POPE PAVLVS THE FIFT, TO THE ENGLISH CATHOLICKES.
WELBELOUED Sonnes, Salutation and Apostolicall Benediction.
The tribulations
and calamities, which yee haue continually sustainedfor the keeping of the Catholike
Faith, haue alwayes afflicted vs with great griefe of minde. But for as much as we
vnderstand that at this time all things are more grieuous, our affliction hereby is
wonderfully increased. For wee haue heard how you are compelled, by most grieuous
punishments set before you, to goe to the Churches of Heretikes, to frequent their
assemblies, to be present at their Sermons. Truly wee doe vndoubtedly beleeue, that
they which with so great constancie and fortitude, haue hitherto indured most cruell
persecutions and almost infinite miseries, that they may walke without spot in the
Law of the Lord; will neuer suffer themselves to be defiled with the communion of
those that haue forsaken the diuine Law. Yet notwithstanding, being compelled by the
zeale of our Pastorall Office, and by our Fatherly care which we doe continually take
for the saluation of your soules, we are inforced to admonish and desire you, that by
no meanes you come unto the Churches of the Heretickes, or hear their Sermons, or
communicate with them in their Rites, lest you incurre the wrath of God: For these
things may ye not doe without indamaging the worship of God, and your owne sal-
uation. As likewise you cannot, without most euident and grieuous wronging of Gods
Honour, bind your selues by the Oath, which in like maner we haue heard with very
great griefe of our heart is administred vnto you, of the tenor vnder-written. viz.
“I A.B. doe trewly and sincerely acknowledge, professe, testifie and declare in my
conscience before God and the world, That our Soueraigne Lord King IAMES, is
lawfull King of this Realme, and of all other his Maiesties Dominions and Coun-
treyes: And that the
Pope neither of himselfe, nor by any authority of the Church
or Sea of
Rome, or by any other meanes with any other, hath any power or au-
thoritie to depose the King, or to dispose of any of his Maiesties Kingdomes or
Dominions, or to authorize any forreigne Prince to inuade or annoy him or his
Countreys, or to discharge any of his Subiects of their Allegiance and obedience
to his Maiestie, or to giue Licence or leaue to any of them to beare Armes, raise
tumults, or to offer any violence or hurt to his Maiesties Royall Person, State or
Gouernment, or to any of his Maiesties subiects within his Maiesties Dominions.
Also I doe sweare from my heart, that, notwithstanding any declaration or
sentence of Excommunication, or depriuation made or granted, or to be made or
granted, by the
Pope or his successors, or by any Authoritie deriued, or pretended
to be deriued from him or his Sea, against the said King, his heires or successors,
or any absolution of the said subiects from their obedience; I will beare faith and
trew Allegiance to his Maiestie, his heires and successors, and him and them will
defend to the vttermost of my power, against all conspiracies and attempts what-
soeuer, which shalbe made against his or their Persons, their Crowne and dignitie,
by reason or colour of any such sentence, or declaration, or otherwise, and will doe
my best endeuour to disclose and make knowne vnto his Maiestie, his heires and
successors, all Treasons and traiterous conspiracies, which I shall know or heare
of, to be against him or any of them. And I doe further sweare, That I doe from
my heart abhorre, detest and abiure as impious and Hereticall, this damnable
doctrine and position, That Princes which be excommunicated or depriued by the
Pope, may be deposed or murthered by their Subiects or any other whatsoeuer.
And I doe beleeue, and in conscience am resolued, that neither the
Pope nor any
person whatsoeuer, hath power to absolue me of this Oath, or any part thereof;
which I acknowledge by good and full authoritie to bee lawfully ministred vnto
mee, and doe renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrarie. And all
these things I doe plainely and sincerely acknowledge and sweare, according to
these expresse words by me spoken, and according to the plaine and common sense
and vnderstanding of the same words, without any Equiuocation, or mentall
euasion, or secret reseruation whatsoeuer. And I do make this Recognition and
acknowledgment heartily, willingly, and trewly, vpon the trew faith of a Christian.
So helpe me GOD.
”
Which things since they are thus; it must euidently appeare vnto you by the words
themselues, That such an Oath cannot be taken without hurting of the Catholike Faith
and the saluation of your soules; seeing it conteines many things which are flat con-
trary to Faith and saluation. Wherefore wee doe admonish you, that you doe vtterly
abstainefrom taking this and the like Oathes: which thing wee doe the more earnestly
require of you, because wee haue experience of the constancie of your faith, which is
tried like gold in the fire of perpetuall tribulation. Wee doe well know, that you will
cheerfully vnder-goe all kinde of cruell torments whatsoeuer, yea and constantly endure
death itselfe, rather then you will in any thing offend the Maiestie of God.
And this
our confidence is confirmed by those things, which are dayly reported vnto vs, of the
singular vertue, valour, and fortitude which in these last times doeth no lesse shine in
your Martyrs, then it did in the first beginning of the Church. Stand therefore, your
loynes being girt about with veritie, and hauing on the brest-plate of righteousness,
taking the shield of Faith, be ye strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might;
And let nothing hinder you. Hee which will crowne you, and doeth in Heauen behold
your conflicts, willfinish the good worke which hee hath begun in you. You know how
hee hath promised his disciples, that hee will neuer leaue them Orphanes: for hee is
faithfull which hath promised. Hold fast therefore his correction, that is, being rooted
and grounded in Charitie, whatsoeuer ye doe, whatsoeuer ye indeuour, doe it with one
accord, in simplicitie of heart, in meekenesse of Spirit, without murmuring or doubt-
ing. For by this doe all men know that we are the disciples of Christ,
if we haue
loue one to another. Which charitie, as it is very greatly to be desired of all faithfull
Christians; So certainely it is altogether necessary for you, most blessed sonnes. For
by this your charitie, the power of the diuel is weakened, who doeth so much assaile you,
since that power of his is especially vpheld by the contentions and disagreement of our
sonnes. Wee exhort you therefore by the bowels of our Lord Iesvs Chirst,
by whose
loue we are taken out of the iawes of eternall death; That above all things, you would
haue mutuall charitie among you. Surely Pope Clement
the eight of happy memory,
hath giuen you most profitable precepts of practising brotherly charitie one to another,
in his Letters in forme of a Breue,
to our welbeloued sonne M. George
Arch-priest of
the Kingdome of England, dated the 5. day of the month of October 1602. Put them
therefore diligently in practise, and be not hindered by any difficultie or doubtfulnesse.
We command you that ye doe exactly obserue the words of those letters, and that yee
take and vnderstand them simply as they sound, and as they lie; all power to interpret
them otherwise, being taken away. In the meane while, we will neuer cease to pray to
the Father of Mercies, that he would with pitie behold your afflictions and your paines;
And that he would keepe and defend you with his continuall protection: whom wee
doe gently greet with our Apostolicall Benediction. Dated at Rome
at S. Marke,
vnder the Signet of the Fisherman, the tenth of the Calends of October, 1606. the second
yeere of our Popedome.
