"Because she hath entertained fugitives and "rebels of other nations. "Because she sent and procured the Turks to "invade christendom. "Because she persecuted the English romanists, "cut off the queen of Scots, and abolished the "Roman religion. "Because she hath rejected and excluded the "ancient nobility, and promoted to honour obscure "people; and also useth tyranny. 66 Wherefore, seeing these offences, some of them "rendering her incapable of the kingdom, others "unworthy to live; his holiness, by the power of "God and the apostles, reneweth the censures of "Pius the fifth and Gregory the thirteenth against "her; excommunicates and deprives her of all "royal dignity, titles, rights, and pretences to England and Ireland; declares her illegitimate, "and an usurper of the kingdoms, and absolves all her subjects from their obedience and oaths "of allegiance due to her. "So he expressly commandeth all, under pain "and penalty of God's wrath, to yield her no obedience, aid, or favour whatsoever; but to "employ all their power against her, and to join "themselves with the Spanish forces, who will not "hurt the nation, nor alter their laws or privileges, "only punish the wicked heretics. "Therefore, by those presents, he declares, that "it is not only lawful, but commendable, to lay "hands on the said usurper, and other her ad "herents; and for so doing, they shall be well "rewarded. 66 "And lastly, to all these Roman assistants, is liberally granted a plenary indulgence and re"mission of all their sins." XXXV. 2. Cardinal Allen's Admonition to the Nobility and People of England. THE declaration of the sentence of Sixtus Quintus was accompanied by an admonition "addressed to "the nobility and people of England:" this too was the production of cardinal Allen. The following account of it is given by Fuller*; -it accords with extracts given of it by other authors t. "1. The authors make their entrance into the "discourse, with a most odious and shameful de"clamation against her majesty, stirring up her *Fuller's Church History, cent. xvi. p. 196, s. 24. + See "The important Considerations," and "Quodlibets" of Watson :-these works are highly blameable for their virulence, and misrepresentations ;-but they contain several curious and interesting facts and reflections, particularly on cardinal Allen's unfortunate conduct on this occasion, and several extracts from his "Admonition."-Some extracts from it are also inserted in the late Mr. Andrews's Continuation of Dr. Henry's History.-Mr. Charles Plowden's fair extenuation of Allen's conduct and writings in his Answer to the Memoirs of Panzani, has been copied into these Memoirs. Historical truth is never to be violated,—even by concealment; but it is as much the duty of an historian to admit just extenuation, as it is to avoid unjust aggravation. 66 subjects hearts to contempt of her highness, as being one odious to God and man. "They threaten the nobility, gentry, &c. with "loss of all their goods, their lands, their lives, and "with damnation besides; except that presently, 66 66 upon the landing of the Spaniards, they joined "themselves, and all their forces, men, munition, victuals, and whatsoever else they could make with "their catholic army. 'Forsooth,' (for the words be "these), if you will avoid' (say they), 'the pope's, "the king's, and other princes' high indignation, "let no man, of what degree soever, abet, aid, de fend, or acknowledge her, &c. adding that other"wise, they should incur the angels' curse and "malediction, and be as deeply excommunicated 66 as any, because that in taking her majesty's part, they should fight against God, against their law"ful king, against their country, and that notwith"standing all they should do, they should but "defend her highness bootless, to their own present destruction, and eternal shame.' "2. After all those, and many other such threats, " in a high and military style, to scare fools with, "then they come to some more mild persuasions, "and promise the noblemen, that so they join with "the duke of Parma upon the receipt of their ad"monition, they will entreat that their whole houses "shall not perish. For persons did instigate the "English cardinal to swear by his honour, and on "the word of a cardinal, that in the fury of their "intended massacre, there should as great care. "be taken of every catholic and penitent person, as possibly could be, and that he was made a "cardinal of purpose to be sent then into England for the sweet managing of those affairs. 66 66 3. Other arguments they used, drawn from the certainty of the victory, as that all the protestants "would either turn their coats, copies, arms, or fly away, in fear and torment of the angel of God 'prosecuting them; that although none of her majesty's subjects should assist the Spaniards, yet "their own forces, which they brought with them, "were strong enough, their provision sufficient, "their appointment so surpassing that they had : more expert captains, than her majesty had good "soldiers, all resolute to be in the cause, which they had undertaken that the blood of all the "blessed bishops shed in this land, and all the saints " in heaven prayed for the Spaniards victory: that "all the virtuous priests of our country, both at "home and abroad, had stretched forth their sacred "hands to the same end: that many priests were "in the camp to serve every spiritual man's neces 66 sity that their forces were guarded with all "God's holy angels; with Christ himself in the "sovereign sacrament, and with the daily most holy oblation, of Christ's own dear body and blood: "that the Spaniards being thus assisted with so many helps, though they had been never so few, they could not lose, and that her majesty and "her assistants wanting these helps, although they 66 66 were never so fierce, never so proud, never so many, never so well appointed, yet they could "not prevail. Fear you not, (say they to such as "would take their part), they cannot.” The general mildness of Allen's character, and general wisdom and moderation of his councils, were admitted by his contemporaries, as well protestant as catholic. On this occasion, to repeat words which we have already used, he permitted his better reason to submit to authority. But notwithstanding the great and habitual reverence of the catholics for his talents and his virtues, so little did they defer to his admonition, that Wright, a priest of his own college at Douay, maintained the contrary doctrine in the most explicit terms, and supported it by the boldest arguments *. It should be observed, that from the writings of father Persons, it appears, that he quitted Madrid in 1585, soon after the preparations for the armada begun; and did not return to Madrid till 1589, the year after its defeat. XXXV. 3. Conduct of the English Catholics during the threatened Invasion. SUCH was the information, such the advice given at this time to the English catholics, by persons, from whom, if they had been influenced by the true spirit of the gospel, or had even juster notions of the real interests of the English catholics, very different counsel would have been received: it now remains to show how the catholics acted. 串 |