And truly whosoeuer knoweth this right wourshipfull Doctor ( as his auncient standinge in the seminarie , euen from the beginninge , and his kind hospitality sithence to all commers , hath made him wel knowen to many : ) cannot thinke it strange , that his feruent affection vnto our Common father , CARD : ALLEN off godly memorye ( with whom he was very intrinsecall ) and his tender loue twardes vs all , hath pushed him on , to sett penne to Paper and to imploy some parte of his goodly talent , about the decision of this controuersy , and appeasinge of our troubles .

And to speake in differently , who is there of our nation that should be sooner hearkened vnto , or better beleeued in this cause , then M. D. Ely ? For first he not beinge partiall , but alike affected vnto both parties , ( as in his Epistle folowinge he sheweth at large ) hath with all indifferency heard , read , and diligently perused , what eyther side hath to say for them selues .

Then his sound naturall iudgment , refined and accomplished with a profound knoweledg of both ciuill and canon lawe , ( whereof he hath been publike professor in à famous vniuersity for many yeares : ) inableth him , to discerne & see on whose side the right is . Finally his sincere honesty , voide off dissimulation , full of Zeale to truth and equity , maketh him bold to deliuet in plaine tearmes that which in conscience he knoweth to be the verity .

Wherefore enery considerate an aduised reader , must needs giue singular regard to his opinion , and may without any doubt safely relie vpon him , as vpon à most probable Authour .

Notwithstandinge it is to be ●eared lest some [ ouer willfully bent to dwell in their owne errours , and who cannot in any sorte endure to be controled ] not hauinge any exception against the workman , will coyne some cauill against the worke , that so plainly discouereth their deceites : and not findinge any other pretext , may peraduenture say , that his holines Brene of the 17. of August 1601. Doth debarr them from readinge all such bookes as this is . Which scruple I thought expedient to remooue in this Preface . Because those good felowes that thrust into their blind folowers handes , bookes flatly prohibited by that Breue , with warrantise : are as earnest on the other side to dissunde them from touchinge others : lest readinge them they should espie their errours , and so for sake them . First then it is to be considered that these learned notes of M. D. Ely come not within the compas of the bookes forbidden by the Breue . Bicause they be not written by any of either party , to kindle more coales and to increase discord and debate : but by à charitable , discrete and indifferent person , to quench the flames of strife & to induceboth sides to atonement . Againe yf ther were such à prohibited booke , yet may they nowe be read securely , without incurringe the perill of that Breue . For the sayd Breue was not at the first receiued and admitted .

The one part seeinge howe it was abused appealinge from it . And the other , to witt M. Archpriest , deludinge and defeatinge of it . For it beinge sent to wardes him from Rome shortly after the 17. of August , and comning to his hande about Michaelmas , he kept it close and suppressed it vntill towardes the end of Ianuarye folowinge ; that in the meane season , the goodly peece of worke of their Apologie might be hatched : and then it peepinge out with an antidate , might seeme to the simple , to haue been made before the Breue .

What boldnes and presumption was this ? Viewinge his hol . will and Commandement , vnder so seuere a penalty as the greater excommunication , euen holdinge his breue in his hande to be so audacious as at the very nose of it , to thrust out bookes so oposite to it , as darkenes is to light , was certainly to contemne it in the highest degree , & to the greater scorne off it , they gaue out , that the breue did onely forbid bookes of our side , but admitted all of theirs . It beinge made without partialitye as well against the one as the other . This was the first pageant they plaid against it , but was this all ? Noe . For some monethes after both the publishinge off the Breue , and their Apologyes , one in Latin , and another in English : To the infamye and exasperation of diuerse sortes off persons both Ecclesiasticall and temporall , there creepeth forth an Appendix to them of the same railinge qualitye : which very peartly playeth at bo-peepe with his holines Breue . The Author confesseth ingeniously , that he had in deed heard of such a breue , but had not seē it : orels he would not for all the good in the world , haue so violated it , for what wilfull contempt should that haue been ? and yet the seely man was so ouerseen , as to relate in the same place the somme of it , and runninge ouer it orderly as it lieth , to cite certayne sentences of it AD VERBVM , word by word . which plainely bewrayeth his dissimulation , and declareth sufflciently , that he had both seen and perused the Sayd Breue , but meant to jest with it . So obedient be they to the see Apostolike .

But I would faine knowe what shift they haue yet in store for their larger Apologie which is reported to be already published . Shall that also beare date before the breue ? Or shall it be fathered vpon some one that lyeth in an vnknowen corner ? who will say in like manner , that he had not seen the said Breue : or what other ioly deuise shall we see next ? be not these to wardly and dutifull Children , who vnder the pretext of such triflinge excuses dare so delude and resist our holie fathers authority ? we were by them stiled , enormous disobedient , rebels , worse thē Magitians and Idolaters , for that we delaid to subscribe to a lately deuised subordination , erected by a Cardinall his letter : what doe they then deserue to be called , who so wilfully trangressed our supreme Pastours Autentike writts ? for euen as there is incomparable difference between the Popes Parson and a Cardinalls , between his Breue and this man bare letter : so was there in that which was commanded . For the Card : imposed an intollerable burden vpon vs of that laweles subordination : Wheras his holines charged vs onely to refraine from offendinge one an other by inuectiues and bitter writinge . Euerie one therfore that is not blinded by affection , May easly see what Difference there was in the breach of those two comandementes . I will here passe ouer a fift pamphlet . Which they haue also put to light since the Breue . Because the subiect of it is so absurd in it self , and so vngratefull vnto all our Catholikes that be in persecution , that it cannot be welcome into England . It is [ if it please you ] that we notwithstandinge our longe indurance of manifold afflictions , should not accept of a tolleration in matters of religion , noe not yf her maiestie of her singular clemency , would offre it vnto vs. Need you heare any more ? do you not thinke these men to haue lost four of their fiue sences ? or els that lyuinge to longe out of guneshott at their ease , haue cast of all humaine compassion of their Bretherne ? and shall we be so assotted on them still that we will vphold all they Say ? And tather indure any hardnes then once mislike their folish opinions ? But to returne to our purpose , seinge they haue four or fiue tymes by ouuert act gone against that his Hol . Breue , they haue made it frustrat & of noe force For ( as the learned Casuistes hold ) after à Superiours lawe or precept published , is by two or three open actes contraried and resisted : it doth not bind any longer , when the Superiour vnderstandinge off it , doth not rebuxe or punnish such transgressors and renewe his former decree . Nowe we haue longe since giuen his hol : to vnderstand , by his Nuncios in France and Flanders , and by our Bretherne at Rome , of their often violatinge off the sayd Breue ; and yet he stirreth not in it which signifieth that he is content that Breue exspire , and bind no longer . But as I aforesayd , if the Breue did stand in former force and vertue , yet it comprehended not these notes , written so modestly , by such à Venerable Person , who in the spirite of mildnes charitably commendeth or reprehendeth both parties , as he taketh eyther of them to haue deserued . And here I would end this preface , were it not that I thought it expedient in this place to examine brieflie , that which is cited in the Apologye out of Card : Cap : 2. f : 11. Allens letter vnto M. Mush . For that he nowe folowinge our common cause at Rome , cannot as yet answeare for him self . After the good Card . had exhorted vs secular Priestes to loue , honour , and respect one another , accordinge vnto euerye ones age , order and profession , he hath these wordes : And those of the secular order , specially those that haue been brought vp by the fathers , and haue found so greate loue , charity and helpe at their handes ( as verye fewe of late haue done ) to be correspondent in all gratitude and thankfulnes , reuerencinge them in worde and deed , as is requisite to their merites and callinge , &c.

Out of which wordes the Iesuites and their adherentes drawe , the Card : to haue been of opinion , that the secular Priestes should take them for their Superiours , or at lest , should giue them the preeminence in all places . All which is far wide both from his wordes and meaninge . For as I will not say but that they , Who haue found Courtesie at their handes , are tied to acknowledge and requite it : see doe I affirme , that to fish out of his wordes any kind of superiority or equality either with secular Priestes , sauoreth of Ambition : the Card ; I graunte aduiseth and chargeth vs to reuerence them , according to their callinge : but their callinge and profession requireth not , that they be preferred before vs , as out of the Auncient Fathers , and holy canous may be proued at large : but this place doth not permit it : take for a tast the decree of a councell holden at Rome abowe 1300. past , vnde pope Siluester , where ( charge beinge giuen that inferiours giue reuerence to their Superiours ) it is declared who be those Superiours and inferiours , in these wordes as it is related in the decrees . PORRO PONTIFICI PRESBITER , dist 93. li: a Subdia●●no . ET CET . Let the Priest do rerence to the Bishope . The deacon to the Priest . The Subdeacon to the Deacon . Tha Acolite to the Subdeacon , the exorciste to the Acolilite , the lector to the exorciste , the portor to the lector ; OSTIARIO ABBAS , ABBATI MONACHVS IN OMNI LOCO REPRESENTENT OBSEQVIVM : let the Abbote giue obeisance vnto the keper of the church dooer in all places aswell in publike as with in the church ; as the monke Doth to the Abbote . behold the iudgment of the primitiue church concerninge secular Priestes and religious , in their opinion ( which was most pure and sound ) a secular Priest so far excelleth a religious man : that the Abbote who is Chiefe amonge them , is to exibite and to doe reuerence , vnto a dore keper the meanest minister aut attendant vpon a secular Priest . Which is confirmed by another Canon taken out off that true religious , and most learned Doctor of the Church S. Hierome . Who beinge demaunded by Heliodorus a Bishope , whether the order of secular Clerkes , Cap. 16. q . 1. alia causa . or of the religeous were more worthy , gaue answere that the order of Clerkes was far worthier , And proueth it by four seueral reasons as is to be seen in that place . One of the principall is , that they are of the ecclesiastical hierarchy theyr callinge beinge to take charge of soules , to teach others the worde of God , and to administers the holy sacramentes , which are the diuinest offices , that the Almighty hath communicated vnto men . And therefore sayd this great holy father . MIHI ANTE PRESBITERVM SEDERE NON LICET . It is not lawefull for me to fit abowe a Priest . True it is ( as the glosse vpon the former place signifieth ) that since the religious tooke holy orders , an Abbote is to take place afore a secular Clearke ; but noe other monke or religious . As the ordinary practise of the Christian world in publike processions and all other solemne assemblies Doth make most manifest . Where the precedence is alwayes giuen vnto the secular . And that these sharpe censurers take no exception of the word MONACHVS , vsed in the former places . and say that secular Priestes be there onely put before monkes , but not before such religious as they are : it is to bee vnderstood , that in those Authors , MONACHVS , is taken for all sortes of religious , for that in those dayes there were noe other maner of religious : or yf they will needes haue a distinction betwen them : then monkes wilbe the worthier , and must march before other poore friers , as the ordinary course of the world alloweth . And amonge all mendiants , or begginge friers ( in which order the Iesuites recken them selues ) they are to march in one of the lowest ranckes not onely because , their societi is one of the last founded , but also for that they haue fewest religious obseruances ; they not beinge bound to rough and rude apparell , osten and longe fastes , or continuall risinge at midnight to Canonicall houres , as other ligious men are the , kepinge onely the essentiall vowes of religion : of which also some tearme all those that haue not made their last profession but tenantes at will , and noe freeholders . For when it shall please their generall to dimitt them , they incontinently become secular & be no longer Religious . All which I say , ( God is my witnis ) not to disgrace any order of the religious , for albeit in the ranckes of the world they be the lowest : Yet in the sight of God for whose sake the leaue all , they may be of the hiest , yf they excell in vertue : as many good deuoute poore woman , shall in the kingedome of heauen , be placed far abowe many ladies not so vertuous as they . Yet as we giuinge the place to a lady before a poore woman here , do not offend God or man : so whosoeuer preferreth a secular Priest afore a religious man , doth not offend against Card . Allens graue aduise , of giuinge them such reuerence as is requisite to their callinge . Their vocation beinge inferiour to the other , as hath been prooued . Neither can the addition of religious ioyned vnto their Priesthood greatly aduance thē ( of which yet I haue heard some to bragg ) when as the hiest dignity of religion , is not equall vnto a poore portershipp in the church of God , as is by record of antiquity abowe declared .

And because I am a litle entred into this matter , Ca . 16. q . 1. Eccles . I will to this purpose add one sentence more , out of the next Canon of the same question . The summe and substance whereof is , that it is not lawefull for monkes and religious to do any thinge ( specially belonging vnto the ecclesiasticall hierarchie ) , without the counsaile of Priestes . Thus taught blessed S. Hierorome 1200. agoe : and this holy charch esteemed conuenient to be ranged amonge her sacred decrees . What shall we then say to those wisemen , wo leppinge out of the limittes of their owne profession , durst avowe , that Priestes were out to be trusted with the guidinge of the consciences of layfolkes , vnlesse they depended on some religious man . The discipline of holy church sendeth religious for direction and Counsail , vnto secular Priestes : this vnaduised writer cleane contrary , would not haue secular priestes credited with the charge of soules , yf they be not ruled by some religious : which is also so much the more absurd for that the managinge of lay persons spirituall saluation apparteyneth most properly vnto secular Priestes , that beinge their peculiar vocation and profession . And ( as all men confesse , ) God most assuredly assisteth and concurreth , with those instrumentes , of which he maketh choise him self for any purpose : nowe the very institution of secular Priestes by our blessed Sauiour , was to giue them the charge of both conuerting , instructinge , and guidinge mens soules into the knigedome of heauen : wherfore by the diuine lawe of his ordinarie prouidence , he doth more specially perfitt this his holy worke by the seruice of secular Priestes , then by any other what soeuer . He then that leaueth them , and seeketh after others for the directinge of his conscience , may be resembled to him that forsaketh the hight way , and foloweth bypathes , of which be cannot bee so well assured .

For as I take religious men to be the fittest to handle religious affaires so it cannot with any colour of reason be denied but that secular Priestes are the most proper for the conductinge of secular mens consciences . And therfore I chiefly take them to be calsecular , for that they liue in the world to be lanternes and guides vnto worldly men . Wich should be a singular motiue vnto all lay men , to cast their eyes principally vpon them and to loue honour , and respect them abowe the rest , as their ordinarie Pastours , who haue quitt their owne friends and all other thinges to line and dye amonge them , and to assist them whih the word of life , and the holy sacramentes liuinge and dieinge : Wheras the religious ( loue they them neuer sowell ) must needes forsake them on the sudden at the commaundement of their Superiours .

Which I do not relate to Diminish in any sorte the orderly affection , that any man or woman carieth towardes them : but to correct the fond opinion of them , that thinke nothing can be well done with out them . And to complaine a litle of the incongruity of such religious , who contrarie to their rule and profession , plunge them selues ouer head and heares into ecclesiastical affaires , with such audacity and obstinacy , as they haue tourned all topsie turnie . And howe can it almost be other wise so longe as they meddle so peremtorily in matters , wherin they haue verie smale skill : hauinge neither studied much in the holy canons , by which principally the discipline and regiment of the church is directed : nor had any greate practise in ecclesiasticall affaires ; they liuinge as it were out of the world , in a distincte and far different gouernmente . And finally God doth seldome blesse their enterprises with good successe , who runne before he send them , and intetmeddle farther then they haue comission from him or his vicar and vicegerent in earth . Whefore ( to conclude ) I most hartely request them , to retire them selues with in their owne boundes , and to obserue that golden rule , REGVLARIA REGVLARIBVS , lett religious men deale in matter appertayninge to religion and the cloister : and leaue SECVLARIA SECVLARIBVS . The orderinge of the Common affaires of the church , to secular Priestes , and so we shall come to line quietly togither . Which Almighly God ; of his infinite mercy and goodnes grannt vs spedely , throught the merites of our blessed Sauiour , Christ Iesus .

Amen .