A BRIEFE REPLIE TO A certaine odious and slanderous libel , lately published by a seditious Jesuite , calling himselfe N. D. in defence both of publike enemies , and disloyall subiects , and entitled A temperate wardword , to Sir Francis Hastings turbulent watchword :

Wherein not only the honest , and religious intention , and zeale of that good Knight is defended , but also the cause of true catholike religion , and the iustice of her Maiesties proceedings against Popish malcontents and traitors , from diuers malitious imputations and slanders cleered , and our aduersaries glorious declamation answered , and refuted by O.E. defendant in the Challenge , and encounters of N. D.

Hereunto is also added a certaine new Challenge made to N. D. in fiue encounters , concerning the fundamentall pointes of his former whole discourse :

Together with a briefe refutation of a certaine calumnious relation of the conference of Monsieur Plessis and Monsieur d'Eureux before the French king , lately sent from Rome into England ; and an answer to the fond collections , and demands of the relator .

Imprinted at London , by Arn. Hatfield . 1600.

SIr N.D. or Noddy , or howsoeuer it shall please you to stile your selfe , being a man but of two or a a Homo trium literarum . three letters , it should seeme you were in a fitte of a cholericke feauer , when you wrote your late Wardword . For euery where you fret , fume , and chafe , and all the dishes of your feast are chafing-dishes , and hot words both against your aduersary , and others . No doubt you were distempered , or else I thinke , you would not haue raued , or rather raged after such a mad fashion . You seeme also to be full of galles , scabbes , and sores . For what else should make you to crie , and exclaime so passionately , when you are but lightly and tenderly touched ? I can compare you to none more fitter , then to that vlcerous fellow in b b In Niptris . Cicer. Tusc. 2. Sophocles , that could not abide the hands of surgeons : Abscedite , saith he , dimittite . Nam attrectatu , & quassu saeuum amplificatis dolorem . Your selfe and your cause is so ful of botches , that you can abide no shaking , nor handling ; and therefore with c c Ibidem . Philoctetes may say , Iam iam absumor , conficit animam Vis vulneris , vlceris aestus . Like you are to dame d d In the Italian legend , in the life of Saint Catharine . Bonauenture sister to Catharine of Siena that noble Romish saint , that was like to die , as oft as she heard but one foule word ; so tender harted was shee . And you are so tender eared , that you cannot abide to heare any euill word of the pope , or of his agents . He may proceed against vs , as an enimie ; and his agents may broch rebellions and treasons , and else what mischiefe they can ; and yet we may neither touch your holy father , nor lay open the lewd practises of enemies and traitors . And because Sir Francis doth touch the hostile actions of the Pope and Spanyard , and treacherous practises of Romish priestes and Iesuits ; you e e In the preface to the Warde-word . leape suddenly into your raging and impatient fits , and complaine of railing and calumniation saying , that his discourse is an iniurious pamphlet , and a biting libell , and that he is enraged with a furious veine of inuectiue spirit neither sparing God , nor man . And as if this had not been sufficient , you tell vs further , that the f f This applied to Andreas Philopater or Parsons , is true . flowers , or rather furies of his discourse are lying , forging , falsifying , ignorant vaunting , odious scoffing , malitious calumniations , seditious interpretations , bloodie exaggerations , barbarous insultations , and that he rusheth further to the open assault of forreine monarkes , their honors fame and reputation .

But rage , and reuell as long , as you list : I doubt not , but all honest men will commend vs , and all moderate men will allow vs to speake in defence of our Prince and countrey . Our countrey is deare vnto vs , and if all valiant men ought to venture their liues for it , litle should we deserue , if we would not open our mouthes to speake for it . Heathen men by no pretence of religion could be drawen from defence of their countrey . Fabius Maximus was woont to say , that those attempts were done according to religion , that were done for the safetie of the state . Dicere ausus est , saith g g De senectute . Tully , optimis auspicijs ea geri , quae pro salute reipub . fierent . And h h Iliad . 〈◊〉 . Hector said , that whatsoeuer the chanting of birdes foretold , it was best to defend valiantly a mans countrey . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . And shall we vnder a pretence of false religion abandon true religion , for which we are to forsake father , mother , wife and children , and all we haue , and for pretence of ( I know not what ) danger , forsake our most deere countrey , for which euerie honest man ought to giue his life , and all he hath ? If you talke with Parsons the Iesuite , he will tell you , that it is no such discommendable matter , to speake what we can in defence of our countrey , and of religion , especially against the publike enimies of religion , and of our countrey , and against disloyall traytors , that are with their entisements drawne to rayle against their Prince , and to betray the cause of religion , and their countrey . Be they monarkes , or be they fryer frapartes , popes or cardinals , terrestriall gods , or carnall men : if they be our enimies , and seeke our destruction , and the destruction of our religion , Prince and countrey ; I esteeme him but a base fellow , that feareth to encounter them in any sort . That priuilege doth the law of warre giue vnto vs , to strike any , that will come against vs in the field . Certes , if it be free for you to defend the cause of publike enimies , that with fire and sword seeke to destroy vs ; of wicked and traitorous priestes , Iesuites and their consorts , that by secret practise would vndermine the state , and bring forreine enimies vpon vs ; of impious and idolatrous heretikes , that goe about to erect idolatry and popish impieties ; you must giue vs leaue to speake for our religion , that is most catholike and apostolike ; for our Prince , that is so gratious and mercifull , and offendeth in nothing more , then shewing such grace , and mercie to so mercilesse and wicked traytors , as seeke her destruction , and the desolation of this countrey ; for our selues , that professe true religion , and abhorre Romish idolatry , superstition and heresie .

WHat singular clemencie hath been shewed towards the papistes in this land , I thinke no man of meane knowledge and iudgement can be ignorant . a a Lib. histor. Genuens . 23. Petrus Bizarus an Italian writing the historie of Genua , and vpon occasion mentioning her Maiestie , doth compare her to Alexander Seuerus , a most famous prince for his clemencie and other vertues , and testifieth , that for twenty yeeres she gouerned her kingdome without blood , not suffering any to be punished , but by lawfull triall , and sentence of iudges . The which is testified by as many , as then knewe her gouernment , and by euidence of things then passed . For so long as papists did content themselues with their popish conceites and opinions , although many of them were false , absurd , and blasphemous ; yet neither did she seeke to ensnare them by new lawes , nor execute the rigour of olde lawes against heretikes , yet in force , against them .

In the meane while Thomas Harding b b Anno 1567. obtained a bull from the pope , to exercise episcopall iurisdiction in England , to dispense with irregularities , and to receiue all , that would be reconciled to the pope . Which was nothing else , but the beginning of a rebellion , which broke foorth two yeeres after . For all that were reconciled to the pope , renounced their obedience to the prince , as their actions did declare . In the yeere 1569. Nicholas Morton was sent into England , to stirre the earles of Westmerland and Northumberland , and as many , as he could , to an open rebellion : which c c By Sanders his conf●ssion it appeereth , that popish priestes come into England to stir vp rebellion . Sanders in his booke de visibili monarchia , plainly telleth , that we should not be ignorant , why fugitiue priestes come ouer into England . These seditious firebrands did make no small flame in the north partes , and laide plots to stirre other partes of England to discontentment , had not God crossed their desseines .

All this notwithstanding , albeit popish religion , and the proper marks of it began now to be made marks of faction , and that her Maiestie saw by diuers practises in England and Ireland , that papistes did seeke her life , and the destruction of her kingdome , and that the Iesuites and priestes that were sent from Rome , came for no other purpose , then to practise against her life and the state ; yet did she giue life to diuers rebels and traitors , refusing mercie to none , but such as refused to accept her fauour and mercie . At Rishtons ap●ndix to Saners . one time she caused twenty of this faction to be sent away ; and at another time , two and twenty , and at another thirtie , most of them condemned , the rest guiltie of treason , or other capitall crimes . And now she keepeth diuers aliue , that if they had , either her Maiestie in their power , or others , whom they finde contrarie to their purposes , would not spare their liues one hower : nor content themselues with ordinarie reuenge .

As for obstinate recusants , which ( no doubt ) for the most part This appeath by diuers ●tters of popish iests ready to shewed . are secretly reconciled to the pope , and adhere to her enemies , yet doe they enioy their landes , and goodes , and countrie , and in effect their libertie ; and are onely subiect to pecuniarie punishments , which either they escape , not being endited through fauour , or by sleightes auoyding the enditement , or by conueyance of their landes frustrating the lawe , or compounding for their punishment .

Compare her Maiesties actions with the cruell proceedings of papists ; and you shall soone see an exceeding great difference . She This is proo●d in the end ●f our newe ●allenge . executeth none for meere matter of religion , vnlesse vnder colour of religion they be taken practising for her enemies authoritie , and against her state , and person : they spare none . She spareth notorious teachers of popish heresies , and inflicteth only pecuniarie mulctes vpon malcontent recusants , that plainly disallow her gouernment ; g g The massacre of France and Flanders witnes this . they kill man , woman and childe , that shall professe true religion . She onely defendeth her selfe against those , that are sent to perturbe the peace of her gouernment ; they by tormentes and rackes seeke out peacible persons , and execute them to death most cruelly . She proceedeth according to law , these contrarie to all lawes h h Hist. Natalis Comit. massacre men , women , and children , whom they suspect to be contrarie to themselues in opinion .

Which clemencie of her Maiestie , if it had either beene well accepted of forreine nations abroad , or else had mollified the harts of disloyall papists at home , all men would haue well liked , and magnified . But seeing this extraordinarie fauour , or rather remissenesse of lawes and iustice towards them hath caused diuers rebellions both in England and Ireland , and made them bold to attempt against her Maiesties life and gouernment , and giuen some of them courage to conspire with forreine enemies , and hardened the harts of our enemies against vs , and weakened the hands of such , as otherwise would haue beene forward inough to attempt against them ; and finally dissolued the sinewes of gouernment in suffering malcontents to practise and not maintaining the present state , and executing lawes against offenders : many doe thinke that against such persons , that are so euill disposed , and so firmly linked to forreine enemies , good iustice is most necessarie , and that it is farre more profitable and expedient , to execute lawes , then to pardon such offenders . For while such vipers are suffered to gnawe the entrailes of their mother , and yet are not punished ; and malcontents suffered to degorge their poyson against religion , lawes , gouernment , magistrates , ministers of the church , and all honest men ; it is no maruell , though the number of disloyall subiects encrease , and though well affected and honest men withdrawe themselues , and rest discouraged . Now of late they i i A● appeareth by the multiplicitie of their libels , diuersly mentioned in this treatise . haue taken to themselues a presumptuous and audacious libertie , not onely to speake their pleasure of her Maiestie , and her lawes and good friends , but also to aduance the cause of the publike enemies of the state . Edward Rishton a Seminarie priest was no sooner by her Maiesties fauour k k He set out Sanders booke , De schismate , and augmented it with infinite lies and reproches . deliuered out of prison , and from the danger of death , which he had well deserued , but he published against her and her Maiesties noble father and brother a most odious and railing libell deuoide of all truth and honestie , and for more credit to it , set it out vnder Nicholas Sanders his name and authoritie after his death . This course was also taken by Nicholas Harpesfield , who enioying libertie to doe what him listed , abused his libertie to raile on his prince and countrie . These are the men , that goe about to make their nation , and this gouernment infamous and odious to all posteritie . And thus we giue life and libertie to those that seeke nothing more , then to depriue vs of life , and good name .

Nay they are lately growne so insolent , that they dare not onely taxe and raile at religion , and gouernment , but also reuell at all those , that once beginne to open their mouth in defence of the truth of her Maiestie , of iustice , and of their countrie ; and not onely that , but also presume to offer their paltrie pamphlets to the view and consideration of the Lordes of her Maiesties counsell , which are the chiefe maintainers of religion and iustice . And that this is most true , we neede no further proofe , then a certaine treatise entituled a Wardeword , and written in outward shew against Sir Francis Hastings , but in very truth against religion , and this gouernment .

This good Knight of a right zealous minde toward religion , and a loyall and louing affection towardes her Maiestie and the state , giueth the word to his countreymen , and stirreth vp such as sleepe in too much securitie , to consider the malice of the Pope , the preparations of the Spanyards , and the trecherie of Spaniolized papistes , that either at home or abroade entertaine intelligence with them : and seeing forreine enemies seeke by force to take the crowne from her Maiestie , and to subuert the state , and to plant not onely false religion , but also an absolute tyrannie in this land ; he exhorteth all loyall subiects , and true English willingly to aduenture their liues , and to spend their goodes in defence of their religion , prince and countrie . He aduiseth also all true Christians diligently to watch , and to beware of the trecherous practises of priestes , Iesuites , rinegued English , and their consortes , as meaning nothing else , but the subuersion of religion and state . In all which discourse , what one sentence can be noted vnwoorthie either a true Christian , or a loyall subiect , or a woorthie knight ? Is it not lawfull to oppose himselfe against publike enemies and traitors , and to shew his affection toward his prince and countrie ? Sure , this our counterfeit N.D. whose name Parsons the Iesuite doth borrow , as he doth the name of Dolman otherwhere , is very much offended , that either our knight should open his mouth in defence of the state , or offer himselfe readie to resist the publike enemies thereof . Nay further he aduanceth the Pope and Spaniard , and maintaineth the cause of knowne traitors , and raileth at all , that dare speake any thing against them . Wherein I neede not note vnto you either his notorious follie , that shewing himselfe a professed enemie of his prince and countrie , yet thinketh to obtaine fauour for his clientes the papistes at the princes handes , or their boldnes , that vaunt of this champion , when no man can like him , but must needes shew a dislike of his prince and countrie , and bewray himselfe to be an enemie to the state . But I doe the rather report vnto you the summe of this mans pleading , that you may the better vnderstand the boldnesse and impudencie of this generation , and how through our owne remissenesse wee haue suffered them to grow to this height of insolencie .

He appealeth to the Lordes of her Maiesties counsell ; and I hope they will censure such a rayling libeller and lewde companion according to his deserts . My selfe also doe commende vnto them this whole cause , and doubt not , but they will maturely consider the pride of the enemie , and the necessitie of iustice : & that all magistates & good subiects wil concurre with them in this case . Clemencie and debonnairetie is very commendable ; but to suffer either Gods honor to be violated through idolatrie or superstition , or the Christian magistrates life or person to be endangered ; or the commonwealth to be vndermined for want of due punishment of offenders , is not to be termed clemencie , but rather a remissenesse and dissolution of gouernment , neither well agreeing with religion , nor ciuill policie . l l 1. King . 15. Asa king of Iudah is commended , for that his hart was vpright with the Lord al his daies : yet was it no smal blemish to him , that he put not downe the high places , where the people had established another worship , then that which the Lord had appointed . Manasses likewise , although vpon his returne from Babylon , he reformed religion and setled matters in Gods temple ; yet is he m m 2. Chron. 33. noted , for that he suffered the people to sacrifice in high places . For idolatrous worship is not to be suffered in any corner , nor by conniuencie to be dissembled .

Neither is it policie to giue too much libertie to such as giue open signes of malcontentment , and either secretly vndermine the state , or publikely transgresse lawes . That state , saith n n In orat . Aeschin . Aeschines , is good for nothing , that hath no strength to represse offenders against lawe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Neither is there any greater maladie in a state , as saith Euripides , then when malcontents and offenders are suffered to flourish . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Tullie saith , that dangerous and disobedient subiects , are with mulctes , imprisonment , and corporall punishment to be restreined . Magistratus , saith o o Lib. 3. de legibus . he , nec obedientem & noxium ciuem multâ , vinculis , verberibusque coercento . Neither can any commonwealth be maintained , but where there is a correspondence of punishment to transgression of lawes . Noxiae par poena esto , saith a wise p p Cicero lib. 3. de legib. politike . And so respectiue were the Romaine lawes in this point , that where by sleight , or want the offender could not haue the penaltie of the lawe laide vpon him , they gaue power to the magistrate to lay an extraordinarie punishment vpon him , that no offence might escape vnpunished . Generaliter placet , saith q q L. quoties . ff. de poenis . Vlpian , in legibus publicorum iudiciorum , vel priuatorum criminum , qui extra ordinem cognoscunt praefecti vel praesides , vt eis , qui poenam pecuniariam egentes eludunt , coercitionem extraordinariam inducant . To spare rebels and traitors doth cause diuers inconueniences . It discourageth loyall subiectes to aduenture in defence of the state ; it maketh the rebels more insolent ; it giueth more opportunitie to forreine enemies to practise ; and finally the example of sparing some , doth embolden other euill disposed persons to attempt the like . It is an olde saying , Impunitas magna est peccandi illecebra . Finally the lawe of God doth put a sword into the magistrates hand , not for naught , but to maintaine honest men , and to punish the wicked .

Now as it is not safe , nor profitable , to let rebelles and traytors passe without due iustice ; so it is not religious nor pious to suffer hereticall and false teachers , and spreaders of sectes and diuisions to escape vnpunished , God hath r r Deuter. 13. established a sharpe law against false prophets , that shall entise men To go after other gods , or shall go about to turne men from the Lord their God . He commaundeth the magistrate to put them to death , and s s Ibidem . forbiddeth priuate men To pity them , or keepe them secret . The apostle writing to the Romaines t t Rom. 16. exhorteth them , To marke such diligently , as should cause diuision , and offences among them , contrary to the doctrine , which they had learned , and to auoide them . The u u L. omnes Cod. de haeret . & Manich. emperors Gratian , Valentinian and Theodosius put hereticall teachers to perpetuall silence , and charged inferior officers not to winke at them . x x L. cuncti . ibid. Arcadius and Honorius depriued them of all exercises of their false religion . y y L. Ariani . ibidem . Theodosius and Valentinian the younger banished Arians , Manichees , and all heretikes out of the Romaine empire . And for this cause did saint z z Lib. 1. cont. epist. Parm●n . c. 6. & epist. 166. Augustin highly commend the emperors iustice : and a a Epist. 62. teach , That it was necessary , that hereticall teachers should be repressed and corrected . Certes if lawes had beene executed against popish priests , Iesuites , and other friers , and false teachers , neither would they haue insinuated themselues into this kingdome and into Ireland with that boldenesse ; nor could so many simple soules haue beene seduced , to the eternall destruction of their soules , and of some of their l●ues ; nor should they so much haue encreased the popish faction , as some where they haue done .

I doubt not , but magistrates both see those inconueniences , and will remedy them . And therefore I neede not to vse many words in this behalfe . But because of late a certaine presumptuous and proude Iesuite calling himselfe N.D. hath taken vpon him , not onely to plead for Iesuites and priests , but also for forreine enemies , and notorious rebelles and traytors , aduancing the cause and power of the enemie , and by a strange metamorphosis of words turning traytors into true subiectes , and rebellious heretikes into martyrs , and by his painted glosses burnishing out heresie , superstition , and idolatry for true religion , catholike faith & Gods true worship ; I haue vpon zeale I beare to Gods truth , and loue I owe to her Maiesty and my country , and not least of all , for that harty affection which I beare to all my Christian countrymen , whome these false teachers apparelled in sheepes clothing with their counterfeite sheepes blayting seeke to abuse ; vndertaken to answere all his pleading , & to iustifie the honest and religious intention of that noble knight Sir Francis , that first aduentured to speake against them , and to shew in generall , that our enemies are no such bugs , as we neede to feare them ; nor english fugitiues such innocents , as they are pretended ; nor the factious papists so honest men that we are far to trust them .

And because he shall not complaine , that we refuse any indifferent triall , I haue thought it not amisse , to vndertake his challenge , and to meete him at euery turne , and in euery encounter , following him pase by pase , and ioyning foote to foote . He would percase bring it to another triall , Vbi collato pede dimicandum est ; or as Virgil saith , Vbi haeret pede pes , densúsque viro vir : and we refuse not , when we shall see him and his consortes come against vs in plaine field . But in the meane while we are to try our cause with words , and not with armes , and to iustifie first our accusation against Romish religion , then against the pope , the Spaniard , the Iesuites , Cardinall Allen , the recusantes , and all enemies , traytors , and malcontentes whatsoeuer . And forasmuch as vnder colour of religion our aduersary would slily defend all attemptes and practises against this state , I haue with my answere vnto this Noddy conioyned a breife discourse , and in certaine new encounters , drawing him foorth into a new combat , prooued that popish religion , whereon he so much standeth , as if it were catholike , and the old religion of Christs church , Is neither catholike , nor ancient , nor true religion ; and finally , that neither the church of Rome is the true church of Christ , nor the popes agents and adherents , that haue beene executed for traytors , true subiectes or martyrs . Which treatise if it profit not obstinate papists , yet shall it greatly strengthen the hands of good subiects , and of all men well affected , and stay others that they be not easily carried either into opinions sauoring of heresie , or else tending to disloyalty , and treachery .

I shall not neede to tell you what manner of man this N.D. is , against whome we deale . He declareth himselfe so plainely , that I cannot more euidently prooue him either a malicious enemy , or a disloyall traytor , then he doth himselfe . For what greater signe of an enemy , then to pleade the cause of publike enemies , and to enuy that any commendation should be giuen , or any blessing happen to this state ? What more plaine conuiction of his trecherous intentions , then that he extolleth the prayses of traytors , and is very sory , that forreine enemies and wicked rebells haue not preuailed against vs ? It is an old saying , that eagles loue eagles , and beares well sort with beares .

There cannot be deuised any thing more malicious , then the pope and Spaniard to the English nation ; neither can any speake more spitefully of his country , of this state , and of religion , then this rinegued English , and Hispaniolized fugitiue . And doe wee maruell , if they be friendes , and ioyne together ?

Onely this is much to be maruelled , that any sober minded papist should allow such a proctor to speake for him , or that this Noddy would be so presumptuous , as to present his fooleries to the councell ; or so foolish , to thinke , that such notorious enemies , and traytors can grace the cause of papists , or procure them fauour , whom his patronage maketh much more suspect , then before . This we may boldly conclude , that whatsoeuer such enemies perswade or offer , that it cannot be for the good of our state . It is an old b b Sophocles in A●ace mastig . saying , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . The gifts of enemies tend not to our good . The Greekes , as is said , in time past would present Minerua of Troy with a horse ; but in the bellie there lurked treason . So this Sinon N. D. if such a Noddie may be compared to Sinon , would perswade vs to receiue the horse-religion of papistes , and horse-friendship of Spaniards . But if he should preuaile , then might we say of him , as the olde man in c c Plautus in Pseudolo . Plautus said of Pseudolus , Superauit dolum Troianum , atque vicit Pseudolus . But I hope I haue discouered all the trecherie of this Sinon , or Pseudolus , or false traitor , or whatsoeuer his malice deserueth to be called .

It may be some will mislike , that I should so roughly handle our countrie papistes and their religion . But they must consider what rebellions haue beene raised , ar● what practises haue beene attempted against her Maiestie , this state , and all true Christians by this faction . I doe not meddle with olde men , that are abused with ancient errours and liue quietly , but with factious papistes , and such as aide them , and receiue them , and either haue correspondence with forreine enemies , or receiue their agents . Now what termes can be too bitter against these , that seeke to bring in strangers , to oppresse all honest men , to ruinate their countrie , to murder their prince , and all that shall adhere to her ? As for the religion of papists , whereby I vnderstand all those corruptions , which vnder the popes authoritie they haue brought into the church of God , and which the church of England refuseth , it is nothing but a packe of nouelties , superstitious vanities and heresies , as we both haue , and alwaies shall be readie to maintaine either against Parsons , or the cardinall Iesuite Bellarmine , or the proudest of that sect and faction . This religion of poperie therefore being not that seede , which Christ did sowe in his field the church , but the cockle , and weedes sowne , and set by the malitious man , while the gouernours of the church were asleepe , what termes could I vse more gentle , then I haue done ?