§ He that is firſt in his own Cauſe ſeemeth juſt, but his Neighbours 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, foberly 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 be 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 52 000. 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 fought 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 and 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, the 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 mild 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 Laud 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 others Rebelled. in the year 1406. Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, R. Scroope, Arch-Biſhop of York, with others, Rebelled, 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 Glouceſter, 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 Pemhrooke, 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 witout 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 hatched, made it their uſual practiſe to Rebel againſt their Princes, though of the ſame Faith and Religion 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, wkich 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 Lord Ruſſel, 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 by 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 not by force of new Laws, either for Religion, or againſt the Popes Supremacy, as the ſlanderous Libellers would have it ſeem to be; 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 apparent untruth, viſibly to be contradicted by the very Acts 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 not 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 Martirologiſt 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 5 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 Popes 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 themſelves.

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 match at Pitchbatch or Billingſgate; 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 even 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 cauſes of all the diſcords in England: That Fa. Holt did not only intend, but would indeed give wreteched England in Conqueſt to himſelf, and his Favourites, 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 indrect 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 Mafeſty: If Parſons, and the reſt of the Jeſuits, with other our Countrey-men beyond the Seas, 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 Maj ſty: 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 Actions 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 aſſiſt 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 them, 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, another 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 uſed? What queſtioning whether no Jehu 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 Rohal 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 awayof the Lady Arabella, and ſending her into Flanders? who imployed the Meſſenger into England about that 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. Abereronii 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 Queens great favours and lenity towards them, the Queen had great reaſon to believe them both, not barely becauſe 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, Conſpiricies, provocations,Vide Important conſider. f. 16, 17, 18. &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, 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 if 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 or 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 enſuring 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 in Crown of England, which was free from the Pope, and all other Forrein popwer. 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 Hugb 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 miſcrable 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 redimendant 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 fieri poſſis; until they might grow into ſtrength, until they were able to give the Queen and unavoidable Check-mate, that the publick execution of the ſaid Bull might take place: And ſo much was conſeſſed 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, Perfida 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 meriting 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 rhime 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, ſay they, there is no King or Prince in the World diſguſting the See of Rome, and having either force or mettal in hin, that would have indured us, but rather have utterly rooted 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. ſo. 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 Majeſty. 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 many even of thoſe that were Executed 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 Her 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 and Treaſons, there was nothing that did reflect upon an old quict Queen Maries Prieſt, or any that were Ordained within the Land by the Romiſh Biſhops then ſurviving; ſo they were not 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 found ation 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 Valledolid, 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 other 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, (mjost 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 faith fulneſs (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 Concrivances 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 and 4th. would not acknowledg her, 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. Qucen 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 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 Vicard 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 mtual 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 upon a fit man of their own Number; they caſt their Eyes upon the Earl of Eſſex, (who never approved the putting of Men to death in the cauſe of Religion) ſeigniug 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 a Book was Dedicated to Eſſex under the Counterfeit name of Doleman, but wrote by Par2ons, Cardinal Allen, and Sir Francis Inglefeild, as was believed.

In this Book deſpiſing the right of Birth, they project, that the Antient Laws of the Land concerning Hereditary Succeſſion to the Crown of England, are to be altered, that new Laws are to be brought in concerning 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?