"the foresaid persons forthcoming, until they should be dis- CHAP. " charged of them."

ΧΧΙ.

taken.

Some priests were taken: who, when they were exa-Anno 1580. mined, stoutly denied, that they persuaded any of the Priests queen's subjects to obey the pope, depriving her of her sword and sceptre; or that they were bound to assist him, or whom he should send to take the same by force of arms. And they protested earnestly, in open audience, that they had no such meaning; but for their parts did account her their lawful and true princess, and taught all others so to do: having first gained, like wily friars, a dispensation at Rome, that to avoid the present danger, they and all other their obsequents, might serve and honour the queen for a time, until the bull of Pius V. might sufficiently be executed. [So it ran in the dispensation of Campion and Parsons, as was set in the margin of Dr. Bylson's book.] " And True Diffe" it may be (saith that writer) the common sort of such as by Bylson. "they perverted were not acquainted with these heinous Epist. ded. "mysteries. But yet this was the full resolution of them " all, as before was reported, as well appeared by their exa" minations. And this very conclusion stood in their written " books, as a ruled case, that they must rather lose their "lives than shrink from this groundwork; that the pope "may deprive the queen of her sceptre and throne. Be"cause, say they, it is a point of faith, and requireth con"fession of the mouth, though death ensue. [Where in "the margin is set, In their Case of Conscience, the 55th "article.]

rence, &c.

Now as to their cases of conscience, I have this to add. Popish cases One way the papists now used to preserve themselves, and of con to avoid the danger of the laws made against them, that solved. they propounded several questions in point of conscience to their learned, Jesuits chiefly: who accordingly gave favourable solutions to them, containing many courses and methods for concealing their religion; but allowing no compliance with the schism. Such questions sir James Hargrave propounded to some Jesuit, whose name I do not meet with, (perhaps Campion,) and accordingly had answers

BOOK given to each of them. Which, both questions and answers, were found in the said sir James's study in July, 1580. Anno 1580. This being, in my judgment, a curious paper, I shall here give, as I found it in Latin, among some state-papers, to this tenor in English.

Popish questions

and an

"I. Whether I may have psalms and chapters read in "English in my chapel, before my family and others, truly translated, in the order prescribed by heretics, and folHargrave's "lowed by them.

swers found

in sir James

study.

"II. Item, Whether I may have read the English pro"cession [that is, the Litany, I suppose] as it is now set "forth.

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“Answer, Privately to pray in psalms truly translated; "and to read chapters translated, for instruction, so as best "edify, I think it good. But to set forth the same for common service is an abhorrence and contempt of the "other good use, before had, if it be done without public authority of the catholic church. And if fear of the "world, which is evil, be the cause of it, the fault is in"creased. And if the hearers shall think it to be the new "prescribed order, then is the procurer scandali causa, i. e. "the cause of scandal; besides dissimulation in that which ❝is done. And whereas, consensus cum malis est malus, "i. e. consent with the evil is evil, it should be thought the procurer doth give his consent, although not expressed, 638" at least he doth it interpretativè. Therefore we must "take heed, that by shunning one schism, we fall not into "another.

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"III. Item, Whether I may be confessed to a priest, being in schism, except in articulo mortis, i. e. at the 66 point of death.

“Answer, A schismatic ritely and catholicly ordained at "first, hath order, but not the execution of order. And if "he administer any sacraments, he sinneth damnably. And "although he confer the sacrament upon the adult, yet he "would not receive the grace of the sacrament, in part given, if it be uncertain that it is a sin. Whosoever "doubts, the sin is certain. But they who by ignorance are

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"there baptized, thinking, that it is the church of Christ, CHAP. "in comparison of them, he sinneth less, if they are "wounded in the sacrilege of schism. Aug. de Baptis. libro, Anno 1580. cap. 5. The same is to be thought of the other sacra"ments as of baptism.

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"But in case of extreme necessity, where a catholic shall "not be found, by whom he may receive it, and keep ca"tholic peace in his mind, if presently he depart out of this "life, we do not think him catholic. If he recover, let him "return to the catholic church, &c. Aug. ibid. cap. 2.

"IV. Item, Whether I may be godfather to any that is "christened after the manner now used. And if it be not "lawful in mine own person to do it, whether I may send my deputy or no.

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"Answer, To bring children, and to offer them to be baptized by heretics or schismatics without the church, is "to agree to schism. He that doth it by another seems to ❝ do it by himself.

"V. Whether I may see service, such as is not allowed "by the catholic church, with a priest in schism or no.

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"Answer, With heretics and schismatics we must neither pray nor sing. He that communicates and prays with an "excommunicate person, whether clerk or laic, let him be "excommunicated. Counc. Carth. cap. iv. 72, 73.

"VI. Whether I may not be present at any schismatical "service: so that I neither communicate with them in 66 prayer nor in sacraments.

"Answer, It is one thing to be present at the schismati"cal prayers, only to observe their manners, which many "catholics have done: another, to pretend in countenance "and gesture to pray with them, although it be not done "in mind; for to do that is by the bystanders interpreted "consent. For we communicate not with the sins of others, "but by consenting and favouring.

"VII. Whether any benefice that shall be vacant, being "in my gift, it shall be lawful to present one to the supposed bishop, or no.

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"Answer, The patron of a church is, as it were, the pa

BOOK
II.

"tron of the people, and he ought to present, to be insti"tuted, a shepherd, not a wolf, as far as he can understand. Anno 1580." Otherwise he shall be the author of a scandal; to wit,

"such by whom scandal cometh. Yet he may yield to an"other the right of patronage before the church be vacant 639" for that turn; saving to himself the right for the time "hereafter: or to permit to lapse to the collation of the ❝ordinary.

"VIII." Whether it be lawful to say divine service or "to celebrate, where the communion or other their schis❝matical service hath been frequented.

"Answer, I think places being heretofore consecrated, " and now polluted with the conventicle of heretics, are to "be reconciled by catholic bishops. But although it be not

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yet done, if the constitution of the church is not despised "concerning this thing, I think a catholic man may law"fully in any place lift up pure hands to God.

"IX. Whether my chaplain may be permitted, for con❝ference sake, and better instruction of the catholics, to "read such books as are prohibited by the late council of "Trent; and especially such books as are set forth by the "new superintendents.

"Answer, It seems to be a constitution of the council of "Trent; of not reading the books of heretics. Whether "the ordinary of the place can dispense with men learned, "constant, and not easily yielding to seducers; that they 66 may have and read them, to stir up the people, and to 66 move them concerning their errors: the tenor of the con"stitution is to be kept."

Certain other questions to be resolved.

"I. Whether any man reconciled may have his child "christened of any being in schism, unreconciled. That is, "whether both the priest, godfathers, and godmothers 66 ought to be within the unity of Christ's church.

"Answer, To the first, all the parties, as well the priest "as godfathers and godmothers, ought to be in the unity "of the catholic church. And the parents being in that "state, ought not to procure any other to be present; but

"to avoid, if they can, that none being out of that state CHAP. "shall be present at the ministration of the sacrament. And

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yet, if others be present, being no parties to the ministra- Anno 1580, ❝tion, it forceth not.

"II. If it be not lawful to have any but such as be re"conciled, then the child being first christened after the order "of the catholic church, whether afterwards I may have in 66 open show, within mine own house, some things read in English: as a gospel and certain prayers; and also other 66 godfathers to bear the name, which be in schism.

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"Answer to the second, It is not lawful: for it is not "good in any such thing to dissemble with God, by some "convenient sort to excuse the manner that you would

"III. Whether any priests reconciled may read such "things in English, and not hereby fall into schism.

"Answer, It is not lawful for any such priest as is named "in the said article to do any such thing.

"IV. If any child being christened in schism, whether 640 "exorcism, cream, and oil, and other things wanting, ought "to be added.

"Answer, It is not necessary for such things to be done. "V. Whether there may be any more godfathers and godmothers than two; that is, one godfather and one "godmother at the most, according to the decree of the "late general council of Trent.

"Answer, The old accustomed order may yet be used, "or the other followed, as it shall please you. Because the "decree is not yet here promulgated. And also the cause "of that decree is only to avoid the increase of spiritual "kindred among such persons as are marriageable.