The burnt child dreads the fire, or, An examination of the merits of the papists relating to England, mostly from their own pens in justification of the late act of Parliament for preventing dangers which may happen from popish recusants : and further shewing that whatsoever their merits have been, no thanks to their religion and, therefore, ought not to be gratified in their religion by toleration thereof by William Denton ... Denton, William, 1605-1691. 1675 Approx. 304 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 83 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2013-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A35694 Wing D1064 ESTC R16886 12546392 ocm 12546392 63061

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A35694) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 63061) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 312:19) The burnt child dreads the fire, or, An examination of the merits of the papists relating to England, mostly from their own pens in justification of the late act of Parliament for preventing dangers which may happen from popish recusants : and further shewing that whatsoever their merits have been, no thanks to their religion and, therefore, ought not to be gratified in their religion by toleration thereof by William Denton ... Denton, William, 1605-1691. [22], 127, [15] p. Printed for James Magnes and Richard Bentley ..., London : 1675. Errata on p. [15] at end. Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York. "A postscript shewing the purport of Pius Quintus his bull against Q. Eliz.": [15] p. at end.

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The Burnt Child dreads the Fire: OR AN EXAMINATION Of the Merits of the PAPISTS, Relating to England, moſtly from their own Pens.

IN Juſtification of the late Act of Parliament for preventing dangers which may happen from Popiſh Recuſants.

And further ſhewing, That whatſoever their Merits have been, no thanks to their Religion, and therefore ought not to be gratified in their Religion, by Toleration thereof.

Numb. 25.16, 17, 18.

The Lord ſpake unto Moſes, Vex the Midianites, for they trouble you with their Wiles.

Iſaiah 45.20.

They have no knowledge that ſet up the Wood of their graven Image, and pray unto a God that cannot ſave.

By William Denton M.D.M.Q.R.

LONDON, Printed for James Magnes and Richard Bentley, 〈…〉 Poſt-Office in Ruſſel-ſtreet in Covent-Garden, 167

Omnibus Chriſti Fidelibus, Ʋt Cauſae Regis magnae Britanniae, Franciae, & Hiberniae verae Antiquae & Apoſtolicae Fidei Defenſoris ejuſ que Parliamentorum Justicia toti Orbi Chriſtiano Innoteſceret.

THough it hath not been deemed prudent, that Legiſlators ſhould in their Acts and Sanctions render their reaſons of them; leſt by ſo doing, they might haply invite and court contradiction from ſome ill-affected thereunto, which might prove derogatory unto their Supreme Authority, by giving occaſion to the governed to wreſtle with their reaſons rendred and alledged; and if they ſhould think (though erroneouſly) that they have reſolved or confuted them, they would then alſo think that they have taken all vertue and efficacy from the very Laws themſelves: Yet it hath ever been eſteemed acceptable and good Service to Government it ſelf, that Subjects ſhould defend the juſt Laws of their Princes, and eſpecially thoſe wherein Religion is concerned. And Religion being, or ought to be, the grand concern of every Individual, I hope I ſhall not be thought to wander inconſiderately out of my own Province, whilſt I endeavour to juſtifie the late Act of Parliament for preventing dangers which may happen from Popiſh Recuſants. I muſt confeſs that I dare not adventure my Salvation or Damnation on blind obedience, or Implicite Faith, or on any Deputies, Proxies, Popes, Prieſts or Fryars, no take their bare word without expreſs warranty from Scripture, eſpecially being commanded to ſearch them, and thereby to try them that ſay they are Apoſtles and are not, and being pre-cautioned, leſt by good words and fair ſpeeches the Hearts of the ſimple be deceived, Rom. 16.17. In which kind of Arts the Papalins are moſt expert.

I have expoſed this Treatiſe to the conſideration of all Chriſtians, but more eſpecially of all Kings, Princes, and Governours, not to implore their Countenance or Protection of any error, that haply may be found herein; that were not only unmannerly, but injurious to Majeſty it ſelf. If what is here written cannot be juſtified by its own truth, and effort of ſound reaſon, let it fall to the ground, and be obliterate for ever: For no error or ſalſhood, or any falſe equivocating reaſonings can ever be pleaſing to the God of Truth, and therefore ought not to be ſupported or countenanced by any ſublunary Majeſty whatſoever. Juſta ratio ſapientem non poſſit offendere. The chief aim and great deſign in this Publication, is to juſtifie to all the Chriſtian World His Majeſties great Title of Defender of the Faith truly Antient Catholick and Apoſtolick by his ready compliance with His great Council, his Two Houſes of Parliament, to put away the evil from this our Iſrael by this His Act; that both this and future Ages, perceiving it to have been grounded both on great reaſons of State, and true grounds of Religion, all the World may be the better ſatisfied, and his own Subjects may hear and fear, and do no more ſo preſumptuouſly.

It is the great duty of every individual Chriſtian for Truth and Conſcience ſake, but more eſpecially of Gods Lieutenants on Earth, even for neceſſity, and reaſon of good government alſo, nay, even out of duty to him by whom they reign to maintain and preſerve Religion in its purity. For this very end God hath ordained Kings and Queens to be his Vicegerents on Earth, and conferred greatneſs and Majeſty upon them to make them Defenders, nurſing Fathers and nurſing Mothers of his Holy Church; in which Calling the greateſt of them can never give a good account of this their Charge and Stewardſhip, except it be by a conſtant watchful care in matters of Religion. As it is not prudent in civil Politicks for any Prince to receive a great ſuccour from a more puriſſant Empire; ſo it is as imprudent for any temporal Prince or Power to indulge or countenance any Sects that own any dependence on a Foreign Head, Eccleſiaſtical or Civil, eſpecially if Sworn to advance that Head and promote his Intereſt. And ſuch a Head is the Pope, who claims to be ſuperiour to all Princes, to be exempt from all Controll, and exempts his Eccleſiaſticks from their ſubjection and obedience unto their natural Princes, and whom (if you will believe them) they cannot chaſtiſe, though they are rebellious; that he hath Power over all, and can deprive Kings of their Kingdoms, that in any difference between the Eccleſiaſtical and Secular, the judgment appertains to the Eccleſiastical as to the more worthy: And as is the Pope, ſo are his Papalins. The ſame Hour they become his Proſelytes, they alſo become his ſworn Vaſſals and Advocates.

Can it be other than an infinite prejudice done to the Authority of Sovereign Princes, if they ſhould but ſupinely permit, or be conſtrained to change, or but to ſuſpend their own Laws at the Beck, and Pleaſure of another State or Intereſt, paſſing from one Law to another; or tacitely by conniving only to acknowledg, that he borrows from any other any power of governing in matters Civil or Eccleſiaſtical, and therefore but juſt and reaſonable for Princes to ſecure their own power by wholſome Laws, preventing all Popiſh influencies, that haply by ſome Wiles or politick Stratagems might oppoſe them, or interfere with them, in order to gratifie and ſupport their own intereſt, contrary to the intereſt of thoſe Princes whoſe Subjects they are.

The main Bane of true Church power hath been the great opinion that the Antient and firſt converted Emperors had of the Abilities, piety and devotion of the Antient Fathers Eccleſiaſticks, which confidence begat in them ſupineſs and negligence of their own power, and that gave occaſion and encouragement to the Popes and their Eccleſiaſticks to uſurp and encroach upon their Authority, whilſt they little regarded their own power, which God had fairly ſtampt upon them; conſequently neglecting their duty, as if they were to render no account to God for themſelves or their Subjects, as if the care and defence of Religion and Piety were the leaſt of their concerns, tolerating for their own intereſt the people to be deceived, by ſuffering the Pope to ſet up new Orders and Rites under the umbrello of Religion, but in reality for his own Empire and profit, without conſidering that ſuch Orders and Cuſtoms by tract of time carry along with them their own warranty, and ſo ſecretly invite belief, which at length become meerly ſerviceable to the intereſts of thoſe that manage them (viz. the Popes) and conſequently diſſerviceable and diſadvantageous unto Princes, and all temporal Governments: And ſuch Orders being received and continued by the preſent Princes, are no ſmall obligations to their Heirs and Succeſſors to continue them by reaſon of that former Authority engraven upon them by Cuſtom, and their Predeceſſors. Now, what does this Act do? give a ſtop to the open, and publick profeſſion of the true Antient Catholick and Apoſtolick Faith, as the Romaniſts beſpatter and give out. Nothing leſs! It only diſcountenanceth the publick and open Profeſſion of the Romiſh Tridentine Faith, which (in thoſe Articles wherein they differ from the Proteſtants) is neither True, nor Antient, nor Catholick, but is an entire Apoſtaſie from it, and doubtleſs is the moſt Catholick, and greateſt Hereſie in the Chriſtian World. A Religion, that upon due examination, and chioce, no Man can embrace without reproaching his Maker, and his Redeemer, by renouncing his reaſon, nay his very outward ſenſes wherewith God hath endued him. A Religion, that by the ſame reaſon that they endeavour to juſtifie Tranſubſtantiation (I inſtance in this, becauſe I find more do wave the obſervance of the Act on the account of the Declaration and Subſcription, than of the Oaths therein) a Man may as well believe every Hobby-horſe to be a Barbe on Courſer of Naples, or the picture of every Bruit on a Sign-poſt to be really the Bruit it ſelf. Nay to doubt, or deny that ever there was ſuch a perſon as Jeſus Chriſt upon Earth, or that, he or any of the Saints which ſlept, did riſe from the dead after him; or that the Graves did open, or that the Vail of the Temple was rent, or that there was darkneſs over the whole Land from the ſixth hour to the ninth, &c. I appeal to all the World if ever God declared either by word or practice, that he would make uſe of artes praeſtigiariae, Jugling Arts, by deceptio ſenſuum, or otherwiſe. Nay, hath not his practice ever been clearly contrary in all the Miracles that he or his Son ever wrought? And the learnedſt of the Romaniſts would infinitly oblige us if they would demonſtrate unto us, which of Chriſts Body it is, that is Corporally in the Sacrament, whether his glorified, or not glorified Body, and clear it of all the monſtrous abſurdities that opinion is guilty of.

The Antient Catholick and Apoſtolick Faith partakes not of their fopperies, nor of their abſurdities, (for their concealments and ſpunges are no better) needs no captious reaſonings, no equivocations; requires no implicit, or blind faith or obedience, uſes no knaveries: No, no, pure Religion, and undefiled, is of a better Brood, of a more Noble Extract, of a more Divine Origine: The profeſſion thereof joyned with Holineſs and Righteouſneſs, ennobles every Soul, ſcorns to obſcure any Truths, needs no prohibition of Gods Word, no Indices expurgatorii, hath ſuperlative priviledges, the greateſt ornament any Sublunary Majeſty can have, ſcorns to uſe any indirect Artifices to Create Subtilities, or Coyn Evaſions, to conceal or adulterate any of her Truths from ignorant, or learned, or to abuſe any of our Senſes, as if we could not diſtinguiſh Bread from Stones, or Fiſh from Serpents. What have we from without us common to all Mankind ſo infallible as our Senſes to cauſe Belief, that Jeſus Chriſt lived upon the Earth, was Crucified, Buried, and Roſe again? The only Argument that Chriſt himſelf uſed to convince diffident St. Thomas to Believe, was by his own Senſes of ſeeing and feeling, John 20.25, 27. And if the Senſes of all Chriſtians in all Countries have been deceived above theſe 1600. years ſince Chriſts death in one Point, why may not we by the ſame reaſon queſtion and ſuſpect the Senſes of all thoſe that lived contemporary with him in more Points, as whether any of theſe things were ſo or no. So happy, I confeſs, are the Papalins in their Diſputes againſt Proteſtant Religion, that many of their Arguments by retortion only are as ſtrong againſt their own Religion, and indeed as ſtrong againſt all Religions as againſt ours. Light is come into the World, but theſe men love darkneſs rather than light: And why? becauſe their Deeds are evil; every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, leſt his Deeds ſhould be diſcovered; but he that doth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifeſt, that they are wrought in God, 3 John 19.20, 21.

Take but a ſhort view but of Four of their Opinions that are ſo Diametrically contrary to Scripture, that nothing but lowd and bawling Impudence can deny, and in which the meaneſt capacity cannot be miſtaken, no, not thoſe Lucifugae Scripturarum that are only moſt blind, not becauſe they cannot, but becauſe they will not ſee, nor yet underſtand, though as directly oppoſite to Scripture, as light to darkneſs, truth to error. God and Scripture.

GOd in the Second Commandment 20. Exod. forbids the very making of any graven Image, or the likeneſs of any thing. 2. Forbids the very Bowing down to them. 3. He Commands them to take good heed unto themſelves, for that they ſaw no manner of Similitude on the day that the Lord ſpake unto them in Horeb out of the Fire, leſt they corrupted themſelves, and make a graven Image, the ſimilitude of any figure, the likeneſs of male or female, &c. Deut. 4.15, 16, 17.4. He Cautionates them not to forget the Covenant he made with them, viz. that they make not a graven Image, or the likeneſs of any thing which the Lord the God had forbidden. 5. He minds them that he was a Jealous God, and would not have his Glory imparted to another. 6. He was a conſuming fire, able to revenge all diſobediences, 23.7. He curſeth the very man that maketh any graven or molten Image an Abomination to the Lord, Deut. 27.15.

Pope and Popiſh Doctrine.

NOtwithſtanding all theſe ſolemn Prohibitions and Reaſons delivered ſo dreadfully on the Mount by God himſelf in Fire, with Thunder and Lightning, thick Clouds and Smoak; ſo that the whole Mount quaked greatly: Yet ſo Super-omnipotent is Dominus Deus vester Papa, that he doth not only dare to leave this very Commandment out of the Decalogue, but Commands (even under Anathema's) and practiſes the clean contrary. And it is juſtified and averred to be conſtans Theologorum &c. The conſtant judgment of Divines, that the Image is to be honoured and worſhipped, with the ſame Honour and Worſhip wherewith it is worſhiped, whereof it is an Image. Jo. Azorius the Jeſuit, Inſtitut. mor. tom. 1. lib. 9. cap 6. And Tho. Aquin. Concludes, that the ſame reverence is to be given to the Image of Chriſt, and to Chriſt himſelf; and becauſe Chriſt is to be Adored with Latria (or Divine Worſhip) that his Image is to be Adored with the Adoration of Latria. Tho ſum. part 3. q. 25. Art. 3. And Friar Pedro de Cabrera on that place Concludes, 1. That it is ſimply and abſolutely to be ſaid, that Images are to be worſhipped in Churches, and out of Churches, and the contrary is an Heretical Doctrine. 2. That Images are truly and properly to be Adored, and out of an Intention to Adore themſelves, and not only the Samplers that are repreſented in them. And this, he ſaith, is the Doctrine not only of Thomas, and of all his Diſciples, but alſo of all the old School-men, and he there reckons up Twenty of them, viz. Cajetan, Capreolus, Paludanus, Ferrarienſis, Antoninus, Soio, Alexander of Hales, Albertus Magnus, Bonaventura, Richardus de Media Villa, Dyoniſius Carthuganus, Major, Marſilius, Tho. Waldenſis, Turrecremata, Angestus, Clichtoveus, Turrian, and Vaſquez. And Zacharias Boverius the Spaniſh Friar in his Conſultation directed to K. Charles, (of ever Bleſſed memory) when Prince, ſays, That the Images of Christ, and of the Saints ſhould with pious Religion be worſhiped by Chriſtians, Part. 2. reg. 1. p. 189. Edit. Matrit. Anno 1623. And Styles that glorious Martyr ſpes Anglicanae Eccleſiae, The hope of the Engliſh Church, Part. 1. reg. 4. p. 58. And princeps futura orbis faelicitas. The future felicity of the World. Part. 2. reg. 2. p. 196. Thus impudently Sacrilegious are they, though the Prophet pronounceth all them Confounded that worſhip graven Images, and boaſt themſelves of Idols, Pſal. 97.7.

Take but the judgment of one of your own Church, even of that incomperable Servite, who lived and died in the ſame Communion: At the end of the Confeſſion of his Faith, (whereof he hath made 54 Articles, much more Orthodox than thoſe of Trent,) concludes thus, viz. Quemadmodum credimus de ceremoniis ſacramentorum quod nomini fas ſit eas immutare, ſic etiam credimus de lege dei, nulli mortalium hic licere quidquami Innovare, detrahere aut adjicere; quia ſcriptum eſt, Deut. 4.2. Ne addite ad verbum illud quod praecipio vobis ne que detrahite de eo.

Homini ita que Chriſtiano fas non eſt detruncare Decalogum, quod tamen fecit Pontifex Romanus, cum propter commodum ſuum expunxit praeceptum de non faciendis Imaginibus ne plebs perſentiſceret imagines ejus at que Idola a Deo eſſe prohibita, f. 255.

As we believe concerning the Ceremonies of the Sacraments, that it is lawful for no man to alter or change them, ſo we believe concerning the Law of God, that it is not lawful for any Mortal to innovate, detract, or add any thing; becauſe it is written, Deut 4.2. Ye ſhall not add unto the Word which I command you; neither ſhall ye diminiſh ought from it, &c. Therefore it is not lawful for any Chriſtian to dock the Decalogue, which notwithſtanding the Roman Pontiffs have done, when for their Coffers they expunged the 3d. Commandment of not making Images, leſt the people ſhould perceive, that Images and Idols were prohibited by God.

God and Scripture.

CHriſt, when he inſtituted the Bleſſed Sacrament, gave to his Diſciples both Bread and Wine, and to whom he gave the Bread, he ſaid, Take, Eat, to whom alſo he gave the Cup, ſaying, Drink ye all of this Cup, Mat. 22.26. and they all drank of it, Mark 14.23.

And St. Paul, writing to the Church of God which was at Corinth, and to them that are ſanctified in Chriſt Jeſus, called to be Saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord both theirs and ours, 1 Cor. 1.2. ſaith to them all, (without diſtinguiſhing the Prieſt from the People) as often as ye eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do ſhew the Lords death till he come, Chap. 11.26. Wherefore whoſoever ſhall eat this Bread, and drink this Cup &c. Verſ. 27. Whereby it plainly appears, that all indefinitely are both to eat of the Bread, and drink of the Cup: And there is not the leaſt ſhadow or colour of any pretence or practice, that ever this Sacrament was to be adminiſtred or taken in one kind only by any perſon whatſoever; and yet ſuch is the impudence of Roman Hereticks, as contrary to their own Knowledg and Confeſſion, even in the Body of the Canon it ſelf, to order and decree, That Prieſts that ſay Maſs ſhall communicate under both kinds, but the Lay-perſons ſhall communicate under the ſpecies of Bread only, though the contrary was practiced for above 1000 Years: And yet ſuch Brows of Braſs have they to boaſt of the Antiquity of their Tenets.

§ The unqueſtionable Conoluſion is, Let a Man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat of this Bread, and drink of this Cup, 1 Cor. 11.28.

Pope and Popiſh Doctrine.

THe Council of Conſtance held Anno 1415. Seſſ. 13. hath declared, defined and decreed with a non obſtante Gods Ordinance, even Chriſts own Inſtitution; and although acknowledged by them to have been the conſtant practice of the Apoſtles, and of the primitive Chriſtians to Communicate under both kinds, That they that celebrate this Sacrament ſhould participate both of Bread and Wine, and the Laiety of Bread only, and doth command under pain of Excommunication, that no Presbiter do communicate the people under both kinds.

Likewiſe that pact Conventicle of Trent declareth and teacheth, Seſſ. 21. c. 1. That the Laiety and Clergy, which do not celebrate, are by no precept of God bound to receive the Sacrament of the Euchariſt under both kinds. And further declareth c. 2. That although at the beginning of Chriſtian Religion the communion of both kinds was very much uſed, yet the Holy Mother Church hath decreed, That it ſhall be accounted for a Law, and hath confirmed it with (accurſed) Canons, viz. Can. . If any man ſhall ſay, that by the Commandment of God, or of neceſſity all and ſingular the faithful of Chriſt ought to receive both kinds, Let him be accurſed; And yet Leo was of another mind, when he declared it was a Token of an Heretick, not to receive in both kinds. What is this leſs than matchleſs Antichriſtian impudence? that whilſt themſelves Confeſs, both that Chriſt inſtituted it under both kinds, and alſo that he, his Apoſtles, and the Primitive Chriſtians Religiouſly obſerved the ſame, that yet we that practice according to Chriſts constat, muſt be accounted Hereticks for ſo doing, and be puniſhed by the Biſhop, his Officials and Inquiſitors: And that they ſhould boaſt ſo much of Antiquity, and of the conformity of their Creed to that of the primitive Church, and yet ſo openly and palpably renounce both in this ſo chief and principal a Point.

God and Scripture.

SEarch the Scriptures, forin them ye think ye have Eternal Life, and they are they which testifie of one, John 5.39 The Scriptures are able to make wiſe unto Salvation through Faith which is in Chriſt Jeſus, 2 Tim. 2.15. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, Reproof, for Correction, for Inſtruction in righteouſneſs, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good Works, Verſ. 16.17.

The Boereans were esteemed more Noble than thoſe of Theſſalonica, in that they received the word with all readineſs of mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily whether thoſe things were ſo, Acts 17.11.

St. Pauls Epiſtles to the Romans, Corinthians, Theſſalonians, Galatians, Epheſians, Philippians, Coloſſians were all written to allthe Brethren in general in a language vulgarly underſtood with a charge to be read unto them all; ſo far were they from concealing any of Gods Word from any body whatſever.

Chriſt rather than all people ſhould not underſtand his Goſpel, endued miraculouſly his Apoſtles with other Tongues, that every Nation under Heaven might hear and understand the wonderful Works of God, his Laws and Precepts in their own Tongues; and St. Paul hath written the whole 14. Ch. of the 1 Cor. demonſtrating the impoſſibility of Edification with out underſtanding; and why the Laiety may not read the Bible, as well as have it taught them by the hPrieſt, is paſt all underſtanding but Romiſh.

Pope and Popiſh Doctrine.

THe Pope exalting himſelf above all that is called God, forbids the uſe of the Bible to Laicks; and their Prayers, Offices and Hours to be in a Language vulgarly intelligible, witneſs their Breviaries, Miſſalls, and Hours in Latin And the Bible is placed in the front of prohibited Books, and Books to be expunged (whereof there are Seven Indices extant.) And Bellarmine can produce no ſuch prohibition before that of Pius Quartus, who lived but in the time of the Council of Trent, (they had need brag of the Antiquity of their Doctrins) and forbad the Tranſlation of the Bible into vulgar Tongues, and cites for it the Council of Trent, 22. Seſſ. c. 8, & 9, Caenon; and alſo the Fifth General Rule before the Indices expurg. viz. Cum experientia docuerit ex permiſſione Sacrorum Bibliorum lingua vulgari plus inde ob hominum temeritatem, ignorantiam aut malitiam detrimenti quam utilitatis oriri pro hibentur Biblialingua vulgari extantia cum omnibus earum partibusimpreſſis aut manuſcriptis, &c. prohibentur pariter Horae earum que differentiae lingua vulgari ut patet in Catalogi tertia claſſe verbo Horas.

Seeing Experience hath taught, that through the raſhneſs, ignorance, or malice of men, more detriment than profit hath riſen by the permiſſion of the Bible in vulgar Tongues, let Bibles in ſuch Tongues be forbidden with all their parts, printed or in manuſcript. And they account all Languages vulgar but Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Caldean, Syriack, Aethiopick, Perſian & Arabick.

The like for their Horary, and other Devotions; what are theſe Popes that thus turn their Spirits against God? and make themſelves wiſer than the Almighty? and that let ſuch Decrees paſs ſub annulo Piſcatoris? And what are his Jannizaries, that call the Scriptures a Dumb Judg. Pighius de Hier. Eccl. A Black Goſpel: Inken Divinity Eccius; and that if the Scriptures were not ſupported by the Authority of the Church they were of no more value than Aeſops Fables? Vide chemnitij Exam. de S. Can. p. 47. And that the people were permitted to read the Bible, was the invention of the Devil. Pereſ. de tradit. par. aſsert. 3. What is this leſs than by craft to call Chriſt and his Apoſtles Devils.

God and Scripture.

ST. Paul, Rom. 12.1. recommends unto us reaſonable ſervice, as Holy and acceptable unto God.

Pope and Popiſh Doctrine.

THe Romaniſts recommend unto us Ignorance, as the Mother of Devotion, and a blind Obedience, and Implicit Faith to believe, as the Church (1. as the Pope) believes, without farther Examination.

Licet praeceptum praelati ſit irrationale & pro tali merito quando que haberi petit, tenetur tamen ſubditus illud obſervare. Joh. de Rada part. 2. Theol. ſtrou. inter Scotum & Thom. & Tho. St. 20. ar. 2. Concluſ. 6. Though the command of the Prelate be unreaſonable, yet the inferior is bound to obey it. And according to Ignatian Doctrin, If the Church affirm that to be Black, which our own Eyes judg to be White, we ought alſo then to declare that it is Black. Siquid quod occulis noſtris apparet Album, Nigrum illa eſſe definierit, debemus itidem quod Nigrum ſit pronunciare. Ignat. Exercitia ſpiritualia apud finem, regulae aliqnot ſervandae ut cum Orthodoxa Eccleſia vere ſentiam que Reg. 13. and this is not to be queſtioned, being ſtrongly ratified by the Bull of Paul the 3d. 1548.

I find that the Popes are told, Quod onnia poſſint, & ſic, quod facerint quicquid liberet, etiam illicita & ſic plus quam deus. Card. Zabar. de Schiſm. inter Germ. ſcript. p. 703.

They could do all things, and might do any thing, were it never ſo nnlawful, and by that means they could do more than God, that they might diſpenſe against the Law of Nature, c. 15. q. 6. Authoritatem in gloſſa, againſt the Old Teſtament. Extra. de conceſ. prebend. pro ponit in Gloſſ. and againſt the Apoſtle Paul. Ibid. De juſticia facere poſſint juſticiam, They might make wrong right. Ibid. Et in his que vellent, iis eſſe pro ratione voluntatem. Ibid. They might do as they liſt, and none might ſay, Domine cur ita facis? Sir, why do you ſo? Such power was rarely well calculated for Pope Joane; Foemina v •• t, quia vult ſtat pro ratione voluntas, haec ratio quamvis ſit rationis inops.

Si homicidium Sampſonis quod ex ſe malum eſt, interpretamur quod inſtanctu divino fuit factum, multo magis omne factum ſanctiſtimi Patris interpretare debemus in bonum: & fiquidem ſuerit furtum, vel aliud ex ſe malum interpretari debemus quod divino inſtinctu fe. teſte Joh. de Pariſiis de poteſtate regia & papali c. 23. If we impute the ſlaughter which Sampſon made of the Philiſtines, to an inſpiration of Gods Spicit, much more are we bound to interpret in the beſt part whatſoever the Holy Father the Pope doth, if it be Theſt, or any other thing, which of it ſelf is evil, (as for Example, Murder or Adultery dict. 40. non nos in bloſſa) we muſt likewiſe impute that to the inſpiration of Gods Spirit. Epiſcopos Romanos ne peccata quidem ſine laude committere. Maſſonus de verb. Epic. lib. 3. in vita Johan. 9. I could furniſh you with ſuch unreaſonable Doctrins uſ que ad nauſeam: But I forbear, leaving every unbiaſſed reader to judg how inconſiſtent with reaſonable ſervice thoſe Doctrins and Teachments are. Now whether it be better to obey God than theſe Men, judg ye, Acts 5.29.

§ I have now done, concluding, that it is high imprudence,Periculoſum Principi habere conſiliarios Papiſticos. Molinaeus Gregorio Capucino in Enchirid. Eccleſ. impreſſ. venetus 1588. nay very deſtructive for any Chriſtian Governours to hearken or have recourſe unto the Adviſoes and Councils of any that own another Head or Authority, or indeed that have not one and the ſame Joynt-intereſt in Religion and State with themſelves: And that the Governours ought to be very vigilant in care themſelves, & to forbid, or at leaſt diſcountenance all Councils and Things which may in any reſpect hurt, or but diſorder a good Government, leſt the Subjects thereof ſhould be caught with any guile, or ſeduced to embrace any opinions, which may be repugnant, either to good Government or ſound Religion. And I hope this Nation will never again be ſo infatuated, as ever to put power into their Hands, who have ſo often given ſuch palpable Demonſtration and Teſtimony how they have uſed it already, and ſuch pregnant preſumptions how they would uſe it again, could they obtain it Even they that run may read what the Papiſts, like Jehn, drive ſo furiouſly at, even to make England once more Iſſachar like, to couch and carry the Saddle. Vah Papae—ſhall it ever be again the ſtyle and reproach of England; Glorious England! that is ſcituate among the Rivers, whoſe Rampart is the Sea, and whoſe God is the Lord to carry the Saddle again? God forbid! But if ſo unhappy, ſo unfortunate, I'le propheſie, that not the Pope only, but the Devil will ride her. Pardon theſe Expreſſions; I have encouragement from St. Jerome, Neminem volo patientem eſſe in cauſa laeſae fidei, and from Moſes the Mirror of meekneſs, who knows no patience in Iſraels Idolatry, Numb. 12.3. Exod. 22.19, 26, 27.

Idem manens idem ſemper facit idem.

THE REAL MERITS OF THE PAPISTS.

SUch hath the Confidence of the Papiſts of theſe latter times been, as to claim a Right unto the Kings Majeſties favour for a tolleration of their Religion upon the account of their great Merits, as having beſt deſerved of His Majesty, becauſe of all, they were the moſt faithful to him and his Father. The purport of this hath not only been averred by the generality of them in their ordinary diſcourſes; but alſo ſet out in print by ſeveral of them, P. W. R. P. J. S. H. M. and others. At which confident Aſſertion of theirs, when I conſider how boldly, and feircly the contend for meritorious works; nay; for works of ſuper-errogation, even with God himſelf; I do not ſo much wonder, that ſuch Merit-mongers broach it ſo confidently now, as that they have not done it all this while.

§ He that is firſt in his own Cauſe ſeemeth juſt, but his Neighbour cometh, and ſearcheth him, Prov. 18.17. Which that we may the better do, we will only a little look back into our own Chronicle, without cloying the Reader with like Foreign Stories, which would fill Volumes, and firſt ſee how true, and truſty Trojans the Papiſts have been to the Kings of England, no Proteſtants, but Papiſts; and if they ſhall be found to have been neither true, nor truſty, but Traytors, and Rebels to the Kings of their own Religion; can it then ever be believed, or hoped, that they ever will be Loyal and Faithful to Proteſtant Princes, when a neat opportunity offers the contrary, and that Maugre all Roman Mandates to the contrary? What Prince, or other Sovereign, ſoberly conſiders the new founded Society of Jeſuits, erected by Pope Paul the 3d. about 1540, (who, although at firſt but 10 in Number, yet ſo wonderfully encreaſed ſince, that they bragged not a few years ago, that they were 1300010. they lived in Colledges, and places of reſidence, beſides thoſe that trotted up and down, that they had 359. Colledges, or Schools; 18 Domus profeſsae; 40 Domus probationis; 8 Seminaries; 1010 Reſidentiaries. Vide ſpeculum Jeſuiticum. Runninge Regiſter.) And what their Principles and Doctrins are, and what their practices have been for the deſtroying of all Princes quacum que Arte, that will not become Vaſſals to the See of Rome, and and acknowledg a Spiritual Monarchy in that Roman Chair paramount all temporal Crowns and Scepters; and how ſtrict, and of what extant their vow of Obedience is to the Roman Biſhop; and how it is decreed by ſeveral Popes, that the Inſtitutions and Doctrins of the Jeſuits muſt not be contradicted, or diſputed by any Ordinary, Delegate, Judg, or Magiſtrate; and how vaſtly that ſociety is enlarged, both in their Clergy and Layety, ſince theſe great brags of theirs will be ſufficiently convinced, that neither their perſons, or their Kingdoms, can ever be ſecure, where either one ſort or other are ſuffered to flouriſh.

§ Let us now ſee matter of Fact. Did not Pope Alexander the 3d. by violence and tyranny, force King H. the II. to ſurrender his Crown Imperial into the hand of his Legate, and afterwards b e content with a private Condition for a while, to the great regret and Indignation of his Subjects? Did not Innocent the 3d. ſtir up the Nobility and Commonalty of this Kingdom againſt King John, and gave the Inheritance and Poſſeſſion of all his Dominions unto Ludovicus the French King? What were thoſe 52000. but Papiſts, that rebelled againſt Richard the I. Anno 1196. And all thoſe that rebelled againſt Edward the II. Anno 1316, 1317, 1321, 1322, & 1326. Amongſt whom was Robert Baldock, Biſhop of Norwich, and Lord Chancellor of England. And all thoſe that conſented to the Murder of Edward the Third's Father, and ſought to kill John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaſter, Edward the Third's Son, Anno 1330. 1372.

And thoſe in Richard the Third's time, Anno 1381. Annimated by John Ball a Prieſt, who at his Execution refuſed to ask the King forgiveneſs, and deſpiſed him; ſo peremptory was he, Jack Straw, confeſſing, that when he ſent for the King to Black-Heath, they purpoſed to have murdered all Knights, Eſquires, and Gentlemen that ſhould have come with him and when they had got ſufficient force, they would ſuddenly then have put to death in every County all Lords and Maſters of the Common people, in whom might appear to be either Council or Reſiſtance, (one Argument uſed by ſome of the late Protectorians, for the death of our Glorious King and Martyr) that he was too knowing, and too intelligent to be ſuffered to live) and eſpecially they would have killed the Knights of St. John, and all Men of any Poſſeſſions, only Begging Fryars ſhould have lived, that might have Adminiſtred the Sacraments throughout the Realm; and laſtly, they would have killed the King himſelf, and made Kings in every Shire.

Thomas Arrundel, Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, traiterouſly practiced the depoſing of the ſaid Richard his lawful Sovereign.

§ It were no very wild conjecture to Divine, that our late Generation of Levellers, Major Generals, Quakers and Phanaticks were ſpawned from them, and that they are ſtill but Badgers, plotting and digging Holes for Romiſh Foxes to lie couchant and covertly in for their more ſubtile contrivances.

§ What were thoſe but Papiſts that rebelled againſt H. the 4th. deſigning to Murder him under the colour of Juſtinge and other paſtimes pretended 1399. And alſo thoſe who raiſed Arms againſt him; among whom was John Madelyn a Prieſt, who had been Chaplain to King Richard, and impudently perſonated the King. They were Prieſts and Friars that ſuborned a Falſe Richard, whereof 8 being Miners were hanged at Tyburne. Oſwald, Biſhop of Galloway, was the chief Plotter againſt Richard the 2d. in the Year 1403. A Prieſt of Warwick, and alſo Walter Waldock a Prior of Land in Leiceſter-Shire, and one Richard Freſeby, a Dr. in Divinity, was Executed in his Religious Habit and Weede, and not long after 10 Grey Fryars were executed all for Treaſon. In the year 1404. Tho. Percy Earl of Worceſter with other Rebelled. In the year 1406. Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, R. Scroope, Arch-Biſhop of York, with others, Robelled, and were Beheaded in the Year 1414. Sir John Beverley, an Anointed Prieſt, with others, conſpired the death of H. the 5th. other Conſpiracies there were in the Year 1416. and 1417. againſt the ſame King by the like Generation of Men. And by ſuch alſo ſeveral other Rebellions were raiſed againſt H. the 6th. in the Year 1433. 1442. 1447. 1450. & 1451. and ſo againſt Edward the 4th. in the Year 1461. 1472. 1478. his Two Sons were after his death murdered by the contrivance of Sir James Tyrrel, by the appointment of the Duke of Glouceſter their Uncle; who then procured himſelf to be Crown'd King by the name of Rich. the 3d. but both the Duke of Dlouceſter, Sir James Tyrrel, and Miles Forreſt, one of thoſe that ſmothered the Innocents, came all to untimely and ſhameful deaths, according to Pſal. 55. The Blood-thirſty and deceitful Men ſhall not live out half their days. King Richard himſelf Slain in Battle, hacked, hewed, and hurried on Horſe-back dead, moſt ignominiouſly being tugged, torn and dragged like a Dog. They were Prieſts and Friars that 1 Ed. 4 conſpired with Jaſper Earl of Pembrooke, for which they were Executed. There were likewiſe ſeveral Treaſons and Conſpiracies againſt H. the 7th in the Year 1494, 1497, 1498, & 1499. Aſa, a Prieſt of Ireland, was a chief Complotter againſt the union of the Two Roſes: So Two Prieſts, Greenwell and Garnet would have deſtroyed that Bleſſed Ʋnion in King James. During the Reign of H. the 8. many were executed for ſeveral Treaſons, as 29 April 1536. The Prior of the Charter-houſe at London, the Prior of Bevall, the Prior of Exham, Reignolds a Brother of Sion, and John Haile Vicar of Thiſſleworth were Condemned, and Executed the 4th. of May following. 18 Junii Three Monks of the Charter-houſe at London, named Exmew, Midlemore, and Nidigate were Executed for Treaſon, and that without any exclamation in thoſe days that they were executed for Religion; a late trick taken up only ſince the days of Queen Elizabeth, though no more reaſon for that Calumny now, than was then.

§ There were alſo Two Rebellions raiſed in the North the ſame Year againſt the King, and one in Lincolnſhire 1537 for which Twelve were Executed 29 March, whereof Five were Prieſts, one Abbot, a Suffragan Dr. Mackerel the Vicar of Louth in Lincolnſhire, and Two Priests. In the Year 1538. There was another rebellious commotion in Somerſetſhire. Lawrence Cooke, a Prior of Dancalfe, William Horne a Lay-Brother of the Charter-houſe, with ſix others, were Executed for Treaſon. The ſame Year there was a new Rebellion in Yorkſhire. Many more ſuch good Works have we done, for which of them will you ſtone us, or deny us a tolleration, or liberty to do more.

By this ſhort Survey without travelling beyond Seas, which would fill Volumes of like Preſidents, its abundantly apparent to all that are not wilfully blind, that Papiſts themſelves, even before Jeſuitiſm was batched, made it their uſual practiſe to Rebel againſt their Princes, though of the ſame Faith and Relgiion with themſelves, and can it then be reaſonably expected, that they will ever be Loyal and Faithful to Proteſtants (in their account Heretick) Princes, eſpecially now Jeſuitiſme is founded, eſtabliſhed, nay vaſtly increaſed and advanced? ſo that indeed they are the only great Apolloes in the See of Rome, whoſe Doctrin it is to Excommunicate, depoſe, nay deſtroy Princes quacum que arte, and that uncontrollably for that ſeveral Popes have decreed, that the Jeſuits are Immediate Subjects only to the See of Rome, free and exempt from all other Jurisdictions whatſoever, and that the Inſtitutions and Doctrins of the Jeſuits muſt not be oppugned nor contradicted directly or indirectly, no not by way of Diſputation or otherwiſe. Spec. Jeſuit. 27. However let us ſee what have been their practiſes ſince Jeſuitiſme firſt ſprung up, which was about the 31. Year of of H. the 8th. in whoſe time ſeveral Papiſts ſubmitted to death, rather than they would quit the Popes Supremacy, and acknowledg the Kings: which yields certain demonſtration of the impoſſibility of ſuch ſo principled, being faithful Subjects to Proteſtant Caeſars, that own the Pope to be his and their Superiour.

In the Reign of King Edward the 6th. which was very ſhort, and he himſelf a Minor, there were Rebellions and Commotions in Somerſetſhire and Lincolnſhire; for which many were Executed, then in Cornwall and Devon, where above 4000 were Slain and taken Priſoners by John Lod Buſſel, Lord Privy Seal. Then they Rebelled in Norfolk and Suffolk, againſt whom Sir John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, went with an Army, and ſlew above 5000. and took their Ring Leader. About the ſame time 3090 roſe in Rebellion in the North and Eastriding of Yorkſhire, but were ſuppreſſed by the Lord Preſident. Amongſt thoſe Weſtern Rebels Humphrey Arundel was Chief Leader, who amongſt others, with 8 Prieſts, were taken and Executed therefore.

What were thoſe but Church-men, that b y their Doctrin in the Pulpit, and ſubſcription of Hands to Traiterous Decrees, Embaſſed the Two Daughters of H. 8. both before and after the death of Ed. 6. for ſatisfaction to the Pride and Ambition of an aſpiring Humour?

In the days of Queen Mary, though there were few Treaſons committed, yet was there much Innocent Chriſtian Blood ſhed: Concerning which I ſhall make this Obſervation and Compariſon between the Marian and Elizabethian days

§ In Queen Elizabeths days the Papiſts put out many traiterous, infamous and lying Libels in ſundry Languages, and reported in other Princes Courts, that ſhe put a multitude of perſons to torments and death, only for profeſſing the Roman Catholick Religion, when in truth none of them were queſtioned for matters of Religion, but juſtly by order of Laws openly condemned as Traytors, for treaſonable practiſes againſt Her Perſon and State, maintaining, and adhering to the Pope, the Capital Enemy of Her Majeſty, Camb. 213, 214. and her Crown, who was not only the cauſe of ſeveral Rebellions in England and Ireland, but in one of Ireland did manifeſtly maintain at his own charge Commanders and Souldiers, under the Banner of Rome, againſt the Queen, ſo as no Enemy could do more, and that not by force of new Laws, either for Religion, or againſt the Popes Supremacy, as the ſlanderous Libellers, would have it ſeem to bee; but by the Ancient Laws of the Realm made in Edward the Third's time, about the Year 1330. above 200. Years before, even when the Popes were ſuffered to have ſome Authority-Eccleſiaſtical in this Realm, as he had in other Countries.

They gave out alſo, that they dyed becauſe they would not acknowledg Her the Supreme Head of the Church, which was a moſt appetent untruth, viſibly to be contradicted by the very Acxts of Parliament.

For at the beginning of Her Reign, that very Title was omitted in Her Style. And to make the matter ſeem more horrible and lamentable, they printed the particular names of all the perſons, which by their own Catalogue did not exceed 60. to the Year 1583 whereof hot above 30 Prieſts, nor above 5 Receivers and Harbourers, and for Religion not any one Executed: whereof not any one at all, till about the 12th. Year of Her Reign. And J. W. their own Martirologeſt for Her whole Reign, (which was above 44 Years) doth not reckon above 180. whereas in the ſhort Reign of Queen Mary, which was little above, Years) there were by Impriſonment, Torments, Famine and Fire almoſt 400 deſtroyed, beſides ſuch as were ſecretly murdered in Priſons; and of that number above 20 that had been Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, and Principal Prelates or Officers in the Church lamentably deſtroyed, and of Women above 60, and of Children above 40, and amongſt the Women ſome great with Child, and one, out of whoſe Body the Child by Fire being expelled alive, was yet moſt barbarouſly thrown into the Fire again and burned: Examples Cruel beyond the Cruelty of Heathens.

§ It is further obſervable, that they which ſuffered in Queen Maries days, though they dyed conſtant unto, and profeſſing the Proteſtant Religion, yet were there no traiterous Machinations nor Aſſaſſinatious laid to their charge, nor did they ever at their deaths deny their lawful Queen, or maintain any of Her open and Forrein Enemies, or procure any Rebellion or Civil Wars, nor did Sow any Sedition in ſecret Corners, nor withdrew any of her Subjects from their obedience, as the Papiſts (being ſworn Votaries to the Pope) did continually do againſt Queen Elizabeth, countenancing and avowing the Pops Excommunications, Bulls, and other publick Writings, denouncing the Queen not to be Queen, charging, and upon pain of Excommunication commanding all Her Subjects to depart from their Duties, and natural Allegiances, encouraging alſo, and authorizing all perſons of all degrees in both Kingdoms to Rebel; and upon this Antichriſtian Warrant (contrary to all the Laws of God and Man, and nothing at all agreeable to a paſtoral Officer) they ſought by all ways and means to juſtifie, and to put in Execution that traiterous Warrant of the Popes Bull. And yet of theſe kind of Offenders, as many of them as after their Condemnations on ſecond and better thoughts were contented to renounce their former traiterous Aſſertions, ſo many were ſpared from Execution; ſuch was Her Majeſties clemency and unwillingneſs to have any Blood ſpilt without very urgent, juſt and neceſſary cauſe proceeding from themſeloves.

I muſt make this further obſervation,Merits of Papiſts by their own Confeſſion. That in the days of Queen Eliz though the Jeſuits and Secular Prieſts fell ſtrangely foul one upon the other with black Pens and Mouths, with Language ſcarce to be matcht at Pitch-hatch or BVillingſgate; yet the Seculars commended highly the Queens clemency, and juſtified her proceedings againſt the traiterous Jeſuits: Avowing, That they themſelves, knowing what they did know, how under pretence of Religion the life of Her Majesty, and ſubverſion of the Kingdom was aimed at, if they had beeen of Her Highneſs Council, they would have given their conſent for the making of very ſtrict and rigorous Laws, to the better ſuppreſſing, and preventing of ſuch Jeſuitical and wicked deſignments. Important Conſiderations, &c. f. 57. They did alſo complain een to the Pope and Cardinals, That the Jeſuits were the Fire-brands of all Seditions: That by right or wrong, they did ſeek ſimply and abſolutely the Monarchy of all England: That they were the couſes of all the diſcords in England: That Fa. Holt did not only intend, but would indeed give wretched England in Conqueſt to himſelf, and his Favonrites, and many other Complaints there were of this nature, Extracted out of the Memorials, and other Letters dated at Rome, 8. Novemb 1597. Relation of the faction at Wisbich 74 Though I ſay the Seculars were ſo violent againſt the Jeſuits, and ſuch ſtout Aſſertors of the Queens moderate dealing with the Papiſts; yet were ſome of them found guilty of like traiterous practiſes; ſo little are any of them to be truſted, for that though they have Mel in ore, yet have they Fel in Corde. Call to mind the great and ſerious Proteſtations that Watſon the Priest made in his Quodlibetical Queſtions; That albeit he differed in Religion from that which was profeſsed in the Church of England; yet if either Pope or Spaniard ſhould ſeek by hostile means to invads his Countrey, he would willingly ſpend his ſubſtance; nay, his deareſt Blood againſt any ſuch as ſhould attempt it: Yet he himſelf, with Clark his fellow Seminary, were the firſt that I read of that came to the Gallows for violating it; which conſidered together with what they confeſſed upon their apprehenſion, viz. That the Jeſuits continually negotiated with Spain, preparing for a Forrein Aid, leavied great Sums of Money, bought Horſes, Powder, Shot, Artillery, &c. and conveyed them ſecretly to their friends, wiſhing not to stir, but to be quiet till they heard from them, &c. Theſe things, I ſay, conſidered, do argue, that Secular Prieſts and Jeſuits, and thoſe that favoured them, were all Traytors in Heart, though their malice one towards the other made them diſcover, and rayl, and libel each other both at home and abroad; which Queen Eliz. wiſely conſidering, would not confide in them, notwithſtanding all their books and promiſes, but by her Proclamations baniſhed both one and the other: For in truth both Seculars and Jeſuits, were in this like Sampſons Foxes, though they differed in many other things very bitterly, yet in this they joyned their Tayles, their main Ends, to be Fire-brands to kindle diſſention, and withdraw her Subjects from her obedience, and to reconcile them to Rome: So as Joab kiſſed Abuer, whilſt he ſtab'd him, and as Judas kiſſed our Saviour, whilſt he betrayed him to the Phariſes: So theſe men pretended Loyalty by their Tongues and Pens, and yet acted traiterouſly by their Plots and Contrivances. What could they print more than they did? viz. We are fully perſwaded in our Conſciences, and by Experience, That if the Catholicks had never ſought by indirect means to have vexed Her Majesty with their deſigns against her Crown: If the Pope and the King of Spain had never plotted with the Duke of Norfolk, who was to have been the head of a Rebellion, if the Rebels in the North had never been heard of, if the Bull of Pius Quintus had never been known, if the Rebellion had never been juſtified: If neither Stukeley nor the Pope had attempted any thing againſt Ireland. If Gregory the 13th. had not renewed the ſaid Bull and Excommunication: If the Jeſuits had never come into England: If the Pope and King of Spain had not practiſed with the Duke of Guiſe for his attempt againſt Her Majeſty: If Parſons, and the reſt of the Jeſuits, with other our Countrey-men beyond the Seat, had never been Agents in thoſe traiterous and bloody deſigns of Throckmorton, Parry, Cullen, York, Williams, Squire and others: If they had not by their Treatiſes and Writings endeavoured to defame their Sovereign, and their own Countrey, labouring to have many of their Books tranſlated into divers Languages, whereby to ſhew their own diſloyalty: If Cardinal Allen and Parſons had not publiſhed the Renovation of the ſaid Bull by Sixtus Quintus: If thereunto they had not added their ſcurrilous and unmanly Admonition, or rather moſt prophane Libel againſt Her Majeſty: If they had not ſought by falſe perſwaſions, and unghoſtly Arguments, to have allured the hearts of all Catholicks from their allegiance: If the Pope had never been urged by them to have thruſt the King of Spain into that barbarous Action againſt the Realm: If they themſelves, with all the reſt of that Generation, had not laboured greatly with the ſaid King for the Conqueſt and Invaſion of this Land by the Spaniards, who are known to be the crueleſt Tyrants that live upon the Earth: If the Pope had not ordered Ridolphi to diſtribute 150000 Crowns to advance the attempt, whereof ſome was ſent to Scotland, ſome to the Duke of Norfolk, & alias. And King Philip to ſend the Duke of Alua and his Forces into England to aſſ ſt the Duke of Norfolk. If in all their whole proceedings they had not from time to time depraved, irritated and provoked both Her Majeſty and State with thoſe and many other ſuch like their most 〈…〉 ungodly and unchriſtian practiſes; there had been no Speeches amongst us of Racks and Torments, nor any cauſe to have uſed thim, for none were ever vexed that way ſimply, for that he was either Prieſt or Catholick; but becauſe they were ſuſpected to have had their hands in ſome of the ſaid moſt traiterous deſigns. And moſt aſſuredly the State would have loved us, or at leaſt born with us, and we had been in much better condition than now we are. Important Conſiderations, &c. fo. 39, 40, 41. printed 1601. Furthermore, antoher in anſwer to a Letter of a Jeſuited Gent. by A. C. fo. 89. complains of the Jeſuits, averring, That Her Majeſty is an Heretick, an Excommunicated Princeſs, and conſequently to be depoſed: What Jeſabelling of her have I heard them uſe? What queſtioning whether no Jehn have ſubdued her? why yet ſhe proſpereth? why yet ſhe Reigns? why yet ſhe lives? what defaming her? what throwing Soil at her Picture? what avowing her Royal Lyons and Flower-de-luze no better worth than to ſerve for Signs to Baudy-houſes? Thus do the Jeſuits, and Jeſuited uſe Her Majeſty to my expreſs knowledg, and worſe, which for good manners I omit, fo. 90. nay, they ſent one to me in the nature of an Engineer from beyond the Seas to perſwade my aſſiſting his firing the Queens Navy throughout England againſt the next years coming of another Spaniſh Armado, f. 90.

Was it not Fa. Parſons and Fa. Creighton, F. 9. That with much vehemency and bitterneſs contended for the diſpoſing of the Crown of England, the one for the Lady Infanta, the other to his King of Scotland? Were they not Jeſuits which plotted with the Duke of Parma for ſurpriſeing, or ſtealing away of the Lady Arabella, and ſending her into Flanders? who imployed the Meſſenger into England about the affair but Fa. Holt Jeſuit? who but the ſame Jeſuit was conſenting with Sir William Stanley to the ſending in of Richard Hesket for ſoliciting Ferdinando Earl of Darby to riſe againſt Her Majeſty, and claim the Crown? was it not the ſame Jeſuit that entertained York and Young in the Plot of firing Her Majeſties Store-houſes? that ſet on work Mr. Francis Dickinſon, and others, to perſwade Watermen to fly with Ships and all into the ſervice of the Spaniard? f. 93. their Conſpiracies were not confined to England only? but they were extended alſo to Scotland; whereupon were the Three Catholick Earls Angus, Arrol and Huntley convicted of High Treaſon by Act of Parliament about 1593. if not upon certain plots laid by Fa. Creighton, Fa. Gourdon, and upon hopes given them of ſuccour from Spain? Why was the Lord of Fentry Executed but for the ſame deſigns imparted to him by Fa. Ro. Abercronii a Jeſuit? Was it not the principal cauſe of Fa James Gordons travel to Rome about the ſame time to ſolicite the Pope and other Princes to aſſiſt the King of Scots, if he enterpriſe any thing either againſt England, or in his own Countrey, 93, 94.

And yet theſe matters will not be believed at this day by the Papiſts, though it be their own voluntary confeſſion in ſeveral of their printed Books yet extant, Prieſts and Jeſuits each deſervedly accuſing other of Treaſons and Conſpiracies againſt the Queen, Her Perſon, Crown and Dignity, with this difference only, that the Prieſts moſtly, the Jeſuits ſeldom acknowledged the Queers great favours and Jenity towards them, the Queen had great reaſon to believe them both, not barely becauſe cauſe they peached one the other, but becauſe thereof ſhe really found the ſad effects: And indeed becauſe ſhe and her Council did very wiſely conſider, that Papiſts ſome Centuries of Years before ever Jeſuits were thought of, did univerſally incline unto and ſide with the Pope againſt their temporal Princes, uſurping many great and exorbitant authorities and priviledges over them, whereof Hiſtories are full; and therefore it was but high time that the Queen ſhould by wholſom Laws inflicting moderate pains and mulcts provide againſt both one and the other.

This is no ſmall Bedrall of Treaſons,Vide Important conſider. f. 16, 17, 18. Conſpiricies, provocations, &c. and yet as many more they might have urged; nay to do the Secular-prieſts right, they have done it particularly ſparſim both in this and divers others their Books, and alſo made large, very large acknowledgments of the Queens Bounty, Moderation and Clemency towards thoſe Papiſts that were quiet and faithful, (a gratefulneſs that I have not found in any of the Jeſuits) and in ſo doing they did the Queen but right; for from the year 1. Eliz. unto 11. Papiſts came to our Church and Service without ſcruple? ſo that for 10 years they made no Conſcience, nor Doubt to Communicate with us in prayer: But when once the Bull of Pius Quintus (often called by the Queen Impius Intus) was publiſhed, wherein the Queen was accurſed and depoſed,16, and Her Subjects diſcharged of their obedience and Oaths of Fealty; yea curſed if they did obey Her: Then, and not till then, they refrained our Churches and Service, ſo that recuſancy in them (the name of Recuſant being never heard of until the 11. Year of Eliz. as is evident by the very Acts of Parliament) is not for for Religion, but in an acknowledgment of the Popes power, which was little regarded here, our famous Kings being never afraid of Popes Bulls, no not in the very midnight of Popery, as Edward the Confeſſor, Henry I. Edward I. Rich. II. Henry IV. Henry V. &c. And in the time of Henry VII. and in all their times the Popes Legate never paſſed Callais, but ſtaid there, and came not to England until he had taken a ſolemn Oath to do nothing to the detriment of this Crown or State, (ſo Jealous were our Kings even in thoſe days.) A ſhrewd ſign, and a plain demonſtration what their judgment is concerning the right of the Prince in reſpect of Regal power and place, there being nothing in our Liturgy that a Conſcientious Papiſt might juſtly except againſt out of the Word of God; but becauſe the Pope had Excommunicated and Accurſed, therefore forſooth, be it lawful of unlawful, they muſt obey the Pope, and diſobey the Queen their incomparable Liege Lady. Now by reaſon of this Bull (the very bringing in whereof by a ſubject was adjudged Treaſon in the time of Edward the I.) the very foundation of all the enſuing Treaſons, Rebellions, &c. And in Edward the Third's time the Abbot of Taveſtock was fined at 500 Marks for receiving a Bull from Rome, wherein were but aliqua verba regi & Coronae ſuae prejudicialia. One main Article in Parliament inforced for the the deprivation of Richard II. was, that he had by admitting Bulls from Rome inthralled the Crown of England, which was free from the Pope, and all other Forrein power. In Edward the Third's time there was a ſeiſure of all the Temporalties of the Biſhops of Ely and Norwich for the publication of a Bull againſt Hugh Earl of Cheſter. And the Biſhop of Ely was Condemned of Felony by a Jury at the Kings-Bench, notwithſtanding his bold challenge to be unctus Dominit Frater Papae. The ſtate of Romiſh Recuſants became very miſerable, being thereby enſnared in a lamentable Dilemma; for either they muſt be executed for Treaſon againſt the Queen if they did reſiſt, or be accurſed by their Holy Father, if they did obey Her: But rather than the Pope and his Crew would looſe the Deſign and Effect of his Bull, (which for ought I know is in force to this very day; for if the Pope will ſay, that it was not directed and intended againſt the Queen only; but that its force and efficacy extends ſtill to her Succeſſors, I am ſure it muſt go for good Doctrin with them, if they will be true to their Oaths, Doctrins and Principles) he quickly found out a means to extricate them out of that miſerable Condition wherein they were thereby involved, viz. A Diſpenſation from himſelf, which was afterwards reinforced by Gregory the 13th. that all Catholicks here might ſhew their outward Obedience to the Queen, Ad redimendam vexationem & ad oſtendendam externam obedientiam; but with theſe cautions and limitations, Rebus ſic ſtantibus, things ſo ſtanding as they did. 2. Donec publica Bullae executio ſieri poſſit; until they might grow into ſtrength, until they were able to give the Queen an unavoidable Check-mate, that the publick execution of the ſaid Buil might take place: And ſo much was confeſſed openly at the Barr by Garner, as before he had done under his own hand, for the better execution whereof the Pope granted Faculties to Rob. Perſons and Edmond Campion then ready to go for England 14, April 1580. which Hart alſo confeſſed, Perſide Gens! A ſtrange Generation of perfidious-Men, whom no favours can oblige to be quiet and loyal. It was obſerved by Sir Edw. Coke Attorney General at the Tryal of the Powder Traytors, that ſince the Jeſuits ſet foot in this Land, there never paſſed 4 Years without a moſt peſtilent and pernicious Treaſon,11. b. tending to the ſubverſion of the whole State: And was there ever any Prince that would endure, or not execute ſuch perſons within their Dominions as ſhould deny him to be lawful King, or go about to withdravv his Subjects from his Allegiance, or incite them to aſſaſſinate, or to reſiſt, or rebel againſt him? and vvithall endeavouring to juſtifie it by their pens: Nay, by their deaths vvith ſtrong preſumption of meiting thereby? What poſſible hopes can there be of ſuch Men enſlaved to ſuch Principles? Nay, vvhat Prince under Heaven can think his State ſecure ſo long as every pettiſh Pope may vvithout thime or reaſon pick a quarrel vvith him, vvhence a Citation, thence a Sentence, vvhich either neglected, or not ſatisfied, infers Contumacy, vvhich deprives the ſuppoſed Delinquent of that right vvhich God gave, Conſcience avovvs, and conſent of Ages, and ſucceſſive Generations hath fortified; and being declared an Heretick, the Croyſade is publiſhed? The Words of the Canon ſtrongly bent againſt the Crovvn Impereal of Hen. 4. are not many, but very heavy and very fatal, and extenſive to all Princes, and in Engliſh thus: We obſerving the Statutes of our Holy Predeceſſors, do abſolve thoſe that are bound by Fidelity and Oath to perſons Excommunicated from their Oath, and do forbid them to obſerve or keep their Fealty towards them quouſ que ipſi ad ſatisfactionem veniunt, till they come to yield ſatisfaction.

In this caſe I appeal to the judgment even of the Priests themſelves, who confeſs, That in all the Plots against Queen Eliz. none were more forward than many of the Prieſts were, but how many of them were ſo inclined and addicted the State knew not: In which Caſe, fay they, there is no King or Prince in the World diſguiſting the See of Rome, and having either force or mettal in hin, that would have indured us, but rather have utterly rotted us out of his Territories as Traitors and Rebels to him and his Countrey; and therefore we may bleſs God that we live under ſo merciful a Prince, which had ſhe been a Catholick, might be accounted the mirror of the World. Import. Conſid. fo. 16. There were ſparks of Ingenuity in theſe their Acknowledgments; but much more ſaucily writ thoſe Emperor-like (Quaker-like, ſay I) Jeſuits, Parſons and Creſwel; who in one of their Books ſpake thus to Her Majety. In the beginning of Thy Kingdom Thou didſt deal ſomething more gently with Catholicks, none were then urged by Thee, or preſſed either to Thy Sect, or to the denial of their Faith. All things indeed did ſeem to proceed in a far milder courſe: No great Complaints were heard of: There were no extraordinary Contentions or Repugnancies: Some there were, that to pleaſe and gratifie you went to your Churches, &c. Ibid. f. 6. And yet did Queen Eliz. not only not call into queſtion Thouſands that were capitally guilty of the pains of her Laws, but favoured many known Papiſts, profeſſing Loyalty and Obedience to Her Majeſty: None of which ſort were for their contrary opinions in Religion proſecuted, or charged with any Crimes, or pains of Treaſon; nor yet willingly ſearched in their Conſciences for their contrary opinions that ſavoured not of Treaſon, and mony even of thoſe that were Edecuted would ſhe have pardoned, if they would but have owned Her Regality, and defended Her Majeſty againſt any Forrein Force, though coming, or procured from the Pope himſelf; An Example of Royal Clemency never to be matched in Queen Maries time.

And John Lecey, in defence of the Petition Apologet. preſented to King James in July, 1604. confeſſeth, That Queen Eliz. both in perſon, and by Here Embaſſies abroad, did aver, That Her Will and Intention was not to puniſh Her Subjects for their Religion and Conſcience, fo. 13.

It is alſo obſervable, That after the Sanguinary Laws were Enacted, that no Prieſt or Jeſuit remaining here that had before theſe Acts taken Orders beyond Seas, and lived quietly, was ever called in queſtion for his Religion. In all the Laws, though extorted from the Queen by ſo many Rebellions nd Treaſons, there was nothing that did reflect upon an old quiet Queen Maries Prieſt, or any that were Ordained within the Land by the Romiſh Biſhops then ſurviving; ſo they were no over active, and buſie in Treaſons and Conſpiracies; This alſo was ſuch another Example of Royal favour as was not to be parallel'd in Queen Maries time. And yet its very remarkable, That the chiefeſt of all theſe, and the moſt of them had in the time of Hen. 8. & Ed. 6. either by preaching, writing, or arguing, taught all people to Condemn, yea to Abhor the Authority of the Pope; for which they had alſo yielded to both the ſaid Kings the Title of Supreme Head, &c. and many of their Books and Sermons againſt the Popes Authority were printed both in Engliſh and in Latin, to their great ſhame and reproach to change ſo often; but eſpecially in proſecuting ſuch as themſelves had taught and eſtabliſhed to hold the contrary: A ſin near to the ſin against the Holy Ghost. Juſt. Brit. f. 4, 5.

The Prieſts themſelves confeſſed, that ſuch of them as upon examination were found moderate, were not ſo hardly proceeded with in ſo much as 55. by the Laws liable to death, were in 1585. (when great miſchiefs were in hand) only baniſhed. A Regal Favour not to be parallel'd in Queen Maries days. Import. Conſiderations, f. 29, 30.

Having ſeen how Faithful and Loyal Papiſts have been to Princes of their own Religion; and alſo to Edw. 6. and Queen Eliz. Princes of a different profeſſion, let us now ſee how faithful they have been to King James and his poſterity.

Such were the deep, malicious, and early Councels and deſigns of Papiſts againſt our proteſtant Princes, and Reformation it ſelf, (in the bud as they would have it) that they were not content by all open and ſecret Councels, Powers and Artifices imaginable, that Rome, France, Spain, Catholick Princes, Prieſts and Jeſuits could contrive or poſſibly ſuggeſt to Aſſaſſine and deſtroy that incomparable Princeſs Queen Eliz. but in her days laid ſuch a foundation and ground-work for future diſturbances, ruine and deſtruction even to all her Succeſſors, and to this Nation, and to the Proteſtant Religion, that hitherto it hath wrought, and is ſtill working by undermining powers and policies, the effect whereof we feel even to this day, and ſo like to continue to all ſucceſſive Generations, as long as the Seminaries and Jeſuitiſm continue, whoſe Trade and Buſineſs it is to encourage themſelves and others in miſchiefs, and to Commune among themſelves how they may privily lay ſnares. In the Year 1568. The Engliſh fugitive Prieſts aſſembling themſelves at Doway by the deſign of William Allen of Oxon (the moſt learned amongſt them) did Collegiate together in a common Colledge-like Diſcipline, Vide the Hope of Peace 20. to whom the Pope aſſigned a yearly penſion. Afterwards being baniſhed the Netherlands by Don Lewis Requeſens the King of Spains Deputy: A like Seminary was erected at Rheims by the Guiſes the Queen of Scots Kinſmen; Camb. 216.206. and another at Rome by Gregory XIII. And afterwards another founded at Vallodolid, that there might never want a ſucceſſive Generation of Men of corrupt Minds, Heady, High-minded, deſpiſers of Dominion, Idolatrous and Traiterous Prieſts to poiſon England with their falſe Doctrines, and traiterous principles.

In theſe Seminaries it was quickly defined, That the Pope hath by the Law of God fullneſs of power over the whole World, as well in Eccleſiaſtical as Temporal matters; and that he out of his fulneſs of power may Excommunicate Kings, and being Excommunicate, depoſe them, and abſolve their Subjects from their Oaths of Allegiance. Then were divers Prieſts well inſtructed in ſuch Principles and Doctrins ſent into England. This done, divers traiterous Combinations and Conſpiracies both Forrein and Domeſtick were plotted, as here, ſo elſewhere is related. Then the Jeſuits on one ſide,Camb. 297. and the Fugitive Noble-men and others on the others ſide, with different affections ſuggeſted unto Mary Queen of Scots ſuch dangerous Councels, that the Seculars afterwards charged the Jeſuits, as procurers and Inſtruments of her death. And the Jeſuits, when they ſaw there was no hope of reſtoring the Romiſh Religion either by her, or King James her Son, began to forge a new and feigned Title in the ſucceſſion of the Kingdom of England for the Spaniard, (ſo wonderful faithful were they to King James) and they ſent into England (as Paſquire ſaith) one Saimer, a Man of their Society, to draw a party to the Spaniards, and to thruſt the Queen of Scots forwards to divers dangerous practiſes, by telling her, That if ſhe were refractory, neither ſhe, nor her Son ſhould Reign, (most faithful Men ſtill) and by exciting the Guiſes her Kiſmen to new ſtirs againſt the King of Navarre, and the Prince of Condey, that they might not be able to aid her. This their faithfulneſs (ſuch as it was) laſted not only before King James came to the Crown, but afterwards, as will e're long appear. Did not Fa. Parſons in Spain conteſt bitterly with Fa. Creighton, Parſons to ſettle the Crown on the Infanta, and Creighton on the King of Scots? Did not Fa. Parſons, with Sir William Stanley, thruſt on Hesket to perſwade Ferdinando Earl of Darby to Claim the Crown? Did not he perſwade York and Young to fire Her Majeſties Store-houſes? Did not he perſwade Fr. Dickenſon, and others, to tempt Water-men to fly with Ships to the Spaniards? as hath been intimated before Dialogue 93.

Thus you ſee how many ſeveral Titles did they ſeign, and ſet up to ſet by Q. Eliz. from the Crown, and to ſet up M. Q. of Scots, whom they prompted and annimated unto ſo many Contrivances of dangerous Conſequences that brought that Princeſs unto that ſad Cataſtrophe, and conſequently were the occaſion thereof, and ſo confeſs'd in print by themſelves? they left no ſtone unturned. Paul the 4th. would not acknowledg here, and why? Becauſe, forſooth, this Kingdom was held in Fee of the Apoſtolick See; that ſhe could not ſucceed being Illegitimate, and that it was a great boldneſs to aſſume the Name and Government without him, and therefore refuſed to hear Sir Edward Kerne her Ambaſſador.

All this, and more, was pretended to have been done in favour of that Admirable perſon M. Queen of Scots. But what think you would they have done, if the Tables had been turned? And Q. Eliz. had been an Illegitimate Papiſt; and M. Q. of Scots a Legitimate Proteſtant, would you then have been ſo zealous and induſtrious for the Q. of Scots? Certainly not! which is demonſtrable by their Actings and Endeavours to hinder King James from the Engliſh Crown. And it is plain, that it was not Baſtardy, but Hereſie, i. e. for being a Proteſtant, that made their malice ſo implacable, and this is apparent by the Bull of Pope Pius V. Dated 25. Febr. 1570. in which there is not the leaſt mention of Baſtardy. No, No, Illegitimacy is not ſo monſtrous a Gudgeon, but that it will eaſily be ſwallowed at Rome. Gregory XIII. had a Baſtard, James Buon Compagna, and to him he gave Ireland, and impowred Stewkely with Men, Arms and Money to Conquer it for him. And England he gave to Don John the Emperors Baſtard, (both admirable Catholicks without all peradventure) and gave him leave to Conquer it for himſelf. Chriſts brave Vicar! give that which was none of his own, or had any thing to do withall. But that perverſe Queen had no occaſion to part with either on ſuch ridiculous Nods. And his Succeſſor Sixtus Quintus took no Notice at all of King James, proceeded againſt her with all his Italian Scarcrows, curſt her afreſh, and publiſht a Croyſade againſt her, and gave all her Dominions to Philip II. King of Spain, but forgot to give his Benedictions of Craft and Cunning to get them, and ſo they ſtill remain veſted in the hands of the right owners, and long may they ſo do, even till time ſhall be no more.

Now, if Romiſh zeal for Qu. M. of Scots had had its Riſe and Original from her more rightful Title to the Crown of England, then it would have continued unto King James alſo; but their Actings being Diametrically oppoſite and contrary, it was viſible to all the World, that it was Popery, not the Title that they contended ſo furiouſly for. And it was the common voice amongſt the Jeſuits of thoſe days, That if King James would turn Catholick, they would follow him; but if not they would all die againſt him. Watſon Quodlib. p. 150.

The mutual love and amity that was between Queen Elizabeth and King James, his immovable conſtancy in Religion, the ſtrict Laws made againſt Jeſuits, and ſuch kind of Men, the Execution of Graham of Feutre, the forwardeſt of all thoſe that affected the Spaniſh party, the granting of Supreme Authority in matters Eccleſiaſtical to the King by the States, and the aſſotiations againſt the Papiſts did ſo quaſh all hope of reſtoring Popery in England and Scotland, that ſome of them in England which moſt of all favoured his Mothers Title began to project how to ſubſtitute ſome Engliſh Papiſts in the Kingdom of England, when they could not agree uon a fit man of their own Number; they caſt their Eyes upon the Earl of Eſſex, (who never approved the utting of Men to death in the cauſe of Religion) feigning a Title from Thomas of Woodſtock, King Edward the Third's Son, from whom be derived his Pedigree. Indeed rather for any Body then for King James, who they foreſaw, would be Malleus Hereticorum; ſuch was their faithfulneſs to him; as alſo witneſs the deſigns of Gordon, Creighton, Abercromy Jeſuits, and others, plotting the ruine of King James of Scotland. And alſo the Two Breues ſent by Clement the 8th. to exclude King James from the Inheritance of the Crown of England; unleſs he would take an Oath to promote the Roman Catholick Intereſt. But the Fugitives favoured the Infanta of Spain, although they feared leſt the Queen and the States would by Act of Parliament prevent it by offering an Oath to every one, and they held it ſufficient, if they could ſet the King of Scots and the Earl of Eſsex at Enmity.

To which purpoſe to Book was Dedicated to Eſſex under the Counterfeit name of Doleman, but wrote by Parſons, Cardinal Allen, and Sir Francis Inglefeild, as was believed.

In this Book deſpiſing the right of Birth, they project, that the Antient Lawsz of the Land concerning Hereditary Succeſſion to the Crown of England, are to be altered, that new Laws are to be brought in cocerning Election; That no man but a Roman Catholick, 14. b. of Blood ſoever they be, is to be admitted King.

And was not this another piece of meritorious ſervice to King James, like the reſt no doubt, of thoſe that went before, and of thoſe that will follow?

They traduced moſt of the Kings of England as wrong poſſeſſors, and all in England of the Blood-Royal, as either Illegitimate, or uncapable of the Crown. The moſt certain right of King James to the Crown of England they moſt unjuſtly ſought to overthrow, and did by forged Devices moſt falſely Entitle thereunto the Infanta Iſabella of Spain, becauſe ſhe was a Roman Catholick: Yea, they proceeded with that violence herein, that they compelled the Engliſh in the Spaniſh Seminaries (if they themſelves are to be credited) to ſubſcribe to the forged title of the Infanta therein ſet down, and exacted in Oath of the Students in the Seminaries to maintain the ſame brave Blade! They reſted not in their Pens and Tongues, but proſecuted the ſame by Actions.

For Thomas Winter, as he himſelf confeſſed, and Jeſmund a Jeſuit being come into Spain from Garnet, and others of them privily plotted to caſt off Queen Eliz. and exclude James King of Scots from his moſt juſt Title to the Crown of England.

Yet not long after, when King James was proclaimed, this Impudent Parſons, excuſed by Letters to a Friend of his, as proceeding not from a mind to do King James wrong, but out of an earneſt deſire to draw him to the Romiſh Religion, and he hoped he ſhould be excuſed, for that theſe Injurres did not prejudice the King, becauſe, forſooth, they failed of ſucceſs.

As in the Year 1592. Patrick Cullent Treaſon, who was incited by Sir William Stanley, Hugh Owne, Jaques Frances, (a baſe Laun dreſs Son, who ſaid, That unleſs Mrs. Elizabeth be ſuddenly taken may, the State of England is, and will be ſo ſettled, that all the Devils in hell will not be able to prevail with it or ſhake it: (Hitherto a true Prophet, I hope will be ſo ſtill.) And Holt the Jeſuit (vvho reſolved to kill the Queen) vvas accompanied vvith a Book called Philo-pater, written for the abetting and warranting of ſuch a Deviliſh Act in general by Creſwel the legier Jeſuit in Spain; ſo was Teſmunds Treaſon accompanied with Two Bulls or Breues from Pope Clement the 8th. when the Queen was full of days, and infirm, one to the Clergy, the other to the Laiety unto H. Garnet ſuperior to the Jeſuits in England, which as they were ſent privily, ſo were they kept very cloſely, and Communicated unto very few. The tenor and purport of them was, that they ſhould admit no Man how near ſoever in Blood for King after the Queens death, unleſs he would not only tollerate the Roman Catholick Religion, but alſo promote the ſame with his whole might, and undertake by Oath, according to the manner of his Anceſtors to perform the ſame, which in true underſtanding was directly to exclude King James and his Family from the Crown, Theſe Bulls came forth upon the aforeſaid negotiation of Tho. Winter in Spain, at what time an Army ſhould ſhortly after have been ſent to Invade the Land, and this was to be put in execution Quandocum que contingeret miſeram illam ſeminam exhac vita excedere, 16. b. when ever it ſhould happen that that wretched Woman (ſo pleaſed the High-Prieſt of Rome to call the Queen the greateſt of Women, cujus memoria ſemper erit in benedictione) ſhould depart this life. Of theſe Bulls alſo within Two Years after was begot that dreadful roaring Monſter, the Powder Treaſon. Their Force and Vertue was not confined with Tweed, but extended it ſelf alſo into Scotland. For the Sword was prepared there alſo at the ſame time by the Rethuens Brethren, to take away King James's life; who boiling with revenge for their fathers death, the Earl Gowry by Law in the Kings nonage, by a Wile inticed the King (to whom they were much engaged) into their Houſe moſt wickedly appointed him to the ſlaughter, had not God the Protector of Kings prevented it by the help of John Ramſey and Thomas Areskin, and turned it upon the heads of the Authors.

Having thus ſummarily declared the good intentions, and faithful Service the Papiſts performed towards James 6th. King of Scotland, whilſt he ſtood the next and undoubted Heir apparent to the Crown of England, before he came to be King thereof. I will now ſhew you one other great Plat-form and deſign of theirs, for the ruine of this Nation, and then proceed to ſhew you how faithful they were to King James after he came to be King of England, and have been ſince unto his Son and Grandſon.

The Seminaries being thus founded and eſtabliſhed in divers places, and at Vallodolid by the procurement of Parſons, that Arch-Traytor, who for his unceſſant Romiſh Contrivances had by this time got great Intereſt in Rome and Spain, that in them they might conſult and act how to bring to paſs their grand deſign of erecting their univerſal ſpiritual Monarchy for Rome, Spain and Jeſuitiſm, and a ſeeming Title being made out by his Book of Titles, or Succeſſion of the Crown of England to the Infanta: He then in another Book, called A Memorial for Reformation, or High-Court or Council of Reformation of England, written at Sevil 1596. (of which he was ſo fond, that he kept it like a precious Jewel,An Anſwer to a Jeſuited Gent. as cloſe in his boſom as the Dukes of Florence are ſaid to keep Tully de rebublica, vvhich not all the World have but themſelves, as laboured all he could to have it read in the Refectaries at Rome, he there lays a ſecret Snare for our ruine by a Plat-form, to vvork inſenſibly the Alteration of our Government, by bringing it to a popularity, (and hovv near it vvas brought to effect in theſe late times by Papiſts, (as ſome Write) under the Title of Levellers, Agitators, Independents, Fifth Monarchy Men, Quakers, &c. vvho are but Badgers, Working Holes for the Foxes, the Jeſuits) vvill be obvious to every intelligent Reader. In this Book it is deſigned, that no Religious Order ſhould reſort into England, or be permitted to live vvithin its Dominions, but Jeſuits and Capuchins. That all Abbey, and Church Lands, and thoſe of Colledges, Parſonages, Biſhops, Vicarages, 16 b. Monaſteries, Nunneries, Frieries, &c. muſt be no longer in their Hands, but muſt be brought into a publick Exchequer, under the Government of Four Jeſuits, and Two Secular Prieſts to be choſen by the General and Provincial Jeſuits, vvho vvere to allovv the Biſhops, Parſons, Vicars, &c. Stipends and Penſions as Biſhops, Suffragans, and Mont Seigniors had in other Catholick Countries, all the reſt muſt be imployed in Pious Uſes, pro ut, &c. vvithou rendring an Account. They preſcribed Rules of Living for the Lords Temporal, and other the Nobility and Gentry, vvhat Retinue they vvould keep, hovv much ſhould be allovved them to ſpend yearly, and what diet they ſhould keep at their Tables: That Magna Charta ſhould be burnt, the manner of holding Lands in Fee-ſimple, Fee-tail, Frank-Almanige &c. by Kings Service, Soccage, or Villenage, ſhould all be brought into Villany Scoggery, and Popularity; the Common Laws to be wholly annihilated and deſtroyed; and Caeſars civil Imperials brought into this Ʋtopian Spiritual Monarchy. Quodlibets 92, 95. And the Reaſons are given in theſe Quodlibats, viz. For that the ſtate of the Crown and Kingdom by the Common Laws is ſo ſtrongly ſettled, as whilſt they continue, the Jeſuits ſee not how they can work their Wills. He hath alſo ſet down a Courſe how all Men may ſhake off Authority at their pleaſures: And this Stratagem is, how the Common people may be inveigled and ſeduced to conceipt to themſelves ſuch a liberty and prerogative, as that it may be lawful for them, when they think meet, to place and diſplace Kings and Princes, as Men may do their Tenants at Will, Hirelings; or ordinary Servants. 286. Princes had need be fond of ſuch Subjects, and account them their beſt Friends.

Having thus acquainted you with the Plat-form laid long ſince deep in Council for our Ruine; I leave to all Contemporaries of theſe late Rebellious Anarchical times, to judg how much of this Train hath taken Fire, and how much of the ſubſtance of this Plot hath been put in Execution, and how near the whole deſign was like to have taken Effect, when the Aſſembly Elected only by the Army Officers on the 20th. of Auguſt 1653. (as the Diurnals printed) they ordered there ſhould be a Committee ſelected to conſider a new Body of the Law, for the Government of this Common Wealth, who were to new mould the whole Body of the Law. and is not this according to T. F. Parſons Plat-form? He that would know more of it muſt read the Book it ſelf, (which is ſtill in great eſteem amongſt them) or becauſe that is rare, he may read a Book of the ſame Parſons, Entituled, A manifeſtation of the folly and bad ſpirit of the ſecular Prieſts; wherein this Memorial is owned by him, and Analyſed and Excuſed from f. 55. to 64. or W. Clark a Roman Prieſt his Anſwer to the Manifeſtation, Entituled, A Reply unto a certain Libel, lately ſet forth by Fa. Parſons p. 74, &c. or Watſons Quodlibets, p. 92, 95, together with a Reply to a brief Apology, and ſeveral other Books, which above 60 Years ago the Prieſts wrote againſt the Jeſutis, and the Jeſuits againſt the Prieſts, whereby the Reader may in tranſitu, beſides all this, perceive that there be as many, and as great differences between them, as among Proteſtans. Smiths Preface to the Apology f. 12. See alſo Citizen the Morgentine Jeſuit. f. 2 c. 18. of his POliticks and Campanella in his Monarchia Hiſpan, The Jeſuits now ſeem to drive another deſign all the World over, viz. as they have one Eccleſiaſtical or Univerſal Monarch; ſo to ſet up a temporal univerſal Monarch, which Eul. Poſtellus attributes to Terra ſancta, cui Gallia ob primariam orbis nomen & jus ſubstituitur eo quod Ambae toti arhi legem ſunt daturae.

I now proceed to ſhew you how faithful the Papiſts were to the Crown of England, after King James came to it

The firſt Meritorious Act towards King James was to calumniate him with a breach of promiſe, as made to ſome of them before he came into England for a Tolleration of their Religion, which now he did deny to perform, which had this intended double miſchief in it, viz. That it ſhould bring an Odium upon him from the Proteſtants for making ſuch a promiſe, and the like from the Papists for the breaking of it. And unto whom ſhould this promiſe be made but unto that Arch-traitor Percy, and to that falſe Prieſt, Watſon, both afterwards found in other Treaſons, for which being condemned, Watſon confeſſed to the Earl of Northampton (purpoſely ſent by the King to examine him who was the firſt firſt Author of that falſe report) at Wincheſter, a day or Two before he was Executed, (at which time no man is prefumed to lye) that he never could receive any ſpark of Comfort touching eaſe of Counſcience to Catholicks from His Majeſty,17. b. how unjuſtly ſoever the World had made him Author of that Scandal; though withall he added, how unwilling he had been to declare to his Fellows how averſe the King ſhewed him in his own Words, leſt over great diſcouragement might render them deſperate. The like did Percy (another deſperate Traitor) aver after his return out of Scotland, both before and after the Queens death, that in the point of Conſcience he found the kings intent, and final purpoſe to be peremptory. Proceedings againſt Traitors, 182. A. 6. & 45.6.46.

The like ſlander and Scandal was raiſed upon the King by the Lord of Belmerinath his Scotiſh Secretary, by ſending the Pope Word that King James would become his obedient Son, who afterwards being Arraigned, acknowledged his offence in deviſing Letters, and ſending them to Rome, which himſelf got cunningly Signed in ſhuffling them in amongſt others; His Majeſty being utterly ignorant of the Contents. Speed. 917.

Another faithful ſervice towards King James his Perſon, Crown and Poſterity, was plotted by Watſon and Clark, Two Secular Italianated Prieſts, who drew others of the Nobility and Gentry into their Helliſh Confederacy, as Lord Cobham, Lord Gray, of Wilton, Sir Walter Raleigh, Lord Warden of the Stanneries, Sir Griffin Markeham, Sir Edward Parham, George Brooke, and others; their deſign was to have ſurpriſed the Kings perſon, and his Son Prince H. to have kept them priſoners in the Tower, or in Dover Caſtle, and there by violence to obtain their Ends, viz. A Tolleration of Religion, and a removal of evil Councellors, or to put ſome other projects in Execution, and then to obtain their Pardons. Watſon to have been Lord Chancellor, Lord Gray Earl-Marſhal of England, George Brooke Lord Treaſurer, Sir Griffin Markham Secretary, &c. Thus did they divide the Bears-skin, which is not yet caught, though the ſame Generation in all probability be ſtill in hot purſuit of the ſame Quarry, viz. A Tolleration and Change of Religion in the transferring of all Crowns from Protestant to Popiſh Princes and Government, according to Parſons and Campanella's Plat-form. Of thoſe Conſederates only Sir William Parham was acquitted, and Three only Executed, viz. George Brooke, Clark, and Watſon, who had taught equivocating; and to avoid his other ſolemn proteſtations both by Word and Writing, that the Act was lawful, being done before his Coronation, for that the King was no King before he was Anointed, and the Crown ſolemnly ſet on his Head.

By this we may conclude, that there is no truſt to be repoſed in Papiſts of any Order. What Man in the World could profeſs and pubiſh to all the World in Writing more obedience and faithfulneſs to a Prince than Watſon did to Queen Eliz. moſt fiercely and bitterly blaming the Jeſuits for their iterated and re-iterated Treaſons and Rebellions againſt her, and for creating diſturbances in allt he ſtates of the World where they are. As he lived to ſee, ſo I hope he lived to repent of his ſin and error; for he left this brand and ſuſpicion on the Jeſuitical Order at his death, that they in revenge had cunningly and covertly drawn him into this Action, which brougt him into this ſhameful End.

§ What ſhall I ſay more?18. b. 31. Vox faucibus haeret. I am now come to that monſtrum horrendum, Informe, Ingens cui Lumen Ademptum, unto Guy Fawks and his dark Lanthorn, that never to be parallel'd Gunpowder-Treaſon, in which I will ſay with the Grave Senator, repertum eſT hodierno die facinus quod nec Poeta fingere, nec Hiſtoria ſonare, nec Minus Imitare poterit. This plot of plots is yet ſo freſh in memory, and ſo well known all the World over, that I will not enter into the particulars of it, though there are ſome ſo deſperately Jeſuited, that either out of ſimplicity, or Impudence will not confeſs the truth thereof, others extenuate it, by ſaying, they were only a few diſcontented perſons, deſperate in Eſtate, or baſe, or not ſetled in their Wits, without Religion, Habitation, Gredit, Means or Hope, and as our Apologizer for Catholicks f. 5. A few Deſperadoes. But moſt certain it is, that they were Gentlemen of good Houſes, of excellent parts, and of Competent Fortunes. Beſides that, Percy was of the Houſe of Northumberland, Sir William Stanley, (who principally imployed Fawks into Spain) and John Talbot of Graſton, both of great and Honourable Families; others ſay, That there was never a Religious Man in this Action, which is no truer than the other. Whoever yet knew a Treaſon without a Romiſh Prieſt? In this there were many, Three of them Legiers and States-men, Henry Garnet alias Waller, ſuperior of the Jeſuits Legier here in England, T. F. Creſwel Legier Jeſuit in Spain, Fa. Baldwin Legier in Flanders, as Parſons at Rome, beſides their Itinerant or Curſory Men, as Gerrard, Oſwald, Teſmond alias Greenway, Hamond, Hall, and other Jeſuits. Proceedings 27, 18. Others of them condemn it now, that happily would have commended it, it had taken effect, Proſperum Scetus virtus vocatur, would have been a good Axiom then; ſuch Helliſh Actions being of their Nature and Number, quae non Laudantur niſi peracta. 〈◊〉 gainſt whom was this Helliſh Plot contrived (not to name Parliament, Council, Nobility, Gentry, &c.) but againſt King James, that peaceable obliging Prince, who had ſought all Mild and Royal means poſſible to have reduced them unto a quiet, peaceable, and Loyal Temper, and yet even 1 Joc. when His Majeſty uſed ſo great lenity towards Recuſants in that by the ſpace of a whole Year and Four Months, he took no penalty due by Statute of them. For at the time of Watſons Treaſon, when ſome of the greateſt Recuſants were convented at Hampton-Court, and not found Participes Criminis, were preſently diſmiſſed, with incouragement, favour and promiſe, that thoſe mean profits which had accrued to His Majeſty, ſince His coming to the Crown, for their Recuſancy, ſhould be forgiven to thoſe who had kept themſelves free from all Conſpiracies: Nay, ſo far was His Majeſty from ſeverity, nay from diſcriminating, that he indifferently Honoured all with Advancement and favours. And were they at all Reclaimed by this? Nothing leſs; for at that very time they gave out, That the King would deal rigorouſly with them, deſignedly to keep up the Hearts of Catholicks againſt him, for that end indeed they had more Treaſons then hatching againſt him before they ſaw his Face in England, and all grounded on thoſe Two Papal Breves? For in March 1603.19. b. Garnet complained to Catesby, That the King had broken his promiſe with the Catholicks: And in September following, Catesby making a grievous complaint to Thomas Percy, That ocntrary to their Expectations His Majeſty both did hold, and was like continually to run the ſame courſe which before the Queen had held, Percy preſently breaks forth into this Deviliſh Speech, That there was no way but to kill the King, which he would undertake to do; but Catesby cunningly replyed, No Tom; Thou ſhalt not adventure thy ſelf to ſo ſmall purpoſe: If thou wilt be a Traytor, there is a Plot to greater advantage; and ſuch a one as can never be diſcovered, viz. thereby meaning the Powder-Treaſon.

How impudently ſoever this is now Extenuated, nay denyed by ſome Papiſts; yet Johannes Barclaius a French Catholick, wrote the Hiſtory of it, under the Title of Conſpiratio Anglicana, the very ſame Month it was diſcovered, viz. Novemb. 1605. where he thus brands it. Ingens, Atrox, horridum facinus, quale nec Antiquit as vidit, & aegre poſteri credent: Deni que velut omnium flagitiorum compendium in hanc diem fortuna contulit. So matchleſs and horrid a villany, that our Fore-fathers never ſaw the like, and which future Ages will hardly believe, it being the very Quinteſsence and Compendium of all the villanies that the Sun yet ever ſaw; (Chriſt paſſion excepted.)

Which hiſtory he improves to this Axiome. Saepe Divinitatis opera haec ſunt ut Furias in ipſo jam ſucceſſu ſecuras ſubito vitio excipiat: Ne vel unquant improbis timor, vel ſpes abſit calamitoſae virtuti. When they ſhall ſay peace and ſafety; then ſudden deſtruction cometh upon them, as Iravel upon a Woman with Child, and they ſhall not eſcape, 1 Theſ. 5.3. Neither doth God ever leave the wicked without fear, nor diſtreſſed righteous without hope. This pitiful politick device of theirs is ſo improbable, and looks ſo Jewiſh, that I can reſemble it to no other. Though Pilate by the Advice of the Chief Prieſts and Phariſees, made the Sepulchre wherein Chriſts Body was laid ſure, by ſtealing the Stone, and ſetting a Watch and Guard of Souldiers, leſt His Diſciples ſhould come by night and ſteal Him away; and though His Reſurrection was made unqueſtionable by an Earth-quake, and by the rowling back of the Stone from the Door by an Angel deſcending from Heaven, and ſitting upon it, whoſe Countenance was like Lightning, and his Raiment White as Snow; ſo that for fear of him the Keepers did ſhake, and became as dead men; yet when ſome of the Watch had ſhewed unto the Chief Prieſts all the things that were done, yet ſo hard of belief were they, that they aſſembled with the Elders, and having taken Council, they gave large Money unto the Souldiers, to ſay, His Diſciples came by night and ſtole him away whilſtowe ſlept, and if this come to the Governors Ears, we'l perſwade him, and ſecure you; ſo they took the oney, and did as they were taught,Mat. 28. which ſaying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. And if Brows of Braſs, and Brazen Faces can prevail, the 5th. of November ſhall no more be believed by them another Age, than Pope Joane is now.

Had theſe kind of Men had any ſpark of Loyalty, or Gratitude in their Hearts, it had been impoſſible they ſhould ever have plotted, and conſpired ſo deſperately againſt ſo mild and gratious a Prince as King James was, and who had ſought their quiet and ſafety by many obliging means. Did not he beſtow many Honours on many Catholicks? Did not he allow them free Acceſs both to his Court, and to his Perſon, not only on juſt occaſions, but for their comfort, and at their pleaſure, though he was not ignorant, that the Jeſuits had been tampering with the Catholicks, as well to diſſwade them from the Acceptance of His Majeſty at his firſt coming, alledging, that they ought rather to die, than to admit of an Heretick (for ſo they termed His Majeſty) to the Crown: And that they might not under pain of Excommunication accept of any but of a Catholick for their Sovereign: as alſo to diſſwade Catholicks from their Loyalty after he was King? Did he not open the Gates of Juſtice indifferently to Proteſtants and Catholicks alike? Was his predeceſſor ſo confident in the fidelity of any Catholicks, as to imploy them to Forrein Princes in Embaſſie? Would ſhe have called the Chief Catholicks to her Councel Board, that upon their laying open their juſt complaints, they might have redreſs with favour? Did not Recuſants in his days that were in Arrear compound with a Commiſſion directed only to that end, almoſt for what term, and at what rates they might beſt ſatisfie? Did he not put them in poſſeſſion of their whole Eſtates drawn out of the Farmers hands upon due proof made of ſpoil, without further command of any other Contribution or Taxation than the Laws limited? Did he not give order for the puniſhing of Informers and Meſſengers, that preyed upon the proſtrate Fortunes of Recuſants, with harder meaſure than the Juſtice of the State Warranted? Was he not pleaſed in the General Pardon granted at the cloſe of the Parliament; that Prieſts and Jeſuits ſhould be compriſed in the Liſt, and among them both Garuet and Greenwell, who in recompence whereof were ſhortly after pleaſed, that ſo Royal a Diſpenſer of Grace and Bounty towards them, ſhould be blown up by their Bontefeaux? Had they not greater freedom than formerly in their own Countries, and to ſerve what Prince or State abroad that they pleaſed, to travel when and where they pleaſed, without yielding an account at their return?20. b. 35. Did ever any Magiſtrate in cold Blood proceed againſt a Priest, that for want of means to procure a pardon had been kept in priſon fince the time of the Queens deceaſe? By all which, and much more that might be ſaid, it fully appears, That King James was no hard Maſter, reaping where he had not ſowed, and gathering where he had not ſtrowed; nor yet Revengeful, who though he was to have been blown up after all theſe Favours and Liberties conferred on them, ſtill continued, I might ſay increaſed them, (notwithſtanding that horrid and matchleſs Conſpiracie) even to his dying day, with as much Indulgence and Favour as he could without Offence or Scandal to the tender Conſciences of his own Church, which as he ought, ſo he did chiefly regard.

§ Neither were King James his Favours confined to the Papiſts of Great Britain only, but were extended alſo to thoſe never to be obliged Catholicks in Ireland; For he reſolved not to take any advantage of great Forfeitures and Confiſcations, which he was moſt juſtly Entitled unto by Tyrones Rebellion; but out of his Royal Bounty reſtored all the Natives to the Intite poſſeſſion of their own Lands, in hope this would for ever have engaged their Obedience to him and his at leaſt, if not unto the Crown of England: And yet he had not Reigned 6 Years e're the Earl of Tyrone, (not long before obliged by the Queen, with Titles of Honour, great ſtore of Lands, Commands of Horſe and Foot in her pay) was deſigning afreſh the raiſing of another Rebellion, into which he eaſily drew the whole Province of Ʋlſter then entirely at his Devotion: But his Deſign being prevented, he with his chief Adherents fled into Spain (from whence he never returned) which impious and ungrateful Act of his, and his Adherents, rendred them juſtly ſuſpected to be Irreconcilable to a Proteſtant Prince, which forced the King to cauſe their perſons to be attainted, thehir Lands to be ſeized, thoſe Six Countries within the Province of Ʋlster to be Surveyed, &c. And the ſame courſe to be taken likewiſe in Lemster, where the Iriſh had made Incurſions, and violently repelled the Old Engliſh. And though the King was by due courſe of Lavv juſtly Entituled to all their vvhole Eſtates there; yet vvas he gratiouſly pleaſed to take but ¼ part of their Lands, vvhich coming to Brittiſh undertakers, made them to flouriſh vvith coſtly Buildings, and vvith all manner of Improvements;21. b. ſo that the very Iriſh ſeemed to be very much ſatisfied with the flouriſhing, and peaceable Condition of the whole Kingdom, and yet could not Acquieſce therein; but Rebel they muſt againſt King Charles the Son, who beſides many other Favours and Connivances, had ſo far gratified the Natives Anno 1640. that he grants unto the Commiſſioners, then ſent unto him out of Ireland, the Act of Limitations, (ſo vehemently deſired by the Natives) and the Act for the rilinquiſhment of His Majeſties Right and Title to the Four Counties in Connaught: Beſides, at this time the Papiſts privately enjoyed the exerciſe of their Religion throughout the whole Kingdom by the Indulgence, and Connivance of the late Governours, they having their Titular Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, Deans, Abbots, &c. who all lived freely, though obſcurely, yet without controll, and exerciſed a voluntary Juriſdiction, Multitudes of Prieſts, Jeſuits and Friars returning out of Spain and Italy, where the Iriſh Natives that way devoted were thither ſent for Education, and now returned, lived in the chief Towns and Villages, and in the Houſes of the Nobility and Gentry, exerciſing their Religious Rites and Ceremonies, none of the ſeverer laws being put in Execution, whereby great penalties were to be inflicted on Tranſgreſſors in that kind.

Were they ever the more faithful for theſe great Indulgencies? nothing leſs! For in Auguſt 1641. (after about forty years peace) the Popiſh party in both Houſes of Parliament then ſitting in Dublin, grew ſo inſolent, as being ſcarce compatible with the preſent peaceable Government, they were forc'd to adjourn for 3 Months, before which time, viz, 23. Octob. 1641. they brake out into that deteſtable and deſperate Rebellion, as is not to be matcht in any ſtory, wherein, in leſs than Two Years they murdered in cold Blood above 200000. Engliſh Proteſtants, deſtroyed ſome other ways, and expelled out of their Habitations; nay moreover, they threatned to burn Dublin, deſtroy all Records and Monuments of the Engliſh Government, to make Laws against ſpeaking Engliſh, and that all names given by Engliſh to places ſhould be aboliſhed, and the Antient names reſtored. And was not this alſo a great demonſtration of their Faithfulneſs to the King and Crown of England.

Let every man judg as he ſees cauſe how faithfully they requited King Charles the firſt for his favours towards them, which were many and great, which I will not here enumerate, it being ſuper-abundantly done already in print in divers Pamphlets. though I fear with no good intention towards that glorious Martyr, but rather to raiſe an Odium towards him from ſome of his weaker Subjects, willing happily for other ends to be ſo ſeduced, many whereof I hope have lived to ſee and conſider that his pious life and death gave a juſt contradiction to thoſe falſe Imputations and Jelouſies. And yet I muſt not forget one remarkable kindneſs of his (who loved not to puniſh ſcrupulous, peaceable Conſciences ſanguinarily) towards Papiſts, who being ſent unto by both Houſes of Parliament Anno 1640. for the Execution of John Goodman, a Condemned Prieſt, did in anſwer to them 3. Febr. 1640. own that he had reprieved him not without giving them great reaſons for his ſo doing, viz. For that neither his Father, nor yet Queen Eliz. did ever avow, that any Prieſt in their times was Executed meerly for Religion; and therefore did remit this particular cauſe to both the Hereſies, cautionating them withall, That happily his Execution might ſeem a ſeverity in other States, 22. b. and might draw inconveniences on his Subjects in other Countries, and therefore held himſelf diſcharged from all inconveniences, that might enſue upon his Execution. And this did he notwithſtanding the Popes Directions unto the then Superior of the Catholicks in England, Anno 1638. were expreſly to command them ſuddenly to deſist from making ſuch offers of Men towards the Northern Expedition then under conſideration, as we hear they have done little to the Advantage of their Diſcretion, and that they be not more forward with Money, than what Law and Duty enjoyns tem to pay.

§ Such was the kindneſs and faithfulneſs of thoſe Iriſh Papiſts to the King and Crown of England, that indeed they did riſe, I muſt needs ſay, moſt Catholickly in Rebellion againſt both from all parts of the Kingdom, deſigning thereby to monopolize the whole Government of that Kingdom into their own hands, (excluſive of the King, if ſeveral Oaths are to be credited, publiſhed by the Kings Warrant) to enjoy the publick profeſſion of their Idolatrous Religion, and to Expell all the Engliſh, by whoſe protection, countenance, favours and purſes that Kingdom was ſo beautified and inriched, as it then was, and is at this day, though now by them miſerably pejorated by that Inteſtine War raiſſed by themſelves in the midſt of their happy enjoyments, and that without any provocation, ground or colour againſt the King, as himſelf expreſſed under his Great Seal: To this give Teſtimony thoſe early inſtructions privately ſent over into England by the Lord Dillon of Coſteloe, preſently after the breaking out of the Rebellion by the Remonſtrance of the County of Longford pretended about the ſame time to the Lords Juſtices by the ſame Lord Dillon, as alſo by their frame of their new Common-Wealth found in Sir John Dungans, houſe not far from Dublin, and ſent upon thither out of Connaught to be communicated to thoſe of Leinſter, the ſum of which, and other ſuch like, is ſumm'd up, and may be ſeen to have that purport in the Iriſh Rebellion, written by Sir John Temple, f. 80, 81, 82.

§ Indeed if the Iriſh Papiſts had been ſo Loyal and Faithful, as they now boaſt themſelves to have been: Nay, had they had the leaſt ſpark of gratitude for that King, who had diſobliged ſo many by obliging them ſo much, they would never in his diſtreſſes have capitulated ſo ſeverely, and on the Swords point with him, nor have held him to ſuch hard tearms as they did in all their Treatiſes, which they uſed only as Stratagems to Trapan, not to ſerve His Majeſty: For in the Year 1643. when a Ceſſation was concluded with them by the Kings Authority, and both Engliſh and Iriſh Engaged by Articles to Tranſport their Armies to England for His Majeſties Service; the Engliſh did it, the Iriſh only pretended they would do it when the Engliſh were gone, and then accordin gto one of their old Maxims Nulla fides ſervanda cum Hereticis, they plotted and attempted the ruine of the ſmall Remnant of Engliſh left behind in Munſter, where the Lord Inchiquin commanding by the Kings Commiſſion, and the Engliſh with him were neceſſitated to ſtand on their own defence againſt the Popiſh Army, Orery 25.

Though in the Year 1645. the Earl of Glamorgan gave as Adventageous tearms as they could ask, and condeſcended to ſuch hard and diſhonourable propoſitions on the Kings part, as the then Marqueſs now Duke of Ormond in Juſtice and Honour neither could nor would condeſcend unto; and though the Commiſſions of the confederate Catholicks ſolemnly engaged the publick Faith for the performance of them;23. b. one Article whereof was, That they ſhould ſend 10000. to ſerve His Majeſty &c. yet did they not in due time perform their plighted Troath herein, which was a great diſſervice to His Majeſty: In which ſlender performance of theirs, they could have no other end than thereby to render the Rebells in England more irreconcilable to His Majeſty, that ſo that War might be kept up, that they might the better gain by Fiſhing in thoſe troubled Waters; ſo that they well hoped to give Law to both.

It was the conſtant obſervation of the Proteſtant Army there, that the lower and more unfortunate the King was in his ſucceſſes in England, the higher were the demands of the Iriſh; for the Truth is, how Loyal and dutiful ſoever their pretences were towards the King; yet their deſign was to ſet up for the Pope, and the eſtabliſhing the Romiſh Religion, and erecting its Spiritual Monarchy at leaſt, if not a Temporal with it.

The Arch-Biſhop of Tuum was a principal Agent in the Iriſh Wars, and of the Supreme Council of Kilkenny, He attended the Army about this time to viſit his Dioceſs, and to put in Execution an Order for the Arrears of his Biſhoprick granted to him from the Council at Kilkenny, which Order, together with the Popes Bull, and ſeveral other Letters of Correſpondence between him and his Agents from Rome, Paris, and ſeveral parts of Ireland were found about him, whereby it did appear, that the Pope would not at the firſt engage himſelf in ſending of a Nuntio for Ireland, till the Iriſh Agents had fully ſatisfied him, that the Eſtabliſhment of the Catholick Religion was a thing feaſeable and attainable in that Kingdom; in which being ſatisfied, he was content to ſollicite their cauſe with Florence and Venice &c. and alſo to delegate Farmano his Nuntio to attend the Kingdom, who after ſome delays in France, was at laſt poſted from thence by expreſs Order from the Pope, and he arrived at that River of Kilmore in a Friggot of 21 Guns in October, with 26 Italians of his Retinue, Secretary Belinges, and divers Regular and Secular Prieſts, and alſo with great Supplies, (for the ſervice of the King no doubt) as 2000 Muskets, 4000 Bandaliers, 2000 Swords, 500 Petronells, and 20000 l. of Powder, all which arrived at Brooke-Haven the ſame Month, together with 5 or 6 Deskes or Small Truncks of Spaniſh Gold; how far all thoſe Popiſh Auxiliaries conduced to the Kings ſervice, and the Proteſtant Intereſt, I leave to all Contemporaries to judg.

As in the year 1645. ſo in that Year 1646. after a peace concluded with them they treacherouſly attempted to cut off the Lord Lievtenant, and his Army with him, who marched out of Dublin on ſecurity and confidence of that peace.24. b. The ſame year the Council and Congregation of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland obliged their General Preſton by a ſolemn Oath to exerciſe all Arts of Hoſtility againſt the Lord Marqueſs of Ormond, (the Kings Vice gerent) and his Party, and to help and adviſe with Council, and aſſiſt in that ſervice the Lord General, and Ʋlſter, employed in the ſame Expedition.

In the Year 1647. from Kilkenny 18. January, the General Aſſembly of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland employed Commiſſioners to Rome, France and Spain, to invite a Forrein power into Ireland. To Rome they ſent their Titular Biſhop of Ferns, and Nichola Plunket Eſq; (Knighted there by the Pope for his good ſervice therein) to declare, that they raiſed Arms for the freedom of the Catholick Religion, which are their own words in the Third Article of thoſe their Inſtructions. (Orerey) This is conſonant to the Oath framed the ſame Year with ſome Addition to what had formerly been taken by the ſaid General Aſſembly, and preſſed on all ſorts of people under pain of high Treaſon, which Oath enjoyns the maintenance of theſe enſuing Propoſitions. 1. That the Roman Catholicks, both Clergy and Laiety in their ſeveral Capacities, have the free and publick exerciſe of the Roman Catholick Religion and Function throughout the Kingdom, in as full lustre and ſplendour as it was in the Reign of Hen. VII. or any other Catholick King, his Predeceſsors Kings of England, and Lords of Ireland, either in Ireland or in England. 2. That the Secular Clergy of Ireland, viz. Primates, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Ordinaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-Deacons, Prebendaries, and other Dignitaries; all other Paſtours of the Secular Clergy, their reſpective Succeſſors ſhall have and enjoy all, and all manner of Jurisdictions, Priviledges and Immunities in full and ample manner as the Roman Catholick Secular Clergy had or enjoyed the ſame within this Realm at any time during the Reign of the late King Hen. VII. ſometimes King of England, and Lord of Ireland, any Law, Declaration of Law, Statute, Power or Authority whatſoever to the contrary notwithſtanding. 3. That all Laws and Statutes made ſince the 20th. Year of Hen. VIII. whereby any reſtraint, penalty, or other reſtriction whatſoever is or may be laid upon any of the Roman Catholicks, either of the Clergy and Laiety for ſuch their free Exerciſe of the Roman Catholick Religion within this Kingdom, and of their ſeveral Functions, Jurisdictions and Priviledges may be repealed, renewed, and declared void in the next Parliament, by one or more Acts of Parliament to be paſt therein. 4. That the Primates, Arch-Biſhops, &c. of the Roman Catholick Secular Clergy, and their reſpective Succeſſors ſhall have, hold and enjoy all the Churches, and Church-Livings, in as large and ample manner as the late Proteſtant Clergy reſpectively enjoyed the ſame on the firſt day of October 1641. together with all Profits. Emoluments, Perquiſits, Liberties, 25. b. and other Rights to their reſpective Sees and Churches belonging, as well in all places now in the poſſeſſion of the confederate Catholicks, alſo in all other places that ſhall be recovered by the ſaid confederate Catholicks from the adverſe party within this Kingdom, ſaving to the Roman Catholick Laiety, their reſpective rights to the Laws of the Land.

§ But to return to the ſaid Inſtructions, it is Recorded in another part of the ſaid Third Article, that they intend to inſiſt on ſuch Conceſſions in matters of Religion, and for the ſecurity thereof as his Holineſs ſhall approve of, and be ſatisfied with.

And in the Ninth Article, they were inſtructed to make application to his Holineſs for his being Protector of Ireland, (wherein they were before the Phanaticks in England) and by ſpecial inſtance to endeavour his acceptance there &c. Nay, their Commiſſioners then ſent to France and Spain, were required in caſe of the Popes refuſal of being their Protector to offer it to either of thoſe Kings, nay to any Popiſh Prince (from whom to uſe their own words) they might have moſt conſiderable aids. Orerey. Faithful and Meritorious Servants ſtill, if they may be their own Judges, though they deſired and deſigned the Pope; nay any King or Prince rather that the King of England ratified to be their Liege Lord for ſo many ſucceſſions of Princes together.

Neither was it in thoſe Treaties only that they ſhewed themſelves ſuch Loyal and Faithful Subjects; but in that other alſo, Anno 1648. wherein they forced and compelled the King to yield unto ſuch unreaſonable condiſcentions, that nothing but pure neceſſity could ever have extorted from him, or his Lieutenant. And did they Acquieſce in thoſe Articles, or were they at all more Loyal and Faithful to the King than before? not at all; for they having got by the 18th. Article a Papal-like precluſin of all offences to be committed or done after their date, they then thinking themſelves ſufficiently authoriſed and pardoned for all or any new Crimes by a pardon of much more force than of one from their Holy Father the Pope; they were not long e're they began to vilifie and diſobey the Kings Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; in purſuit wereof they ſent to the Lord Lieutenant in April 1650. deſiring him to leave the Kingdom, and to commit the Government thereof to one that they ſhould chooſe, and might confide in, and this without ſo much as acquainting his preſent ajeſty with it. And in very deed they had good reaſon ſo to do; or elſe how was it poſſible for them to compaſs teir main deſign, viz. The Atchieving of the Government into their own hands and power, that ſo they might have a Native King of their own, and extirpate the Engliſh, Root and Branch.

Though herein they were diſappointed by the Piety, Honour, Courage and Integrity of the Lord Lieutenant; yet did they not forbear to impeach, and affront the Kings Authority in him; for in Auguſt following, by their publick Declaration, they did therein manifeſt to the people, that they were no longer obliged to obey the Ordersor Commands of the Marqueſs of Ormond, whereby they did evidently break theſe Articles, and declare their power paramount to His Majeſties Orerey, 5, 6,7. And this they purſued yet farther, not without ſome ſcorn; for in the next Month they cauſed their Clergy to Excommunicate not only the Lord Lieutenant, but all that ſhould feed or adhere to him; (a great Bug-bear I muſt confeſs) but it being ſolemniſed Glave Errante it ſcared not his Grace, nor any of his Adherents from their duty, and ſo it miſt of their deſired end; however this ſhewed their good will to have preſerved His Majeſties Regal Authority, by bereiving his Lieutenant of it. All Meritorious and our beſt Friends ſtill.

The Rump, that Infamous Rump (Infamous as for many other abominations, ſo moſt ſuperlatively for their High-Court of Injuſtice) was much more beholding to them than the King was; for they made Petitions and Supplications unto them, as unto the Supreme Authority of the Nation, Entitling them the Parliament of the Common-Wealth of England, wherein they did readily ſubject and put their Conſciences, Lives and Fortunes as inſecure Sanctuary under the Protection thereof: (they are their own words) And herein vaunted, That ſeveral of them were able to make appear their constant good affection, and adherence to the Rump, (their own words ſtill) and prayed a competent time to be allowed them for making out the ſame. Vide the Petitions of Sir Ra. Talbot Baronet, and Garret Moore Eſq; who were not herein private, but publick perſous, and ſo owned in the Title of their Petitions, being for the behalf of others, for whom they were Sollicitors, Agitators, or Truſtees, call them what you will, (and were ſo continued for the Iriſh Papiſts until of late days) which is more than ever they would do to King Charles I. or King Charles II. for they treated with their Majeſties upon the Swords point, upon as great tearms of defiance, as if they had treated with the Tork, and not with their Liege Lord Vide Orerey, fo. 14, 15. Of which ſit liber Judex, the Articles of the Treaties. They went yet further congratulating with them, by acknowledging, That their withered hopes, and former confidences were a freſh revived by the Rumps return to the management of the Government, under which their propenſions to peace and quietneſs were ſo great, that they willingly acquieſced in their tranſplantation; albeit it was not executed by any Legal power, as not being derived from their Honours.

What could they ſubmit more than they did, Conſciences, Lives Fortunes? Nay, their Tranſplantation they accepted chearfully; nay, Petitioned for it? would they yet but acquieſce in that their Tranſplantation only, (as they bragg'd unto the Rump, that they did to them) it would be ſome manner of Expiation for their Crimes paſt, and encouragement to His Majeſty more ſecurely to confide in them for the time to come, and be a means to remove many Fears and Jealouſies, and would make way for future Graces.

But they are yet ſo far from doing any thing of this Nature, that they contend Tooth and Nayl, both by Pen and Intereſt, for the performance of thoſe extorted, and Inglorious Articles made 1646.

Articles, that nothing but pure neceſſity could ever have compelled His Majeſty to have yielded unto Articles that themſelves broke and ſet at naught, as hath been proved; beſides, did not Gallway after the Articles of 1648. Treat with the Duke of Lorraine to be Protector of Ireland? Did not Waterford deny a paſſage to the Lord Lieutenant and his Army? Nay, ſought they not his life afterwards, or to deliver him to the Uſurpers, had he not ſuddenly and ſecretly withdrawn and ſecured himſelf?

Their General Aſſembly ſtiled themſelves His Majeſties Loyal and Faithful Subjects, and to manifeſt it the Enacted: That no Temperal Government or Juriſdiction ſhould be aſſumed, kept or executed in Ireland, or in any Province or County thereof, other than of what ſhould be approved or inſtituted by their General Aſſembly. If this be not profeſſing like Saints, and doing like Devils I do not know what is; profeſs Loyalty, that they might have the better opportunities to perpetrate their wicked deſigns; Kiſs and Betra with Judas, Salute and Honourably preſent with Ehud, and at the ſame time thruſt a Dagger into the Kings Bowels: Hoſanna on the rips of their Tongues, and Crucifige in the depths of their Hearts: And yet ſo Impudent as to ſtyle themſelves the Kings beſt and moſt faithful Subjects.

They Addreſſed their Petitions to the Supreme Authority of this Nation the, Parliament of the Common-Wealth of England. Firſt odrator f. 59. They affirmed, that they had generally taken, and punctually kept the Ingagement. 2. Moderator f. 41. They promiſed, that if they might enjoy their Religion, they would be the moſt quiet and uſeful Subjects of England. 1. Moderator f. 31. They proved it in theſe words, viz. The papiſts of England would be bound by their own Intereſt (the ſtrongeſt obligation amongſt wiſe Men) to live peaceably and thankfully in the private Exerciſes of their Conſciences, and becoming gainers by ſuch Compaſſions, they would not ſo reaſonably be diſtruſted as the Prelatick party that were looſers, 1. Moderator f. 36.

I have dwelt the longer on the practiſes and deſigns of the Papiſts of Ireland, for that there was clear demonſtration in pact of foot of their Affection and Adherency to the Pope before; nay, againſt their rightful King and Sovereign, which hath been evidenced by their publick Acts and Monuments, (of which for a Teſte take a part of one Tranſlated, viz. Ʋrban. 80. ad futuram rei memoriam. Having taken into our ſerious conſideration &c. Orerey f. 59, 60.) by their often Treaties, their Acts of their General Aſſembly, and of their Council, by their Inſtructions to their Engineers to their Forrein Princes &c. All which are excellently, and much more largely Anatomized and deſcanted on by the Earl of Orerey in his anſwer to P. W. Into whoſe hands many of the Originals having fallen, cannot be gainſaid; and if they had not, yet their Catholick and open riſing in Arms, and fighting on every occaſion againſt His Majeſties Armies and Comwands, is a demonſtration as evident as the Sun at noon, that they were Rebels to the height to all intents and purpoſes; for it was begun, continued, and ended by Papiſts only, (not one Proteſtant among them) both Secular and Regular; the Pope himſelf, the Head of their Church in the perſon of his Nuntio Rinuccini generaliſſimo of all their Forces both by Sea and Land, with all his Tribe of his Eccleſiaſtical Orders, contributing all aſſiſtance and encouragement imaginable thereunto: Whereby it is moſt manifeſt, that the horrd Rebellion was not only a Crime of ſome in their Church, but even a Crime of their Church.

I now paſs to the Papiſts of England, concerning whoſe Actions and Affections it cannot reaſonably be expected, that I ſhould ſo clearly diſcover their more ſecret Deſigns and Machinations, for that our Civil Wars here were not Papiſts fighting under the Popes Banner, Countenance and Encouragement againſt Proteſtants, as they did in Ireland: But Proteſtants (Jeſuitically in that point principled) againſt a Proteſtant King and his Liege-men that were more loyally minded and principled, and ſo were never Embodied together apart and by themſelves; and therefore could never Aſſemble and Confederate together either in Battle to fight, or in full and open Council to deſign and plot, but what they did covertly and in the dark, by fo •• enting diſſentions and Inteſtine Wars according to Corzen the Moguntine Jeſuit, in the Second Book of his Politicks Ch. 18. and to Campanella's deſign de Monar. Hiſp. Ch. 24. p. 204. &c. I am vero ad enervandos Anglos nihil tam conducit quam diſsentio & diſcordia inter illos excitata perpetuo que nutrita, quod cito meliores occaſiones ſuppeditabit, and that by putting the Parliament upon it, ut Angliam in formam Reipublicae reducant ad Imitationem Holandorum and how near it was brought to this by our late Republicans is moſt notorious; So confident were the Jeſuits of their Plots and Deſigns taking effect, that Campian in his Book printed 1583. at Trevers, declares, thus concerning the Engliſh in the name of his Holy Order, viz. Our Will is, That it come to the knowledg of every one ſo far as it concerns our Society, that we all diſperſed in great numbers through the World, have made a League, and Holy solemn Oath, That as long as there is any of us alive, that all our Care and Induſtry, all our Deliberations and Councils ſhall never ceaſe to trouble their quiet and ſafety, we ſhall procure and purſue for ever their Ruine, the utter deſtruction of their Religion, and of their Kingdom.

It is long ſince we have taken this Reſolution with the hazard of our lives; 53.29. b. ſo that the buſineſs being already well begun and advanced, it is impoſſible that the Engliſh can do any thing to ſtop our deſign, or ſurmount it. Faithful Men ſtill no doubt they are yet unto the Mither and Red-Caps of Rome only; but nothing leſs unto the Crown and Diadem of England. And ſhall we after all ſuch demonſtrations diſ-believe their own proteſtations, and not take their own Wrods for it?

§ Beſides, if we may gueſs at the Body of Hercules by his foot, we may then by tracing ſome of the Footſteps of our Engliſh Catholicks as have caſually come to light, diſcover the main deſign of them, and eſpecially of thoſe of their Clergy to have been for the ruine of the King of happy memory, and of the Proteſtant Religion: Yet I would not be miſ-underſtood herein, as if I meant every Individual Papiſt; for ſome of them, and thoſe of Noble Families and Fortunes, as alſo others of them of meaner rank, ventured both Lives and fortunes very gallantly for their Sovereign; but it was ſtill againſt a Proteſtant, not againſt a Popiſh party; however I wiſh they may continue heartily Loyal againſt all parties, and that all of that Religion were ſo minded, which though I may wiſh, yet can never rationally hope to ſee, whilſt they continue true to Romiſh Principles, which oblige them to ſet up another Supreme Head within thoſe His Majeſties Dominions in derogation of this Imperial Crown and Scepter.

I ſhall not trouble you with the repetition of many ſtore of the diſguiſed and dark Actings of the Papiſts againſt the King and Crown of England, they being already extant in ſeveral Treaties, viz. In hidden works of darkneſs brought to light. Jus Patronatus. Mr. Prinne his Speech in Parliament, his Memento, his Epiſtle to a reaſonable and legal vindication &c. Quaders unmarked. In which, and other Books, many particulars may be ſeen of their ſecret undermining Actings.

In the Year 1638. (when the Kings had great need both of Men and Money, and the Hearts of all his Subjects, and their contributions, whether Popiſh or Proteſtants) his Holineſs gave directions to his Catholicks in England, whereof theſe following were part, viz. You are to command the Catholicks of England in general, that they ſuddenly deſiſt from making ſuch offers of Men towards this Northern Expedition, as we hear they have done little to the advantage of their direction. And likewiſe it is requiſit, conſidering the penalties already impoſed, they they be not forward with Money more than what Law and Duty enjoyns them to pay without any Innovation at all, or view of making themſelves rather weaker Pillars of the Kingdom than they were before.

Declare unto the beſt of the Peeres and Gentry by word of mouth, or Letters, that they ought not at this time to expreſs any averſeneſs in caſe the High Court of Parliament be called, nor ſhew any diſcontents against the Acts, which do not point blank aim at Religion, being in general the most fundamental Law of this Kingdom.

Adviſe the Clergy to deſiſt from the fooliſh, nay rather illiterate and childiſh Cuſtom of diſtinction in the Proteſtant and Puritan Doctrin, and eſpecially this Error is ſo much the greater, when they undertake to prove, that Protestaniſme is a Degree nearer to the Faith-Catholick: For ſince both lye without the verge of the Church, it is a needleſs Hypocriſie, yea it begets more malice than it is worth.

All buſie Inquirers are defended, but eſpecially into Arcanes of States.

It is affirmed by — in a printed Speech before a great Aſſembly 4. September 1654. p. 16, 17. That he knew very well, that Emiſſaries of the Jeſuits never came over in thoſe Swarms as they have done ſince theſe times. That divers Gentlemen could bear witneſs with him, that they had a Conſistory, and Council abroad, that Rules all the Affairs of the things of England. That they had fixed in England in the limits of moſt Cathedrals (of which he was able to produce the particular Inſtruments) an Epiſcopal power with Arch-Deacons and other perſons to pervert the people in the midſt of all our ſad Distractions.

And I preſume it will not be denied,Inde quod nuper veteres com. gravere Coloni. that very many of them have been ſent or come over from Forrein Seminaries into England under the diſguiſes of Converted Jews, Phiſitians, Chyrurgians, Independants, Quakers, Fifth Monarchy Men, Agitators, Mechanicks, Merchants, Factors, Travellers, Souldiers, that they might the more unſuſpectedly have an Influence on the Committees, Agitators, and Officers of the Army. It was confeſſed to one of the Engliſh Nobility at Rome by the Engliſh Provincial there, that they had then above 1500. of their Society in England able to work in ſeveral profeſſions and Trades, which they had there taken upon them, the better to ſupport and ſecure themſelves from being diſcovered.

Who ever conſiders the fore-mentioned Plat-form laid ſubtilly by F. F. Parſons, and others, to work inſenſibly our Ruine. Vide Smiths Preface fo. 12. the Swarms of Papiſts here ready to joyn Heds, and Hands, and Hearts on all occaſions and opportunities to bring it to paſs, the new printing (about the time of that borrid matchleſs Murder) of their Dolman, that Infamous and Traiterous Libel againſt our Kings under a new Title of ſeveral Speeches, delivered at a Conference concerning the powers of Parliaments to proceed againſt their Kings for miſ-government, together with what is averred for truth, and offered to be juſtified (when ever called thereunto) by that learned and worthy Divine Du Moulin in his Vindication Se. 58, 59, 60. &c. will eaſily conclude, that their Merits have not been of that Nature, as to be uſed as Arguments for a Tolleration, no nor yet for the leaſt of kindneſs, viz. When the buſineſs of the late bad times are once ripe for an Hiſtory, and time the bringer of Truth to light, hath diſcovered the Myſteries of Iniquity, and the depths of Satan, which have wrought ſo much crime and miſchief, it will be found, that the late Rebellion was raiſed and foſtered by the Arts of the Court of Rome. That Jeſuits profeſſed themſelves Independent, as not depending on the Church of England; and Fifth Monarchy Men, that they might pull down the Engliſh Monarchy, and that in the Committees, for the deſtruction of the King and the Church, they had their Spies and their Agents.

§ The Roman Prieſt and Confeſſor is known, who when he ſaw the fatal ſtroke given to our Holy King and Martyr, flouriſhed with his Sword and ſaid, Now the greateſt Enemy we have in the World is gone.

When the News of that horrible Execution came to Roan, a Proteſtant Gentleman of good credit was preſent in a great company of Jeſuited perſons: When after great Expreſſions of Joy, the graveſt of the Company, to whom all gave ear, ſpake much after this ſort. The King of England at his Marriage had promiſed us the re-eſtabllſhing of the Catholick Religion in England, and when he delayed to fulfil his promiſe, we ſummoned him from time to time to perform it; we came ſo far as to tell him, That if he would not do it, we ſhould be forced to take thoſe courſes which would bring him to his deſtruction: We have given him lawful warning, and when no worning would ſerve, we have kept our Word to him, ſince he would not keep his Word to us.

That grave Rabbies Sentence agreeth with this certain Intelligence, which ſhall be juſtified whenſoever Authority will require it: That the Year before the Kings death, a ſelect number of Engliſh Jeſuits were ſent from their whole party in England, firſt to Paris to conſult with the faculty at Sorbon, then altogether Jeſuited, to whom they put this Queſtion in writing: That ſeeing the ſtate of England was in a likely poſture to change Government, whether it was lawful for the Catholicks to work the change for the advancing and ſecuring the Catholick Cauſe in England, by making away the King, whom there was no hope to turn from his Hereſie? which was anſwered affirmatively. After which the ſame perſons went to Rome, where the Queſtion being propounded and debated, it was concluded by the Pope and his Council, That it was both lawful and expedient for the Catholicks to promote the alteration of State. What followed that Conſultation and Sentence all the World knoweth, and time the bringer forth of Truth will let us know. But when that Horrible Paricide, committed on the Kings Sacred perſon, was ſo univerſally cryed down as the greateſt Villany that had been committed in many Ages, the Pope commanded all the papers about the Queſtion to be gathered and burnt. In obedience to which order a Roman Catholick in Paris was demanded a Copy which he had of thoſe papers; but the Gentleman, who had refuſed to conſider and deteſt the wickedneſs of that project, refuſed to give it, and ſhewed it to a Proteſtant Friend of his, and related to him the whole carriage of this Negotiation, with great abhorrency of the practiſes of the Jeſuits.

In purſuance of that Order from Rome for the pulling down both of the Monarch and Monarchy of England, many Jeſuits came over, who took ſeveral ſhapes to go about their work, but moſt of them took party in the Army. About Thirty of them were met by a Proteſtant Gentlemen between Roan and Deipe, to whom they ſaid, (taking him for one of them) That they were going into England, and would take Arms in the Independent Army, and endeavour to be Agitators.

A Proteſtant Lady living in Paris, in the time of our late Calamities, was perſwaded by a Jeſuit going in Scarlet to turn Roman Catholick: When the diſmal News of the Kings Murder came to Paris, this Lady, as all other good Engliſh Subjects, was moſt deeply afflicted with it; and when this Scarlet Divine came to ſee her, and found her melting in Tears about that heavy and common diſaſter, he told her with a ſmiling Countenance, That ſhe had no reaſon to lament, but rather to rejoice, ſeeing that the Ca-Cholicks were rid of their greateſt Enemy, and that the Catholick Cauſe was much furthered by his death. Upon which the Lady in great anger put the Man down the Stairs, ſaying, If that be your Religion, I have done with you for ever.

Many Intelligent Travellers can tell of the great Joy among the Engliſh Convents and Seminaries about the Kings death, as having overcome their Enemy, and done their main Work for their ſettlement in England, of which they made themſelves ſo ſure, that the Benedictins were in great care that the Jeſuits ſhould not get their Land: And the Engliſh Nunns were contending who ſhould be Abbeſſes in England.

An underſtanding Gentleman viſiting the Friars of Dunkirk put them on the diſcourſe of the Kings death, and to pump out their ſence about it, ſaid, That the Jeſuits had laboured very much to compaſs that great Work: To which they Anſwered, That the Jeſuits would engroſs to themſelves the Glory of all great and good Works, and of this amongſt other Works; whereas they had laboured as diligently, and as effectually as they. So there was ſtriving for the glory of the Atchievment, and the Friars ſhewed themſelves as much Jeſuited as the Jeſuits.

In the height of Olivers Tyranny Tho. White a Priest, and a right Jeſuit in all his Principles about Obedience, ſet out a Book Entitled, The Grounds of Obedience and Government; wherein he maintains, That if the people by any Circumſtance be devolved to the ſtate of Anarchy, their promiſe made to their expelled Governor binds no more. That the people are remitted by the evil mannaging, or inſufficiency of their Governour to the force of Nature, to provide for themſelves, and not bound by any promiſe made to their Governour, that the Magistrate by his miſcarriages abdicateth himſelf from being a Magiſtrate, and proveth a Brigand or Robber inſtead of a Defender; that word Defender he writes with a great D. that the Reader may take notice whom he means. His Book is full fraught with Argumentations of this Nature. All in barr and prejudice to His Majeſties Reſtauration. Of the ſame opinion was F. F. Bret, when at St. Malo he was earneſt with thoſe Gentlemen that had ſo gallantly defended the Caſtle of Jarſey to take the Engagement; from which they ought to be freed by the Articles of their Rendition, maintaining, that they were not to acknowledg any Supreme but the prevailing power. Du Monlin Ibid.

§ Having dwelt thus long on this unpleaſant Theme, it is now time to wind up this Botton, and therefore, Admit the Papiſts had merited in theſe late troubles, as much as they pretend they have, from the King and his Father; yet doth it not follow, that they ought therefore to be rewarded with a Tolleration of their Religion, or with any Mitigation of our Laws prohibiting the exerciſe thereof, no more than it was fit Joſeph, for the good ſervice done to his Maſter, ſhould be be gratified with the company of his Maſters Wife. Neither did his Maſter think this reaſonable, though he acknowledged the extraordinary good Service of his Servant, much leſs did Joſeph expect it. In like manner the Papiſts muſt firſt ſatisfie us, That the Tolleration of their Religion is not Tolleration of Idolatry, which the Scripture calls Spiritual Adultery, nor yet the exerciſe of a World of Impieties under the Mask of Religion, before they can convince as (whatever their Loyalty may otherways be) that it is either lawful or reaſonable for Magiſtrates (whom the Scripture ſtileth Gods, and who ſtanding in Gods ſtead ought to be as jealous of his Honour in that caſe as a Husband would be of his Wife; Nay, as much as in them lies, even as God himſelf, who profeſſeth himſelf to be a Jealous God) to Authorize or connive at the Exerciſe of ſuch a Religion, or as to account very ſtrict Laws too ſevere in that Caſe, for which there is both Precept and Example in the Word of God.

It is a very great Truth, That Kings neither can, nor ought to give permiſſion or allowance of any things, which in their own Natures are evil, and oppoſit to the Salvation of Mens Souls, and which though they ſhould permit them; would nevertheleſs continue and remain ſins, and exclude them that do and practice them from obtaining Salvation. And of ſuch a Nature are many Popiſh Doctrins &c. And certainly thoſe Princes are moſt worthy of the praiſe of God and Men, that endeavour to remove ſuch Abuſes, and all things forbidden by God, which remaining make it impoſſible for men to be ſaved, or if ſaved, yet ſo as by Fire, very difticultly. But in things not repugnant to the will of God, all Princes have liberty to do that which the good and weal of their State requires.

I appeal to all the Oaeſars in the World; nay to all mankind, if it be reaſonable, that the requital of the good Services of particular perſons ſhould be gratified with the vacating, or but ſuſpending thoſe Laws which are our ſtrongeſt ſecurity, or ſhould be debarred from making yet ſtronger Laws againſt Butchering and Idolatrous men and Principles. This State ſeeks not your Blood, it only deſires to be ſecured and ſafe from thoſe deſtructive dangers,, unto which Popiſh Doctrins, practiſes and principles do moſt manifeſtly expoſe it; againſt which no perſect ſecurity can poſſibly be given, but by as publick condemnation and deteſtation of them, as they are ratiſied by, (1) by Popes, Councils. Decrees, great and learned men, Abjurations, and the like.

And I appeal yet further to all the World, if our Popiſh Traytors here have not in defiance of our Laws, and for their Juſtification, Honour and Encouragement been rewarded at Rome with Honours and Offices, made Holy Martyrs, Canonized for Saints, and their very Bones kept for Reliques: Mighty Motives I muſt confeſs to perſwade us to reward and tollerate ſuch men, and ſuch a Religion. A Religion that no Proteſtant (I might go farther) can embrace without becoming worſe than bruitiſh, by unreaſoning themſelves out of their own reaſonable Souls, yea their very Senſes, according to Jer. 10.8, 14, 23. They are altogether bruitiſh and fooliſh: Their Stock is a Dostrin of Vanities: Every Man is bruitiſh in his knowledg: Every founder is confounded by the Graven Image; for his molten Image is falſhood, and there is no Breath in them: Nay, the Paſtours are become Bruitiſh, and have not ſought the Lord And what are they but bruitiſh that will not know, that will not underſtand and that hate reproof? Now let all the Romiſh Doctors and Jeſuits ſhew if they can, if the Doctrines of the Popes power to Excommunicate, Depoſe and Murder Emperours, Kings and Princes, and to abſolve their Subjects from their Oaths of Obedience and Allegiance to them: And if the Extravagant, de Majoritate & Obedientia, and that other of unam ſanctam be not in as full force and vertue now at Rome as ever, only the moſt Chriſtian King did cudgel Clement the 5th, into better manners, and made him to expound that Extravagant of Boniface the 8th. in favour of him and his Subjects by another of Meruit de privilegiis. And did not Paul the 5th. Innocent the 10th. and Alexander the 7th. of later days ratifie theſe monſtrous opinions with a particular reſpect to the caſe of His Majeſties Subjects of Great Britain? And ſhall we after all theſe demonſtrations of their rancour and malice towards us, and our Religion, mitigate or ſuſpend our Laws that ſecure us? or ought not they rather to repent and amend their lives, their Religion and their Doctrins? I appeal to all unbiaſſed perſons if they have not incapacitated themſelves of all poſſibility of ever giving any probable ſecurity to a prudent State, whilſt they remain in the Communion of that Church by becoming Votaries to Rome by their Vows and Oaths, except they will abjure them, and imboſom themſelves in our Church. And ſhall we then fear to Countermine ſuch deſtructive bloody principles and practiſes by moderate and cautionary Laws preventing them? or by any precautions to diſappoint the miſchiefs deſigned againſt us, and which if they ſhould fall upon us were never to be repaired by any future Laws or puniſhments how ſevere ſoever? Let God and the whole World be Judg between us.

I muſt confeſs my ſelf ſo little diſcerning, that I cannot perceive any difference between the Idolatry of the Jews, and that of the Papiſts. The Jews were reaſonable Creatures, had the ſame ſenſes and faculties inward and outward as Papiſts have; and can it then reaſonably be imagined, that the Jews after they were come out of Aegypt, and had themſelves broken off the Gold Earrings which were in the Ears of their Wives, of their Sons, 32. Ex. and of their Daughters, and given them to Aaron to Make a Golden Calf withall: Should yet be ſuch Changlings, ſo void of all ſenſe and reaſon as to think, That that very Calf made but Yeſterday by Aaron, ſhould be the very God that brought up them and their Fathers out of the Land of Aegypt ſo many years before. It is true, they ſaid, Theſe be thy Gods O Iſrael that brought thee up out of the Land of Aegypt, and accordingly built an Altar, proclaimed a Feaſt unto the Lord, (not unto the Calf) offered burnt Offerings, and brought peace Offerings, and ſat down to eat and to drink, and roſe up to play; i. e. to Idolatrize, 1 Cor. 10.7.1. To play the fool, by thinking to pleaſe God by making a repreſentative of him; for they could only mean, that the Calf repreſented that God (not that it was the very God) that brought them out of Aegypt; leading and defending them by a Cloud by day, and a Pillar of Fire by night.

Thoſe Athenian Idol-worſhippers, whoſe altar inſcribed to the unknown God, Acts 17.23. argues, That their Sacrifices and Devotions did not center and terminate in the Idols they worſhipped, but had reſpect to the True God, though unknown to them, whom therefore they did ignorantly worſhip, (whereby it is manifeſt, that their Worſhip had reſpect unto God) Paul did declare unto them to be him that made the World, and all things therein, &c. Verſ. 24, 25, 26.

Is Romiſh Idolatry leſs, or other? I doubt not. Jehu riding in pomp in his Chariot, brag'd and boaſted of his zeal towards God as much as Papiſts, Come ſee my zeal for the Lord, 2 Kings 10.16. and pretended worſhip to God when he worſhipped repreſentatives,1 Cor. 10.18.20, 21. Pſal. 106.37 Deut. 32.17. Golden Calfs, nay Devils, 2 Kings 10.29. 2 Chr. 11.15. By which it is plain, that their worſhip did not terminate in the Calves, but had a farther proſpect, even a reſpect to God himſelf. Is not Romiſh Worſhip the ſame? where's the difference? Crux Legati a dextris collocari debet, quia ei debetur Latria. If the Legates Croſs muſt be placed on the right hand for that very reaſon becauſe Latria, (which is the ſame Worſhip and Reverence which is due to the one only God.) Graece ſervitus dicitur que quamum ad Religionem attinet, non niſi uni & ſoli Deo deb ••• r, Vide Iſid. 12. lib, Vide Auguſt. contra Fauſt. Manich. lib. 20. c. 21. Vide Aquin. 1, 2. q 130. Art. 3. is due unto it. I for my part muſt acknowiedg my ſelf ſo thick Scull'd as not to diſcern any difference between the Jews worſhipping the Calves, and the Papiſts worſhipping the Croſs, their Breaden God, or any Picture, Thing or Repreſentative, though Vaſques be ſo bold as to aſcribe Worſhip even to a Wiſp of Straw. Tho. Aquin. ſumnt. part. 3. Queſt. 25. Artic. 3. Concludes, Sic ſequitur quod eadem reverentia exhibeatur Imagini Chriſti, & ipſo Chriſto; cum ergo Chriſtus adoretur adoratione Latriae, &c. That the ſame Reverence is to be given to the Image of Chriſt, and to Chriſt himſelf; and by Conſequence ſeeing Chriſt is adored with the Adoration of Latria (or Divine Worſhip) his Image is to be adored with the adoration of Latria alſo; which induces me to believe that that in Jeremiah, ch. 10. is as truly applicable to the now Romaniſts, as to the Jews of old.

All which ſeriouſly conſidered, and that though Supreme Magiſtrates have power moderately, and in meaſure, by wholſom Laws (not by Fire and Faggot, Tortures and Inquiſitions) to compel, and to ſecure the true Religion and undefiled, and their Realms profeſſing the ſame; yet I find no warrant in Bibliis Sacris for any power to tollerate and indulge any falſe Religion in their Dominions.

§ Concerning which I ſhall ſay thus in general, That though no mortal man hath rightful power to forbid Chriſts Spiritual Duties, the Worſhipping of God, Preaching his Word and Truth; yet I ſay firſt, that no Indulgence ought to be given by the Magiſtrate to any Sect whtſoever, whoſe Doctrins and Principles are not known, and therefore none to Quakers and Enthuſiaſts, whoſe Rule is not the Scripture, but the Light within them, which is darkneſs to others, if not to themſelves, and it may be Hoſanna to day, and yet Chucifige to, morrovv. Then the Principles, by vvhich other Sects do worſhip, being known, the legiſlative Magiſtrares, whether Monarchs, or Free States, are the Judges of them, how confiſtent or inconſiſtent with Gods true Religion and Worſhip, and with the peace and wellfare of their own Dominions and Subjects, and accordingly may, or may not Indulge or Tollerate their Religion and Worſhip.

And therefore Princes ought to uſe great Caution, and to be very wary and circumſpect herein, for that ſins committed by others through our Example, Inſtigation, Connivnace or Tolleration, become ours by juſt Imputation. In Naboths death, the Judges and falſe Witneſſes were the next Agents, Jeſabel the Plotter only, and Inſtigator, 1 King. 21.7, 13, 23. Yet ſhe is puniſhed for ſhedding Naboths Blood, though her hand was not upon him: Even in Courts of ordinary Juſtice it ſeems juſt, and is ſo in our Law, that not only the Executioner, but the Plotter, Abettor, Inſtigator, and Concealer of Treaſon, be puniſhed with death: Yea, ſee how far a leſs degree of participation brings guilt upon our Souls: The Rulers amongſt the Jews that but tollerated the breach of the Sabbath, are charged to have prophaned the Sabbath, Nehem. 13.17.18. Yea the leaſt Countenance given to Idolatry, makes culpable of Idolatry, 1 Cor. 10.18, 21. To this agrees the Prohibition of St. Paul, Communicate not with other Mens ſins, 1 Tim. 5.22. And that command, Lev. 16.17. Thou ſhalt rebuke thy Neighbour plainly, and not ſuffer him to ſin. It is a Goſpel-Principle that Gods Children ought to be careful not only to eſchewe evil in their own perſons, but alſo to prevent it in othrss. A notable Example we have in the people of Iſrael, who (well knowing that God was a Jealous God, Deut. 4.24. Iſa. 42.8. and would not have his Glory communicated to others, nor his praiſe unto Graven Images) out of their abundant caution, minding the concerns of their Brethren as their own, when they heard Tidings how the Rubenites, Gadites, and half Tribe of Manaſſeh, had Erected an Altar, not for Worſhipping, (as they truly proteſted) but for Memorial; ſo fearful they grew of Gods Wrath, that they preſently diſpatched an Embaſſy to their Brethren to prevent their ſin. And ſee how pithily they deal with them: Is the Iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which ye are not cleanſed to this day, that ye alſo muſt depart from following the Lord, Joſh. 22.17. Thus they in a ſhew only and appearance of evil, which we are commanded to abſtain from, 1 Theſ. 5.22. and to reſiſt unto Blood ſtriving againſt ſin,Qui non vetat peccare, quum poſsit Jubet. Heb. 12.4. The Concluſion is ſtrong, What ſins of others we labour not within our Province, Power, and Compaſs to prevent, are ours in the guilt, as well as thoſe of our own perſonal Commiſſion. The Reaſons are many, 1. We hazard our ſelves to infection, 1 Cor. 5.6. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 2. Ʋnto wrath, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, and that ye receive not of her Plagues, Apoc. 4.3. We hazard the Delinquents to obſtinate impenitency. We blemiſh our own ſame and ſince ity. 5. Quantum in nobis, we encourage others to like exorbitancy in ſinful Worſhip, even in our common Laws; it is held maintenance, when a great perſon only by his preſence countenanceth a Cauſe. Saints of old were regularly ſcrupulous and abſtemious in this kind, I have not ſate with vain perſons, neither will I go in with diſtemblers: I have heated the Congregation of evil doers, and will not ſit with the wicked, Pſal. 26.4, 5. Jer. 15.15.17. I ſat not in the aſſembly of mockers, nor rejoyc'd. Did not Elias ſharply repove King Ahab, and the Commons of Iſrael for that error? He did not ſay, Why permit you not thoſe that will to ſerve the Lord, and thoſe that lift to ſerve Baal? But, How halt you between Two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal then fallow him, 1 Kings 18.21. Since it is confeſſed both by Proteſtants and Papiſts, That there can be no God ſave the Lord, Pſal. 18.31. and he never meant to ſurrender any piece of his Glory, Iſa. 48.11. but is ſo jealous of it, that he will be ſerved, and only ſerved with all our Heart, and with all our Soul, Deut 10.12. I reckon, it cannot ſtand with a Magiſtrates duty to reverſe this Heavenly Decree, Thou ſhalt Worſhip the Lord thy God, and him only ſhalt thou ſerve, Mat. 4.10. Deut. 6.13. with eſtabliſhing Two Religions in the Realm. And the firſt precept forbiding more Gods than one, barreth all other ſervices of the ſame God, ſave that which himſelf hath appointed for himſelf? His commands relating to his own Worſhip are very ſevere, very ſtrict. He that is born in the Houſe, and bought with thy Money, muſt need be Circumciſed; i. e. Obſerve the whole Law, Gen. 17.12. So the charge of Keeping the Sabbath is had upon the Father of the Family for all that are within his Gate, Exod. 20.10. The Lord commandeth, That if any perſon, Brother, Son, Daughter, the Wife of thy Boſom, or thy Friend, which is as thy own Soul, ſhall intice to Idolatry, or any City ſhall ſet up a new Worſhip, the one ſhall be killed, the other deſtroyed, Det. 13.6, 9, 12, 15. To this belongeth that precept, to ſeperate the pretious from the vile, Jer. 15.19. and this, viz. Not to ſow the Field with divers Seeds, nor to wear a Garment of divers things, Lev. 19. 0. So Moſes, Deut. 22.10. Thou ſha't not plough with an Oxe and an Aſſe together; which St. Paul thus expoundeth, 2 Cor. 6.14. Be not unequally yoaked with unbelievers. Which the Apoſtle demonſtrates to be as abſurd and monſtrous, as that righteouſneſs ſhall have fellowſhip with unrighteouſneſs, or light to have communion with darkneſs, or that Chriſt can have Concord with Belial, or that the Temples of God can have agreement with Idols, and ſuch Temples are all good Chriſtians whom Legions of Luſts and Devils do not pre-poſſeſs, Verſ. 14, 15, 16, 17. Beſides, it cannot be denyed, but that they may, and will be Snares and Traps, if not Scourges in our ſides, and Thorns in our Eyes, Joſh. 13.13. God fore-ſaw it, and fore-told it, and the refore made ſuch ſtrict commands againſt ſuch Medly-mungril Chriſtians, like thoſe of Samaria, who feared God, yet ſerved Idols, and like thoſe of Iſrael, who Swear by the Lord and Melchom, to hear as Proteſtants, but believe as Papiſts, to cry the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, boaſting of the high Priviledges the Goſpel hath and doth afford us, and yet not to walk by the Rules, and Precepts thereof, which in plain Engliſh is to talk indeed like Saints, but in truth to do like Devils. Why then ſhould we hazard the Eternal wellfare of our precious Immortal Souls upon nice points of Logick, upon Peradventures, and come at laſt, and when it is too late, unto an, Had I wiſh'd? Remember Nehem. 13.23, 26. Did not Solomon King of Iſrael ſin, by theſe things? yet amongſt many Nations was there no King like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him King over all Iſrael, nevertheleſs even him did ſtrange Women cauſe to ſin.

§ Moreover, it hath been the practiſe of the Church in all Ages to caſt out the Leaven of contrary Doctrins and Profeſſion In the time of Enos before the Flood, the Servants of God began to worſhip God by themſelves apart from the prophane Generation of Cain. Iſhmael was caſt out of Abrahams Houſe, becauſe he was a ſcorner of Iſaack; Jacob reformeth his Houſe, and putteth away the ſtrange Gods, Gen, 35.2. Joſhua maketh the Gibionites hewers of Wood, and drawers of Water for the Houſe of God, Joſh. 9 13, David expelleth the Idolatrous Jebuſites out of Jeruſalem, 2 Sam. 5.8. Aſa put Maacha his Mother from her regiment, becauſe ſhe was an Idolatreſs, and brake down her Idols, 2 Chron. 15.16. Joſias put down the Chemarins a Sect of Idolatrous Prieſts, 2 Kings 23.5. Zerubbabel would not ſuffer the adverſaries of Judah to build the Temple with them, but refuſed their ſervice, which they offered, Ezech. 4.3. This was the Law, Thou ſhalt make no Covenant with them, nor with their Gods, they ſhall not dwell in the Land, leſt they make thee ſin againſt me, Exod. 23.32, 33. Deut 7.2, 3, 4. The Graven Images of their Gods ſhall ye burn with fire: Thou ſhalt not deſire ſhe Silver and Gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, leſt thou be ſnared therein; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

Neither ſhalt thou bring an abomination into thy houſe, leaſt thou be an accurſed thing like it; but thou ſhalt utterly deteſt it, and thou ſhalt utterly abhor it, for it is a curſed thing, Deut. 7.25, 26. Neither ſhalt thou ſet up any Graven Image which the Lord thy God hateth, Deut. 16.22. Where Gods Ark is, there Dagon ſhall be thruſt out of his place, and fall down before it, 1 Sam. 5.

§ One kind of vile and baſe Idolatry, when Men Worſhip their own Fancies; (as Papiſts, Ouakers and Enthuſiaſts amongſt others now adays do) obſerving, that for a Religion, which their deceived minds imagine; then may not Princes wink at corrupt and vitious Religion, which is an inward and ghoſtly worſhip of Idols, ſeeing no man; and therefore no Prince can ſerve Two Maſters, Mat. 6.24. Luke 16.13. And the Service that Princes yield Chriſt in reſpect of their Royal vocation, conſiſteth in making Laws for Chriſt, which if they do, likewiſe for Antichriſt, it cannot be ſalved, but that they ſerve God and Mammon, or rather ceaſe to be Servants of Chriſt, in that they renounce their Maſter, by ſerving his Adverſary: And they cannot but know, that ſilence provoketh, and ſufferance imboldeneth their Subjects to forſake God, and his Church: Even as in civil Affairs the ſlacking of Juſtice doth maintain diſorder; the life of the Law is penalty when duly executed; wherefore the great Law-giver to his own Iſrael uſeth ſuch enforcements. Every ſtate and Kingdom hath Refractories, whom nothing reſtrains but penalty, indeed penalties executed do ſcarce reform, yet is Treacle made up of ſuch Vipers, for preſerving others.

All Iſrael ſhall hear and fear, Deut. 17.13 and do no more preſumptuouſly; Servility is much in men of beſt inclination; they are not always led by the Spirit of Ingenuity, Pſal. 51.12. Draco his Laws are yet extant, their ſeverity is deemed over rigorous, providing death for leaſt offences; lenities in ſome enormities is no leſs blamable, whilſt Adultery laughs at the white ſheet, or ſecures it ſelf of redeeming that ſhame, with purſe or power, As offences grow though but in circumſtances, ſo ought Penalties, Num. 30.32.35. Maxima peccandi Hlecibra eſt impunitatis ſpes; There is no greater encouragement or enticement to ſin, than hope of Impunity. Some wiſe Men begin to think, as that Sage Politician ſpake by occaſion of Nerva's remiſſneſs in Government: Praeſtat vivere ubi nulla, quam ubi omnia ſint cicita. It's better to live in that ſtate where nothing, than where all things are lawful, David was ſo far from ſuffering the worſhip of any ſtrange God within his Realm, that he proteſteth, Their offerings I will not offer, neither make mention of their names within my lips, Pſal. 16.4. When would he, think you, confirm their Honour and Service with his Royal Authority, that thus diſdained them common civility, he had a more Ennobled Spirit, more Divine Principle,Quo major ſuum eo plus laborabo as the Sun. Joſh. 23.7. Deut. 12.3. Num. 32.38 and would ſhew it by the ſublimity of his Actions, ſcorned to know wicked perſons,, or to let them tarry in his ſight; he was engaged to do ſomething more than ordinary, being called to be Gods own Anointed, and that the obſervation of Gods Laws was the nobleſt Ornament of His Majeſty, and that the Law was expreſs againſt it. Make no mention of the names of other Gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth, Exod. 23.13.

The good Kings of Juda were favoured and bleſſed of God, for walking in the Ways of David their Father, and purging the Land from all Sacrifices and Ceremonies not preſcribed by Moſes's Law: Contrariwiſe Solomon was rejected for admitting other Gods to be erved within his Dominions, beſides the God of Iſrael, though this tolleration was granted, in reſpect of his own Wives that were ſtrangers, Nehem. 13.36. Jerohoams politick deviſe to Worſhip the ſame God in Dan and Bethel, after a new manner, turned to the deſtruction of himſelf and his Poſterity: Therefore Jehoſaphat reproved by Jehu, viſited his Kingdom from Beerſheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought his people back unto the Lord God of their Fathers, 2 Chron. 19 2, 3. That the falſe Prieſts and Prophets did ſo over-bear the true Prophets of God, Jeremiah, Ezechiel, &c. to the ruine of the City and Kingdom, was the fault of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. And at this day it is the fault and folly of Chriſtian Kings that ſuffer the grand Seignior of Rome to impoſe upon them, and that the Church of Rome is not either reduced to her primitive truth, and purity from which ſhe is degenerated and brought to better confortymity vvith the truly Holy, Catholick and Apoſtolick Church, or elſe demoliſhed as the Jewiſh Synagogue vvas.

§ Gratian at his firſt entring finding all places full of Arrians, and the Laws of Valence his Unkle making for them, fearing ſome general Tumult, if he ſhould preſently deſtroy ſo many, gave leave, That every Religion might have Churches and Oratories with Freedom and Immunity. But being once ſettled and joyned with Theodoſius, he commanded that all Hereſies ſhould keep ſilence for ever, as interdicted by the Law of God and Man, That none ſhould any longer teach or learn prophance Doctrin. Cod. 1. Tit. 5. lege omnes.

The ſame prohibition did Arcadius and Honorius continue with great ſeverity: Let all Hereticks underſtand, that all places muſt be taken from them as well Churches as other places, and of private Houſes alſo: In all which let them be debarr'd from ſervice, both by night and by day; the Lord Deputy to be fined 100 l if he permit any ſuch thing in ſight or in ſecret. Ibid. lege cuncti. Theodoſius the younger, and Valentinian his Couſin, compriſing a long Bed-roll of ſundry ſorts of Hereſies, appointed, That no where within the Roman Empire their Aſſemblies or Prayers be ſuffered, and that all Laws made to probibit their meeting ſhould be revived and ſtand good everlaſtingly. Ibid. lege Ariani.

The Papiſts in the time of Queen Elizabeth wrote divers Books, and uſed many Arguments againſt the Oath of Supremacy, and for a Tolleration of their Religion; alledging the Examples of other Countries; and admomſhing Her Majeſty, that ſhe muſt anſwer to God, not only for things done by her command and knowledg, but for whatſoever is done unjustly by her Name and Authority, though ſhe never knew thereof; but Her Majeſty (reſpecting her duty, and account that ſhe was to make to God of all things done in the fleſh, whether they were good or evil) denied to bear the burden of their wicked abuſes, and poiſoned errors; which no civil Magiſtrate can avoid, that permitteth their ſinful Maſſes, and licenceth their wicked Rites, becauſe the ſeeing and ſuffering their Impieties (having power to ſuppreſs and hinder them) is a plain conſent, and in a manner an open Communion with their unfruitful works of darkneſs. The downfall of Ely, a dear Servant of God (once a Judg in Iſrael) for Connivence only, and fooliſh Pity, (where even Bowels of Nature might ſeem, if not to diſpence with ſevereties, yet to excuſe his lenity) Scriptures have Regiſtred for our warning and terror. And if Religion be not as meer a Fable as any in Aeſop, the greateſt Governments in the World will one day be called to a moſt ſevere Account for their ſo doing.

§ That other Countries and Kingdoms otherwiſe affected in Religion than themſelves, were nevertheleſs contented to ſuffer their ſervice vvithin their Dominions, prevailed not vvith Queen Eliz. ſhe vvell conſidering, that their doings could be no warrant nor diſcharge for her who was not to imitate the Vices, but the Vertues of Princes. Beſides that in ſuch tolleration they did well, ought firſt to be proved before their Examples ſhould be urged, as they were in her days. It being the duty of every Prince to conſider and do what every Prince ought to do by Gods Law, and not regard what other Princes pleaſe to do what ſeemeth beſt in their own Eyes. And Her Majeſty for ſo refuſing to countenance their Religion deſerved more countenance and protection with God, and praiſe with Men, for that in guiding her people ſhe rather embraced Chriſtian Piety, than irreligious policie, and choſe rather to walk by Gods Precepts, than by the ill Example of other Princes. Beſides, Her Majeſty well knew, that amongſt the Germans and Helvetians (Examples in their Writings urged) many Dukes, Landt-graves, Marqueſses, Counts, yea Biſhops, Barons, Abbots, and Gentlemen had Regal Juriſdiction within their reſpective precincts: And it is no news to ſee divers Laws under divers Lords, and divers Religions under divers Regiments. As for any other Countries or Kingdoms (as Polonia, Hungaria, &c.) not able without Blood and War to reduce their Countries to the profeſſion of the true Faith; neither may we reprove them as negligent, nor the Papiſts alledge them as warrantable Examples, ſince not their own ſault, but other mens fore keepeth them from attempting any redreſs by thei Princely power, which the Nobles reſtrain, and th Commons receive with this Proviſo, that their accuſtomed freedom of conſcience be no ways prohibited, nor interrupted. Other Examples of Turks, Pagans, Arrians, and the like, are unfit for Chriſtians. David, Joſiah, and other Kings of Judah, are to be imitated in this not Sarazins. Moſes and other Holy Writers are very plain and poſitive againſt this dawbing with untempered Morter, Exod. 23.13, 32, 33. Deut. 12.2, 3. Deut. 13.6. Jor. 15.19. Deut. 12.10. Come out from among them, and be ye ſeperate, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters ſaith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. Levit. 36.12. Iſa. 52. n. Was not the Church of Thyatira (otherwiſe beautified with many Graces) highly blamed for ſuffering the falſe Propheteſs to teach, and to ſeduce. I know thy Works, and Charity, and Service, and Faith, and Patience, (all excellent Graces) notwithſtanding I have a few things againſt thee, becauſe thou ſufferest that Woman Jezabel, which calleth her ſelf a Propheteſs, to teach and to ſeduce my ſervants to commit Fornication, and to eat things ſacrificed unto Idols, Rev. 2.19, 20. which fearful Effects made Conſtantine to decree, That all Temples of Hereticks ſhould without any denial be overthrown, and in no place publick or private ſhould their Aſſemblies be ſuffered. Jovinianus reſuſed to govern thoſe that were not ſound in Faith. Socrat. lib. 5. c. 1. The privateneſs of the place when the fact is ill, acquitteth not the doer from ſin; nor excuſeth the permitter from negligence. No corner ſo ſecret, no Priſon ſo cloſe, but their Impieties there ſuffered do offend God, infect others, and confirm their own frowardneſs.

Private permiſſion of error is unlawful as well as publick, if Popiſh Religion be good. Why ſhould it lack Churches? If it be naught why ſhould it have Corners? St. Patil hath put in a Caviat againſt that ſlight of permitting, which in truth is conſenting, Rom. 1. Ely reproved his Sons, yet was ſharply puniſhed of God for his Indulgence, which is all one with Connivance, 1 Sam. 2.22. St. John ſaith, He that receiveth into his houſe, or biddeth an Heretick God ſpeed, is partaker of his evil deeds. Eph. 2, 10 11. How then can Kings bear with your Sacrilegious prophaning of the Lords Supper, and forbidding Gods own Word to be read, and licence the reſt of your Impieties, and Blaſphemies, and hope to be free from your plague? When Valentinian the younger was requeſted to wink at the renewing of an Alter for the Pagans in Rome; St. Ambroſe diſſwaded him in theſe words. All men ſerve you that be Prmces, and you ſerve the Mighty God. He that ſerveth this God muſt bring no diſſimulation, no Connivance, but ſaithful zeal, and devotion; be muſt give no kind of conſent to the worſhip of Idols, or other ſuperstitious or prophane Ceremonies, for God will not be deceived nor mocked, who ſearcheth all things, even the ſecrets of our Hearts. Ambroſe lib. 5. Ep. 30. Now what account will God exact for his Name blaſphemed, his Word exiled and wreſted, his Decalogue dockt, his Sacraments curtal'd and prophaned? And what anſwer muſt be made for the ruine of Faith, harveſt of ſin, murder of Souls conſequent always to the publick freedom of Idolatrous and Superſtitious Worſhip and Hereſies, which ought to be fully conſidered, and wilely prevented by Chriſtian Magiſtrates, who muſt as well as the meaneſt of their Vaſſals give an account of their Stewardſhips when called thereunto at the day of their Account.

§ When Mary (afterwards Queen of England) earneſtly beſought her Brother King Ed. 6. both by her own Letters, and by the mediation of the Emperour, That ſhe might have the free uſe of Maſs in her Family, alledging her Conſcience for it, that her Houſe was her Flock, &c.: The King by his Council made anſwer, that it was well liked, that her Grace ſhould have her Houſe or Flock, but not exempt from the Kings Laws and Orders; neither may there be a Flock of the Kings Subjects, but ſuch as will hear and follow the voice of the King their Shepherd: God diſalloweth, Law and Reaſon forbiddeth it, Policy abhorreth it, and her Honour may not require it: However, at her earneſt intreaty and deſire made in the Emperors Name, thus much was granted, and no more, that for his ſake, and hers alſo, it ſhould be ſuffered and winked at, if ſhe had the private Maſs uſed in her own Cloſet, for a ſeaſon, until ſhe might be better informed, whereof was ſome hope, having only with her a few of her own Chamber; ſo that for all the rest of her Houſhold the Service of the Realm ſhould be uſed, and no other. After this was granted in Words, the Emperors Ambaſſador deſired ſome Teſtimony of the Promiſe under the Great Seal, which being denied, he deſired to have it by a Letter; which was alſo denyed, but not without ſhewing ſound reaſons, that he perceiving it to be denyed with Reaſon, wight be the better contented with the anſwer. But when there was ill uſe made of this Indulgence and Connivance, her Chaplain taking too great a liberty by publick Celebration of the Maſs out of her Preſence, was ſent for by the Council, impriſon'd &c. for whom, though her Grace mediated by many carneſt Letters, both to the King and his Council; yet did his Majeſty ſignifie to her by a Letter dated 24. January 1550. That though he had for a while connived, that ſhe might be brought as far towards the Truth by Brotherly love, as others were by Duty, and in hope of her amendment; yet now if there be no hope, why ſhould there be ſufferance? Alledging alſo, That his charge was to have the ſame care over every mans Eſtate, that every man ought to have over his own: And that in her own Houſe, as ſhe would be loath, openly to ſuffer one of her Servants, being next her, moſt manifeſtly to break her Orders; ſo muſt ſhe think in his ſtate, it would prejudice him to permit her ſo great a Subject not to keep his Laws, that her nearneſs to him in Blood, her greatneſs in Eſtate, and the condition of the Time made her fault the greater. The Example is unnatural, that our Sister ſhould do leſs for us than our other Subjects, the Caſe ſtanderous for ſo great a perſon to forſake our Majesty. And therefore 24. Aug. 1551. He ſent Commiſſioners to ſignifie to her, That His Majesty did reſolutely determine it juſt, neceſſary and expedient, That her Grace ſhould not in any ways uſe or maintain the private Maſs; or any other manner of ſervice than ſuch as by the Law of the Realm was authorized and allowed. So reſolure was this young Joſiab, this Noble pious Prince, though his dear Siſter, and the next Heir of the Crown, had divers times offered her Body at the Kings Will, rather than to change he rconſcience.

§ Queen Eliz. as in other things, ſo in Religion, was according to her aſſumed Motto ſemper endem, never ſuffering the leaſt Innovdtion thereof; and therefore, as in the firſt Year of her Reign, ſhe took great care that thoſe, Proteſtants which then began to frame a new Eecleſiaſtical Poliey, being tranſported with a humour of Innovation, ſhould be repreſſed betimes; and that but one only Religion was to be tollerated, Angli Bello in trepidi nec mottis ſenſu deterentur. leſt diverſity of Relig ons amongſt the Engliſh (a ſtout and Warlike Nation) might miniſter continual Fuel to Seditions: So in the Second Year of her Reign, when the Emperor and Catholick Princes by many Letters made earneſt inter ceſſion, that the Biſhops and other Eccleſiasticks diſplaced for refuſing the Oath of Supremacy (which notwithſtanding moſt of them had Sworn unto and taught in their Sermons, and writ in defence thereof in the Reign of King H. 8. might be mercifully dealt withall, (there being, as themſelves had written and calculated, above 9400. Eccleſiastical orefer ments, and not above 189. diſplaced, whereof 14 were Biſhops) & that Churches might be allowed to the Papiſts by themſelves in Cities; ſhe anſwered:

That although thoſe Popiſh Biſhops had inſolently and openly repugned againſt the Laws and Quiet of the Realm, and did ſtill obſtinately reject that Doctrin, which moſt of them under H. 8. and E. 6. had of their own accord with heart and hand publickly in their Sermons, and Writings taught unto others, when they themſelves, were not private Men, but publick Magiſtrates; yet would ſhe for ſo great Princes ſakes deal favourably with them, though not without ſome offence to her own Subjects: But to grant them churches wherein to celebrate their divine Offices apart by themſelves, ſhe could not with the ſafety of the Common-Wealth, and without wrong to her ovvn Honour and Conſcience; neither vvas there any cauſe vvhy ſhe ſhould grant them, ſeeing England embraced no nevv or ſtrange Doctrin, but the ſame vvhich Chriſt commanded, the Primitive, and Catholick Church received, and the ancient Fathers vvith one Mind and Voice approved, and to allovv Churches with contrary Rites and Ceremonies; Beſides that, it openly repugned the Laws eſtabliſhed by Authority of Parliament, were nothing elſe but to ſow Religion out of Religion, to diſtract good Mens minds, to cheriſh factious Mens humours, diſturb Religion, and the Common-Wealth, and mingle Divine and Humane things, a Thing, Evil in Deed, but in Example worſt of all, to her own good Subjects hurtful, and unto themſelves, to whom it is granted, neither greatly commodious, nor yet at all ſafe: She was therefore determined out of her natural Clemency, and eſpecially at their requeſt to be willing to heale the private inſolency of a few, by much Connivance, yet ſo as ſhe might not encourage their obſtinate minds by her Indulgence.

§ When Suſſex treated with the Emperor Maximilian on the Articles of Marriage between Arch-Duke Charles his Son, and Queen Eliz. both Father and Son did require, That a publick Church might be allowed, wherein Divince Service might be celebrated to him and his, after the Romiſh manner: When this would not be granted, then that in ſome private place in the Court he might peaceably uſe his Service of Cod, (as was permitted to Popiſh Princes Ambaſſadors in their Houſes) and that with theſe Conditions, That no Engliſh Man ſhould be admitted thereunto, and neither he, nor his Servants ſhould ſpeak againſt the Religion received in England, or favour thoſe that did ſpeak againſt it: That if any diſpleaſure ſhould ariſe in reſpect of Religion, he ſhould be preſent with the Queen at Divine Service, to be celebrated after the manner of the Church of England: Unto this the Queen anſwered, That if ſhe ſhould grant this, ſhe ſhould offend her Conſcience, and openly break the publick Laws of her Realm, not without great peril both of her dignity and ſafety. The ſame Princely, Pious, and immovable Reſolution ſhe held, when in the like Treaty of Marriage between her and the Duke of Anjou, where Tolleration of the Roman Religion being much preſſed and inſiſted on, both by the Queen his Mother, and by Charles the 9th. King of France, his Brother, Queen Eliz. (though it were ſuggeſted, that the Romiſh Religion was not deeply rooted in the Dukes mind, being but young, and for that he was Educated under Carnlette, a perſon not averſe from the Proteſtant Religion, and that by degrees he might be brought to the Proteſtant profeſſion; and many other and great advantages would thereby accrew to the good of the Reformed Religion) anſwered, (as well became Gods Vice-gerent in her Dominions) That although the outward Exerciſe of Chriſtian Religion might haply be tollerated with different Rites and Ceremonies amongſt the Subjects of one and the ſame Kingdom; yet a different, yea a flat contrary Exerciſe between the Queen (who is the Head of her people) and her Husband, might not only ſeem perilous, but alſo altogether abſurd; ſhe prayed them to conſider with equal Ballauce, on the one ſide her own hazard, and on the other ſide the Duke of Anjou's Honour: By Tollerating his Religion, ſhe ſhould break the Laws eſtabliſhed, give offence to her beſt Subjects, and encouragement to her worſt; which things would certainly over-weigh the Duke of Anjou's Honour: If the Duke would water more plentifully the Seeds of the purer Religion, already ſown, and ſuffer more to be ſown, he ſhould ſoon ſee, that it would be unto him a moſt high Honour. At length it came to this Iſſue, That if ſo be the Duke would be preſent with the Queen, at the Celebration of Divine Service, and not refuſe to hear and learn the Inſtitutions of the Proteſtant Religion; ſhe would aſſent, that neither the Duke nor his Family ſhould be conſtraned to uſe the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England, nor moleſted for other Divine Rites, not openly and manifeſtly repugnant to Gods Word ſo as it were done in a certain private place, and no occaſion given to the Engliſh to break the Laws eſtabliſhed. Foix ſtuck at the Word, the Word of God; for whoſe ſatisfaction the Queen commanded inſtead of Gods Word to put in Gods Church, which when it liked him worſe, and for it would have had to be put in the Catholick Church; the Queen flatly and ſtoutly refuſed it, and ſo by degrees it cooled. Her religious care herein was alſo ſo great and ſteady, that Walſingham her Ambaſſador had ſecret Inſtructions, That if the Duke of Anjou ſhould be content to omit in that Treaty that point concerning Tolleration of Religion, yet would the Queen bind him in ſuch ſure caution, that he ſhould not require is at any time after.

§ Of the ſame opinion was King James Anno 1596. in the Caſe of Huntley Angus, and Arrol, Popiſh Lords, who though they would have betrayed the Kingdom to the Spaniard; yet the King being willing afterwards to have them return, (though Guilt had made them Fugitives) and being returned, the King writ thus to Huntley, viz. My Lord, I am ſure you conſider, and do remember, how often I have incurred Skaith and hazard for your cauſe; therefore to be ſhort, reſolve you either to ſatisfie the Church betwixt that day that is appointed, without any more delay, or elſe if your Conſcience be ſo Kittle, as it cannot permit you, make for another Land betwixt this and that day, where you may uſe freely your own Conſcience, your Wife and Barnes ſholl in that Caſe enjoy your Living, but fo your ſelf look never to be a Scottiſh Man again; deceive not your ſelf to think by lingring of time your Wife, and your Allys, ſhall ever get you better Conditions: And think not, that I will ſuffer any profeſſing a contrary Religion to dwell in this Land.

Afterwards when His Majeſty came to the Crown of England, which was May 14. 1602. he declared to his Parliament there 19. May 1603.Li c. p. 1 That the Popiſh point of Doctrin is that Arrogant and Ambitious Supremacy of their Head the Pope, whereby he not only claims to be Spiritual Head of all Chriſtians, but alſo to have an Imperial civil power over all Kings and Emperors, dethroning and decrowning Princes with his Foot as pleaſeth him, and diſpenſing and diſpoſing of all Kingdoms and Empires at his appetite. The other point which they obſerve in continual practiſe, is the Aſſaſſinates and Murders of Kings, thinking it no ſin, but rather a matter of Salvation to do all Actions of Rebellion and Hoſtility againſt their natural Sovereign Lord, if he be once accurſed, his Subjects diſcharged of their fidelity, and his Kingdom given a Prey by the Three Crowned Monarch, or rather Monſter their Head.

Which Poſitions of theirs the Gun-powder-traitors, within Two Years after made good, after which time he was not only willing, whilſt he lived, that we ſhould pray to God as was done in the days of Great Eliz. that he would keep us from all Papiſtry, and that he would preſerve us from the Pope as well as from the Turk, in as much as the Pope laboured to dethrone Chriſt, as well as the Turk did; but he required further of us: That we ſhould pray God to ſtrengthen his Hands, and the Hands of his Nobles and Magiſtrates in the Land to out off the Papiſts,In the Prayer to be made 5. Novemb. for the Gun-powder-treaſon. to root them out of the Confines and Limits of the Kingdom; proteſting in Parliament, that he could not permit the increaſe and growth of Popery, without betraying the liberty both of England and Scotland, and of the Crown in his poſterity, and did declare in his Speech in Parliament 1605. That none of thoſe that truly know and believe the whole Grounds and School-Concluſions of their Doctrins can ever prove-good Chriſtians or good Subjects. Vide his Works 504. Nay farther, in the Second Year of his Reign ter' tr' upon a falſe rumor being ſpread, that His Majeſty intended to grant a Tolleration to Papiſts; he commanded all the Judges, with divers of the greateſt Nobility, viz. Lord Chancellor, Lord Treaſurer, and to Aſſemble in the Star-Chamber to receive their opinions upon theſe and other points; at which time the Lords ſeverally declared, how the King was diſcontented with the ſaid falſe Rumor, and had made but the day before a proteſtation unto them, that he never intended it, and that he would ſpend the laſt drop of Blood in his Body before he would do it: And prayed, that before any of his Iſſue ſhould maintain any other Religion than what he truly profeſſed and maintained, that God would take them out of the World. Vide Sir George Crokes Reports part. 2. ter. tr. Anno 2 Jac. Reg. in Banco Regis.

§ When a Match with Spain was propounded to King James for Prince Charles, and there with an Article defired for a Tolleration of the Popiſh Religion, which when King James had propounded to the Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, 1623. the Arch-Biſhop did write his Sentiments of King James; in which Letter He beſought His Majeſty to take into his conſideration, what your Act is, and what the Conſequence may be by your Act; you labour to ſet up the moſt Damnable and Heretical Doctrine of the Church of rome, the Whore of Babilon. How hateful it will be to God, and grievous to the good Subjects, the profeſſors of the Goſpel, that your Majeſty, who hath often diſputed, and learnedly written againſt thoſe, ſhould now ſhew your ſelf a Patron of thoſe wicked Doctrins, which your Pen hath told the World, and your Conſcience tells your ſelf, are Superſtitious, Idolatrous and Deteſtable. Beſides this Tolleration which you endeavour to ſet up by your Proclamamation, cannot be done without a Parliament, unleſs your Majeſty will let your Subjects ſee that you will take unto your ſelf ability to throw down the Laws of the Land at your pleaſure, &c. prout. King James not long after, viz 23. Ap. 1624. returns this Anſwer to a Petition of his Parliament touching Recuſants, viz. What my Religion is, my Books declare, my profeſſion and my behaviour do ſhew; and I hope in God I ſhall never live to be thought otherwiſe; ſure I am, I ſhall never deſerve it: And for my part I wiſh that it might be written in Marble, and remain to poſterity as a mark upon me, when I ſhall ſwerve from my Religion; for he that doth diſſemble withy God, is not to be truſted by Man. My Lords, Ip roteſt before God, my Heart hath bled, when I have heard of the increaſe of Opery; and God is my Judg, it hath been ſo great a grief unto me, that it hath been like Thorns in my Eyes, and Pricks in my ſides, ſo far have I been, and ever ſhall be, from turning any other way. And my Lords and Gentlemen, you all ſhall be my Confeſſors, if I knew any way better than other to hinder the growth of Popery I would take it, and he cannot be an honeſt man, who knowing as I do, and being perſwaded, as I am, would do otherwiſe.

The Romiſh Catholicks for want of this liberty and tollerance in the time of Queen Eliz. and ſince have made and written many bitter Complaints and Invectives againſt the Rigour of our Penal Laws &c. Rex Talionis. I could requite them by commemorating the flames they kindled in England to burn their Brethren to duſt: How Pius Qintus conferred England on Philip II. King of Spain, and approved as an Act lawful by Azorius. Inſtit. Mor. part. 2. lib. 11. c. 5. And how many Princes they have diſplaced, poiſoned and murdered.

The Holy Houſe which the Friars have planted in spain, reſembling the Torments of Nero his Garden, the Maſſacres of Provence, Piedmont of old, and of late, and of Paris, where they murdered Men, Women and Children by Thouſands, againſt the very Grounds off all Equity, Piety, Charity, and Humanity, without Convicting, Accuſing, or ſo much as Calling them before any Judg, to hear what was miſliked in them. And when was any of this put in Execution, ſome of it, even the 24 Aug. 1572. the very Year that Charles IX. the French King pretending great kindneſs to the Proteſtants, had in Teſtimony thereof deſired a Confederacy at Blois with Queen Eliz. and the Princes of Germany in favour of them, whom notwithſtanding he had ſecretly and treacherouſly deſigned to the flaughter: For no ſooner were the Articles of Confederacy agreed on, (which was the 11th. of April) and confirmed by Oath by the Queen at Westminſter 15. May in the preſence of Montmo. rency, ſtiled the firſt Chriſtian Prince, and accounted the moſt Noble Family of all france; who alſo again earneſtly ſollicited the Marriage with the Duke of Anjou; but for that they could not agree about the Exerciſe of Religion, he haſted into France to the Marriage of Henry of Navarre, and Madam Margarite the French Kings Siſter. To this Marriage, in purſuance of the ſaid Bloody Deſign, were invited the Queen of Navarre, and all the choiceſt of the Proteſtants, and alſo Burleigh and Leiceſter our of England, (pretending Honour to them) and the Palatine Elector's Sons out of Germany, that being brought into the ſnare, both they, and with them the Proteſtant Evangelical Religion, might with one ſtroak, if not have had their Throats cut, yet at leaſt receive a Mortal Wound: For no ſooner was the Marriage Solemnized, but that barbarous Maſſacre of Paris, and the Bloody Butchering of the Proteſtants throughout the Cities of France, upon men of all Eſtates, was curſedly put in Execution, and that within Two days after. Mota: Fennelon the French Ambaſſador had propounded the Marriage between Queen Eliz. and the Duke of Anjou at Kenelworth. Camb. Eliſab. 162. Which conſidered, I annot but wonder to hear you thus complaining at the Fatherly Chaſtiſement wherewith this Realm ſeeketh your amendment, and ſucketh not your Blood. Compare the penalties which you fret at, with the Laws of former Emperours, and you will ſee how eaſie they are in reſpect of their ancient Edicts; which reſtrained ſuch as did forbear to communicate with the Church of Chriſt from buying, ſelling, diſpoſing, bequeathing Goods or Lands by will or otherwiſe, yea from receiving any Legacies, or enjoying their Fathers Inheritance, the place where Schiſmatical Service was faid, Chappel or Houſe to be forfeited, and the Biſhop and Clergy-man to pay 16 l. weight in Gold, or to be baniſhed. God. l. 1. Tit. 5. Mamcheos Ibid. 8. Cuncti. St. Auguſtin Ep. 48. When it was expected, by reaſon of the goodneſs of his Nature, that he ſhould mediate for ſome of theſe penalties to be releaſed, gave this quick and ſmart anſwer: Nay, marry let Princes in Gods Name ſerve Chriſt in making Laws for Chriſt.

§ It was, in the days of Queen Eliz. objected, That for want of the Exerciſe of a Religion, many ſorts want things neceſſary to Salvation, and many are forced to things which Bring Damnation. Sol. We do not know what thoſe things neceſſary to Salvation are, which this Realm wanteth. Receive with meekneſs the Word that is grafted in you, which is able to ſave your Souls, 1. Jam. 21. So long as we refuſe no part of the Goſpel, which is the power of God for the Salvation of every Believer, Rom. 1.16. all other Wants ſignifie little. St. Paul doth warrant us, That the Scriptures are able to direct and inſtruct Salvation by Faith in Chriſt Jeſus, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16. leſs we believe not, more we need not, dream you what you liſt of Salvation and Damnation. The Comfort of the Scriptures ſhall nouriſh our Hopes, Rom. 15. It is you, not we, that keep back half the Communion one of the Commandments, and the publikc uſe of the Scripture, the very Rule and Guide to Salvation.

§ It grieves you ſore,As lawful for Proteſtants as Papiſts to compel. that any of your Tribe ſhould be invited againſt their Wills to frequent our Sacraments or Service, and that any mans Conſcience ſhould be forced: Then why did you force Numbers with extream violence to recant, and forſwear the perſwaſion of their Faith? What Reaſon can you bring that you may compel others, and none must compel you? Where got you that exemption? or if Compulſion be lawful for both ſides alike: Why ſtorm ye ſo much at our eaſie penalties, and thoſe ſeldom or never put in execution, when your ſelves are juſtly charged with many cruel, and unchriſtian Butcheries and Tragedies? your Inquiſiting, your Burning, your Murdering of Thouſands, without any refpect of Innocent or Ignorant, is indeed very lamentable. This kind of compelling which Queen Eliz. uſed, and out Laws ſtill preſcribe, cannot be denyed to be Charitable, and to be reſembleable to that Co-action, which the Seriptures commend in Joſiah, which the moſt virtuous Emperours followed in the Primitive Church, and which St. Auſtin, upon deep debating the cauſe, found allowed by God himſelf as the chiefeſt point of that Service which he requireth of Chriſtian Princes. As much as they are troubled with Compulſion, when it is uſed againſt themſelves, yet they can glory in it when they uſe it againſt others; Witneſs Peter Dameſius the French Kings Ambaſſador to the Council of Trent, who in his ſolemn Oration to that Synod, vapoured, that the Kings of France had never ſuffered any Sect in any part of France, nor any but Catholicks; yea, have procured the converſion of Strangers, Idolaters and Hereticks, and have conſtrained them with pious Arms to profeſs the true and ſound Religion, (rectius Hereſie.) He ſhewed how Childibert compelled the Viſigothes (who were Arrians) to joyn themſelves to the Catholick Church; and how Charles the Great made Wars 30 Years with the Saxons to reduce them to Chriſtian Religion. Conſ. Tr. 186. Our Sacraments, Service and Sermons, are reformed according to the Conſtat of Chriſts Will and Teſtament, and therefore ought to be uſed and frequented, and perſons may be compelled to frequent them.

To come yet nearer home, & unto our own days; What are the perſecutions of the Hugonots & Hungarians at this day, but Compulſions, & thoſe contrary to ſeveral Edicts, Agreements and Sanctions of their Princes, which thereby (beſides their juſt right derived from God himſelf) become their juſt due, and ought as Inviolably to be kept as well on the Princes as on the Subjects part. God never brake his Covenant made with his people; and Princes ought as ſolemnly in this to Imitate their God, and their Lord, whoſe Vice-gerents they are, and ought not to tranſgreſs or go beyond their Commiſſion. Nothing of this kind can ever be claimed from, or objected juſtly againſt our Proteſtant Kings or Parliaments. I will not look far back, nor mention thoſe ſolemn curſed Oaths ſome of our European Princes have taken to deſtroy and extirpate Hereticks, . e. Proteſtants Root and Branch.

I ſhall here only call to mind the Edicts of Nantez. made by H. 4. as a particular Irrevocable fundamental Law. In purſuance whereof Commiſſioners were ſent into all Provinces to execute the ſame, which being done in due form, the Commiſſioners returned the Execution thereof into the Hands of the King to ſerve as a Rule and Standard in all future Debates which might happily ariſe on that Subject. Now to tell of all the violations of this Edict at the Inſtigation of the Jeſuitical Clergy would fill a Volume, therefore I ſhall ſtint it to a few of many.

New Commiſſioners ſince 1660. being Commiſſioned, are commanded to Execute the Acts of Council made in Conſequence of that Edict, which are no other than ſo many violations of the ſame. The Council Anno 1662. paſt an Act, that the Proteſtants ſhall not be admitted before the Commiſſioners to prove the right for the Exerciſe of their Religion by Inqueſts or Witneſſes, even although the Witneſſes be Roman Catholicks, whereby they have loſt near Three parts of Four of all their Churches.

Provence, which had 15 or 16. Churches, is now reduced to 4. Grex which had 23 Churches hath now but 2. In all Bretaigne remains but 2. High and low Languedock are reduced to half their Number. Poictu which had 61 indiſputable Churches, is now reduced to 13. by an Act of 6. August 1665. and ſo of divers other Provinces.

By which means the Proteſtant Religion ſuffers more than by any Pariſian Veſpers: the Proteſtants being neceſſitated either to live without any publick Exerciſe of their Religion, or through infinite dangers and inconveniencies to wander 50. or 60. Miles diſtant from them.

One Act of Council hath robbed them of the liberty of praiſing God by forbidding ſinging of Pſalms, even privately in their Houſes. May 6. 1659. March 17. 1663.

Another Act hath deprived them of the comfort of paying their laſt duty to their Dead with any conveniency; compelling them to bury clandeſtinely, and in the night. Inhumanity heyond that of Heathens. 7. Aug. & 3. Novemb. 1662.

Another hath diveſted Proteſtant Magiſtrates, what ever be their charge or quality of the priviledge of preſiding in their Courts. Soct. 1663.

Another hath taken away all means of Inſtructing and Educating cheir Children, leaving them at moſt (and that only in ſome places) the ſmaller Schools, where is only taught to Write, Read, Compt; as if ſtudy of Religion were incompatible with the ſtudy of Humane Sciences. 26. Eeb. 1663.

Another hath reſtrained the liberty of Printing any Book in favour of the Religion without obtaining an Imprimatur from the Kings Council, and how likely they are to obtain that is not hard to gueſs. 29. Jan. 1663.

Another ordaineth Parents to give Penſions to their Children who turn Papiſts, although the Children will not dwell with them. Declaration 24. Oct. 1663. and Acts of Council 30. Jan. 1665. As if paternal Authority were nulled by Childrens Apoſtacy; forgetting, that Chriſtian Religion doth not abſolve Slaves from their Subjection to their Maſters, yet Dominus Deus vester Papa can diſcharge Children of their obedience which they owe to their Parents of the Proteſtant Religion.

Another prohibits the Exerciſe of Charity towards their Brethren, who have no ſufficiency of their own for their livelyhood. 5. Oct. 1663.

Another diſchargeth payment of Debts by thoſe of the Commonalty who ſhall turn Papiſts. The very Heathens never pretended that thoſe Chriſtians who did but Apoſtatize to them, ſhould be diſcharged from payment of their Debts.

Another prohibits Miniſters to preach without the place of their reſidence, thereby depriving them of the benefit of Annexation, i. e. the priviledge of one Miniſters ſupplying Two Churches, which ſingly are not able to afford a compleat maintenance. 22. Feb. 1664.

Another giveth liberty to Prieſts and Fryars to enter their Houſes, and come unto their Bed-ſides when ſick or dying to ſollicite them to change their Religion. 18. Sept. 1664. & 12. May 1665.

Another maketh it criminal in Miniſters to ſtyle themſelves Paſtors or Miniſters of the Word of God. Nay, they have regulated the very Garments of Miniſters; forbidding them to wear a long Garment, that they may have no Character of diſtinction from the peaſants. 30. Jan. 1663.

In the Declaration of pretended Relapſes 1663. ratified in Parliament 7. Jan. 1663. It is ordained, that thoſe of the Religion who have once embraced the Popiſh Religion ſhall never again return unto it under pain of perpetual Baniſhment. A thing plainly contrary to the Edict: Yet they have given it a retroſpective and retroactive power to execute it againſt perſons who became of the Religion long before the Declaration was in being; and accordingly have proceeded againſt ſome whom they have impriſoned, compelled to do penance (by going Bare-foot and Bare-headed through the ſtreets with a burning Torch to the place of Juſtice, or perſon offended, and there to ask forgiveneſs) and then Baniſhed the Kingdom.

I could cloy the Readers with like ſeverities uſ que ad nauſeam, but I forbear, having no other deſign by this brief Narrative but only to give a taſt of the difference of ſeverities, which we uſe here, and which are uſed againſt us abroad in our Neighbour Nations, without going farther into Germany, Hungary, Poland, and other Popiſh Countries. Vide the Memoirs of the King of Sweden to the Emperour. Let William Watſon the Secular Prieſt conclude for our Juſtification, viz That all the ſufferings brought upon the Papists here in England, was the due reward for their own demerits: Which Axiome is as compleatly true now, as it was in his days.

Now, what hope can we have to ſpeed better than our Neighbours, who only want power to do as much for us? but I proceed.

As in the days of Queen Eliz. ſo now they begin to play their old tricks over again, and would fain perſwade us, that there is a Generation of them that are faithful and dutiful Subjects to this Crown, (whatſoever others of the ſame Communion are) and therefore plead hard for Indulgence and Tolleration above their Fellows; F. 5. As that they diſown the Paramount and Omnipotent Powers attributed to the Pope in many particulars, and look upon it as a grievance, rather than a right belonging to him, and complain and wiſh for remedy; that they will ſtand with the King, his Crown and Regality in ſome Caſes by them named, and in all others in all points to live and dye with them. They farther conceive that it is the right of every National Church to provide for the particular concerns thereof, and yet confeſses, that it is not for her ſafety to receive thoſe who do not believe as ſhe doth. It is there owned, F. 7. (yet not without a Peradventure) that the Church of England hath preſerved the face of a continued Miſſion, and un-interrupted Ordination, that her moderation in Doctrin is great, that her diſciple preſerves Epiſcopal Government, that ſhe abhors Phanaticiſme, and the wild Errors of a private Spirit, that though ſhe hold the Scripture to be the Rule of Controverſie, yet holds withall, that it is not of private interpretation, and that ſhe is for Vincentius Lyrinenſis Rule, quod ab omnibus, quod ſemper quod ubi que that the Papiſts upon many occaſions have been found as faithful to the State as any of their fellow Subjects. At laſt this Diologiſt P. takes pet, F. 15.33. that the ſeaſonable diſcourſe accounts the Proteſtant Religion excellent, and the Popiſh full of ſtupidity, which though granted, yet he argues, may we not therefore be permitted to ſay our Prayers in private, which is all the Indulgence allowed us? and that ſure it is no part of the Protestant Church to hinder others from being as good as they can, and the worſe our Religion is, the more need we have of praying to make us better.

A great Courtier I muſt confeſs, and hath complemented us highly to his own ends and advantage, yet with little Injury to us; which though I cannot ſo courtly return in its own kind without flattering; yet I modeſtly wiſh, that all the Papiſts were no worſe minded: And yet if they were, I do not know that this State were the more ſecure. This very Scene was acted in Queen Eliz. days, as I have ſhewed before, and their own Books, which are very numerous, and very full of ſuch acknowledgments and diſclamours; and yet ſome of the ſame Leaven for their unfaithfulneſs to her and this Crown came with the firſt unto untimely ends, and that deſervedly. I will hope better of theſe of this Generation, preſuming they will take warning by other mens harms. However, I preſume this State will be as wiſe now as they were in her days, and truſt to neither, for that the more ſecure we are of the one, the leſs ſafe we are from the other. The Seculars and Regulars in her days confeſſed much more, viz. That though they diſliked the ſeverity of her Laws, yet could not but acknowledg, that the State had great cauſe to make ſuch, except they ſhould have ſhewed themſelves careleſs, and though the Laws were very extreme, yet the occaſions of them were very outragious; and likewiſe, that the Execution of them was not ſo Tragical as many did write and report. Import. Conſider. f. 11. A Letter from a Jeſuited Gent. f. 65, 66. Dialogue between a Secular Prieſt, and a Lay. Gent. ſparing diſcovery, and others, ſparſim.

In Queen Eliz. days ſuch of the Papiſts who though they did not forbear to profeſs Loyalty and Obedience to Her Majeſty, and were ready to reſiſt any Forrein force, though Authorized from the Pope himſelf, (as this Dialogiſt pretends now to do:) None of this ſort were for their Religion proſecuted, or charged with any crimes or pains of Treaſon. And this I ſhall demonſtrate in point of fact, by inſtancing of ſome few of very many of the better ſort, (for of the more ordinary ſort they were ſans nombre) not unfit to be taken notice of; as by name Dr. Heth, that was Arch-Biſhop of York, and Lord Chancellor of England, in Queen Maries days, who at the firſt coming of Queen Eliz. to the Crown, ſhewing himſelf a faithful and quiet Subject continued in both the ſaid Offices, though in Religion then manifeſtly differing, and was not reſtrained of his liberty, nor deprived of his proper Lands and Goods; but willingly leaving both his Offices, lived in his own Houſe very diſcreetly, and injoyed all his purchaſed Lands, and diſpoſd of them as he pleaſed at his death: An Example of Clemency not to be parallel'd in Queen Maries time. The like did Dr. Poole Biſhop of Peter-borough: Dr. Tunstall Biſhop of Dureſme: Dr. White and Dr. Oglethorpe Biſhops, the one of Winchester, the other of Carliſle, who was ſo inclined to dutifulneſs to the Queen, that he did the Office of Conſecration and Coronation of Her Majeſty: And Dr. Thurleby, and Dr. Watſon, the one of Ely, the other of Lincoln Biſhops, and ſo Turbervile Biſhop of Exeter; all which lived at their own liberty, without being charged with any Capital peine, though they maintained the Popes Authority againſt the Laws of the Realm: Some Abbots did the like, as Mr. Fecknam: Some Deans, as Dr. Boxall, Dean of Windſor: Dr. Cole, Dean of St. Pauls: Dr. Reignold, Dean of Exeter, and many others, having born Offices and Dignities in the Church, and that had made profeſſion againſt the Pope, which they only began in Queen Maries time to change; yet were theſe never troubled nor deprived of their proper Goods and Livelyhoods; but only removed from their Eccleſiaſtical Offices, which they would not Exerciſe according to the Laws, and moſt of them, and many others of their ſort, for a great time were retained in Biſhops Houſes very civily and courteouſly, without charge to themſelves or their friends, untill the time that the Pope (Phalaris like) ſent out his roaring Bull, dated 5. Calend. Mart. 1569. 5. Papatus Pij Quint. and his bellowing Meſſages to trouble this Realm by ſtirring Rebellion about the ſame year, being about 11 Years after Her Majeſties coming to the Crown. Beſides theſe Eccleſiaſticks, there were alſo very many Lay-men of good Fortunes and Families that were manifeſtly ſeduced by their Prieſts to hold wrong opinions in Religion for the Popes Authority, and none of them were ever impeached of Treaſon, or of loſs of Life, Member, or Inheritance, for ſuch their opinions in Religion, or for the Popes Authority alone, as our moſt impudent Adverſaries have often publiſhed, F. 5. and yet ſome of them were well known to hold opinion, That the Pope ought by Authority of Gods Word to be Supreme, and only Head of the Catholick Church over the whole World, and only to rule in all Cauſes Eccleſiaſtical; and that the Queens Majeſty ought not to be Governour over any of her Subjects in her Realm, being perſons Eccleſiaſtical; which opinions are nevertheleſs in ſome part by the Laws of this Nation puniſhable in other Degrees; yet for none of theſe points were any perſons proſecuted with the Crime of Treaſon, or brought in danger of life, but enjoyed their Religion in private with Connivance, though not with Tolleration and Abetting, and ſo they have done ever ſince even unto the very day this Dialogiſt writ his Dialogue, with as much freedom and liberty: Nay, with more, than have our other diſſenting Brethren, (who differ in Diſcipline and Eccleſiaſtical Government only, not in Doctrin) without having their Conſciences raked into by Six bloody Articles, or any Oaths: And if any thing of more than ordinary ſeverity hath lately befallen them, they may thank their own moſt implacable and reſtleſs Spirits for it: And if any of the ſame Communion being of more quiet, and moderate Temper and Humour, and better principled, do ſuffer thereby, they ought in all Juſtice to do as the Seculars in Queen Eliz. days did, and place the blame on the fiery tempers of that Crudele genus of ſome their own Colleagues that have brought this upon them, and not to blame us or our Laws, who in all prudence ought to provide for the ſafety and quiet of our ſelves and of our own Religion by wholſom Laws, be diſpleaſed therewith who will.

Now were Papiſts in Queen Eliz. days the quieter or better Subjects for thoſe 12 Years Indulgence, Connivance, Favours and princely Graces or the Queen in any manner the more ſecure in her perſon, or quiet in her Dominions? Let be Judg that Bull of Prius Quintus, together with the Popes Commiſſion granted to Dr. Sanders as Legate, (who before his paſſing into Ireland openly by writing, Impudently avowed that Bull againſt Her Majeſty to be lawful, and which for ought I know is in force to this day againſt all her Succeſſors, (if any Pope pleaſe to have it ſo) and together with the Faculties granted by the Pope unto P. P. Robert Parſons, and Edmund Campion at Rome, 14. Apr. 1580. then going for England, and together with the Confeſſion of Hart, who (being Condemned with Campion) did the laſt of December 1580. confeſs, That the Bull of Pius Quintus (for ſo much as is againſt the Queen) is held amongſt the Engliſh Catholicks for a lawful ſentence, 25. Feb. 1570. and a ſufficient diſcharge of her Subjects fidelity, and ſo remaineth in force; but in ſome points touching her Subjects it is altered by the preſent Pope. For where in that Bull all her Subjects are commanded not to obey her, and ſhe being Excommunicate and Depoſed, all that do obey her are likewiſe innodate and Accurſed, which point is perilous to the Catholicks; for if they obey her, they are within the verge of the Popes Curſe; if they diſobey her, they are in the Queens danger; therefore the preſent Pope to relieve them hath altered that part of the Bull, and diſpenſed with them to obey or ſerve her without peril of Excommunication, which Diſpenſation is to endure but till it pleaſe the Pope otherwiſe to determine. We thank his Holineſs. This Bull did Import, 1. That Her Majeſty was not the lawful Queen of England; the firſt and higheſt point of Traſon. 2. That all her Subjects are diſcharged of all their Oaths and Obedince; another point of high Treaſon. 3. All warranted to diſobey her and her Laws.

This was the proper and natural product of 12 Years Indulgence and Connivance with much moderation, and many ſavours, and from this Root ſprang all the ſubſequent Treaſons (in Queen Eliz. days, and ſince, and will be again if not prevented) of Northumberland, Weſtmoreland, Parſons, Parry, Throgmorton, Somervile, Stewkeley, Saunders, cum multis aliis. A ſpecial Argument and Motive I muſt confeſs (and well becoming P. the Dialogiſt, when he hath no better) to perſwade King and Parliament to give new and freſh Indulgence to the Papiſts, that they might with the better Grace, and more Authority impune peccare.

As to this pitiful begging Argument of this P. viz. That becauſe many of them deny much of the Popes Authority; therefore they ſhould have Tolleration now; I ſhall only apply matter of Fact, viz. the chiefeſt and moſt of them that I have named, had in the times of H. 8. and E. 6. either by preaching, writing, reading or arguing, taught all people to condemn, yea to abhor the Authority of the Pope; for which purpoſe they had many times given their Oaths publickly againſt the Popes Authority, and had alſo yielded to both the ſaid Kings the Title of Supreme Head of the Church of England, next under Chriſt, and yet they refuſed to allow Queen Eliz. the Title of Supreme Governor, though to gratifie them ſhe omitted the very Title of Supreme Head at the begin of her Reign, and this is demonſtrable by many of their Books and Sermons againſt the Popes Authority printed both in Engliſh and Latin to their great ſhame and reproach to change ſo often, but eſpecially in perſecuting ſuch in Queen Maries days, whom themſelves had taught and eſtabliſhed to hold the contrary in H. 8. days; a ſin bordering on the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, ſcarce to be forgiven. And ſhall we be gull'd again by ſuch Sophiſters. Was Queen Eliz. ever the more ſafe in her perſon? or her Dominions the more ſecure from Troubles, Inſurrections, or Rebellions, becauſe ſome few proteſted Loyalty? Let all Impartial Hiſtories, and their and our own Memories be Judg. Come out of their fellowſhip, and you will not partake of their plagues; elſe they that will ſhip themſelves with the Devil muſt Sail with him

But why trouble I my ſelf, or the Readers with this frivolous Argument, when it cannot be the leaſt duſt in the Ballance to perſwade? That upon this Dialogiſt, Warrant, or only Intimation rather, he and his Seculars (and who thoſe are we know not, and not poſſible for us to diſtinguiſh) ſhall uſe loyal and peaceable behaviours; nay, what if they ſhould be as good as their Word, deny the Popes Exorbitant powers, and ſwear Allegiance maugre the Popes Mandates to the contrary? Is this an Argument prevalent enough to perſwade us to nurſe and nuzzle up the Popes Imps, (whoſe Seeds-men and Legates are both Prieſts and Jeſuits) and ſuffer him that hath already curſed Her Majeſties perſon, and in her all her Succeſſors, removed her Crown, diſcharged her Subjects, invaded her Dominions,

In the days of H. 8. the Earl of Deſmond profered Ireland to the French King, (the Inſtrument whereof yet remains upon Record in the Court at Paris) and the Pope afterwards transferred the Title of all our Kingdoms unto Charles the 5th. which by new Grents was con i •• tect unto his Son Philip in the days of Queen Eliz. with a reſolution to ſettle this Crown upon the Spaniſh Infanta.

Biſhop Uſhe. s Spech at Dublin, f. 12.

and given them away to others, and now to ſuffer them to ſteal from our Kings and Queens their peoples Hearts, and reonile them to that Mother of Abominations, that dares call light darkneſs, and darkneſs light, dock Communions and Decalogues, and worſhip Idols, whole Brow is Braſs and whoſe Heart is harder than the neather Millſtone, that hearing, will not hear, and ſeeing, will not ſee, nor underſtand; charm the Charmer never ſo wiſely, never ſo ſweetly, and all this under the vizard of Catholick Religion, and feigned Devotion, which in truth is nothing leſs, but is ſuperſtitious, Idolatrous and Abominable, the Tolleration and Allowance of which cannot poſſibly be Indulged, without manifeſt breach of Gods Law (againſt which there is no plea or excuſe to be allowed) joyned with the ſubverſion of the Crown and Royal State. For how is it poſſible that light ſhould agree with darkneſs, God and Belial, Chriſt and Antichriſt? the ſame Moment any perſons is reconciled to Rome, the ſame Moment he is become a ſworn Votary and Vaſſal to Rome, ſubject to another head.

Were this humble Petition and deſire only for Earthly and not Heavenly things, and did it not concern Chriſts Glory, but the Indempnity of our Kings and people, what a pittiful toy is it for a few Friars well verſed in the Arts of Equivocation to think themſelves meet Pledges and Hoſtages for the ſecurity of ſo great a Prince and people. Submiſſion to God, and your Prince would be more preſwaſive and authentique, and would better become you. It is not enough to renounce the exorbitant powers claim'd by the Pope, except withall you renounce the idolatrous Worſhip of Rome, and her Doctrins of Infallibility, and of probability, of Tranſubſtantiation; Demy-Communions; praying in an unknown Tongue; debarring the people the uſe of the Bible, and a thrave of other falſe and Heretical Doctrins and practiſes; having only lowd and bawling Impudence for their Juſtification, without either Senſe, Reaſon or Scripture.

The moſt Honourable and Grave Sages of this Nation underſtand you ſo well, that I believe you find they will not eaſily be cheated with kanting words or ſpecious pretences, made uſe of only to obumbrate and ſhadow the clearneſs of their long and grounded Experience, purchaſed by clear demonſtration, and matter of Fact at the deareſt rate and expence of Blood and Treaſure. I do heartily joyn Iſſue with this Dialogiſt, and believe as he doth, That it is not for the ſafety of our Church to receive thoſe who do not believe as we do. In this we are good Friends; but I doubt he will be as angry with me, as with the ſeaſonable diſcourſer, for accounting the Popiſh Religion to be Superſtitious, Idolatrous and Abſurd; and the Proteſtant to be the True, Antient, and Apoſtolick Religion: Neither ſhall I much differ with him in ſome other of his Conceſſions, viz. That it is the right of every National Church to provide for the particular concerns thereof, and (and without his Peradventure) that the Church of England hath preſerved the face of a continued Miſſion, and uninterrupted Ordination, (which is impoſſible for the Romaniſts to do, their Doctrin of Intention being allowed for currant) that her moderation in Doctrin is great, that her Diſcipline preſerves Epiſcopal Government. He concludes, may we not therefore (becauſe the Popiſh Religion is accounted ſtupid) be permitted to ſay our prayers in private, which is all the Indulgence allowed us, and that ſure it is no part of the goodneſs of the Protestant Church to hinder others from being as good as they can, and the worſe our Religion is, the more need we have of praying to make us better.

§ As it is no part of our Doctrin to hinder prayers and devotions, (that are in truth ſo according to Chriſts Conſtat) or men to be as good as they can; ſo it is no part of our practiſe, and it looks too like a ſlander to intimate it; and it is our belief, that the worſe the men and their Religion are, the more need they have of their own and other mens prayers to make them better, but then they muſt be made to God, and his Son, and not to Pictures and Images, nor yet to Stocks and Stones, and thoſe in a Language to themſelves Intelligible.

It is is indeed the deſire and deſign of our Souls, that being converted our ſelves to ſtrengthen our Brethren, and to hinder ſome ſcabbed Sheep from infecting the reſt of the whole Flock, to hinder the traficking of your private Idolatrous Maſſes, or the feeding His Majeſties beſt Subjects with Fragments of Communions, or to mock the weaker Brethren with prayers not underſtood, or weary them with ridiculous Geſtures, and to binder the giving the Glory that is due to God unto Stocks and Stones; Prayers underſtood or not underſtood to Saints, Pictures, and Idols, Ave Maries and Beads, Agnus Dei's, and ſuch Abominations which will never prevail with God for Bleſſings, but will rather pull down his Curſes and Judgments upon you. Prayers to God and his Son are by God commanded, and are acceptable to him without diſpute; to Wafers, Saints and Pictures, are not ſo; it being indiſputable Idolatry to give Divine Honour to a Creature, to a Wafer God, that Dogs, Mice and Rats may eat.

Do but what our Saviour undeniably did, viz. break and give to all, Mat. 26.26, 27, 28. that all may be partakers one Bread, 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. Divide the Cup that all may drink thereof: Do that which he commanded to be done, who firſt ordained this Myſtery: Do that which St. Paul received of the Lord, and delivered to the Church of Corinth, 1 Cor. 11.23, 24, 25. Do that, I ſay, which the Primitive Church of Chriſt always did, and you need not doubt of publick Allowance, nor of publick places and oratories. Do not make your ſelves wiſer than God himſelf, by putting a Padlock on the Scriptures which Chriſt hath commanded every man to ſearch, for in them ye think to have Eternal Life, and they are they which testifie of me, John 5.39. and which was taught Timothy from a Child, and are able to make wiſe unto Salvation through Faith, which is in Chriſt Jeſus, and is profitable for Doctrin, for Reproof, for Correction, for inſtruction in Righteouſneſs, that the man of God may he perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good Works, 1 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. Do not go about to rob God of his Glory, by denying the Work of his own hands, and the Redeemed of his own Blood, the Efficacy of the Scriptures, with the aſſiſtance of his Spirit; not us of our Senſes, as if we could not diſtinguiſh Bread from Fleſh, or the Juice of the Grape from the Blood of Chriſt: Do not ſubſtract from Gods own Decalogue one of his own Commandments; under the pain of Eternal Damnation add 14 new Articles to the Apoſtles Creed, which ſquint more at belief in the Pope and Papal Definitions, than towards God and his Word, leſt ye Incur the plagues denounced againſt ſuch Arithmetick, and your part in the Book of Life be taken away, Rev. 22.18, 19. Neither be of thoſe many which corrupt the Word of God; but as of ſincerity; but as of God in the ſight of God ſpeake and write in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 2.17.

Theſe few of many are ſins ſo groſs, that they go open before to Judgment, and are as manifeſt as the Deeds of the Fleſh, which are Adultery, Fornication, Ʋncleanneſs, Laſciviouſneſs, Idolatry, Murders, Revelings, &c. Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. which both God and Nations abhor and make Laws againſt, and Prohibitions; ſo that none can be deceived, but ſuch as are given up to a reprobate ſenſe, and unto ſtrong deluſions to believe Lies, 1 Theſ. 2.11.

§ It is true, you have reconciled ſome Proſelytes unto your Church, (which hath made both King and Parliament ſo Induſtrious, to preſerve the reſt from Infection and Seducements) and by ſo doing you have made them two fold more the Children of Hell than they were before, meer Samaritans, Worſhippers of they know not what; whereby we have loſt little, and you have not got much: For indeed it matters little what Religion Men profeſs, if they live not according to to the Decalogue. It is neither Circumciſion nor Ʋncircumciſion, Gal. 〈◊〉 : 9. but a new Creature that availeth, Gal. 6.15. For no man either knows or believes in God otherwiſe than the Devils do, that doth not keep his Commandments: And God knows the love of men towards him, only by their keeping of his Commandments, and by abſtaining from that black Catalogue of ſine Recorded Gal. 5.19. 〈◊〉 without Holineſs it is impoſſible ever to ſee the face of 〈…〉 comfort. I know no medium between a Saint and 〈…〉 Purgatory b tween Heaven and Hell 〈…〉 ſo it lies, Heaven and Hell will divide the whole World at laſt.

As it hath been the unhappineſs of former Ages, ſo of this alſo, that they that depart from evil make themſelves a Prey; and they that live Holily, Godlily and Righteouſly in this preſent evil World are jeered, and accounted but the off-ſcowring of the World, Penitentiarii Aſini, Formal Fops. But I fear when the King of Terrors ſhall Attacque the Copyholds of ſuch Flowters, and Magor-Miſſabib, Fear and Terror ſhall be round about them, and when they are drawing near to the Chambers of Death, that then their Groans will be like the Groans of a deadly wounded man, and their Hopes like the giving up of the Ghoſt; and that then the'l wiſh that both their lives and their deaths had been like thoſe Formal Fobbs. Therefore my hearty deſire is, That both this Dialogiſt, and all the perverted reconciled Proſelytes to Rome would return from whence they are fallen, and repent, and come out of that Inchanting City, and Sink of ſin, (that hath ſpawned more falſe Doctrins of a Scarlet Dye, than all the Chriſtian Churches in the World) and be ſeperate, and no doubt but this Church will receive them, and our Kings and Queens will be their nurſing Fathers, and Mothers, and you will become their Sons and Daughters; elſe, What fellowſhip can righteouſneſs have with unrighteouſneſs? what Communion can Light have with Darkneſs? What Concord can Chriſt have with Belial? and what agreement can the Temple of God have with Idols? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, and God and this Church will receive you, and God will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be his Sons and Daughters, 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

§ Reaſons are as ſtrong and convincing againſt Tolleration, if the caſe be conſidered upon a Politick Account and Intereſt, as well as upon a Religious; for tordraw away Subjects to depend upon a Forrein Prelate or power from their Natural or Lawful Sovereign, is in a Politick Conſideration as the defiling of the Kings Bed, and debauching of his Conſort from him; and this is that which makes Popery Intollerable on a Politick Account; neither can any Merits render it tollerable or reaſonable.

Notwithſtanding their pretenſions of Merit are ſo high, that they are not content with connivance & ſafety (which they enjoy without grudging, and with more freedom, and leſs trouble than many non-aſſenting Proteſtants, nor yet with Honours, (which they have had alſo in great meaſure) nor yet with power and truſt, of which they have had their ſhares alſo) and yet are not contented: Lords Paramount they muſt be, or elſe reſtleſs, and clamorous they will be. Such is their Nature, that it muſt devour or trample down all before it, or elſe it will never reſt ſatisfied. Such is the unſatiableneſs of this Scarlet Lady, ſo often drunk with the Blood of the Saints, that no Blood could yet ſatisfie, but that ſhe ſtill cries, Give, Give.

In all Hiſtories from Generation to Generation, they that run may read prodigious Examples of Exorbitant Papal Claims and pride over Kings, Emperours, Princes, and Free States, even againſt right reaſon, and to the Indignation of all Mankind, and theſe juſtified by their Popes, Councils, Decretals, Canons and Divines of the firſt Magnitude, aſcribing to the Pope power of depoſing Kings, if Hereticks, and they are all ſo, when his Holineſs pleaſeth ſo to tearm them by as good Logick as the Foxes Ears are Horns, if the Lyon pleaſe to call them ſo.

And if yet there be any Papiſts that in Word, or Writings do diſown ſuch Doctrins as the Seculars did in Queen Eliz. days, (of whom notwithſtanding it is obſerved, That they never diſcovered any traiterous deſign until it was first diſcovered by others, and that in ſeveral Treaſons, though many of the Seminary Prieſts were active and forward) yet they are as little to be confided in, as thoſe that own and juſtifie them; for that by ſo doing they contradict and diſclaim the very Faith they own and profeſs; and unto which they are ſworn, thereby forſaking their Popes, Councils, Canons, Divines, and Decretals; nay, their Doctrins of Supremacy, of believing as the Church, i. e. as the Pope believes of Infallibility and Probability of Equivocation, of no Faith to be kept with Hereticks, &c all Doctrins of the Church of Rome, which alone are in their eſteem, of power ſufficient to warrant and juſtifie their blind obedience, and to null all the ſecurity that can poſſibly be given between Prince & People, whether Oaths or Laws, Civil or Eccleſiaſtical, nay Divine.

And if we may prognoſticate of practiſes to come, by practiſes paſt let the ſaid Experience of former Ages, and of all Countries, and of ours in particular, riſe up in Judgment againſt them, that they never have been, never will be Loyal Subjects to our Proteſtant Princes the Reaſons are ſtrong, for that they are ever incited to ſuch evil Machinations and practiſes by the ſtrong impulſe and impetuous zeal of their own Doctrins and Superstitions, and all proceeding from cauſes pecular unto Romiſh Religion and Principles, which they have not in the leaſt as yet changed, nor diſclaimed, nor yet their Intereſt.

§ Beſides, if the Papiſts of England have merited any thing from the King and his Father in theſe late troubles, it is no thanks to their Religion; and therefore no reaſon they ſhould be gratified in their Religion; for had it proceeded from the undoubted principles of their Religion, it would have held as well in Ireland as in England; nay, it would have held as well in Queen Elizabeth, and King James his time, as in the time of King Charles Father and Son.Poſtſcript to an Anſwer to a Jeſuited Gent, and alſo in a ſparing Diſcourſe. It being confeſſed by themſelves, that none of them have in all the times of perſecution dyed expreſly for Religion, but all for Treaſon.Anſwer to a Letter to a Jeſuited Gent. f. 45. And that Iriſh Papiſts would have been as little Loyal to Queen Mary as unto Queen Eliz. But the continual Plots againſt the Life and Crown of that Queen; and that horrid Gun-powder Plot againſt King James, and all his Race and Nobles; and the late Rebellion in Ireland againſt King Charles do demonſtrate the contrary, and their Religion, where that and the Pope are concerned, teaching the contrary; but they thought not their Religion in that caſe concerned, if they had, then it would have appeared, whether their Loyalty would have born up againſt it or no, more than it hath done in former times. Therefore if any ſuch Merits have been, they have been only perſonal, and ſo may be, and no doubt ſo have been, and will be requited with perſonal favours, but in no caſe, with ſuch as may tend to the advantage of the Popiſh, and conſequently to the diſadvantage of the Proteſtant Religion, Power and Intereſt of our Princes.

But let us a little examin what in truth have been the Merits of the Papist, in the late Wars. To ſay the Papiſts were the Formal Cauſes of the late War upon what hath been before written, were happily not quite beſides the Cuſhion. However, the former matter and grounds adminiſters good Reaſons to believe, and affirm that they were great occaſions both of the riſe, growth and continuance of our late Wars. Some, and thoſe not a few, of the wiſeſt and moſt ſober Cavaliers thought that the Papists did look upon the War as their great Intereſt and Hahveſt, either by opening unto them occaſions to pretend ſomething in favour of their party in caſe the King prevailed; or otherwiſe by ſomenting of the War between Proteſtant and Proteſtant, they ſhould have gained an Intereſt through their diviſions, when they had weakened one another, and that by fiſhing in troubled Waters they ſhould gain ſome advantage by the confuſions, which (as the Law ſtood) in a ſetled State of Affairs they could not expect.

§ However, if the Papiſts did not deſign thoſe diviſions, and the breaking in pieces of the Antient Government of this Kingdom, and that wherein they hoped to find their Intereſt; it is certain they were great occaſions thereof; for what on the one hand with their Negotiations before the War by Seignior Con, and other the Popes Agents, and the State tampering with the Pope and King of Spain about the Infanta, not yet ont of the Minds and Memories of his Subjects; and their boldneſs upon the favour they might happily expect from the Kings Mother, and the Clemency which they found from his Father, (no way deſirous to have the Sanguinary Laws Executed upon them) and what by the Rebellion of thoſe of that Religion in Ireland, they created ſo great Jealouſies in the minds of the Proteſtant party in England, that it rather weakened the Royal party than fortified it, and made the Adverſe party ſo numerous and ſo ſucceſsful as a long time it was. And it may be truly ſaid there was never a Papiſt in the Kings Army, but it loſt him the Hearts of many Proteſtants; and as it cannot be ſuppoſed, that they brought a Bleſſing on the Kings Armies, ſo it is certain they brought a very ill reputation upon them; and where one fought againſt the Kings party upon a ſerious Examination of the State of the Quarrel, Hundreds took the other party, becauſe they ſaw ſo many Papiſts on his ſide; and poſſibly things had never grown to that height, as to have broken out into a War, had it not been for the Jealouſies which were partly given, and partly taken from the Inſolent Carriage of that party both in England and Ireland. And yet for all this, and that they were ſo much concerned to quench the fire, that had ſo far contributed to the kindling of it, we ſhall find as little ground for their Works of Super-errogation in this matter, as in point of Religion; if the number of them that were ſlain, or ſuffered for the King or his Father be compared with the Proteſtant profeſſion: Neither were they ſo Inſtrumental to the reſtitution of the King as thoſe of the Proteſtant profeſſion, no not as very many of thoſe that had formerly been of the contrary ſide, and even where Intereſt might ſeem more to ſway them another way, and that in all probability might have promiſed themſelves more favour under the powers that then prevaled; for that is alſo conſiderable in that matter, (which was pleaded by many of the Papists to obtain favour from the powers that were from time to time uppermoſt, when they were ſo) that could they have lived quietly in their own Houſes, they had never repaired to the Kings Garriſons. But the War being held forth (to gain more credit to the party) to be againſt Papiſts and their Adherents chiefly, though all ſorts of gther opinions found ſome Indulgence, yet the Papiſts (profeſſing themſelves Papiſts) could not be admitted upon any tearms, though happily they were admitted; nay favoured under diſguiſes of Quakers, and the like; and therefore no marvel if they were on the Kings ſide, that they might play their Game the better on both ſides, when they could not be on the other ſide profeſſedly.

§ The Truth is, prudence and neceſſity together, with their Loyalty, made them ſerve the King in his Wars, they well knowing that the Parliament was profeſſedly and deſperately bent againſt them; and therefore could have little hopes of comfort from them, which Induced them to adhere to the King, who was Pater Patriae, and from whom they might juſtly challenge protection, as Subjects, though not as Papiſts, in which capacity His Majeſty received them; neither did he ever own their aſſiſtance, but as Subjects, and as juſtified by neceſſity.

And now that the differing parties being weary of endleſs Broyls, were willing to come to a Cloſure; thoſe that had done ſo much to occaſion the War, and ſo little to make it ſucceſsful, and leſs to bring about His Majeſties happy return, and union between him and his people, would make ſuch a vertue of neceſſity, as to deſerve ſuch Indulgences and Rewards, which neither can be expected with modeſty, nor granted with a good Conſcience towards God, no nor yet with ſafety to the Crown, if the Intrinſick Intereſt thereof be juſtly weighed and conſidered, and without all Colour or Ground of Reaſon, Conſcience or prudence: For indeed all things, principles and practiſes conſidered, I cannot Imagine what good and indeſeaſable ſecurity they can poſſibly give to any Proteſtant Prince or State, that they will be and continue Loyal and Faithful Subjects: Therefore until they reverſe and nullifie their Oaths and Principles of Obedience to the See of Rome, their claims and pretenſions of Juriſdiction over Temporal Princes, their Doctrins of Infallibility, and of blind Obedience; nay, their Doctrins of probability alſo they muſt excuſe me, if I differ in opinion with them, and make it an Article of my Creed, and believe, that no proteſtant Prince or State can ever be undoubtedly ſecure of the Loyalty and Fidelity of their Popiſh Subjects, if the Pope command the contrary: It being according to their Doctrin of probability, a Maxim amongſt them, that that which 1, 2 or ſome few Roman Catholick Doctors ſay is lawful, may (in the Judgment of Papiſts) be done without mortal ſin.

This is Mr. Knots Charity maintained c. 4. Sect. 25. as alſo Valentias, Vaſques, Leſſius, Euriques, Sa, Cellot de Hier. l. 8. c. 16. p. 714.) But not only one but many Popiſh Doctors; nay, Popes, Cardinals and Councils ſay, That it is lawful to murder or depoſe a Supreme Magiſtrate that is guilty of Hereſie, or ſuſpected of it, and ſuch according to their Tenets are Proteſtant Princes: Nay, J. E. in his Book Entitled, The Right and Juriſdiction of the Prelate, and the Prince, printed with the Licence of Superiors, 1617. maintains the ſame not only by the opinions of very many Doctors, but alſo by the Popes, and the Authority of General Councils, as that of Lateran under Innocent the Third, Anno 1215. c. 3. and that of Lyons c. 5. de homicidio in 6. and another General Council of Lyons, Anno 1245. and affirms, That many other Councils he could alledge for the ſame, as Bellarmine and Schulkenius have done, Ergo, Cavete Principes Concluſionem. Princes beware your Crowns, beware your Heads, and of giving any Indulgence, Countenance, and power to that Generation of Men, who are Sworn Vaſſals to the Biſhop of Rome, and make it a part of your Letany, viz, from ſuch ill kind of Men Labera nos Domine.

Having thus Summarily manifeſted to all the World, that will read and underſtand the Doctrins and practiſes of Papiſts to be ſo deſperately pernicious and deſtructive to our Proteſtant Kings and Kingdoms; and withall will conſider what moſt precious Golden Aples England, Scotland and Ireland, with all their Forrein plantations and Dominions, are to gratifie Cardinaliſme, Nepotiſme, or any inceſtuous Brood of any Donna Olympia. It is very reaſonable to believe, That what they have done, that they will re-iterate again and again, if not wiſely and timely prevented; were it not then admiral diſcretion in us to give this Generation of Men yet more power and liberty (the only things they want) to put the ſame practiſes in Execution again, when they have given us from Age to Age ſucceſſively ſuch Demonſtrations and Aſſurances, that they will do as they have done when ever they have power, a neat opportunity, and are ſo commanded by their univerſal Monarch?

But I Conclude, That if we have any love or regard for that Religion, which is pure, peaceable, undefiled, and which is truly Antient, Catholick and Apoſtolick, or any abhorrency to that Inchanting City full of all pollutions & uncleaneſs, Idolatry, Superſtition, Blaſphemy, what not? or any concern for the ſafety of His Majeſties perſon, for liberty of our Conſciences, property and freedom of our Eſtates, and laſtly any care to preſerve King and Kingdom from Pariſian Veſpers, Inquiſitions, Fire and Faggot, and from a Six-knotted-whip of Articles; it will wonderfully concern us by all wholſom Laws and means to prevent the growth of this Crudele Genus, by paring their Nayls only, that otherwiſe would crack our Crowns, and ſeek our lives, unleſs we will quantum in nobis, ſacrifice once more all that is near and dear unto us, unto Romiſh Tyranny.

§ I ſhall yet further Conclude, That if Proteſtant Princes will but rightly conſider that they (like Gods own Sabbath) were ordained for Kingdoms, and not Kingdoms for them, and that if they will follow but the very Dictates of right Reaſon, and the very light of Nature, they cannot (without being felones de ſe) eſtabliſh, or tollerate by Law Popery in their Proteſtant Dominions: For as ſelf-preſervation by the very Law and Light of Nature is the Suprema lex of every Individual, and conſequently of every Prince conſidered only as a ſingle perſon: So Salus Populi, (wherein the Prince himſelf is alſo included and involved) even politically, and in reſpect of Magiſtracy conſidered is the Suprema lex alſo, And the firſt and principal thing Magiſtrates are to look after, is to preſerve Magiſtracy, and the Authorty they are intruſted withall for the good of the Governed, in its full power and prerogative: And for this great reaſon alſo it is wonderful abſurd to ſuppoſe a Magiſtrate obliged to tollerate any thing deſtructive to the very being of the perſons, and Authority of him and his people, for whoſe wellfare he is intruſted: And of ſuch a Nature is Popery, and is the deſign of Papiſts, and no pretence of Conſcience whatſoever is in ſuch a Caſe to be hearkned unto, or endured, it being againſt the very Light of Nature, and in-truth nothing elſe but to pretend Conſcience, the better to enable them to deſtroy not Religion only, but even Proteſtant Mankind: For the very Light of Nature abandons all ſuch principles from the leaſt Tolleration, they making men ceaſe to be true Subjects to the State, or good Common-Walthsmen in relation to others.

Though I have thus juſtified the Act of Parliament by the confeſſions of Papiſts themſelves, by matters of Fact, Reaſons of State, and warranty of Scripture; yet I can give no Vote or Encouragement for Sanguinary Laws, meerly for matters of Religion abſtract from treaſonable and capital crimes and practiſes; nor yet to imitate our Adverſaries in Inquiſitions, fleaing with Stripes, ſtarving with Hunger, Cold and Nakedneſs, plunging into loathſom Dungeons, full fraught with ſtinking Naſtines, and with Toads, Serpents, and other venomous Creatures; nor yet for unneceſſary pecuniary Mulcts. And I am confident, that ſuch true Engliſh generous Blood runs in the Veins of Engliſh Parliaments, that they naturally pity the diſtreſſed, and abhor cruelties, that they will not uſe Extremities, not put in Execution the utmoſt of the Penal Laws, but will mould them a gently as the peace and ſafety of the Nation will bear and permit. And I am verily perſwaded, That if their over buſie and fiery Prieſts had not been over Active, the Review and Revival of any ſeverities againſt them had never been though of, and if any new Acts do enſue, it is but what they have brought upon themſelves, and for which none may be blamed but themſelves, and their Layety only, becauſe they ſuffer themſelves to be led blind-fold by their Noſes by them who have no Authority ſo to do, for which they are much, very much to be commiſerated, there being a vaſt difference between the Seducers and Seduced.

But if any more ſevere Laws than other ought to be put in Execution, certainly they ought to be inflicted on Idolaters and Blaſphemers. That the Papiſts are Idolaters hath been demonſtrated by many Pens; and that they are Blaſphemers is as evident: For according to the Notion of Blaſphemy, even in the New Teſtament: He that aſſumes and appropriates to himſelf a property Divine, is a Blaſphemer, and in truth a ſetter up of more Gods than one; and of ſuch a Nature is their Doctrin of Infallibility. This is moſt Evident from Luke 5.20, 21. when the Jews Taxed Chriſt himſelf for ſpeaking Blaſphemy, who did not rayl, but only ſaid to the Paralitick Man, Thy ſins are forgiven thee. Yet they (not acknowledging him to be God) did account it Blaſphemy in him to take upon him to forgive ſins, (which is a property meerly Divine) For who (ſaid they) can forgive ſins but God alone? ſo Rev. 2.9. I know the Blaſphemy of them that ſay they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan. Much more he that ſays he is In allible, (a property Divine) when he is not. So John. 10.33. For a good Work we ſtone tee not, but for Blaſphemy, becauſe thou, being a Man, makeſt thy ſelf God. What was this blaſphemy? even becauſe he ſaid, I and my Father are one, v. 31. Whereby it is apparent, that the Popes aſſuming to themſelves a property Divine make themſelves guilty of Blaſphemy, and indeed of making more Gods than one, which is undeniable Idolatry: To which if their Luciferian Dogma's be added, it will not mince the matter at all, viz. Credere Dominum Deum noſtrum Papam non potuiſse statuere prunt ſtatuit Haereticum cenſetur. Extravag. Johan. 22. cum inter nonnullos, gloſſ. ibid. declaramus. Idem eſt Dominium Dei & Papae. Auguſtus Ambonitanus q. 45. & 35. Dominus Deus noſter Papa. Clement. in proem. in Gloſſ. ibid 121. Rex Regum, Dominus Dominantium. Extravag. de Majoritat. & obedientia. But let theſe paſs.

In the Church of Rome the Popes were the firſt Preachers of force and violence, and that their St. Dominick was one of the firſt that I read of, that preached the Doctrin of Death and Tortures for opinions in Religion. He was the founder of the begging Order of Friars preachers; and therefore in Honour of him the Inquiſition is intruſted only to the Friars of his Order. And if they will believe their own Legends, his own Mother the night before he was born dreamed that ſhe was brought to bed of a Maſtiff Dog with a Fire-brand in his mouth. The Hieroglyphick whereof I leave to every Reader to make. Only his deportment towards the Albigenſes is ſtoried to be as mad as that of Dogs; ſo that one ſaith of him. That a Hundred Thouſand of them were put to flight, Aeo quidem ut Centum Haereticorum Millia ab Octo Millibus Catholicorum fuſa & interferta fuiſse perhibeantur. and ſlain by 8000 Catholicks, and of thoſe who became Captives 180 were burnt to death; the firſt Example that I find in the Church of Rome of putting diſſenting Brethren to death for Religion.

Though my particular Confeſſion engages me Experimenta per mortes Agere; yet I abhor to be of the Colledge of Blood-ſuckers, whoſe Bellies like thoſe Canes Sepulchroles of the Romans are never ſatisfied with the Blood of Saints. I have learnt better things from Iſa. 27.4. Fury is not in me. And from Pſal. 11.5. Him that loveth violence his Soul hateth; leſt God ſhould return Blood upon me in fury and in jealouſie, Ezek. 16.38. I Conclude with St. Cyprian. Quid facit in pectore Chriſtiano Luporum feritas? & Canum Rabies? & venenum Serpentum? & cruenta ſaenitia Bestiarum? Gratulandum eſt cum tales de Eccleſia ſeparantur, ne columbas, ne Oves Chriſti Soeva ſua & venenata contagione praedentur. What hath the fierceneſs of Wolves? The madneſs of Dogs? The venom of Dragons and the Bloody Cruelty of Wild Beaſts to do in a Chriſtian Breaſt? There's joy and gladneſs when ſuch are ſeperated from the Church, leſt the gentle and innocent Doves and Sheep of Chriſt be made a prey to their cruel Jaw and Venom.

May our King live for ever, and may there never want a man of his Race to ſit on his Throne, Ruling in Righteouſneſs, fearing God and hating evil; and that there may be a high-way of Holineſs throughout his Dominions, that wayfaring men, though fools, may not erre therein, Iſa. 35.8.

Surely there is no inchantment againſt Jacob; neither is there any Divination againſt Iſrael, Numb, 23.22.

Rara temporum faelicit as ſub Nerva & Trajano ubi ſentires quae velles & dicere quae ſentires.

FINIS.
A Poſtſcript, ſhewing the purport of Pius Quintus his Bull againſt Q. Eliz. and alſo a form of Indictment of ſuch Papiſts as were Executed for Treaſons in her days, that all the VVorld may be the better ſatisfied, that not one of them dyed for any point of Religion: and this is as a Supplement to what is ſo particularly ſet down in Horae ſubſecivae.

PIus Quinrus Pontiſex Maximus de Apoſtolicia poteſtatis pleni •• dine, 25. Feb. 1570. de laravit Elizabetham pretenſo Regni Jure, necnon omni & quoeun que Dominio Dignitate privilegio que privatam: Item que proceres, ſubditos & populos dicti regni ac caeteros omnes qui illi quomodncun que juraverunt a Juramento hujuſneodi ac omni fidelitatis debito perpetuo abſolutos, i. e.

Pius Quintus the great Biſhop of the fulneſs of Apoſtolick power hath declared Elizabeth to be bereaved of her pretended right of her Kingdom, and alſo of all and whatſoever Dominion, Dignity and Priviledge; and alſo the Nobles, Subjects and people of the ſaid Kingdom, and all others, which had ſworn to her any manner of ways, to be abſolved for ever from ſuch Oath, and from all Debt or Duty of Fealty &c. with many threatning curſings to all that durſt obey her and her Laws.

And for the Execution hereof, to prove that the Effect of this Bull and Meſſage was flat Rebellion; mark what Dr. Sunders, the Popes Fire-brand in Ireland, writeth in his Book de viſibili Monarchia. Pius Quintus Pontifex Maximus, Anno Domini 1569. Reverendum presbyterum Nicolaum Mortonum Anglum in Angliam miſit, ut certis illuſtribus viris Authoritate Apoſtolica denuntiaret, Elizabetham quae tunc rerum potiebatur hereticam eſſe; ob eam que cauſam omni dominio & poteſtate excidiſſe, impuneq, ab ill is velut Ethnicam haberi poſſe, nec cos illos legibus aut man. datis deinceps obedire cogi: i. e. Pius Quintus the greateſt Biſhop Anno Domini 1569 ſent the Reverend Prieſt Nicholas Morton an Engliſh man into England, That he ſhould denounce or declare by the Apoſtolick Authority to certain Noble Men Elizabeth, who then was in poſſeſſion to be an Heretick; and for that cauſe to have fallen from all Dominion and power, and that ſhe may be had or reputed of them as an Ethnick, and that they are not to be compelled to obey her Laws or Commandments.

Thus you ſee an Ambaſſade of Rebellion from the Popes Holineſs, by an old doting Proteſtant, a Fugitive and Conſpiriator unto ſome Noble Men, which were the Earls of Northumberland and Weſtmoreland, Heads of the Rebellion that followed, the ſucceſs whereof he declares, viz. Qua denuntiatione multi nobiles viri adducti ſunt & de fratribus liberandis cogitare auderent, ac ſperabant illi quidem Catholicos omnes ſummis viribus affuturos eſse: Verum etſi aliter quant illi expectabant res evenit, quia Catholici omnes nondum probe cognoverant Elizabetham Haereticam eſſe declaratam, tamen laudanda illorum Nobilium conſilia erant: i. e. By which denuntiation many Noble men were induced or lead, that they were emboldened to think of the freeing of their Brethren, and they hoped certainly that all the Catholicks would have aſſiſted them with all their ſtrength; but although the matter happened otherwiſe than they hoped for, becauſe all the Catholicks knew not that Elizabeth was declared an Heretick, yet the Councils and Intents of thoſe Noble Men were to be praiſed. This want of Information was ſoon after diligently and cunningly ſupplyed by ſending multitudes of the Seminaries and Jeſuits to inform the people, as a Supplement to amend the former error.

Though Dr. Sanders hath thus written, yet it may be ſaid by ſuch as favoured thoſe Two Noble Jeſuits Ro. Parſons and Ed. Campion, that Dr. Sanders Treaſon is his proper Treaſon in allowing and juſtifying of the ſaid Bull, and not to be imputed to Parſons and Campion; who notwithſtanding had by ſpecial Authority charge to Execute the Sentence of this Bull, which may appear by the ſubſequent Writings taken about one of their Confederates immediately after Campions death, who in his life time would not be known of any ſuch matter, whereby may appear what truſt is to be given to ſuch Peudo-Martyrs.

Facultates conceſſae P. P. Roberto Parſonio & Edmundo Campiano pro Anglia, die 14. Apr. 1580.

Petatur a ſummo Domino noſtro Explicatio Bullae declaratoriae per Pium Quintum contra Elizabetham, & ei adhaerentes, quam Catholici cupiunt intelligi hoc modo, ut obliget ſemper illam & haereticos, Catholicos vero nullo modo obliget, rebus ſic stantibus ſed tum demum quum publica ejuſdem Bulle Executio fieri poterit. Then followeth many other Petitions of Faculties for their farther Authorities, not needful here to recite in the Cloſe; the Pope Anſwers. Has praedictas Gratias conceſſit Summus Pontifex patri Roberto Parſonio & Edm. Campiano in Angliam profecturis die 14. Aprilis 1518. preſente Oliverio Monarco aſſiſtente.

Faculties granted to the Two Fathers Robert Parſons and Edmund Campion for England the 14. day of April 1580. by Gregory the XIII.

Let it be asked or required of our moſt Holy Lord the Explication or meaning of the Bull declaratory, made by Pius Quintus againſt Elizabeth, and ſuch as do adhere or obey her; which Bull the Catholicks deſire to be underſtood on this manner, that the ſame Bull ſhall always bind her and the Hereticks, but the Catholicks it ſhall by no means bind, as matters now ſtand or be; but hereafter when the publick Execution of that Bull may be had and made. Then in the Cloſe was added. The higheſt Pontiff or Biſhop granted the aforeſaid Graces or Faculties to Father Robert Parſons and Edmund Campion, who are now to take their Journey into England 14. April 1580. being preſent the Father Oliverius Manark aſſiſtant.

By this it is apparent, how all the Catholicks in General did deſire to have the ſaid Bull (which is ſtill in force againſt all her Succeſſors, when ever it ſhall pleaſe his Holineſs ſo to declare it) to be underſtood, viz. againſt the Queen, but yet to be free themſelves; which is made more demonſtrable by the Confeſſion of Hart, one of their own Fellows, and Condemned, but not Executed with Campion, who ult. Decemb. 1580. Confeſſed, That the Bull of Plus Quintus, for ſo much as it is against the Queen, is holden amongst the Engliſh Catholicks for a lawful Sentence, and a ſufficient diſcharge of her Subjects fidelity, and ſo remaineth in force, but in ſome points touching the Subjects it is altered by the preſent Pope. Greg. XIII. For where in that Bull all her Subjects are commanded not to obey her; and ſhe being Excommunicate and Depoſed, all that do obey her are likewiſe Innodate and Accurſed, which point is perilous to the Catholicks; for if they obey her, they be in the Popes Curſe, and if they diſobey her they are in the Queens danger: Therefore the preſent Pope to relieve them hath altered that part of the Bull, and diſpenſed with them to obey and ſerve her without peril of Excommunication: which diſpenſation is to endure but till it pleaſe the Pope, otherwiſe to determine.

By the ſame reaſon that one Pope may receive and diſpenſe with a former Popes Bull, and ratifie one Paragraph thereof, and make another void, and make what Interpretation thereof he pleaſeth pro re nata, to ſerve a turn: He may alſo by the ſame Reaſon declare the ſame Bull to be ſtill in force; and may at this very Nick of Time, and Juncture of Affairs diſpence with all our Catholicks by any ways or Arts to evade this laſt Act, and where are we then? and how the more ſecure?

§ Edmund Campion, that Arch-Traytor, deeply deſigning, and covertly as well as diligently preparing for the perpetrating of his Treaſons againſt Queen Eliz. moſt cunningly before he came from Rome procured Tolleration for ſuch other prepared Rebels to keep themſelves Covert under pretence of temporary and permiſſive obedience to her Majeſty, the State ſtanding then as it did; but ſo ſoon as there ſhould be ſufficient force whereby the Bull of her Majeſties deprivation might be publickly Executed; they ſhould then joyn altogether with that force upon pain of Damnation, ex pede Herculem. By this you may gueſs, what kind of Obedience and Allegiance Papiſts ſwear to Proteſtant Princes, viz, temporary and permiſſive, i. e. during their will and pleaſures of their Lord God the Pope, or until they ſhall be ſtrong enough to cut our Throats, whoſe Nails deſire to pare.

§ It is likewiſe obſervable, that her Majeſties Miniſters in their Examinations of Papiſts, ſuſpected Traitors (and thoſe only which were firſt known, and evidently probable by former Detections, Confeſſions, &c.) had a full purpoſe to follow the Example of the Queens moſt Gratious Diſpoſition, and never tormented any Innocent, or extorted Confeſſions at adventure upon uncertainties; nor ever demanded any queſtion of their pretended or ſuppoſed Conſcience, as what they believed in any point of Faith or Doctrin, as of the Maſs, Tranſubſtantiation, &c. but only with what perſons at home or abroad; and touching what Plots, Practiſes and Conferences they had dealt about attempts againſt her Majeſties perſon, or to alter the Laws of the Realm for matters of Religion; and how they were perſwaded themſelves, and did perſwade others touching the Popes Bull, and pretence of Authority to depoſe Kings, and namely for deprivation of her Majeſty, and to diſcharge Subjects from their Allegiance civily, without mentioning or meaning therein any right that the Queen, as in right of the Crown, had over perſons Eccleſiaſtical, being her Subjects.

In all which Caſes Campion and theBriant, Sherwin, Kirby, Cottam, Richardſon, Fords, Shert, Lewis, Filhee, Boſgrave, & others. reſt never anſwered plainly, but ſophiſtically, deceitfully and traiterouſly reſtraining their confeſſion of Allegiance only to the permiſſive tearm of the Popes Tolleration. As for Example, If they were asked, whether they did adknowledg themſelves the Queens Subjects, and would obey her, they would ſay, Yea, for ſo they have leave for a time to do; but being more narrowly interrogated, if they would ſo acknowledg and obey her any longer than the Pope would ſo permit them, or notwithſtanding ſuch Commandement as the Pope would or might give to the contrary; then they either refuſed ſo to obey, or denyed to anſwer, or ſaid they would not anſwer to thoſe Queſtions without danger; which Interpretatively was a plain Acknowledgment, that they would be no longer true Subjects, nor perſwade others to be ſo than the Pope gave them Licence ſo to be. And yet ſuch was their Impudence, that at their very Arraignments they would (ad captandum populum) cry out that they were to dye, not for Treaſon, but for matter Faith and Conſcience in Doctrin, touching the Service of God without any attempt or purpoſe againſt her Majeſty, and that they were true Subjects, and did and would obey and ſerve her Majeſty; whereas in truth there was not the leaſt Syllable in their Indictment of Faith or Doctrin; and conſequently not poſſible to be Arraigned, or be Executed for any ſuch thing: And to try whether ſuch their Hypocritical and Sophiſtical Speeches and Anſwers did extend to a perpetuity of their obedience; or to ſo long time only as the Pope ſo permitted or no; they were immediately and publickly, even in the very place of their Arraignment, asked by her Majeſties Council, whether they would ſo obey, and be true Subjects, if the Pope commanded the contrary; they plainly diſcovered themſelves in their Anſwers; ſaying by the mouth of Campion, that this place (thereby meaning the Court of Her Majeſties Bench) hath no power to inquire or judg of the Holy Fathers Authority, and other Anſwer they would not make.

For the better ſatisfaction of all people, and that they may the better and more plainly underſtand how, in what manner, and for what all the Papiſts dyed in Queen Eliz. days; who moſt falſely have ſince been reported to have dyed for Religion, when in truth they dyed for Treaſon, and nothing elſe. Hereof take one Example and Inſtance for all, the Indictment and Arraignment of William Parry, that wicked, perfidious, faithleſs, ungrateful Traytor, ſworn Her Majeſties ſervant Anno Domini 1570. And as was his Indictment, ſo were all the other Indictments Mutatis Mutandis. Superlatively wicked in that he became twice reconciled to Rome, and in that he boaſted, That for 20 Years paſt he having been a Catholick, had never received the Communion; and yet before he travelled beyond the Sea at Three ſeveral times within thoſe 22. Years, he voluntarily take the Oath of Obedience to the Queen, made 1. of her Reign: Faithleſs and ungrateful in that after many obligations conferred on him by loan of ſeveral Sums of Money, and otherwiſe, by Hugh Hare of the Temple, he contrived his death by breaking open his Chamber, aſſaulting and wounding, and leaving him for dead; for which being Convic ted of Burglary, and Condemned to dye, the Queen moſt gratiouſly pardoned, for which he moſt gratefully requited her according to the old Proverb, Save a Thief from the Gallows, and he'l cut your Throat.

He was Indicted of Treaſon 22. Feb. 158 . by Commiſſion of Oyer and Terminer held at the Kings-Bench Weſtminſter before Sir Christopher Wray, Lord Chief Juſtice of England and others, where Miles Sands Eſq; then Clerk of the Crown read the Indictment, viz. William Parry, thou art here Indicted by Oaths of Twelve good and lawful Men of the County of Middleſex, before Chriſtopher Wray, & alias, for that thou as a Traytor againſt the moſt Noble and Chriſtian Princeſs Queen Eliz. the moſt Gratious Sovereign and Liege Lady; not having the fear of God before thine Eyes, nor regarding the due Allegiance, but being ſeduced by the Instigation of the Devil, and intending to withdraw and extinguiſh the hearty love and due obedience which true and faithful Subjects ſhould bear unto the ſame our Sovereign Lady, didst at Weſtminſter in the County of Middleſex 1. Febr. in the 26. Year of Her Majeſties Reign, and at divers other times and places in the ſame County malitiouſly and traiterouſly conſpire and compaſs not only to deprive and depoſe the ſame our Sovereign Lady of Her Royal Eſtate, Title and Dignity, but alſo to bring her Highneſs to death and final deſtruction, and ſedition in the Realm to make, and the Government thereof to ſubvert, and the ſincere Religion of God establiſhed in her Highneſs Dominions to alter and ſubvert. And that whereas thou William Parry by thy Letters ſent unto Gregory Biſhop of Rome, didſt ſignifie unto the ſame Biſhop the purpoſes and intentions aforeſaid, and thereby didſt pray and require the ſame Biſhop to give thee Abſolution, that thou afterwards, that is to ſay, the laſt of March 26. Year aforeſaid, didſt traiterouſly receive Letters from one called Cardinal de Como; directed unto thee William Parry, whereby the ſaid Cardinal did ſignifie unto thee, that the Biſhop of Rome had peruſed the Letters, and allowed of thine intent, and that to that end he had abſolved thee of all thy ſins, and by the ſame Letter did animate and ſtir thee to proceed with thine Enterprize, and that thereupon thou the last day of Auguſt in the ſaid 26. Year at St. Gyles in the Fields in the ſame County of Middleſex, didst traiterouſly confer with one Edmund Nevil Eſq; uttering unto him all the wicked and traiterous deviſes, and then and there didſt traiterouſly move him to aſſiſt thee therein, and to joyn with thee in thoſe wicked Treaſons aforeſaid againſt the peace of our ſaid Sovereign Lady the Queen her Crown and Dignity.

Which being Read, and William Parry being asked, whether guilty of theſe Treaſons, whereof thou ſtandeſt here Indicted, or not guilty? He confeſſed that he was guilty of all that is therein contained, both in matter and form as the ſame is ſet down, and all the Circumſtances thereof: Which being Recorded, and though confeſſed willingly by Parry, yet becauſe the Juſtice of the Realm had been of late very impudently ſlandered, That ſuch like Traytors were Executed for Religion, and not for Treaſon, the Juſtice of that Court deemed it neceſſary to ſatisfie the World more particularly; that though his Confeſſion in Court ſerved ſufficiently to have proceeded thereupon to Judgment, yet Parry's Confeſſion, (taken the 11, and 13. Feb. 1584. before the Lord Hunſdon, Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, and Mr. Secretary) and Cardinal de Como's Letter, and Parry's Letter to the Lord Treaſurer and Lord Steward ſhould be openly read; to which alſo Parry himſelf agreed ſo readily, that he offered to read them himſelf for the better ſatisfying of the people. All which Letters, and his own voluntary confeſſion written and ſubſcribed with his own Hand he acknowledged to have Confeſſed freely, without any conſtraint, and that it was all true, and more too. And that there is no Treaſon that hath been ſythence 1 Eliz. any way touching Religion, (ſaving receipt of Agnus Dei, and perſwading others wherein he hath not much dealt) but he had offended in it: And that he had demanded his opinion in writing, who ought to be Succeſſor to the Crown, which he ſaid to be Treaſon alſo.

All which Letters and Confeſſion being firſt ſhewed to him Leaf by Leaf, were openly and diſtinctly read by the Clark of the Crown.

Which done, Parry having obtained favour of the Court to ſpeak in diſcharge (as he pretended) of his Conſcience, aſſuring them that he would not go about to excuſe himſelf, and that he intended to utter more; He ſaid my Cauſe is rare, ſingular and unnatural, conceived at Venice, preſented in general Words to the Pope, undertaken at Paris, commended and allowed of by his Holineſs, and to have been Executed in England: I have committed many Treaſons; for I have committed Treaſon in being reconciled, and Treaſon in taking Abſolution; and yet never intended to kill Queen Eliz.

Which ſaid, Mr. Vice-Chamberlain retorted upon him, in that he both in Court and elſe where under his Hand voluntarily confeſſed, That he did miſlike Her Majeſty, for that ſhe had done nothing for thee; how by wicked Papiſts and Popiſh Books thou were perſwaded, that it was lawful to kill Her Majeſty; how thou wert by reconciliation become one of that wicked ſort, that held Her Majeſty for neither lawful Queen nor Chriſtian? and that it was Meritorious to kill her? And didſt thou not ſignifie that thy purpoſe to the Pope by Letters, and receivedſt Letters from the Cardinal, how he allowed of thine intent, and Excited thee to perform it, and thereupon didſt receive Abſolution? And didſt thou not conceive it, promiſe it, vow it, ſwear it, and receive the Sacrament that thou wouldſt do it? And didſt not thou thereupon affirm, that thy Vows were in Heaven, thy Letters and Promiſes on Earth to bind thee to do it? And that whatſoever Her Majeſty would have done for thee, could not have removed thee from the intention or purpoſe, unleſs ſhe would have deſiſted from dealing as ſhe hath done with the Catholicks, as thou calledſt them. And didſt thou not confeſs, (beſides that which thou didſt ſet down under thine own Hand) that thou hadſt prepared Two Scottiſh Daggers fit for ſuch a purpoſe? Notwithſtanding all theſe and more Demonſtrations of his Bloody Intentions againſt the Queen by Sir Chriſtopher Hatton, Lord Hunſdon, and others of the Lords Commiſſioners; he thereupon in a furious manner cry'd, I never meant to kill Her, I will lay my Blood upon Her and you before God and the World, and ſo fell into a great rage and rayling. Which madneſs of his the Lord Hunſdon thus rebuked. This is but thy Popiſh pride and oſtentation, which thou would have to be told to thy Fellows of thy Faction, to make them believe that thou dyedſt for Popery, when thou diedſt for moſt horrible and dangerous Treaſon againſt Her Majeſty and the whole Countrey.

Thus you ſee what little Faith is to be given to ſuch, who flatter with their Lips, and diſſemble with their double Hearts.

Theſe things rightly conſidered, I do not doubt but that all good Subjects will clearly ſee; and all deluded and wavering perſons will perceive, how they have been ſeduced to wander out of the right way; and that all ſtrangers, eſpecially Chriſtian Princes having Sovereign Eſtates, being hereby acquainted with the true, juſt, and neceſſary Grounds and Reaſons of His Majeſties late Act of Parliament for preventing dangers which may happen from Popiſh Recuſants, made purely for the deſence of His Majeſties Crown, Religion and People, and for prevention of Inteſtine Jars, that otherwiſe might be occaſioned through different Religions, Religions as diſcrepant as light and darkneſs; good and evil, which naturally occaſions diſputes, and ſomewtimes btows; that all the World perceiving upon how great Reaſons of State, and Grounds of Religion that Act was made, may be ſatisfied that no prudent State could do leſs; eſpecially the concern of Religion being a conſiderable Ingredient therein, which often ſets variance between neareſt Relations. And I cannot doubt but that this His Majeſties juſt Act will have the like happy entertainment and ſucceſs, as had King James (of ever bleſſed memory) his Monitory Preface unto his Apology; upon the coming forth of which Book there were no States that diſavowed the Doctrin of it in the point of the Kings power; the Venetians juſtified it both by Pen and Practiſe; the Sorbons maintained it; and Bellarmine and Suarez their Books to the contrary were burnt in France with ſcorn and diſdain.

Paſſus damna ſemel cautior eſſe ſolet. Roman vade liber — ſed Neſcis, Heu neſeis Dominae faſtidia Romae Majores nuſquam Ronchi, Juveneſ que Seneſ que Et pueri Naſum Rhinocerotis habent. I, fuge, ſed poveras tutior eſſe domus.
ERRATA.

PAge 11. Line 16. r. poteſt, l. 21. r. ſentiamus, p. 2. l. 19. r. that, p. 18. l. 4. r. Domini &, p. 29. l. 2. r. againſt, p. 37. l. 12. r. if it had taken, p. 44. l. ult. r. Houſes, p. 58. l. 15. r. ſtories, l. 31. r. diſcretion, p. 74. l. 3. r. thou ſhall not plough, p. 112. l. 3 r. likes of one bread, l. 28. r. and add 14 new. p. 127. l. 5. for Confeſſion r. profeſſion.

FINIS.