THE Iesuites Catechisme .

OR EXAMINATION OF their doctrine .

Published in French this present yeere 1602. and nowe translated into English .

With a Table at the end , of all the maine poynts that are disputed and handled therein .

❧ Printed Anno Domini . 1602.

IT cannot be vnknowne vnto you all ( very reuerend and deere Catholicks ) what great and bitter contention ( raised vp from hell no doubt through the malignitie of sathan ) hath lately fallen out amongst vs , who are your spirituall guides , and ought to haue beene vnto you examples of humilitie , charitie , vnitie , pietie , and a whole schoole of religious vertues . And we are fully perswaded , that the consideration of it , doth very greatlie moue & perplex your catholick harts with manifold griefes : especially , seeing we are on both sides so confident in our owne so contrarie courses .

The Iesuits say vnto vs : Woe be to that man , by whom the scandale commeth : We the secular Priests , say vnto them ; Woe be vnto him by whom the scandale commeth . Now whether they apply the words of our Sauiour Christ more rightly to vs , or we to them , therein lyeth the doubt , and that is the difficultie : Wee both doe pleade for our selues : and you with the Church ; must iudge betwixt vs both as vmpiers of our cause . The woe is of a large extent , & will be too heauie to be vndergone by any . Expedit ei , ( as the text saith ) it is expedient , or farre better it were ( say some ) for such a man , that a milstone were hanged about his necke , and he drowned in the bottom of the Sea . In such a contrary application of this so terrible a woe , you ( our auncient children and faithfull Catholicks ) shall shewe your selues right worthie of these honourable titles , and greatly benefit both vs the Secular priests , and the others the esteemed religious Iesuits , to the preuenting in part of this heauie censure ; if you continue stedfast in the doctrine which you haue receiued of vs , conioyned in one a like vnitie of fayth , hope and charitie ; and shall take no offence at these our quarrells & vnbrotherly garboyles . For as S. Hierom saith ; Qui scandalizatur parvulus est : He that is scandalized is but a weakling . Maiores enim scandala non accipiunt : sound and resolute Catholicks doe not take scandale at anything .

There was long since an earnest disputation amongst the Apostles , who among them should be greater : Math. 18. & Christ himselfe was chosen by them as vmpire and Iudge paramount to determine the controuersie . Who accordingly hearing the matter , propounded vnto him in these wordes : Quis putas maior est &c : who thinkest thou is greater ? decided their iarre , with some sharpnesse in this sort as the text reporteth . Iesus calling vnto him a little child , set him in the midst of them and said : Amen I say vnto you , vnlesse you be conuerted and become as children , ( that is saith Lyra in the glosse vppon that place ) vnlesse you be couerted ab elatione scil: superbiae et ambitione maioritatis , from pride and ambitious affectation of greatnes , and become humble and simple without malice or gall of sinne , you shall neuer enter into the kingdome of God . And furthermore , foreseeing in his diuine prescience , how such contention for superioritie might proue verie dangerous in the Church , and wound the tender consciences of manie weake nouices in the catholicke faith : this most wise Arbitrator ( in whom be all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge bid ) doth continue his commination to the better suppressing of that so dangerous an enormitie : saying , Hee that shall scandalize one of these little ones , that beleeue in me , it is expedient for him that a Milstone be hanged about his necke , and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea . Vppon which words the said Lyra writeth in this manner , Et si hoc generaliter dicit contra omnes : tamen hic specialiter contra Apostolos , qui hic de dignitate videntur contendere , et in hoc poterant alios perdere : Although Christ speaketh these words generally to all : yet he speaketh them heere specially against his Apostles , who doe seeme to contend here for dignitie : and therein might haue ouerthrowne many a soule no doubt , and harmelesse hart .

Of these things wee haue thought good to put you that be Catholicks in minde ; that thereby you may consider how the chiefest seruaunts and children of God haue beene subiect to this ambitious humour of affecting soueraigntie , and seeking for superioritie , dominion , and precedencie . Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople , ( though otherwise a worthie Prelate in the church of God ) did contende for the supremacie with Saint Gregorie , that peerelesse pastor , prince , prelate , and pope of Rome . And heere at home it is not vnknowne to those that haue read or heard our English histories , what stirre and hart-burning there hath beene in former times , betwixt the Archbishops of Canterburie and Yorke about such matters , being in other respects all of them verie notable men . But neuer was there such an attempt in our opinions for superioritie amongst Catholiques , ( for wee will not at this time meddle with any heretiques ) since the first preaching of the Gospell of Christ , as now lately is set on foot vnhappily by the Iesuits mischieuous practises . Their order is declared by Pius Quintus to be the fifth order , Mendicantium predicatorum , Of the begging Preachers or Friers . Ignatius their founder , pretended to haue them called Fratres minimi , The lowest , least , or meanest sort of Friers : and termed this company , Io. Osorus obitu Ignatij . Societatem minimam , The meanest or least Societie : not in regard that they were few in number at the first : but as a great Iesuit saith , To signifie thereby , that his Societie should yeeld honour to all other sorts of religious persons as to their elder brethren , ac plane patribus , & as indeed to their Fathers . But tell vs we pray you ; haue these Minimes & begging Friers taken this course ? We wish with all our harts they had taken it .

That the Apostles before they were fully instructed by the holy Ghost , should haue contended amongst themselues , who should be the greatest , being euerie one of them in so high fauour with their Maister Christ , as they were : it might haue admitted some tollerable excuse , had not our Sauiours Woe beene mentioned in the Scriptures , and denounced plainly against them , as a dreadful doome by a sharpe censure of a sorrowfull clause . There wanted not some probable pretences ; why Patriarches and Archbishops might grow into variable oppositions for the prerogatiues of their places , themselues being personages by calling of some equalitie . But that the meanest , least , and lowest order of begging Friers should contend , not among themselues who should be the greatest : but with their elder brethren , auncients and fathers , the most Reuerenced , Respected , and Religious persons of euerie profession : and not that onely , but ouer and besides all this , to striue to bring vnder their girdles the Secular Cleargy , the chiefe state of Priestly preheminency is a wonder as we thinke , the like whereof was neuer heard before amongst Catholiques , Ecclesiasticall , Religious or Temporall , since Christs time till of late daies , that the Iesuits are growne to such a stubborne and vnbridled head , as we feare will breed great mischiefe in the Church of God , before they be well reformed and brought into order againe .

In the other contentions before mentioned , there was no fault as we takeit , eyther in Saint Peter for defending his supremacie , or in Saint Gregorie the great , for mayntaining the dignitie of the Sea Apostolique : or yet in the Archbishops of Canterburie , for standing vpon their right and interest , granted before vnto them by sundrie of Saint Peters successors , for the chiefe primacy in and ouer the Church and ecclesiasticall State in England ; but in those that sought to impugne them , was all the offence that was committed . And that is our case iust : who being Secular Priests now in England and else-where , doe stand at this present in a strong opposition against the Iesuits . We labour not for any extraordinarie superioritie ouer them , not emulate in euill sense any of their vertues or good indeuours ( if any happily be in them : ) nor intrude our selues into their haruest , nor prie into their actions more then we are compelled , nor insinuate our selues into their fauours , nor desire to haue any dealing at all with them . Onely we would be glad to keepe our owne places in the Church of Christ , ( which we and all our predecessors Secular Priests haue euer held , since the first propagation of the Gospell of Christ and Christian Catholique faith and religion , by the holy Apostles after our Sauiours ascension : ) and that now these begging Friers by faction and false pretences might not tyrannise ouer vs .

It is strange to consider how mightily they are possessed , with pride and ambition , and how farre they haue thereby preuailed . Being men of learning , they scorne to be subiect to the orders of any Vniuersitie : being preachers , they will be exempted from the controlement of all or any Bishops : being Friers , you kill them , if you tell them of any cloysters , or wish them to liue retired like right religious men indeed , or to keepe the generall statutes and rules of all other religious orders . Being naturall borne subiects in many countries where they remayne , no ciuill Magistrate , Prince , or Potentate , must controll them , nor once seeme to call them to the least account for any of their proceedings . And that which is most , being men that professe such zeale , charitie , & inward mortification , such humilitie and godlines : Nay , being men forfooth of perfection ( Est enim hoc institutum virorum plane perfectorum : this our institution , Iohn Osorius . as the said Iesuit saith : is of such men as are indeed perfect : ) they refuse notwithstanding to accompanie the rest of the Cleargie both Secular Regular , and religious , and the whole Church of God in one of her most soleme and publique seruices done to his diuine Maiestie , which we call our great and solemne processions : because that by the custome of the Church , they being the youngest and meanest , or minimes of all Mendicants or begging Friers , were to haue come last behind all the rest in that most honourable seruice .

But to come to our selues , & to their affectation of superioritie ouer vs , and that in these dismal daies , & in the middest of our other domesticall calamities . The Romane Colledge , for the bringing vp of students to become Priests for England , was no sooner erected , but by sleights and false calumniations , they got the superioritie and gouernement of it . Vpon their comming into England , how they laboured to creepe into mens consciences : to insinuate themselues into Nobles and great persons estates , and to discredit vs , many Catholiques doe know : Wee our selues from time to time did easily find the smart and inconueniene of it : and many of vs to our friends haue oft bewayled and complayed with sighs and teares of such their vnchristian dealing with vs . Our brethren then prisoners at Wisbish , who for their vertue , constancie and most Christian Catholique conuersation , & maner of charitable proceeding in all their actions , had worthily merited the name , not onely of the visible , but also of the most afflicted Catholique Church in England : continued in that honour and reputation with all men , euen from the beginning of their duresse vntill some seauen or eight yeeres agon , that Frier Weston a Iesuit would needs be their superiour . Frier Garnet the prouinciall of the Iesuits in England , was in reasonable tune with some of our brethren ( verie auncient , reuerend , and learned Priests ) vntill they seemed to dislike this attempt of Frier Westons : and then he brake with them in such bitternes as he discouered himselfe verie manifestly : saying , That he saw no cause why the Secular Priests might not content themselues well ynough to be subiect to the Fathers of the Societie of Iesus , and added some loose reasons of that his assertion . When both he and his subiect Frier Weston perceiued , that their plot was dasned at Wisbish , and how odious a thing it grew to be , that men who professe religion should aspire to such an vnheard of superioritie ; they wrought with their grand Captaine Frier Parsons , that what they could not worke one way , they might in effect compasse it by an other . And thence insued the authoritie of our R. Arch-Priest , procured by most indirect , vnlawfull and dishonest meanes . Which authoritie is so limited to the directions of the Iesuits , and as it were confined to their platformes , as whilest he is onely ruled by them , and they by Frier Pasons : it had beene peraduenture better for vs in regard of our quietnes & commoditie , that they themselues had bin appointed our Commaunders , Gouernors & good Maisters : for so hauing attayned directly to that which they aymed at , it is likely they would haue beene content . Whereas now because they want but onely the bare name of our Arch-Prelats ; their minds are so inflamed against vs , as when we tooke exception at the manner of our Arch-Priests aduancement ouer vs , and held that course therein , which hath euer hitherto beene approued in the Church of God : who but the Iesuits that are wholly exmpted from our Arch-Priest authoritie , and ought to haue beene straungers in our affaires ( had it not beene vnder-hand , their owne cause ) did then , and euer since oppose themselues with might and mayne against vs in that action ?

A principall Iesuit in Spayne telleth vs diuers straunge tales of this his Societie , Iohn Osorius , in obitu Ignatii . which to our vnderstanding seeme to smell of worse matter , then we are willing to reueale at this present . Hee saith that : Ignace their founder , is the Angell of whom Saint Iohn spake , when he said : Quintus Angelus tuba cecinit , The fift Angell sounded his trumpet . Furthermore , alluding to another Text , he saith : That Ignatius is the wearie and weake Aegyptian , whom Dauid toke vp to fight the battels of our Lord : and addeth , that therefore , as the souldiers cried : Haec est praeda Dauid : this is the pray of Dauid : Ita nunc societas Vniuersa , quae a munds tyrannide liberata est , non praeda Ignatij ; sed Dauidis dicitur , non societas Ignatij , sed societas Iesu nuncupatur : so now the whole Societie being deliuered from the tyrannie of the world , is not called the pray of Ignatius but of Dauid : not the Societie of Ignatius , but of Iesus . And the reason followeth : Quia eos in socios Christus admiserat , because Christ had admitted them to be his fellowes . Afterwards also : Nemo ergo dicat : ego sum Pauli : ego sum Apollo : sed ego sum Christs : Let no man say , I hold of Paule : I of Apollo , but I hold of Christ . And let vs call our selues , the fellowes , not of Ignatius but of Christ . Also the same great Father affirmeth : that the Iesuits in Portugall , haue alreadie obtained the name of Apostles , and that this Societie , hath so worthly laboured in Christ his vineyard : Vt Catholici omnes Iesuitae dicantur , eo quod Iesuitae eorum omnium duces ac Magistri sint : As that in these Northren parts of the world , al Catholiques are called Iesuits , because the Iesuits are the leaders of them all , and their Maisters . In like sort he is of opinion : that the fathers of this Societie , are the Angels Clouds , and Doues , whereof the Prophet Esay writeth , saying ▪ Qui sunt isti qui vt nubes volant ; & quasi columbae ad fenestras suas ? What Angels , are these that flie like Clouds , and as Doues to their windowes ? And againe he saith : They are called Angeli , Angels , that is , Messengers : Eo quod maximarum rerum legatione fungantur : because they are Ambassadors of the greatest things or affairs amongst mortall men : Nubes , Clouds , for their swift obedience : and Columbae , Doues , quia fellis acerbitate caret haec pacifica societas Iesu , quo nihil admirabilius : for that this peaceable Societie of Iesus , hath no gall : asmuch to say , as it wanteth all bitternes of gall , splene , rancour , malice and reuenge : which is as great a wonder as may be . But you will say : quorsum haec : what of all this : are you sillie men the persons that eyther wil or dare take vpon you to confute these things thus published in print by a Spaniard : nay , by so worthie a Iesuit : and preached for an intro●●ction to make Ignatius a Saint , or at the least to paint him out for a man fit to be a Saint ? Surely whatsoeuer we can or dare doe ( if these follies doe not confute themselues sufficiently ) we will not at this time expresse , as not intending to deale with many of them . But how true it is , that the name of Christians is abolished in these Northren Regions , and that we are all now termed Iesuits : and whether all other orders of Religion that retaine the names of their founders , are not here verie shrewdly taxed , and brought to be within the Apostles prohibition : we leaue it to your further consideration . Onely for the present we say thus much : that let the Iesuits be trumpets , Dauids pray , Iesus companions , Angels and Clouds , or what else this fellow of theirs the Spanish Iesuit would haue them , we much regard not : so as againe for our sakes he will be pleased to strike out the word Doues . For notwithstanding all the Texts , we doe not find them men of such Doue-like mindes , and speciall mortification as they doe make shew of , but haue their passions and distempered humors aswell as some others haue . Marke we beseech you , Ma. Lister . how one of these Doues ( if you will needs haue them so termed ) doth write against vs in a little treatise not past two sheets of paper : because we onely forbore our obedience to our R. Arch-Priests verie straunge authoritie ( as we then thought ) till we might be further informed of his Holines pleasure . He calleth vs Schismatikes , and men ( by one of his inferences ) to be cast into hell : factious persons , deiected with the griefe of our owne ruine : and saith that we haue lost our places amongst Priests : that we are banished from the holy alter and ministerie of the Sacraments : that our iudgements are to be contemned , and that we are condemned of the holy Apostolique Church He termeth vs triflers , younglings in Diuinitie , fooles not to be regarded what we say : men that gather not with Christ : Newters , that doe belong to the diuided kingdome , which shall be destroyed , and rebels against the kingdome of Christ . He affirmeth further , that we are become Ethnicks and prophane laicall persons : that we ought to be shunned and auoyded , as the Iewes did shunne in times past the publicans , notorious & knowne sinners ; and that we are infamous persons , nothing better then south sayers , wisards , & Idolaters . And whereas amongst other things we alleadged , that his Holines , in erecting our Arch-Presbitership was misinformed : O mendacium : O notable lie ( saith this milde Doue ) and therwithall comes vpon vs againe . Quid ? What ( saith hee ) Numquid factiosis istis licebit in re grauissima tam impune , tamque impudenter mentiri ? Shall it be lawful for these factious persons , in a matter of most importance to lie so impudently and go vnpunished ?

There are also diuers other Pidgeons of this flight , that out of question eyther haue galles , or some other verie bitter matter in them , that is equiualent to any gall whatsoeuer : Frier Holthy in his long and tedious letter to a verie vertuous Catholique Ladie written against vs : Frier Garnet in sundrie of his letters both to some of vs , and also to others : Also Frier Parsons in his late Apologie : but especially in his ( as we take it ) last booke intituled : A manifestation of the great folly , and bad spirit of certaine Secular Priests , &c. Some little taste we will giue you heere of these good Fathers mortified humour and verie meeke spirit , out of the said last booke . You haue heard the title of it : whereunto that the whole discourse might be sutable , he insinuateth directly in this preface , That we are in a sort possessed with many wicked spirits . And to seeme to haue some authoritie for it : hee applieth these words of our Sauiour Christ vnto vs , where he saith thus . The vncleane spirit went forth , & brought with him seuen other spirits more wicked then himselfe , and all entring , dwelt there : and the ending of those men was worse then the beginning . Of sixe of these diuels the chiefe substance of all his booke doth consist ; and therefore he nameth them directly before he commeth to his discourse , and setteth them downe in expresse words . for the contents of his treatise . Wherein his whole drift is , to slaunder more honest men then himselfe , and to misleade and seduce you : as though whatsoeuer the Secular Priests haue written , in such bookes , as they haue beene inforced this yeere past to publish , for their owne iust defence against the Iesuits calumniations , and bad dealings with them , did proceed onely from their folly : accompanied alwaies with one of these sixe lying spirits . For example , and to vse his owne words : From their manifest folly & bad spirit : from their folly & passionate spirirt : from their folly and presumptuous spirit : from their folly and vnshamefast spirit : from their folly and malignant spirit , and from their folly and deceiued spirit . With this folly and these sixe wicked spirits , he raiseth vp tempests against vs by Sea and land , and playeth the Exorcist : in such sort throughout his whole discourse : as if hee had beene Frier Weston ( another Pidgeon of the same Doue-coate ) at Denham , when the time was ( whereof wee feare a straunge relation ) and so dealeth with our said brethren , as though eyther hee himselfe or they ( good men ) were diuels indeed . And shall wee say that this man hath no gall in him , but in mildnesse of his speech and simplicitie of his heart is like a Doue ? Hee that shall with anie iudgement read his said treatise , will rather thinke he was brought vp in a Crowes-nest . Some men are much deceiued , if both he and many of his crue : might not for their stinging and poysoned writings , be better resembled to Hornets and Dragons , then to so milde a fowle as a Doue is reported to be , by all that write of her .

But certaine persons will say vnto vs : you see not that part of the wallet that hangs at your owne backes . It is true , that wee are not ignorant how greatly some of our said brethren are blamed , and Maister Watson chiefely by many of you ( how iust soeuer their cause bee ) for the bitternesse of their stile ; and we wish with all our hearts , that they had tempered their pennes better , not in respect of the Iesuits , but of your weakenes . God forgiue vs all our sinnes . In multis enim offendimus omnes : For in many things wee offend all . Si quis in verbo non offendit hic perfectus est vir : If any offend nor in his speeches , he is a perfect man . But yet some further defence may be made of our brethrens said bitternes : mens generall imperfections alwaies considered , wherwith we often stayne euen our best actions .