Discoverye of a counterfecte conference helde at a counterfecte place, by counterfecte travellers, for thadvancement of a counteerfecte tytle, and invented, printed, and published by one (person) that dare not avovve his name

A DISCOVERYE OF A COVNTERFECTE CONference , helde at a countersecte place , by counterfecte travellers , for th aduancement of a counterfecte tytle , and invented , printed , and published by one ( PERSON ) that dare not avowe his name .

IT is obserued , and hath bene noted , longe in the worlde , that no Vanitye is so light whiehe beareth not somme credite , no fable so phantastical , but some will beleeue it , nothinge so disorderly attempted whiche hath not fownd a supporter . Euen so it falleth owt touchinge a certen vaine diet appointed somme yearespast to abuse the world vnder the title of a conference aboute the next succession to the Crowne of Englande , beinge in deede a confused bablinge of Idle troublesome trauailers , without interest to deale in suche matter , and a verie confederacie of a practize against the blood Royall , state and dignitye , of that nation .

Therfore wantinge the true and The book of succesfion is put fourth as a babling libel . certaine of place , persone , author , and other due circomstances ; it may well be called an infamous fablinge chartel or Libel , feigned to be conceiued in Holland , knowen to be fostered in spayne , falselie fathered of R. Dolman , printed at N. to wit , no certain place Iustifiable , with licence of , it may not be knowen , who . Neuerthelesse all must be so commended at the first sight for pleasure & vtilitye , the author so extolled for sharpnesse of witte , plentye of muche readinge cunninge in conueyhance , abondance of eloquence , and other graces , as none can finde any want or default . Nay ( to amplify the estimation as wel of the author as of the libel ) it is prouided that whosoeuer by worde , deede , or contenance seemeth to dislike the one or the other : all suche persones must be reputed by a common fame , & there vpon condemned as enemyes to the priuat designes of the kinge Catholique , and aduersaryes to the common cause . Albeit it is very likely that the late kinge of spayne , nor this kinge liuinge were euer priuye to the contents of that Libel , nor expressely consented to the publishinge therof , as will appeare heareafter , Therfore it is but a ridiculouse The booke was preiudicial to the late kinge of spay ne and to this present . sentence so rashelye to censure men , and very partial , suche also , as aduanceth the credit neyther of kinge , nor cause .

For when a man pretendethe a clayme neuer heard of in any age , to an other mans lande whose quiet possession actually , & right also apparently in all wyse mens eyes , haue concurred & continued manye hundreds of yeares , in him & those whose state & title he hath , & inioyeth , no indifferent wise man will allowe , that the sodainlye supposed pretendor may haue any reason by a bare clayme to think that he should beare all away without contradiction : especiallye when the clayme excedeth measure , is misliked generally , and bringeth with it suspicion of euill dealinge other wayes , as made by trauailinge strangers , without the supposed pretendors warrant and priuitie . In respect wherof , & for want of vpright behauiour , the same crime may be imputed more Iustly to the Libellor , & his libell , as preiudiciall to the same kinge and cause .

For as there are manye indifferent persones in diuers nations , all The argument of the treatise . a like affected to the matter of succession , not caringe what waye it runne : & are not tied to the kinge in any speciall obligation , nor alienated from his Ma. nor from the sayd cause , who are persuaded that a redier course might haue been taken vnder a better pretense for aduauncement of bothe : Euen so , there are manye others of the same opimon , who ( if comparisons may be allowed ) are accompted to haue as muche interest as the libeller & his trauailinge consorts haue in the matter of successio ; & haue better warrant of Law & in defence of Lawe to reproue that conference ; then those conferrers haue without Lawe & against lawe , to iustifye or commende it , yea ; haue bene fouvnde hetherto as redie ( hopinge God willinge so to continue ) as the practizers in that conference , to aduaunce the common cause euerye lawfull waye , and the sayd kinges honorable designes also , and to doe to his Ma. seruices & offices in aduauncement of his honor to the vttermost of th aire power , mary in ordine adDeum , & vsque ad aras , so farre fourth as they may in adue order towards God , and with saftie of a rectified conscience ; & More than this [ I am sure ] so good a kinge will not requyer .

Therfore what so euer the sayde The conference to be disliked for three reasons . practizers for theire pleasures & profits doe pretend , & blow a broode by wordes & clamours against others , for the Catholique kinges priuat or publique designes , or for the common cause : true it is , that suche as findinge them seliues thus affected to Gods honor & safetye of theire consciences , and there vpon vnwillinge to incouraige the sayd practizers & thair conference , are the bolder to speake against bothe , as they haue greater reasons , & more effectuall motiues in weight & measure to dislike boath ; And that in respect as wel of the matter , as of the manner or forme , and of circumstances touchinge th effect that may depend therof or concurre there withall ; accomptinge for matter the lothesome drifts and scoopes wherunto the sayd conference doth tend ; for manner & forme , suche absurd wayes and meanes as theis cāuassers haue deuised , to abuse the world , & therby to work ther feat ; And for circumstances of effects , the feares perills , mischiefes & inconueniences thretned not only to the englishe nation , but also to the whole Christien world , and eyther necessarilye concurringe with those cāvasses , or occasiōally folowinge them ; yea wayting and attendinge to offer their seruices .

The principal scoape & dryft , Tbe scope of the conference . first in mynd , though last in operation , & in meane whyle dissembled ( besides the deposinge , of the present possessor ) is to supplant , dispossesse , & disherit the true heire & lawfull successor of the english Crown , with all the ofspringe , to translate and alter the ancient lawes and customes of that Realme , and consequently to transforme the gouernement of that Nation in to a Prouince ; or at the least to thrust in to the Royall throne , against the right course of english lawes , a forainer bred & borne farr of , whiche neyther in her owne personne , nor any braunche of the roote from whence theis practizers pretend to deriue hir title , was auer herde or tho ught of in the memorye of man , nor before mentioned in any record of any age , to suche effect or purpose as now is deuised ; Nay if any such things haue bene spoken of , theis smoothe conferers haue practized in time past to suppresseit , & to beare the garland an other way , & that not longe a goe , as heare after shal be declared .

And for the wayes & meanes Tbe wayes to the marke . to draw this on , they are many , but all rowghe , vneauen , tedious , indirect , out of the highe waye that may be lead to any good end , all things well weighed , yet agreable to suche an attempt : as in like trouble some interprises it falleth out , that odd shifts must be made for tooles to remoue blockes , to skower strets , & make ways clearer , for crafty surmises , & wily insinuations to walke more smoothely & currantly to the marKe . Touchig the scope&butte of the booke , I will speake hearafter generally , for the particular mischiefes therof euery true english man dooth throwghlye see at the first sight , In the meane tyme , let vs serche the wayes to see what monsters lye hydden therin ; And soe we shall find th effects like to folow the practizes of theis conferrers , what gloriouse pretense so euer they geue .

Thersore , first to begine withall , emonge diuers Crafty shifts A general compact of the conserrers so bring englande to the Ciuil lawes Roman . whiche we finde there is a deuice to make the mattet seeme good by all laws as well Civil Roman , as municipial englishe , touchinge Ciuil gouernement and direction of th englishe nation , for guidinge the course of that Crowne , Although the same deuice be opposit to that auncient ordonaunce , which for abolishinge the force of Cesars Civil lawes our of that Realme , & for establishinge a municipial law there was ordained by authoritye of that famous holy father Pope Eleutherius euen in the begininge , when Christian Religion was first vniuersally planted in that Iland , and with the full consent , and vpon request as well of the Christien Kinge of great britaine , Lucius , as also of his nobilitye spiritual and temporal lords of that Realme .

This deuice beinge once set downe , then two lawyers , the Aspecial compact that two lawyers , and not lawmust be vmpiers of this matter . one a gentilman , the other a speciall temporall lawer of englande must be brought in to represent the persones of all other lawyers of professions , & with the tongues ofbothe those lawes , Thies two ( whiche neuer before agreed in this affayre , & many other ) must be now made fryends ( or els all were marred ) to conspire with certaine Idle troublesome trauailers against the municipial lawes , yea contrarye to the purpose why bothe those lawes wer made , whiche is to make peace : and against the profession of all good lawyers , whiche is to resolue doubts and quarels spetially when dyets are appointed for consultation , as the finall cause of this assemblye touchinge suche an affayre , wolde haue bene , if it had bene called in gods name , and collected of setled men , & not of wan dringe trauailers : well , this new reconciliation of auncient aduersaries , is now thovght to be necessarye , as in like practizes of innouation hathe been often vsed against truthe & Iustice , for now , by their agrement , we must haue not only a transfiguration of the shape & forme of that common wealth but a transmutation also , or translation at least of the verye matter , wher vpon the true common wealthe of englande , & euerye particular mans state doth rest , and that is the lawes , & lawful customes of that Realme , as a speciall meane to haile vs al to the forsay de scope : And all this must be contriued through th attonement of this two lawyers , by a more spedy intrusion of Cesars Ciuil Roman lawes thowgh they are by authentique authoritye longe agoe abolished , & by continuall silence worne out of vse & buried with a free consent of the whole nation in manye ages .

1. And amonge manye conclusions Six Articles of the la - agreed vpon betwene these wyers agreement . two , one must be , that what soeuer the Ciuilien sayeth , our temporall lawyer must swere & subscribe to it , be it true or false : and he must up holde the Ciuilian with yea or nay at all assayes that may serue to ouerthrowe the municipiall lawes of englande with out respect to the weightye reasons & sage considerations therof deriued from the lawes of God and nature , as most agreable to the conditions and qualityes of that nation .

2. An other conclusion is that The Ciuilian must lead the temporal lawyer . theis two lawyers thus prepared for opinions & affections must set forward , so as the Ciuilian shall lead the waye , & the temporal lawyer must folow , the Ciuilian shall goe before , not as the angel Raphael went before younge Tobye , to chase a waye murderinge diuels , but to call in mischieues vpon mischieues al maner of wayes by contentiouse spirits : not to demande due dets vpon law fall spetialties , but to make vndue dets & bank roupte by playne rauin & robbery : not to procurre a mariage by order of lawe with due respect to proximitye of blood , but to breed a deuorse of frendship in kinred by disturbinge the lawfall liniall course of consanguinitye prouided by lawes , for passaige of th inheritance & succession , & that in suche a sorte as hath not bene allowed by Iudgement of law to passe in englande though by violence some suche enormities haue bene intruded and bolstered for a whyle to the horrible ruyne of manye noble families not recouerable . The temporall lawyer also for his part must folow as an echo not betwen two hills or like place vpon stoppage of breathe for modestye or feare : but in playne fields not subiect to rebownds boldly without blushinge to correspond , not caringe if all true englishe men of all sorts & degree doe wonder after him ; yea he must folow , not as the litle kinde Dog folowed yong To bye to serue his right master : but as the mastyue foloweth the Tinker for his owen commoditie , to beare the burden , lest his master ouer labored could not attaineto his Inne , & hym selfe should leese his bayte , for it appereth demonstratiuely that the Ciuilians credit for this matter , in the sight of all true english men would be litle worth is the temporal lawyer were not present to contenance the same : And if the Ciuilians plea be reiected , the temporall lawyer must seeke his meat in the myre : for he deserueth to be casten ouer the barre , as an ambidexter : Neuerthelesse he can not stand this waye also in any great stead at theende when the matter commeth to hammeringe by right tooles .

3. A third conclusion of this accord Popularitye . is that theis two lawyers must conforme them selues somewhat to the manners and conditions of those troublesome tribunes , the paires or couples of pensioners among the states of the lowe Countryes : so as by treadinge the steps of popularitie thei maye Imprint a fauorable opinion & liking of this purpose in the phansies & conceits of people who euer delyghte in change , and loue muche to haue suche houlde on the brydle as thei maye cōptreol their Soueraigne or ouerthrowe hym out of the sadle , when they lyst : Therfore a popular doctrin must Popular Doctrin . be published as a law , & ther vpon must folowe a difinitiue sentence indifinitlye that th inheritance & succession of the Soueraigne gouernement in that Realme doeth depende vpon a multitude , so as at theire pleasure they maye pike a quarell sufficient to disthrone theire lawfull kinge and when they lyst to cal for an election of a new kinge , because their pleasure must stand for a law in this case . And this multitude forsothe must beare the name of a common welthe when they comme to gither , though often tymes it falleth out to be a common mischiefe or vniuersall confusion : yea & assembled onely or principally by aCanuasse & practize ofsome one or other popular personne , malcontent , & seditiouse or ambitious : which by a gracious opinion among the people is hable to bringe the may game home to his owne or frynds houze ; for how , and by what authoritye , that multitude is to be assembled , & other circumstances most expedient and necessarye , thies lawyers neyther define , nor regarde , It is suficient at this tyme in their bookes and for theyr purpose , if theire assemblye beare a shew of a common wealth by somme presence of the nobilitye & commons , any thinge or matter that by thes two lawyers is expressed to the contrarye notwithstandinge . And this sentence thus generally set downe , is to be made good allowed and ratiffied by pretence of some principals , maximes , or assertions of Ciuil lawe or lawyer , suche as though in speciall cases , for some singular respect , in a priuat sence , vpon due circumstances , and necessarye occasions ( to speake onlye touchinge designements , & ordinances of a true vnfeigned commonwelth and not other wyse ) may be true , & haue somme grownde in the Ciuill lawe , yea in common reason , & maye also stand with th english lawes : yet neuerthelesse to serue these mens turnes , in pleasinge the multitude , they must be made generall with out exception , to ouerrule the municipial lawes of englande , And this sentence must also be confirmed by examples and patterns of practizes executed in colorable common weathes , or rather disordered multitudes , beinge no common wealthes in deed , but prodigious monsters of manye heads , with out a good foot to stand vpon , and in materiall points for temporall affayres agreable to that of Holande and Zelande at this daye : Soe as those most seditiouse rebels shal be hable to auouche this popular doctrin by authoritye of thies two lawyers to warrant their rebellions against their most lawfull Soueraigne . Therfore ( by the waye ) a man may note what good feruice thies conferers haue done by this popularitye to that most renoumed kinge Catholique , in geuinge to his Ma. a colourable pretence of title to an other kinges Crowne , to minister matter of warrant for a rebellious rout to thrust him selfe fourth of his owne Crowne .

4. Besydes this popular Doctrine , we must haue an other deuis to leade the multitude vnder a penthouse in the shadowe of a lawe more nearer the mark now shot at against the lineal course of inheritance in cases os feesimple . Therfore other allegations must Feigned mnximes of forcing be brought in to the court by the lawes to direct the Crowne . Ciuilian as principels and maximes deriued from his law , whiche in deede are no other than fansies or opinions of theone side of a controuersie , wherunto it liketh now this Ciuilian to subicribe , neuer set downe in the corpsof that law , but fownd in comments & gloses of lawyers as notes or memorials of exercises , or of allegations vpon sutes passed on the behalfe of some client , neuer defined authentiquelie by comon consent , but remaine as letigious , apliable ( like the rules of lesbos ) to the diuersities of mens opinions growinge vpon affections , or other irresolute concepts . Neuerthelesse they must now be all defined as true & certein on that syde wherunto it liketh thies lawyers to leane . And if they happen to stumble vpon a certayn rule either in the bodye of the Ciuil law , or in the note bookes & monuments of Ciuilians , that must either haue suche construction , as pleaseth this Ciuilian to enforce , or els it must be sayd to stand certayn & cleare also for english affayres , & be preferred before the most currant ru , les , & most certeine maximes of our english municipiall lawies , how opposit so euer they be to th english forme of la vufull gouernement . And a accordinge to this Ciuilians rules must the inheritance & succession of the english Crowne be squared for the cowrse therof to runne as pleaseth this Ciuilian to vphold the same with the bolster of a frenticke multitude seduced by a conterfaited temporal lawyer : for euerye factious assemblie ( if it once take place , and cary all way cleane ) must be accompted for a common wealth in thies mens books , be they neuere so often assembled in one yeare , euerye one opposite to the other in all extremities . And by the practizes , gests & procedings of suche common wealths must thies axiomes & principles be confirmed as by imitable & exemplare patterns at all assays : So as to helpe or hinder any pretend or in this case it must be sufficient by thies mens rules to say , this or that was done without respect to this or that ought to be done : or what the lawe sayth for her selfe against this or that act : Thus are we now come by help of thies mens Doctrin to reuiue & allow for lawfull the sayenges and doings of olde tyrantes ( who to iustifie their wikednesse vsurped in a maliciouse sen ce that ancient prouerb : quod exem . plo fit id iure fit ) euerye thinge , be it neuer so bad is lawfully done , if it can be exemplified to haue bene done , espetially of a multitude , that may seeme to beare the colour of a common wealth . As if a Tyrant defacto & malefacto , vpon possession , & vniust possession too , shall therfore be a true kinge de Iure right fully by order of law : As if right ought to follow possession , & possession should rule the right : As if an vnlawfull bare possession of the dissezor & his heyres in case of inheritance & succession by a lineal discent to that Crowne ought by law to dishable the right of a disseizer and his heyrs , or in any other , owt of the poynt of lawfull prescription : a prik of a weapon sharper than thies lawyers wil be hable to ward , If the matter comme to a demurre in lawe .

5. Furthermore the trauailers for Practise for acommon fame . theire parts must help the credit of thies lawyers by a couple of odd shiefts , or els all will not goe streight , for by the meanes of their raunginge throwgh by countries , we must haue a common opinion setled euery where , if it be possible , that all is true whiche thies two haue sayd , as agreable to the lawes of nations ; And consequently a common fame of three horrible blasts must course both ayre & earth to possesse the mindes & mouthes of the ydle worlde speciallye amonge the symplest and most credulous of one side , which for meede or dreede ar to be lead awaye , among suche of an other syde as are naturallye disposed , or maliciously incited to desyre a chaunge ; The first blast is an vntrue surmise of a doubt fulnesse A furmised dowtfullnesse . to be in the municipial lawes of englande touchinge the inheritance & succession of the Crowne of englande , who owght to haue it albeit in truthe the matter is verye cleare in the Iugement of the same lawe & of all the wisemen , lawyers , & others whiche haue interest to Iudge therof , as whose states doe depend ther vpon : Neuerthelesse it appereth by their owne confession that the doubt shall lye , not in the lawe who ought to haue it , but in th euent who shall haue it : not vpon right but vpon the oportunitie of time .

The second blast is a daungerous insinuation , full of sclaunderous A dangerous insinuation . vntruthe & intolerable in dignitie with contradiction , that the Realme of englande is at this daye , & hath bene many hundred yeares destitut of a lawfull Soueraigne . And vpon thies two must folow a third , to wit a generall chalenge A sediciouse cballenge . for the Crowne for whan that surmise of doubtefulnesse hath possessed the myndes of the people ; all competitours and preten wil take occasion of chalengde , euerye one for him selfe , and the most mightie by force or frendship wil beare all awaye ; And the other blast by insinuation shall serue as a motiue to inforce the people of al fortes for their owne indemnitie , either to seeke the blud Royall wher so euer they think it to be : euerye one after his owne conceit ( and to bring it home if it can be founde , or to intrude one or other into the place , & afferwarde for a colour of in diferencie to call for an election of a kinge or Queene by the deuice of thies traualers , who mynde to sownde a trompette that there is not now liuinge any of th english blood Royall borne in englande , nor els where inheritable of that Crowne , or capable of it , saue onelye , theone of two , they care not whether and those must bee the late Catholique kinge him selfe , or els his daughter .

6. And ( to speake some what in Shyfts to further surmise by complyinge with the tyme . particular touchinge the absurditie of the sayd surmise ) it greueth my very hart to consider what paynes thies men do take to consume theire naturall countries with the terrible fier of greate discord & euil diuision , and to what fowle shifts they are driuen , that thei may cary all away cleanly , lest they be accompted among them , which euen then are most deceitfull , when they most pretend to be iust .

Therfore to put the world fourth of suspition , & them selues fourth of Ielouzie . ( an inconuenience that comenly hapneth when old foes are be comme new fryendes ) thies two lawyers , for an other conelusion must comply vuith the tyme like wether wise men oflesbos , for thies deuises can not be so closely rolled vp but that simulation must walke smothely , either with tergiuersation to please & displease , or with yea & nay to Dissimulatitn & duplicitie in speache must be vsed . contredict them selues , & in fine , to couer all with doublinge & redoubling betwene playne wordes & crooked meaninges , from one sensse to ane other , as far as any equiuocation , pregnancye or other elenche of Sophistree , legier demain , or deceipte of sight can helpe for cariage of all awaye uvith the generall drift ; And ( as I said before , whiche is to be noted after ) lest theire surmise of doutfulnes in lawe doe faile , they wil in the ende depende vpon tymes , speciallye as they may be made to stande , more then vpon doutfullnes of lawe , So as to them maye well be applyed , that odle prouerb , Omnia pro tempore , nihil proveritate , they measure all according to the tyme , & nothinge to the truth , like men geuen ouer , to vayn talke , desirous to be accompted Doctors in law , and ether vnderstande litle , or regarde lesse , what thei affirme or denie , if their owne turne may be serued withall , no not thoughe the worlde doeth see how miserabli theire owne consciences may be gauled by such shifs : for better euidence herof No heyr apparent must he knowen . we may note other olde corners of particular shifs that thiese men are forced to seeke for pleasig the tyme to further their surmise , for though they worlde confesseth , & none wil be fownd so Impudent as openly to deny that as all men vniuersally and in particular are bownd by the lawe of God & nature to wish & desire the cōfinuance & happie preseruation of common quyet welth & felicitie of their natiue Countrye : so are they also by the same lawes bownd euery one for their degree of qualitye , condition and possibilitie , to employ all their bodilye trauails , all their externall powers with discourse of reason , pregnancye of wit , cares , industries , and al their internal forces to prouide best means for furtherance & aduancement of the same common quiet , wealth & felicitie , yea and to preuent , cast of and eschew all Impediments thereof , & all occations that may breede any peril to the same , And albeit amonge the commodities concurring with the happy state of a Realme next to the reuerent loue & due obedience of subiects to God & to their Soueraigne for the tyme being the greatest preseruatiue of quyet among people , by confession of wisest men , is to fore knowe an heyre apparent of the Crown : so amonge all the inconueniences that can be practized against the prosperouse estate of a Countrye , that embraceth an ordinarye discent of theire Soueraigne by waye of inheritance and succession in a certaine knowe issue & ofspringe in a linial course according to a municipial law , or lawfull custume None is more wicked , in it selfe , more pernitiouse to the state more vntunable in the earses of al godlye wise men , nor more scandalouse to the whole world , than is either to houlde the opinions ofsubiects in suspence & dowt , without offer of resolution , what that persone is to whome they ought by order of law to beare allegeance after decesse of their present Soueraigne , or by any waye or meane to broache or to nsinuat any dout or ambiguitye therof , where ther is a setled opinion of all wise men to the contrarye . Aud though it be so euident & demonstrable as nedeth no exemplification how carefull good princes , & sownd comon wealths haue bene in tymes past to auoyd such ambiguities , & how curious some kinges haue bene in suche a case , who hauinge lawful issues inheritable & capable of that Crowne , with out exception , suspicion , scruple , or doute neuer the lesse before their death , haue by spetiall othes , & cerimonious submissions of their own principall subiects , established the state expectant in their issue : not for any dout in law touching the true & lawfull title of their issue in the right of inheritance , ( as these two lawyers would wrest that good prouidence of princes but to arme them selues & their issue against all euents , for preuenting of ambicious & seditious purposes of popular persones , who at chaunge of Princes vse to put out their hornes more boldly then before , vpon confidence of aduantage by oportunitie of tyme , to draweuents contrarye to th intention & expectation of the law , ascope wherunto thies lawyers shoote all their bolts , Al thies euidentes & confessions of truthes , and all thies stratagemes & prouident pollicies of good Princes and sownd common wealths notwithstandinge , our two lawyers with their trauailers haue taken courses quyte contrarye , In so much as by neglecting , yea wilfull reiecting the foresayd prouisions & good policies for preseruation of common quyet by mature cautions & remedies of lawes against mischieues & inconueniences that may growe by want of due foresight to knowe & acknowledge a lawfull heyre and succession to the Crown , Thies men doe practize by all meanes to haile men headlonge in to wilfull doutfulnesse and ignorance thereof : And to furthcr their purpose with a glosse of flatery , to please this tyme , the Queene must be iustifyed , & her doeinge commended for prohibiting the declaration of an heyr apparent , so as it must be well allowed that no speciall lawe or order be established to cut of all dowts in law or tyme that may Iustly grow for want of a certain knowen successor to bee named in her life , how daungerous so euer the delay thereof may be esteemed for the tyme to come , for so thies conferrers are not ashamed to conclude in expresse wordes ; A most monstrouse excesse in speache against all reason equitie and good conscience . And this must be hudled vp with few words as a confessed maxime to please her humour , & to serue theyr owne turne yea this absurde surmisse of doubtefulnesse ( contrarye To wyne tyme by false bruts . to the good counseill & foresight before mencioned , must be bolstred by vayne blasts of common brutes , whilst with varieties of opinions and vpon incertaintie of tymes they seeke to couer truthes amonge mists & cloudes for wininge of tyme , suche as politike simulation , & dissimulation with help of poetrie can breath & puff out to dasel the sight of simple , or credulous people : in hope to gayne the victorye by ay de of tyme : yet it mai fall owt ( as it hapneth amonge all garboyles amonge multitudes ) that the matter in question wil be founde more dout full who shall preuaile by force and violence , then who ought to preuail by lawe & iustice And so perhaps suche as think them selues surest , may be accompted among those that make theire own reckening with out ther host . But to encrease the sayd surmises of dowbts we must haue many other speciall deuices by pleasinge the tyme vpon a purpose that this libel mai haue more rome to passe & repasse with the lesse difficultye .

Therfore as her Ma. policye of delay must be highlye extolled so The Qvvene must seeme to be put in securitie for her tyme . must she be born in hand and the world made to beleue , by a common forme to , for wynninge of tyme , that none of the dowbtes must seeme to touche her title , all thinges must seeme cleare duringe hir tyme , Neuerthelesse the titles of al those from whence she directly claymeth and of all those which are to clayme from her are by thies lawyers called in question : Apoint of most impudent flatterye with subtill conueyhance of words , whiche she her selfe derideth knowinge how short thies felows wold make her tyme , if they could get a tyme to serue their own turne , as may be seene by the practises and deuices wihich haue byn made against her and her state since the verye same tyme .

And to aduaunce his surmise Things must hes affirmed bywaye of protestation onely . we must haue an other odd shift that must haue a longe reache , for all matters must be affirmed by way of protestation , which will not be mainteined for sufficient pleadinge when the matter cometh to hearinge in court of record before an indifferent Iudge , but wil be disliked & denied mightiely : A subtil shipft of deskant to auoyde blame , if matters be not well taken , and to serue for baites if a partie can be made to vpholde them ; for example , no ordinarie course of inheritance in fee simple by lineal discent in blood neare or farre of to the Cro wne of englande accordinge to the lawes thereof , must be regarded otherwise them suche as from time to time shall please a multitude that is hable to geue a colour of a common wealth : Again all pamphlets books and writtings that haue bene spread a brood , framed effectionatli accordinge to the variable opinions of eache mans priuat appetit be it sincere or sinister must be gathered to gether in to one volume and allowed as authentique , with out distinction so fare forth as they may make a shew of doubtfulnesse in respect of varietie , though the erronious eyther haue been sufficientli confuted , or neede no confutation , but are condemned In the iudgement of all wise men . And though all be allowed and brought in to make a shew of doutfulnesse in respect of their nomber & varietye of opinions , yet they must all be condemned of partiallitye , except one which must serue the turne ; yet there must be no contradiction in these mens words , for all passeth by waye os protestation : More ouer euery mans pretence of claime to the Crown must seeme iust , and his allegations true , for none must be discouraged to stur questions and dowts ; yea the matter is so handled , that euery one which is of kinne to the Crowne , how farre ofso euer it be , shal be allowed and encoraged to pretend & clayme a title , both men & women , to make the matter much more dowtfull , as the nomber of pretendors encreaseth more & more ; though in verye deed thies lawyers intend that none of them shal be hable to preuail , except one of two , at the most they care not whiche , as I said before : yet it is not long syns they both should haue bene excluded and an other preferred , if thies lawers myght haue their willes . Besyde all this , The late earle of Darbye . theise lawyers wil protest indifferencie to all , though they shew them selues fryndes to none but to one alone , which in their conceits wil be hable to rule the tyme ; And some persones & their cause must be couertly abased , whose renowne other whils these men haue magnisied , as so me others must be extolled aboue the skyes whome in other tymes they wolde haue blotted fourth of their bookes : As also the late Queene of Scotts Mary of famous memorye , and consequentli her heires must be reiectedwith in dignities , and impudently spotted with infamy of treason & other crimes to please the tyme , though when tyme serued they thought otherwise of her , or els they were most odible dissemblers to speak of the chefest of thies conferrers . The state of a Monarchy must seeme to content thies lawyers a while in some place abroode thoughe thei woulde per suade the people that the state of a prouince vnder a foreine Prince were better to be established and continued at home , to serue the present turne . An vnsauerye sainge to the sences of all true englishe men , & meriteth smal thankes at the Kinges handes I spare to speake of many other particular shifts for breuities sake , & because the wise reader easelye find them . But by thies a man maye well conceiue what good reason ther is to moue a dislik of the wayes & meanes whiche thies lawyers haue deuised to lead the simple men to the marke that they shoote at .

And with all it is worth obseruation to mark how curiouse & how full of wordes thies lawyers shew them selfes in prouinge some thinges that no wise man wil graunte , so subtil conueyhance they haue to seduce others . An thus much touching the manner & forme of their procedinges .

Now them to speake somewhat of the circumstances touchinge The circumstances of effect like co folow this matter of con ference the proper effects or casualties depending vpon the practizes and shifts , or concurringe with them who seethe not those horrible scandals , & steepe downe falls , threatninge present ruyne to all obedience , humilitie & Ciuil order , when it shal be knowen to be allowed for an vndoubted maxime and published with the trompet of common fame , as a prescript law , that a multitude hauinge once got by any indirect practize a conterfeited name of a comon wealth ( for suche are the common wealthes whom thies lawyers haue produced for theyre profes ) may lawfully place & displace kinges and Soueragns , accordinge to their restelesse humours and affections ; vho conceiueth not the consequences of this Doctrin ? what other good can be expected to folow it , than that preposterously against all good fashion & order , accordinge to a lesbian rule reason shal be addressed to mens doeing , & not their doeinge directed to reason : lawes shal be construed according to the sensuall wils & appetits of a multitude & not the multitude reformed adding to Gods lawes : And consequently the Soueraign shal be forced to accommodate him selfe agreable to the manners & conditions of his subiects , & not his subiects appliable to th arbitramēt of their soueraign be he neuer so good & gratiouse longer than they wil obey : Then in what quiet state or securitie is that nation like to stand which hath a Soueraigne vpon souffrance onely de facto , in respect of a bare possession durante bene placito populi : at the will of the people onely : and not de iure in his owne right to continew by order of law , otherwise then as it pleaseth the people to interpret the law from tyme as the varieties of humours doe alter their dispositions : Euen so , what good assurance can a Kinge or Soueraign haue or expecte for safetye of his state or persone , when the people shall haue suche a directorie as wil make theire actions good & allowable to displace him at their pleasure , because some multitude vnder a colourable name of a comon wealth hath doen the like , for in suche sorte thies lawyers doe argue . By thies general circumstances & an infinit nomber of particular enormities , absurdities , mischiefs & inconueniences concurringe with this popular Doctrin , A wyse man may easely conceyue what commendation thies two lawyers deserue for their conference : & they them selues wolde easelye be enduced to confesse , if either theyr owne consciences were discouered , or the state of tyme were suche as wolde alter the case & inuite them to tourne ouer the leafte to thoetherside : But touching th effect of this popularitie we shall haue occasion to speake more here after .

In meane while it is a wonder to A vayne euasion . see with what glosses & comments they seeke to delude simple personnes by waye of preocupation & forstalling of mens conceits at first sighte to auoyde all farther examination of their straunge proceadings , for they haue proctors & brokors in all places to extoll them and all theyr attempts aboue the skyes with generall speaches ; And by the industrie of thies trauailers a common fame is blowen a broade , that al which thies men doe is done in ordine ad Deum , in a course to God ward : & therfore are not reprehensible nor to be called in question by any : As if General mischiefs innouasion there were no other waye allowable to lead vs toward God then by that most inconuenient passage which they will iustly condemne in others : to wit , by innouatinge most iniustly settled lawes , to supplant right & establishe lawes : to disseize trewe heires of their lawfull inheritances , and consequently to haile and draw innocents through bloody shambles , to massacre all sortes of people bothe friends & foes : for suche wil be th effects of theire sur mised doubtz , whils with a wicked conspiracye against the whole corps of theenglish blood Royall bred & borne in England , or in the same Iland , & against all the nobilitie & commons of their natiue Countrye vnder most vniuste pretenses of wrested titles ther practises for doubts doe tend to no other end then to procure a conquest vuith a common hauoke & confusion of home bred citizens & of a whole nation for aduauncinge of foreigners , like men that care not , for a most vncerteyne gayne to throw them selfes & others into a moste certeyne mischiefe , & a labirinthe of all kinde of miseries , vnder a vayne hope of an vnsteadfast tyme , with a pretense notwith standinge to loue all , though vpon the matter , it is like to fallout that thei Theltbeller nayther pro fiteth the kinge nor the comon cause . loue none but them selues & theire correspondants : nor them neither , if the euent be not answerable to their desires . Therfore what course so euer thieslawyers with their aduocats , proctours atturneys , solicitours , porsuyuants & apparetors wolde seeme to take towardes God , or the world in words , and what faulte so euer they wold impute to others touchinge the sayd kinges priuat designes , or a common cause , It is in very deed more then probable , that they them selfes by there busy heades with their brablinge discources in suche an impertinent conference haue doen ill offices to bothe , and are not like to gaine so great thankes as thei looke for at eythers handes , but muche blame & reproof , when all reckeninges are made , and all accompts casten by iust & skillfull auditors .

Now then for so muche as concerneth the king , many wise men Of Disser uice done to the kiuge by this conference . of diuers nations hearinge the manner of proceeding in this conference are persuaded that thies lawyers and their trauailinge companions by their rashe attempts so impertinently in suche a weightye cause haue preiudiced his Ma-many wayes : As amonge the rest , none is greater , nor more contagiouse , daungerouse , & domageable to his persone and Ma. Royal , then is the platforme , of the sayd popular Doctrin , first layde in Scottland , after sent a lost in the low Corenttyes : attempted in Arragon , and ready to be raysed , rooffed & builded vp in all nations . Therfore what speciall fauour so euer thies men , aboue all others , The popular Doctrin , is ill grownded . would protest towards the kinges deseignes all wise men maye perceaue that they seeke their owne priuat ; hough very vnprouidently more than the Kinges aduancement in honor , Ma. orother ways : for if their principall intention touchinge their owne priuat , had relyed vpon suche substanciall meanes in praynge the Kings ayd as were expedient , & most agreable to his Ma. disposition . touchinge the comon cause , they woulde neuer haue sowght to set wyde open so large gappes , doores , and windowes for rebellious multitudes to enter and clayme authoritie ouer their lawfull Kinges , & Soueraigne , vnder pretenses of glorious styles , & titles of cōrnon wealths , & stats of a Countrye , For what other instrument then this enormious rule of lefbos , had that monstruouse minister of Scottland GEOVGE BVCKHANNAM Mischieses in scotlande by this popular Doctrin . to euer throw the most noble Queene of Scotlande & the commonwealth thereof , by seducinge the nobles & commons of that Realm , yet not all , neither , nor the most part to be accompted in weight & measure , though enough & to many in nomber , for maKing of a party to geue a show of a comon wealth hable to wage battaile in open field against their lawfull Queene , to thrust her in to prison , & after to expell her for the of her owne dominions , and finally to practize her death in a forcing Countrie : a most barbarouse fact , & suche , as against it , thies lawyers haue in tymes past exclamed mightilie with mouth & penn . Neuerthelesse if the Doctrine which thies men allowe be true , ( as it pleaseth them to deliuer it , ) we must also allow this fact , as good and imitable , being doen by a common wealth .

And vpon what other grownd than this , did those madd ministers in Scottlande snacthe the brydel in to their owne handes , & in most malepert manner presumed to thret ten their kinge that he shal be sent after his mother ; if he will not mainteine the Cowrse that they had begon , meaninge their hereticall practizes against his mother & his mothers friendes , and allow their fantasticall and irreligious cowrses , as if he were but a Kinge made of clouts , & not framed nor formed by order of law to succede in a course of inheritance , but to be let in , & put owt at their pleasur by authoritie of a common wealth of their owne making , suche a one , as neuer God nor good men haue seen read or heard of a worse and suche as no wise & discrete kinge can or will endure . Euen so did not that vnnatural wicked traiter , Antonio peres , Mischiefes in Arragon by the same Doctrin . by help of the sayd Doctrin procure a rebellion in Arragon against his natural Soueraign which had raized him out of the dyrt in to the rank of nobilitie , & had he not therby preuailed so farre by all likelyhode , as to haue his practize to be accompted an imitable stratageme of a common welth , if God wolde haue permitted suche malice to raigne in that coaste ? I could exemplify what mischiefe the same doctrine hath wrought in Englande , but I passe Mischieues of this Doctrine in the lowe Countrie it ouer to an other place ; in mean tyme I praye yow what shal we say of that prodigiouse republicke or colourable common wealth in Holand & Zeland , framed and cloke togither in a hochepot with the basser sorte of a rowt & rable of artificers & handy crafts men , vnder a glorious style & title of stats ? haue not they also a warrant by our lawyers Doctrine to auoūche & mainteine : for la wful all theyr owtragious & malipert rebellions and enormities more then hethenish against their Soueraign , & against the sowndest part of the nobilities & commons vnder a cloak of a common wealthes authoritie ? yes without dowbt ; And what so euer glosse or comment our sayd lawyers will make for excuse , certein it is that their own text ( as they haue delinered it to he world in word and exemplified it by deeds forth of this late conferences ) wil serue those vnstatlye states to make a commoditie for seruice against their Soueraign when our two lawyers haue sayd & doen what they can , for there hath not come many yeares amonge that vnbridled people a Doctrine more plausible than this , which so largelye & liberally aduaunceth the authoritie of their common wealth , at least as they doe , & may take it , And wil be sure to take fast holde of it , yea the rather for that it rouethat libertie withī the countryewhere the kinge commandeth , and with his Ma. priuitie & licence too as theye alledge & vpon no light presumption , & the lawyers them selues with their adherants doe confesse , though no wise men of indiferent affection will beleaue it to be true that his Ma. is priuie as hereafter shal be declared . Neuerthelesse ( to returne where Ileft ) the disseruices of thies two lawyers come nowe to be more agruated by presuming to publish or to offer suche a scandalowse Doctrin to be published or printed within his Ma. dominions , were it set foth with his licence or no ( As I verilye think it was not ; or ifitwere , at the least , with out his Ma. priuitie .

For though sins the publishing This book of conferences was not published with the late kinges priuitye nor this lininig . of it , the auctor by him selue or frinds haue geuen out by bare wordes that it was printed & put forth with the late kinges , or this liuing , theire priuities , licence , & commandement authētiklye yet no suche thing is auouched expresselye in the front of that booke , but generally it is sayd to be printed with licence at N. so muche to saye as at no place Iustifiable . And though it maye be suffred to passe with an ordinaire licence in generall maner consigned by some common censurer of bookes vpon a fauorable motion or by abusinge the credulitie of some authoritie allowed to be published , which may be also doubtfull : Al this not with standing , no proufe appeareth that it hath passed for the in suche precise order by the priuitie and commandement of the king , so authentiklie , as euery man being vnder his allegeance is bownde to take notice the of , and prohibited to shew his reasonnable conceit touching the contents thereof vnder peine to incurre the displeasure of his Ma.

Therfore to think that thies men No wise man will consent to his own haue entred in to this matter , for publishing thereof in manner & forme , with his Ma. licence , or at the least with out his priuitie consent & commandement vpon speciall respect to their own priuat more than vpon due regard directly to his Ma. stat honor & aduancement , many thinges lead me , not onely for collaterall matters Idly foysted in to the discours whiche may seame preiudicial to the Crowne & saftye of his Ma. persone & of his honorable familie now or in tyme to come , but also touchinge the principall scope & but of that booke . And I say for proofe in part , & for vehement The kinge preiudicied in stat by the booke manye wayes in this dayes specially presumption in the rest first no in different man of iudgement will imagin that in suche perillous tymes as now when myndes of people in all nations are easelye to be exulcerated & corrupted with sores & maladies of contention , throughe superfluous humors of new fangleness , ambition , disdaingne , gredinesse of vengeance and other troublesome passions ) so wise & good a kinge would be induced or allured to allow and mainteine by his Royall authoritie the publication of the sayd Doctrine so contagious & preiudiciall to him selfe , & so scandalous to the rest of the Christian world as therbi ( if their exemples produced for confirmation ther of be allowed ) No kinge sure of his state , but remouable by lawe at will of people . any monarchie how vni forme so euer it be otherwise mai & must be reduced to a dimocracie or popular state , and a kinge Crowned to day , may & must be vncrowned tomorowe , if it so please the multitude that can maKe a partie strong inowghe to beare the style & tytle of a publike state or colourable comon wealth for the tyme ; So as if his Ma. were in possession of the englishe Crowne tomorow , he were to depend vpon the wils of his own vassals to be expelled next daye folowing , and so from tyme to tyme by these mens lawe an other to be placed or displaced at their pleasure , & iustlie too , bi his owne acceptance & allowance of this law , And so one , after an other so often as the wether cok of suche a common wealth chaungeth with the winde offactious humors : In so muchc as their kinge or Soueraigne shall serue them like a lackye or page in a frenche ioupe to runne or ryde after theire master , rather then sit in his chayre of estate , with scepter & Royal Roabe to commaunde like a kinge , so A fond assumption of the lawyers . contemptible shall the Ma. of a king stand in suche a case . And the reason of this prerogatiue ouer their kinge is ( say thies lawyers ) because forsuthe a kinge was made for a common wealth , & not a comon wealth for a king ; As if it were good reason , that children shoulde rule their parents , because parentswere ordained for children , & not they for parents , people must rule preachers , scolars must guide scholl maisters the cart must lead carte horses & carters too because preachers scholmasters , cart horses , & carters were ordeyned for people , Scolers & carts , & not thies for the other : Neuerthelesse that assumption serueth not their turne : for they were ordeyned in a subalternel cowrse & degree on for an other , as the head for the bodye & the body for the head . A kinge to rule his comon wealth , & the common wealth to obey the king . Beside theis indignities touching Ma. & state Royall there are many other deformities and inconueniences concurringe with suche enormiouse succession of gouernement by a monarche , as dependeth vpon the phantasticall toys of a colourable comon wealth , which yeeld sufficiant probabilitie that his Ma. was neuer priuie to the A cra sty shyft to blere the late kinge & this liuinge heeyes with a contradiction . sayd libel , nor the puttinge forth rhereof , Nay it is more then probable , that if his Ma. had seene and looked deeply in to this conference , or had bene trulye informed touching all the contents thereof , & the deuises for bewirchīg the phansies of men with plausible matter , for more cleanly conueyhance of a consent to their purpose , his wisedome wolde haue vtterlye reiected that libell , for he wold haue quickly perceyued the contradiction betwene their opinions in shew of wordes , and their real proceedinges in practizes , where they hold titles of princes once setled & admitted are not to be examined by priuat men , but to be obeied : Neuerthelesse thies companions now ( as at other tymes ( haue not onely allowed suche examinations , but haue also presumed vpon their owue heades , to examine titles of kinges & Queens , and to determine them also by circumstaunce , yea by way of consultation in a publicke conference , as if they were caled by authoritye , not as priuat men , but as publique persones . Besydes this his wisdome wolde Flatterye & dissimulation disgraceth any attempt . haue noted an od shifte of deskant by flatterye & dissimulation to gleane some credit of the present state in Englande ( for that state is now settled ) though they haue practized the contrarye in tyme past : A prety toy to mocke an Ape , but it is so grosse as she maye easelye perceue it , and for their merit make them a mow , euen so where their wordes run so rowndly to curry fauour ( for feare of displeasinge possessors ) that what so euer a princes tytle be , if once he be setled in the Crowne & admitted by the common wealthe , it is not to be examined by any priuat men : euery man is bownd to settle his conscience to obaye the same , And the reason [ for so the ] is that of all other they esteame the honor of a Crowne to be most irregular and extraordinarie : here his Ma. wisedome & zeal to regall dignitie generally , Blasphemis against the Sac●●●d state of Regall dignitye . besyde his owne ptiuat , may discouer diuers fallacies , errors , contradictions , yea & monstruous absurdities , accompting their common welth to be suche as are conformable to their owne examples , or other wise as good as they wolde make it .

For by this Doctrine it must Absurdities against bothe king & subiect . folow necessarilye as most consonant to reason , that the common wealth whiche is to controole regall dignitie ( in such sorte as thier men appoinr ) hath to chalenge a preuileige to be guided by the holly ghost , not subiect to error , in opinion or sentence iudicially , & so anew fowndation of a special maxime must be layde for heretiques & rebels to buyld vpon it what they list , to wit R●●●bliea non potest errare , a comon wealth can not erre which is more then somme comon wealths wil allow to the churche of God .

Again it must folow that no member of suche a common wealth is to be accompted a priuat persone nor priuatly cariēd away daylv & howrely remouable from his owne opinion , nor may examine the matter priuatli before or after he come to conferr therof , or els their admission is not sufficient by this rule of theirs . More ouer thes two lawyers and all those trauailinge conferers in this supposed assembly at Amsterdame are by this rules condemned beinge all priuat persones for entermedlige them selfes with this matter of succession touchinge the title of a kinge . Fourthly the state of monarchie whiehe thies two lawyers do confesse & acknowledge to be of al other formes of gouernement most excelent & perfect in it selfe , must needs be most contemptible , vnperfect , & infamous of all other because the Ciuilian so esteemeth the tenure of a Crowne to be most irreguler , & most extraordinarie , for the Ciuilians opinion is the sentence of all thies conferrers , & to be irreagler and extraordinarye is to be vnder no rule nor order , wher vpon consequently the kinge holdeth his Crowne by no rule nor order , & is of hiselse irregular not subiect to rule or order ; And if the comon wealth be theonely Iudge ouer the kinge to comptrol him as thies men teache vs , & none is by theire Doctrine appointed nor allowed to comptroll the common wealths sentence , them it must needs folow , that the common wealth in this case is also vnder no will nor order , & no meruail for a multitude without a head , or of manie heads none good , what is it but a chaos & confused masse owt of al order : Thus we are taught that the vnrulie must rule the vnruly , if an irregular & disordered multitude must gouerne the most irregular & exrraordinarie Crowne as theis men terme it : Nay by this doctrine , an vsurper , disseizer intruder , impious tyrant , or infidel once admitted by the common wealth must not be deposed : Again a possession onely must guide the right as the most materiall point to lead thin heritance & succession of a Crowne ; two assertiōsneuer allowed for good plees in any law spiritual or temporal , Diuin or humain , & most worthie of owt claps , with hisses & whistles , yet they must both be allowed & mainteined vnder this generall maxime of admission .

And so all enormities must be streight rules , wronges must be rights , violence must be law , bad must be good , & good must be bad , if thies be allowed & admitted by a multitude drawen to gether any waye to represent & beare the name of a republick or comon stat , whiche for cleanelye conueyhance of a fowl thinge in a fayre hand kerchife , thies men doe call a common wealth : a speciall fallacie to abuse the simple ; besides euerie lawfull king is deposible for or without cause , if the common wealth dislike him : & euery quarel is a sufficient cause to depose a kinge if the common wealth so esteme it , & euery kinge shal be accompted a tyrant , an hereticque , an infidel , or incapable otherways & vnfit , & consequently deposible , because the publick state here called a common wealth holdeth him so to be & is theonlye Iudge of all causes in this case of a kings state & of all commisions that must procede from a kinge , for no other Iudge is appointed in thies mens text , A plaine contradiction to their own Doctrin , & an error that thies lawers will not stand to if they be pressed to answere by authoritie authentique . More ouer it must folow , vpon thies mens Doctrin that euerye multitude so incorporated , as they got the style & tytle of a publick state in their own consceit by pretence , may rightly be called a common wealth habled by law to inioye all the preuileges before mentioned , though they want a head , yea thowgh no welth nor commoditie common or priuat be by them maintened ; And that euery publick stat or suche common wealth as they haue allowed , may at their pleasure alter chaunge & innouat the cause of inheritance & succession to the Crown , so as they may barre the right & true title all redye cast vpon any persone , by the lawes of the same state , though the same persone be no member of the same state , nor subiect ther vnto by nature , submission , or other lawful meanes . Consequently that the kinge of spaine is bownde to setle his conscience & not impugne the ordinance of the now English common wealth , how iust so euer his title be for the present , or future tyme , nor to examine any others title allowed & admitted by the same common wealth , if that negatiue pregnant foisted in to the margent touching priuat men can not be hable to comptroll the text which bindeth euery man without exception or difference of priuat or publick . And last of all it is sett down in plaine termes , that euery kinge holdeth his Crowne by the good will of his common wealth as by the onely lawfull & good tenur of a Crowne , A playne contradiction A kinge is but tenant at wil of the people . to the state of inheritance , and an absurditie worthie to haue all manner of scorne & moquerye , neuer auuoched for any plea , neuer mentioned in any booke , rol , or record or writting of wise man , nor admited in to the thought or imagination of any lawe maker , lawyer , or other mēindued with common sence in Englande , and an hiperbolical fictio against the state of Regall Ma. yet we must beleaue it , because the Ciuilian saith so , who by al thies trauailinge opinions must be allwayes allowed . Thus we see that by the Ciuilians lawe his Ma. tenur wherby he holdeth his Crowne must be irregular & extraordinarie , & though he be admitted by his comon wealthe once setled in his state & therfore not remouable , yet that will not serue , if he holdeth his Crowne as tenant at wil of the common wealth who may reuoke their admissions when thei vst to finde suche cause as they thinke sufficient , & consequently he hath no state of inheritance nor succession , what would the king Catholicke say to this thinke yow , if he were wel informed of this particular ? Nay what they of holande and zelande wil presume , here on to thinke & say for hardeninge theire harts , & mainteyninge theire actual rebellions , euery man seeth & his Ma. can not be ignorant ; Therfor it is not like that he was priuie to the contents of this book so farre as to allow of it here his Ma. may behold the blinde presumption of thies statists who dare thus confront his Ma. in the chiefest point of his Maiestical state , with such indignities , by abusinge all regall dignitie so low as to make it the vassal of eueri arrogant rowt , of any vnlawfull assembled multitude that can by hook or crroke , wile or guyle , flaterye or violence catche & snatche the visard of a common wealth & for more credit to their excessiue What vashe boldenesse these difguysed lawyers shewe . speache also vse his Ma. as a bolster to leane vpon vnder cloak of a licence to roue freely through his Ma. Dominions where it ruleth and comaundeth .

Yea these bold aduenturers do raunge so farre farther as by colour of his Ma. authoritie they dare attempt to stoppe the mouths and pennes of all those that haue writen against popularity & with infamie of absurd flatterye to blot the names & estimations of those men which haue written in the defence of the sacred state of a kinge against all popularitye It is not to be doubted that either his late Ma. wisedome would be so vnmindefull as to wink at suche popular presomption . or that his most gracious nature would permitt the paynes & good willes of such writters to be requited for any scorne full libell put forth vnder the protection of his late Ma. ( specially times standinge as they did then . ) Neuertheles though some haue written in defence of Kinges & kingly state & geuen them more immunityes priuileges or prerogatiues then good kinges wil claime , or good common wealths are bownde to yelde , yet that excuseth not these commen wealth men to straye so far forth out of the right waye , as to engrosse their bad ways by priuat monopoles & franchesies in preiudice of Royall fredome and common good of all for I am sure that many haue written apologies touchinge that subiect very laudable vpon good assertions and propositions with limitations , exceptions & allowances , al allowable by law of reason & conscience yea most beneficiall to whole & sownd common wealths , but quite opposite to the general pro positions & assertions of these lawyers layd downe for the surmised authorities & their broken common wealths , suche as they haue exemplified as patternes to be folowed .

But this proceedinge of these lawyers is not all that was to dislinke the late kinge or this liuing , for albeit this author that carieth vpon his shoulders all the parties named in the sayd libel woulde make the late kinge beleeue that all tytles being doutfull his force & might should beare awaye the Crowne of Englande for him selfe or theinfante his daughter , and to facilitat this course made diuerse seminaryes priestes in spayne that went into englande by threats or fayre meanes to subscribe that in theire conferences there by all possible meanes , they should aduaunce the pretence of the sayd infante : yet since that tyme some of his dependents with his priuitie practized the aduauncement of the late earle of Darby an hereticke to the Crowne of Englande , This author and lawyer mock & abuse the kinge of spayne . which wrought his vntimelye death as many say , & besides after this he him selfe wrotte a discour se which was sent into Englande & published to many of the best Catholickes there that he woulde wishe & aduise them when the commoditie serued that they should make an election of some principall noble Englishe Catholicke to be their Kinge , so that the late King , might haue seene if he hade liued , what affection & respect this author caried either to him or his daunghters tytle or ther persons , for that as newe inuentions & conceipts came in to his head , he would frame suche new titles & cowrses as would best fit the marke he shott at for his particular profit & aduauncement , which if the late Kinge had liued would haue bene a sufficient warninge to him for euer beinge abused by the sayd author any more , & no doubt will brede the same effect with the kinge present & his sister the infante , when they shall know thus muche .

And as youe may herby see playnly with what reason the kinge of spayne & all monarches in generall are to finde them selues greeued with these lawyers for the litle respect they haue to Regall & kingly authoritye which kinges are for their saftie to prouide for , soe is there none more toched to the quicke by thies lawyers & aucthor then the kings Ma. The authors extreame malyce against the kinge of scotlande . of Scotland , nor whome they desire to be more defaced touching his persone & Right then he , for then they doe as it were assure them selues , that all their drifts & practises would haue suche issue as they wish with outlet or empeschement .

Wherin first their malice is greatly to be taxed that seake to ruyn & ouerthrowe a king that neuer did any of them hurte , but contrariwise hath so far fauored somme of the authors function , that in deliuering them from daunger of their liues , he hazarded him selse for the same , as the partyes them selues can not denye if they be asked , besides the fauour that he hath shewed to some Catholickes , & hath neuer vsed persecution against anye vnelest it be against somme verye fewe that haue bene discouered to deale in some practises which he thought might be daungerous at that tyme to his person & state .

Secondely their arrogancy is great in that they will determine where the right of the Crowne of englande awght to be , & woulde haue euery one to folow the same , when they dare not auouche their names , being ashamed to iustifie their ignoraunce in the common lawes of the realme & Crowne of Englande & Genealogies bi the which the right is to be tried , if there were any doubt of the kinge of Scotlandes , & yet neuerthelesse they woulde haue theire sayinges & courses to disanulle & anichilate the manifest & knowen Right afore all others whiche The kinge of Scottlande hath to the Crowne of Englande due to him first by the quiet possesion his Ancesters for diuerse hundrethe yeares haue had from whence he is first liniallye discended , next for that he is in the first place also by the same meane & wayes that the pretendors whome this libeller setteth downe , woulde aduaunce them selues , & if neede be can lawfully & iustly deriue him selfe a title long tyme afore them all to the Crowne of Englande , And lastly , for confirmation of the same kinges right to be the truest & perfectest of all other without exception Sr. Nicolas Saunders that was lorde Cheefe Baron of th exchequer in Englande Sr. Antonye Browne that was lorde Cheefe Iustice of the commen pleas . Mr. Carell called the father of the Iawe attorney for the Queens Ma. of the Duchye , & Mr. Edmonde Ployden , which were very vertuous wise & most famous men for their knoweledge in the lawes of the realme & Crowne of Englande as the like hath not bene for manie yeares , did with out doubt & difficultie sincerely & playnely resolue and determine that the late Queene of Scotlande was next heire apparent to the Realme and Crowne of Englande , who was his Ma. Mother , & so consequently she diinge , her heires were to succeede , who debated this point with the aduise of the best Heraults of Englande that could be fownde , & had also the opinions of the wiser & skilfuller sorte of the Realme that did accorde with them : yet notwistanding all this , this ignorant author & lawyers without name neither vnderstanding the lawes of England nor skilfull in genealogies , woulde haue their friuoulous and rediculous reasons to be of more ualour and credit then theis afore rehersed . Lastly thies lawyers & other are to be noted of great presumption & disobedience that with out the authoritie or warrant of This author preoccupi ethe the office of a Pope . their superiou's , & specially of his holinesse & others his predecessors vpon whom they ought chefly to relye dare ouerthrowe and make kinges forme & frame comon wealths after their pleasures & fancyes , as thoughe they were the superious vpon whome Pope & all persones of what qualitye so euer are to depende , & from whome al persons are to receaue & take their directions for spirituall & temporall affaires , which howe great an absurditye it is for them to thinke that all wise men do not see their rashe folishe & dangerous courses , wherunto they pretende doth argue ther insolenty , & pride so much to blinde their Iudgement , as that they see not how their deuises & drifts wil be whoped & hallowed out of all mens conceipts that be indifferent and that would haue their Countrye kept from tyranny & spoile of ancient nobilitie , lawes costumes & priuiledges , which is that it semeth these masqued author and lawyers most desiere .

And it semeth straunge to wise & vertuous people that this author This author refusethe to take his holinesse for an example . & disguised lawyers makinge shew to be Catholickes , & to aduaunce gods cause folow not the patterne & example of his holiness & predecessors who haue euer helde milde & modest courses towardes the kinge of Scotlande , moste aggreable to the Apostolicke , Romaine Catholicke church , which is a swete Mother esteeminge it the best and rediest waye to drawe & gaine suche princes to the right & true religion as be out of the sayd Churche specially not of malice but by Education , And yet these phantasticall Aucthor & lawyers would haue all violente & furious courses exercised against the sayd Kinge , As depriuation of his owne realme and right to the Crowne of Englande , yfit laye in their power Thoughe they see by dayly experience that both princes & other particular persons of great qualitye that falle from theCatholicke Churche beinge once in it , & were accompted as desperat persones for euer returninge , yet since haue reconsiled them selues with great repentance and haue done notable seruices by theire examples , in procuring & hasteninge others of principall ranck to be reconsiled , as namely the most Christian kinge of fraunce hath done , for the which he deserueth immortall fame . And therfore since God hathe geuen his grace , that suche remember to returne to the right waye that were strayed forth of the same , as also hath called and doth call dayly infinit nombers that haue bene borne & bred vp in heresie , in many places & specially in Fraunce , wher of late haue bene reconsiled to the Catholicke churche , as it were manye whole to wnes and cities of people , & that which is gteatlie & miraculouslie to be noted , the chefe occasion & instruments hereof to be by thre persons conuerted to the Catholicke faithe , that vuere in theyr kinde & qualitie the most sharpest and bitterest enemies against the Catholicke cause , that is to say , the kinges Ma. of Fraunce that nowe is a most mightie Prince , the bishop of Eureux a very learned Prelate , and Monsieur sainct Marye a gentilman of great respect wherfore should these vncharitable No cause to esteme the kinge of scotlande desperate to be reconcyled to the true Caetholicke churche as theis lawyers wolde haue the world to thincke . aucthor & lawers condemne the kinge of Scottlande as desperate to reconsile him selfe to the true churche , since besides that which hath bene sayd of his Ma. he neuer shewed him selfe willfull & obstinate in any of his actions but gouerneth him selfe with that wisedome , clemencye , liberalitye , & affabi litye withe other singular naturall and morall parts which God hath geuen him that gaineth him great renowme , & gi ueth great contentement to them that knowe him .

And it is verie like that God who hath bestowed these notable partes vpon his Ma will not refuse him the grace that maye make him knowe God & be best for his soules health demandinge the same as he ought to do , & as vpon good consideration & conference if he will accept the same he may do & hereunto no doubt will he be the better incited when he shall thinke that it is he onely of his race that swarueth from the Catholicke Religion in which all his noble & Princely progenitors haue liued & died , And specially his most sacred mother who sealed the same at her death with her bludde for the whiche she is a Martyr , & by the meanes wherof he is a Martyrs sonne , which passeth the dignitye of a kinge or any other worldly tytle , And lastly when his Ma. shall here , how disceatfully & falslye Plessey Morney did alledge so many hundred places & passages of the doctors & others to maintaine his wicked doctrine , which being manifestly discouered in his owne presence afore indifferent Iudges of Catholickes , & of his ownne Religion , & now knowen to all the worlde , haue procured hi perpetual shame , & haue made many since that tymewhich accompted him as one of the chefe heddes & learnednest ofther religion , to leaue him & to yealde them selues to the obedience of the catholicke churche . And therfore since there is not desperation of the kinges Ma. of Scotlandes acknowledginge the true Churche , this auctor with his lawyers maye see what grosse and foule errors they commit , that will not let God worke his will who hath the hartes of Princes in his handes , but will take vpon them , by speaches writinges and practises , to Censure of his sayd Ma. in the worst sence that may be to the tuine of his honor and tytle to the Crowne of Englande , because he doth not iust at that tyme as they would haue hi folowe their pleasures and directions , Thoughe his Holiness and his predecessors haue bene & are contented to sitte stil , and be silent , without doinge any thinge against his Ma. and haue reiected all informations whiche I haue herd of credit this author or somme of his associats haue caused to be geuen to his Holines or some about him to procure an excomunication against his Ma. And herin it is to be noted , that his Holines & predecessors procedinges and actions ar gouerned and directed with ane other manner of spirit , wisedome , and discretion then those lawyers haue bene and that they had and haue their scope and ende cheiffye to aduance Gods glorye and the true Church , with out showinge fantasticall humors passion and partiallitye as this auctor and his lawyers haue done and do : And let them not think howe smothely and swhiftly so euer they hope to runne awaye with their driftes and deuises , and that they would seeme to daunce in a nette in suche sorte that no man shoulde marke & finde their subtiltyes and craste , but that they be espied and clearely seen , And that when opportunitye serueth ( which perhaps will not be longe therunto ) they wil be mette with all by those that are most interessed , and that the name of the aucthor of the booke of tytles , with his odious practises shal be presented to his Holines , and secunded with suche manifest profes as neyther his accustomed cauillations , equiuocations , nor doblinge will or shall serue for his purgation , but onely simple and playne dealing must be shewed , & than it shall appeare , whether princes and others haue iuste cause to be greeued and offended or no , and whether this author meriteth not to be chastised and commaunded to retyre him selfe from meddlinge farther in matters of state , wiche shal be best for the publicke good and his soulthes healthe .