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 it s 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
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 3 d. 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 quacumque 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
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 Vlster 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 Vlster 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
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
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 Vt Causae Regis magnae Britanniae Franciae Hiberniae verae Antiquae Apostolicae Fidei Defensoris ejusque 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
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 Quandocumque 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 Vtopian 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
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
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 conâ—iâ—â—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 Mill-stone 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
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