A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago…A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe…

¶That Kings and Magistrates ought to compel their subjects unto goodness, and not suffer every man to make his own choice in following what seemeth best to him self.

¶That Kynges and Magistrates ought to compell their subiectes vnto goodnesse, and not suffer euery man to make his own choyse in folowing what seemeth best to him selfe.

This also seemeth very unreasonable to the Romish sort, and peradventure unto others also that have a misliking of this case, that the Queen hath laid penalties and punishments upon such as disobey, and hath executed the same upon those that have continued in obedience to the sea of Rome. For some are of opinion that no man ought to be compelled to do good, or unto true Religion, or unto faith: but every man ought to be left at his own liberty, to follow what soever seemeth best to himself & his own conscience: that is to say, that no man should be called to account, of what Religion he is, nor examined at all, no though he were a Papist, but be let alone with his own conscience: And therefore that no man ought to be punished for breaking the Religion of the Gospel, or for neglecting good laws, which he himself esteemeth not to be good. Truly, as concerning compulsion to well doing, or to faith and Religion, the Donatists heretics taught in old time like as these afore mentioned and as the Anabaptists do at this day, that no man ought to be compelled to faith or to goodness, but every man to be left to his own conscience. Against those Donatists S. Austen hath disputed abundantly, yea and that by the Scriptures and by evident reasons agreeing with the Scriptures. In which respect I think his Record is to be believed, & therefore I will now allege certain things out of him, that make peculiarly for the present case.

THis also séemeth very vnreasonable to the Romish sort, and peraduēture vnto others also that haue a mislikyng of this case, that the Quéene hath laid penalties and punishmentes vpon such as disobey, and hath executed the same vppon those that haue continued in obedience to the sea of Rome. For some are of opinion that no man ought to be cō pelled to do good, or vnto true Religion, or vnto fayth: but euery man ought to be left at his owne libertie, to folow what soeuer séemeth best to himselfe & his owne conscience: that is to say, that no man should be called to account, of what Religiō he is, nor examined at all, no though he were a Papist, but be let alone with his owne conscience: And therfore that no man ought to be punished for breakyng the Religiō of the Gospell, or for neglectyng good lawes, which he himselfe estéemeth not to be good. Truly, as concernyng compulsion to well doyng, or to faith and Religion, the Donatistes heretikes taught in old tyme lyke as these afore mentioned and as the Anabaptistes do at this day, that no mā ought to be compelled to faith or to goodnesse, but euery man to be left to his owne conscience. Agaynst those Donatistes S. Austen hath disputed aboundantly, yea and that by the Scriptures and by euident reasons agréeing with the Scriptures. In which respect I thinke his Record is to be beleued, & therfore I will now alledge certeine thinges out of him, that make peculiarly for the present case.