IT is not to be denied, that Priests are executed for affirming the Popes pri­macy, and reconciling to the pretended Church of Rome, &c. which are points of their supposed religion: But yet they are not executed for these (or like) points or partes as they be religious, but as they be trayterous, or dangerous to the state, in ciuill consideration.

1 For, if Priests were executed for these, or like points, as they be religious, then the Church would proceed against them in Ecclesiasticall maner, before the secular power execute ciuill punishment. [Page 6]As against Anabaptistes, and other in this Queenes raigne, hath bene performed. So that Priests their case differeth from Hac­kets only Secundum magis & minus, the one being more dangerous in ciuill consi­deration then the other.

2 Secondly, they should be executed as wel for affirming the Popes primacy and recōciling, &c. (as Story for his misdemea­nure, though) beyond seas. For such affir­ming the primacie and reconciling, &c. are as damnable in religious consideration on one side of the seas, as on the other, but not so dangerous to our state in ciuill con­sideration.

3 Thirdly, they should be executed as well for other points of popery: as giuing the glory of the Creator (to wit prayer and praise) to creatures, Angels, Saints, stockes, and stones, &c. being no lesse damnable then such affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling, &c. in religious consideration, but not so dangerous to the state in ciuill consideration. As may appeare by a like case propounded.

If Anabaptistes, denying magistracy, and that Christ tooke flesh of the Virgen Mary, should swarme in England, and if [Page 7]Magistrates should punish in a more ciuill manner of proceeding, not the latter (though no lesse damnable, as it is religious) but the former, being more dangerous to the state in ciuill consideratiō, who would say, that Anabaptistes did suffer for reli­gion, and not for treason or felony?

4 That affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling, &c. may appeare directly to be dangerous to the state in ciuill con­sideration, and therefore trayterous; it is to be knowne and considered, that Pope Pius Quintus (by his bull declaratory) pro­nounced our gracious and Christian Queene an hereticke, and excommunica­ted all such as yeeld obedience to her. If then the Popes authority be perswaded as as a matter of conscience, & if by reconci­liation her Maiesties subiects become vo­wed members of such an head as is her ca­pitall enemy, we may be assured that so many as are so perswaded and reconciled, are prepared to obey the Pope, and diso­bey the Prince. Is not then such affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling, &c. dangerous to the state, in ciuill considera­tion, and therefore trayterous?

5 In that I say (prepared) it is yet fur­ther [Page 8]to be knowne and considered: that whereas the Earles had ill successe in executing the said bull, other deuises were frustrated, and the hope of Papists their present preuailing much failed, Par­sons and Campion (English Priests) being to come into England to vrge the sayd bull, and doubting that (in the rigour thereof) it would not be readily obeyed, did craue and obtaine of Pope Gregory the thirteenth, this exposition more plau­sible to Papists, but more dangerous to the state: That the said bull may alway bind the Queene and heretickes: but Catho­likes (that is Papists) in no sort, things stan­ding as they do, but then onely, when there may be publike execution thereof.

Philopater a louer of his country (as he pretendeth by that fained name) no Englishman (if ye will beleeue him) yet descended of the English nation (as he saith himselfe) in a poysonfull and trayterous booke, often printed in diuerse places be­yond the seas (such liking find such books with such subiects as Papists be) graunteth that Priests are sent, with authority from the Pope,Sect. 3. to pardon, excommunicate, re­concile, and teach (according to the bul ex­pounded) [Page 9]that subiects are not to obey the Queene in spirituall matters, but in ciuill, and that for the present-state of things.

7 What is implied in this last clause, Philopater himselfe discouereth when he saith,Sect. 3. that it is agreed among diuerse Law­yers and schoolemen, that if a Prince faile from the Romane faith, and endeuour to withdraw other, subiects may and ought oppose themselues, & depose their Princes, if they haue force. Which prouiso, he in­culcateth and vrgeth with this reason: Least religion should be indammaged, and aduanced, attempts not preuailing.

8 The same Philopater doth perem­torily pronounce as tyrannicall, this que­stion moued to Priests, fugitiues, recusants, and such like: If the Pope, or other in his be­halfe and cause of religion, should inuade the land, what part would you take, the Popes or the Princes? His reason of mislike is, be­cause a rich Papist cannot answere freely thereunto, without offence to God or Caesar. As if God were offended, if Caesar defen­ded against the Pope.

By which exposition of the bull, do­ctrine of the Priests, and mislike of a que­stion so necessary, it doth clearely appeare, [Page 10]that the end of affirming the Popes prima­cy and reconciling, &c. is to prepare her Maiesties subiects to be ready (vpon paine of excommunication) to ioyne with such forces as shall be imploied against our Queene and state, in a pretended cause of religion. Is not this dangerous to the state in ciuill consideration, and therefore tray­terous?

Let the affects and effects of such teachers and schollers be obserued, and the truth of this assertion will be so euident, as that nothing can be more manifest. To let passe their broad speeches, when and where they dare: their concealing and a­betting traytours, and trayterous designes, as they may (possibly) without danger, their reioycing at, and spreading abroad newes, importing successe to the Pope, though danger to the Prince, &c. To omit (I say) these and many such arguments of their trayterous affection, the shamefull practises of many, bewray the Popish pre­paration of most, if opportunity once serue. Many haue bene the conspiracies a­gainst her Maiesties person, to take away her life. But ô Lord haue mercy vpon vs, to perserue her. Many haue bene the treasons [Page 11]against the land to destroy it. But ô holy one of Israel defend this thine inheritance. Who haue bene the authors and actors of all these tragicall attempts, but such teachers and schollers? What were the rebels in the North? And were they not prouoked to rebellion by Nicholas Morton Priest, sent from Pope Pius, to vrge the execu­tion of his bull? What were the rebels in Ireland? And was not Nicholas Sanders a Iudas (that is) a leader to the Popes army, that came in pretence to relieue thē? Parry & Sommeruile went about to murther her Maiesty. The one was encouraged in his diuellish enterprise, by Cardinal Como, in the name of the Pope: and shall we thinke that the other wanted the holy counsell of Hall the Priest arraigned? Babington and his complices, conspired against Prince and countrey. Was not Ballard Priest a chiefe counsellour to them? and did not Bost [...] Priest keepe counsell (at least) as he lately [...]onfessed? If then teachers and scho­lers, Priests and Papists, concurre in seeking and following all oportunities to sub­uert our state, can any other end be ima­gined of Priests, their perswading, and reconciling, but to prepare their schollers [Page 12]to ioyne together against Prince and countrey, when force shall answere their affection.

10 That the multitude of resolued Papists, be thus poysoned and prepared, let this be your last consideration for this time, and not the least at any time. That as the king of Ashur purposing to besiege Ierusalem,2. Chron. 32.9.12.13. sent from Lacish Rabshaketh and others, to weaken the hands of the people, by disgracing their king Heze­chiah, as one without religion, in that he had taken away altars, and defaced high places; and by aduancing Saneherib, as one that preuailed against all gods. So these locusts, which haue faces of men, and haire of women,Reuel. 9.3.78.10.11. but the stings of scor­pions in their tailes, to wit, Priests, who pretend a tender care of sauing soules in the beginning, but intend a cruell destru­ction of life and land in the end, are sent into this realme by their king (the Angell of the bottomlesse pit,Esa. 7.4. out of the smoke thereof, namely, by the Pope in his fume, but without flame I trust) before inuasi­on intended, to weaken the hands, and withdraw the harts of the people, from our gracious Queene, by disgracing her Maie­sty, [Page 13]as one without religion, in that she hath taken away sacrificing altars, and de­faced religious houses; and by aduancing their king, as one that preuaileth against all gods, all states, all religions. The like practise of sending Priests to prepare peo­ple against the comming in of Spaniards, is to be perceiued in Scotland.

11 What successe this deuise hath, is al­so to be considered. The Pope is certified by Cardinall Allen, and the king of Spaine by Parsons the Priests, that there shall be found (ready secretly within her Maiesties dominions) many thousands of able peo­ple, that will be ready to assist such power as shall be set on land. Of whose names they haue deliuered bead-roles, especially of such as dwell in port Townes, and on the sea coast, with assurance that Priests shall continue their reconciled people, in their lewd constancy. So hath her Maiesty published in her Declaration, Anno 1591. But Philopater denieth it.Sect. 4. How impu­dently and barely without any reason. But if Ballard Priest sent such a bead-role into Spaine, and Throgmorton had gathe­red the names of popish Noblemen and Gentlemen, to the same purpose: It may [Page 14]be (in reason) supposed, that to Priests in­telligence is sent by Priests, what schollers they haue perswaded and prepared for treason and rebellion.

To conclude, 1. If the Church proceed not against Priests in Ecclesiasticall ma­ner, before the secular power execute them. 2. If Priests suffer not for affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling, &c. beyond seas. 3. If Priests be not execu­ted for other points of popery, no lesse damnable then these, as they be religious. 4. But if the Pope by his bull, hath vpon paine of excommunication discharged her Maiesties subiects of their allegiance. 5. If Papists be dispensed with, for obeying her Maiesty til time serue to the contrary. 6. If Priests come of purpose to reconcile and teach according to the bull expounded. 7. If it be a catholike doctrine, that sub­iects hauing force, ought to depose their Prince, maintaining religion contrary to the Church of Rome: & 8. In that case to ioyne with forreigne power. 9. If maisters and schollers haue from time to time at­tempted to put the sayd bull in execution. 10. If Priests be sent before inuasion to prepare the people: and 11. If thousands [Page 15]be notified euen by Priests prepared: then it may be auouched, that Priests are not executed for affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling, &c. as they be religious, but as they be trayterous, or dange­rous to the state in ciuill consideration.