A LETTER WRITTEN BY A IESVITE TO THE QVEENS MAJESTIE, MARCH, XXII.
WHEREIN He useth divers subtle insinuations to Her Majesty, for the Kings Majesties repealing and recalling of the Lawes and Proclamations against the Iesuits, Priests, and Recusants.
With a brief consideration of the Reasons, intimated in the Letter, and a just Confutation of them.
LONDON. Printed for Iohn Watkins.
THE JESUITES LETTER TO the Queens Maiestie.
IT hath alwais bin accounted honourable, for great personages to have pitty and compassion of afflicted and distressed souls; but especially if they were guiltlesse and innocent, and suffered for good, yea for Gods cause.
A most fit occasion of exercising this heroicall act is now offered to your Majesty, by the manifold molestations inflisted upon English Catholiques, the truth of whose religion and innocency is briefly convinced in our many Treatises; for which cause I have thought it no presumption, to commend them to your Royall Protection.
The History of Hester is not unknown to your Majesty, and wee doubt her example deserveth no lesse imitation then admiration, by her mediation with King Ahasuerus, the Nation of the Iews was delivered from an universall overthrow; and why should not Queen Marie prevail as far with King Charles, for ancient and Christian Catholiques.
Can any doubt, but that he would extend the Golden Rod of Clemency towards the dearest Spouse; yea rather divide his Kingdome then deny her request: his Majesty is already informed of former services performed by Catholiques both to his Grandmother of happy memory, and himself, for which they crave no other recompence: or reward, but the recalling and repelling of such Proclamations and Laws, as their Adversaries have procured against them.
This did Queen, Ester obtain of King Ahasuerus for the Jews. Thus wee Catholiques beseech your Majesty to motion for us; but yet notwithstanding that earnestnesse, which good Mordicheus used, who spared not to tell the Queen, making some difficulty? That though she held her peace, the Iewes should be delivered by some other meanes, but that she and her Fathers house should perish; onely wee will urge that which immediatly followeth, who knoweth whether this was the cause of your Majesties comming to the Crown, that you might be prepared against such a time.
This also we add, which makes the matter more easie: we desire no mans harm but our own good, we wish for no mans fall that we may rise: wee would rejoyce, but would have none to sorrow: when our Country was seperated from the Catholique Faith, and Church of Rome, all was done by great force and violence, wee hope when we shall return, all will bee compassed with a contrary [Page] course: and we would willingly admit that Exposition, which one hath made of St. Edwards Vision; if it had no other difficulty in it then this. Two Monks which this holy King had bin familiarly acquainted with in NORMANDIE, and were now Saints in Heaven, appeared to him, and told him of his Countries, comming to a better estate, by proposing unto him this Probleme; A green Tree being cut from the body, let it bee separated the space of four Acres from the Root, which when mans hand compelling it, no necessity urging it, returning to the body, shall come again to the ancient Root, and taking sap, shall flourish, and bear fruit again then, &c.
By this green Tree, saith my Author, wee may very well understand the Kingdome of England: of which St. Edward, and those holy Monks censured the cutting it from the body, was dividing it from the Sea Apodilique, for the space of four Acres, that is, for the time of four Princes Reigns, King Henrie, King Edward, Queen Elizabeth, and King James.
Wherfore now what are we to expect, but that without all compulsion, or constraint, it should return to the body and root again, and begin to flourish with Catholique Doctrine, and bear fruit of good works, by receiving the S [...]p of Grace, which cannot bee out of the vertue of the Catholique Church, which consisteth of the foresaid head and Members.
Thus he, and howsoever (as I said) the rest may be exproved, we should like passing well this facility and sweetnesse without force and violence; and therfore doe earnestly wish, that as the seperation between King Henry and Queen Katherine, was a great beginning of that other breach: so the inseparable love of King Charles and Queen Marie might restore us to the ancient union, The very attempting of this Noble and Godly Enterprise, deserveth immortall praises.
A brief consideration of the Reasons intimated in the former Letter, for His Majesties repealing and recalling the Laws and Proclamations against Recusants. &c.
THe first Reason, for the services performed by the Catholiques to his Grand-mother.
It is a considerable service, for by the instigation and malice of the Jesuits, and Romish Catholicks, were that Queen drawn and invited to those trayterous designs and practises against Queen Elizabeth, and the State; for which that great, but unfortunate Princesse lost her head.
The 2. Reason, for the services done to his Maj. [Page] this Jesuite would not be seen to know, or at least would not have it remembred, that detestable plot of the Powder Treason; wherby his Majesties Father, and His whole Progeny, and this State, had suffered in that execrable way, that no times could ever parallel.
And for his Majesties service to himself in particular, though this Letter might seem to be written before this horrid Rebellion in Ireland began; yet I cannot beleeve, but the ground-work & plot therof was laid before this Letter: and also the discention between us and Scotland plotted: All which, who is so ignorant, as not to know that it proceeds from the Jesuits and Romish Catholicks: Therfore let all out desires to her Majesty bee to move the King, that instead of Mordeca's reward, they may have the just reward of trayterous Haman, which they never yet failed to deserve.
Thirdly, this also we add, which may make the matter more easie, we desire no mans harm, but our good: we wish for no mans fall that we may rise.
This addition makes a fair glosse, but mark the consequence, what followeth that State and Kingdome wherin Idolatry is suffered to be committed? Whatsoever is offensive unto God, is not to be tollerated; Idolatry it self is offensive unto God, and consequently the exercise and permission of the same. A Christian Prince being the keeper of both tables of the Decalogue, should not suffer Idolatry to defile the worship of God, within His Dominions.
Whatsoever the good Kings of Iudah, and other [Page] godly Princes are commended for in the Scripture, that Christian Princes ought to imitate; therfore Christian Princes ought to expell contrary worshippers, and to represse Idolatry in like manner.
The Proposition is manifest, for whatsoever is written, is written for our instruction, the assumption is proved by induction. Asa brake down the Altars and Images of strange Gods, 2 Chron. 14.3. Iehosaphat removed the high places and Groves, 2 Chron, 17.6: Iosiah put down the Chemarines that were Idolatrous Priests, 2 Kings 23.5. Iacoh would not suffer Idolatry to be committed in his house, but buried all the Images under an Oak, Gen. 35.5. All which were commended for so doing.
We would rejoyce, but would have none to sorrow? What greater sorrow can befall a State or Kingdome then the wrath of God to hang over their heads, which Idolatry and superstitious worship draws upon them where it is tolerated: and although the Almighty for a time permits, yet when his violl of wrath is ful wo be to that state. Which let all of us humbly pray, may not fall upon this Nation, Amen.