing , which in reason they may thinke necessary for the common good of Gods Church , or reliefe of their owne miseries ? and if in such a case it be not a thing vnlawfull , howe is this true , which Maister Blackwell heere affirmeth , that his decrees containe nothing but prohibition of things otherwise vnlawful ? Now that we haue shewed that the things prohibited were not vnlawfull , but rather his prohibitions , and consequently his first reason of the necessitie of his Decrees of no force , let vs see how the euent prooueth the necessitie of them . Some who carry graie haires , ( and if they would keepe silence might goe for verie graue men , and thought fit to be Councellours ) discouer their want too much of that wisedome , and learning which they might haue , and vpon these decrees blunder it out ( so as Will Sommers might finde them ) that who so readeth the Bookes set out by the Priests ( by warrant of all iust lawes ) in the defence of their good name , and fame most iniuriously taken from them by the seditious Libell of F. Lister , and the sinfull vse of others their tongues , is excommunicated . Had any excommunication bene threatned ( although the Archpriest could not doo it ) or had any prohibition bene made in the decrees that no man should read any of our bookes , such graue men might haue dreamed of such matters as they talke on , but there being no mention either of the one , or the other in any edicts , how commeth Grauity ( where litle time , hath bin or is spent in other studies ) to make such a coniunction of Nownes & Verbes , It is excommunication to read any of these bookes ? Some are also said to be excommunicated for bringing a Priest a Breuiary to say his houres . Some carry scrowles about of such Priestes names as must not be dealt withall . Some will not heare their confessions . Some teach that it is excommunication to be present at their masse . And for what ? forsooth for maintaining an opinion which was not worthie to make a matter of contention which part soeuer is true : and seeking by lawfull appeale to the Sea Apostolike to haue the controuersie fully decided ?

The Archpriest inflicte● paines ipso facto to preuent scandals and seditions , either those are no scandals and seditions , which are taken for such , or they are very meanly preuented . But by what authoritie are penalties inflicted ipso facto by him who throughout his commission hath his order set downe vnto him for his proceedings , that is , to admonish , reprehend , and chastise also when néed shall be by abridging faculties , or if necessitie require by recalling the faculties . And afterward , If any shewe himselfe disobedient , vnquiet , or contumacious , h● may after due admonitions and reprehensions made with brotherly charitie punish him with Ecclesiasticall penalties ; that is to say by taking away his faculties , or by suspension , vntill he amend . How is this order kept in the Archpriests proceedings , when without any reprehension , or brotherly admonition after a fault , he will scant hold his hand vntill the fault be committed , but ipso facto the offendour is punished and how by any degrees for example , by hauing his faculties abridged , and after if necessitie require it , by leesing them , or after this by being suspended ? no such matter . But all at once ipso facto , yea and more then this , hee is interdicted , for which there is no warrant in all the Commission ; wherefore and also for that the Archpriest did not obserue the order prescribed him ( being but a Subdelegat vnder the Card. Caietane as appeareth in his Letters ) all which hee hath done in this kinde is of it selfe voyd , Cap. cum dilecta de rescriptis glossa ibidem . Cap. venerabili de officio & pot . iud. del . Hostiensis de offic. Iudicis deleg . num. 7. & 10. Innoc. in cap. praedicta . S. Antonin . p. 3. tit. 9. c. 3. § 1. & 10. Gemin . cap. Quia pontificali de off . & pot . Iud. del . in . 6. Ang. Arm. Sil. verb. Delegatus . as it is manifest by the rules of holie Church , and those who comment thereon , and therfore no good euent ( if there had bene any ) could proue the lawfulnes of his decrees . But he could not wel haue the vse of forum contentiosum , nor cyte or produce witnesses , nor conueniently méete with euery one post factum . Were they who put him in authoritie ignorant that heere could not be any formall Court kept ? or can M. Blackwell say , that he cannot meet with anie one post factum , either himselfe , or by his Assistants , who in his Letters to his Assistants , giueth directions to examine such , as whose names are to the appeale , vpon such and such points ? If he wil denie that himselfe hath written to particular Gentlemen to giue entertainment to such a man in particular to examine the Priest there resident concerning his subscribing to the appeale , and concerning his punishment therfore , his owne Letters shall be brought out against him ? so that if it please him , it is euident inough that he can proceed post factum , and therefore this is but a poore shift for the making of his decrees in such sort , as they are with penalties , ipso facto to be incurred . As for the good which he hath done by these his censures , it hath bene no other than to make some dissemble for a while , because they would not be said to be suspended , or to haue lost their faculties . And perplexe men whether they may in this time of persecution goe for the Sacraments . And for the execution of his decrees , he may say that he proceedeth vpon other cause then vpon the appeale , but then he must promise comfort to such as heere hee taketh notice haue need thereof , vpon some other cause , then the subscribing , or hauing their names put to the appeale , for this is an euident argument ( whatsoeuer is pretended ) that some haue had need of comfort for that act doing , but the words of his Letter dated 16. Aprill , 1601. to a Laie Gentleman , leaue no place for any doubt in this cause . This I write ( saith he ) to make you priuie of the great spirituall daunger , wherein you and all that receiue any Sacraments of M. Os . N. may be , if it be so that he hath subscribed vnto a seditious Pamphlet , coloured with the name of an Appeale .

The oath of obedience exacted by the Archpriest is beyond his Commission . And the lesse to be listned vnto , for that it is exacted as a satisfaction due to him by such , as haue appealed to Rome , vpon no other causes , then were prooued out of his owne Letters , and others of his Councell , and are of that qualitie , that neither he nor all his complices in those actions will euer be able to make condigne satisfaction to the Priests .

And here I could wish that men were not so caried away with the sound of authoritie , hauing had sufficient knowledge of the Priests their carriage toward all lawfull authoritie by their behauiour at the comming of the Breue , and let not the name of a seditious booke ( the least point therein contained not being to be controld , but by secret whisperings where it shall not come to the examination ) put men from seeing how they are deluded by such as meane them no good , but labour now to lull them a sleep till they haue gotten what they would , & to this end bebarre them of all such helpes , as whereby they might be enformed of the truth . The points neither confute themselues , nor will be confuted by any . Neither are the bookes written in passion , but to moue all sincere Catholikes to haue compassion both of themselues , and of vs , when they shall see by these discourses vnder whose hands their soules are , and how slight reckoning is made of the infamie of so many Priests for a matter not worthie to make a matter of contention which part soeuer is true .

Concerning the names to the appeale . Howsoeuer some doo comfort themselues , they will hardly finde any whose name was there without his consent , for although perchance there were some causes particular to some , which were not knowne to the rest , yet in the chief they all found themselues agreeued , and desired remedie by way of appeale , to which they set to their hands , or sent their consent by others to haue their names set too , for which the Authours will be brought foorth if need require , to iustifie their consents , whose names they caused to be subscribed : and since this matter came in question we haue to shewe the consents of some vnder their owne handes , of whom the doubt was made .

But to grow to amend , all are to vnderstand , that our desire is to haue peace , and for peace sake haue we published these bookes , knowing that there is no way so meet to worke an vnfained peace , as to haue the truth knowne of these proceedings , that thereby the soare may be searched to the quick , & not healed as it was before , and brake out againe presently after , by the indiscretion of F. Iones a Iesuite , who , when all were quiet , affirmed that they incurred the censures of holie Church , who should say Dogmatizando that we were not Schismatickes . If we were Schismatickes we refuse not to stand to the iudgement of the Church . If we were not , we desire it may so be declared , as there be no more strife raised thereon here in England , or elsewhere . F. Garnet the head of the Iesuites , made lately a motion for peace , which if it had come from the Archpriest , or if hee had ioyned with F. Garnet therein , it might haue taken some effect , because these controuersies were as well with the Archpriest , as the Iesuits . But the Archpriest not ioyning in this treatie which was begunne by the other , the Priests could not thinke that it was sincerely meant , in which they are now confirmed , because so soone as Fa. Garnet vnderstood by M. R. B. the 27. of Iuly , that the conditions made at the first attonement were not as yet performed by the Archpriest , The recalling of M. D. Bishop , & M. Charnock home from banishment and confinement . he noted for a partie in this controuersie , and that somewhat was expected , to the same effect from the Archpriest ( whom this matter most concerned ) he mistooke it for a refusall to haue a parley of peace , and so signified it to a friend of his , vpon the last of Iuly ; beside that in these Letters last written by the Archpriest to his assistants in answere of our bookes ( doublesse not without the priuitie of Fa. Garnet , whose counsell he is to haue in matters of moment ) he declareth his opinion which still he retaineth that we were schismatikes , in the which renewing of so grieuous an infamie if we stir , it is not without cause , for we lie still open thereby to those iniuries , and reproachfull speeches which were vsed by Fa. Lister in his libel , & are now so in the fashion abroad , that the fayrest Catholike housen haue now the filthiest aire , and all base scoldes who haue the most impudent clackes , must giue place to their betters .

But as the Apostle saith , Diligentibus deum omnia cooperantur in bonum : All things turne to their good , who loue God , which I hope we do , in seeking his glorie as F. Garnet knoweth we do , and witnesseth as much in his Letters dated vpon Midsommer day last past , and his glorie is our content , and in him we hope to haue peace , which also we wish to those who in their owne consciences haue giuen vs the greatest cause of offence , and pray for them , as we desire the praier of all good Catholickes for vs .