TO POPE VR­BANE THE EIGHT, BISHOP OF ROME, JOSEPH, Bishop of EXETER, wisheth Sober witts, and Christian Charity.

WHY may not the least Prelate make bolde to reprooue the High Priest? I ask no leaue, nor is there any need; I take the ancient li­berty. There was not in olde time so much difference betweene Eugubium and Rome, nor betweene Exeters Ishe and Tyber. Hearken therefore now Pope Vrbane to that which ere long thou shalt heare of with heartlesse feare and trem­bling, at the dreadfull Tribunall of Christ. Those blotts of blood are nothing well sui­ting [Page 2] a Pastor of the Christian Flocke. What, maist thou like a dreadfull King of He­ralds proclaime warre? what meanest thou that so eagerly thou provokest Christian Princes, too too full of blood, to the extir­pating and horrid massacring their owne subjects? was it for this, that the Keyes were delivered to thy trust, that thou migh­test open the barrd vp from gates of warre, and the Yvory dores of infernall Pluto? Alas the shadow of Peter tooke these Prote­stants of France for Malchus, whose eares while he went about to cut off, he com­mitted but a light errour, and hit them on the throates: or perchance it hath beene said to him from heaven of late, concer­ning these Animals stabling in France, KILL and EATE? What? art thou Pilot of the Churches peace, and talkest of shining helmets, speares and swords? What o­ther houling could the She Wolfe, the Damme of thy Romulus haue yelled out, if this fierce roaring become the folde of Pe­ter? Disgorge thy selfe as much as thou wilt, and stale vpon the ashes of vnhappy Rochell, and scatter with thy blustering [Page 3] breath the most despised dust of that most miserable City; yet withall call to minde a little, how not many ages past the pre­decessor of this Lowis, though thine owne Lowis now, broke open the gates of Rome, mouldred the walls, dispersed the Citizens, and condemned thy predecessour to a dark Dungeon, lading him with bitter scoffes and curses. Neither shall many years passe a­gaine, (vnlesse my divining spirit be much mistaken) before Babylon fall, and the An­gell shout, and the world congratulate with amazement: Rochells case shall be thine owne case ere long, thou most forlorne of all Cities. Happy he who shall render thee like for like; who also shall dash out the braines of thy children against the stones. In the meane time fraight thy selfe with our miseries, laugh at our teares, make merry at our last gaspes, sing to our sighes, and applaud our vexations. There is a iust Avenger who lookes downe from heaven, whose rod we kisse, and gaspe after his revenge on thee at once. Pleade thou our cause, nay thy cause ô God, J say thine alone. Why may not con­fident innocency appeal to thee her judge? [Page 4] If in the whole structure and fabrick of our most holy religion by vs hitherto pro­fessed, there be any one thing which hath proceeded from the most impure fountain of mans invention, let it even perish, yea let it vtterly perish and bee banished to their Purgatory. But if wee haue not dared to profter any thing to the Christian world, except what thou hast inspired to thy Pro­phets and Apostles, and by these thy pen­men, which could not deceiue, wouldest haue delivered most faithfully to thy people: surely then either most happily wee erre with thee, ô God of trueth; or thou wilt defend with vs this eternall and onely E­vangelicall religion.

But thou wilt say that wee poore wret­ches are deceived, that it is Piety (no doubt) which we accuse of Cruelty; that it is the zeale of the house of God, whereby good Bi­shop thou art so set on fire, that thou hast so importunely wished and counselled the rooting out all at once of the heretickes a­biding in France. O Brazen Brow, ô Ada­mantine heart: We call God, the Angels, and Saints as witnesses of this so hainous re­proach. [Page 5] For those whom thou falsely bran­dest with the markes of heresie, thou shalt heare at length, when the Church shall ac­knowledge them for her Sonnes, and Christ for his Members. For what (I call God to record) doe wee teach, which the holy Scriptures, the Councils, the Fathers, the Churches, the Christian Chayres haue not with one consent alwayes held? For all those points which wee professe, the most approoved authors among you doe main­taine them all. There are indeede certaine late superstructions and patches of opini­ons which you would haue superadded to the ancient Faith. Those we most religiously reject, and do constantly ever refuse them: they are humane, they are yours. Lastly, they are either doubtfull, or impious. And must we therefore being Christian soules, needes bee cast out of the lap of the Church? Must we forthwith be delivered vp to bee devoured by fire and sword? Must we being throwne downe to hell by the thunderbolt of a curse, there burne for ever? Is this all the matter why the stall and shambles, are all the provision your Holinesse makes for [Page 6] such Animals as vs? Good God! see the Pa­pall iustice and mercy. This is the meer iniury of time. That was not heresie of olde, which is so now; if we had beene borne in the an­cient times of the Church, before that Ro­mane primacy, Image-worship, Transubstantia­tion, the Sacrifice of the Masse, Purgatory, the private or halfe Communion, the selling of Pardons, and other like brood of this hatch was knowne to the Christian world, hea­ven lay open truly to vs, no lesse then to o­ther godly soules of that more simple age, who happily tooke flight from hence in the true falth of Christ. But now that wee haue beene reserved vnto the doting age of the world, in which a certaine new off­spring of Articles haue begun to spring; it is capitall to vs, and to bee corrected with no lesse punishment then the continuall tor­ments of hell. Consider this all ye Christi­ans that liue in any place of the earth, how farre is it from all Justice and Piety, that a new faith can be created in after time by hu­mane judgement vnheard of in antient ages, which may adjudge Posterity to hell, for not beleeving that which the first, Christi­ans [Page 7] never heard of, and yet went to hea­ven? These greene fresh witts of a Politicke Religion, are in truth the men which most outragiously perplex the world, wherever the name of Christ is heard of. These are they who set at variance among them­selues the Kings of the earth, who otherwise it is like would bee peaceable. These rent Kingdomes, distract people, dissolue societies, nourish seditions, lay waste the most flouri­shing Countries, and lastly doe bring the richest Cities to ashes and confusion. But ought these things thus to be done? Doe wee thinke that this will bee found a just cause of deadly warre, or of a Massacre at the tribunall of the great Iudge? Awake oh ye Christian Princes, and thou especial­ly King Lowis, into whose eares those mis­chiefs are so vncivilly & cruelly whispered: awake at length and see how cursed fierce­nesse deviseth to put it selfe vpon your Ma­iestie after the most mischievous manner vnder a pretence of piety. They are your natiue subiects whom these forreiners re­quire for the slaughter, yea they are Christs, and what? would you bath your [Page 8] hand, or sword, in the blood of those for whom Christ shed his, who lavi­shed most freely for you and your great Parent their owne? Heare SIR, I beseech you, whose stile is among your subjects, LEVVIS THE IVST. If we did wor­ship any other God, any other Christ then yours, if we aspired to any other heaven, if we held any other Creed, or Baptisme, if in a word wee did make profession of a new Church, leaning vpon other foundations: there would be cause verily why you shold destinate such hereticks remaining in France to revengefull flames. If your people haue violated any thing established by the God of vs all, or lawfully appointed by your selfe, we verily craue no pardon; Let them smart who haue deserved stripes, it is just; But make not havocke of the servants of your owne God, and of your owne sub­iects, whom Religion it selfe makes faithfull vnto you. Suffer not for a few yesterdayes and superfluous patches of humane invention, and will-worship, added to the Christian re­ligion, that they perish who haue beene willing to redeeme your and your Fathers [Page 9] safety and renowne, vvith the greatest ha­zard of their owne liues; suffer them to liue by you, by whom you now raigne. But if they were not yours, yet remember that they are Christians, (vvith vvhich title your subiects are vvont superlatiuely to honour you as most Christian) and that you are washed in the same Font, bought with the same blood, and renued by the same Spirit; and in a vvord (vvhatsoever vaine furie thundereth out to the contrarie) they are the Sonnes of the Spouse, and the Brothers of the heavenly Bridgegroome. Obiection. But these doe erre from the faith. From vvhich faith I pray?Answere. Not from the Christian, but the Romish. Novv vvhat a prodigious thing is this? Christ con­demnes not these, yet the Pope doth. If your great Chancellor of Paris vvere novv aliue, hee vvould freely teach his Sorbôna, (vvhich of olde he did) hovv that the Pope hath not power (that I may vse his ovvne vvord) to hereticate any Proposition. Yea,Obiection. but an vniversall Councel hath condemned thē? Which Councell vvas that? The Trent. Answere. I am deceived if that Councell as yet hath beene received and approved in your Domini­ons. [Page 10] Consult vvith your antient Authors of best credit, they vvill tell you hovv vn­iust a Councell it vvas, yea hovv it vvas No Councell at all; that vvhatsoever vvas done or established by that Company being en­thralled to seven-headed Rome, vvas but the act of one Bishop. Lastly, consider I be­seech Your Maiestie, hovv the Reformed are not in some kinde to the Papists, as the Pa­pists are to the Reformed. Heresie is alike sharplie vpbraided on both sides. But doe vve deale so roughlie vvith the professours of the Romish Religion? Did vve ever rage vvith fire and sword against the Papall faith? See, vvas ever the crime of a conscience miserablie misled accounted capitall? It may be You may finde, (yet verie seldome) perchance some impudent Masse-priest, a de­spiser of publick lawes, a sower of sedition, to haue received his condigne punishment. But no Papist, (I speake confidentlie) vvas ever put to death meerelie for the cause of Religion, or losse either of head or limbe. Why doest not thou then: oh sonne of most milde and clement HENRY, carrie thy selfe alike tovvard thy faithfull sub­iects [Page 11] vvho innocentlie professe the refor­med religion? why doth not Your Maiesty, take order that it may be a trap for no man to haue worshipped God according to the Scriptures, and the practise of the antient Church, and that it may be lawfull for Your subjects to be trulie pious. And thou Pope Vrba [...], at last come to thy selfe, and consi­der how well this cruell sentence becomes thy Purple robes. It becomes not him to carrie a sheepe-crooke, but a sword, that will furrow vp that field. Nor is this net belong­ing to fishing, but rather to the fencing schooles of the ancient Romish Gladiators. Beautifull are the fee [...]e of them that preach peace, saith the Prophet, we may say now of thee farr otherwise, Hatefull are the hands of them that preach warre. If thou hadst anie portion in the Gospell of Christ, thou migh­test easilie judge that all things there sound peace, gentlenesse, meekenesse, concord. This revenging spirit was not sent but from hell. Not the least sound of an hammer is heard in Gods Temple; but You good man will haue the holie Church of God filled with the clangor of trumpetts, and the clashing of [Page 12] semiters, and the groanes of men ready to dye. Therefore open thy eare at length ô thou who proudlie scornest the judgements of all mortall men. That which heretofore our holie and learned Robert Bishop of Lin­colne is reported to haue done to thy Pre­decessour, that doe I now to thee. Let it be lawfull for me now to summon thee to the fearefull tribunall of Almightie God, to which thy trembling and fearefull Ghost shall shortlie be brought to render accompt of that thy bloody advice. In the meane while, if thou hast anie care or thought to flie from the vvrath to come, and es­cape eternall vengeance, REPENT.

OVR most deare sonne in Christ vve send You greeting and Apostolicall benedicti­on; the voice of reioycing and salvation is in the taber­nacles of the righteous, let the vvicked see this and fret, and let the Synagogue of Sa­tan consume avvay. The most Christian King fighteth for Religion, the Lord of hosts fighteth for the King. We verilie in this Mother Cittie of the vvorld triumph vvith holie ioy, vve congratulate this your Maiesties victorie, the trophies vvhereof are erected in heauen, the glorie vvhereof the generation that is to come shall neuer cease to speak of. Novv at the length this age hath seene the Tovvre of Rochell no losse impregnable by the obstinacie of [Page 2] treacherie then strength of nature surren­dered to the King and St. Peter. Neither is any so foolish as to ascribe this glorious victorie rather to happinesse then to ver­tue. By your long siege of many months you haue taught vs that Europe oweth your French Legions no lesse commendation for their constancy, then for their expedition; your armie going cleere away with the vi­ctorie over your enemies, by slighting all dangers, & induring all hardnesse devoteth their life vnto you, & promise you an abso­lute triumph of conquered heresy. The wa­ters of the Ocean made a noise and were troubled, fighting for the besieged Rebels, they made choise of death rather then a surrender, vndermining treacherie approa­ched even to your Maiesties tents, hell all opened her mouth vomiting out troupes of mischiefes and dangers, to the end so rich a fort might not be taken away from their Impietie. The Lord stood on thy right hand, thou hast not onelie ouercome the forces of thine enemies, but thou wart able also to put a bridle vpon the Ocean aiding them. Let vs all giue thanks to Al­mightie [Page 3] God who hath deliuered thee from the contradictions of the vnbeleeving peo­ple. How beie sith you are not ignorant with vvhat care the fruits of victories ought to be preserued left they perish, there is none can doubt but that in a short time all the remainder of the hereticks that haue got stable roome in the French Vineyard shall by you be vtterlie discomfited. The Church desireth that this Diademe of per­fect renowne be put vpon that helmet of salvation wherewith the Lord mightie in battell seemeth to cover the head of your Majestie: for we belieue shortly that all tumults being appeased in France the gli­stering Ensigne of Lewis the Conquerour shall shine to the Captiue daughter of Sion, rehearsing the French Trophies, and be­holding the brightnesse of your lightning lance: God who performeth the desire of them that feare him prosper our desires and the prayers of the Catholick Church. Our Nuntio vvho was an eye-witnesse of your Princelie glorie in your tents, will be a faithfull Interpreter of our Pontificall gratulation to your Majestie, on whom [Page 4] we most lovingly bestow our Apostoli­call benediction.

Given at Rome at S. Ma­ry the greater vnder the seale of the Fisher, the eight and twentieth day of Novem­ber, in the yeare of our Lord 1628. and the sixt year of our Pontificate.

AMICO MIHI PLVRIMVM COLEN­DO D^o. GILBERTO PRIME­ROSIO, S. THEO L. PROFES­sori; Ecclesiae Gallicae Londinensis Pa­ stori: Regiae Ma^ti. a sacris.

MOnstrabat mihi modò Tourva­lus noster, gente Gallus, Epi­stolam, Latino idiomate typis e­ditam, Vrbani Papa, pro more, tumidam, & sanguinolentam, Ludovico Galliarum Regi, pridem datam; in quâ, vbi bonus Pontifex Jo Paean canorè cecmisset Rupellensi victoriae, Regi simul ac Genti abundè gratulatus, descendit illicò, fatis inclementer, ad saevum illud [...], et, haereticorum in Gallia stabulantium prostiga­tionem acriter vrg [...]t, & impellit; Continere manum non potui, quin me subitò in chartas da­rem; arripio calamum: responsionem non me­ditor, sed effundo; quicquid est, habe, vir ve­nerande, et lege, & vel igni trade, vel luci.

VRBANO VIII. PON­TIFICI ROMANO, JOSEPHVS EXONIENSIS sanam mentem, et charitatem.

QVID ni vero Pontificem maximum compellare ausit minimus Episcorum? Non peto veniam, nec opus est; priscâ vtor licentiâ: Non ita nimium distabat olim ab Eugubio Roma, aut Isca meus à Tiberi. Audi modò Pontifex Vrbane, quod brevi pro tremendo Christi Lribunali pallidus exaudies; Pastorem Christiani gregis parum decent hae sanguineae liturae: Tune vt ad arma, tristis Praeco, conclames? Tune vt Christianos Prin­cipes, nimio-quàm plenos cruoris, ad profliga­tionem suorum, clademq, horrendam acriter in­stiges? Ideone tibi creditae claves, vt ferratas [Page 2] belli portas, eburneas (que) Ditis inferni aperires? Euge, Petri vmbra, numquid hi tibi Malchi videntur, quibus dum aures praecidere volui­sti, levi errore in guttura incidisti? Aut nunquid de quadrupedibus hisce in Gallia stabulantibus dictum tibi pridem caelitus, Occide et Manduca? Tune pacifice Rector Ecclesiae, vt coruscantes galeas, hastas, gladios loquaris? Qualem verò sonum edere potuisset Lupa tui Romuli, si ista Petri caulam non dedeceat truculenta vox? Con­spue, quantum lubet, et comminge cineres infae­licis Rupellae, et diffla superbo spiritu, concul­catissimum miserrimae vrbis pulverem: recog­nosce interim paululùum, quàm non multa tran­sierunt saecula, ex quo haereditarium Ludovici, íam tui, sceptrum, Romae portas confregerit, comminueritmaenia, cives dissiparit, praecesso­rem (que) tuum sannis, diris (que) onustum, caeco carce­re mulctârit. Sed neque tot deinceps excurrent anni (nisi me praesaga futurimens nimiùm fefel­lerit) antequam cecidisse Babylonem, et clama­bit Angelus, et gratulabundus orbis obstupescet: Tuae erunt aliquando hae vices, vrbium perdi­tissima: Faelicem sanè illum, qui paria tibi quae­ (que) retulerit, qui (que) parvulorum tuorum cap ta saxis identidem illiserit. Fruere tu intereà mi­seriis [Page 3] bisce nostris, arride lachrymis, exhilararè suspiriis, eiulatibus accine, applaude cruelatibus, est qui de caelo suo profpicit iustus vltor, cuius nos, vnà et exosculamur virgam, et inbismus vindictae: Causam tu nostrant age, ô Deus, imo tuam, tuam solius: Quid ni te provocet ar­bitrum audax innocentia? Si quid vspiam est in toto hoc sacrosanctae, quam profitemur hacte­nus, religionis negotio, quod ex humani cerebri impurissimo fonte prodierit, pereat sane nobis­cum, pereat penitissimè, et ad inferos suos meritò relegetur. Quòd si nos nihil vnquam Christiano orbi propinare ausi, nisi quod tu Prophetis tuis, Apostolis (que) inspiraveris, per (que) illos (fallere nes­cios) amanuenses populo tuo fidelissimé traditum volueris, scilicet, quin aut nos tecum fielicissimé erramus, ô Deus veritatis, aut tu nobiscum aeter­nam hanc et vnicè Evangelicam religionem tu­eris?

Fallimur verò miselli, pietas est, ilicet, quam nos crudelitatis insimulamus: zelus est dómus Dei, quo, bonus Pontifex, ita totus accenderis, vt haereticorum ad vnum omnium in Gallia sta­bulantium extirpationem et optaveris, et sua­seris importuniùs. O frontem! O viscera! Deum, Angelos, Sanctos, testes appellamus huius tam [Page 4] atrocis contumeliae: nempe, quos tu hereseos stig­mate selsò inuris, audies demùm vbi Ecclesia fi­lios, Christus membra salutaverit: Ecquid enim (per Deum immortalem) docemus nos, quod non Scriptura, non Concilia, non Patres, non Eccle­sia, Cathedrae (que) Christianae vnanimiter semper temuerunt? nimirum, quae nos profitemur, vestri ipsorum probatissimi authores tenent vniversa: Quid ergo rei est? sunt revera quaedam nupera opiniorum assumenta, quae vos avitae fidei super­adiecta voluistis, ista nos piissimè reiicimus, et constanter vsque recusamus: Humana sunt, vestra sunt: denique aut dubia sunt, aut iniqua: Ideone vero vt Christianae animae ex Ecclesiae gremio eiiceremur? vt ferro flammis (que) absu­mendi traderemur illico? vt in baratbrum Dia­bols, fulmine anathematis devoluti, arderemus aeteruùm? Ideone belluis et stabulum paratur et laniera? Justiciam, Deus bone, et misericor­diam Pontificiam! Mera haec temporis iniuriae est: Non fuit ea olin haeresis, quae nunc est: si priscis Eaclesiae temporibus nasci nobis conti­gisset, ante quam Primatus iste Romanus, Ico­nolatria, Transubstantiatio, Sacrificium Missa­ticum, Purgatorium, Communio sive singula­ris, sive dividiata, Indulgentiarum nundinatio, [Page 5] et huius farinae reliqua orbi Christiano innotuis­sent, patuisset profecto nobis caelum, non minùs quam caeteris, piis simplicioris illius aevi anima­bus, quae in vera Christi fide faeliciter evolâ­runt: Jam verò in eam nos servatos fuisse mun­di senectam, in quâ, nova quaedam suboriretur Articulorum soboles, laetale nobis erit, neque mi­nore paenâ quam perpetuis Gehennae cruciati­bus luendum. Cogitate hoc, quotquot vspiam terrarum agitis, Christiani, quàm sit ab omni iustitiâ et charitate alienum, vt nova subinde humano arbitrio creeter fides, priscis seculis in­audita, quae morti aeternae devoveat incredulos nepotes, quos antiqua veritas caelo adscivisset. Recentes hi, scilicet, politicae religionis apices, illi sunt, qui orbem vniversum (qua qua patet Christi nomen) immane quantum conturbâ­runt: hi sunt qui committunt inter se pacatissi­mos (absque hoc foret) terrae Dominos, scindunt regna, populos distrahunt, dirimunt societates, seditiones fovent, florentissimas regiones va­stant, vrbes denique opulentissimas in cineres rediguunt. Siccine verò fieri oportuit? Puta­musne hanc iustam funestissimi belli, interneci­onis (que) causam, pro summi Judicis tribunali ali­quando probatum iri? Evigilate Christiani Prin­cipes, [Page 6] tu (que) inprimis, Ludovice Rex, cui ista tam inurbanè, crudeliter (que) insufurrata sunt, e­vigila demùm, et vide quàm tibi sub pretextu pietatis, dira feritas pessimis modis imponere studuerit. Tui sunt isti quos ad caedem depos­cunt alienigenae; Christi sunt? Tune vero vt manum gladium ve imbueres illorum sauguine, pro quibus Christus profudit suum? Qui suum pro te, ac magno Parente tuo lubentissimè pro­degerunt? Audi tu, quaeso, qui Justus audire so­les apud tuos, Monarcha: Si nos, alium a tuo Deum, Christum alium coleremus, si aliud am­biremus caelum, si Symbolum aliud, aliud Bap­tisma; si novam denique aliis mixam funda­mentis, Ecclesiā profiteremurtesset profectò, cur haereticos in Gallia stabulante, flammis vltrici­bus destinares: si quid populus tuus vel a cōmu­ni Deo sancitum, vela te legitimè institutum violarit, non deprecamur herelè vindictam; va­pulent qui merucrunt, aequum est. Noli interim saevire in Dei tui servos, in cives tuos, quos ipsa religio praestat fideles: noli sinere vt propter hesterna quaedam, planè (que) superflua, humani in­genit adiectamenta, meram (que) [...], pereant ij, qui tuam patris (que) tui salutem ac glo­riam, sunimo vitae suae discrimine redimere vo­luerunt; [Page 7] sine per te vivant illi, per quos tu mo­do regnas: Quòd si tui non essent, memento ta­men (quo te titulo maximè insignire solent tui) Christianos esse, eodem et Fonte lotos, et emptos sanguine, et Spiritu renatos: caelestis denique (quicquid vanus intonet furor) sponsae filios, sponsi fratres. At, errant hi scilicet a fide. Quâ tandem? Non Christianâ certè sed Pontificiâ. Quid vero hoc monstriest? Non damnat hos Christus, damnat Pontifex. Si superesset modò magnus ille tuus Cancellarius Parisiensis doce­ret is liberè Sorbonam (quod olim fecit) suam, quàm non sit penes Pontificem, propositionem a­liquam (verbo vtar suo) haereticare. Atqui, Concilium fecit hoc insuper Oecumenicum Quod­nam vero? Tridentinum. Fallor, si hoc in Galltis obtinere potuerit hactenus, merueritve: Consul [...] tuos integer rimaepridē fidei authores, di­cent illi tibi quā iniquū, quàm nullum fuerit: v­nius erat Pontificis quicquid a caetu illo (multi­cipiti Romae mancipto) factum sancitumve. Co­gita denique obsecro, quàm non alio in loco sint Reformati Pontificijs, quàm Pontificij Refor­matis: Atque acriter exprobari solet haeresis vtrinque. Siccine verò agitur apud nos Roma­nae religionis asseclis? Vnquamue gladio, aut [Page 8] incendio saevitum istîc in fidem Pontificiam? Eccui vnquam capitale fuit hoc miseré halluci­nantis conscientiae crimen? Est vbi comperies (rarò tamen admodum) audacem forte aliquem Sacrificum, legum publicarum contemptorem, seditionis flabellum, paenam luisse meritissimam, sed merae religionis causam (fidenter dico) nemo vnquam Pontificiorum aut capite luit, aut membro. Quintu, Clementissimi Henrici fili, pariter te geris erga tuos, qui Reformatam reli­gionem innocentissimè profitentur: Quin faxis, nemini vt fraudi siet secundum Scripturam sa­cram, veteris (que) Ecclesiae [...], Deum coluisse, liccat tuis esse veré pios. Tu verò redi ad te de­mùm, Vrbane Pontifex, et recole quàm haec purpuram tuam probé deceat atrox sententia: Non pedum profectò, sed ensem gestârit oportet, qui istud exaraverit; neque piscatorium est hoc rete sed theatricum, et myrmillonicum. Speti­osi pedes Evangelizantium pacem, inquit Propheta; nos hîc de te paulò aliter: Odiosae manus praeconizantium b [...]lla: si qua tibi sors in Evangelio Jesu Christi obtigisset, facilé sentires pacem istîc sonare omnia, leuitatem, mansuetu­dinem, concordiam: Non nisi ex inferno missa est dira Erinnys. Ne levissimus quidem mallei [Page 9] sonus exauditur in templo Dei. Tu vero, ô bone, Ecclesiam Dei sanctam impleri vis clangore tubarum, ictibus caedentium, morientium eiula­tibus. Audi, ergo, demùm, tu, qui mortalium omnium iudicia superbe refugis, quod, olim, Ro­bertus noster sanctus pariter et doctus Lincol­niensis Episcopus praecessorituo fecisse dicitur, id ego tibi nunc facio: Fas mihi sit indicere tibi verendum omnipotentis Dei Tribunal, pro quo tremens horrens (que) tibi anima brevi sistetur, sanguinolenti istius consilii rationem red­ditura. Interim, si valere mavelis, RESIPISCE.

VRBANVS PP. VIII:

CHARISSIME in Christo fi­li noster Salutem & Apostolicam benedictionem. Vox exultationis & salutis in tabernaculis iusto­rum, videat peccator & irascatur, & Syna­goga Satanae contabescat. Militat Rex Chri­stianissimus pro Religione, militat Deus exerci­tuum pro Rege. Nos certé in hac orbis patria sacro gaudio triumphamus, gratulamur Maie­stati tuae victoriam, cuius trophaea constituun­tur in caelo, cuius gloriam generatiō ventura nunquam conticescet. Rupellam Arcem non mi­nus obstinatione pevfidiae, quàm naturae muni­mentis inexpugnabilem, vidit tandem haec aetas Regi & B Petro subditam. Neque sanè quis­quam adeò desipit, vt tàm gloriosam palmam acceptam referat selicitats potiùs quam virtuti. [Page 2] Diuturnâ tot mensium obsidione docuisti Euro­pam Gallicis legionibus te regnante debere non minorem constantiae laudem quàm celeritatis. Tibi autem periculorum contemptu & incom­moderum patientia clarè victor exercitus vi­tam devovet, & perfectum prostligatae haeresis triumphum auguratur. Sonuerunt & turbitae sunt aquae Oceani militantis obsessis perduelli­bus, mors deditione potior videbatur, ad ipsa Maiestatis tuae castra cuniculos egit perfidia. Omnino dilatavit os suum infernus e vomens sce­lerum & periculorum turmas, ne tam opulen­tum propugnaculum impietati eriperetur. Stetit Dominus à dextri tuis, non modò devicisti ho­stium copias, sed ipsi etiam etiam auxiliari Oce­ano potuisti fraenum iniicere. Gratias agamus omnes Omnipotenti, qui eripuit te de contra di­ctionibus populi non credentis. Ceterùm cùm sci­as qua cura custodiendi sint victoriarum fru­ctus ne marcescant, nemo est qui ambigat à te reliquias omnes haereticorum in Gallica vinea stabulantiū propediem prostligatum iri Diadema hoc perfecti decoris imponi cupit Ecclesia illi ga­leae salutis, qua armatum Maiestatis tuae caput ipse protegere videtur Dominus potens in prae­lio. Speramus enim fore vt Gallia omni pacata [Page 3] illucescant coruscationes LVDOVICI tri­umphatoris captivae Filiae Sion Francica tro­phaea commemoranti & intuenti splendorem ful­gurantis hastae tuae. Vota nostra atque Catho­licae Ecclesiae secundet Deus, qui voluntatem timentium se faciet. Interea Nuntius noster qui regalis gloriae spectator incastris adfuit, luculen­tus erit Pontificiae gratulationis interpres Ma­iestati tuae, cui Apostolicam benedictionem a­mantissimè impertimur.

Datum Romae apud S. Mariam maiorem, sub annulo Piscato­ris, die vigesimo octauo Novembris, anno 1628. Pontificatus sexto.

REVERENDO IN CHRISTO PATRI, VIRO JNCOMPARABILJ, IOSEPHO HAL EPISCOPO EXONIENSI, GILBERTVS PRIMIROSIVS S.P.D.

HEV quantum potuit terrae pelagi (que) parari Hoc quim ciuitea fuderunt sangutue dextra Gallorum? Sed paci intercedit inurbanae frontis homo VRBANVS IIX. Pontifex Romanus, qui ‘Exhalaus foedos soedo de pectore ructus,’

Bullante diro cruore BVILA, forocibus minacijs venosa, &c saeva adulatione tumente, optimo Regi, sed praepopero ac servido in Martem ingenio, in fidissimos cives, qui nisi fuissent non esset ipse, funesta inflat classi­ca; BREVI (que) grandiloquo & cruento sub Annulo Piscatoris asperrimam studijs belli gentem iterum in brevia & Syrtes civilis, hoc est creperi & periculosissimi belli cerebrosus & imperitus Nauclerus impingit: Nulla Regis, nulla Regionum omnium facile Reginâ.

Nulla religionis maiore curâ: Sed magis vt Regi & Regno anxias & inexplicabiles sollicitudines conficiat; [Page 2] vt humanissimos cives, non in piscatoriâ PETRI na­viculâ lentos incurvans gurgiter mos Evangelici hami fe­lici piscatu ex vndosa turbarū civiliū salo Piscator homi­num humaniter ducat ad salutem, sed in ANTICHRI­STI praetoria navi gubernacula tenens, BVILA­RVM & BREVIVM enormi harpagone Pyrata ne­farius Christianos inhumaniter praedetur ad caedem. Vt solenni Pontificum Romanorum more, quod in Vrbium densis vicis à grassatoribus nocturnis neri amat, belli facem accensam in vicina regna conijciat, vt bonis civi­bus ad eum restinguendum undique discurrentibus, ille impune trahar, rapiat, populetur, foedet, conculcet om­nia; Et ardente Christi Ecclesiâ, immaníssimí Neronis decessoris sui instar, laetificum cum Spintrijs suis Trojae percuntis excidium canat: sic sua quemque in, cribit facies. Verum

Nam ecce quàm opportunè, TV PRAESVL AM­PLISSIME, coelestis & infracti pectoris fervente ro­bore Romanum illum miserandae sortis on igrum in arce Tarpeiâ stabulantem, & sono intempestivo rudentem, stili tui acumine, veluti clavis & fustibus, compescis: Tu bestiae bipedis è limo & è fimo erepentis lunata cor­nua elegantis libelli malleo retundis: TV rufo draconi ‘Aere ciere vitos, Martemque accendere campo,’ nimis quam bono, incestum & clamosum os suggil­las: TV Papam superbientem, & sublime caput coelo audaci nisu inferentem, cuius ad nutum ‘Intereunt, labuntur, enni rursum omnia versum,’ modestissimo scripto humilitatem & modestiam do­ces: TV marculum qui dura robora ferri in Orthodox­orum perniciem ‘Multorum magnis tuditantium igniba' tundit,’ Cyclopum Polyphemo extorques, & pausam tuditan­di facere jubes: TV trepidantia jampridem BABY­LONIS [Page 3] moenia à coenosis magni illius exitialium men­daciorum architecti congesta coementarijs.

variorum librorum multis vigiliis feliciter elucubra­torum, velut oscillo penduli impetus hactenus arietasti, vexasti, dissipasti: Tandem optimae notae libello, non ad ostentationem, sed ad vtilitarem composito, & mitissima responsione, sulphureas omnium calamitatum fornaces, quas NEBVCHADNETSAR Romanus adversus Christi Confessores immitissimo edicto accendi jubet, pro virili tuâ parte à Christi Ecclesiâ prohibes & depel­lis. TV quos indomitae illius belluae Consiliarij atque administri in Danieles nostros Leonum famelicorum dentes exacuunt, verbi divini forfice comprehendis, con­cutis, & confringis: Quos ille indocilis pacisque bonique, omnium malorum Fecalis & Pater Patratus, Principes rerum potentes in arma feralia exequiali & tragico car­mine movet et protrudit, TV pacis aeternae praeco ab ar­mis discordibus revocas, et ad piam Christi pacem, Christianaeque charitatis tranquillum portum fortiter oc­cupandum suasissimae scriptionis dulci et docto celeus­mate fidus celeustes provocas.

FRVSTRA omnia, illum si spectes qui ‘Nequam & magnus homo, laniorum immane' canes vt’ distento & fulmineo rictu Christianorum sanguini in­hiat, cuique cibus cadavera, potus cruor est: Quibus dum se ingurgitat, toto orbe Christiano tristibus vlulante plangoribus, ille laetis vlulat triumphis, IO PAEAN, IO TRIVMPHE nobis obganniens, velut

Coquelico canorâ voce in fimeto occinit. Vt illa me­retrix purpurata, Martyrum sanguine ebria, quae Reges quos philtris suis intoxicavit, BVLLARVM aculea­tarum majoribus stimulis in cruda adversum Christum [Page 4] praelia suscitat; vt ille desperatae salutis homo, peccati & perditionis Filius tuum illud RESIPISCU discat, spes nulla superest.

Illi enim neque est cor quo paveat, neque seeur quo a­met, neque fel quo sibi irascatur, neque frons quâ erubes­cat: Illi Gamiae, Illis ingluviosis quibus cingitur raso capite ministris solis vovere fui est Occ [...]piti [...]ae [...], & edictis vetare ne quisquam hic faxit [...]l [...]tu [...], & sacra capita repre­hendat.

At TV, ANTISTES DIGNISSIME, eos li­berâ ad VRBANVM responsione liberas doces audire voces, & ingratijs discere, in Anglia & mutire fas esse, & fine scrobe alta voce exclamare, Auriculas Asini Papam & Cardinales habere.

QVANTVM autem ego fideli erga me amicitiae tuae debeam, REVERENDE PATER, quod mihi ho­mini privato tantus eruditione, pietate, dignitate PRAE­SVL, Responsionem illam inscribere voluisti, nec rudi calamo exprimere, nec linguâ inexplanata expromere, nec impari mente consequi possim: Scilicer, vt Episcopum decet, tui semper similis es, id est optimus: Honores no­vos adeptus veterem amicitiam non deponis, & magnus licet sis, omniumque bonorum votis minor, ad minima te demittis.

QVOD vero electissimum scriptum meó arbitrio stare aut cadere, prodire aut latere, malignâ ignis flam­mâ extingui, aut praeclarâ doctorum luce frui, publici iu­ris, aut in mei solius bonis esse iubes, id vero modestiae est tuae quae inter maltas & claras virtutes quae in te max­imae sunt & clarissimae, in scriptis in voce, in vultu, in ó­culis, in composito mentis habitu, in totâ viâ tuâ ful­gentibus [Page 5] gentibus micat radijs, velut inter ignes Lunae minoret: Macte ista morum suavitate, quâ aperto vivens ostio, & facta tua omnia ad pietatis & rectae rationis obrussam ex­igens, quod vir bonus solet, qui

Teque ipsum semper verens, omnium quotquot te no­vere, quique tuos in scriptis & nitida oratione pellucen­tés moras vidêre, amorem tibi conciliasti. Ma [...]te iterum atque iterum praeclarae eruditionis gloriâ, ultissimâ rerum divinarum & humanarum scientiâ, literatissimis varia­rum disciplinarum monumentis quibus tibi jure merito iucundi & nervosi Oratoris, Christiani Senecae, clarissi­mi & doctissimi Theologi nomen comparasti, ‘Quod vivet seclis innumer abilibus.’

Sed age eat

Eat pedibus celer, per Alpium aeternis horrentium nivibus juvias rupes, per Appennini ardua & praerupta iuga viam sibi faciat Arcem Sanctangeli velox conscen­dat conscendat, Angelo Satanae Vrbi [...] securè procul extra teli ja [...]tum incubanti in faciem narret, esse in Anglia Episcopos haud paucos qui inhumanae & infestae pccori lupae, sub ovina pelle Regibus & populo Christi­ano Rumae horrende lac ferinum immulgenti, personam alienam detrahere, bestiam ovium sanguinis sitientem à Christo caulis arcere, Ecclesiae laeta & pura pascua à tur­pi spumantium oprorum dente & foedo lutu [...]entarum su­um rostro pura & intemerata conservare: Aesopicam cor­niculam PETRI & PAVLI plumis insolescentem furtivis coloribus nudare, CVCVLI Romani, qui Christianos omnes pro GVRRVCIS habet; ova in ipso Dei Templo pos [...] apertur [...]dere; Meretricem Baby­lonicam Christiani nominis cerussa & minio fucatam tra­ducere: & possint quia doctissimi, & velint quia integer­rimi. [Page 6] Atque vt odor illa morte in mortem sit, quia RESIPISCERE dedidicit, denuntiet vt tota men­te atque omnibus artubus contremiscat, appetente jam die illo decretorio, quo ardebit BABYLON, Meretri­cis magnae negotiatores & adulteri omnes lugebunt, Dia­bolus mundi seductor, bestia & Pseudopropheta in stag­num ignis & sulphuris praecipites abibunt, aeternas justè irato Numini paenas daturi; Filiumque perditionis.

Interea temporis veni Domine Iesu, veni; Antichri­stum se truci efferentem rabie in vnctos tuos comprime: Hostibus tuis, qui asperum paternae castigationis tuae vi­uum nobis plenis cyathis educendum dedere, acinosas & pannosas indignationis tuae faeces plenis dolijs exhauri­endas invitis & reluctantibus porrige. Captivam Sionis Filiam ferreo Aegyptiacae servitutis jugo oppressam li­berali causâ manu assere: LVDOVICI Regis ful­gentes hastas, coruscantes enses, arma mortali fulgore crispantia, tormentorum bellicorum horrisona fulmina in ipsum Pseudoprophetam, & lutosos BABYLONIS muros converte, vt fatidicum vatem veri nescium sua sibi mala laeva mente verè profatum esse pudeat & poeni­teat: Ecclefijs transmarinis solidam pacem subdolis e­reptam artibus, restitue: Damna nos voti, & hanc qua Major Britannia tuo solius benificio fruitur pacem & tranquillitatem nobis fidam, posteris vero nostris perpe­tuam praesta. Huic autem aureo libello da vt vivat vigeatque, Antichristo Principum invidiam conflatu­rus, Ecclesiae tuae almam pacem coagmentaturus: Eius­que autori largere benificus, vt vitâ honestissimè & san­ctissimè in terris acta, coelo potiatur, vbi tecum ‘Immortali ave summâ cum pace fruatur.’

AMEN.